Power Transcendent
Sailormoon fanfiction by Jessica
-------------------
Chapter 15
A frigid wind sprang up out of nowhere, and Minako hugged herself
tightly as she looked around, bewildered. Her surroundings seemed
familiar, but nothing made sense. It was as if nothing she saw really
made an impression in her mind. Abruptly, she noticed that her legs were
freezing. Looking down, she realized her had transformed into her Senshi
fuku. When had she done that? And why was it so cold?
A small sound made her turn. Behind her, Usagi was slumped to the
ground, and there was someone else holding her up. Was it Ami? Hotaru?
Minako couldn't really tell. Both of them looked beaten and worn, as if
they'd been in a fierce battle, and both were looking at Minako, wide-
eyed with fear. No, not at her...behind her!
Minako spun back. A...darkness...had appeared behind her. A darkness
that loomed as tall as a mountain and was so terrible, so complete that
Minako knew that no light could ever really dispel it. It began to reach
down towards her, and she took a step backwards.
But she instantly stepped forward once again. A wave of anger swept
through Minako, and she clenched her fists tightly. For some reason,
this darkness enraged her like nothing she had ever known. Trembling
with rage, she brought her hand up. "CRESCENT BEAM!" The golden ray shot
into the center of the darkness, but before it hit the wind sprang up
again, freezing and blinding. Minako hid her face as it howled around
her ears.
"Minako!"
With a gasp, Minako shot out of bed. Her legs had become tangled in the
sheets and she immediately stumbled forward, falling off the bed and
hitting the ground face-first. She yanked herself to her knees,
clutching her nose. "Artemis!" She exclaimed, glaring at the cat with
tears in her eyes.
The white cat was perched on the edge of the bed, trying unsuccessfully
to hide a grin. "Sorry Minako...you were flailing around so much I had
to wake you up before you kicked me off the bed."
"Yeah, well...wake me more gently next time." She muttered, gently
prodding her nose.
"I hope that doesn't swell up before tonight." Artemis remarked.
"Why? What's happening tonight?" Minako asked absently.
Artemis just stared at her. "It's Saturday." Like a shot, Minako sprang
up and fled to the bathroom, wailing.
"If my nose is all swollen, I'll never forgive you Artemis!" She
shouted, staring at herself in the mirror. After a few minutes, she took
a deep breath. "I guess it's okay..." She paused for a moment and
straightened her hair, unable to keep herself from preening a bit.
Was it really Saturday? It seemed almost too much to hope for that the
day had finally arrived. If Minako had had more time to think, she would
have scheduled her date with Ami earlier in the week. Honestly, the
suspense was killing the two of them.
Over the last week, Ami and Minako had shared *maybe* twelve words, and
those had been halting and punctuated with a large number of blushes and
funny looks. Rei and Makoto couldn't stop grinning, and even Usagi was
beginning to realize that something odd was going on between the Senshi
of Love and Ice.
There was an unexpected side effect, however. Minako had left behind her
trapped sense of panic several days ago. As time went on, her eagerness
to have the date had grown with the long wait, until all that was left
of her fear was a cold knot in the pit of her stomach that she could
ignore unless she concentrated on it.
"Is everything okay?" Artemis inquired, peeking around the doorway.
Minako turned with a smile.
"Everything's in the right place and looking normal."
"Oh good." Minako paused at the tone in the cat's voice.
"You sound relieved." She said playfully. "Glad you don't have to sleep
in the same room with a big, ugly, swollen nose?"
"Don't be silly. I've never minded before....agh!" He shook off the
sopping washcloth that Minako had thrown at his face. "ANYway..." He
began, starting to clean the water from his face. "I just want to see
this date go well."
Minako blinked. "You do?"
Artemis began working very hard to dry himself, as if he were
embarrassed. "You've had enough bad luck for any three people." He said
softly. "You've got a real chance to be happy with Ami...and I'd really
like to see that."
"Oh." Minako turned back to the mirror to hide her blush. Minako and
Artemis rarely showed their deep affection for each other, and there was
a long silence as both of them let the rare moment pass. Finally Minako
grabbed her toothbrush. "Thanks, cat."
"Sure." Artemis padded out of the bathroom, leaving Minako to get ready
for the morning. As she brushed her teeth, her mind turned to the dream
Artemis had woken her from. It seemed odd...different than her usual
dreams. Almost prophetic...but that was Rei's area, not hers. *Maybe I
should ask Rei about it?* She thought to herself.
However, as she brushed her teeth and her hair, her mind turned ever
more to the blue haired girl she would be seeing that very night. And as
she went downstairs to breakfast, lost in a very pleasant daydream, the
memory of the dream had left her entirely.
-------------------
Dr. Mizuno smiled as her daughter entered the kitchen. "Good morning!"
She gushed cheerily, grinning as the rather bleary Ami shot her a lethal
look. Ami and her mother had a little more time to spend together on
Saturday mornings than during the week, and Ami took full advantage of
it, coming down before she was fully alert and awake. Her mother
generally greeted her with a little good-natured teasing.
"Here Ami." Dr. Mizuno set a cup of tea in front of her offspring, and
Ami began to sip it, coming slowly to life. Her mother set breakfast in
front of the two of them, and the two began the meal in silence. Once
Ami had become fully conscious, her mother spoke again. "I'll have to be
at the hospital fairly late tonight, so I won't be around for dinner."
"Oh..." Ami smiled a little bit, and her mother thought she detected a
tiny blush on her face. "That's okay...I was going to tell you I
wouldn't be here for dinner either."
"Really?" Dr. Mizuno smiled softly and tilted her head. "Plans?" For
reasons she was barely willing to admit to herself, Ami's mother liked
to know as much as she could about her daughter's activities...but she
knew that sometimes she couldn't know anything, and that was for the
best, as much as it worried her.
"Yes...yes, actually." Ami took a deep breath, carefully avoiding her
mother's eyes. "I, um...I have a date tonight."
The teacup Dr. Mizuno had been lifting to her lips paused in midair,
then came to rest down on the saucer once again. "A date?" She asked,
pitching her voice carefully. She didn't want to sound as surprised as
she felt, as that would embarrass her daughter, but she also wanted to
let her know how happy she was. "I didn't even know there was anyone you
were interested in, Miss Mizuno!" She said with a smile.
"In a way, I guess I didn't either." Ami said, smiling but still not
meeting her mom's gaze. "But I really like...this person."
"I'm glad to hear it Ami." Dr. Mizuno said gently. With a sly smile, she
asked, "Is it anyone I know?"
"Well...yes, I guess you could say that..."
"Oh?" Dr. Mizuno thought for a moment. Ami had very few male
acquaintances, let alone friends. There was that boy...what was his
name? Urawa? But she didn't think he was living anywhere nearby anymore.
And Ami, frankly, had never seemed very interested to begin with. She
felt a small twitch when she considered Ami's friend Mamoru. *Far* too
old...but no, he was with Usagi, and Ami would never do something like
that. "May I ask who?" She finally asked, when she couldn't think of
anyone likely.
"Mom...I think I'd like it better if you didn't." She risked a glance
up, then looked down sharply once again at the surprised look on her
mother's face. "I'll tell you, if you insist." She continued in a small
voice. "And if things turn out well, I *will* tell you sometime...but
just not now." She ended in a softly pleading tone.
The mind of Dr. Mizuno was now in overdrive. What could her daughter be
talking about? Why wouldn't she want to tell her? What had Ami been
doing lately? Nothing that would suggest a budding romance. Well, not
unless...oh. Oh! Ami's mother quickly took another sip of her tea to
hide her face, to conceal a shocked expression. It made sense...it did
make sense. And she had wondered, at times...
Ami was still waiting expectantly for a response from her mother, so
finally Dr. Mizuno smiled. "Ami, that's fine. You can tell me when
you're ready." Ami finally looked up, and smiled in a relieved way at
her mother's expression. They returned attention to their breakfast
then, keeping the conversation light and trivial.
Ami finally got up and cleaned her plate. As she turned towards her
bedroom to get dressed, her mother spoke gently.
"As I said, Ami...you can tell me when you're ready. And it's fine,
whoever it is, it's fine. I promise. I love you Ami."
Ami turned to her mother and smiled. "I love you too Mom."
-------------------
At that moment, deep beneath Tokyo, the daeva Gylax made her way into
Lady Meson's control chamber. She had assumed a fully humanoid shape,
and was not trying to mask her entrance. Both of these were against her
natural inclinations when entering an uncertain situation, but Meson was
an assassin of incomparable skill and had been known to slay any daeva
who displayed even the slightest hint of trying to sneak up on her.
The liquid daeva entered the cavern, her hollow eyes scanning the
ghostly-lit floor. She could see nothing but the black fangs of stone
jutting upward. Abruptly, she sensed she was not alone. A small sphere
of violet light sailed from the shadows, and Gylax reached up to catch
it. "Tag! You're it!" A piping voice said from the sphere's source.
"Lady Tachyon." Gylax bowed her fluid body deeply at the waist. The
child-like Tachyon stepped into the daeva's field of vision, giggling,
her long, glittering knife drawn.
"Gylax..." The tiny seer spoke teasingly. "I saw what you did to
Gluon...I saw it last week, too, but it was *so* much better when it was
actually happening." She giggled again. "I told him he'd die, but he
still looked surprised. Why do you think that is?"
"Who can say, Lady Tachyon?" Gylax replied, trying to keep her voice
even. Tachyon's grin became even broader, and Gylax felt a shudder
ripple through her quicksilver form.
"I like you Gylax...maybe you should come work for me...wouldn't you
like that?"
"Of...of course, Lady Tachyon. But...I'm afraid Muon has already taken
me as a servant."
Tachyon pouted. "That's too bad." Her tiny pink tongue licked the edge
of her knife, and then her lips. "Maybe I can make it so he doesn't want
you anymore..." She started walking forward, sweeping her blade through
the air.
"Enough, Tachyon." Meson's voice rang out through the chamber, and
Tachyon stopped, much to Gylax's relief. "You know a blade couldn't harm
a creature like Gylax anyway."
Tachyon just giggled. "Oh, but this is a *special* knife." Gylax stood
absolutely still.
"Nevertheless, you're not supposed to interfere with Muon. Lord Hadron
has seen fit to allow Gylax to serve him, so you're to leave her alone."
"Oh, fine..." Tachyon pouted, but put away her knife and the violet orb
vanished from Gylax's hands.
"Now, Gylax..." Meson's voice faded into echoes, and there was a moment
of silence. Gylax found herself surrounded by a blazing red aura,
rendering the cavern she was in all but invisible to her. A voice rang
out, haughty and cold. Gylax almost lost control of her form when she
realized who was speaking to her.
"You have been sent to make a report. Do so." Hadron's voice spoke in
her ear. Unable to control her shaking, she managed to deliver her
report on Gluon's attack on the Sailor Senshi, his treachery and
subsequent death. Once she finished, Hadron spoke again.
"I knew Gluon would turn upon him...and so, it seems, did Muon. What of
the Death's Tears?"
"My Lord Hadron...Muon has instructed me to relate that the Tears were
themselves a test run...a prototype. True application of the principals
behind them will take more time to develop." Gylax cringed inwardly.
Muon had sent her to make this report, claiming he was too busy. But
privately she suspected that she had been sent to bear the brunt of
whatever anger this news would create.
"I see...very well." To Gylax's surprise, Hadron did not even sound
irritated. "You have performed well under Muon's control, Gylax...should
he tire of your services before it is too late, I may have a place for
you in my personal guard."
"I am honored, my Lord." Gylax said, kneeling and trying to sound
sincere. Truly, she wanted nothing more than to remain as Muon's
servant...for the first time in her life, she didn't feel her life was
constantly in danger. But what did Hadron mean by 'before it was too
late?'
Before she could even decide that asking about that would be a terrible
idea, Hadron's presence left her and the red aura faded away, leaving
her standing alone in the cavern once more. Tachyon could no longer be
seen. Lady Meson spoke up from the shadows again, choosing to remain
hidden.
"You will give this message to Muon. Tell him his personal studies may
continue unhindered. Furthermore, inform him that due to her very
favorable findings, Tachyon has been given full control of the operation
to subjugate the Earth. Any new developments or aid he can offer should
therefore be offered to her. Now go."
Gylax fell into a puddle with a great sense of relief and slithered from
the room as quickly as possible. She was now doubly glad that she had
the relative protection of Muon. Even Gluon at his worst had been
understandable and, to an extent, predictable. Tachyon was completely
mad...just as likely to torture and kill those daeva working for her as
her enemies. And with her powers of time, death could be a long, long
time coming.
The fluid daeva shuddered a final time, making it appear as if rain was
falling across her gleaming surface in her pooled state. She wondered
what horrors the child had in store for the persistent Sailor Senshi.
She also wondered whether she'd be better off not knowing.
-------------------
It was shortly before six, and Ami was walking up Minako's street. She
was either extremely nervous, or experiencing the early warning signs of
a stroke. In addition to a sick, shaky feeling in the pit of her
stomach, her hands were trembling and clammy, forcing her to slip her
hands into her pants to dry them at intervals. And she kept having to
fight back a fit of the giggles.
Her mother had managed to secure a short break just as Ami was leaving
the apartment. Dr. Mizuno had put a few finishing touches on her
daughters appearance and given her a knowing smile that made Ami very
nervous indeed. What did her mother know, or think she knew? Did she
guess at her daughter's...extracurricular activities? Or did she suspect
the identity of Ami's date? If either were true, which would be worse?
Ami had no idea.
A white shape suddenly detached itself from the wall Ami was passing
under and landed on her shoulders. Wound up and not ready for any kind
of surprise, Ami shrieked and jumped back, spinning in place. The small
white shape flew off her back and landed lightly on the sidewalk in
front of her.
"Little nervous, Ami?" Artemis asked, shaking himself lightly.
Ami gasped and clapped a hand over her mouth, blushing. "Sorry
Artemis...I guess I am a little bit nervous."
"Don't worry about it. I land on my feet, right?" He sat down and began
cleaning his face with a paw.
After a moment, Ami coughed gently. "Um...Artemis...was there something
you wanted to talk about?"
Artemis chuckled a little bit. "Not really...I was sent to keep you busy
for a couple of minutes and it's too much work trying to fake a
conversation." A car that Ami vaguely recognized as belonging to
Minako's mother drove past and turned the corner. "Okay, we can go." He
started off down the street, and Ami followed after a moment.
"So...Minako didn't want me to run into her mom?" She asked after a
moment.
"Well, you can't really blame her. Would you want her running into your
mom tonight?"
"I guess not." Ami agreed with a chuckle. "But after the other
night...I'm realizing there's a lot I don't know about Minako.
Especially where her family's involved."
Artemis jumped up onto the wall along the street, drawing level with
Ami's head. "That's true." He acknowledged. "She doesn't like to burden
those around her with her problems. It does help make her a good leader,
but it's hard for her to keep all of that in."
"I understand." Ami smiled a little sadly. "I don't really have a
problem with my parents' relationships with me. I do miss my father, but
I understand why he needs to be away so much. But still...thinking about
the divorce still hurts, a lot. And it's not the sort of thing I like
talking about either."
They turned into Minako's yard, and Artemis hopped off the wall. "Well,
I'm gonna spend the night with Luna and Diana." He announced. "Good luck
Ami...I'm really pulling for you two."
"Thanks Artemis." Ami said with a nervous smile, turning from the
retreating cat to the house which now seemed to loom threateningly at
her. Ami took a deep breath and closed her eyes. "Here we go Ami..." She
stepped up to the front door and rang the bell. Her finger had barely
left the button before the door opened.
There, of course, was Minako. "Hi Ami-chan." She said with a timid
little smile. Ami returned the greeting a little absently. Her eyes
widened as she took in the sight of her date standing in the doorway.
Minako looked incredible. She was wearing a sheer blue dress that came
very close to being an evening gown. It left her right shoulder bare,
and slid down into a skirt that fell to just below her knees, with a
slit that went up to her thigh. Her hair fell over her bare shoulder in
a smooth cascade of shining gold.
"Mina-chan...you're beautiful!" Minako beamed, her cheeks turning pink
at the compliment. Ami bit her lip and looked down at herself, cursing
her stupidity. She had dressed much more casually, just a pair of storm
grey slacks and a white dress shirt with a dark blue vest, with a light
jacket against the cold. The thought of spending the evening with the
beauty in front of her made her feel, quite bluntly, like a scrub.
Minako tilted her head, frowning a bit. "Ami-chan? Are you okay?"
Ami opened her mouth to speak, but couldn't say anything. She wanted to
say she going to run home and change, wanted to say she was sorry for
ruining the date already. Before she could force a single awkward word
out, however, Minako was hugging her tightly.
"You're a silly girl." She whispered kindly, understandingly. She held
Ami out at arm's length, smiling at the blue-haired girl's wide eyed,
blushing expression. "First, you look adorable. Second, I always
overdress for first dates. I hadn't realized that the reaction would be
different when dating another girl. Finally..." She leaned in and rested
her forehead against Ami's. "...I just want to be with you. What you're
wearing doesn't matter."
Ami slid in closer to Minako, smiling. As she pressed her face into
Minako's shoulder, she became aware of the blonde Senshi's fragrance,
lightly floral and utterly intoxicating. Her hands tightened around
Minako's waist, and she felt Minako's warm arms enfolding her.
Finally Minako spoke in a soft voice. "Ami-chan...if we don't let go of
each other, we might never leave the house."
Rather regretting the move, Ami let Minako go with a sigh. "I guess
you're right..."
Minako began to pull on a coat. "So Ami-chan...if you didn't have any
place picked out, I know a great club we can go to..." At that moment,
Ami's stomach rumbled loudly, prompting a blush and a shy smile. "...but
of course we can get something to eat first." Minako finished, pulling
on the sleeve to her coat.
"Thanks Mina-chan." Ami paused for a moment in the middle of turning
towards the door. "Mina-chan...it doesn't really fit your outfit, but
wouldn't it be funny to go back to that place where we pretended to be a
couple?"
Minako laughed and slid her arms around Ami's shoulders. Ami immediately
leaned into the contact. "That's a great idea Ami-chan! And it's right
on the way, too." She slid her hand into the crook of Ami's arm, and the
two set off down the street.
As they walked, Ami felt her eyes slide again and again to the girl who
held her arm and leaned against her gently. At first, Ami had felt a
flash of nervousness at walking down the street like this, where anyone
could see them, but that was wiped away in an instant. Tonight was for
herself and Minako, and even if their parents and everyone they knew
were lining the streets looking at them, Ami wouldn't care. This felt so
good, so right, that nothing else mattered.
The little American cafe was just a few streets away from Minako's house,
so they reached it in what seemed like no time at all. A different
hostess than before greeted them and said they could be seated right
away. She did a little double take when Minako asked for a booth in the
back and she noticed how close the two seemed to be. But then she just
smiled warmly. "Right this way!"
When they were seated, she handed them their menus. "Your server will be
with you shortly." She smiled warmly and left them smiling at one
another from across the table.
After a moment, Minako giggled gently, prompting a questioning look from
Ami. "You know...you could join me over here." The Senshi of Love said
coyly. "I'm kinda cold." She mock-pouted.
Ami blushed. "R-right..." She looked around furtively and quickly
slipped out of her seat and into the padded bench next to Minako. Minako
immediately slipped her hand into Ami's and held it gently on the seat
between them.
"You're so nervous." Minako said teasingly. "It's really cute." She was
leaning her chin on her other hand, propped on her elbow on the table.
She was smiling, but Ami could see a lot of nervousness in her eyes.
With a small shock, Ami remembered that Minako, despite her greater
dating experience, was probably just as scared about this as Ami was
herself. In a way, perhaps even more so.
Ami lightly disentangled her hand from Minako's and caressed the other
girl's cheek with the back of her fingers. "I'm sorry Mina-chan." She
said with a self-depracating chuckle. "I'm pretty new at this whole
dating thing. And I feel like I've been thrown into the deep end."
"How do you mean?" Minako asked curiously, pushing her cheek lightly
against Ami's fingers.
"I'm on a date with the most beautiful girl in the world." Ami said with
quiet certainty. Minako blushed and inched closer to Ami, until they
were touching. She leaned against the blue-haired girl, resting her head
on her arm. Ami slid her arm around Minako's shoulders and leaned her
head against hers.
"You're really sweet." Minako murmured.
"Just telling the truth." Ami responded, turning her head slightly and
breathing deeply the sweet smell of Minako's hair.
Minako giggled. "I didn't say it wasn't true...just that you're sweet
for saying it." Ami laughed softly in return. The polite sound of a
clearing throat made them both blink and look up. The same waiter who
had served them on their last visit there was standing in front of their
booth, notepad ready.
"I can come back if you're busy." He said with a grin.
Minako looked up at Ami, who was looking down at her. "Um...no, I think
we're ready?" Ami shrugged and nodded. Minako reached out and grabbed
the nearest menu, quickly scanning over it and picking the first item
that looked halfway appetizing, just a cheeseburger and fries. She held
it out and Ami immediately ordered the same thing.
"Great." The server said, taking the menus. "Separate drinks, or did you
want one glass and two straws again?"
Ami blushed. "No, I think two drinks will be fine."
As the waiter left, Minako pouted a bit. "Awww, I sort of liked the two
straw thing."
"I would feel silly doing it for real." Ami said, tracing her finger
over the soft skin of Minako's shoulder. "Besides, Mina-chan..." She
said, giving the blonde girl a sidelong glance, "I don't think we need
to play at indirect kisses anymore, do you?"
"Ami-chan!" Minako grinned, then shifted around till her face had drawn
level with Ami's. "Well, maybe you're right." She slowly leaned her face
in towards Ami, who immediately closed her eyes and leaned forward as
well, displaying an eagerness that surprised them both. In a sudden fit
of impishness, Minako waited until the last moment, then laid two
fingers gently on Ami's lips. "But later."
Ami opened her mouth to protest, but sucked in her breath sharply, her
cheeks flushed. Minako was whispering, her warm breath and lips brushing
against Ami's ear, leaving the girl utterly unable to move or speak.
"When we kiss for the very first time, I want to make sure you never
forget it." Ami shivered slightly despite suddenly feeling very warm
indeed. The warmth around her ear left suddenly, and Ami swallowed,
glancing over at Minako, who was innocently tracing a design on the
tabletop with her finger and smiling to herself.
"Tease." Ami said, making a face at her...girlfriend. She rolled the
word around in her mind, examining how it felt when applied by her to
Minako. She smiled broadly, and Minako gave her a funny look.
"Are you okay Ami-chan? You look a little out of it."
Ami just kept smiling. "You're my girlfriend." She finally said happily.
Minako blushed furiously, unable to keep herself from smiling either.
"That's not fair!" She complained. Then she started laughing. "You're my
girlfriend too." She said in a silly tone of voice. Ami joined in the
laughter as well, and in a moment they were in each other's arms,
shaking with laughter that they tried to keep restrained for the sake of
the other diners.
After several minutes, Minako released Ami, both of them quite
breathless at this point. Minako cupped her girlfriend's cheeks in her
palms and looked into her eyes. "You've made me so happy Ami-chan." She
said softly. Her hand slid up and she gently ran her fingers through the
other girl's blue hair. "Thank you so much."
Ami reached up and took Minako's hand in her own, gently kissing the
knuckles one by one. "Thank you Mina-chan...you make me happy too." She
sniffed suddenly, and looked down at the table. She began to blush.
Their food and drinks were sitting on the table in front of them. "I
guess we were a little distracted." She chuckled.
Minako laughed as well. "I guess we were." She picked up a fry and gave
Ami a sly look. Ami smiled back at her uncertainly.
"Oh Mina-chan...no...I hate that, it's so..." Minako just held the fry
in front of Ami's mouth, and with a resigned sigh Ami opened her mouth
and lightly plucked the food from Minako's hand. Minako blushed.
"Oh...Ami-chan..." She didn't say anything else for a long moment.
Finally Ami's curiosity overcame her sense of decorum and she held a fry
to Minako's mouth as well. As Minako took it between her lips and gently
pulled it from her fingers, a warm flush spread throughout Ami's body,
and she shivered again.
"Oh..." Ami said faintly. "So that's why everyone does that..." Minako
just giggled and grabbed another fry.
When they had fully decimated their supply, Ami licked her lips and
chuckled. "I would have thought that was absolutely sickening if I
hadn't been the one doing it."
"Yeah...it's amazing how much better the cutesy stuff is when you're the
one being cutesy." Minako agreed, once again laying her head against
Ami's arm. She looked down at the two burgers on the table. "I'm not
really hungry anymore."
"Me either." Ami said. "Shall we go then?"
"Oh, lets." Ami paid for the food, but Minako left a very generous tip
for their waiter. "After all, he didn't disturb us at all, and that
deserves a reward!"
They left the cafe and headed down the street once again. "Just so you
know, Ami-chan, I've never been to this place before, but it got a
really good recommendation."
"Um...okay..." Ami snuggled a bit closer to Minako as they walked. "You
know I'm not really used to clubs or anything, right?"
Minako smiled and gently kissed Ami on the forehead. "Don't worry, it'll
be fine. I promise." Ami blushed and nodded.
The club Minako had her sights on was a fairly short walk from the cafe,
on the way to the Outer Senshi's place. There was a tall woman standing
next to the door, and Minako stopped Ami. "Just one second." Ami nodded
and Minako walked over and said something to the woman, who smiled
broadly, nodded and opened the door. Minako beckoned to Ami, who quickly
followed, wondering exactly what was going on.
Hand in hand they entered the place. There was dance music with a
pounding beat, though there was a bar close to the entrance, and by a
trick of acoustics that impressed Ami it was quiet enough to be heard
without shouting there.
It was to the bar that Minako led Ami, and as they made their way
through the crowd something began to register with Ami. The crowd seemed
to be fairly young, all college age kids with a scattering of high
schoolers like the two of them, but all female. And when they passed a
couple of girls passionately making out on the edge of the dance floor,
Ami blushed and paused. "Mina-chan..." She called out, and Minako
stopped and looked back, a grin on her face. "Who recommended this place
to you?"
"Haruka and Michiru." She said innocently, still grinning. Her eyes
flickered over to the couple Ami had seen. "Why do you ask, Ami-chan?"
"Oh, no reason..." Minako walked over and gave the blue-haired girl a
warm hug, murmuring in her ear.
"I thought a place like this would be better for a first date...less
chance of some jerk giving us a hard time, you know?"
Ami smiled back and nodded, returning the hug. "I see...that's a good
idea, Mina-chan."
Minako winked. "I have a few of those." She continued to lead Ami
through the crowd to the bar, where a dark-haired woman was shuffling
drinks across the bartop.
"What can I get you two?" She asked as they approached. "No beer,
obviously."
"Obviously." Minako laughed. "Actually, I was just told to say hi when
we got here...you're Kin, right?"
"Right..." Kin said, slowly. Then she broke into a smile. "Ahhh, you two
must be Haruka's friends. She mentioned you might be here. Yeah, I'm
Kin."
"I'm Minako, and this is Ami. Nice to meet you."
Ami nodded, smiling shyly. "Nice to meet you." Kin grinned at Ami, then
back at Minako.
"You two are really cute together." She said. "First date, right?"
Minako nodded. "Great! Well, I'll leave you two alone then." She winked.
"Enjoy the place, I think you'll like it."
Minako hugged Ami tightly around the waist and pressed her cheek against
Ami's. "So...wanna dance?" Minako giggled.
"Alright." Ami said with a nervous smile, slipping her hand into
Minako's. In truth, Ami didn't dance to fast songs all that much...slow
dances, waltzes, that sort of thing she could do, but she hoped that
Minako would go easy on her here...
They stepped out onto the dance floor. The music was pounding, the
lights were flashing and there were women dancing everywhere. Ami felt
terribly out of her element, but Minako was obviously so completely
comfortable here that some of her confidence actually managed to rub off
on her girlfriend.
Minako turned to face Ami. Some of Ami's deer-in-the-headlights
sensation must have been showing, because the blonde girl gave her a
very sweet, understanding smile. She began to move to the movement,
keeping her actions very simple. Warmth spread through Ami as she
realized Minako was helping her, and she nodded, mimicking Minako. It
felt very awkward at first, but as she continued to move, it got easier,
and she could just follow the beat rather than mirror Minako.
When Ami had the first move down, Minako threw in a new move. For the
several minutes the first song lasted, this continued. Minako showing
Ami a new dance move every time she mastered the last. When it finished
and there was a slight pause, Minako slipped up against Ami and murmured
in her ear. "You're doing great Ami-chan!" Ami beamed, feeling rather
proud of herself.
When the next song started, Ami was loose enough that she didn't even
have to check to see what Minako was doing. She just started moving
along with the music. The two girls kept looking into each other's eyes
as they danced. To Ami, it was like the rest of the club and everyone in
it slid away into a gray haze. Barely even realizing it, the two senshi
moved closer to one another, until they were almost touching.
For five more songs they stayed out on the dance floor. Finally, Ami
signaled for a break, and Minako nodded. They joined hands and slipped
away, finding a small, empty table near the bar to sit at. They sat
across from each other and Minako reached out and took Ami's wrists in
her hands. "See? That wasn't so bad." She winked.
"Not at all!" Ami said, smiling and flushed pink. "I...I don't think
I've ever had that much fun dancing." She looked down and to the side,
smiling softly. "Thank you Mina-chan."
Minako squeezed Ami's hands gently, beaming. "I don't think I have
either...it must be because I have such a great partner."
Ami blushed. "You're just saying that."
"No, I'm not." Minako said earnestly, leaning over the table. "Ami-
chan...I've never, ever danced with anyone I cared about as much as I
care about you. Just being around you makes me feel special...actually
going out with you like this feels like a dream come true."
Ami was blushing furiously at this point, but she was smiling too.
"Mina-chan..." She looked like there was more she wanted to say, but at
that point the two girls got lost in each other's eyes, just gazing
dreamily at one another as their fingers played together.
Ami looked at Minako with a cute little smile. "Would you mind if we
took a little walk?"
Minako shook her head with a smile. "Not at all, but we haven't really
been here that long."
Ami looked down a bit, preparing herself for a bit of boldness. "I
know...but I think I'd like to cool down. Besides..." She looked up and
gave Minako a look full of the strong emotions that had built up on the
dance floor. "We haven't had much time alone together."
Minako grinned. "No...I guess we haven't." She stood, and Ami joined her.
Hand in hand, they left the club, waving to Kin as they slipped out.
The street outside was shockingly cold compared to the intense, heated
atmosphere of the club behind them, and they hugged each other close as
they walked down the street. Ami led them now, with a place in mind, and
Minako was obviously content to let her do so.
They soon arrived at the park, and walked in without hesitation. Of
course, normally a park at night in a big city should be off limits for
two attractive teenagers, but these two were uniquely suited to take
care of themselves. The sky was dark and overcast, so the only light
came from the streetlights placed along the walkways.
They headed to the lake, and Minako realized that Ami was taking them to
the place Minako had shown her back when they had been studying together,
what seemed like so long ago. Sure enough, that is where they ended up.
Across the lake, the skyline of Tokyo rose over the park, the night
lights glimmering like jewels in black velvet.
Ami took her jacket off and laid it on the soft grass for Minako, with a
gallant feeling she wasn't used to, but liked quite a bit. Minako sat
down, and Ami sat next to her. Minako shifted around and lay her head in
Ami's lap, just as she had when she had been injured and Ami had visited.
"Isn't it funny?" Ami murmured.
"Isn't what funny?"
"How different things we've done before feel, now that
we're...together?" Minako smiled up at her. In the silvery light of the
distant city, her face seemed particularly beautiful.
"It's true...well...I guess the feeling is the same, it's just much
stronger."
Ami nodded. "I guess you're right, Mina-chan." She chuckled softly,
tracing her fingertip along Minako's cheek and chin. Minako made a small,
deep sound of pleasure and tilted her head back, exposing her neck. Ami
began sliding her finger there as well. "I guess that means we've liked
each other for longer than we realized."
"Yeah, we're pretty much hopeless, aren't we?" Minako said in a soft
tone. She looked up at Ami again. "What do we do now? About us, I mean?"
Ami bit her lip and shrugged. "I don't know...I guess we have to tell
the others soon...that would be much better than letting Rei and
Makoto's imaginations run away with them."
Minako laughed softly. "I don't know...that might be funny...especially
if they brought Usagi in on it."
Ami rolled her eyes. "Oh no...can you even imagine the three of them
trying to spy on us?"
Minako giggled. "They're just so bad at that sort of thing. Well, I
guess we all are, really."
"True enough." With a tender smile, Ami caressed Minako's cheek,
prompting her to lean into the warm touch. "I really don't think we need
to tell our parents about this yet...that can wait."
"Till about forever." Minako agreed, nodding. Ami laughed, but a little
pinprick of doubt suddenly poked at her mind. When *should* she tell her
mother? And should she call or write to her father, if it came to that
point? How would they react? And what about Minako's parents? Would
their seeming indifference extend to this as well, or would there be
some kind of protective backlash? She could see that happening...it all
sort of depended...
Quite abruptly, Ami found herself pushed back against the grass with
Minako's warm form pressed on top of her and a bit to the side. "You're
thinking too much again." Minako said, smiling. There was a light
dancing in her eyes that seemed independent of the reflected light from
the city.
Ami smiled, suddenly feeling excited to the point of trembling. "I guess
it's a failing I have..." She whispered.
"Well," Minako almost purred, drawing her face in closer. "I'll have to
help you with that."
"Yeah?" Ami breathed.
"Yeah." With that, Minako's lips closed on Ami's. It might have been
sheer imagination, but Ami would swear that she saw a spark spring up at
that first contact. She saw nothing else for a long time, as her eyes
fluttered closed and her arms closed low around Minako's back. Ami felt
as if she was floating in a warm haze as the kiss stretched on. Finally,
Minako pulled back just a bit, and their heavy breathing fogged in the
cold night air.
"I told you it would be unforgettable." She said in a teasing whisper.
Ami looked at her with longing and rolled over, pushing Minako back
against the ground this time and looping her arms beneath Minako's
shoulders to cradle her head. Minako's golden hair spread beneath her
like a blanket as Ami kissed her, kissed her deeply and passionately,
with a fierceness that Ami hadn't guessed she could posses. Her body
clove to Minako's as if she wanted to meld with the other girl.
As the kisses deepened in intensity, they reached the point at which
they had to either stop or go further, and neither was willing to go
further just yet. So they slowed down, finally exchanging soft, wet
kisses and hugging each other tightly, laying on their side.
Ami smiled. "I love you." At those words, Minako froze, staring wide-
eyed at Ami. Quickly, Ami placed two fingers to the blonde Senshi's lips.
"Shhh...it's okay. You don't have to say anything. I think I understand
why you can't say it...and it's okay, Mina-chan...I know you feel it."
Tears welled up in Minako's eyes, and Ami felt them in her own as well.
They hugged tightly once again, their chins resting on eachother's
shoulders. Ami felt Minako's tears sliding hotly on her neck, and Ami
smiled. She hadn't made a conscious decision to tell Minako that, in
fact if she had thought about it she might have decided it was a bad
idea. But she did...she loved Minako. Ami had no idea when it had
finally happened, but she was now completely in love with the golden-
haired beauty she held in her arms. There was nobody else she wanted,
nothing more she more desired than to be with this girl.
"Ami-chan...you're wonderful." Minako said softly, sniffling a bit. Ami
pulled her head back and lightly kissed the tears from her love's face.
Minako closed her eyes and smiled. "I *do* feel it too, Ami-chan...and
I'll say it, I swear." She opened her eyes and looked at Ami
entreatingly. "I just need more time."
Ami smiled gently. "As much as you need." Minako looked up.
"Ami-chan...look." Looking up, Ami saw that it was snowing, an early
snow and the first one of the year. Both sat up, cuddling one another as
they watched the white flakes drift down into the dark lake. The whole
world seemed still and quiet.
As the snow began to stick around them, Ami sighed. "I guess we should
go before it starts falling any harder."
Minako smiled. "I guess so...but I don't feel cold at all."
"I don't think I'll ever feel cold again, as long as I'm with you Mina-
chan." Ami said. Minako hugged her a bit tighter.
"Ami..."
"Minako..."
It ended up taking a long while before they finally stood and left for
home, leaving their footprints in the light snowfall. And as Ami finally
lay in her bed, looking up at the ceiling, she could still feel the
warmth of her love, as if she were still lying beside her. And she knew
Minako felt the same.
-------------------
AUTHOR'S NOTES: For once in my life, I wanted to see a first date go off
without a hitch, even if I had to write it myself. I also thought it
would be interesting, as well as helpful for the story in the future,
to do the first date largely from Ami's point of view, rather than
Minako's.
So, after a long pause and a lot of work, the first date. But there's
much more to come as we enter Season 2, so stay tuned!
The characters of Sailormoon are not mine, but the bad guys are. Maybe
someday I'll use them to conquer Sailormoon, but not yet. Until then,
I'm making no money from them.
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