Sailor Moon Fan Fiction ❯ Bedtime Stories ❯ Chapter 2

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

"Bedtime Stories" by Desslok
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PART TWO
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"Ok Chibi, time for bed."

"Mommy, I want a story."

"A story! I love to tell stories. Once upon a time there was a
beautiful blonde princess...."

"No, Mommy! I want to hear a different story. Tell me a story
about Auntie Ami and Auntie Makoto. They told me about when they
first met, but I think I fell asleep just at the good part."

"Ami and Makoto? Hmmph. Well, ok I guess. Let's see...."

"When did you figure out that they were in love, Mommy?"

"Well, one day Mommy and her friends were sitting in the temple
having tea...."

-------
"Awwww, c'mon you guys.... it will be a lot of fun."

For the better part of a week, Minako had been bugging the rest
of the senshi to have a 'girls night out'. While no one really
opposed this suggestion (It had been ages since they'd done such
a thing), her particular idea had aroused considerably less
interest and support: Karaoke. Using her finely honed warrior
skills, Minako decided to focus her assault upon the most
vulnerable, and simultaneously, the most critical point.

"Usaaaagiiiiiii, you're the Moon Princess. Order them to come
along with us. I'll sing a duet with you. Any song you want!"
Usagi's blue eyes tightened as she considered the offer.

"Hmmmm... anything? Even that song by that hunky new boy band
from Kyoto?"

"Usagi! Won't you ever grow up!," Rei yelled. "We're in college
now. You're too old to be listening to those insipid boy bands!"

"Like those moldy oldies you listen to are worth singing, Rei"
Usagi replied. "I agree with Minako, we all need some time
together and karaoke will be fun!"

Glaring at Rei, she added quietly, "Even if some of us couldn't
carry a tune in a bucket."

"Ooooo, just you wait and see, 'princess'. I'm in!" Rei said,
banging the table and, perhaps not accidentally, spilling some
tea on Usagi.

While Usagi and Rei relived their teenage years by engaging in
one of their famous brawl/tantrums, and Minako struggled to
prevent the destruction of the tea set, Makoto and Ami shared a
smile. Leaning over, Makoto whispered in Ami's ear, "Do you want
to stop them, or should I? Or should we just let them get it out
of their systems?" 'She smells so nice, like a mountain stream
on a crisp spring day," Makoto thought as she paused ever so
briefly before pulling her head back.

Ami raised her hand to her mouth, to stifle a giggle. She hoped
that Makoto didn't notice the tremble, or that sudden shiver in
her shoulders. "I think I can stop them," she said with a sly
smile. Raising her voice, Ami announced, "After thinking it
over, I agree that karaoke will be a wonderful way for us to
spend some time together. I had the most interesting class last
semester on sociology and we did an entire unit on the role of
music in society. I'd love to see if some of the items we
discussed apply in our modern society."

"Aaaaammmiiiii, you're making our night out sound like a study
session," Usagi moaned, disengaging herself from Rei and sitting
back at the table as if nothing unusual had occurred. (For
indeed, nothing had.)

"Yeah, Aims, we want to sing, not do a research paper," Rei
agreed. "And if we go, you have to sing too. The last time we
went, you didn't sing even one song."

Ami blushed, "I suppose it would not be fair for me not to sing.
Maybe I can join one of you on stage."

Makoto smiled, "I think I could handle that. We can do back up
for Usagi or Mina. Well, I've gotta get going. See ya!" Makoto
rose to leave, but paused at the door. "Hey Aims, I thought you
had to get home early tonight to study. Want me to walk you
home?"

"Oh dear, I'd lost track of the time," Ami replied, gathering her
things. "Thank you, Mako, that would be fun!"

As the two of them left, Minako turned to her soon-to-be co-
conspirators and said, "See? Do you believe me now?"
-----------------------------

"....and so, later that day, we made some plans."

"Mommy, you mean Auntie Mina figured it out first? I thought you
were the Moon Princess. Why didn't you guess?"

"Well, she IS the Senshi of Love, dear, and I was...distracted..
by your father. She may have noticed first, but what happened
later was all my idea."

------------------------------
"Usagi, they sat about 3 inches apart, they never took their eyes
off each other, and when they left they were all but holding
hands. Haven't you wondered why Ami spends so much time over at
Makoto's? I know that she's lonely since her mom moved to
Germany, but they might as well go buy a condo together they're
together so often. Why are you having a problem seeing what is
right in front of you!" Rei shouted.

"But if they were... that way..."

"The word is 'lesbian', meatball head. I'd think you'd have
picked it up after we finally explained to you about Haruka and
Michiru," Rei interrupted.

"I know that, Rei," Usagi replied pointedly. "As I was saying,
if they were, then why wouldn't they tell us. They know that
we'll always love them no matter what."

Minako sighed. "That's the thing, Usagi. I don't think THEY
know it yet. Makoto is really only happy when Ami is around, but
even then, she's still got all of those defenses up. Haven't you
noticed that the only times she mentions her old sempai are when
one of us catches her staring at Ami, or when Ami notices?"

"Poor Ami!" Usagi whined. "No wonder she always seems so sad.
Considering how freaked out she got over those love letters, I
can't imagine she'd ever get the nerve to say anything to another
girl. No wonder she studies so hard."

Rei bashed Usagi on the head with a pillow. "Crying about it
isn't going to help our friends! What are we going to do about
it? Should we talk to them?"

"Can you imagine?" Minako laughed. "'Hey Ami, I couldn't help
noticing that every time Makoto is nearby you blush and stammer
even as you move closer and closer to her. Heck girl, I think
she likes you too! You should go for it.' The poor thing would
implode from the embarrassment."

"Yeah, and Makoto would either knock my block off or start
drooling over the next guy that walked by just to avoid the
issue," Rei agreed.

As Rei and Minako chuckled over the mental images they'd
constructed, Usagi frowned and bit her lip, deep in thought.
Slowly, a smile crossed her face. "I think I've got it, but
we'll have to work together. First, neither of you can sing with
them tomorrow night..."
-------------------------------

As Rei and Usagi mismatched yet another attempt at harmony,
Makoto winced. Minako had been right, though. This was a fun
night. Makoto couldn't remember the last time all five of them
had gone out together. The superiority of her cooking to the
food in Usagi's residence hall assured her of at least one visit
a week from the moon princess, but Rei was more and more
preoccupied with business at her temple, espeically since her
grandfather had passed on last season. Minako didn't enjoy the
food in her residence hall any more than Usagi did, but not being
bound to one man by fate meant that she had a lot more boys
buying her meals. Sometimes Makoto wondered if Minako had paid
for any food or any drink since starting college. And Ami, well
since Ami lived alone now too, it only made sense that they spend
a lot of time together. Makoto sighed wistfully and turned her
attention back to the 'music'.

They announced Minako's name as Rei and Usagi sat back down. As
the young blonde left toward the stage, Rei turned to Ami,
snapping her fingers in front of her eyes. "Mars to Mercury,
come in Mercury!" she laughed. "What's up, Aims? Worried about
singing in public?"

"No, Rei, I was just thinking about something."

At first, it had been hard when her mom had left. Ami understood
intellectually how important this opportunity was to her mother.
She also knew that she could never leave Tokyo, though perhaps
she didn't know exactly why that was. It had been hard, at
first, but having such wonderful friends had made it easier.
Especially Makoto. She made excellent sandwiches, and other
foods as well and seemed to enjoy feeding her. Dinners together
had lengthened till now they spent most evenings together
studying, watching TV, or just sitting together chatting. All in
all, Ami had been quite content with the way things had worked
out. It was quite a shock, therefore, when she received her
first grade that semester: a B+ on a political science essay. It
was all Makoto's fault of course; keeping her up talking till
late in the night, insisting on going shopping on the weekends,
making meals that took both hands to eat and required her
presence at the dining room table. Sandwiches eaten over the
sink made much more sense while studying!

"Still," Ami reflected, "the last few months have been a lot of
fun." As she pondered, Ami realized something new. She felt
different inside. Something that previously she had only felt in
brief bursts, usually after saving the day with her friends, had
now taken up permanent residence inside her. She felt light,
free. "Oh my. Has it been so long....that I'd forgotten what it
is like to be happy?" She looked over to Makoto, hoping that the
dim light in the club would hide the blush she could feel on her
cheek. "I only feel this way when you are near, Mako-chan," she
thought. Though she knew that was a strange thought, it made Ami
feel kind of warm and safe, so she let it linger.

"Ami, I'm losing you again!" Rei shouted, poking Ami in the
side. "Mina is finishing up and I think Usagi is next." Rei
crossed her arms and pointed to Ami with a wicked smile. "And
that means you!"

Usagi simply watched Ami. During Minako's entire song, Ami's
eyes had not left Makoto. Usagi doubted Ami had even heard Rei
speak. The longing in those blue eyes almost brought a tear to
her own. "There are more important things than school, Ami.
Please realize that for yourself, before its too late. Please
let this work the way I've hoped."

Usagi rose, clapping and hooting for her friend. Turning, she
extended hands toward Makoto and Ami. "Ok, ladies. This is it.
You promised to sing and I'm holding you to it. Now come on!"
"But what are we going to sing, Usagi?" Makoto asked with
puzzled smile. "You've been so secretive about it. If you'd
given me some warning I could have practiced or something. I
know my lousy voice is going to ruin your song."

Rei and Minako exchanged glances and burst into laughter. "As if
anyone's voice could out-lousy meatball head's cackling!" Rei
snorted.

"I think you all have beautiful voices," Ami said quietly.
"Especially you, Mako. You will do just fine, I am certain. I
will try not to ruin it for the two of you."

"Oh hush now and come on, its our turn!" Usagi grabbed them both
and dragged them to the front of the stage. "Its an American
song, just read the words and sing along."
---------------------------

"Momma, Daddy says your English is so bad that you never got more
than a 48 on a test in school. How did you sing a song in
English?"

"Songs are different, sweetie, and I did too do better than that
in school! He said that, did he? I think your Daddy has some
explaining to do!"

"What does all this have to do with them knowing they loved each
other?"

"I'm getting to it, if you'll just let me finish!"

"Don't yell at me, meatball head mommy!"

"Don't call me that! Anyway, the three of us went up to
sing...."

------------

"Ok girls," Usagi whispered, "this is something special to me
'cause of Mamoru. I'll start out, and then we'll each do a
verse, Ok?'

And the music began to play a song that neither Ami nor Makoto
were familiar with. They were both able to follow the lyrics,
though. After the first verse, Usagi squeezed Makoto's hand and
Makoto sang:

"I tell myself that I can't hold out forever.
I said there is no reason for my fear.
Cause I feel so secure when we're together.
You give my life direction, you make everything so clear.
And even as I wander, I'm keeping you in sight.
You're a candle in the window on a cold, dark winter's night.
And I'm getting closer than I ever thought I might."

As she finished her verse and Usagi took up the next verse,
Makoto looked over at Ami, heart in her throat. Ami simply
stared back at her, confusion and terror on her face. "I'm not
singing to her, I'm not. I'm just helping Usagi. She's just
nervous about singing. Please don't let her guess. I can't lose
her, I can't."

"Your turn, Ami," Usagi whispered quickly, "and then we all do
the big finale together!"

Ami quickly thanked the kami for the distraction, and she sang in
a soft, hesitant voice:

"My life has been such a whirlwind since I saw you.
I've been running around in circles in my mind.
And it always seems that I'm following you, girl,
cause you take me to the places that alone I'd never find."

She stopped, a bit early. As Usagi jumped into the vacuum, Ami
dared a look over at Makoto. Her own thoughts and emotions were
swirling too quickly for her to grasp. Like a ship adrift in a
storm, she looked for a safe harbor, but Makoto's eyes were just
as stormy as her own. "She knows, she knows how I feel and she's
angry. But I can't help it, I can't stop it. Oh Mako-chan
please don't be angry with me."

Usagi's nails biting into her palm brought her back to the
moment. As if from a great distance, Ami could hear Makoto
singing.

"And I can't fight this feeling anymore.
I've forgotten what I started fighting for.
It's time to bring this ship into the shore,
and throw away the oars forever.
Cause I can't fight this feeling anymore,
I've forgotten what I started fighting for.
And if I have to crawl across the floor,
come crashing through the..."

"NO!" Ami shouted, "I can't do this!" Tears streamed down her
face as she ran from the stage. Pushing through the crowd, she
grabbed her jacket and, ignoring Minako and Rei's concern, dashed
outside.

"Ami! Wait!" Makoto shouted. Turning to Usagi, she growled,
"Are you happy now? If anything happens to her...." Without
further comment, and without stopping for her coat, Makoto ran
after Ami.
--------------------

"...and they lived happily ever after!"

"Mommy! That's not a happy ending. You were supposed to tell me
about when they fell in love, not when you made a mess of
everything and got them all mad and upset!"

"I did tell you, sweet one. The next time we saw them, they were
together and blissfully happy. Obviously, I saved the day! I am
a champion of love and justice, after all."

"But what happened, Momma!"

"Hmmm, well, I'm not sure exactly what happened. They just told
us that they'd worked it all out. Now, you go to sleep, little
girl! You have a big day tomorrow. Mommy and Daddy have to go
on a tour so you'll be spending the evening with your Aunties
Haruka and Michiru."

"Ok, Mommy. G'night..."