Sailor Moon Fan Fiction ❯ Best Friends ❯ Chapter 2

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

Chapter 2: Monday afternoon

Mizuno Ami was in a bad mood. She didn't really know why, but
she was. At first, she hadn't even realized it, of course. Such
emotional states were certainly not the norm for her. Her first
clue was when she ordered extra hot fudge on her sundae. The
second clue came when she realized that, even though she'd read
the passage in question three times, she had no idea what it was
she was reading.

Since reading without comprehension was clearly a waste of time,
Ami lowered her textbook and looked around the room. She sat in
the ice cream parlor that had served as a secondary clubhouse
(along with Rei's temple) for her and her friends since junior
high school. Unfortunately, she sat alone this afternoon. Rei
had duties at her temple, Usagi supposedly was in class, and
Minako had volleyball practice. Strangely enough, it was only
when Ami pondered the location of Makoto (at the gym) that a
feeling of loneliness hit her. Being alone was nothing strange
for Ami, but loneliness was. Thinking back to when it had
started, she could only recall that brief conversation she'd had
with Shinozaki Kenjo, Makoto's friend. 'I wonder why Makoto
never mentioned that her friend was in town,' Ami considered.
'Actually, I wonder why she never mentions him much at all. She
wouldn't keep it a secret if they were dating, would she?' For
some reason, this line of thought was making her feel even worse.

"Ami-chan, do you mind if I join you?"

There are few things more jarring than to have a friendly voice
interrupt one's contemplation of their solitude and this was no
exception. Especially disconcerting to Ami was the fact that she
recognized the voice immediately and it was no one she had ever
expected to see.

"Ryu-kun! When did you get back to Tokyo? Your school isn't on a
break," Ami noted.

Urawa Ryu took a seat across from Ami in the booth, setting a
bowl of ice cream down in front of himself. "Can't a guy check in
on one of his best friends when she's feeling a little down?"

"But, I'm not...well, I wasn't feeling down until just this
afternoon. How could you..."

Ryu laughed, "You haven't forgotten that I'm a psychic, I hope!
One of the benefits, aside from the good grades, is that I can be
there when my friends need me."

Ami's voice grew a bit stern. "You promised that you weren't
going to use your powers to improve your grades!" she admonished.

"I haven't been, I was just saying it was one of the benefits.
'Was', Ami-chan, not 'is.' Now, do you want to tell me what's
the matter?"

As Ami began to describe her day, in an attempt to pin down the
source of her discomfort, Ryu couldn't help but lose track of her
words. She was so very beautiful. The picture he kept in his
wallet did her no justice whatsoever. Though he'd had
girlfriends at college, those relationships never worked out, and
Ryu was smart enough to know that it was because none of them
could stand up against his image of Ami.

Though he'd tried over the years to resign himself to the fact
that Ami was only interested in him as a friend, it was still
difficult. Ever since she'd saved his life, so long ago, he'd
felt a bond to her. He knew that she felt comfortable with him
and considered him a close friend, but still, he always sensed
she held something back. More than anything, he wanted her to
open herself to him completely, to share the feelings that he
felt for her. Even though she'd told him in no uncertain terms
the last time they had met that she did not want anything other
than friendship, he never gave up that hope that he could
convince her to return his feelings. When the vision of her,
sitting alone in this place with an expression of exquisite
melancholia, had come to him, he'd boarded the next train back to
Tokyo. Somehow, he'd known that this was a turning point in both
of their lives. Besides, some opportunities were too good to pass
up.

Focusing back in on what she was saying, Ryu noticed that she
apparently had no idea why she was sad. However, she kept
mentioning her friend Makoto.

"Maybe I just feel hurt because Makoto did not trust me enough to
tell me that her good friend had come back to town," Ami
suggested.

"It could be that you're feeling left out," Ryu replied gently.
"After all, Makoto is with that Kenjo fellow. Usagi is all but
married to that Mamoru guy, right? And didn't you say that you
hardly ever see your friend Minako because she's always out on
dates?"

Ami looked uncertain. "I've never associated happiness with
boys. You know that. I suppose it would be nice to have someone
special, to share my life with, but I've always assumed that when
the time was right, it would happen."

"Well, you're getting older now. Your friends seem to be moving
into that phase of their lives. Maybe that time is approaching
for you as well."

Ami did not reply immediately. Instead, she let her mind wander,
toying with this idea of sharing herself completely. It would be
nice to come home after a long day at school to someone who took
joy in her presence, to share a meal, tell about each other's
day, relax in the safe, comfortable arms of someone you loved
with all of your being. Ami blushed as her daydream drifted
further, beyond comfort, to the realm of tight embraces, hot
kisses, shared passions...

Though he could not read minds (he was a psychic, not a
telepath!), Ryu sensed that Ami was beginning to warm to the idea
of a boyfriend. Now, all that was left was to insert himself
into that role. Suddenly, a searing pain in his temples, a flash
of light, and another vision.

***Ami stood on a balcony, looking out at the night sky. Stars
glittered dimly, almost completely obscured by the reflected
light of the city below. Over the rooftops, the moon hovered,
almost full. Though it was cool, she felt warm inside,
completely at peace. Someone approached her from behind and
gently slid their arms around her waist, leaning down to rest
their head on top of hers. With a contented sigh, she leaned
back against the one who was truly the source of her
contentedness, her peace, her joy and happiness. Slowly Ami's
head came to rest on the soft, warm chest of her dearest love.***

Ami did not notice Ryu tense up as his vision hit. She was truly
lost in the realm of her thoughts, as she lingered in this
fantasy of shared love and happiness. Still, these strange
memories kept interrupting.

*A month ago, sitting with Makoto in her living room, watching
television together: Ami dozes off and Makoto leans over to
wrap her in a blanket. The scent of Mako's perfume and the clean
blanket surround her as she senses the gentle touch of her
friend's fingers sliding it around her shoulders.*

*Seven years ago, at a school dance: the touch of Makoto's hand
as Ami pulled her out onto the dance floor. Chills run up her
arms and down her spine as she considers exactly how special and
beautiful this woman before her is.*

A sharp gasp from Ryu brought Ami out of her reverie.

"Oh my! Are you all right?" Ami asked with great concern, noting
how pale her friend had become.

"Fine," Ryu replied, catching his breath. "I'm fine, just a head
rush, probably from eating my ice cream too fast."

It wasn't him. He didn't know who it was, but he did know it
wasn't him. Ryu certainly was not the most muscular of young
men, but his chest had never been soft like that one had been. He
could still feel the sensation. 'I don't think any man has a
chest that soft,' he mused. Needing time to regroup, he stood
up.

"I'm sorry, Ami, I'm probably on the wrong track. You're a smart,
independent young woman, what do you need with any kind of
relationship. I must have confused you with those silly airheads
back at school. You're probably just worried about exams." Ryu
laughed, he hoped convincingly.

Ami smiled wistfully, "I suppose you are right. I do feel better
now. It certainly was sweet of you to come all this way just to
cheer me up. We didn't even get a chance to talk about you."

"That's fine, we'll catch up later. I'll be around for a few
days, but I'd better get going. Got some stuff to take care of."
Ryu bowed slightly and headed out.

After he left, Ami picked up her textbook, but almost immediately
set it back down. True, she was no longer feeling lonely, but
she did have a lingering air of melancholy. Out of habit, she
wondered what time Makoto might be done with her workout, before
recalling that she was probably with Shinozaki Kenjo right now.
That thought brought a sudden pang inside of her.

'Mizuno Ami,' she thought, 'none of this is doing you any good.
If you are lonely, you should seek out a friend. If Makoto is
busy, then you certainly have other friends who are _not_ busy
with secret boyfriends. I'm sure Rei is available.'

With that thought in mind, Ami gathered her things, paid her
check, and headed out to see Rei.