Sailor Moon Fan Fiction ❯ Happily Ever After or Something Like That ❯ Misunderstandings ( Chapter 14 )
[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]
By: deadlydiva 
Anime/Manga: Sailor Moon Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Romance / Drama | Type: Continuation | Uploaded On: 10.25.2004 | Updated On: 08.20.2006 | Pages: 6 | Words: 4.7K | Visits: 527 | Status: Work In Progress
Anime/Manga: Sailor Moon Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Romance / Drama | Type: Continuation | Uploaded On: 10.25.2004 | Updated On: 08.20.2006 | Pages: 6 | Words: 4.7K | Visits: 527 | Status: Work In Progress
DISCLAIMER: I still don’t own BSSM.
AN: Sorry it took so long to update. I wanted to get another chapter of DSotM out before I started on this one again. (Writer’s block bites!!!) Never fear though, I’ve already started the next chapter of this wonderful fic.
Ami slowly inhaled. She looked at the women sitting in the booth with her. These were her closest friends. Yet, Ami felt compelled to keep this secret.
“Ami-chan, are you going to say something?” Makoto waved her hand in front of Ami’s face.
“Sorry, I was just pondering the preposterous nature of your statements.” Ami attempted to go back to her book.
“Hmpf!” Minako snatched the book form Ami’s hand. “You’re not getting off that easy. If I had to spill all the details of my escapades, so do you.”
Ami shook her head. “I’ve already told you everything there is to tell. Taiki is merely a friend. Nothing more.”
Minako opened her mouth to rebuff Ami when an analog version of ‘Moonlight Densetsu’ began to play.
“OK, who has that cheesy song as their cell phone ring?” Usagi asked.
The culprit was revealed as Rei answered her phone.
“Moshi, Moshi.” Rei quickly rummaged through her purse and pulled out a pen. “Hai…I see…what time…that gives me less than an hour…fine, fine. I’ll be there. Bye.” Rei pushed the off button on her cell phone.
“What was that all about?” Usagi asked.
Rei sighed. “I have to go to the studio. One of Yuuichirou’s back-up singers has laryngitis so they want me to fill in.” Rei pulled some money from her bag and placed it on the table.
“I’m sorry guys. I’ll have to wait to hear Ami’s rationalization of her relationship with Taiki.” Rei dashed out of Crown.
Jadeite watched despondently as Rei left. ‘Why can’t she see how much I love her? Why won’t she let me near her?’
“Earth to Jadeite. Earth to Jadeite.” Nephrite snapped his fingers. “Man sitting her watching Rei walk away isn’t going to get you any closer to her. You have to act to get what you desire.”
Jadeite slowly turned back to Nephrite. “I know. I’m trying not to resort to tricks and manipulations. I want her to come to me because she realizes that she loves me. Not because I tricked her.”
Jadeite noticed a sappy look in Nephrite eyes. “Did I say something amusing?”
Nephrite wiped an imaginary tear from his eye. “My little boy is…growing up.”
Jadeite threw a straw wrapper at Nephrite. Nephrite laughed in return.
“Oh hell.” Jadeite grabbed his two-way pager off his hip. He read the message on the blue LCD screen. “I have to go to the office.”
Nephrite shook his head. “What’s the point of owning your own company if you can’t delegate?”
“Just because you sit back and let Mako-chan do all the work at the restaurant doesn’t mean we all shirk our duties.”
“Whatever Jadeite. Don’t be bitter my friend. One day you may not have to sleep alone.”
Jadeite glared at Nephrite. He decided not to let Nephrite rile him. Jadeite picked up his car keys.
“I’ll see you later…if Makoto lets you out of the house.”
Nephrite gave Jadeite a dirty look as the sandy haired man exited.
Minako noticed Jadeite’s swift exit. She began twirling her hair around her finger.
‘I wonder,’ she thought. Minako dug around her purse A Palm Pilot emerged. Minako began tapping the screen with the stylus.
“Minako, what are you doing?” Makoto asked.
“Reconnaissance,” Minako replied.
“Minako-chan, what kind of reconnaissance are you doing?” Ami was worried. She knew that Minako had the same unrelenting determination as her lover. Once Minako locked in on a target, only an apocalypse would stop her.
Minako gave Ami a knowing look. “You’ll see.”
Minako put her Palm Pilot away. She looked over to Usagi. “You and Makoto meet me at my house in an hour. I think I know a way to make Rei see the light about Jadeite.”
Usagi got a strange look on her face. “Minako-chan…”
“Just get there.”
<<DING>>
The girls looked over to see Zoicite enter Crown. Ami felt her heart rate increase. Her body temperature was rising and her pupils had dilated. She was scared. Better yet, terrified. Ami’s mind flashed back to that night.
“I have to go,” Ami blurted out.
“Huh?” Usagi asked.
“I just remembered. I’m doing a presentation and I want to review my material one more time.” Ami gather her belongings, left money for her share of the bill and dashed out of Crown.
“Ami has to work on her subtle exits,” Makoto remarked.
Usagi and Minako agreed.
“Minako, since it’s just us, why don’t you tell us about your big plan?”
Minako looked around Crown suspiciously. “Not here. The walls have ears,” she whispered.
“Why the need for all the intrigue? Just spill.” Makoto hated when Minako slipped into secret agent mode.
“Seriously Mako-chan, we have to do this privately. You never know who may be listening.” Minako threw a look to Nephrite and Zoicite.
Usagi followed Minako’s gaze to Nephrite and Zoicite. She nudged Makoto and indicated the reason for Minako’s stealth tactics.
“My house in an hour?” Minako repeated.
Usagi and Makoto nodded. They went in different directions as they exited Crown.
Nephrite and Zoicite watched as Minako, Usagi and Makoto left.
“She didn’t even say good-bye. I think she’s starting to take me for granted,” Nephrite playfully said.
“At least she speaks to you.” Zoicite was sulking. Every time he got in this type of mood, he furrowed his brow. Today, Zoicite was sporting enough creases to put a Shar Pei to shame.
“Zoicite, what’s going on?”
Zoicite looked around Crown to make sure no one was close enough to hear him.
“Come on! I don’t have all day. Unlike you, I HAVE a woman to go home to.”
“Okay, okay…”
* * * * *FLASHBACK* * * * *
Ami tapped her pencil on her notebook.
“Uggh! This is ridiculous.”
She flipped back to check her notes. An unknown hand turned back to the problem she was working on.
“I believe the answer is y = cos x/x.”
Ami looked at the problem incredulously. “I can’t believe it was staring me in the face the whole time.”
Ami inserted the solution in the original problem to make sure that it worked.
“Thank you so much. How can I thank you?” Ami never looked up from her notebook.
“How about dinner tonight?”
“What?” Ami slowly turned around to see whom she was talking to. “What makes you think that I would go to dinner with some random man I met at the library?” Ami looked up to see an amused Zoicite staring at her.
“Let’s just call it wishful thinking.”
Ami looked into Zoicite’s eyes. ’Big mistake,’ she thought.
Before her mind could object, her mouth agreed to share a meal with her former lover.
“I’ll pick up at 8:00. Okay?”
Ami nodded.
“Until milady.” Zoicite kissed the back of Ami’s hand and left.
Ami simply stared at the back of her hand. Warmth lingered at the spot where Zoicite’s lips met her hand.
‘Don’t you have something you need to be doing right now?’ Ami’s inner voice reminded.
Ami jumped up. She gathered her study materials and left the library.
On the drive to her apartment, Ami’s mind was in overdrive. She wasn’t sure that she was doing the right thing. Ami looked at the clock in the dash. It was 5:00 p.m. She only had a few hours to get ready for her date with Zoicite.
‘Who said anything about a date? This is just a meal. Two people can share a meal together without it meaning anything.’
Why had she even accepted the offer? Ami knew why she did it. She had to find out once and for all what she felt for the blond general. Ami did not appreciate the uncertainty surrounding the situation. Zoicite was proving to be more perplexing than any mathematical equation.
Ami was so deep in thought that she nearly drove past her apartment building. She slammed on her brakes, much to the chagrin of those traveling behind her. Ami turned in her seat and mouthed a sorry through her rearview window. The driver behind her smiled as an acceptance of her apology. Ami turned into her building’s underground parking lot. As she went to turn the car off, a really old song began playing on the radio.
{It’s been a long time since you left me}
{I didn’t mean to make you cry}
{I didn’t mean to disappoint you}
{I didn’t mean to tell you lies}
Ami abruptly turned the car off. She didn’t need some sappy love song impairing her judgment. There would be no blind faith tonight. Decisions would be made based on facts and logic.
* * * * *
Zoicite sat in his apartment staring at the glass in his hand. The scotch inside was a testament to his nervousness. Zoicite had been trying for months to get Ami to go out with him. Each time, she flatly refused. Tonight was his chance. Zoicite looked at the glass of scotch again.
* * * * *
As Ami perused her closet for something decent to wear, she realized she had no idea where she Zoicite was taking her. Ami instinctively reached for her phone.
“Damn, I can’t call them.”
Ami put the phone back. She couldn’t call her friends for their opinion. Each of them had a vested interest in the outcome of this date.
Ami plopped down on the bed. This was harder than she remembered. The last date she went on was over a year ago.
‘Maybe I should just call and cancel,’ Ami thought. Then she realized that she didn’t have Zoicite’s telephone number. Ami attacked her wardrobe once again. This time she would find something.
* * * * *
Zoicite emerged from the shower wit his towel around his waist. He stood in front of the bathroom mirror and began his meticulous grooming ritual. He towel dried his blond curly hair so that it was wet, but not dripping. Zoicite applied the thermal conditioning lotion to his hair before blow-drying it. He pulled out a hand mirror and examined all sides of his golden mane. Zoicite searched his medicine cabinet for his silicone based anti-frizz serum. This style wouldn’t last the walk to the car, much less the night he had planned, without it. Zoicite searched through various pomades, gels and mousses.
“Where the hell is it?!” Zoicite was becoming frustrated. He moved a bottle of tea tree styling wax.
“About time.” Zoicite applied the serum to his hair. He pulled it back into a sleek ponytail at the nape of his neck. He then shook his head a few times.
“Polished, yet touchable.”
Zoicite preferred this product because it made his golden locks shine like glass without a sticky or gummy residue. Finally satisfied with his hair, Zoicite walked into his bedroom to put his clothes on.
* * * * *
Ami gave herself one last look over. She wasn’t overly pleased with her outfit, but it would have to do. Ami’s deep purple wrap dress grazed her calf. She bent over to make sure that her knee high black leather boots were zipped.
“It’s missing something.”
Ami rummaged through a clear plastic box. She pulled out three small silver butterfly clips. Ami made three flat twists in the front of her head and used the clips to hold them in place.
“This will have to.”
<<BUZZ>>
Ami walked over to the intercom.
“Yes.”
“Mizuno-san, there is a young man here to see you.”
“Thank you Jin. Send him up.”
Ami felt her heartbeat quicken. She could hear it beating in her ears.
‘Calm down. It’s just Zoicite.’ Ami took a deep breath and waited for the arrival of her guest.
* * * * *
‘Damn, this elevator is taking forever.’ Zoicite paced in the small elevator. At last, the elevator reached Ami’s floor. He got out and looked down the corridor.
“Apartment 1041,” Zoicite said, repeating what the doorman told him. Finally, he found the right door.
“It’s now or never.” Zoicite knocked on the gray metal door.
“It’s open.”
Zoicite cautiously opened the door. The apartment was immaculate. There was definitely a peaches and cream motif. Zoicite removed his shoes and walked into the living room. He sat down on the peach leather and waited for Ami. Zoicite scrutinized the apartment. From his vantage point, Zoicite could see a closed door. In fact, it was the only closed door. He surmised that it had to be her bedroom. Zoicite fought the urge to see what was behind the door.
‘What could be taking so long?’ Zoicite wondered.
Ami was sitting on her bed staring at her watch. Minako had once told he that you should never appear anxious. If possible, have someone else answer your door. If not, the object of your desire should let himself in. That way you can make an entrance. Ami speculated whether she wanted Zoicite.
Ami looked at her watch again. Her three minutes were up. She stood up and gave herself one last look in the mirror.
“Here goes nothing.”
Zoicite spun around upon hearing the mysterious door open.
“You clean up good Ami-chan.”
“So do you Zoicite.” Ami gave him the once over. He was wearing a cornflower blue button down shirt with gray slacks. She walked up to him and ran her fingers through his ponytail.
“I see all that time you spent with Kunzite has paid off.”
Zoicite was taken aback. “What do you mean by that?”
Ami flicked Zoicite’s ponytail. “How did you get your hair so straight?”
Zoicite blushed. “You…you don’t like it?” He hurried to undo the ponytail. Ami reached out for his hand.
“Don’t you dare!”
As Ami grabbed Zoicite’s hand, she lost her balance. Before she knew it, Ami was on top of Zoicite.
“Umm…” Ami scrambled to get up. A pair of arms wrapping around her waist prevented her actions.
“And where are you going?” Zoicite tightened his grip on Ami.
“I was just --”
Ami was stunned by the kisses that began to trail down her neck. She opened her mouth to protest, but all that came out was a low moan. Zoicite reached for the light behind him. For the first time in Ami’s life, she turned up the Jodeci.
* * * * *END OF FLASHBACK* * * * *
“Bloody hell, Nephrite exclaimed. The entire clientele of Crown looked at Nephrite and Zoicite.
“Can you keep your voice down?” Zoicite turned toward the crowd. “Sorry, the asylum only lets him out once a month.”
“Dude!” Nephrite gave Zoicite the dirtiest look he could muster. “I should beat the --”
“Gentlemen, when will the two of you learn to get along?” Kunzite sat down next to Zoicite.
“It seems that our little friend is having a bit of trouble with a certain young lady,” Nephrite smirked.
“Is Ami still giving you the cold shoulder?” Kunzite mussed the tope of Zoicite’s hair.
“Actually,” Nephrite began as Zoicite was giving him a death stare, “She lit his fire, but now she wants nothing to do with him.”
Kunzite let out a loud laugh. He was laughing so hard that his side began to ache.
“Have we lost our touch?” Kunzite managed to say between laughs.
Zoicite dropped his head into his hands. “It’s not that. I just thought that after that night things would get easier.”
Zoicite punched the wall next to him. “Damn it. Why is she doing this?”
Kunzite had no snappy comeback. He did not know a way to make one of his oldest friends feel better, so he did the only thing he could. Kunzite put his hand on Zoicite’s shoulder. Zoicite angrily brushed it away.
“I don’t want your pity.”
Nephrite observed the torment in Zoicite’s eyes. HE was tempted to seek answers from the heavens. However, Nephrite remembered Setsuna’s warning. Zoicite was going to have to go through this the hard way.
“Zoicite, you know Ami. She probably has a perfectly logical reason for her actions,” Nephrite said.
“Logical? A logical reason for freezing me out after what we shared?!”
“Zoicite, calm down.” Kunzite was trying to stave off another embarrassing scene.
“Calm down? You calm down Kunzite. You weren’t there. You didn’t see what I saw.”
* * * * *FLASHBACK* * * * *
Ami was breathing heavily. Her body was sore in places that she never knew possible. She looked up into Zoicite’s green eyes. Releasing a light sigh, she wrapped her arms around the slender blond man. Ami could see that all his hard work straightening his hair had been in vain. However, he still smelled of cedar. Ami made a mental note to find what cologne he used. She wanted to make sure he always had some.
Zoicite stared at the water goddess beneath him. In that moment he felt complete. Zoicite wanted nothing more than to spend the remainder of days in Ami’s arms.
As Ami lie on the couch, she began to feel increasingly uncomfortable. “Zoicite, I don’t feel too good.”
Alarmed, Zoicite responded, “Oh God are you alright? Do you need to see a doctor?”
Ami laughed. “More like a shower.”
Zoicite got up to let Ami go to the bathroom. She looked over her shoulder at Zoicite.
“I don’t see the sense of wasting more hot water than necessary.” She winked and motioned for Zoicite to accompany her.
Zoicite raised an eyebrow and eagerly followed his love.
* * * * *END OF FLASHBACK* * * * *
“We really connected. It wasn’t just physical. I could feel her letting me back in.” Zoicite was distraught.
Unbeknownst to his associates, Kunzite had developed a taste for gossip. Like Minako, he needed every torrid detail.
“Okay, so what happened after the shower,” Kunzite inquired.
“Well after…wait! What does that have to do with Ami not speaking to me?”
“Fine don’t tell me. How am I supposed to gauge her reaction without all the details?” Kunzite threw up his hands in exasperation.
“You know, I thought we bonded after the whole Minako and Yaten thing. But I see I was wrong.” Kunzite made sniffling sounds to illustrate how hurt he was.
“Give it a rest Kunzite. You’re no better than Minako, always digging for information.”
Kunzite sneered at Nephrite. “How am I supposed to come up with an effective strategy if I don’t know exactly what I’m dealing with?”
“Whatever Kunzite. As I was saying, everything was good. We walked about what we wanted out of a relationship. Ami and I were on the same page. At least I thought we were.”
“So what happened? Something had to have happened for a complete about face.”
“Nephrite, if I knew, do you think I’d be here with you?” Zoicite snapped.
“All I am saying is there’s something going on. I’m sure of it.”
Nephrite had a nagging suspicion about this. However, he would say nothing until he was sure.
Zoicite had paused in thought. “Things were fine for about 3 weeks. Then Ami had to go to the States in business. When she got back, she was cold. I didn’t even know that she came back. I happened to see her out shopping one day. Next thing I know, Ami and Taiki are attached at the hip.
Nephrite and Kunzite nodded knowingly.
* * * * *
“Thank you so much for picking me up.” Ami slouched in the leather seat of her sports car.
“You’re going to have to trade this in for a roomier vehicle one day”
“I don’t think so Taiki. Who made that rule?” Ami grabbed her bottle of water from the cup holder and took a sip.
Taiki took a long look at Ami. Her face was flush. It was obvious she had been running. As a matter of fact, she was at least six blocks from Crown when he picked her up.
“What has you on the run Ami-chan?”
“Huh,” Ami replied.
“Such a high IQ and the best you can come up with is huh?” Taiki laughed. “Let me approach this from a different angle. How is Zoicite doing this fine day?”
Taiki saw Ami’s entire body tense. His presumption was accurate. Recently all of Ami’s troubles began and ended with the blond man from her past.
“Have you decided what you’re going to do?”
“Taiki!”
“Ami you’re going to have to make a choice. Time is running out.”
Ami sat motionless. She couldn’t bring herself to make this decision. Ami wasn’t where she wanted to be in her career. Could she handle the extra responsibility? Even though she knew friends would support any choice she made, she still did not know what to do. Then there was Zoicite. Should she tell him? Did he deserve knowing? Would he even care? Ami often wondered what kind of father he would be. Ami shook her head. Was a life with Zoicite really an option?
“Ami.” Taiki tapped her shoulder. “Ami.”
Taiki’s voice brought Ami back from the land of what-ifs. She looked into the soulful lavender eyes of her companion.
“I don’t know Taiki. I just don’t know.”
Taiki pulled over and parked the car. He unlatched his seat belt. “I’m sorry. It’s just that I’m worried about you. This isn’t something that you can keep a secret. It’s not going to go away. Eventually someone is going to find out.”
“Don’t you think I know that,” Ami angrily spat. “I think about it every day. Every time I’m bent over my toilet, I remember. Every time I look into Zoicite’s eyes, I’m reminded of that night.”
A single tear escaped form Ami’s eye.
“If I had been more careful, this wouldn’t be happening. I could be with--”
“Zoicite,” Taiki inserted.
“That wasn’t what I was going to say,” Ami nervously responded.
“Sure Ami-chan.” Taiki grabbed the water bottle from Ami’s hand.
“Hey!”
“I’m holding this water hostage until you admit you love Zoicite.”
Ami glared at Taiki. He of all people should have known it wasn’t that easy to paint Mizuno Ami into a corner. Ami stuck out her tongue at the bewildered Taiki Kou as she pulled out a fresh bottle of water.
“You are a sly one Ami-chan.” Taiki placed the now useless water bottle in the cup holder.
Ami looked wistfully out the window. “I want a man that loves me for me. I want devotion, not obligation.”
“I see.” Taiki started the car and drove to Ami’s building. “I’m going to pick up dinner. Any requests?”
“Chicken and dumplings. Minus the dumplings.”
Taiki was confused. “So you want dumplings?”
“No. I want chicken and dumplings from the new American place downtown.”
“Why didn’t you say so?”
“I did.” Ami opened the car door.
“Ami,” Taiki called out.
She looked out.
“Please talk to Zoicite.”
Ami sighed and closed the car door.
* * * * *
“Number 22...”
Taiki looked at the receipt in his hand. Realizing his number had been called; he went to the counter to get his order.
“Arigato.” Taiki turned quickly to leave the crowded restaurant. While maneuvering through the people, he thought he heard someone call his name. Taiki stopped momentarily. He listened to see if he’d hear it again.
“Taiki-san! Taiki-san!”
Taiki soon found himself face to face with a harried Naru.
“Uhh…hi.”
“You probably don’t remember me. We met once in high school, then again at Usagi’s wedding.”
‘Usagi’s wedding?!’
“I was with your friend Seiya.”
‘Seiya?!’
“I was wondering how he was doing. You know, after what happened.”
Ever since that warm August day, no one really mentioned Seiya. Taiki had blocked out all thoughts of Seiya. Six months later, it was still too fresh.
“Seiya’s…on vacation. He just needs some time to himself.”
Naru reached in her handbag and pulled out an envelope. “Could you possibly get this to him? It’s not that I don’t believe you. I just want to know for myself that he’s alright.”
Naru handed the letter to Taiki. He looked at it strangely.
“I’ll make sure that he gets it.”
“Thank you so much Taiki-san.” Naru threw herself into Taiki’s arms, causing him to nearly drop Ami’s dinner.
“Well, I’ll be seeing you.” Taiki pushed the door open with his shoulder and left.
“Oh you’ll be seeing me. All of you will be seeing me.” Naru walked up to the counter. “Can I get the fried chicken meal, no cole slaw?”
***There it is. Read and review. It’s good for the soul. Thank you all who take the time to review. It’s the push I need to get off my bum and write. ***
P.S. The lyrics are from a song called "One More Try" by Timmy T. Shout out to all my freestyle heads.
The Deadly Diva
AN: Sorry it took so long to update. I wanted to get another chapter of DSotM out before I started on this one again. (Writer’s block bites!!!) Never fear though, I’ve already started the next chapter of this wonderful fic.
Ami slowly inhaled. She looked at the women sitting in the booth with her. These were her closest friends. Yet, Ami felt compelled to keep this secret.
“Ami-chan, are you going to say something?” Makoto waved her hand in front of Ami’s face.
“Sorry, I was just pondering the preposterous nature of your statements.” Ami attempted to go back to her book.
“Hmpf!” Minako snatched the book form Ami’s hand. “You’re not getting off that easy. If I had to spill all the details of my escapades, so do you.”
Ami shook her head. “I’ve already told you everything there is to tell. Taiki is merely a friend. Nothing more.”
Minako opened her mouth to rebuff Ami when an analog version of ‘Moonlight Densetsu’ began to play.
“OK, who has that cheesy song as their cell phone ring?” Usagi asked.
The culprit was revealed as Rei answered her phone.
“Moshi, Moshi.” Rei quickly rummaged through her purse and pulled out a pen. “Hai…I see…what time…that gives me less than an hour…fine, fine. I’ll be there. Bye.” Rei pushed the off button on her cell phone.
“What was that all about?” Usagi asked.
Rei sighed. “I have to go to the studio. One of Yuuichirou’s back-up singers has laryngitis so they want me to fill in.” Rei pulled some money from her bag and placed it on the table.
“I’m sorry guys. I’ll have to wait to hear Ami’s rationalization of her relationship with Taiki.” Rei dashed out of Crown.
Jadeite watched despondently as Rei left. ‘Why can’t she see how much I love her? Why won’t she let me near her?’
“Earth to Jadeite. Earth to Jadeite.” Nephrite snapped his fingers. “Man sitting her watching Rei walk away isn’t going to get you any closer to her. You have to act to get what you desire.”
Jadeite slowly turned back to Nephrite. “I know. I’m trying not to resort to tricks and manipulations. I want her to come to me because she realizes that she loves me. Not because I tricked her.”
Jadeite noticed a sappy look in Nephrite eyes. “Did I say something amusing?”
Nephrite wiped an imaginary tear from his eye. “My little boy is…growing up.”
Jadeite threw a straw wrapper at Nephrite. Nephrite laughed in return.
“Oh hell.” Jadeite grabbed his two-way pager off his hip. He read the message on the blue LCD screen. “I have to go to the office.”
Nephrite shook his head. “What’s the point of owning your own company if you can’t delegate?”
“Just because you sit back and let Mako-chan do all the work at the restaurant doesn’t mean we all shirk our duties.”
“Whatever Jadeite. Don’t be bitter my friend. One day you may not have to sleep alone.”
Jadeite glared at Nephrite. He decided not to let Nephrite rile him. Jadeite picked up his car keys.
“I’ll see you later…if Makoto lets you out of the house.”
Nephrite gave Jadeite a dirty look as the sandy haired man exited.
Minako noticed Jadeite’s swift exit. She began twirling her hair around her finger.
‘I wonder,’ she thought. Minako dug around her purse A Palm Pilot emerged. Minako began tapping the screen with the stylus.
“Minako, what are you doing?” Makoto asked.
“Reconnaissance,” Minako replied.
“Minako-chan, what kind of reconnaissance are you doing?” Ami was worried. She knew that Minako had the same unrelenting determination as her lover. Once Minako locked in on a target, only an apocalypse would stop her.
Minako gave Ami a knowing look. “You’ll see.”
Minako put her Palm Pilot away. She looked over to Usagi. “You and Makoto meet me at my house in an hour. I think I know a way to make Rei see the light about Jadeite.”
Usagi got a strange look on her face. “Minako-chan…”
“Just get there.”
<<DING>>
The girls looked over to see Zoicite enter Crown. Ami felt her heart rate increase. Her body temperature was rising and her pupils had dilated. She was scared. Better yet, terrified. Ami’s mind flashed back to that night.
“I have to go,” Ami blurted out.
“Huh?” Usagi asked.
“I just remembered. I’m doing a presentation and I want to review my material one more time.” Ami gather her belongings, left money for her share of the bill and dashed out of Crown.
“Ami has to work on her subtle exits,” Makoto remarked.
Usagi and Minako agreed.
“Minako, since it’s just us, why don’t you tell us about your big plan?”
Minako looked around Crown suspiciously. “Not here. The walls have ears,” she whispered.
“Why the need for all the intrigue? Just spill.” Makoto hated when Minako slipped into secret agent mode.
“Seriously Mako-chan, we have to do this privately. You never know who may be listening.” Minako threw a look to Nephrite and Zoicite.
Usagi followed Minako’s gaze to Nephrite and Zoicite. She nudged Makoto and indicated the reason for Minako’s stealth tactics.
“My house in an hour?” Minako repeated.
Usagi and Makoto nodded. They went in different directions as they exited Crown.
Nephrite and Zoicite watched as Minako, Usagi and Makoto left.
“She didn’t even say good-bye. I think she’s starting to take me for granted,” Nephrite playfully said.
“At least she speaks to you.” Zoicite was sulking. Every time he got in this type of mood, he furrowed his brow. Today, Zoicite was sporting enough creases to put a Shar Pei to shame.
“Zoicite, what’s going on?”
Zoicite looked around Crown to make sure no one was close enough to hear him.
“Come on! I don’t have all day. Unlike you, I HAVE a woman to go home to.”
“Okay, okay…”
* * * * *FLASHBACK* * * * *
Ami tapped her pencil on her notebook.
“Uggh! This is ridiculous.”
She flipped back to check her notes. An unknown hand turned back to the problem she was working on.
“I believe the answer is y = cos x/x.”
Ami looked at the problem incredulously. “I can’t believe it was staring me in the face the whole time.”
Ami inserted the solution in the original problem to make sure that it worked.
“Thank you so much. How can I thank you?” Ami never looked up from her notebook.
“How about dinner tonight?”
“What?” Ami slowly turned around to see whom she was talking to. “What makes you think that I would go to dinner with some random man I met at the library?” Ami looked up to see an amused Zoicite staring at her.
“Let’s just call it wishful thinking.”
Ami looked into Zoicite’s eyes. ’Big mistake,’ she thought.
Before her mind could object, her mouth agreed to share a meal with her former lover.
“I’ll pick up at 8:00. Okay?”
Ami nodded.
“Until milady.” Zoicite kissed the back of Ami’s hand and left.
Ami simply stared at the back of her hand. Warmth lingered at the spot where Zoicite’s lips met her hand.
‘Don’t you have something you need to be doing right now?’ Ami’s inner voice reminded.
Ami jumped up. She gathered her study materials and left the library.
On the drive to her apartment, Ami’s mind was in overdrive. She wasn’t sure that she was doing the right thing. Ami looked at the clock in the dash. It was 5:00 p.m. She only had a few hours to get ready for her date with Zoicite.
‘Who said anything about a date? This is just a meal. Two people can share a meal together without it meaning anything.’
Why had she even accepted the offer? Ami knew why she did it. She had to find out once and for all what she felt for the blond general. Ami did not appreciate the uncertainty surrounding the situation. Zoicite was proving to be more perplexing than any mathematical equation.
Ami was so deep in thought that she nearly drove past her apartment building. She slammed on her brakes, much to the chagrin of those traveling behind her. Ami turned in her seat and mouthed a sorry through her rearview window. The driver behind her smiled as an acceptance of her apology. Ami turned into her building’s underground parking lot. As she went to turn the car off, a really old song began playing on the radio.
{It’s been a long time since you left me}
{I didn’t mean to make you cry}
{I didn’t mean to disappoint you}
{I didn’t mean to tell you lies}
Ami abruptly turned the car off. She didn’t need some sappy love song impairing her judgment. There would be no blind faith tonight. Decisions would be made based on facts and logic.
* * * * *
Zoicite sat in his apartment staring at the glass in his hand. The scotch inside was a testament to his nervousness. Zoicite had been trying for months to get Ami to go out with him. Each time, she flatly refused. Tonight was his chance. Zoicite looked at the glass of scotch again.
* * * * *
As Ami perused her closet for something decent to wear, she realized she had no idea where she Zoicite was taking her. Ami instinctively reached for her phone.
“Damn, I can’t call them.”
Ami put the phone back. She couldn’t call her friends for their opinion. Each of them had a vested interest in the outcome of this date.
Ami plopped down on the bed. This was harder than she remembered. The last date she went on was over a year ago.
‘Maybe I should just call and cancel,’ Ami thought. Then she realized that she didn’t have Zoicite’s telephone number. Ami attacked her wardrobe once again. This time she would find something.
* * * * *
Zoicite emerged from the shower wit his towel around his waist. He stood in front of the bathroom mirror and began his meticulous grooming ritual. He towel dried his blond curly hair so that it was wet, but not dripping. Zoicite applied the thermal conditioning lotion to his hair before blow-drying it. He pulled out a hand mirror and examined all sides of his golden mane. Zoicite searched his medicine cabinet for his silicone based anti-frizz serum. This style wouldn’t last the walk to the car, much less the night he had planned, without it. Zoicite searched through various pomades, gels and mousses.
“Where the hell is it?!” Zoicite was becoming frustrated. He moved a bottle of tea tree styling wax.
“About time.” Zoicite applied the serum to his hair. He pulled it back into a sleek ponytail at the nape of his neck. He then shook his head a few times.
“Polished, yet touchable.”
Zoicite preferred this product because it made his golden locks shine like glass without a sticky or gummy residue. Finally satisfied with his hair, Zoicite walked into his bedroom to put his clothes on.
* * * * *
Ami gave herself one last look over. She wasn’t overly pleased with her outfit, but it would have to do. Ami’s deep purple wrap dress grazed her calf. She bent over to make sure that her knee high black leather boots were zipped.
“It’s missing something.”
Ami rummaged through a clear plastic box. She pulled out three small silver butterfly clips. Ami made three flat twists in the front of her head and used the clips to hold them in place.
“This will have to.”
<<BUZZ>>
Ami walked over to the intercom.
“Yes.”
“Mizuno-san, there is a young man here to see you.”
“Thank you Jin. Send him up.”
Ami felt her heartbeat quicken. She could hear it beating in her ears.
‘Calm down. It’s just Zoicite.’ Ami took a deep breath and waited for the arrival of her guest.
* * * * *
‘Damn, this elevator is taking forever.’ Zoicite paced in the small elevator. At last, the elevator reached Ami’s floor. He got out and looked down the corridor.
“Apartment 1041,” Zoicite said, repeating what the doorman told him. Finally, he found the right door.
“It’s now or never.” Zoicite knocked on the gray metal door.
“It’s open.”
Zoicite cautiously opened the door. The apartment was immaculate. There was definitely a peaches and cream motif. Zoicite removed his shoes and walked into the living room. He sat down on the peach leather and waited for Ami. Zoicite scrutinized the apartment. From his vantage point, Zoicite could see a closed door. In fact, it was the only closed door. He surmised that it had to be her bedroom. Zoicite fought the urge to see what was behind the door.
‘What could be taking so long?’ Zoicite wondered.
Ami was sitting on her bed staring at her watch. Minako had once told he that you should never appear anxious. If possible, have someone else answer your door. If not, the object of your desire should let himself in. That way you can make an entrance. Ami speculated whether she wanted Zoicite.
Ami looked at her watch again. Her three minutes were up. She stood up and gave herself one last look in the mirror.
“Here goes nothing.”
Zoicite spun around upon hearing the mysterious door open.
“You clean up good Ami-chan.”
“So do you Zoicite.” Ami gave him the once over. He was wearing a cornflower blue button down shirt with gray slacks. She walked up to him and ran her fingers through his ponytail.
“I see all that time you spent with Kunzite has paid off.”
Zoicite was taken aback. “What do you mean by that?”
Ami flicked Zoicite’s ponytail. “How did you get your hair so straight?”
Zoicite blushed. “You…you don’t like it?” He hurried to undo the ponytail. Ami reached out for his hand.
“Don’t you dare!”
As Ami grabbed Zoicite’s hand, she lost her balance. Before she knew it, Ami was on top of Zoicite.
“Umm…” Ami scrambled to get up. A pair of arms wrapping around her waist prevented her actions.
“And where are you going?” Zoicite tightened his grip on Ami.
“I was just --”
Ami was stunned by the kisses that began to trail down her neck. She opened her mouth to protest, but all that came out was a low moan. Zoicite reached for the light behind him. For the first time in Ami’s life, she turned up the Jodeci.
* * * * *END OF FLASHBACK* * * * *
“Bloody hell, Nephrite exclaimed. The entire clientele of Crown looked at Nephrite and Zoicite.
“Can you keep your voice down?” Zoicite turned toward the crowd. “Sorry, the asylum only lets him out once a month.”
“Dude!” Nephrite gave Zoicite the dirtiest look he could muster. “I should beat the --”
“Gentlemen, when will the two of you learn to get along?” Kunzite sat down next to Zoicite.
“It seems that our little friend is having a bit of trouble with a certain young lady,” Nephrite smirked.
“Is Ami still giving you the cold shoulder?” Kunzite mussed the tope of Zoicite’s hair.
“Actually,” Nephrite began as Zoicite was giving him a death stare, “She lit his fire, but now she wants nothing to do with him.”
Kunzite let out a loud laugh. He was laughing so hard that his side began to ache.
“Have we lost our touch?” Kunzite managed to say between laughs.
Zoicite dropped his head into his hands. “It’s not that. I just thought that after that night things would get easier.”
Zoicite punched the wall next to him. “Damn it. Why is she doing this?”
Kunzite had no snappy comeback. He did not know a way to make one of his oldest friends feel better, so he did the only thing he could. Kunzite put his hand on Zoicite’s shoulder. Zoicite angrily brushed it away.
“I don’t want your pity.”
Nephrite observed the torment in Zoicite’s eyes. HE was tempted to seek answers from the heavens. However, Nephrite remembered Setsuna’s warning. Zoicite was going to have to go through this the hard way.
“Zoicite, you know Ami. She probably has a perfectly logical reason for her actions,” Nephrite said.
“Logical? A logical reason for freezing me out after what we shared?!”
“Zoicite, calm down.” Kunzite was trying to stave off another embarrassing scene.
“Calm down? You calm down Kunzite. You weren’t there. You didn’t see what I saw.”
* * * * *FLASHBACK* * * * *
Ami was breathing heavily. Her body was sore in places that she never knew possible. She looked up into Zoicite’s green eyes. Releasing a light sigh, she wrapped her arms around the slender blond man. Ami could see that all his hard work straightening his hair had been in vain. However, he still smelled of cedar. Ami made a mental note to find what cologne he used. She wanted to make sure he always had some.
Zoicite stared at the water goddess beneath him. In that moment he felt complete. Zoicite wanted nothing more than to spend the remainder of days in Ami’s arms.
As Ami lie on the couch, she began to feel increasingly uncomfortable. “Zoicite, I don’t feel too good.”
Alarmed, Zoicite responded, “Oh God are you alright? Do you need to see a doctor?”
Ami laughed. “More like a shower.”
Zoicite got up to let Ami go to the bathroom. She looked over her shoulder at Zoicite.
“I don’t see the sense of wasting more hot water than necessary.” She winked and motioned for Zoicite to accompany her.
Zoicite raised an eyebrow and eagerly followed his love.
* * * * *END OF FLASHBACK* * * * *
“We really connected. It wasn’t just physical. I could feel her letting me back in.” Zoicite was distraught.
Unbeknownst to his associates, Kunzite had developed a taste for gossip. Like Minako, he needed every torrid detail.
“Okay, so what happened after the shower,” Kunzite inquired.
“Well after…wait! What does that have to do with Ami not speaking to me?”
“Fine don’t tell me. How am I supposed to gauge her reaction without all the details?” Kunzite threw up his hands in exasperation.
“You know, I thought we bonded after the whole Minako and Yaten thing. But I see I was wrong.” Kunzite made sniffling sounds to illustrate how hurt he was.
“Give it a rest Kunzite. You’re no better than Minako, always digging for information.”
Kunzite sneered at Nephrite. “How am I supposed to come up with an effective strategy if I don’t know exactly what I’m dealing with?”
“Whatever Kunzite. As I was saying, everything was good. We walked about what we wanted out of a relationship. Ami and I were on the same page. At least I thought we were.”
“So what happened? Something had to have happened for a complete about face.”
“Nephrite, if I knew, do you think I’d be here with you?” Zoicite snapped.
“All I am saying is there’s something going on. I’m sure of it.”
Nephrite had a nagging suspicion about this. However, he would say nothing until he was sure.
Zoicite had paused in thought. “Things were fine for about 3 weeks. Then Ami had to go to the States in business. When she got back, she was cold. I didn’t even know that she came back. I happened to see her out shopping one day. Next thing I know, Ami and Taiki are attached at the hip.
Nephrite and Kunzite nodded knowingly.
* * * * *
“Thank you so much for picking me up.” Ami slouched in the leather seat of her sports car.
“You’re going to have to trade this in for a roomier vehicle one day”
“I don’t think so Taiki. Who made that rule?” Ami grabbed her bottle of water from the cup holder and took a sip.
Taiki took a long look at Ami. Her face was flush. It was obvious she had been running. As a matter of fact, she was at least six blocks from Crown when he picked her up.
“What has you on the run Ami-chan?”
“Huh,” Ami replied.
“Such a high IQ and the best you can come up with is huh?” Taiki laughed. “Let me approach this from a different angle. How is Zoicite doing this fine day?”
Taiki saw Ami’s entire body tense. His presumption was accurate. Recently all of Ami’s troubles began and ended with the blond man from her past.
“Have you decided what you’re going to do?”
“Taiki!”
“Ami you’re going to have to make a choice. Time is running out.”
Ami sat motionless. She couldn’t bring herself to make this decision. Ami wasn’t where she wanted to be in her career. Could she handle the extra responsibility? Even though she knew friends would support any choice she made, she still did not know what to do. Then there was Zoicite. Should she tell him? Did he deserve knowing? Would he even care? Ami often wondered what kind of father he would be. Ami shook her head. Was a life with Zoicite really an option?
“Ami.” Taiki tapped her shoulder. “Ami.”
Taiki’s voice brought Ami back from the land of what-ifs. She looked into the soulful lavender eyes of her companion.
“I don’t know Taiki. I just don’t know.”
Taiki pulled over and parked the car. He unlatched his seat belt. “I’m sorry. It’s just that I’m worried about you. This isn’t something that you can keep a secret. It’s not going to go away. Eventually someone is going to find out.”
“Don’t you think I know that,” Ami angrily spat. “I think about it every day. Every time I’m bent over my toilet, I remember. Every time I look into Zoicite’s eyes, I’m reminded of that night.”
A single tear escaped form Ami’s eye.
“If I had been more careful, this wouldn’t be happening. I could be with--”
“Zoicite,” Taiki inserted.
“That wasn’t what I was going to say,” Ami nervously responded.
“Sure Ami-chan.” Taiki grabbed the water bottle from Ami’s hand.
“Hey!”
“I’m holding this water hostage until you admit you love Zoicite.”
Ami glared at Taiki. He of all people should have known it wasn’t that easy to paint Mizuno Ami into a corner. Ami stuck out her tongue at the bewildered Taiki Kou as she pulled out a fresh bottle of water.
“You are a sly one Ami-chan.” Taiki placed the now useless water bottle in the cup holder.
Ami looked wistfully out the window. “I want a man that loves me for me. I want devotion, not obligation.”
“I see.” Taiki started the car and drove to Ami’s building. “I’m going to pick up dinner. Any requests?”
“Chicken and dumplings. Minus the dumplings.”
Taiki was confused. “So you want dumplings?”
“No. I want chicken and dumplings from the new American place downtown.”
“Why didn’t you say so?”
“I did.” Ami opened the car door.
“Ami,” Taiki called out.
She looked out.
“Please talk to Zoicite.”
Ami sighed and closed the car door.
* * * * *
“Number 22...”
Taiki looked at the receipt in his hand. Realizing his number had been called; he went to the counter to get his order.
“Arigato.” Taiki turned quickly to leave the crowded restaurant. While maneuvering through the people, he thought he heard someone call his name. Taiki stopped momentarily. He listened to see if he’d hear it again.
“Taiki-san! Taiki-san!”
Taiki soon found himself face to face with a harried Naru.
“Uhh…hi.”
“You probably don’t remember me. We met once in high school, then again at Usagi’s wedding.”
‘Usagi’s wedding?!’
“I was with your friend Seiya.”
‘Seiya?!’
“I was wondering how he was doing. You know, after what happened.”
Ever since that warm August day, no one really mentioned Seiya. Taiki had blocked out all thoughts of Seiya. Six months later, it was still too fresh.
“Seiya’s…on vacation. He just needs some time to himself.”
Naru reached in her handbag and pulled out an envelope. “Could you possibly get this to him? It’s not that I don’t believe you. I just want to know for myself that he’s alright.”
Naru handed the letter to Taiki. He looked at it strangely.
“I’ll make sure that he gets it.”
“Thank you so much Taiki-san.” Naru threw herself into Taiki’s arms, causing him to nearly drop Ami’s dinner.
“Well, I’ll be seeing you.” Taiki pushed the door open with his shoulder and left.
“Oh you’ll be seeing me. All of you will be seeing me.” Naru walked up to the counter. “Can I get the fried chicken meal, no cole slaw?”
***There it is. Read and review. It’s good for the soul. Thank you all who take the time to review. It’s the push I need to get off my bum and write. ***
P.S. The lyrics are from a song called "One More Try" by Timmy T. Shout out to all my freestyle heads.
The Deadly Diva