Disclaimer : All characters included belong to Naoko Takeuchi.

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Chapter 1: Loss

Kino Makoto adjusted the textbook laden backpack slung over her left shoulder as she ambled down the street. It was Thursday afternoon, which meant the usual study group was being held at Hikawa Shrine. Although they, meaning her friends, all went to different universities these days the habit of collective studying continued. Makoto considered the time together with her friends invaluable even if they were just doing schoolwork. Being with them comforted her because they had become her family. Any moment spent with them was time well spent in her opinion.

A car honked nearby and Makoto emerged from her musing as she approached an intersection, thinking perhaps she should pay attention to traffic. Catching sight of the short blue hair a half block away, a smile dawned on her lips. It had to be Ami, Who else could be so immersed in a book while walking?, she asked herself. An unrealized smirk settled onto her lips.

The brunette opened her mouth, intending to call out to the other woman before immediately deciding against it. Her pace quickened, her gait eliminating the distance between herself and Ami effortlessly due to her long legs. Not even half a minute and she was already behind the blue haired woman, so close she could reach out and touch her. And did she ever want to touch. Makoto's forehead wrinkled momentarily at the thought that flew past in her mind.

Shrugging that idea off she leaned close to Ami's ear, lowered her voice and whispered, "Whatcha readin'?"

Ami shrieked, startled and the book flew into the air as she spun around to confront her molester. A blur of mahogany hair coupled with a flash of amused emerald green eyes sent relief crashing through her. However, a little too late came a realization: the momentum from turning around so speedily was going to make her fall.

With trademark lightning reflexes Makoto caught the wayward book in her left hand and hastily wrapped her right arm around Ami's waist. Ami stood still, cheeks aflame, phthalo blue eyes wide at the sudden closeness of the taller woman, their bodies mashed together.

"Gotcha!" Makoto sung smugly before releasing Ami, "You almost pulled an Usagi there." She held out the book to the woman but not before sneaking a peek at the title emblazoned on the cover: The poetry of Robert Frost. It was not the first time she had seen Ami with her nose buried in this particular volume. She smiled and Ami returned the smile as she took the proffered book.

"You really startled me, Mako-chan!" Ami rebuked. The gentle smile she displayed at Makoto contradicted the stern words. The brunette grinned sheepishly as she rubbed her head, guilt blatantly apparent in the action.

"Sorry, I just couldn't resist," Makoto chuckled. Ami followed suit, a delicate hand over her mouth as she laughed. They walked the rest of the way together while catching up on trivial things. Makoto did not care what the conversation was about, she felt happy and warm just being next to Ami and that was enough for her.

"Care to take a shortcut Mako-chan?" Ami suggested, pointing to the park they were passing. Makoto looked up and sure enough there was the park they usually frequented located near the shrine. She readily agreed. It was a lovely spring afternoon after all and a walk through the area with Ami was a most welcome idea. Over the years, of all the senshi, Ami was the one she felt closest to. No matter how bad a day Makoto had the moment the other woman's gentle gaze and sweet smile fell upon her, Mako felt lighter, worries vanishing in a poof of smoke.

They strolled amicably through the burgeoning green of the park. Makoto shared an anecdote about Haruka and Michiru from the day before, encouraged by Ami's giggling throughout her amusing tale, "So Haruka has totally forgotten she has Michiru's bra hanging off one ear and is busy fighting with the vacuum cleaner. There's flour covering-"

A shrill scream cut the air nearby interrupting the story, the sound coming from somewhere behind them . Reaching for their henshin pens they whirled around. Makoto's eyes widened in shock as she saw how close the youma was. It would be upon Ami in a flash. Disregarding everything else she pushed Ami to the side and tackled the monster head on. They flew a few yards back, the youma appearing surprised at the attack. It quickly regained its equilibrium, fury echoing in the red eyes and powerful bone chilling scream. Makoto ducked as the youma's claw swiped at her, her body tense and ready to attack the beast. However, it anticipated her movements and caught her arm with its other claw. The speed of it shocked her, anger filling her as pain traveled up her arm.

"Mako-no!" She barely registered the scream before she heard the words "Mercury Power Make-up!" Relief filled her at the thought of Ami being able to transform into Sailor Mercury. She yanked her arm from the youma's grip with the intention of getting far enough away to transform as well but once again the quickness of the monster shocked her. It leapt onto her with hardened fists. She crumpled to the ground; rage on Mercury's face the last thing she noticed before darkness claimed her.

-x-x-x-

She felt relentless pain before she could even open her eyes. She must have made a sound because she heard a rustle of cloth and then a gentle voice softly calling out.

"Mako-chan?" She turned her head in the direction of the voice and flinched when the small movement intensified the agony in her head. The room she was in seemed comfortable and familiar, the lighting muted.

"Mako-?" The dulcet tone a near whisper came again along with a tender touch to her hand. She looked up at its owner, the short blue hair framing a concerned face with the bluest eyes, worry and relief lurking in their depths. Despite the pain she tried sitting up; the woman helping her up, ensuring she was comfortable. She tried to speak and found her mouth dry, no sound forthcoming. She was offered a glass of water and she gladly took it, about to drink deeply before the small hand stopped her again.

"Don't gulp, Mako-chan," The soft voice advised and she followed orders. The cool liquid washed over her parched tongue and throat, soothing on its way down. She handed the glass back, able to produce words now.

"W-what happened?" Her voice was hoarse, the sound of stepped on gravel.

"Don't you remember?" She started to shake her head and stopped midway, the pain excruciating. Her hand came up to touch her temple, her eyes squeezed shut.

"Here, drink these," She was given the glass again and two white pills. "They're painkillers, hopefully they'll help." A cool hand passed over her brow, brushing through the strands falling over her forehead.

"You didn't have time to transform after you tackled the youma. You gave me enough time but you couldn't get away and it-" The cool voice broke, emotion taking over as the speaker stopped mid-sentence in order to compose herself.

"Youma?" Her confusion was apparent in that one word. She asked one more question, need for an answer plaguing her since she awoke. "Who are you?"

Omake:

She asked one more question, need for an answer plaguing her since she awoke. "Who are you?"

The blue haired woman twirled around, suddenly she was clad in a blue gown and sparkly, translucent wings were seen emerging from her back. Waving a wand that seemed to appear from mid-air she answered, "Why-I'm your fairy godmother!"

A/N: While a short first chapter I felt this was a good place to break off. Yes, I know it's a dumb little cliffhanger but please bear with me.

Reviews would be great, any kind of feedback is always welcome.