Ami sat on the beach, her shoes a bit higher and her feet just beyond the tide-line where, ever so often, they would be brushed by the foam. She was still dressed for the wedding, but didn't care about the sand or the breeze loosing her hair. She felt a presence beside her though there was no shadow because the day was cloudy and grey. She didn't look up, but someone sat down beside her and a pair of bare feet joined hers in the foam.

"She's really gone," said Ami softly.

"She's been gone for a long time," said Naru, her hair down again and in her face, "she hasn't been ours for a long time."

Ami looked over, "I used to be so jealous of you."

"Same." Naru smiled, "but we were never the real threat."

"We were never an option."

Naru narrowed her eyes, "you're always so quiet, even when you're angry you're so quiet. Yelling can make you feel better you know. It's better than holding it inside."

"I'm not angry. I already broke down once about this, of course, that time it was about you. It's sad that love is sometimes just another word for selfishness."

"Yes? Well, sometimes it's just another word for pain. And it's only fair that Usagi, whose love is never selfish, have a painless, normal love."

"I don't know how painless or normal it was, but that's how it should be."

Naru groaned and flopped over in the sand, not caring about her dress. "God, I feel like such a kid angsting over this again. Moving on, we're moving on right? Come on, Ami-chan."

Naru reached for her waist and started tickling her. After a moment of pure shock Ami let out a short squeak and then was rolling in the sand, trying to escape the persistent fingers.

Ami did not like being tickled and lashed out with elbows and knees. They had rolled a few meters before Ami pinned both of Naru's arms above her head. They were both giggling and gasping for air and then they quieted down. Naru was grinning though her position not the best and Ami's hair was wild, her glasses somewhere near her shoes.

They were close, too close, and Ami's nostrils flared, breathing in the sea air.

Naru could feel her breath brushing against her cheek.

Splash! Ami jumped to her feet. Naru sat up spluttering. Then they started to laugh, Ami dropped down in the surf and held her knees to her chest. Naru held out her hand and they stood up and dripped over to their shoes. They picked them up and walked barefoot over to the stairs and climbed up to road level, the wind whipping at wet hair and wet skirts. They were in view of the cars when Naru slung her arm over Ami's shoulder, the heels of the shoes lightly brushing against her back. She arced an eyebrow and looked at Ami who let herself grin at the amusing expression and then hook an arm around Naru's waist and pull her in. They kissed as the wind whipped around with the empty grey beach stretched out below, the empty grey road ahead and the empty grey sky above.