Disclaimer: I don't own Sailor Moon or any of the many characters in it.
This is set about halfway through Sailor Stars.
"So that's that." Rei said with finality in her voice. The rest of the inner senshi nodded their heads in agreement. I looked around my small apartment only to notice how dark it had gotten.
"Wow, look at the time!" I exclaimed in surprise as I got a quick glance at the hallway clock. A couple hours had passed since our meeting started but it was still early enough for the girls to stay a while longer.
"I should probably get going soon." That comment from Minako had us all curious.
"Why?" Rei raised an eyebrow in question.
"Our senshi battles with the anima-mates have been taking up a lot of our time. Even though our last battle was a couple weeks ago, my parents are starting to get suspicious and want me home sooner." Minako stated sheepishly. Then lightening the mood, she giggled that her parents must think that she has a secret boyfriend.
I laughed as Usagi and Rei giggled. Ami was being quiet as usual, but she didn't laugh or chide Minako as she normally would. It was then that I noticed that Rei had stopped giggling and was giving Ami sympathetic glances. I was about to ask Ami if anything was wrong when Usagi asked me for a glass of water. I was surprised when Ami jumped up.
"I'll go get it." She replied to our questioning gazes. I got up to follow the smaller girl as she made her way to the kitchen.
"Ami-chan, is there anything bothering you?" I asked her once we were in the safety of the kitchen, away from the others. Ami reached up into the kitchen cupboard to grab a cup for Usagi. "You know you can tell me any-"
My voice cut off as I saw Ami's shirt sleeve roll down as she reached up, revealing her wrist and arm. A line of purple-green bruises were running down her right arm. Ami must have noticed my staring because she quickly put the cup down onto the bench and held her sleeve protectively against her arm. I stepped up to her and gently took her left wrist, pulling her arm away from her bruised one and rolled up the sleeve. I got a good look at the bruises on Ami's arm. The bruises looked sharp and new as if it were only yesterday that she had got them. They probably went up her shoulders to her back. No senshi battle had done this.
As I rolled her sleeve back down, I tried to get a look at Ami's expression but she was staring at the ground, her hair covering her eyes. I sighed and grabbed the forgotten cup. I filled it up with tap water as Ami continued to study the ground. I turned around to face the smaller girl, took her hand into mine and led her back to where the rest of the senshi were sitting. I placed the cup in front of Usagi.
"Thanks, Mako-chan!" She grinned up at me.
"Guys, me and Ami-chan are gonna have a quick talk, so when you're done with our meeting-" I was interrupted by Rei shaking her head.
"It's no problem," The senshi of fire grabbed the arms of the two blondes. "We can leave now. Thanks for having our meeting here."
"You're welcome." I murmured as Ami and I watched Rei dragging the two protesting blondes out the front door. I let go of Ami's hand to go lock the front door.