4/3/01
Sunglasses
AN: Usagi/Ami shoujo ai.
She sighed. Pulling back her wet bangs, she studied her face. The same. As always. It would never change. Riling up the fact of the day would be the same, Usagi Tsukino slipped on her sunglasses and continued drying her hair.
*
She looked into the mirror and swept back a stray bang. Cocking her head to one side, she studied her face. Smiling softly to herself, Ami Mizuno readied herself to grab her books and go to the library.
*
Setting down her books onto the return desk, Ami headed to her usual spot in the library. Patting her reading glasses in her pocket, she put them on and started browsing through the titles.
Hmm… Advanced Physics for Dummies? Looks too simple. Ahah! Here's one!"
Pulling the book down fom the shelf, Ami finally noticed the other person in the aisle, just a couple of shelves over. To her surprise, it was a girl her own age. She had a curious hair-style; two buns perched atop her head, two streamers flowed to the girl's ankles from those buns, blonde and glowing in the library lighting.
But, Ami thought curiously, why was she wearing sunglasses inside?
As if sensing the blue haired girl's scrutiny, the girl turned and then smiled at her.
"Hello. Could you help me? I don't come here often, so I don't know what the best books are to read, and I would appreciate it if you pointed out some good ones."
Ami blinked, feeling somewhat awkward faced wit the blankness of the sunglasses, but then smiled and said, "Sure. Though it depends on what you like or if you are doing a report. Actually, I just moved to this region, but this isn't much different than the other ones I've been to."
Turning back to the bookcase, she ran her hand over a few bindings before she asked over her shoulder, "ARE you doing a report?"
"No, I'm not. Oh, and if it would help any, I would prefer something written by someone who KNOWS what they are talking about. Too many times I find the author just prattles about things he obviously knows nothing about."
Ami could hear the slight chuckle in the girl's voice, and she nodded, agreeing. "Yes, I know what you mean. You'd think actually researching the topic would come into their minds."
Pulling a couple of books down, she held them out for the girl, a smile on her lips. "Here, I think these would suffice, though I didn't really know what you'd like."
Taking the time to thumb through the selection, the girl nodded and then looked up. Smiling at Ami, she bowed her head.
"These are good titles. Thank you."
Ami blushed lightly, not expecting the short praise.
Standing there awkwardly for a few seconds, the girl studying her feet and Ami looking around the library, the blonde finally spoke. "Uhm… ahh… What's your name?"
Ami smiled, finally glad that something had broken the silence. "I'm Mizuno Ami. Nice to meet you."
Smiling, the girl craned her neck a small bit in the essence of a bow and said, "Tsukino Usagi. Nice to meet YOU."
Then, with the smile still lingering on her face, the newly christened Usagi halfway turned away and murmured, "It was nice to meet you, Ami-san. Maybe we'll meet again."
Ami had the brief impression of a startlingly flicker of blue behind the black of Usagi's sunglasses, and she barely had any time to nod before the other girl was gone.
*
"Why hello Ami-san. Nice to see you again. Mind if I sit?"
Ami looked up, over her glasses, and smiled warmly. Nodding her head, she watched as Usagi pulled a chair next to her and sat, setting a stack of books down on the library table. "I thought you'd be here," Usagi commented, looking at her, and Ami found herself suddenly wishing to see what was behind the dark space of her sunglasses.
"Isn't it hard to see with those on?" she asked, indicating the glasses and feeling suddenly self conscious of her own humble reading specs. Slipping them off her face, she blushed as if having been caught with a big secret on her lips.
A ghost of a smile crossed Usagi's mouth, and she shook her head. "No, I'm used to it."
There was an awkward silence for a bit while Ami busied herself by cleaning her glasses with the bottom of her shirt until Usagi spoke with closely reigned in amusement, "Tell me, Ami-san, does anyone ever ask you if you hide behind your glasses?"
Looking up with wide eyes, Ami sputtered, "What – I just…! I'm sorry if I offended you with my question, Usagi-san. I was just curious."
"Call me Usagi-chan. And no, you did not offend me with your question. I guess it IS unusual for me to wear sunglasses inside. I just wanted to tease."
Ami smiled broadly. "Call me Ami-chan, Usagi-chan," she said, trying out her name on her tongue. It had been so long since she had had a real friend; it made her heart thrill when Usagi tried out her name as well.
"Nice to meet you, Ami-chan," she said impishly, and stuck out her hand, light reflecting off of her dark shades. Ami took it tentatively, but then shook as Usagi's smile softened a bit and she leaned her head a little to the side.
*
Ami once again met Usagi at the library the next week, and then the next, until they agreed to meet every Saturday to do homework or to study for upcoming tests.
*
"Usagi-chan, what's wrong?" Ami asked, slipping her glasses off and looked worriedly at the girl across from her who seemed to be staring off into space, a frown tugging her lips, "You haven't paid attention at all today."
Usagi sighed, shaking her head, the sunglasses almost coming off in the motion. Looking down at the math book laid open for her on the desk, she reached out and closed it.
"Ami-chan," she started, "I haven't been completely truthful with you."
"What do you mean?"
Avoiding Ami's open questioning gaze, she suddenly got up and started shoveling her books and papers into her bookbag.
Ami, concerned, also rose and put away her supplies. When she was done, Usagi grabbed her hand and pulled her out of the library, silencing her question with a shake of her head, "Please not now. Just trust me."
Staring at her oddly, Ami finally nodded and continued walking next to her, sensing that whatever Usagi was talking about was important.
For all the time she had known her often-times serious friend, she had never seen this nervousness wrap around her, causing Usagi to pace hurriedly at her side.
"Where are we going?" Ami asked quietly, trusting Usagi to answer.
"To my house."
"Your…?" Ami stopped.
Usagi nodded, "Yes."
Usagi had never asked anything personal, nor volunteered information about herself, and any times they had left to grab something to eat, it was at the nearest arcade or mall.
"Usagi-chan, what's going on!? Never have you - !!"
Usagi stopped her by taking off her sunglasses. Slipping them into the pocket of her blouse, she flipped a bang up and raised her head.
Ami gasped took a step back, one hand raising to her mouth. Finally composing herself she reached out and touched Usagi's cheek.
"Oh, Usagi…" she said softly, caressing her cheek lightly, tears coming to her eyes as she reached out and drew her friend into a hug, not caring that they were on a crowded street, and that people were stepping around them.
"You… You aren't repulsed?" Usagi whispered raggedly, her head pressing into the crook of Ami's neck.
"How could I be? Usagi, you are my friend," she said, pulling back and looking deeply into Usagi's eyes.
Tears gathered at the corners of Usagi's eyes, and she smiled, throwing her arms around the blue-haired girl. "Oh Ami-chan! You are mine too… Mine too!!" Shutting her eyes tightly, hugging her solidly against her, she then pulled back, putting her sunglasses back on.
*
"Come on in."
Nodding, Ami slipped off her shoes and followed the blonde through a hall and up a flight of stairs.
Stopping at a door, Usagi paused and then
