SailorStar9: This is Chapter 2 of this fic. (Sighs) Guys and girls, is it too hard for you to leave a review, instead of just putting this fic up on your favorited list and story alerts?

Disclaimers: I own nothing, except for the plot bunny.

Chapter 2: The Reason

"Check." Ami beamed, winning the practice game against Usagi.

"I've lost." the Moon Rabbit whined.

"Brilliant." Makoto cheered.

"Man, and I did my research too." Usagi complained. "But I guess you're good at chess as well as schoolwork."

"Chess is the perfect game of the intellect." Ami voiced. "It cultivates a calm mentality and accurate judgment."

"Calm and accurate." Chibi-Usa mocked. "Words that you'll never be associated with, no matter what you do."

"You're so not cute." Usagi pouted.

"But you're amazing, Ami." Chibi-Usa gushed.

"Come to think of it," Makoto noted. "You're the Junior Chess Champion of Japan, aren't you, Ami?"

"That was just luck." Ami flushed.

"All right!" Usagi cheered. "Let's all learn chess from Ami and aim to be future champions."

"I'll think I'll pass." Makoto remarked. "Being calm and stuff like that isn't really my thing."

"I can totally understand." Usagi nodded. "You're even worse than me at those things."

"You don't have to say it like that..." Makoto muttered.

"That's the pot calling the kettle black." Luna sighed.

"Hey Usagi." Chibi-Usa posted her challenge. "You wanna play with me?"

"Bring it on and don't hold back." Usagi agreed. "I'll show you just how harsh competition can be."

"Check!" Chibi-Usa beamed, finishing the game.

"Wait!" Usagi protested. "Wait a minute!"

"No!" Chibi-Usa objected. "The world of competition is harsh."

"Oh brother." Luna sighed.

"Chibi-Usa, you're very good." Ami noted.

"I think I'm going to head home soon." Makoto excused herself.

"I have something to do too." Ami looked at her watch.

"What?" Usagi asked. "Do you have cram school, Ami?

"No, I'm going to Chess Tower." Ami replied.

"Chess Tower?" Usagi blinked.

In front of the Chess Tower...

"This shape looks really familiar." Usagi noted.

"It's shaped like a cake." Makoto remarked.

"It's not a cake." Ami chuckled. "It's a rook."

"Rook?" Makoto blinked.

"Mako, it's a chess piece that's shaped like a castle." Usagi supplied.

"The owner of this building is a huge fan of chess." Ami added.

"I see." Makoto nodded.

"Next Sunday, they are having the opening ceremony for this Chess Tower," Ami remarked. "And they're holding a worldwide chess tournament."

"I get it." Makoto realized. "You're entering that tournament aren't you, Ami?"

"Then, you'll win for sure." Usagi beamed.

"I just like playing chess." Ami flushed. "The result isn't an issue."

"The result is the issue." Beruche corrected. "A competition that you don't intend to win is a waste of time, don't you think? After all, the point of a competition is to win."

"Who are you?" Usagi blinked. "Even if you lose, if you did your best, then who cares?"

"That is the sour grapes rationalization of a loser." Beruche tsked. "Of course, I suppose your nice, friendly games of chess are nothing more than child's play."

"Look here." Usagi retorted.

"Pardon me." Beruche brushed past. "I'll play your little game with you some time later, okay?"

"What is her problem?" Makoto wondered.

"Meanie." Usagi agreed.

Sohma Shigure hid a smile as he watched the three girls.

In the Chess Tower...

"It's you, Ami." the owner remarked after the girl signed up for the tournament. "I haven't seen you in a while.

"Yes,." Ami bowed respectfully. "It has become a wonderful building."

"Thank you." the aged chess frantic chuckled. "By the way, you're entering the tournament too, aren't you?"

"Yes." Ami smiled.

"What do you say?" the chess frantic suggested. "Since it's been a while..." he looked over the the chessboard.

"Sure." Ami beamed.

"I often play with your grandfather like this too." the aged man reminisced.

"Yes." Ami nodded.

"Ami, has something happened?" the aged man asked.

"What?" Ami blinked.

"Before, it seemed as though you played to forget your loneliness." the aged frantic pointed out. "But not anymore. You seem somehow more..."

"I made some wonderful friends." Ami blushed.

"I see." the old chess fan noted. "I'm glad to hear that. Good friends are a treasure worth more than anything in the world."

"Yes, I think so too." Ami agreed. "Check." she moved her bishop.

"Ami." the aged man started. "Just between the two of us, would you mind letting me rethink that move?"

"You haven't changed at all." Ami chuckled.

"That smile is quite nice." the aged man smiled.

"The reception desk closed at six, right?" Ami reminded, spotting Beruche run past the corridor.

"Yes, the only ones left on this floor should be you and me." the aged man replied.

"Would you mind if I look around the place a little?" Ami requested.

"Not at all." the old man replied.

"Thank you very much." Ami stood up and exited.

"So, this is the center of the Crystal Point." Beruche opened the hall's door. "Dark Water!"

"Stop it!" Ami called.

It's that nice, friendly girl. Beruche noted.

"Little girl, you're very brave." she voiced. "But the world is not so easy that you'll be able to stop me alone. Besides, I hate goody-two-shoes like you. I'll send you to hell!"

Ami jumped to dodge the powered-up water ball.

"It'll be better for you not to get up." Beruche warned. "Because, see..."

Ami rolled to dodge the water ball.

"I'm sorry." Beruche mocked. "Don't worry, I'll end your pain with the next blow."

"Mercury Star Power, Make Up!" Ami called out her transformation.

"My, what a surprise." Beruche noted, "So, you're Sailor Mercury. Now, I'll have a nice souvenir to take back to Rubeus-sama."

"Shine Aqua Illusion!" Mercury purified the Dark Power with her attack.

"How dare you interfere with my work?" Beruche pouted.

Jupiter's 'Sparkling Wide Pressure' scratched the Ayakashi Sister.

"That hurt!" Beruche complained. "You're terrible! Two against one is playing dirty. I'm against violence. "I'm mad now. You will pay for this, I assure you." and vanished.

"Oh no." Ami gasped.

"Did something happen?" Moon asked.

"She knows who I am." Mercury replied.

"What?" both Moon and Jupiter gaped.

"I transformed right in front of Beruche." Mercury confessed. "I'm sorry."

"It can't be helped." Jupiter soothed. "If Beruche is after the Chess Tower, she's sure to show up again."

"Don't worry about it." Moon assured. "We'll take care of it somehow."

Outside the Chess Tower...

"See you." Ami bade her two friends farewell.

"Yo, long time no see." Shigure greeted.

"Shigure ..." Ami blinked. "Why..."

"Can we talk?" Shigure gave her a brotherly smile. "Hatori... he told me." he started once the two took their seat on a nearby bench. "Why? Why did you let your memories be erased willingly?"

"It's all..." Ami turned to the sky. "To protect him." she replied with a smile. "It was a mutual accord; to keep him from Akito, and in exchange for my memories. That's not the only reason." she manifested her transformation pen. "Ever since I awoke as a Senshi, I already knew; my destiny has already been predestinated; to sacrifice everything for the Moon Princess. I've already died once protecting her."

"I see..." Shigure nodded. "You hear that, Yuki?"

"Yeah." the younger Sohma stepped out.

Ami let out a startled gasp as she stood up, her henshin pen dropping to the ground. "Shigure..." she turned, only to find the elder Sohma missing. "That..." she hissed.

"It's not Shigure's fault." Yuki replied. "I had to hear the reason. Was everything..."

"It's the truth." Ami admitted, reclaiming her transformation pen. "The Senshi Oath I took one million years ago still stands, then and now: to want nothing but devote your everything to the White Moon; duty before everything else. A Senshi is never meant to love."

"Then, I'll wait." Yuki insisted, taking her hands into his. "No matter how long it takes." sealing the promise with a deep kiss.

SailorStar9: Now that's done, read and review.