DISCLAIMER: Hah!
WORDCOUNT: 950
SUMMARY: Ami's late flight.
FEEDBACK: pets it

Written for the 'childhood' challenge at smmonthly

LATE FLIGHT

by Leni

Ami was practically dragged down the aisles of the airport. "We must hurry," her mother repeated over and over, unti it was more a 'hurryhurryhurry' murmur. Ami could have protested that her arm was beginning to hurt, but she knew better than to interrupt her mom.

Finally they stopped, and Mrs. Mizuno gave a great sigh before she stared at her plane ticket and then at the big board. "This isn't right," she muttered. "The plane is late!" She directed Ami to one of the seats and left her there with their luggage. "Be a good girl while I'll go see what can be done."

Ami nodded.

Coming the other way, she saw a blonde girl, about her age, also pulled by the arm by her father. She looked sulky, but didn't protest either. "We have to make it to the set, Minako. Twelve hours, they promised. Only twelve hours where they'll film you for that commercial and then it's back to London." The girl only rolled her eyes, obviously upset. If Ami would have wanted to guess, she'd say that the blonde wasn't happy about having left England in the first place. On a whim, Ami raised her free hand and waved to the other girl. She got a smile in answer, and a tinier wave before daughter and father got lost in the crowd.

Aftre that Ami stayed silent, hands on her lap, and contented herself looking as people ran, walked and tripped in front of her.

And talking of tripping….

"Gaaaaaah!"

Ami huffed, breath taken away by a sudden burden on her chest.

"I'm sorry, I'm so very sorry," the burden mumbled in a girl's voice, still sprawled over Ami's upper body. "There was this bag and it had a long handle and…." The other girl raised her head and Ami was faced with the bluest eyes and the most unusual hairdo she'd ever seen. "I'm sorry?"

Ami wasn't given time to answer as two adults rushed to her. "Usa-chan?" "Usagi, how many times have we told you not to wander off?" The man and the woman began at the same time.

The girl took on a sheepish expression. "I'm sorry; I just saw that pretty dress and I wanted to see it more closely."

Ami followed the direction she was pointing to. Indeed, a raven-haired girl was walking along a very short man. She was dressed rather simply, but from her shoulderbag peeked a beautiful fabric in whites and reds.

"You still should have asked for permission, Usa."

Usagi bowed her head.

"Did the klutz get lost again?" A boy appeared from behind the adults, a videogame clutched in his grasp. He laughed and pointed at the girl. "Hahahah, Usa-baka. Mom will have to use a leash on you."

The blonde blushed, but her indignity didn't last long as she jumped to her feet and wacked the boy over his head.

He began crying.

The mother bent to calm him down.

The father glared down at Usagi and then sighed deeply. "Come on, we need to get home." He touched his temple and shook his head. "One minute back in Tokyo and vacation time is truly over." As he noticed both children poking their tongues at each other, he frowned and looked at his wife helplessly. The woman tapped the back of their heads warningly. "Hop, hop, to the car the two of you."

Properly chastised, they began their way out, when the pigtailed girl whirled around and ran back to Ami. "I'm really, really sorry." The apology was so heartfelt that Ami could only smile at it and nod.

"Usagi!"

"Gotta go, bye!"

And this time, when she reached her family, she didn't turn back.

Ami waited for her mother patiently, and she was startled when someone plopped down in the seat beside hers. "This is so boring," the someone yawned. It was another girl.

Ami turned to her politely and shrugged. "It's not that bad."

The brown-haired head tilted and the new girl inspected her amusedly. "You gotta be kidding me. I can't wait to get on the plane; I love planes! Where are you going?"

Ami blinked. Where was she going? To see Dad, that she knew. But he moved so much and this time she had no idea of where she'd be heading. Somewhere in America, was her best guess. "To visit my father," she said.

The other girl nodded. "Fathers are good. Mine is taking me to Kyoto's tournament. It's gonna be great, and I'll win the first prize, you'll see." She grinned widely and, for the third time that morning, Ami just had to return the smile.

"I hope you will."

"Thanks! So, you going alone?"

Her mother had always told Ami not to give specifics to strangers; but she didn't think that another girl counted. "Yes. But my mother came with me."

The girl laughed. "Moms are even better. Mine cooks." Her voice dropped to a whisper. "She's teaching me how to bake, but don't tell Dad. I want it to be a surprise."

Ami nodded, and then she lifted her head as her mother's voice called her name. "I have to go," she told the girl.

She looked a little put off that her new friend would leave so quickly, but she quickly recovered as she caught sight of that brunette with the old man. They rose to their feet at the same time and before going in different directions: "Good luck with your Dad!" "Good luck with that tournament."

Both grinned, and as her mother brought her to the gate, Ami turned around and caught a last glimpse of the two darkhaired girls chatting in the background.

The End
30/01/06