She was studying quietly to herself that day, already having finished the work the teacher gave, when Rei came into the room, looking flustered.
"E-excuse me, Ma'am, but... I need Ami-chan right away. THere's been an accident."
Ami stood up. "Accident? What do you mean?"
Rei shook her head. Something in her eyes...
"Please excuse me, Harada-sensei."
"Of course, Ami-chan."
She picked up her work and followed Rei out, before turning to her.
"...It's... it's him, isn't it?"
Rei nodded. "Ami-chan... I think he's dying."
She stopped. "D-dying? WHat happened?"
"We don't know. He just... appeared. Wandered intot he shrine, hurt, and demanding to see you. Wouldn't take no for an answer. Mako-chan and Usagi are taking care of him. He's... he's lost a lot of blood, Ami-chan."
She looked grim. That was a bad sign; Ami hurried, Rei following after. She couldn't get their first encounter out of her head. He had been so strong, with an energy she'd never felt before; wild and untamed, yet controlled; as though he were surfing the wave of his own power. He seemed to be enjoying it, she remembered; had seemed to love the thrill of fighting that had come with his quick defeat of the Youma. Indeed, he'd looked disappointed the fight was over so soon. And yet, he'd still been surprised when he turned around and saw her, and she wondered if it had only been surprise she'd seen in those wild blue eyes that day.
She wondered if he'd been as impressed with her as she'd been with him.
She raced ahead of Rei, following the path to the shrine on instinct, seeing only that feral grin, the pale blue hair that matched his eyes, and the mask with a grin that matched its wearer's. She raced into the shrine, barely managing to stop before she plowed down Usagi.
"Where is he?" she asked, and the worry must have shown in her actions and voice, because Usagi merely pointed.
In a few minues, she was there.
He lay on a pallet, bandages covering his wounds, while Mako-chan sat on the other side of the room, keeping watch on him.
"What happened?" she asked him.
He looked up at her and grinned. "Wouldn't you like to know?"
His voice was as sarcastic as the once she'd ever heard him speak, but it was labored, and he was clearly badly injured. She kneeled next to him.
"What... are you?" she asked, unable to keep her questions at bay, although guilty for asking such a strange question. She wanted to know as much about him as she could; he had touched her life, if only briefly, and she didn't want the regret of not knowing.
"I'm a Hollow," he said. "You'da known if you'd been paying attention instead of fainting like a goddamn wuss."
Dspite his harsh words, one of his hands took hers as he winced in pain, as if seeking comfort in spite of himself.
"Grimmjow Jaegerjaques; the Sexta Espada."
She looked down at the hand.
"Is that... some kind of demon?"
He laughed harshly. "Good a term as any, I suppose. Who the hell are you to ask? And what the fuck is a 'Sailor Senshi'?"
She couldn't fight back tears.
"Who am I to ask? I'm Ami Mizuno, Sailor Mecury; the Sailor Senshi of water and justice. I use these powers to fight Youma and save the people of this city... and I think I'm falling for you, demon or not."
