Was lucky enough to stumble on a great blog detailing these two by thebombasticbookman as well as a series of very well done fanfics (Ball Game-Snowball Fight-Ghosts and UFO's). Was very happy to see this as in general this pairing seems massively under supported :'( Hopefully in time more people can come to realise what a great pairing it is :) To all those following hope you enjoy the latest instalment of Amori.

The Start of Something New?

Sunday 1.40pm

Minori had got to Ami's house early. She'd left in good time in case there were delays but she had been fortunate with the travel. There was to be no taking things slowly with Minori though and the thought of arriving twenty minutes early was as bad as standing and waiting for twenty minutes.

And so she stood across the road drumming her right foot, white Nike sneaker with pink trim, on the ground restlessly and a grimace on her face. The sun bore down but the air still held the fresh chill of Spring. She was wearing a blue T with '88' in large white numbers beneath grey puffer jacket and blue Denham Jeans. Her hair was kept short as usual but had been washed and straightened.

"Ah geez," she muttered as she glanced at her white wristwatch. The silver hands had moved to 13.42. "Hah…"

Suddenly she stood up straight sending her red hair flying, clapping her hand into her fist. Then she began jogging on the spot and took off down the road.

Ami had been watching all of this from her Aunt's front window. Her aunt was out and so she had been putting the finishing touches to her hair and make up whilst keeping an eye on the front road. Her room was at the back as she'd rather be as far from the street as possible; however today she didn't want Minori turning up early and catching her by surprise.

She'd already slipped into her pink summer top and low cut black sweater that left a line of the pink top showing. She wore, as usual for her smart casual wear, tight dark blue jeans that accentuated her long legs. Her hair had been straightened and flowed to her waist. She was putting on her lipstick when she spotted the tell-tale flash of red outside her house. She glanced at her silver wristwatch and frowned.

Twenty to? I guessed she'd be early but that's quite something. If she comes now it'll be inconvenient. I've only done my upper lip and still have to add mascara.

She continued doing her makeup whilst keeping half an eye on Minori. It looked liked she was tapping her foot restlessly. Then Minori glanced at her watch. Anxiously Ami glanced again at hers. I'm not late am I? No my watch definitely says twenty to. Unless my watch is wrong!

She glanced across at the analogue clock atop a wooden dresser by her aunt's bed and was relieved to see it also read twenty to. Then why is she so impatient? She moved back to the lime green curtains and glanced out. Minori was jogging on the spot and then she took off up the road. A light bulb went off in Ami's mind and she grinned.

She really can't stay still for too long can she! Now to put the finishing touches to my makeup…

15 minutes later and there was a buzz from the front gate. Ami had been expecting it and picked up almost immediately to the sound of heavy breathing.

"Yo! Minori reporting in!"

"Yo! Enjoy the run?" Ami couldn't resist. Minori chuckled and brushed it off,

"Ahaha you saw? Just staying in shape."

"Sounds like you needed it."

"Phweh, is the Princess coming or should I wait all day?"

"Hmm I wonder." The line went dead.

There was no malice to the banter, it was sparring. Much like Taiga and Ami used to do only somehow more intense and deeper. Taiga never felt like an equal in sparring, and Taiga would generally rely on more physical means of winning an argument. That or bribery, Minori thought with a wry grin. With us it's more a sparring of equals. A testing? A fight? A competition? An enjoyment of each other? No-one else makes me feel so alive.

5 minutes passed and Minori became increasingly restless. She's not so petty that she'd punish me is she? Does she want me to ring and apologise? Well I'll ring again but I don't see why I should apologise.

She pressed the buzzer again but got no response. Oh shoot! She can't be that sensitive. Is she waiting behind the gate listening? Wahhh!

A pair of arms snaked round her stomach and hands tickled her mercilessly through her T-Shirt. She'd left her puffer jacket unzipped to cool down from the jog but that appeared to have been a tactical mistake.

"Ahahahaha stop Amin! Stop!" Minori bent over from the merciless fingers that forced gasping laughter from her.

"Is that how you ask a Princess?" Ami countered wryly from behind.

"Your Highness please spare me," Minori managed and the hands retreated. Flushed Minori got her breath back for the second time in quick succession.

"No fair Amin! You stealth snuck up on me!"

"All's fair in love and war." Ami retorted with a grin.

"And which is this?" Minori countered.

Rather than answer directly Ami shrugged in an infuriatingly non-committal manner,

"Who knows? Shall we go?"

Minori snorted then brightened up, "Sure let's go…where are we going Captain?"

"You'll find out soon enough," Ami replied with a small grin, striding ahead.

"Aye aye Sir!" Minori saluted be fore matching Ami's pace.

As they continued walking silence enveloped them.

Minori glanced at Ami a few times from the corner of her eye as they walked, noticing that Ami seemed particularly deep in thought; as though debating something.

Ami was indeed keeping her gaze focused ahead, unsure what to do and say now. I'm not used to this, being with someone else alone. Kitamura sure, but we were firm friends and there was never any…tension? He was a childhood friend and there was never any feeling of anything more with him. Maybe referring to it as a date was a mistake? I'm struggling to…!

Something warm slipped into her left hand and entwined with it, grasping it. She glanced left at Minori who grinned at her.

"What…?"

"It's more comfortable like this right, Amin?" Minori said merrily with the merest undertone of mischief. Ami found herself close to blushing at her tone and the sudden beating warmth running through her hand. Still she didn't let go, relieved at something to break her circling thoughts. Instead her own fingers wrapped round Minori's feeling the pulse beating between them. She'd never held hands before…it felt strangely intimate.

"Whatever," she managed to muster offhandedly, instinctively trying to hide her heart; to hide any weakness. Then rallied with a deadpan "do as you please."

Minori simply chuckled. "So Ami's a Tsundere, never would have guessed."

Ami snorted, "and you're a dork. Go figure!"

"Hmm…" Minori murmured, eyes narrowing in mock annoyance. "Anyway are we walking all the way there or have we some other means of transport to take?"

Ami shook her head,

"No we'll take a bus." Avoiding the trains. I don't like buses but at least one can usually get a seat and avoid being groped. If Minori noticed the slight tensing of Ami's hand she didn't say anything.

"Kay!" Minori hummed a happy few notes as they continued up the street past house after house. The streets were pretty quiet here in the suburbs.

"Do you have a favourite tune?" Ami asked, feeling more confident somehow. It's her again, her holding hands so naturally. Other friends hold back and deal with me at a polite distance; oh we can laugh but it all feels pretend, like playing house. And well generally I force guys to a distance. With her always intruding on me, challenging me, irritating me - I want to know about her more somehow…

Minori herself seemed surprised by the question and stopped humming, her pink eyes locking with Ami's for a split second as though searching for something. Then both glanced away again before the gaze became too long. What was she looking for?