7:53.

Why hadn't she called?

She idly picked up the receiver to hear a hollow ring once again.

"Ami, Where are you?"

She grabbed her jacket and was sprinting down the stairs and down the street in no time. Around a corner, and there was the house. There were people there. Why was no one answering if there were people there? A sharp turn around the bush, and the priestess collided with the one she was searching for.

A blur of blue. Astonished, aqua eyes, and both bodies collided as one. Rei nearly knocked them both over, but Ami sidestepped lightly, taking Rei's momentum with her. A soft hand found shoulders, spinning them both behind the cover of a bush. Soft lips and sweet scent. There was no pause, where the kiss began and the movement ended. Lips met lips, eyes closed, and Rei's hair fell around them, covering both figures like a veil. The bodies parted, and the priestess moved to better see her nymph.

"I was worried about you." She smirked through hooded eyes.

A smirk in response, and the smaller figure leaned them both back. Two faces popped out from behind the bush. One particularly confused raven haired being, and a blue haired goddess as her head rested against the larger one's neck. She bit her lip as she checked, the smile still in her eyes.

The priestess scoffed. Two beings stepped into one car. One she recognized, the other happened to be the figure of a man, a mop of stark black hair covering his head. He wore the same white office coat as his driver.

"Your mom has a boyfriend?" A smile in response.

"Yeah…He makes her happy." Her hand interlaced with the shocked miko's own, and she pulled the miko unwillingly along, trying to catch more of the sight laid before her.

"Come on, silly, we're already late."

The two figures turned a corner as the sound of a starting car echoed across the complex.

"How about a movie when we get an opening?"

"I still say we should go to the mall instead. We could all benefit from some new outfits."

"I must agree, Mina-chan… providing those outfits happen to be free."

"Sorry Minako, but we're all pretty close to broke. That's why we're doing a movie instead of… anything else. Saturday sound good?"

A resigned sigh. "Fine. We can do a movie. Me and Usa are going shopping afterwards, though. In celebration of finals finishing tomorrow? That sounds perfect."

A laugh in response. "Fell free, Minako… We can all go our separate ways after the movie… we just wanted something to do together.. the five of us, you know… without the involvement of giant youmas and henshin pens."

"Ah... Saturday?"

The amazon let out a sigh.

"Sorry, guys. Can't make it."

Mina turned to pout at her disappointedly.

"Friday, then?"

The brunette shook her head firmly.

"Nope... I start the new job on Friday."

The eyes brightened all around the table.
"You got it, then?"

"Yep. Just a dishwasher, and just on weekends, when he really needs an extra hand. Said he can use an extra hand in genera;, so I'll be conquering whatever odd jobs keep the orders coming and going."

Mina's bottom lip pouted for an instant, but she caught herself, pulling it in and replacing it with a sad smile.

"Well, there's your foot in the door. We'll miss you, though."

She smiled back.

"I'm not going anywhere."

A soft hand found her Ami's own, clasped it tight under the table.. Amethyst eyes met aqua.

"You promise you're coming Ames?" Her clasp grew tighter. She winced but nodded in answer.

"Yes, I told you already! I'm going, I'm going!" She squealed, wrenching her hand out of the senshi's own. Her mouth formed a small o as she massaged her injured hand and her brows furrowed to a point. A certain miko couldn't help thinking just how cute she looked like that. She massaged the hand lightly away from the view of the others.

"She'll be there. She said she would. That should be reason enough, right Ames?"

The girl watched as her hand was taken into the care of the miko… Her eyes drifted past her as she talked, and she absently pulled a stray strand of hair behind her ear as she bit her lip and glanced at the ground.

Kami, she looked hot like that.

"Right, Ames?" Her eyes snapped back up, surprised, lip fell from teeth, eyes still partly glazed over from the thought before. A bright blush soon covered her features as she realized her surroundings, and she withdrew her idle hand where it lay in Rei's own. She nodded, still blushing to the room. A smile fell across her lips.

"Right."

The room buzzed with anticipation, no one word or conversation could be heard above the overall din. Students gathered, milling here and there, but most of their attention all focused upon one thing: the wall overhead, posted from floor to ceiling with finals results.

Ami meandered a bit closer casually, her books hugged to her chest. She had to push to make it through the crowd here and there, but made it through alright. She found her name where she expected it, at top of the list. She wasn't number one overall, but she had expected that given the circumstances, after all. She stood where she was for a moment, musing in her own thoughts. Her last class being Anatomy, she didn't have any of the others with her, so she had rushed off to see the scores as soon as the bell had rung, trusting the others would know where to find her.

She was soon lost in her thought until until she came to the alarming realization that she was being talked about. She did not move, for fear that it would bring attention to herself. A group of boys from the varsity were standing, not 10 feet away, commeting on her scores. Had she not been a senshi, she would have never heard a thing at all. She decided against movement, for fear that she would draw attention herself.

Some days, she hated it. She wished a youma would come forward so she could be aggressive and rash. Sailor Mercury and herself were two completely different people most days, and she found them growing further and further apart with each passing day. Why couldn't she be proud, be unafraid, like the heroine who's shoes she so often filled?

"Mizuno. Top five percent, again."

A shrug.
"So what?"

"So, yours are dropping like flies, dickwad! Another bad semester, and you're booted off the team. You should track her down. Get a little 'help'."

He pointed nonchalantly at the boards, finding the offenders in the bottom half, barely passing.

"Cuz for that shit... You deserve to be a benchwarmer."

He snorted back in response, apparently unabated.

"Yeah, I'll get her to help. Her and her little Makoto. The three of us, and I'll give 'em all the help they can handle."

The entire group roared with laughter. She knew she should back away, should leave, should keep her eyes down, but she couldn't. Instead, her eyes rose to look at each of them, memorizing their features, her feet glued to the ground. Their laughter was shattered however, when her presence was noted.

"Hey." They all turned to the blond, the one whom had seemed just as intent on her presence a week ago. His blue eyes piercing, they met her own, as the rest of his group turned to him. He jutted a chin in her direction, an angry smirk on his lips and a glitter in his eye. At once, all their eyes fell on her and the laughter instantly died into silence.

She swallowed, but did not move.

"Mizuno Ami." The leader's eyes fell on her, a predator, and he took a step forward. The others stayed behind, eyes glittering in amusement as they watched.

"You up for some tutoring, Mizuno? I don't have any money, but we can work something out." He grinned menacingly as he took another step towards her. She gulped, finally retreating a step as she realized that she had now been given much more berth and the hallway had suddenly gotten much quieter.

The others snickered behind him as he continued to close the distance. She swallowed, her mouth a hard, set line. She knew what this was, a dominance fight. She was being challenged, and she couldn't make herself back down.

"We'll have a... bit of a... cram session. Every time I get something right, there'll be a reward. You should invite your pretty friends... All of them."

There was a growl directly behind, but there was so much familiarity behind it, she did not jump. A soft hand brushed her shoulder lightly as it passed, and she let out a breath she didn't realize she was holding.

"They're right here."

A sharp bark of a laugh escaped the leader.

"Ma-ko-chan."

His attention reaverted directly to the auburn haired woman as she moved to place herself between Ami and the group of offenders.

"I hear them call you that. Are you coming to rescue your girlfriend?"

Suddenly, Ami realized, this is what they had really been after all along.

The warrior's words came out between gritted teeth, her breath hard and angry.

"If that were the case, then I'd watch what you say."

He shook his head barely, not breaking eye contact. All jeering was gone, now that the real opponent was here.

"I was just saying pretty she was... That must be your girl, for you to jump to her defense so quickly. I must say, you're a lucky one. Brains, and looks, if you ask me. I'll bet the two of you know how to have a good ti-"

The amazon's temper snapped, and in one quick movement she had him pinned against the wall, her mouth next to his ear so only he could hear.

"I'd watch your mouth before I break it."

He sneered and snapped an arm at the woman before him, trying to break her hold and catch her in the lip at the same time. To his surprise, she caught him mid-swing and caught his hand within her own, holding it painfully. There was a momentary pause as she studied him, in no apparent hurry as he tried not to cry out. In an act of desperation, he tried to catch her unwary on her blind side, but she blocked it easily, deflecting the blow as a sickening pop filled the air and he fell to his knees with a cry.

She regarded him, then lowered her head so he could better hear her.

"You keep me, and my girls... Out of your filthy mouth. If I ever hear that you have harmed a single hair on their head, I'll make sure you regret it."

She let his hand go with a push, laying a hand next to his head on the wall so she could easily whisper into his ear.

"You and your lackeys would be well-advised to leave now, before I really lose my temper."

She stepped back, giving him more than enough room for a path. For a moment they stared at each other across the space, the jock holding his injured hand with a look of hatred on his face.

She jutted her chin sideways, but did not break eye contact. "Leave. Now."

He rose, gloated for a quick instant, and she knew he was calculating his chances, with his friends involved, he had more than a good chance. He swallowed, wondering how far he wanted to take this. His eyes darted, and she met his glaze steadily, waiting for his decision.

He moved past her without a word, cradling his injured pride as he did his hand as the rest of his friends stalked after his retreat. The amazon watched them go with silent, glittering eyes. When she was sure they had gone, she turned, wordlessly wrapping a protective arm around her fellow senshi and walking out with her. The other blonds stood only a few feet away, and they followed her out silently.

Rei grinned menacingly.

"Please tell me you taught him a little respect?"

"I dislocated two of his fingers. He'll be on the bench for at least a month waiting for them to heal. I'm sure he'll think of me every game he misses."

Rei grinned broadly, obviously proud.

Fingers intertwined her own, soft lips laid themselves on the delicate fingers. A smile formed as a forehead laid itself on her own, pushing them both back. She leaned back, bringing the weight to lay gently on top of her. Muffled giggles escaped her lips, rough teeth played, nipping, on her neck.

"Rei…They might come back…"

Soft lips found her own, silencing her protests.. Hooded eyes came to gaze into her own. She stared silently back, enjoying the moment; the gentle weight that she lay under, the protective arms surrounding her, the warmth that engulfed her.

"Spend the night with me."

The aqua chuckled lightly. "You know I can't. Mom doesn't work tonight.. for once. Besides, it's just for the night. I'll be back tomorrow for the movie, and there's no reason why I can't stay the entire weekend."

The disappointment showed plainly on the miko's face. She buried her face in the smaller one's neck, letting out a small groan.

The nymph chuckled slightly, laid a hand on the raven hair.

"Rei… They just went to the bathroom and get some snacks.. they're coming back."

A grunt resonated from her place in her neck. She raised her face to level with Ami's, her eyebrows at an angry point, a disgruntled look on her face. A grin spread across Ami's face.. she was such a kid sometimes…She leaned forward, and both heads shot around as the door clicked open. The two bolted into sitting positions, as Mina stepped in, followed by Usagi. Their eyes lit up at the amount of food.

This…was….. a… snack….?

Her eyes welled up as she looked down at the mother staring back at her.

This wasn't right...

"Mom.. I called..."

"Ami. I have no messages on my phone. Now, I know I'm not home near enough as either of us would like, and you're getting older. But all I ask is that you let me know where you a-"

"I was at Rei's. That's the only place I've been all week. Just Rei's."

"Then let me know, Ami! Do you realize how frightened I was, to actually get home early from a shift and find your bed empty?"

"But you have her number. I gave it to you!"

"What was I supposed to do, call the Shinto Shrine at three in the morning? You didn't answer your cell."

Her eyes raised skywards at the accusation.

"Because it was three in the morning. I left you a message as soon as I woke up."

There was a silence as they regarded each other across the stairs. Since when had such a rift formed between the two of them? And on top of that, she was positive she left a message! She couldn't have been sleepy enough to dial the wrong number, could she? She remembered hearing her mothers' familiar voicemail.

"Why are you spending so much time at the shrine, anyway?:

A steadying sigh.

"She's my friend, Mom... It's lonely here."

A pause. Her mother's head fell into her hand, rubbing pensively into her temples.

"Ami. This is not acceptable. I don't know what's gotten into you."

The younger Mizuno's breath hitched at the hurtful words. The silence was broken momentarily as the door behind her mother opened, a taller figure entering to lay a ringed finger on the wiser Mizuno's shoulder.

"Are my girls alright?"

The nymph's eyes narrowed. Well, she thought, way to add insult to injury.

"I thought it was going to be just us two."

Her mother threw her hands up in exasperation.

"I invited Naku. I thought it would be pleasant evening for us."

The nymph swallowed.

"I have work to do."

She turned on heel up the stairs, her vision blurring all the way. The wiser below her raised a voice to protest, but a steadying hand on her shoulder stopped her.

"Let her go, Ayune."

She fell into a pillow with all her force, muffling the cries that escaped her. She wanted Rei.

She shook her head, letting out a frustrated sigh. The man across from her regarded her with a knowing smile.

"She will be fine, Ayune. She is going through a stage, and it will pass soon enough. Before you know, she will be coming home from college and bristling with stories to tell."

She smiled thankfully.

"Thank you... I do hope so. I just... never expected this sort of thing from her."

The dinner they were enjoying was wonderful. Since Ami had elected not to come, Naku had decided the best way to alleviate her guilt was to take her mind off it, choosing a high-price restaurant that she well deserved. Now, they both sat over a glass of pricey wine and burning candles.

"She'll come to her senses soon enough. And besides, my guess would be that we should be thankful. If it's just a couple of forgotten phone calls and nights at a friends we have to worry about, her rebellious stage will be much more manageable than most. She hasn't been missing school?"

"Not at all. Her last report card was fine. The grades were slightly lower, but I think she was more disappointed than I."

He smiled, laying a hand on her own and patting it comfortingly.

"She'll be fine, then."

A/N: UPDATED: 4.29.2010 Added a LOT more substance. This chapter is still a bit jumpy, but because there's such a passage of time through it, it's impossible for it not to be. I tried to alleviate it as much as possible. Enjoy the updated version, it's worth a second read!