Chapter 14
Haruka sighed as she watched her little sister meet Ami out by the car, a blush stained Makoto's cheeks when she saw Ami in a small blue dress. She chuckled and waved a bit as the car pulled away from the house. Arms slid around her shoulders'. "You okay?"
"A bit worried. But otherwise all right." Haruka replied as she grabbed Michiru's hands and gently kiss her palms. "You?"
"About the same. But standing out here waiting for them to get back won't do anybody any good." Michiru said and spun Haruka around to gently pull her into the house. "Come on, come on. I'll let you have the last piece of cake if it'll make you feel better." Michiru teased gently as she closed the door behind Haruka.
"How about we share it instead."
"Okay, we'll share." Michiru said, gently leaning up to kiss Haruka's lips gently.
"I think," Haruka said as she wrapped her arms around Michiru's hips, "I just thought of something better than cake."
"Oh? Haruka!" Michiru squealed, Haruka lifted her easily into her arms.
"Yes. You." Haruka said as she carried her to their bedroom.
"Really?"
"Yes. Very much yes." Haruka growled out as she threw Michiru onto their bed and crawled over her. Not ten minutes later the doorbell rang. "Ignore it." Haruka murmured. When the doorbell rang a second time Michiru sighed and lightly pushed at Haruka's shoulders. Haruka whine and grumbled, but slid away from Michiru's prone body.
"Makoto probably just forgot something." Michiru said as she saw Haruka getting up as well.
"Just in case." Instead of replying Michiru simply shook her head and tied her robe.
"Who is it?" Michiru called through the door.
"Hey Michiru, it's me—Minako." Came through the door. Michiru quickly opened the door.
"Minako, what are you doing here?" Michiru asked, ushering the blonde inside the house. "Haruka start the tea kettle please. What happened, Minako?" Michiru questioned as she saw both dried tears on Minako's cheeks and a quickly stuffed duffle bag strapped across her chest.
"Thank you, Michiru, Haruka. I had a fight with Setsuna and kind of, left. You two are the closest to our, uh her house. Would it be all right if I stayed here for a night or two?"
"Of course you can. Right, Ruka?"
"Yeah. Give me your bag, I'll put it in the guest room." She said and took Minako's duffle bag.
"Thank you."
"Oh it's no problem. But what happened?" Michiru asked, reaching to gently take Minakos' cold hand in hers'.
"Setsuna." Minako started, then stopped with a sigh. Haruka set down three cups of tea, then sat next to Michiru. "She's so secretive. I worry sometimes' that she keeps a lot from me, because she doesn't trust me. I checked the mail today. When I asked Sets if she knew the address on an envelope. She said no but she took it and practically ran." Minako had a few tears welling in her eyes. "She came out a little bit later I asked her who the letter was from. She denied anything about it. T-then she said I should forget any existence of it. And then everything followed and rolled down hill from there." Minako finished in a spluttering cry. She fell into Michiru's arms, sobbing loudly into her chest.
"Shh, everything will be all right. Hush now." Michiru whispered to her. Haruka awkwardly pat her back.
"You look, um beautiful." Makoto said softly, as the car quietly drove down the highway. Ami blushed and gave Makoto a quick smile.
"You look nice as well."
"Thank you. Ami, is it okay, that I'm nervous?" Makoto asked hesitantly, lightly blushing as she peeked over to Ami. Ami smiled and reached over to take Makoto's hand.
"Yes it's okay."
"Good." When they reached the restaurant a few minutes later the awkward haze that had first settled over them had lifted and both felt at ease. "Here." Makoto said, running around the car to help Ami out of the car.
"Thank you." Ami said in mild surprise. Makoto smiled and nodded, offering her arm to Ami. "A reservation under Mizuno."
"Yes. Please follow me." The boy said, showing them to a corner table, a candle flickered in the middle of it. "Your waiter will be right here." He said after they took their seats in the cozy booth.
"Do you come here often?" Makoto asked. She looked around in awe of the upper-class restaurant.
"Actually this is my first time here. I usually just order take out, or make a quick microwave meal." Ami admitted with a blush.
"Why?"
"I'm not a very good cook. A little better than Haruka, but not by much." Makoto blinked in surprise.
"Hi, I'll be your waiter Ikuno. Can I get you drinks, perhaps an appetizer?" The curious look on Makoto's face faded to one of slight irritation.
"Water."
"Water as well. And give us a few minutes." Ami said. Makoto watched him scurry off with recognition in her eyes. "Makoto, do you know him?" Makoto blinked her green gaze to Ami, mouth slightly ajar. For a moment she stayed like that before she closed her mouth and eyes, shook her head, then opened her eyes to again look at Ami.
"No." Ami closed her engraved leather menu, folded her hands and rested her chin atop of the interlaced digits. Makoto shrunk back a bit as she looked into intense blue eyes.
"Makoto. If you want a relationship with me you must be honest. Don't lie to me." Ami says, voice strong but quiet.
"Not a lie!" Makoto said quickly, reaching across the table to grab Ami's wrists. "Looked familiar. But not him."
"Okay." At Ami's soft smile Makoto pulls her hands away and returns it with one of her own.
When finally meal and dessert where finished the two left. "There is a park nearby. Do you want to take a walk?" Makoto asked. Ami smiled up at her and nodded. Again Makoto offered her arm to Ami. The park was silent, except for the natural sounds of night. The two talked sparingly, neither wanting to destroy the quiet of the night. When Ami shivered Makoto shyly wrapped an arm around her shoulders. Ami leaned into her lightly, smiling up at her. "Do you want to sit down for a moment?" Makoto gestured to a bench over looking the parks small, man-made lake. For minutes' they sat in silence.
"Makoto." Ami finally said, keeping her voice quiet and her tone soft.
"Yes?"
"For this to work," Ami began slowly, "You will have to tell me your past, your whole past." Ami looked up into wide green eyes. "No lies. Nothing to make it prettier. The truth." Makoto looked away from Ami. "Not right now. Later, maybe." Ami amended quickly. It took a calloused hand gently tapping Ami's check towards Makoto for Ami to look back up at her.
"Okay." Makoto said and nodded, grinning down at her.
"Thank you." Makoto gave a broad smile and swooped down, lightly kissing Ami. "As amazing as that is," Ami breathed out in surprise, "I think I should probably get you home." Makoto stared down at her with an indescribable look before sighing and standing, helping Ami up after her. When they got back to Makoto's home, both where surprised to see a cherry red sports car in the driveway. "I guess I'll see if Minako's here." Ami said, following Makoto inside. Haruka and Michiru sat at the dining table, seemingly in a serious discussion. "Hey guys, what happened?" When the two told Ami and Makoto of what happened Ami could only say that it'd be best if they thought back on it in the morning. Haruka and Michiru agreed and bid them goodnight as they moved to the their room. "Guess that means I should get home." When Makoto stepped in front of her, shaking her head, she sighed.
"Too late, your tired. Stay here tonight. Just tonight." Makoto said hurriedly. Ami slowly nodded.
"Your right, it's too late for me to drive home safely. I'll just grab a blanket for the couch." Ami yawned as Makoto again shook her head.
"Take my bed. It'll be okay. Promise." Makoto said, gently tugging Ami to her room.
"Well, okay. Goodnight Makoto."
"Mako. Call me Mako."
"Goodnight Mako." Makoto smiled widely at the nickname rolling from Ami's lips.
"Night Ami." Makoto turned to leave to the couch.
"Mako," When Makoto turned back to Ami she was surprised to feel Ami's lips against hers', "I had a really nice time tonight, with you. And I can't wait for our next date." Ami finished, blush staining her cheeks as she closed the door to Makoto's room behind her. Makoto stared for a minute before a broad, goofy grin split her lips and she practically skipped to grab a blanket and back to the couch. Ami was the last thing she thought of as she fell asleep.