SailorStar9: With Chapter 70 out, this is Chapter 71 of this fic. Remember boys and girls, reviews are an author's subsistence. Really, is it so difficult for you guys to review instead of just putting this fic up in your favorites and alerts?
Pairings: No official Tieria/Ami for this Book, sorry. Just canon Mamoru/Usagi and quite possible Setsuna/Hotaru in S Season.
Standard BS Disclaimers: I do not own Sailor Moon, Gundam 00 or the pairings. If I did, the other Senshi would be as powerful as Sailor Moon and kicking MOTD ass more often and VEDA would have least an anti-hacker program installed. The only thing I do own is the plot.
Chapter 71: The Labyrinth of Water! Ami the Targeted
Time passes...
"Ah, Mizuno." the vice-principal called out to Ami during the exchange of classes. "This was in the audio/video room." he handed Ami a guidebook. "It's unlike you to forget a guidebook somewhere. Is something bothering you?"
"Not really." Ami blinked.
"This year is finally the year of the entrance exams." the vice-principal reminded. "I have high hopes for you. Do your best. I heard rumors that you've been taking care of delinquent students lately. I hope they aren't getting in the way of your studies. If you ever feel like they are dragging you down, you can come talk to me about it any time. I just want you to concentrate on your academics. See you around." he made his way back to his office.
"Only my academics..." Ami made her way down the staircase, not knowing that Usagi had overheard the conversation.
After school...
Ami sighed as she sat on the steps of Azabu-Juuban Park as she leaned against the Kimi-chan statue.
"What's the matter?" Satoshi's voice sounded over the laptop's speaker Ami had on her lap. "You're sighing more than usual. It isn't like you."
"Satoshi," Ami shot her best male friend a serious look. "What do you think is left of me if you took academics away?"
"Why such a question all of a sudden?" Satoshi blinked.
"It's just that, I've been thinking about this lately." Ami revealed. "Mom is a doctor so I decided at an early age that I wanted to become a doctor myself. And I've been studying without a doubt to become one. All this while, I thought that becoming a good doctor was my dream, but..."
"It isn't anymore?" Satoshi inquired.
"I've been feeling that I really don't have a dream anymore." Ami confessed. "I mean, people with real dreams shine brighter. Take Usagi, for example, she is full of dreams and she shines so brightly that I can't even compare. The only thing I have is academics. Perhaps, I can't become a good doctor like this."
"Now that would be a shame." Satoshi pouted. "I was thinking of having you work together with me once we graduate from medical school. I was serious about that marriage proposal, you know. I really want us working together as a husband-wife team."
"Thanks, Satoshi." Ami gave him a relieved smile. "I'm feeling a little better now."
"And it's getting late on my side." Satoshi added. "Good night."
"Night." Ami nodded and shut the laptop. "Looks like I have a bit of time before the study session starts." she took a look at her watch.
On the streets...
"That is the famous genius girl." Kaolinite locked on her next target. "Then, she must have a Pure Heart full of confidence and skills that shine."
In the sports complex...
"Nobody's here." Ami stepped into the Olympics-sized pool. "Like it's reserved just for me." slipping into the water, she started swimming.
She swims so vibrantly. Michiru spotted her younger cousin in the water.
Michiru-nee is still as beautiful as ever. Ami was impressed by Michiru who had swam up beside her.
"You, too, came from a world of water in your past life, as well." Michiru informed her cousin, the two water Senshi coming up for air. "Let's have a race." she swam closer to Ami.
"Ready!" Haruka shouted from the edge of the pool.
"To the other side." Michiru offered.
"Go!" Haruka started the race.
She's faster than before. Michiru mused, seeing Ami keeping up with her. "Why did you slow down?" she questioned the younger Senshi after the two ended the race at the same time. "Were you trying to make me feel better?"
"I..." Ami looked away. Holding back her frustrated tears, she exited the pool.
"You made your precious little cousin cry." Haruka teased. "You know very well she looks up to you as an older sister and since she isn't a very confident type, she unconsciously avoided the confrontation."
In Rei's room...
"Guys, studying should be done with your own abilities." Usagi pushed the others off Ami once they clamored around the girl genius for answers. Ami has to study more and more to become a doctor. She's not like us. From now on, I will not allow any of you to get in her way. Ami," she turned to Ami. "You just have to study."
"Just study...?" Ami echoed. "That's true." she relented "But I forgot something; I'll have to get it."
"I forgot something too." Usagi cut in, seeing the tears at the corners of Ami's eyes as the other girl went off.
On the streets...
"You dear cousin wants a rematch." Haruka revved her motorbike, alerting Ami of her presence. "Come on, I'll take you to the sports center." she tossed Ami an additional helmet.
In Professor Tomoe's laboratory...
"A new Daimon Egg has been completed." Professor Tomoe declared, "Go, in search of a Pure Heart." he sent the Daimon Egg out.
In the sports center...
"All I want is a rematch, little sister." Michiru told Ami. "I hope you'll accept. 100-meter free-style should be enough." she and Ami were at the starting mark.
"Ready!" Haruka played the match starter. At the snap of her fingers, the two water Senshi took off. "They're even." she remarked, watching the two swim. "Tie." she declared, after the race ended. "It's a tie."
"See?" Michiru pulled Ami up to shore. "Competing with all your strength isn't a bad thing, isn't it? Isn't it time that you stopped running away from your feelings, little sister?" she brushed a wet lock of hair from Ami's head. "Satoshi-kun.. he has always been in love with you."
"I know." Ami admitted. "That's why... I've decided to give him my answer."
"Then, we expect to receive your wedding invites in a few years time." Haruka teased and the two older Senshi left the building.
"I think I'll go another round." Ami slipped back into the water.
The Daimon Egg then shot in through a window and embedded itself within the pool's water.
"What?" Ami gasped when Daimon Doburin appeared in the middle of the pool.
"I'll take your Pure Heart that's worried about the doubts in your life." Doburin declared and dragged Ami into the water with a water tendril. Another swipe of her hand sent Ami crashing against the window and the water solidified, trapping the water Senshi. Pulling off her swimming cap to reveal the black star mark on her head, Doburin proceeded to extract Ami's Pure Heart Crystal.
Near the sports center...
"A Daimon!" Usagi spotted the tell-tale red light from the top floor. "Moon Comic Power, Make Up!"
On the top floor...
"Stop it." Sailor Moon stopped the Daimon. "I came here in search of a friend and something unwanted is misbehaving. I am the pretty Sailor Senshi of Love of Justice, Sailor Moon! In the name of the Moon, I will punish you!"
"Doburin, don't flinch." Kaolinite ordered. "Just grab the Pure Heart."
The Daimon trapped Sailor Moon in a lifesaver and continued to pull out the Heart Crystal.
"Give that back!" Sailor Moon shouted, Kaolinite surveying the Heart Crystal. "Ami is kinder than anyone. And she's smart. She's going to become the world's best doctor." the Moon Senshi was blasted into the wall with a spout of water from the Daimon.
"This isn't a Talisman, either." Kaolinite sneered and was about to smash the Heart Crystal on the floor when Tuxedo Kamen's rose knocked the cross-shaped crystal out of her hands.
"Doburin, get rid of these nuisances." Kaolinite retreated.
Tuxedo Kamen jumped to avoid the water spout that Doburin shot at him and he used his extended cane to push the Daimon into the water.
"Good thing I was wearing a floating ring." the Daimon sighed in relief as she floated back up.
Both Luna and Artemis jumped onto the lifesaver and bit into it, deflating the lifesaver and forcing the Daimon to swim to shore.
Another rose from Tuxedo Kamen freed Sailor Moon.
"Moon Spiral Heart Attack!" Sailor Moon wasted no time in destroying the Daimon. "Ami!" she hurried over to the unconscious girl and returned the Heart Crystal. "I'm sorry, Ami." she apologized after Ami recovered. "Did I say something to hurt your feelings?"
"It's not that." Ami shook her head. "I was just a little depressed. I finally understand; to worry is the same thing as to stop, so that's why, I won't run away. I've decided... I want to tell Satoshi my true feelings face-to-face."
SailorStar9: Any OOC-ness is regretted. *Sighs* Don't you just hate plot bunnies sometimes? Read and review.
