A/N: Thank you to those of you who reviewed the last chapter. It's so encouraging to read your reactions and it makes me feel so grateful. It drives me to keep writing because I know it took you time to sit and actually write back. Each time I get a review, I go back down to my computer to write more. It's my way of saying 'Thanks guys, I'm gonna get this too you as soon as I can.' lol. I hope you enjoy this chapter. Once again, as the title suggests, this chapter revolves around Ami. We explore some of her history and motivations.

As One

Chapter 3

Marine of Mercury

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Marine - n. (adj) of, found in, produced in or relating to the sea

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The last light of morning slowly crept over the horizon. The grass reaching out to the sun, offered her drops of water adorning every limb. The scent of her offerings wafted up and produced a fresh aroma. Ami stood quietly outside the hospital. A few feet away, a coterie of nurses was gathered. Two of them held cigarettes. The smoke punctuated the clean air near Ami as it coasted with the wind. The short haired teenager inhaled the passing haze. The small group nearby laughed loudly gossiping about a crazed person being chased by security. One of the male nurses, noticing Ami, leaned in her direction.

"Sweetie, this is the smoking section. The wind is blowing down your way, you might wanna move upwind." He pointed to the opposite side. "That way you don't have to inhale all the smoke."

Ami stared down at her shoes. She pushed the tip of it into the grass, unsure how to respond. The male nurse, seeming to realize the girl's shyness, gave her a small smile. "You can stay here too. I'm not pushing," he said reassuringly. The red headed nurse returned to his co-workers to hear about the ongoing commotion.

His red hair reminded her of the ginger haired girl she'd been stopped by earlier. Naru had stood, along with Shingo and Umino, defiantly stopping the three girls from getting to Usagi's room.

"Where do you think you're going?" She asked, her eyes red, her voice high pitched. The girls stood in front of the blockade. After a few seconds, Ami realized that it would have to be her who answered. The other girls were struggling to find their voices. Rei had been shaking since Usagi had been admitted.

"We were on our way to see Usa."

"No, no way. You're not going near her!"

Naru shook her head vigorously. Umino reached out and put a comforting hand on her shoulder, squeezing it gently. Then sliding his hand down her arm, he laced his fingers with hers. His eyes moved back to the female trio. Ami, for the first time, truly noticed his change. Not only had he grown physically, he had grown mentally and emotionally; so much in the past year.

"You should probably go," he told them softly.

"She's our friend too," Makoto argued, her ponytail swishing as she spoke.

"No! No you're not!" Naru ripped her hand from her boyfriend's grasp. She pounded her chest forcefully. "Me! I'm her friend! Me!" Fresh tears rolled down her face. "You're the ones who take advantage of her!"

"That's not true-" said the blue haired girl.

"You left her by herself," she yelled pointing an accusing finger. Her eyes flew to meet Rei's. Her emerald eyes bore into the pair of darkened violet; her hate radiating. "You don't deserve her-" she seethed. Each word pierced Rei's heart like a knife; the priestess clutched her chest. "Freak!" She spat. Ami could hear Rei taking several steps backwards.

Umino moved quickly, he took Naru by the crook of her arm and pulled her towards him. He whispered to her, and whatever it was he was saying, appeared to calm her down. The red head jerked her head away, she had no desire to look at the culprits.

"Please," Ami pleaded.

She turned her head towards Usagi's younger brother. Shingo had always had a "not-so secret crush" on Ami since the day he'd met her. His face flushed and he ran upstairs that first day. Usagi used it against him every chance she could. It was her trump card. If she needed something or didn't want to do something, she'd call on Shingo. If you dooo... she'd sing, I'll ask Ami to come overrr...

After commanding the group to stop, he had fallen quiet. He said nothing during Naru's emotional outburst. If she could get him to listen, he could help them understand.

"Shingo-kun, you know us. We would never hurt her on purpose. We..." she paused and took a breath. "We shouldn't have left without telling her, having her walk alone-"

"Shut up." The 14-year-old boy's voice was so soft she had barely heard him. "You guys were supposed to protect her." His sandy blonde hair shook as he looked up at her; he clenched his fists. "You had nothing. My sister...she gave you..." Shingo stopped. His eyes, which had been previously staring at the ground shot up. He looked straight into Ami's. "You have always been nothing. A loser! Nothing! I'll never for-"

"Don't talk to her like that!" Makoto interrupted. But it was much too late. The damage had been done.

Ami felt a weight drop on her chest, smothering her, pushing down on her. She was vaguely aware that Shingo was speaking to Makoto. But she couldn't decipher it; there was a sharp ringing in her ears. She felt something collide with the side of her arm, and realized it was Shingo's shoulder. He had pushed past her and kept walking towards the waiting room. Makoto was speaking to her now. But, she unable to process what she was saying. She closed her eyes and focused her attention on the sounds from the outside environment. She needed to bypass the high pitched ringing and concentrate on the words. Finally there was a break through. Her brunette friend was wondering where Rei had gone. Ami quickly responded that she'd go look and swiftly walked away. She wasn't ready to see Usagi just yet.

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An internal alarm went off in Ami's body. She lived on a strict morning routine. It had been so ingrained that her body woke itself each morning. It signaled when it was time to leave the house for school, it let her know when the bell was about to ring, it indicated when it was time for bed. It was Thursday, a school day. She needed to go home and get ready. She paused, wondering if she should go. She'd never missed a day of school in her life. If there was a good reason to, today's would be more than enough. Then, like a rock skipping across the surface of water, her brain lightly reminded her that she had a presentation today. It was decided then, she would go to school.

The blue haired girl arrived just as the school bell rang and took her seat quickly. It was the first time she arrived when the bell rang. She was always early. An uneasy feeling began to rise up on her, much like the tide to the growing moon. The hairs on the back of her neck rose in response.

"Mizuno-san," Haruna sensei called. She walked from the podium and took a seat at her desk. Ami looked down at her empty desk. Where is my speech. She felt a slight nudge at the back of her mind, reminding her it was still in her bag. Standing up, she picked up her case and put it on the desk. She unbuckled the front and opened the flap. The leather briefcase tumbled to the floor, her papers, leaves scattering around her desk. Her face flushed as she knelt down, frantically gathering her work. A light sprinkle of giggles passed through the room. Haruna sensei, shushed the class. Ami found her speech and harshly shoved the rest in her pack.

Once she was at the podium she felt a heavy rock sink into the pit of her stomch. She placed the papers down and looked up at her classmates; an outbreak of goosebumps enveloped her body. She watched as several of her classmates leaned to whisper something in another's ear.

"I-I-I -I I am Ami. Um, Ami Mizuno, a-a-and..." A heavy pressure settled on her thorax, threatening to crush her alive. The speed of her breathing increased as she struggled to breath

"I-I-I-I" She stuttered over and over again. She couldn't seem to make it pass the first sentence. Sweat gathered near her brow. Ami could see judgement swim across the class, more and more students began whispering.

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The Mizuno's had their daughter late in life. As a doctor and a scientist, they wanted to ensure they were financially ready to take care of a child. So, in their early forties they welcomed a healthy baby girl. She measured in at 17 inches, a little smaller than most newborns. However, the doctor had told Mrs. Mizuno that it was to be expected to her late age. Everything else, they said, was perfect. Her parents were overjoyed. They decided to name her Ami, after Mr. Mizuno's late sister.

Having two intellectuals as parents contributed to Ami's extensive vocabulary, academic excellence, and docile personality. She developed a love for books, cards, board games, and jigsaw puzzles. In the basement her mother had a research lab. Ami spent much of her time with her mother and the scientific instruments. Her mother often talked Ami through the different experiments and tools. Her father, a retired doctor, loved taking Ami with him when he went out to see his fellow colleagues. He liked having her near him; he'd pat her on the head and tell his peers how well she did in school. She would sit and listen to them as they talked about old cases, patients, and the latest research in the medical community. They'd always say, "We're old now…" and her favorite, "You're getting senile…." And everyday she would get to swim in the family pool. She was born fortunate and loved. She was blessed with a happy life, except for Mondays through Fridays from 8 am to 4 pm.

At 6 months Ami's hair began to grow out and her parents noticed it was an odd color. At first, they believed it would darken with time. Instead, the only thing that changed, was its length. Her mother had took a strand of her daughter's hair as well as blood samples to identify any genetic or health issues. They were worried that she may have been poisoned or exposed to something. But they found their daughter was perfectly healthy. She just had blue hair.

Ami's hair was never a problem before grade four. No one seemed to notice how different it was compared to everyone else. However, during the summer something had changed. When she returned to school, the boys and girls pointed at her hair. They called her alien. Whenever she was asked a question by the teacher, her classmates would whisper back and forth. At lunch everyone refused to sit next to her. They said anyone who sat with her would be taken to the alien ship to be probed.

It is during grade five that grades and scores are heavily emphasized. They start to carry weight, they mattered. Ami's academic excellency made her a target. Her high scores skewed the class average, tests could never be curved because of her. The feeling of disdain settled among her classmates. Whenever she had to speak, they threw paper balls, interrupted her as she spoke, rolled their eyes, and laughed at her. The hostility created a deep fear of having to speak out loud. She stopped going outside for breaks and lunch, she spent her time in the classroom with her teacher reading or studying.

One day, in grade eight during lunch, Ami sat in an empty classroom. Usually, there was a teacher in the room. According to school policy students weren't allowed to stay in the classroom by themselves. But, Ami was such a good student, that her teachers often left her alone. They trusted she wouldn't do anything inappropriate while they were out. She was reading the American classic The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. Ukitake sensei had assigned it to her especially, because it was a challenging read. Most American students didn't read it until they were in high school. But, he was confident in her skills, he knew she would breeze through it.

She had only read a few pages when she heard someone call out.

"Ami-chan!" She didn't turn around. No one called her that. Normally it was: loser, alien, nerd, teacher's pet. Sometimes, if she was lucky, someone would address her properly 'Mizuno-san.' However, it only happened when they were near the principal or someone of authority. Therefore she assumed that they were calling someone else. But then, they called again, and this time it came from the door way.

"Ami-chan!"

The blue-eyed girl jumped in surprise and looked up from her book. She saw Ichika Ichiha, Yua Doi, Sara Fujimori, and Mimi Kobayashi. The quartet walked to her desk smiling.

"You're always in here," said Yua. She brushed her blond bangs to the side. "You should come outside more!"

"Yea." Ichika, the leader of the group slipped into the seat behind her. "Your hair is so long." She remarked, brushing her long fingers through the strands.

"I wish my hair was as long." Mimi, a brunette had hair that fell a few inches past her shoulders. "My mom is always making me cut it," she complained rolling her eyes.

"I think you-I think you have v-very pretty hair," Ami whispered.

"Aww you're so sweet."

"Why do you sit in here, it's sooo boring." Yua leaned on the desk across of Ami.

"I like to study."

"You're so smart." Sara, the shortest of the group smiled at her. "I know I should study but," she shrugged her shoulders.

"Have you ever had your hair braided?" Ichika asked, still touching Ami's blue tendrils.

"Oh you should! It would look so cute!" Sara clapped.

"Will you let me?" Ichika swept Ami's hair back. "I love braiding, and your hair is so soft. You know, I'm thinking of being a cosmetologist or hair stylist when I grow up."

"Ichika-chan's really good." affirmed Yua.

"She does our hair all the time," Mimi looked at the other two, "right girls?" The other two nodded happily.

"So can I?"

Ami blushed. She had never had so much attention before. The way Ichika and the others complimented her and stroked her hair felt good. She had a strong desire to please them.

"Um..yea, I'd like that."

"Great!" Ichika clapped. "Okay, girls bring me my bag over there." Sara ran over and fetched the leather case. "Okay, it might hurt a little, but don't worry, It's supposed to tug like that." She gathered all of Ami's hair in one hand and put it in a pony tail. She tightened it. Ami could feel that band imprinting itself on her skull and stretching the skin near her temples.

"Go ahead and relax."

"Oh," Yua said gleefully, "you should close your eyes, it can be like a...I mean, like, like we're in a spa, you know!"

"I'll put on some music!" Mimi took out her phone and started her playlist.

"Okay," Ami said softly. She closed her eyes; in the background she could hear the girls giggle along with the music. It felt so nice.

"Oh darn!" Ami heard Ichika say behind her. "I messed up," the girls voice sounded eerily sweet. Ami turned around to see Ichika holding the fistful of her blue hair. Her hands shot to the back of her head. It had all been chopped off. Not one tendrel fell past her neck. They laughed viciously. Mimi grabbed her phone and the girls left, Ichika dumping the hair she'd cut in the trash.

"You're such a loser!"

When Ami arrived home she went straight to her room and cried. She told her parents that she cut her own hair. They were unhappy that she'd done it on her own, but they took her to a small salon and the woman fixed the horrid cut. For the rest of the school year they called her -kun, the male honorific. They spread rumors that she was transitioning and that she was a lesbian.

At the end of the year she asked her parents to move schools. She told them that her current school wasn't challenging enough. She told them that she couldn't grow academically in such a school. She presented them with her research of nearby schools. She had found a private junior high school called 'Juban.' They only wanted the best for their daughter, so they agreed, they were willing to pay for the private school if she felt like it was the best thing for herself.

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She felt a soft hand on her shoulder. Haruna sensei gave her sad smile.

"It's okay," she whispered. "Go home and rest. If you could, would you email me later on how she's doing?" Ami nodded slowly, still unable to speak. She picked up the rest of her things and walked out of class.

Ami found herself outside Usagi's hospital door at noon. She was meant to walk home, instead her feet had led her here. It was as if she were being reeled in by some invisible fisherman. She opened the door slowly and peeked in. If anyone's there, I'll leave, she decided. When she saw no one, she made her way in and closed the door behind her.

The wide windows at the opposite side let in the streaming sun. The sun in all his glory, touched down on Usagi's body wrapping her in his embrace. In the right-hand corner beside the window the hospital had installed a sink and several cabinets. They were likely filled with supplies for the nurses and doctors. She noticed, on the windowsill next to the sink, a small potted plant. She wandered over to take a look, curious. She could see a small bud beginning to peak out from the soil. It was in its second stage of growth. She wondered who may have bought it for her.

A soft dripping sound pulled Ami from her thoughts. She turned to find a leaky faucet. Fat drops of water were diving from the spigot into the basin. It was common for people to leave a faucet leaking. They never turned the knobs tightly enough. She moved to turn it off. Oh no, it's broken. The handle lay next to it. That's not good. She touched the spout where the water fell. Her fingers covering its mouth. Perhaps, she thought, maybe it's not leaking. Maybe it's just dripping off the excess water from the person who just washed their hands. There was a slight rumble and the faucet vibrated. A soft swooshing sound followed. She immediately removed her hand, stepped back and put her arms up to protect herself. She waited for the water to explode and start gushing out. She was pleased that no such thing occurred, and the water had stopped dripping as well. Taking a napkin from the dispenser she wiped her hands dry.

Finally she turned to her friend. She watched as Usagi's chest moved up and down. If it weren't for the various instruments that blotted her body, monitoring her heart and brain waves, feeding her water and the necessary nutrients to sustain her body, she'd be mistaken for sleeping. Ami walked and sat on the gray plush chair beside the bed. She sighed and looked over at the side table. Two books and five magazines were displayed, material for visitors. She picked up one of the books: Thornton Wilder's Our Town. The other read The Five People You Meet in Heaven Mitch Albom. How ironic, thought, all these people with an impact.

"Your story should be in here too. You've had an impact on all of us…"

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For the first two months at Juban Junior High, Ami sat in complete silence. She came to school and did her best to be invisible. She was surprised that not many people bothered her about her hair. It was still unbelievably short due to Ichika's cruel joke. The hairstylist had had to use a shaver in order to even out the bottom and sides, and it had barely grown during the summer.

On November 5th she met Usagi Tsukino. Ami had remained true to her old routine. She stayed in every break and lunch. But on that November 5th she was sitting on a bench outside reading Under the Blood Red Sun by Graham Salisbury. Today they had a substitute, so she was unable to stay in class to eat; she was forced to go outside.

"Hey," she heard someone say from behind her. "Ummm...are you Ami Mizuno?" She turned around to see a blonde with an unusual hair style.

"I'm Usagi Tsukino," she said. But Ami had already known that. The girl was in the same computer class. Ami nodded her head. "So, like, we're in the same computer class." She sat down next to her. "And this new coding thing is driving me crazy!" she whined. "I don't know what the point of coding is. It's not like we're gonna to use it." Ami was tempted to tell the blonde that it was very likely that it would be used. The technology and coding sector was growing at an exponential rate. But she kept the information to herself, doubtful she cared.

"Anyway, Ito sensei said you're a wiz at it." Usagi waited for Ami to reply. When the blue haired girl did not, Usagi explained, "I really need your help. If I don't pass the next coding assessment, I'm gonna fail and my mom'll have a heart attack. Please, please, please help me!" She put her hands in prayer position and made large puppy dog eyes. Ami was familiar with this solicitation. Many in her previous school had her do their homework as well. Her heart dropped. She'd gone two months without having been coerce into doing another's work.

"Y-yea" she stuttered, "I'll take the test for you."

"Huh?" Usagi looked taken aback. "Take it for me? I don't want you to take the test."

Ami looked at her confused. What else could she be asking?

"No, I mean, I want you to tutor me!"

"Oh...um...I don't know..." she responded.

"Awww, why not?" she whined.

"Well...aren't you afraid people will see us together?"

"Huh?" Ami had spoken so softly that Usagi hadn't heard her. The girl suddenly stood up and waved both hands in the air, "Naru! Naru! Over here!" A pretty red head ran over.

"Oh my god Usa, why weren't you at the tree! I was freaking out, Umino-san almost caught up with me!"

"Oh yea, sorry. I had to find Ami-chan!" She put her arm around the blue haired girl.

"Ami-chan?" The red head called Naru leaned to the side to take a look at the girl sitting beside her best friend.

"Ohh!" She said excitedly, "Yea! We're in the same homeroom!" She quickly sat on the other side of Ami.

"She's said she'd tutor us!" Usagi said excitedly.

"Ohh you're the best!" Naru shouted, hugging her.

"Can I just call you Ami?" Usagi asked. Ami blushed, it was the first time anyone asked to call her with such familiarity. She nodded her head. "By the way, I've been wanting to ask, where did you buy your color from? It's sooo nice. I'm gonna dye my hair too!"

"Ohh Usa, there's no way your dad's gonna let you do that."

"Ami's parents did!"

"Well, um..." she dreaded telling them. The moment she did, they'd definitely run away. "Actually… it's my natural color." Both girls' looked back at her in shock.

"For real?!" Naru nearly shouted.

"No way! That's so-" Ami waited for it, waited for them to say 'that's so weird, gross, awkward...' "COOL! I wish my hair were like that!"

"Really? Don't you think it's rather freakish?"

"Who told you that!?" Usagi looked genuinely offended.

"It's cool," Naru affirmed. She too looked genuinely displeased that someone had said something so cruel.

"You're so brave! I'd be too scared to try any other style." She reached up to stroke her own pigtails. Usagi continued, "You know, I really like Rhianna and Lady Gaga too. You've got great hair fashion." She touched Ami's short hair. "It's so in! All the stars are cutting it short. But you know, Hallie Berry did it first. I'm sure you know her. Now everyone's getting in on it."

"Oh yea, I asked my mom if I could cut it like that too! But my mom said my face's too round and short hair 'accents' the face." Naru told them. Usagi looked at Ami for a minute, and there was a flash of realization.

"Ahh! She's right! It totally brings out the face!" She agreed. "You're so lucky Ami, you have the perfect face," she reached up and cradled Ami's face in her hands. "It really does draw everyone's eyes to your face." Then she sighed, hands falling, and shoulders sagging in disappointment. "I wish I was that pretty."

A few seconds later Usagi slapped the Naru's shoulder when her best friend joked that there was, in no way she could ever be as pretty as she and Ami.

"Come on Ami, let's go! We're not appreciated here!" She took Ami's hand and walked off. Naru, still laughing, ran behind them. Ami looked down to gaze at Usagi's hand wrapped around hers and smiled.

She decided she'd keep her hair short.

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Ami returned the book to its table. She slid her hand back into her lap and continued to stare at her friend in silence. She began to wonder what the title of Usagi's own memoir would be. Her mind ran through a plethora of possibilities, yet none seemed to feel right.

"I'm sorry," she finally said. "I never knew what it was like to have a friend. And you, you came into my life." She wrapped her slender fingers over Usagi's. "You made me feel beautiful. You made me feel confident." Tears fell fast and hot. Her eyes blurred, and she wiped at them with her free hand. "It was you...and I betrayed you. I should have protected you. I should have stood up for you. I should have had the confidence in you. The same things that you had for me." For the first time in her life, Ami knew what it felt like to completely and utterly fail. She was drowning, drowning in a sea of her own making.

End of Chapter

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