All Around The Town
By Musou Misora
Chapter One
Disclaimer: I don't own BSSM or the book, and you know that! Again, I'm estimating dates and places.
I actually add a few elements from 'Weep No More, My Lady' as well as 'All Around The Town', in case you become confused.
***
Juuban High School, 1996
The teacher droned on endlessly about English verb and subject agreements. Most students paid close attention to Sensei Hiyashi, since English was a tricky language, yet a select few wandered off into the world of dreams.
Mizuno Ami found herself staring off into space after the first few minutes of quiet listening. The senior had already mastered the words and formation of the sentences, but was still made to attend classes. Her eyes drifted around the classroom, stopping every so often to check on her friends.
Ami's dark blue eyes first fell upon Tsukino Usagi, who was currently napping behind her textbook. The golden-haired girl had a heart the size of America and an appetite to match it.
Next was Kino Makoto, the tallest girl in the class, and strongest. Makoto was balancing her pen on the tip of her finger, much to the amusement of Aino Minako. Minako hid her head behind her hands so as to not draw attention to her incessant giggling.
The only one, Ami thought sadly, who isn't here is Rei. This memory still brought the remaining Senshi to tears when mentioned. Her battered body found lying on the wooden porch of the Hikawa Shrine...it had been so bad that they had to do a DNA testing to make sure it was even Rei. Ami shuddered invisibly, but the memory lingered. Rei's body had been an unpleasant reminder of those three years...She fought off the urge to run out of the room screaming. No one knew about that time, except her mother.
"Kino-san!"
The pen dropped off of Makoto's finger abruptly, clattering to the floor and bringing Ami back to reality, as well as waking up Usagi. Sensei Hiyashi was seething mad. Minako continued to laugh silently, but the thin thread of sanity was breaking.
"Hai, Sensei?"
"Do you wish to share your trick with the class?"
"Why not?"
Makoto stooped down to pick the pen up, and proceeded to waltz up the aisle of desks. The pen was henceforth the center of attention as the owner did a series of flips and handstands while balancing it on her upper lip.
Suddenly the thread of sanity ripped apart. Minako fell out of her chair laughing hysterically, which only made Sensei even angrier. Ami shook her head. Her friends would never grow up...
***
Azami looked around the room, unnoticed by any of the occupants. She blocked out the sounds of Chibi-chan crying faintly in the darkness. Darkness...there was so much of this. Ami had not quite gotten over her kidnapping yet, and still retained a sizeable amount of fear and hatred. Of course, she had learned to retain her broken nature, crushing it into her mind ruthlessly.
Ami thought that she had done that. No, Irihi had seen to it.
Azami turned away from the classroom in disgust. Gods, that kid never stopped crying did she...
***
Ami sat at her desk at home, puzzling over a new calculus method Sensei Inuyasha had taught her privately today. It was one that she said Ami would learn at the University, yet the elderly lady thought Ami smart enough to comprehend it now.
But Ami's mind was far away from calculus, and any other subject. Rei's death had only been six months ago, and the Senshi had decided to put it far from their minds. Haruka had her racing, Michiru violin, and both were busy raising Hotaru along with Setsuna, who kept busy at the Observatory*.
Minako was already modeling and acting, and Makoto planning to enter the best cooking school in Japan after graduation. Usagi...well, Usagi was another story. The Moon Princess could not figure out what she wanted to do with her life after they left high school for good. She had been doing a whole lot better than she had when Ami first met her.
The phone rang, bringing Ami out from her revelry. Slowly picking up the receiver, she answered in a low and brooding voice.
"Moshi moshi."
"Ami-chan! We're having a reunion now, so hurry on over!"
"Usa-chan, you know we have lots of homework. I don't think..."
"Ami, I know you can't concentrate. You've been staring off into space a lot today. Did you think I hadn't noticed?"
If only you knew what it was about, Ami said to herself. "Where and who's there already?"
"We're at Makoto's place, and everyone's here, including a little pink-haired pest that just happened to drop on my head today while walking on the pier..."
"Chibi-usa-chan is here? Why?"
"She hasn't told us yet. Hurry up!"
"Okay, I'll be there soon."
"Great! Ja!"
"Ja ne, Usa-chan."
Ami threw the phone down and grabbed her jacket. Even though she loved studying and books, there were times when she needed a break from it...
***
(* In SMSuperS manga volume three, Setsuna is revealed to work at the Observatory near the ocean. You know, the one in the S movie?)
(And yet another part of the story is out! Please review after you're finished reading, or e-mail me! Feedback is good, and authors love to hear from people!)
---Musou Misora
"If at first you don't succeed, well, so much for skydiving..."
