AN: Gomen nasi for the delay. I got to go down under for several weeks.
It's SO beautiful!!! If you ever get the chance, go for it. Especially
South Island, NZ. I was looking for possible LOTR filming sites. ^^;;
Domo arigato to all those who read and reviewed. I love you all!!! I won't delay anymore cause I know you want to read. "..." is talking, '...' is thought, [...] is AN, (...) is extra info but part of the fic, ... means trailed off, -- means interrupted.
************************************************************* *************************************************************
Noisemakers blew and confetti flew through the air as Ami stood, shocked, in the threshold of Minako's apartment.
"Minako. I."
Minako ran up to her friend and gave her a hug, placing a plastic crown on her head. "Happy birthday Ames! Like the decorations?"
Balloons and streamers were everywhere. The confetti now littered the carpet. A huge banner hung festooned from the ceiling, reading "Happy 18th birthday Ami". Minako and Makoto had been in charge of planning the party, and with all the food, decorations, and guests, one would wonder where they found the funds. Ami decided she didn't want to know.
Everyone was there: All the senshi, including Setsuna. Friends of Ami's from school and her extra classes. They'd even managed to get hold of Greg [. drawing a blank. insert Japanese name.] to come.
"You. You shouldn't have."
The buzzer sounded from the kitchen. "Oh no! The cookies!" cried Makoto, running from the room.
o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~
Five hours later, only the senshi remained, savoring the last bites of Makoto's cake. The computer sat beside Ami (on the floor), along with a pile of other gifts.
"Domo arigato gozamasu," Ami said again. "You are the greatest friends anyone could ask for!"
"There is one more thing," said Setsuna, rising from her chair. She pulled a slim blue box from her sub-space pocket. "A gift. from all of us."
Everyone looked at her curiously.
Ami gently opened the delicate box and gasped at its contents. "Setsuna! What. how.?"
It was a necklace. The chain was a delicate silver and the pendant was a small blue orb. But the orb seemed to have a life of its own. As Ami held it in her hand, it changed shades rapidly, racing from the deeper shades, to an airier color. Like the blue waters of some tropical sea. Or a spring sky reflected in a mountain stream.
"It was from the Silver Millennium," Setsuna explained. "It was also given to you on your eighteenth birthday. You may analyze the substance to your heart's content, but I tell you it is called 'mehrilia' and only found in rare spots on Mercury. It was famous throughout the galaxy for reacting to emotions and sometimes even warning the owner of danger. It is very precious, so guard it well."
Ami couldn't voice her gratitude.
o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~
The screen door opened and Ami stepped out to where Usagi stood alone on the apartment balcony in the moonlight.
"You've been quiet lately," she commented.
"I'm just. thinking." replied Usagi.
"About what?"
"Well. When I saw you and Greg tonight, it just made me wonder. You two seem so happy together and--"
"We're just good friends," interrupted Ami, blushing.
"That's what I mean. Even without being officially dating, you're still happier than I am."
"How so?"
"Let's just say, my relationship with Mamoru is. strained. I never really know what he's up to anymore. He's not very open with me. He doesn't call much, and is often not home when I call. I know it's destiny, but it just doesn't seem right."
Ami was tapping her head. "What was it that Setsuna said? Ah yes! Remember that time when multiple youmas kept appearing. Remember when you and Mako-chan and Mina-chan and Rei-chan were fighting on in the park but I never showed up?"
"Hai- we were wondering where you were, but we assumed you must've had another class or something."
"Iie, I got out of my computer class late, and before I could get to you Setsuna called for help."
Usagi looked surprised.
"There was a youma at the Time Gates- a time youma she called it. It's not that it was too much more powerful than the other youmas, but this rare type could travel through time to torment the centuries if he got passed Setsuna."
"I'm hoping you stopped him."
"Hai. The Outers, Tuxedo Kamen, and I were able to destroy it before it did much damage. Setsuna told us that if it had gotten past her, it could have changed the course of history- past and future. It was then that Tuxedo Kamen asked his question. 'But what about Destiny?' he said. 'I thought the future was pre-determined.' 'Anything can change, Prince Endymion,' said Setsuna. 'It is even possible that your knowledge of the future may alter it a bit (but hopefully not too much). You should not live your life thinking you know what will happen and how Destiny will control you. You need to let life flow its course- what must happen, Fate will take care of.'"
"But. you mean. Crystal Tokyo isn't in my future?"
"I don't know," replied Ami. "Setsuna was a bit cryptic. You could ask her yourself if you really want, though I'm not so sure she'd tell you."
"You're right of course," Usagi answered.
She was quiet for a moment, looking at the moon. "Do you know a strong spiky haired man?" she asked suddenly.
Ami was a bit confused. "Gomen, none come to mind. How come?"
"Someone we saw at Capsule Corp after getting your gift. He seemed so familiar."
"Have you thought back to possible places where you might have seen him before?"
"I don't know, Ames. It's possible he was a family friend or I knew him when I was little. Maybe he even used to hang out in the arcade. For all I know, he might have even been a few, er. quite a few, grades a head of me in primary school."
Ami was quiet a moment. She looked at the orb on the chain around her neck. "What about the Silver Millennium?" she asked quietly.
"Demo. wouldn't I remember?"
"I don't know, Usa. I don't know."
************************************************************* *************************************************************
AN: Gomen, it should have been longer for the delay I had. I'm still in the process of writing the next chapter, but it should be longer. Here's a glimpse:
"I don't see why we couldn't have just told them."
"Oh come on, Rei," said Minako. "It's more fun this way!"
Rei didn't look convinced.
"But remember," said Makoto as she did a final hair check and slipped on her shoes. "We're doing it to protect the princess. Nothing more."
Minako giggled.
"And we can't be drawing too much attention to ourselves," said Rei, looking at Minako.
Minako giggled again.
"Let's do it!"
And gomen nasi to all those who have been looking for updates in Densetsu no Seera Senshi and Memories of You. And especially for those awaiting Always & Forever. ::on knees in tears:: I'm SO sorry!!! I've written the many of the future chaps for Densetsu and Memories, and I'm 3/4 of the way through A&F ch. 6 (which should be a good one ;) Please forgive me!!! All I ask is for a little more free time!!! And my own laptop would be nice. ^^;;
******************** TEASER: Ah yes. I have been naughty and started another fic, though I'm not sure when I'll actually post it. Should be interesting, especially considering an idea I have for much later in the plot. Anyway.
She was running, running. She couldn't stop, she couldn't turn back. Her legs felt like lead. Her heart pounded in her ears. Her mind was a blur. Blindly, she chose one street and then the next.
She knew well enough what those two monsters were capable of. She could easily guess what would happen if they caught her. And she didn't care to test her theory. After all, annoying little pink hearts are nothing compared to the ruthless hands of death. ********************
Anyway, domo arigato for reading and please review. Thank you so much!
Must go continue summer reading. Blah. Ja ne!
~Calli-chan
Domo arigato to all those who read and reviewed. I love you all!!! I won't delay anymore cause I know you want to read. "..." is talking, '...' is thought, [...] is AN, (...) is extra info but part of the fic, ... means trailed off, -- means interrupted.
************************************************************* *************************************************************
Noisemakers blew and confetti flew through the air as Ami stood, shocked, in the threshold of Minako's apartment.
"Minako. I."
Minako ran up to her friend and gave her a hug, placing a plastic crown on her head. "Happy birthday Ames! Like the decorations?"
Balloons and streamers were everywhere. The confetti now littered the carpet. A huge banner hung festooned from the ceiling, reading "Happy 18th birthday Ami". Minako and Makoto had been in charge of planning the party, and with all the food, decorations, and guests, one would wonder where they found the funds. Ami decided she didn't want to know.
Everyone was there: All the senshi, including Setsuna. Friends of Ami's from school and her extra classes. They'd even managed to get hold of Greg [. drawing a blank. insert Japanese name.] to come.
"You. You shouldn't have."
The buzzer sounded from the kitchen. "Oh no! The cookies!" cried Makoto, running from the room.
o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~
Five hours later, only the senshi remained, savoring the last bites of Makoto's cake. The computer sat beside Ami (on the floor), along with a pile of other gifts.
"Domo arigato gozamasu," Ami said again. "You are the greatest friends anyone could ask for!"
"There is one more thing," said Setsuna, rising from her chair. She pulled a slim blue box from her sub-space pocket. "A gift. from all of us."
Everyone looked at her curiously.
Ami gently opened the delicate box and gasped at its contents. "Setsuna! What. how.?"
It was a necklace. The chain was a delicate silver and the pendant was a small blue orb. But the orb seemed to have a life of its own. As Ami held it in her hand, it changed shades rapidly, racing from the deeper shades, to an airier color. Like the blue waters of some tropical sea. Or a spring sky reflected in a mountain stream.
"It was from the Silver Millennium," Setsuna explained. "It was also given to you on your eighteenth birthday. You may analyze the substance to your heart's content, but I tell you it is called 'mehrilia' and only found in rare spots on Mercury. It was famous throughout the galaxy for reacting to emotions and sometimes even warning the owner of danger. It is very precious, so guard it well."
Ami couldn't voice her gratitude.
o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~
The screen door opened and Ami stepped out to where Usagi stood alone on the apartment balcony in the moonlight.
"You've been quiet lately," she commented.
"I'm just. thinking." replied Usagi.
"About what?"
"Well. When I saw you and Greg tonight, it just made me wonder. You two seem so happy together and--"
"We're just good friends," interrupted Ami, blushing.
"That's what I mean. Even without being officially dating, you're still happier than I am."
"How so?"
"Let's just say, my relationship with Mamoru is. strained. I never really know what he's up to anymore. He's not very open with me. He doesn't call much, and is often not home when I call. I know it's destiny, but it just doesn't seem right."
Ami was tapping her head. "What was it that Setsuna said? Ah yes! Remember that time when multiple youmas kept appearing. Remember when you and Mako-chan and Mina-chan and Rei-chan were fighting on in the park but I never showed up?"
"Hai- we were wondering where you were, but we assumed you must've had another class or something."
"Iie, I got out of my computer class late, and before I could get to you Setsuna called for help."
Usagi looked surprised.
"There was a youma at the Time Gates- a time youma she called it. It's not that it was too much more powerful than the other youmas, but this rare type could travel through time to torment the centuries if he got passed Setsuna."
"I'm hoping you stopped him."
"Hai. The Outers, Tuxedo Kamen, and I were able to destroy it before it did much damage. Setsuna told us that if it had gotten past her, it could have changed the course of history- past and future. It was then that Tuxedo Kamen asked his question. 'But what about Destiny?' he said. 'I thought the future was pre-determined.' 'Anything can change, Prince Endymion,' said Setsuna. 'It is even possible that your knowledge of the future may alter it a bit (but hopefully not too much). You should not live your life thinking you know what will happen and how Destiny will control you. You need to let life flow its course- what must happen, Fate will take care of.'"
"But. you mean. Crystal Tokyo isn't in my future?"
"I don't know," replied Ami. "Setsuna was a bit cryptic. You could ask her yourself if you really want, though I'm not so sure she'd tell you."
"You're right of course," Usagi answered.
She was quiet for a moment, looking at the moon. "Do you know a strong spiky haired man?" she asked suddenly.
Ami was a bit confused. "Gomen, none come to mind. How come?"
"Someone we saw at Capsule Corp after getting your gift. He seemed so familiar."
"Have you thought back to possible places where you might have seen him before?"
"I don't know, Ames. It's possible he was a family friend or I knew him when I was little. Maybe he even used to hang out in the arcade. For all I know, he might have even been a few, er. quite a few, grades a head of me in primary school."
Ami was quiet a moment. She looked at the orb on the chain around her neck. "What about the Silver Millennium?" she asked quietly.
"Demo. wouldn't I remember?"
"I don't know, Usa. I don't know."
************************************************************* *************************************************************
AN: Gomen, it should have been longer for the delay I had. I'm still in the process of writing the next chapter, but it should be longer. Here's a glimpse:
"I don't see why we couldn't have just told them."
"Oh come on, Rei," said Minako. "It's more fun this way!"
Rei didn't look convinced.
"But remember," said Makoto as she did a final hair check and slipped on her shoes. "We're doing it to protect the princess. Nothing more."
Minako giggled.
"And we can't be drawing too much attention to ourselves," said Rei, looking at Minako.
Minako giggled again.
"Let's do it!"
And gomen nasi to all those who have been looking for updates in Densetsu no Seera Senshi and Memories of You. And especially for those awaiting Always & Forever. ::on knees in tears:: I'm SO sorry!!! I've written the many of the future chaps for Densetsu and Memories, and I'm 3/4 of the way through A&F ch. 6 (which should be a good one ;) Please forgive me!!! All I ask is for a little more free time!!! And my own laptop would be nice. ^^;;
******************** TEASER: Ah yes. I have been naughty and started another fic, though I'm not sure when I'll actually post it. Should be interesting, especially considering an idea I have for much later in the plot. Anyway.
She was running, running. She couldn't stop, she couldn't turn back. Her legs felt like lead. Her heart pounded in her ears. Her mind was a blur. Blindly, she chose one street and then the next.
She knew well enough what those two monsters were capable of. She could easily guess what would happen if they caught her. And she didn't care to test her theory. After all, annoying little pink hearts are nothing compared to the ruthless hands of death. ********************
Anyway, domo arigato for reading and please review. Thank you so much!
Must go continue summer reading. Blah. Ja ne!
~Calli-chan