"To Go, Please"
Epilogue
Soundrack to this chapter: "Once in a Lifetime"
By: Craig David
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After the light of my sister's departure from this
world--and all worlds for that matter--had dimmed to nothing,
I'd been swallowed into darkness once again.
Well, Darkness puked me up a few seconds later, straight onto
the hard, cold floor of Sarius' fortress.
'God...this is the last place I want to be right now.'
I still wasn't sure how to get out of there, but I had a few
other, more important things to worry about. Namely, my friends.
I braced myself to struggle onto my feet, but when the
painful grinding of my shattered ribs didn't hit my nerves, I
mentally bowed down to the Hikari Gem's healing abilities.
There was no sign of Sarius, not that I was expecting
any, but I still felt the need to crane my neck around out of
sheer paranoia.
What if I was too late? What if their souls had been taken
before Myora's restoration? I couldn't bear the pain that stabbed
at my throbbing heart, and gritted my teeth in determination not to
think the worst.
Really unsure of which direction to turn in the thick
darkness, I headed left and promptly bounced off of a wall.
A clothed wall.
A soft wall.
A *breathing* wall.
"Ahh!"
"Ow!"
"Stop stepping on my feet!"
"You elbowed me first!"
"Whoever belongs to the hand that's on my ass is going to get
flame snipered into the next millenia!"
"Stop screeching, Pyro!"
"That's my eye!"
"Don't look at me! I didn't touch your ass. Although..."
"WOULD EVERYONE SHUT-UP?!"
Silence.
I wasn't sure if they heard my startled gasps or the
racing of my heart, but I could hear them. All of them.
My heart swelled so much I would have sworn I'd have
choked on it sooner of later. They were okay!
"Minna!" I couldn't see a damned thing in that darkness
and figured they couldn't either, so I quickly solved that problem
by lighting my palm with a blue glow and waving it above my head
like a lighthouse beckoning a ship to safety.
The first thing I heard was mad shuffling, more grunts,
a curse or two, and then I was ambushed by two bodies, one distinctly
male, the other female.
"Ami-chan!"
"Minako!" I couldn't help it as tears fell freely from
my eyes, and I squeezed my friend until I was sure she was real.
"Oh God, I thought I was too late..." I mumbled over my
sobs, trying desperately to collect myself when Jason bearhugged
me from behind.
"Aw, Ames! I love ya, but next year just get me a CD
for Christmas."
"Move it, move it! Sorry. Oops. Was that your eye,
Mamoru?" Makoto rammed through the crowd and tackled me.
"Ami! I knew you had it in ya, girl!"
I nearly fell over from the impact of her hug, but
managed to stay standing.
"Mako-chan..."
"Alright! Everybody stand back!"
Two seconds later, Rei was standing in the middle of
us all, with her hands crackling with fire. She tossed random
sparks into the walls where they caught to torches that had been
burned out. Yellow and orange light spilled over the room.
"That is *such* a turn on," Jason drooled.
Rei rolled her eyes and stalked over to me. The spark of
malice glinting in her amethyst gaze made me cower slightly.
"The next time you intend on scaring us half to death,
I suggest you DON'T."
I had no time to answer as she flung herself at me,
arms open in a hug.
"Me? Scare YOU?" I managed to get out, laughing for a
change.
Mamoru's face was next, prideful and smiling at me
as I hugged him tightly. I gave an understanding smile to Kyle,
who stood watching our exchanges with a hint of happiness tinging
the chiseled stone that was his face.
"Awww, lemme in." Matt collided with us.
"Hey! Hey! Down here, people! I think I have a right
to speak to her, too!" Usagi, defiantly frowning at her lack
of height, jumped up and down behind Matt's 6'3" frame.
I untangled myself from Matt's arms and shoved out to stand
in front of her.
Tears welled in my eyes at the sight of my princess,
alive and grinning from ear to ear.
"Usagi," I wrapped my arms around her, feeling relief
wash over me all over again.
She squeezed my torso, sniffling even through her
smile. When she released me eventually, her eyes were glassy
and she held me at arms length.
"You did it, Ami-chan."
I blushed slightly. I had done it, hadn't I? I nearly
felt like fainting when the full impact of what had just gone
down rushed into my head.
I choked on a sob/laugh and nodded silently.
Laughing, she grabbed me around the shoulders again and
exclaimed "We're so proud of you, too!" like I was a three year
old being praised for using the toilet successfully.
My eyes darkened slightly, "I wish I could have been
sooner, though. Maybe then you wouldn't have had to see..."
I trailed off, saddened by the memories of watching them
go through so much pain.
She shook her head, "You came. That's what counts. You
didn't give up, and *that* makes a true senshi."
"*Ahem*...mind if I cut in on this Kodack moment?" Zach's
face came into view, sooty and slightly worn, much like all of
the others' were, but smiling just the same.
I suddenly forgot how to use my mouth, limbs, or any
other muscularly dependant part of my body.
His eyes.
I realized that all through my struggle in the fortress,
they had always been there in the back of my head--even when Sarius
was breathing evil chills down my spine--and were the last thing I saw
before I waited for the inevitable that thankfully never came.
They glowed now, partly from the fire-lit room, but
mostly with pride, relief, and love--which I was more than a
little relieved still managed to squeeze itself in.
Legs I didn't feel walked shakily towards him. Words
I didn't hear flew from his mouth. A feeling I couldn't describe
pounded in my chest.
What I did feel were arms I'd forgotten could hold so
much warmth and security fall around my waist, and the tension
practically sigh itself from my body. The world had stopped
for us.
He rubbed the back of my head softly, and kissed a
tear that slid down my cheek.
Minako and Makoto's eyes nearly watered at the lovely
sight before them, and they pointedly glared at their respective
counterparts who gave a prompt "What'd I do?" look.
Suddenly, two familiar faces that weren't there occured
to me, and I furrowed my brow, "Hey, where are Luna and Artemis?"
Usagi gasped, "They're HERE?!" Immediately, all eyes were
wide in fear and everyone began talking at once.
I couldn't think through all the commotion, so I pulled
off into a corner, pressing the back of my head against the cold,
stone wall.
*giggle*
Startled, I glanced around at my animatedly quarrling
friends and shoved my ear against the wall.
*giggle*
Zach came over, the green of his eyes narrowed, with a
"Did you hear what I heard?" look.
*giggle*
The loud mass of voices ceased, and Usagi cocked her head
to the side.
*giggle*
"Dammit, Jay. Did you piss your pants AGAIN?" Matt proclaimed,
laughing at his own cleverness.
Jason glared at him, "You're lucky Rei's holdin' me back, ass
wipe."
Rei scoffed at him and stalked off in the direction of the
noise.
*giggle* *giggle*
Mamoru protectively took his place in front of Usagi, the
other senshi automatically fingering their henshin wands.
"Snake-y go bye bye!" echoed off of the walls.
I smacked my forehead.
"Malina!" Racing from Zach's arms, I stumbled through an
ajoining door to the room and stopped dead in my tracks.
Slightly breathless, Malina squealed from her spot on the
ground, finding it particularily hilarious that the last surviving
twin of the infamous Vernin&Fang duo was now squirming pitifully on
the wooden floor, no more than six inches long.
Two familiar furry faces greeted us as well.
"Oh, thank God! We didn't know what to think when--" Luna
was cut off as Usagi tackled her and held her to her chest.
"Oh, Luna! I'm so happy you're alive!"
"Not for long, Odango, if you don't let her breathe," Rei
stated.
Artemis leapt onto Minako's shoulder, and she snuggled her
face to his fur, "I missed you so much, Artie!"
"Artie" didn't even scowl at his much abhorred nickname, and
purred contentedly.
Thinking quickly, Sailor Mercury vansished in a flash of blue,
leaving Mizuno Ami to run to the giggling girl's side.
She stared at me with wide, brown eyes and held the snake
up for me to see, "Ami-chan! I didn't know you were here, too. When
do I get to play this game again?" She clasped her hands together in
anticipation, forgetting the garden snake for the moment, "Please
please pleeeeeeeeease, can we do it again?"
My mouth hit the floor.
Once we were able to convince Malina to leave the room,
Usagi rubbed her fingertips over her forehead, sending her to dream
land with a little magic while we teleported the hell out of there.
If my calculations were correct, the fortress would be self
destructing in less than three minutes with no power to feed on, and
clearly we didn't want to be *in* it when that time came.
All of three seconds later, we were falling over eachother
inside my apartment. Jason tripped over my coffee table, making a
grand dive for the floor. Thankfully, the stack of text books piled
haphazardly in his way broke his fall.
Usagi and Makoto stepped over him to plop onto the couch with
synchronized sighs.
"I'm gonna need at least a twelve hour nap after that one, guys,"
Makoto stretched her arms behind her head and cracked her neck.
"Still feels like I have giant fangs sticking out of my neck."
I gasped. The fangs were gone. "What happened to them?" I stared
at all of them, remembering each place fangs had sunk into their pulsing
flesh.
Minako explained, "She used them to weaken us enough so that she
could force us into their dimension. When we got there, the fangs were gone,
and we were dropped like yesterday's garbage into...you know."
Matt shivered, "Don't remind me."
I was about to apologize again for the suffering they'd been
submitted to when Malina squirmed in my arms. I gathered her closer,
utterly grateful that she hadn't been hurt throughout the whole ordeal.
Zach held out his arms for her, and I gingerly placed her in his hold.
"We better get her home," I nodded toward the door, and we left our friends to relax on the couch, or floor in Jason's case.
The eerie silence of the hallway was deafening as we walked
towards apartment 5C.
I prayed her mother hadn't awoken and called the national
guard or anything as I cracked open the front door. Somebody
obviously decided to give me a break, and I sighed at the sight
of Kayasha, sprawled out in fetal position on their living
room floor, contentedly snoring away.
Before Zach set Malina next to her mother, I knelt beside
her and brushed aside her amber bangs.
"This is one of those times I love having supernatural
abilities..."
With that, I stole every memory from Kayasha's mind from
that morning up until I'd knocked her out with a glowing burst
of light from my forehead.
It was a valuable little trick Luna had taught us when an
entire school bus load of highschoolers had seen Makoto and Usagi
transform on a field trip to the Science Museum.
Malina was next, and after I finished, Zach laid her
limp body on the couch and helped Kayasha stand up and lay beside
her. She groggily smiled and nodded her thanks, curling into a ball
next to her daughter.
"Exactly what did you just do?" He cocked his eyebrows in
my direction with a curious glint in his eyes.
"I erased their memories of tonight," I explained, "They're
going to be a little forgetful tomorrow, but it'll wear off before
long."
He nodded, grabbing my hand and leading me out of the room.
The door clicked behind us, and I realized just how incredibly
tired I was. My body ached even though my wounds had healed, and
my eyes screamed in protest as I forced them to stay open.
Zach's hand trailed down my arm and rested itself on the
small of my back. I leaned against his shoulder wearily.
"You OK?" He questioned, stopping in front of my door
to bring my chin up with his index finger.
I nodded, albeit weakly, and smiled, "How could I not
be OK?"
He sighed, "Well, considering the fact that you managed
to save all of us, including yourself, single handedly, I would
have expected you to collapse into a heap half an hour ago."
"I'm fine," My body thought otherwise and I nearly split
my jaw with a yawn, "We still have to-to discuss the fight, though."
He ignored my statement, "Come on. You're going to sleep
right now."
I wanted to stamp my feet and whine, but his eyes held
no room for negotiation, and I begrudgingly nodded.
Before he could turn the doorknob, I grabbed his hand, "Wait."
He paused and gave me his full attention.
I blushed. God knows I tried not to, but it just came
naturally.
"There was something I realized tonight...when-when Sarius
was--" I paused at the painful memory of my soul being lifted from
my body and clenched my eyes shut for a second.
Zach kissed my lips softly in reassurance, but I pulled
away before I allowed myself to delve into that yet. "Wait. I
want to finish."
"I-I was...I mean, I wasn't really thinking clearly, of
course," Suddenly I felt extremely lame, but I had to get it out
or I was sure I'd explode right there in front of him.
He brushed back the hair near my ear, and I continued, "But
there was one thing that kept playing over and over in my head," I
took his hand in my own again, "And it was that I was going to die
before-before I could tell you that I love you."
My chest contracted, and a tear squeezed out of my eye
stubbornly despite my mental protests. His eyes seemed to go
blank for a second, and I wanted to prod him to make sure he
hadn't gone into shock.
Another tear slipped along my reddened cheek.
"I love you, Zach." I said it again, with more assurance
this time.
Silence.
'Oh, God. He's not saying anything. What if he doesn't feel
the same anymore?'
I wanted to cry even more then and did so. I brushed
my face with my palm, desperately trying to control the water
sheddage before it got too out of control.
"I mean...it's taken me a while and everything, but
if you--you don't feel the same anymore, then I'd," I choked over
my words, "I'd understand."
I felt so stupid. So utterly stupid that I couldn't control
the deep hate that burned in my chest for myself. Braving the pain,
I stepped beside him and twisted the doorknob...
...and was immediately flung into his arms with a speed that
nearly gave me whip-lash.
When I finally recovered from the shock and realized that
his lips were firmly pressed against mine, I wrapped my arms around
his neck and returned the gentle proddings of his tongue to part
my lips.
"I really hope," he mumbled against my mouth, "that what
you...just said...wasn't the...exhaustion talking."
My lips began to numb, but I was in too deep, and there
was no way in hell I was backing out now. What had he said,
anyway? Exhaust? Talking?
Who cared anyway? I sure didn't. His lips were the only
things registering in my mind at that moment.
He kept talking though, "Because...because I can fin--ally
breathe ea--sy now."
I took a pause, mentally collected the discombobulated pieces of
language he'd just spouted, and rearranged them coherently.
"You mean...?" I searched his eyes hopefully, "You still...love me?"
The bruising of my lips weren't enough to ensure that
alone. He stared at me intently, rubbing the stains of tears from
my cheeks and shaking his head slowly, "I could never stop
loving you, Ami."
His hands were wet from my tears by the time I'd accepted
his words and tightly clasped my arms around his waist, feeling more
alive and secure than ever. The last piece of the heavy weight pressed
upon my shoulders had finally been lifted, and my shoulder blades sighed
into relaxation.
Despite the fact that I wanted nothing more than to stay in
his arms in that hallway for the rest of my years, he pulled away and
led me through my front door eventually.
We were greeted by a site that warmed my heart even more
than it already was, and a grin spread across my face. All of my
friends, faces traced with smiles of content, were cradled in the
arms of their loves as if the entire world had been waiting for
them to come together and had then stopped to admire the magical
thing it had created.
Deja vu prickled the fine baby hairs on my neck, and I squeezed
Zach's hand.
"This is how it should be."
He kissed my neck, and we walked past their sleeping bodies and
into my mother's den. There, the timeless couch that I used to sometimes
curl up in late at night and watch my mother pour herself into her work
until I could fight sleep no longer greeted us.
The dress I'd worn to the party wasn't exactly nightwear, but I
was too tired to care as Zach and I molded our bodies together on the
sofa and fell prisoner to a all-encompassing sleep.
Deep within the clutches of dream land, I was greeted by myself
one month before. She stared at me with sad, melancholy eyes wide on a
sullen face before fading into oblivion. And then I saw my friends,
smiling in their happiness, knowing that it wouldn't last forever
but willing to except that for the time being.
That was the way it went, though. We could never have too much
of a good thing. The world saw that and was fast to take it away before
we became too attatched. But we always found our way back to that
happiness, no matter how fleeting it was.
At last I saw present myself, held by strong, protective arms,
and sparkling blue eyes full of a life they'd lost touch with for a while
but been reunited with before it was too late.
In my sleep, I smiled against Zach's chest.
8:47 PM--The next night: Christmas
"Get away from me with that, Makoto!" Jason backed away from
the ten inch blade Makoto had brandished and nearly tripped over a
stack of discarded, empty boxes in the process.
"Take it back, Ronweld, or I'll be sharpening my brand new
butcher's knives with your head!" Her words, although meant to be
threatening came out giggly and playful.
Jason was backed up against the wall, searching for any sign
of rescue, and I quickly averted my eyes from his.
"Alright, alright. Chicks can handle knives, too."
She pointed the tip of the blade dangerously close to his
neck, "Try again."
Beads of sweat formed at his hairline, and he gulped, "ALRIGHT.
Guys are egotistical pricks and women should rule the universe!"
He swallowed, "That better?"
Makoto held the knife there for a moment longer, reveling in
the way he squirmed.
"Much."
The fatal weapon was drawn away from the extremely impressionable
skin under his chin, and he nearly collapsed on the floor.
"Butcher's knives," He looked at me accusingly, "You get her
BUTCHER'S knives?"
I shrugged, laughing, and patted his shoulder, "You should feel
lucky. It was either that or the electric carver."
Matt approached him from behind and 'buzzzed' in his ear in an
impression of the aforementioned carver.
Jason made a swipe at his head, missed beautifully, and
sulked off to the kitchen to bond with a punch bowl full of egg
nog for the next hour.
"I love them, Minako!" Usagi exclaimed, holding up the
chanel sling-backs and matching hand bag she pulled out of a pink
gift bag which had inside jokes and short notes scribbled in black
ink all over it.
Minako beamed from her perch on the floor. An array of odd
colored ribbons and bows were littered around her, and she happily
handed Mamoru a red package.
"Your turn, Tuxie."
Zach and Kyle coughed simultaneously to muffle their
laughter, but Matt wasn't so kind.
"Tuxie? Are you referring to that cheesy outfit he wears
when he fights the bad guys?," He burst into laughter, "Tell me.
Just how scared *do* they get when you threaten them with those
wimpy roses of yours?"
Mamoru's middle finger itched, but he quickly opted for another
plan of action, in light of the holiday season and all.
"You still got those butcher knives handy, Makoto?"
Matt took that as a cue to refill his glass and disappeared
into the kitchen. Before he made it, he was rewarded with a fist
in his shoulder from Makoto.
"Hey!"
Moments later Mamoru was standing up, looking as if he
were being tortured in the worst way imagniable as Usagi made him
twirl around modeling the new navy blue sweater she had bought
for him.
I clapped my hand over Zach's mouth to stop the undoubtedly
insulting comment he was about to release.
"Better rethink that."
He playfully nipped at my hand, smiling boyishly, and pulled
me in front of him to wrap his arms around me from behind.
I stared around my apartment, taking in the smiles and
happiness that practically dominated the atmosphere and felt
completely content.
For a brief second two ovals of midnight filtered into my
vision, then disappeared before I could grasp them fully.
Rei's squeals of surprise snapped me out of my thoughts,
and she pounced onto Usagi, smushing a picture frame in between
their bodies. When they released eachother, Rei held up the frame,
watching Christmas lights dance across her own face, only two at the
time, held in her mother's arms underneath the rays of an autumn sun
a year before she passed away.
Usagi, with careful prodding and a little snooping, had
found the photo stashed away in one of the storage rooms at the
temple and been quick to have it restored and professionally
framed.
A clear line of tears trailed down Rei's cheek, spilling onto
the fabric of Usagi's shirt, and she sniffed.
"Thank you, Usagi."
"Hello? Anybody home?"
My heart skipped a beat.
"Ami-chan?"
I dashed from Zach's arms and ran to the front door,
nearly colliding with my mother, whose arms were full of elaborately
colored packages and bags.
"Mom!" I threw my arms around her, surprised that I could be
any happier.
She had called that morning first thing, waking me up
with her painfully out of tune rendition of "We Wish You a Merry
Christmas" and sadly announced that she wouldn't be able to make
it out of the city in time for the Christmas dinner.
Laughing, she returned my hug and held me out at arm's length.
"Merry Christmas, sweetheart."
"Merry Christmas, Mom," I smiled widely at her and helped
her set the presents down. I sincerely hoped she didn't ask what
I had been up to for the past three days.
"Uh...Mom?" I scratched the back of my neck, "I have someone
I'd like you to meet."
Quirking a navy eyebrow, she followed me around the corner
and grinned knowingly at the green-eyed blonde I placed her in
front of.
"Zach, meet my mom."
Thankfully, Zach recovered from the shock soon enough to
be able to hold a coherent conversation with my mother, quickly
unleashing the charm he'd used countless times in my presence
to sway things his way.
By the end of an hour, my mother's eyes were sparkling
with adoration for him, and I sighed out of relief.
"Hey Matt! It's your Mommy!" Jason announced, wiggling
Matt's cell phone in his hands.
Matt's face flushed and he grabbed the cell from him,
"Remember. I've got a girlfriend with knives."
Jason chose to swallow his retort.
We spent the rest of the night talking, laughing, and
joking until the eggnog and snowman shaped cookies were officially
gone, and our eyelids grew heavy in the battle with sleep.
"Bye, Usa." I kissed her cheek, and reached over to hug Mamoru
goodbye as well.
When the door closed behind them, I sighed heavily. What a
Christmas it had been.
Zach's arms snaked around my waist, pulling me into his
embrace gently. I peeked around his shoulder to make sure my mother
had retired before returning the kiss that had finally made its
way from behind my ear to my lips.
"Say it again."
I smiled against his lips and cupped his cheek with my palm,
"I love you, Zach."
He exhaled, resting his forehead against mine.
"Good. Because I have something to show you," He smiled coyly,
reaching into the pocket of his jacket.
"It better still be here..." He searched for a while until
victoriously producing a folded slip of paper, slightly crumpled,
but still legible. He held it out to me with an almost apprehensive
glint in his eyes.
"What have you been hiding, Zachary Jermaiah?" I grabbed the
paper from his clasp, giggling at the scowl on his face from my use of
his full name.
"Dear Mr. Zachary Braudell,
CONGRATULATIONS! Your application has been carefully
reviewed and we are pleased to announce that you have been accepted to
the University of Columbia in New York, New York..."
The paper fluttered to the ground.
'Just like clockwork.'
--------------------------------------------------------
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*sniff* *sniff* It's over!
NOT!
I'm doing a sequel! Do you honestly think I'd leave you with a
cliffie like that? I am NOT that cruel! What do you think of the
senshi in America?
Oohh...the possibilites.
Now, it won't be out for a while, but look out for the fully
re-vamped version of this fic. Completely new chapters are included
as well, and I hope you like the new, more "mature" edition. I'm
not sure if you guys noticed, but my entire writing technique
has improved SO much from writing this fic! It really has been
a growing process for me.
I'm also thinking about a title change. "To Go, Please" was
mainly going to be a love story centered around Starbucks, but
somewhere in the grand scheme of things, I lost track and
switched from mochas to soul-snatchers.
Any suggestions? E-mail or review!
It's been great, and if I had the patience I would sit down and
type thank you's to each and every one of you that reviewed and
supported this fic, but...I don't! :D I'm working on Camp
Kiwachee and another fic that is either going to be Ami/Zoi
or Rei/Jed. I haven't decided.
So THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU to those who stuck by me!
Goodbye for now, but not forever!
~Adrial~
THE SEQUEL'S PRODUCTION IS BASED SOLELY ON THE AMOUNT OF BRIBES
YOU GIVE ME AND HOW MUCH YOU BUG ME. I AM EASILY DISTRACTED, BTW.
Epilogue
Soundrack to this chapter: "Once in a Lifetime"
By: Craig David
---------------------------------------------------------------
After the light of my sister's departure from this
world--and all worlds for that matter--had dimmed to nothing,
I'd been swallowed into darkness once again.
Well, Darkness puked me up a few seconds later, straight onto
the hard, cold floor of Sarius' fortress.
'God...this is the last place I want to be right now.'
I still wasn't sure how to get out of there, but I had a few
other, more important things to worry about. Namely, my friends.
I braced myself to struggle onto my feet, but when the
painful grinding of my shattered ribs didn't hit my nerves, I
mentally bowed down to the Hikari Gem's healing abilities.
There was no sign of Sarius, not that I was expecting
any, but I still felt the need to crane my neck around out of
sheer paranoia.
What if I was too late? What if their souls had been taken
before Myora's restoration? I couldn't bear the pain that stabbed
at my throbbing heart, and gritted my teeth in determination not to
think the worst.
Really unsure of which direction to turn in the thick
darkness, I headed left and promptly bounced off of a wall.
A clothed wall.
A soft wall.
A *breathing* wall.
"Ahh!"
"Ow!"
"Stop stepping on my feet!"
"You elbowed me first!"
"Whoever belongs to the hand that's on my ass is going to get
flame snipered into the next millenia!"
"Stop screeching, Pyro!"
"That's my eye!"
"Don't look at me! I didn't touch your ass. Although..."
"WOULD EVERYONE SHUT-UP?!"
Silence.
I wasn't sure if they heard my startled gasps or the
racing of my heart, but I could hear them. All of them.
My heart swelled so much I would have sworn I'd have
choked on it sooner of later. They were okay!
"Minna!" I couldn't see a damned thing in that darkness
and figured they couldn't either, so I quickly solved that problem
by lighting my palm with a blue glow and waving it above my head
like a lighthouse beckoning a ship to safety.
The first thing I heard was mad shuffling, more grunts,
a curse or two, and then I was ambushed by two bodies, one distinctly
male, the other female.
"Ami-chan!"
"Minako!" I couldn't help it as tears fell freely from
my eyes, and I squeezed my friend until I was sure she was real.
"Oh God, I thought I was too late..." I mumbled over my
sobs, trying desperately to collect myself when Jason bearhugged
me from behind.
"Aw, Ames! I love ya, but next year just get me a CD
for Christmas."
"Move it, move it! Sorry. Oops. Was that your eye,
Mamoru?" Makoto rammed through the crowd and tackled me.
"Ami! I knew you had it in ya, girl!"
I nearly fell over from the impact of her hug, but
managed to stay standing.
"Mako-chan..."
"Alright! Everybody stand back!"
Two seconds later, Rei was standing in the middle of
us all, with her hands crackling with fire. She tossed random
sparks into the walls where they caught to torches that had been
burned out. Yellow and orange light spilled over the room.
"That is *such* a turn on," Jason drooled.
Rei rolled her eyes and stalked over to me. The spark of
malice glinting in her amethyst gaze made me cower slightly.
"The next time you intend on scaring us half to death,
I suggest you DON'T."
I had no time to answer as she flung herself at me,
arms open in a hug.
"Me? Scare YOU?" I managed to get out, laughing for a
change.
Mamoru's face was next, prideful and smiling at me
as I hugged him tightly. I gave an understanding smile to Kyle,
who stood watching our exchanges with a hint of happiness tinging
the chiseled stone that was his face.
"Awww, lemme in." Matt collided with us.
"Hey! Hey! Down here, people! I think I have a right
to speak to her, too!" Usagi, defiantly frowning at her lack
of height, jumped up and down behind Matt's 6'3" frame.
I untangled myself from Matt's arms and shoved out to stand
in front of her.
Tears welled in my eyes at the sight of my princess,
alive and grinning from ear to ear.
"Usagi," I wrapped my arms around her, feeling relief
wash over me all over again.
She squeezed my torso, sniffling even through her
smile. When she released me eventually, her eyes were glassy
and she held me at arms length.
"You did it, Ami-chan."
I blushed slightly. I had done it, hadn't I? I nearly
felt like fainting when the full impact of what had just gone
down rushed into my head.
I choked on a sob/laugh and nodded silently.
Laughing, she grabbed me around the shoulders again and
exclaimed "We're so proud of you, too!" like I was a three year
old being praised for using the toilet successfully.
My eyes darkened slightly, "I wish I could have been
sooner, though. Maybe then you wouldn't have had to see..."
I trailed off, saddened by the memories of watching them
go through so much pain.
She shook her head, "You came. That's what counts. You
didn't give up, and *that* makes a true senshi."
"*Ahem*...mind if I cut in on this Kodack moment?" Zach's
face came into view, sooty and slightly worn, much like all of
the others' were, but smiling just the same.
I suddenly forgot how to use my mouth, limbs, or any
other muscularly dependant part of my body.
His eyes.
I realized that all through my struggle in the fortress,
they had always been there in the back of my head--even when Sarius
was breathing evil chills down my spine--and were the last thing I saw
before I waited for the inevitable that thankfully never came.
They glowed now, partly from the fire-lit room, but
mostly with pride, relief, and love--which I was more than a
little relieved still managed to squeeze itself in.
Legs I didn't feel walked shakily towards him. Words
I didn't hear flew from his mouth. A feeling I couldn't describe
pounded in my chest.
What I did feel were arms I'd forgotten could hold so
much warmth and security fall around my waist, and the tension
practically sigh itself from my body. The world had stopped
for us.
He rubbed the back of my head softly, and kissed a
tear that slid down my cheek.
Minako and Makoto's eyes nearly watered at the lovely
sight before them, and they pointedly glared at their respective
counterparts who gave a prompt "What'd I do?" look.
Suddenly, two familiar faces that weren't there occured
to me, and I furrowed my brow, "Hey, where are Luna and Artemis?"
Usagi gasped, "They're HERE?!" Immediately, all eyes were
wide in fear and everyone began talking at once.
I couldn't think through all the commotion, so I pulled
off into a corner, pressing the back of my head against the cold,
stone wall.
*giggle*
Startled, I glanced around at my animatedly quarrling
friends and shoved my ear against the wall.
*giggle*
Zach came over, the green of his eyes narrowed, with a
"Did you hear what I heard?" look.
*giggle*
The loud mass of voices ceased, and Usagi cocked her head
to the side.
*giggle*
"Dammit, Jay. Did you piss your pants AGAIN?" Matt proclaimed,
laughing at his own cleverness.
Jason glared at him, "You're lucky Rei's holdin' me back, ass
wipe."
Rei scoffed at him and stalked off in the direction of the
noise.
*giggle* *giggle*
Mamoru protectively took his place in front of Usagi, the
other senshi automatically fingering their henshin wands.
"Snake-y go bye bye!" echoed off of the walls.
I smacked my forehead.
"Malina!" Racing from Zach's arms, I stumbled through an
ajoining door to the room and stopped dead in my tracks.
Slightly breathless, Malina squealed from her spot on the
ground, finding it particularily hilarious that the last surviving
twin of the infamous Vernin&Fang duo was now squirming pitifully on
the wooden floor, no more than six inches long.
Two familiar furry faces greeted us as well.
"Oh, thank God! We didn't know what to think when--" Luna
was cut off as Usagi tackled her and held her to her chest.
"Oh, Luna! I'm so happy you're alive!"
"Not for long, Odango, if you don't let her breathe," Rei
stated.
Artemis leapt onto Minako's shoulder, and she snuggled her
face to his fur, "I missed you so much, Artie!"
"Artie" didn't even scowl at his much abhorred nickname, and
purred contentedly.
Thinking quickly, Sailor Mercury vansished in a flash of blue,
leaving Mizuno Ami to run to the giggling girl's side.
She stared at me with wide, brown eyes and held the snake
up for me to see, "Ami-chan! I didn't know you were here, too. When
do I get to play this game again?" She clasped her hands together in
anticipation, forgetting the garden snake for the moment, "Please
please pleeeeeeeeease, can we do it again?"
My mouth hit the floor.
Once we were able to convince Malina to leave the room,
Usagi rubbed her fingertips over her forehead, sending her to dream
land with a little magic while we teleported the hell out of there.
If my calculations were correct, the fortress would be self
destructing in less than three minutes with no power to feed on, and
clearly we didn't want to be *in* it when that time came.
All of three seconds later, we were falling over eachother
inside my apartment. Jason tripped over my coffee table, making a
grand dive for the floor. Thankfully, the stack of text books piled
haphazardly in his way broke his fall.
Usagi and Makoto stepped over him to plop onto the couch with
synchronized sighs.
"I'm gonna need at least a twelve hour nap after that one, guys,"
Makoto stretched her arms behind her head and cracked her neck.
"Still feels like I have giant fangs sticking out of my neck."
I gasped. The fangs were gone. "What happened to them?" I stared
at all of them, remembering each place fangs had sunk into their pulsing
flesh.
Minako explained, "She used them to weaken us enough so that she
could force us into their dimension. When we got there, the fangs were gone,
and we were dropped like yesterday's garbage into...you know."
Matt shivered, "Don't remind me."
I was about to apologize again for the suffering they'd been
submitted to when Malina squirmed in my arms. I gathered her closer,
utterly grateful that she hadn't been hurt throughout the whole ordeal.
Zach held out his arms for her, and I gingerly placed her in his hold.
"We better get her home," I nodded toward the door, and we left our friends to relax on the couch, or floor in Jason's case.
The eerie silence of the hallway was deafening as we walked
towards apartment 5C.
I prayed her mother hadn't awoken and called the national
guard or anything as I cracked open the front door. Somebody
obviously decided to give me a break, and I sighed at the sight
of Kayasha, sprawled out in fetal position on their living
room floor, contentedly snoring away.
Before Zach set Malina next to her mother, I knelt beside
her and brushed aside her amber bangs.
"This is one of those times I love having supernatural
abilities..."
With that, I stole every memory from Kayasha's mind from
that morning up until I'd knocked her out with a glowing burst
of light from my forehead.
It was a valuable little trick Luna had taught us when an
entire school bus load of highschoolers had seen Makoto and Usagi
transform on a field trip to the Science Museum.
Malina was next, and after I finished, Zach laid her
limp body on the couch and helped Kayasha stand up and lay beside
her. She groggily smiled and nodded her thanks, curling into a ball
next to her daughter.
"Exactly what did you just do?" He cocked his eyebrows in
my direction with a curious glint in his eyes.
"I erased their memories of tonight," I explained, "They're
going to be a little forgetful tomorrow, but it'll wear off before
long."
He nodded, grabbing my hand and leading me out of the room.
The door clicked behind us, and I realized just how incredibly
tired I was. My body ached even though my wounds had healed, and
my eyes screamed in protest as I forced them to stay open.
Zach's hand trailed down my arm and rested itself on the
small of my back. I leaned against his shoulder wearily.
"You OK?" He questioned, stopping in front of my door
to bring my chin up with his index finger.
I nodded, albeit weakly, and smiled, "How could I not
be OK?"
He sighed, "Well, considering the fact that you managed
to save all of us, including yourself, single handedly, I would
have expected you to collapse into a heap half an hour ago."
"I'm fine," My body thought otherwise and I nearly split
my jaw with a yawn, "We still have to-to discuss the fight, though."
He ignored my statement, "Come on. You're going to sleep
right now."
I wanted to stamp my feet and whine, but his eyes held
no room for negotiation, and I begrudgingly nodded.
Before he could turn the doorknob, I grabbed his hand, "Wait."
He paused and gave me his full attention.
I blushed. God knows I tried not to, but it just came
naturally.
"There was something I realized tonight...when-when Sarius
was--" I paused at the painful memory of my soul being lifted from
my body and clenched my eyes shut for a second.
Zach kissed my lips softly in reassurance, but I pulled
away before I allowed myself to delve into that yet. "Wait. I
want to finish."
"I-I was...I mean, I wasn't really thinking clearly, of
course," Suddenly I felt extremely lame, but I had to get it out
or I was sure I'd explode right there in front of him.
He brushed back the hair near my ear, and I continued, "But
there was one thing that kept playing over and over in my head," I
took his hand in my own again, "And it was that I was going to die
before-before I could tell you that I love you."
My chest contracted, and a tear squeezed out of my eye
stubbornly despite my mental protests. His eyes seemed to go
blank for a second, and I wanted to prod him to make sure he
hadn't gone into shock.
Another tear slipped along my reddened cheek.
"I love you, Zach." I said it again, with more assurance
this time.
Silence.
'Oh, God. He's not saying anything. What if he doesn't feel
the same anymore?'
I wanted to cry even more then and did so. I brushed
my face with my palm, desperately trying to control the water
sheddage before it got too out of control.
"I mean...it's taken me a while and everything, but
if you--you don't feel the same anymore, then I'd," I choked over
my words, "I'd understand."
I felt so stupid. So utterly stupid that I couldn't control
the deep hate that burned in my chest for myself. Braving the pain,
I stepped beside him and twisted the doorknob...
...and was immediately flung into his arms with a speed that
nearly gave me whip-lash.
When I finally recovered from the shock and realized that
his lips were firmly pressed against mine, I wrapped my arms around
his neck and returned the gentle proddings of his tongue to part
my lips.
"I really hope," he mumbled against my mouth, "that what
you...just said...wasn't the...exhaustion talking."
My lips began to numb, but I was in too deep, and there
was no way in hell I was backing out now. What had he said,
anyway? Exhaust? Talking?
Who cared anyway? I sure didn't. His lips were the only
things registering in my mind at that moment.
He kept talking though, "Because...because I can fin--ally
breathe ea--sy now."
I took a pause, mentally collected the discombobulated pieces of
language he'd just spouted, and rearranged them coherently.
"You mean...?" I searched his eyes hopefully, "You still...love me?"
The bruising of my lips weren't enough to ensure that
alone. He stared at me intently, rubbing the stains of tears from
my cheeks and shaking his head slowly, "I could never stop
loving you, Ami."
His hands were wet from my tears by the time I'd accepted
his words and tightly clasped my arms around his waist, feeling more
alive and secure than ever. The last piece of the heavy weight pressed
upon my shoulders had finally been lifted, and my shoulder blades sighed
into relaxation.
Despite the fact that I wanted nothing more than to stay in
his arms in that hallway for the rest of my years, he pulled away and
led me through my front door eventually.
We were greeted by a site that warmed my heart even more
than it already was, and a grin spread across my face. All of my
friends, faces traced with smiles of content, were cradled in the
arms of their loves as if the entire world had been waiting for
them to come together and had then stopped to admire the magical
thing it had created.
Deja vu prickled the fine baby hairs on my neck, and I squeezed
Zach's hand.
"This is how it should be."
He kissed my neck, and we walked past their sleeping bodies and
into my mother's den. There, the timeless couch that I used to sometimes
curl up in late at night and watch my mother pour herself into her work
until I could fight sleep no longer greeted us.
The dress I'd worn to the party wasn't exactly nightwear, but I
was too tired to care as Zach and I molded our bodies together on the
sofa and fell prisoner to a all-encompassing sleep.
Deep within the clutches of dream land, I was greeted by myself
one month before. She stared at me with sad, melancholy eyes wide on a
sullen face before fading into oblivion. And then I saw my friends,
smiling in their happiness, knowing that it wouldn't last forever
but willing to except that for the time being.
That was the way it went, though. We could never have too much
of a good thing. The world saw that and was fast to take it away before
we became too attatched. But we always found our way back to that
happiness, no matter how fleeting it was.
At last I saw present myself, held by strong, protective arms,
and sparkling blue eyes full of a life they'd lost touch with for a while
but been reunited with before it was too late.
In my sleep, I smiled against Zach's chest.
8:47 PM--The next night: Christmas
"Get away from me with that, Makoto!" Jason backed away from
the ten inch blade Makoto had brandished and nearly tripped over a
stack of discarded, empty boxes in the process.
"Take it back, Ronweld, or I'll be sharpening my brand new
butcher's knives with your head!" Her words, although meant to be
threatening came out giggly and playful.
Jason was backed up against the wall, searching for any sign
of rescue, and I quickly averted my eyes from his.
"Alright, alright. Chicks can handle knives, too."
She pointed the tip of the blade dangerously close to his
neck, "Try again."
Beads of sweat formed at his hairline, and he gulped, "ALRIGHT.
Guys are egotistical pricks and women should rule the universe!"
He swallowed, "That better?"
Makoto held the knife there for a moment longer, reveling in
the way he squirmed.
"Much."
The fatal weapon was drawn away from the extremely impressionable
skin under his chin, and he nearly collapsed on the floor.
"Butcher's knives," He looked at me accusingly, "You get her
BUTCHER'S knives?"
I shrugged, laughing, and patted his shoulder, "You should feel
lucky. It was either that or the electric carver."
Matt approached him from behind and 'buzzzed' in his ear in an
impression of the aforementioned carver.
Jason made a swipe at his head, missed beautifully, and
sulked off to the kitchen to bond with a punch bowl full of egg
nog for the next hour.
"I love them, Minako!" Usagi exclaimed, holding up the
chanel sling-backs and matching hand bag she pulled out of a pink
gift bag which had inside jokes and short notes scribbled in black
ink all over it.
Minako beamed from her perch on the floor. An array of odd
colored ribbons and bows were littered around her, and she happily
handed Mamoru a red package.
"Your turn, Tuxie."
Zach and Kyle coughed simultaneously to muffle their
laughter, but Matt wasn't so kind.
"Tuxie? Are you referring to that cheesy outfit he wears
when he fights the bad guys?," He burst into laughter, "Tell me.
Just how scared *do* they get when you threaten them with those
wimpy roses of yours?"
Mamoru's middle finger itched, but he quickly opted for another
plan of action, in light of the holiday season and all.
"You still got those butcher knives handy, Makoto?"
Matt took that as a cue to refill his glass and disappeared
into the kitchen. Before he made it, he was rewarded with a fist
in his shoulder from Makoto.
"Hey!"
Moments later Mamoru was standing up, looking as if he
were being tortured in the worst way imagniable as Usagi made him
twirl around modeling the new navy blue sweater she had bought
for him.
I clapped my hand over Zach's mouth to stop the undoubtedly
insulting comment he was about to release.
"Better rethink that."
He playfully nipped at my hand, smiling boyishly, and pulled
me in front of him to wrap his arms around me from behind.
I stared around my apartment, taking in the smiles and
happiness that practically dominated the atmosphere and felt
completely content.
For a brief second two ovals of midnight filtered into my
vision, then disappeared before I could grasp them fully.
Rei's squeals of surprise snapped me out of my thoughts,
and she pounced onto Usagi, smushing a picture frame in between
their bodies. When they released eachother, Rei held up the frame,
watching Christmas lights dance across her own face, only two at the
time, held in her mother's arms underneath the rays of an autumn sun
a year before she passed away.
Usagi, with careful prodding and a little snooping, had
found the photo stashed away in one of the storage rooms at the
temple and been quick to have it restored and professionally
framed.
A clear line of tears trailed down Rei's cheek, spilling onto
the fabric of Usagi's shirt, and she sniffed.
"Thank you, Usagi."
"Hello? Anybody home?"
My heart skipped a beat.
"Ami-chan?"
I dashed from Zach's arms and ran to the front door,
nearly colliding with my mother, whose arms were full of elaborately
colored packages and bags.
"Mom!" I threw my arms around her, surprised that I could be
any happier.
She had called that morning first thing, waking me up
with her painfully out of tune rendition of "We Wish You a Merry
Christmas" and sadly announced that she wouldn't be able to make
it out of the city in time for the Christmas dinner.
Laughing, she returned my hug and held me out at arm's length.
"Merry Christmas, sweetheart."
"Merry Christmas, Mom," I smiled widely at her and helped
her set the presents down. I sincerely hoped she didn't ask what
I had been up to for the past three days.
"Uh...Mom?" I scratched the back of my neck, "I have someone
I'd like you to meet."
Quirking a navy eyebrow, she followed me around the corner
and grinned knowingly at the green-eyed blonde I placed her in
front of.
"Zach, meet my mom."
Thankfully, Zach recovered from the shock soon enough to
be able to hold a coherent conversation with my mother, quickly
unleashing the charm he'd used countless times in my presence
to sway things his way.
By the end of an hour, my mother's eyes were sparkling
with adoration for him, and I sighed out of relief.
"Hey Matt! It's your Mommy!" Jason announced, wiggling
Matt's cell phone in his hands.
Matt's face flushed and he grabbed the cell from him,
"Remember. I've got a girlfriend with knives."
Jason chose to swallow his retort.
We spent the rest of the night talking, laughing, and
joking until the eggnog and snowman shaped cookies were officially
gone, and our eyelids grew heavy in the battle with sleep.
"Bye, Usa." I kissed her cheek, and reached over to hug Mamoru
goodbye as well.
When the door closed behind them, I sighed heavily. What a
Christmas it had been.
Zach's arms snaked around my waist, pulling me into his
embrace gently. I peeked around his shoulder to make sure my mother
had retired before returning the kiss that had finally made its
way from behind my ear to my lips.
"Say it again."
I smiled against his lips and cupped his cheek with my palm,
"I love you, Zach."
He exhaled, resting his forehead against mine.
"Good. Because I have something to show you," He smiled coyly,
reaching into the pocket of his jacket.
"It better still be here..." He searched for a while until
victoriously producing a folded slip of paper, slightly crumpled,
but still legible. He held it out to me with an almost apprehensive
glint in his eyes.
"What have you been hiding, Zachary Jermaiah?" I grabbed the
paper from his clasp, giggling at the scowl on his face from my use of
his full name.
"Dear Mr. Zachary Braudell,
CONGRATULATIONS! Your application has been carefully
reviewed and we are pleased to announce that you have been accepted to
the University of Columbia in New York, New York..."
The paper fluttered to the ground.
'Just like clockwork.'
--------------------------------------------------------
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*sniff* *sniff* It's over!
NOT!
I'm doing a sequel! Do you honestly think I'd leave you with a
cliffie like that? I am NOT that cruel! What do you think of the
senshi in America?
Oohh...the possibilites.
Now, it won't be out for a while, but look out for the fully
re-vamped version of this fic. Completely new chapters are included
as well, and I hope you like the new, more "mature" edition. I'm
not sure if you guys noticed, but my entire writing technique
has improved SO much from writing this fic! It really has been
a growing process for me.
I'm also thinking about a title change. "To Go, Please" was
mainly going to be a love story centered around Starbucks, but
somewhere in the grand scheme of things, I lost track and
switched from mochas to soul-snatchers.
Any suggestions? E-mail or review!
It's been great, and if I had the patience I would sit down and
type thank you's to each and every one of you that reviewed and
supported this fic, but...I don't! :D I'm working on Camp
Kiwachee and another fic that is either going to be Ami/Zoi
or Rei/Jed. I haven't decided.
So THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU to those who stuck by me!
Goodbye for now, but not forever!
~Adrial~
THE SEQUEL'S PRODUCTION IS BASED SOLELY ON THE AMOUNT OF BRIBES
YOU GIVE ME AND HOW MUCH YOU BUG ME. I AM EASILY DISTRACTED, BTW.