by Sailor Earth
*Author's Notes*
As promised, this chapter is Ami-chan's story! I'm not sure how in-character this is for her, but I decided that underneath her exterior, she really is a sucker for romance, just like the rest of us!
*Chapter Twelve - Ami's First Love*
"When someday somebody calls out my name with a soft and gentle voice
I want to answer with the greatest smile and see what it's like"
Translated from Somebody Someday
One morning a young geisha came to me, begging me to help her friend. I asked why he had not come himself, and she told me that he was too sick. So I allowed her to take me to him. She took me to her home, where four worried-looking men were gathered. She led me through to another room, where another man was laying on a low bed.
Even though his skin was stained with blood and dirt and sweat, and his long blond hair was a knotted mess, lying there, asleep, I found him undeniably attractive, and I have to say, it was the first time I ever felt like that about anyone.
What happened to him? I asked the geisha.
Miss Mizuno, she replied, Unfortunately I cannot tell you. You must understand that this is not only for his safety, but yours, too. Please treat his wounds him as best you can, and when you have finished, you shall be paid all that is owed to you. So I had no option, but to do as she said. The geisha left the room, leaving me to my job. I knelt down beside the bed, and spoke to the sleeping figure, not expecting him to reply.
So what's your name then, huh? Or am I not meant to know that, either? To my suprise his eyes flickered open, and he spoke.
Zoisite...are you the doctor that Minako-san went to fetch? he asked. I saw that his eyes were dark green, the darkest green I'd ever seen.
Yes, I am, I told him.
You seem a little...young...and the wrong sex to be a doctor. Zoisite said, smiling a little despite his pain.
Well...would you like to see another doctor? I asked nervously.
No... he laughed, Another doctor probably wouldn't be as pretty as you! His laugh was soft and gentle, and I couldn't help but laugh a little, too. Carefully, I began to remove the blood-soaked bandage from his chest, and couldn't help but admire his slender, but well-muscled frame. When the bandage was completely removed, I could see the full extent of his injuries. A deep gash ran diagonally across his chest from his right shoulder, down to his lowest left rib. I winced at the sight, imagining his pain. I cleaned away the dry blood, and dabbed an antiseptic onto it. Luckily, the cut was not messy, and so I was able to stitch it up for him before re-bandaging it.
Then I turned my attentions to his head, which was also bloody. Luckily, he turned out to only have a small cut across his forehead. I cleaned and bandaged that, too, and then rinsed the blood from his tangled hair. As I combed it out, it felt so soft against my fingers, and I was almost disapointed when I'd finished.
After that visit, I went back everyday to check on Zoisite. After two weeks, he was completely healed. There weren't even scars! I was amazed. No ordinary man could possibly recover that quickly. Still, since my job was done, I had no more reason to visit, and so Minako handed me an envelope with my wages and thanked me for everything I'd done.
...And remember, she added, If anyone asks, you were never here. I nodded, and made my way home. That night, I thought about all that had happened. I was pretty sure Zoisite had been involved in a fight of some kind, and that chest wound was likely the result of a brush with someone's sword. However, there had to be more to it than that! Someone - possibly the same someone would had inflicted Zoisite's wounds - had to be after them. But why? Minako and Zoisite had seemed like such nice, caring people. Finally, there was the speed of his recovery. It was impossible...superhuman, almost. And the more I thought about the situation, the more convinced I was that they were involved in the sudden spate of crime which had been taking place. For months, the had been reports of masked thieves, robbing from the rich, and giving to the poor. Of course, the Emperor wanted them caught, but they always escaped his guards.
I tried to forget about it, but over the coming weeks, I just couldn't. I missed Zoisite dearly - everyday, I had talked with him as I worked, and we'd grown close. I'd told him of my life, and he spoke to me of his childhood, but whenever I mentioned the present, he'd clam up completely. Reports of the masked thieves, said to be led by a man and woman going by the names of Sailor V and Tuxedo Kamen, flooded in. The rich cursed and fumed at such an outrage, but the poor, of course, were secretly delighted. I have to say, my sympathies lay with the poor. I'd seen the way the Emperor treated them - raising taxes to pay for his latest purchases, even though they couldn't even afford to feed their children.
One night, I could not sleep. I looked out my window, and running over the roof tops, far in the distance, I saw a man, silvery cape billowing in the breeze, and a long pony-tail of wavy blond hair flowing behind him. I knew it was Zoiste. I just knew. The next day, I returned to Minako's house.
May I come in? I asked. She agreed. I know who you are, I told her, And I want to help you.
You can't! she gasped, It's too dangerous!
Wait! came and older voice, making me jump. She might be just who we're looking for. Two cats emerged from under a table. The darker one stared at me, and I shrieked in horror. Don't be alarmed, she told me, Just look into my eyes. So I did, and she stared. I felt a burning pain on my forehead, and Minako later told me that a blue sign had glowed from it. It is you! the cat cried, before presenting me with a blue pen-like thing which she seemed to retrieve thin-air. The cats, who introduced themselves as Luna and Artemis, proceeded to explain everything to me, and then showed me how to transform into Sailor Mercury. That evening, the four generals, and Endymion arrived at Minako's house, and were told what had happened. Everyone welcomed me into their group, and swore me to secrecy.
Afterwards, Zoisite and I walked along the river. The stars were like glitter in the sky, and full moon shone down upon us. We stopped under a cherry-blossom and look out across the water.
After you left, I found you, and I watched you,Zoisite took my hands in his,Ami, I knew you were special right from the second I met you, and I had to see you again. I knew you would come back eventually, but I couldn't wait. So I watched you from the rooftops.
I know, I whispered, I saw you. That's why I came back. I needed to see you. To be with you. And then he kissed me. And that, Usagi-chan, was when I fell in love. When you love someone, you want to know everything about them. Zoisite's my first love, and my last, and I want to share my whole life with him. I can't tell you how to be in love, because when you are in love, things will come naturally. Be open with Mamo-chan, and tell him how you feel, and take it from there."
"Wow, thankyou Ami-chan," I sighed, "I fell better now." Makoto sighed too.
"Don't you just love stories with happy endings!" she squealed. Rei threw her a forboding glance.
"The story's only just begun," she muttered ominously.