Please attach all usual disclaimers here ...
Chapter Two
Spring flowers, Autumn moons,
Water lilies still carry
Away my heart like a lost
Boat. As long as I am flesh
And bone I will never find
Rest. There will never come a
Time when I will be able
To resist my emotions.
Chu Shu Chen
Ami dipped a toe in the chilly water. Little ripples extended out as she wiggled one toe, breaking apart the images of clouds rushing over the surface of the water. Another maple leaf landed on the water, its scarlet colors attracting her eyes. The leaves were falling faster now, one leaf on top of the other, all breaking up the mirrored sky and tree branches in the water. It was almost like watching the pictures fall from Mamoru's hands, each photograph landing on the other as both their heads bent over each --studying lines, subject, contrasts.
"You have a good eye, Mamoru. These photographs are incredible." She stumbled for something clever to say, but she was honestly surprised at just how good the photographs were.
Mamoru smiled distractedly studying one of his photographs with a critical eye, "Some people say I have two."
"Two, what," she asked absently glancing over at Mamoru who was sitting Indian-style with a pile of photographs in his lap.
"Eyes."
Ami rolled her eyes but couldn't hide her smile. She looked over at him again to see him looking steadily at her. Yes, Mamoru-san, you do have two very good eyes. She glimpsed his startling, dark blue eyes behind his heavy bangs. She shuffled through the pictures trying to put them together, the glossy paper making them hard to handle. A little crease formed between her brows. This shouldn't be this difficult.
The change was unexpected. She knew there would be the usual difficulty in learning her way around campus and town; getting used to class schedules and adjusting to a new culture. She had been prepared for those changes. Her head felt dizzy, and it wasn't from the water chilling her toes. Ami picked up her book again, keeping each foot firmly planted in the cold water. She glanced over the list of Latin roots to memorize, shut the book and her eyes and began murmuring definitions and roots to herself. It felt so good to get into the rhythm of saying each syllable in a soft, steady pattern like rain. Casting some spell over the afternoon, the repetition of the words calmed her like a meditation. Beneath the shadows and light of the late October afternoon, she could almost smell the November rain that would come.
She had not told the other senshi, perhaps in each of their powers they experienced something similar. Ami could feel, sense the water, the condensation, the ice crystals formed and reformed high in the atmosphere. It was like a pulse under her skin, cold as quicksilver as mercury. Sometimes she wondered if the power of Mercury came not from the henshin pen but rather in the understanding of where she was in that pattern of water. Knowing where I belong this lends me my magic? Knowledge and a deeper instinct perhaps. And if I were to forget, to lose sight? What then? She shook her head,
trying to shake all of the confusion out of her head. Staring intently at the Latin words, Ami began again.
Mamoru watched her silently: she looked like some sort of tree dipping its roots into the water with her toes dangling, the current running cold over her ankles. A soft breeze ruffled her hair, and her face tilted upwards towards the last little bits of sunlight. Ami's lips silently moving as she mouthed each word. He couldn't help noticing how she seemed to be perched against the seasons waiting for some kiss. Her lips curved slightly, mouth open and her face gently raised. Mamoru shook his head, he had come here for a reason and that was not it. He sat down beside her, leaning back on his elbows, watching a red leaf fall into her deep blue hair. He reached over and plucked it out, lingering just a moment to feel how soft her hair really was. After a moment, Ami finally peaked one eye open in his direction, then opened both to study him. He rewarded her with his most lop-sided grin.
"Well, Mr. Chiba, how may I help you?" She couldn't help the slight hint of amusement that touched her words.
"I was hoping you would ask," Mamoru straightened up.
After waiting a few moments, Ami finally asked in her most prim and proper tone, "Well, aren't you going to tell me."
Mamoru finally looked up from the blade of grass he was studying, "Ohhh yes that, well ahem." He cleared his throat dramatically before continuing, "I am on an errand to kindly request your most gracious presence at a study group meeting at my humble abode this Thursday at seven p.m. Sharp."
Ami giggled softly, "Since you put it so pleasantly, yes I would be honored. But Mamoru, there aren't any finals yet and we just finished midterms. What are we studying for?"
"Honestly, we wanted to begin a regular group before midterms. But I think it will still prove helpful to start a group that can make sure everyone is on course and doing well long before the stress over finals begins."
Ami nodded her head in agreement.
Mamoru glanced over at her book and smiled compassionately,
"Latin roots?" She nodded again, grimacing. "Hmm something like 'Veni,
vedi, veci?', 'I came, I saw, I conquered."
Ami wrinkled her nose at his terrible sense of humor mumbling, "Yeah, something like that." There eyes met, his shining with humor and hers lightened by the sunlight. Perhaps.
After one short moment of silence, Mamoru looked away. "Well Ami, I told Paul I would meet him after class. I shall see you Thursday then." He stood up quickly, glancing at his watch.
"Yes. Oh, Mamoru, is there anything I should bring with me?"
"Let's see," He tapped his chin thoughtfully. "You should have books, pencils, paper and most importantly yourself." He gave her a charming smile then disappeared between the willows.
Ami sighed, studying her empty hands again. Why do I always feel this... this disquieted whenever he's near? Perhaps it's his telekinetics... She pushed any further thoughts from her mind again and focused on Latin.