ShadoWalker: Yay! I was so pleased with your reviews that it actually encouraged me to write, despite the fact that I blew off a bunch of school work :) I wish it were summer!
Kaiya: Thanks, I'm actually trying ot come up with some creative stuff or the party as well* I don't want to keep repeating the same battle scenes and scenario's ^_^
Tenshi-Hotaru: Lol, a loyal reviewer as always, and always honest* If there's something you believe i can improve on in a chapter, please let me know in detail (likes, dislikes, bores). Thanks for reviewing!
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We're at 90 reviews now, let's get 100, please?!?!?
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Last time-
She knew tomorrow would probably be a long day, as would Saturday. She might as well rest now. So she went back to sleep and slept on through the night without problems, wanting to be fully re-energized.
Chapter 16
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To bad that didn't happen. Infact, Ami only slept until about 3:00 a.m. Greg threw a stone at her window, when Ami opened it he tossed her her communicater. Turning away to leave, she called after him.
"Hey Greg! My mothers having a pre-wedding party tomorrow! Come, and bring a friend if you want. It's the least I can do," she called. He nodded.
"Where and what time?"
"7:00, the rec center!"
Half an hour later, she received a call from Makoto on her communicater...
A ringing sound met Ami's ears, her communicater changed to a ring tone since she didn't want anyone to be suspicious.
"Ugh, Ami...get the phone. I'm tired," groaned Lisa from next to her. "Right."
Ami grabbed her communicater and the phone from her bedside stand at the same time, answering.
"Hey, Makoto? The line's not coming clear, uh- let me call you." She hung up quickly, afraid that Lisa would here Makoto's voice. Picking up the phone, she dialed her number.
"Mmmhmmm. Oh, I see...... Why?........ Oh, that's too bad.....Yes... Alright....yes yes, I understand...Bye."
"What was it," asked lisa.
"Nothing important, she couldn't sleep. Silly Makoto."
"Oh, ok. Goodnight," Lisa said with a yawn, falling back to sleep almost instantly. To be sure, Ami waited a few minutes before climbing out of bed. Makoto had called to tell her that they had figured out how to disconnect the machines draining energy at the airport. Rei had asked the sacred fire, since Ami's computer hadn't been able to find a way. So she, Makoto, Rei, and Minako were heading over there now.
They couldn't reach the outers, and decided that it wasn't that big of a job for them. Usagi had tried to sneak out at around 2:00 a.m, and had been caught and punished severely, since her parents thought she was sneaking out to see Mamoru. They were only letting her and Rini out to the party tomorrow, simply because the entire Tskino family was invited, not just Rini and Usagi.
She slipped into a pair of dark jeans, needing warmth on the cool summer night, and a t-shirt with a sweater on top. Cracking open her door, she couldn't find any movement around the house. checking to make sure she wore her healing ring and communicater, along with her henshin wand safely tucked away, she slipped out, gently closing the door behind her, Lisa's soft breaths calming. She passed by her mothers room, all silent, and the men's rooms, also silent. But by the time Ami reached the living room she knew she wasn't alone. She looked around, unsure in the dark who was there. Her breaths quickened....
"Ami."
She jumped, realizing it was James. He held a glass of water in his hand.
"What're you doing up? Why are you dressed?"
Ami frowned.
"I.. uh..."
"You were sneaking out."
"James, please..."
"Listen Ami. I really have grown to like you in the past two weeks. I love your mother, and I want you and I to be friends. I want you safe. Now please, go back into your room and get some rest."
Ami nodded and said goodnight, heading back to her room. James knew Ami was not one to give up so quickly, and wasn't surprised when she hopped into bed, clothes and shoes on. He pretended to walk off, and after 5 minutes Ami got up, looked at her watch, and arranged her pillows to form the shape of a body under her covers. James stood outside the door, cracked open slightly. Ami pulled open the window and looked around suspiciously. Her eyes traveled over to the door, which James stood behind, watching.
He was interested to see what she would do next. James had known Ami had been sneaking around for the past week, much more than the first week he had met her. Where did she go all the time? Why were her friends so strangely important that Ami would run off so much? Why would they be at the airport? Why was Aiko's car suddenly not running earlier, when he had seen the smudge of oil on her arm? Aiko had mentioned that Ami knew about cars because she had worked with that woman in the auto repair place. He knew Ami was very intelligent.
James knew that Ami was too pure and good of a person to be sneaking out for anything shameful or bad. She must have a reason. Aiko had spoken to him earlier that she was worried, and she had a lot of pressure on her with the wedding and the family at home. She had noticed many strange things about Ami's behaviour. She said Ami's friends were all new to her. And why was Ami always extremely tired after being with her friends? There were so many questions left unanswered. James felt protective of Ami now, and he liked her friends. All of them, even Quatre whom he noted to himself had better behave himself. But there was something else. Something big they were all missing. But what?
Ami reached the door and pushed it open, James quickly slipping into his room. She frowned and looked around, her eyes scanning the entire area. They rested on James' room, darkened and silent. After a minute she sighed and turned away, closing her room door behind her.
James cracked open Ami's room door, and saw Lisa sleeping with one arm lying over the side of the bed, snoring loudly. His eyes traveled over to Ami's bed, where the pillow arrangement still lay. The window was closed. Was Ami gone? He walked over to the window and accidently nudged the bed. Ami sat up. It wasn't a pillow arrangement, it was her. Had she changed her mind?
"What is it James? Is something wrong?"
"Um...no. Just checking to make sure you had your window closed. It's a drafty night." He bid her goodnight and left the room. He couldn't prove anything, and he certainly couldn't stay up all night watching. They all had to have energy for tomorrow. Ami knew that.
----
Once James was gone for sure and not just hiding and playing his spy game (as Ami had known), she once again opened her window and climbed out. Standing on the ledge of the window underneath Ami closed her own window then jumped down, landing in a crouching position. She took off. Arriving at the temple she found that Mamoru was there was their ride. So it was only her, Mamoru, Minako, Makoto, and Rei.
It didn't take too long, actually. Not too long at all. They arrived at the airport, and Ami was told that removing it was simple. In Rei's vision, it showed that it would haveto be she who removed it. Her task was to freeze it and then for the rest to destroy it. In a matter of two hours, they were finally finished. And tired. After a twenty minute drive home, Ami cracked open the door to her family room. Seeing no one was there, she snuck in. Changing into her PJ's, she climbed back into bed and slept for about 1 hour and a half. That was when, at 7:00, she awoke to Joseph sitting on her bed tugging at her hair and giggling. She smiled at him, but felt so broken it didn't last. He jumped up and went to wake his mother, who kissed him and tickled him. She heard laughter, and turned to watch Lisa jump up, clearly refreshed, and scoop up Joseph headed to the kitchen.
Ami groaned and attempted to get out of bed. Just 48 more hours until this whole mess with the wedding was over. But how long until the enemy was defeated? She managed to get up and wash up, heading to the kitchen in her PJ's to prove a point to james. When she walked in, her mother smiled.
"Good morning honey! Didn't sleep well?" Ami shook her head, and her mother flipped a pancake and walked over to feel her forehead.
"Well, you don't have a temperature. Maybe you should go sleep for another hour, 'till around 8:00?"
"I- I can't. I promiced to meet the girls at the temple," Ami said, remembering that they had a scout meeting.
"Oh, again? What is it with the temple Ami? It's like your second home, only you're there more than here," Aiko pointed out. Ami bit her lip but said nothing.
"Well, how long will you be there?" Aiko said again.
"Um...a- a few hours or so. Are you guys going strait to the hall?"
"Well, Anna, Goerge, Lisa, and Kevin, your uncle Damion, and your grandma are all headed there at 10:00 to start setting up and preparing the food. James and I are taking care of last minute wedding preparations and going out to lunch. Since we're the guests of honor, we'll be arriving at 6:30 once everyone is there. You Ami will be in charge of greeting guests, family and friends. Make them feel welcome. They can sit wherever, it's not very fancy. A skirt and nice shirt are acceptable for you to wear. I set out some acceptable outfits for you on your dresser." Aiko told her as she flipped some more pancakes. Ami blinked, at her mothers strange motherly behaviour. Nearly two weeks and she still wasn't used to it.
"I...ok. Wait, wait about Joseph,"Ami said, suddenly remembeing the cute little boy. Everyone looked at each other before speaking.
"That's where you come in my dear," Lisa said, giving her a scary smile.
'Uh oh,' thought Ami.
"Jospeh will be under foot at the recreation center, and he certainly can't go with your mother and James so....he'll just have to go with you. You don't mind, do you Ames," Kevin asked. Ami shook her head no. What could she say? 'I can't take Joseph because we are discussing some very secret and important matters?' That wouldn't go too well.
"No, ofcourse I don't. My friends love Joseph, they'll be happy I brought him," Ami said. After all, Joseph had been agreeable the last time she and Quatre had watched him.
"Alright, you and Joseph eat, then get dressed and be on your way," Aiko said.
"Get dressed as in, the clothes for the party," Ami asked.
"Yes, you two should be over there by 4:00 to finish set up, and should already be dressed and ready by then. Ok?" Ami nodded. She and Joseph ate, then got dressed. Ami was wearing a black skirt that was slightly ruffled at the end and went from above the knee diagonally to just underneath it. She wore a light blue sleeveless shirt with a rounded collar. The shirt had a one black strip across the stomach area, making it match perfectly. She wore black sandals with a heel, that criscrossed over her toes. On her hand she wore her heeling ring, on her neck a simple necklace that added elegance, and onher wrist, her communicator.
Joseph emerged from his room wearing a pair of beige corduroys and a nice button up light red shirt, obviosly one of Lisa's picks. He was clean and ready to go, Ami knoiwng Lisa probably spent forever trying to achieve that for the messy little boy.
"Alright, would you like me to drop you off at the temple," asked James. Ami looked outside.
"No, James. It's a beautiful summer day, and the temple's not that far. We can wak, right Joeseph?" Ami asked, turning to the boy.
"Right," he said excitedly, looking out the window with a glee.
She and Joseph left, Ami grabbing her black purse, which contained her henshin wand, and closing the door behind them. Despite how tired Ami was, the glorious summer day made it too hard to resist its charm, and Ami found herself smiling as she held Joseph's hand and walked down the street, a very light summer breeze blowing through her hair.
"How much longer Ami," Joseph asked after about 15 minutes.
"Only five minutes, besides, aren't you enjoying the walk," Ami asked.
"Sure I am, just wondering," Joseph replied, bending down to grab a flower in the grass as they passed through the park. Ami smiled and continued, pausing again when he grabbed another.
"Joseph, we'll never get there at this rate," Ami said with a laugh. They finally made it to the temple, and after climbing up the steps (Ami carrying Joseph up the steps while trying to stay poised in a heel and skirt), Ami spotted everyone inside with the sliding doors open for some air. Even the pilots were there.
"Hey, it's Usagi and uh...everyone else," Joseph exclaimed, running into the room. Everyone looked up and smiled.
"Hey, you two are already dressed, how come," Usagi asked.
"We're headed strait to the rec center after this, so we have to be dressed now," explained Ami, grabbing Joseph before he could touch the hot tea Rei had set down.
"You look nice Ami," Quatre said, She thanked him and turned away before she could blush.
"Hey Ami, your cheeks are pink," Jospeh pointed out from her lap.
"Um...why don't you, Rini, and Hotaru go play in the yard. It's very nice," Ami suggested right away. Joseph shrugged, "ok."
"And don't get dirty, your mother will kill me," Ami called fater them as she closed the sliding door. She turned to face everyone. Usagi had her purse out on the table, staring at something.
"Ami, what's this," she asked, pointing to a small peice of paper on her purse. Ami paused.
That hadn't been there before....
"No time to write riddles and rhymes. Your time is here, be ready. Your past will come back to haunt you," Usagi read aloud. Everyone grew quiet as they thought.
"Ami, what did all the other notes say," Haruka asked.
"Here." Ami laid each one out on the table.
-Those you trust can lead you wrong, and those you don't can be your salvation.Trust those you trust, trust those you don't. Think twice before giving an answer.-
-Survival depends on keeping love alive-
-Use your element or die of it-
-Your element is sacred. What saved you was your will to live. Stay close to the bride to be-
And the last one-
-No time to write riddles and rhymes. Your time is here, be ready. The past will come back to haunt you-
"Who could have sent you these?" Michiru asked.
"Every time you get a note, we think we've had the whole ordeal figured out, then you get another," Mako said with a heavy sigh.
"I honestly don't know what to make of them. The first note on trust I received after we ate at the burger place. It sounded like either a warning or a fortune. The second, seems very sweet, but still makes me curious. I received it when we were fighting that day I was watching Joseph, at least that's what I think because a note came on an arrow I thought was from an enemy. It was too soiled by blood to read though, but when I got to the apartment this one was hooked on Joe's teddy bear. The third, gave a hint about what Noko and Koto had planned. The 4th I received at the airport, and I stuck with Mom, but soon realized it was only a distraction. The last I have no idea about," Ami explained.
"I don't understand Ami. Half these notes help, while the other half hurt you. How do we know what's what? It could all be a trick," pointed out Rei. Haruka agreed, and everyone else sighed.
"Boy, this world is filled with one confusing thing after another," Duo commented.
"You're telling me," Minako replied.
"We're getting no where like this," commented Wufei.
Heero grunted and Trowa nodded.
"Well, we can try. I mean, we now know to watch for Noko and Koto," Usagi pointed out.
"Yes, I agree with Usako. This last note is a big help," Mamoru said.
"Let's just take this as a blessing and try to watch out tonight, instead of think negatively," suggested Quatre.
Everyone agreed. They talked for a another few hours, the sounds of Rini, Hotaru, and Joseph laughing in the background calming.
------------
"Koto, what're you doing," asked Noko, spotting his brother looking in the mirror.
"Just, changing my appearance a little," Koto told him, turning his hair blue, pink, red, and then settling on forest greem. His dead black eyes became a shade of maroon, looking very alive now, and he looked much younger.
"Something about the way you look now looks quite familiar," Noko said. He shrugged it off.
"I might as well do the same. No need for the brat to recognize us," he said, talking about Ami.
"Right, go ahead," Koto said. Noko nodded. He raised his hand and snapped. His hair became blond in a messy kind of look, and his eyes became brown. He also looked much younger.
"Nice, now let's go. The party's about to start," Koto said.
"Yeah yeah, I thought you wanted to be 'fashionably late'," Noko mimmicked as they opened up a portal.
----------------
Ami and Joseph left for the hall. Everyone was going to get dressed and rest, and then be there in a couple of hours. They walked quietly, Ami's thoughts now all centered on the notes and the enemy. She sighed noticeably as she and Joseph walked hand in hand down the side walk. Joseph stopped, turning to face her.
"Ami? What's wrong?" She mustered up a smile and shook her head.
"Nothing Joe, I'm just a little tired," she said, as they walked. Joseph shrugged and grabbed a stick as they walked, running it threw the fence. Ami shook her head and tried to ignore his childish antics as they approached the recreation center. Lisa, Anna, Kevin, Goerge, Aileen, and her uncle Damion were rshing around doing last minute preparations. Ami had clearly taken her time walking back, since it was 5:00. Time flew by. At 6:00, people began to arrive.
The first there were some of Aiko's relative's.
"Hello," Ami greeted at the door.
"Oh! Ami dear! You look wonderful! Look how you've grown!" Ami was bombarded with kisses and hugs. She tried to regain her posture.
"Mom and James will be here at 6:30. Until then sit anywhere you'de like and enjoy yourselves," she said politely. Ami went through the entire scenario agin at least 15 times until 6:20. Two handsome young men arrived, looking about Ami's age.
"Hello, beautiful. We're here for the groom. Where should we sit," one asked her. The other one gave hera crooked smile. Ami frowned slightly.
"Well...anywhere. It's very casual." After that, the tskino's arrived, greeting her warmly. Usagi stayed with her and stood by her, her friends arriving shortly after. They were all dressed nicely, skirts and tanktops or t-shirts with sandals. Mamoru arrived next, followed by the pilots, all dressed politely as well in dressier shirts and pants.
Everyone was seated at tables. Ami, Minako, Makoto, Rei, & Usagi sat together with Heero, Mamoru, Duo, Quatre, & Wufei. On the table right next to them sat Trowa, Setsuna (surprising that she had come), Haruka, Michiru, Hotaru, and Rini. Ami was surprised that Greg hadn't shown up, yet at least.
Her mother and James arrived after that, and cheering and clapping ensued.
Everyone congratulated them and laughed and talked with one another.
Pasta, and salad was placed on the tables and deserts were placed on a table on the wall, giving everyone a casual feeling to eat and dance.
After Ami and everyone at the table ate, she reached over to collect some plates. The music had started, and most everyone but their two tables began dancing. Aiko, James, and the main family that had been living at Ami's apartment stayed at their tables, chatting. The door swung open, catching her eye. She stopped, staring a bit before standing straiter, her hands resting on the table.
"Ami, what's wrong," Quatre asked, standing up and looking at her face. He followed her gaze. At the door stood Greg. Quatre shrugged. Big deal. Greg was nice, he had met him at the arcade once before. Also, he had met him at his mansion when he was being controlled that day, but that was a very different story. Someone else caught his eye, steping out from behind Greg gaze directed at Ami.
Julliana in the flesh. Ami tried to control an angry look from crossing her face. True, in the end Julliana had healed her of the poison she put in her and Ami had forgiven her. But seeing her in public like normal stirred up every awful feeling she felt towards her. And Quatre was apsolutely no better, never having forgiven Julliana for both hurting Ami and taking advantage of his trust. Soon enough, everyone at the two tables had seen the pair. The gundam pilots, Ami, and Quatre were the only one's whom recognized her, having been the only ones to see her. Ami sat down, trying ot control her anger so that she could muster up a hello.
"Is that..." Minako trailed off. Before anyone responded, Quatre stormed off towards the pair who looked as if they'de been caught in headlights. Aiko and James recognized Greg, and Aiko recognized Julliana from the picture Greg had shown her in the taxi. Aiko smiled at them in greeting, and was bout to turn away when she saw Quatre. He stormed off towards the pair, looking angry. Ami sprang to her feet after him, grabbing his arm.
"Quatre, you know you're a calm person. Please try to control your anger," Ami pleaded quietly, although Quatre looked at her breifly before continuing. He approached Greg angilly.
"What is she doing here," he said angrilly, grabbing hold of Greg's shirt and smashing him into the wall opposite of where people danced, so no one on the dance floor noticed, but Ami's family all did.
"Quatre, No!" Ami grabbed his arm trying to stop him.
"I want answers," he said.
"I knew you were going to say that, I foresaw it. But we had to come. Things must be worked out if we are to continue withour lives peacefully-" Greg was interrupted.
"Peacefully! With her!" Ami knew Quatre dared not lay a hand on Julliana for fear of everyone around them. By now, Wufei, Trowa, heero, Duo, Mamoru, Usagi, Minako, Rei, Makoto, Setsuna, Haruka, and Michiru were up. Rini and Hotaru were instructed to stay at the table. Haruka made Quatre let go of Greg, and they separated him from Julliana and Greg. However, Quatre, calmest of the pilots, was the least of their worries. Heero stepped forewards, ready to pull out his gun in front of everyone, his eyes flashing. The others looked the same. Ami knew. They didn't know exactly what happened. They didn't know Julliana was better now.
"Look, you 5," Ami said, ushering to the pilots, "Don't do anything, don't lose your tempers." However, Ami herself grew angrier and angrier by the moment as she looked at Julliana. She actually looked surprised that Quatre had attacked Greg.
"Geez, I thought that you were nice, Quatre," Julliana said, before covering her mouth and realizing her mistake.
"Nice! NICE," Wufei shouted, unheard by most over the music. Yet again, Ami's family looked up. Ami knew they were REALLY trying to restrain themselves.
"How many people did you hurt? Kill, Julliana? How many before you were satisfied," growled Heero.
"I should ask you all the same thing, pilot," Julliana shot back, "I'm trying to start over, as are you. Leave me be," Julliana responded. That was when all hell broke loose. Ami acted very unlike herself, making a made grab for Julliana, angered that she would bring up the Eve wars, whom stepped back.
"Wow, Ami. Greg this wasn't a good idea. They'll never accept us," Julliana said.
"Accept what? You're an evil hag," Duo said.
"Is there a problem here," Aiko said, she and James stepping up to the group. Ami looked over at them, regaining composure.
"None what so ever. Just greeting Greg and..."
"Julliana, right? Greg showed me your picture while we rode in the taxi. Nice to meet you," Aiko said, extending her hand to shake it. Julliana reached to shake it...
Ami held her breath, and Wufei, unable to take it anymore, smacked Julliana's hand down.
"Oh..um-" at everyone's shocked expressions, Ami changed the subject. "Mother, is that Mrs. Barnsfeld waving to you from the other side of the room? I think she wants to congratulate you," Ami said.
As she spoke, Duo grabbed a pen off the table next to him and threw it aiming at the woman Ami was ushering to. The woman turned around the same time Aiko did, and she waved them over. James looked back at the teens unsurely as he and Aiko made their way over to her, trying not to be rude and ignore her.
"Let's go talk in another room, we're making a scene," Ami said. Everyone nodded.
They walked into the room across the hall, a much smaller room with two tables and double doors on both ends.
"Now look, not everyone understands what happened, but before we get very angry at each other, we should try and talk things out," Ami said. Everyone paid what she said no mind, errupting in arguement.
"You're a sick snake! You hurt a lot of people at the mansion," Duo accused, pointing at Julliana.
"YEAH"! Everyone chorused in. Soon enough their were so many insults being shot back and forth that it caught Aiko & James' attentiom from across the hall. They left everyone at the party to dance and enjoy themselves, and approached the door, looking inside, since it was cracked open.
Julliana got really angry. "If no one here is going to accept me, I might as well not have come here to Tokyo!"
"Maybe so," Wufei said, Heero, Trowa, and Quatre nodding.
Wufei suddenly stopped argueing, causing everyone to turn and look at him. He placed a hand on his chest and a look of pain crossed his face.
Aiko was about to run inside and help Wufei when James grabbed her arm.
"Wait, let's just see what they do first," he said.
"James, don't be ridiculous. You and I both know that boy is having a heart attack," she whispered, about to go in again. He stopped her.
"Yes, you and I know that. But for some reason, the way they are reacting makes me think that it's not natural. No one's even ran to get one of us yet. I'd like to see what they do," he said.
"James...you suspect something, don't you? I'll wait another minute to see. If anything happens to that boy, it's on your head."
"Of course, if it gets more serious, we'll go. Please, trust me on this," James answered. Aiko sighed and nodded. James turned his attention back to the scene. Something about it definately wasn't right.
"Again, Julliana! Just like in the shopping mall that day! You never cease to hurt us," accused Quatre.
"I- I...but," Julliana began. Ami and Rei ran over to Wufei, and Ami did what she had done in the other demension last time this happened. She loosened the top few buttons on his dress shirt, allowing him more access to breath. Rei held his arm to steady him.
Heero pulled out a pocket knife, ready to kill Julliana.
"Stop it!" He approached her, and Greg stepped in front of her.
"Heero, wait," he said pleadingly. Heero ignored him, and shoved Greg aside. He landed on his side hard.
"HEERO," Ami shouted, Makoto chorusing. Ami jumped up and stood in front of Julliana.
"It's not her Heero, get control of yourself," she said, shoving him backwards. He was unaffected, but stepped back.
"Ami, when she dies, we'll be rid of all of her evil. You know what she's done. How many lives she's cost. She's not a new person. She's the same evil witch she was 2 weeks ago. Two weeks isn't long enough to go from evil to good," he told her.
"It's not her Heero. I don't know Julliana, but if Ami says it's not her then it's not," Makoto spoke up, stepping next to her friend.
Aiko was about to run inside with James, unable to stand it any longer once she saw Heero pull out the knife.
Heero took another step forwards, and Ami, he, and Makoto fought over the knife. Everyone gasped, trying to separate the group. Makoto saw this was going no where.
"Sorry Heero," she said, before swinging her fist back and punching him in the stomach. Heero was momentarilly hurt, since Makoto was very strong, and loosened his grip. Ami grabbed it but it slipped, and she and Duo both ended up diving for the knife.
They heard laughter from behind them.
"This is better then we expected, Noko. We've got them fighting each other," laughed Koto. Aiko stopped in the doorway, and she and James looked on curiously.
"Stop it," Rei told them.
"Yes, stop whatever you're doing to him," Ami pleaded. Koto laughed.
"Yes...I suppose it will be more fun to torture him before he dies. With everyone else here," Noko said, snapping his fingers. Instantly, the color returned to Wufei's face and he breathed deeply, still clutching his chest. Rei crouched down next to him, a worried look covering his face.
"I'm fine Rei," he said, pulling free of her grasp. She smiled. He hadn't called her onna, at least.
"Who are those men, James?" Aiko was getting scared and more confused.
"Shhh, don't move," James whispered, intent on seeing what would happen next. Aiko bit her lip, feeling awful for not helping her little girl.
"Leave everyone alone. Your fight is with us," Ami said.
"Strong words, you'll be remembered, I'm sure, Mercury," Koto said.
"Mercury? What does he mean James," Aiko whispered fiercely.
"So you knew," Ami responded.
"Of course I knew. Since that day we fought, all together, we knew."
"Alright, then there's no point on waiting to transform," Usagi, said, throwing her hand into the air and shouting out her transformation. Everyone followed. Aiko gasped, as well as James. But he was a little less surprised. 'So that's what's been going on.'
After the senshi transformed, as well as Mamoru, Heero pulled out his gun, Quatre grabbed the long forgotten pocket knife, Wufie got his Katana, and the other guys got read for hand to hand combat.
"Oh, so you're putting up a fight. Alright then. Let's go," Noko said. He snapped his fingers, and three youma appeared. Right away, Venus kicked one, then Mercury swung her leg arund and knocked it to the ground. Uranus and Neptune double teamed on the other, punching him from two sides. The last one, Jupiter, and Pluto knocked out instantly.
"Damn, you japanese girls can kick ass," Duo exclaimed.
"WAIT!" Everyone turned to look at Ami.
"There are too many people here to fight. If we have to fight, let's take it outisde," she said.
"Ami, No!" Her mother screamed from the doorway. Ami turned to look, a look of shock registering on her face.
"Mom...James. No." Aiko was so scared she couldn't even move. Julliana sat on the ground next to Greg, tears wetting the ground.
"I'm sorry," she told Mercury. She felt terrible.
"I'll assume you lost all of your powers after I healed you," she told her. Julliana nodded.
"Alright then, let's get the two of you to safety," she responded. She saw her mother once again, standing with James, shaking.
The two walked over with Greg.
"Hey, are we going to fight or should I just kill you now," Noko called.
Ami double clicked her earing, her visor appearing over here eyes. Aiko and James jumped.
Alright Julliana, you and Greg can either find a quiet room to fight or go back to the party with my mom and James." Aiko wanted to say something to Ami, to scream at her, to tell her that she was wasting and throwing her life away, that she wasn't a fighter. But she couldn't. She was for once at a loss for words.
"Alright, Ami you be careful," James warned sternly. Aiko looked at him, slightly shocked.
"No! Don't agree with her! Mizuno Ami, you get your butt back in the hall and you bad people go home!" Everyone's mouths dropped open. A low rumble began from Noko's throught, and everyone looked up. Soon he and Koto were laughing so hard that they couldn't breathe.
"How did you guys get in here anyways," Ami asked. They snapped their fingers, and became the handsome young men Ami had earlier let into the hall.
"Damn, shape shifters," Mars said.
"Mom, just go. The party needs you guys. BOTH Of you," Ami reasoned. Aiko was forced out by James, who knew that Ami could handle herself much better than he and Aiko could eachother, and that the enemy probably wouldn't tolerate another word from Aiko. They took off with Greg and Julliana. The group then went outside, prepared to fight.
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Sorry for the long wait. anyways, here's the update! Please review and comment specifically on things if possible! If there are any typos, please forgive me ^_^ I had SO MUCH school work that this took me over a month to finish, and I only had a couple of minutes a day to write*
Kaiya: Thanks, I'm actually trying ot come up with some creative stuff or the party as well* I don't want to keep repeating the same battle scenes and scenario's ^_^
Tenshi-Hotaru: Lol, a loyal reviewer as always, and always honest* If there's something you believe i can improve on in a chapter, please let me know in detail (likes, dislikes, bores). Thanks for reviewing!
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We're at 90 reviews now, let's get 100, please?!?!?
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Last time-
She knew tomorrow would probably be a long day, as would Saturday. She might as well rest now. So she went back to sleep and slept on through the night without problems, wanting to be fully re-energized.
Chapter 16
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To bad that didn't happen. Infact, Ami only slept until about 3:00 a.m. Greg threw a stone at her window, when Ami opened it he tossed her her communicater. Turning away to leave, she called after him.
"Hey Greg! My mothers having a pre-wedding party tomorrow! Come, and bring a friend if you want. It's the least I can do," she called. He nodded.
"Where and what time?"
"7:00, the rec center!"
Half an hour later, she received a call from Makoto on her communicater...
A ringing sound met Ami's ears, her communicater changed to a ring tone since she didn't want anyone to be suspicious.
"Ugh, Ami...get the phone. I'm tired," groaned Lisa from next to her. "Right."
Ami grabbed her communicater and the phone from her bedside stand at the same time, answering.
"Hey, Makoto? The line's not coming clear, uh- let me call you." She hung up quickly, afraid that Lisa would here Makoto's voice. Picking up the phone, she dialed her number.
"Mmmhmmm. Oh, I see...... Why?........ Oh, that's too bad.....Yes... Alright....yes yes, I understand...Bye."
"What was it," asked lisa.
"Nothing important, she couldn't sleep. Silly Makoto."
"Oh, ok. Goodnight," Lisa said with a yawn, falling back to sleep almost instantly. To be sure, Ami waited a few minutes before climbing out of bed. Makoto had called to tell her that they had figured out how to disconnect the machines draining energy at the airport. Rei had asked the sacred fire, since Ami's computer hadn't been able to find a way. So she, Makoto, Rei, and Minako were heading over there now.
They couldn't reach the outers, and decided that it wasn't that big of a job for them. Usagi had tried to sneak out at around 2:00 a.m, and had been caught and punished severely, since her parents thought she was sneaking out to see Mamoru. They were only letting her and Rini out to the party tomorrow, simply because the entire Tskino family was invited, not just Rini and Usagi.
She slipped into a pair of dark jeans, needing warmth on the cool summer night, and a t-shirt with a sweater on top. Cracking open her door, she couldn't find any movement around the house. checking to make sure she wore her healing ring and communicater, along with her henshin wand safely tucked away, she slipped out, gently closing the door behind her, Lisa's soft breaths calming. She passed by her mothers room, all silent, and the men's rooms, also silent. But by the time Ami reached the living room she knew she wasn't alone. She looked around, unsure in the dark who was there. Her breaths quickened....
"Ami."
She jumped, realizing it was James. He held a glass of water in his hand.
"What're you doing up? Why are you dressed?"
Ami frowned.
"I.. uh..."
"You were sneaking out."
"James, please..."
"Listen Ami. I really have grown to like you in the past two weeks. I love your mother, and I want you and I to be friends. I want you safe. Now please, go back into your room and get some rest."
Ami nodded and said goodnight, heading back to her room. James knew Ami was not one to give up so quickly, and wasn't surprised when she hopped into bed, clothes and shoes on. He pretended to walk off, and after 5 minutes Ami got up, looked at her watch, and arranged her pillows to form the shape of a body under her covers. James stood outside the door, cracked open slightly. Ami pulled open the window and looked around suspiciously. Her eyes traveled over to the door, which James stood behind, watching.
He was interested to see what she would do next. James had known Ami had been sneaking around for the past week, much more than the first week he had met her. Where did she go all the time? Why were her friends so strangely important that Ami would run off so much? Why would they be at the airport? Why was Aiko's car suddenly not running earlier, when he had seen the smudge of oil on her arm? Aiko had mentioned that Ami knew about cars because she had worked with that woman in the auto repair place. He knew Ami was very intelligent.
James knew that Ami was too pure and good of a person to be sneaking out for anything shameful or bad. She must have a reason. Aiko had spoken to him earlier that she was worried, and she had a lot of pressure on her with the wedding and the family at home. She had noticed many strange things about Ami's behaviour. She said Ami's friends were all new to her. And why was Ami always extremely tired after being with her friends? There were so many questions left unanswered. James felt protective of Ami now, and he liked her friends. All of them, even Quatre whom he noted to himself had better behave himself. But there was something else. Something big they were all missing. But what?
Ami reached the door and pushed it open, James quickly slipping into his room. She frowned and looked around, her eyes scanning the entire area. They rested on James' room, darkened and silent. After a minute she sighed and turned away, closing her room door behind her.
James cracked open Ami's room door, and saw Lisa sleeping with one arm lying over the side of the bed, snoring loudly. His eyes traveled over to Ami's bed, where the pillow arrangement still lay. The window was closed. Was Ami gone? He walked over to the window and accidently nudged the bed. Ami sat up. It wasn't a pillow arrangement, it was her. Had she changed her mind?
"What is it James? Is something wrong?"
"Um...no. Just checking to make sure you had your window closed. It's a drafty night." He bid her goodnight and left the room. He couldn't prove anything, and he certainly couldn't stay up all night watching. They all had to have energy for tomorrow. Ami knew that.
----
Once James was gone for sure and not just hiding and playing his spy game (as Ami had known), she once again opened her window and climbed out. Standing on the ledge of the window underneath Ami closed her own window then jumped down, landing in a crouching position. She took off. Arriving at the temple she found that Mamoru was there was their ride. So it was only her, Mamoru, Minako, Makoto, and Rei.
It didn't take too long, actually. Not too long at all. They arrived at the airport, and Ami was told that removing it was simple. In Rei's vision, it showed that it would haveto be she who removed it. Her task was to freeze it and then for the rest to destroy it. In a matter of two hours, they were finally finished. And tired. After a twenty minute drive home, Ami cracked open the door to her family room. Seeing no one was there, she snuck in. Changing into her PJ's, she climbed back into bed and slept for about 1 hour and a half. That was when, at 7:00, she awoke to Joseph sitting on her bed tugging at her hair and giggling. She smiled at him, but felt so broken it didn't last. He jumped up and went to wake his mother, who kissed him and tickled him. She heard laughter, and turned to watch Lisa jump up, clearly refreshed, and scoop up Joseph headed to the kitchen.
Ami groaned and attempted to get out of bed. Just 48 more hours until this whole mess with the wedding was over. But how long until the enemy was defeated? She managed to get up and wash up, heading to the kitchen in her PJ's to prove a point to james. When she walked in, her mother smiled.
"Good morning honey! Didn't sleep well?" Ami shook her head, and her mother flipped a pancake and walked over to feel her forehead.
"Well, you don't have a temperature. Maybe you should go sleep for another hour, 'till around 8:00?"
"I- I can't. I promiced to meet the girls at the temple," Ami said, remembering that they had a scout meeting.
"Oh, again? What is it with the temple Ami? It's like your second home, only you're there more than here," Aiko pointed out. Ami bit her lip but said nothing.
"Well, how long will you be there?" Aiko said again.
"Um...a- a few hours or so. Are you guys going strait to the hall?"
"Well, Anna, Goerge, Lisa, and Kevin, your uncle Damion, and your grandma are all headed there at 10:00 to start setting up and preparing the food. James and I are taking care of last minute wedding preparations and going out to lunch. Since we're the guests of honor, we'll be arriving at 6:30 once everyone is there. You Ami will be in charge of greeting guests, family and friends. Make them feel welcome. They can sit wherever, it's not very fancy. A skirt and nice shirt are acceptable for you to wear. I set out some acceptable outfits for you on your dresser." Aiko told her as she flipped some more pancakes. Ami blinked, at her mothers strange motherly behaviour. Nearly two weeks and she still wasn't used to it.
"I...ok. Wait, wait about Joseph,"Ami said, suddenly remembeing the cute little boy. Everyone looked at each other before speaking.
"That's where you come in my dear," Lisa said, giving her a scary smile.
'Uh oh,' thought Ami.
"Jospeh will be under foot at the recreation center, and he certainly can't go with your mother and James so....he'll just have to go with you. You don't mind, do you Ames," Kevin asked. Ami shook her head no. What could she say? 'I can't take Joseph because we are discussing some very secret and important matters?' That wouldn't go too well.
"No, ofcourse I don't. My friends love Joseph, they'll be happy I brought him," Ami said. After all, Joseph had been agreeable the last time she and Quatre had watched him.
"Alright, you and Joseph eat, then get dressed and be on your way," Aiko said.
"Get dressed as in, the clothes for the party," Ami asked.
"Yes, you two should be over there by 4:00 to finish set up, and should already be dressed and ready by then. Ok?" Ami nodded. She and Joseph ate, then got dressed. Ami was wearing a black skirt that was slightly ruffled at the end and went from above the knee diagonally to just underneath it. She wore a light blue sleeveless shirt with a rounded collar. The shirt had a one black strip across the stomach area, making it match perfectly. She wore black sandals with a heel, that criscrossed over her toes. On her hand she wore her heeling ring, on her neck a simple necklace that added elegance, and onher wrist, her communicator.
Joseph emerged from his room wearing a pair of beige corduroys and a nice button up light red shirt, obviosly one of Lisa's picks. He was clean and ready to go, Ami knoiwng Lisa probably spent forever trying to achieve that for the messy little boy.
"Alright, would you like me to drop you off at the temple," asked James. Ami looked outside.
"No, James. It's a beautiful summer day, and the temple's not that far. We can wak, right Joeseph?" Ami asked, turning to the boy.
"Right," he said excitedly, looking out the window with a glee.
She and Joseph left, Ami grabbing her black purse, which contained her henshin wand, and closing the door behind them. Despite how tired Ami was, the glorious summer day made it too hard to resist its charm, and Ami found herself smiling as she held Joseph's hand and walked down the street, a very light summer breeze blowing through her hair.
"How much longer Ami," Joseph asked after about 15 minutes.
"Only five minutes, besides, aren't you enjoying the walk," Ami asked.
"Sure I am, just wondering," Joseph replied, bending down to grab a flower in the grass as they passed through the park. Ami smiled and continued, pausing again when he grabbed another.
"Joseph, we'll never get there at this rate," Ami said with a laugh. They finally made it to the temple, and after climbing up the steps (Ami carrying Joseph up the steps while trying to stay poised in a heel and skirt), Ami spotted everyone inside with the sliding doors open for some air. Even the pilots were there.
"Hey, it's Usagi and uh...everyone else," Joseph exclaimed, running into the room. Everyone looked up and smiled.
"Hey, you two are already dressed, how come," Usagi asked.
"We're headed strait to the rec center after this, so we have to be dressed now," explained Ami, grabbing Joseph before he could touch the hot tea Rei had set down.
"You look nice Ami," Quatre said, She thanked him and turned away before she could blush.
"Hey Ami, your cheeks are pink," Jospeh pointed out from her lap.
"Um...why don't you, Rini, and Hotaru go play in the yard. It's very nice," Ami suggested right away. Joseph shrugged, "ok."
"And don't get dirty, your mother will kill me," Ami called fater them as she closed the sliding door. She turned to face everyone. Usagi had her purse out on the table, staring at something.
"Ami, what's this," she asked, pointing to a small peice of paper on her purse. Ami paused.
That hadn't been there before....
"No time to write riddles and rhymes. Your time is here, be ready. Your past will come back to haunt you," Usagi read aloud. Everyone grew quiet as they thought.
"Ami, what did all the other notes say," Haruka asked.
"Here." Ami laid each one out on the table.
-Those you trust can lead you wrong, and those you don't can be your salvation.Trust those you trust, trust those you don't. Think twice before giving an answer.-
-Survival depends on keeping love alive-
-Use your element or die of it-
-Your element is sacred. What saved you was your will to live. Stay close to the bride to be-
And the last one-
-No time to write riddles and rhymes. Your time is here, be ready. The past will come back to haunt you-
"Who could have sent you these?" Michiru asked.
"Every time you get a note, we think we've had the whole ordeal figured out, then you get another," Mako said with a heavy sigh.
"I honestly don't know what to make of them. The first note on trust I received after we ate at the burger place. It sounded like either a warning or a fortune. The second, seems very sweet, but still makes me curious. I received it when we were fighting that day I was watching Joseph, at least that's what I think because a note came on an arrow I thought was from an enemy. It was too soiled by blood to read though, but when I got to the apartment this one was hooked on Joe's teddy bear. The third, gave a hint about what Noko and Koto had planned. The 4th I received at the airport, and I stuck with Mom, but soon realized it was only a distraction. The last I have no idea about," Ami explained.
"I don't understand Ami. Half these notes help, while the other half hurt you. How do we know what's what? It could all be a trick," pointed out Rei. Haruka agreed, and everyone else sighed.
"Boy, this world is filled with one confusing thing after another," Duo commented.
"You're telling me," Minako replied.
"We're getting no where like this," commented Wufei.
Heero grunted and Trowa nodded.
"Well, we can try. I mean, we now know to watch for Noko and Koto," Usagi pointed out.
"Yes, I agree with Usako. This last note is a big help," Mamoru said.
"Let's just take this as a blessing and try to watch out tonight, instead of think negatively," suggested Quatre.
Everyone agreed. They talked for a another few hours, the sounds of Rini, Hotaru, and Joseph laughing in the background calming.
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"Koto, what're you doing," asked Noko, spotting his brother looking in the mirror.
"Just, changing my appearance a little," Koto told him, turning his hair blue, pink, red, and then settling on forest greem. His dead black eyes became a shade of maroon, looking very alive now, and he looked much younger.
"Something about the way you look now looks quite familiar," Noko said. He shrugged it off.
"I might as well do the same. No need for the brat to recognize us," he said, talking about Ami.
"Right, go ahead," Koto said. Noko nodded. He raised his hand and snapped. His hair became blond in a messy kind of look, and his eyes became brown. He also looked much younger.
"Nice, now let's go. The party's about to start," Koto said.
"Yeah yeah, I thought you wanted to be 'fashionably late'," Noko mimmicked as they opened up a portal.
----------------
Ami and Joseph left for the hall. Everyone was going to get dressed and rest, and then be there in a couple of hours. They walked quietly, Ami's thoughts now all centered on the notes and the enemy. She sighed noticeably as she and Joseph walked hand in hand down the side walk. Joseph stopped, turning to face her.
"Ami? What's wrong?" She mustered up a smile and shook her head.
"Nothing Joe, I'm just a little tired," she said, as they walked. Joseph shrugged and grabbed a stick as they walked, running it threw the fence. Ami shook her head and tried to ignore his childish antics as they approached the recreation center. Lisa, Anna, Kevin, Goerge, Aileen, and her uncle Damion were rshing around doing last minute preparations. Ami had clearly taken her time walking back, since it was 5:00. Time flew by. At 6:00, people began to arrive.
The first there were some of Aiko's relative's.
"Hello," Ami greeted at the door.
"Oh! Ami dear! You look wonderful! Look how you've grown!" Ami was bombarded with kisses and hugs. She tried to regain her posture.
"Mom and James will be here at 6:30. Until then sit anywhere you'de like and enjoy yourselves," she said politely. Ami went through the entire scenario agin at least 15 times until 6:20. Two handsome young men arrived, looking about Ami's age.
"Hello, beautiful. We're here for the groom. Where should we sit," one asked her. The other one gave hera crooked smile. Ami frowned slightly.
"Well...anywhere. It's very casual." After that, the tskino's arrived, greeting her warmly. Usagi stayed with her and stood by her, her friends arriving shortly after. They were all dressed nicely, skirts and tanktops or t-shirts with sandals. Mamoru arrived next, followed by the pilots, all dressed politely as well in dressier shirts and pants.
Everyone was seated at tables. Ami, Minako, Makoto, Rei, & Usagi sat together with Heero, Mamoru, Duo, Quatre, & Wufei. On the table right next to them sat Trowa, Setsuna (surprising that she had come), Haruka, Michiru, Hotaru, and Rini. Ami was surprised that Greg hadn't shown up, yet at least.
Her mother and James arrived after that, and cheering and clapping ensued.
Everyone congratulated them and laughed and talked with one another.
Pasta, and salad was placed on the tables and deserts were placed on a table on the wall, giving everyone a casual feeling to eat and dance.
After Ami and everyone at the table ate, she reached over to collect some plates. The music had started, and most everyone but their two tables began dancing. Aiko, James, and the main family that had been living at Ami's apartment stayed at their tables, chatting. The door swung open, catching her eye. She stopped, staring a bit before standing straiter, her hands resting on the table.
"Ami, what's wrong," Quatre asked, standing up and looking at her face. He followed her gaze. At the door stood Greg. Quatre shrugged. Big deal. Greg was nice, he had met him at the arcade once before. Also, he had met him at his mansion when he was being controlled that day, but that was a very different story. Someone else caught his eye, steping out from behind Greg gaze directed at Ami.
Julliana in the flesh. Ami tried to control an angry look from crossing her face. True, in the end Julliana had healed her of the poison she put in her and Ami had forgiven her. But seeing her in public like normal stirred up every awful feeling she felt towards her. And Quatre was apsolutely no better, never having forgiven Julliana for both hurting Ami and taking advantage of his trust. Soon enough, everyone at the two tables had seen the pair. The gundam pilots, Ami, and Quatre were the only one's whom recognized her, having been the only ones to see her. Ami sat down, trying ot control her anger so that she could muster up a hello.
"Is that..." Minako trailed off. Before anyone responded, Quatre stormed off towards the pair who looked as if they'de been caught in headlights. Aiko and James recognized Greg, and Aiko recognized Julliana from the picture Greg had shown her in the taxi. Aiko smiled at them in greeting, and was bout to turn away when she saw Quatre. He stormed off towards the pair, looking angry. Ami sprang to her feet after him, grabbing his arm.
"Quatre, you know you're a calm person. Please try to control your anger," Ami pleaded quietly, although Quatre looked at her breifly before continuing. He approached Greg angilly.
"What is she doing here," he said angrilly, grabbing hold of Greg's shirt and smashing him into the wall opposite of where people danced, so no one on the dance floor noticed, but Ami's family all did.
"Quatre, No!" Ami grabbed his arm trying to stop him.
"I want answers," he said.
"I knew you were going to say that, I foresaw it. But we had to come. Things must be worked out if we are to continue withour lives peacefully-" Greg was interrupted.
"Peacefully! With her!" Ami knew Quatre dared not lay a hand on Julliana for fear of everyone around them. By now, Wufei, Trowa, heero, Duo, Mamoru, Usagi, Minako, Rei, Makoto, Setsuna, Haruka, and Michiru were up. Rini and Hotaru were instructed to stay at the table. Haruka made Quatre let go of Greg, and they separated him from Julliana and Greg. However, Quatre, calmest of the pilots, was the least of their worries. Heero stepped forewards, ready to pull out his gun in front of everyone, his eyes flashing. The others looked the same. Ami knew. They didn't know exactly what happened. They didn't know Julliana was better now.
"Look, you 5," Ami said, ushering to the pilots, "Don't do anything, don't lose your tempers." However, Ami herself grew angrier and angrier by the moment as she looked at Julliana. She actually looked surprised that Quatre had attacked Greg.
"Geez, I thought that you were nice, Quatre," Julliana said, before covering her mouth and realizing her mistake.
"Nice! NICE," Wufei shouted, unheard by most over the music. Yet again, Ami's family looked up. Ami knew they were REALLY trying to restrain themselves.
"How many people did you hurt? Kill, Julliana? How many before you were satisfied," growled Heero.
"I should ask you all the same thing, pilot," Julliana shot back, "I'm trying to start over, as are you. Leave me be," Julliana responded. That was when all hell broke loose. Ami acted very unlike herself, making a made grab for Julliana, angered that she would bring up the Eve wars, whom stepped back.
"Wow, Ami. Greg this wasn't a good idea. They'll never accept us," Julliana said.
"Accept what? You're an evil hag," Duo said.
"Is there a problem here," Aiko said, she and James stepping up to the group. Ami looked over at them, regaining composure.
"None what so ever. Just greeting Greg and..."
"Julliana, right? Greg showed me your picture while we rode in the taxi. Nice to meet you," Aiko said, extending her hand to shake it. Julliana reached to shake it...
Ami held her breath, and Wufei, unable to take it anymore, smacked Julliana's hand down.
"Oh..um-" at everyone's shocked expressions, Ami changed the subject. "Mother, is that Mrs. Barnsfeld waving to you from the other side of the room? I think she wants to congratulate you," Ami said.
As she spoke, Duo grabbed a pen off the table next to him and threw it aiming at the woman Ami was ushering to. The woman turned around the same time Aiko did, and she waved them over. James looked back at the teens unsurely as he and Aiko made their way over to her, trying not to be rude and ignore her.
"Let's go talk in another room, we're making a scene," Ami said. Everyone nodded.
They walked into the room across the hall, a much smaller room with two tables and double doors on both ends.
"Now look, not everyone understands what happened, but before we get very angry at each other, we should try and talk things out," Ami said. Everyone paid what she said no mind, errupting in arguement.
"You're a sick snake! You hurt a lot of people at the mansion," Duo accused, pointing at Julliana.
"YEAH"! Everyone chorused in. Soon enough their were so many insults being shot back and forth that it caught Aiko & James' attentiom from across the hall. They left everyone at the party to dance and enjoy themselves, and approached the door, looking inside, since it was cracked open.
Julliana got really angry. "If no one here is going to accept me, I might as well not have come here to Tokyo!"
"Maybe so," Wufei said, Heero, Trowa, and Quatre nodding.
Wufei suddenly stopped argueing, causing everyone to turn and look at him. He placed a hand on his chest and a look of pain crossed his face.
Aiko was about to run inside and help Wufei when James grabbed her arm.
"Wait, let's just see what they do first," he said.
"James, don't be ridiculous. You and I both know that boy is having a heart attack," she whispered, about to go in again. He stopped her.
"Yes, you and I know that. But for some reason, the way they are reacting makes me think that it's not natural. No one's even ran to get one of us yet. I'd like to see what they do," he said.
"James...you suspect something, don't you? I'll wait another minute to see. If anything happens to that boy, it's on your head."
"Of course, if it gets more serious, we'll go. Please, trust me on this," James answered. Aiko sighed and nodded. James turned his attention back to the scene. Something about it definately wasn't right.
"Again, Julliana! Just like in the shopping mall that day! You never cease to hurt us," accused Quatre.
"I- I...but," Julliana began. Ami and Rei ran over to Wufei, and Ami did what she had done in the other demension last time this happened. She loosened the top few buttons on his dress shirt, allowing him more access to breath. Rei held his arm to steady him.
Heero pulled out a pocket knife, ready to kill Julliana.
"Stop it!" He approached her, and Greg stepped in front of her.
"Heero, wait," he said pleadingly. Heero ignored him, and shoved Greg aside. He landed on his side hard.
"HEERO," Ami shouted, Makoto chorusing. Ami jumped up and stood in front of Julliana.
"It's not her Heero, get control of yourself," she said, shoving him backwards. He was unaffected, but stepped back.
"Ami, when she dies, we'll be rid of all of her evil. You know what she's done. How many lives she's cost. She's not a new person. She's the same evil witch she was 2 weeks ago. Two weeks isn't long enough to go from evil to good," he told her.
"It's not her Heero. I don't know Julliana, but if Ami says it's not her then it's not," Makoto spoke up, stepping next to her friend.
Aiko was about to run inside with James, unable to stand it any longer once she saw Heero pull out the knife.
Heero took another step forwards, and Ami, he, and Makoto fought over the knife. Everyone gasped, trying to separate the group. Makoto saw this was going no where.
"Sorry Heero," she said, before swinging her fist back and punching him in the stomach. Heero was momentarilly hurt, since Makoto was very strong, and loosened his grip. Ami grabbed it but it slipped, and she and Duo both ended up diving for the knife.
They heard laughter from behind them.
"This is better then we expected, Noko. We've got them fighting each other," laughed Koto. Aiko stopped in the doorway, and she and James looked on curiously.
"Stop it," Rei told them.
"Yes, stop whatever you're doing to him," Ami pleaded. Koto laughed.
"Yes...I suppose it will be more fun to torture him before he dies. With everyone else here," Noko said, snapping his fingers. Instantly, the color returned to Wufei's face and he breathed deeply, still clutching his chest. Rei crouched down next to him, a worried look covering his face.
"I'm fine Rei," he said, pulling free of her grasp. She smiled. He hadn't called her onna, at least.
"Who are those men, James?" Aiko was getting scared and more confused.
"Shhh, don't move," James whispered, intent on seeing what would happen next. Aiko bit her lip, feeling awful for not helping her little girl.
"Leave everyone alone. Your fight is with us," Ami said.
"Strong words, you'll be remembered, I'm sure, Mercury," Koto said.
"Mercury? What does he mean James," Aiko whispered fiercely.
"So you knew," Ami responded.
"Of course I knew. Since that day we fought, all together, we knew."
"Alright, then there's no point on waiting to transform," Usagi, said, throwing her hand into the air and shouting out her transformation. Everyone followed. Aiko gasped, as well as James. But he was a little less surprised. 'So that's what's been going on.'
After the senshi transformed, as well as Mamoru, Heero pulled out his gun, Quatre grabbed the long forgotten pocket knife, Wufie got his Katana, and the other guys got read for hand to hand combat.
"Oh, so you're putting up a fight. Alright then. Let's go," Noko said. He snapped his fingers, and three youma appeared. Right away, Venus kicked one, then Mercury swung her leg arund and knocked it to the ground. Uranus and Neptune double teamed on the other, punching him from two sides. The last one, Jupiter, and Pluto knocked out instantly.
"Damn, you japanese girls can kick ass," Duo exclaimed.
"WAIT!" Everyone turned to look at Ami.
"There are too many people here to fight. If we have to fight, let's take it outisde," she said.
"Ami, No!" Her mother screamed from the doorway. Ami turned to look, a look of shock registering on her face.
"Mom...James. No." Aiko was so scared she couldn't even move. Julliana sat on the ground next to Greg, tears wetting the ground.
"I'm sorry," she told Mercury. She felt terrible.
"I'll assume you lost all of your powers after I healed you," she told her. Julliana nodded.
"Alright then, let's get the two of you to safety," she responded. She saw her mother once again, standing with James, shaking.
The two walked over with Greg.
"Hey, are we going to fight or should I just kill you now," Noko called.
Ami double clicked her earing, her visor appearing over here eyes. Aiko and James jumped.
Alright Julliana, you and Greg can either find a quiet room to fight or go back to the party with my mom and James." Aiko wanted to say something to Ami, to scream at her, to tell her that she was wasting and throwing her life away, that she wasn't a fighter. But she couldn't. She was for once at a loss for words.
"Alright, Ami you be careful," James warned sternly. Aiko looked at him, slightly shocked.
"No! Don't agree with her! Mizuno Ami, you get your butt back in the hall and you bad people go home!" Everyone's mouths dropped open. A low rumble began from Noko's throught, and everyone looked up. Soon he and Koto were laughing so hard that they couldn't breathe.
"How did you guys get in here anyways," Ami asked. They snapped their fingers, and became the handsome young men Ami had earlier let into the hall.
"Damn, shape shifters," Mars said.
"Mom, just go. The party needs you guys. BOTH Of you," Ami reasoned. Aiko was forced out by James, who knew that Ami could handle herself much better than he and Aiko could eachother, and that the enemy probably wouldn't tolerate another word from Aiko. They took off with Greg and Julliana. The group then went outside, prepared to fight.
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Sorry for the long wait. anyways, here's the update! Please review and comment specifically on things if possible! If there are any typos, please forgive me ^_^ I had SO MUCH school work that this took me over a month to finish, and I only had a couple of minutes a day to write*