Thankyou to Devil Wench, Shadow Walker, and Mercury Destiny. You've been loyal reviewers!
Sorry for any grammer mistakes I know I'm gonna make! Hope you enjoyed the story!
Chapter 20
Quatre turned Ami over, his eyes cleary showing the worry he was feeling. She shuddered once more before promptly passing out. Her transformation dissapeared, blood now evident all over her. Setsuna sighed.
"I was amazed she stayed alive this long. If she makes the night she'll be alright," she said, choosing her words carefully so that she didn't upset anybody.
"Now...I will have to mess with the people inside's memory. It's 12:00 right now. Everyone will be out within the hour. First, I will lead them to believe that Ami and Quatre have been dancing together all night and that she has barely left her mother's side. They will believe you have all been hanging around with them, with the exception of the four sisters and rini and hotaru because they know about you already- oh, plus greg and julliana. One of you can explain. Then, when everyone leaves, all of Ami's family will be lead to believe she headed home with them and got a good nights sleep. I'm not sure what Ami and her mother have issues about, but I will have to respect her decision to hide this. It's the least I can do," Setsuna said. Everyone nodded.
Usagi began to tear up.
"Don't cry now Princess. Your friend is strong......... and stubborn," she added as an afterthought with a smile, before continueing, "She won't die and leave you after all of this," she said, smiling re-assuringly, before continuing her explanation. "Now, this will take a lot of energy. So please, Senshi, and Kaden, place as much energy as you can spare- your non-essential energy, meaning you won't be tired afterwords. Kaden, I know you still have a bit of your dark energy left. Perfect for the treachery and trickery we are about to play. Please, place the last of it and rid yourself of it's evil. Alright?" Everyone nodded. They placed there hands on her staff, and felt there energy quickly chenel into it for only a moment.
"Hey, you were right Setsuna, I'm not tired at all," Minako said happily. Setsuna smiled. "Good. Now...I will need Kaden, Rei, Wufei, Heero, and Makoto- oh, as well as Usagi, Mamoru, er....Trowa, Haruka and Michiru. Quatre, Duo, and Minako can take Ami to the shrine. Duo, you will drive. Quatre I'm sure would not leave Ami for now, and Minako would probably want to stick with Duo. We will leave with everyone else after ensuring our plan has worked, and be with you at the temple in about and hour and a half. Take care of her," Setsuna said, smiling. Quatre nodded and picked up Ami. Duo got in Haruka's car after she doubtfully passed him the keys.
"If Ami wasn't dieing, I wouldn't give you the keys," she snapped, making Wufei smirk. Minako sat up front with Duo, while Quatre sat in the back with Ami, lying her out across most of the seat.
The rest went to work with Setsuna.
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They arrived at the shrine 45 minutes later, 15 minutes late because Duo had gotten lost driving into Tokyo and had taken a wrong turn, sending them to the other side.
By then Ami had bleed all over the blanket they had layed beneath her before putting her on the seat. Quatre picked her up and looked up. There was the hard part, the trudge up the steps of the temple. Good thing Ami was light. He began to walk up the steps as Ami became consious. She turned and nearly slipped from his grasp as he struggled to keep hold on the steps without falling backwards.
She seemed completely ignorant of his warnings to stop moving though, and tried to get from his hold, despite her condition. Quatre was shocked to say the least. Minako and Duo, about 10 steps ahead, turned to come back down.
"Quatre buddy, what's the problem," asked Duo.
"This," a voice responded. Everyone turned around, looking wildly. They couldn't see anyone....
Before they could even react somebody zoomed out of nowhere, snatching Ami and moving to the side of the wide steps, one arm on her waist and the other slung around her neck to prevent her from moving. She cried out in pain, feeling any injuries that had begun to speedily heal ripped back open from the sudden movement.
No one was even moving from the shock. They stood in the middle of the steps, Minako and Duo higher than Quatre, and Noko stood on the side in between both groups.
"You- no, impossible! We saw you die!" Noko turned to look at the boy who had just spoken, Quatre.
He laughed hoarsly. "No, you saw me throw an illusion in front to make you think that. When my idiotic brother blasted me, he didn't even hit me. The only person who actually did was her the first time," he said, nudging Ami, "and she was so close to death by then that it wasn't even powerful enough to keep me down."
"Let her go," demanded Minako, raising her wand.
"Nuh uh ah, I don't think so," Noko said. Before Minako could blink, her wand was propelled into the air, to the backyard of the shrine, which was from where they stood a 5 minute run their and back.
Minako looked at her wrist desperately, before remembering that they were not wearing their communicaters because it would have been far to suspicious with their dresses. They were stuck, and there was still about 45 minutes before their friends arrived.
"Maybe Setsuna will know, with her being the guardian of time and everything," Duo whispered. Minako shook her head.
"If she had, she never would have sent us here. They think the enemy is gone, she won't look into the future. This wasn't even supposed to happen," she whispered back. Noko smirked.
"Ah, stuck without help I see. GOOD!" He blasted the three of them backwards, clear off of the steps and unto the grass by the trees behind the cement railing.
Minako got to her feet instantly, followed by the other two, but before she could move to walk unto the steps toward the pair, she was frozen in place.
"You- you bastard," Duo screamed angrilly, realizing he couldn't move either. Quatre was struggling, but was unable to break free of the hold Noko had on them. He had to get to Ami, but how.
"Hey, no need for language. I'm just doing this because it has to be done," Noko said, smiling sadisticly. "Besides, I knew you would all being her back here and get her healthy again, and I couldn't have that. Not while her essence is still in my grasp." As he spoke, Ami struggled as much as she could, but it wasn't much because of her injuries. She cried out as held her tighter.
"Now now, be a good girl while I do this. Then you can die and go to hell like the rest of your friends will," he said sweetly. She struggled harder, and he grew frustrated. "You're slowly regaining strength, I can't have that. Hmmm....well, your friends won't be here for a while now. I guess I can have a bit more fun, since it was spoiled last time by my stupid brother and your friends." This statement seemed to make him happy, and he smiled gleefully.
He let go of Ami, surprising evreyone for the moment. Of course, Ami couldn't even stand on her own. She collapsed to her knees instantly, both hands on the ground and head down, breathing hard. This made Noko laugh.
"Oooh, I beat you bad," he cracked up again, although no one else was laughing, making his voice echo throughout the area. Raising his right hand, he blasted Ami backwards, knocking her down the 20 concrete steps or so that they were up. Ami automatically threw her hands up to cover her head. Quatre wanted to cover his ears to close his eyes and not hear Ami screaming as she rolled down the steps violently, but was unable to divert his gaze, not until she landed on the bottom with a small thump, not moving.
Minako let out a scream of terror at this, and Duo looked away, ashamed he was able to do nothing as one of his best friends was probable just killed from that terrible fall.
Noko floated down next to Ami, staring down at her emotionlessly.
"Get up." He could see Ami's muscle's tensing, and knew that she was not dead. He sighed a moment, staring down at his hands. He could see himself depleating. The power he was using was tearing him up. Even if he had the essence, it would not save him. The essence did not matter to him anymore. He wanted her dead. Before he died, he WOULD have his revenge.
Moving his hand upwards, Ami's body was lifted off of the ground by a black aura, and put up-right facing him. A thin line of blood had now begun to come form the left side of her mouth. She stared at him in fear of what he was going to do next, and was not givin much time to think when he suddenly jerked his hand to the side, moving her over to be smshed into the wall by the sidewalk. Ami tried to stand this time and get away from him or transform, but Noko was too fast, and he grabbed her before she even got a foot away.
"You should know by now that when when you run it's more fun for me," he said.
"Your friends will be showing up soon, I should just hurry up and kill you. But......." he paused and smirked, "what I said before still stands, it sure is a waste of such a pretty face." At this point he was gripping her face lightly, but he soon tightened his grip, and it felt like he was going to break her jaw from the pressure he applied.
Ami probably knew what was coming next as she tried to turn her face away when Noko leaned in.
'What a pervert, twice in ne night,' Ami thought, struggling to get free. Noko got tired of this.
"Enough, you're aggrivating me," he said, squeezing her face much harder, causing her to cry out.
Quatre had had just about enough. He looked down at his arms and gasped. He hadn't seen it before, but there was a very thin black ara holding him in place. He looked over at Minako, whom was fingering the wisps of the aura, far ahead of him, and at Duo, whom had just caught on. They both seemed to have had enough as well. A silent agreemement of what to do passed through the trio, before they all gazed forwards and readied themselves to try and break through what was holding them.
"Alright," Minako whispered, feeling the hold on her loosen as she pushed hard against it, "On the count of...10, because I wouldn't break free before then, I'm gonna run to the back of the shrine and grab my wand, it'll take me at least 5 minutes to get back here, three if I'm transformed on my way back. You guys keep Noko away from Ami without getting killed until then, got it?" They both nodded, and Minako began to whisper her count while they strained to break free of Noko's hold.
"1............"
Meanwhile, Ami still fought as hard as she could against Noko, which wasn't very hard at all. As soon as she thought she had the upper hand, he would do something like trip he ronto the steps, or punch and kick her in the stomach, the part of herbody he had mutilated most when first fighting him.
He laughed, and raised his hand to strike her one last time, when his head suddenly shot up at a shout.
"TEN!" Everyone under his hold broke free, and Minako took off in a flash towards the back, while the other two guys approached Noko, not looking too pleased with him. Infact they looked extremely angry.
"Oooh, tough guys. Not that I'm worried, destroying you will be far too easy."
"Oh yeah, well that'll be harder than you think," Duo said, distracting the insane Noko enough to give Quatre room to run over to Ami, whom was struggling to move away from Noko, but managing only a few inches away. Quatre picked her up, trying to not make aware the argueing Noko, whom was getting REALLY aggrivated talking with Duo. His ears perked up.
"Oh no you don't," he said, blasting Quatre and Ami back with a large burst of wind into a car (not Haruka's, thank God) by the side of the road. Quatre turned so that he took the brunt of the hit, knowing that Ami wouldn't survive if she made direct contact. He groaned and tried to sit up, having made a small dent in the car's side from how much force Noko had used to blast them into it.
"Are you alright," Ami asked him, trying to move but to no avail. She struggled to keep her eyes open as she strained to do the tiniest movement, such as move one of her fingers.
"I'm fine, it's you i'm worried about," he responed as they both looked up to where Noko stood, towering above them. He smirked as they both looked up at him, Ami giving more of an attempt than an actual look, since it was hard to move her head.
"You will not interfere again, pilot."
"Venus love and beauty SHOCK!" Noko gasped as the attack hit him dead on from the back, making him stumble forwards.
"You! I should have know," he growled, sending Venus flying into Duo with a kick at her stomach, knocking them both onto the steps.
He turned back to the other two.
"Now, how shall I finish the two of you off? Hmmm?" They both struggled to stand at this statement, and he laughed.
"Aha. I've got it." He raised his palm in front of his face, and it glowed red for a moment, before creating multiple blasts of red energy, which hit them and exploded on contact.
And that was all Ami could handle for one night. She had been beaten, and when she thought it was all over, had come back to be beaen again. And she though a night fighting with Julliana was bad, but this was ten times worse. Quatre was afraid of what he thought could be Ami's last few breaths. He was injured a bit too, but nothing near as serious. If he could just get them away from Noko....
Noko laughed.
"She's not dead yet, but I'm getting closer." Quatre began to inch away, Ami in his arms, while Noko prepared to attack again.
"Jupiter oak Evolution!"
"Neptune Deep Submerge!"
"Pluto deadly scream!"
"Mars firebird strike!"
"Uranus world shaking!"
Noko was hit by all of these attacks at once, and stumbled backwards, falling to the ground, but jumping back up right away.
The others had arrived, and were looking angry.
Kaden stepped forwards.
"Brother, I thought you were dead," Kaden said.
"You though wrong," Noko growled, angry that he had taken too long to kill Ami again, and was found again.
"Brother, please. It's not too late to change," Kaden tried.
"Oh, and who will save me? Will someone else give me a new name, as that mortal woman gave you one thousands of years before? Will anyone care now," asked Noko, raising his hand to strike.
"Yes, just stop," Ami managed to groan from where she was. Noko however, wouldn't have that.
"Listen to her brother," Kaden said.
"Shutup! I should have killed you 200 years ago when I had the chance, after I killed our mother!"
Kaden gasped, as did everone else.
"You? It was you!"
"She was weak, as are you. I thought that maybe I could train you to be stronger."
"No, to be more evil, like you," Kaden aid, a black aura surrounding him, as if his powers had been renewed to full strangth. He pointed one finger at his brother, a black ball of light forming at the end.
"You can't harm me, you're too weak," Noko said, before Kaden released the attack. It dissinigrated Noko on contact, and Kaden passed out from the use of so much power. Everyone around him bent down to check on him.
"He's just really tired from using all that power. Where did it even come from," asked Mamoru.
"I don't know. Now...," they all turned back to Quatre, who was shaking Ami lightly by the shoulders, but he soon grew frantic. Her eyes were closed, and she wasn't reacting, barely breathing.
"Hey, what happened to Ami," Chibi-Usa asked, she and Hotaru running over next to Quatre. Usagi wanted to cover Chibi-usa's eyes, but saw it was too late once she got close enough and gasped.
"Oh no! Look Hotaru," Rini said, tears forming in her eyes. Mamoru grabbed Chibi-usa, and Trowa picked up Hotaru, stepping back to give everyone room.
"Rei, is your grandpa home," asked Makato, now de-transformed like the rest.
"No, him and Chad won't be back till Monday, that gives us just until tomorrow," she said. They nodded.
"Okay, let's get Ami and everyone else who's hurt to the shrine, until we figure out what to do," Minako said, and everyone agreed, taking action right away.
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Kaden came to about half an hour after he was set down to rest. Quatre, Duo, and Minako had small cuts and bruises, and those were tended to quickly. Rei, Makoto, & Michiru had helped get Ami out of her destroyed dress and into a pair of sweat pants and a t-shirt, after wrapping up her injuries as best as they knew how, which they were afraid may not be good enough. They had laid her out on Rei's bed and left to go sit in the living room, where everyone was lying out on couches and on the floor, wherever they could find, to rest.
Chibi-Usa and Hotaru were sleeping peacefully on the loveseat, wrapped up in a blanket, each of their heads on opposite ends.
Everyone who wasn't sleeping looked up when they arrived.
"Well..." Quatre asked.
Rei paused a moment, before speaking.
"We tended to her injuries as best as we could, but I'm afraid it may not be good enough. We just don't have the supplies we need here," she offered kindly, trying not to upset anyone.
"We- we have the supplies at my mansion," Quatre offered.
"Could you send the pilots back to get them," asked Minako to Setsuna.
"No. I've already spent a lot of my nergy on keeping the pilots in this demension. After all, their demsional transporters only keep them here twelve hours, and they've been hear at least fifteen. Perhaps, if you have a medical wing there, I could send you there plus Ami for the night. I'm sure your staff would care for her, and she and whoever else would want to accompany her will be here by morning, and you can return with us after she's received the proper medical care. Now, your staff is to however understand that after the morning she will be taken to a hosptal on another colony. Is that alright?" Everone automaticaly agreed with Setsuna's statement. Everyone wanted to head back with Ami, but Setsuna disagreed.
"Too many to send. With the pilots and an unconsious Ami, I'll have enough power to send myself and three others there. Who will vollunteer?"
In the end, it was decided that Minako, Rei, and Makoto would escort Ami to that demension. Being there for the night and having her injuries properly tended to would give her a much higher rate of survival, because right now it looked very grim. Quatre picked up Ami from Rei's room and the group stood together. Usagi, Mamoru, Rini, Hotaru, Haruka, Michiru, and Kaden waved as they dissapeared, praying Ami would survive.
They re-appeared outside of Quatre's house, and Setsuna de-transformed. Quatre opened up the door. It was late, but a few servents still sat up.
"Master Quatre, boys. I see you're back. And you've brought some friends," the maid blinked, "at this hour?" She looked at who Quatre held.
"Miss Ami's back! She's injured badly!"
"Yes, I know. She and her friends will be staying here the night until she sent to a different hospital outside of the colony in the morning, but she needs to be tended to as much as possible now. Go tell the staff working in the medical wing," Quatre said, kindly but firmly. The maid nodded and ran off.
"Linda," he said, addressing a different maid by name, "please prepare some rooms for these four, we can't expect them to stay up in the medical wing with her all night."
"Yes Sir, right away," she said, dashing off.
Quatre carried Ami up to the medical wing. An hour later, the main doctor let everyone into the room.
"Well," everyone asked.
"I'd be surprised is she lasts another hour, let alone the night," he said. Quatre nodded.
"Thankyou Monica. Please, you and your staff can head off to bd. And tell any onther workers the same. We don't want to keep you." The doctor gave him a warm smile and nodded, heading off.
Quatre turned to the bed Ami lay on, and smiled hopefully.
"She'll make it, I know she will. Go ahead, go to bed. You've all had a long day."
Everyone said goodnight and offered kind words to Quatre, who smiled sadly in return. He turned back and walked into the room once they were gone. Sitting on the floor by the side of the bed, he grippped Ami's hand tightly, praying she would survive. He could stand to lose her- not after all that they had been through.
"I love you Ami, losing you now would kill me" he said. Quatre didn't know how long he sat there, but eventually he fell asleep, his head resting on her bed and his hand still laced through hers.
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Ami cracked open an eye. What time was it? It seemed very early, because dull rays of sunlight shone through the window, and the house was quiet. She was at Quatre's mansion. How had she gotten there? She couldn't recall.
Her head hurt, and her whole body was aching, especially her stomach. But- she was alive. She felt something touching her hand. Looking down, she was surprised to see Quatre asleep, his head on the bed and his hand in hers. A soft smile crept onto her face. He shifted, and he turned and looked up at Ami. Seeing her awake and staring back, he jumped up.
"Your awake! Are you feeling alright," he asked right away.
"Much better than yesterday, if that's what you mean," she said calmly, a smile again working it's way up to her lips.
"Now, were you here all night?"
He nodded. Quickly, he explained how they had gotten there.
"Do you want anything right now?"
"Just water, my throat is extremely parched," she said. He nodded and stood.
"I'll take care of it, and I'll get the doctor in here to check on you," he said, kissing her and departing from the room.
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The entire staff was pleased with Ami in the next hour. She was pleasant, and was recovering very fast.
"You've amazed me, Miss Anderson," the doctor said, still referring to her as she had earlier in the summer. Ami's face again washed over with guilt, but Quatre took her hand and it dissapeared.
Her friends were very happy to see her awake and mostly well, although she hadn't attempted to get out of bed yet. Setsuna had contacted the other senshi, and they would depart within the hour, telling the staff that they were getting Ami some better help.
Ami was still in the jogging pants and t-shirt that Rei had lent her when they were ready to go. All of the staff was asked to leave the room so that it was just her friends and the pilots in the room.
She sat up straiter, straining, and began to attempt to get out of bed. Quatre went on her left side and Makoto on her right as she swung her feet over the side of the bed, wincing as she did so and muffling a cry.
"It's okay Ami, just take it easy. Your injuries aren't nearly close to healing, despite your powers, and you've got some hurt ribs too. Be careful about your stomach too, that's the apsolute worst spot," Quatre said.
Ami nodded forcing her body to comply and trying to get off of the bed. Her right foot reached the floor, and Minako grabbed her arm to steady her when this happned. Then her left, and Quatre was forced to grab Ami's other arm before she hit the ground.
"You're still not that well yet," Duo said.
"Yes, but far better than is expected in her condition," Makoto pointed out.
"I'm afraid you can't go back to your house in a wheel chair, but for now..." Setsuna trailed off, and returned with one.
"You can use the one you used two weeks ago."
Two weeks? Had it really only been two weeks since the last time she was hurt like this? It had. She had battled Julliana for 3 days, then beaten her and come to the mansion at night. She had awoken in the morning feeling better, much like today, and had been in the same room on the same bed. She remembered now. They helped her into the chair and Quatre wheeled her out of the room. Anyone who aksed as they went by, they were headed for a hospital to better care for her injuries.
"Good," the doctor, Monica, whom had helped earlier said, "because it looks like someone played five-finger monty with a lazer gun on your stomach," she joked, walking down the hall. Once they were outside, Setsuna spoke.
"Now Ami, it's 10:00 now. Your mother has planned a brunch to take James and his family out for dinner, including your father. Quatre, I believe she has planned to let you attend. Now, after the dinner, James's family will go back to England, your grandmother and uncle to upper Japan, and your father back to south Japan. Then, your mom and James will leave for their honey- moon and you will have the house to yourself for the first week of school to get better. You need it. So, since you didn't want your mom to know, she's still brainwashed. When you arrive, she'll think you'll have been there all night, and the last act you'll have to put on is to make sure no one realizes you're inured," she explained. Ami nodded.
"Well, at least she'll have me there," Quatre said. Everyone nodded. When they were sure no one was looking, Setsuna opened up a portal.
"You can't exactly bring the wheel chair in there though," she said, since you'de have to step in one leg at a time. Quatre picked Ami up out of the wheel-chair and stepped in. Everyone followed, Setsuna last, closing it behind her.
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Once they were in, Setsuna sighed a little worriedly.
"I can't transport you strait to the other demension, you have to pass through the gates of time. The only reason I was able to do that coming here was because Ami was in dire need of help, fast. You'll all have to stick together and be careful. " Everyone nodded and turned towards the gate.
"Hmmmm, Quatre, you can't carry Ami because you guys'll get seperated from the rest of us- oh..wait, Pluto, the guys can just use their transporters from here, can't they," Makoto asked. Setsuna nodded.
"Yes, then you four can go through the gates. But you'll have to keep Ami in between you with a firm hold on her."
"No," Ami said. They all looked up. She continued. "If you put me in between them and I slip off or get weak and let go, I'll have seperated all of us in the gates of time instead of just myself. Put me on the end with someone holding my hand tightly." There was disagreement, but Ami somehow won in the end.
"Good luck my friends. I cannot venture back with you. I have spent enough time away form the gates of time as it is," Setsuna said.
So Ami was next to Makoto, who gripped her hand like steel would for fear of letting her get lost, with Setsuna holding her up until they reached they stepped out the doors, since she had trouble standing. She and her friends stood on the edge and waited, until they stepped off, Makoto's grip tightening, if possible.
The winds tossed them around like rag dolls, but they stayed firm in their vision of Tokyo until they arrived. They arrived at the temple, just as the boys popped in.
As soon as they arrived and Ami's feet touched firm ground, she began to sink to her knees, but found Quatre at her side instantly.
"Sit down on the couch and relax a few minutes Ami, you'll pass out if you over work yourself. You may be feeling better, but you're definately not well yet," Minako said. Ami nodded, ready not to disagree, and had Quatre help her to the couch.
She took a sharp intake of breath as she sat, feeling the pain in her stomach when she bent it to sit even more. She may have been feeling a little better, but she still felt like another week of rest would get her up to going out to lunch with her family. She'd have to get over that though. If her mother found out she was hurt, she would cancel her honeymoon and fret for forever. Ami couldn't have that, she wouldn't ruin it for her.
After about ten minutes, Ami decided they would head off.
Usagi had apparently left about 20 messages on Rei's answering machine in her worry for Ami, and when Rei had responded, she had gotten Mamoru to come over to the temple so she could see Ami and they could drive Ami home. 5 minutes later, Usagi came running up the steps, wrapping Ami in a crushing hug which made her cry out.
"Owww, owww, I love you too Usagi but please let go!"
Usagi laughed sheepishly and let go, stepping back timidly.
"Sorry Ames. I really wanted to know if you were okay. And Michiru, Haruka, and Hotaru were calling all night to see if I'd heard from you, not to mention Rini bothering me all night!"
At the mention of the little girls name, Rini came bounding up the steps with Mamoru, letting go of his hand at the door and running over to greet Ami.
"Ami, you look much better. I'm glad," Mamoru said pleasanly.
The pilots decided to stay at the temple, and a couple of minutes later they proceeded down the stairs, Ami attempting a couple but eventually letting Quatre carry her down. They got into Mamoru's car, Usagi and Mamoru in the front, and Ami, Quatre, and Rini in the back.
Ami and Quatre talked with Rini most of the ride, whom was still intrigued by Quatre's world. Upon arriving, Quatre slid out and then helped Ami out, who managed to walk with him holding her steady. They waved goodbye, and mamoru drove off only after making sure she and Quatre had made it in the building with no problems.
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"Okay, now I'll carry you up these steps Ami," Quatre offered.
"Nuh uh, you've been carrying me everywhere. I've been a big bother the past 2 days. I'll walk," she told him.
"Ami, your no trouble whatsoever," he protested. She stayed stubborn, and he finally gave in.
"Alright, but you hold the railing and I'll hold your other arm. They have to get an elevator for these apartments here in Tokyo. Having people run up so many flights of steps to get home every day is ridiculous," Quatre said. He took her left arm and she grabbed the railing with her right. Despite the pain, Ami managed to do one flight of stairs, although she was hurting by the end.
"Alright, enough. If you get too tired now, you won't be able to put on an act for your family later," he said, picking her up without warning.
"Quatre..."
"Your light, it's no problem," he said, continuing up the stairs.
Once they reached Ami's door, four flights later, he let her stand. Ami suddenly felt something heavy in her hand. A bag? How had that gotten there? Her hands had been empty a moment ago and she hadn't picked anything up. They peered inside. A carton of milk.
....
....
....
....
Ami broke the silence with a laugh.
"Geez Ami, Setsuna thinks of everything," he commented.
They opened up the door. Everyone sat in the living room.
"Hey, Ami's back," cried Joseph.
Her mother walked over.
"Oh good, you brought the milk I sent you out for. Oooh, and Quatre dear. I wanted to invite you for lunch. I figured Ami would have a way of ocntacting you," Aiko said, remembering that Ami had told her Quatre wasn't from this demension.
"Why thankyou Mrs. Kenly," Quatre said using Aiko's last name. Ami suddenly smiled, almost having forgotten a moment her mother's new last name.
Aiko smiled brilliantly at that statment, and took the milk from Ami's hand.
"We'll be leaving in about five minues and your father will meet us there," Aiko told Ami apsently.
Ami headed over to sit on the couch next to Lisa, where two spots remained, Quatre put his hand on Ami's shoulder, standing next to and slightly behind her, and leaned towards her ear as if whispering something, or at least that's how it looked to everyone else. In truth, Quatre's hand was not on Ami's shoulder lightly, and he wasn't telling her enytjing. His hand was keeping her steady as she walked.
Quatre sure knew a lot about faking these things, Ami realized.
They sat down, Ami masking her pain since everyone was staring at her.
"So, I was thinking that we'd go to a buffet. That way everyone can have what they want," James said.
"Alright, I'll just check with Ami's dad to make sure," Aiko said, leaving the room.
"Buffet," Ami repeated, blinking to keep herself awake.
"Yes. I think it'll be fun," James said, causing Anna and Aileen to nod.
Quatre looked over at her. And she shook her head helplessly. Things weren't getting easier.
"Alright, let's go," Aiko said. They decided to call a cab too, since the car was too small. A van cab.
Everyone jumped up right away.
"Alright, let's go," lisa said. She, Kevin, Joseph, Anna, Goerge, Aileen, & Damion went out the door, Aiko amiling at Ami and running after them with the keys. James emerged from the kitchen.
"Hey you two, why're you still sitting down," he asked.
"Oh," Ami jumped up and out of her seat right away, "I just gotta go freshen up. I'll be down in one minute," she said, quickly walking down the hall.
Quatre stood at the door.
"I'll wait on Ami," he told James.
"Alright, hurry down," he said, walking out the door and down the stairs.
Once James was gone and out of ear shot, Quatre rushed down the hall where Ami had collapsed on the floor to her knees, gripping her stomach.
"Ow, I shouldn't have done that," she said , struggling to stand.
"Your not well enough yet. I was surprised you made it so far down the hall in front of James," he said. "Look, you're gonne hurt yourself worse pretending like this. Please Ami, just let me go get your mother and you can tell her."
"No, please Quatre. Just help me downstairs and I'll be fine," she pleaded. He sighed, but picked her up and carried her down three flights, having her walk the last one because it was in plain sight of those outside the door.
"Oh good, you're here. Ami, Quatre, you ride with me and James. Everyone else will take the taxi. Okay?" Ami nodded, glad to get in her own car and not a stuffy taxi.
She walked calmly and gracefully to the car, Quatre hovering behind in a non-obvious way, opened the door and slid into the car, masking her extreme pain and discomfort. Quatre got in after her, looking concerned, but couldn't pay too much attention for fear of alerting Aiko and James.
"Want to drive my car....er, I mean our car," Aiko told James sweetly. Ami laughed despite the situation at the newly weds, and James got in the driver's seat.
The drive was about five minutes. They arrived at a quiet place, and it wasn't crowded at all. In fact, upon entering, she and Quatre noticed that only one other family was inside. Good. The less people, the easier it would be to manuever and not get hurt.
They all chose a a big table, and everyone sat. The order was Ami, & Quatre next to each other, Lisa on Ami's right with Kevin & Joseph, Anna, Goerge, Ailleen and Damion on Quatre's side, and Aiko and James across from them, with one seat left to spare next to Damion for Ami's dad, who arrived only a moment later.
"Hey everyone! Sorry I'm late," he said, sitting between Damion and James. Everyone got up to get their food, and Ami was able to stand with no problmes and walk over to the buffet and grab a plate. She still had what felt like morning fingers, and tried to keep a firm grip on her plate. She grabbed a bit of food quickly and hurried back to sit down, althugh her hurrying was very slow. Quatre sat down a moment later, and the two ate. James, Damion, Kevin, Goerge, and her father got into a conversation leaving Aiko, Lisa, Anna, and Aileen to chat and Joseph sitting on his mom's lap mimicking.
She and Quatre spoke quietly, not having much they really could say.
"Quatre, Ami, you're SO quiet," Lisa said, turning to the two.
"Just tired," Ami lied.
"Oh, mmmhhmmm. Geez Ames, it's my last day here and you can't even give your new auntie Lisa a smile," Lisa joked. She reached over and tickled Ami's stomach, trying to get a grin.
"Aren't you ticklish?"
Quatre covered his startled gasp as Ami put on a plastic smile, pain becoming evident right away. If he reacted, everyone would know something was wrong.
"Ha ha, yeah," she said carefully, not stressing on her words too much, "yeah, you got me. I'm very tickelish. How about you Joe, are you ticklish," she said, her tone changing from stressed and slightly pained to kind of babyish as she addressed joe.
"No," he said defiantly.
"I bet you are," Lisa said in the same babyish tone, tickling Joseph and making him crack up, completely forgetting about Ami's stressed tone once she had addressed Joseph.
"I'm thristy, I'm gonna go get a drink," Ami announced, standing up.
"I want one too," Quatre said, and the two walked off. The other family that had been in ther estaurant was on there way out the door. Walking to where the drinks were on the other side of the place, Ami walked around it until she was completely hidden from the view of both her family and the workers there. She was going to just sit down and try to relax until the pain went away for a minute, but after a couple of steps got dizzy and collapsed to the floor, not even on her knees, and was glad she was on carpet. Quatre came rounding the corner at that moment and ran over to her, helping her sit up.
"Ames, are you alright," he asked quietly, his eyes showing complete compassion, and possibly reflecting hateful thoughts toward Noko.
"I- I just got dizzy is all," she stammered, trying to get up. Quatre wouldn't budge so she could.
He met eyes with her.
"Ami, please go tell your mom. Please," he said, his voice urgent.
"No Quatre, I can't ruin anything for her."
"Ami, as much as you healed over-night, it wasn't THAT much. You're going to kill yourself, and it'll be my fault for letting you," he said.
"No it won't, because nothing's gonna happen to me. I'll be just fine," she said.
"Ami, any doctor, once seeing your injuries, would consider you in critical condition and probably give you about an hour to live. Your powers help a little, but you're still too injured to do what you're doing now. You are wearing your body out, until it can't even function."
"Just let me up Quat-" she was interrupted as he bent down and kissed her. Once they seperated, Ami shook her head.
"Quatre I love you, but please, I can't-"
"I love you Ami, and that's why I want you to go tell your mom, before something worse happens." Ami sighed and shook her head.
"I can't do that. Now please help me up." Quatre looked very upset at her final decision, but helped her up right away. Her knees bent once she stood, but she tryed to stay firm until he got her close to turning where they were in clear view.
"Wait, we said we were getting drinks. Grab a couple," she said. He nodded, and filled two glasses with what looked like pepsi, although he was rushing too much to notice what the label said.
Ami concentrated on making it to the table with no mishaps, while Quatre carried the drinks behind her. They sat down at the table and everyone stayed for about another half hour, before her father stood.
"I have to catch my plane everyone. Sorry I couldn't stay longer." He hugged Ami, waved to everyone else, and was gone, promicing to come visit. This time, Ami knew he meant it.
Aileen looked at her watch.
"Goodness Damion, we'll be late as well, let's go," she said. Everyone stood.
"Well, we have another two hours," Lisa said, referring to herself, Kevin, Joseph, Anna, and Goerge.
"Us as well," Aiko said about her and James.
They said goodbye to Ami's uncle Damion and grandma Aileen, and then Aiko got an idea.
"Hey, we never showed you guys Tokyo park while we were here," Aiko said.
"You gus are all packed, right," James asked his family. They nodded.
"Splendid. We'll go there for an hour. You guys can lal enjoy Ami at least another hour before going," Aiko said energetically. So they went to the park, much to Ami's unshown dismay and Quatre's hidden worry.
At the park Ami headed strait for the park bench, Quatre at her heels.
"Hey Ames! You've been sitting the whole day! We want to enjoy YOU. Come sit on the grass like the crazy kid you are and talk with me," Lisa called.
Ami walked over and sat on the ground with Lisa, Quatre following to sit by Joe. She and Lisa chatted while, before Aiko suggeted they show them the gardens. There were tons of differnt flowers there. Ami briefly remembered saving the old woman who used to care for the gardens from a youma before, when they were still fourteen.
She took her time getting up, not wanting to cause herself too much pain.
"Woah Ames, what a slow poke today," Lisa said, grabbing her hand and easily getting her up off the ground, causing Ami to cry out at being jerked forwards.
"Huh?" Everyone turned around to look at Ami, who laughed sheepishly.
"I saw a rare bird, and wanted your attention," she explained quickly.
"Where," Lisa and Joseph said at the same time, looking around. Ami was relieved that they were foolish.
"They walked for about five minutes, Ami getting more and more tired as they did so. She began to drift further behind the group, Quatre slowing down for her.
"Ami! Quatre!" Them, and the entire family turned tos ee who was calling.
It was Minako, and behind her were Duo, Rei, Wufei, Trowa, Heero, Makoto, Usagi, Mamoru, and surprisingly Kaden.
"Hey, fancy meeting you here,' Makoto said, a devilish grin coming to her face. Usagi lenaed in and whispered to Ami and Quatre.
"The other girls and I were worried about your condition, so we went to the restaurant looking for you, and a waitress said that there was a loud family there that anounced that they were headed to the park, so we came here looking for you," she explained quietly.
"Hey Ami, meet us at the edge of the gardens in ten minutes," her mother claled as her family continued forwards.
Once they were gone Ami wasted no time in slumping to the ground and taking deep pained breaths.
"I didn't know my family was gonna give me this hard a time, 'let's go to the tokyo park, let's go to the gardens', geez," Ami said.
"You could just tell your mom," Rei reminded, and Ami again shook her head. Minako sighed. Ami was exhausted, she figured another five minutes and Ami would pass out.
"I can't. Thanks for being concerned guys, but I'm fine. We better get going Quatre," she said, struggeling to get to her feet. She found 5 pairs of hands automatically reaching down for her.
Once she was up, still gripping whoever it was holding her up's hand, she felt the familiar dissiness she had felt earlier, and saw the scene in front of her spin, causing her to slip to the ground, lucky that Makato, whom was holding her hand to help her up, kept a firm hold so she didn't hit the ground hard. Everyone related at this and Quatre reached down to help lift to her up. She shook her head to clear her vision.
"She's been scaring me like this," Quatre explained.
"Just dizzy," Ami said, trying to move on her own.
"Well duh Ami, on top of your injuries you received a severe concussion, probably when Noko knocked you down the steps of the temple," Minako said.
"I'll be fine, just a few more minutes, and everyone'll have left," Ami said, finally managing to stand.
Wufei shook his head. "Stubborn Onna," he muttered, and Rei elbowed him and turned back to the matter at hand.
Ami stumbled over to the edge of the bushes and peered around teh corner. Her family stood at the end, talking and seemingly enjoying themselves, but still waiting.
"We better get going," Ami said. Quatre sighed, frustrated, but nodded. "Right."
Ami waved and walked away slowly, Quatre hovering behind.
---
Her mother saw her and smiled.
"Good, your back. We're headed back to the apartment in about ten minutes," her mom said.
"Alright."
Soon enough, everyone piled into the car, a very tight fit.
The car was so squished Aiko didn't know how she'd get Ami and Quatre in. Sit on Anna and Goerge's laps? Ridiculous.
"Ames," someone called. They all turned. There friends had cuaght up.
"I have my car here Mrs. Kenly, I can take Ami and Quatre to your apartment since there's no room in the car," Mamoru offerd politely. Aiko smiled.
"Good idea! Now, let's go. They were off, and once they were out of sight, the group headed to Mamoru's car.
Ami grew tired, and since her family wasn't around,, continued to pause and place a hand on something as she walked, taking a deep breath and continueing.
"Aww, stop Ames. mamoru'll bring the car around," Usagi said, noticing her friends fatigue.
Ami nodded and breathed deeply, her hand slippin to her stomach lightly.
"Hold on a second," Makoto said, walking over and having Ami lift up her shirt just enough to show her stomach. Ami was only just aware she was still in the clothing Rei had lent her.
"Hmmm, just as I thought, ames. You're wound started bleeding again on your little expedition today, she said, pointing at her wrapped up stomach, which had red blotches now showing up on the wrap.
Ami lowered her shirt. "It's nothing, I'll tend to it later."
Mamoru honked the horn from the road, and Usagi and Quatre helped Ami to the car.
"You're not coming?" Ami asked the rest.
"Nah Ames. We arrived on foot. It was just these two that came with a car," Minako said, pointing at Usagi and Mamoru. She nodded. They drove off. Arriving at Ami's apartement about five minutes later, they saw Aiko ooking out the window.
"What took you," she called with a smile, "hurry on up!"
Since her mother was watching Ami had to again walk perfectly over to the door, and they were inside in about 30 seconds. Usagi and Mamoru drove off. Ami was about to relax when she saw someone coming down the stairs.
"Shoot, Kevin what do you have in here," came James's voice as he and Kevin struggled with a very large suitcase. "Lisa wanted a ton of souveniers. Be careful, she'll kill me if we break her fine china," Kevin said, as the two men came down the steps, faces both red from how heavy the bag was.
They reached where Quatre and Ami stood and continued down, but on there was out the door Ami heard a crash, followed by a holler from Lisa, who came tearing down the steps two at a time.
"No! Not my fine china!"
Despite the situation, Ami and Quatre found themselves laughing. They continued up the stairs, but Ami couldn't relax because there was a family member carrying something or coming to see what the commotion was on every flight of stairs.
By the time she reached the top, Ami was exhausted beyond belief. She reached to open the door, but missed the handle, and Quatre grabbed her by the waist lightly and got teh door handle before she fell into it.
They walked in to see everyone rushing around with bags and wrapped up souveniers.
"Ami, here. Take this downstairs," Aiko said, giving Ami a suitcase.
"Ooof," Ami said when it was placed in her arms. Aiko glanced up.
"Umm...heavy," Ami lied. Aiko shrugged and passed Quatre and even bigger suitcase.
"Quatre, be a dear and take this down for Anna." He nodded.
Ami set the suitcase down, then reached both of her hands down to grab the handle. Aiko walked out with another suitcase, Anna and Goerge struggled with one as Joe followed with his back pack. Quatre opened the door for Ami.
"I'll get that suitcase Ames. Everyone's downstairs anyways," he said. She shook her head no.
"Your is already too heavy. This is a light one, I've got it," she said. James walked upstairs, cutting their conversation off.
"Hey, come on," he said, grabbing the last suitcase and pausing at the doorway. They both walked forwards with the suitcases, and he shrugged and went down the stairs ahead of them. Ami walked in front of Quatre once he was out of sight, struggling with her suitcase. Her breaths quickened and she leaned against the wall a moment for support.
"Ami please, just give me the bag," Quatre said. Kevin came running up the stairs for the last of his things, and when they saw him they resumed what they were doing.
By the end of the second flight Ami was huffing and puffing for air. When someone walked by she would smile, and when they were gone she would continue to struggle. She made it to the bottom, finally, and since everyone was there, she couldn't pass out, which she really felt like doing now. They all got into different taxi's, Aiko not wanting to take her car to the airport. They couldn'ttake Ami or Quatre, then there wouldn't be a way for the two to get back.
"Alright, now I'll only be gone a week honey. Just do well in school thsi first week and I'll call you tomorrow," AIko said. Ami nodded. She and Lisa hugged goodbye, and Ami hugged Joseph too. She shook hands with Kevin, and Goerge, hugged Anna, and hugged James. Her mother stepped forwards last. here was a long silence between them.
"I'll miss you mom. Having you around so much has been....nice," Ami said with a smile. A few tears came to her mother's eyes. That was just what she wanted.
"I'll miss you, Ami," she said, hugging her and stepping back.
"I should get going. goodbye everyone, it was nice meeting you, I hope you can come back to visit us in Tokyo soon. I'll see you tomorrow Ami," Quatre said, turning and walking down the street. He knew James would blow a head gasket if he was there alone with Ami once everyone left.
"That Quatre is a gentlemen," he heard James say, in a pleased manner.
After one more goodbye, they all left. Ami waved to them as they drove off, until their cars dissapeared from view. Right away, her sherade fell. She heard the sound of Quatre running up behind her just before she hit the ground, and catching her.
"Ami?' He shook her slightly, and not receiving a responce, realized she'd passed out. He carried her upstairs and set her down on her bed. Turning to leave, he heard her speak.
"Quatre..." He spun around quickly.
"Do you remember how you were angry because you trusted Julliana," she asked him. He paused, wondering what she was getting to.
"Yes."
"Well..my mom and James had to have a certain amount of trust too. They met over the summer, just like us. And when they were married- they, they had a trust that bound them together."
"Yes, Ami, they did. What was the phrase your mother used two weeks ago again," he asked.
"She called it- trust that binds."
"Trust that binds? That's right, she did."
As Ami drifted back off to sleep to get some rest, she thought. She knew that tomorrow she would feel better. School might have been a bit of a hassle in her condition, but she couldn't miss it. Come on, she was Ami. And when her mother returned next week she would be all ebtter. Perhaps she could tell her then. Perhaps she could work up the courange to tell her mother that she had lied about Noko being gone the day before. As she thought, she could vaguely hear Quatre say goodbye, and that he would check in on her later to make sure she wss okay. She hoped she and her mother could share the same kind of trust she had with Quatre. That she could share her secrets with her. Maybe someday, they would have that trust. But one thing was certain. Trust took time to build. Quatre kissed her and left the room. Not now, but someday, she would have the time.
THE END
that's all folks! This tsory started out with so many reviews, which slowly drifted away....Thankyou to those whom have been so loyal in reviewing! I really appreciate it! Please, even if you've haven't left a review throughout the entire story, leave one now. I probably won't write again for a month or so, because of exams and school work, not to mention a little relaxation for me when its over PLEASE REVIEW! NO FLAMES