A/N: Hello manna-san! Forgive me for the late update. Um I'm in the middle of planning a million of things right now. So i'm really really sorry. I'll try to update sooner next time. . . anyways. . . To Bunny, thank you very much for reviewing and I did edit it already and thank you for commenting about it. I know you meant well so it's very much welcome and hope you'll continue reading my fic. To BunnyStar thank you for reviewing and to be honest I already had the whole plot planned but I'll try my very best not to disappoint you. I like Seiya very much so you don't have to worry. To schoolgirltil2005, thank you so much for reviewing again. Here's the next chap and I wish I don't disappoint you. Be ready to meet one of my favorite Sailor Moon character . . . I wont say anything more . . .just read on. To SM Fanatic thanks for saying that and don't worry I love Mamo-chan, and I can never ever be mean to him! To hatami, domo arigatou! here's the next chap, hope you'll like it. To Karla, thanks a lot! I love them too. And so with everything said, on with chapter 3.
Disclaimer: I love Sailor Moon but I don't own it. Takeuchi-sensei and other people I don't know about do.
Chapter Three: Sweet and Gentle Memories
"Look! The test results are in!"
Usagi glanced at the crowd of students all were looking for their name. Some were happy-looking while the others looked sad. She rolled her eyes.
"I don't think I want to see that," she said sulkily. As she turned around, she crashed into hard wall.
"You don't want to see what Odango Atama?"
"Don't call me that!" she flared, looking up.
Confused blue eyes stared back at her.
Seiya!
She pulled away from him, a blush creeping into her cheeks. "Gomen ne."
"That' ok," he said still looking a bit confuse.
Usagi felt horrible. What is wrong with me? Why did just snapped at him like that?
The silence between them continued. Usagi was about to open her mouth to say something funny when Taiki and Yaten showed up.
"Hey you two! What's up?" Yaten said, putting a hand across Usagi's shoulder.
"Nothing." Usagi and Seiya said at the same time.
Taiki raised an eyebrow. "Are you two having a fight?"
"No!" Usagi said.
Seiya looked at her with questioning eyes then quickly vanished it. He reached over for Usagi's hand. "No of course not."
Usagi smiled up at him. Even though she still felt horribly guilty about upsetting him, she was relieved to know he'd forgiven her.
Seiya returned her smile and squeezed her hand affectionately.
The movement didn't fail to escape Yaten's eyes. "So the PDA is still on. You guys are definitely not fighting."
Usagi smiled softly but she never took her eyes away from her love.
Taiki shrugged. "Fine. So you're not fighting. That's good." He pointed at the other end, "So you guys want to see the test results?"
"Why bother?" Usagi pouted. "I don't want to see it . . . not another failure . . ."
Still, the Three Lights dragged her along.
"And since when did you start failing, Usagi?" Taiki asked her, amused.
"Since the beginning! Its like its natural for me to fail as to its natural for you to top the class."
Suddenly she stopped. In front of her was her name showing that she actually passed. "Ohmigod I passed!" Her eyes widened. "I actually passed!"
"Of coarse you passed. You always do," Seiya said calmly.
I do? Her mind was all jumbled up. Where did I get that idea about failing? I'm really feeling weird today.
"Trying to be funny, eh Usagi?" Yaten asked.
"No," she mumbled. Then realizing what she just said, she quickly amended. "Maybe," she smiled at each one of them "maybe I am."
Yaten shook his head, smiling and looked back at the list again. "You're right about one thing though, Usagi. Taiki topped the class again."
"It wasn't just me. That new student got the same score as I did," Taiki said.
"Who is he?" Seiya asked.
"She." Usagi corrected.
Taiki looked at Usagi, surprised. "You know her?"
Usagi's mind went blank. She didn't know what made her say 'she.' Once again she just did it without really knowing why. It was like it was another her speaking.
She was about to make up some excuse when some students started pointing at an approaching girl. They were all talking at once.
"That's the transfer student who topped the exams with Taiki," she heard a boy say.
Usagi turned to look. She took a sharp intake of breath. This time she was fully aware of what she was about to say but it didn't make sense at all. She didn't even know her. She'd never even seen her before. But how come she knew her name?
"Mizuno Ami," she whispered.
Mizuno Ami that was object of discussion between two girls. One girl had short auburn hair tied back with a red ribbon while the other one had long golden tresses. They were whispering about this Mizuno Ami who topped not only their school's exams but also the country's. Moments later, the blonde noticed the blue-haired girl looking at them and so she quickly changed the subject.
"Aren't you regretting your decision?" the blonde girl asked the blue-haired genius.
"It's okay," girl replied. "I can study anywhere. It doesn't matter if I'm in Germany or not, I can still study hard to become a great doctor."
Scene after scenes of the two girls flashed one after another. Most of them looked like happy times, each girl smiling at one another. Some of it, the two looked sad but the happy moments overwhelmed those. Also in some scenes, there were other girls and in a scene or two there was a young man.
"Who are these people? Who are those two girls?" Usagi asked.
"She was a very dear friend. We were complete opposites but she was always there. Giving up her own dreams for the other girls. . . for me. . ." a voice in the background answered.
"Whose there? Tell me, do you know those two girls?" Usagi asked again.
Suddenly, a lone figure of a girl appeared, her face hidden in the shadows.
"Who are you? Do you those two?" Usagi repeated.
"Why do you even ask me that? Don't you remember anything at all?" the girl asked back.
"Remember? Remember what?" Usagi asked, getting more confused by the second.
"I guess that means you don't remember," the girl said, her voice hinting sadness. She seemed to lower her head then after a while she lifted it up and seemed to be staring right back at Usagi. "But you must. Usagi-chan, you must. I feel so lonely without her. . . without them. . . without him. . ." her voice trailed off.
Suddenly, Usagi realized something. It's her hair that gives her away. "You. . . you're the same person as that other blonde."
Usagi didn't see her smile, but she felt it inside her as if she was the one smiling herself.
"Yes, Usagi-chan. Me and that girl, we are the same person, we share the same soul. It's a good thing that you're starting to remember-"
"No, you're mistaken. I still don't understand anything that you're saying. . . but somehow I feel like I do." Usagi blushed as she continued on, "And I do like to know. . . first tell me, her that you say you longed for is that pretty blue-haired girl. . . um. . . Ami. . . that's her name, right?"
"Yes," the girl breathed. "We don't have much time, Usagi-chan, I'm sorry but this is the best way that I know of."
A bright sign suddenly appeared in the girl's forehead. It was a crescent moon.
"Please regain your memory back soon," was the last thing she said before disappearing in a flash of pure white light.
Usagi felt her mind slowly coming back to reality. So that's why I knew her name. That dream . . .just this morning . . . it was my dream too . . .
"Tsukino-san daijoubo desu ka?" a sweet-sounding voice asked.
Slowly, Usagi opened her eyes. Fluorescent lights in the ceiling. All white walls. This wasn't her room. Where am I?
"Ne, Tsukino-san daijoubo desu ka?" the same voice asked again.
She turned her head to her right. The softest pair of sky blue eyes was gazing worriedly at her.
"Ami-chan," she murmured.
The slightest flick of surprise was momentarily visible in Ami's eyes.
"A . . . ano, Mizuno-san, ne?" she quickly amended.
She smiled a little. "Hai."
"Ano . . . doko desu ka?" Usagi asked, looking around.
"You don't remember?" Ami asked surprised.
Usagi shook her head.
"Well . . . you were with the um . . . Three Lights looking at the test results when you suddenly fainted. I was walking by and saw what happen and so I recommended that they bring you here in the clinic," she explained. She bowed her head shyly, "Your boyfriend, Kou Seiya-san carried you here. Since they need to go to class, and I sometimes help out here, I volunteered to watch over you. . ."
"Still the doctor. . . I'm happy for your dream," Usagi whispered absently.
Ami was looking at her in bewilderment. Her eyes clouded in confusion. "Tsukino-san, how did you that I want to become a doctor?"
"Huh. . .? I. . ." Usagi trailed off. What am I to say? Say that I knew it in my dream? She'll think I'm crazy! Oh Kami-sama, help me. . .
Just then, the door opened. A tall guy went in. . .
"Seiya!"
He rushed to Usagi's side. "Odango, are you okay now?" he asked, concern apparent in his voice.
Usagi sat up as Seiya helped her. When she was up, she buried her head in his chest. "I'm okay, Seiya."
"I'm so glad to hear that," Seiya said, holding her closer. "I was so worried, I couldn't concentrate in class. . . maybe I should bring you home now. . ."
"Seiya, I'm fine. I think its okay for me to go to class," Usagi said, reassuring him.
"But Odango-"
Usagi put a finger on his lips to hush him. "Its okay why don't we settle this by asking Ami-chan?"
The two of us look back at Ami to see her right staring back at us. Her eyes were dazed with confusion and uncertainty.
She called me with that endearment again. Why does it feel so familiar to me with her calling me that? Even the first time I saw her, it didn't feel like the first. . .
"Excuse me, Mizuno-san? Daijoubo ka?"
Kou Seiya's voice interrupted Ami's thoughts. She suddenly realized that the couple was looking at her seemingly waiting for a response.
Ami felt herself blushing. "Oh? Daijoubo. I. . . um. . . was just thinking. . ."
"You sure, Ami-chan?" This came from the beautiful blond girl.
Ami blushed even more. "Hai."
"Anyway," Seiya interjected. "Mizuno-san do you think it's okay if Usagi go back to class today?"
Ami turned her head to look closer at Usagi. She looked fine. She herself feels a little worry for her. She doesn't know why but she just do. But she also thought Usagi shouldn't miss class anymore.
She turned her head to face Kou Seiya. "Um. . . I think it'll be okay if she went back to class now. After all it would be just another hour and so."
The beautiful blond smiled at her approvingly while her boyfriend nodded, relenting.
Looking at the two of them smiling at each other, Ami realized how much the couple looked vaguely familiar to her. She was sure that she'd never seen them before that first day but it felt like she'd seen them somewhere, sometime ago.
Watching them closely, she decided that they looked beautiful together. They were obviously in love but at the back of Ami's mind intuition was screaming. She wasn't one used in listening to her instincts, she was more the logical type. But to her, it didn't felt right for Tsukino Usagi and Kou Seiya to be together. But they were happy and that's should be enough, wasn't it?
Suddenly Ami felt her head spinning. It was hurting real hard. She needed some space, some time to be alone to be able to think.
She stood up abruptly. "Ano. . . sumimasen. . . but maybe I should head back to class too."
Tsukino Usagi looked at her with concern eyes. I've seen that look before. Thinking about it made her headache worse.
"That's okay. We can manage from here, we'll head back to class soon too," Usagi said. "Arigatou, Ami-chan," she added.
"It was nothing," Ami replied. She needed to get out of here, fast. "Well it was nice meeting both of you," she said, stepping back. "Ja!" she said before she broke out into a run.
That was stupid, Ami! They'll think you're rude. And you wanted so much to become friends with her. . .
She rounded a corner and went straight for her classroom just in time before the bell rang. She buried her head in her hands. For what seemed like the first time in her life, Mizuno Ami was confused.
What's wrong with me? Why do I feel like I've known them before?
Tsukino Usagi and the Three Lights were standing by the gates of the school causing many a pair of eyes to stare. Mostly are jealous girls who are seething just to see some ordinary girl holding hands with the one and only Kou Seiya. Girls who are burning up in anger to see some ordinary girl laughing casually with the idols Kou Taiki and Yaten. But the guys surely didn't see her as ordinary; they think she was a creature that descended on this planet to outshine everyone around her.
Truthfully, the four of them standing there will fill anyone's heart with longing. And Mizuno Ami was no exception. It has been three days since her first encounter with the Lights and Usagi, but she still couldn't take her mind off them. She wanted so much to become friends with them.
And so her heart was pounding as she neared them. She wanted to pretend that she didn't notice them, but who was she kidding? How can anyone miss them?
She took a deep intake of breath and plastered a smile on her face and prepared to greet the foursome.
"Kon-"
"Kon'nichi wa, Mizuno-san," a melodic voice greeted her.
Immediately, her face turned red. "Kon'nichi wa, Kou Taiki-san."
Hearing her voice, Usagi quickly turned to her. "Ami-chan!"
"Hello, Tsukino-san," she answered, still blushing.
Even a genius is vulnerable to having a crush especially if he was as intelligent, as gentleman and as cute as Kou Taiki. The major reason why she wanted to become friends with the foursome was because of Tsukino Usagi but she has to admit Taiki was a driving force too.
So the girl with the highest IQ in all of Japan who could go on and on explaining the principles of quantum mechanics, was now speechless standing beside her crush.
Ami cleared her head from this unnecessary thoughts, she needed to solve the matter at hand. And that is to befriend the serene blonde.
But when she opened her mouth to speak, Yaten's phone started ringing. She clamped her mouth shut, welcoming the distraction.
"What?" Yaten answered.
Ami, Usagi and the other two Lights watched as Yaten's beautiful face turned into a scowl.
"Fine," was the last thing he said before cutting the connection.
"We need to go. They want us at the studio in twenty minutes," Yaten informed his fellow Lights.
"Nani?" exclaimed Seiya and Taiki.
"You heard me," Yaten said grumpily.
Seiya turned to Usagi then back to Yaten. "You two go ahead, I need to walk Odango home."
"Seiya, you don't need to," Usagi said, shaking her head. "You'll be late. . ."
"But Odango-"
Usagi put a hand across his lips. "It's okay. I don't mind at all."
"It's not that, Usagi. Seiya, correct that, we're worried about you," Yaten said.
"That's right. We still haven't figured out why you suddenly fainted. . ."
"Taiki!" Usagi groaned. "That was three days ago. I'm fine now."
"But you might feel faint anytime, Odango." Seiya said touching her cheek, "At least I'm there to know you're all right."
Ami can see Usagi giving in. She smiled.
It wasn't probably the best moment but Ami suddenly spoke up. "Um. . . if you don't mind, um I'd at walk her home, for you I mean. . ."
Four surprised faces turned to look at Ami. They looked like they had forgotten that she was there. Ami felt the heat going up her cheeks.
"That's a great idea, Ami-chan!" Usagi enthused. She turned back to her boyfriend. "Seiya? Please?"
He didn't answer instead turned to Ami. There was a guarded look in his eyes. He turned to Usagi and nodded reluctantly.
"Yosh!" Usagi cried happily. She threw her arms around him, "Just think about it this way, you wont be late! For once!"
Somehow that statement seemed ironic for Ami. It felt weird coming from Tsukino Usagi.
"Yeah," Seiya said almost smiling now. He bent his head and captured Usagi's lips in a slow kiss.
A collective sighs followed then after. Seiya's fans.
A few chuckles. This coming from the boys.
Ami just blushed, feeling a little uneasy watching the two.
The lovers finally broke away then smiled at each other. "Go on, Seiya. I don't want you to be late."
He laughed softly and kissed her once more.
Taiki thanked Ami for the favor she was doing, causing her to blush and soon after, the Three Lights left. As they were watching them go, Ami was suddenly startled as Usagi turned to her and asked.
"You liked Taiki?"
Once again, her face turned red.
She didn't answer. Couldn't answer.
Usagi smiled and started walking. Ami started too, walking beside her.
"Well, I'm waiting, Ami-chan," Usagi said.
"Huh? Uh that. I. . . don't like Taiki-san. . . I mean I like him but not that way. . ."
"C'mon, Ami-chan. You like him, I can tell."
For the nth time, Ami's face turned red. "Okay. . . I admit I like him. . . only a little," she said in a low voice.
Usagi beamed. "I knew it."
"Was it that obvious?" Ami asked.
"No, not really. But somehow I felt that I know." Usagi bit her lip. "Gomen. I know that sounds crazy, Ami-chan."
Suddenly Ami felt that it was the right time that she started getting answers.
"Tsukino-san. . ."
Usagi suddenly swung her head to stare at Ami. Her eyes filled with conflicting emotions.
"Ami-chan," she interjected. "Do I look familiar to you?"
Ami's eyes widened.
Usagi turned her head back to the street. "You know what? I think I've met you somewhere before. I know its crazy but I felt that we were very close friends once." She turned back to Ami. "That's how I know that you wanted to become a doctor. It's in my mind. Maybe it's intuition. Or maybe. . ."
Usagi suddenly stopped in front of the bus stop. "Maybe, we were close friends on our past life."
Ami was still speechless.
Usagi smiled and nodded at the oncoming bus. "That's your bus, ne? You don't need to walk me home, you'll be late for cram school."
"Demo-"
"It's okay. My home's not far from here anyway," Usagi said reassuringly.
Ami knew that her home was still quite far but she also knew that it would be no use talking her out of it. She was too stubborn, Ami realized.
The bus stopped in front of Ami and opened its door, she stepped into it and looked at Usagi one more time.
She smiled at Usagi with genuine warmth. "I think you're wrong. I believe we were best friends, Usagi-chan."
Even after the bus's doors closed, Usagi continued to stand where she stood.
She was confused with everything happening around her. It was all way too fast for her to comprehend.
But she was relieved that Ami didn't think she was insane for saying such things. After all, Usagi knew there was no logic in her rambling but it felt good that Ami felt the same. So I guess I'm not yet going crazy.
She was also happy. She found a new friend. A friend she knew she can call hers forever. Ami-chan
Smiling to herself, Usagi started walking again. She almost tripped.
That was another weird thing these days. For some odd reason she was not as graceful as had always been.
She was either falling, tripping. . .
The wet pavement caused her to slip. She closed her eyes, expecting to feel the pain that would come next. It never came.
"You should be more careful, Odango Atama," a voice whispered in her ear.
Usagi remembered how she had snapped three days ago after being called that. She turned her head to look at the young man behind her.
"You can't call me that," she started smiling.
"Naze?" Usagi felt his arms tightening around her waist.
She looked directly at his blue eyes. "Only Seiya can call me that."
What she said made Mamoru's heart ache.
"Of course," Mamoru said.
He continued staring at her eyes that were staring right back at him. Suddenly he noticed her blushing.
He blushed too. "Gomen," he murmured finally releasing her.
Usagi turned redder. "Its okay."
They continued staring at each other until Usagi broke the silence.
"Arigatou, Chiba-san."
The formality in the way she used his name made Mamoru's heart ache once again. It took him a while before he could answer. "It was nothing, Usagi."
He saw how her eyes suddenly flashed with confusion as her cheeks went red again.
This time it was Mamoru who broke the silence.
"So are you heading home?"
She nodded.
"Are you okay alone? Can I walk you home?"
Her eyes widened then she smiled. "It's okay I can manage."
Mamoru didn't push it. If he did, she might get scared. After all, he reminded himself that this was only their second meeting. At least that's what she thinks. "All right, if you say so, Usaqi."
She blushed once more.
"I'm sorry. Do you mind if I call you that?" Mamoru asked not wanting to scare her.
She stared right back at him. "Iie. Its okay. . . Mamoru-san," she blushed furiously at this.
Mamoru couldn't help but smile. At least he was with first name basis with her now. That's a start, right?
He watched her go. Her hair catching the rays of the afternoon sun. She was so beautiful.
Usako.
As if she heard him, she looked back at him and smiled at him in her sweet and innocent way.
Mamoru smiled back.
A/N: so how was it? Good? Bad? Worse? Well whatever it is tell me what you think, I'd love to hear it. Oh yeah but no flames please. From this point on, the chapters will be quite lengthy, hope you guys with still read it. Um sorry if the romance was not so visible here, don't worry the next chap would be better, I promise. And sorry too if Ami's out of character, this is a bit of an AU so that's one excuse. Oh I'm apologizing again for the late update, the next chap would be out in another week or two. Forgive me if I don't have it out by then. Once again, here are the Japanese translations:
Daijoubo ka? Are you all right?
Doko desu ka? Where are we?
Sumimasen Excuse me
Kon'nichi wa Good afternoon
Demo But
Gomen Sorry
Naze Why?
Arigatou Thank you
Iie No
So that's it I guess, hope to hear from you guys soon. Watch out for chapter 4, Fires of Passion. Love you all! Ja!