Zoicite sat on the edge of his bed staring down at the woman that just an
hour ago he would have sworn he knew. But now...
She had been acting a little strangely the past couple days. Mostly she just hadn't been yelling at him as much. He had blamed it on her being sick. But now...
He had seen it happen but he still couldn't quite believe it. There had been ...something...out in the hall and it had known Ami. And Ami had changed. He still wasn't quite sure what had happened there. One moment it had been his Ami and then there had been this flash of blue light and...other things...and then there had been another woman standing there. It had sort of looked like his Ami but there had been something so fundamentally different. It was more than the clothes. It had been the way her body had moved, the look in her eyes.
Ami shifted slightly on the bed and Zoicite held his breath for the moment, only letting the air escape his lungs when he saw she wasn't waking up yet.
Ami had been acting weirdly when she had called him, and then when she had come over. She had been so serious. She had been trying to tell him something before the fight, something important.
There was a knock at the door and sound of voices outside. It was the police, they had finally made it to his door. Zoicite knew that they had been in the building for awhile and he had been trying to figure out how to deal with them. Ami had seemed to think that getting mixed up with the police was a bad thing.
So he tried plan A. Not answering the door.
He heard more knocking, this time a little louder, but he continued to ignore it. He figured if this didn't work he would just claim to have been sleeping and not heard.
There was the sound of footsteps shuffling off and Zoicite sighed in relief.
Lets hear it for the simple and stupid plans working.
After a half an hour or so the noise in the hallway completely disappeared and he assumed that everyone had left.
He sighed and went over to his computer, and connecting to the internet. It was time to do some research.
* * * * *
Ami woke up slowly. The fight coming back to her as her bruises screamed in protest of any movement.
She had to call Serena. That monster had known who she was. And it had said something about watching them. What was the Negaverse up to?
The sound of typing brought her out of her thought. Zoicite was at his computer in the living room. She could just see him through the crack where the bedroom door had been left open. She watched him for a moment, taking in his familiar profile. His long blonde hair was pulled back into a ponytail but a few strands had worked their way free to frame his face, softening the harsh lines of his jaw. He had a very feminine face in many ways, his features rather delicate. But it was the strong line of his jaw that saved him from ever being mistaken as a girl. There was something so utterly masculine about it.
Ami sighed. She was procrastinating and she knew it. She had to talk to him and there was no way now that she could escape from it. And he deserved an explanation. And she needed to know once and for all which side he was on.
She slid off the bed silently and padded across the room. Zoicite never even glanced up from the screen as she came up behind him. She looked over his shoulder at what he was so interested in and gasped.
Zoicite jumped and spun around to look at her.
"That's me." Ami whispered.
There on the screen was a picture of Sailor Mercury. The picture was kind of blurry and it was obvious that it had been cute from a larger picture but it was her. She glanced at the site. It was a popular Tokyo newspaper. The article attached to the picture had to deal with the "mysterious Sailor Scouts" and one of the fights that had occurred a few years ago.
"How did you find this?" Ami asked, still staring at the screen.
"I did a search on local legends in your home town. Didn't take much more than that." Zoicite said, watching her face.
The two sat in silence for several minutes after that, neither willing to be the first to start talking. Finally Ami sighed and began.
"A long time ago the solar system was inhabited by more people than just those of Earth." She told his the story of the fall of the planets, one by one until only the earth and the Moon remained free. She told him about the final battle on the Moon where the last defenders, the Scouts, died, one by one at the hands of those who had betrayed them and how the Queen of the Moon had sacrificed herself after the death of her only daughter so that her people would have a second chance.
As she spoke, it seemed like she relived those times, the memories that Serena had given her taking deeper root in her mind and she finally accepted them as her own. As she described the fall of Mercury, she felt tears slowly slide down her cheeks as she remembered her home and all the family and friends she had lost there. She felt the old anger building in her as she described Beryl's final attack on the Moon.
Zoicite sat silent through this. Every once in a while he would take note of Ami glancing at him uncertainly. Every time that happened, it was like she edited her story slightly.
After she finished telling about the past she took a deep breath.
"And then we were sent into the future. To earth. But the enemy didn't die. They were just trapped. And when they began to break free, the Scouts were called upon again." Then she began the story of the end of Beryl. And again Zoicite noticed her skipping over things in the story.
When she finished talking Zoicite sat for a minute, taking in everything that she had said.
"So if Beryl is dead, who's monster was that in the hall?" he finally asked.
"I don't know for sure. I...I've only been brought back recently." Ami answered.
"What do you mean, brought back?" Zoicite asked.
"Our memories were taken from us after the final battle. After we died the second time, in hopes that this time we could live normal lives. My memories were reawakened so that Mercury could fight again."
"So that you can fight again? So that you can die again?" Zoicite asked, anger leaking into his voice.
"It is my duty to protect my princess." Ami answered quietly.
"And what about me? Am I just supposed to watch you die? You think I can do that?"
Ami gave him a stricken look before quickly looking away but in that brief glance he saw pain and something else he didn't have time to recognize.
"What aren't you telling me Ami? What?"
"You've never just 'watched me die' Zoicite." Ami whispered so quietly Zoicite had to strain to hear her.
"Ami..."the sound of his voice saying her name was a plea so full of emotion that it was hard to believe it was all contained in one small word.
"On the Moon you killed me. Ran your sword through my heart. And on Earth, you were the one who died that time."
Zoicite sat staring at her. He heard the words but they had no meaning for him. His brain refused to give them meaning. They were too unreal, too impossible.
Suddenly the apartment was too small, too confining. He had to get out. He jumped up out of his chair and grabbed his jacket and walked out the door. Ami never said a word, never asked where he was going, never tried to stop him. In many ways they knew each other too well.
He walked down the hall, passing the police tape without even seeing it and left the building.
* * * * *
Ami sat listening to Zoicite's retreating footsteps. She had seen the pain trying to rip free of his control and she understood his need to deal with it on his own but it still hurt to see him running from her.
Eventually she shook herself and reached into her pocket to grab her communicator. She had to tell Serina what was going on and arrange for a scout meeting. They needed to figure out what they were going to do if the enemy really did know who they were and had been watching them.
"Hey Ames!" Serena said as her face appeared in the communicator. The second she saw Ami though her expression changed to one of concern, "What's the matter?"
"I was attacked by a monster." Ami began.
"Are you alright? Do you need help?" Serina looked like she was almost ready to teleport that second.
"I'm fine but it knew who I was." Ami hurried to reassure her.
"Shit!" Serena spit out and Ami stared in shock. Apparently Serena had changed over the years.
"We need to get the scout's together."
"I'll take care of it. Tomorrow night okay with you? It's too late now." Serena asked.
"Yea. What time?"
"Don't know yet. I have to talk to the others first. I'll call you back."
"Bye" Ami said before turning off the communicator.
She looked around the apartment and felt suddenly lost. She didn't know what to do. Part of her wanted to stay in Zoicite's apartment to wait for him and try to figure things out. But she also needed to give his some time and space.
She reached over and grabbed her forgotten bag and books and headed home.
* * * * *
Zoicite sat staring at the stars, silently cursing them as the weight of a small ring in his pocket tried to drive him to his knees.
* * * * *
Ami woke up to the sound of something hitting her window. She got up and looked outside to see a hagridden Zoicite standing there. Running to the door she opened it and stared at him.
"I'm sorry." he said.
Ami ran over and hugged him, feeling the tears beginning to run down her face again. They stood like that in the early morning, with the dawn sun slowly rising over the trees. Finally they both went inside together and curled up on Ami's bed. They fell asleep that way, Zoicite's arms tightly holding Ami to him even in sleep.
* * * * *
Hey all! Okay, if I remember right, at the end of the first season of Sailor Moon, time got rewound so that the newspapers and things wouldn't have had any reports on the scouts. That didn't happen here. All that happened was that after the final fight with Beryl, all the scouts memories were changed so that they never remembered being scouts. But that was it. Alright, the action is hopefully going to start picking up from here on. Riight. Oh, and still working on bringing in Lita. Ami's chapters are winding down here so soon. I'm just trying to figure out some details in how they find her.
Lil-PrincessK - umm...I'll take that as a compliment. You got some imagery there. Glad you like Zoicite!
JerseyGirl03 - *salutes* Yes ma'am. One update coming up!
AbsoluteNutters - Hey! Well, I'm glad you found the story again. Don't worry, I've done the same thing. Though it is a lot of fun to get to read several chapters all at once.
Sailor Phoenix - oh, not to worry. I'll keep going with this till its over. Sometimes it just takes longer than I like.
BenRG - OMG! Thank you! I was trying desperately to remember the scout's attacks and what they did. Its just been a long time since I've actually sat down and watched the show. I'll have to do that again here. Seriously, any help you can give I would appreciate. I'll send you an e- mail or something. Thank you!
SailaMoon - Nephrite? Oh man. Let me finish the Ami/Zoicite disaster first here and then we'll see. All I know right know is he's going to show up at some time in this. And I am trying to write as much as possible here before I head back to school.
Sorceress Usagi - hee hee. Thank you.
Charlyne - hi! Glad you liked the story so far.
happygolucky111 - well, thanks to you I'm now trying to figure out how to throw a rebirthing party. grrr. Stupid people giving me all these plot bunnies. And Zoicite now knows about the past. Ami's chapters are almost over here. I don't expect much more till Lita takes over. And if it is any consolation, pay attention to haw many chapters each scout has gotten devoted to them. Serena got one, Rei got two, Mina got like four and Ami got like 8. At this rate, with it doubling each time, Lita's going to get like 16 friggin chapters.
lazzykane - Read what I wrote right above this. Lita lovers, it is going to be worth the wait. I promise.
Jabba - there was more talking in this chapter. I'm planning on the rest of the generals showing up but I'm not quite sure when or how yet. We'll see. As best as I can tell, this is going to be a long story.
Bluejello - hey, if people insist on throwing me wonderful ideas, who am I not to use them.
Jedi Master Calriel/Rose Black - ack! one question at a time. *feels a little overwhelmed* okay, *takes deep breath* maybe, don't know, maybe, don't know, yes, maybe, within a couple chapters, probably not, and yes, it'll be Nephrite. *stands back and grins* hee hee. And if you don't want to go look at all those questions you sent me, the abridged version is basically Ami's chapters are winding down here and Lita is coming right after...maybe.
kalinda - hi! *waves madly at the screen* Thanks for reading and I'm glad you like my villains. I'm going to play with them soon so I hope you keep reading.
Silver Dragonfly - okay you, enough with the idea bunnies. I had this whole chapter planned out and then read you review and almost brought in Serena and Darien. I suddenly had this idea about Serena and Darien bursting in to "save" Ami from Zoicite because they had somehow found out about the attack. But I realized I'm trying to finish with Ami so the Lita lovers don't kill me here soon. *sigh* Ah well, store it for another story.
She had been acting a little strangely the past couple days. Mostly she just hadn't been yelling at him as much. He had blamed it on her being sick. But now...
He had seen it happen but he still couldn't quite believe it. There had been ...something...out in the hall and it had known Ami. And Ami had changed. He still wasn't quite sure what had happened there. One moment it had been his Ami and then there had been this flash of blue light and...other things...and then there had been another woman standing there. It had sort of looked like his Ami but there had been something so fundamentally different. It was more than the clothes. It had been the way her body had moved, the look in her eyes.
Ami shifted slightly on the bed and Zoicite held his breath for the moment, only letting the air escape his lungs when he saw she wasn't waking up yet.
Ami had been acting weirdly when she had called him, and then when she had come over. She had been so serious. She had been trying to tell him something before the fight, something important.
There was a knock at the door and sound of voices outside. It was the police, they had finally made it to his door. Zoicite knew that they had been in the building for awhile and he had been trying to figure out how to deal with them. Ami had seemed to think that getting mixed up with the police was a bad thing.
So he tried plan A. Not answering the door.
He heard more knocking, this time a little louder, but he continued to ignore it. He figured if this didn't work he would just claim to have been sleeping and not heard.
There was the sound of footsteps shuffling off and Zoicite sighed in relief.
Lets hear it for the simple and stupid plans working.
After a half an hour or so the noise in the hallway completely disappeared and he assumed that everyone had left.
He sighed and went over to his computer, and connecting to the internet. It was time to do some research.
* * * * *
Ami woke up slowly. The fight coming back to her as her bruises screamed in protest of any movement.
She had to call Serena. That monster had known who she was. And it had said something about watching them. What was the Negaverse up to?
The sound of typing brought her out of her thought. Zoicite was at his computer in the living room. She could just see him through the crack where the bedroom door had been left open. She watched him for a moment, taking in his familiar profile. His long blonde hair was pulled back into a ponytail but a few strands had worked their way free to frame his face, softening the harsh lines of his jaw. He had a very feminine face in many ways, his features rather delicate. But it was the strong line of his jaw that saved him from ever being mistaken as a girl. There was something so utterly masculine about it.
Ami sighed. She was procrastinating and she knew it. She had to talk to him and there was no way now that she could escape from it. And he deserved an explanation. And she needed to know once and for all which side he was on.
She slid off the bed silently and padded across the room. Zoicite never even glanced up from the screen as she came up behind him. She looked over his shoulder at what he was so interested in and gasped.
Zoicite jumped and spun around to look at her.
"That's me." Ami whispered.
There on the screen was a picture of Sailor Mercury. The picture was kind of blurry and it was obvious that it had been cute from a larger picture but it was her. She glanced at the site. It was a popular Tokyo newspaper. The article attached to the picture had to deal with the "mysterious Sailor Scouts" and one of the fights that had occurred a few years ago.
"How did you find this?" Ami asked, still staring at the screen.
"I did a search on local legends in your home town. Didn't take much more than that." Zoicite said, watching her face.
The two sat in silence for several minutes after that, neither willing to be the first to start talking. Finally Ami sighed and began.
"A long time ago the solar system was inhabited by more people than just those of Earth." She told his the story of the fall of the planets, one by one until only the earth and the Moon remained free. She told him about the final battle on the Moon where the last defenders, the Scouts, died, one by one at the hands of those who had betrayed them and how the Queen of the Moon had sacrificed herself after the death of her only daughter so that her people would have a second chance.
As she spoke, it seemed like she relived those times, the memories that Serena had given her taking deeper root in her mind and she finally accepted them as her own. As she described the fall of Mercury, she felt tears slowly slide down her cheeks as she remembered her home and all the family and friends she had lost there. She felt the old anger building in her as she described Beryl's final attack on the Moon.
Zoicite sat silent through this. Every once in a while he would take note of Ami glancing at him uncertainly. Every time that happened, it was like she edited her story slightly.
After she finished telling about the past she took a deep breath.
"And then we were sent into the future. To earth. But the enemy didn't die. They were just trapped. And when they began to break free, the Scouts were called upon again." Then she began the story of the end of Beryl. And again Zoicite noticed her skipping over things in the story.
When she finished talking Zoicite sat for a minute, taking in everything that she had said.
"So if Beryl is dead, who's monster was that in the hall?" he finally asked.
"I don't know for sure. I...I've only been brought back recently." Ami answered.
"What do you mean, brought back?" Zoicite asked.
"Our memories were taken from us after the final battle. After we died the second time, in hopes that this time we could live normal lives. My memories were reawakened so that Mercury could fight again."
"So that you can fight again? So that you can die again?" Zoicite asked, anger leaking into his voice.
"It is my duty to protect my princess." Ami answered quietly.
"And what about me? Am I just supposed to watch you die? You think I can do that?"
Ami gave him a stricken look before quickly looking away but in that brief glance he saw pain and something else he didn't have time to recognize.
"What aren't you telling me Ami? What?"
"You've never just 'watched me die' Zoicite." Ami whispered so quietly Zoicite had to strain to hear her.
"Ami..."the sound of his voice saying her name was a plea so full of emotion that it was hard to believe it was all contained in one small word.
"On the Moon you killed me. Ran your sword through my heart. And on Earth, you were the one who died that time."
Zoicite sat staring at her. He heard the words but they had no meaning for him. His brain refused to give them meaning. They were too unreal, too impossible.
Suddenly the apartment was too small, too confining. He had to get out. He jumped up out of his chair and grabbed his jacket and walked out the door. Ami never said a word, never asked where he was going, never tried to stop him. In many ways they knew each other too well.
He walked down the hall, passing the police tape without even seeing it and left the building.
* * * * *
Ami sat listening to Zoicite's retreating footsteps. She had seen the pain trying to rip free of his control and she understood his need to deal with it on his own but it still hurt to see him running from her.
Eventually she shook herself and reached into her pocket to grab her communicator. She had to tell Serina what was going on and arrange for a scout meeting. They needed to figure out what they were going to do if the enemy really did know who they were and had been watching them.
"Hey Ames!" Serena said as her face appeared in the communicator. The second she saw Ami though her expression changed to one of concern, "What's the matter?"
"I was attacked by a monster." Ami began.
"Are you alright? Do you need help?" Serina looked like she was almost ready to teleport that second.
"I'm fine but it knew who I was." Ami hurried to reassure her.
"Shit!" Serena spit out and Ami stared in shock. Apparently Serena had changed over the years.
"We need to get the scout's together."
"I'll take care of it. Tomorrow night okay with you? It's too late now." Serena asked.
"Yea. What time?"
"Don't know yet. I have to talk to the others first. I'll call you back."
"Bye" Ami said before turning off the communicator.
She looked around the apartment and felt suddenly lost. She didn't know what to do. Part of her wanted to stay in Zoicite's apartment to wait for him and try to figure things out. But she also needed to give his some time and space.
She reached over and grabbed her forgotten bag and books and headed home.
* * * * *
Zoicite sat staring at the stars, silently cursing them as the weight of a small ring in his pocket tried to drive him to his knees.
* * * * *
Ami woke up to the sound of something hitting her window. She got up and looked outside to see a hagridden Zoicite standing there. Running to the door she opened it and stared at him.
"I'm sorry." he said.
Ami ran over and hugged him, feeling the tears beginning to run down her face again. They stood like that in the early morning, with the dawn sun slowly rising over the trees. Finally they both went inside together and curled up on Ami's bed. They fell asleep that way, Zoicite's arms tightly holding Ami to him even in sleep.
* * * * *
Hey all! Okay, if I remember right, at the end of the first season of Sailor Moon, time got rewound so that the newspapers and things wouldn't have had any reports on the scouts. That didn't happen here. All that happened was that after the final fight with Beryl, all the scouts memories were changed so that they never remembered being scouts. But that was it. Alright, the action is hopefully going to start picking up from here on. Riight. Oh, and still working on bringing in Lita. Ami's chapters are winding down here so soon. I'm just trying to figure out some details in how they find her.
Lil-PrincessK - umm...I'll take that as a compliment. You got some imagery there. Glad you like Zoicite!
JerseyGirl03 - *salutes* Yes ma'am. One update coming up!
AbsoluteNutters - Hey! Well, I'm glad you found the story again. Don't worry, I've done the same thing. Though it is a lot of fun to get to read several chapters all at once.
Sailor Phoenix - oh, not to worry. I'll keep going with this till its over. Sometimes it just takes longer than I like.
BenRG - OMG! Thank you! I was trying desperately to remember the scout's attacks and what they did. Its just been a long time since I've actually sat down and watched the show. I'll have to do that again here. Seriously, any help you can give I would appreciate. I'll send you an e- mail or something. Thank you!
SailaMoon - Nephrite? Oh man. Let me finish the Ami/Zoicite disaster first here and then we'll see. All I know right know is he's going to show up at some time in this. And I am trying to write as much as possible here before I head back to school.
Sorceress Usagi - hee hee. Thank you.
Charlyne - hi! Glad you liked the story so far.
happygolucky111 - well, thanks to you I'm now trying to figure out how to throw a rebirthing party. grrr. Stupid people giving me all these plot bunnies. And Zoicite now knows about the past. Ami's chapters are almost over here. I don't expect much more till Lita takes over. And if it is any consolation, pay attention to haw many chapters each scout has gotten devoted to them. Serena got one, Rei got two, Mina got like four and Ami got like 8. At this rate, with it doubling each time, Lita's going to get like 16 friggin chapters.
lazzykane - Read what I wrote right above this. Lita lovers, it is going to be worth the wait. I promise.
Jabba - there was more talking in this chapter. I'm planning on the rest of the generals showing up but I'm not quite sure when or how yet. We'll see. As best as I can tell, this is going to be a long story.
Bluejello - hey, if people insist on throwing me wonderful ideas, who am I not to use them.
Jedi Master Calriel/Rose Black - ack! one question at a time. *feels a little overwhelmed* okay, *takes deep breath* maybe, don't know, maybe, don't know, yes, maybe, within a couple chapters, probably not, and yes, it'll be Nephrite. *stands back and grins* hee hee. And if you don't want to go look at all those questions you sent me, the abridged version is basically Ami's chapters are winding down here and Lita is coming right after...maybe.
kalinda - hi! *waves madly at the screen* Thanks for reading and I'm glad you like my villains. I'm going to play with them soon so I hope you keep reading.
Silver Dragonfly - okay you, enough with the idea bunnies. I had this whole chapter planned out and then read you review and almost brought in Serena and Darien. I suddenly had this idea about Serena and Darien bursting in to "save" Ami from Zoicite because they had somehow found out about the attack. But I realized I'm trying to finish with Ami so the Lita lovers don't kill me here soon. *sigh* Ah well, store it for another story.