At eight, the phone rang. Ami's eyes creaked open and she answered in frustration.
"Good morning, this is your Lilac Jazz morning call!" She stared at the receiver and rolled her eyes. Stupid machines.
Hanging up, she sat on the edge of the bed and rubbed her eyes. "the art gallery….shit…"
Getting up, she dragged herself to the bathroom and locked the door.
Usagi fitted her hair again into its large braid bun. Whenever someone asked her, how it came to grow to such lengths, she simply shrugged and continued on walking. But now, with the white Egyptian fabric dress, she frowned. She looked like her past-self again. The bathroom light flickered. And a hand covered her mouth, another, nudging a knife against her.
"Ah, Ms.Serenity…..nice to meet you" The voice was distinctly of a man. Slurred. With a hidden accent one would never be able to pin-point.
Panic stricken, Usagi didn't struggle but stiffened. He laughed out laud and let go of her mouth. He seemed to be curious of whether or not she would scream.
"What do you want?" she whispered. Her voice failing her when she tried hiding her fear.
The hand went back to her, with another amusing chuckle, he grasped her forehead and pushed her to lean against him.
"I don't think you phrased that question to my liking…repeat it" and with that he pressed the knife tighter against her throat.
Her eyes were wide, and she was beginning to twitch. She opened her mouth to say something, but as soon as she tried to speak, she began to stutter.
He began to say something when the door opened. Frustrated, he leaned his head forward to her and whispered in her ear, "I will come back. I'm not losing to your scrawny little ass."
Dumbfounded at his statement, she felt him let go of her and like a rush of freezing wind, the light turned on and there stood a dressed up Ami.
Ami frowned, moving close to Usagi and scanned her with her eyes.
"You need earrings and better shoes." Ami waited patiently for her information to process through Usagi's mind. It never got there. It was too cluttered with the recent event.
Ami, with her patience disappearing, chose the shoes and earrings for her. She put them in front of Usagi. Forcing a move on Usagi's unwilling part.
"A…are you taking me?" she rasped out.
Ami poked her head out from the closet doorway. Thinking on her answer.
"That means we'll be going in a taxi." She warned before diving back in.
Usagi touched her face and went to the mirror. Her skin completely flushed.
"I don't mind." There was a silent plead in her words and Ami heard it. Ami came out of the closet sighing.
"do you wear that to all your exhibits?" perspiration covered Ami's forehead. It seemed Usagi never threw away any clothing. Old and tattered cloth was ripped to make smaller pieces. Things seemingly wanted. But Ami, surrounded by it all, doubted there was more elegant outfits than the one she was already playing.
Usagi didn't answer but all the same she avoided Ami with her eyes.
"Ok…..are you done? I'll go get the taxi." She began to leave the room, careful not to step on any paintings. She remembered she had not taken the same care last she came to the room.
"If I stepped on a drawing or something I'm sorry. I really didn't mean…"
"don't worry about it." Usagi interrupted. Unfamiliar to the new Usagi being thoughtful and considerate, she stared at her for a while, then with a strange feeling of missing, the wave splashing against her, she went downstairs.
Usagi hurried and ran down the stairs moments later and found Ami standing at the doorway staring at the dome ceiling. Enchanted at the freshness of its beauty.
"You should really hang a chandelier , Usagi-chan." She looked back at Usagi and grinned.
"the taxi's outside. Ready?"
Usagi breathed in deeply and nodded while lightly scratching her forearms. Astranged by her actions, Ami closed the door behind her as Usagi stepped out.