Chapter Three

Ami had always been a Vivaldi fan, ever since she was a little child. Listening to the music now felt unnaturally relaxing, probably because she hadn't shared this interest in classical music with her friends in Tokyo before.

Of course, listening to the music playing so softly in the background while lying down on the rug in the dorm and drinking champagne was something new and unnaturally relaxing entirely. The room was lit so dimly because a dying light bulb was hanging from the ceiling, but Ami really liked this. It wasn't every day that she'd let her computer sit unused and books lay open at nine o' clock at night.

Ami met Johannes her second week at the medical institution in Germany. She loved it here immediately; she was well-respected among her older colleagues, picked up the German language in no time, was met with great challenges which she easily conquered, and found a boyfriend, all at age seventeen. Johannes was twenty-three and from Sweden originally, and although he considered himself not to be even half as brilliant as Ami, she didn't want to let him leave her sight.

And now here they were drinking champagne and listening to Vivaldi on a Friday night, wearing jeans, which was a nice change from what they usually did on the weekends: research together in the library and do logic puzzles at Starbucks, still in their uniforms.

"You know, I wasn't even sure I'd make it through the first semester here," Johannes said in clear English, playing with the ends of Ami's short, shining cerulean-blue hair, while his own loose but short golden ponytail hung over his shoulder. "I thought I might fail and have to go home right away. I'm glad I found you and we got through it together."

"I wonder how badly I did on the exams though," Ami said, smiling sweetly and kicking off her black leather loafers. She was lying on her side in a white undershirt and bootcut jeans, with her neat flowered blouse hanging on the back of her chair facing the computer.

"Hmph, try a perfect score. This was totally cut out for you."

"It's been a dream of mine for many years. A big passion. My mother is a doctor and I loved reading her books at home. What about you?" Ami's deep blue eyes widened excitedly as she let Johannes reach for her hand.

He sighed and looked up at the ceiling with a dreamy smile, in a navy polo shirt, jeans, and socks. His expensive glasses fell slightly askew on the bridge of his nose, revealing his sharp blue-green eyes. "I was always good at English and German, and badly wanted a scholarship somewhere. My mother, she chose the field of medicine for me, and I thought it might be fun to experiment. I was thinking that someday, when I got on my feet with enough money to live comfortably, I'd write a book. But I really love researching here, though. Especially with you. I feel like I can accomplish anything, when we do things together."

Ami sipped her champagne slowly, taking in its sweet scent and taste as he caressed her thin fingers. Hearing him say that was providing her a kind of deep, solid and intimate friendship that she never found back in Tokyo with her zany friends. Johannes was stability, he was truth and knowledge, he was honesty, he was music and light laughter, not some overblown and unrealistic fantasy she used to wish would come and sweep her off her feet.

"I hope you plan on staying," Johannes said sincerely, kissing her hand and meeting her eyes with his.

"The papers said two years," she replied amiably.

"How about longer?"

"Why, are you staying longer?"

"That might depend on you."

Ami blushed and leaned forward to rest her tiny hand on his cheekbone and kiss his small, pink lips.

"Ami."

"Yes?"

"What do you think? About us? About us being together for a long time, I mean."

"I'll let it last as long as it will."

"Me too. But how about coming to Sweden during Christmas to meet my family?"

"And after that, how about coming to Japan next summer to meet my mother?"

"I'd love to."

"Then it's two trips, decided."

"I love you, Ami," Johannes told her in a half-whisper, curving his palm around her pretty hipbone.

"…I love you, too," she returned it, turning just as pink as he was.

"I think—"

"I think we are both thinking about marriage," Ami cut him off, drawing in her breath and coming straightforward. "Are we?"

"I—well—it's a possibility. After four years." Heat rose to his face and Johannes looked down at the carpet, his breath shaky, with a sheepish smile spreading across his face.

"Then that, too, is decided."

Johannes put his fingers to her lips and stared into her eyes again. She followed his irises with hers and stroked his forearm lovingly.

"No, first I will buy you a ring, and then I will ask you formally next semester, on an evening when the timing and atmosphere are completely perfect."

"A moment like this one," Ami whispered.

"I hope so."

Johannes sat up, leaned back against the bed, and took Ami's hands in his, before she embraced him with her arms around his shoulders, kissing him softly and enjoying the faint, teasing aroma of his European cologne. His large, gentle hands rubbed her hips and pulled her into his lap as their lips opened and his tongue met hers. Ami's hands moved to his chin and neck and they breathed heavily every few seconds, making out slowly but heatedly.

Until Ami heard her telephone ring, and the two of them groaned frustratedly, but laughed shortly thereafter.

"I guess they'll be the first to know we're engaged, then," Johannes laughed, redoing his sloppy ponytail and emptying his champagne glass.

"Hello?" Ami answered, smiling at Johannes and tucking a thumb into her pocket.

"Anoo, Mizuno Ami o onegaishimasu," Makoto requested nervously.

Kino Makoto was calling her in Germany.

But why?

'Because they're my friends, of course!' she reminded herself.

Better Makoto than maybe Usagi or Rei. It would be so hard, and awkward, breaking the ice after all these months with one of those two. And she and Minako didn't really have all that much in common. But although she really enjoyed all their company, having stood by her for years, it was obvious to her that Makoto would be best to talk to right now. She was never rash until Ami needed a strong backbone, when she was perhaps the toughest of all her friends.

"Mako-chan? I know you can speak English," Ami teased, switching back to her native Japanese. Her heart leapt into her throat and she gripped her hair."Wow, how have you been? I haven't heard from any of you guys in such a long time! What's going on?"

"We want you to come and meet us in Okinawa in two weeks."

"Nani!"

"Haruka and Michiru just bought a house there, and they want you to join us for housewarming, I guess. We haven't all been together since you left months ago. Your semester's over, isn't it? Why don't you come, and we'll have a big party for you!"

"Wow, I—I really don't know what to say."

"Say that you can make it!"

Ami's eyes delved into the painting of a sailboat on the wall behind Johannes, as she imagined the whole big group of them meeting up in beautiful Okinawa. Makoto had her completely floored. She made an empty promise at the airport that they could come up and visit her in Germany someday, knowing that such a chance might not come along, but the thought of going back home completely turned the tables on her.

Being in Munich, researching with Johannes, and reading books while the girls played video games in Tokyo were thoughts that made her almost believe she'd lived two different lives in a row, sometimes. And such a surprise had sprung up on her now that she couldn't possibly drop the news of her engagement onto her friends now. Someone on either end of the line would surely have a heart attack, and she was just now beginning to accept her engagement to Johannes for herself as it was.

The guilt trip was there, too. So much can change when you haven't spoken to friends in maybe four months. She hadn't even told them that she lost her virginity, something so sacred that before, she only thought she could trust someone like Rei and the others. And poor Rei… Makoto was calling from the Hikawa Temple, which meant that Rei was paying for two long-distance phone calls, and the last time she spoke to her, they argued. Not that it was entirely Ami's fault, because Rei had always been short-tempered, but it was painful on the both of them since it was the first time Ami had actually spoke out against something one of her best friends said.

"H-how is Rei-chan doing?"

"She's fine, why?"

"Oh, I just noticed that you're calling from her place."

"Well, she doesn't mind. She's really excited at the thought of seeing you again… which we all really hope will happen. Can you make it out in time? I know it's on such short notice, but we just found out today too, and it wouldn't be right if we showed up without you, or if we went without telling you first. Rei says she'll even pay for your tickets and stuff, if you want."

"No, no, don't do that. It won't be necessary."

"We're dying to see you, Ami-chan. Does one of us have to be injured or dying for you to come back?" Ami heard Makoto's rough laugh after that joke, and frowned.

"N-no…"

"Hey… Ami, it's okay if you can't make it. We totally understand. Hey—at least we actually got a hold of you. But we do hope that you'll come back and see us soon, though. I tell you what. I'll buy you a great present when we get there!"

"Chotto matte!" Ami exclaimed. "I—I'm coming."

"Really!"

"I always have money set aside for something that might come up. All I have to do is pack my clothes and buy the ticket. I'll be there, I promise. Just let me stay with you guys is all."

"Of course! All right!" Makoto exclaimed happily. "This is great! Now I really can't wait. I… I've really missed you, Ami-chan."

"And I've missed you too, of course. I've missed all of you."

"What time is it there?"

"About nine-thirty, and why you're up at this hour over there is beyond me."

"Oh, crap. Sorry… you and I both know I'm not good at math, much less remembering time zone differences. Haha."

"Well, how about if I call you back later on, and we'll talk everything over. I've got studying to do for tomorrow, and your day has only just started."

"Sounds perfect! Goodnight, Ami-chan!"

"Take care, Makoto."

Ami put the phone down gently and bit a fingernail, still staring at that cheap sailboat painting and evading the questioning gaze from Johannes.

"A friend calling from Japan?" he asked, getting up on his feet and collecting the champagne glasses and empty bottle.

"You guessed it," she replied in English, combing her blue locks with her fingers.

"What happened?" His joyful face fell. "Did someone get hurt or sick?"

"No, heavens no. I'm just—wanted for a visit, to tell you the truth."

"So, can you go?" asked Johannes, thumbing through a textbook on Ami's bed.

"I don't know. I mean, I'd like to, but it just doesn't feel right. I haven't even told them about you."

"Really?" He looked up, puzzled. "Then maybe some time with your friend might do you some good. Get caught up with each other."

"I feel bad that I don't think I can take you with me."

"Ami," he said softly, "you and I have been inseparable for a whole semester. We have families and friends in two different countries. This is totally okay by me. I just haven't visited home yet because my aunt is in Norway and my mother took my immediate family to go and see her. I'll be fine here, I promise. I want you to go and have fun. Nothing will happen, you know that… right?"

"Of course."

"Do you want me to help you out? I have money—"

"I don't even like it when you pay for me on dates. It's okay, I have it."

"So when are you going?"

Ami sat down on the bed beside him, playing with a curling end of his dark-blond bangs. "In about two weeks. You and I can talk over our own plans until then."