Chapter Nine

Everyone in their clique knew well that things were going to be dramatically different once Ami left before the end of high school, but at times it seemed that Kino Makoto was the one who was most perceptive of it.

Their sweet Ami-chan had just finished her first semester at that medical institution in Germany, and already it felt like a decade had passed. It wasn't as though new and better friendships were made, but the ones that Makoto had always had were being seen in a new light since Ami was no longer the bonding glue that held everyone together as their traditional clique of five.

By now Makoto had lost count of how many times she'd spent the night at the Hikawa Temple over the summer. Sometimes she felt like the great big orphan of the group, living on her own but invited to stay over at a friend's house every other week or so just to have company. To be "taken care of", they called it. And this summer the responsibility rested in Hino Rei's shoulders.

It wasn't as though Rei really minded, and Makoto knew that. She reminded herself of this just now as she toweled herself off, stepping out of the tub feeling rejuvenated. If anything, the only tension there was between them was when they'd run out of things to talk about. Rei and Makoto had developed an even deeper sense of sisterly love lately, that "click" in their friendship that was long overdue.

Nobody really thinks of fire and thunder together in any sort of partnership alone. It is always with the other elements.

As Sailor Mars and Sailor Jupiter it was rare when they got to fight only alongside one another. Sailor Mars was independent, determined, most undeniably loyal to Sailor Moon, and never second-guessed her strength. Sailor Jupiter was less and less of a direct fighter in their later years of the girls' cooperating as Senshi, but more like a pillar of support. She protected. Rei charged on at the front lines. They were fire and thunder, two separate powers.

Rei had stood up mostly for Usagi and Ami, and she and Minako got along on their own terms, finding way too many similarities between them, sharing secrets that were inaccessible to anyone else. Makoto's best-friend-ship with Minako was not fading, nor taking a turn for the worse, but it seemed as though they were in synch with one another only when there was trouble coming ahead. By brainstorming they were an unstoppable force. Through strategy the two of them together were just as clever as Ami. But high school ended, and they hadn't been in any battles for more than a year, and Minako was enjoying all the time she was allowed to be frivolous, and the only one who could really fit into that scene with her was Usagi. Makoto had continued studying here and there, doing what she could to save a little money for a future that was indefinite. And Rei had welcomed her with loving arms into the Hikawa Temple.

Between the two of them they shared their intimate secrets and eliminated all possible social barriers that had existed before. Makoto loved how they seemed to be on the exact same wavelength, with their tempers and their rash ways of thinking, and the way they spoke, rough yet sincere. They seemed to share the same romantic dreams about what they wanted the future to hold. And so all summer they slept in the same room, went out to restaurants and movies together ritually, confided in one another, saw each other naked, and were almost virtually inseparable.

Rei took her mind off missing Ami so much.

"Damn, I knew it. I forgot to pack shampoo. Did you bring some, Mako-chan?" Rei asked, entering the bathroom just as Makoto dabbed at her clean-shaven legs with a towel, resting her foot against the tub.

"Yeah, but I don't know if you like the green apple scent." Makoto tossed back her wet, heavy brown curls that cascaded down her back, so as to face her friend.

Rei made a face. "I'll get over it, I guess. I wish I had your long legs, too."

Makoto laughed. "I wish I had your long black hair!"

"Don't be stupid, yours is beautiful. Curls are sweet." Rei made herself welcome to Makoto's bag, trying out the different fragrances of soap, shampoo, and moisturizer. "Hmm, I like this…. Oh, did you buy something for Haruka-san?"

"Actually, I thought I might just cook everyone a nice dinner while we're all here. Which is why I hope Ami-chan shows up. She was supposed to arrive here yesterday, if not today." Makoto wrapped the towel around her body and accepted the container of moisturizer from Rei.

"I won't know what to say when I see her," replied her friend, hanging her head down sadly. "I feel like everything's changing. Not that it's her fault or anything, it's just that everything's felt so different since she left. It's like she was a wake-up call telling us that we all had to get a move-on, or else we'd miss something important."

"Yeah, you didn't look so happy when I was on the phone with her." Makoto stroked Rei's pretty head, which was now cradled on her bare shoulder. "What's the matter?"

"It's just that she and I had a disagreement the last time we talked on the phone, and I feel really guilty about it. I know she's not mad anymore, and neither am I, but she was entirely right. She says that if Sailor Mercury is ever needed, she'll come back immediately, but until then, her hands are tied and there isn't much she can do for us for a long time. She didn't say this, but it feels like I've been selfish, trying to rob her of her future or something. I suppose I never really understood it, though. The girl's a genius and she's achieving things miles beyond my reach. I want her to be happy, but we've been friends for a long time, and I can't easily accept her being so distant, and I don't mean just geographically. It doesn't have to be this way forever, does it?"

"No, it doesn't," Makoto decided after a deep breath. "And she knows that. But look at Mamoru and Usagi. They'll be together again because it's their destiny. Think about the future way ahead of us. Crystal Tokyo. Ami-chan will be there with us. And as much as I don't like to talk about it or admit it, we haven't faced the very last of our battles."

"…I know you're right. But it still doesn't feel the same without her. The part I'm worried about is, she might change her mind."

"She said she would be coming, and I believe she'll be here. And when she does show up, I'm almost certain she'll be happy to see us no matter what. Now, I'll get some clothes on, and let's hurry on downstairs before Setsuna leaves next. You know we can never stay together in one big group for more than like five minutes."