Finally it was the day before the big yearly Masquerade Ball. Everything was going perfectly and no one could be happier. All the girls were out in the garden talking when a messenger brought Ami a letter; she knew it was from her home because of the seal. Once she read it she went running off to see the Queen.

"I HAVE TO GO HOME!" She yelled at the Queen, "MY MOTHER IS DYING!"

"I am sorry Ami but if she does die then we need you to help your father."

"WHAT IF He dies too?" She started to calm down.

"Then my daughter will have three princesses and a queen to protect her."

"Well, then I am not going to the ball, if they are suffering then I will suffer too."

"NO! You will go to the ball but no one has to know that you are there. You don't want to go because of the questions you will get, but if no one knows that you are there, then there will be no questions. Not even the guys will know you are there, is that agreed?" The Queen stated.

"Fine, if that is how it has to be then I will go."

The whole next day Ami pretended to pack and say goodbye to every one. The girls spent the most part trying to convince her to stay through the night, but Ami kept saying "No". The most devastated was Zoicite; he had been looking forward to this night for months now, he had decided to ask her to marry him. Finally it was time for Ami to leave and every one said their final goodbye.

Everyone else spent the rest of the day getting ready and acting happy. As the girls got ready in their rooms, Ami got ready with the Queen. By the time the ball was to take place she was entering with the other guests.

Once inside she saw Zoicite standing with his friends not looking happy, she knew it was him because of the discarded mask in his hand. Ami was asked to dance several times and she accepted each time. Then about half way through the night Haruka asked her to dance. Ami knew it was her by her signature white and Haruka knew it was Ami.

"Why are you still here?'

"The planet has been quarantined." She replied.

"Then dance with him."

"No, I can't then he will be mad at me for lying." The song ended and just after Haruka had left, Zoicite walked up and asked for a dance. Ami was so sure he would know who it was that she even messed a step or two. Then as the song ended she ran crying from the all too familiar hands of her dance partner unnerving him slightly. She had known that he was not sure it was really her, she knew he thought she had gone back to Mercury before the big masquerade ball, but she had know it was him when he had first touched her so why hadn't he?

"Go after her," Haruka told him, as he stood there dumbfounded.

It took Zoicite a moment to understand what she meant, but when it did click, he still looked slightly dumbfounded. "Why should I, it will only make Ami made at me." He said.

"You are a stupid man, no wonder she ran crying. Trust me Ami won't be mad if you go after her, and maybe you can still salvage your relationship." And with that she went to find Mitcharu. Once it sank in what she had just said he took off running toward Ami's room, hoping she was still there and had not tried to go home already. He was about to open the door when he heard the faint sound of crying and then slightly knocked on the door.

"Ami?" He asked, but got no answer. "Ami I know you are in there, so tell me to come in or I will hope that you are dressed and come in anyway."

"You can't, the doors locked." She replied through the cries.

"Love, I can get through a locked door and if you don't think I can then you don't know all I am capable of do you." He said as he heard the faint sound of the door being unlocked. He took this as an invitation to come in so he did. What he saw he was not prepared for. Ami was standing in her room with a sheer robe tied loosely around her waist. Trying to be polite he quickly turned around and shut the door. "Sorry." He said.

"It's okay, I am just getting ready for bed, and I am the one who let you in the room." She said as she went to the sink to wash her she face. Before she could get to the vanity Zoicite was behind her with his arms around her waist and kissing the back of her neck and saying that he was sorry about the ball.

"I thought that I was wishing so badly that you were there that I thought I was dreaming when I was dancing with you." He said trying to explain.

"It's okay I guess, anyway I am more upset at the queen than anyone right now." She said trying to sound better.

"Tell me or I'll have to tickle you till you wet your pants."

At that all she could do was turn around and cry into Zoicite tux. She stood there for a long while and cried. Finally Zoicite picked her up, took her to the window seat in her room, set down, and held her until she stopped crying. Once she was done, she started to explain the events of the past few days to him. He knew that he did not know what she was going through because it had been almost twelve years since he was sent to earth to serve the Prince, all he knew was that he would do everything he could to help her. Before he knew it Ami was asleep in his arms looking peaceful for the first time in days. He too soon fell asleep for he did not want to wake and disturbed her because he knew she would need her sleep and strength for the coming days.

They were awakened the next morning by a familiar "Ami-Chan" from a very familiar voice. Zoicite figured by the light outside it was about eleven in the morning. He knew he should say something but he looked at Ami sleeping in his arms and decided to let her sleep. He stood up and carried her to the bed, kissed her on the forehead and then went to find Serenity to tell her where her friend was.

The next few weeks went by rather quickly and it seemed like no one did anything. Then one day the queen came to find Ami with a letter from her home. She went to find Zoicite before she even opened the letter.