Part 3:

6 Years Later

Makoto stared out the window as the scenery flashed by. It was weird being in Tokyo again. So far it hadn't seemed to have changed much. The brunette closed her eyes and leaned back against her seat in the train. She didn't want to come back to Japan, but the tearful message sent by Usa- Serenity, had guilt tripped her into the trip. Though it didn't take her very long to drop everything and catch the first flight back to her home country. She would do anything for her princess.

Six years, it had been six years since she had seen her home. Six years since she had seen her friends, the friends that she abandoned. To be perfectly honest, she was terrified of the reception she would receive. What Ami's reaction would be. Serenity had promised she wouldn't tell anyone that Makoto was coming back. Makoto was both grateful and worried about what the repercussions of this would be.

Green eyes slowly opened as Makoto felt the train slow to a stop. She took a deep breath and stood up, squaring her shoulders as she looked out the window again. "I can do this, these are my friends." She exited the train and stared up at the blue sky. Grinning slightly, she saw the clouds rolling in from over the horizon. There were too few awesome storms in her part of California. The sound of a car smoothly pulling up behind her cause her to turn around.

The smooth contours and the dark blue color of the car made Makoto to suck in her breath at the beauty. The windows slowly rolled down to reveal another creature of beauty.

"Ami! What are you doing here?"

The young Bluenette didn't even look over at Makoto when she answered. "Serenity sent me. Get in, I have other stuff to do." Makoto wasn't sure if the cold tone in Ami's voice, or the change in Ami that scared her the most. Her hesitation caused Ami to sigh in consternation. "Come on Kino, I don't have all day you know." Makoto silently went around and got in the passenger side, and without another word Ami drove off.

The lightning flashed across the sky, rain falling in a rapid pattern against the window. Two figures lay curled up near the pane of glass, staring out into the night. "Are you going to come back to me, Makoto?" The smaller figure asked, switching her gaze from the storm outside to the tall brunette. Makoto shifted in her seat and glanced down at her companion. "I don't know. Will it hurt if I come back? I don't want to hurt any more Ami." Ami held on tighter to Makoto as a particular long lighting flash blazed through the sky. "I don't know, Ko-chan. I don't want to hurt you." They held each other tight as the storm continued on outside.

Ami shot up in her bed, her sweat plastering her t-shirt to her body. Another storm, another night, another dream of a relationship she never had. This was getting ridiculous. She flopped back down on her bed, not noticing her discomfort, and stared up at the ceiling. Her eyes found the familiar contours of the white plaster, finding her made up constellations as easy as if it were the night sky. She blew some errant strands of hair out of here eye, and then closed them. An image of the Lightning Senshi arose quickly from the recesses of her mind. Ami smiled at the picture, and rolled over.

"Oh Mako.. Where are you.."

Green eyes slowly opened from her day dream, the noise and the hustle of students settling down signaled her morning class starting. Makoto hid her eyes from the few friends she had acquired in this country, not wanting them to see the sadness that she felt left over from the dream. She missed her home, her friends, and most importantly, Ami. Her day dream just solidified everything that she wanted, and everything that she Knew she would never be able to have. It just wasn't her fate in life to be completely happy, not like Haruka and Michiru, or like Serenity and Endymion. Turning her eys to the front of the class, Makoto tried to pay attention to the teacher, only to find her mind wandering again to that stormy night.

"I don't want to get hurt again, Ami.."

Ami's driving reminded Makoto much of Haruka. The Bluenette swerved in and out of the lanes like a true racer. Pumping through turns, weaving in and out of traffic, and handling the car like it was an extension of her body. They didn't talk at all, Ami concentrating on the road, and Makoto concentrating on not noticing how much Ami had changed. No music played through the small car, just the sound of silence, and the occasional muttered curse from Ami.

Ami's mind was in turmoil. She was so very happy to see Makoto again, after six years of nothing. But she was mad at Serenity for choosing HER as the glorified cabby. If she didn't love the Princess so much, she would have surly told her to stuff it and storm off in a huff. But as it were, she took one look at those blue eyes swimming in tears and caved, like she always did.

She knew why Makoto was back. She knew she was the only one who knew that Makoto was back, and she knew that she didn't know what to make of it all. And Ami didn't like not knowing something. So instead of asking Makoto some of the questions she had burning through her skull, she quietly drove through the streets.

Makoto apparently had other ideas. She had some burning questions of her own. "So Ami, when did you get your hair cut?" "3 years ago." was the reply, not satisfying Makoto's curiosity at all. She started to ask another question when Ami pulled up to a stop rather abruptly. "Were here Makoto. I trust that you can get your belongings on your own. I have other things I need to attend to. Good Day." Before Makoto had time to blink, or close her mouth, Ami wa out of the car and tossing her keys to the nearest valet. Makoto watched her go with despondency and with tired eyes. She slowly exited the car and, gathering her few small bags, began walking towards the palace.

"Well.. That went well."

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Feedback sent to thewhitelancerofantiokhotmail.com