Ami through open the door to her rooms, glaring at any object that came under her gaze. Her ice blue eyes grew colder when she saw a picture of all of the senshi sitting on her desk. Biting back an animalistic scream she picked up the frame and threw it against the wall. The glass shattered violently and fell to the floor in fragments. Ami slowly slid to the floor, tears prickling at the corner of her eyes. This wasn't supposed to happen. She shouldn't have had to see Makoto, shouldn't of had to feel her heart break again over some person that had abandoned her... them. It wasn't fair. The blue haired girl lowered her head to rest against her knee, wishing away the tears that had started to fall. The sound of tentative knocking caused her to look up. A blonde head peeked around the door, cautious of any more flying objects.
"Ami, are you ok? I thought I heard something breaking against my wall, and, well, that usually only happens on the third week of every month. Did something happen to your car?"
Ami's eyes closed for a second, and then opened again. "I'm fine, Minako, and my car is fine as well. I've just had an unusually bad day today. And I saw someone I haven't seen for a while. It sort of took me by surprise. That's all." Minako nodded her head and then looked at the ruined photo on the ground. "So I heard. I'm sorry that you had to go through that. I don't know what Usagi was think–." "She was thinking like she always does, and I don't blame her for that. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to start getting ready for that dinner Usagi is having for our returned...friend."
Ami stood up and smiled at Minako, who nodded in understanding. The blonde let herself out, and Ami walked into the bathroom, intent upon washing away all of the feelings that Makoto had cause her. She was also focused on cleaning her soul from all the negative energy that had accumulated over the time spent in Makoto's presence, and the time Makoto spent in her thoughts. Ami didn't want to know what would happen if she allowed herself to feel anything for Makoto again, or feel anything at all. None of the others knew just what would happen, and Ami was adamant about keeping it that way.
It was another stormy night. Ami was sure that she had pissed off some Kami somewhere and he or she was punishing her with constant reminders of something that Ami couldn't have. And to make it worse, Ami forgot her umbrella at home. She was soaked to the skin and halfway home when it hit her. The force of the blow caused her to be flung forward and into a nearby wall. The combination of pain and rainwater made it hard for her to focus on anything and made it impossible for her to try and move. Her body lay motionless against the cold brick wall, raindrops pelting her defenseless form over and over again. Over the raindrops she could hear the sound of footsteps slowly approaching her prone body. The footsteps stopped near Ami's body, and Ami slowly turned to look at the feet near her head. Ami tried to look up, but the pain made her close her eyes. The sound of soft laughter filled her ears, and Ami's tears mixed with the rain on her face. Then, her world went black as a shoe connected with her forehead.
Makoto sat alone in the cafeteria, watching as the snow fell lightly against the window. She had always loved the snow, it reminded her of home and all of her friends. Well, one friend in particular. The sound of footsteps caused Makoto to look behind her. Her eyes lit up at the sight of her one true friend in America. Someone that was almost as strange as Makoto thought herself to be. Her friend just smiled at the brunette, and sat beside her. Both turned to watch as other students ran around like children in the snow. One small hand found its way into Makoto's upturned palm. The senshi turned to look at her companion, who smiled at her. Makoto smiled back, and ignored the feeling that she was somehow betraying Ami. She looked down at their clasped hands and wondered what it would be like to hold Ami's hand this way. The distant sound of thunder caused her to look up sharply. Her companion just squeezed her hand tighter and Makoto felt herself relaxing. Everything was okay, and everything that wasn't okay was going to become okay. Megan was going to see to that, Makoto smiled to herself, Megan was going to make everything okay.
Makoto sat alone in her room. As soon as Makoto stepped into the building, Usagi had pounced on her and started asking the brunette questions about America, and everything that had happened to her over there. Makoto was overwhelmed at the barrage of questions and things only got worse when Rei walked into the room. The fiery senshi was surprised at seeing Makoto talking with Usagi, and her surprise quickly turned to anger and hurt. Usagi had pulled her aside to speak with her in hushed tones, and they finally returned with Rei sporting a very forced smile. Usagi had suggested that Rei show Makoto to her room, and so the dark haired woman led her down a series of hallways. They didn't talk at all, and Makoto was reminded of the drive with Ami earlier that day.
When they stopped at a door, Rei turned to face Makoto. "Usagi told me not to barrage you with questions or accusations or fire arrows, so I'm not. I'm just going to tell you that I'm glad your back and unharmed, and that I missed you terribly, and so did every body else." Rei gave a small smile, and then opened the door. "This is your quarters for now, I'm sure Usagi will move you to your wing in time." Makoto thanked her and went into to room.
She started unpacking her clothes when a piece of paper fell to the floor. She picked it up, and recognized it as the letter Usagi had sent her before she came back to Japan. She sat down on the bed and re-read the words that drove her back to her homeland.
"Come on home, Makoto, we need you here. I haven't told anybody else this, but we're going to need every bit of help we can get. There's something new coming, in fact I'm sure it's already been here., and it's much more powerful than anything we've ever fought before. I've talked to Pluto about it, but she won't say anything except that we need you back here. I can see it in her eyes that something is going to happen, and it's not going to be very pretty.
I'm sorry for having to ask you to come back, I know how much it hurts you to see her. But Mako, it hurts her so much more that you're not here. I know I shouldn't be telling you this, but you know me, always doing something I shouldn't. She wouldn't come out of her room for days after you left. For awhile things were getting so much better. But then she disappeared for a week, and came back so different that we barely recognized her.
Please come back Mako. I'm worried about you, and Ami. And I know things will get better if you come home.
Love, Usagi"
Makoto sighed and let her self drop onto the bed. Maybe after a nap, things would be better. She closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep.