When she regained consciousness, Ami found herself in a beautiful forest clearing, sunlight streaming through gaps in the trees.

"Where am I", she mumbled, getting to her feet and taking in her surroundings.

Ami couldn't recall ever having been in this place and what fascinated her even more was that she remembered dying and yet she was still alive. Or was this the afterlife? As she tried to process these ideas, the silence was broken by a soft voice.

"Ami?"

She would recognize this voice among millions and her heart leapt at the sound. Was this really possible? Unable to control the impulse to find out any longer, Ami spun around and stared at the person standing only a few feet away from her.

"Makoto?" she breathed incredulously.

She could not believe what she was seeing. Makoto had died before her eyes and yet she was standing here – as tall and strong as ever with a gentle look in her deep green eyes.

"How", Ami started, "How is this possible? I … I saw you die."

As she said it out loud, she covered her mouth with her hand and stifled a sob. But she could not stop the tears that had started in her eyes.

"Yes, Ami, I died but I'm here with you now – wherever 'here' is", Makoto said and took a step towards her friend, extending her hand.

Ami hesitated for a few seconds, unable to comprehend what was going on but when she continued to look at Makoto, she realized that she didn't care much where they were. That could wait. All she cared about right now was that Makoto was here holding out her hand and looking steadily at her. And Ami threw herself into her friend's arms.

"Woah", Makoto was surprised by the intensity of her friend's embrace and almost toppled over backwards.

But she steadied herself and held Ami close, stroking her back as the shorter woman cried into her shoulder. And only as she was holding Ami, Makoto realized that her own cheeks were wet too. She closed her eyes and enjoyed the embrace a while longer before gently disentangling herself from Ami.

"Ami", she said, holding the blue haired girl by the shoulders, "What happened to you? Did you … did you die too?"

"Yes, I did but if we are both dead, how are we here?" Ami said, furrowing her brow which made Makoto snigger.

"What?" Ami huffed. "What's funny?"

"Nothing", said Makoto.

This made Ami raise her eyebrow in a characteristic fashion and, in turn, Makoto sniggered even more.

"What, Makoto?" Ami asked again.

But instead of answering, Makoto let go of Ami and turned away, heaving a deep sigh.

To be continued…