After dinner, Ami retired to the restroom, while Saeko enlisted Makoto's help in tidying up the kitchen. As Mako dried the dishes that were handed to her by Saeko, one question kept circulating through her mind.
"Just leave it alone, Mako, she already said she was cool with you, don't mess it up now by looking a gift horse in the mouth." The brunette thought to herself. But she couldn't help it. There was one question she just had to ask.
"So, are you really okay with… with me?" She asked the older woman, timidly.
"What do you mean?" Saeko questioned while continuing to scrub dishes.
"Like with me… y'know…" Makoto petered off, shyly.
"Am I okay with my daughter dating you, even though you're a girl?" She finished for the brunette.
"Um… yeah?" Mako replied, meekly.
Saeko sighed, placing the dish she was working on back in the sink, "Well, I was certainly… surprised, to say the least, when I finally pieced it together that Ami's feelings for you were… different than those for her other friends. I'm ashamed to admit this but at first I hoped that she would grow out of it with time. Not because of anything to do with you, obviously, but because I knew how much harder life would be for her if she didn't."
Makoto's heart rate quickened upon hearing this. What if a part of Ami's mother still felt this way? If that were true, could she ever hope to win her over completely?
"But then I saw it." Saeko continued, snapping Mako back to reality.
"Saw what?"
"The way Ami would smile when she talked about you. The vibrance I saw in her whenever she got to spend time with you. And these last two months the girl has basically been walking on air any time I've seen her." Saeko said, drying off her hands, "And that's not to mention all the times she told me you stood up against bullies for her, or brought her her favorite foods while she was studying, or even just spent time with her when she was lonely."
Saeko placed a hand on Mako's shoulder and looked her directly in the eyes, "You make Ami the happiest girl in the world. So what kind of mother would I be if I were anything but ecstatic that you two are finally together?"
Mako felt tears welling up in her eyes. She had been so worried about doing everything right to win over Ami's mom but… she already had. Before she even walked in the door. "Thank you. I-I promise I'll take good care of her!" Makoto said, her chest filled with emotions.
"I know you will." Saeko responded with a soft smile.
Shortly after their exchange Ami came into the kitchen to help the two of them finish up the dishes.
"So, I've gotta know…" the bluenette began while placing a plate on the drying rack, "... when exactly did you figure out that I was in love with Mako?"
"Well, there were a lot of hints but I think the one that really sealed the deal was when I heard for about ten straight minutes about how beautiful and elegant Mako was on the ice rink." Saeko teased while clasping her hands together to imitate a girl in love, earning a chuckle from Makoto.
"It was not ten minutes!" Ami argued, blushing profusely.
"Was too, I timed it."
"Aww, babe." Mako said, wrapping her arms around Ami, "You really think I'm elegant?"
"Oh I'm thinking a lot of things right now…" Ami pouted.
"Aw, c'mon, don't be like that." The brunette said, planting a kiss on Ami's cheek.
"I just… was it really that obvious?!" Ami asked, throwing her hands up in frustration.
"Yes, sweetie, yes it was." Saeko said, placing the final dish on the drying rack.
"Hey, how do you think I feel?" Mako asked, "It was apparently super obvious to everyone except me, the one you were in love with!" The green-clad girl finished, prompting a hearty laugh out of everyone.
…
Before long, Makoto had to leave to return home, with Ami offering to walk her out.
"So, was my mother as scary as you were expecting?" Ami asked with a smirk.
"It wasn't your mom I was scared of it was the whole… thing." Makoto replied, "Not to mention you were freaked out too!"
"Yeah, I guess you're right." The bluenette conceded, "But hey, we did it!"
"Heck yeah we did!" Mako said, taking the smaller girl's hand in her own as they walked down the stairs from the apartment complex's entrance, "Out and proud for the whole world to see."
"Well, not really the world, literally just one more person." Ami corrected as they reached the sidewalk.
"Oh yeah?" The auburn-haired girl asked with a devilish smirk.
"Wait, Mako, what are you do- whoa!" Ami exclaimed as Mako swept her off her feet and into her arms, bridal style.
"HEY WORLD! AMI MIZUNO IS MY GIRLFRIEND! WOO!" Makoto exclaimed at the top of her lungs.
"Babe, stop!" Ami managed to say between bursts of laughter, "Cut it out you goof."
Makoto finally obliged and put her down, "Alright, alright, but whose goof am I?" she asked, playfully.
"Mine of course." The smaller girl said, caressing her girlfriend's cheek.
"Mmhm. And you know why? Because AMI MI-mmfh…" was all the Guardian of Thunder could get out before she found her lips pressed against those of the Guardian of Water. While the kiss had been a surprise, it didn't take long for Makoto to get… involved with it. The kiss lasted some time before the two eventually parted, still holding one another close.
"While that is certainly adorable, it'll be a lot harder to kiss you if you're arrested for causing a public disturbance." Ami said, looking up at her girlfriend with a smile.
"Oh okay." Makoto said, touching her nose to Ami's, "I should get going. See you tomorrow?"
"You'd better believe it."
With that, the couple parted ways. Ami made her way back up to her apartment before collapsing on her couch. The day had certainly taken its toll on her, but that didn't stop her from wearing the biggest, goofiest grin in the world.
…
"Oh man, I am stuffed." Minako proclaimed as she and Rei made their way up the steps to the Hikawa Shrine.
"You know, you really didn't have to walk me all the way home." Rei said, looking over to her friend.
"Aw, don't sweat it. Besides, I was hoping I could swipe some of your manga on my way out."
"Absolutely not!" The miko responded, "Every time I lend you or Usagi my Manga you guys mess it up!"
"Oh, c'mon Rei, pleeeeeease? I promise I'll take extra good care of it!" Minako pleaded.
"I don't-" Rei began before looking over at her friend, "Oh, okay, fine!" She conceded, unable to say no to her face.
"Yay! You're the best Rei!" The blonde exclaimed, wrapping her arms around her raven-haired friend.
"Yeah yeah, I'm great, whatever."
…
Minako had gathered up what she wanted from Rei's manga collection, and the two of them found themselves at the Shrine's entrance, with Rei seeing Minako out.
"Hey, so… thank you… for tonight." Rei said, shuffling her feet awkwardly, "I needed that."
"Hey, don't mention it. I… y'know… I like spending time with you." Minako said, a light blush crossing her face.
"I like spending time with you too." The miko said, her cheeks also turning a shade of pink, "Even if you do drive me crazy sometimes."
"Hey, it's what I'm here for. But, um… maybe we could do this more often, then? I mean since Ami and Mako and Usagi and Mamoru are always running off together we could… y'know… keep each other company…" Minako said meekly while fidgeting with her hands.
"Yeah, that would be nice." Rei responded with a smile.
"Alright, cool, cool." Minako said, "Well, I should probably get home, but, uh…"
"But what?" Rei asked, confused, before suddenly, she found her blonde friend's lips pressed against her cheek. It was only a light peck, lasting a fraction of a fraction of a second, but it was enough to send a jolt through the Guardian of Fire's system. Before she could even think to react, Minako picked up her bag of manga and began to make her way towards the shrine's steps.
"Well, I'll catch you later Rei!" She said before disappearing down the steps.
"Uh… yeah… you too." The miko said, rubbing her cheek.
She eventually found her way back to her room where she sat on her bed, still somewhat in a state of shock. It wasn't until all of the night's events truly sunk in that she finally asked herself a question aloud.
"WHAT THE HECK WAS THAT?!"
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The cloaked figure descended upon the remains of what used to be known as Planet Nemesis. The planet, and the Malefic Black Crystal which it housed had both been destroyed in Death Phantom's bout with Sailor Moon, along with the Death Phantom himself. Most had assumed there was nothing left to fear from this planet, that any threat it posed had been neutralized by the combined power of two Legendary Silver Crystals… they were wrong.
The figure sifted through the rubble of the shattered world for some time, before they finally found what they were looking for: a shard of the Malefic Black Crystal, roughly the size of Sailor Moon's Silver Crystal, which contained the last of its power. The figure picked the Crystal up and held it in their gauntlet, feeling its dark energy surge through them. They cracked a smile underneath their cold metal mask.
"Oh… this will do nicely."
To Be Continued… In Sailor Moon: Reignstorm!
Well, now you all know why the title is what it is. Originally this was going to be a part of Reignstorm but it just didn't quite fit, so I decided it could work better as a prelude... A "Calm Before The Storm" if you will ;)
This next story will be my first real attempt at a serious adventure story. Fear not, there will still be plenty of fluffy Sapphic stuff as well (After all, Rei and Minako still need to get their relationship sorted out), but well... let's just say our heroines' vacation from being Sailor Guardians is about to come to an abrupt end.
Look out for Chapter 1 at the beginning of March, with weekly updates after that.
But until then, please please please let me know what you guys thought of this story! Reviews are much encouraged and greatly appreciated! And a big thanks to everyone who followed this story all the way to the end! I hope you stick around for my future projects as well!
For anyone who's looking for something else in the meantime, and haven't read my first story, Buried Feelings: Facing Love At Last, you can find it here!
s/14087224/1/Buried-Feelings-Facing-Love-at-Last
It takes place before this one, and is all about Ami and Mako finally getting together. So if that interests you, please consider checking it out!
With all that being said, be on the lookout for Sailor Moon: Reignstorm, coming soon! But until then, take care everyone!