Ami still sat with her back against the door, her eyes somewhat glazed over. 'Am I doing the right thing?' She could hear Michiru's sniffling on the other side of the door. More than anything, she wanted to come out, but her pain and anger kept stopping her. 'Maybe if I think about all the happy times we shared together I'll be able to face coming out.'
12 Years ago
Ami watched her friends play at the bottom of the hill. Of course, she never joined them, although it looked like fun.
"Hello there." Ami turned around and saw the girl staying in the Hino household behind her. She simply turned back around, refusing to acknowledge her.
"Geez. I've been here for a week and I've never heard you say a word to me, or actually to anyone. Can you talk?" Michiru had sat down beside her, trying to make conversation. As per her usual, Ami completely ignored her, and kept reading. Until Michiru attacked her.
"Oi! Didn't your mom teach you any manners? I asked you a question." Michiru pulled on her cheek, with an annoyed look on hr face, and she didn't stop there, she pulled on the other one too! Ami immediately slapped her hands away.
"I knew you could see me, and now that I have your attention, I will ask you again. Can you speak?" Ami narrowed her eyes and nodded her head.
"I knew it. Now we've made some progress haven't we!" With a giggle and a wave, Michiru turned and left. Ani looked after her, dumbfounded. She was the first person in months to actually badger her like that.
*XXX*
"Good morning, Ami. What a pleasant breeze there is today, don't you think?" She was back again. Ever since that day a week ago, Michiru had come to the hill everyday to bother her. Everyday she wanted Ami to do something different from the previous day. Most times it was responses, which so far were only physical. 'I'll get a word out of you yet, Ami.'
"What are you reading today?" Ami only held up her book, not giving any other response.
*XXX*
"Michiru, why do you bother? Ami hasn't said a word in nearly 6 months. All the psychologists already gave up. What makes you so sure you can get a word out of her?"
"It's because you all are afraid to break her. Yes I understand her patents were killed, that's very tragic, but you can't treat her like glass all her life. By forcing her to do things, she's coming out of her shell. Hadn't she been more responsive lately?"
Setsuna nodded at the the other girl. "I suppose you have a point, but don't push it too far."
Michiru raised an eyebrow as she took a sip of her tea. "I already have it all planned out."
*XXX*
"Come now, we will be doing something different today. " Michiru was back once more, this time with a black case. Ami didn't want to go anywhere with her, and was perfectly content ignoring her instructions.
"I said, get up!" Michiru pulled on Ami's ear and brought her to her feet. When she tried to get away, Michiru pulled her close and bent down to eye level. "Look at me. Look. At. Me, Ami Mizuno. When I say to do something, you do it. Is that clear?" Ami widened her eyes, Michiru had never spoken to her in that tone before. It actually scared her a little bit. Reluctantly, she nodded her head, and the older girl brightened up immediately. "I'm glad we're on the same page." As they walked away, Ami thought of a distant memory.
'When Mommy says to do something, you are to do it. Am I understood?' Quickly, she wiped away the years that came with it.
*XXX*
Do you know what instrument this is?" Ami nodded, and by way of answering, wrote it down on a sheet of paper. 'Violin'
"Good! Now do you want to learn to play?" Ami stared at the stringed instrument, not particularly caring whether it not she learned anything and shrugged her shoulders.
Michiru grit her teeth. 'Patience...' "Ami it was a yes it no question. Do you want to learn?" There was no movement for a while, then a definitive nod. Michiru clapped her hands happily and placed the instrument in her hands. "You hold it like this..."
*CXX*
Michiru was surprised at the speed Ami had learned to play the violin with. It had been only two months, yet she was playing like she had for a year! She was rough around the edges, but truly gifted. She sat back, listening to her play. "That's very good, Ami." There was no response, of course. She only had two weeks left in this house, but she was determined to make Ami happy.
*XXX*
"We'll be doing something different today, Ami. Have you ever gone horse back riding?" At the girl's shake, she smiled and grabbed her hand.
"Steady... Grip it tightly. There you go, just by moving them slightly you tell the horse how to move. Be gentle." Ami sat on the horse with Michiru guiding her from behind. The horse was a bit big, but Michiru was handling them both well. After a bit of practice, they both got off and Miciru showed Ami the proper way to feed and care for a horse. Then, in full riding regalia, they got their pictures taken.
*XXX*
"Have you told her you're leaving yet?" Michiru turned to see Setsuna.
"No... I don't have any idea how. I don't want her to be upset."
"Weren't you the one who came in saying we spoil her? You hypocrite."
"Yes I know, but it's different. I-" Michiru, who had been walking to open her bedroom door, stopped talking when she say Ami outside. Her hand posed to knock, a look of utter sadness on your face. Then she turned and immediately ran away.
"Ami!"
*XXX*
They had been searching all day, but no one had found Ami. By far, the two most worried were Michiru and Risa. The former was in tears while the latter kept screaming orders to look harder. 'Where... Where did she go?' Michiru wanted to slap herself did her stupidity. How could she have let her get away? 'There must be somewhere... She wouldn't leave the property. Somewhere she knows they won't look.' She opened her eyes as a place came to mind.
"Ami! Are you here, sweetie?" Michiru threw apart the art room, searching everywhere a child could possibly fit, and even a few they couldn't.
'This is a special place. Whenever I come here, it's to get away from everything for a bit. I'm the only one who can get in, so I know I can be alone.'
Michiru threw open the last cupboard on the bottom, and out tumbled the little girl. She tried to get away, but Michiru wrapped her arms around her, pulling her into her lap. "You little... Do you know how much you had me worried? Don't you ever, EVER do something like that to me again. Do you understand?"
"Yes." The older girl froze at the unfamiliar voice. It was croaky from prolonged disuse and the word wasnt quite formed correctly. She put a hand on Ami's face.
"Did you say that?" The little girl nodded. "You can speak?" Another nod. Laughing, Michiru stood up, spinning Ami in the air.
"You can talk! My Ami can talk!"
*XXX*
Over the final two weeks, the two had grown closer than over the 3 months she'd been there. They spent practically every waking moment together. Ami continually surprised Michiru with her extensive knowledge. Those books she always had contained some interesting information. Finally, it was Michiru's last night.
"Thank you for giving me such a lovely home these past few months, I greatly enjoyed it. But now, I have a surprise for all of you. " Gesturing to Ami, the two girls put up their violins and began playing a simple duet.
5 years later
'Michiru will be coming by this week.' Ami put down her violin and looked dreamily out the window. It had been five years since the time they had first met, and Michiru had come by every other week to see her. But this week she said there was a 'surprise' and told Ami she would have to wait and see what it was.
*honk honk*
Ami stared at the car, wondering what it was there for. The man stepped out and bowed. "Miss Mizuno, I am here to escort you home."
"Home...?" Ami turned towards Risa. "I'm going back to my house?"
The woman smiled a bit sadly. "Yes, it's time we allowed you to go back home. Of course, I will be checking in you frequently." Ami nodded, a bit shocked. Then, uncharacteristically, hugged her tightly, along with Rei and Setsuna.
"Thank you for your kindness!"
*XXX*
Ami cautiously opened the door to the house. It had been a long time, she hasn't stepped foot in the mansion since she'd left it 6 years ago. Surprisingly, it wasn't dusty, everything looked recently cleaned. And there was the smell of food cooking. She made her way into the kitchen, where she found Michiru.
"Why are you here?"
"I think it's time you started to love your own life. You can't move on by staying away from your own home, so I've brought you here."
"You're going to live here, with me?"
"Yes. I've already cleared it with everyone. Your clothes will arrive from the Hinos in a few days."
Ami but her lip, was this really happening? Would she really have to live in this house, where her parents... She could feel the tears coming, but held them off when Michiru held out her hand.
"It's time to start over. Won't you let me help you?" Without a second of hesitation, Ami reached out and firmly grabbed Michiru's hand.
End Flashback
*XXX*
Ami swallowed. All those good memories, she couldn't soil them with such childishness. She reached under the door and grabbed Michiru's fingers. Then, she stood up and opened the door. Shoving her hands in her pockets, she spoke after only a moment.
"I'm not saying I accept the decision, but I suppose it's silly to sit in a room all day. "
End Chapter
And thus shows a few more details about the childhood of Ami and Michiru. Next chapter, we get back to the story and see what made Ami so upset!