Author's note: don't own anything. Also, Ami's father's name is apparently never defined in the series; I probably got Hiro from Crayon Shin-chan.

Throe

"How come there's no business yet?"

This from Ami. She had gotten back from a double shift at the convenient store. Makoto was practically living in the kitchen at the restaurant twenty minutes away; she was not away, which was good because she had been angry to the point of scary the last time her lack of floral progress had been remarked. Rei had not yet found work; Makoto and Ami had pretty good English but Rei's was not good at all. When last she had paid attention to school she would cram for English.

"She said it would take time."

"But it's been three steady months. We're not getting any richer. We're not even rich now."

"Well, it's a little late to turn back now."

"But I'm just saying – "

"Well I'm just saying, we throw everything away and pin it all on Mako's business plan, and then we talk about quitting?"
"But Rei, I'm not – "

"Just, just please." Rei sat at the table, head in hand.

The bolt turned and Makoto came in. Usually she was really up and excited. Today she mimicked the weather – it was a downpour all day, and a gray sky. She propped her umbrella in the corner. It was a small, shabby apartment on the edge of Oakland. When they found it – Makoto had been really uptight that day they had hunted it down – Ami had briefly wondered if she might see Hiro her father. But that was San Francisco, and maybe he had moved from there even.

"Hey guys. We need, we need to, um, talk." Makoto actually seemed at a loss for once. She sat down, and Makoto lay her head in her arms. "I've got a thousand left in the pot. We can't stay much longer. The rent's going to go up, and I won't get paid for a month." Rei and Ami said nothing. "We'll make another month or two, but there's not much here. And it doesn't sound like I'll be needed around the restaurant much longer. So we'll have to find something somewhere. And I guess America's economy sucks or something so we picked a hell of a time to come over."

The three sat in silence. The clock ticked on.

Ami seemed to be struggling with a thought. Rei and Makoto looked on. "Ami?"

"You know. Daddy moved to California years ago."

"You can't be serious," said Makoto. Rei just sat there looking at her tea, black elixir in fine cups, the only artifacts she had brought over.

Ami shook her head in earnest. "Castro Street in San Francisco. Mom said so. It's worth a try, and he's doing well."

"You're unbelievable, Ami. You're unbelievable." Just flatly. Rei shook her head. She looked up. "It's worth a try, isn't it?"

"You're going to crawl to him? Ami, even if he is anywhere this side of the world, you want to crawl to him?"

"No, Mom didn't want to crawl to him. I never thought one way or the other about it much. I guess I never had much time to think about it. We need help. And I guess it's selfish, even though I haven't seen him forever."

Makoto sighed. "Well, I guess we gotta do something. I'm up for trying it. San Francisco is it? Castro Street?"

"It's crazy! We won't find him. And we're caving in. We might as well have stayed home if we'll just depend on everyone else. We make a mess and put it on someone else. Like Tsukino."

"Well we've got to do something. I'm up for it," said Makoto.

"And I thought it up. Are you in, Rei?"

Rei looked from Ami to Makoto. "God, I see why Umino always used to say you guys were meant for each other. So did Mamoru, did you know that? You're a picture together." They both blushed. "Kidding. I'm in." Unsmiling she downed her tea.

It was the middle of the night. Each had a sleeping bag on the floor in the small bedroom adjacent. Ami looked over in the dark as Rei snored. "Makoto? Are you awake?"

"Yeah. Look. I'm sorry this didn't work."

"It's fine. We'll find something. It's better than staying put. There was nothing left."

"I've been on and off the street my whole life. Maehara-san gives me that flower shop, and it just seems like the whole world was before me. I got into it, and then I thought selling it away and trying to make it myself was the way. I guess I was right."

"You were. It'll just take a little longer."

"I might have done it wrong though. I hope it comes out alright."

"It will."

"Goodnight." The tall woman rolled over and curled up a bit. Ami closed her eyes again.

"Ami?"
"Yes?"

Makoto paused a bit. Ami actually dosed off slightly, and then she spoke again. "I'm glad you came along. I'm glad you pulled through that depression. Didn't you?"

"It's been gone a long time," Ami said. "Mako?"

"Hm?"

"I'm glad I came along with you. Tomorrow will be better."

"I hope so, Ami."

"I know so."