Chapter 4

"I don't think I can do this," groaned Ami as she turned around and began walking in the opposite direction. Makoto and Minako immediately grabbed her arms and began shouting in disagreement.

"Oh no Ami!" started Makoto, "You are not abandoning us."

"This is YOUR future husband we are visiting and who is taking OUR group photo," urged Minako tisking. "Seriously, why are you so worried? It's only the third time you are getting to see him. Why are you so chicken to call him?"

"I'm not chicken!" argued Ami with a pout, "I don't mind seeing him again. It's just…"

"Just what?" chimed in Rei looking over to her normally patient and calm sister-like friend.

It had been several days since her last conversation with the photographer, the man who seemed to be haunting her dreams in the best and worst possible ways… not that she would be sharing that with her friends. Of course Rei approached Ami about this due to her psychic abilities and visions. It was nice that Ami would be pulled aside when Rei would share what she saw, but it still shocked and disturbed Rei. How was it that Ami saw Mr. Pemmington in some foreign old-time garb while she was dressed in her princess gown of the rarest silks, woven clothes, and jewels? It was still a mystery how these dreams came to her after her second encounter with a certain man with emerald eyes and long blond hair.

Who was he?

Was he really the one she was meant to be with?

What would he think if she revealed her true identy as a sailor senshi? A soldier who fought supernatural creatures and beings?

Ami felt her body urged along by her friends as they walked to a certain photography studio, one that was attached to an indie film studio. This was the address Mr. Pemmington gave Minako a few days ago when he confirmed their appointment. Of course they would be taking the pictures indoors because the ice and snow was still covering the ground. Ami still couldn't believe they were taking the pictures with this dress… with her princess dress!

What was Usagi thinking? Of course all of the women would have their planetary symbols on the forehead when they switched into their beautiful dresses from days of old. What would Mr. Pemmington think? Would he recognize these symbols from the planetary guardians on this planet? Would he recognize her as Sailor Mercury?

What would he think?

"We are here!" declared Usagi with a smile as she held her designer dress bag. Of course, it had a simple dress inside, but it was all for show. Everyone of the women had a fake cloth travel bag that held a dress in it that would not be worn for the photo shoot. The real dress to be worn for the photoshoot would be a simple transformation with the help of the Silver Crystal.

As the women neared the door, it was opened quickly by someone exiting. Makoto being the one closest to the door looked up at the dark haired man, hair pulled back behind his shoulders. Ami could see Makoto was star struck, like always with attractive men, as he held the door open for the women.

"Thank you sir!" exclaimed Minako as she patted Matoto on the shoulder. "Let's keep moving Mako."

Ami smiled to the man and politely bowed her head in respect before entering, the rest of her friends following. As soon as the door was closed, the bitter wind from the winter weather was cut off. A welcoming warmth began to thaw out the chilled bones of the thin women.

The receptionist was kind to direct the women where to go (and that he was expecting us). Ami felt the butterflies in her stomach intensify. It was now or never. This might perhaps be one of the last times she would see him for several months, which was disappointing to her. She was beginning to appreciate the attention he gave her… though it was only two other times that she had contact with him.

As they entered through a door with a clear room label, Ami prepared herself for what she would see and possibly experience. Yes, this day could make or break the rest of her day. She hoped it would make her day.

"Good morning ladies."

Ah, his voice, thought the senshi of water and ice. To her, it was such a handsome, deep, and inviting voice that promised her protection—protection she wouldn't mind receiving from him.

"Looks like you found the location easy enough," spoke another man in the room; this man had long silver-looking hair. It had to have been dyed in that new fashion trend going on.

"Is that Directior Kendal Aimes?" asked Minako with a laugh, "Well I'll be!"

The man looked over at Minako as she laughed and went to shake his hand, "I've always been a fan of your work!"

"Like wise Aino Minako," he spoke back before adjusting some lights.

"Please, if you would like to start getting dressed," Zachariah pointed to a hallway in the back, "There are some restrooms over there. We will start taking the pictures in thirty minutes." Ami's eyes caught the photographer's gaze, and both remained locked till she broke it as her friends animatedly chattered cheerfully and casually herded her into the safety of the girl's new changing room.

Ami felt her heart beating in her chest rapidly as Makoto locked the door behind them. Minako walked towards the water senshi and began to fan her, "You're going to be fine Ami. We are going to take a few pictures, nothing too much. After, we are going to watch a romance/comedy movie and drink hot chocolate. You can make it."

Ami felt herself trying to keep from hyperventilating. The love senshi urged her to sit down and place her head between her knees. "Ami, keep it together. Don't you dare get sick on us!"

"She's a beauty," spoke Kendal nodding his head, "Her friends are also beautiful."

"I want to marry Ami," spoke Zachariah, aka Zoisite, in all seriousness.

Kendal's ice blue eyes widened. Though he was of northern European decent of the Nordic strong men clans, love was something he never quite understood nor took the time to understand. For his friend, a flirt to the women, making such a bold statement meant something very important. Any man in their right mind wouldn't take these words lightly.

"You barely know her," spoke the silver-haired man. "Shouldn't you get to know her more before deciding?"

Zoisite gave a lopsided grin, "I cannot get her out of my head. She keeps invading my dreams as this… this goddess. In every dream, her dress matched her hair. It looked like a ball gown with the finest fabrics. And there was this blue symbol on her forehead. It reminded me of the symbol for the planet Mercury or something… Isn't that strange?"

"A bit detailed. Maybe it was a past memory?" teased Kendal with his dry humor.

Zoisite missed the humor and nodded his head recollecting the memory of the dreams, "It was like we were already together… perhaps a married couple or in the engagement period of the relationship."

"You have it bad."

The photographer shook his head before returning to his camera and the lighting equipment. Those dreams told him something. He knew it. And every night, he welcomed the dreams. They were almost like sweet memories, memories of a past that was forgotten between two love birds. How he yearned for those dreams to haunt him during his mundane days working on the same tasks over and over again. Zoisite knew Ami was the woman he wanted to make his wife.

He was sure the same thing would happen with his other close buddies when the right women would come into the picture.

Thirty minutes passed and one by one the women came into the studio. Zachariah Pemmington had to rub his eyes to make sure the women weren't glowing. For a second there there, he though he thought they were emitting their own light. And their dresses! All the women looked ready to go to a royal ball or millionaire function for some charity. It was Ami who came out last with the model, Minako. And her dress almost made him do a double take.

It was the exact same dress from his dreams. It definitely heightened her beauty.

He was downright smitten and in love.

As he directed each woman where to sit or stand, he allowed his friend to direct them with how to look at the camera. Zoisite adjusted the lighting once more before he aimed the camera to take a picture.

It was the group portrait. All five women sat looking like royalty. The woman dressed in white, who was named Usagi, had a dainty crown on her forehead. She looked like a queen. The women around her (especially Ami) looked like women in waiting.

This was definitely going to be a challenging photo shoot.

The next part were the individual photos of the women. At that time, one of Zoisite's affiliates stopped back into the photo studio. It was the same gentleman who held the door open for the ladies. He introduced himself to the women as Nathan Brown. He worked with Kendal and assisted in the writing of scripts and casting. Ami, though she felt the heat of Zachariah's stare, couldn't help but notice Nathan's eyes travel every so often to Makoto and vise versa.

Geeze. Ami felt so foolish. Makoto was taking it rather well, of course sending flirty winks and comments to Nathan as he assisted her during her photo shoot. Why couldn't she be confident like Makoto or Minako?

"You look like you're deep in thought."

She was immediately startled, her eyes locking with the photographer's own green orbs.

"What?"

He smirked at her. "It's your turn."

She nodded her head extremely embarrassed. "Of course."

It was during her photography shoot that he noticed something unique etched on her forehead that was obstructed by her bangs. It took five different poses before he saw it.

It was a unique blue symbol on her forehead.

It was the symbol from his dream.

Click click click!

He looked at the pictures taken in the preview window of the camera. Her dress… it was the same dress she wore in his dream. And the symbol on her forehead. Could this all be alluding that his dream may have been a past memory from some time ago? Or perhaps it may be a look into the future?

"And finished," declared Zoisite as Ami sat poised on a chair. He motioned her over to look at the pictures in the preview screen. As she did, he got a good whiff of her light perfume. He saw her lips curl into a small smile. How he wanted to steal a kiss from those lips…

"These look amazing!" complimented Ami looking up to him.

He smiled. "I'm glad you like my work. You are a beautiful woman."

Her blush deepened as she bowed quickly dismissing herself to the dressing room. He watched as she left. He felt those butterflies again as the next girl was ready for her pictures to be taken.

Ami remained in the dressing room till all her friends were finished. It was then she ventured to the photo studio where all the lights were being dimmed and the equipment was being put away. She forced herself to be brave. She went to Zachariah Pemmington and bowed respectfully to him. "Thank you for taking the photos of my friend's and I. You don't realize how much we all appreciate it."

His smile grew on his face. "The pleasure was all mine Ami."

She smiled too, unsure of what to say next.

So Zachariah decided to speak to fill the silence, his confidence increasing. Perhaps he should ask her what he was thinking. It was risky. But he was known to be a risk taker. That was why he was so successful as an artist and photographer. "May I be so bold to ask you something Ami?"

She could feel it. He would officially ask her out on a date. The thought excited her and scared her at the same time. What should she say?

"Ami…"

"Yes?"

"One day," he whispered in her ear, "When you are ready, I want you to become my wife."