A/N: I know this chapter is shorter than the other ones, but it's not meant to be sprawling. More of a bit of humor to break up all of the more dark themes that have been going on thus far. I hope y'all enjoy!

WARNING: DARK THEMES, YURI HINTING. If you complain about things being inappropriate on this chapter, I will be highly enraged at you people. This is easily the most tame chapter up thus far. Don't be the reason society is so jacked up.

With love,
Korrupted

DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN SAILOR MOON. *cries a little in sadness at that fact*

Ami swallowed hard as she filled the tub, her heart pounding so hard in her chest that it was deafening to her, not sure how she would go about undressing the object of her affections to get her ready for the bath. The girl in question was behind her on the wheelchair, still sipping on tea from the medical student's botched attempt to make breakfast for the two of them. Rei had gone to tend to the shrine, but only for a few hours before she would return, and Ami had never thought about the fact the she was going to be bathing Makoto in great depth until now. Which seemed like a huge mistake to the senshi of ice now that she thought about it, her face crimson as she stopped the water flow and turned to face the brunette. "M-mako-chan...?" Her voice hadn't been such a squeak when she had spoken earlier. When did that change? "I.. W-we... Ano..." Shyly, the bluenette scuffed her shoe against the tile, unable to meet Makoto's eyes. "I n-need to un-undr... undress you now..."

Makoto's eyebrows crept upwards slowly at how Ami phrased herself, a tiny smirk tugging the left corner of her lips. "Well, most people at least ask me to dinner first, Ami-chan." She had to grin at the expression of horrified, embarrassed shock that spread across her friend's features, enjoying how her teasing would send her pale skin a dark red. She was still shaken by the phantom voices that would whisper to her softly, the words sending chills down her spine before being lost once more, the thunder warrior left frantically trying to calm herself from the now confusing rise of panic. She would not let her absolute terror show, she would fight down every tremble, every scream, every moment that she could swear someone was tracing her skin with clammy fingertips; Makoto didn't want her friends to worry any more than they already had to.

The senshi of water was unleashing a current of stammered apologies, attempted amendments that she hoped didn't as suggestive as her original statement had, but she still had to remove Makoto's clothing and help her bathe. Why was she so flustered? Ami had bathed patients before during other internships without so much as a blush. 'Because they weren't Mako-chan.' She told herself, taking a deep breath in an attempt to steady her mind, calming slightly. She stepped over to the girl, helping her tug off the shirt as her blue eyes secretly traced along the skin of Makoto's collarbones, forcing her eyes not to drop to the large breasts void of covering.

Through sheer willpower alone, Ami managed it, tugging off the pants next to giggle at the boxers. "What's so funny?" She heard the taller girl question, the answer a gentle, "That boxers suit you. I could never manage to look good in them like you do."

Her blue eyes went wide, her face almost instantly an impossible shade of red, horrified that she had actually admitted that she found Makoto attractive. When she could bring herself to look into the green eyes, there was none of the disgust or anger she had expected; only humor and curiosity, though the lightning wielder's skin was a rosy red. "You too, huh?" Ami's eyes were as wide as saucers, her mouth gasping open like a fish out of water. "N-n-nani?!" Another squeak, the medical student mortified but uncertain, hoping the other girl would explain.

Thankfully, she did. "Rei-chan was a bit more direct in what she had let slip last night. You both..." Makoto shyly rubbed the back of her head with her right hand, a small grin on her lips. "You both have a crush on me, hai?"

Ami couldn't do anything but stare and let out strangled sounds that were supposed to be denial, her blue eyes locked with Makoto's green to keep her gaze from dropping and being met with her full breasts. Finally, a soft laugh escaped the battered warrior, Ami feeling shaking but gentle fingers touch her shoulder kindly. "I've known you had your eye on me a while, but not Rei-chan. I... I don't mind. I actually... I like..." The emerald eyes softened and looked to the side, her face slowly darkening at what she was about to admit. "I like women too. And the both of you are very... Ummm... Ano..."

Makoto couldn't admit that she had crushes on them as well. It seemed simple, easy to do in theory. After all, both of them clearly were interested in her. But after everything that happened, though she could only recall fear, pain, and small traces of disgust and no actual memories, the prospect of making herself so vulnerable seemed downright idiotic. She refused to do that right now, not until she could remember everything. Even her dreams were a haze of terror that fled her memory the moment she opened her eyes, evading her like the vanishing morning mist. How Makoto longed to know the truth, no matter how horrible it may be. Instead, she had to reassure the girl in front of her now, finally finding words that would be good for her explanation; not perfect by any means, but acceptable. "You both are very kawaii and kind... I enjoy having you both around." Ami's eyes lit up, but her final words were imperative, "But I am too... Too afr..." That word was painful to say, it was as foreign to her as 'give up'. "I'm scared. I'm afraid to date right now."

Ami's eyes dropped to the floor, the tall warrior realizing she felt rejected, her gentle fingers softly moving so she could lift the bluenette's face so their eyes met once more. "Both of you mean so very much to me. I swear that, Ami-chan. But for now, please understand that I can't. I hope one day I will be ready to figure out who I would ask to be mine, but today is not that day." Her expression was pleading, afraid that she had pushed her friend away with the truth, a voice from the door way speaking. "Hai, I understand. And you should stop teasing poor Ami-chan."

Blue and green eyes met violet, Rei leaning into the doorway as she smiled, still dressed in her shrine attire. "At least I had her bathed by now, Ami-chan. I'll start getting the karaoke stuff set up." She walked away before adding, "That means stop ogling and more bathing, Mizuno-san!" Her voice teasing as the Mercury soldier squeaked in embarrassed shock. "I... She's right, I still need to bathe you." The bluenette admitted, the brunette nodding. "Rei-chan left the boxers on for the bath." She supplied, Ami deciding that Rei probably had the better plan. "Then on they stay."

Ami carefully helped Makoto into the tub, propping her left leg on the ledge and then the left arm, nervously locating the shampoo, smirking at the scent. "Rose shampoo?" Makoto made a hush gesture, grinning back, "Shhhh... Don't let it get out or my bad-ass reputation will be shot." The genius couldn't help but giggle, knowing that Makoto's bravado was more to keep people she didn't know at a very safe distance, but also to be all the more terrifying when one of the few she cared about was in danger. "You know, the youma have been awfully quiet..." Ami heard her charge sigh.

As soon as the future doctor was done soaking the long brunette hair, she started lathering, blushing at the contented sigh from her friend as she answered. "Th-the Shitennou have b-been taking care of them for us. With you and Usagi recovering, we can't go into battle." She felt the warrior stiffen at the mention of their princess, regretting that she had brought it back up.

For several seconds, neither said a word, Ami gently working her fingers through the soft hair before hearing a small voice whisper, "I should have been awake sooner... Then she would be okay..." The words causing Ami to halt her actions and move to look her comrade in the eyes. "You protected her. If you want to blame yourself for sleeping, then Rei-chan and I are equally to blame by leaving before she did. You can't undo the past, Mako-chan." Her blue eyes sternly looking into the green orbs. "Right now, we can only focus on recovering. So let's do that, hai?"

Her words were rewarded with a timid nod, the bath continuing in companionable silence for a while until the senshi of wisdom inquired, "H-how did you know that I like you?" Makoto turning her head to grin at her kindly. "You gave so many signs I thought you were practically shouting it at me. Rei-chan was far more subtle. I only just realized she liked me yesterday. But you always liked being near me, and you always tended to my injuries. I just put two and two together." Ami nodded, blushing darkly as she moved to pull the plug, the water starting to drain.

Makoto's mind was wandering as the smaller girl helped her up, every bit as shy as Rei had been when they changed her boxers and once again was dressed. She considered her thoughts and feelings for each of the two girls as Ami pushed the chair into the living room, Rei glancing up and blushing again as Makoto suppressed a smile. It was true, she certainly wasn't a beauty queen, but she knew her features weren't horrible either; it was her cold exterior that kept most people at bay. Her green eyes followed Ami as she assisted Rei in untangling some wires, her gaze taking in the serious expression on the bluenette's face as she worked to free the microphones. Ami was full of grace, quiet and reserved beauty, a shyness that at times made her seem cold, and a gentle nature that was rare. Her soft voice could be commanding should she need to relay information in the heat of battle, but as sweet as moochi. Her sight turned to the clearly frustrated Rei, taking note of her visible desire to rip the cords apart. Rei was strong, intense, determined, and headstrong; Makoto seeing bits of her own stubborn nature mirrored in the miko. Everyone knew that the priestess was very full out in her emotions, everything felt to it's most potent state. Powerful anger, overwhelmingly protective, but Makoto also knew she was deeply caring and full of playful humor. Both of them were opposites, but both caused the senshi of lightning to lower her guards to a shocking degree when it was just them. As if she was-

Makoto shook her head as if to deny the words that were forming in her mind. She had no time for love, no reason for it. She was strong, too strong. She would always end up hurting the ones she loved, or they would leave her somehow. They would leave her and then she would be all alone again. Just like her senpai had, just like her parents had when they had died. She still hated and feared airplanes, the evil contraption that had stolen her parents from her and left her all alone when she had been only a child still made her tremble if one flew too low overhead. Makoto refused to be in love, she refused to feel that heartache.

Rei's head was flopped back on the couch, her eyes shut as she slept, Ami watching Makoto eyeing up the crutches. "Iie. Not until I can determine your arm can take the pressure." The tomboy pouted visibly, sticking her tongue out a the cast on her arm in her irritation. The Mercury soldier smiled at her gently, thinking about how she could try to help once the memories returned but always clueless. It was one thing to read about how to aid someone with emotional trauma and a completely different thing to put it into practice. A knock at the door broke her train of thought, Ami standing to walk over and look out the peep hole, grinning as she opened the door. "AMI-CHAN!" Usagi squealed in delight, hugging her one handed to not lose grip on her crutches, Minako following closely with Jadeite holding food. "Gomen! We wanted to see you guys." Jadeite admitted, running his hand through his short blonde hair, his blue eyes apologetic.

Makoto beamed, waving them in happily as the raven haired girl on the couch shifted, trying to act like she had never fallen asleep. Minako whipped out a marker and without asking, scrawled on both casts, 'To one of my dearest friends, recover soon Mako-chan. Aino Minako', grinning impishly. "Now everyone will know you are special, Mako-chan." Her blue eyes full of mischief.

Usagi lifted her leg to show off a similar inscription on her cast with a giant grin, "She signed mine too! I told Minako-chan that I was going to keep it forever!" Ami giggling at the blonde princess' antics. Even Makoto laughed hard enough to upset her almost healed ribs, for the first time in days feeling like things had a chance of one day being as they were. Jadeite was looking at her collection of martial arts certificates, the male bouncing up and down excitedly as he saw a picture of all the senshi and Shitennou at the park, pointing at himself. "You still have this one! I remember this day!" Sometimes it was hard to believe he was a general from his happy, childish nature. Makoto grinned at him, nodding. "Hai. You had cotton candy for the first time after that picture. You thought a youma had stolen it right from inside your mouth."

The young general laughed, everyone else giggling as they recalled his ranting about the confection thieving monster that had to be lurking nearby. Kunzite had been forced to calm him with the promise of ice cream before trying to explain how the treat actually worked, even Mamoru laughing loudly at the youngest of his four most trusted friends and protectors. Jadeite had proved to be the one who was far too fond of sweets, Kunzite more attached to professional looking clothing as the eldest, Zoisite the one most into popular culture, and Nephrite... Nephrite was the most acclimated to posing as human due to his time as a clerk once before. Motoki had been a good mentor of sorts, the slightly aggressive male counting the awkward human as a friend; Makoto could clearly recall a time when a robber had tried to force the fumbling man to hand over their money, Nephrite ensuring that they left in an ambulance.

The sounds of Rei and Minako singing karaoke pulled Makoto's attention back to the room, noting how Rei would shyly glance to her from time to time. The brunette smiled happily, trying to keep telling herself that what she felt in her chest as she watched wasn't anything more than friendship. She saw Ami offering her a plate of rice and steamed fish, a timid blush on her cheeks as her blue eyes lingered on her own green. "Gomenasai. I didn't mean to burn breakfast." The shy young woman apologized, Makoto insisting that the desire to hold Ami close was born simply of friendship, accepting the plate with a soft, "Arigatou, Ami-chan."

She hoped that if she didn't say she was feeling the beginnings of love for these two, then she would remain safe from the pain of heartbreak.

A/N: So, now we all know Makoto is a flirt who intends to make herself believe she is immune to feeling love, Ami is soooo adorably shy it hurts and is endearing at the same time, and Rei can flirt right back but is flustered badly at times. Prepare for more of the serious tones again in the next chapter, which I expect to be longer than this.