Serena desperately wanted to hug Detective Williams, but she could see that it made him uncomfortable, so she restrained herself. She let him see how happy she was that he was willing to take her by the brilliant smile on her face. He smiled back and opened the car door for her. She clutched the suitcase filled with new clothes tightly to her chest as she walked behind him, up to the apartment building's front entrance.
"Do you have that key ring I gave you?" Serena nodded, too eager to see her new home to speak. "Well, you use the key in the blue ring to get on the elevator, and the key on the green one to get into the apartment."
"Apartment 5-E," Serena supplied eagerly. She may have amnesia, but she could remember some things! Detective Williams nodded absently as they boarded the elevator. As soon as it stopped Serena bounced out the door and waited for the detective to lead the way. He walked up to his apartment door and opened it.
"Well, here we are!" He began pointing toward doors. "That is my room, this is the living room, and that's the kitchen and dining room. Over there's my office, and the bathroom. This will be your room, but we'll have to get furniture for it. That'll be our next order of business."
Serena listened with a part of her mind, but the rest was amazed by the spaciousness of the apartment. "This is huge! Our house is. . ." Serena's eyes widened "I remember what my room looked like! It was really small, and pink. . ."Serena struggled to keep ahold of the memory, but it was already fading, ". . .and there were lots of bunnies." She sighed in frustration. "That's all I remember. No address, or telephone number." Her shoulders slumped.
"I'm afraid that doesn't tell us much, but it's a start. That reminds me, you're to continue sessions with that Dr. Bagley three times a week, after school. You're going to be going to summer school to try to catch up to kids your age. You're going to be behind for quite a while, but if you try hard, I'm sure you'll be up to speed soon. You'll also have to go to see that physical therapist every day, until you regain your strength. I asked, and he said you had amazing recuperative powers, and he estimated you'd only need about another month of therapy."
Serena smiled crookedly. "Sounds like I'm going to be busy, Detective Williams."
Detective Williams nodded in sympathy, and put a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Call me Ron."
*****
Detective Williams was relieved. Serena was at school and various doctor appointments most of the day, so he usually got home about the same time she did. She'd tried to cook supper for him one night when he'd been running late, and he chuckled again at the memory.
There'd been a look of frustrated dismay on her face when he'd walked in. She'd tried to make chicken curry of all things. He couldn't imagine why. He hadn't had any of the fixings at home, so she'd had to go shopping to get everything. She'd even bought it with her own allowance. It would have been absolutely hilarious if she hadn't been so disappointed in the result of her attempt.
Everything that had looked good had tasted awful. Everything that looked irreparable and disgusting had been wonderful.
"Well," she'd said with a lopsided smile as that ability of hers to bounce back from setbacks asserted itself once more, "now I know I didn't cook." Then she'd shoveled another spoonful of the disgusting looking but yet tasteful food in her mouth and ate it with obvious relish. When she finished that spoonful, she continued, "But I also now know I love to eat."
And she did, yet she never seemed to put on a pound. He eyed his own stomach suspiciously, then looked at the torture machines he used on himself to slow the growth of his girth. When he'd commented on it, she'd replied brightly, "It must be because I'm so busy! I have so much to learn and catch up on! Look at all this I have to read! And I have to learn algebra! I don't have time to breathe!" She'd thrown up her hands.
For all that she complained about her schoolwork, she did it. At first she'd tended to put it off, and her grades had been disastrous. When he'd taken it up with her, a thoughtful look crossed her face and she was silent for a few moments. Then she'd looked up at him. "I don't think I've ever done well in school. I know I enjoy many things more than studying, but I really need to catch up. I'll work harder at it." And she had. Once she'd said she'd do something, it invariably got done, almost as if it was a point of honor with her. She was responsible and airheaded, all at once. She was so two-sided.
Except when it came to people. She was always kind, and friendly. People she met one second, were loyal friends for life the next. She'd made many friends at summer school, and at first he had been worried that, what with being in summer school, and being so far behind her classmates academically, she'd have a really difficult first year. He wasn't quite so worried anymore. It was next to impossible not to like her. Detective Williams knew that he was glad he had taken her in. It was impossible to imagine his life without knowing her now.
*****
Amy groaned and opened her eyes. She took in her surroundings and blinked. "Why am I here?" she asked herself softly. She got up out of bed. It was one in the afternoon, and she was in her bed at home. This was disastrous!
Suddenly she remembered what had transpired. "I had some sort of picture of Usagi. . .then I fainted!" she exclaimed. "Ohhh, and does my head hurt!" As she went over the scene just before she fainted she blushed. What must her classmates think! To stand up and shout something incomprehensible-to them-would definitely stick in their memories!
Well, it was no use just lying here. She probably had homework to catch up on now that she'd missed half a day of school. Her AP classes were really challenging. Soon she'd be able to start college level courses! Not having to be Sailor Mercury freed up a lot of her time. So did not having any friends. Amy sighed. <What a depressing thought that was!> No use complaining. She'd decided on this course. Amy heaved herself up, and noticed a furry black figure asleep on her bedspread.
"Luna! What are you doing sleeping now? Lazy cat!" Amy scolded teasingly. Luna didn't respond. "Luna? Luna! Wake up! Are you all right?" When the black cat didn't respond Amy leaned over to listen for a heartbeat. For a second her own heart nearly stopped as she didn't hear anything. Suddenly she heard a faint, steady beat. <Thank God! At least she's alive! I wonder what's wrong?> Amy carefully picked up the limp cat and petted her soft fur, just as she had petted Makoto's white hair that one night at the shrine. She went back to that night as she stroked Luna's sable fur.
*****
"Mako? Mako-chan?" Mercury knelt next to Mako's unconscious body, and with a thought undid her transformation to become Ami once again. She rested Mako's head on her lap and picked up her wrist to search for a pulse. After an anxious second she found it, and sighed with relief. She looked up at Mars and Venus-now Rei and Minako. "She's alive."
Minako and Rei looked relieved, but more than a little shocked as they took in Mako's state. "Ami, did you know anything about this? I'd heard that the Night Mares had a new, important member. I'd never guessed it would be Makoto." Minako nodded in agreement.
"No, I'd noticed that Mako wasn't blowing up during school, but I didn't know THIS was how she was expressing her anger!" Ami shook her head vigorously. "Look at this. I think she broke her arm!" Ami probed gently. "No...it's her shoulder. It's dislocated. Help me, we have to put this back in place while she's still unconscious-it's gonna hurt!" Ami and Minako held Mako's body still while Rei pulled on her arm, to slide Mako's shoulder joint back in place. Ami saw Rei wince as she felt it pop back into place.
"AHHHHHHHHHHHH!" Mako bellowed, sitting up suddenly. Ami thought she looked so strange with her bleached white hair down like that. Mako held her shoulder and gasped for a few seconds. She looked around the room, and into the face of each of her three friends. Ami thought she saw shame in her eyes.
"Mako?" Minako reached out tentatively. "Are you going to be all right?"
"Yeah," Mako grunted.
Rei looked as if she was going to explode. She couldn't hold it back anymore. Ami groaned mentally at the scene that was sure to follow whatever outburst Rei had. "What are you doing, joining a gang like the Night Mares? I thought you had more sense than that, Kino Makoto! Why, you'd almost think you'd rather have a bunch of street toughs as friends than us! How can you use your senshi powers in such a shameful-"
"I don't!" Mako gasped. "I don't use my senshi powers at all! Otherwise Sailor Jupiter would have chased off those girls! I had to depend on you, instead. Doesn't that mean anything?"
Rei didn't respond with words, but she turned her back. Mako turned pleading looks to the other two. "I don't know how you are dealing with Usagi-Usagi being gone, but I need," she flexed her fists unconsciously, and Ami felt compelled to draw back from the ugly look in her eyes, "a good clean fight to get rid of my frustrations."
Rei couldn't resist another gibe. "I'd hardly call what happened tonight a clean fight!"
Mako grimaced, making her face even more grotesque than it already was from the multiple bruises and cuts forming from the fight. "No, it wasn't. I'm so sorry. We were going to fight another gang in front of the shrine, and I know someone here would get hurt if I allowed it. So I tried to stop them." Mako hung her head. "At least they won't come back. I'll be going now." Ami watched, concerned, as Mako pulled herself to her feet. Something was seriously wrong with her-she could barely stand.
"You're not well, Mako. Do you want us to take you to a doctor?"
Mako actually managed a twisted smile. "No, that's how police find out who the members of a gang are. We only dare medical help for serious injuries." She stated it so baldly. Ami sighed as Mako turned to leave. She knew Mako needed more from them, but she didn't know what to say. This was more within Minako's territory. She gave her a helpless look and motioned that Minako should do something.
Minako caught her hint and stood up. She walked up behind Mako and put a hand on her good shoulder. Without warning Mako whirled and caught Minako up in a choke hold. Mako's eyes widened when she saw who it was she was attacking, but the damage had already been done. Minako fell to the ground and knelt there, coughing.
Mako's eyes filled with pain. "I'm sorry, reflexes have to be fast out there, or you don't live long. I'll go now." Ami wanted to cry at the bleak tone of her voice. "I'll see you around." Ami knew that was a lie. They'd be lucky to see Mako alive tomorrow. Makoto limped out the door into the night. The other three girls stood, indecisively, looking at each other in silence. After a few seconds Ami couldn't stand it anymore.
"Mako!" she cried, running after her at breakneck speed. "Mako-chan! Wait!"
But Kino Makoto was gone.
*****
Ami waited expectantly at school, but Mako never showed up. The first day she shrugged, figuring that Mako had been hurt too badly in the fight the night before to come to school. But after the third day, she was worried. She found out through the school grapevine that Mako had transferred. Ami only hoped she hadn't quit school altogether. She was hurting herself by joining the gang, but if she quit school, she'd never have a future at all.
*****
Every few days Ami would go to the shrine to see Rei and Minako. Without Usagi, or sailor battles to fight, though., they didn't have much in common. About all they spoke about anymore was Makoto, and that one night when the Night Mares showed up. Every once in while they'd get news about how she was doing, but all it really told them was that she was alive, and still part of the gang-a very prominent part. One day, two weeks after the fight, Ami stood up with a determined look on her face.
"I think we should all go to Mako's apartment and force her t stop this foolishness! She's going to get killed any day! We can't allow that!"
"We can try to talk her into quitting, but I don't think she'll listen. Besides, it's almost impossible to quit one of those gangs and live through the experience." Rei shook her head. "We can go over and try, but I don't think it'll do any good."
Minako spoke up. "We have to try-it's our duty to her as a friend."
"But are we friends anymore?"
"I don't know." Minako looked at her feet. When she looked up her eyes were moist. "But we were, and I want to be again. Let's give it a try at least."
So the girls set off.
*****
When they got to Mako's front door they all stared at it silently for a few minutes. Finally Ami strode forward with a sigh. "I guess it's up to me to knock, then? Very well." She knocked on the door. Almost immediately it opened.
But Makoto hadn't opened it. "Yes?" an elderly lady asked kindly. "Can I help you?" Ami blinked in surprise, but recovered quickly.
"I hope so. We were looking for Kino Makoto."
"Kino Makoto...Kino...Mako..." The lady tapped her chin thoughtfully. "Oh yes! I remember where I heard that name before. I'm sorry girls, but she's moved out."
Rei spoke up. "Did she leave a forwarding address? We'd really like to get in touch with her."
"No, girls, she didn't. I wish she had, I got some mail for her that I had to send back to the senders. I'm sorry I can't help you more."
"Oh, no. Thank you." Ami gave her a little bow as she shut the door, then the girls looked at each other as they stood, nonplused, in the hallway.
<Now what?> Ami wondered.
*****
Ami really wanted to get going on her homework-she wasn't very far in front of the rest of her class-but she felt a responsibility to get together with Rei and Minako. She called Rei up on the phone.
"Moshi moshi!" Rei answered.
"Rei, this is Ami. Say...I was wondering if you wanted to go shopping or catch a movie or something. I haven't seen you in two weeks."
"Oh...Ami...I'd really love to, but I'm involved in a concert at my school, and there's too many chores to get done this week at the shrine. Gomen."
"I understand, Rei. Maybe later."
"Yeah, catch ya around, Ami."
*click!*
Ami stared at the phone for a few seconds in silence, then called Minako.
"Moshi moshi?"
"Minako! Hey, this is Ami. I was wondering if you wanted to get together and do something, like see a movie."
"Am I hearing this right! Mizuno Ami is calling a friend and suggesting they go out to see a movie? Wait a minute, you don't want to see a documentary, do you?"
Ami giggled softly. Sometimes friends were a bother. They took time away from study, and could get on your nerves, but times like this made having a friend well worth any bother! "Yes, you're hearing isn't going yet, Minako! I was thinking more in terms of that new Sailor V movie. Nothing like seeing yourself in the movies!"
Minako groaned good-naturedly. "I hate those movies! They always make her way too pretty and smart! It's so annoying! And they always get the costume wrong! And they make her give silly speeches! And-"
"All right! All right! How about watching something like Godzilla-"
"Only with better special effects!" Minako interjected quickly.
"Yeah, with better effects, but the best part would be we could watch somebody else save the world!"
"Naw." Minako paused. Ami loved this back and forth teasing. It kept her on her toes. "I'm in the mood for some romance."
Ami thought for a second. "A romance movie? I like that. Meet you at the theater in half an hour?"
"Sounds good! See ya!"
*****
Every attempt after that to get together with Rei backfired. Minako said Rei was avoiding her as well. At least she and Minako were still friends. Ami was worried, though. Their little group was dwindling away awfully fast. It was as if, without Usagi as a glue to hold them together, they just fell apart. Ami sighed sadly.
*****
Ami still did things with Minako whenever she could, but as the end of eighth grade approached she worried more and more about the upcoming high school exams. She felt the great pressure of expectation as everyone from the superintendent to the youngest sixth grader expected her to get a perfect score on the upcoming tests.
More and more often she'd cancel plans with Minako or avoid talking to her so she wouldn't have to tell her she was too busy. About all she did was study. Other than Minako she didn't have any friends.
*****
She became more and more introverted as time went on. She knew her mom was worried about her, but she just didn't have time to be social and be the smartest girl in school. Besides, most people that were friendly to her only wanted to use her to improve their own grades. Usagi hadn't, she'd been a true friend, but she was the exception.
<Don't think about Usagi! She's gone now, and you have more important things to worry about!> Ami berated herself as tears gathered in the corners of her eyes. Everyone thought she was emotionless, a cold fish. It wasn't that, it was just that she didn't like to lose control of herself. Like now, when her throat tightened and her eyes burned, and all she wanted was to sob like a baby. But she couldn't allow herself to surrender like that.
As Ami tried to control her surge of emotion, she found herself thinking about Minako. She hadn't seen Minako in almost a month. She glanced at the books and papers spread all over her table. She'd be no good at studying for a while anyway. She was too wound up. She made up her mind to pay Minako a visit. She grabbed her coat and ran off toward Minako's house at a run.
*****
She arrived at Minako's out of breath. She knocked on the door, expecting Mrs. Aino to answer the door. A stranger did instead.
"Excuse me, but do the Ainos live here anymore?"
"Who? Oh! You mean the people we bought the house from. No, they moved. I think they mentioned something about Mr. Aino being transferred back to Europe." The lady shrugged. Ami's shoulders slumped.
"Oh." She said softly. She looked up and attempted a smile, but from the look on the woman's face, she know it was sickly. "Um...arigato." she forced out, then turned and left.
With Usagi gone, they had all fallen apart.
The Sailor Team, her legacy, was dead.
Ami slowly made her way home.
*****
As Amy held Luna to her, lost in memory, she felt her stir slightly. "Luna! Are you all right? I was so worried about you!" She gave her a gentle hug.
"I'm fine, Amy. I'm not sure why I was. . .I remember!"
Luna looked so excited. "What is it, Luna?" Amy asked.
"For some reason, I remembered Usagi, and then just fainted dead away."
Amy looked thoughtful for a second. "The same thing happened to me. I wonder. . ."
"Wonder what, Amy?"
"This is too much of a coincidence." Amy sat Luna down on her bed and knelt on the floor. She crawled under her bed.
"What are you doing, Amy?" Luna asked as Amy grunted and wiggled as she searched for something under her bed.
"Ah-ha! Here it is!" Amy sat up, something small clutched in her hands.
"Your computer! Amy, why do you have that out now?"
"I think it's very strange we both had the same sort of vision, and then passed out. I'm going to try to see if something's happened, and somehow our minds picked up on it."
Luna cocked her head. "Sounds like a good idea, though why something like that would happen here in the States, instead of back in Japan beats me."
"It's just a hypothesis, Luna." She flipped open the palmtop computer and began to type. "Now let's test it."