Damp footsteps could be heard as Ami circled the pool, tossing her towel from her shoulders. She stood on the ledge, gazing into the blue water, her eyes half open. She seemed to be in a trance as she fell forward into the water and sunk slowly, without moving until her palms touched the rough cement bottom. She leaned back and lay on the floor, water rushing up around her. Her eyes closed and she remained there at the bottom of the pool, tranquil. Nothing could disturb her in the outside world, she was alone.

Her hair moved upwards, flowing like a liquid being poured upside down. Her body would hover slightly above the floor, rocking with the movement of the water. She wasn't sure how long she lay there, couldn't have been more than a few minutes. Still, it felt like ages. Her eyes opened slightly and she became aware of a rippling, blurry figure above her. Still in her trance, Ami rolled slowly over and allowed herself to drift upwards to the surface like a curious mermaid surfacing from her grotto.

When she broke to the surface, Ami found herself looking at Minako who was crouched on the edge of the pool, brows furrowed with concern. "Hi," Ami greeted, somehow expecting it to be someone else...

"Hi. I thought I might find you here," Minako greeted, pulling a gentle smile.

Ami didn't feel the need to be polite. She began to swim laps back and forth across the pool while Minako sat herself on the bleachers and watched. For a while Ami swam, she swam until she had exhausted herself. Then she got out and dried herself, putting her clothes on over her bathing suit. Minako got off her perch and walked with Ami outside into the balmy summer afternoon air.

"Want a popsicle?" Minako asked. "I'm buying!" Within a few minutes the two of them were walking along with popsicles. The heat had come full force and it was generally a slow moving day throughout Tokyo. The buses rumbled slowly on the streets. There was plenty of traffic and people out walking were moving at a slow pace. Really, it was like time had slowed down everywhere.

"So... have you talked to Makoto yet?" Minako asked, very casual sounding. She winced a bit, expecting Ami might lash out at that. But the girl seemed to have an air of defeat about her. She only sighed while perspiration glistened on her brow.

"No. She's tried to see me a few times already but I didn't answer the door..."

The blonde staggered a bit. "But it's been three days now!"

"I know I'll have to talk to her about this eventually... but... I don't want to see her right now. I can't. I don't have the courage to face her."

"Oh..."

Ami stopped walking abruptly and Minako went on ahead a few paces before she noticed. The girl stood stiffly, her bangs shadowing her eyes, her teeth grit and her shoulders twitching. Minako turned, facing her in bewilderment. "Ami-chan?"

A very slight sob escaped the girl's throat. "I was wrong, Mina..." she whispered. She wrung her damp hands together and furrowed her brows. Minako rushed to Ami's side, rubbing her shoulders and trying to comfort her as best she could.

"Ah, Ami... Come on, we'll go to Makoto's house right now and straighten this out."

"No..."

"Yeah, come on. We'll-"

"NO!" Ami tore away from the girl and ran in the opposite direction. Minako stared after her and then broke out into a run to give chase.

"Ami! Ami-chan!" But she was eventually left behind and Minako's run slowed. She sighed miserably. "I just wanted to help you, Ami-chan..." She sniffled loudly. "I had no idea it would cause so much trouble..."

As the afternoon faded into a dark, warm evening, Usagi and Minako sat up in Usagi's room. Usagi was sitting on her bed with her back against the wall. She gazed out the window and sighed while hugging her pillow. Minako lay on the floor on her back with her hair pooled around her head and gleaming gold. Both girls were particularly miserable.

The bedroom door eventually opened and a pyjama-clad, pink haired girl walked in and surveyed the scene rather critically. "Senshi of love!" she spouted. "More like senshi of... of... defeat!"

"Ah, shut up, Chibi-usa" Usagi mumbled, throwing a pillow at her future daughter, which was easily dodged. Chibi-usa frowned a little. No fighting spirit either. She sighed and picked up the phone lying uselessly on Usagi's dresser.

"I'll phone Makoto right now" she announced, dialling the number. Minako and Usagi leapt up and were on her in an instant, trying to pull her away from the phone.

"Don't meddle, Chibi!" Usagi warned.

Chibi-usa held onto the phone even as she was wrestled to the floor by the two girls. "Like you're one to talk!"

"Chibi-usa, you'll only make it worse!" Minako protested. The sound of ringing through the earpiece of the phone made the three girls stop and listen. There was a click.

"Moshi-moshi?" came Makoto's voice, sounding almost desperate.

"Helloooo, Makoto!" Chibi-usa greeted. "Have you talked to Ami yeeeet?"

"I'm going out" Makoto replied, pacing her apartment as she held the phone to her ear. "Ami's mother phoned me. She hasn't come home yet."

Usagi shoved her daughter out of the way. "Whaaat?! But it's so late for a girl like her to be out!" She spared a worried glance out the window.

Makoto hopped on one foot, putting on her shoes. "This is my fault," she sighed. "I shouldn't have scared her away like I did. I'm going to look for her."

"But that's still dangerous!" Usagi protested. "We'll come with you!"

"Usagi, I can defend myself if I have to. And anyways, I have to find her and... well, I have to!" Makoto hung up the phone and headed out the door. Usagi sighed and set the phone down. Minako and Chibi-usa leaned over her in earnest.

"Makoto's going to find Ami" Usagi said quietly. Then her eyes lit up. "I know it's all going to be just fine!"

Makoto set out on foot, having no idea where Ami could be. She tore down the street, running as fast as her body would allow. Her leg muscles protested with pain and her feet seemed near to breaking every time her sneakers would impact the pavement. She didn't notice. She pushed past confused people on the street.

After what felt like an eternity of running, Makoto eventually reached a more deserted area on the outskirts of the city. There were fewer cars and virtually no one was out walking. Only a few houses stood. On either side of the road were flowing green farmer's fields. Makoto panted, slowing to a walk as she stood on an old fashioned bridge under the gleaming light of a street lamp. She bent over, putting her hands on her knees and just breathing heavily for several minutes.

That Ami was out here in the middle of nowhere was ridiculous and yet Makoto had somehow sensed her there. Scanning the dark landscape, it was well lit on the roads but other than that, Ami could very well have been anywhere. Makoto cupped her hands around her mouth. "Ami!" she called into the air. "Amiiii!" Her voice was near to breaking. "Ami!" She slid to her knees. "A-Ami..."

For a long while, Makoto remained on the ground, crying. She didn't want to cry but the tears seemed to flow of their own will. She was glad no one was around. She deserved to be alone.

"Damnit... I do deserve this..." she whispered. She pressed her palms into the ground. She was losing her, losing her best friend. Ami wouldn't talk to her now, wouldn't look at her. Makoto knew Ami was shy and afraid. She should have acted better, tried to comfort her, assured her that it was alright. Makoto continued to cry. What would happen now? Things would be different. That much was for sure. One way or the other.

Folding inward, Makoto knelt down to the ground, hugging her arms about herself. She'd never wanted to admit it to herself. Almost the instant she'd met Ami... she'd felt something for her. A spark, a tiny flame that grew slowly over time, until Makoto couldn't banish it any more. She'd never told anyone. Not a soul. She'd buried it, not allowing it to bubble over. She'd been close, so close, to telling Ami how she felt for her. She was a slave to her feelings.

And so lately, she'd pushed the girl away. She wanted to move on, forget about it. She hoped that distancing herself from Ami would make it go away. But it only hurt her. She would see the girl approach her and act aloof. During the school year, she'd even begun to date a boy in an attempt to smother what she felt. But there were no feelings there.

"This whole time... I... I..."

"Makoto?"

With a gasp, the girl scrambled up and looked over her shoulder. It was Ami, standing and staring at her. She looked slightly groggy, a little dirty, but otherwise in one piece. Makoto was relieved and she stood up, grabbing the smaller girl and pulling her against her body in a hug. For a few moments, Ami just stood stiffly, unsure of what to do. Then Makoto loosened her grip on her and pulled back. Ami refused to look at her face.

"Ami..." Makoto tried to make eye contact with her. "Ami..."

"I'm sorry, Makoto..." Ami said, sighing. "I'm sorry I dragged you into this whole mess. I hope we can... still be friends."

Makoto ignored her request. "God, Ami what are you doing out here by yourself?"

"I went for a walk and came out here where it's quieter... and I fell asleep under the bridge."

"We need to talk about all of this" Makoto said, seriously. Ami frowned and said nothing. The taller girl drew in a long breath and sighed. "Ami... I... well... I've known you a few years already..."

"I guess so..."

"We've always been pretty close, haven't we?"

"Sure."

"The best of friends. And well... Ami... I always felt something odd when I was around you."

Ami barely flinched and still kept her head bowed. Makoto gripped the girl by the shoulders.

"Something I felt that was the same as when I was around a boy I liked! I thought about it a lot. 'Maybe I have feelings for her', but I never had the nerve to act out on them. I always... rush into things with other people. But you're different, Ami. You're my best friend. I didn't feel clear about it, I didn't know if you felt similar. I couldn't risk it."

Makoto got no response from the other girl. So she continued. "That day... what happened. Well, I froze up. And I was in shock. Because it was suddenly clear to me that what I felt was... was..."

"Was what?" Ami raised her head, making eye contact with Makoto for the first time. Her eyes were glistening with unshed tears and her hands were clasped together to her chest. "Please be honest with me, Makoto. It's true, I love you. I came to grips with that a long time ago. And... telling you that... it's closure for me."

Makoto stared at her. How sincere she was. She couldn't be lying. And she didn't seem to have a doubt in her mind either. Makoto swallowed. "You're a dear friend to me, Ami..."

Ami's heart sank and she almost pulled away from Makoto. Even after all this time, she couldn't believe she still wasn't ready to hear those words of rejection.

"But... if you let me, I'd like to be more than that. Maybe... maybe..."

Makoto took her hands off Ami's shoulders and gently took hold of Ami's hands and brought them to her face. She kissed them both. "I think, Ami... I think I love you too... I wasn't sure at first... but now I..."

Ami's eyes were wide by this point. Her heart seemed to have begun to simply flutter rather then beat. Her mouth twitched in an attempt to smile and tears streamed down her face. "R-really?"

Makoto smiled at her, nodding. Ami hugged the girl about her waist, crying. "I can't believe it..."

Makoto slowly slid her arms around the other girl, holding her and rubbing her back. "We can try to do the whole relationship thing, can't we?"

"O-of course!" Ami nodded vigorously.

Makoto searched Ami's eyes for approval. "I don't want to screw things up with you like I did the others."

Ami just nodded, numbly.

Makoto managed a nervous laugh. "I've never done anything with a girl before..."

Ami nuzzled Makoto's neck. "Me neither."

Later on, Ami stood in the darkened kitchen, listening to her mother's lecture over the phone. She sighed, leaning against the counter. "Yes, mama. Yes... I know. It was irresponsible. Ye- what? Yes..."

Makoto was sitting at the kitchen table, her hands clasped around a cup of tea. She watched Ami pace around and sipped her tea slowly. Eventually Ami hung up the phone with a sigh and sat across from Makoto. She took her own cup of tea in her hands, sipped it, and frowned when she realized it had gotten cold.

"She still treats me like a child, sometimes..." Ami mumbled.

"It's nice though... to have a mom that worries about you" Makoto sighed. "I mean, if I go out late and I don't come home, who's going to know? Who's going to worry about me?"

"You're already so grown up, Makoto."

"Mm. If you think so."

The two left their mugs in the sink to be attended to later and went off to Makoto's bedroom. Makoto's bed was a great deal smaller than Ami's, only a simple double bed. The brunette pulled out her hair elastic and stood by her mirror, brushing her hair. "Ami, I'll sleep on the couch if you want, so-"

She felt two arms encircle her waist and Ami rested her forehead against Makoto's back. "What for? There's enough room..."

"I don't want to make you do anything you'll regret..." Makoto said quietly, lowering her head and feeling ashamed. Makoto wasn't naive. Neither was Ami. But the smaller girl had an air of innocence and shyness about her that seemed so easily broken. Makoto didn't want to ruin her. Makoto, the first time she'd been physically intimate, found she'd gone too far, too soon and was filled with regrets over it. She knew Ami had never gone beyond kissing. She wanted her but a part of her was crying out to take it slowly. All in due time.

She was surprised when she heard a giggle from behind her. "Why would I regret this?" She pulled herself against the taller girl, listening to her heartbeat, though it was softer through her back. "I love you. I'm sure of it. I've had a long time to sort it all out, Mako-chan."

"If you're sure..."

Makoto turned around to face her and stifled a laugh at the girl's pyjamas. Makoto had generously let Ami borrow a pair of hers but they were obviously too large on her. The smaller girl chuckled nervously, looking down at herself. "A little big."

"Just a little" Makoto said, grinning. But they didn't have to stay on her.

Makoto linked her arms around Ami's waist, swinging her onto the bed and crawling over her. Ami looked up at Makoto, a blush spreading across her cheeks. Makoto leered over her. She reached down, gently stroking the side of Ami's face. The smaller girl closed her eyes at the touch. "Ami-chan..." Makoto whispered. She reached over, switching off the lamp at her bedside table. Ami's pale skin gave off an ethereal glow in the moonlight. "You're beautiful..."

Ami opened her eyes slightly and she sat up, using her elbows to support herself. Makoto moved down slowly and their lips made contact. Makoto's lips were warm and soft as rose petals. Ami found herself pressing deeper into the other, linking her arms around Makoto's brown neck and pulling her down onto her. Makoto parted from her slightly and kissed her cheek. She kissed over the blush, over the glow. She kissed just beneath Ami's earlobe, which caused her to shiver.

Makoto kissed Ami's neck. Soft at first and then harder. She didn't want to go too far in such a short time, but Ami seemed to overwhelm her. Makoto wanted to kiss her everywhere all at once, to hold her as close as possible. She was like an angel. Makoto's mind was reeling.

She thought of all the times when Ami would move close to her, when she'd blush at her comments, when she'd shyly touch her. She'd never seen it before. Makoto cursed herself silently for being so blind. She'd found herself, more times than she could count, thinking of Ami, of how pretty she was and wondering what it would be like to hold her and kiss her.

Such thoughts had always been banished upon discovering them. Into the recesses of her mind, Makoto forced thoughts and feelings to the point where she truly believed that those things had only been a passing phase. But now, with the girl who had once haunted her thoughts so often here, Makoto allowed those thoughts leverage once again.

Her fingers idly unbuttoned Ami's top and she felt the other girl grip her hands, staring. Makoto raised her green eyes to lock with Ami's blue ones. "Trust me..." Makoto whispered, placing a kiss onto the girl's forehead.

The rest was a blur for everything seemed to mix and blend together after that. There was Ami's voice, ringing through Makoto's clouded mind. Her cries, her airy whispers, her breathy gasps. For that time, they were drifting away from earth, up in the air.

But they had to come down eventually.

Ami and Makoto lay side by side. Ami's bare chest rose and fell with her heavy breaths. She turned her head slowly, looking at Makoto and then rolled into her. She buried her nose into the other's shoulder. A long while passed and Makoto believed Ami to be asleep until she spoke.

"Was it too soon?" she asked, her voice tinged with worry.

Makoto smiled, stroking her hair which smelt of shampoo and chlorine. "I don't think so..."

The smaller girl smiled. "Me neither. I've wanted this... for a long time."

Makoto slid an arm about her and closed her eyes, sighing.

"Minako and Usagi... I'll have to thank them" Ami murmured.

"Oh?"

"It's nothing..."

Within a few moments, both girls had fallen into a blissful sleep. Their last thoughts before doing so: it's all so perfect.