Moon: Tsukino Usagi
Venus: Aino Minako
Mars: Hino Rei
Jupiter: Kino Makoto
Mercury: Mizuno Ami
Endymion: Chiba Mamoru
Kunzite: Seishou Kouseinou
Jadeite: Tabiki Kasen
Nephrite: Kousei Kyosei
Zoicite: Kouseki Yosouya

Chapter 6-Winter of our Discontent
‘I've always loved yet disagreed with that quote... "now is the winter of our discontent."' Laughing gleefully, something she had not done since she was a child, totally carefree of the world and all its worries, Mizuno Ami tossed her acceptance letter up in the air happily. "I made it!! I'm going to get my dream...I'm on my way to being a doctor!"
~ * ~ * ~
The next morning, before school started, the blue-haired girl fairly skipped her way through the halls. Spotting Minako and Makoto talking together, she came up to them and cried, "Minna, I made it into the German university! They accepted me. The letter just came yesterday afternoon."

Eyes concealing an unsettling emotion, Minako smiled quickly to hide the expression in her eyes. "Really? That's great, Ami-chan!! Congratulations!"

"Yeah, congratulations," Makoto added, hugging her. "We'll have to celebrate. You've never had time to meet anyone besides Rei-chan, ne? You can meet everyone else after school today! What do you say?"

Realizing something, something she had never told them, Ami turned pale suddenly. It felt as if the world were crashing down behind her ears, just as everything had finally turned out the way she wanted it. She had never told them about Yosouya, and the only people that knew about him were her mother, Kyosei, and Rei. His words had distressed her beyond anything...especially the quiet "oh" he had given to her explanation. It was definitely not the way she had planned for their re-meeting to go...and she knew it was mostly her fault. All her fault, actually. He had been perfect, handsome, well-mannered, and not the typical male chauvinist...so what had gone wrong? Her frustration was going to be the death of her.

"Ami-chan...dajibou? You still here?"

Blinking, Ami realized that she had been daydreaming and ignoring her friends. "Oh, I'm sorry. I wasn't paying attention; I guess I was caught up in thinking about something."

Watching her closely, Minako asked softly, "Is something on your mind? Anything you want to talk to us about?"

"No, no, I'm fine. So what were you saying?" The brunette and the blonde exchanged concerned glances but said nothing more about it, walking alongside of her.
~ * ~ * ~
‘I want to show the world my spirit, that I'm not just Mizuno Ami, almost Amy Anderson, who's half-gaijin. I want to be connected to water, be fluidly smooth, calm, tranquil. But now, forever, that dream will be gone. No one will be there to see it but myself, and I don't even know who I am. Mizuno Ami is just a name. I will never be a friend of water this way. What am I doing?' Sighing, Ami opened her eyes once more, but it was too late, and she bumped into another person along the crowded street. "Oh, gomen nasai...I wasn't watching where I was going. Dajibou?"

"Dajibou," he replied, smiling cheerily at her. As she walked on, he stared after her. ‘You know, something about her feels so strange, and I can't put my finger on it. Blue hair, blue eyes...water? Hai, that's it. For some reason, she reminded me of water. Such a beautiful element.'
~ * ~ * ~
Gloomily, as they entered the Crown Arcade, Kasen sighed dismally. "You know, it's no wonder we're brothers, Souya-kun. We can't get the girls that we love to love us back. I wonder what's wrong with us?"

"Nothing's wrong," he answered softly, "nothing's wrong."

Looking closely at his distant face, the other frowned. "Dajibou?"

"Dajibou. Don't worry."

As they took their seats, blue eyes perceptive, Kasen said, "Look, she's here. It _is_ her, isn't it? She looks...I don't know, different in person when she's not in the water, like on your poster. It's a strange feeling."

Distractedly, Yosouya replied, "They're almost one and the same, you know."

"But she's still just as you described her. You really care for her, don't you?"

Coming of his detached state, the green-eyed boy snapped curtly, "It's none of your business, so stop prying."

"Sure it is."
~ * ~ * ~
‘Oh no...he's here. What can I say to him?? My heart is pounding so fast and so loud that I'm surprised that everyone can't hear it. What was it they said? "Your heartbeat is sacred to yourself, an essential part of each unique person. Without it, you die...it matches something in your life, a secret passion." I can't live without swimming, and the rhythm of the movement, the sound of the water: it must be the tempo of my heartbeat. But everything's in the way, and I still don't know what to do. Oh, Kyo-kun's here. He's been pretty busy lately, but I'm glad he and Mako-chan are together. They're a wonderful couple. I wish I could have something like that. But my whole life, no one's felt that way about me, they way they feel about each other. Swimming has been my life, my voice, my heartbeat, my soul. How could I give it up so easily? What's happening to me? I'm being silly again. I can still swim in my free time; it's not as if I'll never touch the water again.' A treacherous part of her whispered, ‘It'll never be the same again,' but she shoved it away as she smiled shyly at the people gathered.

Kyosei got up first, giving her a big hug. "I always knew you could do it, Ami-chan. Congratulations, and ganbatte ne!"

Smiling shakily at him, she replied, "Arigato gozaimisu, Kyo-kun. For–for everything." ‘I hope everything with you and Mako-chan will turn out well...too bad I won't be here to see.'

"Say, where are Mamoru-kun and Usagi-chan?" Makoto asked curiously, sliding into the seat next to him after he sat back down.

"We don't know...demo, I don't think she'll be able to make it today," Yosouya interjected softly. "Neither will Rei-chan. But, on a happier note, congratulations, Mizuno-san."

‘Mizuno-san. Not Ami-chan. Not even Ami-san. That's right. We don't even know each other...' Realizing that Kyosei was watching her narrowly, she tried to smile. "Arigato, S-Kouseki-san."

Looking at his brother concernedly, who seemed to be totally emotionless, Kasen held his hand out in a friendly manner. "Konnichiwa, and hajimemashite, Ami-san. I'm Souya-kun's onii-san. It's nice to meet you–at last. Oh, and congratulations."

As she colored prettily, Minako and Makoto exchanged glances. "Nani? She's Souya-kun's girl?"

Before anyone answered, Ami stood slowly, rising out of her seat. "Excuse me, but I just...I just remembered something. It was so nice of you to do this for me, and arigato gozaimisu for your congratulations, but I have to go. Ja ne, minna." They watched her go in amazement, all except one...who understood.
~ * ~ * ~
Opening the door to her room, she leaned against it heavily, barely holding back the tears. It was one of the only times in the world she was glad her mother was almost never home. True, Dr. Mizuno had been extremely proud of her daughter and managed to have a celebration dinner with her last night, but she was back to her grave-yard shift working hours now that the initial excitement had worn off. Words echoed over and over in her head, producing a pounding headache that she was sure would turn into a migraine. Curling up under her covers, she suddenly felt angry and incensed. Throwing them off, she cried, "Why is everything _blue_?! The whole world is blue...blue used to be my color once. It isn't anymore! Forever!!"

‘I hate him! I hate him for making me feel this way, I hate him for confusing me, I hate him for being who he is! I hate him for teaching me how to swim, for saying all these things to me that were true. No, I don't hate him.' Shocked, she whispered aloud, "I love him. And I'm leaving him..."
~ * ~ * ~
"Matte, Ami-chan!"

Ami and her mother turned around, surprised by the youthful voice from behind. Running towards them were: Mamoru, Usagi, Kouseinou, Minako, Kasen, Rei, Kyosei, and Makoto. Smiling brightly at them, she asked, "Nani, you came all the way here for me??"

"Of course, Ami-chan. We couldn't let you go alone," Minako chirped, beaming at her.

With an arm around her waist, the silver-haired boy said softly, "Gomen nasai, Ami-chan. Souya-kun was...occupied. He couldn't make it."

Hiding her disappointment, she replied, "Arigato for coming. It's all right. Mako-chan, Kyo-kun, you guys are perfect for each other. I know everything will turn out well, and I'm sorry I won't be here to see it. Demo, I'm so happy to see that my old friend is happy. Mina-chan, Kousei-kun, you're just like Kyo-kun and Mako-chan but different. Gold and silver belong together. Arigato gozaimisu, Rei-chan. For everything. Kasen-kun. Well, I don't really know what to say, but you and Usagi-chan remind me of each other. Of course, you're different, but the same sunny spirit and bright smile are breathtaking. I'm so glad that I've met angels that walk the Earth, ones who know how to make the world a better place. Mamoru-kun, ganbatte ne. Arigato gozaimisu, minna!"

"Final boarding call for flight...to Munich, Germany. Calling all passengers...repeat, gate..."

‘My heart is breaking, and I never told him how I felt. But at least I'll smile, smile for my friends. I finally have friends. And really, it's sort of all thanks to him.' "Ja ne, minna. I hope I'll see you all again. I'll come back, I promise."
~ * ~ * ~
"What did she say?"

"She said...she said a lot of things. What she didn't say was ‘sayonara.' You should have been there, Souya-kun."

Looking into sorrowful silver eyes, Yosouya turned away, clenched fist going up to his chest. Pressing it there, he was silent for a few minutes, suppressing his pain. "No. It was better this way. She'll be happier, and it's always been her dream."

"Masaka, you two are impossible! Her other dream was professional swimming, and you gave it to her."

"I gave it to her. And she's thrown it all away."

Resisting the urge to bash some sense into his friend's head, Kouseinou sat down and watched him. He was unable to tell what his emotions were, watching the still figure by the window, silhouetted in sunlight. Sunlight gilded his hair, brought out his eyes. He was a creature of the light, but recently he had turned to the dark. Forsaken his wondrous gift of being able to tell how people felt a glance. And all for this girl...the way he would do anything for Minako, he realized suddenly. "Don't be bitter. It doesn't become you. Go back to the world of living, the world of light. There's meaning in life."

An ironic smile curling his mouth, he still did not turn around, merely murmured, "Is there? Too bad it's gone. Gone far away without a second thought."
~ * ~ * ~
"Onegai, Usa-ko. Listen to me. Aishiteru. I just never realized it before...demo, you did. You came to me in dreams. My hime-sama was _you_, with your hair, your eyes, your beautiful soul. How you acted, the way you cared for everyone, how you never gave up on me–until now. Onegai, don't leave me, Usa-ko. Aishiteru."

Looking into deep sapphire eyes, she felt herself giving in, but she needed one more question answered. "What about your hime-sama?"

"If you don't want to be her, I won't force you to. I don't need a hime-sama. I just need _you_, Tsukino Usagi. My Usa-ko."
"Then...aishiteru, Mamoru-kun."
~ * ~ * ~
"You promised once that you'd let me do the same for you, Souya-kun."

Staring moodily into the pool, he sighed deeply and turned to look at her. Then he smiled softly. "So, you told Mamoru-kun you loved him, ne? Good."

"Hai, I did." Cheeks flushed and eyes sparkling becomingly, she cast her eyes down for a moment before looking back at him. He had already turned away to gaze at the water, where many people were swimming. He didn't seem to hear them, lost in memories. The bright smile on his face was gone. "What's going on, Souya-kun? Why didn't you go to the airport?"

"It wouldn't have done any good," he muttered, "she would have left anyway."

Logically, Usagi pointed out, "She would have known you loved her. Maybe she wouldn't have left."

Closing his eyes against the pain, he whispered, "I never wanted to come between her and her dreams. I wanted to help her achieve them. I was so wrong. She had already achieved her dream. I just made everything worse for her. She'll have both goals, but she could have reached them both without me. I'm an inconsiderate, blind idiot."

Shocked, the golden-haired girl beside him cried, "No! Don't you see? You've helped her this far...you've been everything to her. She's gone for thirteen years wishing to meet you again. She's never forgotten you. You've never forgotten her."

"Maybe it's time to."

"Please, Souya-kun. Hold on a little longer. For me. Onegai?"

Unwillingly meeting her eyes, Yosouya's resolve wavered, then plummeted. "Okay," he conceded, "I'll wait. But only for another few months."

"Four months. It'll be April, Rei-chan's birthday. Onegai?"

"Four months. That's it. Happy?"

"Yes! Arigato gozaimisu."

"Douitashimashite. Ganbatte ne, Usagi-chan."

"The same for you. Remember your promise, and don't forget."
~ * ~ * ~

Jikai: The Next Meeting
The Present
Infinite Ice