Thoughts of Home: The Journey Home
By Sailor Doc
The journey home
no longer seemed that far, Ami mused, as she walked down the dampened sidewalk.
She seemed oblivious to the slowly drizzling rain and overcast sky, but a
sudden flash of lightening with its accompanying clap of thunder brought a
sweet and dreamy smile to her face.
'Makoto,' she
thought.
She was no
longer surprised by the blush she could feel covering her cheeks. She was,
however, amused that even after all this time just the thought of her lover
could still make her feel shy.
It was four
years now since they had first gotten together. She laughed quietly to herself
as she remembered all the wistful looks and shy words they had shared back
then. Any excuse to touch had been a good one; an arrant lock of hair, a piece
of lint, a stray eye lash. Cookie crumbs on each other cheeks had been an
especial favorite of them both.
"No wonder
you were always baking all those cakes and cookies," Ami had accused her
later, after they had begun to date.
"Yeah, ya
got me on that one," Makoto had said with a grin. "Of course back
then I couldn't brush them off your cheeks the way I really wanted to."
"Oh?"
Ami had asked. "And how was that?"
"With my
lips," had been the whispered response as Makoto had proceeded to lean
forward and dust her lips and cheeks with feather-light kisses, her touch as
soft and gentle as her whispered breath had been...
Sighing at the
sweet memory, Ami smiled and picked up her pace a bit. With the frenzied rush
her life had become since she had entered medical school, the journey home had
become a welcome part of her busy schedule. It gave her the time to think about
personal things that didn't come out of textbook, lecture halls, cadaver labs
and patient studies. As important as those things were and as fascinating as
she found them, they could never infringe on that special place in her heart
that belonged to Makoto and Makoto alone.
Time.
Time had become
their enemy for awhile. With the beginning of college for Ami and entrance into
the first of many cooking schools for Makoto, they had started to find it
increasingly difficult to find any time at all, much less quality time to spend
together. The added responsibilities of additional study, after-school labs,
research papers, catered affairs, and senshi duties had put a tremendous amount
of strain on their relationship. After many stress induced misunderstandings
and arguments, which included both tears and accusations, they had come to the
realization that they were not each others problem. Time was their common
enemy. With the root of the problem established they were able to seek out the
advice of a professional...and who could be better than the guardian of time
herself? Ami grinned as she remembered the look on Setsuna's face when both she
and Makoto had shown up on her doorstep for 'marriage counseling'! She had
invited them into the living room with a knowing smile and after returning a
few minutes later with a fresh pot of tea, proceeded to show them how to make
time work for, not against them. Since then, each new day, no matter how hectic
it may be, had been an adventure they could share. They faced each new
challenge together, and what a rush it had been!
The wind picked
up a bit and Ami, grateful for the raincoat Makoto had insisted she take that
morning, huddled under her umbrella and watched the approaching bus with
relief. The familiar screech of the air brakes and splash of the large tires
were almost as welcome a sound as the swish of the large folding door as it
opened to invite her out of the cold and damp. Paying her fare and taking a
seat close to the front, Ami continued to think of their war against time.
After their
initial 'session' with Setsuna things had improved greatly, however the
decisive blow had been dealt two years ago.
It had happened
one night as Ami was once again preparing to return home for the night. It had
become a part of their established routine to spend their evenings together, no
matter where that may be. Sometimes it would be at the library or lab of Ami's
school, and at other times, the back of some strange restaurant where Mako had
gotten a chance to study under the direct guidance of some famous chef. More
often than not though, it would be at Makoto's apartment where they would both
'hunker down' to their books in a deadly serious attempt to better their
future. However...being young and in love did make for some rather interesting
distractions. It may have been an old joke, but Mako never tired of reminding
Ami that if she really wanted to be a good doctor, the on-going study of human
anatomy was very important...and she would always be willing, even eager, to
help! Smiling secretly to herself, Ami couldn't stop the rush of memories that
came to her as she thought about all the nights they had spent in the privacy
of their own special anatomy lab, where 'the joys of learning' took on a whole
new meaning...
Ami sighed as
she watched the people walking down the sidewalks from the comfort of her seat,
her thoughts on her partner.
As a lover,
Makoto was...amazing. Of course her experience before Makoto was limited. Okay,
it was nonexistent! But honestly, she couldn't even begin to imagine that
anyone else could satisfy her more. Truthfully, she really couldn't see anyone
else in that capacity. The people in her life fell into groups; her family, her
friends, her acquaintances, her co-workers, and then there was Makoto, who was
in a class all by herself. She was best friend and lover, critic and cheering
squad, guardian and advocate. As a partner, she was supportive, encouraging and
always interested in her progress. As a lover, she was tender and giving, yet
she carried an underlying passion that held her captive and took her breath
away every time. She had heard of two people becoming 'as one', but it truly
seemed to her that in those special moments, Makoto really was a part of her.
Not just on a physical level, but a spiritual one as well.
With a slight
shiver that had nothing whatsoever to do with her rain dampened shoes and feet,
Ami forced her thoughts to return to the night, just a little over two years
ago, when the time issue had been, if not solved, at least contained.
They had again
spent the evening at Makoto's, where they had gotten a lot accomplished with
their respective studies and had even had time to spare for 'anatomy lab', but
as inevitably happened, the time came for Ami to return to her mother's house.
With the passage of time, this had started to become more and more difficult.
"Don't
go," Makoto had whispered, her breath tickling Ami's ear gently.
"Stay the night," she had said, her arms intimately entangled around
Ami, who clung to her in like fashion at the front door of the apartment.
With a soft
growl of frustration their lips came together again, the desire to stay and the
need to leave playing out their war on the battleground of the young lovers’
desire.
"I
can't," Ami groaned as she tried to be strong and pull away from her
lovers determined lips.
"Why/"
Makoto had asked quickly before launching another assault, this time on Ami's
sensitive neck and ear.
Ami's eyes had
rolled in pleasure before she was forced to close them by the re-awakening fire
that she had really only just banked a few minutes before. Tightening the grip
she had on her lover, she could feel herself giving in to the desire that was
never really that far away when they were together.
"Ami-love,"
the whispered endearment burned into her consciousness.
"Makoto,"
she had pleaded, her body trembling with her re-awakened need. "Please,
baby...you're making this so hard..."
"I
know," Makoto had said, her pleading eyes locked on Ami's blue ones.
"I don't want you to leave! I don't ever want you to leave!"
The moment had
seemed frozen in time.
In that one
instance they both seen the 'hand-writing on the wall', and Ami had gotten an
un-obstructed view of Makoto's lonely heart. Gazing up into that beloved face
with its frame of reddish-brown hair, still disheveled from their earlier
passion, she was struck by the fear she saw buried there in those beautiful,
deep green eyes.
"Mako,"
she had whispered, raising her hand to caress the cheek of her suddenly silent
thunder senshi. "Sweetheart, what's wrong?"
"I...I...,"
she stammered after a few moments. Then she had swallowed, and pulling away
from their embrace said, "You’ll think it's silly."
Frowning
slightly, Ami replied, "I don't think I could find anything 'silly' that
affects you like this." As Makoto had started to turn away, Ami had
reached out to stop her, her grip on Makoto's arm firm and determined.
"I'm serious Makoto," she'd said softly. "Talk to me."
The air
conditioner chose that moment to cycle back off and the room was still as Ami
waited, giving her lover time to collect her thoughts.
"Ami,' she
began a few moments later, her voice strained.”I'm tired. I'm just so damn
tired of...of...," Ami watched as she clinched her jaw and stared up at
the ceiling for several seconds before lowering her head once more to continue
softly "...of being alone."
They could hear
the wall clock ticking in the next room. They really didn't care.
"I've spent
so much of my life alone, staring at the four walls of this damn apartment. I
guess I'm just sick and tired of coming home knowing I'll be spending yet
another night alone, in the dark, by myself, in the cold, without another soul
to give a damn whether I even wake up in the morning or not."
Ami started
forward in violent protest, stopped only by Makoto's gentle hand on her
forearm.
"I know
what you're going to say," she continued, a sad smile on her face,
"and I love you for it! But, you asked me what was wrong and this is it.
This is how I feel, and the fact remains that even though I know you love me,
you still have to leave me most every night. It...," she swallowed
painfully. "It still hurts."
Ami was quiet,
her thoughts spinning through her mind like a whirlwind. Finally, in a quiet
voice she had asked, "what do you want me to do?"
Looking into her
eyes with a seriousness Ami had never seen before, Makoto stated firmly,
"I want you to stay. Here. With me. Period."
They had gazed
at each other for a bit, weighing the gravity of the moment. Then, without
another word, Ami had walked to the phone, picked it up and dialed.
"Hello,
mom?... yeah, its me... yeah, I know it's pretty late, sorry! Are you okay?... that's
great!... Look, I think I'll be staying here... no, no, she's fine... no,
really!... no, it's not that...MOM!" Ami blushed a fiery red as she
clinched the receiver in her hand. "Kami-sama, mom! I can't believe you
said that!" Ami had looked at Makoto, turned even redder and quickly cut
her eyes away from her. "Geez, mom... no... no, that's not it really. It's
just. Well. Makoto needs me."
Makoto had
watched the one-sided conversation in wonder and fascination. Was what she
thought was happening really happening?
"Yeah, I
guess it's time...yeah...yeah...," a small smile quirked her lips as she
listened to her mom on the other end. "Yeah, we'll talk about it sometime
this weekend...uh-huh...yeah...I love you too, mom...good night."
Ami returned the
receiver to its cradle, and turned to face her partner.
"I'm
home," she'd said with a gentle smile. She offered her open arms to
Makoto, who came forward eagerly into her welcoming embrace...
Gazing once
again out the bus window, Ami never noticed the two cab drivers arguing at the
intersection. All she saw was the glorious rays of the sun as they began to
break through the oppressive cloud cover. With a happy grin, she thought of her
life since that night.
Once the
decision had been made, events had moved pretty swiftly. By the end of the next
week, Ami had been officially moved into 'the apartment formerly known and
Makoto's'. An apartment warming party had been thrown by their friends and
fellow senshi to everyone's fun and enjoyment. Haruka had simply said,
"About time," to Michiru's amusement, and Setsuna, in her own special
if enigmatic way had merely smiled and said, "a most excellent use if time
management. I congratulate you both!"
Since then life
had been, if not perfect, then darn near close. Sure, they'd had their tiffs
form time-to-time as most couples do, but for the most part the move had
strengthened their relationship. After all, as Makoto had said one time,
"how can I stay mad at you for forgetting to clean the bathroom when I
come home and find you fast asleep, face down on your textbooks?" Ami
remembered how touched she had been by Makoto's sentiment until she had gone
and ruined it..." Besides...I find the drool- pool on that page just way
too sexy..." Embarrassed, Ami had made her pay! Oh yeah, she had paid for
that one! But still, the truth was they both worked hard, and true love had a
way of deciding what was really important, as well as what was not.
On the
anniversary of their first year together in the apartment, Ami had come home to
discover an apartment where only candles provided the lighting. Fresh flowers
decorated a table elegantly set for two and if the aroma was any indication,
the food would be as tasteful and wonderful as it looked. As Ami looked in
amazement at the scene in front of her, she became aware of movement to her
right. As she watched, Makoto entered the room with a quiet smile.
"Hey,"
She'd said softly. "Welcome home!"
Her dress was
cocktail length and black, with french sleeves and a sweetheart neckline. It
gracefully covered her curves and seemed to bring out the subtle lights of her
reddish-brown hair. She wore light make-up, with her trademark rose earrings
and a simple diamond pendant, a gift from her parents on her ninth birthday,
adorned her neck.
Stunned, Ami
stood there unable to think.
"Do you
like it?" Makoto asked shyly.
Jolted from her
catatonic state, Ami had uncharacteristically blurted, "Yes!" As
she'd seen Makoto's smile, she'd said, "This is wonderful! I can't believe
you went to all this trouble. Oh Mako, it's absolutely beautiful! And
you," She swallowed, tears coming to her eyes as her voice came in a
whisper. "You take my breath away."
Makoto had taken
her in her arms and gently kissed her lips. Are you hungry?" she asked
with a sexy smile.
"Uh-huh,"
Ami had managed in a daze.
"Then hurry
up and get dressed!" She'd teased.
After a quick
change into something better suited for the importance of the evening, Ami had
returned to share the wonderful meal her Mako had prepared for them. As great
as it was, she just couldn't take her eyes off of her beautiful partner. It was
funny, she mused, that while others may call her plain, to her, Makoto was
beauty itself. But then she knew she saw Mako through the eyes of love and as
such, she would always be perfection to her.
At the end of the
meal, Makoto had given her a glass of champagne and offered a toast.
"To us, and
our first year together. May it be the first of many, many more," she'd
said, her eyes sparkling in the candlelight.
"Hear,
hear...," Ami had quickly agreed and together they had touched glasses,
entwined their arms and drank to seal the toast.
"Here,"
Makoto said. "I have something for you."
Ami frowned.
"Makoto! I thought we agreed to hold off on gifts except for birthdays and
Christmas until we're out of school."
"You're
right Ami, we did. But," she gave a sly little grin, "I lied!"
"Makoto!
Sweetheart, I didn't get you anything!" Ami wailed.
"Sh-h-h!
Don't worry about it, love! You may not even like this old thing," she
said as she produced a small black box from behind her back.
Ami had looked
at that tiny black box in Makoto's outstretched hand like it was the most
fascinating thing she had ever seen...but was afraid it might bite her!
"Go
on," Makoto had encouraged her, an eager twinkle in her eyes. "Open
it."
With trembling
hand, Ami had reached out and taken the box. Eyes wide, she had opened the
hinged lid and could not avoid the tiny gasp that escaped her lips or the tears
that began to slowly slide down her cheeks.
Inside was a
ring. A sturdy-looking gold band that was set with several channel cut emeralds
cut in the shape of lightening bolts.
"Oh
Makoto," Ami whispered. It was all she could manage as Makoto had gently
taken her left hand. Kissing her ring finger, Makoto had looked deeply into her
eyes, said "Forever," and slipped the ring into place...
Ami looked down
at her hand and smiled as the emerald lightening bolts winked back at her. Lost
in her thoughts of that special night, she almost missed her stop and hurried
to gather her things. As she exited the bus, she became aware of the fresh
breeze and the smell of the rain-washed pavement. She couldn't help but smile
again.
She was almost
home.
Tonight would
also be a special night. It was two years now since they had first moved in
together, and this time she was prepared. As the elevator took her to their
floor, she ran down her list. This time she would be ready, and she had told
Makoto so as well.
1-A corsage of
fresh, pink orchids would be delivered at
2-Haruka would pick them up in a limo at
3-They had reservations at Makoto's all-time favorite restaurant at
4-Minako-chan would enter the apartment with two dozen red roses to decorate
their room at
5-They would return home by
6-After that...well...
Entering their
bedroom, Ami walked to the closet to check out her new dress. Cut in the
classical style, it was evening length and perfectly matched the sparkling
sapphire-blue of her eyes...as well as something else...she hoped Makoto would
approve.
Later that night
when they at last returned home, Ami couldn't have been happier with the way
the evening had progressed. Everything had gone off as planned. Makoto had
loved the beautiful pink orchids! Haruka had been there at
That left only
one last thing.
"So,"
Ami began. "Did you enjoy yourself tonight?"
"How could
I not," Makoto exclaimed, her happiness evident in her sparkling eyes.
"It was a perfect evening and I love you for sharing it with me."
Ami smiled
brightly at her words and answered, "I love you to Mako, so very much, but
there's still one last little bit of business we have to take care of before we
can retire for the evening."
Makoto moved
forward to take the smaller girl in her arms. "Are you sure it can't wait
until morning, Ami-love," Makoto whispered softly in her ear as she began
to trail kisses in a firm, but gentle line down the side of her neck.
Swallowing
convulsively as she felt her heart-rate increase, Ami stuck to her convictions
and gently pulled away.
"No...I
mean YES, I'm sure it can't wait," she said as Makoto grinned at her
momentary confusion.
"Okay
love," Makoto said, putting forth the effort to get serious again.
"What's so important it can't wait, tonight of all nights?"
"This,"
Ami said, holding out a small black box. "It's my turn."
Stunned, Makoto
stared at the tiny black box, then smiled. "I guess I really shouldn't be
all that surprised," she said. "So, is this a case of 'turnabout
being fair play'?"
"You know
it!" Ami responded, a large grin spreading across her adorable face.
"Now here! Take this thing before I drop it or something!"
Reaching out,
Makoto took the tiny box in her hand and cracked it open. With her first glance
inside, her other hand involuntarily went to her mouth to cover the sobs as she
gazed at its contents.
It was, of
course, a ring. A sturdy-looking gold band that was set with several channel
cut sapphires all cut in the shape of icicles, very closely resembling the
lightening bolts on Ami's own ring.
She was
speechless. All she could do was stare at the ring, her mind and spirit moved
by the beauty of not the ring itself, but what it symbolized.
"Do you
like it?" Ami asked, breaking the silence of the room.
"Oh
Ami," was all Makoto could manage. "My Ami-love."
With that
charming, quiet smile that was all her own, Ami stepped forward and took
Makoto's left hand. Kissing her ring finger, Ami captured Makoto's eyes with
her own, trying desperately to say with them all they were both too moved to
say with words. "Forever," she whispered, and slipped the ring into
place.
And so it was.
The journey home
was now, and forever, complete.