It doesn’t feel right not having a post at all in December, so here’s a quick round-up of where we’re at as we depart 2023. (If you’re wondering why I’m not posting a serial entry this month, where have you been?)

THE GOOD

The Accidental Time Travelers Collective Volume 2 came out earlier this month, and I have a short story in that once again this year, “Plan V”. (If you missed it, Volume 1 came out December of last year, and included my story “Free Will”.) There are both new and returning authors in this second anthology.

I pulled my story together in August, before school resumed, and managed to keep up with editing requirements as I yet AGAIN went through the toughest school term to date.

I also completed my 13th annual Christmath Parody, “Inequalities” this month, which was going to be delayed, then came out on time for all the wrong reasons. (see below)

I’ve spent a bunch more time on Mastodon in 2023, where there’s a supportive writing community, and I also joined BlueSky, which I look at occasionally.

I think that’s it for the good.

THE BAD

My new serial, “Angel Pasta”, which began in September, has not done well at all. It started in a promising way, with 15 views and 3 votes, but exactly one month later, Part 3 had only 6 views and 1 vote. I extended the time limit for a full month to no avail.

Part 4, which went up at the end of November, then had literally only 1 view for over 20 days. It got its second view and it’s first vote on December 19th, which honestly wasn’t enough motivation for me to do anything with it. Apologies if you’re the one voter who’s since been waiting.

I’ll still finish it, I always do, but what’s the point?

After over a decade of this site, I can’t get more than two people to care about my interactive serial writing. (I also feel like the second view was the first person coming back, since I said the next part would be “after Dec 20th”.) What’s wrong with me?

Related, March 2023 was my worst month for pageviews in 2023, at only 63 across 400+ posts. Then April, May and August were all below 100. The best month was way back last January, when I got 680 views. Possibly due to Volume 1 of the short story… but then almost no one stuck around? I suppose that’s the cynical view.

Motivation is lacking all around, I suppose. How does a person know when it’s time to give up? Any suggestions for what I might do instead?

THE UGLY

I’ve been dealing with Covid-19 over the holidays. Tested positive the afternoon of Dec 24th before I was going to meet the in-laws, and it hit me like a truck late that night. I likely caught it at school, despite how I masked with an N95 every day.

What’s followed has been a week spent in the basement, next to an air purifier on Turbo with a window cracked open, in the hopes that I don’t spread it to my wife or daughter.

So far so good on that front, at least. But it wrecked our travel plans and I’ve mostly experienced my daughter’s 5th Christmas by proxy. At least now I don’t get winded climbing the stairs as I did the middle of last week.

I’d say this has afforded me lots of time to write, except knowing almost no one’s reading my work, it really didn’t feel like there was much of a damn point there. Though I did finish the ChristMaths parody on time, as referenced above, because why not.

It got six likes on Facebook, which isn’t bad considering I barely post anything there any more. Why do I even.

Sorry if this post became a downer. Partly I hope to make your life seem better by comparison, as always.

THE COINS

I posted about this in September, but you probably missed it as I was introducing the new serial too.

A reminder, to end 2015, I had 42 coins from that year. During 2016 I got 37 minted coins (some in BC). During 2017 I got 20 coins dated that year (some before June). During 2018 I got 21 coins minted, during 2019 I got 17 coins of that year, then pandemic.

During 2020 I got one, plus a quarter to start 2021, so calling it two.

In 2021, there were also only two (and again the quarter might have been the start of February 2022, I don’t recall). Conversely, in 2022, I started getting current quarters in MAY. By the end of the year, I had 10 coins (half were quarters). But I think the death of the Queen put the halt on things.

For 2023, I’ve had one coin, a two-nie, still with the queen on it.

There are apparently black “goth” two-nies commemorating the Queen floating around, but I have yet to see one. Likewise a small number of 2023-dated coins with the King started circulating this month, but again, nothing I’ve seen.

And so, that’s been the year.

Another year of questioning why I still write.

It’s not like I couldn’t be using the time for something more productive.

I don’t know, I’ll get back to it, I always seem to, perhaps because I can’t take a hint.

I do hope your year has been, if not positive, at least full of bright spots you can focus on. Me, as noted, I do have the short story, and my daughter (with the yearly calendar I put together of her too), along with the fact that I haven’t yet infected her with a debilitating disease, which is something.

Take care, hope to see you visit my site in 2024.

ANGEL PASTA: PART FOUR

“I thank you for all you have told me,” Angel said. “Know that I am still not leaving, but for now, I will not impede whatever actions you and this Epsilon group are taking either.”

Patty fidgeted. “Oh. You are not interested in perhaps going all in, and helping us? I’m sure I can convince Beam of your good intentions.”

Angel smiled. “Interested, perhaps. But no. First, I must find out more on my own.”

After all, Epsilon could be playing the long game in terms of influencing her, and she wasn’t about to walk into that trap. They were going to have to make more of an effort to get at her.

Patty sighed. “Ah, bien. I suppose that will have to do. It was nice talking with you, at least.”

“Agreed. And if I may, I would like to request two things,” Angel added, leaning forwards and resting her arms on her knees. When Patty nodded, she continued. “I would like a way to contact you. It seems only fair, as you know where I am staying tonight.”

Patty brightened visibly. “For sure. I am staying with my friend Mimi,” Patty said. She gave the address.

Angel nodded. “Thank you. As to the second thing, I would appreciate an introduction to this Mimi LaFleche. She likely has information about the area, via her father or otherwise, which would be helpful for my own investigation. And unlike so many others in town, she’s motivated to talk.”

Patty thought longer about that one, but then nodded. “I am not certain what she might be able to tell you that I cannot, but perhaps that is the point. Very well. She has a break at work today from 1300 to 1500 hours, you could come by the house this afternoon.”

“Excellent.”

Angel rose from her chair at that, and Patty followed suit, sensing that their discussion was over.

“Do be careful,” Patty added, even as Angel reached out a hand. “I would hate to see any harm come to you.” Patty took her palm and they shook.

“Always,” Angel assured. “You take care as well.”

With that, the two ladies parted ways, Patty giving one last look over her shoulder before Angel closed the hotel room door.

She was being followed.

Angel had decided to take the rest of the morning to have a quick look around the area of the jellyfish swarm. She had not done so yet in part because the boat rental prices were steep, and in part because she had not thought it necessary. But if some mystery artifact was involved, perhaps an inspection was warranted.

There was a chance she would spot something out of the ordinary.

She had opted for a small, slower motorboat for ease of navigation. While she might have enough strength to row for a short time, she did not want to cramp up and become adrift.

There were a few other boats out on the water as she left, fishing boats still attempting to bring in some wares, one half full tourist boat, and some passenger boats either out for the day or heading up the coast. But the blue boat with the overhead canopy that left its occupant(s?) in darkness was definitely keeping an eye on her.

It helped that she had read the map incorrectly and had started out by going the wrong way. The blue boat had followed her when she made the turn back toward the proper jellyfish location. It was now idling some distance away.

Angel wondered what they were hoping to accomplish.

Was this a member of the Octopus organization? Was it someone from the Epsilon organization instead? Or perhaps they were small time thugs noticing an unaccompanied woman? The occupant could, Angel reflected, even be Patty herself, though that seemed unlikely.

[caption id=“attachment_3575” align=“alignright” width=“300”] Jellyfish. Are they the antagonist?[/caption]

Busy speculating, she stared at the jellyfish swarm without really seeing them. Though she did note that the bioluminescence, which one report had said was occurring at strange intervals, here simply seemed random.

She supposed she might have caused a disturbance to the water upon her approach, altering their behaviour, though she had been trying to keep her distance. At any rate, she was seeing nothing unusual.

Diving might be a future option to consider. As long as she was protected from jellyfish stings, and no one attempted to make off with her boat while she was down there. (Is that why the other craft was watching her? Waiting for her to dive?) However, she would want to call her friend Jean-Michel Lestrange for some tips before such an attempt, as he was a proper dive expert.

Angel turned the boat engine back on, and vectored in the direction of the docks.

However, once she seemed committed to that heading, she abruptly turned her boat to aim directly for the mysterious blue one.

That boat spun in place, before fully opening up its engine and heading away. Effectively confirming it wasn’t Patty, who wouldn’t be so rude. Angel also suspected random thugs might have panicked at her approach, or otherwise allowed her to get closer, but there was no way to be sure. So, an Organization?

Angel attempted to catch up, but the other boat had a higher top speed, and she lost it as it executed a curve, disappearing behind a much larger ship. She did get that the name on the bow had been something like ALPHA or ALEPH, though hadn’t approached close enough to be sure.

Something else to ask about around the docks, she supposed.

Angel reached Mimi’s house promptly at 1pm. The house wasn’t a large affair, nestled in between two similar looking structures, but it had two floors with at least a few rooms on each. Plus the grounds were large enough for a small garden, which was fenced in next to a toolshed.

She opened the gate and walked up, both ringing the doorbell and then knocking, but no one seemed to be home.

It was as Angel was heading back down the front path that a blonde with her hair in ringlets made the turn at the sidewalk to approach. She gave Angel a wave. “Hello,” she chirped. “Nice ears. You selling lucky rabbit feet or something?”

“No,” Angel said dryly. “I was looking for Mimi Lafleche.”

“Ahhh. Look, if this is about a debt, I haven’t seen her, but will pass on the message.”

“It is not about that, it is about her father.”

“Mmmm.” The blonde gave that one some additional thought. “Okay, I’m Mimi. Come in.”

As Mimi walked past her, pulling a key out of her handbag, Angel gave her a similar once over to what she had done with Patty that morning.

A white long sleeved blouse with a dark skirt, which had on it a flour stain that stopped abruptly, implying the presence of an apron there earlier in the day. Moderate build, not too curvy, and it seemed Mimi had strong arms. Which could be needed to carry trays of food. She had sensible shoes, no jewellery to speak of, a hint of makeup, and of course those ringlets.

Angel was very ambivalent about ringlets in hair, though she now wondered whether Patty had the two curls on either side of her face as some effort at pale imitation.

“I gather you’re the woman Patty was going to see this morning,” Mimi remarked as she unlocked her door. “She mentioned someone with bunny ears was poking about, looking into the jellyfish.”

“Oui,” Angel confirmed. She frowned. “Yet there was no mention of my dropping by at this hour?”

“Oh, haven’t seen her since breakfast,” Mimi said. “She’s probably out buying parts for one of her electronic gizmos. I’m hoping she can make something that will deal with our sea life problem, you see.” She walked into the house as she continued to speak. “Patty really is good with electrical things.”

Angel’s frown deepened as she realized she hadn’t really asked Patty about any of her hobbies or other specialities that might have made her a recruit for the Epsilon Project, aside from her being a lesbian. Rather short sighted of her. Even rude.

And yet, personal details of the locals were not the reason for her visit to this town. Right? It wouldn’t do to get too familiar, Angel rationalized.

She followed Mimi inside and closed the door behind her. The hallway featured an archway on one side into a living room area, while a set of stairs ascended on the other side. Mimi took neither path, striding down the hallway into what turned out to be the kitchen.

“You’ll pardon me,” Mimi said as she pulled open the fridge. “My plan is a drink and a quick siesta before returning to work. I will, of course, attempt to clear up any issues with my father in the process.”

“Bien,” Angel said. “Then I will be brief. First, do you know of anyone who might want to frame your father for what is going on now?”

“Hmm, aside from me?” Mimi said with a half smile. She produced a bottle of white wine and went to get a glass.

Angel stared. “You willingly implicate yourself?”

Mimi shrugged. “Might as well be up front about it. Dad doesn’t approve of my dating the owner of the restaurant where I work, you see. It’s more about the power imbalance than Louis himself, but still. I think that’s why he visits town, to check up on us.”

“Ah. And you would rather he did not visit.”

“More like I would rather he not poke into my private affairs when he does so,” Mimi clarified, as she placed a wine glass on the kitchen counter and reached for the bottle. “I enjoy talking with him, but would prefer a topic like jellyfish, or frankly anything other than my personal life decisions.”

“But then, if you want him distracted, why ask your friend Patty to clear up the situation?”

“I asked her to look into it,” Mimi corrected. “Because I thought he might be implicated. That’s not the same as clearing it up. Also, you asked who would frame my Dad, all I’m saying is me or Louis might have a motive to keep him away.” She had a sip of the wine.

There was definitely more to Mimi than met the eye, Angel decided.

“Very well,” Angel said. “Anyone else?”

Mimi seemed to consider it. “That head of tourism, Jules, is definitely not a fan after this. And the dock master Vesso sometimes loses his patience with Dad over the attitude he has. There’s perhaps a couple of the other boat captains who have had a run in with him. And the local priest dislikes his tendency to swear. There’s no one else of consequence that I know.”

Angel nodded. “Now then, might any of them have tried to get him out of the way before the jellyfish arrived? Or do you know for a fact that he is, indeed, simply docked somewhere else up the coast?”

Mimi stared, then pointed at Angel. “I like you. We never considered a kidnapping to prevent him from self-advocating.” She took another sip of wine. “And I guess there is no way to know for sure. He did leave with his boat a few days before the swarm arrived, but perhaps someone got ahold of him at sea. I haven’t heard from him either way.”

The revelation seemed to trouble Mimi, Angel decided, after attempting another of her empathy readings. It seemed like the other woman did care for her father, even if she wanted him to pry less into her love life.

“Very well. Are there any particularly good places where one could hide out in town?” Angel continued.

Mimi stared. “You think he is being held captive here in town?”

“I think there are many possibilities,” Angel said. Such as how the captain could be a prisoner, willing or otherwise. Alternatively, the entire jellyfish affair could be a ruse to have people looking at the sea and talking about the captain, instead of noticing something else happening on land. She did not elaborate for Mimi.

Mimi set her glass back down. “There are some hiding places. Patty is using one right now for her equipment. Do you think she could be in danger there?”

It was Angel’s turn to feel troubled. “Danger? What makes you say that?”

“You indicated that she was going to tell me of your visit here. She did not. It could be because she became distracted, but… could something sinister have occurred?”

Mimi had a point. For that matter, by insisting on staying in town, had Angel unwittingly brought the wrath of the Epsilon Project down on Patty? Was Patty in trouble, and was it partly her fault?

Angel placed her hands on her hips. “Mimi, could I trouble you to tell me where Patty’s equipment hiding place is located?”

poll.fm/13042620

The new poll will be open until mid-December January 6, didn’t even get a vote until Dec 19. Related, should Mimi come along when Angel leaves? Consider a comment if you have an opinion. I hope to have another part out before the end of the year. The annual ChristMaths special will come first, on my other site. Thank you for reading!

ANGEL PASTA: PART THREE

“Bon,” Patty said at last. “There is a mysterious organization attempting to recover an artifact.”

Angel lifted an eyebrow. “Oh? Are they using the jellyfish to do it?” she mused, when Patty didn’t volunteer anything else.

“Non, I do not think so,” Patty said after a moment. “I think the jellyfish came about because of the artifact.”

“But you’re not sure? Sounds like all the more reason to investigate,” Angel pointed out.

Patty sighed. “I am. And will continue my efforts. But this organization, who call themselves Epsilon, they do not want you involved as well.”

Angel hmmmed. That certainly felt suspicious. “Why not?”

“I do not know. But when I asked Beam, she said I should get rid of you.”

Angel lifted her other eyebrow. “Oh. And thus you want me to leave town so that you do not have to kill me instead?”

Patty visibly flinched, her face paling. “Hein? Ah, non, non! Beam meant for me to send you away, I did not mean to imply we wished to… dispose of you.” She shuddered. “I do not think I could even attack someone else, let alone kill them.”

[caption id=“attachment_3547” align=“alignleft” width=“198”] PÂTES[/caption]

“I see.” Angel brought her hand back to the table, tapping her fingers lightly as she tried to get an emotional read on Patty. It was a skill she had been developing over the years.

Patty’s panic over having to assault someone appeared genuine. Thus she was unlikely to be a secret agent or someone with military training. Angel was secretly pleased by that, even as she wondered how Patty would feel upon learning Angel herself had shot at and injured people, albeit non-lethally.

Yet there was something more about this situation… romantic feelings? Towards her? Patty definitely seemed to be into other women, but that did not negate the possibility of a romantic attachment to a man. Perhaps she was even connected to Jules? Angel needed more data.

“You have not been involved with this Epsilon organization long,” Angel probed, after a moment.

“I have not,” Patty admitted.

“Yet you sought them out?”

“Non, she– er, they found me.”

She? Of course. There it was. “Ahh. This Beam, she is pretty, yes?”

Patty’s cheeks coloured. “Yes. And it’s true that I do not meet many other queer women. But I don’t see how that is relevant to– ahh, zut alors, you are playing me like a cheap violin!” Patty dropped her croissant on her plate and turned away, staring towards the ground.

Angel quickly reached her arm across the table, her palm out. “Non. Not cheap. Never cheap. And for the record, you are very attractive, Patty. My flirting is genuine, and I would like be able to concentrate on it. If only I weren’t also concerned with this situation in town, and how it relates to your mysterious organization.”

Patty glanced back up at her, then again to the ground, the fusilli-style ringlets of her hair bouncing merrily on either side of her face. Angel remained still, her hand open in a silent invitation.

It took at least a minute, but Patty finally sighed. “Angel, I have already said too much.”

“And yet, I am not leaving. So. In for a penny, in for a pound? If it makes you feel better, I am an independent contractor,” Angel offered.

Patty again looked sidelong at her, then tentatively smiled, and reached out towards Angel’s outstretched palm. “I am a fool, falling for a pretty face again, but you saying that does make me feel better,” she admitted. “Given how Beam’s main concern was the attentions of some octopus group.”

Angel felt her heart rate increase at that mention, though she endeavoured not to let her alarm show on her face. She had dealt with operatives of the Octopus before, and was less than thrilled at the prospect that they might become involved here as well. Taking in a slow breath, as the other woman’s fingers slid in against her own, she reassuringly squeezed Patty’s hand.

“Of course,” Patty continued, “if you were part of some evil organization, I’m sure you would lie about it. Or perhaps not know that the organization itself was evil. So I’m sure I am being very naive by simply trusting y–”

“Pâtes,” Angel cut in, deliberately using Patty’s given name. “I believe our discussion has reached a point where it should no longer continue out in public.”

Patty’s red lips clamped shut.

Angel squeezed at Patty’s hand. “There is no need for concern. That said, where would you feel more comfortable talking? There is my hotel room, or my van, which like is my mobile home.” She didn’t even suggest the possibility of not talking about it.

And Patty certainly seemed to want to keep talking. “Your hotel,” she said, with barely any hesitation. “In your van, you could tie me up and drive me off to who knows where.”

“Fair enough,” Angel agreed. “Though for the record, I only tie people up if they are being very naughty.” She checked herself, as a particular scenario occurred. “Or perhaps by request.”

Patty stared at her. “You are absolutely une sirène,” she concluded. Alluding to the legendary seductive mermaids of Greek mythology, who lured in all ships that passed by.

Angel simply smiled, accepting the compliment. They two women rapidly finished their breakfast and left the cafe.

Angel’s hotel room was a simple affair, a single bed with a desk and nightstand. On the desk was a lamp and a telephone to reach the front desk, while near the bed was an unused ashtray, and a small clock radio.

Upon their arrival, Angel made a point of re-locking the door, unholstering her gun, and double checking that the safety was on before placing it on the desk. She then took off her lab coat and went to turn on the radio, allowing light classical music to play. That would serve to confound any listening devices that might have been placed in the room.

There was no reason to think she was being bugged, but in her experience, a little paranoia never hurt. She kept the room curtains closed.

Patty spent a short while simply staring at the gun before glancing around the room, perhaps trying to get a sense of Angel’s personality. But Angel had kept most of her belongings in her van.

Then Patty’s cheeks coloured, so Angel followed her gaze. Belatedly, she spotted that she had merely kicked her clothes of the previous day into a corner of the room, rather than putting them back into her suitcase.

She was reminded of the time her suitcase had burst open in a Greek airport, scattering all of her clothing across the floor for anyone to see. And she hadn’t even been there at that time.

Fortunately, Angel was either able to hide her own embarrassment, or Patty didn’t care to acknowledge it. The dark haired woman ended up taking a seat on the edge of the bed, with her back to the clothing pile.

Angel sat down at the desk instead, wanting to give Patty space. She belatedly moved her gun further away, so that it wasn’t immediately within reach.

Patty adjusted the large black bow in her hair. “So. Where were we?”

“It may be better if you start back at the beginning,” Angel suggested. “This Beam woman approached you about her organization, did she?”

Patty nodded. “Yes. Okay. See, I am a close friend of Mimi LaFleche. She’s the daughter of that sea captain you’ve been asking about around town.”

Angel nodded back. “Right. The one who had threatened the job of Jules, the town’s head of tourism.”

“Correct. Don’t think anything of that, by the way. He gets in these moods, threatens people, swears a bunch, but he doesn’t generally follow through. He’s a nice guy deep down. It’s why he docks in our port every so often, to visit his daughter.”

“I see. They did not grow up around here?”

“Non, we all lived up the coast. Mimi got a job in the city here, that’s why she moved. Well, that and the hunk of a guy who runs the seaside restaurant, to use her words. They’re now dating.”

Angel drummed her fingers once across the desk as she regarded Patty. There was some tension there, as the other woman spoke. “So. You love Mimi, but she is very heterosexual.”

Patty flinched anew. “Sacre bleu, how do you DO that?” she said, aghast. “Is it that I have become so sexually frustrated that my love life is an open book to every other queer woman in my vicinity?”

Angel quickly held up both hands, palms open. “Non, non. My apologies. I merely recognized the pain, and felt it could be connected to why this Beam approached you, as opposed to Mimi herself.”

Patty stared at her, then slumped. “Maybe. See, Mimi asked me to look into the jellyfish situation, as she’s concerned about her Dad being implicated. I agreed, of course - I’d do anything for Mimi - and the swarm is kind of keeping me from lounging on the beach while on vacation anyway. I figured my investigation is why Beam found me. But perhaps I was easier to seduce.”

“It was merely a hypothesis,” Angel assured her.

“No, no, it makes sense,” Patty said. “Because Beam said her reward for my helping out Epsilon would be… ahh… that is, Beam said I was very beautiful and worthy of love and so when this was over we might, euh…”

“Speak in tongues?” Angel offered at the hesitation.

“Mmm! Exactly,” Patty said, visibly relieved by the euphemism. “She even claimed to be programmed specifically for that purpose.”

“Understood,” Angel assured. She frowned. “Wait, no. Programmed? What does that even mean?”

“See, that’s the other thing,” Patty said. “Beam isn’t human. She says she’s a hologram. And she proved it. That’s how I know all of this isn’t someone pranking me.”

“Back up. What is a hologram?”

“Well, while she LOOKS like an attractive twenty-something blonde with hair down to her knees, wearing a blue hairband with blue earrings, a blue skirt and cute blue shoes, complimented with a dark blouse and dark stockings wrapped around a set of killer legs… you can’t touch her. A hologram is somehow a technological ghost. My hand passed right though her, and she phased right through solid objects.”

Angel found she could only stare.

“Oh, but she assured me her state could become solid, temporarily,” Patty added. “For my reward.”

“Bon, let’s… set rewards aside for a moment,” Angel said, gesturing sideways as she found her voice. “You’re saying this woman was - is - some sort of technological being? But then, who controls her?”

“She controls herself, supposedly,” Patty said. “She said she was an autonomous hologram.”

“I see,” Angel said, not exactly convinced.

Patty shrugged. “I guess if she was being controlled, she wouldn’t know. Or wouldn’t say?” Angel’s companion pursed her lips. “Damn it. Angel, am I too naive? I tend to take people at face value unless they’ve given me a reason to believe otherwise.”

“You haven’t seen some of the things I’ve seen, that’s all,” Angel said. She realized then how this supposedly holographic woman was becoming a distraction. Perhaps a deliberate effort on the part of that Epsilon group, to divert attention. “Never mind. Explain more about the organization. You mentioned an artifact?”

Patty nodded. “Correct. There’s something in this area that’s not supposed to be here. Epsilon, they came here to retrieve it, all the way from some other world. But they were unable to pinpoint its exact location. That’s why they wanted my help, as they need to get out it of here before that octopus organization can get involved.”

Angel’s fingers tapped on the desk. Patty seemed absolutely sincere in everything she was saying.

As to the Epsilon organization, they had definitely done their homework, in not wanting to attract undue attention to the area. Perhaps that was even why they hadn’t wanted Angel to stick around? As surely some operatives of the Octopus were checking in on her from time to time. And maybe Epsilon knew that.

Still. That didn’t mean this new organization or their mystery technology could be immediately trusted.

Angel realized her next choice was clear.

(Actually, it’s not clear at all, is it? So you get to help decide.)

poll.fm/12903060

UPDATE NOV 10: We’ve had only one vote so far, and I’m dealing with midterm report cards. Thus plan is to have another part out before month’s end, but you have at least another week to increase our vote count.)

ANGEL PASTA: PART TWO

Angel calmly replaced her teacup in its saucer before squinting back at him. “Wait, what the–”

“This captain was at fault for mooring his boat too long, and not listening to our dock master, Vesso,” Jules continued, cutting her off. “Vesso is a friend of mine, so I interceded, as I happened to be in the area.”

As he paused, Angel stared. “Why are we talking about your personal problems?”

“Because when I insisted that this captain leave,” Jules continued doggedly, “he glared at me, pulled on his beard, pointed his pipe my way and said he hoped that I lost my job. And here we are, with my job in jeopardy because of all those jellyfish disrupting our city’s tourism industry. You see the connection, surely.”

Angel began to regret her plan of using the town’s head of tourism as her first source of information. On the other hand, she now understood why he had cleared his schedule to meet with her on short notice. By now, any others he’d shared his theories with had probably given up on making any sense out of them.

Still, she had seen some weird things in her life up to this point. Best to rule out the curse angle entirely before looking for a more mundane explanation.

“Anything else?” she asked.

“I think my marriage is falling apart,” Jules sighed.

Angel resisted the urge to facepalm. “I meant about the captain,” she clarified. “For instance, who was he?”

“Oh! I have no idea,” Jules admitted.

[caption id=“attachment_3536” align=“alignright” width=“204”] ANGEL RUSÉE[/caption]

Angel tilted her head in such a way as to make one of the bunny ears on her hairband twitch. A skill she was inordinately proud of. “I need a name. Ship name. Ship records. Something.”

“Vesso would have a lot of that,” Jules assured her. “But he won’t release them to me because he doesn’t believe that this captain is linked to the jellyfish. He must be under their influence somehow. So, maybe someone else at the docks?”

“Mmm hmm, I see,” Angel said. There were so many other more plausible options. She took another sip of tea as she considered where to go next. Seemed best to frame any inquiry with this captain in mind. “Look, Jules, is there any source of jellyfish nearby, which this captain could be using?”

“Not that I’m aware. It’s sorcery, I tell you.”

“Yet… cloning ray technology, perhaps? Portal generator? Transmogrification?”

Now Jules was staring. “Those seem like very far fetched ideas.”

“Mmm hmm. You’d be surprised.” Angel leaned back in her chair. This was going nowhere. “Fine. I’ll be in touch.”

Jules nodded, leaning forwards eagerly. “Absolutely. Let me know if I can be of any further assistance.”

“Of course.” Angel gave him a little two finger salute, and headed back towards her van.

She had planned to head to the beaches, but she supposed the ship yards was an angle worthy of a quick look first. And it was probably best to do that now, before word of her arrival spread. Not to mention people might be getting tired this late in the day, thus more prone to letting something slip.

She double checked the map she had picked up of the area, and drove off.

To be clear, the unexpected arrival of a swarm of jellyfish into a Mediterranean beach area was not without precedent. It generally depended on water currents and a number of other factors. For instance, the summer, and higher temperatures. Overfishing could also increase the amount of plankton in an area, leaving a food source for jellyfish.

Angel had researched all of that at the library before setting out.

However, she also knew from her research that jellyfish were more likely to be present in August, not June, that the sheer number of them remaining in one place for so long was unprecedented, and in this case, they seemed to be flashing their luminescence at strange intervals. Enough to warrant an investigation.

And a number of fishing boat captains knew this was a strange circumstance too.

“I don’t know why they’re still floating out there. They’re going to kill all the fish,” one captain grumbled at her.

“They’re clogging the nets,” another sighed. “I don’t see how this could be of benefit to anyone.”

“Yeah, I heard about that disagreement,” a deckhand mused, when Angel brought up the incident with Jules. “Not sure who was really at fault, though I haven’t seen that captain around since the jellyfish came. I think he travels up and down the coast? No, I don’t know his name.”

Vesso himself was not very forthcoming.

“If there’s an issue, fill out the appropriate forms in triplicate and get back to me in two days,” he said, gesturing at the stacks of paper near his desk. “At that point I’ll take it under advisement.”

As tempting as it was to get a peek at Vesso’s records some other way, this wasn’t an emergency situation. In such cases, Angel preferred to go through the proper channels, at least to start.

She filed her request for information, based on the shaky supposition that she was an investigator, and this captain might know about the jellyfish, as he had not been seen since their arrival.

She slept in her van that night, and had a look along the beaches the following morning.

They were mostly deserted. Some jellyfish had washed up, and from what she could tell, they didn’t look out of the ordinary. She found a starfish that had washed ashore as well, and tossed it back into the surf.

By that afternoon, word was starting to get around that a redhead wearing bunny ears with an affinity for animals was asking questions. Angel rather hoped that this would prompt people with information to seek her out, and so she rented a hotel room for at least a couple of nights, in order to be more easily found.

Of course, the other thing her notoriety was liable to do was make anyone who was behind the scheme more wary. Angel tried to keep an eye out for anyone who might be observing her activities.

Granted, she knew all too well that her ability to charm others far outweighed her general alertness skills, but it felt important to make the effort. She also tried to ask fewer questions that evening, hoping that anyone who was observing her would become bored by her doing little of interest aside from eating some delicious crêpes.

A woman came to see Angel on her second morning in town.

Angel was having breakfast in the café across from the hotel when the dark haired woman approached her table.

“Is this seat taken?” the woman asked, gesturing at the empty chair across from Angel.

Angel shook her head and gestured. “By all means.”

The woman sat, and Angel gave her a quick once-over.

Her black hair was shoulder length and mostly straight, except for two ringlets down either side of her face that corkscrewed like fusilli. She had also clipped a farfalle-style bow into her hair, which was equally black. In fact, black was something of a motif for her.

Her dress was black, her stockings were black and her ankle boots were black.

The dress, at least, had a design print on it, showing grey and white “U” or “C” shapes (depending on how you oriented yourself). It fluffed out past her waist, went down to her knees, kept her arms bare, and showed a hint of cleavage. Though the straps over her shoulders were the thickness of at least three fingers, implying a degree of modesty.

Her makeup, in contrast, was a pink blush and red lipstick. Quite the counterpoint to the black everywhere else. A glance for any bracelets or rings revealed nothing, though the woman did have silver earrings in the shape of sea shells, or rather, conchiglie. She looked to be in her late twenties, so maybe three or four years younger than Angel herself.

She was definitely attractive.

Angel briefly regretted her own choice of attire - her standard white blouse, dark slacks, and lab coat, which she had decided to put on so that she could keep notepaper and pencil stubs in the pockets. She wished she had chosen to wear something more feminine instead.

Granted, it’s not like this was going to morph into a date. And the presence of her gun in its holster also made that fantasy harder to picture. Still, Angel found herself trying to recall the last time she’d had a meal with such an alluring woman.

Alas, the fact that her mind was wandering that way meant that this was probably a trap.

“You are playing a dangerous game, Angel Rusée,” the woman said, after sizing up Angel as well.

“I couldn’t find any safe ones in town. Sorry, didn’t catch your name?” Angel added, offering a smile as she leaned her chin onto the palm of one hand.

“Hmph. Call me Pâtes, or simply Patty,” the woman said, scrutinizing Angel once more.

It was as if pasta, pâté, and burgers had become connected in one, single, intriguing name. Good thing she was already eating a croissant, Angel mused, or she might get hungry. “No last name?”

Patty grunted. “No. Listen. You should leave.”

Angel shook her head, now clasping her hands and resting them on the table. “That seems rude, given you only just sat down with me. Can I buy you something, Patty?”

Patty frowned, looking yet again at Angel. Angel fancied that this time, the other woman was trying to suss out Angel’s sexual preferences. Angel didn’t advertise them, but didn’t make a point of hiding them either. After all, if anyone was going to be bigoted towards her, Angel preferred to know sooner as opposed to later.

Patty’s gaze now darted left and right. “Wait. You… you can’t have been asking all around town about the jellyfish to get to me, surely?” she said.

“Alas, no,” Angel admitted. “I truly am concerned about the sea creatures. But that doesn’t prevent me from giving an attractive woman an amuse-bouche. Hmm? Particularly if she is connected to the case.” She winked.

Patty visibly flinched. “Y-You’re no chef,” she protested over the double entendre. With amuse-bouche being a complimentary bite-sized hors d’oeuvre offered by a chef, as well as suggesting a literal translation to ‘mouth amusement’ in english.

“Wait until I cook you a meal before saying that,” Angel suggested.

“Nngh.” Patty squirmed in her chair, visibly off balance, so at least Angel had managed to gain the upper hand there. “Are you this charming with men too?” she asked after a moment.

“If I require information from them, yes,” Angel admitted. “But I don’t derive the same pleasure from their company. Or invite to cook for them.”

Patty’s tongue ran over her upper lip as she glanced quickly around the area again. “Zut alors,” she muttered at last. “You would be a sirène.” She took a deep breath. “All right, Angel. I still think you should leave. But if you insist, I’ll level with you as to why.”

“Please do,” Angel said with a smile. “And allow me to at least order you a croissant.”

(Did I have this dark clothed woman in mind when I began writing? Not at all. So, who is she then? You tell me.)

poll.fm/12853610

ɛ PROJECT

WB (Writing Bufferless) presents…

STORY 7: ANGEL PASTA

[caption id=“attachment_1916” align=“aligncenter” width=“150”] Story 7 of ???[/caption]

STORY #7:

Angel is a Troubleshooter, in an alternate France of 1963. (Based on a recent RPG game I played in.) There’s problems in a sea town, but how could this relate to the Epsilon Project? Find out more by reading below.

CAST:

ANGEL RUSÉE … A thirty-something bunny-ears veterinarian (from an RP campaign)

more to come, presumably

EPISODE INDEX:

1. Raccoon City (Sept 24, 2023)

2. Pâtes Down (Oct 9)

3. Holo Graphic (Oct 25)

4. Between You and Mimi (Nov 29)

5. Angel Investigations (Jan 14)

6. Sneak Errs (Jan 28)

7. Bad Lock (Feb 16)

8. Support Beam (Feb 29)

9. (coming when I figure out what to do about WordPress going AI)

ANGEL PASTA: PART ONE

Angel sighed, flicked some of her long orangey-red hair off her shoulder, and leaned back against the nearby wall. “He was abusing animals,” she pointed out.

She hated this. It was coming down to a case of he-said-she-said, and she prided herself on her honesty. If only there were some easy way for a simple French citizen to record their own personal evidence, unobtrusively, to back up their side of the story.

Still, she supposed having such a technology would carry with it a field of new problems. For now, this situation was merely a minor inconvenience.

“This woman needs to be arrested, immediately. She might have killed me,” her nemesis of the moment continued.

Angel glanced around the small police station to get a sense of how much attention they were garnering from the locals. She couldn’t see the entire back of the police station from this side of the counter, but a couple desks were visible from her vantage point. The cops seemed interested enough to look their way, but not interested enough to stand up out of their chairs.

Conversely, the policeman at the front counter had become interested enough to put out the cigarette he’d been smoking upon their arrival.

Angel was pleased by that, at least. She’d never seen the point of deliberately inhaling smoke, particularly indoors. When she had occasion to be roughing it in her travels across the country, she generally avoided sticking her face directly above a campfire. For good reason.

No amount of feeling relaxed was worth the difficulties one could experience in breathing.

“Eddy, can you explain?” counter cop requested of the other individual standing near the front doors.

Angel looked to the policeman who had brought the both of them in.

The rotund man shook his head. “I went to investigate a noise complaint and found the two of them in a standoff,” Eddy explained. “Angel here insisted that we come down to the station to resolve it, and Jacques didn’t disagree.”

“Of course. Because she should be arrested,” Jacques reiterated, gesturing at Angel.

Counterman tried to wave off Jacques. “Let me get the facts here. Did Angel have a gun?”

“I pointed a water gun at him,” Angel piped up in her defence.

“Non, it was a real firearm that you swapped out as soon as the police showed up,” Jacques argued.

“STOP, both of you,” the man behind the counter said. “Eddy?”

“She had in her possession both a water gun and a handgun,” Eddy admitted.

“Fully licensed handgun,” Angel added. “Which I did not draw.”

“And why,” Jacques insisted, “would anyone carry around a water gun as well as a real gun, except to use the water gun to disguise the fact that they are a dangerous, good-for-nothing gun bunny?”

Angel clenched one hand into a fist. This was reaching her breaking point. “Ta gueule,” she sniped, making a point of speaking to Jacques rather than the policemen. “First, the water gun was for the raccoons. Second, the handgun is good for getting me out of trouble with people who are genuinely evil, as opposed to merely idiotic. And finally, it’s veterinarian bunny, thank you very much.”

The bunny ears hairband she constantly wore was an affectation from her youth. It was less to impress these days, and more to distinguish herself, as well as put people off their guard around her. Even if it did invite questions that she would just as soon not answer.

[caption id=“attachment_3502” align=“alignright” width=“207”] ANGEL RUSEE
(image of Charlotte Yeager of Strike Witches)[/caption]

Besides, the ears were cream coloured and went with her lab coat, when she had occasion to wear it. Today, of course, she had elected to go with a simple white blouse and dark pants, not wanting to potentially tear any of her other outfits while dealing with Jacques’s shenanigans.

Eddy was looking at her now in puzzlement. Angel idly reached up to make sure neither of the bunny ears was overly drooping.

“Wait,” Eddy said. “You’re not from around here. How did you know about our raccoon problem?”

“I hear things,” Angel said, finally pushing back off the wall. “As I travel. In fact, it is why I decided to stick around and help you gentlemen out.”

“Don’t meddle in affairs that don’t concern you,” Jacques cut back in.

It was Eddy’s turn to attempt to wave off Jacques. “Angel, have you seen any raccoons behaving this way elsewhere in France?” he asked.

“Non,” she answered. “After all, to be causing disruptions in only a small area, evading capture and then seemingly vanishing, it would require the assistance of humans.”

“We suspected as much, but all our suspects in the region have alibis,” Eddy explained.

“Cages can be remotely triggered for release,” Angel stated. “As simple as a pin held in place with melting ice, or as complicated as an electronic device. And if one has an accomplice, it provides a chance for misdirection at an appropriate time.”

“Oho! And you think that’s what happened here,” Eddy realized, looking impressed.

“Non,” Angel corrected. “I was merely suggesting lines of inquiry for your future investigations. In this case, I believe the problem is that Jacques Barbier was never properly considered as a suspect in the first place.”

“What? Me, a suspect?” Jacques sputtered. “You’re crazy, lady. The raccoons have been targeting my properties. As the landlord, I’m a victim here too.”

Angel glanced at her watch. She supposed the time had come to pursue this to its logical conclusion.

“Are you?” she continued. “They are your properties, meaning you could set up things in advance. Ensure there was something on the premises the raccoons would find interesting, before releasing them. Ensure that the traps would malfunction, even as you tracked and recaptured the poor animals elsewhere later on, keeping them locked up in a basement until the next time they would be needed.”

“You dumb bunny,” Jacques yelled at her. “Why would I do all of that to devalue my own properties?”

“Aside from the hope of paying less property tax?” Angel mused. “There’s the fact that you do not like your current tenants, as they have recently created a tenants association. Yet you face a stiff penalty if you kick them out. One that does not apply if they choose to leave of their own volition.”

Jacques froze, looking to her now like a deer caught in some headlights. “You have no proof of this.”

“Don’t I?” Angel said, smiling.

Jacques stared at her, then quickly turned to slap his hand back down on the countertop yet again. “Arrest this woman already for pointing her firearm at me.”

The man at the counter looked back up from some papers that he had been signing. “Sorry, are you all quite finished? Are we back to including me in this discussion?” he asked.

“Philippe, Angel Rusee has a fascinating theory about the raccoon case,” Eddy noted. “Much better than Jules' theory about animal zombies.”

Angel’s eyes went wide at that, and she shuddered at the very thought of it. Though she supposed credit was due for creative thinking, whomever Jules was.

“I was mostly listening,” Philippe said, resting his cheek on his palm. “I must say, I’m becoming inclined to arrest the both of you, to let someone else sort this all out later.”

“That could prove to be an issue,” Angel cautioned. “I do have some friends in high places.”

“She means she’s friends with birds,” Jacques snorted.

“Them too,” Angel admitted.

Alas, as tempting as it might be to mention her assistance with the mind control device affair in Paris, or the orichalcum affair in Greece, Angel knew both were highly classified. Not to mention unlikely to be of interest to anyone living in one of these smaller French cities.

Fortunately, Pierre chose that moment to arrive.

The sixteen year old had been very interested in Angel’s investigations, and she had decided that befriending one of the residents of Jacques properties was in her best interests. His assistance had been invaluable the previous night.

“Officer Philippe? I have evidence that Jacques is behind all the damage the raccoons are doing,” Pierre stated breathlessly, slapping a manilla envelope down on the front counter. He shot Angel a wide grin, which she acknowledged with a small smile. His timing was excellent.

“Ridiculous,” Jacques scoffed. “What could you possibly have in an envelope that might incriminate me?”

“Photographic evidence,” Pierre clarified. He looked again to Angel. “The pictures from last night turned out real good.”

Jacques got a deer in the headlights look again. “Impossible,” he gasped. He rounded on Angel. “Last night - the lights turning on and off, that was no accident?”

“Correct,” she agreed.

“You set me up and then took a photograph of me when I went to check on my raccoons,” Jacques continued, aghast.

“Non,” Angel clarified. “Pierre here took the photos. This is technically his fight, not mine.”

“But then, when you came to my place this morning, that was a ruse,” Jacques extrapolated. “You wanted us both at the police station now. In fact, you’ve been buying time all morning, waiting for the photos to be developed.”

“You have finally made a valid accusation of me there, yes,” Angel affirmed.

Jacques looked stunned for a moment. He looked at everyone present, glanced towards the door, and then at the envelope on the counter. “Th-This is inadmissible evidence,” Jacques said, pointing at the folder, his arm shaking.

“Had you kept the raccoons on your private property, rather than in a more public location, perhaps,” Angel remarked. “But even if, for some reason, the photos are not accepted? I would think your blurting out the equivalent of a confession in front of the police here would be enough to incriminate you. Yes?”

Jacques looked around again, then bolted for the door.

Eddy, it turned out, could move surprisingly fast for his size, quickly grasping Jacques by the arm and twisting him around to pin him against the wall. Jacques slumped as the fight immediately went out of him.

Angel shook her head. “Imbecile,” she muttered in French.

Eddy turned to Angel. “Thank you for your assistance,” he remarked. “Both of you,” he added, looking to Pierre.

Pierre dropped into a crouch with one leg out, and thrust his arm into the air. “Yes, Pierre rocks! Thanks Angel. I’ve got it from here,” he added.

Angel fired off another smile his way, then looked towards Philippe. “As you local police seem to have things well in hand, I will be on my way. Or do you require me to stick around to deal with a gun charge?”

Philippe rubbed his forehead. “Gun charge? What gun charge, it was only a water gun. Just, don’t leave the area for twenty four hours, all right?”

“Acceptable,” Angel agreed.

Under his breath, she heard Philippe add, “My daughter would never forgive me if she found out I arrested a woman who talks to animals. She loves Snow White.”

Angel’s opinion of the officer went up several notches. The 1937 Disney film had indeed been an influence on her. Not many tended to pick up on that.

Of course, she had only seen the film after the more sobering occupation of France during the Second World War. Which she had experienced at an age even younger than Pierre. And it had left its own impact, meaning Angel was not inclined to actually leave the police station until her handgun had been returned to her and tucked away again in its holster.

Angel was back on the road with her van the following afternoon.

Her original destination upon leaving Paris had not been “raccoon city”, after all, but rather the seashore. She had simply made the small detour, once she’d heard about their issue in a neighbouring town.

If only the seashore trip had been for a vacation.

No, she had received a phone call that a particular coastal city was having a serious problem with jellyfish. There were far too many near the shore, causing problems for humans and sea creatures alike. And someone had heard of Angel’s area of expertise, and given her a heads up.

She now made a point of phoning ahead, so that she would not be wandering aimlessly around the town trying to find someone who knew anything about the situation. The gentleman who was involved in city tourism had seemed to be her best bet, and indeed he was only too happy to agree to meet with her, once she had explained who she was.

They met at a small cafe in the early evening, an hour after her arrival in town.

“I do not understand. This is so bizarre. I am so confused,” said Jules as he stirred his coffee. “I do hope you can help get people wanting to use the beaches again.”

“I am more concerned with the sea life,” Angel admitted, “but we will see what I can do.” She took a sip of tea. “Now, how did this all begin?”

[crowdsignal poll=‘12749310’]

Of note, while the new Crowdsignal polls encourage you to embed polls in posts, they become near impossible to edit that way - resulting in my temporarily changing the background colour of the entire site - but doing them separate now seems to work. Thanks for reading, poll is open until early October, closing some time after the 1st.)

For those who have not been keeping track, I haven't run a live serial since April 2021. Between mathNEWS and Mercury fic posts, I've spent over two years on reruns. I've no idea how much of that has been due to parenting and how much due to pandemic teaching (not to mention teaching under conservatives). But I've decided we're due for another.

I will try to keep serial updates to the every two weeks schedule, with the first week for voting and the second for me to write. I say try, because even though I'm only teaching part time, it still feels full time. We'll see if I can manage it.

It will also be an Epsilon style story, but (at least at first) not from the perspective of the Epsilon station.

More backstory here: From February to May of this past year (2023), a friend of mine did a campaign based on the "Troubleshooters" Roleplay system. (This after my Avril character passed away in TORG in January; I posted about that on my home blog.) In this "Troubleshooters", I played Angel Rusée, the bunny ears veterinarian. Given Epsilon is the resting ground for many of my RP characters, I've decided to bring her back here.

She's visually "played by" Charlotte Yaeger from Strike Witches. Different personality (I think, I haven't seen much Strike Witches, I searched bunny ears).

The role-play setting is the year 1963, in a fictional Europe based on Belgian and French style comics. There is a joint French-Japanese mission to the Moon slated for 1964. Of course, Europe still has the Iron Curtain and we don't have sexual equality, so it's not all wonderful. Sometimes, it's difficult to even figure out what day of the week it is (see below).

I don't know if this is a good idea, but I want to try it, so we'll see how it goes.

Here's our first votes. How do YOU think the serial should go? (What might YOU read?)

Writing related, I have now joined AO3 (Archive of Our Own) as it's been suggested that Time & Tied might play well there. Recall the story's already on RoyalRoadL so it's not like my website is the exclusive location.

Knowing that, here's other (unpolled) questions, should I run it at the same time as Epsilon here? Should I wait? Alternatively, should I even start there with T&T, or would it be better to start with something else, like the fanfic I've just been reposting?

I don't yet know how engagement works on that site. Input appreciated.

Meanwhile, FWI, "Time Untied" is now 265,000 words (officially splitting off into "Time Denied" around the 160,000 mark) and it's GETTING there. I'm actually far enough along with the plot threads out that I can see a resolution in the nebulous future. I'll be trying to tackle it again in November, as per usual. I hope audience interest hasn't completely waned, some earlier edits will be needed before the unveiling.

We could be a year out, unless that's optimistic, depending on whatever else happens in my life.

COINS UPDATE

As long as I'm updating, let's also talk coins. We haven't had any behind the scenes update since my "Summary of 2020" post back in April of 2021.

A reminder, to end 2015, I had 42 coins from that year. During 2016 I got 37 minted coins (some in BC). During 2017 I got 20 coins minted that year (some before June). During 2018 I got 21 coins minted, during 2019 I got 17 coins minted that year, then pandemic. During 2020 I got one, plus a quarter to start 2021, so calling it two.

In 2021, there were also only two (and again the quarter might have been the start of February 2022, I don't recall). Conversely, in 2022, I started getting current quarters in MAY. By the end of the year, I had 10 coins (half were quarters). So, easier time travel is returning.

Except, this year, 2023, nothing yet. I strongly suspect that's because we have no more queen. With the death of Elizabeth II about a year ago (Sept 8) all the Canadian coins will need a new image on the back.

I have come across more coins of prior years subsequently, by the way. Ten 2022 coins, including a special loonie. Nineteen 2021 coins including a special dime. Twelve 2020 coins (though no nickels). I'm not entirely sure why I've kept collecting. Proof of concept, maybe?

The time car may possibly make a return for the T&T sequel, so let's say it's research.

STATS UPDATE

I don't want this to be long post, but let's finish up with thoughts on Stats, since once again, it's been over two years since I've said much of anything.

First, my publicity has been abysmal. There's no time for that, and teaching, and parenting, and actual writing, and some reading too. Not if I want to shop for groceries and sleep and mundane stuff like that.

Absolutely not helping was the implosion of Twitter a year ago (with the idiot billionaire who will not be named), and I've moved to Mastodon. Last month, JetPack finally allowed for auto-posting there instead of Twitter (I'd already been using Tumblr in place of Twitter, even though I never spend any time there.) The thing with queuing up posts a couple months in advance is one tends to forget that they're going out on the Sundays.

As a reminder, my engagement high water mark was in 2017, when I had almost 7k views across all the content on this site. Since then, there's been more content and less views. In 2020, with everyone stuck at home, I was down to 1,635 page views on the site (670 visitors). In 2021, we had 1,394 views (402 visitors) and in 2022 a slight uptick to 1,531 views (896 visitors) overall.

Meaning we're mostly holding steady (even though content has increased), seemingly with a lot more people looking at less views per page. That's not great.

It's continuing this year. So far in 2023 we've passed 1,300 views, but with over 1,000 visitors, implying a lot of people arriving, looking at a single page, then leaving. I need to fix that, and I'm hoping the new organic serial will help. If you have other suggestions, let me know.

In terms of interaction, the last comment I had was May 2022 (thanks John), so it's been a year of silence there too. At least about the site, fortunately, I have had commentary on some of my Mastodon posts. I mostly talk about "Time Untied" there, though occasionally my other writing.

Speaking of, shout out to #TimeTravelAuthors, the hashtag which didn't even exist 14 months ago, meaning this must be the first mention on this site. It's because of that group, that I had a short story published in December 2022. (On paper in February 2023.) It's in this anthology, The Accidental Time Traveler's Collective, and you should check it out because there's lot of other great stories there along with my "Free Will".

That was added to the catalogue of all my writing as well.

That's all the key stuff, let me know if you think there's something that I missed out on, or if you otherwise have any questions. The above polls will be open for a week, then I'll see if I can crank something out.

Thanks as always for reading, and take care.

*_* MARMALADE MERCURY *_*

POSTLUDE: THE SPOILERS BEHIND THE STORY

Here’s a reminder of the timelines from Episode 0.

THE SAGA: Dec 1996: Episode 1

Jan-Mar 1997: Reworked Episode 1 and completed Episode 2

Apr 1997: After receiving positive feedback, wrote Episodes 3 & 4

May 1997: Episodes 5 & 6, story posted to webpage (vs NCF)

Jun-Aug 1997: Break; troubles working in the class trip

Wrote “A Stitch in Time” Sep 1997: Episode 7 in time for Ami’s birthday Oct 1997: Episode 8 Dec 1997: Episode 9; one year anniversary

Jan-Aug 1998: Break; out of MB synopses to reference!

Wrote “What Evil Lurks” Sep 1998: Thanks to continued support, wrote Episode 10

Again sent out in time for Ami’s birthday Oct-Nov 1998: Webpage troubles and some work on another story Dec 1998: Episode 11 out in time for XMas; have synopses to 20! Aug 1999: Episode 12; now over 2.5 years in Jul 2000: Episode 13 completed, unreleased

2002: The live action “Marmalade Boy” series

2004: English dub of “Marmalade Boy” released by Tokyopop

May 2017: “Marmalade Boy” relicensed by Discotek Media

Aug 2017: Episodes 14 & 15 to complete the series

Yes, that’s a 17 year gap. Keep reading this Postlude for why.

FINAL CHARACTER LIST: (Quick reference guide. Names listed Japanese style, last name first.) MARMALADE BOY (MB) -> SAILOR MOON (SM)

Koishikawa Miki -> Mizuno Ami Matsuura Yuu -> Anderson Greg* Akizuki Meiko -> Tsukino Usagi Suou Ginta -> Ryo Urawa Suzuki Arimi -> Aino Minako Namura (sensei) -> Chiba Mamoru Ryoko (sensei) -> Sujigaki Kato* Rokutanda Tsutomu -> Kanren Sewaya* Miwa Satoshi -> Taylor Kaijin* Kishima (shop owner) -> Motoki “Lunchtime News” -> Umino

*: Created for the story (not originally in SM)

A SEVENTEEN YEAR GAP: Yeah. So that happened. Why return to a fanfic after all that time? Two factors.

(1) A Promise.

In the “story behind the story” (ep 0), I always concluded the saga section with the following disclaimer:

“Writing, as usual, depends on my schedule, timing and if readers think there’s merit ;) If I decide to stop, however, I will try and write a conclusion so as not to leave the plot hanging.”

Did I try? Did I really try? There’s two fanfic projects I was still picking away at in 1999. One was a grandiose multi-author effort surrounding a picture of Ami (either with a baby or pregnant, I no longer recall) that involved Ami having secretly had Mamoru’s love child, named Setsuna, and perhaps you can see where that’s going… I no longer remember who was coordinating it.

My part of the story involved Ami’s return to Japan; I was recruited after someone read “What Evil Lurks”. I have a sketchy gap-filled 3,500 words on an old computer that I sent off at some point, saying I’d clean it up. I didn’t, and then I never heard what became of that initiative either.

The other fanfic was “Marmalade Mercury”.

I never released Episode 13 (completed July 2000) for a few reasons. First, Ep 12 was almost-kinda-sorta a conclusion, whereas Ep 13 definitely was NOT, and I didn’t like my chances of completing Ep 14, where both anime plots would formally fuse.

Particularly given how at the time I was in my final year of University, and things like needing a job were on the horizon. Better to leave the series on a high note.

Second, “Time Trippers” (now “Time & Tied”) was becoming my new baby, scribblings from December 1999 becoming a full episode by October 2000; I was looking forwards, not back. (I only now realize that Meiko was a prototype for Julie LaMille. This blows my mind.)

Finally, I suspect I’d been feeling a certain distance from the NCF community, having been in Waterloo for quite some time, and/or the Moon Craze seemed to be wearing off. If no one was asking for it, why point out that this was a thing I might now never finish?

Except. I’d said I’d try to write a conclusion.

And I still had some notes, including an incredibly epic self-insert trolling twist, the likes of which I had never seen in a fanfic before. At thirteen parts, it taunted me.

To quote from “Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan” (itself quoting “Moby Dick”): JOACHIM: We are free. We have a ship, and the means to go where we will. We have escaped permanent exile on Ceti Alpha V. You have proven your superior intellect, and defeated the plans of Admiral Kirk. You do not need to defeat him again. KHAN: He tasks me. He tasks me, and I shall have him. I’ll chase him around the Moons of Nibia and round the Antares Maelstrom and round Perdition’s flames before I give him up!

I know. That might not be the best comparison.

(2) Good Timing.

From 2016-2017, I was taking a year off of work (that is one single year, a “teaching” year). This allowed me to complete my writing of “Time & Tied” Book 4, gave me the opportunity to write “The Girl Who Speaks With Algebra” during 2016’s NaNoWriMo (later re-edited), let me write various guest posts for other blogs, and meant I could catch up on old projects.

“Marmalade Mercury” stared at me from my hard drive, where I had dragged it, from laptop to laptop, year after year. My own creativity page labelled it as “Stalled after 13 episodes, I keep meaning to write a conclusion!”.

Related, in 2014, I received an email out of the blue from someone named “Mac Kintana”, who had stumbled on “What Evil Lurks” in an old archive, and was wondering if I had any other stories. This, after my “Sailor Mercury’s Ultimate Fan” interview was uploaded earlier that year to YouTube.

Also in 2017, Scott Delahunt had written a conclusion to one of his old stories, “Tales of the Soul Blade”, after having posted it up in weekly entries onto his website.

Did I want to revisit the past? To finally tie things off? To prove that, no matter what, when I say I’ll finish something, I’ll BLOODY WELL FINISH it?

August 2017, three weeks before school would resume, I realized it was now… or never.

It was now.

I’d like to say that the relicensing of “Marmalade Boy” was a factor, but I only found that out when checking references later. It’s possible that I’d seen something on a website in passing, burrowing itself into my subconscious, but I’m dubious.

RECONSTRUCTING THE PAST: I spent Day 1 completely re-reading the previous 13.1 parts. (I add 0.1 because in those days, I would always start writing a little bit into the next episode, to give myself a jumping off point.)

That took about 7 hours, because I had to remove a bunch of Hard Returns, while putting in some new paragraph breaks (I’d head-hopped a lot), plus I’m a slow reader. I didn’t bother changing all the ellipses, or the double spacing after periods.

Thing is, it wasn’t terrible. That kind of surprised me.

My “Marmalade Boy” summaries through to Ep 20 were long gone (largely written on paper), but hey, it’s NOT 1999, there’s this thing called the INTERNET. It wasn’t hard to track down quick synopses for MB episodes 1-24. (Granted, it’s a bit of a ghost-land after that, and it went 76 episodes.) Meanwhile, the online information on “Sailor Moon” is a hundred times more comprehensive, so no worries there. Was that enough?

I tweeted out (paraphrasing) “Marmalade Mercury. How much time do I really want to devote to you?” After a brief conversation with Scott (see “Soul Blade” above), I mused, “Do I just write based on the notes and scribbles left behind, or do I actually rewatch some MarmBoy?” (I own the whole series.) He suggested, rewatch a few episodes to trigger the rest of the memories.

I don’t really do half measures.

I took six hours the following day to watch thirteen episodes, from Episode 13 (for a baseline) through to Episode 25. Writing out plot points and direct quotes in a text file as I went.

It probably helped that I was used to doing that after my recent “Series Scans”. I also think it made the process a lot easier in the long run, as it gave me something to draw from when I got stuck.

I also watched “Sailor Mercury Moving On?” (online) for good measure, the SMR Mercury power-up episode, and my God, that DiC show overused tiara scene wipes.

On Day 3, I started in.

Episode 14. What did I have to work with from 2000? The opening scene with Greg, essentially ditching Ami’s mother from the plot. The start of another scene with Ami. The remark “Minako comes over, talks with Ami”. Then “broom closet with Minako to avoid Kaijin” before the commercial break.

A few other miscellaneous half-sentences. Also, a need to blend in Mamoru/Kato, after having set up the fateful Chibi-Usa boat trip back in Ep 13. The lingering title? QUALIFICATION OF LOVE - (TBD).

I resigned myself to the fact that one episode wouldn’t be enough to race through twelve episodes of MB plot.

Could I do it in two? The original idea had been to align ‘Ami leaving Japan’ with ‘Namura leaving Tokyo’, but if instead I used Ami’s trip to Germany as a CLOSING to the whole story… this felt plausible.

Mercury returns, and done. It also meant that re-using “THINGS AREN’T GOING AS PLANNED”, the MB title from ep 18, had a double meaning for me.

I got through about 3,500 words that first day. About 4,800 the next, bringing me halfway into Ep 15, and then another 4,000 on the third and final day of writing. Allowing me to type two words after five days: END SERIES. (Yeah, that last ep ran long. Oh well.)

Then I needed a day for edits, as well as deciding to type up THIS document, because sure, more work. In case anyone else wants tips on revisiting a story they began 20 years earlier. Hope it helps?

ENDING THE PLOT THREADS: Pretty much none of it was planned in advance. (Is it ever with me?)

Kaijin’s last name WAS my epic trolling self-insert twist, which had been in there from the start… in as much as I didn’t give him a last name, on the off chance that I could come up with something even better later on. So, how could I close off the other relationships?

Pulling in Minako’s fan club, from MB ep 23, gave me a good way to shut down the Sewaya angle. I’d also wondered about working in SMoon’s “Missing Minako Episode” (from Season One), giving details about her being in England… never dubbed, and NOT easy to research in 1997, but drop dead easy in 2017. So I worked that in.

Minako/Sewaya? Finished. I still gave Sewaya an appearance and a line, because it helped get Mina into the closet with Greg, a parallel to MB Ep 14.

Following that commercial break, I went off book, which I lampshaded in Ami’s looking at the TV Guide. In MB, Miki doesn’t put Yuu’s picture into the medallion until Ep 19, after the truth about her housing situation gets out. That’s the same ep where Yuu finally learns who Miwa is, so Motoki got to pull that reveal here, thanks to Kaijin’s timely introduction moments earlier.

The intervening MB episodes (15-18) had largely dealt with Meiko/Namura, which here was Usagi/Mamoru/Kato. With that tied to an existing plot in SM, it was kind of a nuisance; I decided for closure, I simply had to get rid of Kato. The best plan seemed to be having her confess (she never really did in MB, but she did invite Namura up), then “put her on a bus”.

Ideally, I foreshadowed Mamoru’s breakup in the process of that scene, and what the hell, I threw in a Moonlight Knight reference to remind people it’s anime continuity. Done. In my opinion, that ended up being the weakest conclusion. (But then, in MB, Namura comes back way later anyway.)

Urawa was going to be a pain. In part because his MB plot was basically over. But I had sort of an idea there. I gave him an offscreen vision, and another scene with Minako, to indicate I hadn’t forgotten him.

Next, Ami’s insistence on talking to Greg was a potential problem, but the Germany news felt like the perfect thing to refocus the poor girl’s attention away from romance. Could I make her having that news plausible?

In the anime, Ami tells her friends about the trip. The next day, she tells Usagi she doesn’t want a big going away party, and Artemis is frozen by the Dark Moon. Cut to the day Ami leaves. Artemis missing for days stretches credulity, particularly when coupled with Chibi-Usa wanting to search Ami’s place for the Ginzuishou. But by the same measure, surely the scholarship thing would give at least a week’s notice, right? I had timeline plausibility.

Incidentally, I’m amused at how the ice cream place in MB is called “Bobsons’” while in SM it’s called “Bob-Floy”. Yeah, I played with that.

I knew then that Episode 15 was going to be heavy. I’d have to deal with the entire Germany angle (including Sailor Senshi), Greg’s origins, AND miscellaneous details like the housing situation reveal.

So, I started the “boys love” angle (from MB ep 20) in ep 14 too, using Makoto as a vehicle (Usagi being otherwise engaged). And I gave Kaijin the commercial bumper, meaning every bumper appears at least twice. (The names separated by commas were always the valid pairing. See below.)

Narratively speaking, I realized I also had to end ep 14, not with Chibi-Usa’s appearance (which I would subsequently be relegating to the background), but Ami’s final plot. Germany vs. Friendship. That sets up the end.

Episode 15 begins: I decided I had to keep that scene in the bushes from MB. Partly to preserve one of Umino’s only real contributions, but also because it’s so precious. In the process, I hinted at the Dark Moon plot using “is that a fancy calculator” (LITERALLY a line from MB to Miki, though not by him), and I did my best to tie up the housing angle while also pulling in the flashback line I’d set up in 1997. (MB loves it some flashbacks.)

The Minako/Urawa scene after was partly for humour (cousins and implausible reliability), partly to hint that I knew the Senshi thing was coming, wait for it.

The Ami/Greg scene that followed got away from me. In the original, Yuu’s revelation was at the end of Ep 23, Miki then talks with Satoshi in Ep 24, and it all culminates in Ep 25. I pulled in bits and pieces from ALL those sources.

They wouldn’t stop talking. (The England “trial run” thing was always a thought, by the way.) Finally, I decided screw it, and called myself halfway done, dropping the Greg Taylor thing in before the commercial.

More lip service to SM after that, with Chibi-Usa as a conversation blocker, that was surprisingly handy.

The Ami/Kaijin scene let me close off the Kaijin/Usagi romance, while bleeding in the details from Ep 24 that hadn’t fit in the Ami/Greg scene. Then, the big reveal. I swear, honestly, I didn’t know if I’d follow the MB plot or not here - I was already off the rails.

What if I had Kaijin’s dad say, “Yeah, that’s actually true, you’re Greg Taylor.” Who cares, right? What decided me was the fact that a denial meant Greg could leave Japan along with Ami. A more fitting conclusion.

Oh, a detail you likely didn’t notice?

In the anime “Fushigi Yugi” (Mysterious Play), the word to summon the ultimate power is “Kaijin”. Since I already had a Kaijin Taylor, how about a Fushigi Taylor. I’m crazy. You’re welcome.

Earlier references to the characters of “Dr. Tavolite” and “Enmae” were, if memory serves, shout-outs to player characters on the Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Mux (BSSM), where I did online role-play as Urawa. No, really. (He starts working for a private detective, Kenjiro Cross, in Season Two.)

The Ami/Greg scene at the lake that followed allowed me to flash back to Ep 3, in the same way that MB did in Ep 25, which ends the entire first arc of “Marmalade Boy”’s run.

But not this story.

Greg had to know about the Mercury angle. That’s the only way this fanfic is in any way satisfying for a reader. (Or at least, for the author?) No, seriously, without that reveal, we end on such a down note. The story also just fizzles away, it’s not memorable, there’s nothing to recommend it. Greg HAS to know. Which is a problem.

There’s no way Ami would tell him. Not yet.

In the MB anime, Miki and Yuu had been together for over six months by this point. I was working with not quite five weeks, and Senshi had been a non-factor for all of it. I tooled around with a few options, including Greg being in town a day early (MB movie!) and overhearing Ami talking to Usagi before it all began, or maybe he’s at the airport and sees her get the Senshi pen… at some point, it hit me that Mercury was how I could close off Urawa’s thread.

Coupled with that was the matter of Rei. Sorely underused, because she didn’t go to Ami’s school, or have the ties to the plot that Minako did. I was kind of fine with this (she’s my least favourite Senshi), but I have made my peace with the character and I was doing so much with the others. All Rei had contributed was the medallion. That temple charm. Hmmmmmm.

The subsequent Urawa/Greg scene let me make some nice callbacks (like the chess match), drop in some relevant SM plot (Minako/Artemis), and finally have Urawa yield to the MB plot of letting Yuu win. It would also tease at the final dramatic reveal of the medallions, which are actually very key to MB lore, but here could be an unexpected twist. Toss in a few other veiled references (to future MB plots and the upcoming Shrine Advertising in SM) with Ami/Greg and we’re done. For REAL.

I stole the “happiness” line in the title from a later MB episode too. Sometimes, it all just fits together. It’s also somewhat relevant that, since I decided the last scene had to be Ami’s point-of-view (bookending the series), the earlier scene at the lake would be Greg. For balance.

Man, I head hopped a lot back in the day.

THE FUTURE: I think this marks the end of fanfiction for me? The biggest thing on the horizon is “Time & Tied: The University Years” aka “Time Untied”. In the meantime “The Epsilon Project” (a multiverse mashup of my original characters) continues on my serial blog. It’s a series that works on voting input; I think “Marmalade Mercury” has a lot to say about the way I view reader input on serials.

Alternatively, “Any ~Qs” (my personified math comic) is also ongoing. I hope you might join me in some of those endeavours? Look for “mathtans” on the web. But if not, thanks for reading this far. Good luck to any writing projects you might be involved in yourself!

COMMERCIAL BUMPER ROUNDUP: Ep 01: Ami, Greg and Urawa skating. Ep 02: Ami, Greg and Urawa skating. Ep 03: Minako, Urawa and Sewaya skating. Ep 04: Ami, Greg and Urawa skating. Ep 05: Ami, Greg and Urawa skating. Ep 06: Minako, Urawa and Sewaya skating. Ep 07: Ami, Greg and Urawa skating. Ep 08: Usagi, Mamoru and Kaijin skating. Ep 09: Ami, Greg and Urawa skating. Ep 10: Minako, Urawa and Sewaya skating. Ep 11: Usagi, Mamoru and Kaijin skating. Ep 12: Ami, Greg and Kaijin skating. Ep 13: Minako, Urawa and Sewaya skating. Ep 14: Ami, Greg and Kaijin skating. Ep 15: Ami, Greg and Urawa skating.

As I mentioned above, the names separated by commas were always the valid pairing in the end.

THANKS AGAIN TO:

• Scott Delahunt. For comments, for helping me realize Usagi couldn’t do all Meiko’s work by herself, for tips, and for general inspiration in the home stretch of 2017.
• Margaret Brown-Bury for the idea of Greg’s part-time job.
• Craig Erickson for offering assistance and brainstorming.
• Andrea Doolan for Marmalade Boy synopses, as well as Margaret Brown-Bury.
• drdata, for providing Karen Duffy’s synopses that were of some use.
• Brad Lascelle, for letting me borrow Marmalade Boy episodes 9-20 in the late 90s so that I could remember where I was going.
• Everyone who has e-mailed me concerning the story and everyone who has enjoyed it thus far. (A surprising number! :) That I no longer remember!)

Incidentally, the Marmalade Mercury Opening Sequence was something I put together myself, deliberately for this revival on the serial site. Mostly when I noticed how little editing was actually needed, the song beats fit in marvellously. Hope you enjoyed.

The card scans are all from my collection, both the Mercury and MB sets. And I think that’s everything. Happy September 10th. Peace out.

Previous	Chapter Links	Next
	*_* MARMALADE MERCURY *_* EP 15b: IMPACT OF A CONFESSION - HOW LONG WILL THIS HAPPINESS LAST?

<commercial break; Ami, Greg and Urawa skating, they trip over Ami's computer>

“There is a small lady in our living room.”

Ami turned away from their new house guest, to see Greg standing in the doorway. She offered him a wan smile. “Observant. This is Chibi-Usa, that cousin of Usagi’s that I mentioned? She was waiting for me after juku. She wanted to stay over, to give Usagi a break. I might have encouraged the behaviour, having offered her ice cream earlier... it was shortly after I told the others about my scholarship. I hope this isn’t a problem?”

Greg shrugged, peering at the pink haired girl.

Chibi-Usa’s eyes narrowed. “You better be a sound sleeper,” she asserted.

“Oh-Kay, whatever,” Greg said. He looked back at Ami. “Just so you know, everything’s confirmed with Kaijin. It’ll be tomorrow, before your juku. Though if you’re not free, don’t even worry about it, since now that your friends know about Germany, I bet they’ll insist on having some sort of..."

“I’ll tell them no,” Ami insisted. “I don’t really want a gathering anyway, and besides, what’s happening with you tomorrow is more important.” She smiled at him.

And Greg’s cheeks coloured slightly, as they had the previous day. Ami found herself wondering if that’s what she looked like when she got embarrassed.

It WAS kind of cute.

“Wow. Thanks. Uhh, as to, er..." He faltered, and his gaze drifted back towards Chibi-Usa.

“If you hear anything in the middle of the night, don’t even bother checking!” Chibi-Usa said.

“Let’s talk another time,” Greg sighed, rolling his eyes as he turned to head upstairs. “Maybe I can walk with you to your juku tomorrow.”

*****

“I suppose you’re wondering why I asked you to meet me here, a little before Greg would arrive?” Kaijin asked. He was leaning up against a post in front of his house, smiling at her as she walked up.

Ami shrugged. “I assumed it was--"

“I heard that Mamoru guy broke it off with Usagi,” Kaijin continued blithely, shrugging his arms out to the sides. “Something about her father not approving? And Mamoru apparently preferring a clean break when it comes to romantic relationships? Therefore, I figured, as Usagi’s friend, you’d be a good person to gauge my chances on the rebound.”

Ami felt her eyebrow twitching. “Zero.”

Kaijin shook his head. “No, no, think about this! I’m not saying I’d make a play for her right away, Usagi obviously needs some time, some space. But how long do you figure I should wait, before I distract the lovely girl from her misery with my mastery of card tricks? A couple more days? A week?”

“Zero chance,” Ami repeated. She turned away. “I’ll wait for Greg at the end of the street.”

“Fine, understood, I’ll back off Usagi,” Kaijin sighed. “As an alternative, want to talk about how I knew Greg was my brother?”

Ami froze mid-stride. Somewhat against her better judgement, she turned back. He was grinning at her again. Baiting her. But she had to know. “I’m listening,” she yielded.

Kaijin took a moment to check that there was nobody around who might overhear, and even then he lowered his voice. “I ended up reading my mom’s private diary years ago. Kind of accidental, she was hiding it from my father in plain view, on a bookshelf. She’d suspected him of infidelity, you see, and had been trying to track down the first case, which she believed had involved a pregnancy.”

“Greg’s mom?” Ami hypothesized, off of Kaijin’s hesitation.

Kaijin nodded. “Right. Of course, she’d left Japan, so that trail was a dead end. On the face of it. I was a little more persistent, as the idea of having a sibling intrigued me. I even travelled to Canada, under pretext of a vacation, to run down some leads. You ever been to Ottawa?”

Ami shook her head.

“It’s a nice place.” Kaijin clasped his hands behind his head. “I’d wow you with my detective skills, but suffice to say, I met his mom. Greg was apparently in England at the time, so I never met him. Only saw a picture. But when he turned up here? At first, I thought he’d followed me back.” Kaijin shook his head. “Instead, he never even knew that I’d been to his hometown.”

“And you never told your parents about what you’d learned?” Ami wondered.

Kaijin looked thoughtful. “Nah, they’d kind of patched things up that year, and I didn’t want to rattle the cage.”

Ami pursed her lips. “So do you think your dad will admit to --"

“Hi Greg!” Kaijin said, waving.

Ami flinched, looking over her shoulder to see Greg approaching.

“So, yeah, Ami, give my apologies to your friend Makoto for my attitude last Sunday at the Game Centre, okay?” Kaijin concluded, pushing away from the post. “I don’t want her saying anything bad about me on Umino’s show tomorrow.”

“I... y-yeah,” Ami stammered out.

It was time for Greg’s confrontation. Part of her wished that she and Greg had been able to talk about the implications of a relationship before this. She hoped there would be time later. Because of how she was leaving tomorrow...

“You ready for this?” Kaijin asked, clapping Greg on the shoulder.

“I don’t know,” Greg admitted. “But let’s do it anyway.”

*****

Ami sat quietly to the side as Greg laid out the evidence for Kaijin’s dad, supported by interjections from Kaijin himself. The man listened to them, his face inscrutable, until they finished. He then leaned forwards, and Ami realized that everyone, herself included, was holding their breath.

Which way would things go? As expected, following the path that had been laid out, or...

“You are completely mistaken,” Fushigi Taylor said to them. “I’m sorry to have to tell you this, but you’ve got the wrong man.”

Kaijin shook his head. “Dad, no, I saw the diary, I--"

“There WAS an incident around that time,” the elder Taylor admitted. “I’ll admit to that. But it was not with Greg’s mother. That is to say, I did take his mom out to dinner once or twice, but we never had THAT kind of relationship. So it’s just impossible.”

He looked at Greg.

“Are you certain that something happened with her while she was still in Japan? Because I didn’t see her dating anyone else either - isn’t it possible that she became pregnant right after her return to Canada?”

“No,” Greg said, slumping back in his chair. “I mean, I don’t know, but I thought... that is, my grandma was always a bit strange, but when I did the research on my dad not being my dad, it all pointed to... well, all these connections to Japan. From there, I...“

He pounded his fist against the arm of the chair, straightening again.

“No! I don’t understand. My life story feels like it makes more SENSE if I’m Greg Taylor, that HAS to be the truth!” He looked devastated.

Ami reached out to touch him on the leg, and he didn’t even seem to notice.

Kaijin coughed. “Sooo, dad, you admit there WAS an incident then?” he said, leaning in against his father’s desk and glaring. “What were you thinking? Look at what it’s spiralled into!”

“Yeah,” Mr. Taylor admitted. He scratched at the side of his face with his index finger and shrugged. “I guess I’m sorry?”

“So what do you intend to do about this now?” Kaijin demanded. “Greg’s become a close friend at the very least, so we should support--"

“Oh, leave it be,” Greg interrupted.

“Greg?” Ami murmured.

Greg rose to his feet. “Never mind. It doesn’t matter. What’s impossible is impossible, meaning it’s time to move on. Right?” He forced out a smile. “Thank you for meeting us, sir. I apologize about the misunderstanding.”

Mr. Taylor nodded, an uncertain look on his face. Kaijin looked frustrated, but for once he seemed to be at a loss for words. Ami hoped she at least looked supportive, but really, if she was off to Germany, of what use was she to Greg now?

Greg jerked his thumb at Ami. “Kaijin, pretend to be my brother for long enough to make sure she gets to her cram school safely? I’m going for a walk by myself.”

Ami watched Greg leave the room. She snapped her gaze back over to Kaijin. He stepped away from his father’s desk, tiling his head to the side.

“Well, well. I hate to disobey, but I think I’ll have to put the ball back in your court, Ami,” he remarked. “Did you want an escort to your juku? Or do you have better places to be?”

Ami felt her hands clench into fists. Damn it! Why did balls keep ending up in her court?! Urawa, Minako, Kaijin, Greg, and it always happened when there was no time to do a proper analysis. All she knew right now was the thing that she wanted to do the most...

So it was like Minako had said last weekend. Stop thinking, Ami, just act!

She wasn’t sure what expression she was making, but Kaijin simply nodded at her. Without a word, Ami ran out of the office, hoping it wasn’t too late to catch up to Greg.

*****

Greg hefted the stone in his hand and fired it out over the water. It didn’t skip at all. It sank like, well, a stone. He sat back down on the bank of the small lake and sighed.

“I think it’s time to go home now, Greg.”

He flinched, and looked over his shoulder. Ami was there, staring at him, her book bag clutched in both hands. “You’re supposed to be in class!” he protested.

She shrugged. “Surprise! I’m not.”

“What about your friends? Don’t you want to be with them before heading off to Germany tomorrow?”

"Yes." She stepped closer. “That’s why I’m here.”

He flinched again. And her image blurred a little. He quickly turned away, back towards the lake, wiping his arm across his eyes. “You knew I’d come back to this place, huh?”

“Actually, I followed you,” Ami admitted. “From Kaijin’s. But once I realized where you were heading, yeah, I knew. So I hung back, to give you some time. I’ve been watching you ever since.”

Seriously? He’d been here over an hour! “Oh. Sorry to bore you.”

“I wasn’t bored.”

She approached, and sat down next to him.

They remained that way for a short time.

“Know what?” Greg said at last, working at keeping his tone level. “With Kaijin not being my brother, and you leaving, it’s occurred to me that I have no reason to stick around. I might as well head back to Canada.” He chuckled. “I should probably tell Makoto in the morning. If she ends up debunking mysteries surrounding me on Umino’s show, along with her planned segment on explaining how to bake a cake, I’d hate to think she’d end up giving out false information.”

“Don’t worry! Makoto would never give out inaccurate cooking information,” Ami assured him. “She even helped me make your cake that one weekend.”

“Ami, I didn’t mean about the cooking, I meant--" He stopped, because as he turned to look at her, he saw she was grinning at him. “I feel like I have been a bad influence on you.”

She laughed then, and it was joyous. “I think it’s been more the other way around,” she said, nudging at his side. “Getting you to spill all of your secrets to someone, instead of deflecting all the time? My, my, what HAVE you become, Greg Anderson?”

He chuckled. “Beats me. A better person, we can hope?” he said, offering up a wry smile. Now he couldn’t stop looking at her. “I guess there’s just something about you, Ami. It’s like, I didn’t even know I was lonely, until I saw your face. Do you know you’re not simply the first girl I ever kissed, you’re also the first girl I confessed to?”

Her eyes got a bit wider. “Wait, what? When did you ever say...?"

He stretched his arms out back behind himself. “That day at the amusement park. Right after we ran into Minako.”

~~~~~

"You were the first girl I ever actually kissed,” Greg clarified airily. “And I didn't expect you to be awake."

Ami felt her body turning to jelly. How could he just toss that out so calmly?? "Then you admit... you actually... you... WHY?" she demanded, forcing out the question that had been plaguing her all week.

Greg quirked an eyebrow at her. "Why do you think, Ami-chan? Obviously because I LIKE you," he declared with a shrug.

~~~~~

Without warning, she slugged him hard in the arm.

“Ow! Hey, what was that for?” Greg protested, straightening himself and reaching up to rub the point of impact.

“I thought you were JOKING back then,” Ami said. Her obvious irritation was somewhat muted by the cute way she was scrunching up her nose. “That’s not how a normal boy would confess!”

“Yeah, well, I think we’ve covered how my life has been about withdrawing from getting to know anybody that well?” he protested. “Includes ignoring certain social norms. I mean, at this point you DO know that I’m not normal, right?”

“Yeah, well, is anyone?” Ami sighed.

They both looked back out at the lake.

Then, “Greg? I like you too. A lot. To the point of... love.”

His heart soared. He looked at her sidelong, and noticed she was biting her lip. Even when she looked hesitant, she still looked amazing.

“It’s just, with me leaving everybody tomorrow, yourself included..."

His emotional roller coaster plunged back into a downwards direction. “I get it,” he said. He reached out tentatively for her with one hand.

She met him halfway, and their fingers entwined.

He swallowed. “So even though we care for each other, I suppose, in a way, this is our goodbye? Because I don’t think I’ll have it in me to see you off at the airport. Sorry. But I bet all your friends will be there anyway, so it’d just be weird with me too.”

“I’m okay with weird. But I also kind of understand. Do tell me that we’ll at least keep in touch?”

He nodded. “Oh yeah. I hope so.”

Looking at her now, he realized the lump in his throat wouldn’t clear, despite repeated swallows.

“The sucky thing is,” he admitted, “after a day like today? I’m really torn now on whether to deflect by trying to skip another stone, or completely break down crying in an uncharacteristic show of vulnerability.”

Ami squeezed his hand. “If it helps, someone once told me that the trick to skipping stones is to relax. To ease up, and act more by instinct.”

“Well, damn. That makes me want to go for the crying,” Greg murmured, even as her image blurred before his eyes again.

Before he knew it, he’d buried his head in her shoulder. He didn’t know which of them initiated the full embrace, but he was glad for it.

It was unclear to him how long they remained that way, curled up against each other, but at some point, once he was emotionally spent, she again suggested that they return home. That time, he didn’t protest.

The last time he saw Ami was the following day. When she left their school. Heading home, get her things.

Which would be followed by her trip to the airport. And her flight to Germany. Suspending, or more likely ending, whatever relationship it was that they seemed to have created together.

Or so he THOUGHT...

*****

“Your story’s not over yet. Meet me tonight at the Bob-Floy ice cream shop.”

Greg gave Urawa a skeptical look. “Why? You miss the boys love cooking exposé on Umino’s show today? I’m not interested in that kind of a relationship, least of all with you.”

“AFTER the shop’s closed, idiot,” Urawa said, rolling his eyes.

Greg scratched his head. “Right. Is this some trick to keep me from seeing Ami off? Because I already decided I wasn’t going to the airport.”

“No. This is because I owe you one,” Urawa said, crossing his arms.

“You owe me one?”

He nodded. “Yeah. Remember our chess match?” Urawa prompted. “With Sewaya? You won your games, I did horribly, and yet you gave me the benefit of the doubt in the last round. So I owe you for that. There’s also the fact that I wouldn’t be here now without your darn speech, and I guess I’ve even also come to realize you’re maybe not that bad of a guy. So, your story with Ami? It’s not over. Not unless you say it is, once I’ve provided you with the missing piece.”

“Uh, okay then. What piece is this about?”

“I only saw one particular scene,” Urawa admitted. “So that’s all I can share. And unfortunately, I haven’t been able to speak about this with Minako yet, owing to her freaking out more than a little ever since Artemis went missing yesterday... but I feel like I’m doing the right thing here.” He leaned in. “So. Will you meet me, or not?”

He did meet Urawa. Greg wasn’t sure why he did, but he did.

And when Urawa said that they had to conceal themselves from view, it made even less sense, but he went along with it. Even when they saw Ami, running down the alleyway at a time when she should have been boarding her plane, he still didn’t get it. Not until...

“Mercury Star Power, Make Up!”

Sailor Mercury disappeared around the corner of the ice cream building.

And Greg finally remembered how to blink.

“Okay. That was a thing,” he said.

“That’s why she stayed,” Urawa said. “To be clear. I mean, maybe part of it was you, but really, that’s why. And if you change your mind about returning to Canada, to stay with her? You’ll be in the thick of whatever this is that’s starting up.”

He leaned in close.

“So. Greg. Do you think you’re up to helping me support Ami from the sidelines? Or are you going to wimp out instead?”

“A-Ah. Only from the sidelines, huh?”

“They fight. We don’t. That’s how it works. Maybe it’s even part of the reason I ran away from her once, worrying that there would come a day when I’d have another vision of...” Urawa sighed, and rubbed his forehead. “Look, this is an exclusive club of people in the know. If you’re in, fine, but if you’re out, you’re better to be out-of-Japan out. There really isn’t a middle ground.”

Greg nodded. “Meaning, if I stay, I’ll have to tell her what I saw here.”

“Yeah, no kidding! I’d hurt you if you weren’t truthful with Ami after this. And while we’re on the subject, something else I’ve seen, which you two need to talk about? That charm you were playing with last weekend.”

Greg frowned. “Given your sudden insights, I’m surprised I ever got the upper hand.”

Urawa smiled wryly. “We can only play based on how the chess board is set up.” He stood. “Pretty sure I have my answer. Our debts are square now. Know that if you screw up, I’ll still be here. Consider that a warning.”

He gave Greg a salute, and then turned and walked away.

*****

Ami tried to open her front door as quietly as she could. She crept inside, hauling along the luggage that she’d retrieved from Mamoru’s car after their battle. If Greg was already asleep, she didn’t want to wake him.

She needed time to come up with a good reason for staying in Japan. A plausible reason, one that wouldn’t jeopardize whatever the two of them had, one that wouldn’t make HER the one with the horrible secret from now on...

The living room light clicked on. He was staring at her from across the room.

“Greg!” Ami gasped. She looked down at her suitcase. “It’s so silly, I realized I forgot something, so I--"

“Yup, I was right,” Greg interrupted. “You’ve got that bitter secrets look again... Marmalade Mercury.”

Her grip tightened. MERCURY? No way could he mean...

He smiled at her. “Urawa... was maybe right about my habit of having the worst timing. I happened to be near the ice cream shop at the right time to see you transform.”

Ami dropped her case entirely, jumping toward him. “But I didn’t see anyone there? And you’ve got it wrong anyway. And you can’t tell anyone! Oh, Greg, I don’t want you hurt,” she gasped, her thoughts a mess of confusion as she seized him by the shirt.

He seemed startled for a moment, but then he simply reached out to take her by the shoulders. “Okay, Ami, first? Stay calm. I’m crazy out of my depth here, so I’ll follow your lead on everything. Second? I’m not upset. You obviously can’t print out laminated cards for people with your secret identity on them. In fact, if anything, I’m glad this kept you in Japan, within arm’s reach. Third?” He paused. “Those were real nice boots. I’d love to see you model them for me some time.”

Ami felt a heat rising in her cheeks. Which, despite the circumstances, made her feel like things were somehow normalizing between them. How could that be, with her Senshi identity on the line? “Are you finished?”

“Nearly. Fourth?” He pulled his hand away from her to reach into his pocket. And he pulled out the light blue temple charm with the two M’s and the small heart emblazoned on it.

What? How on earth had he snuck that away from her?! Ami quickly pushed her hand into her own pocket. Only to feel that the familiar circular object was still there.

“I ended up at this shrine,” Greg continued, looking at the medallion in his hand. “On the weekend before that chess match, where we all encountered Sewaya. While there, I got to talking with some dark haired girl, one of the shrine maidens I guess, and she gave me this temple charm. Supposedly it bonds people together if you put their picture inside, no matter the distance. Which, I know, that isn’t in any way scientific, and then with you leaving I thought, why should I even mention that I had the thing lest it freak you out, and hey, maybe it’s just a publicity stunt for said Shrine, but anyway, shortly after I got it I decided to..."

His voice trailed off. Because she had brought out the medallion’s twin. With her thumb, she flicked open the catch. Revealing his picture.

His eyes widened. And he did likewise.

Revealing a picture of her own face in his medallion.

Ami could scarcely believe it. It couldn’t be mere coincidence. Not something like this. It meant so much more. A tear blinked out of her eye as she embraced him.

“Know what?” Ami murmured by his ear. “Maybe, deep down, part of my uncertainty was a belief that nobody could really love me forever. Not given the whole Mercury part of my life. So, since Urawa knew from before, he was always in the running.”

His hands ran up and down her back. “Then all I can say is, I’m glad I’m a part of it now too,” Greg said. “Though, I guess I’m not totally sure that forever is what love’s all about? Because based on my history, it sure seems to me that it has its shares of ups and downs.”

He pulled back to look at her.

“I want to share that ride with you though, Ami Mizuno. If you’ll have me?”

Ami looked up at him. “Oh, I will. If you’re staying in Japan, despite how it played out about your dad?”

He nodded. “Yeah, I’m staying. Come what may, I’ll be here for you. Because I... I love you.”

She beamed at him, knowing her cheeks were tinting darker, and not even caring.

He coughed. “Actually, funny story? My first flight in, it ended up being a day earlier than when I’d said it would be. So, rather than disturb you and your mom, I got a hotel room and wandered around the neighbourhood. Meaning I actually saw you before we even met, at--"

Ami raised her finger to press it against his lips. “So talky all of a sudden. Perhaps social norms dictate leaving crazy stories for another time, after that confession?”

Greg nodded. “Sorry,” he continued as she pulled her finger back. “Just, nerves, I guess. Now that this relationship is a thing. Actually, are you sure you don’t want to hear about this commercial they’re shooting nearby, I was told it might..."

Ami laughed. This time, she cut Greg off with a kiss.

In the end, she didn’t know how long their happiness would last. But she intended to make the most of it, for as long it did... on this new pathway forwards, into the uncertain future.

<closing theme>

END SERIES

(Final Deconstruction Post to follow)

Previous	Chapter Links	Next
	*_* MARMALADE MERCURY *_* EP 15a: IMPACT OF A CONFESSION - HOW LONG WILL THIS HAPPINESS LAST? <opening theme>

“Why are we hiding from them?”

“Shhh,” Makoto whispered. She pushed aside some of the foliage of the bushes, to give them a better look. “See? It’s just as I thought. Strange!”

Ami turned her attention towards where Makoto was indicating. Greg and Kaijin were having lunch together, laughing and talking together like old friends. Which, granted, made less than no sense, given how withdrawn Greg had been around everybody since his arrival. Makoto was sure it meant something... and Ami had to grant her the point, otherwise why would those two be acting like this at school, of all places, where gossip was bound to spread even faster?

“You think maybe Greg’s trying to pressure you into making the first move or something?” Makoto prompted. “Figuring you’re more likely to pull him away from dating a guy than from another girl? Or could it be that, deep down, he just has a thing for blue hair no matter what the gender?”

Ami pursed her lips.

When Makoto had called her the day before, she’d admitted to the fact that, despite holding firm to her relationship decision, she hadn’t confessed to Greg yet. But she’d played up the angle of not being sure about how he would respond, rather than admitting that she might be in Germany by this time next week. Rendering the whole thing moot.

Except, would it be moot? Greg’s picture was now in her medallion, Rei’s temple charm, which would link the two of them, no matter what the distance...

“No. Greg and Kaijin, they’re just good friends,” Ami decided. “I mean, you and me, we spend time together like that. It doesn’t mean we’re dating, does it?”

Makoto blinked over at her. Ami held her gaze. Wait, were Makoto’s cheeks colouring? For a moment, Ami felt her own cheeks growing warm. No! Crazy thoughts, go away!

“What are you two doing standing out here in the middle of the bushes?”

Ami flinched, and looked to her other side, seeing Umino had somehow crept up on them. With a video camera.

It wasn’t pointed at her and Makoto though, Umino was aiming it out towards Greg and Kaijin. “Well, we’re not filming evidence!” she snapped, embarrassed at being caught spying. “I swear, if I’d known you’d end up creeping around like this today, I never would have appeared on your show last week.”

“A good reporter goes where the stories are,” Umino asserted, adjusting his swirly glasses. “And those two guys are the hottest couple of the week! Alas, since I’ve had them both on my show already, I figure I’ll need to get someone else to discuss the footage I’m recording here. Makoto, are you game?”

“Hah! I’m only going on your show if I get to talk cooking,” Makoto asserted.

Umino shrugged. “Oh well. Hey, is that a fancy calculator?”

Ami followed Umino’s gaze, discovering that her Mercury mini-computer was partly poking out of her school bag.

Usagi had asked them all to meet after classes at the Shrine, apparently there was some pink haired girl pretending to be a cousin who had infiltrated her house the night before. Ami had thought that having her high-tech device along might be useful.

Ami quickly pushed it back out of view.

“Yeah, and it tells fortunes and plays games too,” Makoto said, sarcastically. “Isn’t it time you found somewhere else to be?”

“Fortunes, eh?” Umino said, failing to take the hint. “Know what I got when I plugged Greg and Kaijin into one of those electronic compatibility tests? A perfect match.”

“That’s just... ridiculous,” Ami sighed.

“You can't always trust those matchmaking services,” Makoto agreed, albeit more hesitantly.

“Computers don’t lie,” Umino protested. “Speaking of, Ami, has Kaijin ever been over to your house to see Greg?”

Ami felt her chest tighten. “Wh-What? MY house? How is that even..."

“Oh, yeah, hey, I followed Greg home from his work yesterday,” Umino said, grinning. “Because of all the gossip, to see if he’d meet Kaijin in secret. He went to your place. I thought that was weird, so I hacked the school records, and discovered how you have the same address. But hey, maybe I won’t tell anyone, as long as you can get me some candid..."

“U-mi-no. Surely you’re not about to blackmail Ami?” Makoto said, leaning in closer to him, narrowing her eyes.

Umino pulled at his collar. “A-hahaha! Ohh, no ma’am. Silly me. I’m sure I have enough material for my show here already, we newspeople can overdo things, please nobody hit me with a textbook.”

Ami almost laughed at the exchange. Except, did it even matter now, keeping the housing situation a secret? She was going to Germany. Her face fell instead. “Know what? I don’t even mind if people find out Greg lives in my house.”

Makoto’s gaze snapped over to her. “Ami...?"

“I mean, the truth there is bound to come out eventually,” she said quickly. “And it’s such a small thing now, when there’s much more important things for us to worry about lately. Don’t you think?” Like Germany. She was going, right? Who should she even talk to first? Greg? Usagi? Makoto? Someone else?

Umino adjusted his glasses again. “Right, big issues. Like boys love! Ami, as you live with the guy, would you care to offer up an explanation for Greg’s sexual preferences?”

For some annoying reason, Ami was reminded of what Minako’s parting words to Greg had been, back when she’d been describing how they’d broken up...

~~~~~

"You're crazy!" Minako finally shouted out after him. "What, love just isn't in your vocabulary any more? Is it impossible for you to care about a girl?"

~~~~~

“No. Comment,” Ami asserted, grabbing her bag and back-pedalling out of the shrubbery. She heard Makoto saying something to Umino about burning his video footage before following after her.

*****

“Urawa? We have a problem.”

He let Minako in without another word. “I know,” Urawa said, shaking his head. “It was all around the school today. Greg and Kaijin? I don’t get it. How could that guy--"

“Oh no. No no no. No no,” Minako repeated, leaning in close to him. Urawa ended up pressed up against his front door, moments after he’d closed it. “No, PROB-LEM.”

“Oh.” Urawa flicked his gaze left and right. “Am I going to want to sit down for this?”

Minako seemed to think about that for a moment. “Yes,” she decided at last.

They adjourned to the living room.

“So,” Minako began, “yesterday, some Chibi-Usagi interrupted Usagi’s date. She appeared out of a cloud, and pulled a toy gun on her, or possibly jumped back into the cloud, and actually that’s part’s a bit unclear to me, but my point is she’s in Usagi’s old photos as her cousin!” She stopped, and looked at him earnestly.

“Okay. Cousins can be annoying,” Urawa agreed, not sure where she was going with the story.

“No, no, don’t you get it? Rei tried to get a reading on the fake photos a short time ago, and it didn’t work, and we were all drugged, and Sailor Moon had to appear to save this pink haired Usagi from a new threat!”

Urawa cleared his throat. “Okay, uh, now this sounds like Senshi business. Should you be telling me all this?”

Minako gestured vaguely. “Oh, maybe not. But you know about us through your power, and no one’s said I can’t talk to you, so for now I have implausible reliability.”

Urawa opened his mouth, closed it again, then shrugged. “You do have that.”

Minako made a noise of exasperation. “You’re still not getting it. What, is it that you’re still planning to go after Ami?”

“Minako, please,” Urawa sighed. “Not after my last vision. I’ve resigned myself to the fact that not only has Ami made her choice, she and Greg are tied together by some string of fate.”

“And do you think that thread also extends to Mercury??”

It finally clicked. “Oh, man. You’re right, Greg doesn’t know about her secret identity. Minako, do you think the Senshi all going to be needed again to fight evil? Sometime soon? With Ami too?”

“I dunno,” Minako confessed. “All I know is PROB-LEM. To the point where Ami might want a guy she can confide in. And that might end up being you by default. So, heads up!”

Urawa ran his palm down over his face. “It’s never easy.”

*****

“I’ve been neglecting you. I apologize for that.”

Greg leaned in against the back of the couch, where Ami seemed to be staring at her textbook - reading seemed like too generous a word. She turned to look at him, as his arms were resting near her head. “You can spend all the time you want with Kaijin,” she answered, offering up a shrug. “It doesn’t bother me.”

He tilted his head. “Not even a little bit?”

Ami closed her text and reached out to grab the papers on the coffee table. “I should be doing my schoolwork in my room.”

“Wait,” Greg said, quickly coming around the side of the couch. “Sorry. Stop. Spill.”

“Spill WHAT?” she demanded.

Greg shrugged. “I dunno. But it’s Tuesday night, three days after that big news you got, and you’ve still got that marmalade look about you.”

“I’ve got what now?” Ami asked, reaching up to touch the side of her mouth in confusion. Which, on the plus side for him, kept her from standing up.

“That bitter secrets look,” Greg corrected, smiling as he sat down next to her. “I teased you with the comparison once before, that first week--"

“I remember,” she countered, going tight-lipped. The look made him wince.

“Sorry,” Greg apologized again, smile fading. “I meant it more tongue in cheek then, but more seriously now. As in, I’m not teasing. It’s only, it looks to me like you’ve been bottling something up. Again. Very unhealthy. And while normally I’d try to take your mind off of it, my own mind’s a little preoccupied lately too. So, I don’t know, maybe the two of us can prop each other up this time somehow?”

“Oh, what, meaning you’re actually going to reveal your feelings about something to me?” Ami fired off.

He flinched back a little at her tone.

She seemed equally taken aback, bringing her hand back up to cover her mouth.

“Yeeeah, no, okay, I deserved that one,” he yielded quickly. “So don’t apologize, assuming you were even going to. In retrospect, it IS kinda silly to think that I can talk to Kaijin and not you. Not when you’re... uh...“

He found he couldn’t finish the sentence.

He forged on. “Look, you know why I’m not quashing the rumours about Kaijin and me, right? It’s because that whole Minako incident I told you about, it’s become lost in the new sensationalism.”

“I didn’t know that at all,” Ami said. Her gaze softened, even as she looked away from him. “Though I suppose that does make sense.” She sighed. “While on my end, I guess I’m out of sorts because it’s been a bit confusing with me and my friends lately. Usagi in particular.”

Ami abruptly turned back to him.

“See, she’s got some cousin staying with her now, a Chibi-Usagi, who isn’t really supposed to be there,” Ami explained. “On top of that, earlier tonight, she told us that Mamoru, her boyfriend, broke up with her. Which, I mean, that’s crazy! It HAS to be a misunderstanding, but between that, and something else that happened yesterday, it’s making me wonder if now is a bad time for me to--"

She froze up. Greg lifted his eyebrow. “Bad time to what?”

Ami slowly shook her head. “No. No, I-- I can’t. I’m sorry, I can’t talk to you, not when I feel like, somehow, we still don’t understand each other. We’re not at that level of comfort yet. I... we’ll talk another time, okay?” She reached again for her textbook.

Greg wasn’t sure what part of him said that it was now or never. Or why he chose to listen to that part of himself either. But as he started to speak, he realized there was no going back. “My thing is, Kaijin’s my blood brother,” Greg said.

He tried to sound nonchalant, but felt he was failing at it.

“Which is the reason for my obsessing over Japan the last several years. It’s what led to that speech that apparently inspired Sewaya’s dad, and then me being here myself, and meeting you... in fact, I only came to Japan, to this district, to meet my Dad.”

Ami turned her head.

The protest ‘I’m not joking, really’ died in his throat as she settled back onto the couch, staring at him. Because she wasn’t staring at him as if she couldn’t believe the audacity of his lies at a time like this. No, Ami was staring at him as if, maybe, she was seeing him for the first time. He wondered what look he had on his face. He hoped he didn’t look like some sort of lost puppy.

“You don’t look Japanese,” she said quietly. “So you’ll have to explain that one.”

Greg let out a shaky breath. “Well, my Mom really is Canadian. She was here on an exchange herself once, it was, well, I guess about a year before I was born. And she met Fushigi Taylor, Kaijin’s Dad, and with a name like that I guess he’s only half Japanese too, so I don’t know, maybe that’s part of it... genetics are weird. Anyway, they had this fling... together... and Mom didn’t know she was pregnant when she came back to Canada. I’m not sure if Mr. Taylor even knows the whole truth.”

He realized he was curling up on the couch, and made himself stop. But as he began to stretch his legs back out, Ami’s hand moved to touch him gently on the thigh. “And your mother and father, the Andersons?” Ami asked softly.

Greg swallowed. He’d never even told anyone this much before! Could he really go on? He couldn’t seem to look directly at Ami any more. He focussed on a spot on a the wall behind her. “They don’t know that I know,” he said quietly.

“I found out by reading some letters that my grandmother had kept,” he admitted slowly, “which I discovered after she had passed on. But, I mean, my Canadian parents have been great and all, very supportive of my strange whims! Such as my wanting to travel to England for six months, as a trial run, somewhere overseas where they actually still spoke English.” He coughed. “Did Minako ever mention how we met...?"

“Yeah,” Ami murmured. “She did.”

“Right. So it was sort of a stroke of luck, running into your father in Ottawa after that, and getting everything set up here. After I arrived, at first, I wanted context for what life was like in Japan before confronting Kaijin’s... uh, my dad. In case I was asked to stay. But at this point, well, I’m basically chickening out. Though turns out I was also totally wrong about who Kaijin was, wasting a bunch of time keeping an eye on the wrong guy.”

He shook his head.

“Never believe everything you see on the world wide web.”

Ami blinked. “Why, who did you think Kaijin was?”

Greg shrugged. “That weird guy in class with the short brown hair and the glasses who seems to be trying to grow a beard? I’m glad I’m not related to him, Kaijin’s got a better sense of humour.”

“Ah.” Ami repositioned herself, and somehow he found that he was looking at her again. “But, now that you and Kaijin are actually getting along, you’re thinking of actually confronting your Dad?” she prompted.

Greg ran his fingers back through his hair. “I dunno. Yeah? I guess?” He swallowed. “When I do, would you like to come with?”

Her jaw dropped. “You... want me there...?"

He’d said it without really thinking about it. “I... yeah. Yeah, I do. It doesn’t need to be any time soon though. I just figure... uh, yeah.”

Ami seemed to deflate a little. “Kinda would need to be soon, if so. My news is that I got a scholarship to study medicine in Germany. I leave this Friday night.”

Greg felt his own jaw drop. “Wow. Congratulations.” He quickly connected the dots. “So you’re wondering if now is a bad time to leave your friends?”

Ami pressed both hands to her forehead. “Nnnngh, yeah. Damn it, why does it feel like everything’s happening all at ONCE? I haven’t even told anyone else about my going away yet. What if the others think I’m running from my problems? Or worse, what if they support me and throw me this big going away party that just makes me so sad I’ll hate leaving? But I have to say something, and there’s only three days left!”

“Well, speaking as an authority on long overseas trips, I suspect your first priority would be..." He raised his eyebrows. “Learning German.”

She glared at him. “Ich kenne Deutsch.”

Of course she knew the language. Ami was amazing. He clapped his hands. “Outstanding! I had a devil of a time with Japanese. You’re way ahead of me there.”

“Oh, you’re doing fine.” She looked at him more thoughtfully. “Come to think, what did you say to your friends when you left Canada?”

“Um. Well.” He tried to smile. “Kind of a non-issue? Ever since I learned about my family situation, I’ve kinda withdrawn from getting to know anybody that well. Fear of betrayal, maybe, or this sense that my entire existence was somehow invalid...? I don’t know, point is I didn’t really leave anyone behind when I came here.”

“Oh, Greg..." With one hand back at her mouth, she reached out to touch his leg again with the other.

He realized he was curling up once more. He made himself stop. “Know what though?” he decided. “If you’ll be finding the courage to tell your friends about Germany, I can find the courage to face my Dad. Yeah. In fact, I’m going to go call Kaijin right now, and ask if there’s an evening this week that will work.”

He began to rise, then froze in place.

“Unless you think that’s a terrible idea.”

Ami shook her head, smiling again. “No, I don’t. Please don’t rush on my account though.”

He smiled back at her, and finished standing up. “I’m not. I see it more as striking while the iron is hot. Because, see, I’ve never been able to tell anyone all of that before. Ever. And opening up to you in that way, well, it makes me believe that I can do it with Mr. Taylor too. So thanks for the help there, Ami. So much. Really. I’m... I’m actually so happy right now.”

Ami nodded, and now she was blushing in that very cute way at him, which made his heart soar even more. In fact, his own cheeks felt warm for some reason too... he quickly turned away, heading for the phone extension in the other room.

There would be time enough to deal with whatever romantic implications existed between them later. Right now, it was time to set a date for determining, once and for all, whether he would be accepted into the Taylor family.

To know, effectively, whether his name would remain Greg Anderson... or whether it would become Greg Taylor.

<commercial break; Ami, Greg and Urawa skating, they trip over Ami's computer.>

Previous	Chapter Links	Next
	*_* MARMALADE MERCURY *_* EP 14b: QUALIFICATION OF LOVE - THINGS AREN’T GOING AS PLANNED

<commercial break; Ami, Greg and Kaijin skating, they trip over Ami's computer>

It all made sense now, Ami decided. That talk with Minako had helped immensely.

The reason she’d hesitated on admitting anything to Greg was because, despite everything that had happened between them? She wasn’t entirely sure how Greg would respond. It wasn’t even that she feared rejection, exactly... it was more that she feared the one she cared for was incapable of taking it seriously enough.

But that didn’t change the way she felt.

Ami finished cutting up the picture, one that her mother had managed to take of them at some point over the last month. She traced her finger around the image of Greg, then slipped it into the medallion that Rei had given her.

The one that would bond the two of them together, distance or no distance.

She then snapped the light blue locket shut, and, clutching it tightly in her hand, she went down to watch some television. Hoping that doing so would help take her mind off of the conversation that would happen as soon as Greg got home.

Strangely, for some reason, the episode that was airing on the channel didn’t match what it said it should be in the TV Guide. This series seemed to have started playing episodes out of order.

*****

“You know,” Motoki said, dryly. “What you do on your own time is none of my business, but what you do at work..."

Greg shook the mop at his employer. “I said it’s not like that.”

Minako had run off almost immediately after Motoki had exposed the two of them being in the closet together. Presumably she’d done so to continue avoiding Sewaya, who had also run off, possibly in pursuit.

Leaving Greg to clean up the mess, both in terms of the spilled drink and the social fallout. At least Minako had apologized as she’d fled.

“I went back there to look for a mop and bucket,” Greg continued as he finished cleaning up the spilled drink. “But the faucet was stuck. Next thing I know, Minako’s jumping into the room with me and closing the door on us. Really, I think she was as surprised to find me back there as I was to see her, seeing as she nearly fell on top of me as she turned around. I’d only just figured out that she was trying to hide from Sewaya when you burst in on the two of us. Nothing happened.”

Motoki quirked an eyebrow.

Honestly, Greg didn’t think the guy looked that mad. He had almost decided to deflect and not explain at all, except, based on the murmurings of the other customers in the Game Centre? It felt like saying nothing would be problematic in the long run.

“Well, your story almost checks,” Motoki said after a moment. “Except how is it you went for a mop and bucket before the drink got spilled? Do you have precognitive abilities or something?”

Shoot. Good point. Greg rubbed the back of his neck. “Well, no, that would be silly,” he admitted. “It’s just, the floor looked a bit dirty.”

“Mmm hmm. And the name Kaijin Taylor doesn’t mean anything to you?”

Greg nearly lost his grip on the mop handle. “What? Wait, why would you bring that name up now?!”

Motoki rolled his eyes. “He was here. Said he’d chased you into the back? You must know him. About this tall, blue hair, from your school...?"

Now Greg found he needed to use the mop as a support to keep from falling over. “No. TH-THAT was Kaijin? But I thought he was..." He jerked his gaze around the Game Centre. No sign of the guy any more. Of course. “D-Do you know where he went?!”

“Home?” Motoki said with a shrug. “Claimed you’d want his phone number, but as I said to him, I’m not his messenger service. Maybe he’ll be back tomorrow.”

“Urk,” Greg said, his hands sliding down the mop handle. “I-If he shows up, let me know? I really do need that guy’s phone number. Okay?”

“Hmph. We’ll see. No meeting with this Kaijin in the broom closet either, understood?” Motoki said, shaking his head as he finally turned away.

Behind Greg, someone gasped. “Of course. If Greg didn’t do anything with Minako it’s gotta be because he goes THAT way.”

Greg turned his head, but he had no idea who had spoken. Not that it mattered. The rumour mill would probably be all over the place after the events of the last five minutes... though frankly, he deserved whatever he got for having missed the significance of blue-haired-library-guy’s advances.

Kaijin Taylor... damn. Greg hoped he’d be able to keep it together for the rest of his shift.

*****

Urawa reached out quickly to catch Minako before she could fall to the floor. “Minako! What happened?” he gasped.

Minako took a few seconds to catch her breath before rolling her eyes up to meet Urawa’s gaze. “You. Would. Not. Believe. The. Morning. I’ve. Had,” she wheezed.

After a quick glance outside, Urawa helped Minako all the way into his apartment. “Sewaya?” he divined. She nodded. “Before or after you saw Ami?”

“After,” Minako said, leaning against the wall. “There were hijinks. I finally lost him. You got a place to hide me, in case he turns up here?”

“Uh, sure. Always. Here, let me get you a glass of water.”

Minako waited until she’d caught her breath, had a drink, and had moved to sit across from Urawa in his living room before continuing. “Right. So. Hijinks first? Or bad news?”

Urawa slumped a bit in his chair. “I think I can guess the bad news, based on what I’ve already seen.”

Minako blinked. “Seen what now?”

Urawa ran his fingers back through his hair. “I had another one of my visions. It’s related to everything.” He began to go into detail.

*****

Kaijin hadn’t returned to his work that afternoon. As such, Greg was still kicking himself as he arrived back at home that evening, and it took him a full minute of leaning against the wall to consider his next move before he registered how Ami was sitting by herself in the living room.

“Hey,” he said, offering up a wave as he came around the couch. “Are you all studied out for the day, or did you feel like talking some geography after dinner... I really wasn’t lying about it yesterday.”

She winced.

He frowned. “Alternatively,” he decided. “There’s always ice cream. I hear Bobsons’ is renaming itself Bob-Floy for some reason, they might have promotional deals on.”

Ami shook her head, and he now noticed that she seemed to be clutching a piece of paper in her hand. “No,” she managed. “Thank you. It’s just... I got some news. A couple hours ago. I have a lot of thinking to do. And you can’t help me with this. Not right now.”

Greg rubbed his chin, staring quietly at Ami. It didn’t look like she was in a stressed-out overthinking state of mind. She still seemed to be absorbing the impact of something. “Okay,” he said. “I’ll be cooking dinner then, so don’t worry about that.”

Ami nodded. “Sure. Thank you.”

He turned to head into the kitchen. “Also, don’t worry about the rumours about Minako cornering me in the broom closet. Those’ll die down soon enough.”

“Sure,” Ami repeated from behind him.

Greg began to count the seconds in his head. It took almost ten until the exclamation of, “wait, WHAT?”

Ami obviously had a lot on her mind.

He’d keep the explanation brief, just long enough to divert her mind from whatever had been on that paper. To help whatever news she’d received to finally sink in.

*****

“You want to come up?”

Mamoru turned away from looking across the street to focus back on Kato. “I don’t know. Will you finally explain whatever it is you’ve wanted to say since Motoki accosted us earlier today?”

Kato flinched. “Wait, you... you knew he meant me?”

“I didn’t at the time,” Mamoru admitted. “But you calling me this evening, asking if I was free for coffee? And the way you’ve acted for the past hour, including asking me to walk you home? Yeah, it makes things a bit more clear.”

“Oh.” Kato’s eyes fell to the ground. “So do I even have to say it?”

Mamoru sighed. “Yeah, I think maybe you do. Otherwise you’ll wonder if the answer might have been different if you’d actually come out with it.”

Kato looked back up at him. “You’re saying knowing my feelings won’t make a difference.” She wanted to make it a question, but it felt more like a statement.

Mamoru shrugged. “There’s a lot more going on here than you realize.”

“Of that I have no doubt,” Kato said, not sure if she was smiling or grimacing. “Your life has never been easy since the car accident, right?”

“Yeah, well, the full story actually has to do with reincarnation, protection of the Earth, and strangely enough, a psychic projection of my subconscious desires manifesting itself in an Arabian costume.”

Kato’s smile vanished. “If you’re not going to be SERIOUS..."

“Sorry. I meant to say I have strange dreams,” Mamoru revised, rubbing the back of his head with a sheepish look. “Sometimes I wonder if I’m testing myself somehow.”

Kato sighed. “For as long as I’ve known you, you’ve been so admired, yet so quiet and mysterious. Powering through the pain you had to be experiencing. I’m not sure if it was one of those qualities in particular, or the combination that... drew me to you.”

He said nothing at first. At last, he seemed to realize that she was waiting for some sort of response. “You never said anything.”

“I’m bad for that,” Kato admitted. “But Motoki’s right. It has to be out in the open between us. Otherwise there might be misunderstandings, as with that Kaijin guy. And I don’t want to do that to you, I care about you too much. You understand that I care, right?”

Mamoru nodded slowly. “Yes. Except it’s like you said. Knowing your feelings here, it doesn’t change anything. I’m sorry. I hope you can believe that.”

Kato bit down on her lower lip. “This Usagi means that much to you?”

He smiled. “She means the world to me. In a somewhat literal way, actually.”

Kato looked closely at him. Then she slowly nodded. “I understand. So you’re not coming up, huh?” she added, half joking, half hoping against hope...

Mamoru sighed. “More than that, it’s probably better if we don’t see each other again. Or at least, not for the foreseeable future.”

“Oh.” Kato swallowed. She forced out a laugh. “Well, hey, I had been considering a job in real estate out in Hiroshima, so..."

“Look, I’m sorry it has to be this way, but I feel like it’s better to make a clean break on romantic relationships,” Mamoru explained. “No hesitation, no second guessing. I mean, know that you can still call on me if you need a friend? But it has to be just as a friend.”

Kato gazed into his eyes. Then she nodded. “Take care of yourself.”

Mamoru nodded. “You too.” He turned and headed off down the road.

Kato watched him go for the first few steps, then clenched her jaw, nodded, and headed into the building.

*****

Makoto had once been told that, owing to her height, she had a “looming presence”. She normally tried to minimize that. Sometimes, however, the situation called for exploitation of that fact. Surely it wasn’t possible to ignore her for much longer?

At last, Kaijin turned from where he had been scrutinizing one of the video games. “Oh, hey, Makoto, didn’t see you there.”

“As if,” she challenged. “What the deal, Kaijin?”

He scratched his head. “Five card stud, nothing wild?”

“You’ve been distracting Greg from his job all morning,” Makoto pointed out. “People are starting to talk.”

“Ooh, gossip! Excellent. What are people saying about me these days?” He smiled in what Makoto decided was meant to be a charming manner.

Makoto simply glared back. “Mostly that the embarrassment of being seen with Minako has chased Greg out of the closet and into your arms. I think it’s time you set the record straight.”

Kaijin tilted his head. “Oh? Well, I have two questions related to that. First, why should it be me going on record, and not Greg? He’ll be back here any minute, once he’s dealt with that game token issue. You can talk to him then.”

Makoto fumbled to find the words. “Greg doesn’t say much as it is. Someone trying to be the student body president should be able to articulate himself better. Don’t you think?”

“Perhaps,” Kaijin nodded. “But second, curious choice of words, set the record ‘straight’. What if that’s not the way the record is? How can you claim to know better?”

Makoto quickly glanced around the Game Centre to see if anyone was listening to them. “Look, Kaijin, Greg likes Ami!” she hissed quietly.

Kaijin’s eyes widened in mock surprise. “He told you that?”

Makoto felt her mouth twitch. “Well, no, but didn’t I just say Greg doesn’t say much?”

“Ahh, yes.” Kaijin rubbed his chin. “Funny, he’s had a lot to say to me today..."

Makoto flexed her hands, and ultimately spun away. Arguing with the guy was futile. Plus, was it possible that there was something going on that she didn’t know about?

She hadn’t spoken with Ami since Friday at the swings. Was it possible that Ami had confessed to Greg, and he’d turned her down? Maybe her irritation was being misdirected here. Maybe she really should be angry with Greg instead, for playing with her friend’s feelings.

Makoto resolved to give Ami a call as soon as she could.

****

Elsewhere, Mamoru and Usagi were finally on their date in the park. But it was as they moved closer, to kiss, that Mamoru felt something bounce off his head. Moments later, the atmosphere was completely shattered by the arrival of a small, pink haired girl... who then claimed that she was also called ‘Usagi’.

At roughly the same time, in her bedroom, Ami crumpled the sheet in her hand. Of course, it was only a printout of the message she had received the previous afternoon. The message that changed everything, that remained, and could not be crumpled.

News that made her more mixed up than ever, not only about her romantic situation, but about her entire life path from this point onwards. The scholarship she had applied for, to study medicine in Germany, had been granted.

She had less than a week to decide if she was going to leave town for good.

<closing theme>

Previous	Chapter Links	Next
	*_* MARMALADE MERCURY *_* EP 14a: QUALIFICATION OF LOVE - THINGS AREN’T GOING AS PLANNED <opening theme>

Greg bit into an apple as he scanned over the note on the kitchen table. It had been left there by Ami's mother, and it indicated that she'd had to switch shifts with that Dr. Tavolite guy, which in turn meant that she wouldn't be able to hold the "family" barbecue that had been informally set for this weekend. She promised to make it up to them somehow.

He was starting to realize that Mrs. Mizuno’s absences from the house were par for the course, and not merely due to that big medical conference she’d helped to organize the previous weekend.

Shrugging, Greg went to retrieve the toast which had popped up. Sitting down at the table, he proceeded to eat his breakfast while considering the last couple of days.

Ami had made a decision. Which... had to do with Urawa and Minako? At least, that was what he'd deduced from Ami's mood after the quiz match, followed by the discussion out front with Urawa the previous night. (Good thing he'd remembered to go back out and retrieve his bicycle before going to sleep.) Had Ami chosen him for a relationship by default?

Was such a thing even possible?

The truth was that, the last couple days, he'd deliberately avoided talking with Ami about the situation. He'd sensed trouble as soon as Ami had asked him about Minako and Urawa making a good couple, because the whole Minako and Urawa situation didn't ring true somehow.

Granted, he knew Minako could be a fast mover, and if Sewaya liked Minako then why couldn’t his cousin Urawa develop a similar interest? It wasn’t impossible.

But then, Minako might instead need help with her schoolwork and not want to approach Ami. Urawa could be giving Minako tips on dealing with his cousin. Heck, Minako might even be trying to learn chess to try and impress Greg himself in some way!

No, they weren't going out. And once Ami realized that she was overreacting, the situation was likely to stalemate again.

Greg shook his head. There was no way he could be in the running forever. But Ami, she was so... so... words failed him. They always did when it counted.

Greg sighed. Well, it didn’t matter. He'd taken Friday off work to avoid seeing anyone, going to that nice scenic pond again for some self care. After all, he’d be working all this weekend, in place of last weekend; Greg couldn't in good conscience cancel out on Motoki two weeks running. Even if last night's encounter out front indicated another shift in Ami’s choices and decisions.

Greg mused briefly on whether anything would have happened between Ami and Urawa if he hadn't arrived. Probably not? But... well, no, he didn't want to think about it. Placing his dishes in the sink, Greg glanced briefly over towards the stairs - it seemed Ami was still asleep - then he headed out the front door.

*****

Ami heard the door close downstairs. She was still sitting in bed, feeling mysteriously drained of energy. She knew it wasn't some youma attack though, as even if the Senshi stuff wasn’t all behind them for now, that had a different feel to it. No, this was Ami feeling her decision weighing heavily on her.

She had picked Greg.

Was it because she'd thought Urawa was right for Minako? Or because she’d thought Greg was right for her?

Well, she hadn’t told Greg. Why not?

Going back to waffling on Urawa and Greg now really wasn't a viable solution. Meaning she had to either do a 180 or a 360. Or maybe she should work on some trig first? Her stomach grumbled indicating there was breakfast to consider too. But both those options required getting up.

With a sigh, Ami rolled out of bed and went to peer out the corner of the window, wondering if she’d spot Greg walking away.

Instead, she saw Minako approaching. Ami hurriedly got dressed.

*****

“I didn’t mean to interrupt your breakfast,” Minako apologized, following Ami into the kitchen.

“No, no, it’s fine,” Ami assured. “I saw you coming, and figured no time like the present in terms of clearing the air between us. I’d only be staring into a fruit salad and worrying about why you’d come if I hadn’t let you in. You want some too?”

“Uhm, sure,” Minako replied. She leaned back against the wall, clasping her hands behind her head. “So, Ami, here’s the thing. I have a fan club now.”

Ami’s hand nearly slipped as she was cutting the apples. “O-kay? Like, a Sailor Venus thing, all anonymous...?"

“Nope!” Minako said brightly. “Three upper classmen at my school. Approached me after school on Friday. It changes everything, right?”

Ami stared blankly.

Minako realized she needed to elaborate. “Okay, well, first of all, means I’ve still got it,” she said, winking.

Ami rolled her eyes and resumed cutting.

“For another, it means I’ve got people at school who will help keep Sewaya off my back, whether I’m dating or not,” Minako added. “They’re nice and protective of me that way. And finally, it kind of crystallized things for me with Greg, finally.”

Ami flinched again.

Minako sighed. “I’m gonna stop talking until you’re done with the knife.”

“S-Sorry. I’m being careful, really.”

Minako made a face. “If you’re sure. Thing is, Greg’s someone who got away from me once. I mentioned he happened before the whole Sailor V thing, right?”

Ami nodded.

“Good. Thing is, ever since then, I can write off the relationships that don’t work out as, hey, I’m the Senshi of ALL love, it’s not my time to settle down yet, it’s destiny or whatever. Get ‘em next time.”

Ami scraped the chopped apples into a bowl with some grapes. “And so the issue is, Greg’s returned to present you with that next time.”

“Yes. Wait, no. Wait, what?”

Ami turned. “What?”

Minako rolled her eyes. “Look, the issue is, if Greg rejected me back then, it couldn’t have been a Senshi destiny thing. Not yet. Meaning maybe there’s something about me that turns people off, and he only SAID it was about him because he was being nice. So ever since, it could be that thing sabotaging my relationships. Not destiny. So, aha, brain flash! If me and Greg go out again, post-Senshi, and it STILL doesn’t work, then BANG! At last, I’ll know for sure it’s been about destiny all along. Isn’t that logical?”

Ami’s head tilted to the side. “That's... uh, okay? But then what if you, um, went out with Greg and it did work?”

Minako grinned. “That would confirm that I’m irresistible,” she said. “It’s win-win. Which brings us right back to the question I asked you weeks ago that started off this whole mess.” She pushed away from the wall. “Ami, would you have objections to me going out with Greg?”

Minako quickly moved to take the bowl of fruit out of Ami’s jittery hands.

“C’mon, Ami,” Minako insisted. “You remember that talk, yeah? At the time, you said it was okay - at the moment. Well, what’s the moment say now? Stop thinking, Ami, just SPEAK.”

“Y-Yes,” Ami rasped.

Minako beamed. Then frowned. “Wait. Yes, you spoke, or yes, you have objections?”

“Yes, I d-d-do object to you going out with Greg,” Ami said, her eyes widening a little as she said it, as if she was only then realizing what she was saying.

Minako set the bowl back down to grasp Ami by the hands. “Ah-HA. Meaning you’re fine with Urawa going out with me, but not Greg going out with me?”

Ami swallowed. “Apparently?”

Minako nodded. “There we go then. Now you know. Sorry for using perverse psychology.”

Ami’s brow furrowed. “Uh... you mean reverse psychology?”

Minako gestured vaguely. “Call it whatever. Look, I kinda get what you meant about that “next time” thing too, yeah? Greg leaves me, then suddenly he turns up, and oooh. Urawa leaves you, then suddenly he turns up, and oooh. So we’re both all, oooh, do we risk it again? And I think I would with Greg, if there wasn’t something more important at stake.”

Namely, her friendship with Ami, but Minako decided not to break momentum.

“Similarly, you might with Urawa - if there wasn’t something more important to you. Hmmm? If you know what I mean, Ami?” She wiggled her eyebrows.

“But Greg hasn’t even said he likes me yet!” Ami blurted.

Minako released Ami, frowning and rubbing her chin. “No? Huh. Fail for him. Thing is, he does keep his distance from everyone, always has. But I’ve noticed that around you, he seems different. And Greg’s more about actions than words, maybe that’s the problem. You want me to go talk to him next?”

“NO,” Ami said firmly. She pinkened a little and finally went to get some cutlery. “Th-that is, no, thank you. And know that I do appreciate you taking the time here with me.”

Minako nodded. “I hope it’s helped a little?”

“It's... clarified something,” Ami admitted, smiling. “So that’s good.”

Minako nodded again. Things had been clarified here for her too. She decided she wouldn’t even mention the other piece. The fact that a member of her fan club was called Alan. Alan, the same name as the man she had once loved in London.

It had been on her second trip there... after Greg, after becoming Sailor V... Alan, whom she had then lost in love to her best friend. It made her wonder. Was she now losing someone else from her past, namely Greg, to another friend?

Was she really okay with that?

Given Ami’s reactions here towards Greg, Minako found that yes, it was okay. Maybe Ami was just too cute about it. Maybe time did help to heal all wounds. Or maybe it got easier, the more it happened.

Minako smiled back. “Yay!” She moved to sit at the table as Ami brought the fruit over. “Want to hear more about my fan club then?”

*****

It happened without warning. Greg simply turned around, and there was blue-haired-library-guy, standing directly behind him.

“Hi!” library-guy said, with a smile and a wave. “I’d say this was coincidence, but I heard that you were working here. So it’s not. At all.”

“The key word there is working,” Greg noted. He took a quick look around the Game Centre. Alas, no one was flagging him down, so he moved to the side to pretend to be checking something out with the video game there.

The guy was not dissuaded. “I take it you don’t even check out the archives of Umino’s “Lunchtime Views” show at school, huh? Darn. Too busy with your creative writing books?”

Greg rolled his eyes. “Sure, let’s go with that,” he said, wiping at invisible dust.

For a moment, there was silence.

Greg glanced over his shoulder. Nope, the guy was still there, smiling. “What, do you spy on everyone who reads up on writing in the library?” Greg asked, before he could stop himself. Bad move, encouraging conversation!

“No way,” came the reply. The guy then snapped his fingers. “But did I mention that in addition to the books at my place on writing, I also have several on... genealogy?” He waggled his eyebrows suggestively, leaning closer.

“I have to get something from the back,” Greg grumbled, pushing past him.

If there wasn’t any work to be done out here, maybe he could find something job related to do elsewhere that would allow the mystery guy to take the hint.

*****

Minako realized she had a problem. After having left Ami’s place, it had only made sense to touch base with Urawa, in much the same way as he had called her last night... but the news she had? It wasn’t good. Not as far as Urawa was concerned.

Because Ami had all but admitted that Greg was still her choice, despite (or because of?) their interference.

Minako knew that, if she told Urawa that on the phone, he might march back over to Ami’s place, the way he had last night. To plead his case again, or something. Minako didn’t think that would help. So she had to tell Urawa the news in person.

She’d forgotten that Sewaya didn’t live that far away from his cousin.

“Minakoooo!” the orange haired nuisance called out.

She definitely had a problem. Urawa’s place was out, Sewaya would flip out at them. Her new fan club wasn’t around, and at any rate, was of limited use away from the school. Standing up to Sewaya herself might only cause an even worse scene.

She glanced over her shoulder. He was still chasing after her. She had to somehow lose Sewaya in the crowd around them.

Maybe she could fake right, cut left, and duck into the Crown Game Centre? He might not hang out there for long, not if people recognized him as the guy who’d lost that video game competition a week ago. She picked up her pace.

*****

“Shouldn’t you be, you know, working?” Mamoru remarked. He jerked his thumb from where he sat at the Crown Cafe, over towards the Game Centre.

Motoki grinned back, sliding into the available seat next to his friend. “Shouldn’t you be, you know, sharing a drink with Usagi, not Kato?”

Kato let out a quiet laugh from the third seat at the table. “You’ve both got a point?”

Mamoru rolled his eyes. “I’m going boating with Usagi tomorrow. And I didn’t come here with Kato, she just kind of turned up and joined me.”

“Did she now,” Motoki mused, looking towards her. Kato flinched, and looked at the ground.

Mamoru folded his arms. “Your job, Motoki?”

“Eh, Greg had it covered last I checked. He’s a responsible guy, I can take five minutes,” Motoki said, gesturing airily. “I’m more worried about my friends right now.”

Mamoru lifted an eyebrow. “Worried?”

“Yeah.” Motoki rubbed the back of his neck. “It’s just, maybe it’s me, but have romantic tensions seemed higher than normal of late? At least in this part of town?”

“I hadn’t noticed,” Mamoru said, reaching for his cup.

“Minakoooo!” came a plaintive cry. The three of them turned to see the orange haired boy from the challenge last week. He looked up and down the street before walking into the Game Centre.

Mamoru paused. “Though now that you mention it..."

“What’s your point?” Kato broke in quickly.

Motoki sighed. “I just think, if people are feeling something, it might be better to get it all out in the open. To prevent any awkward misunderstandings later?”

Mamoru felt his eyebrow start twitching. He pulled back from his drink. Was Motoki implying that he had feelings for Kato? Because he didn’t. “Misunderstandings like what?”

“Like me?” came a fourth voice.

Mamoru turned his attention away from Motoki, and over to the guy with blue hair who had approached them. He looked familiar. “I met you yesterday,” Mamoru recalled. “Kaijin, right? From Usagi’s school?”

Kaijin offered a mock salute. “Kaijin Taylor, at your service. It’s weird, yesterday you were here with the lovely Usagi Tsukino, and now you’re with... who, exactly?”

“Kato. Kato Sujigaki,” Kato introduced herself, smiling hesitantly.

“Pleased to meet you,” Kaijin said, nodding. “See, Mamoru, it’s easy for a person to get the wrong impression here, and think you’re some kind of playboy.” Kaijin hooked his thumbs into his belt loops. “Good thing I’m smarter than that, eh?”

“Good thing,” Mamoru said, not at all amused by the insinuation. Perhaps in part because Usako might be inclined to believe such a wild flight of fancy. “And do you even have a reason to be inserting yourself into our conversation?” he demanded.

“Well, sure,” Kaijin said with a smile. He turned to look at Motoki. “I’m afraid I scared your assistant into the back, and someone responsible needs to be on hand if orange-hair there causes trouble. Meaning I think that’s you.”

Motoki sighed. “Figures.” With what looked to Mamoru like a pointed stare at Kato, he rose back to his feet. “No rest for the weary.”

“Also,” Kaijin added, pulling a paper out of his pocket, “if you could maybe give this to Greg later? It’s my phone number. I wasn’t able to get it to him, but I’m sure he’ll want it later, and it’s unlisted. Know that I wouldn’t ask you if it wasn’t important.”

“Sorry, I’m not your messenger,” Motoki said, pushing Kaijin’s arm away. “I don’t want to get involved in all the relationship drama.”

Turning his back on the others, Motoki strode back towards the Game Centre. He tried to quickly get a read on the situation. It seemed like the orange-haired kid - Sewaya, that was his name - had pushed his way past a number of people to get inside, but he was now simply standing there looking forlorn.

“If I can’t catch you now?” Sewaya called out after a moment. “That’s it. I give up.”

Of more importance, his shoving meant someone had spilled their drink by the entranceway. They’d need to get that cleaned up, and Greg was nowhere to be seen. “Seriously?” Motoki mumbled.

Usually, the guy was so dependable. Motoki quickly threaded his way to the back, reaching out and jerking open the door of the broom closet, to get the mop.

The two people inside the broom closet turned to face him, their eyes wide, their bodies pressed up against each other. One of them was Greg Anderson. The other was Minako Aino.

Two broom handles clattered down against the floor, as Motoki heard a collective gasp erupt from the people standing behind him.

<commercial break; Ami, Greg and Kaijin skating, they trip over Ami's computer.>

Previous	Chapter Links	Next
	*_* MARMALADE MERCURY *_* EP 13b: IN SEARCH OF A SOLUTION - URAWA, TAKE MINAKO!

<commercial break; Minako, Urawa and Sewaya skating, they trip over Ami's computer>

"Um, are you looking for anyone in particular?"

"Eh?" Usagi turned back to Mamoru. "Oh! Ah ha ha ha... no, I just thought I recognized someone from school over there."

It was after class on Friday, and the two of them had met up at the Crown Cafe for some drinks. But Mamoru had noticed Usagi's attention becoming distracted more than once now. He let out a gentle sigh. "Kato had some important errands to run," he reassured. "She won't be coming by."

"Oh... really? Um, good..." Usagi replied, smiling weakly and rubbing the small of her back.

Mamoru sighed again. "Usako, it's come to my attention that you're worried about her. I suppose part of me understands that, given some of the rough points in our relationship - but all of that is in the past now. You KNOW you're the only one I care for, so really, there's nothing to worry about! Do you really think I'm just going to break up with you after everything we've been through?"

Usagi blushed, and started tapping her index fingers together. "Ami-chan said something very similar the other day," she admitted. "I-I'm sorry Mamo-chan. I guess I just wonder sometimes if you're spending more time with Kato than with me."

Mamoru nodded. "I suppose that's fair enough. So, since I spent last Saturday with her - how about we get together this weekend? We could go boating in the park tomorrow.”

"I'd like that!" Usagi said with a smile. "It'll have to be Sunday though, so that my parents - and Luna - will let me out of the house. We got waaay too much homework this weekend," she remarked, making a face.

"Great! Then it's a date," Mamoru concluded, smiling in return. "And really, stop worrying about Kato. I don't worry about any of your school friends after all." He winked.

Usagi giggled slightly. "Yeah, well, I'm not sure who you'd have worry about," she replied, glad that relationship things seemed to be resolving themselves.

"So, Usagi, who's your companion?" Kaijin asked idly as he leaned onto the side of the booth.

The two occupants blinked over at him in surprise.

"Oh... I hope I'm not interrupting anything," he continued, with a grin and a vague gesture. "I was just here looking for someone I saw working in the arcade last week. He doesn't seem to be around. Then I caught sight of Usagi, so thought I'd come over and say hi."

Mamoru looked back at Usagi with a bemused expression. "School friend to worry about?" he inquired.

"Acquaintance," Usagi corrected.

It was that persistent admirer again... well, maybe this was a chance to set the record straight? "Mamo-ch... er, Mamoru, this is Kaijin, Kaijin this is Mamoru. My boyfriend," she emphasized.

An eyebrow went up on Kaijin's forehead as he reached out a hand towards the older person. "Well, well. So at last we meet. My congratulations. Make sure you always take good care of her now."

Mamoru shook hands with Kaijin, more out of reflex than anything else. "Of... course..." he replied starting to feel even more puzzled.

"I'll leave you two alone then. Bye!" Kaijin waved, flashed another smile and then headed off.

Mamoru watched him leave. "Strange guy," he observed, shaking his head. He turned back to Usagi to ask her more about him, but she had apparently already dismissed him from her mind.

"So where are we meeting in the park...?" Usagi prompted. They started in on the details.

*****

Ami pumped her legs, which made her swing a little higher. "So... that's what I decided," she concluded. "Do you think I did the right thing?"

Her friend pursed her lips. "Well... that's not really something I should be answering yet, is it? I mean, I'm still not sure I understand the whole situation."

Ami looked over. "Do you want me to go over any of it again?"

Makoto made a little face as she gradually let her own swing slow to a stop. "Nooo, it's just... well, I must admit I never saw any of this Minako business coming. It makes me wonder... well, no, perhaps I shouldn't speak..."

Ami also let her swing start to run down. "What is it? Please tell me."

Makoto sighed. "Okay, Ami. Thing is, you were just speaking about Minako as if she was already going out with Urawa - is that really the case? I can't see Minako getting involved with him so quickly, not when he cares for you. And more to the point, how much of your decision was based on that one fact?"

Ami's feet dragged on the ground as her swing finally came to rest. "You think I made the wrong choice."

"No! No, I'm not saying that," Makoto quickly refuted. "You chose Greg, and that’s great, but you seem to be dismissing Urawa very... casually. So I'm just... wondering if you're not trying to make things work out all nice and conveniently?”

Ami blinked at her uncertainly. Makoto scratched her head.

“Let me put it this way. Remember waaay back to the start, when you were denying any feelings for Urawa, and how I called you on it?" Ami nodded slowly. "And remember after you broke up, and he left, and how you also tried to deny that you felt anything? And how I called you on that too?" Ami nodded again. "Well... similar deal here," Makoto concluded. "Now that you seem to have picked Greg, you're denying any lingering feelings, either good or bad, towards Urawa."

"Because once I'm going out with one of them, I can't still love the other!"

Makoto smiled reassuringly. "Well, admittedly, you shouldn't date them both at once. But feelings are feelings, Ami. Do you really think it's so easy for Minako to be your replacement in Urawa's life? Or that Urawa won't be at all missed in yours?"

Ami slumped. "But Urawa said he'd give up... and it's better for him to be with Minako now, right?" It suddenly struck her that if she had decided the other way, would Greg have had anyone to be with? Despite his being here for - what, a month? - and accumulating admirers, Greg didn't seem close to anyone, not even Minako.

Oh, no. She hadn't based her decision on things like this, had she?

Everything had made sense last night! Should she rethink things again? She hadn't actually put either Greg or Urawa's picture into her medallion yet...

Makoto abruptly slipped out of her swing and came over to give the blue haired girl a hug. "Ami-chan... I'm not saying you need to rethink your decision," Makoto murmured, squeezing gently. "I just think you shouldn't read so much into the feelings of others that you forget about your own."

Ami hugged back. It was like Makoto knew she’d needed it. Ami liked how her friend was able to sense that, and in a way it made her glad that Usagi had gone off with Mamoru after school, giving them the chance to talk instead. Still, she'd previously acknowledged that her feelings were just as important as anyone else's... so was that really where things were going wrong? "So... what should I do now?" Ami asked.

Makoto pulled back, shaking her head. "I can't answer that, it’s your choice. You’ve been real focussed on Urawa though, what did Greg say when you told him?"

"Oh." Ami swallowed. "I... haven't... yet...?"

Makoto’s eyebrow went up. "So THAT’S the whole situation... Ami, you have to tell him. You’re not being fair to anyone until you do."

Ami winced. "I-I know. So, w-what do you think, talk first, then Rei’s medallion charm, or the other w-way around...?"

Makoto made a face. “A-mi-cha-n..."

Ami winced. "Okay! Okay, Mako-chan," Ami finally assented. It wasn't just a matter of feelings, was it. She had to own this decision. "Thank you."

"Any time." Makoto smiled. The girls remained silent for a few moments before Makoto finally ventured, "So did you actually have juku tonight, or...?"

"Oh no!" Ami gasped, belatedly realizing the time. "We've been talking that long?? I'll be late!" Leaping off the swing, Ami scooped up her bookbag and gave Makoto one last quick wave. "Thanksagainbye!"

Makoto just smiled, waving back at Ami's retreating form. "Any time," she repeated. "Whenever you need a friend."

*****

Ami tore down the street feeling for all the world like Usagi trying not to be late for school. She felt even more like Usagi when, upon rounding a corner, she ran full tilt into another person running the opposite way, and they both fell to the ground in a tangle of arms and legs.

"Aie! I'm so sorry, I'm just going to be late..." Ami apologized, managing to stumble to her feet before moving to help up... Minako?

"Ami? That you?"

"Uh, yes," Ami answered, momentarily taken aback. "Are you all right?"

Minako nodded, brushing herself off and smiling. "Think so. Late for juku?"

"Almost. Are you late for something too?"

"No, I was just on my way to Urawa's," Minako said automatically. Then inwardly she winced, remembering who she was talking to.

"Oh." Ami looked downcast for a moment but then she smiled and said, "I knew you'd be good for each other," before she turned and continued her run towards her extra evening classes.

Minako watched her go, feeling slightly confused. Suddenly, the weird message Urawa had left, telling her to come over, merged with Ami's words in her mind. It led to a bizarre conclusion. But that meant Ami truly thought...

"My God," Minako murmured in shock.

*****

Ami left the seminar building feeling surprisingly good about her romantic situation for once. The only thing still sitting uncomfortably with her was whether she had come across as seeming distant to Urawa, after saying she loved him too. The fact that Minako had apparently been going over to comfort him earlier was good, but it gave her mixed feelings...

WAS she so easy to replace? What was to become of her ties with Urawa? She would have to give him a call tomorrow, just to make sure she didn't end up losing him altogether... because Makoto was right, he was a part of her that she couldn't simply dismiss. She hoped he hadn't completely 'given up on her' like he'd said he would.

Shaking her head, Ami turned the final corner leading up to her house. There she stopped and blinked.

"Ami... we have to talk...," Urawa beseeched her.

Ami stood uncertainly for a few moments before finally approaching him. "Shouldn't you be out with Minako?" Ami wondered aloud. "She... she was on her way to your house earlier."

"We talked already," Urawa admitted. "That's... that's why I'm here." He paused to work up the nerve to say what he knew he had to. As Minako had reminded him earlier, they'd never meant for things to get this bad. It had just been a passing idea that day at the Tokyo Tower...

~~~~~

"So you think that if we act like the two of us are going out, Ami and Greg will realize they don't want to lose us, reject each other and we all live happily ever after?" Urawa clarified.

"Errrr, something like that," Minako acknowledged. "Though I doubt Greg will be affected much by me seeing someone else."

~~~~~

How had it gotten so out of hand? How would Ami would react to him saying something like, "Ami, there really is nothing between me and Minako. The two of us had just decided not to confirm anyone's beliefs one way or the other, to see how it might affect things."

"W-What? Urawa! You must be joking."

Urawa winced, realizing he’d spoken aloud this time. "I... I'm afraid not," he admitted. "I didn't even know about Minako's past with Greg at the time. But you can ask her yourself if you like, we've both decided to reveal the truth! And I'm especially sorry for saying I'd give up on you. I really do want you to be a part of my life... in the future I swear I'll think before I leap. Er, reap. Er, speak!"

Ami stared blankly at him.

"I... I hope you're not too angry?" Urawa finished.

"N-No..." Ami began cautiously.

Actually, in some strange way she was relieved. Relieved that she really was that irreplaceable in his life and that their relationship hadn't completely changed. But on the other hand - if neither Minako nor Urawa were interested in each other, was her justification in picking Greg still sound? Had she let her feelings be led astray by them or not?

"I'm just wondering how much rethinking is necessary here," Ami admitted.

"I can understand that," Urawa replied with a nod. So the situation might not be beyond repair. But more than that, she hadn't lashed out at him. He felt immensely relieved. But at the same time, he wasn't sure how to proceed any more.

They stared at each other for a while.

"So, uh... what do you think Greg might say?"

"About what?"

Urawa whirled. Greg was coming up behind them, wheeling his bicycle. Again with the timing! Urawa glanced at Ami, but she seemed to have frozen at the new arrival, so he turned back to answer.

"About the fact that I'm not going out with Minako."

Greg frowned. "Oh. Well, that is a problem."

Urawa nodded back. "So you know what this means then."

"Indeed," Greg answered gravely. "Sewaya's going to be able to actively pursue her again. At least Minako's a good runner."

Urawa almost nodded again before he realized what Greg had actually said. Instead, he gaped. "Er, no... I meant, don't celebrate too quickly."

"Why would I celebrate over who's dating Minako?"

"Not over that, I mean over Ami’s decision!" Urawa responded, starting to get thoroughly flummoxed. He turned to look back at Ami... and staring into her eyes, it suddenly hit him.

She hadn't told Greg. For whatever reason, Ami hadn't spoken with Greg yet.

"Ah! Now how did you know I'd decided to have Ami help me with my geography homework?" Greg inquired.

Even as he spoke he reached out to take Ami's arm, guiding her up towards the house while leaving his bike out on the pathway.

"Don't worry though, I hadn't planned on celebrating my grades until I pulled off the A."

Ami opened her mouth to interject something, but no words came out. All of a sudden things were happening quickly, and there were too many thoughts pinwheeling through her head at once. By the time she became aware of Greg leading her up to the house, they were already at the door.

Which was when Urawa finally found his voice again. "Just a minute!" he protested. "I was talking with Ami!"

Greg glanced back. "It looked to me like you two were just sharing a very long pause together. Shouldn't studies come before that sort of thing?"

"But... we were... uh..."

The door closed behind Greg and Ami even as Urawa fumbled for words.

He grimaced. "Just don't get all complacent is all!" Urawa finally shouted to the closed door.

On the other side of said door, Greg shook his head. "Well, at least we didn't end up with a repeat of that early evening scene a couple weeks ago," he remarked.

Ami blinked up at him. Early evening a couple weeks ago? Wait, she remembered now...

~~~~~

If only she could just call up her feelings for Urawa again... then things would be all right. Urawa... months ago... the ferris wheel... their faces began to move closer together. It would be as it was...

"Hello, should you be doing that in public?" a voice interrupted.

~~~~~

"What did you think was going to happen this time?" Ami heard herself demand.

Greg shrugged. "Who can tell? You looked like you wanted time to to think to yourself." He released his hold on her arm. "And I really do have geography that needs going over this weekend. Help me out if you have time, okay?" He walked away towards the stairs.

Ami opened her mouth to respond to that, but her voice was gone yet again.

Had Greg thought she and Urawa had been leading up to a kiss? A little audacious of him to intercede then! Did she want to date someone like that? Oh why, oh why were things becoming complicated again?! What should she do now???

<closing theme>

Previous	Chapter Links	Next
	*_* MARMALADE MERCURY *_* EP 13a: IN SEARCH OF A SOLUTION - URAWA, TAKE MINAKO! <opening theme>

'I was ONLY trying to help out Urawa. I wasn't trying to make Greg available,' Minako told herself once again. She tapped her pencil absentmindedly on her desk in the empty classroom. Class had let out several minutes ago, but Minako's mind was elsewhere.

Ever since the fiasco at Ami's house last weekend, she had decided to take a few steps back to try and work through her own feelings. But several days later the situation still hadn't really clarified itself. Her thoughts kept running in circles.

She'd become involved when Ami had expressed more interest in Greg than in Urawa. It had seemed only right to give Urawa a fair chance. She and Urawa had then not corrected anyone who'd thought they were seeing each other, like Sewaya. To see what effect it would have on the situation.

Was this when her second guessing had started?

Because Minako couldn't shake the feeling that, had Ami initially expressed more interest in Urawa than in Greg, she wouldn't have interceded at all. Yet since she'd known both Greg and Urawa before all this, if she was okay with helping one and not the other - did that mean she had a personal stake? That she didn't like the idea of Ami picking Greg? That’s what really bothered her.

That meant this wasn't matchmaking. It was putting friendship in jeopardy over love.

Admittedly, Ami not making her decision clear was vexing; it meant Minako couldn't drop her relationship thoughts of Greg, nor totally go after him to try and ignite any potential spark. But Ami was her friend, so she shouldn't be "leading" Ami into her choice of a relationship just for that reason! Did it look that way to Urawa?

She should take Urawa aside and discuss things with him more clearly... explain some of her history with Greg, in England. Ask if she could become more of a passive observer until Ami's situation resolved itself, since it was now too late to drop back out of the picture entirely.

"Minako!"

The blonde looked up at the sound of her name.

"Minako, you should be at the scholastic contest!" said one of her friends, waving from the doorway.

Minako glanced at the clock. "That's now?"

Of course it was, that's why class had let out early. Ami was participating in that, wasn't she? The chatter had been about her school since the week began. Minako hadn't paid too much attention to it, since she had the utmost faith in Ami's abilities and hadn't figured highly on the odds of anyone at her school defeating the girl genius. But she supposed she should go to show support.

Actually, maybe Urawa had come to show support also! This could be the perfect chance to discuss things more fully with him.

"Yup! There's one really cute guy from Juuban Jr. down there too," her friend clarified. "He looks a bit foreign. I think he waved at me!"

'Greg?' Minako mused. She abruptly remembered the last time their schools had been involved in some sort of competition. The chess match, after which she had first attempted to assist Urawa. Which had been after the phone call by Greg that weekend... had his call subconsciously influenced her decision to become involved?

Minako had almost called Greg first back then, after Ami had said that he was living at her place. But she had found out that information at the same time as Ami had let on that she had some feelings for Greg. So Minako had held back.

Greg had finally called her of his own accord a week after they had first encountered each other at the amusement park. He had said that he would call, after all... but their conversation had ended up being merely idle chatter, Greg mentioning he’d visited some shrine, followed by him saying that he didn't think that they should talk on the phone in the future.

He hadn't even mentioned the chess tournament that day.

Granted, Minako was used to that sort of reaction from him; it was precisely the same way he'd acted back in England before they'd gone out. So she hadn't seen it as a rejection, just his standard operating procedure.

However, this time, given Ami's interests, Minako hadn't tried to press the point, hadn't tried to rekindle Greg's interest. Had she really fallen back on a more subtle way to determine Greg's feelings? Minako frowned.

Oooh, now she was really starting to second guess herself, and she didn't like that one bit. She really had to run some of this by someone else, and being part of the situation, Urawa seemed like the best prospect for it. And if he was at her school, this would be the perfect opportunity.

It was like fate.

Minako stood. "Well, if he waved at you, what are you doing back here then?" she inquired of her friend, quickly smiling back and hurrying to the doorway. "Let's go to the match!"

*****

Minako arrived in time to catch most of the event. Ami won; it wasn't much of a surprise. Nodding at the friends from her school, Minako left to hurry in the direction of where she had spotted Greg and Urawa. The place had been full enough that she hadn't bothered to try and shove her way through during the match, plus Sewaya had been there too and she hadn't wanted to inadvertently start some sort of scene - as could happen with Urawa and Sewaya.

Another black mark against Sewaya, hassling his cousin that way; Urawa really was a nice guy. A guy who simply had trouble handling himself around Sewaya. And Ami, come to think.

She lost them in the crowd but spotted Urawa again right outside. "Urawa!" the blonde called out. She hurried to catch up. "Urawa!" Minako repeated.

She belatedly noticed Greg and Ami there as well. "Oh, Ami!" Minako continued as she arrived at the small clustered group. "Sorry, I didn't notice you there... great job at the knowledge competition! Caught most of it - and don't tell anyone here, but I was rooting for you instead." The blonde winked.

"T-T-Thanks..." Ami said back. She looked a bit lost, so Minako smiled again. "But anyway, if you all don't mind I need to borrow Urawa here for a while," Minako added. "There are some issues we have to discuss."

"Eruh, actually... now isn't the best time...," Urawa said, anxiously glancing back and forth between Minako and Ami.

Minako shook her head and, taking hold of Urawa's arm, she started to gently pull Urawa after her. "Don't worry, it really won't take that long," Minako noted. Quietly to Urawa, she muttered, "It's okay, we just REALLY have to discuss the situation..." With her free hand Minako gave a quick wave to Greg and Ami. "Talk to you later!" she concluded.

*****

Thus Greg and Ami were left standing together. And, staring at the retreating forms of Minako and Urawa, Ami suddenly realized that whatever it was that she had been going to say no longer mattered. In the end, the decision had been made for her.

Moving closer to Greg, she glanced up at him. "Do you think Minako and Urawa make a nice couple?" she asked.

Greg looked down at her, surprise flickering briefly on his face before he simply shrugged. "I think Usagi and Makoto are waiting for us," he stated. "Plus won't you have juku shortly?"

Ami paused, then nodded quietly and moved off with him.

*****

"Minako! That... this... bad timing!" Urawa finally stammered out.

Minako sighed. "Look, I'm sorry for pulling you away from Ami but you can see her at school any time... I've been doing some thinking myself of late and was hoping we could just talk at the cafe down the street for a bit?"

"But... Ami was about to give her answer! She was going to decide at last."

Minako nodded. "Yes, about that, I think-- wait, WHAT?" Minako inquired, jaw dropping. “How do you know?”

"I... asked her to make a decision," Urawa stated lamely. "She agreed to make one after the match." Admittedly, he'd been having second thoughts about that ever since the contest had actually ended, which was why he hadn't resisted the interruption too strongly.

He really had to stop putting Ami on the spot, he only ended up regretting it later.

Minako looked at Urawa for a moment. “Well,” she sighed, “returning to Ami at this point would just be awkward.” Besides, now more than ever, she wanted to know what Urawa had been up to. "So let's go to the cafe. You can tell me about this decision stuff there."

Urawa nodded, following her to the nearby location and to a secluded booth. "It was after we all ended up at Ami's place last weekend," he explained with a sigh. "When I went upstairs, Ami asked me about you. I said..."

~~~~~

"There's nothing between us."

Ami blinked in surprise, not having expected that particular response. "Impossible," she murmured at last. "I always see you two together these days."

Urawa took in a deep breath. "Ami, if you say not to see her any more, I won't. If you choose me, then I won't even speak to Minako if you like. But... but if you can't decide... Ami, I may have no choice but to give up on you."

~~~~~

"You said WHAT?!?"

Urawa grimaced. "Okay, I admit it was stupid! But you saw the scene we interrupted at her house - I felt like I had to make her decide while I still had a chance!"

"So that's why you were both so detached after you came down," Minako grumped. "Why didn't you tell me? I thought we were going to keep each other updated!"

"Sorry... I got caught up in the moment. It's not like you gave me any advance warning about Ami's mother being away either," Urawa reminded. "Then I never got around to saying anything later because of how I decided to help Ami prepare for the match today."

"Hnugh," Minako verbalized as she pressed her fingers to her forehead. "Well, you ended up contradicting yourself and sending more mixed signals about what was really going on. I hope you're happy."

"Happy?? Minako, I have no idea what to do next time I see Ami now!"

"Well, whatever you do, don't mention ME," Minako replied quickly. "And in future, it would probably be good to sow before you reap."

Urawa paused at that. "Well, as you sow, so shall you reap, true. But I don't quite see how that applies. Ami knew I liked her."

"No, no, I mean don't be a lemur," Minako insisted.

Urawa paused again. Where was she going with this? "You've lost me," he admitted.

"You know! Lemurs! Those things that end up reaping cliffs?"

"Ohhh!" Urawa realized after a couple more seconds of thought. "Lemmings leaping off cliffs? You mean look before I leap?"

Minako frowned in puzzlement. "Uh, yeah." She paused. "Actually, things make a lot more sense that way, don't they."

Urawa stared. Then he laughed. He couldn't remember the last time he'd had such a good laugh, and it felt good.

Minako joined in after a couple of seconds too, and the tension between the two of them quickly melted away. Urawa finally managed to speak again a few minutes later.

"Okay," he concluded, "so now you know. I'm sorry for not saying anything sooner." He paused. "Though you were the one who pulled me aside in the first place... was there something you wanted to say too?"

“Oh, right!” Minako brushed some hair back off her forehead as she leaned forward, trying to recall her prior thoughts. "Well, it's just that... remember that day back at the tower when I mentioned to you that I had an interest in Greg? I never went into detail because I didn't think it mattered. But now I think it does. Especially in light of these recent events. So I'm going to fill you in on our history, to get your take. After all, might as well have nothing hidden between us at this point?"

*****

Urawa peered around the door, looking into the classroom. Ami hadn't arrived yet. He wondered why he was feeling so jittery about her.

No, strike that. He was jittery because he'd gone overboard again, forcing Ami into a decision... only to seize the first opportunity to escape when she'd been about to take a stand! So when she saw him next... would she say 'Urawa, I've chosen Greg?'

"Urawa, I've chosen."

"Yaaahhhhh! Errr, yeah?" Urawa said, almost jumping out of his skin as he spun to face Ami, who had come up behind him.

"Meet me on the school roof right at the beginning of lunchtime, please?" Urawa blinked, then nodded and watched as Ami entered class.

He followed her in after a moment. Greg arrived shortly after, looking as inscrutable as ever. The morning passed slowly.

Urawa felt a knot gradually forming in his stomach to the extent that, by the time lunch rolled around, he was glad Ami hadn't asked him to wait until the end of the day. He half thought he'd be a nervous wreck by that time. Better to get this over with.

Ami was already on the roof when he got there, the wind blowing lightly through her hair. "Let me speak," she said softly in that quiet voice of hers.

Urawa nodded back as he approached.

"Ever since this began, I've been doing a lot of thinking. Maybe too much at times," Ami admitted ruefully. "But... well... Urawa, I love you."

Urawa's heart leapt.

"And I love Greg."

Urawa's heart got caught in his throat.

"I realize that now, though I'm not sure I can explain it. You know me, I have trouble with this sort of thing."

Ami fired off a weak smile, and Urawa simply nodded again.

Ami continued. "I guess it wasn't until a few days ago, after I started thinking about all the people involved, that it finally started to fall into place. I was talking with Usagi. She said that when things involved people she cared out, decisions seemed easier... that I had instincts... and that choices were sometimes painful. Which is why I think I know how things have to be now. So Urawa..." Ami took a deep breath. "Urawa, take Minako!"

Suddenly Ami was speaking all in a rush.

"I know you said that if I gave the word you wouldn't see her and that there was nothing between you. But I have to be fair to Minako. She's my friend too, and she's nice, and funny, and I think the two of you make a good match. So you should keep seeing her. Doesn't that sound like the best solution for everyone?”

Ami stopped, staring back nervously at him. "But-- !" Urawa began, before recalling the conversation of the other day.

~~~

"Well whatever you do, don't mention ME," Minako replied quickly. "And in future, it would probably be good to sow before you reap!"

~~~

Urawa been about to mention Minako. To explain how their apparent relations had just been an act, a misunderstanding. But was that such a good idea?

Minako had told him that her feelings for Greg ran deeper than Urawa had realized. Not to mention that the last time he'd revealed a misunderstanding to Ami, namely the one about his Snow White vision prior to his departure, it had just ended up causing more trouble. Because of how he hadn’t been up front to start with.

How would Ami react now if he said something like, "Minako doesn't like me, we've only been pretending. By letting your imagination run wild, we were wondering if it would give me a better chance."

"W-What? Urawa! How COULD you? I HATE you!!"

Urawa winced. If that’s how she answered in his mind, there was no way he could bear it if she actually spoke those words aloud. Plus, how would that knowledge affect Ami's friendship with Minako?

They were Sailor Senshi, they had to work together.

He blinked, realizing that she was still looking at him uncertainly. "But...?" Ami prompted.

"But... have you... talked with Minako about this...?" Urawa stammered, feeling at a complete loss. He couldn’t help but bring Minako up, right?

Ami shook her head. "After you both left yesterday, I didn't think there was really any need." She smiled. "It makes more sense if you talk to her instead, okay?"

Urawa had no response. He only knew that yes, he desperately had to talk to the blonde now, because things were worse than he'd expected. Everything was falling apart. But he didn't know what to do. What was he supposed to do?

Ami paused. "Thanks for being such a good friend," she concluded. "I have to go now, I promised Umino I'd appear on his 'Lunchtime Views' broadcast after yesterday's contest - provided he doesn't quiz me about relationships. Will you be okay?"

"Oh, yeah... good luck!" Urawa heard his voice say, although he had no recollection of forming a coherent thought, let alone the words themselves.

Ami nodded and waved. "Bye bye," she said softly.

Then she was gone, leaving the wind blowing lightly through Urawa's hair alone.

<commercial break; Minako, Urawa and Sewaya skating, they trip over Ami's computer>

Previous	Chapter Links	Next
	*_* MARMALADE MERCURY *_* EP 12b: DECISION TIME? HOPING FOR THE PERFECT MATCH.

<commercial break; Ami, Greg and Kaijin skating, they trip over Ami's computer>

As Ami arrived at school the next day, things seemed to be looking up. She hadn't made a definite decision yet with respect to romance, but somehow she now felt more assured of being able to do so when the time came.

Chatting with Usagi had helped; and although she hadn't mentioned Minako's involvement directly, knowing a friend was now up to date on her situation seemed to help. There was no need to feel alone. And of course, she'd even managed to get Usagi to school a little early today!

"I don't understand how you can come to school before class even starts, just to read... I swear, I'm not awake yet!" Usagi yawned.

Ami smiled. "Usagi, it's only five minutes before class - if I wanted to do some serious reading I'd get here a good twenty minutes in advance. This is just a good opportunity to make sure my notes are in order."

Usagi could only shake her head as Ami removed her shoes from her locker.

"Ami?"

The blue-haired girl turned at the sound of her name, already knowing who she would see. Urawa nodded briefly at Usagi before continuing on.

"Ami... I'm probably putting some extra strain on you right now that you don't need, so... so I've managed to come to a decision by myself!"

Ami gasped.

Usagi cleared her throat. "Well, you probably shouldn't rush into..."

"I’m going to help you get a perfect score with regards to this school contest!" Urawa continued. "I have lots of trivia books," he added hastily. "And we used to quiz each other from time to time back... well, a few months back. Not that I'm saying you need my help but I'd like to assist if I can. To give you one less thing to worry about. What do you say?"

Ami felt her heart rate slow. He had unnerved her for a second there. But it certainly couldn't hurt to get all the assistance she could for this competition. And spending more time with Urawa might help overall with her other decision. "Thank you, I- I would appreciate that," she replied with a small smile.

"Great!" Urawa concluded with a grin. "We could start looking over some stuff at lunchtime if you like?" Ami nodded and glanced at Usagi, who smiled. Maybe everything was going to work out at last.

*****

Logic. A tautology is some statement that is always true; satisfiability follows from a set of propositional formulas if a truth evaluation forms a tautology.

Music. The leading tone in a dominant seventh chord at a cadence will resolve up, although it may drop in an inner voice as done by Bach.

Computing. Virtual memory can involve a series of page faults to an operating system's kernel.

Sports. Habs stands for les Habitants and is a reference to the hockey team the Montreal Canadians.

Astronomy. Halley's comet returns about every 76 years and last appeared in 1986.

Finance. The currency of Yemen is the riyal.

English. Use hyphens after the following prefixes: co, extra, non, pro, anti, semi.

Business. The term for a prepaid postcard offering free information that is inserted into a magazine is a 'bingo card'.

Cuisine. The usual dressing for a Caesar salad is barbecue sauce.

"Wait, what?" Ami wondered aloud to herself.

"I said your mother is thinking of having a little barbecue this weekend. Seeing as her conference was successful and also to celebrate your being selected to participate in this academic competition."

Ami turned from her desk to see Greg standing in her doorway. "Oh!" Her mother had mentioned something about that before, hadn't she? "Yes, that sounds great," she answered, mind still somewhat preoccupied.

Greg glanced around, observing all the open books and magazines on her desk, on her bed, and scattered around the room. "I'm not so sure we should be celebrating your performance though," he determined. "Since you seem to be heading towards failure."

Ami did a momentary doubletake. "What?" she questioned.

"Competition is tomorrow afternoon, right? Well, I think your opponent's got an edge then," Greg shrugged.

Ami frowned. "It's not my fault that I have to do some cramming. And it's not like I'm unorganized here, I know exactly what's in each of these publications and I'll be watching the news late tonight to stay up to date on current events. Not to mention Urawa's been helping me all he can," Ami stated.

Which, come to think, seemed to be more than Greg had been doing, even though it had been a couple days since word of the competition had gotten out. Did he not feel like being supportive of her?

"That's not what I mean," Greg countered. "I just think that despite all the information you're cramming into that pretty little head of yours, you've been studying the wrong stuff."

"Oh? How do you figure?" Ami wondered, starting to feel cross. Whatever he was talking about, why couldn't he have brought this up sometime other than the night before the challenge??

"There's practical knowledge in this match, isn't there?"

"Some," Ami assented. "But I've been looking over research materials relating to important real-life experiences of individuals."

"Mmm hmmm. Then tell me, how much does it cost to get a double ice cream cone with sprinkles at Bobsons'?"

Ami stared. "You're joking."

"How do you know that question won't come up?"

"Well, it's just... it's not..." Ami frowned. "It's very unlikely!"

"See? You're not prepared for everything."

Ami made a face. Though perhaps with her luck it would be some bonus tie-breaking question at the end of the match. "All right," she sighed. "So what is the answer?"

Greg shrugged. "I don't know myself." He glanced at his watch, seemingly ignoring Ami as she mumbled under her breath. "It's still relatively early though," he added. "They should be open for a little longer."

"I can't take a break!" Ami refuted. "I'm still have three texts to go through before bed."

"It's not a break, it's studying, right? Take us an hour at most. Can you really afford not to?"

Ami closed her eyes and counted to three. Fine. She was a bit wound up, she reluctantly admitted. A walk couldn't hurt. "All right," she said at last. "But I'm taking this book with me to flip through," she asserted, picking it up.

"Whatever," Greg agreed. Yet, as soon as they were out of the house, "What do you think that cloud is?" he inquired of her.

Ami glanced up from her text as they walked. "Cumulous," she responded without hesitation.

"I mean what does it look like to you?" Greg rephrased.

"They won't ask that," Ami answered, turning back to him. "It's an oral test, not a psychological examination."

"Then you don't find it inspiring?" Greg mused. He shook his head. "If that's the case I'd say it's your chances that look cloudy."

Ami sighed. Couldn't he stop with the disparaging comments? Didn't he realize doing well was important to her? "It's a cloud," she reiterated. "My performance won't be affected by it."

"Oh...?" Greg paused before returning his eyes heavenward. "Well, to me it looks a little like an hourglass or an egg timer tipped on it's side. So the sand is unable to flow from one of the ends to the other. It is as if this has caused time itself to stop for a while."

Ami raised a dubious eyebrow at him.

"Unless you have a better explanation," Greg finished idly.

Ami frowned, but despite her better judgement she glanced back up into the sky. "The hourglass cones would be of irregular size," Ami objected. "The section to the right is smaller - it actually seems more like a tail. Perhaps of a fish swimming, in constant motion through sky blue water."

"Ahhhh, perhaps," Greg concurred. "But if so then that one over there would be a cat looking at it."

Ami stifled a giggle. "A cat underwater?" Still, she shifted her gaze once more. "Maybe," Ami agreed slowly. "But I think that cat would be more inclined to pounce than just look."

"That's an option," Greg admitted. "So how about that?" he continued, pointing elsewhere.

And somehow they had arrived at the ice cream store before Ami realized any time had passed. She blinked in surprise before turning to look at Greg crossly. "You've been distracting me," she observed. "I didn't get any reading done... why are you purposefully keeping me from my studying??"

Greg looked at her for a moment. "You're tensing again," he observed.

Ami looked back, aghast. "Greg, I asked you a question - is that all you have to say to me?"

It seemed so, for he simply continued to look at her to the point where Ami felt her cheeks starting to burn a bit from being under such apparent scrutiny. She almost turned away.

But then he surprised her.

"The only way you will lose your match is if you defeat yourself," Greg stated. "You have studied and know the material. But if you tense up to the point where you believe that everyone expects you to always have the right answer, you add unnecessary pressure. You're no longer able to enjoy yourself. No one should expect perfection; remember to have fun too. Relax, do your best, and don't defeat yourself. Did you want the sprinkles on your cone?"

"I..." Ami's voice trailed off as she tried to work through all that Greg had said.

She couldn't figure out if she was moved at the words or frustrated over how he always seemed to spring this stuff on her when she was least expecting it. But no, she couldn't be upset... his words had a ring of truth to them. She'd been acting a little snappish, and hadn't thought of anything aside from studying today. She supposed she was starting to obsess over a perfect score. And was that really the most important thing?

"Sure," she managed to reply, finally processing his last question.

Greg's only response to that was a nod as he proceeded into the store. Again, a flash of kindness shrouded in impassiveness.

Ami sighed as once again she remembered the decision she would have to make tomorrow... decide between two boys, two personalities... with the influence of a few wild cards. It occurred to her that maybe she was looking too hard for perfection there too. It wasn't always possible to make everyone happy... and her feelings were just as valid as anyone else's. So who to pick?

She paused, looking inside herself. And Ami suddenly got the feeling that, although she was still uncertain, her decision would be right when she made it. She smiled. At last, she felt confident about everything.

*****

"You think your school has an edge? Well, since I found out you were helping Ami, I started personally training Enmae on every kind of trivia available!"

"Oh yeah? Well, even without me, Ami's marks are good enough to be recognized by the entire country. So face it, your school has less than a chance!"

"Oh? Are you willing to make a wager to that effect? Because you know this isn't just testing their abilities in school. And I am still wondering how you'd look with short hair...!"

"You're not even the ones who are going to be participating," Greg commented idly.

Urawa and Sewaya spun to face him. "That's not the point!" they chorused.

Though it did shut them up for the moment, allowing Greg the opportunity to glance around. The assembly hall being used for the meet here at Shibakouen was nice and spacious. Some Juuban Jr. students, including him, Urawa and some of Ami's friends were here; it was both for support and (in the minds of the teachers) to provide a chance for learning something through listening to all of the questions.

Greg saw some girls from Shibakouen look his way and gave him a little wave, giggling slightly. Greg waved back amiably from across the room. One of the girls whispered something to her friend and ran out. Shaking his head slightly, Greg continued to look around.

It occurred to him that Minako didn't seem to be here, though that wasn't too surprising considering the presence of Sewaya. At least that was one less complication. Suddenly, there was a swell in the muttering and Ami, her opponent, and an official looking person entered the room and proceeded up onto a raised platform.

Urawa glanced at his cousin. "So, who's the guy leading this quiz show?"

Sewaya waved his hand dismissively. "Oh, you don't know Jack."

******

The match progressed smoothly. It was explained at the outset that there would actually be three parts: a set of questions individually to Ami and Enmae, a set of rapid fire questions up for grabs, and then a set of questions posed back and forth between the two participants.

It was noted that this would not make everything too dependant on how fast a competitor could ring in with their buzzer, and the different statistics could help determine if this sort of contest was worthwhile to pursue in the future.

The individual question portion was fielded equally well by both Ami and Enmae, each only faltering on a few. The audience murmured supportively at a few of the harder questions, though for the most part silence was required to avoid the chance that anyone could be hinting at answers.

In the second part Ami began to pull ahead, her reflexes as sharp as ever. Yet when the time came for the final portion of the competition, Enmae still had a chance if she could stump Ami enough while avoiding being stumped herself.

Enmae had the first question, and indeed Ami faltered on the response. But the Juuban genius forced herself to remain confident; it was one question, not the whole match. With Enmae staring at her, all business, she tried to think of a good return question that might unsettle her opponent.

Greg's eyebrow went up when the question came and Enmae was unable to state the price of a local ice cream cone.

Then Urawa chuckled when Enmae's attempt at mystifying Ami failed, on the question "Which Sailor Senshi used to have water based attacks?".

And Sewaya winced when Ami's return question was about cooking cakes, knowing Enmae's strengths were in the physical sciences.

Soon the outcome was virtually assured; Enmae had done well, but Ami had performed better. When it was all over, she had come out only about 23 points shy of the maximum possible score. There was good natured applause and cheers as the two girls on the platform shook hands.

Ami met up with her friends outside shortly afterwards. Sewaya had disappeared somewhere, while Urawa and Greg had met up with Usagi and Makoto, who had been observing from elsewhere in the auditorium.

"Great job!" Makoto praised as Ami approached.

"I just did my best," Ami responded with a slight smile.

She glanced around the circle of friends, noting some uncertainty and anticipation in Urawa's gaze. It was time. It suddenly occurred to her that she'd never actually told Greg that her decision was going to be made now... but surely he'd been waiting for a response for as long as Urawa.

"I'll catch up with the both of you shortly, ok?" Ami requested of her two female friends.

Makoto and Usagi exchanged a glance and nodded, moving on ahead. Ami turned to face Urawa and Greg. She paused. Time to choose... who would it be? They both had their good points.

Indeed, both of them had helped her with the current competition in some way. And they each made her feel good, be it by sticking by her, by alleviating the pressures in her life, or simply by offering her reassurance. So either of them would be a good choice... and was there really any point to worrying about perfection in a relationship? Even Usagi and Mamoru had their problems.

The main thing, as Usagi had said, was that there would be no regrets. Ami took a deep breath, reached deep inside herself, into her heart, and opened to mouth to say...

"Urawa!"

Ami turned.

"Urawa!" Minako repeated, hurrying up.

Ami just stood, mouth still half open, words unable to finish forming on her lips.

"Oh, Ami!" Minako continued as she arrived at the small clustered group. "Sorry, I didn't notice you there... great job at the knowledge competition! Caught most of it - and don't tell anyone here, but I was rooting for you instead." The blonde winked.

"T-T-Thanks..." Ami said, suddenly feeling lost.

Minako smiled again. "But anyway, if you all don't mind I need to borrow Urawa here for a while. There are some issues we have to discuss."

"Eruh, actually... now isn't the best time..." Urawa said, anxiously glancing back and forth between Minako and Ami.

But Minako shook her head and, taking hold of Urawa's arm she started to gently pull Urawa after her. "Don't worry, it really won't take that long," Minako noted, and she muttered something at Urawa, who was still looking bewildered. With her free hand Minako gave a quick wave to Greg and Ami. "Talk to you later!" she concluded.

Thus Greg and Ami were left standing together. And, staring at the retreating forms of Minako and Urawa, Ami suddenly realized that whatever it was that she had been going to say no longer mattered.

In the end, the decision had been made for her.

<closing theme>

Previous	Chapter Links	Next
	*_* MARMALADE MERCURY *_* EP 12a: DECISION TIME? HOPING FOR THE PERFECT MATCH. <opening theme>

"It's up to you," Urawa finished quietly, still looking into Ami's eyes. He'd put the ball in her court; it was like their first breakup all over again...

Ami sat up with a start and glanced out the window. Morning. She pressed a hand to her forehead, willing the events of the previous night out of her head.

It was time to get up. Time to go to school. Yet slipping out of bed, Ami bit her lip. After what she had replied to him... oh, could she face Urawa now??

*****

Greg scanned the area outside the school. No sign of her. Perhaps he should have anticipated her lateness... and glancing at his watch, he decided that there probably wouldn't be time to talk to her now even if she did show up.

He could try to get in touch with her at lunchtime. Because he needed to talk to her. Things were changing with Ami.

Greg had noticed how his housemate had appeared more detached the previous night after retrieving her cards. She had been fairly silent through breakfast. She had gone ahead to her locker, only to rush back in the opposite direction saying she needed to check for something in the library before school started.

Urawa had turned out to be waiting near her locker. Ami wasn't back yet. So something was definitely up, more so than usual.

Alas, it would have to wait until lunch. Shaking his head, Greg turned to hurry to his classroom - colliding with Ms. Haruna as he rounded the first corner.

Greg arrived in class just shortly before the bell. Ami arrived even after him, with only seconds to spare.

*****

Ami sat without meeting either Urawa or Greg's gazes. Her was mind in turmoil.

She had trouble concentrating on the lessons of the morning; the events of the past weekend had just made matters way too complex! So it wasn't a complete surprise to her when Ami was called to the Teachers' Room to talk with Ms. Haruna when it came time for lunch.

Ami hoped her studies wouldn't start to suffer on account of her personal life! Though the request was almost a relief; another excuse to continue avoiding the ramifications from the previous night.

Ms. Haruna admitted Ami into the Teachers' Room as soon as she arrived. "I'm sorry I wasn't paying very close attention to some of the mathematics this morning," Ami hastily apologized as they approached Ms. Haruna's desk. "Though I did glance over the chapter last week already."

Ms. Haruna blinked back at the young genius, momentarily nonplussed. "Oh? Well, actually, that wasn't what I wanted to talk to you about. There was another matter that was brought to my attention early this morning... a fairly serious one that directly concerns you," she noted, moving to riffle through some sheets of paper on her desk.

It was Ami's turn to blink. Something else? She watched with growing unease as Ms. Haruna continued her search. "I have a sheet of paper I'd like you to see here," the teacher continued. "And I think it might help you solve certain problems." Haruna turned briefly to smile. "It may detail the perfect match for you!" she finished.

"My perfect match...?" Ami wondered uncertainly.

This didn't sound quite school related. Had she been behaving oddly for a while now? Enough for Ms. Haruna wonder about her home life?? Surely no one had discovered that she and Greg were living together! Just what was her teacher getting at?

Ami glanced nervously around the room - some of the other teachers in here were now glancing their way.

"Well, practically perfect," Ms. Haruna continued. "It's really a shame this wasn't brought to my attention earlier but I think you'll still post good results... Ah, here we go!" she finally declared, pulling out an official looking form and handing it over to the blue-haired girl. Ami stared down at it.

"A... challenge question match???" Ami blurted out. She wasn't sure if she should be relieved or confused. Looking back up and realizing the outburst had attracted even more attention from other teachers, Ami blushed and lowered her voice before asking, "What is it exactly?"

"It's a new kind of scholastic competition," the teacher elaborated. "There were two schools who were asked to try it out, but one backed out, so we were given the chance. And since you're getting top marks across all subjects I was hoping you would see this as a perfect way to brush up on problem sets and general knowledge. The only drawback is that, as I said, it was only brought to my attention today; the contest is later this week. Another reason I was hoping for your participation, there isn't much time to prepare. What do you think?"

Ami stared back down at the form, scanning it over. It all seemed pretty straightforward; she and an opponent would take turns ringing in and answering questions on all sorts of different topics. "I suppose it would be all right," Ami consented. "Do you know who my opponent will be?"

Ms. Haruna shook her head. "I'm afraid not.. but they'll be from Shibakouen. That's where the match is taking place."

Ami blinked. 'Minako's school!' she realized.

*****

Ami stared down at the sheet in her hands, still scanning it over as she walked back through the hall. The match shouldn't be too difficult... the only hitch was that not all questions would relate directly to school subjects she had studied.

There would be practical questions, "trivia" type questions, and questions involving information not covered in class. So she would need do some preparation!

"Ami!" The blue-haired girl snapped her head up at the sound of her name, to see Urawa standing in front of her. The unresolved situation concerning the rest of her life overwhelmed her again. And once more her thoughts flashed back to the previous night... when Urawa had confronted her...

~~~~~

"It's up to you," Urawa finished quietly, still looking into Ami's eyes.

He'd put the ball in her court; it was like their first breakup all over again... but this time Ami managed to find her voice. "I- I can't..." she whispered.

"Can't?" Urawa responded, swallowing hard.

"C-can't decide right now," Ami finished, entwining her fingers together. "N-not like this. Not now. I... I have to think about all that's happened recently... I have to do that first."

There was a moment of silence. "We'll talk tomorrow then," Urawa decided. "Because Ami... understand that I- I just can't wait forever."

~~~~~

"Just wait until after the match!" Ami quickly blurted out.

Urawa blinked. "Er, what?" he asked, startled.

"I-I've been asked to participate in a challenge question match," Ami elaborated. "It's later this week. After that... I'll give you the answer I couldn't last night." She paused. "I'll make a decision."

She should have set herself a deadline long ago, really. She always worked well towards a deadline. And this way everything could be neatly taken care of all at once. Why hadn’t she tried something like this sooner?

Urawa stared at her for a minute before nodding. "After your match then," he agreed. The two of them stared into each others' eyes for a minute before Ami continued on her way. It was time to ask herself all the hard questions.

*****

"Are you at one with your tea yet?" Greg wondered, raising an eyebrow.

"Hmmmm?" Ami murmured, looking up absently.

"You've been staring at it for ten minutes now," Greg remarked. "I was wondering if you'd started picking up some good vibes."

"Oh... er, no," was Ami's only response as she brought the cup to her lips and took a quick sip.

"Thinking about the fact that your mother is due home any minute now?" Greg hypothesized.

Ami nodded, though that was actually not her most immediate thought. At the forefront of her mind was her matchmaking decision. In retrospect, she'd given herself more to worry about at once by scheduling this decision at the same time as the scholastic match.

Still, if she got a good start on the romance angle now, she could concentrate more on studies tomorrow.

It occurred to her that she'd analyzed the characteristics of both Greg and Urawa more than enough by this point. She was forced to conclude that she liked them both - and they both liked her: albeit Urawa actively and Greg passively.

And it seemed that Greg HAD acquired a bit of an edge, but probably because she'd spent last weekend with him. While there was still the matter of him holding something back and acting unclear. Urawa at least made his feelings known.

It was time to try another line of thought.

If she were to end up with one or the other... what would change? What would be the same? How would everyone involved feel about it, in the big picture?

She supposed that Urawa would be pleased or disappointed, depending on the choice... what about Greg? He might try to hide his feelings but it seemed likely that they would be the same as Urawa’s. Then there was one more consideration... what about Minako?

Last night Urawa had said there was "nothing between Minako and him", but Ami wondered if Minako felt the same way. If they had been getting close... would Minako be disappointed if Ami chose Urawa so abruptly? She needed to know more about that situation.

How might Ami feel in Minako's place? Could she even imagine herself in Minako’s place?? And even if she could, would she be able to maintain a properly impartial perspective?

Relationships and love defied logic. How could she even analyze what she had trouble understanding?

"I was talking with Usagi over lunch today," Greg eventually broke in, interrupting her thoughts.

Ami looked back up at him. "Oh?" she answered, a bit bewildered.

"Not the brightest girl in the school, but she seems to have a good heart... even if she can't seem to be on time in the morning."

Ami simply nodded, trying to figure out where he was going with this.

Greg looked back at her for a minute before leaning forward in his chair. "Ami, it's rather easy to tell when something is bothering you. I know I can't help you here, but I think she can."

Ami blinked. "What...?" she murmured.

"You often seem to want to bear the weight of the world on your shoulders, forgetting that just as you help your friends, they can help you. You haven't had one of those study sessions in a while; why not give Usagi a call now and go over to her place to discuss some homework assignments? Not everyone. Just her. Do you both some good."

Ami stared. "Yes... I suppose it would," she agreed, speaking almost before she realized it.

"Good," Greg concluded, sitting back and returning his attention to his own tea. Ami continued to stare at him for another few seconds before smiling. If she couldn't seem to talk to Minako, maybe Usagi's perspective would be of assistance. Greg had hit on something there... again, managing to help her in his own way.

"Thank you," Ami said sincerely.

Greg simply nodded in response.

Ami stared at him for another couple of minutes but nothing else was forthcoming. "Tell my mother where I am when she returns?" she finally requested. Greg nodded again, as Ami rose and headed for the telephone to make sure Usagi was free.

*****

"Let me see if I've got this straight," Usagi attempted, squinting at Ami from her bed. "There's a hypothetical guy who likes this girl, but he's also liked by a second girl, and the first girl doesn't just like him but another guy too who also seems to like her... and you want to know how that first girl should decide once and for all which of the guys to go out with, based on the feelings of the other three people?"

Ami nodded.

Usagi pursed her lips. "I think I saw this in one of Rei's manga last week," the blonde observed. "The girl ended up going out with a third guy who was the cousin of the first one."

Ami sweatdropped. "Ah ha ha... I think things are complicated enough without bringing more people in," she quickly refuted.

"That's what I said about that last math question," Usagi reminded her friend. "But you still insisted the extra variable was necessary."

"Usagi, please... this question is more important than it might sound," Ami insisted. She realized that her tone had become a bit more serious than it had been over the last hour, when she had helped Usagi get through some of her homework. Because now that they had time to just talk...

Usagi lifted an eyebrow. "I'm sorry, Ami-chan..." She paused. "Is... is this like your situation right now?" she continued, with surprising insight. Usagi paused again, during which time Ami bit her lip and nodded slightly.

"I just think I need some advice," Ami admitted. "And since you know a bit about relationships from spending time with Mamoru..." Ami's voice trailed off as Usagi winced. “Usagi, what's wrong?" the blue-haired girl asked.

"Well... I just didn't get to see Mamoru all of Saturday... because guess who he was out with," Usagi said dejectedly.

Ami paused, recalling their last study session together. "Kato?" she hypothesized.

"And Rei keeps chiding me about being silly," Usagi continued. "But even IF me and Mamoru are practically destined to be together eventually... who's to say what will happen in the meantime?? Kato's an old friend who's much closer to his age...!" Her voice trailed off.

"Oh, Usagi," Ami said, moving onto the bed to hug her friend. Maybe Usagi needed someone to talk to as much as she did - had Greg somehow realized this too? "I don't think Mamoru is suddenly going to break up with you because of an old acquaintance. Especially given all that you've been through! It's not silly to think so, but you can't jump to conclusions like that."

Usagi hugged back. "True," she admitted softly. "Deep down I know that, but - well, I guess there's just something I don't trust about Kato." She frowned slightly before shaking her head. "Do you think Mamoru might have picked her if she had shown up before he had his memories back?"

Ami blinked and shook her head. "No... I can't see that happening, Usagi. And you really shouldn't consider such things. It does as much good as... as me wondering if I would have definitely gotten back together with Urawa if Greg hadn't turned up. I even found out the other day that Urawa wouldn't have returned to Japan right now if it weren't for an indirect influence by Greg! The way events interrelate... somehow it makes all the second-guessing seem pointless."

So why did she do it so much herself? She needed to take her own advice.

Usagi paused and nodded. "There is that I suppose." She paused again. "And that said, as to your question - I think your hypothetical girl should go with the best option for all, but more important, one that she will be able to live with afterwards, without doubting. Seeing as she has to live with herself before anyone else."

Ami paused for a minute to think. "I just have trouble figuring that out," the genius observed. "I always seem to be mixed up, whereas you can act on instinct and everyone ends up happy! You do that so much better than anyone else I've met, Usagi. How do you always know?"

"Sometimes I get lucky," Usagi observed, grinning. "Though if things involve people I care about - it's somehow easier. Even if the choices can be difficult and sometimes painful. Love doesn’t always have one right answer, Ami."

Ami sighed. "Maybe I'm just so used to using my brain that I can't understand my heart."

"Pshaw. You have instincts, Ami. Just don't get so down on yourself," Usagi reassured, giving her another hug. Another moment of silence passed before Usagi offered, "would you like to stay over for the night and keep talking?"

"I- I'd like that," Ami stammered out. "My mom's probably home now, I'll see if she can bring around my stuff."

"Oh, did your mother have to work late today?" Usagi queried.

"Er, actually there was a medical conference last weekend so... ah, well, I'll explain that in a bit," Ami hedged, heading for the phone.

<commercial break; Ami, Greg and Kaijin skating, they trip over Ami's computer>

Previous	Chapter Links	Next
	*_* MARMALADE MERCURY *_* EP 11b: CELEBRATION! THE SIGNIFICANCE OF HIS PRESENCE.

<commercial break; Usagi, Mamoru and Kaijin skating, they trip over Ami's computer>

At last, the moment was right, the time was now. Ami's eyes closed and her lips parted slightly in anticipation. They grew ever closer... the only thing in Ami's world right now was Greg, and...

[*ring!*]

Ami's eyes snapped back open, lips still half an inch away from Greg's. The doorbell sounded again and the spell was broken.

Stumbling back a step, Ami felt more blood rushing to her cheeks. What? Who? "W-were you expecting anyone?" Ami stammered. Greg simply shook his head.

He appeared to be as put out by this as her, though it was still hard to read his face. Pausing only to flip the lights back to a more normal setting, Ami hurried to the front door. If it was just some salesperson maybe she could get rid of them. She yanked it open partway... and almost collapsed right back onto the floor.

"Hi!" Minako said brightly. "We just happened to be in the area and thought we'd drop by!"

The door swung open the rest of the way to reveal Urawa standing uncertainly next to the blonde. Greg came into the hallway behind Ami with a raised eyebrow. Ami tried not to gape.

'Urawa!' Ami gasped to herself. 'What now? He was out on a date with Minako?'

'That wasn't a complete lie,' Minako rationalized internally. 'We WERE in the area...'

'And Urawa complains about my timing?' Greg reflected.

'What am I doing here?' Urawa wondered.

Minako had called him up earlier, and they'd gone out to a coffee place nearby to discuss how the romance situation was shaping up. He couldn't even remember which of them had suggested dropping by here. Something about making sure Ami remembered him this weekend? Urawa glanced from Ami to Greg and back.

"Well, since you're here, you might as well come in," Greg finally observed, breaking the silence.

Ami felt her heart sink. She'd wanted it to be just the two of them... but on the other hand, what about Urawa? Her stomach felt queasy now and she wished her insides would settle down.

Minako and Urawa entered and removed their shoes. "Uh, so where's your mother at?" Urawa attempted conversationally, gaze finally settling on Ami.

"Oh, she's away at a medical conference all this weekend..." Ami regretted the words it as soon as they had tumbled from her mouth, but she couldn't pull them back. She shouldn't have put it like that...

Urawa's eyes bulged. "She's... away??" he choked, eyes flashing back and forth between Ami and Greg again.

Minako mentally snapped her fingers. Oops, she knew she'd forgotten to tell Urawa something.

"But we've done nothing!" Ami quickly stated. "I mean, we would never --" (...Ami's eyes closed and her lips parted slightly in anticipation...) "-- would... we... we haven't done a-anything!" she reiterated, the memory of mere minutes ago making her stumble over her words.

Without speaking, Urawa moved over to Greg, grabbed him by the arm and pulled him into the adjacent room.

Minako rubbed her chin. Yes, she probably should have mentioned the situation to Urawa to ensure he kept calm; she made a mental note not to forget about these important details in future conversations.

*****

In the adjacent room, Urawa shoved Greg against the wall. Greg just met Urawa's serious look with a calm one.

"What have you done to Ami?" Urawa demanded in quiet fury.

"I've done nothing," Greg answered simply.

"Oh come on, it was obvious she was flustered out there. If you've done anything strange with Ami the last couple days... you're in big trouble!" Urawa warned.

Greg paused to reflect. Where would rescuing Ami after she passed out in the bathroom rank on a scale of strangeness? "What do you mean 'done anything strange'?" he finally mused.

Urawa blinked, anger subsiding as he realized he’d been carried away by the moment. It's not like he was Ami's guardian, she could take care of herself. It was just the thought of her living with another...! "Well, just... you know, strange..." he concluded vaguely, waving his hand.

"How can I know if you don't explain?" Greg continued simply. He leaned quietly back against the wall, raising an eyebrow. "Tell me what I can't do."

"Ahh, all I mean is..." Urawa paused, now getting flustered himself. Surely Greg didn't expect him to go into any details about... strange things?

"That is what? Go ahead." Greg smiled slightly as Urawa opened and closed his mouth, unable to speak. Oddly enough, on some level, Greg found this was almost as fun as teasing Ami.

"Just... just tell me that you'll leave her alone!" Urawa finally summarized, somewhat lamely. Greg didn't get a chance to respond to that one; the doorbell interrupted them.

*****

In the meantime, Ami and Minako had been looking at each other uncertainly. It occurred to Minako that she and Urawa had probably arrived at the least opportune time. And she wasn't sure if that was a good or a bad thing.

'I'm ONLY trying to help Urawa. I'm not trying to make Greg available,' she told herself. But for the first time since this had all started, she realized she wasn't sure...

"So you and Urawa just happened to meet each other?" Ami ventured.

"Hm? Oh, no, we've been out together for a couple hours at least," Minako answered absently as she tried to pinpoint exactly what her feelings were about the whole situation now. Lost in thought, she didn't catch Ami's look of shock.

Originally, Minako had wanted to help Ami break the deadlock while giving Urawa a decent shot. But if Greg hadn't managed to get his early advantage, if Ami hadn't seemed to prefer Greg, would Minako have wanted to help him instead? Rooting for the underdog in the love triangle?

Not as much, she was forced to admit. So, her help could merely be a pretext for making Greg available. In fact, by now both Urawa and Greg were her friends, so why should she be favouring helping Urawa? Perhaps her old feelings for Greg really were influencing her judgement.

The doorbell rang, breaking Minako's train of thought. Ami blinked at her, but Minako just shrugged; she wasn't expecting anyone else. Greg and Urawa poked their heads out of the adjacent room in surprise. Frowning, Ami opened the door.

Sewaya's head peered around the door frame. Everyone crashed to the floor.

"Where did YOU come from?" Minako demanded.

Sewaya frowned. "I was in that coffee shop when you and Urawa came in," he explained. "I was at a different booth and couldn't hear what you were saying - but you looked like you were on another date! So I played it cool. When you left, I followed. I wouldn't normally have done it, but I wanted to get proof!" He paused to scan the hallway. "And you can't deny the conspiracy now," he concluded, gesturing triumphantly at Urawa and Greg.

Urawa made a face. "I wouldn't suggest a challenge, you're almost out of hair," he observed.

Minako sighed. "It's not a conspiracy, you dolt. Me and Urawa just wanted to drop in and see a friend."

Sewaya paused, looking shifty. "I glanced in the windows before I came to the door," he admitted. "There's a cake in one of the rooms. Something is going on here, and if it's not a conspiracy, why wasn't I invited to the party?"

"It's not a party either!" Ami contested, feeling exasperated. When had things gotten so out of control? "It's just dinner!" 'A dinner that's gone horribly, horribly wrong!' she mentally finished.

Sewaya frowned. "A dinner for ten? Don't con me now, there were several full trays of sandwiches too."

Ami flushed slightly. She supposed she had gone a little overboard in food preparation, but she had figured that it would be good to have a wide selection, and better too much than too little. So much for that idea... she didn't know what to say now. There was an uneasy silence.

"Maybe we should all just leave?" Minako proposed.

Ami's first instinct was to agree, but she realized that their departure now really wouldn't solve anything. Besides being a bit rude, it could just confirm Sewaya's ludicrous claims while possibly making Urawa more distressed; her moment with Greg had long been broken anyway. Ami glanced towards Greg, but again could not judge his opinion on this matter.

Stifling a sigh, Ami simply smiled. "No... now that you're here you might as well stay," she offered. "After all, there is plenty of food."

There were some mild protests, but after a quick reassurance - and even a grudging apology by Sewaya - the five of them proceeded back into the dining room. Ami went to the cupboards to get more cutlery and glasses as the others took their seats.

Sewaya peered over at the cake on the counter. "Must be homemade," he realized. "From outside it didn't look so lopsided." Sewaya then flinched at the gazes Urawa and Minako turned on him. The phrase 'if looks could kill' flashed through his mind.

"You can always leave," Minako observed dryly.

"Let's all just try to get along?" Ami implored as she returned with drinks for everyone. They drank a toast to Greg then proceeded with the rest of the dinner. It passed without event, but Urawa found himself growing worried.

'Did Ami do all this just for Greg?' he wondered. 'What if I hadn't come by?' He wished again that he could see the outcome of all this in some sort of vision. But his visions were still annoyingly random; he hadn't even had a vision of Greg since the initial one upon arriving in Japan. 'So what do I do?'

"That was excellent, Ami," Minako concluded as she set her napkin aside. "I didn't realize you were so good at preparing food."

"Well most of the first part was sandwiches, that's hardly a challenge," Sewaya pointed out. He slid down slightly in his chair as what felt like invisible flames shot from Minako and Urawa's eyes. "Euh, so," Sewaya continued on hurriedly, seeking to change the subject, "if this is Ami's house, whereabouts are you staying Greg? I'll make it a point to avoid the area."

The other four people at the table exchanged glances. Ami shrugged. "Actually, I'm currently staying here as well," Greg admitted.

Sewaya blinked, glancing over at Ami then back at Greg. "Whoa, does this mean that you two are shacking up?!" he gaped.

Urawa cracked his knuckles and Minako dusted off her hands.

"It was just a question," Sewaya mumbled from where he now lay sprawled on the floor. He rubbed his head. "You two could've just *explained* it..."

"It's none of your business anyway," Minako stated angrily.

"Now look," Sewaya retorted, struggling to regain a sitting position. "While I may not be the most popular person here, I do have an interest in this stuff. I mean hey -- (he paused to gesture at Greg) -- it's probably his fault I'm in Japan anyway."

"What in the world are you talking about?" Urawa demanded, raising an eyebrow.

"Oh..." Sewaya paused and shrugged. "It was just his stupid speech."

"Speech?" Greg asked. He furrowed his brows in thought. "What, you mean the one I gave back at school in Canada about Japanese culture?"

"Yeah, that," Sewaya admitted. He rose to his feet. "It convinced my parents to move here. And I suppose I should have realized you were coming here too, having spoken about the topic, but to be honest I didn't pay that much attention."

"I thought you said your parents won a trip here," Minako challenged.

Sewaya sighed. "Yeah, well, all right, that wasn't the complete truth. See, my dad happened to be present when Greg gave his talk about Japanese relations or whatever during a school-related public speaking forum. It got my dad all wistful for the old days back home, and so he started making inquiries. It just so happened that his company was looking for someone to help out in a branch office out here. So my dad requests the transfer, gets a new job, and the all-expense paid trip to come here with the rest of the family."

Sewaya paused to brush off his pants.

"So Greg was the inspiration behind my family coming here. If you want to blame anyone for my presence - blame him!" he concluded, pointing his finger at Greg.

"I hardly control your actions," Greg observed.

"It all sounds made up anyway," Minako refuted, crossing her arms.

"Well, actually..." Urawa paused with a funny look on his face. "I do recall my uncle talking about some sort of speech on the plane ride over... he mentioned how fate had presented him with this opportunity... I wasn't thinking about it too much at the time."

Sewaya nodded. "Fate, destiny, whatever. I wasn't going to bring it up myself, seeing as I'm not having a bad time here - but the way you all just keep pounding on me when it wasn't even my idea to come to town..."

Greg sighed and shook his head. "Fine, so I'm indirectly responsible for your trip, and if I hadn't wanted to come to Japan, half of you in the room would be talking to yourselves now. But since we ARE here, can't we do something besides argue?"

"I... I can find some cards," Ami said quickly. "I think I have a deck in my room..." She backed off, away from the others, and hurried upstairs, mind spinning.

Once upstairs, she paused to press a hand to her forehead and take a few deep breaths. That conversation had been... well, weird to say the least. And it sounded true, at least in as much as Ami now remembered Greg's parents talking about a speech in their letter. But could it really be that all her troubles were the result of one person wanting to further his studies abroad?

Because if Greg hadn't wanted to go, then maybe Sewaya's family wouldn't have come... which meant Urawa would also still be in Canada... and none of this would be happening.

"Why I don't I just find my cards," Ami concluded, hurrying to her desk. She searched through her drawers, burrowing under her texts and some loose sheets covered in equations and chemical compositions until she came across the unopened box. 'Aha!' Ami thought triumphantly as she stood up again.

"Nice room," came a quiet murmur from the doorway. Ami spun to see Urawa. Her cheeks quickly flushed a deep red and she hurried over, trying to block his view.

"You shouldn't look!" Ami said, aghast. "It's not proper without permission... I haven't tidied up in here today!"

Urawa blinked in surprise before turning away. "I see. And has Greg ever been in your room?"

Ami opened her mouth to respond but suddenly couldn't find words. There had been that time from the balcony, and not 24 hours ago, Greg had brought her in here after she had collapsed... "Well, he lives here; sometimes he has," Ami admitted.

"And are you wearing perfume for him?" Urawa continued.

Ami bit her lip. "It's... I think it's just cologne. My mother gave it to me, I just felt like trying it out."

Urawa sighed before turning back. "Well, I suppose it doesn't matter either way. But you know Ami, even if Greg is indirectly responsible for both me and Sewaya being here... if I hadn't taken the trip with my uncle, know that I would have tried to find another way back. Ami, you have to know that I just couldn't have pictured myself with anyone but you..."

"Not even with Minako?" Ami tried not to wince, biting her tongue even as the words tumbled from her mouth before her brain had time to register what she was saying. She swallowed nervously as Urawa stared at her for a long minute, the question simply hanging in the air.

"There's nothing between us."

Ami blinked in surprise, not having expected that particular response. "Impossible," she murmured at last. "I always see you two together these days."

Urawa took in a deep breath. "Ami, if you say not to see her any more, I won't. If you choose me, then I won't even speak to Minako if you like. But... but if you can't decide... Ami, I may have no choice but to give up on you."

Ami took a step back reflexively. Her hand went for her medallion before she remembered that she had changed into a dress with no pockets. She had no idea how fast her heart was beating. Could it be that she had stalled too long? Was Urawa falling in love with someone else? Would the same thing happen to Greg? Should she even choose one of them at all?

Urawa exhaled shakily. For his part, he wasn't sure what he was doing now, only that he was still losing ground despite everything. Somehow, he'd been doing everything wrong ever since he had said that he wasn't going to lose Ami without a fight. Despite supposedly having precognitive powers.

So there had to be a decision while he still had a chance! What else could he do?

"It's up to you," Urawa finished quietly, still looking into Ami's eyes.

Previous	Chapter Links	Next
	*_* MARMALADE MERCURY *_* EP 11a: CELEBRATION! THE SIGNIFICANCE OF HIS PRESENCE. <opening theme>

Ami snapped her eyes open. She sat up with a start - and pressed a hand to her forehead. She'd had trouble getting to sleep last night and had experienced some troubled dreams... it was not unlike the time Greg had first kissed her. Except this time it was Ami's own actions which had caused the trouble.

She turned to the window. She hadn't seen Greg since the previous night, after he'd left her room. Ami had remained in her room herself after she had hit him. She couldn't believe what she'd done. Not just the slap, but worrying needlessly, jumping to conclusions... plus she felt like she'd had some sort of revelation that had been utterly forgotten in the shock of the incident. What would Greg do now?

"Nothing," Ami murmured. And she knew it would be so. Another similarity to the time he'd kissed her.

There would be no changes, no mention of anything - unless Ami brought it up herself, perhaps. And she didn't know if she could do that.

The guilt she felt was coupled with complete embarrassment. She'd acted like a complete fool the previous day, just because she had been alone in the house with a guy. She resolved not to let it happen today. Perhaps this was how Greg had felt after the kiss? Was that why he'd closed himself off? Who knew?

Ami got out of bed and headed for the bathroom, trying to forget what had happened there last night. She thought she heard Greg downstairs in the kitchen, but by the time Ami made it down, he was gone.

Yet breakfast had been laid out and Greg's food was untouched; he must be returning shortly. There was also a piece of paper on the table - a note. Ami blinked. Could it be... maybe Greg WASN'T just going to pass off what happened?

Feeling hopeful, Ami seized the paper and started scanning. He had written it in his native English, but Ami was pretty well versed in that language. It read:

('My father?' Ami wondered.)

'It's not from Greg, it's to him!' Ami abruptly realized, tearing her eyes away. A letter from Canada! Indeed, as she looked around the room she now saw the opened envelope over on the counter. But her curiosity piqued, somehow her eyes fell back to the page...

It appeared to be signed by Greg's mother. Ami lowered the letter and looked back up - right into the surprised, then amused expression of Greg. She blushed deeply.

"S-sorry! Gomen nasai!" she apologized in both languages, feeling like an idiot. So much for her resolution of this morning. Switching back to Japanese she continued, "I didn't realize who this was for, I d-didn't mean --"

"Don't worry about it," Greg interrupted with a wave of his hand. "It's only a letter I got a couple days ago that I hadn't gotten to reading until this morning. Nothing important in it."

Ami blinked. Nothing important? "But you won some award and everything," she exclaimed automatically. "That's wonderful!" She glanced down at the letter again. "Though you kept your course secret from your parents?"

Greg shook his head. "It wasn't really by design... they're just a little oblivious. They knew the place I was going in the evenings, they just missed the significance." He shrugged and took a seat. "Our family doesn't make a big deal out of things like this anyway."

"But that's not right!" Ami blurted, resisting the urge to stamp her foot. How could he always be so calm? Especially while she couldn't seem to stop talking; she wasn't sure if that was to hide her continued embarrassment or to keep last night's incident from coming up. But either way, well, a person's parents shouldn't act vacant!

Even her own mother, often too busy to spend much quality time with her daughter, would do a little something when Ami came out with top grades (again) at the end of a term. A new pencil set, special dinner, SOMETHING.

Was this why Greg was so hesitant about relationships? Because he wasn't used to people taking an interest in him? Could he be worried about abandonment? Or that others wouldn't approve of his family? Maybe it was his family atmosphere that made him like this? Or was Ami just reading too much into things again? She should really stop doing that.

Ami abruptly realized she was now just staring at Greg, who was looking back at her curiously. It was the silence that she'd been hoping to avoid. Ami flushed.

"Well, thank you for saying so," Greg finally observed. There was another pause. "But your breakfast is getting cold," he added, starting to eat.

Ami blinked. Sliding into the seat opposite, she began eating quietly. But her mind was working doubletime. She'd made a bit of a mess of this weekend so far. (In fact, after last night that was an understatement.) But most of her nerves had calmed now that one day had passed.

She resolved to redeem herself! Greg had won something? Then she would take an interest. They would celebrate! She could make a dinner, and do it right this time; maybe with a cake?

Yes! The two of them would enjoy this last day. Maybe it would even spark an emotional reaction from Greg?

*****

Minako absentmindedly clicked back and forth between the sports match and the cheesy movie on her television. What a boring weekend. Even Artemis had wandered off somewhere by himself this morning.

Finally tiring of both shows, Minako switched off the television and tossed the remote aside. Maybe she should call one of her friends, see what they were up to.

Pulling the phone over, Minako started punching in a number. She checked herself - that was Urawa's number. Why call him about anything? Redialling, Minako listened to the phone ring at the other end.

"Hello?" came Makoto's voice.

"Hiya!" Minako said brightly. "What's up?"

"Minako! Not too much really, just have some cookies in the oven... what about with you?"

"Absolutely nothing. Very dull day. Er, feel like getting together?"

"Sorry, I can't really," Makoto apologized. "Have these cookies now and a doctor's appointment later. Regular checkup time."

"Ah... that's all right," Minako replied, hiding her disappointment. She twirled the phone cord around her finger. "Know what any of the others are doing?"

"Nope, can't help you there either I'm afraid. Oh - except Ami's busy making a cake."

Minako blinked. "A cake?"

"Yeah, she called me for some cooking tips before. Apparently Greg won an award or plaque for something and they're celebrating at her house. She refused to go into detail, but wanted to make sure she had the right instructions for making a cake."

"Oh," Minako answered, momentarily nonplussed. She made a mental note to congratulate Greg herself for whatever it was at her earliest opportunity. Even though he didn't seem interested in her now, it couldn't hurt to keep a foot in the door.

"Usagi or Rei could be free though," Makoto concluded, as Minako heard what sounded like an oven timer in the background.

"Right... well, I'll let you get back to your cooking then," Minako responded.

After a few parting words, she hung up. She then paused for a moment, debating calling one of the other Senshi. Finally deciding against it, Minako rose to look out the window. It was a nice day after all, maybe she should just go out and see who she ran into. As long as it wasn't Sewaya.

Hurrying downstairs, Minako said a quick goodbye to her parents as she departed. After brief consideration, she headed for the Game Centre. There would probably be people there; plus with all the confusion on Friday, she'd never had a chance to play that new Sailor Moon game.

There was still a small lineup for that game when she arrived. Waiting her turn, Minako glanced around - she didn't see anyone she recognized. Perhaps on a subconscious level she'd hoped Greg would be in?

Oh well. Motoki was here though. Minako gave him a friendly wave, and he wandered over.

"Hi!" Motoki said amicably. "Back to try your luck now that there's less commotion?"

"Something like that," Minako replied. "Don't suppose any of my friends have been in today?"

Motoki shook his head. "Nope. Usagi was by yesterday though. Kept asking me about Kato."

Minako nodded. "And I guess Greg doesn't work weekends?" she found herself saying.

"Well, not usually," Motoki admitted, scratching his head. "He actually was planning on coming in, but then something else came up... oh, saw him yesterday too actually. He was helping Ami shop while her mother was away."

Minako nodded again as a commotion started up in another part of the arcade. "Excuse me," Motoki said, quickly moving off to arbitrate. Minako turned her attention back to the Sailor Moon game.

It hit her about a minute later. *Ami's mother was away??* But that meant it was just Ami and... Minako's eyes became as wide as saucers. Both of them alone in the house? Now Ami was making a cake? Wait, just what was going on over at the Mizuno household???

*****

At the Mizuno household, Ami was staring at her cake suspiciously. It didn't look as light and fluffy as the picture. Even though she'd followed Mako-chan's instructions to the letter, ensuring that she allowed time for the oven to cool down before removing it.

"Probably looks better with icing on it," Ami ultimately justified.

That said, she began icing it with the batch she'd just mixed up. Yes, that was an improvement. Amazing what she could accomplish when she put her mind to it!

Ami glanced over at all the sandwiches she'd readied. She'd figured they were a safe choice, and something she was good at making. There was tons of variety there too. She also had some chicken salad. And now the cake was almost done. The whole process had ended up being a little messier than she expected (good idea to have tossed on that apron), but the final result was very satisfying.

"Ami, still working in there?"

Ami charged to the door. "Don't come in!" she shouted quickly before Greg could enter. "Dinner's almost ready; I'll call you."

Greg blinked at her in surprise then grinned. "Okay, you're the boss." He paused, reached out and wiped some frosting from Ami's nose. "You ARE cute when you cook," he concluded, turning away and going upstairs. Ami knew she was blushing again.

But no time to think about that now, she had to get everything JUST right. Spinning back into the kitchen, Ami finished with the cake and then laid out two places. She stood back, regarding the setup with her hands on her hips.

Didn't seem right. Needed a centrepiece. Ami made a quick search and returned with a candelabra and some blue candles; that should make a nice effect! Ami smiled. Okay, now she should go change.

Cleaning herself up a bit, Ami then pulled off the apron and hurried upstairs. She paused on her way past Greg's door to knock and tell him to go down in about ten minutes. Proceeding to her room, Ami scanned through her closet.

Should she dress up? This was sort of a special occasion, wasn't it? How special? Hmmmmm, decisions, decisions. That blue dress? She'd worn it out in public a couple of times, but not recently. Seemed to convey just the right amount of casualness while still having some sophistication. Good.

Ami put it on. She brushed her hair, hooking errant blue strands behind her ear. She posed. Yes, that looked okay - didn't it? Ami pursed her lips.

She still didn't seem... elegant enough. Of course, she supposed only Greg would see her but... part of her felt like the situation deserved more. Even though this was just a simple celebration to honour Greg's achievements... and to help make him feel welcome, and to make up for how she had been yesterday. And to show Greg that she cared.

Ami paused. That last was the problem; the caring. Which hinted at... what? A kind of date? Ami abruptly couldn't really recall any time she had felt so much anticipation and nervousness at once.

She'd been out with guys before, of course; heck, she had been to an amusement park with both Urawa and then Greg at different times. But this felt different. More intimate, and not in a bad way. Her heart fluttered. If it wasn't a date, how would one define it? And either way, shouldn't she look more... refined? She still had a little over five minutes left.

After a long pause, fidgeting with her hands, Ami finally went to her bureau. She pulled open the bottom drawer. Ami didn't use her cosmetics much - I mean, why put on a mask to look like someone else? - but she had some hidden away, which her mother had given her at her last birthday.

Swallowing uncertainly, Ami picked up what she thought was a box of perfume. Or maybe it was cologne? Either way, it was labelled 'Marmalade Mercury' and seemed somehow appropriate now. Removing the bottle from the box, Ami found it smelled nice too. (Though not like Marmalade... where did they come up with these names?)

Before losing her nerve, Ami dabbed a little on. And after another minute of hesitation, she applied a little lipstick and blush (to help conceal the one she had a feeling would be permanently on her face tonight). Finally satisfied, the blue haired girl stashed her makeup away and scampered quickly out of her room.

Back downstairs, Ami verified everything was in place. Greg would be here any second now. She lit the candles in the centre of the table. After a pause, she dimmed the lights to accentuate the fire's glow. After another pause, she re-illuminated the lights to keep things from seeming TOO intimate. After another pause, she dimmed the lights again so that it wouldn't be as easy to tell if her face turned the colour of a tomato.

Her cheeks felt warm and she was starting to get worried now. HAD she gone too far? Made too big a deal of it? What would Greg think? Would he even react?

Greg's footsteps sounded on the stairs. Too late to back out. Ami dove for her chair and was sitting quietly by the time Greg came in.

She watched as he looked around. He seemed a little taken aback. She fidgeted with her hands under the table. But then he smiled at her.

"You never cease to amaze me," Greg concluded softly. He approached the table.

Ami somehow felt that a response was in order. "I... I thought the table would look better with the candles," she stammered. "As an overall effect. They're very pretty."

"Beautiful," Greg agreed. But Ami saw he wasn't looking at the candles, he was looking at her...

She stumbled to her feet as Greg reached the table. "There's... that is... dinner itself’s mostly sandwiches," Ami said, trying to keep from getting flustered. "I'm sorry, I suppose they don't fit the mood as much, but it seemed right at the time. There’s cake after."

She stopped. Greg was still just looking at her.

They came closer together as Greg took her hand.

"Thank you," he said. "No one has ever done anything like this for me before."

Ami wasn't sure how long they spent looking into each other's eyes. Then as their faces moved closer together, she wasn't sure who had initiated the movement.

But now their lips were coming closer to each other too... and this felt right. Ami knew what was going to happen next...

Previous	Chapter Links	Next
	*_* MARMALADE MERCURY *_* EP 10b: JUST THE TWO OF US. AN UNSETTLING DISCOVERY!

<commercial break; Minako, Urawa and Sewaya skating, they trip over Ami's computer>

Greg placed his hands gently on Ami's shoulders. "Okay; don't get so tense, it's just dinner! My turn now. You rest, I'll take care of it."

Ami blinked up at him. "But..."

Greg shook his head. "Go. Tend to that burn. I'll whip up something."

Feeling a little too overwhelmed at the moment, Ami did as he said. And Greg indeed manage to whip up something in her absence.

Ami had to admit that she was impressed: it was almost like Greg had been taking lessons from Makoto. "I didn't know you were so good at this," Ami observed as they ate. "Maybe you should do the cooking from now on!"

Greg just shook his head. "Don't rely on me - I only really know how to do three or four dishes well, otherwise I'm hopeless!" He winked, making no mention of the earlier mishap. Ami smiled, finally feeling calm. There was no reason to panic... she just had to stop thinking about the idea of romance!

Ami managed to keep her mind occupied on other things until after the dishes were put away and both teenagers had gone into the sitting room. It was as she started flipping channels on the television that Ami remembered; this was the place Greg had first kissed her.

She glanced over to where he sat next to her on the couch, but Greg was just looking at the various programs as she changed the channel. Ami shifted her attention back to the television, AGAIN trying to stop from thinking about the romance angle; hadn't it had gotten her in enough trouble for one day?

She changed the station again. And he was now moving closer to her, making her blush as he leaned in, their lips almost touching...

Ami hurriedly changed the station once more, she didn't want to watch a program with that sort of scene in it! "There doesn't seem to be anything on," she reflected at last, flipping through a few more channels.

"Hmmm. Well, here's something then..." Greg said, standing. He slowly walked over and dimmed the lights. He glanced back with a smile before coming back and sitting a little closer to Ami than he had before. "If you're game for this sort of thing at least," he murmured softly.

Ami felt her throat go dry. "W-What...?" she asked.

"A horror movie," Greg finished, holding up the TV Guide. "Starts in five minutes. Scare easily?"

"Oh!" Ami said, again relieved. "No, I don't scare much at all, actually..." Being a Sailor Senshi tended to make regular scares seem mundane. She looked at the listing. `Nightmare on the 13th'... it had fairly good reviews as she recalled. "It's certainly better than nothing," Ami concluded, changing the station once more. Time to occupy her mind once again.

Greg nodded back and both teenagers settled in to watch. Though oddly, as the movie progressed, Ami did find herself getting a little frightened. The guy with the chainsaw who appeared in people's dreams was almost more horrific than a youma, simply because youmas didn’t look as human. Who knew what sort of normal looking people were really psychotics anyway?

Ami subconsciously moved in closer to Greg. And when the show was finally over, she flushed as she realized just how close they'd become; Ami was practically clutching at his shirt. If someone from school could see her now, what would they think...! She scooted back, trying not to blush.

Greg glanced over and grinned. "Nervous? I guess that movie did scare you a bit then." Turning away, he rose to switch off the television.

Ami felt herself unable to keep from blushing deeper, now grateful for the subdued lighting. 'It wasn't the movie that made me nervous there...!' she thought to herself. Could Greg really be so dense?

He looked back at her. "So, Ami... I guess we should go to bed now," Greg declared.

Ami blinked and almost fell off the end of the couch before she realized that statement had no relation to romance either. "Oh! Yes, of course, it's getting late," she agreed.

Ami dashed up to her own room quickly, lest Greg notice her face was now the same colour as a tomato. Once upstairs she let out a breath, cursing herself again. Stop thinking about romance! Why did it keep coming up?

Her eyes fell upon her Mercury plush doll. "You don't have to worry about this sort of thing!" she accused. "You just fight for love, you don't have to deal with it on a day-to-day basis. Whatever happened to those days?"

Ami threw herself back on her bed. Okay, not that fighting evil was necessarily preferable, but it was more predictable!

Ami rolled to look out her window. Well, maybe part of the problem was that the more she denied it, the more love asserted itself. Perhaps it was best to resign herself to the current situation instead of trying to pretend all was normal.

"I'm in a house, alone with Greg," Ami stated. "Nothing has happened. Nothing is going to happen. There's nothing to worry about!" She sat up, nodding firmly. There, she felt a little better now; it could be better to meet such things head on.

Seeking to relax a bit, Ami started to do a little light reading in her math textbook. But part of her still felt uncomfortable. It occurred to her that swimming often helped calm her when studies failed, and that she hadn't been to the pool in a while. Too late to go now of course, but maybe a relaxing bath? Water was almost always naturally soothing to her. Getting up again, Ami headed for the bathroom.

What happened next was completely unexpected. For as Ami opened up the bathroom door, she made an unsettling discovery. Greg had beaten her there. He was washing up at the sink. Dressed, thank the gods, but his shirt was undone... he turned to look at her.

'Close the door!' screamed Ami's mind. But she felt paralysed. What if she'd come a little later, what would he have been doing? Blushing for the umpteenth time, Ami tried to find her voice to stammer out an apology, something, anything, say anything, say...

"Did you want to join me?" Greg asked with a bemused look.

Ami felt her face growing just as red as it had earlier, if not more so. "Ecchi!" she blurted out. "Why didn't you lock the door??" she added, knowing she probably should have knocked herself.

Spinning away and racing back to her room in record time, Ami was unable to recall any time in her life when she'd felt so mortified. She leaned back against her closed bedroom door and slid to the ground.

How could her mother have left the two of them alone together? She was probably off having a great time at her medical conference, not realizing what her daughter was going through! And what had Greg meant by that comment?? Intruding on someone's privacy was not something to be joked about, not the way he did everything else! This living arrangement was just intolerable... she couldn't live like this... or maybe the problem was that she was getting accustomed to living like this when she shouldn't be?

Hadn't she been thinking that thought a couple of days ago? Well, the last few minutes showed her how bad things could get! Oh, whatever had her mother been THINKING when she'd agreed to that overseas arrangement? What had her father been thinking when he set it up, for that matter!

Slowly Ami's heart rate returned to normal again. She eyed her bedroom door with trepidation. Was it safe to go out? Would it ever be? Would anyone notice if she just stayed in her room for the rest of her life?

"Now you're being silly," she muttered quietly. She needed that relaxing bath even more now. Bracing herself, Ami poked her head out into the hallway. Greg was just entering his room.

"All clear," he observed, looking back as he heard her door open.

Ami flushed again. She hurried for the bathroom as fast as she could, while trying not to make it look like she was in a hurry. She made sure to lock the door behind her. "Why do these things keep happening to me?" she mumbled as she ran the bath water.

Ami undressed, and once the bath was near full she shut off the water and slipped in. The warm water was comforting and Ami closed her eyes, just letting herself soak for a while. Her mind wandered as she imagined herself floating in her own private pool.

Eventually her thoughts turned back to how the day had gone. She supposed it hadn't really been that bad. And she had actually had fun with Greg for the most part. Of course, she probably would have enjoyed it more if she hadn't been so nervous. And Greg's comment after her mistake in going to the bathroom, Ami still thought that hadn't been really appropriate.

Oh well... it would all be over after tomorrow. She could go back to just everyday romantic concerns. Ami couldn't hold back a giggle.

Suddenly there was a tap at the door. "Ami? It's been over half an hour - you drowning in there?" came Greg's voice.

Ami made a face. "I'm fine, I'll be out soon!" she shouted back. What was Greg's problem? She was glad she'd locked the door... though no, Greg wasn't the type to do anything like THAT.

She was pretty sure. Who understood guys anyway? "If only there were practical books about them," Ami mumbled as she slipped down deeper into the water, some of it pouring over the edge. She let her mind wander again.

*****

Back in his room, Greg flipped another page of his math textbook and scrawled another couple of equations down. Then he glanced over at the clock. Whatever could Ami be doing in the bathroom for so long?

Probably just a girl thing, he shouldn't worry. She said she'd be out soon. Maybe she was just avoiding him. He tapped his pencil on the desk. If only the house didn't seem so eerily quiet all of a sudden!

*****

Ami blinked up at the ceiling. Was it getting warm in here? She supposed she'd been soaking long enough. She certainly felt relaxed now.

Ami rose unsteadily, emerging from the bath and pulling the plug. She reached out for a towel - and completely missed it. Stumbling forwards, she supported herself with one hand on the wall, raising the other to her forehead.

It WAS warm... she'd let herself get a little overheated... how long HAD she been in here? Her fingertips were all pruned.

Shaking her head to try and clear it, Ami grabbed for the towel again. Successful this time, she wrapped it around her body and tucked it into place. Better just to get back to her room. Maybe a bit of fresh air... then she wouldn't feel so dizzy...

Shaking her head again, Ami reached out for the door handle. She missed it by a mile, stumbled, pitched to the side, knocked over the towel hamper, and then hit the floor.

Of course, she could always sleep right here...

*****

Greg continued to tap his pencil on the desk. He was paying almost exclusive attention to the clock now. It was just too damn quiet! Wait, had that been a thump?

"Well, worst she can do is yell at me again," Greg muttered, getting up and going back to the bathroom door. He tapped softly. "So what's the Japanese definition of 'soon' anyway?" he inquired.

No response.

A little uneasy now, Greg knocked louder. "Hey, don't I even rate a reply now?"

Nothing.

"Okay, look, I'm sorry for what I said before, all right?"

Silence. This wasn't funny. Ami didn't strike him as the sort of person to pull pranks either.

Greg banged on the door. "Ami? You feeling okay?"

Maybe he'd just missed seeing her come out. Greg carefully tried the door; it was locked.

"Ami, what's going on?" Greg was almost yelling now. He slammed his palm against the door. "Ami? If you don't say anything I'm coming in there!"

Damn it! What had happened? Greg tried to quell the fear and panic rising in his heart.

"Ami! Can you hear me? Are you okay?? AMI???"

Biting his lip, Greg tried the door again. Still locked. Enough was enough.

Greg threw all his weight down on the door handle, yanking at the door. He grimaced. Come ON...! The lock snapped, the door popped open.

"AMI-CHAN!" Greg gasped, thoroughly unsettled by the discovery of her prone form on the floor.

*****

The wind blew gently through Ami's hair. "Ami-chan..." She glanced around in confusion. "Ami-chan..." Who was calling her? She turned. And Greg was there with her.

"Ami-chan... I heard you're the greatest student in the school," he commented conversationally. He smiled.

"What?" Ami blinked, finding herself blushing.

"But Ami, our breakup was a mistake..." As Ami blinked, it wasn't Greg anymore, it was Urawa. Ami gasped. "I won't give you up to him without a fight!" Urawa said.

"Urawa certainly has some endearing qualities - wouldn't you agree, Ami?" The blue-haired girl stared as Minako appeared, linking arms with Urawa. The blonde smiled. "But if you don't want Greg, I can go out with him instead..."

Then the blue Medallion dropped down in front of Ami's eyes. "It will bond the two of you together as long as you have it," came Rei's voice.

Ami spun away, only to come face to face with Makoto. "If you just want to be friends with either of them... be friends," the brunette stated.

"I don't know..." Ami murmured. "I can't..."

And she was standing in the middle of a bridge. Ami whirled around, seeing Greg on one side and Urawa on the other. "No," she choked, holding her head in her hands. "I can't decide..."

Beside her, Usagi sighed. "Ami... stay calm. If both Greg and Urawa really like you, they'll respect your wishes and your decisions. I'm sure the last thing they want you to do is make you feel pressured or uncomfortable, right?"

Ami blinked, and Usagi was no longer there. In fact Ami seemed to be floating in a void.

"Ami-chan..." The voice was calling to her again. It was time to decide... and for a split second, Ami KNEW...

"Ami, wake up!"

Ami snapped her eyes open. She sat up with a start. What had she just been thinking? Something fell her lap.

She blinked at the cold cloth in confusion. It had been on her forehead. She was on her bed. When...? Her eyes finally focused and her memory came back.

She'd passed out in the bathroom. But now she was back in her room? And Greg was bending down next to her, peering at her intently. And she was only wearing a towel.

"No!" Ami shouted in horror. Her arm came up in a wide arc, hand connecting solidly with Greg's cheek. It had been completely instinctive, the look of genuine concern on Greg's face not even registering until moments later.

Greg reeled, falling back a step or two. His look of concern flashed briefly into astonishment, then relief, and then his expressionless face was back.

"Well," he murmured quietly. "If you can do that, you must be okay now." And he turned and slipped out of the room.

Ami remained motionless, arm still in the position of her backswing, as the full impact of what had just occurred dawned on her. Greg had only been helping her. None of this was his fault. Her eyes looked at the cold cloth then slowly turned until they were staring down at the palm of her hand.

"Oh my God," she whispered. "What have I done..."

Previous	Chapter Links	Next
	*_* MARMALADE MERCURY *_* EP 10a: JUST THE TWO OF US. AN UNSETTLING DISCOVERY! <opening theme>

Mrs. Mizuno gave her daughter a quick kiss on the cheek. "Take care now, dear. Here's a number for emergencies. Oh, and I'll leave you two my credit card in case of expenses - you'll probably need to buy some food. Saturday is when I usually shop so I'm not sure how much there is to eat in the house."

She pulled out the card and handed it to Greg.

"I think that's everything. Take care and don't do anything I wouldn't do!" With a final smile Ami's mom was out the door.

There was a brief pause. "She's really gone," Greg commented, glancing at the card in his hand.

"Ah, y-yes," Ami affirmed. She was now alone with Greg. Admittedly, there had been similar situations when the two of them had been alone together, but her mother had at least been available then. Tonight, it would be just her and... Ami blushed. No, she shouldn't think about that!

Better to take this an hour at a time and just pretend everything was normal - because would it be all that different? Her relationship troubles were almost becoming routine. Except would Greg act differently?

Ami turned to look at him. He was looking back at her curiously. Had he spoken?

"Sorry, what?" Ami asked.

"I said do you want to try for breakfast now or should we go back to bed?" Greg repeated.

"Oh, uh..." Ami suddenly realized they were both still in night attire, having just come down to see her mother off. She felt her blush deepening. "Er, you do whatever, I'm going up to dress," Ami replied quickly. She rushed upstairs, feeling self-conscious.

'Calm down,' she mentally chided when she reached her room. 'It hasn't even been five minutes yet. It's only Greg. What am I so nervous for?'

Glancing around, Ami caught sight of her medallion on her desk once again. She'd had it for over a week; Greg and Urawa had been in town for more than two. Ami pursed her lips. She was still stalling.

'Choosing Urawa means not choosing Greg. Why doesn't Greg act more seriously? Is there an answer to everything there?' she mused, recalling her analysis of a few days ago.

She still hadn't really formed any conclusions about him. He had seemed more popular at the arcade the other day than she had anticipated... but he'd still stayed distant and aloof from all the people he was helping.

Well, anyway, the idea of something romantic happening while it was just the two of them, that unnerved her. She should probably put all the analysis and angst aside for now, until they were through it.

'I'll take this weekend one minute at a time.' Ami decided, heading for the bathroom. 'For now, it's just like a regular day.' Hadn't Greg once said that there were times to deal with problems later? Thoughts of romance could wait until Monday.

*****

Downstairs, Greg started perusing the kitchen cabinets. Yes, they probably would need to go shopping at their earliest convenience. He finally sat, shaking his head slightly.

God, fate, time or whatever was really playing tricks on him now. He had never expected any of this to happen on a simple trip to Japan. And now alone in the house with Ami... was it only yesterday what he'd considered avoiding her? He supposed he'd better reject that idea. After all, he did like seeing Ami...

"Oh, stop denying it, you like HER," Greg muttered aloud. And she seemed to know this. But he had no idea exactly how to show his feelings beyond what he was doing.

Greg held his head in his hands and bit his lip. The best time to make a declaration would probably have been shortly after his arrival, before the whole Urawa thing started up. But would it have been too soon? And the kiss had complicated things... while actions spoke louder than words, that had been a little too loud.

So he'd backed off almost completely... and now things had grown even more complicated. Greg supposed that the main problem was that (aside from Minako) he had never been in any sort of relationship. He didn't have anyone he could go to for advice. And yet he didn't want to mess things up.

The other thing was that it never seemed to be the right time to really talk to Ami now. In a way, Greg envied Urawa's more outgoing nature... and that guy seemed to be a big hit with Ami's friends too.

"Do I even have a chance?" Greg sighed as he leaned back in his chair.

Truth be told, he was probably having as much difficulty working out the relationship angle as Ami... and he was stalling as much as her too. While keeping some things to himself. But on the other hand, if Ami eventually found out more about him... Greg paused.

Eventually what? Eventually she wouldn't want anything to do with him? Maybe he was just afraid that if she found out about his feelings, and more importantly about his past, that she *wouldn't* reject him.

Greg shivered. Being close to someone, that was the really scary prospect... because... well, no, this wasn't the time to think about that.

At any rate, their current living arrangement was probably going to preoccupy Ami's mind as much as his, if not more. He would need to relax her a bit to keep her from getting stressed out; falling back on his natural defence of teasing would probably distract her enough. Maybe she would blush in that adorable way...

Greg smiled slightly for the first time that day. And there were certainly worse ways to spend a weekend. Which reminded him: things the way they were, he'd better go make a phone call.

*****

Ami came back down, washed and dressed, as Greg went upstairs. Going into the kitchen, she realized neither he nor her mother had made any breakfast. With a shrug, Ami checked in the fridge and by the time Greg returned, he found two omelettes with what remained of the eggs, plus bacon.

"Well, this is a switch," Greg commented, having again put on an expressionless face to join Ami at the table. "You didn't have to cook while I was upstairs, you know."

"Oh, that's okay," Ami replied, smiling uncertainly. "As I said once before, I've learned how to make a few things."

"But I didn't get to see how cute you'd look cooking," Greg commented.

Ami's mouth opened, but she found she couldn't form a sentence. One minute at a time... this was just typical Greg. Hoping that she wasn't blushing again, Ami cleared her throat. "Well, it looks like we'll need to shop before we can have dinner," she diverted.

"Will you be cooking then also?"

"I... er, I guess..."

Greg nodded. "Great!" He took a bite. "And this tastes pretty good actually... maybe cooking skills do run in your family too."

Ami simply nodded. She wasn't sure what to say. She realized abruptly that until today, she'd never really cooked for any one person except herself or her mother before. Certainly never a guy! And she'd made him an omelette?? She should have made something better than that! Right?

Well, of course, she didn't want to imply anything romantic, but... maybe she could find something good in a cooking book for dinner.

*****

"Sage, seasonings and spices?" Greg summarized, swiftly scanning the shopping list. "I didn't realize you'd be adding so much."

"Er, I was looking through a recipe book and there were a fair number of things I couldn't find in the cabinets. So I thought we might as well stock up," Ami explained.

"Ahh," was Greg's only response.

'Was it too much?' Ami wondered. She should have called Makoto maybe, to get some advice: she was the best cook around. But both Ami and Greg had decided to go out while it was still morning - less crowds, plus Ami had figured she might get less nervous AWAY from confines of her home.

So Ami had just done a quick flip through some cookbooks, adding what seemed best to the basic list. She wondered what Greg's favourite food was. Somehow she didn't see simple sandwiches, her own preference, as being high up there. But you could never tell with him.

Even at the supermarket he still kept up his indifference and Ami ended up throwing even more things in the cart in her uncertainty. Shaking his head, Greg paid for it with Mrs. Mizuno's credit card, then offered to carry the bags as they set out for the return trip.

Departing the store, Ami ultimately let herself glance around, noticing there were a fair number of couples out, of all ages. Holding hands and that sort of thing. She wondered if this was something usual for the weekend or if it was just something always happening that she'd never payed too much attention to before.

Either way, it was almost unsettling, given how her walking with Greg could be misinterpreted. Ami supposed she shouldn't walk too close - Urawa, Minako, Sewaya or someone would probably pop up if that happened. She was sort of surprised it hadn't happened already, the way her luck...

"Ami-chan!" Greg shouted, grasping her arm. Ami blinked out of her reverie to see a car speed by inches in front of her. Ami could feel her heart hammering in her chest. Greg had kept her from walking out into the street against the light. "Ami, don't make me carry you as well as the shopping bags," Greg joked. "Pay attention."

Ami opened her mouth to retort but found she could only nod lamely. She chastised herself internally for not being careful, still giving romance such a precedence over everything else. She could have been hurt if it hadn't been for Greg! All right, from now on she would not worry about someone popping up and saying...

"Hey, Greg - I never expected to find you out here!"

Ami spun. But it was only Motoki. Of course, they were passing near the arcade. Still, Ami couldn't get her heartbeat to slow.

"Heya, boss," Greg replied with a grin. "Sorry about not coming in this weekend, but they were extra hours and I had some things that needed doing."

Motoki grinned back. "I see. You know, for a minute there I thought you'd called me this morning to skip work in favour of a date."

Greg gestured absently. "Nah, just decided to give Ami some help shopping while her mom's out of town."

Greg had given up work today? Ami glanced over at him.

"Well, we seem to be managing okay without you," Motoki replied. "Sailor Moon game attracting just enough attention, profits up..."

"Ah, you can't wait for my return Monday and you know it." Greg winked.

"Well, I'll let you believe that if it makes you feel better," Motoki returned playfully. "But anyway, I'd better be getting back inside. See you two later!" With a wave, Motoki departed and Ami and Greg were walking alone on the street again.

Greg glanced over to see Ami staring up at him. "Before you panic," he began, "I don't think you have to worry about Motoki spreading rumours."

Ami blinked and nodded. "Actually, I was just wondering... you gave up work to spend time with me?"

"I wasn't sure if you'd be strong enough to carry the shopping bags," Greg answered.

Ami made a face. There he went again. "What is your aversion to being serious?" she demanded.

"When I see your face, my brain gets paralyzed," he smiled.

Ami rolled her eyes - but she couldn't help but feel a little flattered. How did Greg do that to her?

"Hey, want to stop and grab a drink?" Greg continued. "It's fairly close to lunch and it's not easy carrying these bags."

"Too weak to make it home?" Ami found herself saying.

Greg made a face back in response and Ami giggled. Greg had changed the subject again... but Ami did feel a little thirsty.

"Okay, let's get something," she acquiesced.

*****

Ami absentmindedly stirred the noodles on the stove. She'd enjoyed the day so far. She and Greg had eaten out for lunch and tidied up the house a bit upon returning. So far so good.

Ami even felt that she was starting understand Greg a little better; anything to do with specific feelings or opinions was answered casually or with a diversion. And while he could appear cold, it looked like Greg was just trying to keep a certain amount of distance between them.

Almost like he had some secret... something he didn't want to tell anyone. Hadn't he mentioned a secret before? Maybe he hadn't been joking.

Ami brushed a little hair back off her forehead. She had read somewhere that intuition was a feeling with a basis in fact, something that was registered only by the subconscious mind. Ami supposed she had a good intuition about Greg. She only wished her conscious mind would figure it all out too.

But, she quickly reminded herself, with only the two of them in the house, romance was NOT the best thing to be thinking about this weekend! It just made her worry, which might lead to something like earlier today, with the car; the last thing she needed was for another incident to ---

"Ouch!" Ami shrieked as the pot tumbled from the range, splashing water and pasta all over the floor. She'd tried to pick it up without first putting on protective mitts. That had been HOT!

Greg ran into the room. "Ami? What happened? Are you all right?"

Ami gingerly touched her fingers. "I... I think so," she assessed. "Just a mild burn... I wasn't thinking when I moved..." Her eyes now registered the mess on the floor and she choked back a sob. "Oh no, the DINNER..."

Her face registered both horror and sorrow as she fell to the floor, trying to see if anything could be salvaged. What had she been thinking just before this? Was it some self-fulfilling prophecy of romantic disaster?

Greg bent down to try and reassure her, which meant that neither of them noticed the mixture still bubbling on the other heater. Not until it made it's presence known.

"The white sauce!" Ami exclaimed, almost in a panic as she jumped up from her cleaning efforts to switch off the element.

Light smoke drifted from the saucepan. The sauce did not look white anymore. Ami bit her lower lip, trying to keep her body from shaking. She'd let herself get distracted... and now everything was ruined!

<commercial break; Minako, Urawa and Sewaya skating, they trip over Ami's computer>

Previous	Chapter Links	Next
	*_* MARMALADE MERCURY *_* EP 9a: VIDEO VENDETTA. THE GAME IS AFOOT! <opening theme>

Greg absentmindedly popped some bread in the toaster and finished heating up the two breakfast plates. Ami's mother had left for her usual morning shift already and Greg was just waiting for Ami to come downstairs now.

He wondered what Ami was getting so upset about recently - not for the first time. Last night he'd felt especially concerned when Ami had proceeded directly up to her room for the second night in a row.

Actually, he was pretty sure the cause was both his and Urawa's actions - even though he was trying to minimize that by not getting too involved - but it meant he was at a loose end for knowing what he could do to fix things. He'd almost asked last night if he could do anything, help somehow... but when he'd finally gotten into her room, he'd found he couldn't say much beyond what he had. So it seemed that he would just have to continue trying to keep Ami from obsessing over the situation... and hope she could work it out.

Greg started eating and Ami showed up a few minutes later.

*****

"Good morning..." she said, tentatively. They hadn't had much of a chance to speak the previous night. Ami wondered if she should say something now.

"Morning," Greg replied casually. Ami slid into the opposite chair and started to eat her own breakfast.

They slipped into the usual breakfast routine, eating with some idle chatter, mostly about homework. But Ami finally decided not to let the opportunity slip by. If there was one thing the analysis of last night had told her, it was that she had to start taking some more decisive action. It was the only way to resolve the situation.

"So, Greg... what was your actual motivation for climbing onto my balcony last night?" she inquired as he rose to place his dishes in the sink.

Greg didn't turn. "As I said, to distract you and get some exercise..."

"Greg, please don't dodge the question this time," Ami responded.

Greg turned and blinked.

Ami fought the impulse to blush. "Look, I... I just mean that... well, I've been doing some thinking. You always seem to be doing things for me... but is it really for me? Do you even know you're doing them? Is it just because we're living together? What?" If she could only figure out why Greg was covering up his feelings.

Greg raised an eyebrow. "It might be that you're thinking a little too hard," he ventured.

"You're still being evasive," Ami pointed out.

Greg laughed and leaned on the counter. "All right then. If I say I only climbed onto your balcony because I was bored and wanted to see your reaction... would that help?"

Ami paused. "I... maybe," she responded, suddenly uncertain. So it didn't mean anything?

"Then what if I said I did it because I was genuinely concerned for your well being?"

"I..." Ami stopped, flustered. "Greg, why do you always say and do things so... offhandedly? It's hard to know when you're actually serious."

Greg's smile faded slightly. "We all have our secrets..." he replied quietly. Ami blinked and opened her mouth to ask what he meant, but Greg was already turning to leave the kitchen. "I just try to keep you on your toes is all," he declared as he parted, tossing the full smile back over his shoulder. "Now better hurry up so we're not late for school."

Ami looked back at her plate with a frown, quickly finishing her meal. Perhaps she knew even less than she thought she did...

*****

Greg flipped through the pages of the book without reading. He couldn't read... his thoughts kept going back to Ami. It looked like he would have to watch what he said around her. He'd almost forgotten himself that morning! It was important not to open up to anybody, especially her. The balcony thing had probably been a bit too much after all... maybe it would be best to try and sever ties with Ami.

Stop the teasing, stop the hinting, stop doing things for her - after all, couldn't that solve things? She'd end up with Urawa, no one would ask him any personal questions, and everything would be okay. Sort of like how things had gone in England... he'd been able to wrap matters up there with no problem. So how was this situation any different?

Greg sighed, finally closing the book. He knew what the difference was: Ami herself. And he wasn't even going out with her! Maybe the fact that they were living together was more of a curse than a blessing. The physical proximity invited an emotional one too.

Greg shook his head, picking up his book and getting up from the library table. Well, he knew he couldn't avoid worrying about her well being, somehow that just wasn't in him. So he'd just have to work faster while living here, stop spending so much time on frivolous things - like this reading. As if he could use it to become a great writer anyway. In the meantime...

He found he didn't like keeping things from Ami. Someone so lovely, deep blue eyes complimenting her hair so well... but he should have known she'd start wondering about him after a while, a person of her intelligence. And if he completely admitted his feelings, not only might that cause problems for her, but if they really got together afterwards and she discovered that...

Well, anyway, if he didn't see her quite so much, maybe that would help. And if he did see her, he supposed he'd simply have to keep dodging, like he had this morning. Because some things... you just couldn't tell anyone.

Greg replaced the book on the shelf and headed out of the school's library, glancing at his watch. Classes were probably going to start again soon...

"Hey! Library again, huh? Still looking for books on creative writing?"

Greg turned. After a couple of seconds he recognized the guy from two weeks ago... the one who had kept smiling at him and who had asked him back to his house. "Uhhh, yeah..." he said uncertainly.

"Didn't catch Umino's "Lunchtime Views" then?"

"No," Greg responded, taking a step back as the other guy took two forward.

"I suppose you're still not interested in the books back at my place then?" the stranger responded, peering at Greg with a quirky smile.

Greg snapped his fingers. "I forgot! I need to call someone about an important matter before classes start! Er, sorry, maybe I'll see you around some other time..."

Good enough excuse - maybe he'd even try calling the Game Centre and ask to work a little late this evening. Avoid any possible confrontations with Ami in the evening that way too. Greg backed off another two steps then turned and hurried away.

The other person watched him go with an amused look on his face. "So..." he murmured. "You still don't know who I am...?" He glanced around and was about to move off when he caught sight of telltale odango moving in his direction.

"Usagi!" he called, moving to meet her. Usagi turned to him as he approached and rolled her eyes slightly. "Well, if it isn't Mr. Lunchtime Views himself. Hi Kaijin."

"Ah! You caught the show then! How did I sound?" Kaijin inquired, clasping his hands together.

Usagi shrugged. "Like a guy on the radio - half full of himself. Most of the school knows you, you don't have to reiterate who you are three times."

Kaijin smiled. "Well, I just wanted to be sure you were one of the ones who did know me. After all, if the prettiest girl in the school doesn't know who I am, well, is there still reason for me to live?"

Usagi's eyebrow twitched slightly. "Uh, look, I'm just here so I can return a book for Ami-chan..."

"Ah! What self-sacrifice, I'm impressed! While you're here, perhaps I could even offer you some reading selections for yourself. Or perhaps we could set up another time that would be convenient - say, after school?"

Usagi sweatdropped. "Uh, I'm just here returning a book for Ami-chan..."

'Subtlety is not the key with her,' Kaijin realized. "Just wondering if you'd be interested in a date," he elaborated.

Usagi jumped. Partially at the statement but mostly because the bell abruptly rang. "Uh, sorry, busy now, running late, gotta go!" she exclaimed, running past Kaijin and into the library then tearing back out a few seconds later.

She cast an odd glance over her shoulder as she went and almost bumped into a bunch of other students. Kaijin watched her go, shaking his head slightly. Shame - she really was the prettiest girl he knew. Ah well... she hadn't said yes, but she hadn't said no either. Kaijin wandered off in the direction of his next class.

*****

Urawa drummed his fingers impatiently on the desk, glancing at the clock. Class was almost done. He had to corner Ami after school about the whole going to the arcade deal.

He'd missed her in the morning, she'd been busy at lunch, and he hadn’t thought of a nonchalant way to bring it up in between classes. Actually, he couldn't really think of a nonchalant way to bring it up now, but that was no longer the point. He'd just sound casual. Something like...

The bell finally rang, shattering Urawa's mental preamble. Blinking for a minute, he quickly remembered what he was trying to do and sprang up, hurrying out the door. He rushed to Ami's shoe locker... but Greg was there ahead of him.

"...new video game's finally online and Motoki asked me if I could recruit some extra help after school, just for today. I thought you might be a candidate."

"Well... I had planned on just going home since there won't be any juku..." Then Ami paused. Maybe it would provide more insight into Greg himself? "But, uh, I guess it would be okay - for a little while," Ami agreed, hesitantly, searching for a reaction. Any reaction. "Will I have to do anything too technical? I..."

"Great!" Greg replied, cutting her off. "Don't worry about things being difficult, you can just man the cash register or something."

Urawa practically fell on his face, but managed to keep himself upright and unobserved in the crowd. Greg was beating him to the punch... again! "And how about that Usagi character too?” Greg continued. "Or that one with the ponytail?"

Ami smiled weakly. "I'm afraid Usagi has detention and I think Makoto had plans..." She paused. "Actually, how do you know the Sailor Moon game's online now? You didn't mention it this morning."

Greg shrugged. "I happened to call the Centre during lunch." And while Motoki had been all for a little later work... somehow, avoiding Ami just wasn't in the cards. "See, Motoki finally got this part in last night after I left, and he wanted to get everything working for today, it being Friday," Greg concluded. "He was pretty much prepared at a moment's notice but is worried about being understaffed. I figure I can't let him down and I remembered I saw you in the arcade the other day..."

Ami nodded. Well, Greg obviously cared about some things... there didn't seem to be a clear indication as to whether he had asked her as a student or as a friend though. Pondering this, she followed Greg out of the school.

Urawa watched them go with a pained expression. "That guy STILL has the worst timing of anyone I've ever met!" he muttered.

*****

The banner had already been strung out front when Greg and Ami arrived. Urawa trailed along behind them, unseen, more out of a lack of anything else to do now than for any other reason. There it was, just like his vision.

Sometimes seeing the future could be a real pain - it never let on about extra, important details like the fact that Greg was an employee. His "plan" had been doomed to failure from the start. Maybe this was fortunate though... would his asking of Ami seem pushy? Would it have spoiled his and Minako's plans?

"...what are you staring at?" came a hushed voice behind him.

Urawa blinked, as he realized he'd moved into a crouching position and was now peering around the door into the Game Centre as people walked by him, going in and out. Flushing slightly, he turned to the person behind him. "Uh, nothing, I was just..." He froze. Minako peered past him and around the corner herself.

"Oh, I see - it's Ami!" she noticed. "...and Greg," she realized a second later. "How long have they been working here?"

"Eruh, Ami doesn't work here, she's helping with that new game," Urawa said, gesturing at the banner. Just the right person to meet actually. "I don't know about Greg."

Minako nodded as she glanced at the banner. "I was wondering what the commotion here was about."

"Minako..." Urawa began hesitantly. "Do you think things are working right? With Ami?"

Minako blinked back at him. "I thought you told me yesterday that Ami asked you about me." Urawa nodded. "Well then, no problem," Minako concluded brightly. "She's obviously concerned about you. So we simply make her more conscious of those feelings."

"But right now she's in there with Greg," Urawa pointed out.

"So we go in there and mingle with them," Minako concluded with a shrug.

"Uhhhhh," Urawa began uncertainly, but Minako was already moving. Urawa hurried after her. But they hadn't gone two feet inside when there was a loud yelp from behind them.

"Urawa! I thought that was you!" came the familiar voice of Sewaya Kanren. "What are you doing out with her again? What are you trying to pull? How could you do this to your cousin??"

<commercial break; Ami, Greg and Urawa skating, they trip over Ami's computer>

Previous	Chapter Links	Next
	*_* MARMALADE MERCURY *_* EP 8b: MIXED EMOTIONS. WHAT'S WITH THOSE TWO?

<commercial break; Usagi, Mamoru and Kaijin skating, they trip over Ami's computer>

The words had come from Ami's mouth before she was entirely sure that she'd spoken them. Ami felt her face start to redden and was glad this was all on the phone.

"Er, relationship?" Ami heard Minako say, somewhat warily. "Well, there was mention of how Sewaya seems to like me… or did you mean Urawa mentioning you?"

"I… s-something like that though not necessarily me," Ami stated, trying to keep the nonchalant air in her voice. "That is, I mean, with all that's been going on, I was just curious…"

Her voice trailed off.

It was apparently Minako's turn to pause briefly.

"Ami, Urawa still likes you, if that's what you're worried about," she finally put forth.

'But where do YOU stand on all this?' Ami felt like asking. But somehow she couldn't bring herself to do that. "Oh," was all she managed to say in reply.

She'd been a little too bold and now felt lost. Maybe it would be better to bring this up with Minako another time, like at the study session? It would be more personal than the phone.

"Er, anything else, Ami?" Minako inquired ambivalently. "There's a call I should make myself…"

"No… thanks… I'll see you tomorrow then," Ami concluded. Quick farewells were exchanged and Ami hung up the phone. She leaned back in the chair at her desk and closed her eyes.

That… hadn't exactly cleared things up, had it. Though at least Minako had said Urawa still liked her. Ami frowned. Yet… that didn't necessarily exclude Urawa from liking Minako TOO, did it… was she still at square one?

On a sudden impulse, Ami opened her eyes, reached back for the phone, and dialled Urawa's number. His line was busy.

*****

Minako hung up the phone after placing a quick call to brief Urawa. They'd agreed to keep each other updated. And it seemed like Ami was getting uneasy now… but Minako wondered if she'd been too vague.

After all, the plan was to get Ami to recognize Urawa as a good person to be in a relationship with, despite what had happened in the past. It was not to make Ami give up on Urawa completely.

Minako stretched out on her bed. Actually, the more she got to know him, the more Minako liked Urawa as a person. You could tell he cared about Ami, and he certainly seemed less distant than Greg. Which kind of made everything just that more peculiar… what DID Ami see in Greg?

*****

The next morning went pretty much as any other for Ami. She hadn't tried calling Urawa back - what would she say, anyway? And Greg didn't ask any questions about what she'd been up to the previous night.

School also went as usual. Usagi apologized for the later study meeting (but apparently it was okay with Rei), Ami lunched with her and Makoto and she also saw Urawa in class and the hall a few times - but he hadn't really approached her to talk. Juku went as it had the previous day.

Ami almost wished something unusual would happen, a power outage, a rainstorm, anything. It was almost annoying how all was right with the world when her life seemed more in turmoil than ever. Which was a totally irrational thought that Ami quickly pushed out of her mind.

Nevertheless, as Ami finally trudged up the temple steps in the evening, she reflected on the fact that here, at least, something was likely to happen. Yet as Ami arrived outside the door, that something was starting to sound like a quarrel.

"…being way too paranoid here!" came Rei's voice.

"But he talked about her half the time we were together," Usagi retorted. "How she's studying to be a teacher, how he went out with her and Motoki a few years back…"

"But you said you ASKED about her."

Ami slid open the door and peered inside. Rei and Usagi were having a verbal sparring match on one side of the table while Makoto and Minako sat at the other. Textbooks were open but neither pair was looking at them.

"Uhm, am I interrupting?" asked Ami, raising an eyebrow.

"Ami!" said Makoto, turning and smiling at her. "No, not at all, maybe you can get us back on track… we were all a little stumped on question 10…"

"And got distracted," put in Rei, glancing at Usagi.

"I was just saying I'm a little unsure about this Kato person," Usagi muttered, half to herself.

"Kato?" Ami echoed uncertainly as she slid into position at the foot of the table.

"An old friend of Mamoru's," Minako elaborated. "Usagi's nervous because of the way she showed up out of the blue."

"Well, wouldn't you be wary of someone who looked like they were showing interest in your boyfriend for no apparent reason?" Usagi commented. "I mean, what's with those two?"

Ami raised her eyebrows and glanced at Minako out of the corner of her eye, to observe her reaction.

But Rei replied first. "Usagi, they're friends… that's reason enough, no need to look for implications that don't exist," she pointed out.

"Well… yeah, I know," Usagi admitted. "I guess I'm just unsure because I'm not fully aware of how the friendship started."

Ami now noticed Minako turning slightly to look in her direction and she quickly turned her gaze to the textbook she'd just pulled out of her bag. Was it just her imagination, or could this all relate to her situation as well?

"If Mamoru had dated her - or felt uncertain about your relationship - don't you think he would tell you?" Rei observed. "You two don't tend to keep secrets."

Ami furrowed her brow. Well, Minako had told her about liking and previously dating Greg. Would it not then follow that she would say something if she liked Urawa?

On the other hand, Urawa hadn't said anything about liking Minako… not that Ami had been able to talk to him yet. But she didn't seem able to talk to Minako either. So why the blossoming of their friendship? Should she confront Minako after the session?

Ami sighed involuntarily.

"I agree with Ami," Makoto put in quickly, overriding the Kato 'discussion' that was starting up again. "Not that I'm thrilled about studying but we've sort of beaten the other topics to death… and I really need to look at this Physics because the teacher said we'd be building on it later."

Rei paused mid-sentence and nodded. "Okay. We don't want this to go on all night after all," she asserted, glancing at the clock.

Things calmed down somewhat after that and Makoto managed to get a preliminary grasp on her physics problems. They all did a bit of math too before deciding to call it a night. And it wasn't until Ami was halfway home when she suddenly realized that in the confusion of Usagi's problems and the textbook exercises… she'd forgotten to confront Minako at all.

Ami sighed for what felt like the umpteenth time.

Why couldn't this all have one simple solution - like question ten! What was she to do?

She realized that her friends hadn't even asked her specifically about her relations during the session, like last time. The idle discussion had apparently been taken care of before, with Usagi. And Ami knew she should be delighted by how much work they'd accomplished - but she just felt muddled with respect to the rest of her life.

All right, Ami asserted, time to analyze things then.

The main problem was: Greg or Urawa? The secondary problem was Greg with Minako or Urawa with Minako. The former being what Minako would logically pursue - but it was the latter that seemed to keep turning up.

Greg had rejected Minako once long ago… had he done so again? Maybe that had changed her mind - yet why then pick Urawa over any other boy? There had to be a reason… did Urawa know what it was? Ami walked methodically, thinking, and she didn't see the person coming the other way until she was practically on top of him.

"Out late, Ami?" came the tentative voice in front of her.

Ami looked up, wide-eyed. "Urawa!" she greeted, reflexively taking a step back. Was this good luck… or bad? It was typical luck these days anyway.

Urawa smiled. "Just picking up a few groceries myself," he commented, holding up a bag. There was a pause. "Well, I'll be on my way…" Urawa finished, continuing to walk past.

"N-no, wait," Ami said, quickly trying to formulate a question. "Urawa, what were you and Minako talking about the other day?"

Urawa paused. "Which other day?" he inquired.

"At the Tower," Ami clarified, wondering where she was going with this.

Urawa blinked then shrugged. "Er, not a lot. Sewaya generally…," his voice trailed off into a vague gesture.

Ami nodded. "Urawa… do you like Minako?" she exclaimed quickly, before she lost her nerve.

Urawa stood for a moment.

How was he supposed to answer that? Where was Minako when you needed her? "Well, sure… as a friend," he replied, hesitantly. "After all any friend of yours is a friend of mine, right?"

"Well, yes," Ami relented.

She almost asked 'Do you like me more', but that sounded terribly egotistical - and if the answer was 'yes', he would probably be hurt by the allegation. 'Do you like her as more than just a friend,' had the same implications. She couldn't accuse him of something that he was likely innocent of!

And now Urawa was just looking at her dubiously.

Ami forced a quick smile. "Just making sure she's not bothering you," Ami said swiftly. "I'll see you in school tomorrow…!"

Ami hurried off, barely hearing Urawa's goodbye. She couldn't find out things through Urawa. She couldn't risk inadvertently hurting him. This WAS just all theory - based on facts, but with no proof.

But if she couldn't talk to Urawa, and she seemed unable to say the right things to Minako… who was left? WHAT was left? 'What do I do?' Ami mused, tossing out the mental cry once more, in frustration.

She opened the door to her house, mind spinning. She registered the fact that her mother and Greg seemed to be talking in the kitchen or something, but Ami had lost her appetite. Or at least she didn't feel like talking to anyone.

She hurried up to her room, closed the door, locked it, dropped her books, and hurled herself onto her bed. She had to pursue this analysis further… after all, it was over a week and a half now since the problem had presented itself! Practically an eternity!

She didn't want to lose Urawa. That thought finally pushed itself to the front of her mind. She didn't want to lose him. Not again. Yet… she wasn't losing him like last time. He wasn't moving now, she was just seeing… less of him.

And for goodness sakes, hadn't it been like that their last couple of months together anyway? So why the angst?

Because he might be going out with someone else, Ami realized. After all, when he'd left, she'd always imagined him finding some other nice girl abroad and forgetting all about her… and instead it looked like he was finding some other nice girl HERE and forgetting all about her. But in that case…

"Ami? Are you all right, dear?" Her mother tapped quietly at her door.

"F-Fine!" Ami called back quickly. "Just have some work I need to get done…!"

There was a pause. "Well, all right, your dinner's on the table when you're ready…" her mother replied.

Ami rolled over and grabbed a pillow. But in that case, her fears were really unfounded. Urawa had said he liked her, numerous times. So why was she was still imagining the situation she'd set up in her mind several months ago?

Ami frowned. But it wasn't like tossing that scenario aside and deciding to go out with Urawa would immediately solve everything. For one thing, if Urawa and Minako really WERE starting some kind of… camaraderie, Ami didn't want to infringe on the happiness of her friends.

For another thing, it might be awkward handling a return to the prior relationship. But more than that, choosing Urawa would also mean… would mean…

"Ami? Not hungry at ALL tonight?" came Greg's voice, accompanied by a few taps on her door.

Ami squeezed her eyes shut. Choosing Urawa would mean NOT choosing Greg…

"Ami?"

"I'm f-fine!" Ami called back, trying to keep her voice from catching. "I'll be down a little later!"

There was no reply to that, though it almost sounded like Greg had tried opening the locked door.

Discarding the pillow, Ami drew her knees up to her chest and encircled her legs with her arms. Well, what WAS it about Greg anyway?

His feelings for her seemed anything but straightforward. He seemed to write certain events off with ease. He never looked concerned. He wasn't the type to get into profound conversations. If you disregarded that kiss (which he hadn't taken too seriously!), maybe they were just getting to like each other as housemates.

Why be considering him as a potential… boyfriend?

She continued to turn that around and around in her mind.

There was more tapping and Ami lifted her head to look at the door - before she realized that the tapping wasn't coming from the door. She jerked her head back in the other direction in surprise, then shock.

There was a small balcony area that overlooked the street. It was accessible only from her room. And it was where Greg was standing. Ami jumped off her bed to let him in.

"How did you get out THERE?" she inquired, aghast.

"Came over from the adjoining balcony," Greg noted, brushing off his hands.

Ami glanced out. The balcony for the other room was several meters away. There seemed to be very little in the way of handholds in between.

"You're kidding…" Ami gasped. But there wasn't a ladder around either. Ami spun around, looking back into the room. "What were you THINKING?" she demanded. "You could have been badly hurt!"

"I figured it was the best way to get your mind off your problems and onto something else," Greg commented impassively, tilting his head to the side. "You certainly didn't sound 'fine' when I knocked, or look 'fine' from out there."

Ami stared.

"Besides, the exercise was good. And don't worry about me, I wouldn't have made the attempt if I didn't think I could do it successfully." He put his hands in his pockets nonchalantly.

Ami searched for her voice. "You… but that was so dangerous!!"

Greg shook his head and his features hinted at a smile once more. "Ami… you have to learn to live a little. Don't get so held up on something that you lose track of everything else. Take time to smell the flowers, skip the stones… climb the walls."

He winked, but Ami found she could only stand and stare at him incredulously.

Finally, Greg reached out and poked Ami's shoulder. "And the dinner your mother made is getting cold," he commented as he proceeded past her. "You have to eat, Ami-chan! Can't have someone with your IQ wasting away…"

Then before Ami could find her voice again, he had unlocked her door and departed through it.

Ami glanced back from her bedroom door to the balcony. And immediately knew the answer to the earlier question of why she was considering Greg.

Because, beneath the facade, Greg genuinely cared. Somehow, deep down, he was just like Urawa… the kiss, getting her a gift, showing her that picturesque spot, even taking foolish actions because of her.

So why didn't he present things more obviously or sincerely? Ami shook her head. She wondered if the answer to that question would clear everything up…?

Her stomach grumbled. In the meantime though… Ami left her room through the now open door and hurried downstairs. Greg had been right - she really WAS quite hungry.

*****

Urawa lay back on his bed. That earlier conversation with Ami… well, it had been unnerving. Ami actually seemed to think there might be something between him and Minako.

But wasn't that the idea? Or maybe now HE was reading too much into this… Urawa abruptly felt a familiar dull pain in the back of his head and he closed his eyes.

*The arcade ... a Sailor Moon video game online ... the date on the banner ... tomorrow?*

Urawa's eyes blinked open again and the vision was gone. But the gist seemed to be big things at the Game Centre. Maybe if he dropped some hints to Ami about it, they could have an 'informal' meeting there… just to talk, maybe to reassure that things might not be as they seemed?

Urawa wasn't certain if it would be more reassuring for him, or for Ami… but after all, what was the harm in going to the arcade?

<closing theme>

Previous	Chapter Links	Next
	*_* MARMALADE MERCURY *_* EP 8a: MIXED EMOTIONS. WHAT'S WITH THOSE TWO? <opening theme>

"Hey, Motoki! What's the latest estimate on when the Sailor Moon game will be operative?" Greg inquired as he donned his uniform.

Motoki shrugged. "They keep saying the part we need will be in any day. So I suppose your guess is as good as mine."

Greg shook his head. "You should charge extra for the delay."

Motoki smiled. "Oh, we're doing okay with everything else I think," he rationalized. "Besides, we build suspense this way."

"Well, long as I get paid I suppose," Greg noted with a wink.

"Oh, Greg!" a girl called out to him. Greg turned and the girl smiled. "Could you help me over here?"

Greg nodded and moved to assist. His thoughts, however, were still partly back at the Tokyo Tower.

He wondered exactly where Ami had disappeared to after he'd broken up Sewaya's tirade those few hours ago. It had been practically impossible to even glimpse Ami again in the crowds - their encounter earlier had been a very fortunate coincidence. He hoped she was all right… though of course, he'd be able to gauge for himself after work.

It was nice being in the same house as her, if a bit unusual.

"Hey, Motoki!" came a familiar voice. Greg glanced back, recognizing Mamoru - but he was intercepted by another girl from his school before he could even think about going over and offering greetings to Motoki's friend.

Mamoru glanced around as he strolled up. "So, how's business?" Mamoru inquired of Motoki.

Motoki shrugged. "Oh, same as ever," he replied with a smile. "Though it's expected to pick up when that Moon game's finally active."

Mamoru nodded. "You know, they really should have included a Tuxedo Mask character in that too I think," he contemplated.

Motoki shook his head. "I'll never understand your fascination with the guy," he commented.

Mamoru smiled. "It's the cape, actually." He paused to glance around the area. Motoki followed his eyes, but everything seemed in order.

"Waiting for Usagi?" Motoki hazarded a guess.

Mamoru blinked. "What? Oh… no, for Kato actually. After buying her drinks the other day she insisted on returning the favour sometime with dinner."

Motoki raised an eyebrow slightly. "Oh, I see… catching up on old times?"

"Something like that," Mamoru said with a shrug.

"Does Usagi know about her?" Motoki inquired, smiling again.

Mamoru shook his head. Motoki nodded. "Well, look sharp, she's coming through the door," he pointed out.

Mamoru turned. And it was in fact Usagi who was entering the Game Centre.

"Mamo-chan!" she said as she spotted him. She hurried over. "I didn't expect to see you here!"

Motoki decided to slip off - and rescue Greg from the fans he seemed to be picking up. It had started to get like that recently… what was it about newcomers that attracted such attention? Notably males with Jr. High girls… well, at least it was good for business.

Mamoru smiled. "Usako… I should have known you'd swing by. How was your trip to the tower today?"

Usagi shrugged. "Oh, it went okay I suppose. There were some rumours about free ice cream that never materialized though. Hey, if you want, we could get some sodas and talk? I haven't really seen you since the weekend…"

"Ummm… actually, I'm afraid I've made an alternative arrangement," Mamoru answered. "Sorry - maybe tomorrow?"

"Oh!" Usagi paused. "Well, there was actually a plan for a girls study session tomorrow - but we can make that later and go out for something before!"

Mamoru nodded and gave a quick glance around the area again.

Usagi followed his eyes. "What are you up to now?" she asked.

"Er, just meeting an old friend from high school," Mamoru reassured.

"Who is he?"

"Me," came a quiet voice from behind the two of them.

"Kato!" Mamoru turned. "Er, Kato, this is Usagi… Usagi, Kato…" he introduced a bit uncertainly. Usagi blinked. Kato smiled nervously.

"Sorry I'm a little late, traffic was bad," Kato noted. Mamoru nodded.

"She's… your friend?" Usagi confirmed.

Mamoru nodded again. "We go back a few years. Kato went off to a different University and it's been a while. We're catching up."

"Er, yes… pleased to meet you then…," Usagi said guardedly, looking Kato up and down. She frowned dubiously.

Mamoru shook his head and smiled. "Usako, don't jump to any conclusions," he said, winking at her. "Me and Kato have always just been friends. And I'm booking off tomorrow for those sodas as we speak."

Usagi glanced from Mamoru to Kato and back. Then she nodded and brought forth a smile. "Okay - but in that case I'm holding you to those!"

Mamoru nodded and waved. Then after a brief 'nice to meet you' from Kato, the two former schoolmates went out to the Cafe.

Usagi watched for as long as she was able until a voice interrupted her thoughts.

"Hey, I believe the Sailor V video game has some upgrades. If you punch in the correct sequence of buttons, you can get bonus points."

Usagi blinked and turned to see Greg, who had handily sidestepped his few admirers. She snapped out of her reverie. "Oh! Er, that's all right… I actually came here to see if the Sailor Moon game was active…"

Greg paused then shook his head. "Sorry, we're still waiting. Any day now though."

Usagi sighed. "I guess I should have known that was coming… no free ice cream, no Mamo-chan, no video game…"

"At least bad news only comes in threes," Greg commented with a shrug. "There are those upgrades…"

Usagi shook her head. "No, that's okay, I don't feel like it anymore… I think I'll spin by the mall. Thanks anyway!"

Greg nodded and Usagi turned.

Then suddenly she turned back. "Oh! Want to tell Ami that the studying tomorrow will be late like last week instead of right after school? You'll probably see her before me…"

"Will do," Greg assured. Usagi nodded and turned again, departing the building.

Greg watched her go, frowning. It was a shame seeing one of Ami's friends downcast. After all, any friend of Ami's was… well, an acquaintance at least.

A yell came from behind him and Greg turned back to see someone getting frustrated at an older video game. He quickly moved to tend to the immediate problem. Hopefully the other problems would get worked out too…

*****

Ami came home from juku, thinking.

This was not actually unusual in itself - though the topic wasn't classes, Urawa or even Greg this time. It was Minako, and Ami trying to phrase what she'd say on the phone.

She certainly couldn't go with some sort of outright 'what are your intentions towards Urawa', because the evidence was all circumstantial at best. But she didn't like the idea of being evasive and wandering around the point.

Perhaps a simple, 'what were you talking about with Urawa today'? At least she had an excuse to call… Makoto had brought up her comment from last week again, about another study session. They'd agreed to have one tomorrow, barring unusual circumstances at the temple. And Ami had said she'd call Minako while Usagi contacted Rei.

So, she could start with that. Then after some quick chat, move on to ask about Urawa… gauge the response and move from there…

"Hey, Ami! How was juku?"

Ami emerged from her thoughts and looked up as she approached her house to see Greg approaching from the opposite direction. She hadn't seem him since the Tower… he seemed happy though. Of course, he often did, when he wore an expression at all. Ami worked at imitating his look.

"Greg! Hi… it was all right, I guess. Sorry I sort of ran off on you before, back on the observation deck… I just --"

"No problem," Greg quickly cut in with a wave of his hand. "I get tired of seeing Sewaya myself."

Ami paused - that hadn't exactly been her reason for leaving. Greg always seemed to brush things off! Not that she could tell him about her worries anyway, Ami admitted ruefully.

She finally just nodded and the two of them proceeded up the steps and into the house. "Working late?" Ami asked tentatively, just to break the silence as they removed their shoes.

Greg nodded. "Yeah, putting in a few extra hours after missing a day for the chess, plus we're still waiting for that new video game to come online." He paused and snapped his fingers. "Which reminds me, Usagi said to tell you that tomorrow's study session will be later instead of earlier. Like last time. She's ended up with other plans."

"Oh! Thanks," Ami replied as the two teenagers proceeded down the hallway. Ami moved towards the stairway.

"Not joining me in the kitchen?" Greg asked.

"Er, there's just something I need to do first," Ami admitted. "I'll see you shortly." Greg nodded and went in another direction as Ami proceeded up the stairs. As she reached the upper landing, she encountered her mother heading in the other direction.

"Oh! Already finished your dinner, dear?"

Ami shook her head. "No… there's something I need to do first," she reiterated.

Mrs. Mizuno nodded. "Sorry we haven't had a chance to connect too much recently - maybe after I'm done with the organization of this Medical Conference the three of us can get together for a barbecue or something."

Ami nodded back and smiled. "That would be nice."

"Anyway, I'll let you get back to whatever you need to. Dinner should be ready in the kitchen, I'm just going out for a short while." Ami's mother waved and continued downstairs.

Ami nodded back and watched her mother depart. But as she turned away and walked down to her room, she suddenly stopped to reflect on their conversation.

The THREE of us, her mother had said. Obviously including Greg. And Ami hadn't even noticed. She'd been worried about getting too comfortable with the living arrangement back when Greg had first arrived.

When had that ceased to be a priority? Just because she might have feelings for him?

Even her conversation with Greg before… they'd been talking like… like… well, Ami wasn't sure what actual couples in the same house talked like, but asking about work and school and stuff seemed plausible. She'd have to be more wary!

Ami entered her room and shook her head, pushing those thoughts to the back of her mind. She had other things to think about now… though she mentally resolved to stop writing off the fact that the rooming situation WAS unusual!

Plunking her books down, Ami turned to look at the phone on her desk. Now what was it she would say again? She'd start with the study session, then mention seeing Minako and Urawa at the tower, and ask what they'd been discussing. Ami reached for the phone and dialled Minako's number. It rang. Minako answered.

Ami stared at the receiver. What had the plan been again???

"Ahhhh, Minako, it's… it's Ami. Just calling because… because… oh! Because we're planning on getting together at the temple tomorrow to study. It would be late though because Usagi has some plans - hopefully you can make it?"

"Tomorrow? Yeah, that should be okay… same time as last week then?"

Ami nodded. "Er, yes," she added. Like Minako could see her nodding on the phone. 'Get a grip,' Ami mentally told herself. She paused to clear her throat - and head.

"Um, is that it then?" came Minako's voice.

"Actually, one other thing," Ami continued, pleased at how nonchalant she sounded now. "I noticed you and Urawa together up on the observation level of the Tower today, just before Sewaya showed up. If you're still discussing chess like the other day, maybe I could be of some help?"

"Oh… no, that's okay, we were talking about something else," Minako replied, hesitantly.

There was another pause, during which Ami stared at the receiver. Minako wasn't being entirely helpful here…

"Er, okay," Ami affirmed. "So, what exactly were you talking about then?"

"Well, a bit about school, a bit about our experiences with Sewaya… not like you can finish a conversation when that guy's around of course. But as Urawa said, you can't choose your relatives."

There was another brief pause.

"You and Urawa are just comparing notes on Sewaya these days then?" Ami verified.

"Well, that's one of the things," Minako agreed. "Sewaya is something me and Urawa have in common after all. Like how you have chess in common with him …and Greg."

Ami blinked. Minako had almost tacked on Greg as an afterthought. Did that mean she'd forgotten about him? And had moved on? Or… maybe it was a way to distance Greg from something Ami had in common with him, signifying she'd prefer Ami had relations with Urawa…

"Ami? Still there?"

"Er, yes," Ami answered. Or maybe it had meant nothing. "So, you're finding some things that you and Urawa have in common?" Ami forged on.

"You could say that," Minako remarked. But she didn't elaborate.

Another pause. Ami closed her eyes and counted to three. Was Minako being deliberately vague? How direct would she have to be to get the information she wanted to know? I mean, would she have to ask… "Ami?" Minako prompted once more.

"Minako, did you talk about a romantic relationship at all during your conversation??" Ami blurted.

<commercial break; Usagi, Mamoru and Kaijin skating, they trip over Ami's computer>

Previous	Chapter Links	Next
	*_* MARMALADE MERCURY *_* EP 7b: TOWER TOUR TROUBLE. COMPLICATIONS CONTINUE.

<commercial break; Ami, Greg and Urawa skating, they trip over Ami's computer>

"So, what's the deal with you standing so close to Minako, Urawa?" Sewaya grilled, looking at his cousin.

Urawa turned to return the look and immediately burst out laughing. "Hey, nice cut Sewaya! Don't you think they left it a little long in the back though?"

"Hmph!" Sewaya said. He ran a hand along the side of his head, smoothing his now incredibly short orange hair. "I'll have you know my barber said this look was 'in'."

"How soon can we get it out?" Greg mused, allowing himself a small smile.

"Oh, and aren't you just the height of fashion then?" Sewaya returned, wheeling to look at his new target. "You look no better than the tourists around here."

"In a way, I am a tourist around here," Greg noted.

"Yeah, well… you look it," Sewaya finished, realizing he didn't have a good comeback for that one. Frowning, he decided to return to face the easier opponent.

"So, Urawa, what…" He blinked. Urawa had disappeared back into the crowd. And so had Minako.

Sewaya bit back a curse and jabbed his finger at Greg. "That's YOUR fault," he accused, before dashing back into the crowd after what looked like a flash of red and blond.

Greg blinked for a moment. "Well. That was entertaining," he said, turning back to Ami. But she seemed to be looking where Sewaya had disappeared. "Ami?" Greg said, leaning closer to her. Ami blinked.

"Oh! Er, yes…," she said, turning back to face him.

It looked like the Greg/Urawa situation had resolved itself… Urawa had slipped off with Minako. Urawa and Minako…. Ami paused. Why did that make her feel so uneasy?

*****

"Quick thinking," Urawa praised, as he and Minako observed Sewaya hurrying in the wrong direction.

Minako shrugged. "With Sewaya, avoidance seems to be the best policy," she sighed. "I have a feeling he's been following me around all day. Hopefully he won't recognize me without the bow in my hair now." Minako tucked it away into the bag she'd brought with her.

Urawa nodded. "Shame, the bow adds something I think," he commented.

Minako smiled. "So I've been told."

She glanced back at the crowd to see if Greg or Ami were still about, but couldn't spot them. She returned her gaze to Urawa.

"Incidently… did you see the way Ami was looking at us?" she inquired.

"What?" Urawa asked, surprised. "No, I was distracted by Sewaya… what do you mean?"

Minako shook her head. "I'm not sure. But knowing Ami it was almost like… I don't know… like she thought there might be something going on between us."

Urawa blinked. "What, you mean like conspiratorially?"

Minako nodded. "Or… even romantically. She can get carried away sometimes about love, and the situation probably isn't helping."

Urawa raised his eyebrows. "We'd better set her straight then!" he declared.

Minako slowly shook her head. "Wait, maybe we shouldn't confirm or deny anything just yet," she reflected.

Urawa stared. "What?"

"A week or so ago I mentioned to Ami that I had an interest in Greg," Minako explained. "Since then she seems to be marginally rejecting you. Maybe if she thinks I have an interest in YOU, she'll start to reject Greg. This could be what we need to get Ami to notice you more."

Urawa paused to process that. "The logic seems a bit twisted," he concluded uncertainly.

Minako shrugged. "Pfft, logic and love don't always go together," she pointed out. "I might be reading too much into her actions anyway… and if it's not working, we just call it off."

Urawa frowned. "So you think that if we act like the two of us are going out, Ami and Greg will realize they don't want to lose us, reject each other and we all live happily ever after?" he clarified.

"Errrr, something like that," Minako acknowledged. "Though I doubt Greg will be affected much by me seeing someone else."

Urawa paused to look Minako up and down. 'Then maybe Greg's not as smart as I give him credit for, I can't see anything wrong with you,' Urawa mused to himself. Except of course, for the fact that she was not Ami.

"All right," Urawa conceded. "It doesn't sound so bad. But how should we go about this? I mean, no offence but I don't want to get too overt with you…"

Minako smiled. "Just keep doing whatever we're doing I think," Minako commented. "No reason to go out of our way… after all, we don't want things to get to the point where we're really hurting Ami emotionally."

Urawa nodded. "Definitely," he agreed. He glanced around at the throng. "Er, well, while we seem to be stuck together, you want to go up to one of the lookout points on the tower?"

*****

"Er, I… I suppose we could," Ami agreed. "Which one, the higher one or the lower one?"

"Oh, the lower one would do I think," Greg answered. "Extra charge to go up top, isn't there?"

Ami nodded, and the two of them proceeded through the crowd of tourists and other school children towards the elevators. She and Greg had looked about briefly for Usagi or Makoto but the task hadn't produced results.

You would have thought Usagi's odangos would stick out but they must have wandered off in some other direction. Greg's suggestion of looking down from and around the view points seemed to make sense.

As they rode up, Ami found herself pondering her situation once again. It no longer looked like this was a simple case of being admired by two guys. As if the odds on that happening hadn't been questionable to start, the events at the chess tournament as well as those of a few minutes ago seemed to show that Minako and Sewaya were getting involved in this too.

Actually, Minako seemed to be at the heart of it all… she knew Greg, that Sewaya guy seemed to have a thing for her, and now she seemed to be hooking up with Urawa for some reason. The Senshi of Love certainly got around! Ami wondered if it would help to sit down with Minako, get some assistance and work all this out between the two of them…

The door opened and Ami stepped out of the elevator.

Then she stopped so quickly that Greg almost ran right into her. Urawa and Minako were at it again… they were over on the right, talking - even laughing - as if they were old friends or something. What was going ON with those two?

"Wonder what's going on with those two?" Greg wondered, as if reading her thoughts.

Ami just shook her head slightly. She had half a mind to go over and find out, ask why they seemed to be making things even more complicated for her, why there seemed to be so many secrets all of a sudden…

"Maybe we should just leave them be," Greg suggested. "They seem to be enjoying themselves."

Ami paused, her foot in motion towards the others… then she turned. "All right," she said. She quickly moved off in the opposite direction. After all, who was SHE to intrude on their obvious enjoyment? She could have just as much fun with Greg, right? Right. So why did she suddenly feel so… left out?

Ami stopped. Her behaviour was starting to get… irrational. There was certainly a reasonable explanation to all of this! She'd just ask Minako, they'd work everything out and the problem would be solved.

"Um, are we waiting for something…?" Greg wondered.

Ami glanced back up at Greg and realized he was looking at her with an unusually concerned expression on his face. "No…," Ami started. "I just think --" she stopped and blinked.

Amidst the others in the area she was positive she saw someone with short orange hair move back towards the elevators. "I think I saw Sewaya!" she realized.

Ami quickly turned and headed back the way they'd just come. It might at least provide a reason to talk… assuming he didn't notice Minako and Urawa right away…

"Are we planning on avoiding him?" Ami heard Greg mutter quietly behind her, following her nonetheless.

Unfortunately, Sewaya's eyes had proven just as sharp as Ami's had before, and they arrived just in time to hear what sounded like the beginning of an argument.

"… haven't even KNOWN her as long as I have!" Sewaya declared, pointing a finger at Urawa. "I knew her from before she left for England!"

"Talking is not a crime these days, cousin," Urawa glared back, putting his hands on his hips. "What I do isn't any of your business."

"It is when you resort to sneaking around with Minako," Sewaya noted. "How would you feel if I hung around with that… that blue haired girl?"

"Leave her out of this!" Urawa glowered.

"Oh, don't want her to know you've found someone else?" Sewaya queried.

Greg glanced over at Ami, neither of them having been noticed yet. She seemed to be watching the scene with a rather pained expression, like she wanted to help, but wasn't sure how - or perhaps if - she could. When she noticed him looking at her, she paused then inclined her head towards the elevator.

Greg glanced back at the duelling relatives with a frown. It didn't look like he or Ami would be able to improve things… but Minako seemed rather uncomfortable about the whole conversation. Greg noticed her tug slightly on Urawa's sleeve.

Urawa moved back. "Can't you see you're embarrassing Minako now?" Urawa questioned.

"Sorry, I'm trying to embarrass you," Sewaya justified.

Urawa grimaced. "Well, do it some other way then. And stop prying into personal affairs of which you have no comprehension! This public feud you're generating is going to harm others."

Greg's frown deepened and he glanced back at Ami… but she'd already left. He raised an eyebrow.

"Is that a challenge?" Sewaya inquired. "Should we step outside?"

'Oh brother,' Greg thought. 'This has gone far enough.'

"Oh, look! Free ice cream!" Greg shouted.

He quickly ducked behind a taller person with a briefcase as everyone's eyes swivelled to where he'd pointed. Including Sewaya's. And, as Greg had hoped, Urawa and Minako took the opportunity to flee once more.

Sewaya blinked a couple of times when he realized they'd eluded him again. But then, to Greg's surprise, Sewaya started to sniffle.

"Damn, I didn't mean anything by that… oh Minako, what does it take to impress you?" Sewaya muttered, barely audible. His eyes started to fill with tears and Greg decided to slip off… he hated to see a person like that crying.

*****

Ami stepped off the elevator, letting out a breath that was a half sigh. She wondered if she shouldn't have stayed up above, but really, what could she have done but add to Urawa's problems? It would be better to talk when his cousin wasn't around… because what Sewaya was saying just COULDN'T have a basis in fact…

"Ami! There you are!" Makoto's voice cut through the crowd. Ami looked around then smiled as Usagi and Makoto hurried up.

'Well at least now it looks like things are returning to normal,' Ami thought. Or as normal as they got.

As Usagi asked where she'd been and Makoto mentioned a cute guy she'd seen, Ami made a decision. She'd phone Minako tonight. That should take care of a few things. And as to the rest…

Ami paused to brush her hand over the medallion in her pocket. 'Well, hopefully I'll be able to make a decision on that too,' she affirmed.

<closing theme>

Previous	Chapter Links	Next
	*_* MARMALADE MERCURY *_* EP 7a: TOWER TOUR TROUBLE. COMPLICATIONS CONTINUE. <opening theme>

Ami heard birds. She opened her eyes and blinked over at the window to see the dawn of the new day. She smiled, sitting up in bed and taking in the peaceful scene. All was calm, soothing and serene. Ami threw off the covers and turned away from the window.

Her gaze fell on the Mercury plushie sitting on her desk and abruptly the mood was shattered.

Thoughts of Greg flew into her mind, quickly leading to thoughts of Urawa. Leading to thoughts of the incident the other night. And Minako. And just what had Minako said to Urawa after pulling him aside?

'The chess match interested me.' In what? Unlikely that it was chess. Maybe in Ami's situation? Was Minako playing matchmaker? Or, illogical as it sounded, HAD it interested Minako in Urawa? But she and Greg had been talking over the weekend, right?

Ami just didn't have the answers.

She hadn't seen Minako on the Tuesday after the incident, nor had Urawa spoken of it at school. He'd mentioned the chess match, thanked Ami again for coming by, but that was mostly it - he'd even seemed a little distant. Of course, Ami hadn't asked him anything either… she wasn't sure she wanted to know…

Ami shook her head and turned back to look at the window and the rising sun. She really had to stop letting her thoughts stray like this… it was ridiculous what her imagination seemed to dream up at times.

Anyway, there was some sort of class trip today to the Tokyo Tower. Cooperative effort between geography and science teachers most likely. But at least this was something she could easily deal with.

"Built in 1958, 333 meters (1,089 feet) tall," Ami murmured to herself as she moved to start preparing for the day. "Has two view points at the 150 meter and 250 meter points…."

*****

Urawa woke up and glanced out his window. The sun was beginning it's climb into the clear blue sky. Insanely, he was reminded of Ami… Ami, with her deep blue eyes, that thick blue hair of hers and the adorable way she blushed…

Urawa pressed a hand to his forehead.

Darned if you do, darned if you don't. Go for her, and you scare her off. But sit back, and Greg probably ends up with her. At least, that was the general idea he'd gotten from his conversation with Minako.

Minako… Urawa lay back onto his bed. An interesting girl. Hardly as intelligent as Ami, but she seemed to have a certain amount of insight. Urawa rubbed his chin, trying to recall their conversation of last Monday evening.

~~~~~

"Umm, Minako, exactly what is so important about chess that it can't wait?" Urawa protested. "I was in the middle of talking with Ami."

Minako nodded. "That's what I want to talk to you about," she admitted. Urawa blinked and Minako smiled slyly. "Urawa - it's no secret that you like Ami, not even to her."

Urawa blushed a bit. "Er, ok…," he responded, wondering where this was going.

Minako smiled again before assuming a more serious look. "But… well, I was talking with her earlier. You'll have to watch you don't push it too much," Minako advised. "Ami… well, it looks like she's worried about getting involved in any sort of relationship again."

Urawa sighed. "I gathered she was having trouble," he said. "And I know I probably stepped out of line today. But… but I can't just sit back! I mean Ami, she's… she's…," Urawa gestured with his right hand as words failed him. "She's Ami!"

Minako nodded. "She obviously means a great deal to you. As she does to me and the rest of her friends."

Minako paused.

"I guess I'm basically telling you this because I like you, and I don't want this situation to become any more messed up than it already was before Sewaya opened his big mouth. I have a feeling that Greg got the edge mainly because he showed up at the right time."

Not to mention, perhaps, the living accommodations, Minako added to herself.

"It's not that I want to drive Ami away from him," Minako concluded, "but I do think you deserve a fair shot."

At least, she was 99% sure it wasn't because she wanted to drive Ami away from Greg. Not like he'd suddenly gravitate to her, after all… but the main thing was looking for Ami to decide, since that would help not only Ami but Urawa, Greg, and her too.

Urawa sighed again in reply. "I'd sort of thought as much," he admitted. "You know what this is like? It's like walking up a stairway to heaven. A long, hard trip, but worth it. Yet just as it looks like you're arriving there, you accidentally slip and fall… and the whole climbing process has to begin again. Of course, the trip is still worth it but… it's tiring, and there are other people making the journey this time…"

Minako smiled sympathetically. "I think you're overdramatizing a bit, but I get the point… actually, I can even relate, in a way. Maybe if you just back off a bit and don't seem so intense? After all, absence makes the smart think stronger."

Urawa blinked and paused to analyze that. Then his face cleared. "Er, maybe you mean absence makes the heart grow fonder?" he finally inquired.

Minako frowned. "Well, that too," she acceded. "Anyway, try to back off a bit and in the meantime we should be able to come up with a way to help her notice the real you."

~~~~~

Urawa shook his head with a smile. Smart think stronger. How had she come up with that?

Then he sobered. There might be merit to the proverb though. He'd tried to look more aloof about the chess match the other day and not seem so… urgent. Perhaps if Ami saw less of him, she'd want to see more of him? And then everything would work out.

Right, as if it really were that simple. He sort of wanted to see Minako again for a follow up - she seemed to know the situation pretty well. But he hadn't seen her yesterday and today was that trip to the Tokyo Tower or whatever.

Urawa glanced out the window. Well, at least THAT was something he knew a bit about. Built in 1958, 333 meters (1,089 feet) tall…

*****

"Isn't it cool? We get out of school today!" Usagi said with a grin.

"Usagi, this is supposed to be an educational experience," Ami pointed out.

Usagi rolled her eyes. "Oh, I know, I know. But it can be fun too! It's not like we get stuff like this often. And at least we have each other to tour together. Easy to get lost in the crowds here."

Ami nodded in agreement. It was a popular tourist spot… actually, maybe they should pick a place of meeting in case they got separated between now and when the class would meet up again.

She opened her mouth to comment, but Usagi was already moving off, intrigued by something. Ami hurried after her friend.

She wondered if Usagi would be up for a look at the museum in the building below the Tokyo Tower… Ami had actually gone there once before, but she wouldn't mind another trip and it would probably be Usagi's first time. She wondered if it would be Urawa's… it was almost certainly Greg's…

Ami gave herself a mental shake. No, she would NOT think about that today. She'd spent enough time pondering it yesterday, to no avail. This would be a day to relax and learn.

And it was… at first. Ami and Usagi even managed to encounter Makoto.

The problems started when Ami became intrigued by a particular display in the hologram gallery - and then when she turned, Usagi and Makoto had vanished.

Ami felt a momentary rush of panic which she quickly quelled… she DID know the area, after all. She quickly hurried onwards, past some of the people who were around to see if she could catch up, but there seemed to be no sign of her friends. Only a few familiar looking school uniforms. Ami sighed quietly.

Well, she could look around by herself for a bit, maybe they would double back or she'd encounter them again some other way. She should have remembered to set up a meeting place… Ami turned around and took a step. Plowing right into someone.

"Oh!" Ami gasped, staggering back a bit. The stranger quickly caught her arm so she wouldn't fall. Ami looked up, quickly forming an apology. "Thank you, I-I'm so sorry, I wasn't… watching…" her voice suddenly trailed off as she realized this wasn't a stranger at all.

It was Greg. Ami wondered fleetingly if she had some sort of homing device on her the way things like this tended to happen.

Greg smiled at her. "Ah, don't worry about it," Greg reassured, releasing her arm and making a vague gesture. "We all lose our coordination once in a while." He paused and glanced around. "Surely you're not touring by yourself too?" he continued, surprised.

"Er, no, I… I was with my friends… but we seem to have become separated," Ami indicated. And of ALL the people to meet now it had to be… wait a minute. "You're by yourself?" Ami realized. That seemed wrong.

Greg just shrugged. "Figured it was easiest, me being new to the area and all. I mean, you and everyone else have probably been here a dozen times already."

"Oh, I don't know about that," Ami replied. "Some people living near an attraction can just take it for granted. I mean, have you taken a tour of the parliament buildings back in Ottawa of your own volition?"

Greg grinned. "Touche," he noted. "Though I dare say this is a bit more impressive."

"What's more impressive?" came a new voice off to the right. Ami felt her heart start pounding harder in her chest. Were they truly homing in on her hair or something?

"Oh, hi Urawa," Greg greeted him. "Just meant the Tower and everything. Impressive setup."

Urawa nodded, glancing from Greg to Ami and back. "Ami's showing you around?" he inquired, working at keeping his tone neutral.

"No, actually we just ran into each other. Her friends lost her," Greg explained.

"Ahhhh…," Urawa replied. "Need some help looking for them then?" he offered, casually turning back to Ami.

Ami bit down on her lower lip as she looked at Urawa - and at Greg.

She was reminded of her medallion, Rei's charm, tucked into a pocket. She wasn't sure why she tended to carry it around with her all the time - maybe to remind her that she had to make a decision sometime. But not now, certainly not in public like this. For that matter there were more people here than at the chess match!

So… what, should she just get both of them to help her? Or go off on her own? She wished one of her friends would show up.

"Ami? Hey, Ami, is that you?" Ami blinked… THAT friend she hadn't expected though… this series of events was really getting a little out of hand.

Ami turned as the girl with the red bow in her hair hurried up. "Hey, Greg and Urawa too! I take it you're not all skipping class," Minako grinned.

"Nope, school related… same as you I guess?" Urawa said, replying first and returning her smile.

Ami paused. Was it just her, or did Urawa seem a little more pleased to see Minako then he had been to see her?

Minako nodded in reply, moving over next to Urawa. She then glanced back at Ami… and was surprised to see Ami staring over at her and Urawa with a curious expression on her face. Like she was upset but uncertain at the same time? Did Ami suspect her of matchmaking?

Though even as Minako looked at her friend, Ami quickly turned away from the two of them to look elsewhere. Now why was she… oh, wait, SURELY Ami didn't think…

"Wait a minute, your school's here too?" Greg said, turning to Minako and interrupting her line of thought.

"Er, yes, for the most part," Minako replied. "Why?"

Greg grimaced. "Because… if YOU'RE here, that might mean…"

"Oh, look! If it isn't the chess chumps."

"He's here," Greg finished with a sigh.

Ami shook her head silently. It was starting to look like Monday all over again.

<commercial break; Ami, Greg and Urawa skating, they trip over Ami's computer>

Previous	Chapter Links	Next
	*_* MARMALADE MERCURY *_* EP 6b: DILEMMA WITH A CHESS MATE. I CAN'T TALK TO YOU NOW!

<commercial break; Minako, Urawa and Sewaya skating, they trip over Ami's computer>

Urawa rolled his own eyes at the timing. "I suppose you think this is funny?" he demanded.

Sewaya shrugged, still smiling. "It's an interesting coincidence at least. I never thought I'd get the chance to trounce both you AND Greg at the same time." He nodded to Greg. "I thought YOU were out of my hair."

"Ditto," Greg responded, inclining his head slightly. "What made you decide to return to Japan?"

"I was born here," Sewaya reminded him. "Call it getting back to my roots, call it getting tired of spending time in Ottawa, Canada… call it my parents won an all expense paid trip and decided to make it permanent. What do you care? I could ask the same question of you anyway."

"You could, but I doubt you'd be interested," Greg said with a frown.

Sewaya hmphed and turned to Urawa.

"What about you? I haven't heard from you since we flew in two weeks ago. Find that girl you were babbling about?"

Urawa flushed. "Put a sock in it," he advised. "You came here to play chess, right?"

Sewaya snickered. "Getting defensive? It was you who were regretting how you left. And your father who asked if we wanted to take you with us. You're just fortunate that there was an apartment for you near our place."

~~~ When my uncle decided to come to live in Japan… and my dad offered me the option of moving back here with him… I couldn't turn it down! ~~~

Ami gasped as the words Urawa had spoken upon his return took on a more complete meaning. Perhaps a natural reaction for her under the circumstances - but a bad one in retrospect. Sewaya turned at the noise, noticing her for the first time.

He looked her up and down momentarily. "Oh, you're her, aren't you?" he said, grinning again. "Yeah, I can see Urawa falling for you. So, you two going out again?"

Ami opened and closed her mouth. "I… that's… no, we…"

"What's your relation to Urawa anyway?" Greg interrupted, causing Sewaya to shift his gaze.

"Oh, we're cousins," Sewaya stated with a wave of his hand.

"Not by choice," Urawa groused. "He bothered me in Japan, and when my dad got sent to Ottawa, he bothered me there too."

"Huh. You're just upset over her, aren't you?" Sewaya answered with a thumb in Ami's direction. "Not going out now? She hates you since you left I bet."

"Shut UP," Urawa glowered.

Ami twisted her hands together, not sure what she should say, yet feeling she should say something. A crowd of people was starting to pay closer attention to their conversation too. What to do? What to do?

"Hah!" Sewaya scoffed. "And to think you used to chastize me for not getting dates. Well, we're in the same boat now, aren't we?"

"No!" Urawa cried. "You don't know anything." In frustration, he whirled to face Ami. "Ami! T-Tell him you don't hate me!" he blurted, with a pleading gaze.

Ami shook. "I… I…"

People were staring. All around now, people were staring. This was crazy, she couldn't deal with this now, couldn't make any decision now, not with so many others here, not without being sure what she felt… why was this happening?

"I… I can't talk to you now," she finally gasped out. Turning, she ran out of the library.

"You know Sewaya," Minako put forth in the brief silence that ensued, "if you're looking to impress me, upsetting my friend is NOT the way to go about it."

Sewaya blinked as Minako pushed by him and headed after Ami. "M-Minako!" he cried out, lower lip quivering. "I didn't realize that…"

"Oh, she's the one YOU'RE in love with?" Urawa returned, trying to keep his tone even. But what had Ami meant by not being able to talk to him? "I'm not surprised at your success, the way you act."

"Time out," Greg said, somewhat exasperated. "I thought we came here to play chess."

Sewaya, who had been about to say something in reply, stopped and nodded. "Right," he concurred. "But how about we make this a little more interesting?" he added with a sly look.

Urawa frowned. "Not another of your stupid side bets," he griped. Was Ami just embarrassed or did she really hate him?

"Scared of losing?" Sewaya said innocently.

Urawa narrowed his eyes. "Scared of nothing when you're involved," he replied. "What is it this time then? Some sort of tattoo? Wear a skirt?"

"If our school wins, you two get your hair cut. Reaaallly short - like a monk," Sewaya challenged. "Likewise for us if you win."

"Hey, wait, when did I become involved in this?" Greg interjected.

"When I found out you'd dated Minako Aino," Sewaya answered with a glare.

Greg sighed to himself… a prime example of why one shouldn't talk about the past. Just his luck that Sewaya had ended up at the same school as him upon his return from England…

"Done!" Urawa acquiesced. Ami must have felt conspicuous… he shouldn't have dragged her into it. Would she talk to him later or had he blown it?

Greg rolled his eyes as Sewaya and Urawa shook hands. Things did not look good.

*****

"How are things?" asked Minako.

"Not good," replied Usagi. "How's Ami?"

"Better," Minako answered.

Minako had almost run into Usagi in her pursuit of Ami, and had quickly apprised Usagi, assuring her she'd take care of it and that it might be a good idea to check Urawa's reaction.

It was sort of weird, really… in a pressure situation involving school, or as Mercury, Ami could always pull through. But do something like give her a love letter and she'd almost go to pieces.

"How not good here?" Minako asked, looking towards the two games in progress. It looked like they were just beginning.

"Apparently they each play three games, all a half hour long," Usagi explained. "Switching opponents each game. They've done two now. Greg has won once and drawn a game because they ran out of pieces. But Urawa's lost both, one on mate and one on time. So your school is up 2.5 to 1.5 - we need two wins now."

Usagi paused. "Actually, I guess that's good for you," she acknowledged.

Minako grimaced. "I wouldn't say that," she muttered.

Urawa had to be upset over how Ami ran out or something, he had a better reputation than that - according to both Ami and Sewaya. The Ami and Urawa romance was really looking a bit shaky at the moment. In her little talk with Ami to calm her, Ami had admitted that Urawa was getting too intense about the whole thing for her liking.

He seemed like a nice guy though… if Sewaya hadn't gotten him riled… Minako wondered if she shouldn't involve herself. But would it then look like she was trying to make Greg available? She paused. But wasn't Greg already available?

Geez, this was making her own head hurt. "I wonder if we shouldn't get Ami to encourage Urawa a bit," she mused aloud to Usagi.

Usagi paused, then nodded. "Wouldn't be a bad idea if that's his problem," she admitted. "I heard that the losers also have to shave their heads…"

"What??" Minako hissed.

That had to be Sewaya's doing. For someone who admitted to wanting to date her… who was now annoying her friends and getting Greg, someone he KNEW she liked to cut off his hair… she scowled.

"Ami's studying, I'll get her to come back," Minako whispered hurriedly. She rushed back out of the library.

*****

Urawa winced as Sewaya captured his rook. A fork, he should have seen it coming! He had to concentrate, he needed to win this game. He had to stop thinking about Ami. But why hadn't she come back?

He scanned the crowd quickly again and ran a hand through his hair. His hair… he rather wanted to keep it. Concentrate.

Urawa stared at the board. Now, what would Ami do in this situation? No, stop that, concentrate! Time was passing… he moved his knight uncertainly.

Sewaya snickered, countering with a knight move of his own. "Check," Sewaya noted. "You're playing even worse than you did in our first game."

Urawa bit his tongue to hold back a response. He had to analyze this… his king was in danger and he was going down in pieces. Ok, how about… no, his bishop was pinned. Almost all his pawns were blocked too! When had that happened?

Urawa shook his head slowly. This was a terrible position… he'd lost this game too…

A familiar gasp intruded on his brooding and he looked up again. Ami was back and at the front of the observing crowd. And looking at him and the game with wide eyes. He'd let her down, hadn't he… and Greg… and the school…

'Urawa!' Ami mouthed to him. 'Urawa, we're rooting for you! Now don't give up yet!'

Urawa blinked as Ami blushed a bit. He looked back at the board quickly before anyone (especially Sewaya) could see the glance they'd exchanged. Don't give up. Yes, how could he give up? Why give Sewaya the satisfaction?

Ami was rooting for him. And he wanted to keep his hair. Ok, but what to do with this board position?

Urawa moved his king. Sewaya paused for a moment, contemplating his next move, and Urawa took a quick look at the other game.

Greg made a move and leaned back in his chair. He gave Urawa a small thumbs up when he noticed Urawa's stare. That game was going well, then. Urawa looked back at his board. Not good. He was down too much already! Well then… he'd just have to gamble.

Sewaya moved and he responded. Sewaya took his queen.

"Must you make this so easy?" Sewaya sighed.

Urawa shrugged. This would work, it had to. He moved again, and Sewaya took another piece without hesitation, rolling his eyes. "Dumb," was his only comment this time.

Glancing around, the crowd didn't seem too thrilled with his play either. Ami looked disappointed. But he knew his opponent…

Another couple of moves. Urawa watched his situation worsen. And then it was time for the prayer play. Urawa forced himself to look defeated as he moved his bishop.

Sewaya immediately captured it with his queen. "That was idiotic. You can't win now!" he pointed out.

Urawa allowed himself a small smile as he sat back in his chair. "I don't have to," he disclosed.

Sewaya blinked. "You resign?" he asked, surprised.

Urawa shook his head. "Look at the board. My king isn't in check, but as soon as I move it, it will be. My other pieces are blocked. It's stalemate! Half points to each of us. So if Greg won his game, as I think he did, our schools are tied at 3 - and in this case, there will have to be one more game."

Which I won't screw up, Urawa finished to himself.

Sewaya's jaw dropped as he looked at the board. "That's… hey!"

Urawa shook his head. "I figured you wouldn't be able to resist capturing as many of my pieces as you could before going for the kill."

"Well then, prepare to be trounced in the tie breaker game," Sewaya growled.

The last game was almost anti-climatic though; each school picked a player (Greg gaving Urawa the benefit of the doubt), and the match between Urawa and Sewaya was over ten minutes after it started.

"Checkmate," Urawa commented. "You should really stay calm when you play," he added as Sewaya glowered at the board.

Urawa stood. "You might want to buy a hat too," he finished with a smile as he turned away.

*****

"Well, that was interesting," Greg confessed as he walked out of the library.

"You could say that," Urawa admitted, following him out. "Sorry about screwing up the start there…" Urawa let his voice trail off and blinked as Greg simply shrugged back. Not a very talkative - or forgiving guy, it seemed.

Shaking it off he shifted attention to Ami, who was following the both of them. "So, Ami, why did you… come back?" he asked.

Ami blushed slightly. "Minako said you were losing badly… I couldn't believe it! I had to see for myself," she answered. "I guess it was fortunate juku was cancelled… did… did my walking out really rattle you that much?"

Urawa pursed his lips. "Well… kinda," he said uncertainly. "I mean… I wasn't sure what you meant wh-- hey!" Urawa cried as he was suddenly tugged from behind.

"Er, Minako?" Ami inquired in amazement.

Minako smiled back, continuing to pull Urawa away by the arm. "Hi! Don't mind me, I just want to have a chat with Urawa," she excused herself.

"H-huh?" Urawa faltered. Greg raised an eyebrow and Ami just looked confused.

"Er, the chess match interested me," Minako offered as an explanation. "Come on Urawa, please?"

It was time to take some direct action to help out, she'd decided. Whatever love triangle this was, it looked to be in a worse stalemate than that chess game! As the Senshi of Love, and Ami's friend, she couldn't just stand back, could she?

Ami stared as Minako linked arms with Urawa and pulled him away.

The chess match had interested Minako? In what, chess? Then why not talk to her instead? She looked at Greg who was just staring at the spot where the other two had been. Or… surely Minako hadn't meant it had interested her… in Urawa? Because she thought that Ami had picked Greg?

Ami had spoken of Urawa a little less favourably in their earlier chat perhaps… but… no, it was a silly thought. Minako and Urawa? It was absurd.

Ami shuddered. …wasn't it?

<closing theme>