Name: 'The Truth about Ami:Revelations', chapter 6.
Author: Cony. 
E-mail: rubi@riemann.mat.puc.cl 
Rated: PG-13. 

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

As I jump through building and building, I can feel as the hard and tough 
outside cover I had been keeping up to then starts to clumber under the heavy
weight of my emotions. I can feel a tingling sensation on my eyes, and I now 
what's coming next. I stop on top of a street sign, my feet holding me
straight over it. I close my eyes, and let everything come out. No one is
there to see me, and I need to control this. So many emotions . . . so many
feelings . . . I'm tempted to just sit here all night long, letting the rush 
of the cars under me to soothe my pains away . . . but I know that's not an 
option. I need to find Hiroshi. I don't have time to rest. I brush my eyes 
quickly, trying to stop the tears from coming again. But I know I can't stop 
them. It's as if trying to freeze the sea . . . you just can't. So, I crouch 
again, and flash through the air, directed . . . where?. I don't know where,
I just want to get out of here. Out of this chaos . . . out of this mess . .
. if only Hiroshi was here with me . . . his strong arms, around my waist . .
. his chin resting on my hair . . . my head nested on his neck . . . his 
thunderous heart beat lapping against my cheek . . . oh God, why did it have
to happen now?.

Now that we were so happy . . . why is it that everything turns wrong
everytime I'm happy?. I choke back a sob, and brush my eyes. But, hot
painful tears just keep spilling out. When I suddenly land, I realise where
I am. Trees, a fountain . . . the Tokyo Central Park. I look around, and
then just sit under a tree. As the grass brushes my skin, and the tree
trunk supports my back, I sigh. To think that I sat on the same position
just some weeks ago, pondering the idea of suicide . . . I just can't take
it anymore. Hot tears trail down my cheeks, and painful sobs shake my body.
I rest my face on my knees, drawn back and doubled over. Why?. Hiro-chan . .
. come back. I won't be able to make it without you . . . if you're not
here with me, how can I live?. How can I go on?. Hiroshi . . . Inoue
Hiroshi . . . how deeply have you entered my heart?. Why do I have to love
you so much?. It wouldn't hurt so much . . . stupid man . . . why did you
leave?. Why didn't you tell me what was going on?.

. I snap out of my mourning,
and my head jumps upwards, checking on who spoke. But, to my total
surprise, there's no one there. I'm alone . . . then who talked to me?. . Again. Who is she?. It's a female voice . . . very similar to my own .
. . I then understand . . . "Ami", I whisper softly. . I
nod slowly, not even caring anymore. At least, I will be able to talk to
someone . . . and Ami-chan is the one who knows literally everything about
me . . . what the heck, she IS me!. I close my eyes, and draw to my
insides. Right down to my soul. There, woven deep into the strands of my
life force, a presence . . . someone . . . Ami-chan . . . "Come out", I
whisper. Then, that spirit living inside of me shines brighter and
brighter, enveloping my body . . . surrounding me completely.

For a moment, I feel as a warm hand is pressed against my heart, and I know
it's her. More tears gather inside my eyes. I've been so harsh to her . .
never letting her even speak . . . I hear her voice again, but this time,
much nearer: "It's ok. I understand". I open my eyes, and through a blur of
tears, I can see a face. My own face . . . Ami's face. I blink several
times, clearing my view. As I am able to look at her again, I wonder if I'm
not looking into a mirror. There, crouching right by me, is Mizuno Ami. The
sick girl I met at the hospital so long ago . . . the same face, the same
eyes . . . even the same hair . . . we're the same . . . we look as if we
were the same person. The one thing that made us different is gone now. My
hair . . . my long hair was the only thing that could tell who was who . .
. yet now, both of our hairs are the same length . . . even the same color.

For the first time, I notice what's wrong with her. She's still a spirit,
and her 'body' is entirely blue. A builsh tint seems to dye her whole
figure . . . just a ghost would look like. She looks as a faint fairy,
shinning on her own blue light. Blue has always been a part of me, and now
it has even set itself on my soul. "It's ok. I've always liked blue anyway".
I try to smile, yet my lips refuse to move. She seems to feel my troubling .
. . how couldn't she?. We're one now. She sits on her knees in front of me, 
and places a warm hand on my shoulder. How can I feel her?, I ask myself. If 
she's a spirit, only a ghost, I shouldn't be able to feel her. She sould be 
as the air . . . just a mist . . . then, the answer places itself on my 
brain. We're still linked . . . her body is like my own. She doesn't have a 
physical body . . . she's only alive because our souls have merged . . . 
ever since that day, at the hospital . . . we share the same body, we are 
the same mind . . . yet I'm the one in control most of the time. She's more 
like a shadow . . . a silent advisor . . . she's just . . . there. Inside of 
me. Part of me. We sometimes talk, and then is when she can come ut of my 
heart. I can lock her in, or let her out.

As I look at her, I wonder why did she choose this alternative. She isn't
really alive . . . she's in between worlds . . . not dead, yet not alive
either . . . but how much has she helped me. Everytime I'm feeling
troubled, I can draw onto her, and she will help me. She's been the kind
and gentle one to calm me when I'm histerical . . . she's more than a
friend . . . she's like an older sister. I try to supress the trembling of
my lower lip, as I remember all the times I've been a real b*tch to her . .
. everytime she has tried to calm me, I've always snapped at her . . . sent
her back onto my mind . . . and yet she never seems to get angry. "It's
because I know how you feel". Surprised, I look at her. Her eyes are set
onto mine, and to my shock, I can see crystal tears on them. Spirits
shouldn't be able to cry . . . yet she is. As tears fall down her bluish
cheeks, I realise she can read my mind. We're linked . . . she's me . . .
she feels what I do . . . she thinks what I think . . . oh, Ami-chan!.

I just launch myself into her arms, and cling onto her clothes, as
heart-braking sobs rake my whole chest. "Ami-chan . . . why?. Tell me why
did this have to happen?". She strokes my hair softly, letting me weep in
silence. "You know there's no answer to that, Reiko-chan". When I feel her
arms around me, I sense déjà vu again . . . in some strange sort of way,
her arms are so much like my Hiro-chan's . . .

Relaxing, comforting, safe . . . even if she's no longer on the world of
the living. I just cry my soul out, letting everything out. She just holds
me tight, as if she really was my big sister . . . how right does this feel 
. . . as if we truly were sisters . . . Ami-chan . . . if I am ever reborn 
again, I am sure we would be sisters indeed . . . a connection as right as 
the one we have, isn't found easily. She heals my wounds, which are much 
more painful than just physical. As if queue, my legs starts aching. I 
wince and yelp loudly, when the injure I made to myself while at Nomuto's 
starts aching and bleeding again. More pain is added to my suffering. I look 
down at it, and remember the sharp edge of those daggers . . . it cut through
my jeans and my skin as if they were butter . . . Ami feels it too, and 
stares at it for some instants. Red staining my clothes, as it leaks from 
the cut. She says, tender and even motherly sounding: "Reiko-chan, I may not 
be able to heal your heart, yet this I can". She then places a soft hand over
my injure, and closes her eyes. I still don't care on what she's doing, but 
when I feel a comforting warmth emanating from her fingertips, I look at her 
palm. For some instants, I feel a ticklish sensation over the wound, and then
all is gone. Her hand leaves my skin, and I gasp in surprise when I see 
there's no trace of any injure at all. The skin is as soft and smooth as 
before. I look at her questioningly. "I am part of you, remember?. Being a 
piece of your soul gives me power to heal minor injures such as that one. I 
only used your own powers to heal it. You're the Mercury Senshi after all".

We stay therem in silence. Sometimes, silence can mean a thousand words. 
Hiro-chan used to tell me that . . . I remember as we used to do sometimes, 
when the busy schedule of a psy left us some leisure time. We would go some 
roof top,on some of the highest buildings in Tokyo, and sit there. Just sit. 
We wouldn't speak. Those were the times when I knew there was that tangible 
something between us. Normally, by being together with someone, and not 
talking or making any noise at all, can be very upsetting, to say the least. 
Yet, with him, I could stay for hours and hours. Quiet. Not saying anything. 
Just . . . relaxing into the warmth of his presence. 

As I sit here now, staring at Ami-chan, I realise something. I must be the 
one and only person around the world that has three souls mixed inside her 
body. I grin sadly. The spy, Suiseki Reiko. The spirit, Mizuno Ami. And the 
fighter, Sailor Mercury. Three souls. Three beings. And only one words to 
describe it. Chaos. Just chaos. It seems as if someone was bored, and 
decided to have a good time, using me as his toy. I mean, all this stuff 
can't be just coincidence, right?. Three different sets of memories. Past. 
Present. The Silver Millenium. Ami-chan's life. My own life. How have I been 
able to handle this?. I sigh loudly again, as more and more weight is added 
to my heart. 

I'm about to speak to her again, when some rustling ion some nearby bushes 
makes my head snap up. Ami seems scared, and cringes behind me. Her already 
faint tint fades even more, and she now looks almost white. Her aura trembles
and she tries to hide it. Yet, we're one, and I can feel her fear inside of 
me too. "What's that Reiko-chan?". I scan the plants, with narrowed eyes. "I 
still don't know, Ami, but you'd better return inside. We will continue this 
later". Again, the Blue Thunder is present, obnubilating me, and Ami. She 
nods slowly, and starts fading off. Before dissappearing completely, she 
whispers: "Reiko, just remember we can talk anytime, ok?". I nod, pain and 
tears forgotten. My eyes are fixed on the bushes, which now seem as quiet 
and unmobile as ever. But, to me, they're the source of danger. Behind those 
bushes, anything can be hiding. From a hentai stalker, to a small cricket. 
Yet, I can feel something looking at me. I can feel it's eyes drilling onto 
mine . . . yet who is 'it'?. I then see a flash of pale yellow, and begin to 
form a shape in my mind. Light blonde hair . . . a faint scent reaches my 
nostrils . . . the wind is blowing in my direction, and I smell . . . the 
sea?. Yes, there it is. Unmistakeable. Salty breeze . . . wind and sea . . . 
I smirk to myself.

So, they followed me after all. I sit back onto the tree, and can almost
hear them sigh in relief. I wait just a few moments before closing my eyes,
and relaxing back onto the trunk. When I can take it no longer, I say: "You
can come out now. I already saw you, Haruka-san. And you too, Michiru-san".
Two intakes of breath are heard, and I sadly grin. I hear more rustling on
the bushes, and when I open my eyes again, I see them standing there, a
look of such surprise on their usually straight faces . . . "How did you
know it was us?". I lightly touch my noise with my index finger, and
answer: "Smelt you". They both blush in embarrasment. "How long have you
been there?". Michiru-san recovers her lost seriousness, and says: "Long
enough to have a lot of questions". I sigh. I thought they had just arrived
. . . I had silently hoped the hadn't seen Ami-chan . . . but I was wrong.
I hear a voice inside my head: .

I answer Ami: "I think you're right". I motion for the couple to come where
I am, and to sit by my side. They nod, and walk up to where I'm laying.
They sit, closely together, which only makes me remember Hiro-chan again.
But, I supress the feelings of sadness, and say: "Shoot". Haruka speaks
first. "Reiko-chan . . . who was that girl?. The one with the blue aura
around her?". I look down to the floor, pondering if I really want them to
know . . . and I then remember my promise. 'No more secrets', I said. No
more lies. The truth. I'm going to tell them, and they will know why is it
that Mizuno Ami and Suiseki Reiko became one . . .

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Three years before. As I sit on a cornice, my feet falling limp on the edge
of the emptyness, I ask myself what am I going to do. Shall I go back to
the agency?. But, even at the mentioning of this alternative, my instinct
yells at me not to take it. There's something too suspicious about that
last mission they sent me in . . . where Hiroshi died. Where I lost him
forever. Before my thoughts can go onto the 'dark side', I shut that door,
and stop that train of thinking. As I hear the cars passing by, I still
don't know what to do. Start a new life?. Where?. With whom?. I'm
suppousedly dead in this world . . . shall I go back to my parents?. They
would propably think it's a prank or something . . . but how I wish to see
them . . . now that I'm alone again, my mind and my heart only want to feel
comfort and peace again, and it seems only my family is able to give it to
me.

Yet, the agency knows this as well. And the first place they would look for
me, is at my parent's house. And the one thing I don't want, is to put them
in danger. They must have gotten over my 'death' . . . what's the point in
causing more pain?. But, what other choice do I have?. To just stay there,
in the limbo of two worlds, not belonging to either of them?. I've seen far
to much to return to a 'normal life'. And I know that if go back into the
agency's hands, I will never be able to leave it again. All I ever wanted
was freedom . . . and now that I have it, I don't know what to do with it.
Weird, don't you think?. Yet, that's me. I close my eyes, and breathe
deeply, trying to clear my mind from everything.

As I let myself slip from the real world, I start remebering Hiroshi. His
bangs, loosely caressing his face . . . his eyes, so deep and full of
emotions . . . his hair, delicious to ran your hands through . . . his
lips, soft and tender over mine . . . I groan loudly, as I again begin to
sadden. What's the point on mourning over him?. He's gone, and no matter
how sad I am, he just won't come back. I suddenly gasp in amazement, as I
realise what I just said. My God . . . I never thought the agency's
training had struck so deep inside of me . . . I'm beginning to act as the
Blue Thunder again . . . cold and heartless . . . yet she's dead. Buried
two feet under the earth. Blue Thunder died at the same time Hiroshi did. I
shouldn't be acting as a spy anymore . . . I can rely on my emotions again.

What is it that I feel stronger now?. Love?. Sadness?. Frustration?. A
little bit of all of them. The newly discovered love, lost with just a
whisp of breeze. Why is it that Hiroshi was so dumb?. He knew I loved him .
. . why did he leave me?. Why did he have be so 'macho', and play the
knight in shinning armor?. I could've saved him . . . together, we could've
defeated those stupid thugs, and kept on living like we used to. But no, he
just had to sacrifice himself . . . a nonsense if you ask me. I was
perfectly capable of defending myself . . . yet he never thought about my
opinion. He took the decision for me, and just drugged me into
unconsciousness. Men!. Hmph!. Who am I trying to deceive anyway?. I'm just
denying what's abvious. I'm still hurting from his death . . . it's still a
fresh wound to start recalling it.

For over two months now, I've been living on my own. With money I made from
been a waitress in a low-class restaurant, where the tips went up according
on how high my skirt was, I've managed to survive. Yet, I know I won't be
like this forever. I need action, and I'm certainly not getting it in this
type of life. I must know what happened, so I can put my demons to rest
again. Every night, before going to sleep, I lay there on my bed, staring
off into space, and wondering whatever happened to me on those days I was
missing. Where was I?. A sudden screech of failing breaks echoes through the
air. I turn my head to look at it, and as I do, flashing pain spread
through my body. No matter how many times I go through this, I never get
used to it. It's as if my neck was on fire, trying to separate itself from
the rest of my body. Unconsciously, I try to grab it, yet I stop myself
just in time. Just a small brush over it, and pain will intensify a thousand
fold.

So, I just stay there, my hands as fists by my sides, my face twisted in
suffering, and my whole body screaming . . . and then it's gone. I pant and
gasp for breath, as it seems every bit of air was driven away from my
lungs. This strange attacks . . . what's wrong with my neck?. Everytime I
turn my head too suddenly, it hurts. Can it have something to do with my
dissappearence?. Then, it hits me. The hospital!. They must have some
record on me . . . how they found me . . . who brought me there . . . they
may even know what happened to me on those days!. With renewed hope, and
the torture I just went through almost forgotten, I stand up, and head
towards the hospital. From roof to roof I jump, a blur of colours and speed
. . . I slow down some meters before reaching it. Almost boiling with
impatience, I stop. I dust my clothes, and fix my hair, trying to look as
normal as possible.

When I'm sure everything's in place, I open the door, and enter. As I climb
down the stairs, nerves start getting on me . . . what if someone
recognizes me?. As the girl who miraclously awakened?. But, my doubts are
soon washed away, as I leave the emergency stairs, and enter the hallways.
People are too embedded on themselves to pay attention to me . . . I pass
unnoticed. No one looks at me . . . as if I'm not even there. I go down, to
the seventh floor, where *I* was. Where I awoke after those missing days, 
where God knows whre I was. As I start getting nearer and nearer to my
ex-room, I can hear someone speaking: "Yes, it's very difficult, but we can
do it. With the proper x-ray examination, we will be able to locate the
source of the tumour". Curiosity kicks in. What's wrong with peeking
inside?. I've always had this 'doctor-syndrom'. Id like to learn more about 
it, and what better moment than the present?. I carefully walk to the door 
next to me, where I know the voice came from. I cautiously push the semi 
closed door further open, until I have a perfect view of the inside. I 
slowly look inside, making sure my head is hidden by the shadows. . And 
what I see, makes my heart freeze. There, on the bed, covered with bandages 
and serums, is Hikaru.

My childhood friend . . . my best friend . . . the one I saw the last
before becoming the Blue Thunder. Hika-chan . . . what's happened to you?.
Why are you in here?. A quick look around the room tells me everything I
need to know. The teary faces of her parents, standing by her side. The
seriousness of the doctor who is still speaking even if his words don't
make much sense to me anymore . . . the pain on Hikaru's face . . . how
much I long to enter the room and craddle you I my arms . . . I choke back
a sob, when I hear the doctor's last statement: "We're not sure if this
procedure will work. Hikaru-san, I'm sorry, but I can't tell you if you'll
live through it". Hika-chan, no!. You can't die. Not yet. Again, I fight my
sobbing back, but I do it too loudly. Hikaru turns her eyes towards the
door . . . for a split second, I hope she hasn't seen me . . . yet her eyes
widen in shock, and her mouth falls open . . .

She points a shaky finger to me, while trying to speak. Her mom runs to her
side: "What is it?. What's wrong?". I'm paralyzed . . . Oh God!. I just
made the worst mistake I could!. I let her see me . . . now she knows I'm
alive . . . Hika-chan, no!. Don't say it, please don't say it!. "Reiko-chan
. . .". Her whisper is full of surprise, betrayal and hurt. I can't stand
it. Not even looking at her again, I turn around, and run. Even if I can't
see her anymore, I can still hear her voice: "Reiko-chan . . . that was
Reiko!. Let me go!". I hear muffled sounds of rustling sheets, as her
parents try to calm her down. Hika-chan . . . why?. What happened to you?.
You were so healthy back then . . . you were never sick . . . not even a
cold . . . and now, some mutant cells are slowly driving you to death?. I
run, as fast as I can, trying to blink the tears away, yet they keep
coming.

I hear steps and running behind me. They're after me!. How am I going to
explain what happened?. I need to get out!. Need to escape!. Exit . . .
exit . . . emergency exit . . . where the hell is the freakin' emergency
exit?. I pant and wheeze, trying to get more air into my lungs . . . to no
avail at all. "Stop!. Someone stop that girl!". That phrase echoes inside
my ears, and only serves to give my legs a faster pace. As I turn around in
a corner, I see my escape . . . a door!. Without even checking what it
says, I turn the doorknob, swiftly enter the room, and close it behind me.
I push myself against the door, praying to the lords they didn't see me . .
. please, make them go away . . . please, please. They didn't see me, they
didn't, they didn't. Steps are getting nearer, nearer . . . please, please,
go away!. No more ghosts . . . no more pain . . . I shut my eyes tightly,
my hands becoming fists, as I pray over and over again that they don't
enter here . . .

Closer. Closer. The steps are getting closer. Please, no!. They suddenly
stop. Right---in front---of---the door . . . only a light frame
of wood separates us now. I hold my breath unconsciously, fear gripping my
heart. . As the words repeat themselves on my head
over and over again, I wonder if they can hear me. My heart is beating
thunderously, and my breathing is too loud . . . I can hear their voices:
"She can't be too far away". "Perhaps she entered here". NO!!. My skin
freezes, and my heart stops it's beating. For a split second, I watch in
utter horror as the doorknob slowly begins to turn . . . no . . . please .
. . more and more . . . turning and turning . . . almost a full circle . .
. "She can't. She probably went this way". I can't believe my ears. The
knob stops turning, and the door returns to be sealed shut. I sigh in
relief, as I hear their steps going away.

God!. That was a close call. I feel on cloud nine, now that I'm safe again.
I couldn't have explained my presence in here . . . thank God they didn't
get me!. As I start to slide down the door, every nerve on my body turned
off, I hear another voice: "Who were they?". My eyes snap open and stare in
front of me. I hadn't realised there was someone else in this room with me.
I inmediatly start apologising: "I'm sorry, I didn't see you, I'll be gone
now. Sorry for distur---". My mouth stops moving, and my jaw falls down, as
I see to whom I'm speaking. There, sitting upright on a bed . . . that's
me!. My eyes widen, and I mutter incomprehensible things under my breath.
"I . . . I . . .". The girl in front of me seems as shocked as I am. The
hair, the eyes, the face . . . even the skin color . . . everything's the
same!. It's a if I was staring into a mirror. That's me, sitting on that
bed!.

"Who . . . who are you?", I ask, not sure if I want to know the answer. "My
name is Mizuno Ami", answers the girl, with a voice so similar to mine . .
. it's as if we were the same person. The only difference I can see in
between us is my long hair . . . her's is short, down to her shoulders.
Yet, everything else . . . I walk a few hesitant steps up to her, as is
fearing she will dissapear. "You're . . . you're real, right?". She grins
sadly, and says: "Yeah. But not for long. I'm about to die, you know?". My
insensitive façade crumbles down quickly. How can I distrust my own self?.
"But . . . you look perfectly fine to me", I say, still trying to come to
terms with what I'm saying. Again, she nods sadly, and whispers: "Yes. But
on my insides, my heart is giving out already".

I sit slowly by her side, staring at her so intently, I must look like a
dumb. She seems to be taking this fairly well . . . why am I the one who's
acting so shocked?. Well, it's not as if everyday I find someone who's my
exact copy, ya' know?. I look at her hands . . . thin and soft, as mine . .
. the line of her jaw, strong and challenging . . . her hair, carefully
perched behind her ears . . . the same bluish-black curls . . . her nose,
pointed and small . . . that's me!. How else can I say what's so evident?.
She lets me look at her throughfully, not moving a muscle. When she feels
I'm done, she smiles again: "I'm real. Touch me if you don't believe what
you see". I hesitantly raise my hand, and softly place it over her own,
which layes on the white sheets of the bed. The moment I do, I feel as if
an electric current had just ran through me. An electric bolt . . . that's
the best way to describe it.

She feels it too, and stiffens in surprise. I draw back my hand, scared and
still trembling. What I felt . . . what was it?. A connection . . . a link
. . . what's wrong with me?. Why do I feel as if I knew her?. Should I know
her?. For the first time since I entered, she looks at me as surprised as I
do. Her blue eyes drill onto mine, and scan me up and down, searching for
an explanation which just isn't there. "Did you feel that?", she asks,
afraid of raising her tone too much. I nod slowly, holding my hand on the
other one, as if fearing something will happen to it. "It was as if . . . I
knew you", she whispers, looking at me straight. "Who are you?". I find my
voice again: "I'm Suiseki Reiko". "Reiko . . . that's a beautiful name". I
smile at her, trying to reassure her and myself. "Ami isn't bad at all". We
both smile at each other.

"Reiko, would you mind staying with me for a while?. I think the end is not
too far away, and I'm scared to face it alone". I'm about to reply I can't,
but just a look at her eyes turns my descision around. I can't leave her
alone . . . it would be as if betraying myself. So, I nod slowly, and move
the chair closer. She layes back on the pillows, letting her tired body
rest. For some instants, we both stay silent. What can we say on a
situation like this?. She stares off through the semi closed window, and
speaks softly: "How much I miss the sun on my skin . . .". Her tone is so
sad and melancholic, I can't help but feel sad myself. "What's wrong?, if
you don't mind my asking". She looks at me again, her eyes full of tears
and sorrow. "Not at all. It's good to have someone to talk to. If you
really want to know, well . . . no one knows what's wrong with me. The
doctors say it's cancer, or even leuchemia . . . yet my cells are perfectly
fine. The symptoms are just tire, the loose of weight and sets of pain and
coughing that come and go".

I am taken back. What strange disease can she have?. She looks perfectly
normal to me . . . a bit skinny, but . . . she suddenly stiffens, and a
muffled gasp leaves her lips. Her hand flies to her chest, and grabs the
cloth, wrinkling it with the effort. I jump, and I'm by her side in a
second. "What's wrong?", I ask, fearing the worst. "It's back", she manages
to say, before collapsing into my arms as another fit of pain strikes. The
instant she touched me, I felt that surge of . . . power again. My body is
filled with strange feelings . . . as if static was running through my
veins instead of blood. I handle the weird sensations as best as I can, and
focus on helping her in any way I can. Yet, the longer I hold her, the more
I feel as if something is been set into my heart. It's not evil, not an
enemy . . . my body even welcomes it, as if it always formed part of it.

"Reiko", Ami gasps, "this is it". I panic. No, Ami!. Don't go!. Not know
that I've just found you!. I don't know why, but I feel at home with you .
. . please, stay!. Ami!. "Ami-chan, come on, hold on!". She smiles through
gritted teeth, and mutters: "It's here. Can you feel it?". She places her
hand over my heart. When she does, I feel as a wam feeling spreads through
my body . . . love . . . fraternal love . . . I hold her hand tightly, and
only then do I notice she's slowly fading away. I can already look through
her . . . the sheets are noticeable through her body . . . "Ami, what's
going on?", I ask, afraid yet determined not to leave her. "I don't know",
she says. Now, only a faint outline is seeable . . . my hands only craddle
air, as she is about to vanish. "Ami . . . I'm scared", I say. And it's
true. Of all the weird things I saw at the agency, no one even came close
to this . . . what's going on?.

She gasps one more time, before looking up at me with her eyes, which are
now just a blur of colors: "Me too . . .". And then, she's gone. All of a
sudden, I'm staring into an empty bed. Rustled sheets are the only thing
that tell me this wasn't a dream. My cupped arms, which still try to hold
onto her are the other tell-tale sign that it was real. I spin around the
room, in vain searching for her. "Ami . . . ", I hesitantly ask into the
air, as if she could hear me. And suddenly, I hear her: . I
freeze. Where did that voice come from?. A whisper inside my ear . . . I
look around, yet no one's near. I'm alone in this room . . . .
Again. My eyes widen. "Inside of me?. Ami?". . As she speaks, I again feel that warmth enveloping me . . .
coming from the very depths of my soul. "How . . . why . . . who--?".

Words are stuck in my throat, as I feel a presence inside of me. There . .
. beating with it's own faint life force . . . Ami . . . she speaks again,
this time, louder and clearer: . I bring a hand up to my heart,
just where she touched me before. Her voice reaches me again: . I let them
take me. Shock. Confusion. Safeness. Strengh. A friend. "Yes", I softly
whisper. This is just too chaotic . . . I need to rest for a while. , comes the reply. I again stop dead in my tracks. "How did you do
that?". I can feel her smiling. . Dizzyness grabs hold of me . . . I need to sleep . .
. . "Stop that!", I tell her, tired of her answering my
every thought. .

She's right. I lay on the bed, letting my tiring finally get down on me.
For over two months now, I've been struggling against it . . . and now, for
the first time in ages, I can finally rest. I close my eyes, and picture as
Ami does the same. She feels good in there . . . as if I was constantly
protected. As if I am no longer alone. I have a big sister now . . .
Ami-chan.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

As I finish talking, my eyes fall upon Michiru and Haruka. Their eyes are
wide open, and their jaws are just one bit from falling down. "You . . .
you mean she's inside you right now?". I nod slowly, a sad smile appearing
on my lips. "Yes". We stay silent for long minutes, neither of us knowing
what to say. I just stare at the sky . . . the midnight sky, shinning with
its million stars above . . . I search for Mercury, trying to find it in
the huge amount of shinning dots over me . . . lost in my own thoughts, I
only awaken when Michiru-san's hand is placed on my shoulder: "Reiko-chan,
I want you to know something . . . we've never been the closest of friends,
but . . . I would like you to know you can trust us on anything".
Surprised, I look at Haruka-san, which only nods in assentment. I smile,
and whisper: "Thank you".

. Ami's voice rings through my
head, and makes me grin again. I answer quickly: "I admit it. You were
right". But, Michiru still ahs a question to ask me. "Reiko-chan, how was it 
that you managed to deceive Ami's own family?". I smile at her, and answer: 
"Well it was fairly easy. When I woke up after that nap, the first thing we 
did, was come to terms with this new . . . situation. Ami had been scanning 
my memories while I slept, and knew everything about me. And so, we found out
that we could make a deal that would beneficiate both of us. I would play 
Ami's role, with her help of course.And at the same time, I would gain what I
was craving . . . a place to stay, where I was loved and wanted. With Ami's 
advises, I cut my hair. That way, I ended up looking just like her. No one 
could tell the difference, except for my healthier appearence . . . but that 
didn't motice Ami's mom. When she found us, well . . . you can guess what 
happened. And so, ever since that day, I've been living as Mizuno Ami. With 
her constantly telling me what to do, and when, I've made everyone believe I 
am really her. Now you know of me as much as I do". Haruka tries to cheer 
the mood up, by saying: "In that case, this is Setsuna's department, not 
ours". Her words light a bulb inside my mind. Of course!. Why didn't I see 
it before?. If I want to know what happened, what better way is there than 
to go and check Hiro-chan's appartment?. Haruka-san seems to see my idea, 
and says: "Shall we leave you alone, Reiko-chan?". I look at her, my eyes 
surprised yet thankful. So many feelings that I can't express into words . .
. I nod slowly, not daring to raise my voice. They both stand up, and while 
Michiru dusts her clothes, she says: "Reiko-chan, I . . . well, I . . . I 
wanted to tell you you can always count on me". I look at her, my eyes 
unreadable. Is she sure about what she's saying?. Does she reallytrust me?. 
I stare long and deep into her eyes, trying to read her soul. This has become
 a bad habit to me, yet I can't shake it off . . . as I read in between the 
several shades of green . . . I can see something.

Fear. Deep down inside, she's scared. I'm about to sigh in defeat, when
another thing surfaces. Determination. I'm taken back. What's this?. How
can Michiru-san be feeling this?. She's afraid, yet . . . what's she so
determined about?. I can't speak, as she steals the words from my lips: "I
. . . I understand how you're feeling. And so does Ruka-chan. We . . . we
felt rejected too, back on the Death Busters Era. You remember how cold and
cruel we used to be?. Well, that was just on the outside. Everynight, we
would cry ourselves to sleep . . . only each other's company was able to
pull us through . . . and now that your lover has been taken away . . .
Reiko-chan, I just want you to know I feel very connected to you. I . . .
if you ever need any advice or comfort, don't think it twice. I'll be
expecting you". And then, as quick as they came, they both leave,
dissappearing in the mists of the night.

I only sit there, dumbfounded. Michiru?. Kaiou Michiru?. I had never ever
seen her so open before . . . but her words spread warmth inside my broken
heart, soothing it down a little. At least, I haven't lost *all* of my
friends. The Outer Senshi seem to be more comprehensive than the Inner . .
. perhaps we have both faced similar problems, and lived through the same
hells. A silent tear escapes my eye, and falls down my cheek. Thank you,
Michiru-san. I'm very grateful, Haruka-san. Now, I know I'm not alone. You
are still here with me, and that gives me the energy I need to keep on
going. I stand up, and brush my hair out of my face. Not nearly as long as
it used to be, but it's still getting longer by the day. Soon, it'll be
the same length it was back on the agency's days . . . and Suiseki Reiko
will *be* again. As much as Ami likes this haircut, I need some freedom
too.

I look up above the stars, and whisper a silent prayer: "Please, let it be
alright. Let *him* be alright . . .".


To be continued . . . .

Author notes: 

	Chapter 6, done, mon capitain!. After a lot of scrubbing and brain
squeezing, I managed to ger this through for this week. It sure was hard. 
Writer's block is like a shadows lurking behind every corner to catch me in
its awful grasp . . . but with the help of Agnes-chan, I managed to defeat 
it!!!. HA,HA,HA,HA,HA!!. Now you see, Mr. I-can-make-you-write-no-more-
whenever-I-want-to!!. I defeated you!!!!!!. 
	Ahem, back to our regular schedule. So, that was the secret hidden 
inside Reiko. She *did* have another soul inside of her . . . Ami did exist
after all. Why'. Well, she just seemed so sweet and caring to me, I just 
couldn't make her dissappear like that!. So I inserted her inside Reiko's
body . . . now I have to know a way to pull this thing off!. oh, boy!. Many 
people have written to me, telling me how was it that Reiko did pull this 
play off . . . well here it is. The explanation of how it went. I hope I 
made it clear, I'm not very sure. If you want even more remembering, just 
mail me , and I'll add it somewhere. Maybe you want to know how they felt 
when they discovered they were Mercury . . . or how they faced the many 
battles that the Senshi have fought . . . 
	
Disclaimer: SM belongs to Naoko Takeuchi. She's rich. She's smart. She can 
draw. and I *mean* draw. She's neat. I praise her. I'm a 16 year old teenager
. No money. No job. Can't draw. *Really* can't draw. So, I couldn't be her, 
right?. So, I'm just using her characters for a while!. 

    Source: geocities.com/tokyo/shrine/1721