Sailor Moon Fan Fiction ❯ Waking Ami ❯ Starting over ( Chapter 2 )

"Ami, I had a lot of fun this weekend. It was sooooo relaxing, you picked an excellent location." Ayanee complimented her daughter, as she lay sprawled across their three-cushion couch. Ami sat across from her in front of a coffee table, still picking at the food they had ordered an hour earlier. Ayanee as usual had finished hers within the first few minuets of getting it. Now she was content to just lie down and enjoy her daughters company.

Being able to have this much time together was a rarity. When they had first moved to Juban almost six months ago, Ayanee had to pick up whatever shifts she could to help make ends meet. That usually conflicted with her time with her daughter. It would be even worse now that she was going to have to work more to pay for her daughters extra education. To Ayanee though that was a small price to pay, especially if this extra schooling helped Ami to get into a top-notch high school and then collage.

Ami finally finishing her meal sat up and walked over to where her mom was lounging. "Hey, scoot over." Ayanee raised an eyebrow at her offspring hoping it was intimidating enough that Ami would rethink her direction. Ami replied with a defiant stare. Ayanee chuckled and made enough room for her daughter to lie down beside her.

"Mom?" Ami started after a while of lounging with said person. "How much more time are you going to have to work to pay for the cram school? We do not have much time together as it is and I do not want to never see you."

This was a touchy subject for Ami. One that Ayanee well knew, but did not understand. She knew her daughter had no friends, and that she was the only person Ami could hang out with and talk to. What she couldn't figure out was why? When she was at home, Ami seemed a lot more talkative and outgoing. However whenever she spoke to Ami's teachers they would give a different story. At first Ami was attempting to be outgoing at school. Then around two months ago she just stopped. She made no effort to talk to anyone or otherwise make friends. The only thing she did was sit in her corner desk of the class and study.

"I wish I could say that it won't affect anything. But, for a little while at least we won't be seeing a whole lot of each other." Ayanee saw the sadness and disappointment building in Ami's face. "You will be going to a brand new school though. Think about all the new people you will meet!" Ayanee saw that Ami was starting to get depressed. "Look honey, I know it will be hard. I don't know why you don't have any friends. And, I wish I could spend all my time with you. But, if this will help you to build a better future, to be able to live without all the crap I have gone through, then it will be worth it."

Tears started to form in Ami's eyes as Ayanee pulled her into a tight embrace. "I just want the best for you sweetheart. And gods help me you are going to get it regardless of what I have to do." The elder Mizuno gently stroked her daughter's hair trying to get her to calm down a bit, as tears were now streaming down her face. "It won't be for long Ami. Just for the summer, then we will be able to spend more time together."

"I'll try and take an afternoon off every couple weeks, so we can do something fun together I promise." Ami continued to cry as she just buried her face in her mom's shirt. This last comment not helping, rather hurting the situation. Ami understood this meant she probably would never see her mom except for this one-day. This had happened once before, two moves ago. Ayanee had to work extra to pay for their new car, and Ami literally never saw her with the small exception of a few minuets in the morning if her mom was awake. That was a hard time and Ami was not looking forward to repeating it especially now.

Please Ami don't make this harder than it already is. I know this will be best for you in the long run though so please just go through with it. It's not going to be any easier on me either; you have been so great for me these past months. Without you I never would have been able to keep on going.

Mother and daughter just lie their for the rest of the night drawing strength from each other knowing that this would be the last time in a long time that they would be able to have much time together.

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::BEEP::

::BEEP::

The sounds of an alarm clock echoed throughout the large empty bedroom. The sole occupant stretched a little, almost waking up. The alarm beeped a few more times before the figure reached out to unplug it. That accomplished, they went back to sleep huddled in one of the corners of the room.

Wake up.

The figure once again stirred, this time sitting up. However, after a few seconds of staring at nothing sleep once again claimed the now sitting person.

WAKE UP!!

The figure instantly sprang from the corner with a startled yelp. After a second of reorientation, a trip to the bathroom was quickly in order. After splashing a few handfuls of water in her face Juni was finally awake.

She took a few seconds to examine her reflection in the large mirror that took up over half of her bathroom wall. Juni was a tall woman, almost reaching six feet. She had shoulder length black hair and piercing black eyes that had a narrow sharp look to them. All of Juni's facial features could be easily described as sharp. Her look had a sort of harsh beauty to it, like you would expect her personality to be cold and precise. She easily fit the description of a harsh but sexy schoolmistress. Which in a way she was.

"Y'know you don't have to be so loud in the morning. You could try getting me up gently for a change." Juni mumbled around her toothbrush while she brushed her teeth.

I tried.

"Oh, I'm sorry then." Juni finished her clean up and headed to the kitchen to prepare her breakfast. It took a few minuets to prepare. A bowl of rice, a small fish, and a pile of veggies rounded out the meal.

Why do you continue to eat?

Juni finished her meal, and started to clean up the dishes before she replied.

"Habit, I suppose. Or maybe I just want to feel normal." Finishing her cleanup the young woman walked to her balcony and took a seat on a small rocking chair. It was just a few moments before sunset and Juni wanted to observe it. This was a pleasure she liked to allow herself every morning.

It is a waste of our time. It no longer sustains you, and it makes you waste even more time by having to dispose of it later.

"Yes, but I am not ready to fully abandon human life yet." Juni sat in silence while she watched the sunrise. As always a few tears found their way down the angles of her face. "It's beautiful isn't it?"

Yes. It…

"It what?"

It's something I will never get tired of seeing. Something I never thought I could see again. Juni wiped the tears from her eyes, but remained seated hesitant to give up the view in front of her. Enough, you need to be at work in an hour.

With regret Juni gave up her seat and returned to her apartment to finish getting ready for the day. Thirty minutes later Juni was in her car and heading out of the parking garage. In twenty minutes or less she would arrive at her school. It was the same routine every day seven days a week, one that Juni had easily become accustomed to. Besides, "she" liked it that way.

It was 7:15 when Juni's car pulled into her reserved space behind her crystal academy cram school. Many of the young women's peers were extremely jealous of her success. After all here she was twenty-three years old and she owned a prestigious cram school, a gorgeous luxury car, and her own condo. If she were in their shoes Juni probably would have been too. Except, she knew the price for it all.

"So, do you have any special plans for today?" Juni questioned as she went about turning on the lights in the small gym located in the basement of her academy.

No, we have enough energy to do an extensive workout and we can harvest only two thirds of our normal amount today.

"That's good." Juni replied as she changed into her workout uniform and began to stretch. "I hate to see our students so tired when they leave here. I am surprised that no one has questioned us about it."

Some would have, but I changed their minds when they came to do so.

"You can do that?" Juni questioned, unsure of whether she liked the idea or not.

It expends a good deal of energy, but reading and changing thoughts is not so difficult for one as old as I.

Juni finished the rest of her two-hour workout in silence. For her it was a simple thing that she had grown accustomed to. However, many Olympians would have had a hard time keeping up with what she was capable of. The shower was her next stop. As she was towel drying her hair a thought occurred to her. "Hey, just how old are you anyway?"

I am over two thousand years old.

"Two thousand!!" This awed Juni. Being a teacher she instantly became aware of all the knowledge she could gain from her companion.

No.

"What, why?" Juni questioned, disappointment lacing her words for she knew her companion would not change her mind. She waited for an answer but after a moment she realized she was not going to get one. Sighing, the young teacher took her time to finish drying her hair and dressed for the day.

Today she wore a dark green pantsuit, with black pumps and button up shirt. After she was dressed Juni combed out her hair and thought upon her daily schedule. "Let's see, I have four appointments before noon and classes start at two." Juni tended to speak all her thoughts aloud. Her mind was already crowded enough without having to separate, which thoughts were hers and which were her companions. "And I have three new students today. That fills up my middle to high school class."

Don't forget about the Mizuno girl.

"Right, she's the one who graduated top of her class, correct?"

Yes. I would be interested to see how she would do on some of the national exams.

Juni thought for a moment as she organized all the computers and mini cubicles in her classroom. "Hmmm, there is one in a few days if I am not mistaken."

Correct, It's just a practice exam but it is still graded on a national level.

"True." Juni walked to her private office and took a seat at her desk. She wanted to relax for the half hour before her teachers and first appointment arrived. "Remind me to persuade her to take that."

Your ten-thirty appointment is early.

"Damn, oh well let's get started shall we?" With that Juni left to unlock the front doors ready to start another day.

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AUTHOR'S NOTES

I will explain Juni's companion later. I am taking a much more different approach to them this time around. The main cast of this story will be Ami/Juni with Ayanee and Makoto as strong supporting characters. Usagi, Mamoru, Luna, and Fiore will make appearances in the last few chapters.