NOTE: The following story is a quaint little tale about a relationship between Taiki and Ami. It occurs _long_ after the end of SailorStars. (how long? Well Ami's in med school, you do the math) Any action and adventure? Maybe. Any sex? Quite possibly. In fact, probably. Not nasty, 'letters to porn magazine' sex, but quaint, sweet, sensitive, 'Harlequin romance novel' sex. But if that sort of thing offends you, then you probably shouldn't read this. You have been warned.... ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ANGEL OF MERCY A SAILORMOON FANFICTION By: Immicolia ---Part 1--- She was warm and comfortable. Everything was kind of hazy. She snuggled down a little more and felt an arm tighten across her shoulders, pulling her closer to a firm, warm, body. She let out a small blissful sigh as she felt a light kiss brush against her forehead. She was so comfortable. So warm and comfortable.... "Ami?" So wonderfully warm. So relaxed. So... so.... "Ami!" Her eyes fluttered open and she glanced around, mildly disorientated. "What...?" "Ami, you've been studying _far_ too hard. You need to rest." Ami stifled a yawn and stretched, trying to shake off the odd dream. "I don't have time. My anatomy final is tomorrow. I need to go over this...." "Ami!" Her roommate snatched the stack of notes off her desk. "You're going to make yourself crazy cramming like this! Just relax. You'll do fine." "Maiko! Give me those! I need them...." "No. Ami, I order you to relax and unwind. Take a one hour break, and _then_ I'll give you your notes back." She hid the notes behind her back and Ami glared at her. "Mai..." she began threateningly. "One hour. Besides, I need to borrow them." Ami sighed and shook her head. "Fine. I'll give you an hour." "Don't think of it as giving _me_ an hour, think of it as giving _yourself_ an hour. Relax, go out and grab a coffee. Let yourself unwind. You deserve it!" "All right, all right, I'll go get a quick coffee. But I expect my notes back in an hour." "Okay, okay.... Go!" She grabbed her handbag and headed out the door, turning back briefly for one more warning to her roommate. "And I'll be back before the hour's up Maiko." Maiko nodded and waved her away, not looking up from the notes and Ami shook her head as she turned, strolling out the door and out into the night. Completely unaware that something from her past was about to come back to haunt her.... ******* He looked around, disorientated in his new surroundings, trying to figure out where he had landed. It was somewhere in the Juuban district, that much he could tell. Hopefully it wouldn't be that hard to find her. He needed to find her, she was the only one who could help him right now. He started to walk, not sure of where he was heading but having to go somewhere. Where would be a good place to start looking. The Hikawa Shrine? Maybe... if he could remember where that was. Everything was so hazy.... He stumbled slightly and quickly rightened himself, glancing around to make sure that no one had seen that. The dizziness was getting worse. He needed a place to stay. A place where he could rest up before going out to look for her again. He leaned against a wall momentarily, trying to gather his wits. It was vitally important that he find her, she was the only one who could _possibly_ help him now. He thought about the last time he had seen her and smiled, thinking wistfully of how beautiful she had been back then. She had been a lovely young lady, and by now was probably a beautiful woman. He needed her. He needed to find her.... He shoved off from the wall, trying to think of a good cheap place to stay, and ran headlong into someone. "I'm sorry," he answered automatically, looking right through the woman he had bumped into. "Oh, that's okay," she replied softly, and he blinked at the familiar voice, trying his hardest to focus. It was getting harder to concentrate now, but that had sounded like.... "Ami?" he asked weakly, finally focusing on her face. "Is that you?" "Taiki!" she gasped in shock, taking in the haggard but familiar features. "Oh my God! What are you...?" "Ami," he cut her off, swallowing hard and resting a hand on her shoulder. "Ami, I need to talk to you. In private. Is there any place that we can be alone?" "I... I don't know.... Taiki, what...?" "This is important Ami!" he cut her off again. "Vitally important. Lives are in danger. Where's a good cheap hotel?" "What!?" "I need a place to stay and I don't have much cash. Plus, I need to talk to you in absolute privacy. A hotel, you must know of at least one...." "I... I think I know where one is.... Come on." She gently took his arm and started leading him down the street wondering the whole time what on Earth had brought him back. Brought him back alone. And so frighteningly weak looking. Something terrible must have happened. She only hoped that she could help him somehow.... ******* Taiki sunk down onto the bed and looked across the room at where Ami was still standing. She was as beautiful as he remembered and then some. Her blue eyes wide and silently questioning, head cocked slightly to one side, brow furrowed slightly in concern. "You _can_ sit down," he finally said, meeting her gaze unwaveringly. She sat daintily in a nearby chair, her eyes never leaving his. "What's wrong Taiki?" she finally asked. "What's so urgent and life threatening that you came back. Alone." He rubbed at his forehead, trying to focus his thoughts. Things were getting hazy again. In fact, if it were possible they were getting worse. "I don't know," he mumbled. "And that's part of the trouble. I don't know what's going on. I was away for a few weeks, and when I got back no one was there. It was like after Galaxia attacked... no, worse. Everything was just so silent, so empty.... I looked around for clues as to what might have happened, then I started getting these dizzy spells. These awful, horrible, dizzy spells. I can hardly stay upright during the worst of them, and they've been getting progressively worse for longer periods of time. That's when I decided that I needed help. So I came here. To find you. If anyone can help me you can." "M... me!" "You're an intelligent woman Ami, as smart as me, if anyone can help me with this it's you...." He lay back on the bed as the dizziness overtook him again and squeezed his eyes shut, wishing that he would just die and get it over with. Suddenly something cool touched his forehead and his eyes fluttered open long enough to see Ami standing over him, laying her hand gently on his head to take a rough temperature. "You're burning up," she whispered, moving her hand to gently stroke his cheeks. "It's obvious what's wrong with you, you're sick. You're probably lucky that you didn't pass out on the street somewhere, or in deep space...." "I... I suppose so...." "You suppose so!? Taiki, you risked your life coming here. You need rest." "I don't have time to rest," he mumbled, trying to sit up again. "I... I have to find her...." "Find who?" Ami asked, gently pushing him back down. "It's important. I have to find her... she's the only one who can help me... help them...." "Help who? The other Starlights?" She gently stroked his forehead, smoothing back the loose strands of hair that had fallen across it. "Are they in that much danger? And who are you looking for?" she thought as she looked down at him. "My angel of mercy," he whispered, his eyes sliding closed again. "Ami...." "What! Taiki, what are you talking about?" "My angel," he whispered again. "My angel...." "Shh... just rest." She gently stroked his burning cheeks and finally lay a light kiss in the center of his forehead. "Just get some sleep and I'm sure you'll feel better in the morning." she added silently. She stood to leave and was stopped short by a surprisingly strong grip on her wrist. "Don't go. I need you. I need you here. Please... Ami...." "It's okay," she said soothingly, sitting back down on the edge of the bed. "I'm not going anywhere. I'm here for you Taiki, don't worry." "Thank you Ami.... Thank you so much...." He fell into a restless sleep and Ami sighed. "So much for studying," she mumbled under her breath, gently holding his hand. "I just hope he'll be well enough tomorrow for me to go write my final...." ******* "No!" Ami was shaken out of a fitful sleep by that shout. Her head jerked up and she rubbed at her eyes, trying to figure out where she was. "Go away! You... you can't do this! I won't let you! No... NO!" "Taiki!" She was at his side in seconds. "Taiki, wake up! Please, wake up. You're having a nightmare." "I won't let you do this.... I'll stop you. With her help I'll stop you...." He trailed off incoherently and Ami stood there staring at him for a few moments before sinking back down into the chair that she had been dozing in. "Stop who?" she wondered out loud. "And who is this woman that he keeps talking about? Who is it that he's looking for to help him?" She looked down at his still form and sighed. "What's happened to you? Something's done this, I just wish I knew what, then I could help.... Oh, Taiki...." She trailed off tearfully and reached out to gently brush his hair back off his forehead again. He was so handsome. Even with the deathlike pallor that the fever had given him he was still drop dead handsome. She sat there, staring at him, gently running her hand along his cheek. "The fever's broken," she whispered as she noticed that he felt a little cooler. "That's good. He should be well enough tomorrow for me to leave him alone. Then after my exam we can talk...." She gasped as she realized something and glanced at the clock. "Two in the morning!" she moaned. "Oh no! Maiko's probably wondering what happened to me...." She grabbed the nearby phone and quickly dialed the number to the apartment she shared with the other young med student and waited for her to pick up. "Hullo," came the groggy voice from the other end. "Mai! It's me, Ami...." "Ami! Where the hell are you? And why the hell are you bothering to phone at two AM?" "I'm sorry, I lost track of time. I ran into an old friend, we... we were catching up...." "This late? Ami, nothing's open anymore. Where are you?" "I'm in his hotel room." "_His_ hotel room," Maiko repeated and Ami winced, realizing that she had made a mistake by telling her that. "Well that explains it...." "Mai, it's not like that...." "Hey, it's none of my business as to how you decide to brush up on your anatomy. Just don't stay up too late. After all, I heard that this final's a killer. Bye Ami! Enjoy your cram session." "Mai, I just said it's not like...." She stopped short as she realized that the other girl had hung up and replaced the receiver shaking her head. "Everything's innuendo to that girl," she mumbled under her breath. "She just doesn't realize that two people of the opposite sex can spend time together and not do anything lewd." She glanced back at Taiki's unconscious form and smirked. "Like I could even do anything lewd with him, even if I wanted to." She let out a small yawn and settled back into the chair, intent on trying to get some sleep. ******* It was so warm. So beautifully, gloriously warm. She stretched languidly and let out a small sigh as she felt an arm tighten around her shoulders, pulling her close. Her eyes fluttered open slightly and she smiled at him, reaching out to run a hand along his bare chest. She opened her mouth to say something but he lay his thumb against her lips, silencing her before leaning over to kiss her. She gloried in the sensations as his tongue swept into her mouth, toying with her. It was wonderful. So wonderful.... Her fingers twined into his hair and she moaned slightly, trying her hardest to pull him closer. She needed him. She needed him with every ounce of her heart and soul.... The sound of the telephone ringing shook Ami out of her dream. She rubbed at her eyes, looking around the sunlit room, disorientated, before picking up the receiver. "Hello?" "Ami, what are you still doing there!?" Maiko's exasperated voice filled her ears. "The final starts in twenty minutes! You're gonna fail if you don't get down here pronto." Ami glanced at the clock and gasped as she realized what her roommate was telling her was the truth. "I'll be right there!... Say, Maiko?" "What?" "How did you get this number?" "Call return girl, it's a wonderful thing. Now move!" Ami set the receiver back down and stood up, stretching out all the kinks that came from sleeping in a chair. She grabbed her handbag and walked to the bedside before leaving, putting her hand on Taiki's forehead just to check how he was doing. She nodded slightly as she noticed that he seemed to be a normal temperature, and quickly wrote him a note telling him where she was going to be. That done she tucked it in the frame of the mirror where he was sure to see it and slipped out the door, hoping that he'd do what she told him to. ******* Taiki groaned as he sat up in bed, rubbing at his aching forehead. How had he gotten here...? Ami! He had run into her on the street and.... And she had brought him here. But where was she now? He shakily got out of bed and glanced around the room, finally spotting the note tucked into the frame of the mirror. He slowly made his way across the room and pulled the note out of the frame, sitting back down before reading it. [Taiki... I'm sorry to have to leave before you wake up, but I've got my anatomy final today. I'm sure you'll understand. I'll be back as soon as the exam's over, then we can talk. Stay inside, get some rest and drink plenty of fluids. I'll be back soon. -Ami] He smiled vaguely at her orders. "Yes Doctor Ami," he said softly, folding the note and setting it aside. "I'll do just that." He slowly stood and made his way back to the bed, his exhausted body more than happy to comply with her instructions.... He was surrounded by a warm haze, everything was comfortable. He felt someone in his arms and instinctively pulled her nearer. The soft, slender body nuzzled up against his and he smiled, feeling the absolute comfort of the moment. He was about to open his eyes when a cold wind blew over him, causing him to shiver. He tried to pull whoever it was snuggled against him closer and gasped as he realized that his arms were empty. His eyes snapped open and he gazed around in a panicked shock. It was so dark and cold here, so lifeless, what God forsaken rock was this that he was on? Then he saw the palace and realized. "Kinmoku Sei," he breathed in shock. "God no... NO! How could this happen!? Where is everyone!?" "Why did you leave us?" He whipped around to face the accusing eyes of the other Sailor Starlights. "Why did you abandon us? We needed you." "I... I'm sorry. I never thought...." "You should have thought. You left us. You left us to die." "I never meant...." "What you mean and what happens are two different things. Talk is cheap, words are empty. What good are good intentions to us now?" "I'm sorry! What can I do!?" "Nothing. You left us to die, and now you must live with your guilt. Unless...." "Unless what?" "Find her." "Find who?" "The Angel." "What?" "The Angel of Mercy." "I don't under...." "Find her." They started to fade back into the shadows. "Wait! Who is she!? What does she look like!? Where will I find her!?" They paused for a moment. "On Earth of course. You'll know her when you see her. Find her." "But...." "Find her." I can't...." Find her!" He jerked awake, breathing hard, sweat standing out on his brow. "Find her," he whispered to himself. "Where!? Where is she? Who could she possibly be?" ******* "Hey Ami, how'd ya think you did?" Maiko stopped at her friend's side, eyeing her carefully. Ami was just sitting there, staring off into space. "Earth to Ami," she said irately, waving her hands in front of the other girl's face. "Come in Ami. Get out of the stars and come back to us." Ami blinked a couple times and finally focused on Maiko. "I'm sorry, did you say something?" Maiko rolled her eyes. "I _said_ 'how do you think you did on that final?' Did your extra anatomy lesson last night help any?" she asked with a sly wink. Ami blushed. "I told you it wasn't like that." "Yea, yea. So who was it, if you don't mind me asking. Old boyfriend?" "B... boyfriend? No. Just some guy I knew from high school. Taiki Kou...." Maiko's jaw dropped with a nearly audible sound. "Taiki Kou!? You mean _THE_ Taiki Kou of Three Lights fame!? That Taiki Kou!?" "Umm... yes...." "You spent the night in Taiki Kou's hotel room," Maiko stated flatly. "And you think nothing of it. In fact you just consider him, 'some guy you knew from high school'...." "Well that's what he is...." "I don't believe this.... Do you know how many girls would _kill_ to spend the night alone in a hotel room with Taiki Kou!?" "You know Mai, you don't have to say his full name every time. I know who he is. And no, I don't know how many girls would kill to spend the night with him. Are you going to tell me?" "Well, I don't have exact figures. But I sure as hell know _I'm_ one of them! So how was he? Everything you'd expect from an idol and more?" "Mai!!! It wasn't like that!" "Oh all right. If you're not the type to kiss and tell, fine. So when do I get to meet him?" "What!?" "Oh come on Ami! You're spending the night in guy's hotel rooms. I figure eventually he'll want to go over to your place too. So when do I get to meet him?" "I don't know." "Are you seeing him again?" "I'm going to see him again today, yes." "Ooooh. When." "Actually I told him I'd see him again when my exam was over." "And you're still here!? Jeez girl, what's wrong with you!? Go to him! Now! Go!" She yanked Ami up off the bench and started shoving her down the street. "And give him a hickey for me. A nice big one!" "Mai I told you...." "Yea, yea. Just go...." ******* Ami let herself into the hotel room and found Taiki lying on the bed, staring blankly at the ceiling. "Taiki?" she asked slowly. "Are you all right?" His head slowly turned to face her. "I'm as good as I'm going to be. How was your exam?" "Fine," she replied with a small nod. "Taiki we have to talk." He nodded slowly, but said nothing and Ami plunged on. "Why are you here? What happened to the other Starlights?" His gaze returned to the ceiling. "I killed them," he replied simply. "What!?" "I killed them. I left for a while and they died because of it. I abandoned them Ami. I left them to die. Everything that happens from then on is _my_ fault, and I'm going to have to live with it. That's why I have to find her." "Who?" "The Angel of Mercy." Ami looked at him blankly and he nodded slightly. "That's exactly how I feel about this whole thing. I don't have one clue as to who this Angel of Mercy is, or even what she looks like. All I know is that she's here on Earth somewhere and that I'll know her when I see her. That's why I need your help...." "Why? Why my help?" "You have that computer Ami. I'm sure it could help us find whoever I'm looking for. Please, you're my only hope...." "I... I suppose I could run a scan.... If I knew what I was looking for. Do you have any idea of what she might be like?" "None. I'm sorry, I wish I could tell you more but.... I don't even know why I'm looking for her. I've just been having these dreams where the others are telling me to find her." "Don't worry. I'm sure we'll find some way to find her, whoever she is. Then you'll be able to go back...." "Yea... back...." His eyes got a far off look in them as he thought about what was left of Kinmoku Sei. Could this Angel of Mercy, whoever she was, really help that much. Could she revive a dead planet, or was it just wishful thinking? He just wasn't sure anymore. "Taiki, don't worry. Everything'll be fine." "How can you be so sure?" Ami was shocked into speechlessness at the hopeless look in his eyes. He had been through so much. It almost seemed like all he had ever put up with was tragedy of some sort. It was then that she realized that he needed her. He needed someone to reassure him right now and she was it. "Trust me," she finally said, putting her hand over his. "Just trust me. I know this'll turn out." "Ami..." he breathed, staring into her eyes. "I... I wish I could have come back under better circumstances. I always wanted to see you again but there was never time. And now...." He shook his head, not wanting to go on. "You... you wanted to come back to see me?" she asked in breathless amazement. "I... I never imagined...." "Yea, I... I kinda thought about you every so often. You were never really that far out of my thoughts. I...." "Shh...." She put her finger against his lips, silencing him. "You don't have to say anything else. I understand completely what you're trying to say." "You do?" "Yes. You were in my thoughts too.... And when you were so sick last night... I was afraid for you." She looked down, staring at her hand, which was still resting lightly on top of his. She gently started to rub her thumb across the back of his and looked back up at him, their eyes locking. "Taiki..." she breathed. "I...." "Shh...." This time it was his turn to silence her. "Don't say a word. I want to commit this moment to memory first." He reached out and gently ran his hand along her cheek causing her to let out a small, contented sigh. "I don't know how long I'll be here Ami. I feel that I should tell you that right now. I'm going to have to leave again eventually...." "I know," she whispered, her eyes half closed. "I know you can't stay here. I just want to be with you now, and forget all about the future.... You're special to me Taiki.... Very special...." "Ami...." He leaned forward and slowly drew her into a passionate kiss. One that she eagerly returned.... ENDIT! (for the moment ^_-) stay tuned for the next part! ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Is it quaint yet? A sweet little romance, a bit of danger, what more could you ask for? Part 2 is probably where it's gonna start getting hentai (remember, romance novel hentai, if you read those you can read this) -Immicolia... immicolia@hotmail.com The Nebula http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Temple/8671 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------