I was going to hold off on posting this until the 17 episodes had been over for a while and we'd all had a chance to assimilate and stuff... still, after reading Roshni41's description of Smart Payoff, I realized no one would ever believe I'd had it before seeing that episode if I didn't post it soon. So here it is: (oh yeah: I'm writing another, so comments are appreciated) Soli by BlueGrey The following is a story based on the characters and plot of Sailor Moon... blah, blah, blah... I don't own nuttin'... blah, blah, blah... don't sue me, you can't get blood out of a turnip... blah, blah, blah... adult content, so if you're under 18 and you know what's good for you... blah, blah, blah... you know the drill. In all seriousness, this story does partake moreso than other 'fics of the TV story line, since it is in part a novelization of events depicted and described in "Computer School Blues." And it is for adults, although whether it's erotic is your call. So kids, what are you doing in this newsgroup anyway? Alright, on with the show. ....................................................... It was something Ami rarely said, judging it a sign of a limited vocabulary and an inability to sufficiently control anger or frustration. But - on occasion - Damn. She been transferred out of Brighton Academy. Her life had centered around graduating from a respected academy so that she could get into a reputable school and make full use of the potential she knew she had to become a pediatrician of *quality.* She was perfectly well aware that every doctor suffered now and then from "what-if-itis;" but you didn't have to leave an opening if you could avoid it. And she knew now that every time something less than ideal happened in her career, or with her patients, she'd wonder if it was because of a less-than-stellar education. What was the name of the school she was being transferred to? Oh, yes - Crossroads Junior High, a catch-all for the children of American expatriates in Tokyo. In other words, the Japanese equivalent of American public schooling. No doubt she could look forward to several years of reviewing material she'd already covered. What had gotten into her, anyway? She was usually such a quiet, normal Brighton student, and then just a few weeks ago she'd started getting the oddest feelings. That first time, when right in the middle of studying at home, she'd actually left the apartment, wandering vaguely towards downtown, before she came to her senses... lately, strange chills - but conversely, a craving for cold foods like sherbet and iced tea... and a week ago, she'd spent over an hour staring dreamily at the full moon's light on Mt. Fuji's snow-covered slopes! She shook her head. It wasn't daydreaming that had brought her to the Dean. She had become... what? Snappish? No, not exactly. Less tolerant, maybe. Sometimes belligerent, even. Things which before she would have shrugged off now involved her, for she felt it necessary to demand a moral standard. She'd lectured her salutatorian on her perceived licentiousness; she found herself defending more and more the general public against her classmates' elitism and arrogance, where before she might have taken part in it; and she had vociferously and actively torn into a group of neophyte Bohemians smoking something awful behind the gym. This last had degenerated into a shouting match and was threatening fisticuffs when three of the teachers came round to separate them. The Bohemians had been sent elsewhere - she awaited judgment in the office of the Dean. He towered, even sitting, behind a massive desk in the room paneled with ancient British oak, picture window behind him overlooking the Brighton campus, while she stood quietly with hands folded in front of her and tried to draw calmness from the shelves of books on each wall. "Miss Anderson, you are no doubt aware that your conduct of late has been degenerating." "Yes, sir." "I have reports of you disturbing the campus in various manners, ranging from haranguing students to denigrating teachers." "The only teacher I've spoken of is Professor Roberts, and I factually stated that his curves are adjustable at whim rather than-" "Your opinion of Professor Roberts is not at issue, Ami. There is a certain code of conduct at Brighton, which we expect students to follow. Granted, you were attempting to cease an infraction of the rules, which is admirable; but that is the job of campus security and their superiors." "Yes, sir." "You have been an exemplary student, Ami, and we're all very proud of what you've done and what we know you'll accomplish. But I must insist that you comport yourself in the manner to which we have become accustomed if you wish to remain a student in good standing." "Yes, sir." And that was that, for the moment. Her parents had seen something was going on. In the occasional look, in the body language of her mother and the questioning silences of her father, she could read that they would like to know what was going on, but would respect her privacy if she didn't want to talk about it. She didn't. But sometimes she wished her parents would respect her privacy a little less and ask her what was going on. Theirs was a quiet household. But the very next day, another of those feelings had swept over her, like something had fundamentally changed in the world. She completely lost her train of thought, and the essay on which she had been working was reduced to a barely organized jumble of statements. Frustrated, she requested from her next class' professor some time to spend outside of class, calming down, walking around campus. While doing so, she passed close to the edge of campus and was accosted by a hoodlum playing truant from a school elsewhere. Words were exchanged, and before Ami knew it the boy was attacking her. Once the school security separated the two, she was again in the Dean's office. The professor was summoned and backed her explanation as to why she was out of class... but that fight was the last straw. She was given her release from Brighton and transferred effective immediately. Her parents had been informed, and on her request had instituted no appeal. She still wondered about that. Why had she not insisted? She knew she could have maintained her place, but something in her just didn't feel like fighting for it. And now she was here. She walked through the new hallways, schedule in hand, wondering what was being covered by the classes to which she was assigned. The classrooms were more rigidly organized than at Brighton, if a touch drab. Funny... instead of the student population, it was the architecture of the building she was focusing on as a sign she was in a new place. What with the Japanese penchant for uniforms, and the lack of contact she'd had with most students at Brighton anyway, the people didn't seem all that different. She dodged a gabbing group of girls. Well, louder, anyway. Her gaze wandered over to the windows of the hall, facing the East. Outside, the morning sun was rising over a bank of fog from the sea, burning off slowly in its rays. The fog felt comforting, cool, moist, softening harsh lines. She reached up and put a hand on the window, watching the mist droplets swaying in the fickle wind, silently and swiftly. A laugh even higher-pitched than the rest momentarily cut through the clamor. Somebody amusedly uttered, "brain farm flunky." "Brain farm"... that was what they called Brighton. Suddenly, the mist seemed not so calming. She turned to survey the group. Some blonde girl panicked and hysterically tried to disguise the situation. She found herself growing angry - then realized, there wasn't any real point. She turned back to her daily routine. "HEEEEEEEEEEEY!!" She jumped, startled. Some boy with incredibly thick glasses was accosting her. He looked vaguely familiar. "You're Ami Anderson, right?" "Err... yes..." Hadn't he been with that group this morning? "It was the hair. Not many girl transferees with hair that short. I'm Melvin. If you want to know anything about Crossroads, I'm your guy. And maybe Molly, only she's your girl, not your guy. So listen, the only interesting stuff I got from the school records was your name and your previous school. What makes someone leave Brighton Academy? I'd love to get into Brighton!" "It's... ummm... a private matter, I'm afraid. How did you get into the school records... er, Melvin?" "Piece of cake. I'm an Internet whiz. Security's not that big a deal. So if you won't tell me why you left, you got anything else juicy? I got a reputation to maintain, you know." He struck an extravagantly "dashing" pose. "Melvin the Investigator, Hears All, Sees All, Knows All!" He dropped the pose. "Kind of like the opposite of the monkeys, you know? Except that'd be Tells All instead of Knows All, but I know when to keep my mouth shut. 'Cause I Know All, right?" Although his appearance was somewhat off-putting, his rushing, nasal, enthusiastic manner was actually kind of endearing. As she started off with him by her side, the steady flow of words was a background of useful information. "Her? That's Serena. She's dreamy. I don't mean dreamy in the sense that she's gorgeous although she is, but you don't care about that, I mean dreamy like she'll space out all the time. Hasn't been more than two minutes early for first period all year, and she averages late by about fifteen seconds... she and her friends all thought you'd be a total snob, but you seem nice... can I see your schedule? Oh, you've got gym with Ms. Padison, she's fun for somebody that likes to play games with some strategy involved... saw you come in from the North, you live up there? Pretty expensive real estate... I see that's your homeroom, they're good folks but don't mention cabbage to Alex... speaking of food, avoid the banana pudding on Thursdays, they always use the bananas left over from the week so it's really sweet but kind of brown... Miss Haruna's nice, but she's got a tendency to migraines. Just speak quietly and she'll like you, but I guess that won't be a problem for you, you seem pretty quiet anyway..." They reached her next room. "Thank you for the introduction to Crossroads society, Melvin. I believe you have about a half a minute to get to your own class." "Oh, no I've got at least -" he checked his watch - "AAAAAA!!" And off he ran. She shook her head. Nice for a few minutes, but she didn't know if she desired to make his regular acquaintance. Taking a deep breath, she stepped into a new class. That night, pale moonlight wafted in through translucent curtains to cast a soft glow over Ami as she slept in her bed, dreaming. There was a vast space, a feeling of emptiness. Dim light slowly appeared, but the broken Greek-style columns only enhanced the feeling of solitude. She looked up. There was a long, low building with a broken rotunda. Why such a shock of recognition? She had never seen it before... Air shifted in that dead stillness. She turned around. There was a girl - vague, very formless; Ami could tell only that she was a blonde and wearing some kind of long dress. "Who are you?" The figure took a moment to answer. "A friend. Someone you'll meet soon." "Someone I *will* meet?" Chuckle. "The nature of your mind is such that I must appear in a form you can dismiss as natural. You've seen me before, but didn't know me." "Then why are we friends?" "Because you want me to be." She moved closer, coming more into focus. She had blue eyes - was she smiling? Ami found herself being drawn to this person. "Because I need you to be." Those eyes - Ami could read in them want and need and, oh, such a desire for something just out of reach. So close... the figure drifted up, slightly, just before they touched, and Ami felt something brush her face, feather-soft. She awoke, quickly but gently. Her clock showed midnight; outside, the waning quarter moon was rising over the city, pointing the way toward the sun like it always did. She'd had a dream... something odd, but accepted in the dream way. There was - a girl... something... a touch? She parted her hair over her forehead. Was there just the slightest warmth in the middle there? A kiss? Silly girl. A kinetic reaction to dream stimuli, if anything. She lay back down and closed her eyes. As if she knew anyone well enough that she could be so close to them... Ami went about her schooling. As she'd feared, material was often review, although a few gifted-level courses did exist. One day, as she was passing the principal's office, a lady walked out, nearly running over her. The lady appeared ready to give her a sharp word, but suddenly softened. When she spoke, it was instead complimentary. "My, what an armload of books you have there, child. You put a lot of energy into your studies, yes?" "Um... yes, ma'am." "Excellent. You know, I'll be starting a computer training course after school hours soon. Three hours, twice a week. Would you like to join?" Would she ever! "I'd love to, ma'am!" Perhaps here she would find some people more inclined to speak of things she knew about. "Splendid. Tell all your friends, we'd like to get the word out." At Ami's sudden downcast look, she questioned, "What's the matter?" "I'm new here, I'm afraid. There isn't really anyone I could tell." "Oh." For a second, she thought the teacher was angry at her, as if she'd misrepresented herself somehow. But once again, she spoke politely. "Well, more time to spend on studies, yes? Get the word out if you can." And with that abrupt dismissal, she strode off. She looked after the teacher. Something about that woman made her a little nervous... hm. Bad first impression, that was all. She'd make up for it once coursework started. She set off down the hall again, readjusting the books. Three were textbooks, and one would be her evening's recreation. She wished she knew where the public library was. But, like she'd told that teacher, where to ask? One didn't simply step into a peer group and start trying to act like them. No, she could find out on her own. She slipped into a classroom and took her seat. On her own, and getting tired of it! Friends, or at worst acquaintances, were a necessary outlet for stress and problems, even if she didn't understand the dynamic involved. But therein lay the quandary - if she didn't understand, how was she to go about starting it? What else was she to do? Stress relievers... Exercise she got enough of. Games required another person - she thought fleetingly of her old chess partner - but lack of people was the problem. Sex was reputed to be a great stress reliever... she nearly laughed out loud. Having problems starting relationships? Try sex! But you know, the relief effect was due if not purely then in large part to the physical response. To put it bluntly, orgasm, whether partnered or alone, would go a long ways toward doing the job. She cocked an eyebrow. This might work! She started jotting down notes. Obviously, we'd want it to be the best possible. We're going to need to want it, though, otherwise nothing will happen. A long, slow buildup of tension then. Time frame, mmmm, three or four days. Time to adjust sleep and eating cycles slightly, as experience indicated the more interesting effects when a touch tired and light on the stomach. She began to put it into practice. Do some people-watching - handsome guys, happy couples. She set aside time for daydreams, fantasies. The occasional physical stimulation when alone, not brought to completion. Enough to leave a reminder, and a building desire to finish. Expectation and anticipation worked their own magic, as well. Something as simple as running her fingers through her hair took on a sensuous undertone. A certain awareness of movement and self informed her walk, her actions, giving them a grace and a beauty not previously there. Finally, the night came. She plied her planned cover story to her parents and prepared for, supposedly, a long hot bath. Wrapped in her bathrobe, Ami sat against her bed and contemplated what she was about to do. Butterflies fluttered just a little. She drifted two fingers along her forearm, leaving a trail of electric arousal. That kind of feeling was what she'd been planning and preparing for. She leaned back against her bed and laughed. Planning and preparation! What kind of spontaneity could someone ever work up if even an orgasm took four days of planning and preparation! Although it was at herself, the laugh did her some good. It was with a lighter heart that she picked up a towel and went in to the bathing room, ostensibly for a long soak, more deliberately to bring to fruition her... preparations. She locked the door behind her, feeling the fluttering take on a tinge of pleasantness. As if to remind her that the metaphor was only that, her stomach growled slightly, exactly as expected. She was pleased everything was going so well. She let the bathrobe slip to the floor, slowly, enjoying the feel of soft, fluffy cotton sliding over her skin. As it did so, she became acutely aware of the curves of the body it slid over, molded. She knew that in profile, her figure was admittedly youthful, but her womanhood was also clear. She dropped the robe and took a half step forward with her right leg, tracing the curve of the thigh muscle into the rounded softness above. Higher, her breasts stood, not large, but a handful, above the torso. She turned to see the curve of the hip, and to watch her own hand trace up the midriff between her breasts. Her hand stopped just underneath her chin as if she were in thought. It suddenly dawned on her - she was a pretty girl! She was stunned - honestly, she had not had the faintest idea. Pretty girls were in magazines and in movies and in other media she didn't pay attention to. Pretty girls were asked out by boys, and did their share of boy-chasing themselves. They kept up with fashion news, and thought about hairstyling, and otherwise generally made an effort to stay pretty. She hadn't made any effort. It actually made her a little nervous, having something she hadn't worked for. Then she thought, well, chalk it up to another gift from your genes, like your mind. You have it, and you show gratitude by making the most of it. She walked over to the soap bucket and went about the work she was supposed to be in here doing. As she did so, her needs began to call attention to themselves, impatient to be fulfilled. Under the cool rinse water, her nipples began to stiffen, from the environment and in expectation. She flicked the left one, sending tiny shocks of pleasure through herself even as she reminded it that she wasn't quite done yet. She was even more gentle than usual around the labia, trying not to tremble, or to break just yet. It was an effort, since every push, or brush, or touch, stirred them more, made them insist on being handled, pulled her hand toward that little bundle of nerve endings. Before she was done, she did pause, more than once, just laying a hand there and feeling tremors, each heartbeat moving it ever so slightly. Finally, it was done. She stood, ready for the last stage. Into the water, hot enough to feel as if it was reaching into her, she folded herself, entering toes first and barely making a sound. It was quiet enough in there that all Ami heard was her own breath, uncharacteristically coming faster now, more excited. The water enfolded her like a lover's arms. Not that she would know, but the warmth caressed her, buoyed her, made her feel light and clean and all the things she imagined love would feel like. Boys... weren't you supposed to imagine boys while doing something like this? It didn't really matter. As her hands slipped over her skin, soft and quick, she thought of emotions, of all the things she wanted to feel. Love was an abstraction. But she could imagine companionship... togetherness... friendship... intimacy. She finally gave in to her body's demands and brought her right hand where it begged to be. A quick finger darted in, sending a wave of light and heat through her. She arched her back, muscles contracting under the influence of primal reflexes as she gasped slightly. Her breasts, floating on the water, bobbed over and under the water line, the gentlest imaginable caress. She added to it with her left hand, seizing her right nipple more roughly, the pressure adding its own brand of thrill to the endorphins bouncing around inside her. Boys were forgotten, as was nearly the rest of the world. Her two hands moved, counterpoint in rhythm, resonating with the waves bouncing back and forth in the bath. All her attention was on motion and feeling, stroking at the center of these unimaginably powerful, desperately good sensations, imagining the warmth of human bodies entwined, shuddering sparks of electricity from her firm/soft breasts, rocking back and forth, water flowing like tides, feeling the pull of the moon, goddess of virgin womanliness, cycles and light and sex and friends and love and want and NEED... ...a shivering moan of desire wafted through the mist... it could no longer be held back...the moan turned into a full-fledged cry...leg muscles spasmed, lifting Ami up as her hands shook... ...and a flash through her mind, of a girl who had needed her, who had called her friend... ...before everything collapsed in a jumble of pleasure and exhaustion and release. She sat there for a few minutes enjoying the afterglow, thinking about a dream girl. She wasn't a lesbian - she didn't *think* so, at any rate, and as far as she knew that meant she wasn't - but there was something oddly congenial about the associations of comradeship and acceptance that she had for that dream figure, good feelings which had enhanced her enjoyment of the event. She ducked under water and came back up to remove the sheen of sweat, shaking off droplets from her short hair. Yes. It had been a good day. ----------------------------------- The next few days were somewhat better, but still, being alone was something one got used to but rarely preferred for long stretches. She had hoped to find kindred spirits in the computer class, but something about that teacher still unnerved her. Oh well. She had to go back for class later today anyway. Time enough for a quick bite at home, then back to school... she could have wished for someone to talk to about this, but who would she talk to, and anyway the street was empty save for her... "Reowr!" "Huh?" She looked up. A flash of black, coming toward her. "Aah!" She ducked, but it landed on her. "Oh!" It was a cat, a black one with a spot of golden hair on its forehead that looked like a crescent moon. "You sure gave me a start, kitty." It was studying her intently. Fair enough; after all, she was studying it. She scratched it under the chin and chuckled. "What are you doing, playing lion of the Serengeti?" It looked surprised and shook its head. She continued to stroke it on its head. "You look so cute with your little crescent moon. I wish I could have a nice kitty just like you." It was just so... comforting... to have a being cuddle up to her and accept a caress simply because she gave it. She wished... She was NOT going to break into tears. Behind her, somebody giggled and called out, "Luna!" The cat looked up and jumped off her. "Hm?" "Yeah, come here my little kitty, thattagirl." Ami turned. It was the blonde girl - Melvin had identified her as, ah, Serena. "Sorry she bothered you. Ami, right?" Giggle. THIS girl! "Your name's Serena, right?" "Uh-huh." Well, she already knew how this one felt. "Melvin told me about you. He said you thought I would be a total snob." Serena looked surprised and guilty. "That was just gossip!" For shame, Ami, she thought. The guilt of attacking someone she had just met, on the basis of hearsay - she was embarrassed enough that her original feeling of loneliness won out, stronger than ever. "I also heard you guys think I'm a [her voice caught] brain farm reject." Serena's face softened into a smile. She was ready to make friends, and it looked like Ami needed some company. As they walked, Serena began to discuss the highlights of their neighborhood, although a priority or two seemed to be out of place... "Where's the library?" "The library? Why do you want to go there?" "To read. I like to spend my weekends there." "Are you from outer space or what? No one at our school but Melvin does that stuff." Oh. Had she been a snob? Ami blushed. Think quick - it was a good opening for a "get-to-know-you" kind of question, like: "Well, what kind of 'stuff' do you do with your spare time?" Serena just kept on giggling for a minute, then laughed and said, "Don't be silly," then continued giggling. "Why do you think I'm silly?" "Oh, I meant my cat. She likes to pretend she can talk by nibbling on my ears." "I wish animals could *really* talk." Why, what an odd thing to say! "Yeah, well, I'm sure most of them would have NOTHING to say." She looked at her cat, now snarling alarmingly. "Don't do that Luna, your face might freeze that way." Strange girl. And of course, you know what happened later that day... --------------------------------------------- "Aww, Ames, why do we always have to plan everything? There's more fun when you're being spontaneous." Ami shifted a fold of her blue dress on the floor of Serena's room. "There's also embarrassment, wasted time, and lost effort." "Jeez, Ami, you need to learn to go with your impulses more. Look. What is it you want to do right now?" "Study. There's an interesting-" "We've been doing that." "Yes, and quite well, I might add. I believe you'll actually pass both tests tomorrow." "Really? Thanks! But I meant what is it you want to do now that we're taking a break? You know, to wind down?" "Be with you. Just having a good friend around is relaxing enough." Serena smiled. Sometimes Ami could be as stubborn as a fog - push and push, and you'd never feel any resistance, but you wouldn't get it to move an inch either. That flattery was probably sincere, too - Ami would never say an untrue word, and when you were being complimented by someone it was hard to keep your mind on getting them to change their ways. Her thumb toyed with the strap of her yellow overalls as she tried to figure out the best way past Ami's non-defence. Straightforward? "You know what I mean." "Well... yes. But honestly, I don't have anything in mind. And I've never been one to do anything on impulse." "Yeah, I guess... Still," she said, sliding down off the bedside to lay parallel with it, "the world might be a better place if people could express their impulses better." She waggled a finger in the air mock-authoritatively. "I rather think that that constitutes some of the problem with the world, people not being able to slow down their immediate desires sometimes. Consumerism, violence..." "Oh, that." Serena waved her hand dismissively. "I meant your real feelings, your first and true instincts. Like between two people. You know, misunderstandings and arguments and things that shouldn't really occur if people could really talk about what was bothering them-" she trailed off. She was talking about the recent problems between her and Darien, Ami supposed. "I don't know, Serena... I haven't had any experience with those kind of personal relationships." "Huh?" Serena lifted herself up on her left elbow. "But you've got the Scouts. We can always talk about what's bothering us. We /are/ that close." Ami's mind wheeled. Was she seriously suggesting that the Scouts could be romanti - no. She checked herself. Serena was talking about friendships in general. She sighed in relief. Serena heard it and smiled. "You never had much experience opening up and going with your feelings, did you?" Ami shook her head. "Kid genius lives alone a lot of the time. I never had any close friends until you guys..." Serena sat up. "Well, I for one am glad you found us." A wave of blessed comradeship passed through Ami. Serena could never know how much those words meant to her. "Me too." A long moment passed. Maybe... Serena could know. Very softly, Ami said, "If people could go with their impulses, huh?" Slowly, her hand had reached up and lightly brushed Serena's cheek. Serena was astonished. Ami drew her hand back, and for a moment, all her worst fears threatened to come true - the reasons why she never did this kind of impulsive thing. Lacking planning, she had done something wrong, terribly wrong. Giving in to one strange notion, she had ruined their entire relationship - Serena's straight, you fool! she berated herself - her mind spun nightmares, each worse than the last - Serena avoiding her; she could hardly bear the thought - In the midst of her fear though, she felt Serena's hand take her own. "It's not an impulse I'd expected, Ami - but it's..." she ran out of words. Instead, she leaned forward - and stopped. Clearly, it was a request. To answer, all Ami had to do was tilt her own head forward. In the instant of decision, her self-control wanted to reassert itself, and her body wanted to continue. As she watched, Serena smiled that small smile of hers, the non-ditzy one, which Ami had always thought of as a more mature appreciation of something. The sight made her decision. She closed her eyes and kissed her. Oh, sweet stars... it was like nothing she ever could have imagined. No, it was like everything she could have imagined, except that it was more real. She felt herself flush, heart beating higher. Serena was warm, she was dynamic, she was incredibly soft. A thought of something softer... The thought was piercingly thrilling; she shuddered for a moment. Beneath her lips, Serena smiled and shifted position. Now they were able to embrace each other. Ami wanted to melt into Serena's arms. This kind of closeness, of togetherness with someone, was something she had dreamed about. She nestled her head on Serena's shoulder, lightly kissing the warm spots on her neck, where her mind gave names to what her touch told her lay just below the skin. Warm blood, gentle pulsing, flowing with life... moving tendon, strong silk cord... muscles, flowing and contracting as Serena moved her head in response to the pleasurable sensations Ami was inducing... the tiny whirr of air through her throat to make the soft sighs Ami was hearing. She stopped, adjusting her arms and just staying there, feeling Serena's blood-heat and pulse. Serena responded, holding Ami more firmly and bringing up one hand to caress the back of her neck. Serena closed her eyes, feeling... well... many things. Ami was a fellow Scout; someone who was under Serena's care. She felt protective. Ami was a friend; someone Serena was glad to be around. She felt camaraderie. Ami was a mentor; someone who could teach her. She felt respect - she wanted to learn. As Serena wandered through the multiple emotions which surrounded her and Ami, she realized some things. This encounter was not sexual. It was an expression of some other feeling, of many others. She also knew what would happen next. Without preamble, the hand caressing Ami's neck slipped down and undid the top button of her dress. Ami gasped. It was in surprise, but not /that/ it had happened - merely that it had happened then. To be sure, Serena sought consent. As Ami drew back slightly, her eyes met Serena's, questioning silently. She blushed a little, then nodded once. She leaned forward again, resting her head somewhat in the angle of Serena's right shoulder as she reached back - Serena forestalled her with, "No; let me." Acquiescing, Ami's hands moved away. They fluttered for a moment as she wondered what to do with them; she settled for exploring the lines of Serena's figure as her dress seemed to unbutton itself behind her. One hand traced her silhouette down, curving in, then out, then down along the line of the leg. It came back, resting on the swelling of her hip. Serena opened the last button. Her hands came up and loosened the dress on Ami's shoulders. Ami stood, the dress slipping down to lay at her feet. Ami's body was much like Serena had expected. It was lithe, toned. Not overly proportioned, but rather as if it were planned, all of a piece, to give the impression in every angle and curve of someone caring. Her figure led the eye along a pleasing journey up to the gentle face. When her gaze reached there, Ami did a slow pirouette, the move she did when transforming. Serena's eyes widened a little, amused. Not at the move, but something unexpected - Ami's undergarments. They were, surprisingly, rather fancy. "Lace?" "One secret vanity." She traced a swirl on her bra, as sky-blue as the accompanying bottom. "Do you like it?" "It's very pretty." Serena reached up a hand, tracing one swirl on the panties. As she continued, though, she realized that the swirl was leading deeper in towards the center; toward one particularly interesting curve. Ami gently caught hold of her hand; Serena looked up. "What about you?" said Ami. Serena blushed at realizing she was still fully clothed. Resting her weight slightly on Ami, she too stood. Ever so slowly, Ami reached up to the fastener on the front part of her overalls. The button rested above one mound, twinned with another. Before doing what it came for, her hand cupped that breast. Serena closed her eyes, luxuriating in the sensation. Moving more decisively, Ami used both hands to turn Serena. A little unexpected, it was, for Serena turned her head to ask, "What?" Both of them laughed a little when Ami dodged a meatball. Her question was answered when Ami wrapped both of her arms around Serena, holding her around the waist as one hand unfastened the buttons. Serena held the hand around her waist and traced her fingers up and down the arm of the one doing the work. In a moment, it was done. Serena stepped forward, letting the garment fall on the floor while she climbed on the bed and knelt there. In turn, Ami took in Serena's profile. She was wearing a one-piece item like a swimsuit, cut at the top like a T-shirt and below somewhat high on the hip. She gave every impression of someone completely comfortable with herself. Under Ami's glance, she put a hand on her hip and straightened, chin high enough that it could have been taken for arrogance if a moment later she hadn't come back to earth with a quick giggle. The muscles of her leg holding her up, were beautifully delineated. The high line of the garment showed off her invitingly round hip and derriere. Back and abdomen, both well shaped, provided the support for a slightly projected set of breasts a little larger than Ami's, a pleasant handful. Traveling up the lines of her body, Ami's eyes came to rest on her face; Ami knew it well, but it took on a new role as the summit of many charms. Ami answered the question without it being asked. She whispered, "You're beautiful," coming forward to kneel with Serena on the bed. Both knew that this took the situation to a new plane. For some mutual reassurance, they kissed once more, in a slowly tightening embrace. Ami felt the lines of their bodies pressing together. Their breasts touched, little points of firmness in the pressure, and lower, a mound against her thigh, warm and yielding. For a moment, expected though all this was, she was confused - why? Then she understood. Despite her body's own desire, the definite eroticism of the whole situation, she, like Serena had, knew that this was not a sexual encounter. She had known it before, but now put it into words - this was an expression of a deep friendship, a closeness she had never known, had missed throughout her childhood, was now experiencing for the first time and taking into herself as she learned what kind of meaning and emotion could exist between two people. She nearly sobbed, her breath catching a bit. "Oh, Serena," she thought. "I love you." She remembered her feelings for Greg - "no, not like that, but in ways that I... beyond words." Beyond definitions. The next change she was aware of in the situation was the lessening of tension in the brassiere - she realized that Serena had undone its fastening. She moved back, gradually lessening the touch shared by the breasts. As it had to eventually, the brassiere slipped off. Ami moved her hands down to Serena's waist, watching her eyes. They were focused on the newly revealed treasures. Like a child receiving a new gift, one of Serena's hands stole from Ami's shoulder to hesitantly touch the nipple, to move it ever so slightly, to trace the aureole. She smiled as it reacted under her touch. Serena looked up to see Ami watching her. She blushed for a moment, then realized it was exactly what Ami had hoped for. She was taking her cue from Serena... so she gave one. Serena leaned forward, taking Ami back down to lie on the bed, resting some of her weight on Ami and kissing her more thoroughly. Ami's arms wrapped around her. After only a moment, though, Serena broke liplock and moved downward to take the right nipple in her mouth, causing a surprisingly strong response in Ami - back arching and relaxing, sighs and whispered words - which she continued to encourage. Ami, needing something to do to return the achingly pleasurable touch, brought her hands down Serena's arms. Her left hand she rested on Serena's back, her right she brought down and around to cup Serena's left breast, rolling and toying with it. Serena sighed softly in response and brought her left hand to touch Ami's hand there, putting her between two yielding, warm walls of human touch. Serena picked up the pace, flicking the nipple with tongue and lips, putting the tiniest pressure on it with teeth. Ami's moans began to break into audibility, spurring Serena onward. She moved her head as Ami's rib cage lifted and fell with the deep, strong breaths of excitement, adjusting again and again to keep the stimulation arrythmic and unexpected. The idea that she could cause someone to feel this good was, for Serena, an affirming and beautiful sensation. In short, she was enjoying Ami's enjoyment immensely. Finally, Ami was aroused to the point where she insisted on taking the lead. Slipping out from under Serena, she raised herself to kneel and Serena followed. Taking the elastic fabric of Serena's garment in both hands at the shoulders, she leaned forward to the neckline and kissed her just above the exposure line. As she pulled downward, she gave the same service to each line of Serena newly brought to light. Serena slipped her arms out through the holes and fingered Ami's moving back muscles and shoulder blades. She was moving decisively now, with strength and speed. Serena found it arousing to watch and to feel, as she was bared before she had time to know that it was happening. The sudden uncovering of her breasts by someone else made her feel more naked than she'd ever been. Instead of wanting to cover up, though, the intimacy was a heady rush of trust and faith, like falling and knowing Ami was ready to catch her. She did almost that, leaning back on the bed as Ami hungrily tried out the same actions Serena had been performing on her. With Serena's more fleshed-out breasts, Ami had leeway to kiss and fondle, to manipulate and play. Two hands, ten fingers, a tongue, lips, teeth, all were used to provide a barrage of feather-light brushes mixed with sudden strong pulls, a complex pattern and a rhythm that repeated over and over with minor variations, different melodies on a single theme that swept her along, floating on Ami's life and love. Not content merely to duplicate, Ami spared a hand to continue the task she'd begun. Serena's clothing was gathered and swept down to her knees, causing a cry of surprise as the movement of Serena's legs was suddenly restricted. Ami looked to see what she'd uncovered. Serena's mound was clothed in a tiny swath of blonde hair that obscured what lay beneath only slightly. It moved back and forth as Serena took off the garment the rest of the way and kicked it onto the floor. She put a hand to Serena's leg, a slight pressure cueing Serena to lift and turn, extending the leg and drawing it in, so that Ami could feel the interplay of strong muscles under smooth control. Ami put her other hand there, sweeping the two apart, up and down and around the leg, feeling it move, feeling it lie still, tracing the arch of the foot and the curve of the calf, causing muscles small and large to contract in their wake as her living touch stirred sensitive nerves. She swept the hands up to frame Serena's mound... and stopped. Did she really want to go this far? Uncertainty must have been reflected on her face. Serena's right hand came down to hold Ami's left. At the pressure, Ami looked up and into a face where one small smile told her everything she needed to know. whatever you want to do, it's good. whatever feels right. Ami lay down, right side of head on Serena's thigh, right arm up and over. She just looked at it, wondering, until her left hand came up and laid itself down over the object of her attentions. An almost idle finger wandered aimlessly through the hair, feeling the contours below. At one slight brush, Serena vocalized - just a little "Ah" - but she knew what she wanted to do. She moved herself up, then brought her hands down and spread Serena's legs. Closing her eyes, she leaned forward and kissed... the most intimate spot on her friend she could think of. The scent of her was all around Ami. Before she knew it, her tongue was finding its own places to touch and taste, knowing her companion on a deep, wordless level, knowing her sweetness, the tang of her humanity, the uniqueness of her, that strange ability of an aroma to summon up memories and feelings more numerous than the conscious mind can hold. Serena's sounds were become more active now. Ami kept the pace slow, agonizingly so, exploring every curve and fold and bump she could get a hold on, learning its deepest secrets, how to squeeze every fraction of stimulation and titillation out of it. One last spot - Ami took her sweet time getting to the clitoris, but when she finally did, she darted forward, a quick/strong kiss causing Serena hip's to buck powerfully. Within Serena's grip, Ami lips curved in a pleased smile and she kept right on. Serena out-and-out moaned, clutching for Ami's hands to have something to hold to keep them from moving in and finishing the job themselves, Ami holding her hands to feel in yet another way the presence of a person about whom she cared so much. Some misty time later, fighting the urge to lay there and take in the ecstasy until she blossomed into release, Serena removed a hand and placed it on Ami's hair. "What about you, Ami?" At Ami's confused look, she didn't bother to verbalize - she just shifted position, around the juncture they'd created, to come closer to Ami's own final piece of clothing. Now Ami understood. She waited while Serena laid hands to her waist and slipped off the last barrier between her and total openness, then sent it to the floor. There was no longer doubt or hesitation in her mind. She wanted to feel the same things Serena was, to have Serena become as intimate with her as she was with Serena, to share everything down to the most basic feelings with her. She sat up and knelt above Serena, who guided her down until - Aah! At the touch of lips on flesh, Ami's head threw back at the sheer intensity of her reaction. Never had she been so close with anyone. The intimate touch of Serena's tongue on her vulva dove within her to lighten her heart and free her mind to the realm of dreams. She'd always... dreamed... In the surrender... It was getting difficult to think. She abandoned words and leaned forward once more, feeling Serena's breasts press against her as her own fell to touch Serena, warm and soft and firm and oh so magnificent. She buried her head to take up that pleasing task once more, learning everything over again from another angle, feeling Serena within her own legs mirroring her actions. Their hands held each other and wandered on expanses of bright, soft, rounded skin, sometimes stopping to linger on a puckered ring, to lay palm to cheek, to run up and down labia already shifting under the caresses of private kisses. Consciousness was dim but not gone, leaving an awareness of the giving and receiving of love and energy, sensations circling two people. She was... in Serena... Serena was in her... A beautiful, never-ending spiral of joy(yes) and building - mmm - pleasure and... and... oh - my - aaah... [no words] [what can you say at the top of everything?] [a whispered shout] [a full-throated moan] [a unison sigh] [a sound like a sob][of relief][of impossibly real fulfillment] the silence of a joyful tear. [a desperate hold on someone else so you know who you are] [you are the one who is loved by this one] [because you are loved, you are] ----------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------- Luna sat outside Serena's window. Her tail, as was her habit when thinking hard, lashed once or twice. She hadn't expected this, and it worried her. It could introduce a whole new set of complications, as could trying to nip it in the borning. The choice had to be made carefully. She considered Ami, cradled atop Serena. She looked... ...contented. Happier, in fact, than Serena had ever seen her. Usually an introvert to the point of seclusion, Ami was relaxed in Serena's presence, able to be intimate and open. Serena, looking over at her friend and stroking her hair, reminded her of a cat loving a kitten. Caring, dedicated... mature. Could it be that this would carry over? Would it lead to Ami becoming more integrated, Serena becoming more responsible? She knew the Scouts; their lives were lived as a whole, each piece affecting all the others - so quite possibly. Yes, there were several positives to this. She would leave them together, and hope for the best. Outside Serena's window, a sleek black shadow gathered itself and leapt away, leaving the moonlight to fall uninterrupted over the pair lying on Serena's bed.