Disclaimer: Unfortunately, I don't own Sailormoon and Co.

Winter

Mizuno Ami looked to the cool gray sky. Her pink lips curved into the smallest of smiles as the wind picked up once again. Her blue eyes fluttered closed for that instance as the sting of cold whipped across her cheeks, but her long lashes opened when the cold moisture landed on her nose.

It was the first snow of the season, and she loved every moment of it.

The snowflakes began floating down the sky in a leisurely pace, as was the mood of the day. Completely bundled up in her warm coat and fluffy scarf, her steady breath created a smoke. She didn't mind the nipping chill at all. This was her favorite time of the year.

She stood there silently watching the snowfall, but it was a wonder why she remained stationary in her spot. Many of the people around her were shuffling their feet as quickly as possible to escape the frigid weather. The senshi of Mercury didn't understand why people were afraid of the cold.

Her booted feet began their leisurely stroll down the sidewalk; her gloved hands were shoved snuggly in her coat's pocket. The small smile on her lips tugged into a large grin.

She loved this weather so much.

Ami knew she could easily go to one of the neighboring coffee shops and order a cup of steaming coffee, or warm up in a bookstore. A good book did sound nice right about now. Her blue eyes glanced around for the near by stores. It looked like she would need to make a trip about... eh... five blocks down to hit the closest bookstore. By then, she knew she would need to warm up a tad. The cold weather did bring her a strange comfort, but it was one of those things, which needed to be kept in moderation.

Her eyes stared ahead noticing the many people weaving in and out of the stores and sidewalks. They were all busy with their errands and shopping; none of them seemed to pause for a moment. Ami knew this season only lasted about three months before the weather warmed up, but why couldn't the people cherish these moments of chill before the heat took over?

She wondered... why did it mater so much to her as to why people didn't saver the moments of winter?

Why was winter so important to her?

She stopped in mid-step.

Why WAS it so important to her?

Nothing in her mind brought up a single solution. She was a genius by human standards, but it baffled her to such a question she couldn't answer. Why was winter important? Why did she always look forward to this simple time of the year? Ami knew she had been born on the edge of summer and autumn, but winter?

This was puzzling...

Maybe her home land of Mercury was chilled...

No. It was dangerously close to the sun. The atmosphere must have been a killer day in and day out.

Maybe it was the moon?

She knew there were some things of her past life that still were a mystery to her.

Winter also involved another form of her element. Snow was just solidified water.

She nodded her head... yes... that might have been it.

Ami crossed the street and onto another sidewalk. Her eyes were hazed over with an inward debate; because she wasn't paying attention, she missed the fact that her foot was mere inches away from a frozen puddle.

Her steps were unguarded just as she stepped onto the ice, and ungracefully lost her balance. She released a loud gasp as she felt her body falling backwards. Her eyes closed as she braced her body for a painful sidewalk impact. The chill became more evident as her body neared the ground, but before her back and head slammed into the cold sidewalk her arms were tightly gripped by strong hands propping her up and keeping the upper half of her body from an ungraceful trip.

Her eyes were hesitant to open; her body became steady on the ground. She sat there for a moment as her upper body was leveled and balance.

"Be careful next time, Miss."

The blue eyes of the senshi opened and turned up in a grateful manner. She had been spared from immense pain, and she could make sure this man would hear her utmost gratitude.

"Thank you! Thank you so much sir! I-"

Her sapphire orbs met with the man's green irises. For moments they were locked together, and something began to form. The beating in Mercury's chest intensified as she continued staring up at her savior, he also didn't make an attempt to move. His loose golden curls fell over his face keeping his ears from the chill of the winter day. After several seconds and many people passing by, the man lowered his hand down to the fallen senshi.

Ami gladly took his hand as he helped her up from the freezing, snowflake-covered ground.

"Thank you," she muttered softly, her cheeks becoming a bright pink.

The man nodded his head briefly as he glanced down to the hand he continued to hold. He paused for a moment more as Ami also glanced down to the hand. He released her palm, and they both released the gently nervous laughter. The senshi stared back at the tall man who graciously helped her; his kind eyes bore into hers. She stared blindly for moments more before a chill entered her bones. Her teeth chattering brought her back to reality of the situation she was in.

Ami still needed to find a book at the bookstore.

Giving a shy and kind smile, Ami respectfully bowed and made her leave, but before she walked off, the same hand that saved her gently grasped her shoulder. The young woman glanced back.

"Miss," stated the smooth voice of the man, "I don't think I caught your name."

The Princess of Mercury paused, her heart fluttering at the speed of sound. This man with his sharp features and gorgeous eyes... why would he be talking to her? She was merely a student, one who was in medical school. She was just about out for the winter break. And giving him her name! She bit her lip debating if she should give a complete stranger her name. Would that be risky?

The silence she held brought a gentle smile onto the lips of the man with golden curls. "If you won't give me your name, miss, then would you be so kind to join me for a cup of coffee some time? There's a cozy coffee shop located in the bookstore."

"I-"

What was Ami suppose to say? Yes? I'll come with you? She was the more cautious of the senshi. The senshi of wisdom knew if this were Minako, that girl would have dragged this poor man to her home and locking him in with no escape. But Ami...

The green eyes of the man showed hints of disappointment, as the young woman didn't utter another word.

"That's alright miss; I thought-"

"No!" exclaimed Mercury. Her blue eyes stared into his shyly, as her gentle smile remained on her pink lips. She tried to suppress the urge of shivering. "I mean... I was on my way to the bookstore. You could come with me now... that is if you would like."

The emerald orbs of the man brightened greatly as he took his place beside the young senshi, a dashing grin spreading across his face.

"That sounds like a wonderful idea Miss."

"Ami." Her sapphire eyes turned away from the taller man in embarrassment.

"Miss Ami, a beautiful name," complimented the man as he followed her calm strides to the shop of many books, well... as calm as they could be; her shivers came out full force violently shaking her body. That didn't go unnoticed by Ami's new acquaintance. He took off one of his black wool gloves from his fingers, and the back of his palm lightly touched the reddened cheeks of the senshi. "You're chilled to the bone. We need to hurry to the store!"

Even though Ami knew her body could withstand the cold for a while longer (thanks to her many senshi battles in snowy climates with the skimpy uniform), she remained silent as he grabbed her arm trying to bring her to warmth as quickly as possible. It was touching... to know that a complete stranger (and one as handsome as he) would care for a goody-two-shoes like her.

Once again, her eyes peered into the mysterious emerald orbs. They were so beautiful to stare at, and his curly golden locks blown in the wind. Usually it was the girl with the longer locks of hair, not the man. But he...

There was something about him... something familiar.

She couldn't quite place her finger on it...

"We're almost there Ami," this mystery man declared as he glanced back to her. There it was again... those beautiful eyes and that dashing smile. Ami knew she could be a goner if he flashed those two dangerous weapons at her again.

Her heart wouldn't stop racing as the flurries of snowflakes increased.

She released a sigh.

This was going to be harder than she thought.

AN: I've stared a new fic. As we can see it's gonna be Romance. I'm strictly gonna try this genre, so... we'll see how it comes out. It will later progress to an Ami... well I think you can guess who the man is. XD!

Send me your comments in a review. Give suggestions or words of encouragement/ words to help better this fanfic. Reviews (good or bad) usually encourage me to write... so please tell me what I can do to make this story more enjoyable.