It had been exactly one week since Usagi had gotten her memories back, exactly a week since she'd gone from being a ditzy, normal teenager to the scandalously dressed super hero that everyone loved and had, apparently, forgotten. Not that she minded, it meant that the little speeches before she took on the droids were fresh again, and more importantly that throngs of people no longer gathered at the scenes of her battles. She had really started to get sick of that particular can of worms. Fighting beings from the Negaverse was hard enough without onlookers trying to interfere with the battles and "helping out".

"Tsukino-san." A voice snapped her out of her reverie, and she looked up guiltily at Miss Haruna. Okay, so maybe it hadn't quite been a reverie- her sleeve had a little patch of drool on it, and her notebook didn't have a single note down.

"Tsukino-san, your homework." Haruna growled.

"Eheh...heheheh... Homework?"

Three minutes later she found herself on the hallway, sighing heavily. Homework had been a lot easier when Ami had been there to help her, but Ami, along with the rest of her old friends, was currently busy enjoying the life of a normal girl. It wasn't fair. Why did she have to be the one going out every night? Alone, no less. And Tuxedo Mask hadn't even shown up once. She had to admit, though the Moonlight Knight was sweet, he wasn't nearly as sexy...even if he was Mamo-chan, well-

The last thought made her suddenly bite her lip in frustration. That was another thing. Where the heck was Mamo-chan? She hadn't even run into him once. Her heart twisted, worried. What if he was sick? Or worse- found a new girlfriend! Usagi could feel her eyes tearing up at the though and she sniffed a bit, trying to fight back tears.

"Ah- Usagi-san! Are you okay?" A small, but clear voice asked.

Usagi turned and beamed, before she remembered that she wasn't supposed to know this girl very well. She tried to smile less, and ended up contorting her face so that she looked a little like she might throw up. Ami looked a little concerned.

"I'm fine, Ami-San." She said sheepishly, looking down. She reminded herself that she should give her what she so wished she had- a normal life. Which meant, as far as she could tell, keeping her out of her own life.

"I thought you looked sad..." Ami said, staring at Usagi with those sharply intelligent eyes. Usagi looked up, feeling hopeful in spite of herself. Maybe Ami remembered something about being a sailor soldier!

"I'd be sad too if I was kicked out of class." Ami said seriously, clasping Usagi's shoulder. Usagi almost groaned aloud and then grinned. At least none of her senshi had changed after being reborn. She just wished she could go back to being friends with them.

"Not everything is about studying, Ami-san!" She teased.

Ami blinked and smiled shyly. She wished she and Usagi were better friends. Even though the other girl always made her feel silly, it was always a good silly. Like she shouldn't take herself so seriously all the time, and take a little time to enjoy herself. Maybe this was the time to really take initiative, to approach someone else instead of being approached. Surely someone like Usagi wouldn't turn her friendship down... even if she was the school genius.

"Usagi, I wondered if maybe-"

The bell for lunch rang loudly and both girls jumped. Naru hopped out of class and handed Usagi her lunch.

"You really got Haruna-sensei mad that time, Usagi-chan. You should do your homework more often." Naru scolded. Usagi glared at her and glanced back at Ami.

"What were you gonna say?" She asked sweetly, trying to edge out the hopeful tone in her voice.

"Oh- nothing. I have to go study." Ami said, feeling a blush creep up in her cheeks. Usagi had friends already. She didn't need more...even though she felt more comfortable around Usagi than any other girl she knew, she shouldn't bother her. Ami rushed away, quickly getting lost in the crowd.

"Trying to get some of her brains to rub off on you, Usagi?" Naru teased, tugging on one of Usagi's ponytails. Usagi yelped and shoved Naru a little in return.

"Why is everyone so mean to meeee?" She asked, a little theatrically she knew. She could already feel the tears welling up in her eyes and her lip quivering. Damn, but she was good.

"Ahh, you know I was just kidding!" Naru said a little guiltily.

As they headed outside, her communicator beeped and she felt her heart jump into her throat. God damn it, not before lunch! Before even bothering to check the message, Usagi tried to shovel most of the food she had into her mouth, causing Naru to gag a little.

"Isn't this a little much, even for you?" She asked, staring at her friends strange behavior.

"Mffmfff you dont fmf know anything about me!" Usagi said, still a little hurt from the earlier comment. Mostly done, she pulled out the communicator and saw a message from Luna.

-There's a droid at the mall! Get over here double time!-
~Luna

Usagi nodded and dashed off, only feeling a little guilty for leaving Naru behind with Umino. They'd practically been dating when she was fighting the negaverse...it could happen again, right?

Usagi pulled out her brooch and transformed behind a tree before dashing off towards the mall. She'd have to make this quick if she wanted to be back in time for history class.

-

Sailor Moon arrived breathlessly, and with a cramp in her side. She probably shouldn't have eaten so quickly. Her enemy was floating above her, brandishing a fire extinguisher. A fire extinguisher, Sailor Moon thought, that's not so bad... What's the worst it could do, foam me to death?

"Hey you! Malls are supposed to be places were friends bond, and were pretty girls buy new things! I don't know what you're up to, but I wont forgive you! In the name of the moon, I'll pu-"

"FUREGO!" The droid screamed, pointing it at her and shooting fire out of its weapon.

Sailor Moon screamed and ducked, smelling the edges of her singed hair before she had realized what had happened. Okay. So I spoke too soon. No biggie.

"Sailor Moon! What were you thinking?" Luna hissed from the pillar to her right.

"Well, it's a fire extinguisher! I wasn't really expecting it to- to-" she flailed for a word and then shrieked again, just missing another blast of fire as she dove to her right. She tried not to let her fear overwhelm her. She wished she was as brave as her sailor senshi. She wished they were here. Sailor Moon closed her eyes, trembling behind the couch she'd taken cover under.

"Hey you! How dare you use a fire extinguisher as a weapon! These things are for putting fires OUT!"

The voice came from where the fire was brightest. Sailor Moon gasped and peeked over the sofa. It couldn't be- Ami-chan?!

Ami wouldn't have been able to explain why she was holding a fire extinguisher, facing a monster, and saying something she knew to be plainly ridiculous. What's worse- it was in the middle of the school day.

Instead of questioning her own motives, Ami frowned grimly, somehow perfectly at ease with this scenario.

"FUREGO!" The monster shouted, pointing its own fire extinguisher at its new opponent. Ami dodged before the fire could touch her and shot her own ammunition at the monster. It didn't miss its mark, covering the thing from head to toe in white foam.

"Bubbles." Ami said with a small smile, and then blinked. What? The monster soon had the foam off its face, and Ami prepared herself for another attack.

"Sailor Mer- Ami!" Sailor Moon exclaimed, diving for the other girl and knocking her out of the way.

"I had it-!" Ami exclaimed angrily, and then blushed, biting her lip. Where this sudden ferociousness was coming from, she didn't know. Both girls got up, eying the creature suspiciously. This time it attacked without warning, hurling more fire towards Sailor Moon. Ami saw it a moment too late, and turned to spray Sailor Moon instead of of the monster, hoping to curb whatever damage it might cause.

The flames disappeared in mid air, however, absorbed by a white rose.

"Moonlight Knight!" Sailor Moon murmured, covered head to foot in white foam. Ami had to choke back a laugh, and blushed when Sailor Moon glanced at her without comprehension.

"Sailor Moon! Now!" The Moonlight Knight commanded, before seeming to float away.

Sailor Moon nodded, and powered up for her attack. She shot her tiara at the monster with unfailing accuracy, and felt its evil burn away, leaving only a pile of soot and a complete mess in its tracks. She sighed wearily and shook her arm, waiting for the numbness to go away. Stupid monsters. Stupid heroes. Why couldn't everything just be easy? A small voice cleared itself next to her and she blinked.

"Ami-chan!" Sailor Moon said, without being able to help herself. "Are you okay?"

"I am. Are you?" Ami said, looking at her with those too-intelligent eyes. "And how did you know my name?"

"Ahahaha everyone knows the name of famous Mizuno-san!" Sailor Moon said, a little too cheerfully. She had to admit, it had been so so nice to have one of her friends help her in battle. But no, she couldn't let her know! As if to remind her, Luna emerged from her hiding place, rubbing herself against Sailor Moons boot. Sailor Moon resisted the urge to kick her. Stupid cat.

"I see." Ami said, still staring at her.

"Well, I better get goin'! Got more justice to do, and all that!" Also, I'm pretty sure I missed history class! Sailor Moon picked up Luna gracelessly and walked away.

"Wait- do I- do I know you from somewhere?" Ami felt that some kind of opportunity was slipping away. Something that would have made her feel more complete, more like herself.

Sailor Moon stopped, and Ami watched with fascination as the super hero appeared to have a silent argument with her cat.

"Oh fine." She finally heard someone say...but it wasn't Sailor Moon. Then who-

She didn't have time to complete the thought because Sailor Moon had launched herself at her old friend and squeezing her impossibly hard. The soldier pulled back, sniffing loudly and smiling a watery smile.

"This wont hurt a bit, Ami-chan." She said, her voice cracking slightly as she touched Sailor Mercury's forehead and watched the young woman's eyes glow with a blue light, and her body begin floating, until she collapsed into Sailor Moons waiting arms.

Ami felt consciousness return and looked up into blue eyes. Ah. There it was. That memory that she had felt missing.

"Usagi." Ami sighed, and then laughed suddenly, her own eyes filling with tears as well. "Usagi, I missed you!"

The two friends cried happily into each others arms, each having found a piece of themselves that they had thought lost.