Evening brush(Ami thread, wear angst boots)

[Bean Bandit]

Ami just nods weakly, and hurries after her mother, struggling against bleak thoughts beginning to intrude on her mind.

Always alone...

[Anastasia]

As you head towards your mother's car, "So...you know this Natsume from the mall,"s he asks, making conversation as you head on out. Jingling in her pocket as she gets her carkeys out, she glances up at you as she unlocks the door.

[Bean Bandit]

"Uh-huh." Ami replies softly. "She...got involved in the incident herself."

[Anastasia]

"Oh...I'm glad she's doing well, then," she notes, curiously smiling as she opens the side door for you. "She should be awake now, too."

[Bean Bandit]

Ami muses on that for a moment. "I don't think she was hurt in the mall incident." she observes quietly, more for something to distract her from her current thoughts than any attempt at an inolved discussion, her voice faint.

[Anastasia]

"Yes, from what I understand, it was a 'training incident', or so her sister informed me," Mom agrees, starting the car amid rills of snow.

"Poor girl...go through all that and a simple accident does more damage than an ice demon."

[Bean Bandit]

Ami nods, staring at her hands, folded in her lap. "Ironic." she agrees quietly.

[Anastasia]

From there, a silence settles in as your mother navigates the roads. Most of the plowing has been done, so it's not hard going at all Your mother seems to sense your mood on some level, letting the radio be the only white noise in the car.

As a classical, soft tune fills your ears, the ride passes by...

On getting out, "I'll take you up to her first  - I'll start my rounds with her," she offers, probing gently.

I hope Ami's alright...or just getting ill....she looks so...

[Bean Bandit]

Ami nods and smiles faintly up at Sakura. "Thank you, Mother." she murmures softly, wishing she didn't miss Artemis' presence so much.

[Anastasia]

As you begin to walk, "...Ami-chan, is something wrong," Mother asks, stopping a few steps away from the car. "You look terrible." Concern is in her voice, as she waits for an answer.

[Bean Bandit]

I....But....no, I've already scared her... "It's fine...just a little down." Ami assures her mother with a smile. "Don't worry about me..."

[Anastasia]

"...Okay, Ami," Sakura shakes her head sadly, but lets it lie. Picking up her pace again, she leads you inside...

I should try and talk to her before she leaves, but...I'm running a bit late. Seeing her friend will cheer her up, anyway.

OOC - Chance for another line, then I'll move things on, Ami.

[Bean Bandit]

I wish...I wish I were younger. I could take her hand as we walk.

A sudden image fills Ami's mind, a smaller, childlike version of herself, walking hand in hand with her mother through the snow...until her mother slowly disappears, pulling away and fading into mist.

...I can't even keep my daydreams happy? Ami thinks, shaking that thought away quickly.

Come by the greenhouse tomorrow, Ami-chan! We'll have a good time!

The thought echoes through her mind again, and Ami finds her dismisal of the echoing thought wavering. I wonder if I dreamed that...it was nice to feel that way... As she walks along, she moves closer to her mother, almost desperate to reach out, but afraid, at the same time that contact will make her disappear.

[Anastasia]

As you walk inside with your mother; Sakura keeps close enough to you - yet not holding hands or any other long forgotten sign of affection like so. Once she enters the hospital, her face settles in a more business like, polite smile as she greets the receptionists before you head on upstairs.

You get a few kind words from the people she mentions you too - this isn't the first time you've met most of them, so it's fairly routine and rote. "Natsume's on the 3rd floor," Mother notes, as you reach the stairs up - the elevators being crowded as usual.

[Bean Bandit]

Ami nods, grateful for mindless pleasantries that she could do with a smile in her sleep.

Why am I having to fend off so many negative thoughts? Ami wondered, past sadness and into a dull ache that made her feelings less intense. I have to try and get past this...this is not a good fram of mind to visit an injured person in.

The thought of Natsume raised a few butterflies, but the heavy cloud over Ami made them barely noticable. Forcing herself to put on a more pleasant face, she smiles at her mother, then starts up the stairs with her, waiting until they're alone on the flight of stairs. "Mom?" she asks quietly, discarding the usual formal tone she uses.