Ami's bedroom window lets in not sunshine, but reflected light from a raging snowstorm. White reflected from the white of the snowbanks has a strangely yellow, eerie glow to it. With nothing else to light the room, it has a homely feel to it.
Ami stirs. Or, more precisely, her bladder stirs. Waking from perhaps her deepest rest of her life is not by the desire to join the world of the living again, but merely by the fact that nature calls rather strongly. Your room is as you left it, Ami asleep in her school uniform.
Groggily, you see your bedroom clock - 10:27 A.M.
Morning?
Your body feels light, and your head as well. Not terribly so, but you're still half asleep.
Ami lifts her head sleepily, the pressure in her abdomen insistent, but not enough to wake her completely...and thus, she pulls herself out of bed and makes her way to the bathroom, her eyes still half closed.
After easing nature, Ami stumbles over to the sink, and splashes her face lightly with cold water...which helps somewhat, though the half muddy feeling of sleepiness still lingers. With a soft sigh, but somewhat more alert now, she head to the kitchen in search of some form of caffiene, blearily wondering how she got home from Mugen...
To your surprise, your nose notices the kitchen before your eyes can. The smell of cooking tempts your nose, warm pancakes and syrup, juice, all sorts of tasty things rumbling your stomach. Breakfast would be nice, your ealise rather quickly, on your bodies protest.
As you enter, you find your mother working on the stove, dressed casually. A stack of pancakes, eggs, miso soup, a box of cereal, milk, juice, fruit...wow. Someone went to some trouble, considering your mother is a passable cook at best. "Ami, good morning," Mom says, turning away from the stove a moment and putting down a box of instant mix. "Artemis said you had a rough day and I can't get to work, so...."
Ami blinks, her eyebrows rising up to near her hairline as she takes in the spread food with an astonished look, looking up at her mother.
"Good morning." Ami smiles a little, guiltily pleased at having her mother around when she woke up. "It smells..." Ami trails off, blushing as he stomach picks that moment to speak up, and loudly. "Wonderful." she adds sheepishly.
"I hope it is," she laughs warmly. "I had enough miscues and misfires with the pancakes," a spatula gesture at the wastebin shows a few in there, broken apart and burned messes. Favoring you with a good smile, "I'm just finishing the last batch, so we can eat in a minute." Putting the fresh treats aside, she begins to haul the food and such to the table.
"So..."s he asks as she gets everything down, "What does a bad, busy day in your life mean these days, Ami-chan?"
Ami watches her mother deal with the last batch of the pancakes, seating herself at the table and wishing she'd chosen to have a shower before coming out...her first breakfast with her mother in some time, and she felt rather...disheveled.
However, the sight of the food is enough to distract her from those thoughts, until her mother's question sinks in. She looks up, a faintly guilty expression on her face. "Uhm...Quite a bit." She admits hesitantly. "Are you sure you want to hear? It's not a pleasant story..."
"How could I not want to here when the pet cat turned human carries you to your room," she replies, giving you an eye. "Ami, when I see you terribly pale like that and looking more like a cadaver than my daughter, I want to know." That said, she sits, helping herself to the food before mellowing it a bit and smiling. "We can eat and talk. It was something about that mall incident, wasn't it?"
Ami winces, having her answer to how she got home last night. Poor Artemis... She nods, taking food for herself, and trying not to seem too eager...her mother had really outdone herself. Miscues or no, if all this tasted as good as it looked and smelled...even half as good, she'd be ecstatic.
"It was." She agrees sheepishly, bowing to her mother's insistence. "Has it been on the news?"
Your first bite tells you it makes that one half comment, at least. It's edible. Not great cooking, but your hunger makes it desirable all the same.
"Some, along with the reports about the all the snow," she nods. "Another outbreak of the Juuban sickness out of the blue. Most of it's being secondary to the second great Tokyo Blizzard...that's what the TV channels are calling it. There's already over a foot of snow on the ground, closer to two now." Your mother pauses at that, thinking over the ramifications of that.
"Anyway, what happened there?"
Ami eats with surprising energy...the cooking is admittedly, in line with her mother's usual skills, but the emptiness in her stomach more than makes up for that.
She looks up after swallowing a mouthful of food, and bites her lip. "An...Ice spirit, for lack of a better term, possessed a woman...and ice sculptor, who had an exhibit at the mall." Ami replies softly, keeping a close eye on her mother's reactions. "She began to freeze the building, setting up a palace there...and the people in the mall."
"Only in Tokyo," Mom murmurs, city cyncysim flaring. Swallowing a mouthful of pancake, "And you had to go clean it up with your friends?
From the looks of it, it wasn't an easy matter, either. What happened?"
Ami giggles a little and relaxes slightly. "Well...it..." she hesitates, shaking her head. "I don't want to downplay the difficulty of it, but finding her was fairly simple, if time consuming, and exhausting." she relates, eating her pancakes, then moving on to the miso without slowing down as she sips on her juice, wishing idly for coffee...she's still a bit tired.
"It was what to do when we found her that was the problem...We've...'killed' her once before." Thoughtfully, she goes on, frowning. "And then there was getting her out of the woman she'd possessed...In an effort to contain her, I pulled her into my own body..."
Mom follows along as you go, nodding in the right places. Really, it could be a reasonable chat about flowers, or marraige or your unplanned pregnancy. Until it reaches the part about absorbing Celcia into your own body, anyhow.
*COUGH*
Gagging on her juice at that, and after emergency napkin usage, "You put her into your body!? Ami, what exactly does that mean?" Already filled with concern in voice, she eyes you carefully, trying to stay calm.
Ami recoils nervously, raising her hands in a placating gesture. "It's not as bad as it sou--" she pauses, hanging her head. "Actually, perhaps it is. It wasn't terribly well thought out, but she was killing the woman she was occupying..." she adds defensively.
"You don't know...?" Mom sighs, taking a few breaths to calm. "Ami...so you basically took this ice spirit into you? And if she was killing that other woman...." That gets another breath.
"Is there any way to find out what's going on with you now, or do we just wait for you to maybe turn into a snowball?" Clearly, this nugget has frayed her nerves, good mood and patience quite notably. "Dammit, Ami. You promised me you'd be careful at this Senshi business...not do something like that..." From loud to soft her voice goes, as her worry begins to set in fully.
Ami shrinks back a little. "She's not inside me anymore." she offers meekly and holds up a wrist, showing her mother her talisman. "I managed to seal...her...in here." she finished uncomfortably. "And Professor Tomoe examined me last night for problems, and he's asked me in today, too. I'll be looked after..."
Biting her lip, she nods. "I'm sorry...I know it was reckless, but I didn't know what else to do...I couldn't get enough information in time..." she sighs, slumping a little, the twinges of guilt growing larger, and not sitting particularly well in the face of her mother's worry.
Mom rises, turning away and taking what is clearly several deep breaths.
1...2...3...4...
"Ami," she finally says, quietly and not turning back. "Why? Did you really have to do such a thing?" Turning, you can see her struggling not to cry."You're my only daughter, and I hear that you're doing something so dangerous? Ami, if something happens to you..."
Ami finds herself suddenly welling up, as well. Unfortunately, moments like these both touching, and horrifyingly guilt inducing...I'm so sorry, Mother...
"I...couldn't stand by and do nothing..." Ami swallows. "I...I'm so sorry....I didn't do it because I thought I could...or I wanted to make you worry...she was conscious while Celcia was killing her...begging someone to help her. I was the only one who was in a position to do something..." she murmurs, a few tears spilling down her cheeks.
"Ami-chan..." Mom croaks, almost brokenly while trying not to cry. And starting to fail, too. "But...Ami...you're..." Going to you, you find yourself in a maternal hug rather quickly.
Ami closes her eyes, burying her face in her mother's shoulder, and hugging back tightly. "I'm sorry...I didn't mean to hurt you this way...I didn't..." she whispers, her voice wavering.
Ami is hugged back....
A short time later.
---
Wiping her eye with a bit of breakfast napkin, Mom lets you go as the both of you disengage. After a few more shaky, still rocked breaths, "Ami, you said that Professor Tomoe could help you with this?" she asks. "That's something...but regardless of that for the moment...
Ami," she says, catching your eyes in her own. "Was....was there any other way? Did you save her, at least? Was it worth it?"
Ami nods somberly. "Professor Tomoe scanned me last night, before I came home, to make sure I wasn't in immediate danger...but he's asked me to come in again today at noon for follow up tests." she explains quietly, wiping discreetly at her eyes. "Y-You can come if you'd like."
She pauses a moment, remembering. "I think we did save her...but she's still in serious condition...possible hypothermia, and Celcia...the Ice spirit...was altering her, on a cellular level."
Looking up sharply, Ami nervously raises a hand to ward off renewed worrying. "I suspect that the worst of her changes were because she willingly allowed Celcia into her...from what she said, she was dying of cancer, and Celica froze it out of her..."
Mom takes that in, finally nodding after a period of staring and studying. "I'd like that, Ami, to go with you. "Hopefully that will hold true...on a celluar level..." she repeats, chilled by the words.
"But...how are we going to get there? The roads are almost shut down entirely and it's stilla blizzard out there."
Ami smiles a bit. "A friend is coming to pick us up..." she bites her lip. If Eudial...no. I'll ask her to slow down. After this, all I need is for mother to be convinced my friends are trying to kill me. "We'll be able to get there."
"In this?" she shakes her head. "It's not safe to drive in, Ami. Is there any other way?...If we wait for Artemis to get back, maybe. He said he had a way to get through the storm."
Ami smiles and shakes her head. "If I remember what was said last night correctly, we'll be travelling under it..." she clarifies, then blinks. "Artemis...?Where did he go this early?"
"He said he'd have to leave early, but I haven't seen him since I woke up," Mom says, not knowing herself. "He wanted to talk to someone, I think..."
Ami nods to herself, smiling faintly. "Well...if he said he has a way to get us there, I suppose we can wait for him..." She decides, suspecting Artemis will have called the professor himself.
Mom nods as well, willing to wait. "If he did, can you call them directly," she gets to the point, going back to her breakfast with almost no energy now. Somehow, you don't feel as hungry yourself, at least for the moment.
Ami nods, and goes back to her breakfast as well, guiltily picking at the remains. The first time in ages, and....I ruined it.
The little rest of your breakfast that you consume is tasteless. On finishing, "Are you going to call, Ami-chan," Mom asks. "I can take care of the dishes myself."
"Okay." Ami replies softly, still slightly downcast from the faintly sour turn of the whole morning. "I'll be right back." she says, delicately ushing herself away from the table. Despite the rather bland taste to the meal, it sits rather contentedly in her pleased stomach as she heads over to the phone, and dials The professor's contact line.
It takes four rings before a pick up - odd, it's usually fairly prompt. The voice on the other end is surprising, too. "Hello, Headmaster Tomoe's office," Eudial says through the phone.
"Hel-Eudial?" Ami blink-blinks. "It's...Uhm, It's Ami. The Professor asked me to call today..." she ventures hesitantly.
"Oh, Ami," Eudial replies, dropping into a more relaxed tone. "You're lucky, I just got the phone because I came up here for something. Anyway," she goes on, not missing a beat, "You have to make it up here today, and the Twins are still too tired to teleport around. Guess that means I'll be picking you up on request?
Besides, Artemis and the Professor already told me."
"Please." Ami agrees, smiling. "And...Eudial...my mother would like to come." she chews on her lip nervously. "I told her about yesterday, and...it didn't go over well. Could you....maybe take it slow? Or...at least, slower?" She asks embarrassedly. "I don't think she could handle too much right now..."
"Um...yeah, sure," Eudial says, suddenly more serious. "I'll be down in an half hour or so. Artemis is already here, by the way. Been downstairs with the Professor most of the day."
Ami blinks. "He is?" she wonders. "Alright...Thank you, Eudial."
"Right." With a click, the call ends.
Back to Mother...? Good? Bad? Ugly?
Ami goes back out into the kitchen hesitantly...the urge to hide from her mother comical in some ways, but very strong. "She'll be here soon." Ami reports quietly.
Mom looks up and nods, from holding her head in her hands. "Ami?" she asks, before you can get a chance to leave.
"Do you think you did the right thing there, at least?"
Ami bites her lip again...and idly wonders if she's going to chew a hole in it today. "I...in a sense." Ami replies softly. "I don't regret saving her life...or risking my own to do it...but I do wish I hadn't hurt you and Artemis so badly to do it."
Mom just nods, face not giving much away. "That's something, Ami," she nods. "I...if you thought it was right, I can't hope for you to do much else...you're too responsible."
That does get the weakest, smallest twitch-that-might-be-a-smile you've ever seen, though. "It's something..."
Ami moves over and gently takes her mother's hand. "What we do is dangerous, mother...but I promise you, I do my best to come home safe." she sniffles a little and shakes her head. "I know I can't ask you not to worry, but...I'm sorry..." she trails off, bowing her head.
Mom nods, sadly. "Just come home safe, Ami-chan," she whispers, taking her hand in yours. "I don't want to think of what would happen if you didn't come home safe..."
Ami nods, scrubbing at her eyes with her free hand. What kind of a promise is this to make? she wonders. She must know as well as I do that I can't...but...I don't want to make her feel this way anymore...
On that, Mom seperates to go change and bathe. Now that it comes up, you note your own rather acute need for such treatment. A trip to the bathroom and your room provides all you need.
Though, at least you don't have to wear your uniform today, you think, as you get ready.
OOC - Set up your outfit if that strikes your fancy and exit th eroom, then I'll move along. Setup post.
Ami takes a deep breath, examining herself in the mirror. A shower and fresh clothes had done wonders, but there was still hints of strain and weariness in her expression, and her color wasn't all that good.
No wonder my appearance frightened her. Ami sighs. A rare pair of jeans cover her legs to ward off the chill from the blizzard outside, and her upper body is almost entirely obscured in a loose white sweatshirt with a turtle neck, a stylized puffball of a white kitten on the front, wrestling with a ball of yarn. Slipping on her glasses to give her eyes a bit of a rest, and fingers her hair for a moment. Longer....but not quite long enough to tie back, yet. she decides, leaving her bedroom in search of her mother...
Your mother is in the main room of the apartment, waiting near the door. Heavy snow pants and a blue sweater with snowflake patterns compliment each other as she waits, clearly ready for whatever is needed. In fact, as you arrive, a triple knock on the door is heard.
Ami smiles a bit nervously, and goes to answer the door herself, checking the peephole before opening the door.
It's Eudial, dressed for the weather. Red jacket, heavier black pants...my, isn't she partial to those two colors? She waits, rubbing her gloved hands together idly.
"Ami," she nods once. "You said someone was coming with us? Your mom, wasn't it?"
Ami nods, stepping back and beckoning Eudial into the apartment and gesturing nervously to her mother. "Un. Thank you for doing this, Eudial. Um...Mother, This is Eudial Kawashima...Eudial, my mother, Sakura Mizuno..."
Ami simply stood back and crossed her fingers, hoping for the best. With the way the morning had gone so far...
Your mother simply nods once to her, Eudial returning it with a show bow. "Good to meet you," she murmurs. "Are both of you ready?"
Getting a, "I am," from Sakura, Eudial begins to leave. "Ami, how much have you told her about how we intend to travel?" Eudial asks this with a tinge of curiosity. "We don't really advertise the underground system we have."
"In the vaguest sense." Ami replies sheepishly as she retrieves a heavy coat. "It's rather difficult to explain, without actually seeing it." She pulls on the coat and goes for her boots.
Mom just nods. "I'll see," she replies. "Do you mean through the sewer system?"
To that, Eudial snorts as you walk out. "No, nothing that smelly. WE have a network of tunnels under Tokyo. They're great for driving around undisturbed."
"Sewers," she murmrus again, as if slightly offended by the thought of her car going through a puddle of...
Ami smiles a little, relaxing a somewhat. Eudial is behaving herself...which really isn't too much of a surprise. The redhead teased her on occaision, and possessed a sense of personal invincibility while driving at speed that would make Cheetah motion sick, but she was suprisingly reliable.
Somehow, it's only really dangerous to be around while Haruka is egging her on...
"It's...like a subway, only private." Ami explains to her mother in an aside. "You really need to see it..." Ironic, since I must have come home in it last night, and I don't remember a thing.
Sakura simply nods, getting the idea as you head downstairs. "I'll see it, then," she shrugs, "But how did you get an entire series of tunnels below the city? I can't think of any way short of something l-"
To that, Sakura laughs suddenly, shaking her head. "My daughter did all that yesterday and I'm trying to figure out a logical way for these alleged tunnels to appear."
Ami blushes, ducking her head and looking embarrassed. "There usually is an explanation." she admits. "Logical or no."
"There usually is," Eudial agrees, as you step outside.
---
From warmth and comfort to wind, snow and cold, a white tundraland greets you. Two feet have fallen now, more coming without any respite in the end. If this is Celcia's present to Tokyo, it's just as well that she's hopefully gone forever.
Ami notes that she's not really that cold, though.
Eudial's car is nearby, in the snow choked street. No other traffic is about, and you are led to it without incident.
"Station wagon?" Sakura asks once you get into the merciful heating system of the car.
"With the best engine money can buy," Eudial nods right back, getting her keys out.
Ami blinks at the rather...mild feeling of the weather, despite the snowfall. Is that...? Something to ask about, I suppose. She slips into the station wagon, quietly frowning at the snow outside. This is wrong...
"Hold on...I have to take the first part of it fairly fast," Eudial warns, snapping on her seatbelt. On seeing Ami in the front seat at Sakura in the back, "Let's go..." she smiles suddenly.
One almost indescriable surge forward and down later, you've again managed to end up underground. The thought of trying to figure out exactly how her magic works to do that idly floats in your mind. Yet, to her word, she takes a much more sedate pace once you are in the tunnels, only perhaps going seventy MPH or so.
"Wow." Your mother sums up her thoughts on that in one word, shaking a bit from the first burst of movement.
Ami smiles a bit in thanks to Eudial, then looks back in concern at her mother's voice. Have I gotten so used to it that this speed isn't actually the crawling that it feels like?
Eudial clearly has as well, the pace seeming to bore her as she taps on the wheel. "This is it...all of these tunnels lead back to Mugen at some point."
"It's amazing that all these could exist without anyone knowing..." Sakura just shakes her head at the entire feat. "I never would have imagined it."
Ami smiles faintly. "It's....not as uncommon as you might think. Wait until you see Mugen's facilities..." she replies, half nervous and half hopeful that this will go well. She hopes the Professor will understand...
Your mother takes that under her hat, so to speak, and chews on it before just nodding. Sakura sits back, waiting for the ride to end.
Perhaps it's because these tunnels usually go by at the speed of sound or way too close to it, you never really realised that at more human speeds that it akes awhile to drive through. Twenty five minutes pass in more or less silence. Eudial looks to be bored with the pace, but she's keeping it good while your mother simply stares out the window.
Ami divides her time between witching the tunnels flash past, and keeping a nervous eye on her mother and Eudial. She makes a mental note to do something nice for Eudial...and never, ever ask for something like this again, and simply bring blindfolds next time she rides in the redhead's car.
The ride finally ends, at least, Eudial parking in her normal place underground. "Here we are, Miss Mizuno. Welcome to underground Mugen."
"Mmmm," she nods, glancing around as she gets out of the car...
Ami winces a little at her mother's distracted tone and sighs...though too softly to be heard...and she smiles nervously at Eudial. "Thank you for the ride..." And the patience. she adds mentally, without daring to say it out loud.
"Sure," Eudial nods, then to your mother. "Come this way, Professor Tomoe is in his laboratory."
"A laboratory underground," Sakura frowns a bit. "Like in a bad German castle in a horror film..."
Ami winces more visibly, this time. The remark is a little more on target than she'd like it to be, even if they did put a stop to that. "Somewhat less ominous than that..." she murmurs, blushing and moving forward a bit before waiting for her mother.
Sakura simply nods...though as you go into the mazework under Mugen, it can't do anything to reassure her. The twisting, sixth dimensional passages are clearly not the work of a sane mind, no matter how much you may insist otherwise.
If you would ever care to argue that Germatou was sane, anyway.
On reaching the lab door, "Here it is," Eudial nods. "They're waiting for you inside, Ami." Smiling momentarily, "I have something else to do now, so..."
Ami nods and smiles gratefully. "Thank you, Eudial. I'll see you later." she sighs, trying not to look like she's headed for the gallows. Taking a deep breath, she opens the door...
Inside the vast room, Artemis and the Professor are tucked into a small corner, discussing what looks to be a computer print out. Sakura looks around, rather awestruck as she stops two steps in...
Ami smiles slightly at the look on her mother's face, knowing -that- feeling very well. Giving her a moment to take it all in, Ami gently takes her mother's hand, and tugs gently. "This way..." she urges quietly, beginning to lead her over to where the Professor and Artemis are.
"Oh...right," Mom blinks, shrugging off the stunned shock that waylaid her. Artemis looks up as you approch, blinking a moment. Professor Tomoe follows suit, but he at least hides his surprise.
"Ah, Ami...and Doctor Mizuno, I believe," he asks. "It's been a long while."
Ami smile and nods sheepishly. "I'm sorry for not warning you, but...I told her about yesterday this morning, and invited her to come along..." she shuffles uneasily.
"It's fine," he shakes his head, giving Sakura a polite smile. "Welcome to Mugen, Miss Mizuno." Rising, he even half bows. "I assume Ami has told you of her circumstances today?"
Ami flashes back to the discussion in the apartment. That's one way to put it. She thinks guiltily and looks to Artemis while Professor Tomoe talks to her mother.
"How is Miss Nakahime doing?" she asks her Mau softly.
"I'm aware," Mom comments, while Artemis nods. "She's not going to die," he hedges. "She should be waking up in a few days, hopefully."
"Good, then. Ami, I want to take another scan of you with the readings I got from Miss Nakahime as a control data. With these, I believe I can quickly determine if your body suffered any of the effects she did."
Ami shoots Artemis a searching look. That response was...less that soothing. Finally she smiles a little and nods, taking what she can get, and turns to the professor.
'Effects she did'? That means...the cell damage wasn't reversed when Celcia left the woman...and something happened...Oh dear...
"All right." Ami nods, glancing at the scan table she dimly remembered from yesterday. "The same scan?"
"Ah..." Professor Tomoe actually pauses, before nodding. "Yes, Ami. If you would..." he says, giving your mother an apologetic look. "I'm sure as a doctor you understand how clothing can interfere with certain machine and their abilitiy to function," he says evenly enough.
Artemis just politely turns his back, giving you privacy.
Ami clamps her lip between her teeth to keep from giggling at that. Artemis, while he talked like Haruka, had a protective streak a mile long, and Professor Tomoe was too much of a gentleman for that kind of thing. She began undressing, and neatly folding her clothes as she went, until she was undressed, and without prompting, eased herself up onto the scanning table as modestly as she was able to while clad only in her underwear.
He even said I was too young, once... Ami reflects, mixed feelings at that memory.
Sakura nods after Professor Tomoe explains and Artemis turns, giving her stripping daughter a single glance. "I suppose so," she admits, turning her full gaze on Ami and giving Professor Tomoe a few glances.
"Ready when you are, Ami," Professor Tomoe calls, then pauses. "Oh, and make sure that you are wearing your Talisman. I wanted readings for that as well."
Ami nods, raising her arm to show the bracelet still encircling her wrist. I don't dare take it off until I understand what I did...and whether Celcia will appear without warning...
"Good," Professor Tomoe says, though is interrupted. "Wait a moment...that bracelet? Why are you calling it a Talisman," Sakura interrupts, noting the capital T, so to speak.
Ami smiles a little. "It's....not normal jewelry." she explains cautiously. "While we were on Senshi business, we came across a number of items that had...applications to our powers, in certain ways...for example, Mako-chan got a weapon. A mace."
Leaving out as many of the distracting details as possible, Ami gestures to the Talisman. "This was mine...originally, it simply enhanced my senshi powers...I have control over water and ice, to a limited degree. But Yesterday, I used it's power to bind Celcia..."
Professor Tomoe nods. "Miss Mizuno, if you please, we can go into details shortly later," he insists, glancing up.
To this, your mother nods and bows her head. "Of course, Ami's well being should come first. By all means, go on."
And thus, you feel the slightest light, of scanning....it lasts a bit longer than last time, perhaps.
"That's it, Ami. Go ahead and get dressed again."
Ami nods, sitting up and slipping off the table, and padding over to her clothes, dressing herself quickly.
Once she's once again covered, Ami approaches her mother quietly, wanting to ask how she's doing, but not having the nerve...speaking hasn't gone very well for her, today.
"It shouldn't take long for the computer to analyse the readings, perhaps an half hour. Until then...." Professor Tomoe addresses all of you, "Perhaps a more restful and relaxing area would be advisable as we discuss this and other pertinent matters. If you wish, Miss Mizuno," he defers at the end, politely.
Ami must take after her father to a degree...though, it's not all bad.
Artemis nods once, expression slipping as he turns. "We should discuss Miss Nakahime," he notes.
Ami nods at that. From what they've said, the woman they saved didn't come out of it completely unscathed. She looks up to her mother expectantly, unconsciously rubbing her fingers together as she looks up.
"That's fine," Sakura agrees, mostly just worrying about Ami. "Though, I would like to ask....what manner of machine was that? I've never seen a medical device like it..."
And thus, as you go, Mom begins to drag some technical information from the Professor as you head to the nearest elevator. Your Mom manages to keep up a bit, but fumbles when the word 'magical analysis' comes up.
"Excuse me,"she asks plainly, as you go up, and up and up...huh. The Professor seems to have hit for the 60th floor. As far as you're aware, nothing has come of the majority of the upper levels of the school yet.
Ami closes her eyes and thanks whoever might be looking out for her that the professor is here to field these. Quietly, she looks and blinks at the button that's been hit.
"Professor?" Ami intejects timidly, almost afraid to focus her mother's attention on her in this particular situation, "What's on the 60th floor?"
"Ah, that. I have an office up there I never use, as most of our functions take place farther below. The plans to implement the entire building haven't been completed as of yet."
Nodding to your mother, "It has a wonderful view of the city, and provides a soothing backdrop for matters such as this."
Ami nods to herself, but the way they've been referring to the subject makes her a bit uneasy. Hoping it's just to relax her mother, Ami gives Artemis a sidelong glance, hoping the Mau can either tell her something, or re-assure her...
Artemis is paying attention to the scene, turning to Ami. "Something happen today," he asks, under his breath to you.
Ami shrugs helplessly. "She asked about yesterday...apparently I looked really bad when you brought me in....so I told her everything. It...was hard on both of us." she replies in the same low tone.
"I didn't want her to worry, so I invited her to come to set her mind at rest that I was at least in good hands. But...something's wrong, isn't there?" she guessed.
"Ah," Artemis merely nods to that. "Ah, we'll discuss it once we arrive," he says quietly, looking up as Professor Tomoe explains the concept of auras to Ami's mother. The latter is having a time with it.
"This sounds like junk science," she notes, rubbing her temple. "Auras, magic, girls in short skirts fighting evil..."
"It can be a bit much to understand at first," Professor Tomoe agrees. "It takes an open mind, but it really is there if you're willing to look for it. It's no different than our current science to a 19th century man experimenting with the laws of gravity of physics."
Ami nods to Artemis, giving in to the delay again and turning back to the conversation, nodding in agreement with the professor. "It's really a science on it's own." she chimes in softly. "It's hard to understand at first, but after some exploration, you can find laws and prinicples that apply to the field as well." she offers.
"Exactly, Ami," Professor Tomoe agrees, approval in his voice. "Modern thought hasn't moved to accept things it labels as supernatural yet, as most lack the technology to comprehend and understand it.
Even if you get a head start into the field, it takes a lot of work to begin to carve out the basic principals, but they are there. Though they may defy the normal scientific mind for quite some time, as it requires a new way of thinking. There are still the patterns and chain reactions at the base of it, but everything else is so different. Calling on a being beyond the stars may be absurd to most, but if one knows the proper methodology and have the proper tools and technology for it - or magic, to be accurate - it's no more difficult than any other scientific achievement."
Ami nods. "In many respects, it also has limits similar to regular science. What you can do is restricted by your available power, knowledge and materials..." she hesitates briefly. "Which is why the 'Juuban Sickness' crops up so often. Magical 'Engineers' look for parts and energy in the population of Tokyo."
*Ding* goes the elevator as it stops.
"I see," Sakura demurs quietly, thinking that over carefully. "You make it all sound so...scientific...."
"It is, in the proper light. The same way that in the wrong light, science can appear just as magic is."
Ami nods, falling quiet again as they reach the 60th floor. Curiously, she looks around, anticipation pressing her. She wonders idly if she's worrying too much, and tries to put it out of her mind until she discovers what's going on.
It's pretty barren up here. There is a rough floorplan, but most of the rooms are unfilled and dim. Only a single office is really here, opposite side of the floor. The door is open, a simple table, chairs, and a desk up here. It's very casual, the back wall taken up by a wall to wall window.
The city of Tokyo is below, snow falling to it from not so far above snowclouds. It's like a tapestry of white, most details muted and shushed. Yet it's serenity is undeniable, soothing to look at. "Please, sit," Professor Tomoe says, going to the only decoration on the table - a simple phone. "I'll have some tea brought up, and we can rest and discuss matters."
Ami pauses, looking out the window. The snow -was- pretty...after a moment, she moves over to one of the chairs, and settles into it, resting her hands on her lap.
The rest assembled do the same., Artemis going as far as to go to the window and take several seconds to enjoy the view.
In fact, he stays there for the moment. "As we were discussing...Miss Nakahime," Professor Tomoe begins. "You were correct, Ami. There was some sort of modification in progress, extending down to her cells. While I believe whatever the final gola of it was has been abated," Professor Tomoe pauses to take off his glasses, cleaning them with his shirt hem before going on.
"It seems that a degree of the changes are done and will remain short of a corrective measure, which is unlikely at best. Celcia's methods are unfamiliar, and trying to remove the effects blindly could be catatrophic."
Ami winces. "What are the side effects of the changes?" she asks quietly. "Will she be able to live normally after this, or are the changes serious?"
Ami's mother listens quietly, but intently, as these very words may have a future bearing on her beloved daughter. Artemis still stares out at the snow, knowing what is going to come next from the Professor.
"That...this is all speculation and theory right now. Until there is practical data on it, it's accuracy cannot be verified." Nodding to Ami, "The changes are three fold - an increased resistance to cold, which I believe could have been extended to levels beyond which could be measured, an attunement, for a lack of a better word, with frost and cold.
It anything, this reminds me of the readings from your control over water and ice, or Rei's control over fire. It manipulates the elemental force directly. How strong it would have become..." Professor Tomoe shrugs lightly. "Is inconclusive. Third..."
At this, he takes another breath. "There were traces of cancerous cells in her body. I say were, as not only have the remaining cells be superfrozen to be selectively destoryed, there seems to have been a general lowering of the operative body temperature along those lines."
Ami sighs, unsure wheather to be pleased or disturbed. "Well...She got what she wanted." She muses, slumping a little and speculating. "None of the side effects seem particularly harmful..."
"Though, I'm unsure how to feel about potentially having created a metahuman..." she adds. "But none of this will impede her ability to go back to her life?"
"I hope not, but..." Professor Tomoe glances outside again. "We won't know for sure until she's up and moving again, and we understand how deep and meaningful the effects are."
"It is entirely possible she will lead a normal life after this. It's also possible that the changes will in some way make a normal life impossible."
"I understand." Ami frowns. "I hope I did the right thing after all."
"You did, Ami, otherwise it is quite likely she would be dead or have her body as no more than a vessel for Celcia.
Miss Mizuno, you should be proud of your daughter. She did a selfless, heroic act. Not many can claim courage as such." Resting back in his seat slightly, he turns his gaze to Sakura.
Sakura bows her head a moment, sighing. "She has, I suppose," she concedes. "I just hope that there are no repercussions..."
Ami blushes awkwardly, then winces at her mother's reaction. Should I have lied...? No, I can't lie to save my life, and she deserves honesty...it just...this is hardly ideal.
"Indeed..." Professor Tomoe nods, then goes on.
"Ami, with the readings we have from Miss Nakahime, we have a baseline to work with to see if the same effects were wrought on you. Also, I hope this may provide some insight to what occured to your Talisman.
With any fortune, the readings should be done shortly."
I...No, it couldn't be. I suffered far less exposure...but, the cold... Ami nods pensively to Professor Tomoe, examining the hands intertwined in her lap. Just slow down...find out what's going on before you panic...
"Do you have any idea how quickly the changes were effected?" Ami asks softly.
"I'm afraid not," Professor Tomoe shakes his head. "I don't have enough information to really make an accurate guess on the matter. Sorry, Ami."
To that, he reaches for the phone. "I'm going to have Eudial bring up the print out from my computer, it should be nearly done...along with some tea, I expect. We'll know shortly either way."
"I hope so." Ami admitted, chewing softly on her bottom lip. "I didn't think anything of it, but I remember noting on the way here that it didn't seem as cold out as it should have..."
She looks up, smiling a bit nervously. "But then, I may be simply paranoid."
"Perhaps," Professor Tomoe says, filing away that information for later.
Mom simply rubs her forehead again, as Professor Tomoe uses the phone and Artemis continues to stare outside the snowy backdrop. It's an uneasy scene, as everyone seems to be waiting, and waiting...
Ami sighs softly, and turns inward to her own thoughts, worrying mostly about her mother's reaction to the rapidly increasing likelihood that her thoughtless actions had left a permanent mark, contemplating her own hands...
Ten minutes pass. No one seems to have the desire or the will to break into the other's thoughts, and thus it passes.
Finally, perhaps a mercy from above, "Professor," Eudial calls as she enters, a few sheets of computer paper in hand, as well as a tray. "Your readings and your drinks," she comments, handing the papers over and playing the cart next to Ami. As she does so, you hear her grumble under her breath about being a 'maid girl while everyone else has the day off'...
I need to do something nice for Eudial. Ami thinks, with an inwardly embarrassed sigh. She does have a point.
Turning, she glances at the cart, gingerly offering her mother a cup before taking some herself.
It's hot and wet, which is about all that can be saidf or the tea, you find. You're too nervous to really enjoy it.
Mother takes the cup you offer, sipping once at it while regarding the Professor. "WELL?!" is the unspoken question in her eyes, as he reads.
And reads.
And reads...
Artemis turns, waiting and frowning...
"Ami," he finally looks up, smiling. "The good news is that there was no detection of any of the bodily changes in Miss Nakahime in your own. Unless the changes are too miniscule to obverse, there was no effect in that regard."
Ami sighs, smiling a little in relief and relaxing slightly, "That IS good news." The phrasing of the announcement sinks in and she looks up, frowning. "Uhm. And...the bad news?" she asks, guessing at the Professor's point.
Sakura lets loose a deep breath she was holding, almost deflating from that mere motion. She smiles then, turning to you and taking your hand. "I'm so relieved for that," she says honestly, relief painted in buckets on her face.
"But yes...is there bad news," she asks a moment later at the phrasing.
Professor Tomoe shakes his head. "I'm not sure of it's BAD news, but we still seem to be at a loss about your Talisman, Ami. The energy is too dense and difficult to read without customizing a scan just for it.
And if anything will come of this..." he gazes down at the bracelet on your slender wrist, "That will be it. It's energy has increased considerably in it's own way."
Ami smiles in relief at her mother, the load off her mind almost visible as it's removed, and feeling a little embarrassed about worrying about the lack of cold. That's what I get for letting paranoia run away with me. she chides herself.
At the news of her Talisman, Ami frowns and sighs. "Disappointing, but not entirely suprising." she admits. "Celcia herself was extrememly difficult to get readings on..."
"Speaking of such, I'd like to see your readings for that to use them to help analyse your Talisman," Professor Tomoe notes.
Sakura is just smiling now, most of her tension fading away....
"They should still be in the Mercury Computer," Artemis throws in. "We'll get this Talisman mess sorted out soon enough, I'm certain."
Ami nods. "Mm. I can file dump to the Labratory computers whenver you like."
A nod from the Professor. "In that case, we can go now. If you excuse us...you can stay up here awhile, this shouldn't take us long."
Sakura blinks, but nods. "Actually...I want to talk to you," she speaks up. "Would it be possible for Ami to do it herself or with Artemis?" Mom seems intent suddenly, strangely so.
Ami blinks, taken slightly aback by the suddenness of the request, but nods to herself, and glances at the professor.
A nod, reasonably enough. "Ami should be capable of it, and if case there are any difficulties, Eudial should be down there. Go ahead, Ami. Artemis, too," he asks, turning his attention to your mother.
Artemis shrugs, walking up besides you..then after a moment, becomes smaller, whiter and furrier, hopping across your shoulders and backneck. "Let's go, Ami," he says, warm to you.
Ami smiles warmly at Artemis, petting the Mau gently as she leaves the office, heading down to the level's elevator.
"That went...suprisingly well." Ami fairly beams, relieved to have gotten a clean bill of health. "And Mother...had an easier time than I'd feared..."
"It could have been much worse," he agrees, as the elevator arrives. "I'm glad you're going to be fine, Ami-chan."
Taking a moment to remember, "I'm really glad. How would I be able to face Luna if I'd let something happen to you after Minako?"
Ami gently pulls Artemis off her shoulder to look him in the eye, cradling the feline form gently. "Artemis...I can only imagine how hard I must have made it for you...But you're not responsible for my recklessness yesterday, or for what happened to Minako." she told him softly.
"I'm not saying this because I don't value you, either." She murmurs, stepping into the elevator, and pressing the button for the basement laboratory. "You're an excellent advisor...and my best friend." she admits, blushing. "No matter what happens, you can face Luna or anyone secure in the knowledge you did you best...." she smiles, hugging the small form.
"But, on the other hand, I'll do my best to make sure you don't have to worry about that, too." she amended, embarrassedly.
"Yeah, but..." Artemis begins, but doesn't get a real word in edgewise as Ami makes the Mau her hugging toy. Coughing a bit at the full Ami-chan press and experience, he just is silent until she finishes.
"Thanks, Ami," he finally says into your ear, as you make Artemis your improptu plushie. Sounding somewhat more bouyant after your words, "But still...let's make sure it doesn't come to that."
Letting himself stay in the girl's embrace a little while longer, "Speaking of worries...I wonder how it's going upstairs," Artemis muses, thinking of a few possible scenarios for Ami's mother.
Either she's tearing him a new one or she's just breaking down....heh, unless...
GAH![/size]
Get your mind out the gutter, Artemis! I don't even want to THINK of Ami's mother doing THAT! Stop being so...
"Yeah, going alright," Artemis says again a few moments later after a rythmic pause, sighing and scrunching up his cute cat face. "Hopefully it is, anyway...but not too good..." The last part is muttered, but audible due to your closeness to him.
Ami blinks, giving Artemis a curious look. "Why wouldn't we want it to go too well?" She asks, loosening her grip on her Mau jus a bit, but not moving to put him back on her shoulder just yet, cradling the small cat to her chest.
"Nevermind, Ami-chan," Artemis demurs, putting the matter aside. "Just nevermind that. I was...um...just half thinking outloud about something else." Laughing a bit nervously, he tries not to give away his position. "Regardless, we need to focus on your Talisman now. How it interacted with Celcia and the effects one will have on another is something we'll need to figure out."
Ami nods. "I was considering that..." she admits. "The scans are...significant, but incoherent. Due to the nature of what I actually did...I think perhaps Rei-chan might be able to shed some light on it."
She sighs, the admission that technology has it's limits sitting somewhat poorly with her. "At least, it might be a place to start."
"It's something to consider later today," Artemis nods. Thus, the elevator trip goes. Once in the lab, imputting the data is a simple matter, you are familiar with it and now the proper protocols.
Ami finishes with the data dump from her computer with no difficulty, and plenty of time to spare.
Absently, she settles down to wait, turning on the one little game she's allowed herself to download onto the mercury computer, and as Skuld from 'Ah! Megami-sama', she gets down to business smacking imaginary bugs...
Artemis watches as cute little Skuld-chan smashes bugs. If only Goddesses existed, ones that watched over us and not enslaved your friend to a hellish mockery of her life...
Ah, well. To daydream...
As you kill time, finally, "Ami," Professor Tomoe says softly, breaking your concetration in the game. With your mother right besides him, you see that you've lost track of things and Artemis has half dozed off, making a warm cathair neck warmer...
Ami looks up, blushing and discreetly switching off the game as Skuld's voice yelps "Ahhh, mou!" from the speaker, looking at her mother and the Professor as they enter.
"Yes?" she asks embarrassedly, turning to the pair.
Professor Tomoe looks off, somehow. Perhaps...abashed a tiny bit? Mother looks more normal now, most of the stress gone, at least on the surface. "We're done," he says simply. "I except any analysis I have will take the day, so you're welcome to go home now. No need to stay locked up down here.
If you are ready, I asked Eudial to be ready for the return trip."
Ami nods, standing carefully and steadying the dozing Artemis with one hand, and smiling at the professor innocently, the difference in his expression not fully registering, though she does notice it.
Dismissing the pondering of it for a moment, she nods. "Un. Professor..." she ventures, "Artemis and I were talking...considering the nature of what I did with Celcia, perhaps we should bring Rei-chan in on the investigation of it? It seems to be her area, and might give us a place to start..."
"IT's not a bad idea," he agrees, thoughtfully. "Perhaps you could go talk to her and discuss this with her? A fire reading could be useful as well."
Artemis stirs, blinking slowly. "Oh, they're back...." he manages, Sakura nodding.
Ami nods, smiling slightly. "I'll do that." she blinks and looks to her mother. "Would it be alright if I left from here, and Eudial drove you home?" she asks, blushing a little. "She's already been very good about it, and I don't want her to think I consider her my own personal taxi service."
"That's fine," PRofessor Tomoe shrugs, but glances over to your mother. "How will you get about in this storm, Ami-chan," Sakura asks, frowning at the thought. "There are over two feet of snow and it's still going."
Ami thinks for a moment. "Mm. Rei-chan's shrine is some ways away, but within walking distance. Is it possible to navigate and leave the tunnels on foot, Professor? I've never tried..."
Taken off guard by it, Tomoe hesitates. "It's possible...there are exits leading out, though...
I'm not entirely sure. There is a floor plan for them somewhere around here..." His frown starts and becomes more pronouced as he thinks. "Ami, perhaps it would be best to wait until conditions improve? As long as there are no signs of fluctuations, we can wait until tomorrow and the end of the storm."
Ami blinks, raising her eyebrows, then nods slowly. If the professor was that reluctant perhaps...
"All right." she nods, smiling slightly. "Best not to explore the tunnels alone, I suppose..."
"If that's all," Sakura nods, "Let's get home, Ami-chan." Mom speaks less harshly than before, coming to lay a soothing hand on your shoulder.
Ami nods, smiling up at her mother. Despite the rather...draining beginning to the day, things seem to be looking up. Absently petting Artemis as she stands, Ami smiles to Professor Tomoe.
"Thank you for everything..."
"Think nothing of it," he says, with a nod. "I'll see you tomorrow," he comments, before heading over to the machines to begin his work...
On heading outside, lead by your mother, you find Eudial waiting. She simply nods and goes on ahead. But, your mother holds you back....
"Ami-chan," she sighs once, deeply. "I'm glad you're alright...you had me worried!" Stopping full on, she turns, embraces your shoulders, and hugs you tight. "I'm sorry if I was hard on you today, but...you scared me, Ami. You really did."
Ami blushes, and hugs her mother in return, smiling a bit tremulously. "I know." she replies softly. "I'm sorry." Curiously, a weight pulls off her shoulders at her mother's words.
"I probably would have done the same if I were in your postion." she admits.
"I'm glad for that," Sakura nods, breaking the hold. "It's cliche, but I'm doing it because I love you and I'm worried about you..."
Smiling now that her emotions have balanced back out, "Let's go home, Ami...and Artemis, too," she says, reaching out to pet the now just really stirring Mau. "We can rest and forget about this for the rest of the day, alright?"
Ami blinks, and nods, emotion welling up..."Love you, too, 'kaasan." she murmurs, being taken back to her childhood briefly. Moments like this are too few and far between as she gets older...
And thus, Ami heads home.
The drive back is uneventful - Eudial pushes 100 MBH, perhaps, but still says semi sane. You are soon back home as even more snow falls...
The rest of the day is spent with your mother - something you find you've missed. With Artemis mainly snoozing on your shoulder, the time passes in simple conversation. While perhaps not as rawly intelligent as you, Saruka is more than capable of keeping up with your insights and thoughts.
By the time you go to bed...you feel good somehow.
And thus, another day begins. One for Ami that will require visiting her friend Rei and perhaps finding out what has happened to her Talisman.
And herself.
Good luck, Ami-chan!
OOC - Locking this topic, then a new one for the IRC log, then a new topic.