Recovery and advancement(Natsume, Ami thread)

[Midnight Sun]

"My grandfather is also my sensei, we were involved in a training session when the accident occurred," Natsume explains to Ami and her mother. "Kurumi here, despite her age, is the mother for all intents and purposes. I really don't know what'd we do without her."

[Bean Bandit]

Ami blinks and she turns to the younger girl and bows to Kurumi as well. "High praise." she observes, smiling tentatively. "Nice to meet you, as well..."

[Midnight Sun]

"That's pretty much my entire immediate family," Natsume says next. "Though it probably would've been better if we had all met under better circumstances...I guess it couldn't be helped."

[Bean Bandit]

"It could be worse." Ami offers with a shy smile. "It least you're doing well, despite the injury."

She hesitates, then smiles again, impishly. "Even if the food -is- awful."

[Anastasia]

"It is, save your appietite for lunch," Sakura suggests. "Anyway, Ami, I need to go see my other patients today. I hope you feel better, Natsume," With those closing comments, she goes off and leaves you alone with Natsume and family.

[Midnight Sun]

After watching Dr. Mizuno leave, she quickly glances over to her grandfather,  who does not look like he has any intention of leaving anytime soon...

"Ummm...Kurumi, grandfather, if you don't mind...I'd like to try and get a little more rest," Natsume says. "It seems I'm not quite over this splitting headache...as it were..."

[Bean Bandit]

Ami blinks in mild surprise, feeling vaguely...disappointed. That was...sudden. she thinks. I hope I didn't upset her, somehow... with that, Ami takes a half step back, preparing to follow Natsume's family from the room...

[Anastasia]

"We'll be back for lunch," Kurumi agrees, leaving with Grandfather in tow...

[Midnight Sun]

"Ami! Wait!" Natsume stops the girl as she's leaving herself, after Kurumi and her grandfather leave the room. "I...I'd appreciate it...if you stayed..."

[Bean Bandit]

Ami blinks, hesitating a moment, her cheeks turning a decidedly rosy color. Nodding shyly, she halts at the door, then heads back into the room. "S-Sure..." she murmurs, moving over beside Natsume's bed.

[Midnight Sun]

Here she was. Just the two of them. She and Ami...alone...in the same room...finally. It...It was...what the hell was she supposed to do now?

"Uhhh..hmmmm," she starts. "I...uhhh...I think this is the first time we've had a chance to talk like this..."

[Bean Bandit]

Ami nods, blushing. "Mm. We do...seem to keep meeting in crowds, don't we?"

Oh, kami....I've never asked for anything...please don't let me be tongue tied now! she mentally begged.

"Un...I-I never did get a chance to thank you for your help back at the mall." she ventured softly.

[Midnight Sun]

"Oh it was no problem," Natsume says as she waves it off. "I was happy to help...really. I got to meet all of you, so I should be the one thanking you."

[Bean Bandit]

Ami blink-blinks at that. "T-Thanking me?" she asks, bewildered. "What for?"

[Midnight Sun]

What to say...how to say it...when answers fail to come for those questions she can only do what makes the most sense, be sincere. She takes a deep, long breath before starting...

"I don't know why, but ever we first met at the mall...I haven't been able to stop thinking about you," she says straight. "I can't say why I feel this way. I've...never felt like this before, so I guess I don't know how to deal with it very well."

She stops for a moment to collect her wits, which are rapidly slipping...

"I've tried to rationalize it, or to push it out of my mind completely, but it always comes back eventually," she continues. "It...kind of scares me. I mean, I don't know alot about you personally, so I'm afraid that what I'm feeling might not be real y'know? I've been in love with the senshi for so long, it might be just some childish crush after meeting you for the first time..."

Natsume sighs again before going on. It was when she picked her up, when she held her for the first time. She thought that was the moment it started, but that was beside the point....

"The reason I want to thank you, is because, regardless of how confusing it is, I wouldn't be feeling this way if it weren't for you," she explained. So...I really want to thank you for that."

Now for the hard part....

"This...might be asking alot but...I was hoping maybe the two of us could try to get to know each other better. I want to see if what I'm feeling is really real or...just something fleeting." Natsume says. "I can't guarantee that I won't wind up hurting you...and myself...in the end but...I hope it turns out to be something we can both...sincerely live with...if that makes any sense..."