Recovery and advancement(Natsume, Ami thread)

[Bean Bandit]

Ami listens to Natsume speak, her eyes getting wider and wider with every word, blushing in earnest now, her entire face nearly glowing crimson with heat, the dull thump of her heartbeat clearly audible in her ears.

I....Is she serious? M-Me? Ami drew a soft, shuddering breath, ducking her head to let her bangs hang over her eyes. "I....I..." she stutters, then cuts herself off, trying to gather herself from being blown completely away by Natsume's confession.

"I...I've been thinking about you, too." She blurts. The words spill out of her mouth in a rush, and she shivers minutely at the surrealness of the whole situation, a shocked joy held in check by mind-shattering nervousness.

"I don't...I don't..." Steady Ami...Steady! She...slow....just, slow. Get the words out, and stop shaking! "I don't know what might happen...But." she manages, her voice dropping to a whisper. "I'd...I don't even know what I'm saying." she murmured, still intently studying the floor, her face hot. "B-But...I felt something too...s-so I don't think you need to thank me..."

Wh-What kind of response is that? She wouldn't...but I...More...but she! Just...make yourself clear! No matter what!

Tentatively, Ami reaches for Natsume's hand...and looks up sharply as a tingle hits her skin from where their skin touches, her wide, startled blue eyes fixing on Natsume's face, her blush deepening further still.

[Midnight Sun]

She smiles a bit as she feels Ami's hand touch her own. Their eyes meet next, and Natsume's mind begins to jumble again.

'I've already come this far, what reason do I have to be nervous?' she thinks. With those words she can feel her short lived insecurity slipping away. "Can I assume by the smile on your face that you accept?"

[Bean Bandit]

Ami nods slowly, a nervous trembling beginning to manifest. "Uhm...Y-Yes." she replies softly, trying to steady her voice, and not succeeding at it all that well.  

"I-I...what do we do from here?" Ami asks meekly, almost desperately trying to confirm she's heard everything correctly. "I don't...I mean, I've never been...in a situation like this..."

[Midnight Sun]

"Heh, me neither," Natsume says with a small giggle. "Umm...well...I guess, how about you come over for dinner...tonight?"

[Bean Bandit]

Ami blinks, her eyes widening briefly before a small, slightly tremulous smile makes it's way onto her face.

"Ah...Alright." she replies shyly, bobbing her head in a short nod.

[Midnight Sun]

"Great! That's great," Natsume smiles like an excited child. "Umm, I should probably tell Kurumi...though maybe I should try cooking this time."

She thinks over the notion. The last time she tried cooking she wound up turning the kitchen into a bio-hazard zone for a day or two...which is about how long it took Kurumi to clean up the mess...

'Well, that was then, this is now! I've watched Kurumi do it plenty of times since then!' she thinks with determination. "I'll do that. I'll cook dinner for you!"

[Bean Bandit]

Ami smiles a little more calmly, still blushing, and nods. She...Her enthusaism is infectious. I -like- this side of her personality. It makes her seriousness more charming, and this...She's cute...and interested in me? I've wandered into a parallel universe, I'm sure... Ami's thoughts churn rapidly as she stuggles to keep her nervous excitement from spilling over.

"It sounds wonderful." Ami giggles softly, still blushing. "I-I'll look forward to it." she tells Natsume, butterflies in her stomach fluttering in earnest.

[Midnight Sun]

"Well, hopefully I'll get out of the hospital in time to do all that..." Natsume says. "I wish Usagi were here, she could use some of her healing magic and fix me up again."

[Bean Bandit]

Ami smiles slightly. "Mm, that is handy, but from what mother said, you really shouldn't need it. You sound mostly recovered already." she pauses, blushing a little. "I mean...ahm...you sound healthy enough- Ano..." Ami stutters blushing darkly as she slowly gets more and more tongue tied.

[Midnight Sun]

"You don't need to say it," Natsume says with another giggle. "Y'know...when I was young, there was a stray kitten that lived near our dojo. Its mother must have died at some point, since it had to learn to hunt and forage all on its own. I remember when it tried chasing mice, it would always trip over itself running, but no matter what it would always get back and keep trying."

That had been long time ago, she was amazed she still remembered.

"You remind me of that kitten, especially since it had very blue fur, like you."

[Bean Bandit]

Ami blushes, absorbing that and reflexively reaching up to touch her hair as Natsume mentions it. She ducks her head, looking at Natsume through the veil of azure bangs in her eyes. "Uhm...thank you?" She ventures shyly.

[Midnight Sun]

"Sorry for bringing that up so suddenly, it kind of just popped into my head!" she says nervously. "Well, anyway, I probably really should get some rest if I want to get home in time..."

She searches for nearby piece of paper and writing untensil, then writes down her home address.

"I...should have everything ready by about nine o' clock, hopefully," Natsume guesses. "So, if you could come around then, it'd be perfect."

[Bean Bandit]

Ami shakes her head, smiling sheepishly. "No, It's fine...I'm flattered, actually." she admits softly. "It just caught me by surprise..." she assures Natsume. "I apologize for being so awkward."

She smiles softly at Natsume as she accepts the paper, glancing at it to confirm the address before nodding. "I-I'm looking forward to it." she tells the dark haired girl warmly. "I'll see you then?" she says as she prepares to leave the girl to her rest.

[Midnight Sun]

"Y...Yeah, I'll see you then," Natsume replies as she watches the other girl leave. 'Cook dinner...for the entire family....what the hell did I just do?'

[Anastasia]

Signed up to cook dinner tonight while recovering from a concussion, silly.

Or so you think Fuuuuuuck.

Should be interesting, though, you muse, even as you feel confortable in your bed already.