Notes:
This story is set for the time right after episode 177.  Comments, feedback, send to 
loveprincess@birdangel.net.  My collective is at http://www.birdangel.net if you want to 
find my other fics.  Thanks!

What Does The Rain Say?
A Taiki/Ami fanfic by Love Princess

I walked home from Sensei's house with a strangely light heart.  The night air was 
ironically warm, for it had been raining only two hours before.  Everything about life was 
full of irony.  Look at me, Taiki Kou, Sailor Star Maker.  My goal is only to find and then 
protect my princess.  Nothing else matters.  And yet… I can't get that girl's innocent eyes 
out of my mind.  She's foolish and naïve, and yet she gets the same marks as me.  Yes, 
life is strangely ironic.  What is it about her that draws me in?  She believes blindly in 
dreams and love.  Those things died for me with the destruction of Kinmoku.  I don't 
need dreams or love anymore, only my princess.  And yet… I'm so alone.  One more day 
without my princess is a day I don't want to bear.  Mizuno-san, she doesn't know what 
pain I'm in.  She can't understand.  No one understands.  Princess, where are you?  Why 
won't you come to us?  My heart is heavier now.  Around those girls I can almost 
forget… but I am always brought back to reality again.

I reached home and let myself in with my key.  Perhaps writing some poetry would take 
my mind off things.  I curled up on the couch and pulled out my notebook, but my mind 
was blank.  What could I write?  I looked outside my window to the cloudless sky for an 
answer.  So many stars, pulsing with life.  Somewhere out there was Sensei's comet of 
"dreams and romance."  I sighed gloomily when the phone rang, shaking me with a start.  
I rolled over and picked up the phone.  "Moshi moshi?"

"Hello, Taiki-san.  It's Mizuno Ami."

I groaned inwardly.  Why now?  "Hello, Mizuno-san.  Can I help you?"

"I just wanted to thank you for coming to see the comet with us.  It meant a lot to me, 
especially since it had been raining for long."

Ah yes, the rain.  Droning on and on, it obscures our vision of the future and keeps us 
from our Princess.  The dreary rain reminds me of my soul – dark and cloudy.  And yet –

"Um, Taiki-san?"

"Oh, sorry Mizuno-san.  I was lost in thought."  My voice drifted off again.  What was it 
about this girl?

"I was wondering something, Taiki-san," Mizuno said.

"Yes?"

"Well, it's probably silly.  But… I was wondering if you thought there was a possibility 
that dreams and romance made the rain stop."

Could they have?  Was she trying to insult me?  The Taiki of yesterday would have been 
rattling off the scientific explanation for the phenomenon by now.  But this girl's dreams 
made me think otherwise.  Perhaps they could have?

"I think that it's a possibility," I replied.  "Perhaps our wishes to see the comet made the 
rain stop."

"Do you really think so?" Mizuno asked eagerly.  Why did she get so excited about the 
un-scientific things?  In spite of myself, I felt my heart rise along with her hope.

"Yes, I think so.  You have strong dreams and a strong heart.  I think… perhaps… that 
you had the power to stop the rain."  Why was I saying these things?

"But Taiki-san, I'm sure you helped to stop the rain too.  You are an amazing person."

But I have no dreams or romance, I thought bitterly.  "Say, Mizuno-san."

"Yes?"

"How about we have lunch tomorrow at the café, to talk more about these dreams and 
romances of yours."  Now I've gone and done it.

"Sure, Taiki-san!  See you tomorrow!"

"Bye, Mizuno-san."

"Bye!"

We hung up.  I looked out at the stars again.  Perhaps, even without my Princess… I 
could make some dreams and romance of my own.