Scattered Light (Ami Yuuka)

"Oh Yeah? Huh...odd." Ami's eyes were clearing up and she rolled onto her back so she was looking into Ice's eyes. Her violet eyes were molten pools enhanced but her constant crying for the past hours.

As they locked eyes, Ice stared for a long moment before he reached down to gently wipe her tears away with a soft, subtle smile and an encouraging tone, "Don't cry."

"I can't help it." She mumbled leaning her cheek against his hand. But the tears didn't fall anymore.

"I understand," was his simple reply as he drew her close in a surprisingly warm embrace.

Ami snuggled into Ice's chest. "I'm glad the rest of us are safe." She mumbled.

"Affirmative," Water strode out of the dark toward the fire and sat down.



Though he did not let go of his embrace, Ice straightened up a bit as Water came into view, "Did you find him?"

"Fire?," she clarified for him, "Asleep a little ways into the cave."

"Well hello Water." Ami's molten eyes locked on Water across the fire. "Why doesn't that surprise me? Fire, in a volcanic cave."

"His fury exhausted him," Water promptly excused her brother.

Ami sighed again. "I wish he wouldn't get so worked up...or rather...he shouldn't blast things to all hell when he did."

"He has to let it out somewhere," Water reminded her.



"A far cry from the tactical warrior who once shunned such indulgences," Ice noted in turn with a quirked brow, arms still snug around Shadow.

"...Much has changed since Father died," Water looked away.

"I never did properly apologize to Knuckles..." Ami mused.

"If he hadn't defeated Father in battle, his mind might not have been lost," Water frowned.



"Nor might he have created us," Ice reminded her, his tone a bit harsh, "It could be said we owe our very existence to that battle."

"A moot point really," he added after a moment of tense silence between the two, "Mother admonished us that we should no longer interfere in the affairs of mortals."

"Ah, yes...," Water looked away again. Was that a nervous fidget from her just now?

"Water..." Ami asked suspicion coloring her voice. "What as that?" She asked her back leaning against Ice's chest.

"He... attacked a neighboring village during his rampage," Water sighed.



Ice said nothing, but his glare was intense enough to make Water shrink away.

"What an ass hole." Ami grumbled. "Alright Ice, Let me up I have to go fix this."

Water was already standing, "Let him be. He's had a rough day. We all have. Confronting him won't solve anything."



"Regardless," Ice stood as well, arms crossed, "If the boy does not learn restraint, he will inevitably get himself killed or endanger our family. I'll deal with him myself."

Ami put her arm up to stop Ice. "I meant the town." She growled, her tone suddenly extremely threatening.

Ice stared at Shadow for a long time, eyes locked. When he was this focused, it was hard to believe anything could stand in his way. She still remembered his epic battle against their crazed father. Not one among the six had stood that long or that well against the might of Eldritch Dol.

"What are you planning?," he asked at length, his tone calm and even.

"I'm planning to apologize, offer to heal their burnt, rebuild their destroyed buildings." Ami's eyes were hard, no longer the liquid molten rock they were before. "I don't want people to be afraid of us when we leave this cave Ice."

Giving it only a moment's more thought, Ice nodded, "Water, go with her."



"What about Fire?," she protested.

"I'm not asking," he glowered her way, "Your ability to heal will come in handy. I'll keep watch here and prevent Fire from causing any more trouble if it comes to it."

Ami nodded. "Let's go Water."

The pair took to the sky with water leading the way. The trip was silent for a time until Water decided to break the ice.



"Why did you choose the name Ami?," she asked at length, completely random for her.

"Well...in Japanese...Ami Yuuka means, Beautiful Flower...I wanted my name to mean something..." Ami tried to explain. "I'm not sure if that makes sense."

"It always seemed foolish before, your pre-occupation with the ways of humans," Water explained in her usual rational manner, "But spending time with Fire has taught me that emotions, even excessive ones, can be beautiful and unique. I have deemed it a necessary exercise for myself in the future."

Ami turned to Water with surprise. "Really?"