A visit to the blue star – MERCURY
„Are we there yet?"
„No, just a little farther ahead."
Mercury sighed and walked on. Not that she saw anything; Zoisite had insisted she blindfolded herself. All she did know was that they were in a forest outside of Kyoto. She heard its song and smelled its scent.
„You know", she said to her silent companion, „I sometimes really wish we had forests on the moon. They are so beautiful and so full of life. Can you hear the birds and insects?"
„I can hear them." Was there a touch of amusement in Zoisite's voice? „And I love the forest too – for the same reason like you. What I am going to show you now… is a jewel of the forest."
„You really like to torture me, do you", the princess complained. „Throwing hints at me like that. You're making me burst with curiosity."
Zoisite laughed softly. „Don't worry. A few more steps and we're there."
Indeed, after a few more steps Zoisite stopped, making her stop too. Then he let go of her hand.
„Take off your blindfold."
Mercury obeyed… and gasped.
Before her lay a clearing, about a hundred meters wide. And most of it was occupied by a deep, incredibly turquoise pond.
„Zoisite!" The yell escaped her lips without her doing. „This… this is wonderful!"
The shitennou looked rather pleased with himself. „Well, I knew you like water. So I thought showing you a forest pond might be a good idea. They're something special."
„Thank you so much!", the Mercurian princess said breathlessly. „It's… it's a very nice surprise. I don't know how to thank you."
„You don't need to." Zoisite laughed. „All I did was leading you here. However, I wished I could show you a mountain lake. Those are equally breathtaking as a beautifully set pond. It's a shame we only got so little time. But who knows, maybe during your next visit…"
„It's okay." Mercury smiled at him in her sweet way. „Really, it is okay. This pond is very, very nice. I wish we had such amounts of water on the moon. Be it as big as an ocean or as little and sweet like this pond."
Zoisite looked at her. His heart was racing. For two reasons actually; for one, he was euphoric because Mercury appreciated him bringing her here. As for the second reason… he simply dared not ask her the question that was burning on his tongue.
„Mercury…", he murmured. How sweet and innocent she looked as she marveled at the pond in silent joy. Then he had a fit of courage, through he had no idea where it came from. All he knew was that he had to ask now, or he'd never ask.
„Mercury….."
She turned at him, looking at him with her big, blue eyes. A expectant look lay in them, signalling him to continue.
„Actually… I didn't just bring your here to watch this pool. What I had in mind was… well… since you love water so much… how about a swim?"
The words were out. Zoisite held his breath. It seemed that even the forest was silent to hear her answer. To the shitennou, it seemed his heart beat so loudly that it must be audible in the entire clearing.
It didn't take long for the Mercurian princess to react. She blushed. Deeply. Lost for words, she stammered: „W… well… I… I don't know…"
Seeing her insecurity woke Zoisite's protective instinct.
„The choice is yours." He grabbed her at the shoulders and looked into her eyes determinatedly. „Whatever you choose is fine with me. I could never force you to do anything you don't want. And you know that."
Mercury cast her eyes downwards shyly. Did her blush deepen? Zoisite wasn't sure.
„Take your time desiding", he said, still keeping his voice calm and reassuring as he could. „It's really fine with me. I don't want you to rush anyting. You know that this is the way I am."
She gave a quick glance up at him. Then she sank into pondering. And really took her time. When she spoke again, Zoisite didn't know how long it had taken. The silence had seemed like a small eternity.
„I… I would love to go for a swim with you."
The laugh burst out of Zoisite without his doing. But he just couldn't help it. It was like an erruption; the anxiety had quite bottled up inside him when he had waited for her reply. Now he was so relieved she took his offer that the tension burst out of him. Besides, there was something about the way in which Mercury replied. He flung his arms around her in joy.
„I am so glad!", he exclaimed. „And you are still so incredibly shy! But that", his voice calmed and he looked into her eyes, „is what makes you so cute."
They undressed. Underneath their clothes, they wore swimming garmment. Zoisite had seen to that. Still, when he watched the Mercurian princess get out of her dress, he couldn't help but think that there was a unique frailty about the blue-haired girl. Inside him, the wish to protect stirred again.
She walked in first, with slow, cautious steps. Zoisite watched her very intently, taking in every single of her movements. That surprised the Shitennou. Mercury turned her head back to him.
„Uhm… I… I cannot swim."
Zoisite was so baffled that he was at a loss for words. „Huh?", was all he got out.
The princess lowered her eyes and even got a faint pink on her cheeks. „Even though the people in this land call Mercury the ,water planet', it is as dry as dust. No lakes, no rivers, no oceans and no ponds. The moon is just as dry. There are only enough springs to provide water for drinking and washing. And they're tiny, the biggest ones maybe half as big as this pond. I… never actually got a chance to learn how to swim."
Zoisite stared at her incredulously, not sure how to react or what to say. He knew, though, that laughing would be the greatest mistake he coul do. When he had recuperated from the surprise, he managed to smile.
„That's no problem at all", he said, trying to sound as encouraging as he could. „I'll teach you."
The relief and joy that blossomed on Mercury's face was like a refreshing spring rain to Zoisite's soul. „You'd… you'd really do that?"
„Of course." The Shitennou followed her into the water. „And it's easy too, you'll see."
And thir swimming lesson began. Zoisite first swam two rounds himself, to show her what the movements looked like. Then he came back to her and together, they advanced into deeper water. Zoisite held her afloat with a hand under her belly, so she could practise the moves. After a few strokes he was content and asked: „What do you think, should I let go? Do you want to try a round by yourself?"
After a moment of hesitation, the Mercury princess nodded. „I guess I can try."
The Shitennou withdrew his hand – and Mercury swam off with perfect strokes.
„Splendid!", Zoisite exclaimed, basking in the joy that showed on her features. „It's your first time and already you swim like a fish!"
„Thank you!", the princess replied, beaming.
She swam around the pool. Zoisite watched her, fascinated. Her movements looked so much more elegant and effortless than anything he had seen until now. He himself was not a bad swimmer, but compared to the princess of Mercury, he was a child splashing about and she a nix.
„Come!", she waved at him. „Let's swim together."
Happy about the invitation the Sitennou joined her in the middle of the pond, where it was deepest. Together, they swam about, in water that glittered in the sunlight. Neither said anything. Rather, they enjoyed each other's silent company.
Out of the blue Mercury opened her mouth and said: „Thank you."
The Shitennou looked at her surprise. They halted, swimming on the spot.
„Thank you", she repeated and looked him deeply into the eyes. Zoisite felt as if he was drowning in those deep blue orbs. „There aren't many who would have done that", she added.
And the princess of Mercury threw her arms around his neck.
They sunk, for Zoisite had not been prepared for it. But before he could move a muscle, she pressed her lips on his. The Shitennou froze, stared at the princess through the water. Not sure if this was actually real. Tentatively, he applied pressure of his own. Her lips felt so incredibly soft. And though they were in fresh water, he could taste the salty ocean too. Her taste. The taste of all kinds of water, from ocean to rain.
Mercury was his water goddess, descended from her distant home.
Zoisite felt as if he were floating, surrounded by the silence of water. The greenish hue gave it all a surreal air too. But it was real, so he cupped her faced with his hand, and returned the kiss.
When they ran out of breath, they returned to their surface. Gasping they sucked in the air. The princess of Mercury looked as amazed as he felt. For a while, they stared at each other. They felt too unreal to do anything else. Zoisite couldn't take his eyes of the blue-haired princess. Somehow, her wet hair made her look cute.
After a while, he managed to snap out of it and return to reality.
„Let's return to shore."
Mercury nodded agreement, and they swam back with calm strokes. There they dried themselves with towels Zoisite had brought. Once dressed again, they sat down in the grass and looked at the peaceful, shimmering water.
Suddenly, the princess leaned to the side, against him. „Thank you", she said again.
Zoisite frowned. She had thanked him for the swim already. „What for?"
She sighed. „For accepting me the way I am."
The Shitennou became very quiet. He had come to know Mercury as someone not opening up easily. But now, she sounded as if she had to tell him something of import, something bothering her. And that was a rare occasion. He better cherish it. So he waited. He did not want to press her. Some things must come of own initiative.
Apparently, Mercury had come to the same conclusion and had found words at that.
„Back on the Moon", she said, her voice very low. „I am an outsider. They talk about me behind my back. Pointing at me. They say…" A pause. „They say I am a freak, studying and knowing so much. Some might even be intimidated by my knowledge. And… when I am not fullfilling my duties as protector of princess Serenity, I am learning, reading. As the warrior of water and intelligence, it is my duty to be the knowledgeable of us protectors. I have an innate curiosity too. But… well, it leaves me no time to form bonds outside us Senshi. Everyone thinks I am a know-it-all. Only… only the other Senshi and princess Serenity… accepted me for what I am…"
When Zoisite noticed the tell-tale twitching of her shoulders, he wrapped his arms around her and pressed her to his chest. There, the dam broke and Mercury cried. Hot drops fell onto his uniform. But he did not care.
Mercury had opened her heart to him. The shy, soft-spoken princess had told him her greatest pain. Now he knew what was the source of that underlying sadness, which was even there when she laughed. He had know that she was the brightest mind of the moon, and brighter than anyone on Earth probably too. But that she carried such a pain… that her knowledge and intelligence were cause of such pain, he had not even guessed.
And he realised something else.
„This is the first time anyone has taught you anything."
The crying subsided, and Mercury nodded.
He planted a kiss on the top of her head. „Well, I am glad you had the princess and the other guardians at your side. They made your days bearable until meeting me. Now I am here. And I will take care of you, even when others won't."
He leaned down and kissed away the last tears that were running down her face. Once he was done, Mercury had stopped shaking. The princess pressed her face against hi schest and murmured: „Thank you, thank you, thank you."
Her gratitude was ointment for his soul. Zoisite wrapped his arms tighter around her, protectively. She was his mermaid, and he would protect her. Together they sat, enjoying the beautiful day that filled the forest with green and gold.
Thus, the formless water was tamed by a man of Earth.