Sing For Me, Rabbit

By Satanira

Endymion is killed in what appears to be an accident, and the only possible husband for Princess Serena now is his half-brother, Wufei. Love letters, secret meetings, and passion abound between the royal murderess and the soldier-raised bastard as rules are broken, traditions ignored, and Princess Serena learns what emotion really is. (SM/GW AU, romance/horror) ~language, adult situations, graphic violence~

Chapter One~ Lamb For the Slaughter

"Good." Princess Serena stated coldly, her icy blue eyes flashing with satisfaction at the news.
"Good?" Queen Serenity repeated incredulously. "How can you say that? He was to marry you next month!"
"Exactly." Serena countered, her hands never faltering as they pulled the right side of her shining blond hair into its accustomed odango and pigtail. "I desired no such arrangement. I thought I made that perfectly clear when you first informed me of it." The princess's mouth curved into a grim, bone-chilling smile that sent shivers down her mother's back. "Were prince Endymion to have survived this most unfortunate accident, I would have continued in my attempt to evade wedlock."
"I don't understand you, Serena." Serenity said helplessly, shaking her head. "Any other woman in the System would have been delighted to wed Endymion. Why must you be so rebellious?"
Serena's smile widened, becoming positively malicious at the queen's discomfort. "I'm not being rebellious, Mother. Merely a teenager. All children go through this stage; you yourself must have at one point. Now I must respectfully insist that you leave. I need to ready myself for court."
Serenity hung her head in defeat and rose, moving slowly to the door. She glanced back once at the slim blond seated at the vanity before stepping into the hall and quietly closing the door.
"Oh, Selene, why did you curse me with this monster?" Serenity demanded in a low voice, casting an angry glance towards the starry vastness of space. "Why did you steal my Relena and give me that... creature as an heir?"

Serena waited until the door to her room clicked shut before beginning to chuckle softly.
"Endymion, you fool." She whispered cheerfully. "Did you think I wouldn't find some way to rid myself of you before they forced me into your arms? Did you really believe my threats were empty? I always knew you were an idiot; I never just guessed just how far it went."
Still giggling merrily to herself, Serena stood and went to her giant wardrobe, intent on finding the perfect dress to celebrate the demise of an idiot.

"We have to marry her to someone, Majesty." Sailor Venus said, sighing heavily as she fell backwards into Sailor Pluto's lap. "Whether she loves him or not, she must have a husband before she turns sixteen!"
"But where can we find someone she won't be able to off?" Sailor Uranus demanded angrily from the lefthand window seat. "Having royal blood in his veins is necessary, but that just makes it easier!"
"I know." Queen Serenity moaned, burying her face in her hands. "I know, I know, I know. But does such a man exist? Is there anyone in known space that can withstand my daughter's witchery?"
"There may be." Sailor Mercury muttered crossly, typing away on her super-computer. "Endymion had a half-brother, it seems. Earthian royalty by way of his father, the king. Common soldier now because of his mother's low-born blood."
"That sounds promising." Sailor Neptune said, watching with a slight smile as Pluto tried unsuccessfully to push Venus off her legs.
"He's a strongly moral man, three years Endymion's senior, and already a captain in Earth's standing army. He'll brook no nonsense from any woman, princess or no. He's not cruel, just serious." Mercury continued, calling up a hologram for the others to see. "His name is Chang Wufei."
Chang Wufei was a tall, straight, slimly muscular man with angled eyes and black hair just barely long enough to be pulled into a small tail. His skin was tanned bronze, and he would have been perfectly handsome, if not for the deep scowl plastered across his face.
"Well, he looks friendly." Mars said sarcastically, rolling her eyes.
"But he can handle her." Neptune argued. "That's all that counts really."
"Shall we inform the king of Earth?"
"I'll see to it as soon as this baka gets off of me." Pluto growled, shoving at Venus again.

Wufei yawned hugely, running his fingers through his wet hair.
"Quick shower, then it's bedtime." He muttered to himself, racking his katana with care despite his fatigue.
"Captain Chang, sir!"
Great. If someone was calling him captain this late at night, he was either in trouble or in for another long night.
"Captain Chang, you have a visitor in the Commander's tent, sir!" A raw cadet, if he was still running errands, skidded to a stop next to Wufei, panting heavily. "Sir, the Commander says to tell you it's important and you should come right away!"
"Thanks for the message, kid." Wufei sighed. Although he could still be in hot water, he was almost certain there was a long night ahead of him. "Catch your breath, then get some water. You need to learn to pace yourself." With that, he headed for the Commander's tent and his important visitor there.

"Tell the Commander Captain Chang, reporting." Wufei said, saluting the guards stationed at the front of the tent.
One ducked inside, then popped back out and waved Wufei in.
Inside the tent was the last person Wufei had ever expected to see.
"Y-your majesty?"
"Try 'Father,' Wufei." King Darius said softly, smiling. "I am not a king now, only a parent."
"Then it's good to see you again, Father." Wufei replied, ignoring the other officers for a moment to embrace his father warmly. "It's been years since you last visited."
"I'm sorry." Darius replied. "You know I don't mean to short you."
"Of course not." The two broke apart and sat, Darius on a stool and Wufei on a map chest. "So what brings you here now? This is the busiest time of year at court."
Darius sighed sadly, closing his eyes for a moment. "You always were perceptive, my son." He said finally. "And I never could lie to you. Wufei, something terrible has happened."
"It's Endymion, isn't it?" Wufei asked, staring at the ground. "He's dead, isn't he?"
"Yes. How did you know?"
"Unlucky guess." Wufei stated, leaning back against a desk. "There had to be a reason the letters stopped coming. How's Queen Reia taking it?"
"Not well, I'm afraid. And..." Darius hesitated, glancing around nervously.
"Spill it, Dad. They're my commanding officers. They'll find out soon enough, anyway."
"I think that, despite everything you've learned in the army, Wufei, I'd almost prefer you'd grown up at the palace. You're still far to blunt for my tastes." Darius sighed again, this time ruefully. "But that's that, I suppose. It seems Queen Serenity of the Moon Kingdom somehow found out about you, and demands that you speak to her on the issue of marrying her daughter."
For a moment Wufei thought he'd heard wrong. "Marry her daughter?" He repeated. "Father, I can't marry a princess! I'm a captain of Earth's royal army! That would be unthinkable!"
"But you're still my son." Darius countered. "And even being half royal makes you fair game for a princess's husband."
"So I'm basically screwed." Wufei said, groaning theatrically before grinning up at his father. "Don't worry. I'll talk to her majesty."
"Thank you, Wufei." Darius said, heaving a sigh of relief as he stood. "Would you like to return to the capital for the funeral? You and Endymion were always close. He would have liked for you to be there."
"I have some things I'd like to pack first, but you know I'd be honored if I were allowed to attend." Wufei stood as well, turning to the Commander with a sharp salute. "Commander sir, respectfully requesting indefinite leave on the basis of family tragedy and duty, sir!"
"Permission granted, Captain Chang." The Commander responded, returning Wufei's salute. "And I truly am sorry about your brother, Wufei. He was a good man."
"Thanks."

"They've found me another husband already?" Serena asked in an amused voice, cocking one delicate eyebrow. "And what weak, pathetic little princeling are they offering this time?" She wondered, drifting over to her personal vidscreen, where the name and face of her next victim were displayed. "Chang Wufei..." The princess read aloud. "Half-blood brother of Endymion? Now they've offered up a bastard lamb to slaughter? How amusing."

~*~One Week Later~*~

"But her highness should still be in mourning!" Serena's personal servant protested. "Princess, how can you think of wearing anything but black so early after your fiancé's death?"
"I will wear what I please, servant, and you cannot stop me." Serena said sharply, glaring briefly over her shoulder at the doddering old fool. "Now if you will do nothing but whine at me, I must insist you take your leave of me."
"If her highness so wishes." The servant agreed coldly, limping quickly away.
"Stubborn bitch." Serena muttered, looking over her collection of formal gowns once again.
She hoped to impress and intimidate this Chang Wufei person with her great beauty and powerful presence from the start. Which meant she must select the proper dress, or this would never work.
"Silver... or white...Silver. Definitely silver."

"Queen Serenity of the Moon, Prince Wufei of the Earth requests an audience before your imperial throne."
"I, Serenity, grant Prince Wufei his request." Queen Serenity responded in her quiet, carrying voice. "He may approach."
Wufei, dressed in full display armor complete with ridiculous cape and katana, stepped into the Audience Chamber. With practiced ease, he came within th perfect respectable distance of the throne and dropped to one knee.
"Queen Serenity." He said in greeting.
"Prince Wufei." Serenity acknowledged, nodding her signal for the prince to rise. "What brings you to our humble kingdom?"
"Not humble, majesty." Wufei countered with a small smile. "And I've come to meet Princess Serena, my proposed bride-to-be."
"You've inherited your father's silver tongue, I see."
"My mother's silken one, actually. Much smoother, though not as educated."
Serenity laughed softly. "Perhaps you have both." She suggested demurely, her eyes twinkling.
"Perhaps." Wufei agreed, returning the queen's smile.
"Come." Serenity said suddenly, rising. Though her smile remained firmly in place, Wufei was certain that he saw apprehension and fear in her eyes. "It's time you met my daughter."

~*~*~*~

Satanira- Chapter one complete. Tell me what you think, will ya? No one ever reviews my stories. *sniff* Waah! Usagi- Why do I have to be a murderer? That's unfair! Wufei- Quiet, weakling. Satanira- I'm gonna kill you, Wufei. Usagi- *sniffsniff* (teary eyed) WAAAAAAAAH!!!!!! I AM NOT A WEAKLING, YOU MEANIE!!!! Satanira- *gags Usagi and picks up Wufei's katana* May you have the indignity of dying by your own weapon! Wufei- The injustice! Give me back my katana, onna! Satanira- No way in hell, Justice Boy! *attacks Wufei* Wufei- *shrieks like a little girl and runs*