Kaitlin R. Welliver

Rose Kissed Diamond

Chapter Three

When Bunny stepped off the Arc, she was surprised at the fresh air of the Earthen atmosphere; she could smell the salt from the ocean and could taste the dirt from the busy street. It was different than home, but in a more sensual way. There were more minerals found on Earth than on the Moon.

The street! It was so alive and yet it was so late in the day! The night culture of the Moon Kingdom was never so publically active! This place she just stepped foot on made Bunny feel like her luxurious home was out-dated and country side.

She had been to Earth before, but only for formal, political reasons, and those times her security prevented her from seeing anything of great interest or meeting anyone particularly interesting. Her view of the Earthen capital was that it was the center of fashion and where music and art flourished. It was so full of new technology and new ways of living. It so differed from the conservative lifestyle of the Lunarians.

Bunny snapped back into the moment and noticed that Amy, Raye, and Lita had expressions on their faces that reflected her own initial reaction. Mina, with her hands on her hips looked pleased with herself. Apparently, Earth turned out to be different than all of their homes.

"Alright," Mina said excitedly. "The man you're all so curious to know more about is just over there, waiting for us." She directed her gaze towards the other side of the street away from the shore line near the corner of the block where the buildings ended and a park began. Beside the high, beautiful gates stood a man with his arms folded across his chest watching the passer-bys absentmindedly. It was hard to see clearly in the night, but the street lamps illuminated his figure.

Mina touched her curled hair, searching for something wrong with her appearance. "Do I look alright, do you think?"

Bunny answered for them all, "You look gorgeous, now let's go." Mina flashed a brilliant smile and started off in the park's entrance's direction.

Closing the distance between themselves and Mina's love interest, Bunny got a better look at him. He still hadn't noticed their arrival and was looking in the opposite direction than where they were coming from, his platinum, long hair falling into half of his face.

His eyes were very light blue, though mostly grey. They held an intelligence that was beyond that of his young-looking face. He looked to not be more than two or three years their senior.

His attire was also classy-casual – white collared shirt with the top buttons left unbuttoned with a long, through form fitting, black blazer on over. The blazer had small, detailed embroidery on it near the buttons down the front, along the collar, and near his cuffs.

He had tight dark pants with polished black boots. He looked incredibly handsome and better dressed than Diamond had been, Bunny noted. Bunny had not gotten a good look at Diamond's attire earlier that evening, but she recalled that he had not been dressed for a social excursion.

He turned towards them as they approached and his steely gaze melted as he saw Mina. He held out his hand for her to take. "My lady." His voice was like dark chocolate.

Happily, Mina slipped her hand into his. "Good evening, Kunzite," she replied just as formal. "It has been a fortnight, I believe."

"It has been far too long," he said kissing her hand, leaning down to do so. Bunny was beside herself. How had this man managed to tame her wild and danger-loving friend? Bunny looked at Raye, Amy, and Lita for some sort of answer, but they looked just as clueless as she.

Standing up straight, he changed his attention to the open-mouthed girls. "I have been rude and for that I apologize. My name is Kunzite, and I will be accompanying you this evening." Kunzite was very lean and very tall. He held authority in his stance and a grace with his language.

Mina was very pleased with her friends' faces and spoke, voice chipper. "Kunzite, these are my friends, Amy, Raye, Lita, and Sere—"

"Bunny!" Bunny chimed in nervously. "I'm Bunny." Mina shot her a strange glance.

"And that's Bunny," she finished, playing along. Bunny didn't know what made her do that but somehow it just felt like the right thing to do. She'd come up with a good reason later.

Kunzite gave a small bow. "It's a pleasure." Lita's face turned as pink as the ribbon in her hair. "Shall we, my birthday princess?" Kunzite held his arm for Mina to take, that she accepted gracefully, beaming at him as she did. His eyes smiled down at her in return and they turned down the street with the girls, mouths open and slightly jealous, to follow. An interesting night so far, indeed.

Kunzite had lead them to a small ballroom in a beautiful, although modest, building in the center of town. Inside the ballroom was live music playing and there were people – commoners – every way Bunny looked. There were people talking at small, candlelit tables, people standing and talking along the walls and in the dark corners. There, on the dance floor, people were dancing. And to Bunny's surprise, the people were, she believed the term was, free-style dancing. Of course, she had only heard of such a style. It was where people danced with no structure, but they had a rhythm that Bunny found almost seductive. The lights were only coming from behind the service counter where drinks were being served, and slightly flashing on the ballroom dance floor.

The atmosphere was so… Bunny tasted for the right word… casual. The music was playing but people were talking and the catering service was still serving drinks. The hum of the voices mixed with the sound of the musicians playing made it harder for her to hear the people next to her. Bunny jumped out of her thoughts as Amy touched her arm and leaned into her ear.

"It's so loud," she stated uncomfortably. Bunny nodded in reply and looked at how her friends reacted to the place.

Raye was looking uncharacteristically self-conscious with her eyes on the curvy women dancing with their partners. Lita was in awe with her mouth open and eyes sparkling at the same sight. Amy was glued to Bunny's side as if for protection. Bunny made eye contact with Mina then, Mina's face ecstatic with our reaction to their new experience.

"Isn't it great!?" Mina yelled over the noise. She still had her arm in Kunzite's, who was looking out across the room, as if searching for something or someone. He looked down at Mina and said something into her ear Bunny couldn't hear. Mina smiled and motioned us to come as Kunzite lead the way though the people and tables, going around the dance floor. He stepped up on a platform where more private tables and booths were located. He lead them even further in the back corner where a private booth awaited them with a single man sitting there taking a sip of white wine, watching them approach.

The man's eyes were very dark in the dim candlelight from the center of the table in contrast to his ash blonde, wavy hair that was pulled back into a band behind his neck, so the length of his hair was in question. His face was more delicate than Kunzite's with softer features. His shoulders weren't as broad either. His expression softened when they arrived and he stood up offering Kunzite a hand to shake.

"Kunzite, how are you this evening? I see you brought guests." He offered a smiling hello to the girls, all of them blushing when he did so. Kunzite took his hand and shook it.

"Zoicite, how good to see you." Kunzite pulled Mina forward and took a step back so the other girls were more visible. "May I introduce my lovely Mina, whom, may I confess, has a birthday to celebrate this evening." Mina smiled up at him, adoration apparent on her face.

Zoicite smiled and nodded at her, "Happy birthday."

"Thank you," she beamed at him.

"And these are her friends, Lita, Raye, and Bunny." Kunzite them all out. "And this is my long time friend, Zoicite." Like Kunzite had done before, Zoicite slightly bowed. "At your service, my ladies." Zoicite's voice was soft and charming. He motioned towards the squishy maroon seating around the table. "Please sit down."

Time had passed rather slowly for Bunny. For Mina, Raye, and Lita, it seemed to be the best moment of their lives, because they hadn't stopped smiling and giggling all night. Kunzite and Zoicite both proved to be very charming and funny and had Bunny's friends talking about their likes and dislikes naturally. Bunny never felt the pull of the conversation and although Kunzite and Zoicite were gentle on the eyes, well dressed, well educated, and had excellent socializing skills, they seemed to be like boring politicians Bunny's mother works with to-be. She glanced over at Amy because it had been a while since Bunny had heard her voice.

Expecting her face to assimilate that of her own, she was surprised to see Amy's face a deep pink hue as she stared down into her beverage, spinning the ice cubes within with her stir utensil, almost, dare Bunny think, embarrassedly. There was no apparent reason as to why, and Amy wouldn't meet her eye so she could figure out.

Bunny sighed and excused herself from the table using the excuse that she needed to use the restroom. She did, in fact, go to the restroom, but only to look at her reflection in the mirror. She just needed an escape.

Her puzzled gaze met her own. She was already escaping from her life at the Moon Palace, why here too? She felt, she realized, a certain loneliness that couldn't be cured by her friends, although they were a great distraction.

Just then, two laughing girls came into the restroom. One was headed for the toilet, while the other one went to the mirror next to Bunny, staring intensely at her eyeliner, smudging an imperfection with her pinky.

"You know, Kelly, you're right! I feel so much better now. The Tarantula didn't taste so bad either!" said the girl from inside the toilet, her voice echoing in the small room.

The girl next to Bunny laughed, backing up to look at how her dress swayed as she moved, and looking at her backside as she did. "Of course you feel better! Alcohol always makes things better!"

The toilet flushed and the door opened. "Was it my imagination, or was Andrew flirting with me?" The other girl suppressed a giggle as she put her hands under the running water of the sink.

Kelly gave her a sarcastic look. "Oh please, Claudia, he's been literally drooling over you all night. Let's go."

Claudia gave Kelly an equivalent look back, "Gross… Hey, nice dress."

Bunny realized the pretty commoner was talking to her. She flushed pink and said, "Oh, thank you." Inside Bunny was thinking, The commoner talked to me like a commoner! How exciting!

"Oh, a Lunarian!" Kelly looked surprised. "Cool accent. Well, see you!" They left Bunny alone in the restroom.

With her new inspiration, Bunny smoothed the dress on her flat stomach and ran her fingers through her hair. Alcohol, hm? Kunzite had offered, but the girl had refused politely. Alcohol was associated to their daily meetings. Of course, Bunny had only drank wine at dinner parties and events only after her sixteenth birthday.

She walked out of the women's toilet, headed in the direction of the catering counter. She found a small opening along the counter and fit herself in.

She tried making eye contact with the server, but he was busy talking with another patron. When he was finished, Bunny said, "Excuse me."

"Hold on, Darling." He started making a drink. He finished and handed the drink to the patron. "I would like—" Bunny tried again.

"What can I get you?" the man behind the counter said to a completely different person than Bunny, ignoring her existence.

Bunny was not used to being ignored. Bunny did not like being ignored. No one treated her this way and got away with it!

Indignation filled her core and she sucked in a deep breath. "Listen here, Little Man," power pouring out of her mouth. "I want a Tarantula, and you're going to make it right now. Do you understand?"

The tender looked at her from where he was talking with the other person and raised an eyebrow. "Excuse me?"

"What the lady means to say is, please make her a Tarantula, if you don't mind," a deep voice said behind Bunny.

The man behind the counter looked at the mysterious fellow and his body relaxed. "Whatever you say."

Bunny turned around to see her savior.

"He doesn't respond well to women. Not all parts of the kingdom are up-to-date with the current times, you know." When Bunny turned around, she was looking only at a white collared shirt that was unbuttoned at the neck and one more down where a well sculpted, smooth, tan chest peeked through. His shoulders were broad and his neck had a leather necklace around it, accenting the masculine lines in his neck.

Bunny swallowed, daring her eyes ever upwards. His lips were full and moving; a slight smile on his mouth. His jaw line was well defined and his dark, Bunny wasn't sure how dark in the dim lighting, hung short, slightly curled behind his ears. When she met his dark blue eyes, set in a beautiful frame of lashes, she saw for the first time that he was trying to talk to her and she hadn't heard a word he had said.

"You haven't heard a word I just said, have you?" he said, a crooked smile playing on his lips, as he read her thoughts.

"I'm sorry," she stammered. "Thank you for helping me. I'm not used to being treated that way."

As if by queue, the man behind the counter placed a light brown, dark yellow carbonated drink on the counter in her line of sight. "That will be 700 gold, Darling." He used the word 'Darling' as if it were every woman's name. Bunny turned, her eyes puzzled, "What?"

The tender rolled his eyes, glanced at Bunny's new acquaintance, and put his weight on the other foot. "Money," he stated, as if it explained everything.

Bunny panicked. She didn't have any Earthen money and she didn't even carry Lunarian money with her. She never needed to. "I don't have any."

"No money, no service," the tender said, anger finally succeeding over his composure. He pulled the drink back towards him.

The dark haired man, now beside Bunny, placed three coins on the table. "Calm down, Leonard," he said. Leonard seemed to calm down, took the money and went to serve someone else. Bunny let out the breath she was holding.

"How many times do I have to save you tonight?" he asked, leaning on the counter, exposing more through his shirt. He was smiling down at her. He had a really nice dimple in his right cheek. Bunny blushed at her thoughts and focused on her new drink. "Thank you," she said.

"Cheers." He held up his own glass of a darker brown liquid. She smiled and their glasses met. The man took a big gulp, completely finishing his beverage off, and Bunny tried to take a large drink as well. However, as she swallowed, she couldn't help her face as it squeezed all up in disgust. She gasped for air, and shook her head quickly, trying to make the taste in her mouth go away. "I thought this stuff was supposed to be delicious."

The handsome man looked at her for a second to see if she was serious, then exploded in laughter. Bunny looked back up at him, anger seeping back in. "What is so funny?"

"I understand it's your first time drinking alcohol, huh, Girly." Amusement was plain on his face.

Bunny hated to be seen as young and stupid. And she hated being called Girly. "How dare you! I'm eighteen years old, and of course I've had alcohol before! And don't call me Girly."

His full grin shrunk into a crooked smile. "You might be eighteen years old, but you took that sip like a preteen."

Bunny's mouth dropped in complete disbelief. "I have never met anyone so rude before in my entire life!" Her face was deep pink with fury. Her hand was up in a slap position before she had a second thought, and just as instantly, his hand was in hers, both elevated.

With a cocky expression, he brought her in with amazing strength so her body was up against his firm one. He made it look effortless. His face bent down so it was inches away from hers. Bunny could smell his aftershave and the remains of his dark cologne. The firmness of his body against her made her try to focus on something else. She focused on the perfection of his face and looked into his eyes, slightly hidden behind the ends of his hair.

Bunny's heart sped up, and her mouth went dry when places below her stomach tightened.

"Has anyone told you that you're gorgeous when you're angry?" And then he kissed her. His full lips were as soft and sweet as they looked.

She slapped him with her free hand and left the Tarantula on the counter as she stormed her way back to her friends, barely understanding what in the world had just happened, only that a gorgeous man had invaded her bubble and made fun of her and took her first kiss! Not to mention the way he made her feel.

As she approached the booth, she saw from a distance under the table that Amy and Zoicite were holding hands. So that was why Amy was so embarrassed before. Bunny supposed that her mysterious man wasn't the only one who moved in fast.

Remembering him again, she felt her face warm up with embarrassment and anger.

Mina was the first to notice Bunny's return, just as she was in hearing distance. "Oh my goodness, Ser-Bunny, what's wrong?"

Everyone at the table looked at her surprised and worried. Lita made a move to stand up. "Who hurt you and where are they?" she asked powerfully.

Bunny managed to collect herself. "I'm alright, please sit, Lita." Lita sat back down reluctantly.

"What happened?" asked Raye, rather nicely. "Sit down, Bunny, please."

Bunny sighed and sat down next to her Martian friend. "I just met this horrible man and he—"

"Endymion! How nice of you to join us!" exclaimed Kunzite standing up to greet someone from behind Bunny. "I'm sorry for interrupting you, Bunny," he added apologetically.

"You're late," said Zoicite, smiling up at the new guest.

"I just had to return this young lady's drink she left at the bar," said an all too familiar deep, dark voice.

Bunny's stomach dropped to her feet as she slowly turned in her seat to have her worst nightmares confirmed.

There stood the most handsome man Bunny had ever seen, the first man to ever kiss her, and the last person she ever wanted to see smiling smugly down at her; the god forsaken Tarantula sadly sweating in his strong hand.

Bunny wanted to scream, and to her horror, she thought she just might have done so.