Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon. It was made by a genius and I'm not that smart, though I might wish otherwise.
Chapter Seven: Out Of Seclusion
August 17, 10:45 am
Prince Endymion's Rooms, Gaia Palace, Earth
"Usagi?" Jadeite called as he entered the room. He looked around, wondering where Endymion and Usagi were when his prince stepped out of the shadows, arms crossed and a scowl on his face.
"Hello, Endymion, good morning." Jadeite grinned, trying to diffuse the anger he knew was there.
"I don't like this," Endymion gritted out.
Jadeite looked at what he was wearing, pretending to have misunderstood. "What? Is what I'm wearing not appropriate for an afternoon out? Should I go and change?"
"Jade, shut up, you know what I mean."
Jadeite dropped his teasing mien. "I know. But, really, I think she needs this. I think you both do."
Endymion began sputtering. "What? What makes you think she needs this? That I need this? That we both do?"
Jadeite answered in his most logical manner, "Well, she needs this because a person needs to go out every now and then and she's only seen your room for the past week and a half." He hesitated before adding, "And I think it'd be good for you to spend some time alone too. You haven't been alone since she fell on you, right? Not that I think you need to be alone or anything, but just that… Endymion, I just think it'd be nice to spend time separately, for a little while. The two of you have been together, day in and day out, all hours of the day, for a week! Aren't you both sick of each other?"
"No." Endymion scowled. Then looked startled at his admission.
"Oh." Jadeite had nothing to say to that since he couldn't imagine spending hours and hours with a woman for thirteen days without being driven insane.
Jadeite, like the rest of the generals, has never really had any serious relationships, or, indeed, any relationship that has lasted for more than a year. In fact, his only long-term relationship was when he was a Major, undergoing strenuous training directly under the command of the General who was the harshest and best military leader of all (who was, incidentally, Kunzite; Kunzite personally trained all High Command). Privately, Jadeite freely admits that the only reason that particular relationship lasted as long as it did was because he rarely saw her in the 9 months they were supposedly together.
Sure, the generals certainly like the girls they've flirted with and had as mistresses presently and before, but they've never really fallen for someone or even liked someone enough to imagine spending the rest of their lives with them. In fact, they usually grew tired of the women they were with after some time because they invariably became clingy or demanding or irritating and, well, basically, the generals just grew tired of them.
They've also never really had any female friends either, since, as Endymion once commented, there wasn't anybody interesting enough in Society for them to foster a friendship. It didn't help, of course, that women sometimes treated them as the generals they were (and were subsequently intimidated) or saw them as their ticket to getting close to Endymion.
So it was pretty hard for Jadeite to imagine ever liking someone enough, either romantically or otherwise, to be able to live with that person in close quarters on a daily basis and not end up wanting to kill each other. Although it might seem that the generals were against marriage, with a belief like that, it was not the case. The generals all wanted to marry one day but they also knew that they weren't ready. Each also privately hoped that they wouldn't be ready for a long time yet. They enjoyed their bachelor status and so far, no woman has ever tempted them to give up their freedom.
Endymion's stand on marriage was a little more unpredictable. Unlike them, Endymion didn't really have the luxury of waiting to 'get ready' for marriage since the council has decreed that he needed to marry to ascend the throne. While the prince didn't really feel the need to rush (as mentioned, the current king was a good king), Endymion nonetheless felt the need to take his rightful place. It has been drilled into him from the day he was born that it was his throne, his kingdom, and, ultimately, his responsibility. Though Endymion gave every appearance of not rushing into marriage, he still undoubtedly felt the pressure to marry, pressure brought about by his people, his council, and his own sense of responsibility to his duty.
In fact, last year Endymion told his uncle that he was seriously looking for a wife. In response, the king became more active socially and dutifully freed Endymion from the prince's other duties so that the he could attend more balls and soirées. But last year came and went and at the end of the year, the King, in desperation (for he disliked Society's entertainments) asked Endymion if he had been really serious about looking for a wife or if he just liked seeing the king suffer. Endymion assured the king that he was but that looking for a wife was harder than he thought. He again promised his uncle that he would be serious this year. The King threw his hands up in the air in defeat, sighed, and told Endymion to take his time and that the King will just emerge from his political duties to take care of the social niceties necessitated by an impending royal nuptial when Endymion finally decides on a wife. Of course, the king continued to give the balls he was required to give, this time extending invitations to all eligible girls in the kingdom.
It should be noted that the entire populace was unaware of Endymion's serious search for a wife. It was agreed all around that, to help Endymion keep his sanity, the women of the kingdom should continue to believe that Endymion was not actively looking for the future queen. Otherwise, all hell would break lose.
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"Endymion, who're you talking to? Is Jadeite there already?" Usagi called from the bathing area, where she had been 'getting ready' for the past hour and a half.
By general consensus and unspoken agreement, none of the generals told Usagi about their titles. For all she knew, they were all just close friends who were on the rich side – it was kind of hard to hide their wealth when Usagi lived with them in the most expensive household on the planet.
Endymion gave in to the inevitable. "Yes, he's here."
From within, Usagi shrieked, "Why didn't you tell me?" There was a pattering of feet then the door flew open and Usagi beamed at Jadeite.
Jadeite's jaw dropped.
"Hi! Are you ready to go?"
Jadeite struggled to find his voice.
"Jadeite, are you all right?" Usagi peered at him.
Ahem. "Usagi. Hi. You look great."
She really did. He's never seen her in anything other than Endymion's pajamas or old clothes and seeing her in a dress…
"Really?" Usagi blushed and girlishly turned around to show off the light blue day dress she wore. Even though minute signs of alterations were obvious – slightly loose bodice and snug sleeves, but the skirt had been perfectly altered to her size – it didn't detract from the fact that the dress… looked really good on her. Her hair was, as usual, fixed in what they now called 'the Usagi look' – long pigtails on both sides of the head. "I was quite surprised that it fit."
Jadeite leaned towards Endymion. "Where'd you get the dress?"
"I… uh… stole it…" Endymion replied in an undertone.
Jadeite shot Endymion a disbelieving look.
"Well, actually, Kunzite did," Endymion amended. "I'm not actually sure where he got it but he arrived early this morning to give it to me. Well, give it to her, actually. I, uh, kind of forgot that she needed clothes." Endymion looked embarrassed.
"Wow. Well, Kunzite sure has an eye for the female form. He guessed her size correctly." Still eyeing Usagi appreciatively, he repeated, this time in a normal tone of voice, "I still can't get over it, Usagi, you look really good."
Usagi blushed prettily, giggling. "Thanks, Jadeite, you're sweet. I guess this is quite a change from Endymion's old clothes, eh? So, are we going?"
"Yes, we are, my lady." With an exaggerated bow, Jadeite offered her his hand. He was rewarded with another giggle.
"Don't be out too late, all right?" Endymion grumbled as he trailed behind the couple.
"Yes, father," Jadeite pointedly answered. "Was there anything else you want to tell me that I already knew?"
Endymion scowled.
"Aw, hush, Endymion, don't be such a grouchy bear. It's not like I'm a little girl in need of protection. Even if we stay out late, I'm sure I'll be safe with Jadeite." She beamed such an irrepressible grin at both of them that even Endymion, with his bad mood, wasn't immune to her happiness. Grudgingly, he smiled back.
"I'm so excited and I don't know even know why!" Usagi bubbled to Jadeite, laughing a little self-consciously. "Listen to me, why don't you? I sound like I've never shopped in my entire life!"
"Well, considering your amnesia, that's really understandable. I suppose you do feel as if you've never shopped before in your life."
As the two went out the door, Endymion called out to Usagi.
"Yes?" she turned back, eyes shining with excitement.
"Take care of yourself, okay? And enjoy."
"Thank you." Disentangling herself from Jadeite, she went over to Endymion and reached out with both hands, which he automatically took with both his hands. She smiled at his surprised expression. "I know I'm not the best of patients but you've been really good to me all this time, really patient and nice and extremely sweet. You took care of me and pricked my temper when it needed pricking. Thank you so much for that. And I'm really happy you allowed me to go out. I'll be careful, I promise. So stop being Grouchy Bear, all right?" With a wink, she turned her heel and went back to Jadeite, leaving Endymion looking at them with a stunned look on his face. Jadeite gave his prince a quick wink before whisking Usagi out the room.
None of them saw the smile that spread across his face.
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"Well, Usa-baby, is there any special place you want to go to today?" Jadeite playfully asked once they were (finally) out of the palace walls.
From Endymion's room until they walked out the front door, Usagi did nothing but look around curiously with those wide sparkling blue eyes of hers and ask some questions about the house or a certain piece of art or furniture that caught her eye. Some questions were easy to answer, others not so much since Jadeite knew without being told that Endymion didn't want Usagi to find out just yet that he was the prince and that Usagi's been living in the royal palace the entire time.
It was such a nice day that Jadeite suggested they walk. Usagi agreed only after being assured that there were enough shops well within walking distance and that, should they get tired, there were plenty of hacks about to bring them back home.
"You're asking me?" Usagi laughed. "Jadeite, I don't know anything about this place. Or even if I did, I don't remember. You just lead and I'll follow." As they walked a few feet away from the walls that surrounded the palace, Usagi glanced back to appease her curiosity about the exterior of where she had been living.
"So this is Endymion's home?" She gave the very big palace and its' surrounding spacious compound a quick once-over before turning to Jadeite.
"Yep." Jadeite watched her closely, looking for the usual signs such as a greedy look, an impressed look, or the mental tinkle of coins. You know, just your everyday average normal woman who found out that Endymion was a very rich man who lived in a very big house, a property so big it was almost a city or a town in its own right. Which it actually was.
"It's great. The gardens are really pretty. Do you think maybe one day I could explore his house and grounds? And if Endymion's in a really good mood, maybe I can ask if he could show me around, what do you think? I mean, it is his house, right? It's only right that he show me around, right?" And with that, Usagi faced front. Just like that, easily dismissing the one home that all the women in the kingdom coveted.
"Er… is that it?" Jadeite was a little thrown off-balance by her matter-of-fact assessment.
"Is what it?"
"I mean… that's all you're going to say about his house?"
Usagi looked at him, slightly confused. "Well, what else is there to say? It's just a house, right? Should I gush a bit more about how beautiful it is? Was I not properly appreciative? Did I say something wrong? Insult him in some way?" She looked worried.
"Well, no, nothing like that. But, uh, isn't it… er… big?"
She glanced back at the house. "Well, yeah, I suppose so."
"And…?"
"And what?" Usagi looked confused.
With a shake of his head, Jadeite let out a surprised chuckle. "Nothing… just, nothing."
"Should I have said something?" Usagi asked worriedly. "I mean, were you expecting a certain reaction? Did I react wrong? I don't want to insult anybody, really."
"No." Jadeite reached out and playfully tugged one of her pigtails. It was a mannerism he was beginning to enjoy doing. "Your reaction's fine. It really is. I was just… surprised."
"Why? Aw, c'mon, Jadeite, tell me, tell me, tell me! Please!"
But Jadeite just laughed and refused to answer her question.
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August 17, 5:59 pm
Endymion's Rooms, Gaia Palace, Earth
Later that afternoon…
Kunzite raised an eyebrow as he watched Enymion pace a path on his carpet. "Excuse me, but why are you acting like this? Would you stop? You're beating a path in the carpet."
"Well, it's getting late, don't you think?" Endymion glanced worriedly at the clock.
"Endymion," Zoisite repeated, tiredly. "Even if you look at that clock, like, every five minutes, it won't make time go faster."
"Yeah, but… I'm just worried. What if she's tired? She shouldn't be out so long. She might tire easily."
Nephrite snorted. "Geez, Endymion, you sound like a jealous husband. Chill out, all right? Jade's perfectly capable of taking care of Usagi." One red eyebrow rose up meaningfully. "Or don't you trust him with her?"
"Of course I trust him," Endymion snapped back impatiently.
"Yeah, he does," Kunzite said in a droll voice very few people outside his close circle of friends heard. "Didn't you hear him yelling that a while ago, when I told him to stuff his maw because he was yakking too much on how late Jade and Usagi were and that he hopes Usagi is okay?"
"Oh, was that what all that noise was all about?" Zoisite absently played with a lock of his hair.
"Yeah…"
Endymion scowled at his men. "Why do I get the feeling that this is all amusing for you?"
"Well, you do lose your cool so well," Zoisite replied.
Endymion threw himself on the couch. "You guys are hopeless."
"We do our best," Kunzite replied, unruffled.
Just then, the door burst open and in crashed Jadeite and Usagi, laughing so hard they were holding themselves up. Both were also carrying quite a number of shopping bags, with Jadeite carrying the bulk.
"And then… when she…" Usagi gasped. "I mean, you could've…"
"But the look on her face!" Jadeite laughed.
The three men took one look at the laughing couple and turned towards Endymion… who had an indescribable look on his face, happy, yet…
"Well, glad to see you're finally back," Nephrite remarked, leaning back on his chair with a small smile. "Endymion was – "
"Just talking about you," Endymion interrupted.
"Was that what we were doing?" Zoisite asked dryly. "I thought we were – "
"Talking about something else entirely and then, uh, Zoi wondered aloud where you guys were and in you guys came!" Endymion said cheerfully.
"I did?" Zoisite asked him.
"I don't quite recall it happening that way. 'Zite?" Nephrite asked deliberately, thoroughly enjoying their chance to tease Endymion.
"Well…"
"So!" Endymion interrupted once more, this time sounding slightly desperate. "How was your day?"
"Oh, it was great!" Usagi beamed at him. "Thank you so much for allowing me to go out. And Jade." She turned to her escort and grinned. "Thank you for accompanying me. I had the most wonderful time."
Knowing that Endymion was watching every move he made, he deliberately made his movements slow and purposeful as he lightly kissed Usagi's cheek, making it look like the kiss lasted a touch longer than normal. "Anytime, Usa-baby, anytime."
Usagi went pink with pleasure and laughed lightly. "You know, she was right, you really are a flirt." She looked around at them. "I hope you guys don't mind but I think I'm a little beat so I'll just go to my room and rest." She gave Endymion an impish grin. "And leave you boys to your business."
The boys watched her leave with mixed expressions of amusement and affection, there was just something about her that inspired affection…
She went in the room and before the door fully swung shut, she went out again, looking sheepish.
"Oh, I almost forgot." She rooted around one of the bags she was carrying. "I got you something, Endymion."
"What?"
Usagi didn't seem to notice Endymion's thunderstruck expression as she continued rooting in her bag. "I saw this and I thought of you so I got it 'cause I thought you might like it." She suddenly seemed to realize what she had done and became embarrassed. "I mean, it's just a little something I saw in a funny store. I suppose you could call it a sort-of thank you present or something. It doesn't, like, mean a lot or anything. Nor is it very pretty or anything like that. Nor is it very valuable or anything… er… anyway, I think I'll, uh, give it to you later… in the room."
"Oh, no, please don't, we're all curious as to what it is," Jadeite remarked from the doorway, where he had been putting down Usagi's purchases. "Especially since you refused to let me inside the store and God knows I tried." His lips twitched.
Usagi laughed but refused to explain to the others what the joke was.
"Can we all see what it is?" Zoisite called.
Usagi shook her head at him before turning to Endymion and smiling shyly at him, holding out a small box.
"Thanks." Endymion slowly opened it and looked inside. Then he glanced back up at Usagi then back down at the contents of the box then up again, looking slightly bewildered and lost.
Usagi moved closer to Endymion, unwittingly obstructing the general's view of her gift. She got the box from him and pulled out a very small figure, about four inches high, of a man in a tuxedo, complete with mask, cape, and top hat. "See how he looks so dignified and proper?"
"Yeah…" Endymion said slowly.
"Well, you're sometimes like that too. Prim, proper, so very controlled, mature, and all that. At least, the first time I got to know you. But then you have another side too, one which this little Tuxedo Mask guy also has. Here." And with that, she lightly nudged the middle of the figurine… and the figurine's hips promptly started swaying left and right.
Endymion let out a surprised laugh, simultaneously covering the figurine from his generals' gaze as the others all leaned around so they could see the gift.
"Did you see it?" Jadeite asked the others.
They all shook their heads.
"Come on, Endymion, show it."
"Hell no, Zoi, none of you are ever seeing this" Endymion replied, still laughing and holding the figurine tightly in his hands. He grinned down at Usagi. "It's our secret. Thank you very much, Usagi." He placed the figurine safely back inside the box and gave the entire thing back to Usagi. "Here, put it somewhere where those guys won't be able to see, all right? My reputation will be totally ruined if they know I have one of those."
Usagi laughed. "No problem. But I'll put it in a place where you'll be certain to see it all the time, all right?"
"I'd like that," Endymion smiled at her tenderly. "Now, go back inside and get some rest. You just came from the sick bed, remember?"
"Yes, sir, right away, sir." Usagi turned and ran into 'their' room, pigtails flying.
The generals all watched with avid interest as Endymion watched Usagi go with a tender expression on his face that none of them have seen before.
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"Good news is, she enjoyed the outing tremendously," Jadeite announced a few seconds after Usagi disappeared into the bedroom and after all the generals had all settled in and were roughly sitting in a circle in Endymion's sitting room.
"So we saw," Endymion dryly remarked.
"Why do I get the feeling there's a bad news to that?"
Jadeite shrugged. "Depends on how you view it, Zoi. It's all about perspective. See, she enjoyed it so much she wants to go out more often and possibly even go to balls when I happened to mention them. We also bumped into some people and they extended invitations to the both of us. And, obviously, they asked about Endymion."
"So she knows who I am?" Endymion's face was bleak.
"Naw, don't worry about that, she still doesn't know anything. She questions the sanity of all the women we've met, by the way, as she can't figure out why you're such a heartthrob. Anyway, you can rest easy, your Highness, because every time someone was about to make a reference to your royal self, I interrupted. Ended up interrupting a lot of conversations due to that but it couldn't be helped. The good thing about this face of mine is that I look deceptively innocent and stupid. All I had to do was open my pretty blue eyes real wide and blab away."
"It's a wonder women like you," Zoisite remarked.
"Well, I lie a lot."
"You don't say?" Nephrite raised an eyebrow.
"Aw, come on, we all know that they just like the way I look and the power and influence I have, not my conversation."
"Very realistic view there, Jade."
"You have to admit, Neph, there are times when I tend to agree with our prince. Women of our land tend to care too much about the shallowest things. That's not to say there aren't any women of substance out there but it's just that, as a whole, debs nowadays seem to have some sort of special training to be as shallow and vain as they can possibly be. And that fact has never really been more obvious to me than today. Being with Usagi was just… different. She's a refreshing change from all the girls we know."
Zoisite peered at him. "Do you have a crush on her?"
Jadeite, in the middle of opening his mouth to say something, snapped it shut. "What! Are you crazy? What the hell made you think that?"
"Nothing, forget it."
Jadeite blinked at Zoisite. "No, seriously, what makes you think that?"
"You mean it's true?"
"Guys, guys," Kunzite interrupted. "Can we at least pretend to be adults who've outgrown our gossiping days?"
"Yes, my lord general," Jadeite said mockingly.
Endymion ignored their bantering and sighed heavily. "Well at least she still doesn't know who I am." The Prince ran a hand through his hair worriedly. "Did anyone recognize her?"
"That's the weirdest thing, Endymion, no one we've met seems to have ever seen her before, like, ever."
"I thought you said that you were both invited to balls?"
"I think that was because she was with me. I mostly heard, 'you are invited to so-and-so ball tonight and you must bring this lovely lady of yours'." Jadeite warily watched his prince. "And don't worry, I set them clear on that and said that Usagi and I were just friends."
Although Endymion was inwardly thankful that Jadeite cleared up his people's misconception regarding Usagi and Jadeite's relationship, he outwardly pretended to not know what Jadeite was talking about. Of course, he didn't really fool the four people who knew him so well.
Jadeite cleared his throat and hesitatingly added, "But, uh, since there was no way of avoiding it, I told people that Usagi's our ward, the Terran High Command's, that is. I couldn't think of anything else. I mean, I didn't have any other family to sponsor her and since she was seen with me and I've told everybody we're all just friends and she let slip that she knows the rest of us, I had to tell the people something or else they'll get the wrong idea about her. And though it rarely happens, the High Command has had wards in the past."
Kunzite nodded his agreement. "Good thinking. We actually talked about it while you guys were out and that was one of the suggested stories. Anyway, back to the fact that nobody seems to know her… maybe she's never been out?" Kunzite suggested, though his tone indicated that he didn't really believe that.
Nephrite snorted. "Get real. The King throws balls for all the eligible – and some non-eligible – ladies in the kingdom, it's impossible that she's never even attended even one. Especially since this year, Endymion and his uncle both had that talk again and he promised to be serious about looking for a wife this Season. The King's been extending invitations to all the females in the kingdom above the age of fifteen."
"And, sometimes, I think, even younger, considering the attendance of our people in balls," Zoisite put in.
"Nah, his Majesty wouldn't do that," Nephrite disagreed. "The invited parents would, though."
"You're probably right," Zoisite conceded.
"Maybe she's a commoner?" Kunzite suggested.
Jadeite shook his head. "I took her to clothing shops and she knows her fabrics."
"A lady's maid then?" Zoisite speculated.
Again Jadeite shook his head. "A lady's maid would know the fabrics, yes, but only a lady would be able to try them on and feel natural wearing them. Also, she doesn't know how to put on her own clothes; it's like she's used to dressing up with a maid."
"How would you know?" Endymion scowled threateningly.
Jadeite patiently explained, "Because I was sitting in the waiting room while Usagi and the shop proprietress were inside the changing room and I heard what they were saying, okay? Which reminds me, Endymion, who's paying for her purchases?"
"Since when did you have a problem with money?"
Jadeite shot Endymion a level look.
Endymion heaved a sigh. "All right, then. I'm guessing, me?"
"Great. Glad that's taken cared of. You have more money that I do, anyway, Endymion." Jadeite ignored Endymion's snort of disbelief. "You know, for someone who forgot everything about herself, she sure remembers how to shop. She racked up quite a bill." Jadeite rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Based on the time I've spent with her, I'm guessing she's a lady who's had a sheltered upbringing. She's also probably from a well-to-do family for she didn't even bat an eye at some of the prices of the clothes she bought. In fact, she didn't even seem to care or worry about money. There was also a joy in her, as she shopped and bought for clothes, almost as if she's never done it before and was enjoying her first time thoroughly. She's very…" he groped for a word, "innocent. Almost."
"What else did you learn about her? Personally, I mean," Endymion asked.
Eyes wide with innocence, Jadeite asked his prince for clarification.
"You know what I'm talking about, Jade. Did she like anything in particular? Does she enjoy any specific activity? What's her favorite color? I already know she eats a lot; does she have a particular favorite food? Anything that might, uh, you know, help us find out where she came from and, uh, give us a clue that her memory is returning." The last was an excuse everyone clearly saw through but nobody commented on.
"Hm… well, she mentioned experiencing quite a lot of new stuff and she says she enjoys them but adds that she can't remember ever experiencing those things before."
"Well?" Endymion patiently waited for more.
"Well, what?"
"What were those things she enjoyed?"
If possible, Jadeite's eyes widened even more. "Why ever would that interest you, your Highness? I thought we only needed to know who she was and if anyone recognized her? After all, such passing details as what you're asking is not that important nor does it give us any real clue about the state of her amnesia."
Endymion scowled at him before abruptly standing and muttering darkly to himself. He went into his study and closed the door behind him a little harder than usual.
"Slick, Jade," Zoisite complimented.
"Thanks."
"When do you think he'll realize he likes her?" Kunzite wondered as he stared at the door Endymion exited.
Nephrite shrugged. "Probably as soon as he learns that we know he likes her."
"In the mean time, it's so fun to rub it in his oblivious face." Jadeite grinned broadly at his friends.
"Better your neck than ours, I suppose."
"Thanks, Zoi, lots of comfort there."
"Anytime, Jade, anytime."
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Jadeite leaned back and was quieter than usual as the generals made small talk about the usual kingdom politics with a few forays in to Usagi's gift to Endymion. The latter because very few women have ever given Endymion a gift when there was no occasion and never has any woman given him anything that was not your usual run-of-the-mill gift (i.e. stuffed toys, neckties, etc).
After a day spent with her, Jadeite had made a few observations about his prince's houseguest (room guest?). One was that she was a very friendly and open person, there was nothing fake about her as her every emotion and thought was reflected in her eyes and facial expressions. He seriously didn't think she knew the meaning of deceit, trickery, or manipulation – which definitely backed up their hypothesis that was not a spy.
Two, she, like every other girl on the entire planet, loved shopping but, unlike every other girl on the planet, she also loved eating. A lot. Jadeite, who was known as the general with the biggest appetite and least picky stomach, could only watch in amazement as she matched him bite for bite and seemingly didn't even feel the effects of eating a lot. She could – and did – eat while walking, while shopping, while talking. She could eat cakes, pastries, and the sugary sweet bakery goods that Jadeite and the guys often called 'baked sugar'. Even Jadeite stayed away from that for he could feel his brain cells dying with every bite. Usagi, though, loved it. The sweeter it was, the more she liked it. And the more sweets she ate, the more hyper she became.
They had a blast – something that Jadeite didn't really expect. The more he got to know her, the more he liked her. There was just something so… pure and innocent about her. Everything around her seemed new and exciting and, without being told, Jadeite knew that it wasn't just because of her amnesia that she acted like that. That was who she really was – someone who loved and enjoyed life to the fullest and had a good heart.
She was also one of the most considerate people that Jadeite knew, often asking him if he was all right, if he was enjoying himself, if he was hungry (and he usually was; actually, they both usually were), and if there was something that he wanted to do while they were out. He had never been with a girl who was so concerned about the things he wanted to do when they were supposedly out to do the things that she wanted to do.
The one thing that struck him as being… off was that she seemed to have no concept of money. And by 'no concept' Jadeite did not mean that she had no idea what was expensive or not like how a daughter of rich parents would. Rather, by 'no concept', Jadeite meant it literally. Usagi, for some weird reason, had no idea what money was. She had no idea that one should pay for purchases and couldn't really understand why people didn't just give it freely. Jadeite tried to explain it but after a while, Usagi just smiled hesitatingly and shrugged and both dropped the subject by unspoken agreement.
She had asked him what the piece of paper he signed at every shop they went to was and didn't really understand his explanation that an account existed that had been agreed upon between the population who could afford it and all the shops. To pay, all he had to do was sign a slip of paper and the merchants would collect the payment from the Royal Treasury or any other bank. Those who wished to pay on credit had to set up an account with the bank, who would then give them a card as proof of the existence of their account. This card also served to inform the merchants that the account holder had a certain limit of maximum amount of money that they could spend that was written on the card.
However, in the case of the Terran High Command, they were automatically given a card-less account since everyone knew who they were, and likewise, the Terran High Command had no limit to their purchases. No other bank other than the Royal Treasury carried the accounts of the Terran High Command and each member, upon appointment as High General, deposited all their monetary funds to the Treasury. The Royal Treasury also held the money that the people paid as taxes, but the accounts of the kingdom and the Terran High Command were never confused or joined with the public's money, both accounts were different and the expenses of the Terran High Command came from their money and not the kingdom's.
It is interesting to note, though, that, coincidentally, all who have been members of the Terran High Command were well-to-do and, upon death, usually gave a small percentage of their money to the kingdom's reserves while the rest went to their respective heirs and/or family. For those who died without issue (a rare occurrence), they usually willed their wealth to be shared equally among the Royal Children (or child), future High Command members, and the kingdom's reserves.
Majority of the Royal's (Prince Endymion and the king) money came from wealth amassed and inherited by their ancestors and a small percentage came from the kingdom's money, as in from taxes paid to the government.
When the system first began, only the monarchs (some municipalities had kings and queens that answered to the Terran King) and High Command could avail of it – to test it, somehow, and see how merchants would accept it. A few years back, it was extended to include all members of the aristocracy and banks also began to accept credit from the merchants. The ultimate goal was to make the system available to anyone who wished to have it and had enough money for the system to work. It was instigated to ensure the protection and well being of Terran citizens so that they could shop with no fear of being robbed since all they carried was a small card that had their picture on it for easy identification. Likewise, they wouldn't have to bring a huge amount of money whenever they went shopping.
Because he had no other way of explaining it, Jadeite attributed Usagi's lack of monetary understanding to her amnesia, placing it at the back of his head, where he could trot it out should the occasion present itself when he'd have more information to make sense out of her ignorance. He discarded the idea that she was, like a handful of women in the kingdom, too stupid to understand the concept since Usagi seemed quite intelligent. Besides, it was possible that Usagi came from the province and that would explain her unfamiliarity with money and her familiarity with the barter system. It would also explain her ignorance of the credit system since it was a relatively new practice, a law placed into effect just a few years ago. Hardly any knew that it was Endymion's idea. So far, only the stores in the capital city had them but there were plans to normalize such a system throughout the kingdom, but these things took time.
And even if Jadeite was suspicions, he couldn't do anything and instinct told him it wasn't really important as of the present, so he just mentally filed the information for future reference.
