Chapter 9
Usagi breathed a sigh of relief once they were off stage. Much as she liked singing and being a popstar, she was terrified of forgetting the words and letting down the others. She followed the others to their dressing room, where Ami, Makoto, Michiru, Setsuna, Hotaru and Chibi-Usa were waiting. Haruka had gone to get the boys, and the others were in the dressing room that connected to this one. She and the others put on pretty evening gowns for the reception later on.
Usagi wore a white gown with layers and layer of white fabric spilling out from the golden-embroidered empire waist. Her sleeves were slightly puffed, and she wore white two-inch heels on her feet, moonstone earrings, necklace and bracelet.
Ami wore an off-the-shoulder pale blue gown with flowing bell sleeves and layers of different shades of blue silk flowing from the waist. Two sapphire studs were at her ears, and a simple pair of blue flats were on her feet.
Rei wore a red haltertop dress that faded from dark red to white, and on her feet were a pair of violet pumps. Half of her hair was pinned up with a amethyst stone, and she had a ruby necklace at her neck. Her ears were not pierced.
Makoto wore a dress of coral, which looked as if had been draped over her form. It flowed down to meet at a pink jewel rose at the empire waist, and an underlayer of raspberry pink was lightened from the chiffon overlayer that was in white. Her usual rose earrings sparkled at her ears, and pink heels were at her feet.
Minako wore a dress with a dark gold underlay and a white chiffon overlay. The chiffon was split in front to reveal the gold underneath. Her sleeves were short chiffon affairs shot thorough with orange-gold threads , and on her feet were dainty orange and gold wedges.
Kimiko wore a pale blue off-the-shoulder dress with spaghetti straps holding them up. Little pink rose quartz embroidered the neckline, but her ears were bare, they weren't pierced. Her feet were graced with lilac ribbon wedges.
Dong Yi wore a violet strapless dress that was beaded above the waistline, and violet silk spilling out under the blue satin sash at her waist. She wore sapphire earrings and matching flats.
Haruka and Michiru wore similar dresses; strapless sheaths with calf-length coats with flats, except that Haruka wore blue and Michiru wore aquamarine.
Hotaru had wanted to wear black, but Setsuna had stoutly refused, so she was wearing a pale yellow gown with one shoulder as a ribbon and the other a spaghetti strap and sparkled glittered on the chiffon overlay of the dress and white flats. Both she and Setsuna were obviously pleased with the result.
Chibi-Usa was in a pink dress with the top embroidered with silver threads and a hot pink skirt that was clipped up in some places with tiny silver diamonds. Her shoes were pink and embroidered with silver like her gown.
The boys were dressed like the rest of the males, in black suits and white shirts. Soichiro's hair was tied back by a black rubberband.
They greeted the girls, and Kimiko allowed Keitaro to stand next to her. Dong Yi and Daisuke were chatting cordially, laughing together, Usagi and Mamoru were holding hands and giggling over some joke, Ami and Soichiro were apparently discussing some intellectual thing, Rei and Jun were arguing, Makoto and Nobuyuki were chatting and Minako and Kazuya were apparently discussing a mix of battle plans and memories.
"So happy." Kimiko thought to herself. Maybe it was time for her to start to trust these men. She smiled and struck up a conversation with Keitaro, Dong Yi and Daisuke. "Dong Yi! Do you want to make a shopping trip tomorrow, in place of the one we missed on Saturday? I wanna get my ears pierced, and I so need to get earrings! Would," she turned to Keitaro and Daisuke, "you two like to come? Jun is coming with us, cos Rei's getting her ears pierced too." the men in question nodded.
The next day, Rei, Dong Yi and Kimiko roamed the earrings shop, and Rei picked out a pair of ruby earrings, one pair of amethyst ones, and a pair of heart-shaped red jadeite ones. Kimiko bought a pair of amethyst ones, both studs and dangly, one pair of pink-purple sapphire and one of diamond. Dong Yi bought a pair of emerald studs, teardrop – shaped amethyst ones, and a pair of pink – purple sapphire ones. She and Kimiko opted for wearing the pink-purple sapphire ones and Rei opted for the heart-shaped red jadeite ones. The trio were very happy with the result, and came out of the shop happily. Kimiko disappeared from there, assuring the others that she would be home soon. When she arrived, though, they stared at her in shock.
It wasn't the new purple dress she was wearing or the fact that her ears were pierced – they had known anyway – it was her hair. While her hair still reached to about slightly below the middle of her back, it was slightly wavier than her original one, the jet-black mass now had a purple streak in it. Her bangs were still there, though.
"Omigosh, Kimi! You look cute with that! Where didja get it?" Dong Yi squealed, touching Kimiko's hair. "At Mia's. I found out online that she has a hair salon that dyes hair. Went there today and got it," she said, fingering it. "I've gotta go and wash it, Mia says so. Ciao!" She went up to her room.
