43. PEGASUS

Minako flapped her arms up and down.

"A bird? An airplane?"

"A plane's wings don't move, Mako-chan," Ami said.

Rei tilted her head. "Superman?"

Minako glared.

"Hey, Odango. Charades was your idea. Stop sucking face with Mamoru and pay some attention!"

Obviously unwilling, Usagi drew away from her boyfriend and spared a second for Minako's act. "Duh." She rolled her eyes. "A Pegasus."

Minako whooped triumphantly.

General disbelief. "Those two are scarily similar," Rei commented.

"Yep," Minako agreed, ignoring the sarcasm. "Like beans in a pod!"

"That's peas, Minmmm..." Mamoru corrected, but Usagi was already leading him into another kiss.

22/04/07

44. TRICKSTER

Endymion heard her everywhere.

A tinkling laugh in the middle of official matters, teasing him to distraction. A whisper at every meal, turning every bite into ash. Delighted gasps from beside him at night, making insomnia both a torture and a blessing.

He saw her everywhere, too.

Silver hair peeking from among the dancers at a ball. Flickers of white dresses around the castle. And in his gardens, sweet delirium, Serenity was in every tree and every flower.

Memories of her played tricks with his senses. Everywhere. At every moment. But if they made her absence bearable…

So be it.

22/04/07

45. METAMORPHOSIS

The universe had changed.

It wasn't only Serenity having fallen in love with the forbidden. It wasn't their betrothal before Endymion and his guardians had returned home.

No. This change went beyond politics and her Princess' destiny, beyond everything she'd once thought important.

Why hadn't she noticed before?

She'd never glimpsed it in Zoisite's company. Wrapped in his comforting presence, she'd never thought to question her easy acceptance until he was gone.

Now she felt naked. Bereft. Not as before and unsure of the after.

Hesitating at every step, Mercury wondered what she'd become by the time they met again.

22/04/07

46. AFFAIR

Jadeite brought her closer, whispering into her hair. "Don't you ever want me outside your rooms, love?"

"Not really." She laughed. "You behave better under close observation."

"Maybe I'm helpless against your enticements for good behaviour." His hand moved to cover her bare hip. "Or maybe I want more than this affair."

"Want to become an honest man?" she joked.

Jadeite shrugged. "Weddings are the running theme this season."

She swatted his arm. "Jadeite!"

"Pele!"

"You are serious?"

"You are surprised?"

Violet eyes narrowed. "This is the most bizarre proposal I've ever received," she huffed.

But she didn't say no.

23/04/07