Disclaimer: I don't own anything of Naoko Takeuchi so don't sue me.
I'm sorry it has taken so long to get this chapter out. I have been in a real writer's block for a while with how to continue with this part. I was just never satisfied with how it went. So I hope the wait was well-worth it. Just let me know. Thank you to all who sent their encouragement. It really helped me to move forward and strive to put something out. Here's to you…cheers!
Notre Epoque: Our Time
Looks Are Deceiving
Their steps were slow but directed as they journeyed down the marble floored hallways. A sense of aspiration filled the air and tension was building. Each man was stepping to his own rhythm and silent with his thoughts. No man daring to bring up the information that was revealed to them only moments ago.
Cerulean eyes scanned from one comrade to another trying to read their clouded minds. The information brought to them was to say at the very least, surprising. He drew a slow breathe and thought of how strange that such a thing could happen to one of them.
He cast a look at his leader. The stoic general met him as if daring him to say a word. Jadeite grinned at the challenge. "So…" All four men came to a halt as Jadeite turned to look directly at Kunzite. The other two averted their eyes and struggled to hold the emotions inside.
Kunzite gave the young man a stern gaze but remained silent.
Jadeite did not back down and with all seriousness asked, "What kind of shoes was she wearing again?"
The tension broke as laughter burst from behind. Nephrite was holding tight onto his stomach while Zoisite was leaning against a stone pillar for support. Kunzite spotted the men a murderous glance but was thoroughly ignored due to the light tearing in their eyes. He could kill Jadeite. The devil himself stood with his arms folded across his chest and slowly shook his head, "My…my…how the mighty have fallen." Jadeite grinned at their formerly unbeatable leader. He would have to thank Endymion one day for that bit of information. To think the one to best Kunzite in swordsmanship would be none other than a woman.
Kunzite eyed him but sternly refused to be baited by his traitorous subordinate. He turned on his heels and continued forward without a second glance. The men recovered and quickly followed him. Nephrite stood beside their leader. "Come, come now Kunzite. Do tell what happened?"
Before suffering further taunting of his other subordinates, a shout rang through the halls. He shrugged off his comrades jests and continued to round a corner.
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"Mina! Give it back!"
Melina raced through the corridors with great agility as a desperate Mercurian trailed behind her. Melina gave her a large grin while keeping a distance away holding the item behind her. "Come on. Tell me already. Whose it from?"
Ami pouted slightly, her cheeks flushed from chasing the Venusian princess around the Moon palace. "No one." The style of her deep indigo dress clung to her petite body which disabled any ability to make great strides. While the Venusian's golden dress sported a split in the center clear up to the thigh giving full ability to move about. Melina slowed down watching the petite princess who had stopped to catch her breath.
"No one, huh?" Melina took the ivory chess knight and waved it mockingly in front of her. "Why…I do believe that you are lying to me, my dear Ami."
Amelia surprisingly lunged at her but she easily dodged. Why does she have to be so fast? Her patience was growing thin. "Mina…I swear…to you…I'll tell…Artemis to…triple…your…work load."
Melina halted in mid-stride to give her a sad puppy look and hands clasped together. "Ami, you wouldn't do that your wittle Mina."
Ami crossed her arms over her chest and gave a serious frown, "Try me."
Melina's cerulean eyes glossed over as if ready to cry. "Ami is such a meanie. You're just as bad as Rei." She sank to the marble floor and bowed her head. Her golden bangs swooped down and covered her eyes.
Amelia did not budge. She refused to give attention to this childish behavior. Mina was just acting which was her strong point. I'm not giving in…I'm not. She turned up her nose and crossed her arms across her chest. She refused. She wouldn't give in. She turned to see what appeared like a down-trodden Mina. Yet, her gentle nature would not heed to her sensible mind. "Mina…I…"
Melina's head shot up and mischievousness glistened from her eyes. Gotcha. "Ha…well…I guess it's worth it." She took off once more with more bounce than before. "So…was it Hermes…it's Hermes, isn't it?"
"No, it's nothing like that. Hermes is my mentor." Amelia lunged again for her.
"Then, who is it?" Melina jeered and began to laugh.
"NO ONE OF IMPORTANCE!"
Melina looked back at the Mercurian and turned a corner. She slammed into something solid and was sent soaring backwards.
Amelia rushed to her side, "Mina, are you alright?"
"Ow that hurt." Melina gave a small smile while rubbing her posterior. "I don't remember a wall round this corner."
Both princesses looked up to see none other than the Royal Terran Guard. The "wall" that Melina had the lack of luck to smack into was none other than General Kunzite and he did not look pleased.
He peered down at her. "Do you need help, Your Highness?" His tone was clearly anything but inviting. It must have scared the girl since she did nothing but stare at him. Whether she was star-struck, scared, or dumbstruck, he could not tell but he felt strangely annoyed by her lack of response. Luckily, he would never care to show it.
Melina stared up at him. Not sure as what to do. The ridiculousness of the situation made her want to laugh. Should she apologize?
"Don't worry, Your Highness. His face is set that way permanently. He cannot help but look scary." A gloved hand was extended in front of her and her eyes met with a pair of dancing azure eyes. Jadeite was kneeling on the floor in front of her with an assuring smirk.
Melina gave him an appreciative glance at his attempt to jolt up her spirits. She gave out her classic 100 watt smile and bounced up from the ground. "No worries. What goes down must come up."
A moment of deafening silence filled the large corridor as the generals stared at her inquisitively while the Mercurian princess gave a sad shake of her head. "Min…Melina, I think you mean 'what goes up must come down'."
"But if I said that, it wouldn't make sense." Melina smilingly retorted.
She giggled some what nervously at the stoic general and rubbed the back of her head. "My apologies for running into you, General Kunzite."
He bowed slightly but gave no return apology much to her irritation. "It is an honor to have my name known by the Princess of Venus."
Opps…Sweatdrop. She giggled and stopped to look at her hand. The object was gone. She began frantically searching for Amelia's little treasure.
"Do you need assistance?" Kunzite hardly felt the need to offer help but as a courtesy, he knew it would be better to ask. He wanted this alliance to proceed as smoothly and quickly as possible.
She glanced at Amelia who was standing silently to the side. Her attention directed anywhere else instead of Melina. Melina placed her hands on her hips. Just you wait Miss Mouse. I'm going to get it out of you or I'm not the Goddess of Love.
Amelia stood waiting for the emotions in her heart to subside to its normal calm coolness. Ignoring the feeling of Melina's determined gaze on her skin, Amelia walked passed her to extend a hand to General Kunzite. "General Kunzite, it is indeed an honor to meet you."
"The honor is all mine, Princess Amelia." Melina gazed at the scene as Kunzite knelt perfectly to place a kiss on her friend's hand. The distant look in Amelia's eyes evident. Melina had always found this transformation in her friend strange. This Ami, now Amelia, was cold much colder than even the element she wielded in her very hands.
"Princess Melina, did you lose something?" Melina turned her gaze once more to the calm eyes of General Jadeite.
She smiled at him. Perfect. She grabbed his arm, "Oh, I didn't lose anything at all but thanks for all the concern…" Melina smiled charmingly at him, "…General??" Jadeite.
Jadeite smiled, "Jadeite."
Surprise and shock expressed clearly upon her porcelain face, Melina raised a delicate hand to cover her smile, "Oh, General Jadeite?"
"Yes?"
In a flurry, she raised both hands in the air and ran to embrace him, "it is wonderful to finally meet you my dear Jadeite."
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Her determined steps glided silently on the ivory marble floors as she came closer to a room she knew well. Her hand resting the handle of a door she had turned many times before. However, this time she was hesitant to enter since she knew the consequence she had to bear within. She breathed deeply and pushed it open. The sitting area was empty but noises rang clearly from the bedroom. She crossed over preparing for the onslaught.
"Mina, leave her ALONE!"
Reina's eyes responded with surprise and she pushed the remaining obstacle between her and oblivion.
Her eyes surveyed the scene before her. A clearly shocked Melina stood leaning slightly over Amelia's form sitting on the stool near the vanity. The blue-haired girl was unsuccessfully trying to hide herself behind a greenish-brown tome and only managed to cover her face. Lilith had her back turned to them with her attention drawn to the scene beyond the tall windows of Reina's room and arms across her chest.
The room stood silent as each girl contemplated what to do. Reina let out an exasperated sigh and closed the door behind her...rather loudly. Melina jumped, "Rei, where have you been? Luna was looking for you. You missed our meeting with the Terran entourage."
"With Serenity-sama."
Melina's mouth an "O" and smirked, "What did she say?"
Reina try to whisk past her but Melina grabbed her onto her arm, "Aww…come on Rei." Reina eyed the placed where Melina had set her hand as a command to let go or die. Melina relented and flung herself onto Reina's bed. "Did you see anything?"
Reina remained silent and sat on the vanity stool that Amelia had abandoned to stand next to Lilith.
"You were gone for three hours."
Reina sighed as she contemplated the misfortunes of her day after the encounter she had with that bad luck Terran general. After confirming his presence gone from the premises, she deduced that she still had time before they…she would meet with Prince Endymion and his guardians. She enclosed herself inside the Sacred Room to meditate. However, her mind was clouded by visions of a smirk and bright cerulean eyes. She shook her head furiously to clear her thoughts but the invader refused to withdraw.
Exasperated, she marched out of the room to bump into none other than Nana who insisted that she stay for some tea and keep company with her. Appreciative for the break, Reina readily accepted and lost track of time hearing the old woman go on about her grandson's antics. When she realized time grew short, she bid farewell to the elderly miko and Takashi. Doing her best to run in her lavender gown, Reina rushed back to the dining hall using the garden. However, turning a corner she had the misfortune of running into one of the palace gardeners and fell unceremoniously into a mud puddle. The distraught man knelt before and begged her forgiveness. Murmuring a few curses to herself, she picked up her now brown stained gown and took off for her room to change. She tried to use the route through the kitchen so that no one would witness the Martian princess in such a despicable state.
She hastily scuttled through the kitchen until a young woman with a bowl of flour appeared out of no where. Flour covered the entire floor, and a ghostlike Reina was not pleased. Before the servant girl could kneel, Reina struck out her hand and stomped out. Finally, she reached her room after enduring numerous stares from servants and guards. She tried to pour so water from her basin and clean herself off. A mere drop appeared from the lip of the jug. She throw open the door, "SOMEONE BRING ME SOME WATER!!" She removed the tarnish gown as if she wore heavy armor. Quickly wiping the offending white dust, Reina began to imagine numerous scenarios of murdering the man who brought all her misfortune. Her best involved throwing him in mud, ripping a bag of flour over his blond head, and then bake him to a crisp with her fire soul.
Doing her best to buff out the white streaks in her hair, Reina donned a simple white gown to hide any spot of flour she may have missed before whisking out the door for the dining hall. She reached the massive doors but as intercepted by the non-too-happy eyes of one Luna Rosse who took her to Queen Serenity.
Reina sighed and tossed aside her hair. "You didn't answer any of my questions." The frustration she was eagerly suppressing was rising. She let out a defeated sigh and looked at Melina's form still outstretched on the bed.
"What do you want?"
"Did you see anything?"
"Nothing of significance."
Silence filled the room before, "Then what did Serenity-sama ask you to do?"
Reina let out a sigh before moving for one of the windows near Lilith and Amelia. The girls nearby remain silent as well, awaiting her answer. Arms crossed over her chest she leaned on one of the windows, "I have to dance with each of the generals at tomorrow's ball."
The tension in the room sudden faded as Melina sprung from the bed and pulled the raven-haired maid wrapped an arm around her shoulders, "Aiya, I'll have to give the lady props. She knows a good punishment."
Reina shrugged off her arm and snorted, "What a pure waste of time."
Melina waved a finger in her face, "Tat, tat, Rei. We'll need to dress you up for your great debut. No more hiding in dark corners, out on the balcony, or threats of burning partners alive." She gestured dramatically, "Our Martian princess will act in the accordance of which is expected of a lady of royal heritage." Reina snorted again to conceal a smile at her friend's antics. She heard Amelia giggle softly to the side and peered up at Lilith who also could not help be give a slight smile. "Anyway…I need to tell you to be at least nice to one general."
Reina glanced at Melina before returning her gaze to Lilith who looked at her with a faint smile and flicker in her emerald eyes. Something's wrong. Absently, "Oh…really…who?"
"My cousin Jadeite," Melina beamed.
Reina's head snapped to stare at her. "Your what?"
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Cousin?
Kunzite gave a glance that hardly said anything but as any among them knew was one of disbelief.
Jadeite grinned and folded his arms. Strangely enough. I had Zoi here check some of the books.
The four men stood still in a different part of the quaint room. Each man contemplating the events that had occurred that day. Apparently, there seems to be a small history in one of the books trailing to one of my ancestors to the Royal Venusian family.
She can't be serious.Nephrite grunted.
Jadeite smirked. As she said, 'our great great great great…don't know how many great… grandmothers were related.
Kunzite's serious demeanor deepened. Jadeite…It's most likely…
It probably is, oyaji. Jadeite cut him off. She wants something. I just need to do my best to get something back.
Their leader nodded and eyed him again. Did you find anything?
Jadeite gave a lazy shrug. The place is well-guarded but won't be too hard to break through if necessary. We'll have to see about tomorrow. The guard change is regular and there's a tree among one of the garden walls that can be used to get in or out and allow cover.
Zoi.
The areas I checked were vacant with exception to a set of guards here and there for patrol. Then you got your occasional diplomat running around.
Nephrite.
Same here. Moved around without much interference.
Not much?
…
Very well.
A knock came at the door and a young girl appeared at the entrance. "General Jadeite, here's the book you asked for."
Jadeite walked over and smiled admirably at the young maid, "You have done me a great service. I hope one day I may repay you." He took the girl's hand and lightly kissed it.
The girl blushed, "I…It…It…was…not…nothing. Please ask for what ever you need." She raised her other hand to her now warm cheeks. She gave a swift bow and quickly left the room.
"What have you got there, Jadeite?" Nephrite got up from the chair he was leaning on to look at the book in his hand.
Jadeite flipped through the small booklet to reveal a page with a worn little painting. He was slightly silent before answering, "It would appear that looks can be deceiving."
Nephrite raised an eyebrow at his comrade and peered at the photograph of a beautiful raven-haired woman dressed in a long crimson gown standing with a small girl dressed with what appeared to be temple robes.
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Ok! How was that? I hope it was worth the wait. I know the story is slow but I hope to make it up in the chapters to come. Do please review…It makes me feel that I should keep going. Ja-ne.