Disclaimer: all and any Sailor Moon character belongs to Naoko Takeuchi. I just own the idea for this story. So don't sue me, but please don't steal either!
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11
She made her way through the woods, letting out a bored sigh.
Venus and Mars were busy dealing with matters of the court, and she was the one in charge of keeping a watchful eye on their runaway Princess. Jupiter had come along as well, but the Amazon was busy doing a bit of runaway herself after kindly asking -bordering on begging- for her to come as well just so the tall Senshi of Thunder could do that.
Not that she minded being the one keeping an eye on the Princess and making sure she made it back home safely and unharmed. That was her duty, after all. It was the keeping the affair in secret, making sure no one noticed their absence while they were gone, and waiting around doing nothing at all part that bored her to no ends; there was not much to do on these strange, unknown lands.
It was an interesting place, though. The trees were far much taller than the few ones that had been planted on the Palace's gardens, and the sight of the green leaves dancing in the breeze, the sun pouring in from in between them, was both fascinating and soothing, and she allowed herself to wander off a little to see the place for herself.
She trusted Prince Endymion's words when he assured here these woods were perfectly safe, and she was confident he was a man of honor. He wouldn't harm her Princess or disgrace her in any way, and so she allowed them the luxury of privacy, if only a little; she still didn't feel quite comfortable leaving them all alone, so she kept herself within range so that she could still feel her Princess' presence.
She saw a clearing up ahead and she made her way there, and she regretted not bringing a book with her. Enjoying a reading under the shadow of the tall, magnificent trees surely seemed like a pleasant experience.
A sudden noise from behind her surprised her, and she jumped up and turned around; fear taking over as the possibility of getting attacked by one of Earth's creatures -animals, she believed they were called- occurred to her only then. But with her own sudden movement, the heel of her boot got caught between the branches of a low bush right next to her, and she let a cry of surprise and sudden fear as she embraced herself, reading herself for the now inevitable impact.
But when her body never hit the green grass beneath her and strong, yet slender arms came around her waist, stopping her way down, she blinked, surprised out of her mind.
"Are you alright, Ma'am?" a low, slightly rusty, soft voice asked, and she blinked again.
Looking up at her rescuer, she blinked again when she found herself face to face with a handsome young man. His delicate face was barely a few inches away from her as he held her close and the most amazingly green eyes were gazing down on her somewhat worriedly, and a deep blush came rushing to her cheeks at the sudden, unexpected proximity.
He seemed to realize this, for he was fast to help her up and to her feet once more.
"Are you alright?" he asked again, as he took a step backwards, putting a respectable distance between them.
The red on her cheeks deepened, if that was even possible, utterly embarrassed at her own, completely out of character clumsiness. "Yes," she answered, "I am alright. Thank you, kind Sir."
Straightening herself up, she bowed in respect to him, easily recognizing the gray uniform and acknowledging him as one of Prince Endymion's protectors. But as she did so, that noise that had first scared her came again, and she jumped up again despite of herself, instinctively going to him for protection as the creature showed itself.
It was rather small, and she mentally scolded herself for being so childish. But she knew nothing of Earth's creatures, and this one, though small, could still be dangerous or even poisonous, for all she knew.
As if guessing her line of thoughts, the man beside her chuckled lightly, resting a comforting hand on her back.
"It's only a hare," he provided when she blinked up at him. "It will not hurt you," he assured her, slowly crouching down and facing the creature, and then offering out a hand for her to crouch down beside him.
Curious, and instinctively trusting this strange man and the kindness dancing in his green eyes, she accepted the offered hand. With his help, she laid herself down, resting both knees against the soft grass beneath her, and eyed the furred, long eared creature.
"He's probably more scared of you than you are of him," the blonde said.
She blinked, barely nodding her head as she studied the small creature not two feet away. The small, brown nose moved, as if smelling the air around, long ears moving around a little, and she tilted her head to a side, both curious and fascinated.
The creature, hare, as the man had called it, moved closer, and she reached out a hand, wondering what it would feel like to run her fingers through its fur. But as she did so, the hare jumped up and away, hurriedly disappearing behind the bushes.
The man chuckled. "See?" he said, straightening up and offering his hand yet again to help her stand up.
Again, she accepted the offered hand, standing up beside the man. "I did not mean to scare it," she apologized.
"It's alright," he said. "It's a rare occurrence, for hares to come this near," he explained. "They're very shy and elusive," he explained, as he gifted her with a smile that, for whatever reason, made a blush come and burn her cheeks. "But I think he was curious of you."
"Oh," was all she was able to say, lowering her gaze and starting at her own boots, fidgeting with her hands as the blush burned her cheeks, suddenly and inexplicably feeling unsure of herself.
"Can you blame it?" he asked, with something aching to amusement dancing in those green orbs of his. "Animals can be highly perceptive," he offered as she looked up at him again, "and this one seemed to sense the strong aura around you, different from those of us, earthlings."
She blinked, surprised at the explanation, yet highly curious by it all the same. There wasn't much information about earth's creatures in the Palace's library, with the blue orb being object of several different adjectives -mostly derogatory-, with the royal scribes not considering it important enough to even try to obtain such information on a planet that was not even a part of the Alliance. A fact she often found regrettable, for her thirst for knowledge could simply not accept ignorance. Specially not if it was a conscious choice.
"I don't think we have been properly introduced," his voice, soft, husky, with a clear melodic hint to it -and a subtle courting lilt too-, forced her out of her own wondering thoughts, having momentarily -and only superficially- forgotten about her newfound companion.
She looked up at him just in time to see the slightly sided, cordial smile that graced his lips. A little too confident on its self charm, she noted, as a light blush took up residence on her cheeks when he took her hand in his slender one. It was impossible not to acknowledge -if only to herself- the way his smile reached green orbs, making minuscule little dots of mirth dance within them, shining proudly with the sunlight. The end result was a sight that, for whatever reason, made her breath get caught in her throat at the handsome smile now decorating soft features.
"Lord Zoisite, at your service," he said, right before placing soft lips to her gloved hand, kissing it gently and gallantly.
.-.
Eyes as blue and as deep as the ocean opened up, blinking up at the green digits of the alarm clock without really looking, and a soft, half groaning sigh filled the room.
There was no need to touch her cheeks to know, there was a burning -and quite frustrating- blush now decorating her cheeks. She half preferred waking up with a start and with the feeling of an ice blade going through her, than with a blush burning her face caused by flirting words and shining green eyes.
It was annoying -for the lack of a better, more suitable word…-, specially when slides and candid made of memories and whispering voices would still linger in her head even after waking up. It was as if a part of her brain would still be lost in remembrance, clearly able to recall feelings and thoughts and sensations. Like the way thin lips felt against her hand, even through the material of her white gloves, or how beautifully -and yes, handsomely- green eyes would shine up when looking at her, with a mix between curiosity about her very nature and persona, and plain male appreciation for her female condition dancing in there.
Remembering that last bit was enough to make her cheeks feel even hotter, and she shook her head, forcing her own memories to the back of her mind. There were more important matters to attend to, such as breakfast.
Not bothering on changing out of her sleeping clothes, having long ago got over her own natural shyness enough to feel comfortable walking around in nothing but her navy blue polka dot flannel shorts and mismatching black and white stripped tee, she walked out of her bedroom and into the hallway. After taking care of physical needs in the bathroom and rearranging her sleep tousled hair, she made her way straight to the kitchen, half lured by the enchanting smell coming from it, and half wondering about the unusual lack of sound which inevitably came with such delicious scent each Sunday morning; Makoto had a habit of either humming to herself or singing to whatever song was playing on the radio while waltzing around their kitchen as she made breakfast.
Because she made it a point on being there the entire day -unless some other important business forced her away-, Makoto was usually the first one to wake up and leave their shared apartment, going to take care of her shop instead. And though her brunette friend always made sure to leave recently cooked pastries -always a different one, depending on her mood and inspiration- and fresh coffee waiting for them, she always took Sundays off. Which translate as, the tall Amazon was there every Sunday to make breakfast for her roommates, demonstrating not only her cooking proficiency, but also her singing and dancing skills.
And Ami was sure she would be forever grateful of her friend's thoughtfulness each and every morning, for coffee had became a very good, close friend of hers during the passing years. Which she knew was a college student must more than an acquired taste, depending this much on the dark liquid to chase sleep away. But the reigning silence was worrisome, and she only had time to half wonder if maybe there was something wrong -a new enemy? An attack of some sort? Maybe something more related to matters of the heart than Senshi business?-, when she walked into the kitchen, only to confirm her half thought question.
She knew there was definitively something wrong when she was faced with a very quiet, very silent Minako sitting on a chair next to the table, holding her cup of tea with both hands as if it was a delicate, rare crystal of some sort, and an equally quiet though obviously impatient Makoto, as the brunette sat on a chair across from the blonde, one bare feet up and over her own chair, and the other repeatedly moving up and down against the floor. And if their silence was not evidence enough, the fact that Minako was not only there on a Sunday morning -which was usually not the case…-, but also up and wide awake at such an early hour surely was.
"What is it?" she asked, going straight to the point.
"Ami, hi!" Minako exclaimed a little too cheerful, looking up from her cup and smiling widely up at her. "Good morning!"
"Good morning to you too."
"Coffee?" Makoto asked, standing up from her chair and going to the counter, not really needing nor waiting for an answer before taking a cup from the cabinet and filling it with fresh coffee.
"Thank you," she said, accepting the offered cup and taking a much needed sip.
"I made cookies," Makoto announced, pointing the obvious as she took the plate full of the aforementioned treats. "Want some?"
Taking note of the brunette's a little bit too enthusiastic tone, she couldn't help but notice those were not just any cookies. And she clearly remembered Minako stating vanilla cookies with chocolate chips were a girl's best friend -or worst enemy, depending on how one looked at it…- when wanting to drown sorrows of the heart. A friend only rivaled by ice cream, but considering it was only fifteen past eight in the morning, Ami figured cookies were more appropriate.
She just couldn't figure out why 'the remedy', as both Minako and Usagi would call it, was being offered to her on this particular morning.
Taking one of the treats from the plate, she inspected it superficially. She knew Minako would be drowning in tears and cookies if the remedy was meant for her -and Ami herself would be more than ready to castrate and then decapitate one particular, very specific tall, white haired man. She had seen the scene a few times a little over a year ago, when her blonde friend was sure the man hated her, what with his stubborn determination to stay as far away from her as humanly possible and that forever stoic, serious frown decorating his face.
Makoto, on the other hand, would be taking her frustration and pain out on innocent dough, handling the mix as if it was guilty of all and every crime ever committed, covered in flour from head to toe and with a rather sour mood. Either that, or the brunette would be sitting out on their balcony, with green eyes shining with unshed tears staring at the plants she nurtured daily as if they held the answer to all her questions. Again, a scene Ami had witnessed several times over the passing years, each and every time 'a guy that looked like her old sempai' would inevitably turn out to be the completely wrong guy for her tall friend.
And considering there was no real reason for the remedy to be meant for her -she was sure she had not developed a split personality disorder of any kind and there was no alter ego going around, dating guys and getting heartbroken-, she could only come up with one half logical answer.
"What happened?" she asked, already knowing the answer, but unwilling to assume anything until she had all the facts. Assuming things when it came to her friends was, after all, completely fruitless and pointless…
"What makes you think something happened?" Minako asked, battling her eyelashes all too innocently and sweetly.
"Vanilla and chocolate chips?" she asked, only half accusingly, signaling at the still untouched cookie in her hand.
Makoto shrunk her shoulders. "Usagi came back yesterday, remember?" she pointed out. "I ran out of supplies and didn't have the time to go to the supermarket," she explained. It was amazing the amount of treats -cakes, pie, cookies, muffins…- the brunette had come up with in such short time, and how fast it had all disappeared, mostly thanks to Usagi, though they had all helped out on that task. "It was either this, or blueberries," the brunette finished, knowing full well either of her roommates was a big fun of blueberry treats. Not when there were other options, at least.
"I see," Ami conceded, nodding her head and taking a small bite of her cookie, letting the rich flavor roll down her tongue.
"But there is one small, tiny little thing…" Minako started, raising up a hand and making a sign with her thumb and index finger.
Again, she nodded her head, helping the cookie down her throat with a sip of her coffee. "I figured that much," she said, placing her cup down on the table and waiting for her friends to get it out already. But when nothing but silence and staring eyes welcomed her, she fought the urge to roll her eyes. "Well?"
"You know we love you, right?" the blonde continued. "And that we wouldn't do anything to hurt you or even make you uncomfortable, in any way."
Although she appreciated the thought and was touched by its truthfulness, she couldn't help but find it a bit ironic; they were making her uncomfortable right now…
"Zoisite is here," Makoto finally spat out.
Baby blue eyes throw daggers at the brunette, before Minako shook her head disapprovingly. But then her face expression changed, turning soft, loving, and compassionate. "They got all together yesterday, and want to get the whole checking process out of the way as soon as possible," she explained, reaching a hand out and gently rubbing Ami's arm. "You know, to make sure."
Ami nodded, understanding perfectly.
It had been the same with the other three, after all. Though they all trusted Mamoru's word, when it came to the Shitennou, the prince was biased. And though they regarded Setsuna's words on the matter a bit higher than Mamoru's -she was the Senshi of Time, after all-, still, they had all made their own check-out on each and every one of them to make absolutely sure there were no traces of evil in them.
It was only natural to do the same thing with the green eyed Shitennou, and for the rest of them to expect it.
"But we totally understand if you don't want to," the blonde continued.
"I appreciate your concern," Ami said, tapping her friend's hand over her arm. "But it's completely unnecessary."
"It's Zoisite," Minako insisted, eyes big and wide.
"I know," the bluenette conceded. "But, may I remind you that, unlike you two, I had no relationship with him."
"Only because you were too naïve to read all the signals he kept on sending, and too shy and stubborn to admit your own feelings."
The blush came to her cheeks despite herself . "That was not…"
"The point is," Makoto interrupted them, "we know this might be… weird… for you, being locked up in a room with him and all," she explained, waving her hand around.
Her blush deepened at that. "It won't be just me and him," she pointed out. "Besides, it's my job. Or would you prefer to do it?"
"Hey, I can handle modern technology fairly well, and I appreciate the convenience and commodity of a laptop just like any other girl," the brunette said, now raising both hands palm up in a surrendering manner, "but I'm pretty sure you're the only person on the entire world that understands that little netbook of yours."
"It's not a netbook."
"It looks like one," Minako argued. "Small and light-weighted and all," she said, shaking her shoulder. "Only, you know, minus the keyboard and with a really complicated operational system…"
"When's the meeting?" she asked, not wanting to get into a discussion that had nothing to do with their current topic of conversation whatsoever.
"Today at three," Makoto answered. "Rei's getting everything ready and calling the others."
She nodded. "Alright. I'll be there," she said. "And you don't need to worry about me, I'm perfectly fine," she assured them. "If anything, I'm happy for Mamoru. I know how much it means to him to have them all back."
She took a sip from her coffee, enjoying the hot liquid, trying to ignore her friends' worried stares. But when she simply couldn't, she rolled her eyes, easily reading the unvoiced question dancing in their eyes.
"Yes, I'm sure," she assured them for the last time, mentally and decidedly crushing down that tiny little nervous bug tugging at the tip of her stomach.
She had a life, friends, family and her volunteer job at the hospital; she had far more important matters to worry about that an ancient, frustrated affair with a man she didn't even know anymore.
