A/N: There's a really cool roleplay site I'm apart of, and there are spots available. Because of the recent lack in quality of RP'ers, from now on we will have auditions. If your interested in auditioning for any character at all, please let me know!
Chapter Twenty One:Little Blue Dress
Fighter froze. Did Maker realize that she was the cause of her tears?
"Maker, the princess wanted to see you to get your dress fitted."
"That can wait. Please, Fighter, tell me what happened." Maker said gently, one arm under Fighter's legs, bracing Fighter's hips against her, the other around her back, allowing her hand free to brush away tears and stroke Fighter's cheek softly.
"I just..remembered something sad, is all." Fighter said.
"Tell me."
"I can't."
"Why not? We never kept things from each other before.,,"
"You are just not supposed to know, not yet at least." Fighter said with a sigh.
"I will respect your judgment leader, even though I do not agree with it." Maker concluded, sliding Fighter off her lap.
"Will you be alright on your own? I don't wish to keep ouhi waiting."
Fighter nodded. "Mm, I'm fine." she said, forcing a fake smile. Maker smiled back genuinely and left the room, closing the door quietly behind her. Fighter stretched out on her bed, and wernt to sleep.
The day of the ball came quickly for Fighter. Before she knew it she was in Maker's room(the princess still had hers..) struggling to wriggle the tight dress over her head. Maker came out of the bathroom just as Fighter toppled over with a grown, unable to get the dress on correctly.
Maker laughed gently, walking over to her leader.
"Looks like someone could use some help."
"Urasai!" Fighter scolded. Maker laughed some more and stood her leader up, who had the dress over her head, but had gotten it stuck on her shoulders, unable to see. It was quite a comical site. With a whoosh Maker pulled the dress down, and struggled not to gasp at how stunning Fighter looked.
"Fighter..." Maker said.
"NO LAUGHING!" Fighter scolded. Maker blinked in surprise.
"I wasn't going to laugh. You look beautiful." Maker said simply. Fighter blushed, quickly turning away to face the mirror to hide it. She took her hair down, which had been increasingly long as of late. She still kept most of it cropped short, but was now growing out a ponytail at the base of her neck. That's how she looked in their past lives...when Maker had loved her..
"Maker, what should I do with my hair?" she whined, turning around to face her comrade, who was running a brush through her reddish brown locks.
"Try braiding it?" Maker suggested.
"I don't know how to do that!" Fighter whined.
Maker laughed, "Oh Leader, you are simply hopeless." Fighter glared, all too cutely, and Maker laughed some more.
Maker brushed her hair til it shone, and flicked it over her shoulders. Fighter wanted to kiss her right then and there..
Maker approached Fighter, running the brush through her hair.
"Oww.." Fighter complained as Maker hit a tangle.
"Well if you'd just brush your hair!" Maker scolded.
"Yeah yeah, whatever..." Fighter grumbled. Maker braided her hair, finishing it with a dark blue satin ribbon tied into a bow.
"There." Maker said, giving a slight tug to Fighter's hair as she walked away. Fighter shivered and closed her eyes as it sent a tingle down her spine. She turned and stared at her comrade, who was twisting this way and that to see her dress in the mirror.
"Maker you're beautiful, can we go now?"
"Alright.." Maker said, walking out the door with a sigh.
And indeed she was..Maker's dress was a pale purple, it was strapless and fit snugly at the top, and it flared out widely at the bottom. Fighter wondered how Maker managed to fit out the door. As they went down the stairs, side by side into the ball room, she noticed Maker's foot caught on her dress. Instantly Fighter looped her hand around her waist, successfully catching her without anyone being the wiser. Fighter stopped their descent on the stairs and whispered.
"You alright?"
Maker nodded and blushed in embarrassment. If Fighter hadn't caught her, she would've gone face first. Maker picked up her dress slightly, making her way down the rest of the stairs with perfect grace and elegance, Fighters arm never leaving her waist.
"You can let go now, Fighter." Maker said, although it came out very rude, which wasn't her intention.
"Sorry." Fighter mumbled, walking off. Maker sighed. She was afraid to love Fighter, yes, but she didn't want to keep shutting her down like this, either. What on Kinmoku was wrong with her?
Fighter grumpily made her way over to her princess and Healer.
"Hello Fighter." the princess said kindly, "You look very beautiful this evening."
"Thank you." Fighter said, the Princess' sweet disposition and scent calming her considerably. She sat right next to her princess.
"Enjoying yourself?" she asked.
"Most definitely!" Kakyuu replied, clapping happily, "I love balls!" Fighter giggled at her princess' slightly childish antics. It was cute.
Maker loomed in the corner, waiting for someone to ask her to dance. It seemed no one realized that she was a starlight. Not yet, at least.
Healer gasped when a very attractive man came over and begged her to dance. She looked questioningly at her princess, who nodded and smiled. Healer stood up, and went to the floor to dance with the man. Over his shoulder though, he could see Maker, standing gloomily in the corner. She wished she could go cheer her up...maybe after this dance she'd try.
"Princess...may I?" Fighter asked, in a rather ridiculous gentlemanly fashion, bowing to her princess and extending her hand. Kakyuu laughed and took her hand.
"Of course, valiant knight." Kakyuu joked. They both laughed and Fighter escorted her to the floor. The song was a lively waltz, and despite her dress and heels, Fighter was a secure dance partner, every movement of hers was fluid, and never once did she stumble or step on the princess' toes.
"You're a very good dancer, Fighter." Kakyuu said with a smile.
"A-arrigatou." Fighter said, and she knew a blush was forming on her cheeks.
Maker watched Fighter take their princess to the dance floor contemptuously. They were all out having fun, except for her. A hand took hers, and she looked into warm brown eyes.
"May I have this dance?"
Maker nodded and let the young man escort her to the floor. He pulled her tightly against his broad chest, leading her around proudly. But her eyes never once left Fighter and their princess, who seemed to be floating on air, happy smiles on their faces. She suddenly felt irritated and hot, she wanted to get out of here. She wanted to stop watching Fighter twirling their princess around, with unaccustomed grace for someone who usually roughhoused for fun.
"Something wrong?" The young man asked.
"No." she said, a bit coldly as always, glancing up at him quickly. Her eyes downcast then as he pulled her into his grip tighter.
"Good. Because you and me baby, we're going to have a good time tonight." he whispered darkly. Fear shot up her body. He felt her tense, and tightened his grip even more, almost painfully.
"Don't even think of calling for help. Just follow my lead.." he whispered to her. Her eyes were locked on Fighter, whose back was to her at the moment.
Fighter, please..
Soon the princess broke away from the dance with Fighter, curtsying as she was whisked off by a dashing young prince.
Fighter felt eyes on her, piercing through her, and turned around. It was Maker, in the arms of some dude. She felt anger rising up inside her slightly.
Well if that's what she freakin' wants, I'll let her have him..
Then she noticed Maker's panicked expression. Maker looked so pathetically small next to him. The man's knuckles were white as he held Maker to him, much closer than was appropriate for a normal dance. Fighter noticed they were slowly making their way towards the ballroom door. Fighter stalked up to them, fists balled up, ready to throw some swings.
Maker watched as Fighter's expression changed from surprise, to irritation, to raw anger. Fighter stalked towards them, fists balled tightly. Even though Fighter was in an elegant dress, her walk signaled all to stay away from her; that she was dangerous.
Well, to the male population, at least.
Fighter made it obvious on numerous occasions she didn't trust guys.
And now Maker depended on it, as the guy was inching them closer and closer to the door. If he got her out there, who knows what would happen?
"Mind if I cut in?" Fighter grounded out, upon them at last.
"No thanks, she's more of my type." The guy said nonchalantly. "Now if you'll excuse us."
"You don't understand. I don't like men. Especially ones that have bad intentions." Fighter spat.
The man simply raised an eyebrow, continuing to lead Maker away. Fighter grabbed onto Maker's arm, gently but firmly.
"My dear, would you like to dance with me?" Fighter said softly, a gentle twinkle in her eyes. Maker nodded her head in agreement.
The man looked outraged at this.
"You're going to dance with her?"
"Of course. So let her." Fighter demanded, breaking Maker free of his grip and pulling the tall girl into her own arms.
"I'm not going to lose to a puny girl like you." he scoffed. Fighter smiled softly.
"My dear Star Maker, I do believe he just called me puny."
"I do believe so, Star Fighter. Leader, why don't you teach him a lesson about messing with the princess' royal guards?" Maker asked, tilting her head slightly.
"Oh shit.." he mumbled, as Fighter's indigo eyes locked with his, flashing dangerously. The man high tailed it out of there. Fighter and Maker shared a moment of soft laughter, as Fighter slipped her arms around Maker. This song was much slower in tempo.
"Arrigatou." Maker said, looking away, almost ashamed.
"It's alright. I'm just glad I noticed something was up. I would never forgive myself if something bad happened to you." Fighter said. Maker loved feeling Fighter's arms around her. They were secure, but gentle. She felt safe and protected, but knew if she tried to leave, Fighter would simply let her. She wasn't being forced. She could leave. She could run. She was protected and safe, but she was still free. It was an exhilarating feeling for her.
"H-honto ni?" Maker asked a bit surprised. Fighter nodded resolutely.
"I'm the leader, it's my job to make sure you and Healer are safe, along with our princess."
"I see.."
"and also..I never want to see you hurt.." Fighter said gently, locking eyes with Maker. They leaned in a bit closer, enjoying the gentle warmth the other put off. Fighter could smell Maker's perfume, it was light, but mature and tasteful. Fighter's cheek brushed against Maker's, nuzzling slightly. Oh how Fighter wanted to kiss her!
A voice in her ear distracted Fighter from her thoughts, causing her to pull back a bit.
"Well well well, so we meet again, Fighter."
Fighter dropped her arms from Maker's waist, turning around to face the owner of the voice. How'd they know who she was? The princess hadn't revealed them just yet.
Indigo locked with cold grey. Then Fighter realized.
"Noriko?" She asked, tilting her head to a side.
Maker felt a bit of pain in her chest as she was ignored the second a strange woman came up behind Fighter. It seemed they knew each other. Maker sighed softly, Fighter knew everyone these days.
"The one and only." The strange woman replied with a smirk. Fighter couldn't shake the deep pit forming in her stomach. Something bad was going to happen, she could feel it. Fighter turned back to Maker, who was standing there awkwardly, having her dance partner abandon her on the middle of the floor.
"Please excuse me." Fighter said with a slight bow. Noriko gestured towards the door leading outside, and Fighter nodded, walking off with her.
"Always had a soft spot for the smart one, didn't you?" Noriko taunted.
"Shut up. What are you doing here, and what do you want?" Fighter demanded.
Noriko simply trotted outside, closing the door behind her. Fighter followed suit frown on her face,. They were in the garden, and Noriko surveyed the surroundings, nodding with approval.
"I'm here, because a starlight ball is never complete without the most powerful one of them all, is it?" Noriko said, a malicious smile forming on her lips.
"Destroyer.."
"Took you long enough, leader."
Fighter snarled at her. "You are not welcome here."
"On the contrary, I've been personally invited by the Queen, she just doesn't know it yet." Noriko said.
"You're full of crap." Fighter seethed.
Healer noticed the exchange between Fighter, Noriko and Maker. She left her dance promptly, and looped her arm around Maker's, leading the dejected starlight off the floor.
Maker, all along had thought Fighter would have eyes for only her, and she for the most part, didn't want Fighter. But when some strange, exotic looking woman came up, and took Fighter away, she felt horrendously jealous.
Not that she had a right to. She had disregarded all of Fighter's advances up until now.
"Just forget it and enjoy yourself, ne?" Healer said with a smile, patting Maker's hands lightly.
"I'll try." Maker said.
"Please leave." Fighter ground out at Noriko, one hand on her hip, just out of view. In it her changestar was clutched tightly.
"But the party is just starting. I plan on making a special appearance when they introduce you as the leader of the starlights. All those people, such a small space, it'll be like dumping salt on a slug den."
"You wouldn't.." Fighter said as her face blanched.
"Of course I would, to prove my superiority and power over the current, and rather inadequate I'd say, leader."
"You are a monster." Fighter said, circling slowly around Noriko, trying to figure out a weakness.
"If you simply handed it over to me peacefully, no one would get hurt."
"Iee, I can't do that. I remember what happened before, why I challenged you in the first place. It wasn't out of my own selfishness; it wasn't because I thought I was better. It is because a true Sailor Senshi protects life, you merely destroyed it!" Fighter's voice was slowly climbing to a yell.
"Touchy touchy, as always." Noriko drawled out.
Fighter merely glared.
"Well, I'll be getting back to the party, after all, I must set my plan in motion." Noriko said, waving over her shoulder.
"Not so fast." Fighter threatened.
"You plan on stopping me?" Noriko asked, a bit amused. "This is a first."
"Fighter Star Power, Make up!"
Fighter transformed quickly, putting her body between Noriko and the door. There was no way she was going to let her hurt anyone!
Especially her comrades or princess...
Maker, be safe...
"Destroyer Star Power, Make up!" Noriko called. The two took battle stances, each waiting for the other to make their move.
A/N: If your interested in the Sailor Moon roleplay mentioned at the beginning, mention it in a review or message, thanks!