Chapter 4

Minako was happy that her astronomy lesson tonight was canceled due to Urania
being away on an important trip. She sighed light-heartedly as she fell on her soft bed.
She knew she couldn't sleep. She crept outside in her light, white, sleeveless dress that
went a little higher than her knee and her hair was in two messy braids. She'd just
realized that she forgot her shoes and keys after she left the room. She tried to turn the
doorknob but sighed in frustration when it wouldn't give in. She decided that she might as
well walk around before trying to crawl through the window.

She walked into the courtyard and she almost giggled when the grass tickled her
bare feet. She was to find someone already there. So long for making it her secret spot. 'I
wonder what he's doing out here at this hour.'

"You couldn't sleep either, princess?" he spoke up as he turned around.

He'd caught her by surprised. "How did you know it was me, Nephrite?" she
asked as she took a seat on the rock next to him.

He gently smiled and turned to face her. "The stars told me. I've studied
astronomy all my life," he said as he looked up at the brilliant stars up above.

"I see," she whispered softly. "I've only begun last year. Urania talks about you all
the time about you being her favorite student. That's why your name sounded so familiar
at first," she said. He chuckled a little at his teacher's praise. She'd always said that he had
talent. She pointed to a bright light in the sky. "It's Venus," she said softly. She could
almost see her parents in the light, smiling down at her.

For the first time, he truly saw her eyes. He could see stars in them too. "It sure is.
It is a beautiful sight from here," he said as they both admired the sight in silence.
Suddenly, a flash of light flew across the sky. Minako quickly grabbed his hand and held
it in both of hers as she closed her eyes shut. "Princess…" he whispered as he began to
blush.

"Hurry up and make a wish, it's a shooting star!" she said excitedly. He smiled as
he stared at her innocence warmly. He made a wish just like she said also. "Did you wish
for something?"

"Yes, and I believe it's already coming true," he said with a smile. He'd wish that
he wouldn't be so lonely anymore, that he'd have a friend whom he could turn to. With
Minako by his side, he knew that he'd been blessed by the shooting star. "What's your
wish, princess?"

"Please, Minako instead of princess. You're supposed to be my friend, not my
servant. I can't tell you, or else it won't come true. Also, it's my little secret," she said
with a little wink. She'd secretly wished that everything would be all right at home.

"I see," he said quietly. Then, he closed his eyes and focused on the star that raced
across the sky. A mischievous smile slowly spread across his face as he opened his eyes
and turned towards her. "Now it's our little secret."

Her eyes widened and her mouth gaped open. Then, she began to laugh out loud,
making Nephrite do the same. "That's cheating! The star told you! No fair! Now I should
know your wish also!"

He laughed heartily and said, "Uh uh, if I told you, it wouldn't come true, now
would it? Technically, you didn't tell me, the star did." Just like that, they talked for
almost an hour.

"Oh no, it's getting late. I have to go find a way to sneak onto the balcony and into
my room," she said as she slipped off the rock.

"I'm not even going to ask. Good night, Pr-." Minako quickly shot him a look.
"Minako," he said with a smile.

"Good night. And you better not stay out too long. We both have training
tomorrow morning! Except this time, Artemis is coming too. Him and Kunzite are going
to fight like crazy," she mumbled the last part.

Minako strolled along the hallway of the palace. It was as silent as can be and she
failed at finding a way to get all the way to the balcony. She only had one thing left to do.
She bit her lip as she raised her hand to knock on his door. She had no other choice,
Artemis' already asleep.

She knocked lightly three times before the door swung open, revealing Kunzite in
oversized, black and dark red striped pajamas. He rubbed his eyes and yawned before
noticing it's her. When he did, however, he tried to collect words, but nothing came. All
he did was stare at her in her short little white dress. Finally, he broke the silence. "Can I
help you at this hour, Princess Minako?"

"Yes, you see. I kind of, well, locked myself out of my room and I was wondering
if I could use your door to get to my room," she said while looking on the floor.

"Of course, come right in," he said with another yawn as he stepped aside. She
slowly walked in, her head still down. She lifted her head up and looked around with
curiosity. Just as she suspected, rows of neatly piled books on his book case, a display of
swords and shields hanging along the wall, a writing desk, and a bed covered with dark
gray sheets. "This way, Princess," he said as he took her hand and guided her to the door.

He opened the door for her and she walked through. "Thank you," she said, not
looking at him. Right before he was about to close the door, she held out her hand to stop
it from slamming in her face.

"Yes?" he said, yearning to go back to his slumber.

"Sweet Dreams, Kunzite," she said with a smile.

He looked at her a little and decided to cave in. "Sweet Dreams, Princess."

She turned around as he closed the door and practically skipped towards her bed,
her heart felt like flying as a new sensation crept over her. She was just about to go to
sleep when she heard a sound outside her door.

Slowly, she got up from her bed and crept towards the door. Right before she
opened the door, she took a deep breath and prepared for whatever awaits her on the
other side of the door. Quickly without thinking, she opened the door and quickly
whipped her hand at whoever the intruder was.

"Ow!" a familiar voice whispered. Minako opened her eyes and found herself
staring at a boy with short blond hair. "You didn't have to be so cruel, Princess," he said
as he rubbed his face.

"I'm sorry, Jadeite. You better have a good explanation for being out here at this
hour and trying to scare the wits out of me," she whispered, aware that Artemis and
Kunzite are both light sleepers.

"Well, I came to apologize. I was wrong earlier about the rabbit. I was just
worried about you. Anyway, I brought you these," he said. From the hand behind his
back, he revealed a single, orange rose which fades into a fiery red color at the tips
planted in a pot. She gasped as she cupped the pot with two hands and held it delicately
as if it would break any minute. Her gaze was fixed on the beautiful petals as she admired
it's beauty. "Well, I planted it myself. I thought you wouldn't like it if I just pulled a
couple of flowers from the ground so I decided to giv-" Before he could finish his
sentence, she'd thrown her arms around his neck and he quickly reacted as he put his
arms around her waist.

She pulled back and stared at Jadeite with shining eyes. He let her go but kept his
eyes on her. "Thanks. You're the greatest! You're right, I WOULDN'T have liked it if
you'd killed flowers like that. This is so much better. You really didn't have to… I…
Thank you," she finally decided.

"I just need you to accept my apology, Princess," he said with a confident smile.

"Fine, apology accepted. Good night, Jadeite," she said as she began to turn.
Then, halfway, she turned back around. "Oh yea, if I hear you call me princess again,
you're dead."