Chapter 2-Dancing of Dresses

Usa-chan giggled as Kotomi whispered into her ear what she had seen
Shinji do during Henshin-Yo! the other day. They were out shopping for
Usa-chan's and Kotomi's coming of age dresses. They decided to first stop
at Setsuna's little corner shop near their Middle School. I want something
that's not white." Usa-chan said. "Get a rose colored dress. Hey, Usa-chan,
isn't Elios-sama coming tonight?" Kotomi asked. "Elios might come....
Either way I agree, a rose colored dress would be grand." Usa said entirely
too cheerfully, a faint reddish tinge on her cheeks. Kotomi smiled slyly but
kept her mouth shut until they made it to Setsuna's shop. The bell on the
door tinkled as they opened the door and went in. It was a cozy little shop
with racks upon racks of dresses, pants, shirts, coats, hats, and everything
else Setsuna could design. They went to the back where they found
Setsuna taking Tokino Miya's measurements. Setsuna smiled knowingly as
the girls crept up closer. "You need dresses for the party, right?" she
asked, even though the answer was very plain to see. "Yes, Setsuna-san.
We were hoping you had something that we could wear." Kotomi stuttered.
"I knew you were coming so I planned ahead. Lady, I've got a rose pink
dress in the back, go and bring it up please. Oh, and don't let any of it's
pins fall out." Setsuna said disconcernedly. She put the tape measurer
away and smiled and Miya. "I've got the perfect dress for you. It's a
mauve with lace and green trimming." Setsuna said. "Thank you Setsuna!
It's very kind of you, at such late notice." Miya grinned. Kotomi noticed
that Miya-san looked much less gloomy around Setsuna. "Oh, Kotomi! I've
got a new style that I'd like to try out. Will you model it at the
inauguration?" Setsuna said, turning to Kotomi. "Huh? Oh, yeah, sure!"
Kotomi muttered, caught off guard. Setsuna pulled out a silver dress with
transparent shawl of a light blue. The top was a simple strap tank design
and the bottom had two slits going almost to the base of the legs. "I
modeled it off of Black Lady." Setsuna explained, making the final
adjustments so that it would fit Kotomi just right. "Arigatou, Setsuna-san!"
Kotomi cried, running to the curtained fitting room. Usa-chan emerged
from the other, wearing a regular strap top with a string of beads at the
empire waist, and the dress becoming layered with pink chintz and taffeta.
The puffed sleeves looked like a pair of rose blossoms with dew drop
crystals hanging here and there. Usa-chan was ecstatic. "It's perfect! I
can't find anything except for the sleeves that resembles my mother's
gown!" she shrieked, looking intently at the full length mirror balanced
against the black wall. Kotomi slid out, looking extremely mature and
pretty, the transparent blue shawl blending with her hair. Setsuna looked
pleased with the results and proceeded to take out three pairs of shoes, one
green, one pink, and one blue. They were high-heeled and had various
straps crisscrossing the arch. The girls tried them on and laughed with
glee. The shoes fit perfectly. Miya had changed during this time, and was
now in a stunning dress with a lace up top and an elegant, lacy black shirt
beneath. The dress flowed outwards and seemed to drift like smoke, light
that hit it appeared a greenish hue. The girls admired themselves in the
mirrors for a time, and started chatting about what they hoped was going to
happen at the ball tonight. "I hope someone asks me to dance!" Kotomi
blushed. "I'm sure someone will." reassured Miya, smiling. "I know who
Usa-chan's hoping will ask her to dance!" Kotomi teased. Usa-chan blushed
scarlet. "Elios might not be able to come! Elysion is very busy this time of
year..." she said, tongue tied. "I want to see the generals. They're
supposed to be very nice, and extremely handsome..." Miya commented,
brushing back one of her braids. "Oh, I saw one of them the other day!"
Kotomi said. "He had longish brown hair and gorgeous green eyes. He was
picking up a book of English lit for his high school English class. He's
supposed to be in tenth grade(English system), they all are." "They've
been reincarnated, you know?" Usa-chan said, determined not to think of
Elios before the ball. "Really? I didn't know that. Hey, will we all, the
genesis senshi be together during the ball?" Miya said, her voice dropping to
a whisper. "Mhm. We've got to end the ball, as the heiresses of the
planets' powers." Kotomi said. "Is the asteroid senshi going to be there?
They're your personal body guards, right?" Miya asked Usa-chan. "Yes,
they are technically my gaurdian senshi, and you all are my team mates.
They are busy managing solar politics, as the senshi of those asteroids."
Usa replied, fiddling with a strap on her shoe. "Hey, look over there! It's
Masa, Atsumi, and Haneko. They're picking up dresses." Miya said, pointing
towards the front of the shop. Sure enough, the tenth grade outer senshi's
other than Miya had come inside and were talking with Setsuna. "Hey
odango-otama!" Haneko said, grinning. Usa-chan feinted at being angry.
"You know I don't like being called that!" she pouted. "Wow! What very
nice dresses you all have." Masa said, looking at Kotomi's especially.
Setsuna came back from the closets with three very nice dresses. "I've got
this navy and gold suit for you, Haneko." Setsuna said. Indeed, it was a
very fine suit, velvet, but very slim and fitted. "I've got a crushed velvet
gown for you, Masa." she continued. A gown came into view, tight fitted
from the top to about mid thigh, where it went out, the velvet crushed here
and there. Masa looked very pleased, as did Haneko. "We'll go put them
on." Masa said, taking her dress from Setsuna. They disappeared into the
back of the shop. "And, last but not least, Atsumi. I've got this black and
royal purple silk evening gown for you." Setsuna said, displaying a simple
but obviously well made dress. It started black at the top and then faded
into purple, another layer of black, artfully ripped made a feeling that suited
Atsumi well. She silently went to the back also. "I've got, let's see, three
more orders to take care of." Setsuna said, checking off three names on a
clipboard from her desk. The three emerged, all looking splendidly elegant.
"Wa! You all look very beautiful." Usa-chan said in awe. "As cute as you
look, Usa-chan." winked Haneko. They all turned as a faint tinkling
signaled a person coming in. "Hey, I didn't know you guys would be here!"
Utami exclaimed. "We all have got the same idea!" Miya joked. Utami,
Suzaku, and Aki were busying themselves with receiving their own dresses.
Utami's was an orange miniskirt with the color fading out like Atsumi's,
from yellow to orange. "Kawaii desu yo!" she said as she came out of the
dressing room. Aki's dress was a pale green, like her hair, that had a
regular waist and layers of fabrics that varied in tints of green billowed from
it. Setsuna finally produced a rather new looking style for Suzaku. It was a
black flowing dress with a ruby stone pattern on the front, a phoenix. "I
thought that this new look would work for you." Setsuna said. When those
three emerged, Setsuna gave the six latecomers their shoes, mostly
slippers with varying sizes of heels. The girls all noticed as Atsumi
commented "They seem to be made of glass." Setsuna grinned as she
explained that she thought that it matched well that way. "You'd better get
moving, the balls starting in four hours." Setsuna urged. The girls all
thanked Setsuna as they left the shop together, heading towards the
palace.
Aki was sprawled on Usa-chan's bed. "Do you have any Love Hina
mangas?" she asked. "Yeah, here take the first one." Usa said, passing the
thick manga over to Aki who immediately began to read. The entire inner
and outer senshi were in her room, sitting various places and chatting.
Usa-chan walked over to Utami. "Um, I was just wondering if I could
have..." Usa started. "My autograph? Sure, it would be a pleasure to do so
for you." Utami said, smiling. Utami pulled out a piece of paper and signed
a loopy signature. "Thanks Uta-san!" Usa exclaimed, clutching the paper.
"No prob! Just, please, just call me Utami." Uta replied, busying herself
with a Saint Tail comic. Usa grinned and walked back over to Miya and
Kotomi, who were busy talking about the generals. "I know how you guys
can get all the information you need!" Usa said, sitting in a comfortable love
seat near their couch. "How?" Miya asked impatiently. "Sailor Mercury
always carried around a mini super computer. I bet it's Kotomi's now." she
said, sweatdropping at Miya's eager face. Kotomi turned to Diana, who had
been sleeping on a windowsil nearby. "If your done catnapping, Diana,
could you help me with the mini super computer?" Kotomi asked loudly.
Yawning, the cat turned groggily towards Kotomi and said "I'll get it." With
that, Diana did a sumersault in the air and when she landed, a silver mini
computer was in her mouth. "As strategist of the team, you need to use
this to find out information on our oponents. You may also have other uses
for it, though." Diana said, tossing it to Kotomi, who eagerly opened it up.
Diana went back to sleep abruptly and Kotomi had started to punch keys.
"This is soo cool! I can tap into both the moon and universal databases, not
to mention bieng able to get readings on people I've never seen before."
Kotomi yelled with glee. Usa-chan and Miya leaned in as Kotomi opened up
the earth database and typed in ::Four Generals/Earth/Prince
Endymion/King/:: The computer instantly had a pop-up with pictures and
information on the generals. Miya stared at the long, platinum blond haired
general. "What's his name?" she asked dreamily. "That is Kunzite. His has
been reincarnated twice now, and is currently in Juuban High's tenth grade.
He is the leader of the four generals and is not involved with any one right
now." Kotomi said, buisness like in manner. She was also, however,
looking intently at Zoisite. "He's cute, ne Usa-chan?" she said, blushing
slightly. Usa-chan looked slyly at her before saying, "Not as cute as Elios,
but cute enough. Peruru is also cuter..." Kotomi printed a small copy of
Kunzite information, which she handed to Miya before typing some more.
This time, a picture of a light haired boy of about fourteen lit up the screen.
"Fairy Peruru, gaurdian of children's dreams. He was manipulated by
Badiyanu, who plotted to reopen the black dream hole. Is stationed in
Elysion." she murmured. "He's ok. I'll try and catch him at the ball." Miya
said carelessly, and then turned back to drool over Kunzite's picture.
Kotomi turned to Usa-chan and whispered into her ear "She's obssessed, it's
like he's an idol!" Usa-chan giggled and was about to reply when Masa
suddenly let out a small gasp. "What is it?" Aki asked, annoyed at being
interrupted from her reading. "The time! It's only 2 hours til the ball and
we haven't even started to get ready!" she said hurriedly, a look of dismay
coming over her face. Aki, whose natural beauty never needed much
primping, snorted with disgust and turned back to her manga. Utami
turned towards Masa and the few other senshi who were worried about the
time. "I can call my make-up artists and beauticians for those of you who
need it." she said. "Really? It would be so cool to have people actually
taking care of us!" Usa-chan said, her hands clasped in hope. Utami smiled
at Usa-chan and said with kindness "They are ready to serve me, after all, I
am an idol." Kotomi smiled at Utami and then busied herself with her
computer again. She looked thoughtful for a second and then typed a few
keys. She yelped with exitment, and blushed under the stares of the
others, who were busy going over their dresses. She closed her mini
computer and then twisted her earing. It dissapeared as a visor came over
her eyes. She said "Shut down." and it dissapearred also. She proceeded
to scampering over to Usa-chan and taking out her dress. "Suzaku, you're
even quieter than usual. What's wrong?" Aki asked, her tough exterior
melting. "Oh, it's just that everyone here is a bit new to me, except for you
four." Suzaku said timidly. "No reason to be that way around us! We're all
going to have to be a good team, so you'd better get used to us." Haneko
said, coming up from behind Suzaku and wrapping her arm around Suzaku's
shoulders. Suzaku smiled and giggled, to Aki's surprise. Aki frowned. This
girl is able to be happy and spread it to others, she thought. Haneko
caught Aki's stare and said "Wake up, forest girl! You better not let your
mouth hang open during the ball, you won't catch any men that way."
Haneko winked and walked back to Masa, who looked angry at being left
alone. Aki was slightly red, but no one caught that except Utami. Utami
grinned and walked over to Aki, gently punching her arm. "She's right,
you'll never get any guys that way." she joked. "I don't care, butt out!" Aki
snapped, slightly sheepish of her day dreaming. Utami smiled "Our
mothers are really good friends, but I never got to see you because of my
work. I hope that this will bring us closer, I've never..." she started.
"Never what?" Aki asked, confused. "I've never....I've....never had any real
friends." Utami finished, turning away. Aki stared. It makes sense, like in
all those books about famous people. That people that are famous have a
hard time making new friends because they never know if the person is just
using them or something. She hugged Utami, whose eyes had begun to fill
with tears. Haneko looked over, surprised. "That Utami girl must have a
lot of pent up feelings." Masa said, looking slighlty disturbed. "Yeah, I can
understand. Masa, we're good friends right?" Haneko replied, not looking
that moved. "Yeah, we are..." Masa said slowly. "I have something to tell
you, about Haruka and Michiru..." Haneko began. "That they love each
other? I know that. Aunt Michiru told me a long time ago." Masa
interupted. "No, not that. Haruka said that there is a destiny that follows
us. Something that goes to a poem..." Haneko tried to continue. But at
that moment, the doors were flung open and a small army of beauticians
paraded in. Utami took charge, wiping the tears away and with a grateful
look at Aki, then hollered over the commotion. "Thank you for coming.
Please choose a princess to assist and then you may begin." she yelled.
The group snapped to attention and they divided themselves, three to each
girl. The princesses didn't need much makeup, just a touch of lip gloss and
a face wash of rose water. That was done quickly and then the real work
began. The army started to put the girls into their dresses, tucking in
tags(setsuna's trademark moon crescent tag adorned all her works) and
pulling out creases. The hair was the last thing that they had to take care
of. Brushing and letting down hair(Suzaku's) followed. The final product
was very different than in the Setsuna's shop. Nine gorgeous princesses
stood there, a glow seeming to envelope them. Utami thanked the
extremly pleased beauticians and sent them away. The girls started
chattering again, but Usa-chan, Kotomi, and Suzaku walked over to the
slightly haughty looking Atsumi. "Do you have a boyfriend?" Usa-chan
asked politly. Atsumi's cheeks went a shade pinker before she quietly said
"I don't, but I've been keeping my eye on... Demando." "Oh! You've got
good taste." Usa-chan said. Kotomi was busy making her computer
reappear and get info on Demando. "It says here that he has been
reincarated with his brother, they are currently in Mugen's ninth grade. He
IS cute!" Kotomi said, showing the others her data. Suzaku nodded in
agreement, as Kotomi squeezed her earing again. The crystal bell in the
northern pinnacle rang loudly, signaling 7 o'clock, the time for the ball to
start. The girls quickly put away whatever things they had been using and
started down towards the grand hall.