Chapter 4

(Venus)

We were dismissed by the adults, leaving them to sort things out. I went back to the ball, much less enthusiastic about it, but no longer crying. Instead, a burning fury settled in me. How could they do this to me? They know how much I hate him! After a few consoling words from Mars and Mercury, I wandered over to a corner by myself.
After about 15 minutes, a trumpet sounded, and Queen Selenity called over Princess Selenity and her Guardians. I went over to her, still upset about the marriage prospect. Mars, Mercury, and Jupiter also came over. "You called?" I said. Queen Selenity nodded. "Prince Endymion is here, as well as his Generals. Come," she said, beckoning us into the Main Hall. No fewer than 8 guards led in a proud looking couple with fancy jewels, who must be the King and Queen of Earth. Following them, a somewhat handsome young man came up. I could see Princess Selenity's eyes flicker over him, and it was all I could do not to laugh.
My eyes kept wandering; four handsome, young men came behind the Prince. I assumed they must be his Generals. There was a one with short, blonde hair; another one with long, blonde hair; another with long, wavy, brown hair; and-
My breath caught in my throat. He was tall, probably over a foot taller than I was. He had long, silvery-white hair, a little past his shoulders. His eyes were a gray, and he stood at the head of the four, so I assumed he was the leader.
Queen Selenity stepped forward. "This," she said, "is Princess Selenity and her four Guardians: Princess Venus, their leader; Princess Mars; Princess Jupiter; and Princess Mercury. "They are," she said, motioning to the 5 young men. "Prince Endymion and his Generals: General Kunzite, General Zoisite, General Nephrite, and General Jadeite."
So. His name was Kunzite. I continued to stare at him, and everything else floated out of my mind: the marriage, Hogoshi Kou and all I could see or think of was his tall, muscular figure and those stunning eyes.

(Mars)

I glanced at the Generals, out of sheer boredom. The fascinated gazes of my
friends informed me that these Generals and their Prince had their
undivided attention. I examined them all through the corners of my eyes,
though none of them were looking at me. The Prince was gazing at Selenity,
as if he'd never seen anything like her before. The tall one was looking at
Venus;
the brown-haired one was returning Jupiter's eyes, and I realized she was
red at
the cheeks. Mercury was bright red, which was not really surprising.
Leaving my only alternative, the one with short, blond hair. General
Jadeite?
He looked back at me, and something flared in his eyes. An instant liking,
perhaps, and he
smiled. It wasn't a flirtatious smile, like the one General Zoisite had
shot
at poor Mercury. It was a normal "you seem sane enough, let's be friends"
type of smile. My eyes exhibited relief, and I returned the smile.

(Mercury)

We left the adults to do as they wished, maybe to try and get over our acts of hate toward them. Mars and I talked quickly to Venus. Letting her know that we felt her pain. About 15 minutes after we returned the ballroom a trumpet sounded, and Queen Selenity called over Princess Selenity and her Guardians. I followed Mars and Jupiter to where Venus already stood.
"You called?" I heard Venus say. Queen Selenity nodded. "Prince Endymion is here, as well as his Generals. Come," she said, beckoning us into the Main Hall. No fewer than 8 guards led in a proud looking couple with fancy jewels, who must be the King and Queen of Earth. Following them, a somewhat handsome young man came up. My eyes went to Venus to see if she was watching this new arrival, but I was surprised to see that she was watching Selenity and not the prince I could also see that she was trying hard not to laugh about something. For once I was glad she could hold her tongue.
My eyes kept wandering; four handsome, young men came behind the Prince. I assumed they must be his Generals. And there he was, the young man I had danced with. So he was a general! I couldn't believe this.
Queen Selenity stepped forward. "This," she said, "is Princess Selenity and her four Guardians: Princess Venus, their leader; Princess Mars; Princess Jupiter; and Princess Mercury. They are," she said, motioning to the 5 young men. "Prince Endymion and his Generals: General Kunzite, General Zoisite, General Nephrite, and General Jadeite."
So. His name was Zoisite. He looked over at me, I could see he recognized me. And his jaw dropped. He couldn't have known I was a guardian as much as I could have known he was a general. A small smile broke across his lips and he winked. I could fell my face going red. But I returned the smile. So maybe we could dance again.

(Jupiter)

I only left the room when Mercury and Mars' mothers assured me that they'd look after my father. I sat by the drinks, ignoring the harsh comments, and just stared off into space for a short while. Then the Queen beckoned us. "Prince Endymion is here, as well as his Generals. Come," she said, beckoning us into the Main Hall. I watched the procession, my mind wandering, worrying, about my father, and everything else. Then I saw the look on Venus's face.
I watched Venus, trying not to snicker. In fact, everyone but me had their eye on a certain general, but me. But that was before I looked. I followed Venus's eyes, to the leader, General Kunzite. I snickered under my breath, and followed Mercury's glance, to General Zoisite. I followed Mar's eyes to General Jadeite, and saw the one general that wasn't maintaining eye contact with any of my friends. My breath left my lungs. He had wavy brown hair, and eyes as blue as the sky. He was taller than myself, by a good bit of distance. He looked at me, and I quickly looked away, feeling a rush of crimson into my cheeks. General Nephrite. Wow, he was handsome. He looked like the type that would stay out and watch the stars at night. He had an intelligent aura about him. Before I realized it, I was staring like the rest of them. He looked straight into my eyes, and smiled. I shyly returned the favor. I felt like I had known him forever, and like I would know him forever. It was the most powerful feeling I had ever known. All the problems I had disappeared in the instant he smiled at me. I wanted to... well... I didn't know what I wanted to do, but I knew for a FACT that I had to get to know him better.