(Venus)

I lay on my bed, thinking of the night. After the ball ended, Kunzite had asked me if I'd like to join him for breakfast tomorrow. I obliged, and he had walked me to my door, giving me a hug goodnight. I smiled and got up.
Walking around the room. I was still in my ball dress, and I hadn't felt like taking it off. I sighed and looked at myself in the full-length mirror. I looked like the Princess I should be, the long flowing gown and the hair, pinned up elegantly. I took out the pins and shook my hair out, letting it fall freely. I looked at myself again, still not satisfied. I went hunting for a bow, and found one, tying my hair back with it in my classic style. This time, I was pleased with my reflection.
My thoughts continued to wander, and they went back to when my parents had talked to me. I immediately felt tears well up in my eyes. I could never marry Hogoshi-san, I decided. I'd run away before I did. I still have time to think of something I only hope the other Senshi could help me. Just then, a knock came on my door. I went to answer it.
Princess Mars was standing there, and she stepped in my room. "Venus-chan," she said. "Are you all right?"
I gave a shrug and then shook my head. "How can I be all right?" I said. "I'm not marrying Hogoshi-san! They can't make me!" The tears started to spill over.
She was quiet for awhile, and then spoke up. "I have an idea," she said. I leaned closer to listen.

(Mars)

I led Venus to the bed, where we both sat down. "Do you love General
Kunzite?" I asked, gently. "He is the highest ranking General, guardian of
Prince Endymion. Few parents could object to a match like that." I rose from
the bed and began pacing, not bother to wait for her response.
"I borrowed a book from Mercury about Venusian protocol."
I casually tossed the book on the bed next to her. "If your parents do
object, and it is quite conceivable they will, then according to the ancient
and unbroken laws of Venus, you may challenge them. Love comes first on the
planet Venus. Did you know several crimes have been pardoned, or the
punishments reduced, because they were committed out of love? Your parents
being what they are..." I halted, then decided to proceed without hesitation. No
love was lost between Venus and her parents, and speaking freely was the only
way I could tell her this.
"They might refuse to do so. If that is the case, you may challenge your
fiance` to a fight. It is a challenge that can not be refused. You may fight yourself,
but it is rarely done. Often, the Venusian princesses chose a champion, or a
friend to fight for them. If they, their champion, or their friend won, they
could determine their own marriage."
I sat back down on the bed, and looked gravely at her. "But, Venus, I am
urging you not to fight him yourself. "There are few rules about this battle.
Almost anything goes, save killing. I worry about what that sun snake might do to
you while fighting.
"That sunspot is quite determined to possess you. I sincerely doubt
it will be a fair fight; he will use every cheap trick he knows, and no doubt
he has hired someone to teach him more. If you get hurt, I will severely
punish you once I've destroyed that pompous rat." I rose, hugged her, and
returned to my chamber. She'd ponder what I'd said; it was her decision now.
I eased into my bed, and began dreaming almost instantly. I saw many
visions of my friends, the fellow Sailor Princesses, the Generals, Selenity and
Prince Endymion. The kaleidoscope of images stopped, resting upon one, Selenity
and Prince Endymion were embracing. Then it moved past them, to a vision of the
Generals, each holding in his embrace my friends, in sailor fukus. My eyes
opened, and I knew I was awake. As the red of the rising sun illuminated my
room, I found I could remember only one couple. It was I that Jadeite had
been holding.

(Mercury)

The ball had been better then I had thought, lying awake on my bed I went over everything that had happened that night. It was to tiring. Bubbles floated past my face and out of the open door to my balcony. I walked over the fish tank, Celes, my fish, was swimming happily around. I smiled.
"You have a care free world," I told the little fish. "Wish mine could be like yours." The fish started back at, almost as if he felt sorry for me. I stood and walked over to the full-length mirror that stood on the other side of the room. I had on a short sleep dress and over it a huge robe; my robe covered the floor around me.
I turned to look around my room. The floor was made of glass with water under it, there were fish swimming in the water. The ceiling reflected the floor; it was almost like a mirror. The walls were ice blue, and in some places there were small bubble blowing holes. The light was dim, almost like what it would look like under water. My fish lives in a tank in the corner.
I open my glass doors and walked out onto my balcony. I looked over and saw no Mars. No one to talk to. So I looked out to the ocean that I had a view of. The wind played with my short hair and my thought drifted to Zoisite. Was this love? Or just a crush? Venus has once tired to explain the difference to me, I just couldn't understand. Much like Selenity-sama couldn't understand the math problems I tried to teach her.
I heard footsteps and turned, there was no one. Or was there no one, something moved in the shadows to my left.
"Who are you? What do you want?" I asked, trying my best the sound calm. And then he stood out from the shadows, dark haired and dangerous. I tried to scream, but he was around me with a knife to my throat before I could finish.
"Shut your mouth you stupid girl, you will make my lots of money." His breath was hot against the back of my neck.
"What are you doing to her?" a voice came from behind us, we turned and Zoisite was standing there, long blond hair blowing behind him.
"Stand away, I have all I came for." the man growled. With a swift movement Zoisite grabbed for something on my dresser, my transformation brooch, he threw it hard at the man's head. Knocking him away from me and against the rail. Zoisite grabbed him and punched him hard in the jaw in return the man hit him hard in the stomach, punched him in the nose and mouth. Zoisite grabbed him and threw him from the balcony. Zoisite grabbed me.
"Did he touch you? Hurt you in any way?"
"No," I sobbed. He held me close and told me everything was going to be all right, and I believed him.


(Jupiter)

Nephrite escorted me to my room. "If you get bored, then my room is right downstairs..." he reminded me again.
"I heard, I heard." I said, smiling. "Thank you." he smiled, and walked down the hall. I watched his figure, growing smaller. I retreated inside of my room, and greeted Callisto and Europa. Then I heard an outbreak in the other room.
"How can I be all right?" I heard Venus say. "I'm not marrying Hogoshi-san! They can't make me!" I would have rushed over, but then I heard Mars speaking quietly. I figured she could handle it, probably better than I could, and walked out on my balcony. I scanned the skies. There it was! Sagittarius. That was the only constellation I knew, other than the Big and Little Dippers. I sighed, feeling very alone. I took a chair out on my porch, and sat down. A small wind brushed against my face. I took my hair down, and let it blow out the kinks in my hair. Breathing in the crisp night air, I was almost lulled to sleep, when I heard a voice from below me.
"Is that you up there, Jupiter?" I heard a familiar voice ask.
"Nephrite, I'm trying to sleep..." I grumbled.
"Do you always sleep outside?" he asked.
"No, now leave me alone..." I said.
"Suit yourself..." he said. From then on, he was silent. I was worried, wondering whether I was too gruff with him.
"Sorry about that, I'm a bear when I'm trying to sleep." I apologized.
"That's okay, I know the feeling." he said.
"Nephrite, one question," I asked.
"Sure, but make it quick, I'm going inside very soon!" he said.
"What do the stars say about my future?"
"Well, since Venus is in the house of Jupiter...."
"What?"
"The stars say you'll find love soon." he said.
"That's nice. Good night, Nephrite."
"Good night, Jupiter."