Saruka couldn't help but smile when she found Mina smiling down at her.
Saruka felt as if she had been sleeping forever, but it did her good and
she felt totally and completely recovered. Her first thought was of Lita.
"Lita's fine," Mina said, reading Saruka's mind, "the doctor gave her the room next to this one, and she'll be completely recovered by the end of the day."
Saruka sighed, "That's good."
Serena appeared from behind Mina, "Saruka," she said in a happy tone, "Your boss is here to see you from the Eternal Night Club." Serena moved away to reveal a short old man, Saruka's boss, and manager of the Eternal NightClub.
"Mr. Sakasuni. How are you?" Saruka asked.
"Guess." Mr. Sakasuni said, "My club was ruined last night, Saruka, I can't afford the repair cost and I have to sell it!"
"What? That's awful!" Saruka said.
"I'm sorry Saruka, but without the Eternal Night Club and no one to buy it off me, you're out of work. I'm sorry I had to tell you like this considering your condition." Mr. Sakasuni said sadly.
"Don't worry about me, really, I'm fine. But you, how are you? What are you going to do now?"
"That doesn't matter. I only came here to tell you what I had to, I have no time to chat. Real sorry, Saruka, you have a great talent and the world deserves to hear it, but it will have to be at another club." Mr. Sakasuni tilted his hat and said, "Good day," Before he turned right around and left.
"Oh…" Serena made a noise in her throat, "I'm really sorry, Saruka. I didn't…"
"No, no, it's ok. It's not the work I'm upset about. I just feel really bad. That jerk Goxard… and Aydel…" Saruka cut off.
Mina waited till the silence got uncomfortable before she spoke what was on her mind, "Saruka, who is Aydel."
Saruka looked up at her, then sadly looked back down to her lap. "She's a friend… or was." Saruka said, "Back on the Moon Kingdom."
"Would we know her, or will we remember her?" Serena asked.
"Um… I think so. I'm not exactly sure what Queen Serenity did to your memories and how you'll gain back what you lost, but I think she was wiped from your memory like I was." Saruka said.
"Could you try to remind us of her?" Mina asked.
"No… no I will not. You're better off not knowing. It may change a lot. When you remember, you'll know, but I will not tell you. Please don't ask me again." Saruka said. She was twisting her bed sheets in her hands now.
"Ok, Saruka, I won't ask again." Mina said.
"We won't ask again." Serena corrected.
"Hey, hey!" Rei said, walking in the door with Ami. "Look who we brought." Behind Ami was Lita, standing strong and tall, with a sly smile on her face.
"Lita, what are you doing out of bed?" Mina nagged.
"Hey, come on Mina. I don't want to miss this story Saruka's going to tell us." Lita said, taking a seat in a nearby chair.
"Oh yeah! The story. Tell us Saruka, about our past." Rei insisted. Saruka still felt that Rei was testing her.
"Um, ok, I guess. What do you want to know?" Saruka asked.
"Tell us how you got to come to the future, and how you knew Michelle and Amara." Rei said, still testing Saruka.
"Oh, no, start from the top!" Mina said, going towards the door and shutting it to prevent anyone from eavesdropping.
"Ok, from the top. Well…" Saruka got into the story. While she told them everything, she remembered how it felt to be there…
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
What happened in the past…
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Saruka was woken by a stream of bright sun light through her window. She ducked her head under her covers. It was too early, she assumed. Saruka screamed a playful scream as her covers were ripped off her and her big sister was tickling her for her to get up.
"Come on, lazy butt!" Mina said, laughing with Saruka as Saruka kicked and squirmed to get away, "Up! Up! We got to get to breakfast, mother and Queen Serenity are waiting for us, along with everyone else and a bunch of guests. Come on, get your lazy bum out of bed."
"What if I don't?" Saruka laughed, pulling her covers back over her head.
"Then I'll just have to tickle you to death!" Mina said, tickling Saruka again.
Saruka laughed, unable to stop. "Ok… hah! Ok!" Saruka yelled.
"Hah! I always win." Mina said, "Here, wear this. Apparently these people are important." Mina threw a slim, silver dress with a white sweater coat and Saruka's princess crown on the bed.
Saruka watched as Mina left the room, and stuck her tongue out at her just before she turned the corner. She pulled herself out of be and slipped on her dress and sweater coat, then brushed out her mangled hair before slipping her small golden crown with one ruby and two sapphires on it. She studied herself in the mirror to make sure she was acceptable before taking in a deep breath and leaving the room.
She entered the dining hall and was greeted by many familiar and unfamiliar faces. She walked out toward the table and took her seat between Mina and her father, King Aldan of Venus. The grown ups were all in a deep conversation about boring business and didn't even notice Saruka there. Saruka sat patiently, waiting for grace to be spoken so they could eat, but the grown ups were too interested in what they were talking about to notice that either.
Saruka looked across the table. Across from her was Princess Lita or Jupiter, her father Lord Trek, her mother Dutchess Melody, and Aydel. Down from them was Princess Ami of Mercury and her father King Patrick. Ami's mother had sadly passed away not too long back. Saruka could tell Ami was still hurt from that experience.
Down further on Saruka's side of the table was Princess Rei of Mars, her father Master Richard, and her mother Mistress Lara. Saruka also saw her own mother, Queen Guenivere of Venus, her sister Princess Mina, and on her other side her father, King Victor.
At the head of the table Saruka also saw Queen Serenity of the Moon, and Princess Serena, who, looking more bored then EVER, was making sounds with her forks as she clamped them together. She saw Saruka looking at her and smiled. Saruka smiled back and mouthed 'bored?'. Serena mouthed back 'deadly!'
Saruka giggled. She was about to say something else when a ball of paper hit her face. Saruka unrolled the paper and read:
What took you forever, Saruka? I nearly DIED here alone! Saruka looked across the table to Aydel. She smiled to her, and wrote her own message on the paper.
I was sleeping in. If we're not allowed to sleep soon, I'll fall asleep right here now!!! The grown ups are sooooooooooo boring! :)
She rolled the piece of paper back up and threw it back to Aydel. Aydel read it and giggled.
"Saruka!"
Saruka sat up straight and looked around at the sound of her voice.
"As I was saying, this is my daughter Saruka," Saruka's mother tapped her on the shoulder, then tapped Mina on the should saying, "and this is Mina. Girls, this is a messenger of our new ally, Mr. Malace Goxard."
Saruka bowed her head, "Nice to meet you, good sir." She said, pretending she knew more about him then she did.
"That's a nice dress." Malace Goxard said to her.
"Um, thank you." She replied. He was staring at her, deeply, intently. Saruka got cold chills from his stare. She shuddered subconsciously, but didn't let her feelings show.
The introductions went around the table until everyone had been introduced to Malace Goxard. Saruka noticed that at Aydel's introduction he stared at her extra long, getting a good look at her every description. Saruka frowned, and started to worry.
Queen Serenity held up her glass elegantly for a toast. Saruka grabbed her own glass and lifted it into the air, trying to use the right posture and handling she had been taught many times before.
"A toast, to the new alliance of the Moon Kingdom and the Alzamont Solar System. Cheers!"
"Cheers!" Everyone said together, as they began tapping glasses together gently.
"Let the feast begin." Queen Serenity said, while servants lifted the tops off dishes.
'Mmmm!' Saruka thought to herself as she dug into the grub. It was all very good, and the grown ups hardly ate. They continued to talk and argue about the new alliance. Saruka didn't pay any attention. When she finished, and saw Aydel was finished too, Saruka tapped her father next to her and asked if she could be excused.
Saruka's father turned to her and smiled, "Of course, my dear." He said, his gem like eyes shining down at her. Saruka's mother always said she had her father's eyes, but her father had such amazing eyes, and Saruka didn't think her own eyes were that great.
"Thank you, daddy." Saruka said, kissing her father on the cheek, "Come on, Aydel!" Saruka encouraged.
"Careful, you two." Mina called to them.
Saruka just waved bye as she and Aydel left the dining hall and ran to Saruka's room. "I gotta change!" Saruka said, pulling off her dress and putting on a loose pair of pants and a baggy top. "Aw, that's better."
"Saruka," Aydel asked.
"Yeah?" Saruka said, looking in her mirror and pulling the odd piece of hair out to make her look a little more casual.
"Did that guy in there… I dunno, scare you?" Aydel asked. She was fiddling with her dress self-consciously.
Saruka moved away from her mirror and looked at Aydel, "Yeah, yeah I did! What? Why? Did you?" Saruka asked.
Aydel nodded. "He gave me the creeps! I don't know why, but I think it was his eyes. They were just so… scary."
"Don't worry, Aydel. Queen Serenity and our parents wouldn't invite someone into the castle who was bad news. They know those kinds of things. They're grown ups, they have to." Saruka assumed.
"What if they're wrong?" Aydel asked her.
"I dunno… should we tell them what we think?" Saruka asked, "Maybe at the concert tonight."
"Oh, no! The concert!" Aydel said, getting up from the bed. "I gotta get ready!"
"Aydel, the concert isn't until late today! We can get ready an hour before." Saruka told her.
"No! I gotta get ready… now!" Aydel complained. She got up from the bed and headed out the door, "See ya later Saruka!" She waved as she left.
"Ok… bye…" Saruka said. She sat alone in her room thinking. Tonight was the big concert, the day when she would be allowed to perform alone for the first time. Saruka couldn't wait! Tonight was going to be awesome!
"Hey girl, what's up?" Mina said coming into the room, followed by Rei, Ami, Lita and Serena.
"Nothing. The grown ups too boring for you too?" Saruka asked.
Rei smiled, "Yeah. We all had to leave or we would have fallen asleep out there."
Saruka laughed. Ami, Serena, Mina, and Rei all sat on the bed, while Lita stayed standing, leaning on the wall. Serena sighed with relief as she took off the silver high heels she had been forced to wear.
"My sister going to get ready for the concert already?" Lita asked.
"Yeah, I know it's early, but I couldn't talk her out of it." Saruka said. Lita laughed.
"Saruka, we have a question for you. You know how I've been teaching you to foresee things like the future?" Rei asked, clasping Saruka's hand in her own.
"Yeah… so?"
"That man out there…" Rei said, "What'd you pick up from him?"
Saruka thought for a while, "Nothing." She said truthfully, "I just got a real weird feeling about him. His gaze made me shudder. Aydel feels it too."
"Aydel? She noticed this?" Ami asked surprised.
"Yeah, she said he was scary." Saruka said, "Why you guys? What's up?"
The five of them exchanged nervous looks. "Nothing, sorry to bother you Saruka. We'll go now."
Mina kissed Saruka on the forehead. "We'll be in the training quarters if you need us, ok?" Mina got up and led the others out. Before she too left, she turned back to Saruka and said, "Oh, and Saruka? Stay away from that man. Promise?"
Saruka stared at her confused, "What? Why?"
"Just promise me!" Mina insisted, "I'd like to see you reach your 9th birthday…"
Saruka's eyes widened with thoughts of what could happen that she wouldn't reach her 9th birthday which was no more than a month away. "Oh.. ok. I.. I promise, Mina. I promise!"
"Ok," Mina said, then she left, shutting the door behind her on Saruka, and leaving Saruka alone with wild thoughts and crazy ideas running through her head.
"Lita's fine," Mina said, reading Saruka's mind, "the doctor gave her the room next to this one, and she'll be completely recovered by the end of the day."
Saruka sighed, "That's good."
Serena appeared from behind Mina, "Saruka," she said in a happy tone, "Your boss is here to see you from the Eternal Night Club." Serena moved away to reveal a short old man, Saruka's boss, and manager of the Eternal NightClub.
"Mr. Sakasuni. How are you?" Saruka asked.
"Guess." Mr. Sakasuni said, "My club was ruined last night, Saruka, I can't afford the repair cost and I have to sell it!"
"What? That's awful!" Saruka said.
"I'm sorry Saruka, but without the Eternal Night Club and no one to buy it off me, you're out of work. I'm sorry I had to tell you like this considering your condition." Mr. Sakasuni said sadly.
"Don't worry about me, really, I'm fine. But you, how are you? What are you going to do now?"
"That doesn't matter. I only came here to tell you what I had to, I have no time to chat. Real sorry, Saruka, you have a great talent and the world deserves to hear it, but it will have to be at another club." Mr. Sakasuni tilted his hat and said, "Good day," Before he turned right around and left.
"Oh…" Serena made a noise in her throat, "I'm really sorry, Saruka. I didn't…"
"No, no, it's ok. It's not the work I'm upset about. I just feel really bad. That jerk Goxard… and Aydel…" Saruka cut off.
Mina waited till the silence got uncomfortable before she spoke what was on her mind, "Saruka, who is Aydel."
Saruka looked up at her, then sadly looked back down to her lap. "She's a friend… or was." Saruka said, "Back on the Moon Kingdom."
"Would we know her, or will we remember her?" Serena asked.
"Um… I think so. I'm not exactly sure what Queen Serenity did to your memories and how you'll gain back what you lost, but I think she was wiped from your memory like I was." Saruka said.
"Could you try to remind us of her?" Mina asked.
"No… no I will not. You're better off not knowing. It may change a lot. When you remember, you'll know, but I will not tell you. Please don't ask me again." Saruka said. She was twisting her bed sheets in her hands now.
"Ok, Saruka, I won't ask again." Mina said.
"We won't ask again." Serena corrected.
"Hey, hey!" Rei said, walking in the door with Ami. "Look who we brought." Behind Ami was Lita, standing strong and tall, with a sly smile on her face.
"Lita, what are you doing out of bed?" Mina nagged.
"Hey, come on Mina. I don't want to miss this story Saruka's going to tell us." Lita said, taking a seat in a nearby chair.
"Oh yeah! The story. Tell us Saruka, about our past." Rei insisted. Saruka still felt that Rei was testing her.
"Um, ok, I guess. What do you want to know?" Saruka asked.
"Tell us how you got to come to the future, and how you knew Michelle and Amara." Rei said, still testing Saruka.
"Oh, no, start from the top!" Mina said, going towards the door and shutting it to prevent anyone from eavesdropping.
"Ok, from the top. Well…" Saruka got into the story. While she told them everything, she remembered how it felt to be there…
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
What happened in the past…
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Saruka was woken by a stream of bright sun light through her window. She ducked her head under her covers. It was too early, she assumed. Saruka screamed a playful scream as her covers were ripped off her and her big sister was tickling her for her to get up.
"Come on, lazy butt!" Mina said, laughing with Saruka as Saruka kicked and squirmed to get away, "Up! Up! We got to get to breakfast, mother and Queen Serenity are waiting for us, along with everyone else and a bunch of guests. Come on, get your lazy bum out of bed."
"What if I don't?" Saruka laughed, pulling her covers back over her head.
"Then I'll just have to tickle you to death!" Mina said, tickling Saruka again.
Saruka laughed, unable to stop. "Ok… hah! Ok!" Saruka yelled.
"Hah! I always win." Mina said, "Here, wear this. Apparently these people are important." Mina threw a slim, silver dress with a white sweater coat and Saruka's princess crown on the bed.
Saruka watched as Mina left the room, and stuck her tongue out at her just before she turned the corner. She pulled herself out of be and slipped on her dress and sweater coat, then brushed out her mangled hair before slipping her small golden crown with one ruby and two sapphires on it. She studied herself in the mirror to make sure she was acceptable before taking in a deep breath and leaving the room.
She entered the dining hall and was greeted by many familiar and unfamiliar faces. She walked out toward the table and took her seat between Mina and her father, King Aldan of Venus. The grown ups were all in a deep conversation about boring business and didn't even notice Saruka there. Saruka sat patiently, waiting for grace to be spoken so they could eat, but the grown ups were too interested in what they were talking about to notice that either.
Saruka looked across the table. Across from her was Princess Lita or Jupiter, her father Lord Trek, her mother Dutchess Melody, and Aydel. Down from them was Princess Ami of Mercury and her father King Patrick. Ami's mother had sadly passed away not too long back. Saruka could tell Ami was still hurt from that experience.
Down further on Saruka's side of the table was Princess Rei of Mars, her father Master Richard, and her mother Mistress Lara. Saruka also saw her own mother, Queen Guenivere of Venus, her sister Princess Mina, and on her other side her father, King Victor.
At the head of the table Saruka also saw Queen Serenity of the Moon, and Princess Serena, who, looking more bored then EVER, was making sounds with her forks as she clamped them together. She saw Saruka looking at her and smiled. Saruka smiled back and mouthed 'bored?'. Serena mouthed back 'deadly!'
Saruka giggled. She was about to say something else when a ball of paper hit her face. Saruka unrolled the paper and read:
What took you forever, Saruka? I nearly DIED here alone! Saruka looked across the table to Aydel. She smiled to her, and wrote her own message on the paper.
I was sleeping in. If we're not allowed to sleep soon, I'll fall asleep right here now!!! The grown ups are sooooooooooo boring! :)
She rolled the piece of paper back up and threw it back to Aydel. Aydel read it and giggled.
"Saruka!"
Saruka sat up straight and looked around at the sound of her voice.
"As I was saying, this is my daughter Saruka," Saruka's mother tapped her on the shoulder, then tapped Mina on the should saying, "and this is Mina. Girls, this is a messenger of our new ally, Mr. Malace Goxard."
Saruka bowed her head, "Nice to meet you, good sir." She said, pretending she knew more about him then she did.
"That's a nice dress." Malace Goxard said to her.
"Um, thank you." She replied. He was staring at her, deeply, intently. Saruka got cold chills from his stare. She shuddered subconsciously, but didn't let her feelings show.
The introductions went around the table until everyone had been introduced to Malace Goxard. Saruka noticed that at Aydel's introduction he stared at her extra long, getting a good look at her every description. Saruka frowned, and started to worry.
Queen Serenity held up her glass elegantly for a toast. Saruka grabbed her own glass and lifted it into the air, trying to use the right posture and handling she had been taught many times before.
"A toast, to the new alliance of the Moon Kingdom and the Alzamont Solar System. Cheers!"
"Cheers!" Everyone said together, as they began tapping glasses together gently.
"Let the feast begin." Queen Serenity said, while servants lifted the tops off dishes.
'Mmmm!' Saruka thought to herself as she dug into the grub. It was all very good, and the grown ups hardly ate. They continued to talk and argue about the new alliance. Saruka didn't pay any attention. When she finished, and saw Aydel was finished too, Saruka tapped her father next to her and asked if she could be excused.
Saruka's father turned to her and smiled, "Of course, my dear." He said, his gem like eyes shining down at her. Saruka's mother always said she had her father's eyes, but her father had such amazing eyes, and Saruka didn't think her own eyes were that great.
"Thank you, daddy." Saruka said, kissing her father on the cheek, "Come on, Aydel!" Saruka encouraged.
"Careful, you two." Mina called to them.
Saruka just waved bye as she and Aydel left the dining hall and ran to Saruka's room. "I gotta change!" Saruka said, pulling off her dress and putting on a loose pair of pants and a baggy top. "Aw, that's better."
"Saruka," Aydel asked.
"Yeah?" Saruka said, looking in her mirror and pulling the odd piece of hair out to make her look a little more casual.
"Did that guy in there… I dunno, scare you?" Aydel asked. She was fiddling with her dress self-consciously.
Saruka moved away from her mirror and looked at Aydel, "Yeah, yeah I did! What? Why? Did you?" Saruka asked.
Aydel nodded. "He gave me the creeps! I don't know why, but I think it was his eyes. They were just so… scary."
"Don't worry, Aydel. Queen Serenity and our parents wouldn't invite someone into the castle who was bad news. They know those kinds of things. They're grown ups, they have to." Saruka assumed.
"What if they're wrong?" Aydel asked her.
"I dunno… should we tell them what we think?" Saruka asked, "Maybe at the concert tonight."
"Oh, no! The concert!" Aydel said, getting up from the bed. "I gotta get ready!"
"Aydel, the concert isn't until late today! We can get ready an hour before." Saruka told her.
"No! I gotta get ready… now!" Aydel complained. She got up from the bed and headed out the door, "See ya later Saruka!" She waved as she left.
"Ok… bye…" Saruka said. She sat alone in her room thinking. Tonight was the big concert, the day when she would be allowed to perform alone for the first time. Saruka couldn't wait! Tonight was going to be awesome!
"Hey girl, what's up?" Mina said coming into the room, followed by Rei, Ami, Lita and Serena.
"Nothing. The grown ups too boring for you too?" Saruka asked.
Rei smiled, "Yeah. We all had to leave or we would have fallen asleep out there."
Saruka laughed. Ami, Serena, Mina, and Rei all sat on the bed, while Lita stayed standing, leaning on the wall. Serena sighed with relief as she took off the silver high heels she had been forced to wear.
"My sister going to get ready for the concert already?" Lita asked.
"Yeah, I know it's early, but I couldn't talk her out of it." Saruka said. Lita laughed.
"Saruka, we have a question for you. You know how I've been teaching you to foresee things like the future?" Rei asked, clasping Saruka's hand in her own.
"Yeah… so?"
"That man out there…" Rei said, "What'd you pick up from him?"
Saruka thought for a while, "Nothing." She said truthfully, "I just got a real weird feeling about him. His gaze made me shudder. Aydel feels it too."
"Aydel? She noticed this?" Ami asked surprised.
"Yeah, she said he was scary." Saruka said, "Why you guys? What's up?"
The five of them exchanged nervous looks. "Nothing, sorry to bother you Saruka. We'll go now."
Mina kissed Saruka on the forehead. "We'll be in the training quarters if you need us, ok?" Mina got up and led the others out. Before she too left, she turned back to Saruka and said, "Oh, and Saruka? Stay away from that man. Promise?"
Saruka stared at her confused, "What? Why?"
"Just promise me!" Mina insisted, "I'd like to see you reach your 9th birthday…"
Saruka's eyes widened with thoughts of what could happen that she wouldn't reach her 9th birthday which was no more than a month away. "Oh.. ok. I.. I promise, Mina. I promise!"
"Ok," Mina said, then she left, shutting the door behind her on Saruka, and leaving Saruka alone with wild thoughts and crazy ideas running through her head.
