Sweat was pouring down Hotaru's face, each day it was becoming harder and harder to beat Duo. He was getting much better that was for sure. After fighting each other they had both gone and started working out on different sorts of equipment. Hotaru had gone to a black punching bag and started an assortment of different punches and kicks on it. Duo had gone to a wall that had many different weights stacked on top of each other and started to lift. Now they met together in the center of the room again.
" So how was your workout brother?" Hotaru questioned
" Fine." Was Duo's short reply
" Have you made enough muscle for the ladies of the court to be satisfied?" she asked, smirking when this question received a blush from her brother.
" I don't know, why don't you ask them." Duo replied quickly trying to hide his blush.
" Well brother, are you coming to the summer palace with us, this year?" Hotaru asked her face returning to a serious state.
" I'm not sure, I'm still looking for my bride you know, I haven't gone to all the planets. I haven't even been to the moon yet. I might be there for your birthday though, but I've got to go find you a present first." Duo replied just as seriously. He had after all been looking for a bride for a very long time. The arranged marriage laws were for girls only, the men were allowed to look for their own bride, even though most did depend on their parents.
2 months later
It had been two months and it was Hotaru's birthday. Hotaru didn't know it there was going to be a party. She thought that there was just going to be a small, formal, family feast.
" Ella, what am I going to wear? It's my fifteenth birthday and daddy told me to wear something nice." Hotaru questioned with a bit of whine in her voice.
" Well, miss I knew you would be wanting something special on this day and I had the seamstress make you this." Ella replied. She then went to the closet and pulled out a long dark purple dress, it had a filmy, black covering on it and it had spaghetti straps.
" Oh, Ella it's beautiful. Thank You so much!!!" Hotaru whispered in awe as tears formed in her eyes. As Hotaru put the finishing touches on herself and her appearance the rest of the Saturnian family was in the ballroom preparing for Hotaru to arrive. Hotaru was waiting for Minako and Rei to get ready so she could leave. Saturn's custom required her to have at least two other people with her at all times. As Mina walked out of her suite in her light yellow dress that flowed behind her to join Hotaru, Rei also came out of her suite in a dress similar to Minako's only it was a fiery red.
" Are you ready?" Mina asked.
" For what, it's only a feast." Hotaru replied looking puzzled at the question. The girls walked down the grand staircase and into the ballroom where Hotaru was to meet her family so they could join the dinner together. When Hotaru walked into the room and was greeted by her fun loving brother who yelled SURPRISE, ignoring all Saturn rules and shouting at a party, she was SURPRISED.
" Mother, what is all this?" she asked trying to remain as a princess should.
" Darling, it's your, what did Duo call it? Oh yes a surprise party for your birthday." The Queen replied in a misty voice.
" Hey, Hotaru if you come outside I'll give you your present." Duo said popping up out of nowhere.
" Duo you didn't have to I mean you talked Mother and Father into a ball that's enough." Hotaru said quietly as Duo dragged her out onto a small marble balcony.
" Nonsense. You deserve a present after all those times you beat me. It's only fair." Duo said jokingly. He then grabbed a long thin box from out of nowhere. " As you can see I've been practicing my powers." He said, shoving the box into her small hands. Hotaru suddenly moved her middle and pointer fingers up and removed the wrapping paper without touching it, saying
"So have I." When she opened the box she gasped. Inside was a glaive. It had a long slender purple marble handle. The blade was a silver one and it seemed to shimmer as if it were made of fairy dust. She went over the blade only to see an inscription that read, " To my little Firefly, so you can still beat me, Love Duo."
" Oh, Duo thank you." Hotaru said running to hug her brother only to find she had to jump to reach him.
" You deserve it, putting up with me all these years and living through it I mean it' your fifteenth birthday and you haven't killed me yet. Although that one time when I painted your room pink I thought you were going to. I was only trying to figure out if the color would look good in your room though." Duo rambled as Hotaru gazed at the weapon.
" What's the blade made out of Duo?" Hotaru asked.
" The finest Mars titanium, that's why it seems to shimmer. That's what Mars is famous for after all."
" I couldn't have asked for a better present Duo. Thanks!"
TBC
So what do you think of the ball. Part B will come out soon.