Disclaimer: If you can't figure this out, this is a Fan Fiction, I write it because I am a fan, not for money. Suing me kills your marketing, because that is at least one less person buying your merchandise. Granted, I don't buy a lot of Sailor Moon stuff, but if you ever make a Talking Artemis I'd buy it. My cats would go nuts!

Moon Cats

Chapter Thirteen

"Do you remember Prince Adrian of Neptune?" Luna asked, not looking directly at Artemis.

"Um... Yeah." The white cat looked thoughtful for a moment. "Actually, I remember the name, and that Princess Serenity didn't like him much. Who was he?" Amazed at remembering any non-enemy who Serenity would dislike.

Well... He..."

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"He was one of the four potential husbands presented to me, along with Prince Endymion, who we all know Prince Duncan of Saturn, no relation to Hotaru, which I don't really understand, and Duke Tremain of Pluto." Usagi listed calmly.

"Yes. He was." Setsuna agreed.

"And he fell in love with my cat... Then hurt her."

"Yes, Princess, though she hurt him as well."
"How many reasons, total, did it take for me not to have him mailed back to Neptune?"

"Six... Though 'Your mother would be disappointed' didn't seem to slow you down much."

"So, while I know from the report that he was Neptune's younger brother, and he was, shortly, a suitor of mine, what else happened? I have some unclear memories of Luna crying over him, so what happened?"

"It's a long story, but with a short beginning. It all started..."

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"At the ball, welcoming the Prince's." Luna sat, sighing. "I don't believe I forgot about the fact we could shape shift on our own!"

" I found out, and remembered, so don't worry. As I recall, I was always better at it then most anyhow." Artemis shut down his computer, and walked over to the female cat. "But that doesn't matter. What started at that ball?"

"Well, you were away, on Earth, working as the Queens diplomatic Attache, while Lord Marcus healed from a hunting accident, and right before you left we had that big argument... and don't even bring the subject up now!"

Artemis shut his mouth, looking sheepish thinking 'Martian Sailfish, and she couldn't share! Geesh.'

"Anyway, I know we made up... Somehow."

"Letters, since both of us were too busy to get off world."

"Yes... Which is why what happened was so wrong."

"Luna! WHAT HAPPENED?" The frustrated and worried cat demanded.

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"She fell in love while Artemis was gone, to Lord Adrian." Setsuna sat down.

Usagi sat next to her, looking thoughtful. "Mrs. Proper-Kitty? How the heck did that happen?"

"At that time, she was not attending balls, mainly because her preferred dance partner, Artemis, wasn't around. Instead she spent such evenings in the gardens."

"Anyway, on the night of the Introduction Ball, Adrian walked out for some fresh air. He and Luna bumped into each other, Luna in human form."

"Luna, a little offended for your sake that he had walked out of 'Your' ball, and of his condescending attitude towards her whom he mistook for a peasant, slapped him and stormed away."

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"Artemis, why are you laughing?"

"You!" The white cat gasped for air. "I KNEW you had a temper, but slapping a Crown Prince?"

"Well, he was rude! Besides I was depressed because you were away! Honestly, I was angry about that."

"Right."

"Anyway, he found me several minutes later, and apologized! He asked if he could do anything to make the anger go away, and I told him to jump into the fountain. He did!"

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"You, and all the party guests, were rather shocked when Prince Adrian came dripping into the ball. You nearly fell out of your chair laughing!"

Usagi giggled.

"Luna told him he was forgiven, and when he pleaded, she agreed to meet him again. She did give her name, but it isn't all that uncommon a name on the Moon, at least it wasn't. She didn't tell him WHO she was."

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"Well, to make a long story short... We fell in love."

Artemis froze, listening to Luna, torn between Horror, Rage, and sympathy.

"We met in the garden, and flirted and went into town, but I never revealed my Identity, or what I was."

"The only other person who knew was Princess Serenity. She didn't like Adrian one bit... And wanted to know about you... But she was very supportive. That was good, because just a few months later, you were returning and I realized something. I didn't really love him! I love you!"

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"She broke off the relationship with Adrian, to rebuild her relationship with Artemis, but things didn't get back to how it was for them. I don't know why."

"I do." Usagi said. "She loved both of them was part of the problem, though. She felt more deeply for Artemis, the other part was..."

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"I had betrayed you. What is more, I didn't tell you, until now."

Finally Luna looked up into Artemis's eyes. "I'm so sorry." She burst into tears, and ran away.

Artemis stood, shell shocked, for some time. Then he sighed, walking to Minakos bed and hopping onto it. "And here I thought I had screwed up all those years ago. Why didn't you tell me then, Luna?" He asked the air.

The white cat jumped into the air, and did a flip, and magically a black case landed on the bed. He tapped it once and it opened, revealing a silver and gold collar/bracelet.

Artemis sighed, looking at the inscription. "Then I could have given you this!"

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"He was going to WHAT?"

"Yes Usagi, he told you, and from what you said to me later, you told him to talk to her before he..."

"Proposed." Usagi groaned and slumped. "Nice to know I was an airhead in BOTH lifetimes. "

"Yes, well, the story isn't QUITE done yet..."

AN: The Next Chapter will have more action. I mean, there wasn't anything interesting in this one... Unless you count the whole Adrian/Artemis/Luna love triangle. And the postponed proposal...but that wouldn't really interest anyone now would it?

Next Chapter: More about Adrian, and maybe if you beg, the Inscription.