heya! here's some more of my little fic for anyone who cares! lol
neways...thanx to my reviewers! Kiwi, DarkImperialPrincess, Usagi Usako Chiba - u all make me very happy! i'm so glad you've enjoyed it.
as far as the NA name use - i can use either, it's just that the NA names worked best for this story, but yeah....
and yes, it is Serenity/Endymion for further info. i know Kume tends to be the main character, but that's cause it's from her pov...
anyways....
Several more busy days passed, each one becoming easier for Kume to manage. With help from Akito, she soon knew the best ways to every part of the palace, which servants to avoid, and how to get the best leftovers. Having an old friend nearby made things that much easier to bear.
Things started to complicate when Kume was asked to work in the gardens one afternoon. The palace gardener had discovered she was wonderful with the roses. Her small size allowed her to maneuver easily between the large bushes, and her hands, rough from the hard work of mining, were not so easily pierced by the thorns. Kume was weeding the rows, when a shadow crossed her path. Her eyes happened upon a grey suit with gold trim and a flowing white cape attached. Amethyst eyes shone down from an attractive, if arrogant face, framed by a short cropping of blond hair.
"What have we here? You seem far too delicate to be working among weeds like these," here his boot crunched over one of the plants, crushing a newly opened blossom to the ground.
Kume's eye's flashed with anger, "I would have to disagree there. I'm not so delicate as I might look to some, especially your kind."
Instead of getting angry, the other man laughed. "Dear Kume. Same temper as always. I heard you had come to the palace to work," he winked at her with another grin, "I expected a little girl and find that you've become a woman." He eyed her briefly. "Don't you remember?"
Kume frowned. She did remember him - a rather peevish boy from her village some years older than herself. He had left seven years ago to begin his service in the palace. "Jade."
The other man chuckled and took another step towards Kume, "It's Jadeite now. I serve the prince directly, as one of his four generals. It was an offer I couldn't refuse."
"So I see," Kume indicated his fine clothes next to her own plain tunic.
"It is a pleasure to see you again, after all these years," Jadeite reached to kiss her hand, dirty as it was. Kume yanked it away. Jadeite's eyes sparkled with annoyance. "Come now, let's not be bitter about what happened in the past. After all, we were only kids back then."
"I don't trust you," Kume hissed, stepping away, only to find a particularly thorny rose bush to her back.
Jadeite pretended to look stricken, "I'm hurt. All I wanted was to help you feel at home here."
"I'll bet," Kume cast about for a way to escape as Jadeite continued towards her.
"Perhaps if I show you my sincerity," Jadeite leaned forward, grabbing Kume's shoulders. He covered her mouth with his before she could cry out. The kiss was sweet, but Kume was too angered to be tamed so easily. She pushed him aside.
"Don't try that again, or I will scream."
"Very well," Jadeite tried to hide his disappointment. "I will do as you wish, for now. But remember, Kume - you are very beautiful, and you can't hide it forever." With a swish of his cape, Jadeite was gone. Once he had left, Kume fell to her knees, shaken. She lifted the crushed rose tenderly in her hands, as a tear snaked down her cheek.
"What's wrong?"
Kume jumped at the voice, afraid Jadeite had returned. Instead, Prince Endymion stood behind her, concern etched across his features. Kume bowed her head low, "My prince."
Endymion set a hand before her, "I do believe I told you to call me Darien, at least when it's just you and me."
Kume looked up, surprised and blushing. The prince indicated his hand again. "Come on now. I won't bite. I promise."
Kume grasped the hand which held her in a firm grip and pulled her to her feet. Kume made a small attempt to smile.
"That's a little better," nodded the prince, or Darien as he asked to be called. He led Kume over to a polished marble bench. "Now, tell me what's wrong."
Kume looked at her feet, the ground, anywhere but the man next to her. I can't tell him the real reason. Jadeite is one of his generals. He wouldn't believe me over him. And besides, it's too embarrassing. "I…I'm just a little homesick…Darien." Kume stood. "It's silly really."
"Not at all," Darien objected, pulling her back to the seat. "Why don't you tell me about where you live. It might help things somewhat. I've never been there, you know."
Kume stared at him for a moment, then began. "You know we live underground, but it's not nearly so dreary as most people picture. Our homes are built in large, luxuriant caverns deep beneath the surface. Rays from the sun are captured in certain crystals and used as our light source. Most of our people mine, but there is plenty of art and songs and dance that is traditional-"
Darien cut her off. "No. I could get all of that from a book if I wanted. Tell me what life is like for you. The way you remember things."
"Me?" Kume gave him a look of disbelief. "You're not just saying that? You really want to know?"
"Of course. Why else would I ask?"
Kume shook her head in disbelief but continued. "My family lived at the edge of our village, in a house carved from the walls of Llyantai - that's our village. Our ancestors were some of the first to settle there. Each village is made of houses carved all along the edges of a cavern with the market and other public places in the center. Our village was centered around a large underground lake. There was an island in the center. As kids, we would swim out there almost every day to play. Many of my people would boat and fish as well as mine. I would have been a miner myself if I had not come to the palace."
"Do you not have other choices as to what you want to be?" Darien asked curiously.
Kume shook her head, "There are a few others, but most of my people mine. It's our culture, our way of life. Our futures are set, but we still lead happy lives. Our villages are like family. We grow together, work together, play together. We face the good times and bad as one. It is how we have survived…"
"Kume? Kume! Where...oh, there you are." Beryl stepped into the garden. "It is time to prepare for the evening meal. You are needed in the kitchen."
Kume nodded. "I'll be there." The prince stood, allowing her to do likewise. "If you would excuse me," Kume bowed deeply before him.
Prince Endymion lowered his head slightly, "Of course. Thank you for talking."
"No, my prince. Thank you."
"You shouldn't try to socialize with those above you," Beryl frowned as she escorted Kume back to the kitchens.
"Dar--the prince asked me to tell him about where I live. I'm afraid he caught me crying and wanted to cheer me up," Kume tried to explain.
"You were crying?!"
"I...I was homesick," Kume lied again.
Beryl shook her head. "The prince would be kind like that. He cares for all his servants. But don't you go thinking you have a chance with him, you'll just have your heart broken."
Kume nodded, "I won't." It was another lie. From the day she had bumped into the kind man on the street, his ocean blue eyes had hypnotized her heart. Even if she didn't have a chance, it was too late to stop her emotions now.
There was a long silence in between the two of them. Finally, Kume gained the courage to bring up the other matter on her mind. "Do you know Jadeite?"
Beryl nodded, a strange sort of smile perking at the edge of her otherwise stony expression, "General Jadeite. Yes, everybody knows him. All the generals are very close with the prince, though Jadeite likes to flaunt his position a little more than the rest of them. He's still a boy in some ways. Full of strength, yet easily inflamed…or turned…" Beryl mused softly, yet Kume heard and wondered what it might mean. "Why do you ask?"
Kume blushed, "No reason...he was in the gardens today, and I was just curious." Beryl gave her a sharp glance but said no more as they arrived at the kitchen, and Kume was hustled through the door.
disclaimer: don't own sailor moon. don't argue.