Author's Notes: Again, sorry for the wait. I've been cracking my head against the wall due to lack of inspiration, the fact that I have to take exams earlier than everybody else because of band, and keeping up my good grades so I can get my cable modem. Which won't be until next year. Urgh, I hate school. Anyhow, I assume you don't want to hear about my problems, so I'll shut up now. On wi- *yawns* -ith the chapter, which I may add is going to be pretty long. If you don't think it is, feel free to throw random items at me.
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CHAPTER 8 – SOME UNANTICIPATED SHOCK
Hotaru stood in front of the mirror, getting ready. She adjusted the dark violet ribbon in her hair, tied like a headband, and the black bow around her waist before heading out to see Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto. It would be the first time she would see them out of their senshi fuku.
As she headed down the stairs, her violet eyes got wide. They looked so different in princess clothes! Neptune twirled around with a smile, her aqua-colored dress gently rippling with her movements, her hair tied high with a red bow. Uranus looked kind of very annoyed, in a long tan dress with golden trim. Pluto's dark green stood out among them, but as soon as Hotaru joined them, with her dark violet, the colors were a bit more balanced. Uranus was mumbling something about changing when she got there. Neptune gently tapped her on the head, avoiding the spot where a golden tiara had been placed, with intricate designs. Each of them wore one, symbolizing them as princesses. Pluto's was golden, tinted with pale green, just in front of the bun she wore. Neptune's was gold tinted with turquoise, placed in front of the ponytail she wore, and Hotaru's was a gold and pale violet, on top of the darker ribbon. All of them would be easily recognized as princesses from the Outer regions of the universe.
There was a bit of worry gnawing at the back of the Saturn princess's mind. Matthew might be there. She would have to stand in the same room as him. There was the one thing she wasn't looking forward to. But hey, he might not be there, she reminded herself. He didn't usually go to a whole lot of parties and social gatherings like that. With a deep breath, she grinned and the Outers joined hands, in a circle. Where their senshi tiaras normally were, their planet's symbol appeared on their foreheads. The glow of their powers fused and they were swiftly teleported to the Moon Palace.
The first glance that met Hotaru's eyes took her breath away. They had arrived just outside, and the view was breathtaking. The gardens were more gorgeous than anything she had looked at in a textbook about Earth. There were flowers of all different colors, colors she couldn't even imaging. There was a fountain coated in some silver, shining material. The water that flowed from it was crystal clear, elegantly majestic. The palace itself was white, the color that the moon seemed when you looked at it from Earth. It stood regally tall, as if it itself had a sense of pride in itself. Taking in all of her surroundings, she noted that everything else there stood with a magical pride, too. Vaguely she could make out people from just about everywhere.
"Look! Look!" Uranus whispered, motioning over to the balcony with her eyes. The Outers looked up to see none other than the Moon Princess, standing quietly, looking out into the garden, as if waiting for someone. The four stood quietly for a moment, until a figure clad in black and silver ran swiftly towards the palace, stopping below the princess. Immediately, a happy smile graced the lips of the Moon Princess. Suppressing a smile, both Neptune and Pluto hurried them into the palace, leaving the couple alone, much to the protest of Uranus and Saturn. A guard outside stopped them, letting them in one by one, so as their arrival could be announced. Uranus rolled her eyes and went in first.
The other three could hear someone announce, "Lady Haruka. Princess of Uranus." Blinking her big violet eyes, Hotaru made a mental note to remember that. Haruka was Uranus's Princess name. Neptune went in next. "Lady Michiru. Princess of Neptune." Hotaru made sure to remember that one, too. With a bit of nervousness, she gently nudged Pluto to go in next. "Lady Setsuna. Princess of Pluto." In a quieter voice, he added, "And our Keeper of Time..."
Finally, Hotaru herself went it. "Lady Hotaru. Princess of Saturn." Her violet gaze scanned the room and the first noticeable person she saw was Matthew, talking to a woman, wearing a black suit trimmed with violet. Apparently, he didn't see her yet. Good... she thought to herself, joining the other Outers. As always in the beginning of parties, the groups that knew each other stuck with each other. ((A/N: Plus I just don't want the Outers rushing in to go yippee-whee with the Inners. They're not really close, after all.))
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Matthew talked, or rather flirted, with this ravishing woman from Mars. Her auburn hair flowed down her shoulders, shining in the light, and there was a seductive glint in her golden eyes. Of course, he was talking with a smooth voice and the charm he always used around women. Well, women that weren't from Saturn. Women that he liked that didn't have a lower status than him. He only vaguely heard four others being announced as they walked in, and the woman wasn't about to point out that his exiled fiancée just walked through the door, so it was a moment later, when the woman left to talk with her friends, that he turned around and saw her.
His initial reaction was, 'That's not Hotaru.' But it was. And she looked like a different person. A lovely golden crown tinted with pale purple was atop her shining black hair, contrasting sharply with her pale skin. A dark violet ribbon was secured underneath the crown, the same color as her eyes. Those eyes weren't the light-hearted ones he knew. They were wiser, colder, with a small sense of loneliness in them. The dress she was wearing was also a dark violet, flowing down to the floor. A black sash was wrapped about her waist; the bow was tied a little off-center in the back, in a stylish way. It was sleeveless, and there was a ruffled ribbon that wrapped around her neck to hold it. On her left wrist was a silver bracelet, with a few lavender charms. She was standing with the rest of the Outers. Lady Michiru looked elegant and stunning, as always, in an aqua dress that wrapped tightly around her, loose and flowing at the bottom. The sleeves were mere straps on her shoulders, as well as loose material draped around her upper arms.
Setsuna looked more similarly to Hotaru, a dark green dress with black lace lining the collar and sleeves, which were long, and skin-tight, until it flared out at the wrists. She was wearing a golden chain around her neck, with a single round jade hanging on its center. As Matthew's gaze moved to Haruka, he blinked and his ebony eyes became a bit clouded with bewilderment. She wasn't there! It was like the princess of Uranus had just vanished! But the confusion vanished and, in its place, left exasperation. A little further left, Haruka emerged from a doorway, clad in a gold suit with tan trim. She had removed the princess tiara and looked just like a regular guest from Uranus, if not for the unique patterns on the jacket when the light hit it right, and the way she carried herself: with elegance and authority. But if you ignored all that, you could mistake her for just a young man who came for the party.
Lady Michiru's gaze floated over Matthew, not giving him any sign that she knew who he was, and settled on Lady Haruka. Matthew could practically feel the exasperation coming from her. The three Outers stared for a moment at Haruka before hurrying over to her. Michiru greeted the Uranus princess with a nice bop on the head. A small debate seemed to go on between the two, Hotaru and Setsuna just watching, occasionally exchanging amused glances. Matthew watched for a moment or so. He didn't know why, but his attention was irresistibly drawn towards the young Saturn princess. He couldn't help but notice the way the lights accented the purple highlights in her hair, the confident air about her when she moved, the way her eyes sparkled when she laughed. Gently shaking his head, he let his gaze wander from her, but then their eyes locked. Violet met ebony, ebony met violet. They remained like that for a moment before the violet eyes turned cold and returned to Haruka and Michiru. He blinked in confusion. That had not been the welcome he had expected!
~
Hotaru grinned as Michiru berated Haruka for doing such a thing when they were supposed to be honored guests. Setsuna was holding in a laugh. It was quite easy to forget about Matthew when Michiru and Haruka were acting like little kids in front of the whole party. Well, maybe no one but Matthew saw them, but it was still pretty funny. Finally their little argument died down, and Haruka and Michiru headed to the dance floor. A nice slow song was on, and they were one of the best dancers there. Hotaru watched with amazement at their elegance and grace, as if they were doing a long practiced dance. About to comment on this to Setsuna, her violet eyes became clouded with confusion when she saw her not there. Then she realized the princess of Pluto had gone to get some refreshments.
A light tap on her shoulder made her turn her head slightly, a little confused since all the other Outers were busy. She had expected to see the face of maybe an Inner senshi, but instead her violet gaze found Matthew. A sigh escaped her lips. "Oh, it's you," she said in monotone, eyes icing over. He gave her a grin.
"What kind of greeting is that to your beloved?" he inquired playfully, cocking his head to the side. Hotaru had to admit, that was a genuine smile on his face, and it even reached his eyes. He was kind of cute, the way his violet hair swayed in his eyes with his head tilted. But the only immediate response he got was an exasperated narrowing of her eyes. The smile flickered for a moment, before returning.
Hotaru's gaze wavered to the side, seeing Setsuna, Haruka, and Michiru occupied, unable to rescue her. 'Oh, darn it,' she thought to herself. In a flat and almost bitter voice, she replied, "What kind of beloved sends his adoring fiancée in exile to undergo the harshest training of her life while the beloved man lives an easy life of living in a palace, having his servants do everything for him?" His expression dampened and the smile lost most of its shine. She crossed her arms and inclined her head, casting a shadow over those violet eyes of hers. Well, this wasn't the lovely and light-hearted princess of Saturn he was accustomed to. Where was that love-me-tender expression? What became of those happy, dancing eyes? Why wasn't she rejoicing at the fact that he was in her presence? The training sure had changed her a lot, even if he did like her better this way.
With a slight glance around, Matthew sighed. "Can you do me one favor at least?" He paused, but all she did was glower expectantly. So, he continued. "Will you meet me at the balcony in an hour? Please?" With a deep breath, her head tilted back slightly, and then she nodded in affirmation. The smile half-returned before he walked away. Hotaru clucked her tongue.
"What an idiot."