Number 2: Of course I

The evening had gone beautifully. The place was positively stuffed with the most beautiful women he had ever laid eyes on. OR at least that's what he said. Zoicite had a habit of finding some exquisit young lady that was unsurpassed in beauty everywhere he went. His friends were pretty used to it by now. But truly, the people of the moon had their own air about them. Even the servants seemed so richly pale and yet so happy and full of joy.

Being the main strategist for Earth, He also kept a clear open mind about how the planet was run. He watched the people, listened for important details and inspected the palace for a short time when he first arrived. Before he had entered this extravaganza, he had the opportunity to take a look about the castle, settled into his room, and assist his prince into his own. So far the planet seemed more than stellar. He was very satisfied with that for now. But the focus of his duty never seemed to distract him from the pleasure that walked around the star-lit night in pretty high heels.

His favorite had always been women with blue eyes. Most luckily for him, the masks at this fair didn't obscure his vision of their eyes. This, of course, didn't mean he would ever turn down a pretty girl, but he remembered as a child, always looking for a woman with blue eyes.

At night sometimes, just before he crossed into a hazy sleep, he could see them as lucid as day, blinking shyly at him. The vision would disappear and only then, would he descend into the fog of easy sleep.

That's why the girl from the window intrigued him so much. Even as he was helping his prince to his chambers, he kept the door open behind them so he could see out into the hall way so that he might see her passing by. Then perhaps, he could stop her and ask for her name.

But not seeing the daisy in blue did not discourage him from his usually happy self. It simply made him a bit distracted now and then.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"What's with you?" Jedite punched his comrade in the shoulder. "You're staring out into the distance again." He said matter-of-factly when Zoicite looked surprised.

"Looking for that woman again." Kunzite had just walked up to the two. (Away, they noticed, from a girl with long brown hair who seemed to be looking longingly at his back. Kunzite looked a little frustrated.) "The window woman whose supposed to be the girl of his dreams."

"Well she just might be. I mean he does have a lot of dreams."

"That many?" Jeered Kunzite, "I didn't know we slept that often within a lifetime!"

"Shut up you too! You're just jealous." Zoicite crossed his arms and turned on a natural winning smile that he wore when he thought he'd won.

"Jealous of what?" Laughed Kunzite. "You can't help it. You fall for anything feminine. Speaking of falling…" Kunzite pointed to the small stain obviously attempting to be hidden by a decorative piece of cloth on Zoicite's costume.

"This proves my point! A girl saw me, tripped, and almost spilled an entire glass of white wine on me. Lucky for me I caught her." He smirked to himself as he recalled the girl was so struck with his debonair smiles. She had flirted outrageously with him. "Girl's just fall for me. It doesn't matter what I do."

"You talk as if you don't try to get girls." Kunzite chuckled.

"This is true," Commented Jedite wisely. "When I fall in love it will be for just one girl. The perfect girl. And it's got to take some time you know?" Zoicite was about to open his mouth to tell him that someday, he'd eat his words when a girl with black hair tied up into a bun with a deep red rose pinned up into it walked by. She had fair skin but her head was lowered to the ground as she tried to pass without touching them.

She bypassed them saying under her breath a soft 'excuse me.'

The anxious men watched her pass. Jedite wasted no time collapsing out of his chair and desperately trying to stand up to talk to her. He tripped on his way, knocking into her. The two other men had to run away covering their mouths to hide the eruption of laughter. But something as funny in this magnitude could not be smothered. Once in a safe spot where they could comfortably watch the two but not be heard by them, they slapped each other on the back and they cheered.

"That was hilarious!" Kunzite choked out.

"I know! It was just like this!" And Zoicite turned around to get a few feet away to demonstrate the incredibly hilarious and ironic moment when he bumped into a young woman. She had eyes that struck him. Zoicite bent at the waist apologizing profusely to the girl dressed in yellow. (A/N: Heh, I tricked you!) She was not the one he had been searching for but she was still exceptionally lovely.

"Oh no, it's alright! It's so crowded tonight it's difficult to get anywhere!"

"Well I do have to admit I don't always mind bumping into people."

"You're too kind." Even through her yellow mask Zoicite could see her blush. She was so cute! After much flirting, he soon forgot Kunzite was standing just behind him. So he didn't feel so terrible when he took the girl's hand and asked with his best smile,

"I hope you wouldn't think it too presumptuous of me to ask if you'd like to dance with me?"

"Of course, I'd love to." And so he swept her off her feet. Wrapping his arm expertly around her thin waist and taking her hand in his they swept onto the dance floor. She was aggressive and flirty but not incredibly bright. She was a sweet bubbly girl but too much for him. However, being the experienced man he was, he knew this girl was a catch.

He would have spent the rest of the evening with this young lady except for two factors. The first was that when he was with this girl he couldn't help but think of his window princess. And the other was that after spending a wonderful time together laughing and talking she leaned close to him and said in his ear so he could hear clearly, "There's someone I think you should meet."

This prospect seemed unprofitable. Was he not what she was looking for? What had he done wrong? Not to get the wrong idea, Zoicite had been rejected more than most men because he tried so often, but what was wrong this time? Yet this new friend might like him better. Now that he thought of it, two moon girls who thought he was the guru of guys hanging on his arms wouldn't the night any worse by far.

So he went with her to find her friend but inside he still wished to see his window princess.

 Through the crowd he spotted that they were headed toward general nephrite. He was taller than most people so it was easier than it was nice to admit to find him. He was grinning sheepishly but after spotting his Zoicite, the auburn hair friend waved him over. His big grin wasn't for just any reason. The girl in yellow who was tugging on his sleeve was taking him to the tall brunette standing next to his own friend. She was as stunning as the girl in yellow.

How does the moon do it? Or how did it get so lucky?

Still…Zoicite turned to see the moon like a dish over the throng of people. It was peaceful and alone. Even though he was being introduced to a girl much to masculine for him, he felt alone like the painted moon in the sky.

"You alone mi-'lady?" A gruff voice came from over her shoulder.

Ami was polite to a fault but she could stop the remembrance of this man of whom a few hours before she was making fun of from the palace window.

He had long greasy black hairs he obviously thought were attractive by the way he ran long bony fingers though it. His smile was crooked and his dress was fat and didn't make up for his obvious malnutrition.

She put on her best fake smile she could must and said, "No I was just on my way to see a friend." And so she was. After meeting this guy she decided to track and see Makoto. But this man was obviously not interested in having his breath ignored.

"I mean with a man. You look like you could use one." He pulled back his shoulders and tried to look manly.

"Well I don't think I be helped. Thank you sir."

"Why not? I'm a real man. I could definitely help you out." He leaned down and stuck his greasy face in front of Ami. Her senshi blood kicked and it took all she was worth not to handle the man in a maiming manner.

"Are you a man? Well then I had better stop talking to you. My husband wouldn't like it."

The man was appalled. Ami didn't look one to lie. Here, in the middle of a crowd was not the best spot to push his luck and so he moved on.

Just then a bright familiar face poked out from the mass of people. Venus was smiling broadly at her, the yellow of her hair and the pale dress floating around her pretty figure. It made her windswept soul smile.

"Hey!"

Ami was making a gagging face of supreme agony the man now gone. She didn't try to hide her tortured look when she saw Minako approaching and was about to ask if she had seen what had happened when she saw that Minako was not alone. Her eyes grew wide and she instinctively bowed. It was the man with the bottle green eyes-no mistake! The boy she was with put on a sideways smile and extended his hand. He took hers in his and flashed a large charming smile flooding her with charisma. He was only a little taller than her!

It was his window woman! That was very obvious. She was sorter than he was, (always a plus), and was sweet and calm. Not at all like the yellow girl.

"Hi." He said.

"Hello." She smiled and tried to hide that she had been staring earlier even though it was quite obvious that had had already recognized her.

Her pink blush made his heart flutter.

They stood there. One was very embarrassed-the other was happy to see her again. His chest fluttered a little bit. She was prettier in person than even with the wind flowing through her soft hair and the dusk waxing behind her. He was about to tell her so but something inside him didn't want to try what he had on other girls. Flirting them to death. This one, he wanted to keep like a flower. Frankly all of his pick-up lines seemed inappropriate. Zoicite was embarrassed to hear them in his head. He blushed too. Even though the yellow girl was talking happily he wasn't listening. Either, he saw, was the little blue girl to his side.

 She laughed at something that was said. Even behind the mask she reminded him of someone he knew once.

Soon enough the subject turned to the people here.

"I like the diversity. It's nice to see the rich and the poor all together."

"What do you do for a living?"

"I read." Ami took the first thing she thought of. "I basically stay home and read."

He was extremely surprised.

She bowed her head. "That's it. Kind of boring I guess."

"Oh no never! I'm sorry for my surprise but not many women…well-" She was looking at him though that pretty blue mask again. "They ether don't read or don't admit to it." He laughed and put his hand behind his head slightly embarrassed.

" I don't know about other people…" Ami glared in the direction the greasy man left to. "I really don't"

Suddenly the man broke from his (anime like) state, bent down slightly, and asked a question.

"Miss? Were you being persecuted by that gentleman over there?"

She smirked, "Persecuted is the perfect word. Who knew the Moon produced those kinds of people."

"Yes," Zoicite remembered that he had to hide that he was from Earth. Mostly all the people here except for the princess of the inner galaxies (who always attended), and his own company, were from the Moon.

Ami knew that he wasn't from here. She was trying to make him slip up and admit that he was from Earth. But the young man was quick.

" Isn't it funny? Only he's paler than most moonlings I've ever met."

"Yes." She pressed her lips together. "I know what you mean." She tried hard not to smile. He hadn't lied but he was hiding the truth very well.

He smiled a natural smile and extended one hand to the dance floor and the other hand, he held out to her indicating very clearly 'Would you like to dance?'

Gracefully, she accepted his hand and they walked to the dance floor completely forgetting about the unscratched Princess of Venus. Frankly, Minako had been hoping this would happen. A part that made her extremely happy with this was that he didn't seem to be using any flirting tools. He looked, to the all-seeing Goddess of Love, to be acting like himself. Even though he didn't realize it, this girl was one he felt he really could be himself with. For now, he was just truly enjoying himself. So she watched the two for a while with a silly, wistful smile on her face before disappearing into the busy festival.

"I know were not supposed to know each others names but is there something I can call you? I've always hated to uncertainty of these situations."

She nodded eagerly painfully aware of the loud crowd now surrounding them. "What will you call me?"

"Princupella. Italian for Princess."

Ami tried not to look surprised. Had he guessed her identity? No of course not. Calm down Mercury.

"Princess of what? I must have a kingdom."

"Ah! I've already thought of that! Princess of the Window of course!"

Ami smiled sideways and raised one of her eyebrows.

"You study Earth-Italian?"

"Shouldn't we all? Italian, Russian, French, and ancient Latin."

"Latin! Really?" She smiled broadly.

'She really is like a flower.' He thought, grinning widely. 'I just hope I don't wear out the bloom' but to his surprise she was never worn out. In fact after three subsequent songs, they moved, (still talking) to a bench just on the outside of the large circle of light the party presented.

Idea after idea topic after topic she had something to say. Even if she didn't know what it was about, she had a good deal of questions for him. Her eyes were wide and happy. She wanted to know what he knew.

This was an oddity in itself. Most women were excited by his looks or his charming smiles. But he had only complemented her once and that was such a long time ago.

An hour passed and they had only begun to talk.  

            Ami soon smiled and was freely using her hands to express her passionate ideas.

"I know what you mean." She continued. "I have a friend like that. Wherever she walks it's like Divinche's Map!" The tow of them laughed. It was getting late into the night and he hadn't even considered kissing her. He was simply too engrossed in her.

After the laughter died down they smiled and said nothing.

"Prinsupella? I want to see you again after tonight."

"Oh, I don't think I can…"

"That's ok! I was going to say that I can't ether...I'm going on a trip in about 2 weeks..."

"Yeah me too…"

"But I don't want just stop talking to you."

She didn't say anything but smiled at her dress on her knees.

"It will work out some how."

He looked at her with question in his eyes. Wither she knew he was expecting a response or not, he couldn't tell. She just smiled at her knees.

Suddenly she perked up and looked at the outdoor clock. 12:55.

"I have to go." She stood patted out her dress for no apparent reason but to keep her eyes off him.

"Will I see you again?" He asked like she was just as if she trying to run away. She turned around and looked at him in her own surprised way.

"Of course you will."

"Of course I will."

He watched her withdraw into the multitude without a look back.

She knew he'd see her sooner than he thought and that made her smile to herself as she spotted Rei in the crowd.

Hey yall! Here it is in living color! Number 2. I hope you guysliked it. I did work on it for a while. ::blush:: So here are my specific thanks :

AmiKai: you were my first review. I love you yur the best! So I hope you'll stick with me! You doll.

Isis Aurora Tomoe: For you, I kept hurry and posting! So thank you. :D you know it.

April : Ahh! Your so sweet! ^^ you ade me all happy and bubbly too. And stuff. O.o;; yeah…

Yongo: ahh! I blush and keep your review close to my heart! I can't belive you liked it so much. Heehee. Your compliments are sweet and your help is greatly appreciated! I felt so giggly when I read your review. You make me happy. Over and over again. So thanks Yongo!

Rayeanna: you got it babe! I am doing a series. In fact, This one will end first (but it starts earlier so no offence to any Ami lovers), then Makos. After that Rei's will end in the time line. Minakos? You'll just have to keep reading. ^^ you'll see what I mean later. But thanmks! Your encouraging words made me laugh out loud.

The Shrine Maiden: Of course I'd read your story 'CHAIN OF LOVE' and 'SOMEDAY' (::hits to all other readers:: these stories are cool!) I really did enjoy them! Um ok, so in response, I think it was easier to paint a picture of her with no odd plot mixing in. however, I'm trying to make her more relaxed and cat like a real person to thoses who really understand her 3d character. It's easy to write all about A smart, shy girl with no personality. Blah blah blah. So I hope, as the story continues and she opens up a little bit, She still keeps that sweet character alive.

I know about the typos. V.v your lucky I was able to ven post this. O.o work keeps me busy. So thanks so muchhhhh!

blue eyes ahhhh! Your so sweet! I will continue. Here you go!

So that's it for thanks!

Quiz question for the week: What color are Ami's eyebrows anyway?

Kisses and so many many hugs,

Vbabe

Mcd03003@byui.edu