He didn't watch the announcements of the five inner planetary Princesses. He would see them all soon enough. Tonight he was just too distracted with thoughts of his past. He spent the next hour wandering thought the cold outskirts of the party. He watched as the final fireworks went off in the black night sky.
"Shhh! They will catch us!"
"I don't care anymore!"
"But you must! Don't be a fool."
"But I can't!"
"You have to."
"Then, I'll wait for the day we can together."
She smiled.
"Where will we meet?"
"I don't know."
She laughed
"Yeah, I'll find you."
He kissed her cheek and she blushed.
"I promise."
" I promise." He repeated as he watched a young couple embrace and run off into the night hand in hand. It didn't occur to him that he too, was young. His mind often made him feel so old.
He headed back the moon castle taking the staircase to the right and made a solitary way to his bedroom. No woman on his arm, no kiss lingering upon his lips.
The soft clicking of his shoes on the marble was loud compared to the thousands of chattering voices just out side. Some drunks were singing, some ladies were laughing, and some lovers made promises in the light of his own planet.
He removed his mask and shook out his hair. His head hurt a little bit from being in a ponytail all evening. Each blond stand let itself loose and he pulled his hand through it.
Once in his room, he flung the forlorn mask on the bed. He stared at it for a few moments, sadness lingering in his eyes.
Mechanically, he dressed for bed and waited.
In a few moments he could hear one of his comrades coming up the hallway outside his door. One by one, each of his friends made their ways to their respective and subsequent rooms.
Kunzite did his duty to make sure the prince was comfortable in his new room and then…every one was asleep.
But not Zoicite. He usually stayed up in his own home until who knew when playing games and reading books, sometimes writing. He wasn't sleepy. He wasn't excited to meet the planetary princesses. He reached out to his side and silently pulled open one of his favorite books silently he tried to pass the night suffocating his thoughts and drowning his emotions.
It was almost two in the morning when he was finally ready to close his eyes. Just as he was about to finish the page and put it away, he abruptly heard feet passing his door.
Impulsively, Zoicite swung his legs out of bed and carefully crept to the door. He turned off his light and pushed the heavy frame. Luckily the door did not creak when pushed against it. The figure stopped and turned around suddenly froze in front of the Prince's door. It seemed to be listening.
Zoicite readied to beastly pounce if the intruder neared the doorknob. His muscles tightened and he watched. As his eyes adjusted to the dim light it became clear that it was-
It was- he squinted.
She flew in his direction.
His eyes widened as her face became clear.
Lace fluttered past him without a second thought but his mind practically burst. The rippling sound of a delicate nightgown rang in his ears. She waved to her friends at the end of the long hallway and whispered.
"Rei-Chan! Minako-Chan!" The girl quickened her pace and joined the group blushing slightly "I'm not interrupting am I? I just thought we could walk together." She shyly smiled embarrassed at her inconsiderateness.
The black haired one smiled and turned her full body to the girl.
"Oh don't be silly. Of course not!" The blond one beamed and took the arm of the girl in her own. They chatted briskly until they disappeared behind the corner.
The blond one was the one he had danced with! But what was her name? He couldn't remember nor did he care much. His mind was whirling with the thought that he was so near his princess! The girl that reverberated in his thoughts!
He came so close to following them but at the last moment decided to stay back. How would it look if an official from Earth were caught sneaking at two a.m. peeking at maids of the moon? Lecherous.
He may be flirtatious but he wasn't stupid.
He threw himself back onto his bed and smiled at the ceiling not thinking about her rank as opposed to his, or why she was up so late, or even why she wore such rich apparel. He just thought about how he could see he the next day.
He turned his head and beamed at the planets beyond his window and dreamed of another set of deep blue eyes.
A bird woke her up the next morning. Ami usually stayed up late and woke up early the next morning. When she fluttered open her eyes she remembered was not in her own room. The night before came slowly back to her.
The girls could not contain their laughter. If any royal had heard them speaking in such relaxed terms, they would surely get talked to severely about their composure. Not that Ami ever let slip informalities regularly. They were not supposed to address one another by their first names in public. No one in any kingdom or planet knew of the girl's first names but those of proper authority. And none dare speak them. So the girls treasured the moment they heard their names spoken allowed by those they loved most.
The five had gathered in Serenity's bedroom. Rei sat nearest the grand window, Minako lay giggling on the floor at her feet and Makoto had just caught the princess of the moon in a silly re-enactment of an earlier spill. It was getting late into the night now and the laughter grew more and more as the hours quickly passed them.
Soon the subject turned to the four generals of Earth and their prince who were to stay at the moon palace for a full two weeks.
"Rei Chan! You could not possibly give up this legendary opportunity! Meeting the four kings is like meeting the great minds of our day. I'm surprised you would not want such an honor. It should be fun." Mercury laid her head down and cradled its blue curls into the folds of fabric next to her darling moon princess. She gathered up the soft blankets to her chin. It agreeably smelled of some pretty flower.
"Oh yes Rei! We can not meet them without you there." Mako gave a faint laugh and turned to the rest of girls changing the subject tactfully. "Oh Serenity, what a lovely time we'll have here! Two weeks at your house!" She used the term 'house' lightly and took out her hair from her high ponytail. The brown waves fluttered down her back as she lay down on the floor next to the bed. She pulled a (pink) pillow to her cheek and yawned. "I just hope Jupiter doesn't burn down while I'm away."
"Nonsense, Mako-Chan. So what will we do tomorrow do you think?"
"I know I know! Let's have breakfast on the manage! Outside! It's so pretty outside in the mornings this time of year!"
"Serenity, when do you see the morning?" Mako climbed and sat at the edge of the bed. She rolled her back and laid her slim body over Ami's feet warming her toes. She loved when Mako would do that. Ami smiled and scrunched her toes. The conversation went on and on throughout the night.
Ami turned her head in the worn pillow and saw her princess sleeping blissfully beside her. She had not returned to her own room last night. Ami smiled half into her pillow half into the morning air simply watching her princess softly breath in and out. She was almost moved to reach out touch the girl to make sure she was not having a dream.
The birds sang to her again through the slightly open window. The drapes were white and thin. The moon was not often very cold like Mercury, but Ami had always wanted drapes like these.
Ami moved slightly and still felt Makoto on her feet below. Slowly, she gathered up her legs and stepped out of bed. She had to sneak around her other companions to get to the door. Before she exited, she took a last glace to the sleeping princesses.
She changed into a gown in her own bedroom. A simple blue dress for the soft morning's feeling. On top of her head, she placed a headband of rich blue.
She walked lost in thought through the corridors at this early hour listening to the bird and the slight clack of her low heals against the marble floor. One particular chirp lead her down a certain hall, where, she was aware of someone. Sure enough, just around the corner of this hall there stood a man dressed in semi-formal attire, nothing flashy or fancy. In fact, it was entirely gray. His hair was thin and his eyes…his eyes were not that of her prince's but still, very beautiful and full of sorrowful wisdom.
For a moment she stood surprised to see anyone up at this dawning hour that was not a servant. And this man did not look like a servant.
They both bowed curiously as anyone might do. And he would have gladly let her return to her dreamy walk and stepped back to his own room to see if anyone had yet awoken when her sweet, regal tone asked him a question.
"Wait good sir. I don't think I've seen you before. And by your apparel you don't look like a servant. May I be troubled as to ask who you might be?" she was genuinely interested in his sudden appearance and being a noble Lady that she obviously was, he answered her directly.
"My name is General Kunzite of the Four Kings of Earth." Her eyes opened slightly. One of the Legendary Four Kings? Kunzite? He was the leader of them all wasn't he? She carefully inspected him now that she knew he was from the Earth's carriage. He was the one that her prince had been teasing when emerging from the coach. This was a friend of his!
He obviously thought she would bow or express some apologies. Instead she tactfully told him who she was. This was her chance.
"General Kunzite?" She tested him. "I welcome you on behalf of Mercury." Of course she was a princess. It was his turn to open his eyes slightly. His back straitened a little bit more and he stood at attention.
"Forgive me princess. I am truly honored to make your acquaintance." (He knew the Venus princess and would probably hear tell of their encounter.) The truly young girl made no motion or sign that she had heard him. She actually was keeping her astute eyes locked quite comfortably on his head. The two stood there analyzing one another for a while almost as if in battle one trying to conquer the other with power. So far Ami was winning. Neither cared for how long they stood. But the girl broke the silence.
"May I see your-" She hesitated a little blush kissed her pale lips, "stone?"
Kunzite almost let spill a light smile. But held it back and reached up to his head. From what Ami could see, a faint pink light was pulsing from his forehead. Just before she could see what he had, a small gasp escaped her lips and her hands braced each other in preparation. She came closer and bent over the thing he pulled from his mind. It was small, round, and pink but she dared not touch it. It was the stone of Kunzite. It glowed with ancient power.
"It's wonderful!" She exclaimed up at him. Now that she was so close she had to realize how much taller he was than she. Usually she would have shied back and apologized. But he raised his eyebrows and showed a respectful interest in what she had to say.
Therefore, they talked a little while longer about this precious center of his power.
After that moment, Ami decided she was to be fond of Earth.
Minako once again had the duty to find the little blue princess. When Mako had come from her room to collect the little doll, her bed was empty and her door was open. Rei would not leave her room until she was entirely ready for the day and they all knew waking the princess Serenity would be completely worthless. So, Makoto and Minako had gone on a hunt to find the elusive lily and start breakfast.
She quickened her step when she heard a faint feminine voice waft though the long hallway. It was obviously her prey by the sweet tones and gentle usage of long words.
"Do you enjoy your work?"
"I try." He replied smirking just a little bit and replacing the stone.
"What are you doing? It's breakfast-" Minako cut short her words at the sight of the moonling. Gaining composure once again her sights turned back to Ami, a little bit more solemn but eyes still twinkling.
"It's breakfast time."
"Oh yes Venus I know. I was just chatting with a friend. Princess of Venus meet General kunzite." She paused leaning forward putting a little emphasis on her next words. " One of the four kings." Minako, out of duty, turned and bent her neck in a bow and kept her lips in a tight smile. Kunzite did likewise. His face was stony and still. He obviously was uncomfortable. Ami noticed that they gave absolutely no sign what so ever that they had ever met. But She smiled internally and tried to hide her new wisdom.
A few seemingly empty sentences were exchanged. Ami could not control her wonder for much longer. What if her friend had already met the prince as well? He excitement soared at the prospect. She dared not ask Venus about it until much later. If that were to come any sooner, she would need to get her away from Kunzite of course.
"Princess Venus, let us retire to breakfast. I'm sorry I kept you waiting." Her small voice was enough to give Minako strength to move her limbs and take Ami by the arm to lead her down the hallway she had come.
She was excited to begin this day. She smiled to herself.
YAY! I know that the last time I updated was
like a millennium ago but I decided not to post unless I'm confident I have a
chapter ready after that. My life (unfortunetly) is not driven by these
chapters. Although, reading these again, I wish it was.
OK:
Yongo: YOU ARE THE BEST! Like, I adore when you write me. You always support me
and give me a reason to write again. But no, I don't use a beta- reader or what
ever you call it. Most people I know don't like to take the time to read this
stuff. I'm so alone! Hee, I'm glad you found it funny. One of the best thing
one can do as a reviewer is to tell me your favorite lines, you did just that
and I'm so grateful to you. You make me smile! Yes, I did use the wrong 'too.'
Someday I'll re-edit all these things. Cinderella? Really! Aw! You make me
blush! Hee. I'm so happy that you like it! I wouldn't write again if it weren't
for you! And as for putting your name in the text, I love you! You deserve this
recognition for helping this story to continue. I hope, next time we read one
another's stuff; we can chat like this again. Sorry it's been so long! I love
love you!
Ps. Are they black-ish blue? I wouldn't think that Ami would be one to die her hair. You always help!
Pps. I hope this flows as well as you say. in
fact, you wanna edit my stuff before I post it? I would love to have some help!
Isis Aurora Tomoe: OH thank you! I always love to have little notes from you.
Please keep checking that everything sounds ok. Ok? My Ami knowledger!
MJ: You're comments, though relatively short, meant a lot to me. Thank for
boosting me always. I hope you have a nice day!
OK that's it for this time. One more thing thought before I go:
That's right it's: Quiz question for the Chapter:
Is Ami you favorite character? Why? I mean.WHY?
OK I love you all and hope everyone keeps reviewing. I really have no other way
to tell if your reading this or not. To me it looks like only 3 people have
read it!!! That's so depressing.
::cries:: ::sniff:: ::smiles again:: So write me soon! Love love with my ever
beating heart, Vbabe11
Mcd03003@byui.edu
