The Complications of Emotions

Chapter 8

By: OniiStar

****Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters mentioned in this chapter, nor in any previous and future chapters. All characters respectfully belong to their creators, although we all wish we owned it....and if I did...well....you'd probably hate the girls...right? Jealous girls.. _ Yah.****

Author's Note: Hiya! I'm back again....again!! So, please..forgive me for taking time to write this. I had to revise and proofread all alone...and it's still not perfect. So if you find mistakes, forgive me? ^_^ Uhm..I hope you guys like this chapter...it's about 8 pages long without me all of these author's notes and stuff. So, it's long!! Be happy!!! And I appreciate reviews.. ^^; Pwease? I like to know how I'm doing and if y'all like it. Enjoy the chappie!

!_!_!_!_!_!_!_!_! IF YOU SEE A (*), LOOK AT THE AUTHOR'S END NOTE AFTER READING CHAPTER TO UNDERSTAND. ^_^ Thanks. I hope it helps..if it doesn't..I'll not do lil star things anymore. !_!_!_!_!_!_!_!_!

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Clenching tight fists to his side, he marched away from the throne room, feeling anger rise up in him towards only one person. He couldn't believe what his mother said to him, how she said it so indifferently. His own mother, whom he always liked when he was a child, was a cold, hard-hearted b-

No, I must not, absolutely not, call her names. I am too grown for that, he thought bitterly, mocking himself.

Heero needed to vent his anger and frustration, so he quickly headed to the training grounds, feeling his jaw hurt from grinding his teeth so hard. A most unfortunate servant happened to cross his path, tripping on her own feet and sending the tray she was carrying crashing to the marble floor. Mentally running through every curse word he ever heard, and inventing some of his own, he leveled a flat stare at the girl.

"I'm s-s-so s-s-sorry, s-s-sire. I-i-it will never—ever— happen again. I'm so clumsy.." the poor girl continued, apologizing and staring up at him with fear.

"Stop whining," he ordered harshly, his fists working by his sides.

She jumped, her face pale, and her brown eyes suddenly brimming with tears. Raising a hand, he smothered a sigh that would have been full of frustration, and then glanced back at her, trying to feel sympathy for the frightened maid. Managing only a sliver of his control, he glanced at the girl, then patted her shoulder lightly.

"What is your name?" he asked, his eyes the deepest depths of an ocean, a raging storm.

"M-Maria, sire," she trembled, trying to compose herself.

"Maria, the new maid?" he asked, a bit impatiently.

"Yes, sire."

"Hm, continue with your duties."

And with that last comment, he turned on his heel, leaving Maria standing there, staring after his retreating back. After a few moments of her brain processing the recent conversation, she sunk to the floor, letting out an audible sigh of relief. Then she scurried about to quickly pick up the mess before the prince came back.

Meanwhile, Heero marched to the gardens, determined to vent his anger and frustration in solitary peace on a tree. As he passed the south garden, he didn't notice a certain member of his circle watching him from the shadows, watching events with an amused glint in bright eyes. Stomping past the gate leading to the maze, he ventured forth into the tall green hedges, his destination being a small pond in the center of the maze.

Emerging from the opening in the well-cared for hedges, he stepping into the small circle of peace, closing his eyes and letting out a loud sigh that he had been suppressing for an admirable amount of time. The heir of Andromeda was slowly relaxing, dropping every barrier ever resurrected to distance himself from others, when a soft sound was heard. The sound that had interrupted his concentration was decidedly feminine and beyond doubt, very familiar.

Heero waited patiently, not sure he could trust himself to open his eyes, and see the very person he was vexing over (something he didn't want to admit). The pleasant noise drifted away, and he felt bereft, another novel feeling he was uncertain of its origin and when it occurred. Opening his eyes slowly, he gazed to the only person that he wanted to see at the moment, and the only person he wished never to see. A very complex matter to some, but it made more than perfect sense to him.

Fixing the heiress of Saturn with a level and steely gaze, Heero met her glimmering violet eyes, glaring at her, wondering if this was a dream he'd awaken from soon.

"Thank you for that uplifting welcome," she murmured softly, her voice mocking lightly.

"Anytime," he replied, his voice sounding casual, for which he was very thankful.

Hotaru looked her rival over from head to toe, then glanced back into his dark, forbidding eyes. Barely managing to keep her lips from smiling, she watched as he watched her wearily, before she elegantly took a seat on the cool marble bench, twitching her skirt slightly to straighten wrinkles.

"Now, what has got you so distracted?" she asked, then, after a moment, added, "And don't you dare say 'nothing' either."

"Oh? Then, what are the consequences if I do?" Heero raised his dark brows a fraction, deciding to play the game with her.

Inclining her head just slightly, she looked at him coolly and arrogantly, traits that were bred into her very being since her royal birth. There was a faint twinkle in his eyes, allowing her to challenge him with confidence about his reaction. Suddenly, he tilted his head back and laughed, the noise sending a tingle through her senses. Entirely satisfied, she decided to push past all the light talk, and take the bull by the horns, as they say.

"What is the matter, Heero?"

"I told you already. There is nothing..." he glanced to the girl —lady— beside him and sighed.

"My mother," he started, and continued, explaining his whole discussion with the current ruler, omitting only a few things. He felt as if somehow, when things like what she had said were mentioned, Hotaru might actually become....violent.

"Heero, you must understand that since your mariage de convenance with Princess Hotaru has been thoroughly...ah..finished, shall we say, you are obligated to do what is best for your kingdom. We can hardly have you marry a corrupted and rebellious queen, such as her ladyship has proved. Therefore, we will replace her with one more suitable to this throne. One of my close friends has a daughter that has a quite impressive family, along with connections. She is also much more respectable than the ghastly Saturnian heiress..." and she rattled on lightly, remarking with every other sentence on how horrible the "Silent Ghoul" actually was.

Although Heero knew about mother's friends, especially on how they acted (the selfish and greedy old hags) on gossip, he began to feel this unexpected rage well up in him. His lordship clenched his fists to his sides as his mother continued prattling on, speaking to him of how current affairs between Saturn were, and of how utterly disgusted all her friends were when they heard about "the crime."

"Your Majesty..." he uttered, his rarely seen fury barely contained, although his appearance may seem casual.

"Yes...?" she asked quietly, well aware of how scared she was of her son.

'I hope I'll really learn how he feels about this whole thing,' she thought grimly. But, his anger was something she wished she could avoid.

"I find that I do not like the way you speak of the princess. Furthermore, I agree I must at least look around, for appearances only. But, my marriage of convenience, as you so elegantly put it, will be with the..ahh...Silent Ghoul..was it, or no one at all. I hope I make myself clear, dear mother?" His tone was languid, belying his actual state of mind, but the threat was clear, hanging in the air between them.

After a silent lapse, Heero shifted his gaze to the woman beside him. Surprising a frown from her violet eyes, he wondered what could cause her such a dismayed expression. Before he could voice his suspicions, she turned to him and smirked.

"Well, well, well. This certainly sounds like something I should see."

"What?" he asked, mystified.

"Your meeting with this elegant, beautiful and totally fashionable lady," she summarized the description his mother gave him.

"Oh, yes, I suppose," after a moment, he added, "She'll probably be gentler, too."

Hotaru was standing up as he murmured the second sentence, her hands pausing only slightly with their quick work of her skirt. He watched her face, his dark mood all but gone now, waiting for her response. Looking over her shoulder, she shot him an irritated glance, and he chuckled, standing up behind her.

She was shorter than him by at least a head, making her a bit annoyed at the unfair advantage he had. Glaring at him from over her sleeveless shoulder, the dark princess felt something fluttering in her stomach. He chuckled at her glare, placing large hands on her arms and bending his head to whisper in her ear.

"Perhaps if you were gentle to me, you could achieve this lady's accomplishments," he murmured softly, teasing her.

For a moment, she struggled to control her fast beating heart, swearing roundly inside her head. Hotaru always knew that Heero was very handsome, and had quite a lot of experience in certain areas...another advantage and weapon in their game. She had thought herself mostly immune to all this, but she now knew that if he chose to exercise it, Heero's charm could be dangerous—to her.

"Well, that will remind me to be even witchier to you," she retorted, all calm and serene on the surface.

"I wouldn't mind falling under your spell," his voice tantalizing, black velvet seduction.

Her mind was racing for words; his own creating a havoc she wasn't accustomed to, even though she knew this was just another round in their little game. The powerful goddess turned and smirked wickedly, her violet eyes twinkling with warmth as she regarded him.

"We'll see about that, Yuy. But for now, I have to attend Lady Serenity's party."

Stepping away from him, she faded away into the shadows, waving at him without another glance. Meanwhile, the prince watched her departure, and then headed out of the small pond area, taking a quick exit out of the maze. He didn't want to examine his actions now, because he had a niggling feeling that once these things were noticed, he would have a difficult time controlling himself.

'And that is something I must have...as a prince, I should always have control.'

Pacing around in the large bedroom, the exotic young man waved a bouquet of a beautiful assortment of flowers around in his hands, mumbling to himself. He looked unkempt and distressed, his brows drawn together in the middle as he seemed to focus on the carpet. Yet, he saw the elaborately designed rug, but did not realize it was there, his mind's eye focusing on another place in time. Wufei didn't notice the quiet opening of the door, nor the soft click that followed...he was once more in his own world.

"My my brother...I'm sure you'll woo the girl with your looks," mused Hotaru, her lips quirked in a slight smile.

Pausing, Wufei turned his head to look at his sister, elegant in her simple-styled dress. Over the years, while the current ruling fashion had been 'glamour' and everyone wore ribbons, bright colors, and other such nonsense, his sister managed to ignore this trend by wearing the simplest of gowns. A few have tried to mimic her style, but so far only the most determined could In complete honesty, Wufei was proud of Hotaru and secretly schemed to make her happy, no matter what.

'Alright..so it doesn't always work out.' He thought to himself as he recalled a few "plans" he had made when he was younger.

"Bah..shut up, Hotaru. I have no time to dress at the moment," he muttered, and ran a hand through his hair.

"You're right. We're supposed to be leaving for the celebration already. Not getting ready for it."

A royal expression of amusement was placed on the dark heiress's face, her eyes twinkling with that victorious silent laughter of hers. Glancing at the lengthening shadows in his room, he cursed and glared at her. Hotaru just shook her head, and with a mocking flourish at the waist, she left the room.

Cursing the many sons and daughters of the heavens, as well as their predecessors, he turned to walk to one end of his room. Something red and white on the carpet caught his eye, and looking over his right shoulder, he noticed that they were petals....

"Kuso!" he swore, and tossed the rather dead and pitiful excuse of flowers onto his bed.

Once again, he began scrounging for his tuxedo jacket, and the domino that was to go around his shoulders. The Dragon Prince* paused in his search to get an overall view of his room, another foul word slipping from his lips as he took in the disorder his room was in.

He heard a slight tinkling of bells, followed by a sharp pain in his head, meaning his mother was getting impatient. Grabbing a jacket and a dark cape, he casually exercised his power to open the door to his bedroom. Wufei briskly walked into the corridor, the pain in his head becoming stronger as it grew darker outside.

At the bottom of the long curving stairwell he found his sister waiting for him, wearing a midnight purple domino, her hood raised to hide her face from view. As he approached, he noticed she was carefully holding some large bundle of white clothes. When he got into reaching distance, she instantly shoved the clothes into his arms, and mumbled a soft command.

"Here. Wear this."

At first, he didn't know what she meant, until she slightly raised her head and seemed to be staring at him, impatient as her foot tapped a rhythm on the marble. Deciding not to argue with his sister, he removed his jacket and domino, slipping on the white articles of clothing. Nodding, she turned and headed to the door, briefly hesitating before stepping outside.

'Odd.' He thought.

Then winced as a particularly strong blow against his mind's barriers hit him. Quickly, he made his way towards the carriage, scowling at the magnificent "horses"* at front, despising the creatures. Truthfully, Wufei thought the whole idea of impressing others with money and material items was pointless, and a complete waste of the treasury's money.

"What happened, Dragon?" a cold voice asked, the words sharp and icy like practiced ice daggers.

"Nothing, Mother. I was merely delayed by my plans for searching for a proper bride."

It was a lie, he told himself, uncomfortable with how...truthful his statement seemed. Glancing at his sister, he realized her head was still bowed down, her face hidden in the shadows of her hood. Hotaru was acting strange tonight, he noted, frowning a bit.

"I heard the Lady Mars is to be gracing us with her presence at the small celebration tonight. Her daughter, Princess Rei, has grown into quite the woman, wouldn't you agree, Saturn?" his mother inquired, lacking the fine art of subtlety as she mentioned the Martian royal family.

Hotaru just nodded her head sleepily, before leaning stiffly against the side of the coach, falling into a tense sleep. Wufei's thoughts began to drift to the idea of war between two of the darkest soldiers known to exist in their lifetime.

'If Andromeda chooses to fight against us, we will lose a valuable ally. And they will lose their last chance of peace with the Silver Alliance*. Everyone understands this...so who would try to split Saturn from Andromeda?'

As they approached the round beautiful planet of the Moon, he glimpsed the mystical red planet in the distance. Closing his eyes, his mind drifted to a picture of a phoenix imprinted in his memory and he frowned.

'Only when things are safe...I can't risk everyone.'

Self-consciously, he ran a finger over the silver ring on his left hand, the texture and bumps of the wolf's head a reminder of who he was...of his duty as a Shadow*.

Author's End Note: Bwahahahahahahahaha!!! I'm evil!! I didn't put a cliffhanger so I'm not that evil...right? -rereads the end of her chapter- Nope..I don't see a cliffhanger; do you? Anyhow, here's my lil (*) explanations:

*Dragon Prince – Well..this is just one of the formal titles Wufei has in my story. He is referred to as the "Dragon Prince" because of his sword and guardian type. Also...in the series "Gundam Wing," I always thought of him with a dragon emblem...probably because he's Chinese. ^_^

*"horses" – For this one, I'm trying to say that they're not really horses. So don't think.."neigh neigh"... Yah. They're like unicorns, except they have a jewel in the center of their head. It's a new type of horse animal thing I created for the purpose of this fic. It suited me at the moment, so deal with it!!! They're really pretty though. ^_^

*Silver Alliance – Just a reminder that the Silver Alliance isn't my own creation...I think. Anyhow..in Sailor Moon, it's the alliance between the royal families of each planet or Moon, including Earth as well. I'm not sure, but would the Sailor Stars be part of this alliance?? ^^; I don't really know..I haven't really seen the beginning of that season...just the end. Anyone have info for me on this, lemme know at my e-mail address.

*Shadow – This is an association I made up. I lacked names for the longest time..and briefly I considered calling this group, "The Sleepers," considering they're dormant most of the time. But, Shadow was better than anything. This is the group Wufei is in(duh..) along with the other dudes. So..yah..they are like an alliance as well, except the girls really don't know about this organization. Watch out for this association though...it prevents many a scandal in the story.