Disclaimer: I woke up this morning from a dream where I owned Sailor Moon.
In that dream, a lot of the series was different. Better, in my opinion.
But, I woke up.
AN: Yet another time I've taken way too long to update. ~
Setsuna awoke before the sun rose the next morning. She tried to go back to sleep, but found herself unable to do so. She couldn't stop thinking about a certain nameless blond-haired man. She was certain that if she wasn't careful she would fall for him. She also knew that falling in love was something she could not handle once more. She knew that she wouldn't be able to take the pain of loss. Sighing, she began her morning exercise routine. She had to do something to take her mind off that man.
Three quarters of an hour later there was a knock at the door. Setsuna answered it quickly. The man was there. She blushed, realizing she was in her white cotton sleeping gown, and it was soaked with sweat. He chuckled. "Next time remind me to ask if you're decent before I come in." This caused her blush to deepen.
"I apologize, my lord. I did not think," Setsuna said as she slipped into the closet and came back out moments later, fully clothed.
He grinned. "Shall we go and retrieve some breakfast?" While he said that, his mind was quite consumed with the image of Setsuna in her sweat-soaked sleeping gown. As they walked to breakfast together, the grin would not leave his face, not anymore than the thought left his head. This would surely drive him mad.
After breakfast, Setsuna found herself being escorted about the palace by the man. She was quite enjoying his company, and more memorizing the sound of his wonderful voice than actually listening to what he was saying about the locations of certain places. She remembered only the ways to get to places she needed, and for some reason, his room.
It took her a moment to realize he was asking her a question. "Setsuna? Are you all right?"
"Hm? Oh, aye, just had a rough night is all," she replied smiling.
A month passed by. Setsuna found herself becoming fast friends with this man. She so desired to know his name. Yet, she knew that she would never be able to see him again if she asked. That was the one thing at that time she could not bear.
Her thoughts shifted to the life she was living a month ago. She was homesick. How badly she wanted to see her mother, hug her father, and her little brother. Her brother, though, she could never see again. He had died of a terrible disease just before she had begun seeing Prince Cleon. And that horrid witch that stole him from her -how she hated that woman.
As she finished with those thoughts, the man walked in. He looked about to say something when he heard her stomach make a small noise. He decided on something else to say. "After we get lunch would you like to go into town?"
She nodded eagerly. "Aye, please. I have missed my family."
The pair quickly ate lunch and then left for the city. Since she hadn't been outside much, Setsuna's tan was waning. Whilst they were walking, the young noblewoman that had stolen Cleon from her approached them. "Look here, its that little tramp that tried to get on the prince!" She eyed the man Setsuna was with. "I hope you're not too attached to her, she's quite the little strumpet. She'll bring you naught but heartache."
The man growled. "Silence, wench. I asked not for your opinion. You come to me when you should be bowing in respect and insult my judgment? You will apologize or face my wrath."
Setsuna studied his words carefully. He spoke as though he were a god. He must be, for the immortals detested posers. She wondered why he was growing so protective of her. Realizing that he must be a god, Setsuna's mind wondered why he would be interested in a commoner such as herself. Why was her life so confusing?
The woman was enraged. "How dare I speak to you in such a manner? How dare I? I, good sir, am the prince's consort. You should be bowing to me!"
The man rolled his eyes. "Of course. I see no mark of betrothal, though, lady. I did not recognize you in those commoner skirts. I had forgotten that mortals were the most respectable of life forms on this planet."
The woman's eyes widened, finally realizing his position. She was on her hands and knees. "Please, my lord! Forgive me! I did not recognize you dressed so, and with a commoner. It's just that gods do not normally bother themselves with trash."
Setsuna stared at her blankly. She had been called many things before, but never trash. She knew all too well that all nobles thought it, but none had been so rude as to say it to her face. Tears were welling in her eyes, and she was all too aware of it.
The man glanced at Setsuna quickly and then looked back down at the groveling woman. "Trash, lady? I did not know that the worthiness of a person was determined by who their parents are. If I were you, wench, I would watch my words. Your beloved prince left Lady Setsuna, what makes you think that he shan't get bored of you and leave you as well?" With that said, he walked off; Setsuna following a few steps behind her eyes cast down.
He stopped and turned to face her. His eyes were back to the gentle ones she had grown to know, and was beginning to love. Her thoughts drifted, "Love? No. I couldn't fall in love again. Not with a god, he was just being kind. No god would care for a mortal of common blood."
"Don't pay any mind to her words, Setsuna," he said to her, his voice gentle once more. When she would not look at him, he touched her cheek gently lifting her head so her eyes met his. "What is it? What is wrong? Why won't you look at me? Why do you walk behind me rather than at my side?"
"I -I haven't shown you any respect, your godliness. I am as low as she is," she replied meekly.
He chuckled. "Do you not think that if I had wanted you to grovel I would have made it known? I asked you to come with me. You are not imposing. And as for being as low as she is, that's not possible. You, Setsuna, are certainly not a rude little snake that is only looking to improve her own fortunes. Come now; let us go visit your family. I long to meet them."
Setsuna looked on at him in disbelief. How could anyone be so...perfect? Blinking a few times, she nodded. "Aye, of course, My Lord...err, your godliness."
He laughed. "Please don't call me that, it makes me feel old. Just A- never mind," he said and then quickened his pace. Setsuna could hardly keep up with him. They were soon at her house.
She ran inside quickly, forgetting her manners to invite him in. "Mama! Papa! I'm home!"
A tall thin older woman walked into the small hut from the garden. She threw her arms tightly around Setsuna. She was crying. "Oh, Setsuna! You're alive! I was so worried, I had thought you were dead! First your baby brother died and then you disappeared." Setsuna held the weeping woman, rubbing her back soothingly.
"I'm sorry, Mama. I didn't mean to worry you."
The woman had stopped crying by now, and she looked quite angered. She slapped her daughter hard across the face. "Where have you been, young lady?"
Setsuna looked down. "I cannot say."
"You disappear for a month and refuse to tell your own mother where you've gone off to? How dare you!" Setsuna was slapped again, her mother's wedding ring scratching her face.
The younger woman looked down. "I am sorry, but I just cannot."
Just as the older woman was about to slap her again, the god walked into the room. "She was with me, madam." The woman found her hand frozen in mid- air. "I apologize for keeping her away for so long, however I did not know that she had family."
The older woman looked him over. "Blond hair, tall, tan, beautiful clothes made of the finest materials, and a bow at his back? The way he glows, he cannot be mortal," she thought to herself. Then something dawned on her. "He looks just like the statues of Apollo at the temple! He is Apollo. And he's interested in my daughter? My gods, what are the odds?" she thought. She then hugged her daughter. "Are you coming back home now?" the woman asked Setsuna.
The god responded. "She may if she wants to. But she may also come back with me. I promise you that if she returns with me, she can come home as often as she likes. And I will make sure that she is happy."
Mama looked at him carefully. He could feel her red eyes taking him in, and calculating. Then she nodded. "Then take her. However, I do not care if you are a god or not... if you hurt her, you will pay dearly."
The god blinked. A mortal woman was threatening him? That was a new concept. However, he believed her. "You need not worry. I will take care of her."
Setsuna smiled and hugged them both. "Is Papa around?"
Her mother shook her head. "He is off at work. Now that you have left, he has to work a bit more." Setsuna looked saddened at the thought. The god only smiled and handed the woman a purse of gold coins. She looked at him in shock. "L-lord Apollo?"
Setsuna blinked. So his name was Apollo. He smiled at her. "For allowing me to take your daughter." The woman nodded. After saying their good byes, Setsuna and Apollo left. They went back to Apollo's palace.
He led her out into the woods. "Keep close, its dark and you could get lost," he said kindly. She walked right next to him -quite close, really, not wanting to be left in the dark alone and cold. He smiled down at her and wrapped an arm around her waist. Setsuna was thankful for the dark so that he could not see her blush. They soon came to a clearing. There was a lake, and the tall grass around them was soft and tickled her legs. The moonlight shone down on them, reflecting off the lake. He looked at her. "Beautiful, isn't it?"
She giggled. "Aye, very," and then she pulled away from him and spun about giggling. Once she was far too dizzy to stand, Setsuna tumbled to the ground, still giggling. Apollo caught her before she fell and held her close to him. She was blushing, and he knew it.
"You're beautiful when you blush," he whispered into her ear, sending pleasant shivers down her spine. He grinned. Oh, he did love how he made her so helpless. It was good to know he had the same effect on her as she did him.
"Th- thank you," she replied weakly. She looked up to find him smiling softly at her. His eyes held something she had never seen before. Setsuna was all too aware of his strong arms around her waist and upper back. She knew everywhere her skin touched his, through clothes even. This man -well, god- was absolutely perfect, and he was holding her. She was giddy as she was vulnerable.
As if sensing this, Apollo pulled her closer. "Don't worry," he whispered, "I won't hurt you." She nodded. He gently lifted her chin with his fingers. He brought his face quite close to hers and stopped. "May I?" he whispered, teasing. She nodded slightly, but it was enough for Apollo. He closed his eyes and gently pushed his lips to hers.
~ END! Hey, guys, go read the fics of Time-Goddess, Sumi Toshi, and Legolas/SailorMoonLoverBonita. And I put another new fic up. Its called Saving Setsuna. Please R&R it, no one's reviewing, so I don't know if people are reading.
AN: Yet another time I've taken way too long to update. ~
Setsuna awoke before the sun rose the next morning. She tried to go back to sleep, but found herself unable to do so. She couldn't stop thinking about a certain nameless blond-haired man. She was certain that if she wasn't careful she would fall for him. She also knew that falling in love was something she could not handle once more. She knew that she wouldn't be able to take the pain of loss. Sighing, she began her morning exercise routine. She had to do something to take her mind off that man.
Three quarters of an hour later there was a knock at the door. Setsuna answered it quickly. The man was there. She blushed, realizing she was in her white cotton sleeping gown, and it was soaked with sweat. He chuckled. "Next time remind me to ask if you're decent before I come in." This caused her blush to deepen.
"I apologize, my lord. I did not think," Setsuna said as she slipped into the closet and came back out moments later, fully clothed.
He grinned. "Shall we go and retrieve some breakfast?" While he said that, his mind was quite consumed with the image of Setsuna in her sweat-soaked sleeping gown. As they walked to breakfast together, the grin would not leave his face, not anymore than the thought left his head. This would surely drive him mad.
After breakfast, Setsuna found herself being escorted about the palace by the man. She was quite enjoying his company, and more memorizing the sound of his wonderful voice than actually listening to what he was saying about the locations of certain places. She remembered only the ways to get to places she needed, and for some reason, his room.
It took her a moment to realize he was asking her a question. "Setsuna? Are you all right?"
"Hm? Oh, aye, just had a rough night is all," she replied smiling.
A month passed by. Setsuna found herself becoming fast friends with this man. She so desired to know his name. Yet, she knew that she would never be able to see him again if she asked. That was the one thing at that time she could not bear.
Her thoughts shifted to the life she was living a month ago. She was homesick. How badly she wanted to see her mother, hug her father, and her little brother. Her brother, though, she could never see again. He had died of a terrible disease just before she had begun seeing Prince Cleon. And that horrid witch that stole him from her -how she hated that woman.
As she finished with those thoughts, the man walked in. He looked about to say something when he heard her stomach make a small noise. He decided on something else to say. "After we get lunch would you like to go into town?"
She nodded eagerly. "Aye, please. I have missed my family."
The pair quickly ate lunch and then left for the city. Since she hadn't been outside much, Setsuna's tan was waning. Whilst they were walking, the young noblewoman that had stolen Cleon from her approached them. "Look here, its that little tramp that tried to get on the prince!" She eyed the man Setsuna was with. "I hope you're not too attached to her, she's quite the little strumpet. She'll bring you naught but heartache."
The man growled. "Silence, wench. I asked not for your opinion. You come to me when you should be bowing in respect and insult my judgment? You will apologize or face my wrath."
Setsuna studied his words carefully. He spoke as though he were a god. He must be, for the immortals detested posers. She wondered why he was growing so protective of her. Realizing that he must be a god, Setsuna's mind wondered why he would be interested in a commoner such as herself. Why was her life so confusing?
The woman was enraged. "How dare I speak to you in such a manner? How dare I? I, good sir, am the prince's consort. You should be bowing to me!"
The man rolled his eyes. "Of course. I see no mark of betrothal, though, lady. I did not recognize you in those commoner skirts. I had forgotten that mortals were the most respectable of life forms on this planet."
The woman's eyes widened, finally realizing his position. She was on her hands and knees. "Please, my lord! Forgive me! I did not recognize you dressed so, and with a commoner. It's just that gods do not normally bother themselves with trash."
Setsuna stared at her blankly. She had been called many things before, but never trash. She knew all too well that all nobles thought it, but none had been so rude as to say it to her face. Tears were welling in her eyes, and she was all too aware of it.
The man glanced at Setsuna quickly and then looked back down at the groveling woman. "Trash, lady? I did not know that the worthiness of a person was determined by who their parents are. If I were you, wench, I would watch my words. Your beloved prince left Lady Setsuna, what makes you think that he shan't get bored of you and leave you as well?" With that said, he walked off; Setsuna following a few steps behind her eyes cast down.
He stopped and turned to face her. His eyes were back to the gentle ones she had grown to know, and was beginning to love. Her thoughts drifted, "Love? No. I couldn't fall in love again. Not with a god, he was just being kind. No god would care for a mortal of common blood."
"Don't pay any mind to her words, Setsuna," he said to her, his voice gentle once more. When she would not look at him, he touched her cheek gently lifting her head so her eyes met his. "What is it? What is wrong? Why won't you look at me? Why do you walk behind me rather than at my side?"
"I -I haven't shown you any respect, your godliness. I am as low as she is," she replied meekly.
He chuckled. "Do you not think that if I had wanted you to grovel I would have made it known? I asked you to come with me. You are not imposing. And as for being as low as she is, that's not possible. You, Setsuna, are certainly not a rude little snake that is only looking to improve her own fortunes. Come now; let us go visit your family. I long to meet them."
Setsuna looked on at him in disbelief. How could anyone be so...perfect? Blinking a few times, she nodded. "Aye, of course, My Lord...err, your godliness."
He laughed. "Please don't call me that, it makes me feel old. Just A- never mind," he said and then quickened his pace. Setsuna could hardly keep up with him. They were soon at her house.
She ran inside quickly, forgetting her manners to invite him in. "Mama! Papa! I'm home!"
A tall thin older woman walked into the small hut from the garden. She threw her arms tightly around Setsuna. She was crying. "Oh, Setsuna! You're alive! I was so worried, I had thought you were dead! First your baby brother died and then you disappeared." Setsuna held the weeping woman, rubbing her back soothingly.
"I'm sorry, Mama. I didn't mean to worry you."
The woman had stopped crying by now, and she looked quite angered. She slapped her daughter hard across the face. "Where have you been, young lady?"
Setsuna looked down. "I cannot say."
"You disappear for a month and refuse to tell your own mother where you've gone off to? How dare you!" Setsuna was slapped again, her mother's wedding ring scratching her face.
The younger woman looked down. "I am sorry, but I just cannot."
Just as the older woman was about to slap her again, the god walked into the room. "She was with me, madam." The woman found her hand frozen in mid- air. "I apologize for keeping her away for so long, however I did not know that she had family."
The older woman looked him over. "Blond hair, tall, tan, beautiful clothes made of the finest materials, and a bow at his back? The way he glows, he cannot be mortal," she thought to herself. Then something dawned on her. "He looks just like the statues of Apollo at the temple! He is Apollo. And he's interested in my daughter? My gods, what are the odds?" she thought. She then hugged her daughter. "Are you coming back home now?" the woman asked Setsuna.
The god responded. "She may if she wants to. But she may also come back with me. I promise you that if she returns with me, she can come home as often as she likes. And I will make sure that she is happy."
Mama looked at him carefully. He could feel her red eyes taking him in, and calculating. Then she nodded. "Then take her. However, I do not care if you are a god or not... if you hurt her, you will pay dearly."
The god blinked. A mortal woman was threatening him? That was a new concept. However, he believed her. "You need not worry. I will take care of her."
Setsuna smiled and hugged them both. "Is Papa around?"
Her mother shook her head. "He is off at work. Now that you have left, he has to work a bit more." Setsuna looked saddened at the thought. The god only smiled and handed the woman a purse of gold coins. She looked at him in shock. "L-lord Apollo?"
Setsuna blinked. So his name was Apollo. He smiled at her. "For allowing me to take your daughter." The woman nodded. After saying their good byes, Setsuna and Apollo left. They went back to Apollo's palace.
He led her out into the woods. "Keep close, its dark and you could get lost," he said kindly. She walked right next to him -quite close, really, not wanting to be left in the dark alone and cold. He smiled down at her and wrapped an arm around her waist. Setsuna was thankful for the dark so that he could not see her blush. They soon came to a clearing. There was a lake, and the tall grass around them was soft and tickled her legs. The moonlight shone down on them, reflecting off the lake. He looked at her. "Beautiful, isn't it?"
She giggled. "Aye, very," and then she pulled away from him and spun about giggling. Once she was far too dizzy to stand, Setsuna tumbled to the ground, still giggling. Apollo caught her before she fell and held her close to him. She was blushing, and he knew it.
"You're beautiful when you blush," he whispered into her ear, sending pleasant shivers down her spine. He grinned. Oh, he did love how he made her so helpless. It was good to know he had the same effect on her as she did him.
"Th- thank you," she replied weakly. She looked up to find him smiling softly at her. His eyes held something she had never seen before. Setsuna was all too aware of his strong arms around her waist and upper back. She knew everywhere her skin touched his, through clothes even. This man -well, god- was absolutely perfect, and he was holding her. She was giddy as she was vulnerable.
As if sensing this, Apollo pulled her closer. "Don't worry," he whispered, "I won't hurt you." She nodded. He gently lifted her chin with his fingers. He brought his face quite close to hers and stopped. "May I?" he whispered, teasing. She nodded slightly, but it was enough for Apollo. He closed his eyes and gently pushed his lips to hers.
~ END! Hey, guys, go read the fics of Time-Goddess, Sumi Toshi, and Legolas/SailorMoonLoverBonita. And I put another new fic up. Its called Saving Setsuna. Please R&R it, no one's reviewing, so I don't know if people are reading.