by Sailor Earth
*Chapter Seven - A Promise of Tomorrow*
"There's a tune that plays
It's a sacred sound
It's a symphony I hear whenever you're around
Now my world is filled
With a whisper of love and a promise of tomorrow"
From I Can't Ever Get Enough Of You by Darren Hayes
"Ha ha ha! What on earth is that for?!"
"To put my things in."
"Oh yeah, of course. So is your mother OK with this?"
"I guess. I mean, she's a little upset, but she understands why I have to do this. Look, she gave me this," I held out the Silver Crystal, "It was my father's." Mamoru looked at it, stunned.
"That's nice, but what does it actually do?" he asked.
"Er...I'm not sure exactly. I think it can heal and protect people, among other things. But I don't know how to make it work - only Papa knew."
"Maybe Luna can take a look at it for you."
"Luna?"
"Yeah, she's my...guardian. She knows a lot about these kinds of things."
"Uh, OK..."
I started to gather up my things, including a few of my plainer-looking dresses, my scrapbook, and a small painting of Papa. Then, realising that I had no idea of how - ahem - basic Mamoru's home would be, I also added a couple of fluffy white towels and a bottle of dark green liquid, which Mamoru eyed suspiciously.
"What is that?!" he asked.
"It's special myrr and pinewood shampoo - Dimando has it imported," I explained. You can't blame a girl for not being willing to give up her luxury lifestyle completely, can you?
"We do have soap and running water, you know," Mamoru retorted.
"Well you never know when you might need these things!"
"Don't forget this." He handed me my jewellery box.
"Why would I want that?" I asked, "I kinda want to blend in, not stand out in all my jewels."
"No, no, no," he shook his head, "You're going to sell them! You'll need the money to feed and clothe yourself in the big wide world, little Princess."
"Good idea! I'll take all my expensive clothes, and use the cloth to make things! Plus, Dimando will see that they're gone, and he'll tell people to look for a Princess, not a forest girl."
"Hey, you're starting to get the hang of scheming! Well done!" Mamoru beamed. When I'd packed everything in the case, Mamoru took it in his arms, and leapt out of my window. I gasped, yet he landed below, on his feet, reminding me a lot of a cat. He put the trunk down and kind of pushed of with his feet so that he came flying back up and throught the window. This he picked me up, with one holding around my waist, and the other supporting my knees. I held tightly around his shoulders as he leapt out the window again. The time between leaving the window and landing safely below seemed like infinity as the air rushed passed my face, but Mamoru assured me that we had only been aloft for a few seconds.
With Mamoru carrying the trunk, and me following behind him, we fled into the forest. Soon we reached the waterfall that Mamoru had described, and I saw four small stone cottages with thatched roofs, surrounded by an alcove of the tall silvery trees. Mamoru pointed to the cottage second from the left. The wall was covered by red and white roses, entwined together as they climbed the grey stone wall.
"That cottage is mine," he told me, "The one to the left belongs to Minako, Ami, Rei and Makoto. The cottage on the other side of mine is Setsuna, Hotaru, Haruka and Michuru's. And Jadeite, Nephrite, Zoisite and Kunzite live in the one on the far right. You will stay with me, in my home, because there's more room than at either of the girls cottages."
"What about your guardian...Luna? Where does she live?"
"Ah, Luna...well she tends to just sleep anywhere. Same with Artemis."
"Who is she?"
"Not she, he. He is Minako's guardian."
"OK..." I was kinda unsure what else to say to this. So I just followed him inside. The downstairs was one single room. In one corner was a small stove, and a sink. Then there was a long wooden bench-seat with a couple of cushions, a desk with a chair, and a large bookcase. Mamoru signalled for me to follow him upstairs. He took meto what appeared to be his bedroom. He dumped the trunk in the middle of the floor, and flopped down onto the bed, letting out a sigh as he did. A small black cat was curled up, asleep on on the bed. She opened one eye and muttered sleepily,
"So you're back, finally. Is she with you?" I nearly passed out from shock! A talking cat!
"It's OK, Serenity. This is Luna." Luna opened her othe eye and sat up.
"Hello, Princess. Sorry I startled you. Anyway, I hope Mamoru has explained things to you. If not, I'll tell you about everything at the meeting in the morning. But I suggest that you try and get some sleep now - you'll have to get up early tomorrow to start your training."
"What training?" I asked.
"Not now, Princess. I'm going over to Minako's to tell her and Artemis that you've arrived."
"B...b...but..." I stuttered. Luna just leapt down to the floor and left.
"You'll get used to her," Mamoru assured me, "Now I'm gonna go downstairs and make some cocoa. You just stay here and get ready for bed. Luna's right - you really do need to sleep. I'll be back in a bit." When Mamoru had disappeared downstairs, I opened my trunk and pulled out my nightdress. I changed into it, and brushed out my hair. Then Mamoru reappeared. "Do you have to wear so little?" he joked, "It's distracting!"
"It's not my fault your mind wanders!" I told him, taking my mug of cocoa from him.
"Now what was I gonna say? Oh yeah, you can have my bed, and I'll sleep downstairs." I felt a little sorry when he said this - the wooden seat did not look very comfortable, and to tell the truth, this would be the first night I'd ever spent outside the palace, and I didn't feel at all safe in a strange room, by myself.
"Don't do that on my account," I said, "There's plenty of room for both of us here, and I'm sure you'd be far more comfortable."
"Well, if it's OK with you..." Mamoru smiled, clearly happy to have his lovely soft bed back, rather than the cold, hard wooden bench.
That night I slept better than I had done in a long, long time. Perhaps it was the weight lifted from my shoulders as I was released from Dimando's grip, or perhaps it was just that being close to Mamoru, with his arm draped across me, comforted me in that strange place, I don't know. But I definately felt like I'd slept for at least a week when I woke up the next morning.