5 - SUNSHINE?

"Um, Luna-san?"
Luna turned to face Artemis, who was obviously trying to hide his blush.
"Yes?"
"I was wondering if, um, well, you have had your breakfast already or, um…"
Deep inside, Artemis felt like hitting his head against the wall.

Darn it!
Same old question everyday! He felt like dying, just trying to get Luna-san to talk to him and trying to strike up a bit of a conversation with her, but all she seemed to give where blank stares...

Luna smiled instead, in spite herself, though honestly, she couldn't help but feel a bit annoyed, but she respected Artemis, even if he somehow seemed a bit clumsy.
"I did, did you have your breakfast too?"

She could see him scratching his head, and noticed that he had this silly grin of his.
Hmmm... Kawaii...

"Yep! I did! Umm, well, would you mind if I walked along with you?"

Grrr!!! What a line! But, she's so beautiful this morning, I mean, um, agghh! Please, please! Just say yes, please?
Artemis was pleading within him, as he tried his best to loosen up.
But what he heard next definitely made him want to faint instead.

"Sure."

--------

Minako checked herself in the mirror, and smiled a big grin to herself.

Hmmm… well, nothing between them. She thought, referring to her teeth.

She decided that today, she would try to be extra pretty, well, prettier than her usual self, of course. She just can't be seen looking shabby if Kunzite would be there.

She felt glad more and more each day, as she was getting to spend more time with the general lately. The man has totally changed from the first time she had met him, a week ago, at the ball. She seemed to know bits more about the man, even if he somehow seemed a bit secretive about himself. But she could note that it isn't that hard to make the man laugh, actually, Kunzite seemed to enjoy all of her jokes, even the ones that made Mako-chan, Ami-chan, and especially Rei-chan cringe. The only other person she knew who would laugh at her jokes would be Princess Serenity.

She decided that today, she would probably have to wear her hair down again, or maybe, wear it up? Or maybe down?

Up or down? I wonder which one looks better?

She was having such a hard time deciding,
I guess I'll have to ask Artemis again, that man knows more feminine stuff than I do anyway!

--------

Luna and Artemis ended up walking towards the gardens where a small pool in the middle of a courtyard could be seen. Luna didn't know why they had headed there, but didn't mind, since surprisingly, she seemed to enjoy Artemis' company. He can actually be calm if he wasn't stuttering so much. But she noticed that his stuttering seemed to have lessened further along their conversation.

Artemis seemed to relax a little bit now, since he finally had something in common with Luna to talk about. Since both are guardians of the Princess Serenity and Princess Venus, both seem to have been facing the same problems with the princesses that they are guarding. He didn't know that Luna would have the same problem, but it was a relief to know that he was not alone in dealing with such a difficult human being.

And it was also a relief to know that there was another difficult human being, aside from Minako-chan, that is.

What Artemis did not know was that Luna was also thinking the very same thing. She could recall ever detail of the recent morning incident with the Princess Serenity herself. Luna resisted having to strangle the one that she was guarding.

"She keeps on sneaking off to who knows where." Luna spoke on and wrinkled her nose.
"Honestly, I even find it hard to think that she is a princess at all!" She continued.

She was glad that Artemis listened, even if it is obvious enough that he himself was having the same problems himself. As she turned to face him though, she was surprised to see him grinning to her. It seemed to her that he and Venus were pretty much the same, both very silly and very happy almost, if not every moment.

"I'm sure they'll grow out of it though," was what he said,
"even if it seems too good to be true, but I know they will."

Though deep inside, he could remember Minako pulling his own long hair, and her imitating his expressions. He could also remember quite well all of the names that Minako had for him… Not counting those times when she would cluck like a chicken, just to irritate him. And maybe those times when she would secretly put her foot out, so that he would trip in front of the guests in the dining. It still made him scowl, but he was used to the girl's teasing anyway. And even if the girl seemed to make a hobby of irritating him daily, he had grown attached to Venus, he was her guardian ever since she was young after all. And Artemis had known every little bit about Minako because of that, it was like he had a younger sister, albeit one that he definitely did not wish for. But Artemis remains hopeful...

"Venus and Serenity will be women one day"
I hope.

Both grinned, since they both seemed to think the same thing.
It was a golden moment, and Artemis cherished Luna's smile,
Until...

"ARTEMIS-SAN!!!!!!"

--------

It was none other than Minako's shrill scream.

Ever since the heated incident between Rei and Jadeite, just walking in the halls would cause them to both share equally cold glances. Jadeite never did understand why the "ice queen" had to be an "ice queen" in the first place, though he had to admit, it gave him satisfaction just to see her glare at him.

Maybe because it meant victory for him.

Meanwhile, Rei had to admit that the cold war interested her a bit. It made her wonder a bit how the man had enough nerve as to retaliate remarks at her; men never do that to her, may they be a soldier, a prince, or a king. They always gawked at her beauty and would end up muttering utter nonsense at her, all the while trying to impress her even when they end up getting embarrassed anyway. She had gotten used to being courteous but cold inside, she was the Princess Mars after all and she had gotten used to that. Especially since her father, the king of Mars usually invited over suitors from galaxies and such.

As if that would make her like any man at that.

Men are all spineless when it comes down to it.

She had yet to see a man who would have enough wits and enough brain power to use just to talk to her, let alone win her over, which sounded funny to say the least.
So, this general, honestly, was new to her, but of course, fiery Mars knows enough that this mouthful of a gentleman can always fall prey to her beauty.

They always do.

--------

"I guess that's Venus already, Artemis-san." Luna looked to him with a smile.
And all Artemis could do was to smile weakly in return.

Speaking of the devil... was all that Artemis was muttering in his mind.

"AARRRRTTTEEEEMMMIIIISSSS-san!!!"

Luna and Artemis could still hear Minako screaming his name, and all he could think was,
How the heck can I get rid of her? I'll never hear the end of it if she ever saw me here with Luna-san…

Luna could see him slightly sweating, and as Minako's voice drew nearer, she was surprised to see him suddenly duck behind the rosebushes, and pulling her with him.

Sweatdrop.

"Luna-san, gomen nasai!" Artemis smiled sheepishly at her.

He thought he was successful, until he could see Luna looking from him to "something" behind him. And he knew that the clucking sounds would come from only one person…