HiYa! As you know, I'm in college so finding time between my homework and papers to write is a little difficult. Anyway, enjoy this chapter and please review. I really need to know how I'm doing andI want to know what you think about this new chapter. Any pointers, ideas, or criticism please give at will. Hope you like it!

This chapter is dedicated to Roy. Thank you so much for believing in me and supporting me in all that I do. I know you may never read this, but I still want to thank you. Thanks so much!

Disclaimer: See chapter one.

Authors Note: Blah Blah Blah Indicates a character's thoughts.

Chapter 8
Mystery All Around

"This is breathtaking!"

"You're absolutely right, Mina. It really helps you to relax. It's like there is a force that pulls you to forget everything."

The Millennium Palace stood on the highest point in Tokyo and was surrounded by a luscious forest, except on the backside. The forest fell off to reveal a cliff and the sparkling ocean as far as the eye could see. About ten feet from the cliff's drop off, a white gazebo was facing the ocean. Mina and Mal had wondered to the this side of the palace when everyone split up and now just stood, amazed and mesmerized by the sight.

"How cool!" Mina said in a chipper voice as she ran into the gazebo, dropping her book bag just outside the entrance, and leaning on the closest rail to the ocean, just relishing at the perfect view.

Mal caught his breath. Mina closed her eyes and smiled as the soft breeze brought the mist from the waves at the cliff's base up across her face. Mal looked at the sight before him and gave a quiet sigh. She is gorgeous.

The sun was about to completely set and Mal had the perfect view of Mina. The slight breeze was blowing her golden hair slightly across her face. With the sun's rays cascading over her figure, it looked like she was enveloped in gold. All of a sudden, Mal found himself walking toward the gazebo. What am I doing? Shaking his head to forget the question, he continued closing the distance between Mina and himself until he was a few inches from her.

Mal smiled and said, "You look like you were born here."

Mina had been so engulfed in the moment that she hadn't heard or sensed Mal's approach. However, she wasn't startled. She didn't jump like she and countless others normally would have done. She simply stood there, still smiling, and felt a complete sense of happiness. Oddly, it wasn't only this spectacular place that made her feel this way. It seemed to be also because of the person behind her.

Mina turned around and just stood there with her eyes shut for a few seconds. Then she raised her head a few inches and opened her eyes. When she opened them she was looking straight into Mal's eyes. "So do you, Mal Rose."

For a few seconds they just stood there looking at each other. It seemed that Mal was searching her eyes with a kind of longing. Slowly and steadily, the two moved closer, their eyes closing. A slight breeze blew across their cheeks as their lips touched. Mina felt as if a charge of electricity had surged her to life through the touch of Mal's lips. Was that the mist from the waves again? She raised her arms and wrapped them around Mal's neck. It can't be. I've never felt this way before. I need to stop this right now. Mina parted her lips and was about to pull back, but at that instant Mal snaked his arm around her waist and deepened the kiss. I can't stop! Mina then returned the ferocity of Mal's kiss.

Oh man! What is this? I knew I was growing attracted to her, but this isn't me. She is merely a common Earthling. Mal started to step away, but before it was completed, Mina started wrapping her fingers in his hair and he was gone.

For both of them, it was like they were in space. There was nothing around them, but an endless sea of sparkling white stars. The sun had completely set and the moon had come out now. The moon was positioned such that if someone was at the back door of the Millennium Palace and looked at the two kissing it would look like the moon was the backdrop of a beautiful picture. They just stood there kissing, enjoying each other when a picture flashed simultaneously in their minds. The picture was two people, quite similar to Mina and Mal, kissing in a white gazebo with the Earth directing behind them.

They broke the kiss, slowly pulled away and just looked at each other, smiling and trying to catch their breath. They were lost in each other's eyes and then Mal leaned in to kiss her again when they heard a rustle near by.

Mal pulled back and they both looked in the direction the rustle came from. "What was that?" Mina asked somewhat hoarsely.

"I don't know." Mal said letting go of Mina. "But I'm going to find out."

"Well, then I'm coming to." Mina said.

"I don't think so."

"Well, I do and that's that. I'm coming along." Mina finished while crossing her arms over her chest, stubbornly.

Mal grinned. She looks cute when she's being stubborn. "You are an adventurous one, aren't you?"

"More than you know."

With that, Mal and Mina walked toward the nearby trees. They walked quietly up to the bush they thought the noise came from with Mal protectively in front of Mina. When they were five feet away, they heard the rustle again from the bush directly in front of them. They moved forward to where they were two feet away and Mal squatted down and reached his hand toward the bush. When he was mere inches from touching the bush, an object jumped out and hit him in the chest knocking him backwards. Mal, forgetting about the thing that just hit him, tried to maintain his balance, but couldn't and then fell to the ground. Mina, however, saw what the object was. Luna? Then like magic, the cat was gone. I could have sworn that was Luna. But why would she be here?

Without missing a beat, Mina went to Mal's side. "Are you okay? You aren't hurt are you?"

Mal sat up on his elbows and answered, "I'm fine. Don't worry. What was that thing? I was too busy trying to maintain my balance that I didn't see what it was."

"Oh, it was just a cat." A cat that I get to chat with later. "It must've been spooked by something."

Yeah, probably by me. Mal thought as he stood up and brushed himself off. "Aww, the poor thing. It probably just doesn't like humans."

"Might be. You sure you're all right?"

"I'm fine, Mina." Then he mumbled, "Let me show you."

"Wha-" Mina started to say, but was cut off by Mal's lips on hers. Mal had swiftly stepped forward, pulled Mina to him, wrapped his arms around her, and soundly kissed her. Mina was hesitant, but as soon as the situation registered in her brain, she relaxed into Mal and began to return the kiss. She worked her arms around his neck and parted her mouth. Mal took the invitation and deepened the kiss once more. Mina gave a soft moan and Mal about lost it.

He pulled away and said hoarsely, "Wait a second."

Mina, with wide eyes at the abrupt movement, replied, "What's wrong, Mal?"

"Nothing, Mina. It's just that…I only met you today and..."

Mina smiled. "It's okay, Mal. I understand. We do need to slow down. I'd hate to see the others come looking for us and find us this way. I don't think that either of us would ever hear the end of it."

Mal chuckled. "I agree. I swear your friends and my friends are just alike."

"Well, I dunno about that." Mina said with a wink.

With that statement said, Mal and Mina just stood staring at each other with smiles on their faces. Then a wave crashed at the bottom of the cliff and the mist floated across Mina's and Mal's face. As soon as they both felt the mist, they started laughing.

"What do you say we start working on this project, huh?"

"Sounds like a good plan to me." Mina walked back to the back wall of the palace and stood looking at it. The lights had come on and shown at different angles so the entire palace was able to be seen. Mina smiled at the palace's beauty and then turned to Mal. "What do you think we could do back here?"

"I dunno. I'm not really a decorating kinda guy."

"Nonsense, Mal. Everyone can decorate things. Some just have to work at it harder than others." Mina smiled as she walked to where she dropped her book bag earlier and got out her spiral notebook and a pencil. She then walked back over to Mal, who was looking at the palace and obviously thinking.

Mina opened the spiral and wrote "Decoration Ideas" at the top of the page and asked, "Okay, you got any ideas?"

"Maybe..." He turned to Mina and starting talking to her. She wrote something down and then stuck the pencil behind her ear and, holding the spiral tight in her left hand, she started waving her hands and pointing to various things while describing what she had thought of. Mal and Mina took turns talking and coming up with ideas while a pair of hazel eyes watched the two from the shadows thinking Interesting...


I can't believe I let India talk me into this. Next time, it's gonna be guys and girls. No mixing. Amy vented mentally while walking next to Zoy on the way to her house and trying to think of anything but Zoy.

Zoy glanced at Amy and inwardly sighed. She seems like something is bothering her, but yet she still looks beautiful. Zoy caught himself, looked away from Amy, and stared in front of him. Zoycite, get a grip!

Amy cleared her thoughts and quickly looked at Zoy and smiled. "I must say, that was a successful and fun project today. Don't you agree, Zoy?"

Zoy heard Amy's question and snapped out of his mental scolding and smiled as he put his arms behind his head. "Yes I do. I must admit that I was a little skeptical about the idea at first, but it turned out really great. Everyone's ideas were amazing."

"Yeah! I think that this is one assignment that Serena will definitely get an "A" on. Though, I'm not sure how much of the ideas that India, Darien, Andrew, and she came up with were hers, but still. She and the other girls got more work done today than they have in the last two weeks of 'Study Buddies.'"

Zoy chuckled. "Well I guess they really enjoyed this assignment." Zoy looked over at Amy and asked, "Did you enjoy the assignment as well, Amy?"

She looked at him and blushed slightly. "Yes I did. I don't usually get to express my creative side. It was definitely enjoyable." Especially with you helping me. She blushed more.

He grinned and replied, "Well we'll have to get you to do this kind of thing more often."

She smiled. "We will see. This is me." She stopped in front of a gate which opened to a walkway that led up a few steps to the front door of a little two story, sky blue house. "Thanks for walking me home. You didn't have to, but I appreciate it none the less."

"No problem. I had to get something nearby anyway. Besides, what kind of gentleman would I be if I let a be...girl walk home alone in the dark?"

She chuckled and smiled. "I see your point." The two stood on the sidewalk smiling into each others eyes for a minute when the wind blew gently. Amy reached up and hooked her hair behind one ear and said, "Well, I'll see you tomorrow in class."

"Yep."

"Goodnight, Zoy."

"Night, Amy." He watched as Amy opened the gate, walked down the walkway and up the few steps to the front door. Once she had unlocked it, she turned and waved goodbye. He waved back and smiled as she went in and closed the door. Still smiling, he walked down the street and turned around a corner into an alley. He kept walking until he faded away, still smiling and thinking about a blue haired beauty.

Meanwhile, after Amy closed the door, she leaned on it and sighed. Today was good. No, it was terrific. I've never had a better time. She then gathered her thoughts and went upstairs to her room.

Unbeknownst to them both, a pair of hazel eyes had been following them since they left the Millennium Palace. Once Zoy left Amy's house and Amy was on her way up to her room, the being thought aloud, "Very interesting indeed."


Zoycite rematerialized in his "Negaverse General Outfit" and was fixing to join his comrades when he heard talking and decided to stay concealed in the shadows and listen in a bit.

"Looks like you had fun, Jedite."

"Oh shut it, Nephlite"

"He's right, Jedite."

"Well Malachite, you can't say that you didn't."

"What are you talking about?" Malachite asked defensively.

Nephlite smirked. "Oh please. That smile on your face when you and Mina came back wasn't your acting smile."

"Yes it was."

"Are you sure? It sure looked like a genuine one." Nephrite smirked.

"What about you?"

"Yeah Nephlite. What exactly happened between you and Lita?" Jedite asked, seeking retribution.

"Nothing. We just did the assignment."

"Uh-huh." Jedite said.

"Sure." Malachite agreed. Then the three erupted into teasing and taunting comments about each other.

After a few minutes of listening to their bickering, Zoycite burst into laughter. He continued laughing till the others heard him and stopped talking. "What the...?" They said together, looking around for the owner of the laughter.

"Seems to me that you all had a good time, whether you care to admit it or not." He walked out of the shadows smirking and with his arms crossed in front of his chest.

"Is that right?" Jedite asked.

"Yes."

"Then tell us Zoycite, what took you so long to come back?" Malachite questioned.

"I walked Amy home and we talked a little bit before she went in. That's it."

Nephlite was about to comment when they all heard, "JEDITE! ZOYCITE! MALACHITE! NEPHLITE!"

They all formed a straight line and bowed as Queen Beryl materialized in front of them. "Yes, Queen Beryl?" They asked in unison.

"Report your progress. Nephlite..."

They all rose and Nephlite told her the plan. After he finished, she thought about it a moment, then said, "Good idea. Surely, this time you won't fail since you're working together."

"Certainly not, My Queen."

"Good, because you all know how much we need that energy."

"Yes, My Queen."

"Very well. Proceed with the plan."

They all bowed again and said, "As you wish, Queen Beryl." She then disappeared and the four generals were left alone.

"Okay, no more bickering. We have a lot to do so we will be ready."

"Nephlite is right." Malachite agreed and began listing what needed to be done. Zoycite and Jedite soon followed suit and the four generals were so completely immersed in devious planning that the four girls were pushed to the back of their minds.


"There we go."

Lita put the last dish from her supper away and looked around her kitchen happily while drying her hands with a dish towel. She yawned and put the towel on the counter.

"Goodness! Guess it's time for bed." She turned the kitchen light off and made sure the front door was locked, then turned the rest of the lights off and headed to her bedroom. She walked in her room after telling her mom goodnight and changed into her pajamas.

Once she was changed, she took her hair out of its ponytail and brushed her hair, still smiling. When she finished, Lita turned off her lamp, stretched, and climbed into bed.

Once she was comfortable, she simply laid and stared at the ceiling, thinking back through her day. "Today was fun. Not just for me, but for everyone. I don't think I have ever seen Amy have as much fun as she did today. And the guys tried to act like they didn't enjoy themselves, but anyone could see that they were having an absolute blast. I hope tomorrow will be equally as fun."

Lita then closed her eyes and with a broad smile on her face, fell fast asleep and began dreaming. She saw a frozen lake completely devoid of anyone, with powder like snow for as far as the eye could see, and the sky filled with bright stars. She then found herself skating, feeling as free as a bird and perfectly at home.

At about the same time, an exhausted Nephlite lay down in bed and sighed. "Man! Planning an attack always wears me out. Hopefully tomorrow will prove to be a bit better." He quickly fell asleep and began dreaming. He was walking along a path through powder like snow enjoying the tranquility and peace of his situation. He continued wondering along the path until he saw someone skating on the nearby lake. He continued walking toward the lake until he saw who it was that was skating. He stopped walking and watched the beautiful creature, for he was mesmerized by her grace and beauty.

Lita skated freely, not paying attention to anything else but her skating and the absolute sense of freedom she felt. As she completed her final trick, she heard applause. She turned, shocked to know that someone was watching her, and, with her breathing slightly labored, she sighted someone. She couldn't really tell who it was, because the face was fuzzy, but she felt that it was a man that she knew.

"Beautiful. That was wonderful."

"Thank you." She smiled at the man.

"Care to sit and rest a bit?" He motioned to a bench near the side of the lake.

"Yes, thank you."

Who is this woman? Much like Lita, Nephlite could not see her face, for it was blurry, but he did know that he knew the girl from somewhere.

He accompanied her to the bench, where she changed back into her shoes. Then the two simply sat in silence enjoying the serenity of the moment.

"It's such a wonderful view from here." Lita commented.

"Yes. The stars are so bright and alive." Nephlite replied.

"Almost as if..." Lita started while reaching her hand up toward the sky.

"You could reach out and touch them." Nephlite finished with her, also reaching up and touching her hand.

They turned, lowered their hands, and looked into each others eyes. Lita blushed with a smile and Nephlite smiled in return. They began leaning into each other and... BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!

Nephlite slammed his hand down on top of his alarm clock and tried to continue the dream, but couldn't. He reluctantly got out of bed with a growl.

"What's wrong with you?" Jedite asked. "Bad dream?"

"No! Good dream."

Jedite looked at him puzzled as he got up and started getting ready for his second day of school.

Lita shut off her alarm, got out of bed with a frown, walked to her mirror, and began angrily brushing her hair.

"Damn it all!" She grumbled. "Go figure. Oh well. It was still a good dream. I wonder who that guy was."

She continued getting ready for school wondering, but she wore a smile at the hope that she might meet that guy one day soon.


There you have it. Like I said earlier, I'm in desperate need of knowing what you think of my writing. Compliments and criticism alike are welcome. Every review helps with my writing. Take care everyone!

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