"So like they were, no mortal
Might one from other know;
White as snow their armour was,
Their steeds were white as snow.
Never on earthly anvil
Did such rare armour gleam,
And never did such gallant steeds
Drink of an earthly stream.
"Back comes the chief in triumph
Who in the hour of fight
Hath seen the great twin Brethren
In harness on his right.
Safe comes the ship to haven,
Through billows and through gales,
If once the great Twin Brethren
Sit shining on the sails."
-- Castor and Pollux --
Kunzite woke up at high noon, vaguely disturbed. When he had closed his eyes and tried to succumb to sleep, he swore someone had been watching him. But that was highly unlikely, for he knew he had been alone in his room that night…
He walked on the hallway of the Magellan Castle, trying to find the others, when he caught a glimpsed of gold in the other direction.
He stopped, backed up a few steps and glanced at the gold he had glimpsed.
There, in a room, was Queen Afërdita talking to a woman with her back on him. She was wearing a golden gown, a slightly resemblance to the gown that the goddess Kunzite had spoken to in the temple of Aphrodite.
Even that golden mane was the same, apart from the red bow on her back.
The goddess had been wearing gold all over.
Kunzite shook his head, unable to believe himself. Everywhere he went, he was reminded of that woman.
He left the two women and proceeded to go inquire Jadeite about Zircon.
He found the trio in the kitchen, as always.
He arched his eyebrow towards them. They stopped eating when they saw their leader.
"Can you not think of anything other than food, gentlemen?"
Jadeite shrugged, unperturbed, and resumed eating.
Kunzite sighed resignedly and joined them.
"Where are Haruka and the prince?" He asked, only now noticing the two missing warriors.
"He went out for a stroll, I think. As for Endymion, I think he is still sleeping." Nephrite answered him.
"I saw the queen talking to a woman in her room. Who is she?" Kunzite asked, utterly curious.
"You mean the beautiful woman?" When he nodded, Zoisite continued. "She is an old acquaintance of the queen, or so we were informed. She arrived at first light, announcing herself with a white cat perched on her shoulder as her companion."
"She must be of high supremacy for the queen notified her guards and servants to acknowledge the woman as she was a monarch herself." Nephrite added.
"Hmm… she reminds me of someone." Kunzite murmured to himself. Again he caught himself.
He had to stop this madness. Next thing he knew he would be obsessing the woman.
He addressed Jadeite to distract his mind from her. "So what news of Zircon?"
Jadeite shrugged indifferently. "What is there to tell? He did not try to contact us again that is for sure. I am assuming he is occupied looking for the Taakoizu, the bastard."
"Still, we have to be vigilant about Zircon. He is, after all, the oldest and most cunning of the Black Eye aside from Hera herself. He has lived through this day, only God knows how, and he would be proven as a much bigger challenge to us if we are not careful."
"No need to concern yourself with Zircon, gentlemen. I will handle him when the time comes." Came a soft voice from the doorway.
Even before Kunzite turned around, he already knew whom it was. He could not forget that soft voice of hers.
The four of them stood up, as a courtesy, and bowed to the queen and the woman beside her.
Kunzite's cool grey eyes widened, and there standing a few feet away from him, the goddess stood once again.
"Gentlemen, may I present you Aino Minako. An old acquaintance of mine. And, of course, her feline companion, Artemis." The queen introduced, her voice slightly edged when she introduced the feline.
For an instant Kunzite thought that the feline's eyes twitched, if that was even possible.
Then the woman spoke, taking Kunzite's attention away from Artemis.
"Gentlemen, it is my pleasure to meet you." Minako smiled.
Nephrite and Jadeite stepped forward immediately and the two of them each held a hand of the woman, eagerly bestowing a slight kiss.
Minako laughed amusingly.
"Minako, these are the Yoningumi. Nephrite, Jadeite, Zoisite and Kunzite." The queen said. "And Prince Endymion is around here somewhere…" She said, looking about the enormous kitchen.
Kunzite noticed Minako's eyes widened slightly, as if in shocked.
"So… Kunzite is your name…after all…" She murmured. She walked towards him and held up her hand, her knuckles turned up.
They stared at each other's eyes for an instant, slightly regarding each other, then Kunzite bent and also bestowed a kiss on her offered hand.
Zoisite and Jadeite elbowed each other, noticing Kunzite's affection towards the newcomer.
Kunzite frowned at her. "I thought that you already knew me even before this… you addressed me by name, after all, back there in the temple." He murmured, so only he and she could hear.
Minako smiled sadly. "Forgive me. When I saw you I addressed you by other man's name, never knowing that you have the same name. It is just that… when I saw you, I immediately thought of him for you have a slightly disturbing resemblance of him…" She explained.
Kunzite immediately felt a stab of jealousy. Granted, she had said his name but it was not him she thought of. Trying to make his expression impassive, he slightly bowed his head.
"It is all right, my lady. All is forgiven."
Minako smiled.
Just then, Haruka came striding in, her hair tousled from the wind, and she and Minako stared at one another.
Haruka had a slight frown on her forehead, as if vaguely remembering something.
"Do I know you from somewhere?" She asked abruptly.
Minako smiled. "No… but if it may interest you to know, I feel the same way. As if I have known you from…somewhere…"
Kunzite once again felt slightly jealous of how Minako was addressing Haruka.
As if… she was looking at a… lover…
Haruka stared at Minako, then shrugged as if it did not matter to her.
"Ah, Yoningumi… I want to inform you that I shall be joining in your journey as of today." Minako suddenly announced, startling the others. She lifted a hand and stroked her feline companion. The feline growled, rather than purred.
"What? Forgive me, my lady, but I do not think it is wise for you to join us in a dangerous matter." Zoisite said.
"I assure you Zoisite, I can take care of myself." Minako said, slightly offended.
It was Nephrite's turn to answer her, for Zoisite looked like he was about to faint. "We are not doubting your ability, my lady."
"Then what are you saying?" She titled her head, inwardly amused.
Nephrite opened his mouth, and then closed them again when no words came out. Like Zoisite, he did not like the idea of offending a woman, specially a woman who was a close acquaintance to the queen of the planet they were currently staying.
It was Jadeite who tried his luck. "Uh…what he was saying, uh… my lady, is that, we just… do not want you getting hurt…and…all."
"I think that points the idea about me saying I could take care of myself." She said, now openly amused.
"Forgive me for saying this, my lady, but you might be um… a somewhat distraction from the men aboard on our ship…"
"How so? I can change my clothing if that what is bothering you… I can make myself look like a man… if that is your intention…" She said with an amused sideway glance towards Haruka's direction.
Haruka's eyebrow twitched but said nothing.
"Our intention, my lady, is for you to not get involved in our escapade. We do not want to risk anyone's life in such a dangerous journey." It was Kunzite who explained.
"I can guarantee you Kunzite, my life will not be in danger at all. Why, if it makes you feel better I will not be putting my life before your hands at any matter… would that be all right?" Minako prodded.
"But…"
"Females can be warriors too, you know. You do not need strength. You only need skills and wits to qualify as a warrior… do you not agree… Kunzite?" She interrupted him.
They glared at each other, one defiant; the other was vibrating with anger.
Kunzite threw up his hands and rolled his eyes heavenwards. "I give up. A man cannot win with a woman."
Minako nodded with a triumphant smile gracing on her lips. "I am glad you know. Now come Haruka I would like to speak with you… privately." She added when the gentlemen cast them a curious glance.
Haruka was surprised however.
Minako walked out of the room with the silent amused queen with Haruka not far behind.
"So now what do we do? We cannot have women boarding on the ship. We might get attack by Erebus and--" Zoisite was interrupted.
"Oh let her! I do not particularly care if she hurt herself. That woman is stubborn let me tell you." Kunzite snapped.
But… in his mind… he did care.
And he better keep an eye on her.
He walked out of the three who was staring at him like he had a grown a head.
"Wow… what happened to him?" Jadeite asked.
"He is not usually like that… losing his temper so quickly." Nephrite frowned.
Zoisite just sighed. "Women." He muttered.
Haruka was left behind, her footsteps faltering and Minako was way ahead of her. She was questioning her mind as to what Minako wanted from her.
When she reached Minako's room, she was about to open the door when she heard voices conversing from the other side.
One was obviously Minako; the other was unknown to Haruka.
"How many times do I have to tell you? You cannot reveal yourself to her yet." A male voice declared.
Haruka frowned. She did not remember any man going to Minako's room.
"But she is one of us! Surely that is enough proof."
"Would you keep your voice down? And you do not know that!"
"Honestly Artemis, when did you become such a grumbler anyway? Can you not see her aura? She is positively glowing! And with Uranus' aura no less!"
"Every Uranians do." Muttered the man.
"Oh for Venus' sake! Stop being stubborn Artemis! If you keep that up we will never find them at all!"
"I am just trying to be positive with the idea!"
"Positive my foot! I am the positive one here. You are just being pig-headed!"
"Why, of all the nerve! You may be thousands of years old but so do I! I am much older than you."
"Bah… you are only two thousand years older than me. Not much difference."
"Besides I have more knowledge on this than you do!"
Minako laughed. "Oh Artemis… you are such a… cat. Stubborn, really."
All Haruka heard was a grumble. She thrust open the door and there stood Minako with an innocent face.
"Haruka! Finally, I thought you were not going to arrive." She beamed.
"Were you just talking to your cat?" Haruka demanded, looking about the room. There in the bed was Artemis, curled up in a ball. His too-innocent grey eyes were locked into hers.
Minako said nothing, letting Artemis handled it on his own.
Haruka approached the bed, bent and scooped Artemis and looked into his eyes.
"Speak!" She demanded. Minako laughed.
"Meow." Artemis said, playing along.
"I know you can speak you damn cat. I heard you and Mina arguing."
"Meow?" He said again.
Haruka shook the cat roughly. Minako kept laughing at Artemis' horrified expression.
"Speak! Let him speak." She riveted her attention towards Minako, demanding it.
"Yes, Artemis. Do speak." She said amusingly.
"Fine. Just put me down, will you? I think I am going to throw up." Artemis finally said.
Haruka dropped him as if she's been burned and stepped back, startled. "Damn. I was right."
"Yes you were. Ohh… I think you shook my brain out." Artemis protested, swaying.
"Ignore Artemis. He tends to be a bit exaggerated." Minako said cheerily.
Then, much to Haruka's shocked, Artemis glowed and formed into a human being. Artemis, who once has been a feline, now turned into a long white-haired handsome man, with white clothing and a crescent moon adorning his neck that matched the crescent moon marked on his forehead.
"What the hell are you!" Haruka shouted. Minako abruptly closed the door on her room.
"Haruka, please calm yourself. We will explain everything to you once you are calm."
"This is your fault Minako. I told you to keep your voice down. Now we are discovered."
Haruka's eyes narrowed. "You are one of Hera's militia are you not?"
"Help me Serenity! Of course not!" Artemis protested indignantly.
"Then who the hell are you?"
"Please do sit down, Haruka. I will explain everything." Minako said calmly, now suddenly serious.
Haruka's eyes narrowed but did as she was told.
"You do know that you are one of the celestial warriors?" Minako enquired.
"No, I did not know that… How?"
You have the aura and the insignia of a celestial warrior, who will thrive to fight for her queen."
Haruka continued to frown.
Minako looked at her. "Do you not remember of your past life?"
"My… past… life?"
-- The story is Copyrighted © by dloveheart 2002 --
(some characters excluded)