"Don't be afraid of the queen," Tsute encouraged as she led the way through the corridors. "She is a wonderful and kind woman."
"But she is the queen!" Mikomi protested, hurried along by Kumori.
"I can understand you being shy," Kashoku pondered, "but do not be afraid of her, please Mikomi."
"We'll be with you for support," Kumori reassured her.
Mikomi sighed and said no more.
As they rounded the last corner, Kashoku observed, "I think we made it in time. It does not appear that she has left for court yet."
"Wait," Mikomi asked, coming to a halt, "Are these her private quarters?"
"Yes Mikomi," Tsute said, "But that's beside the point. As sailor senshi, we have access to many things that others do not. Now come on. We do not want to delay Our Lady."
Mikomi heaved a sigh as Kumori took her hand and pulled her towards the door. Kashoku knocked and called, "Your Highness? May we speak with you? We have some news that you will enjoy."
"Yes, come in!" a melodic voice called from inside, "Guards, unlatch the door."
"Yes Lady," a guard said briskly from inside, and the noise of wood grating on metal followed shortly.
After waiting a moment, Kashoku pushed the door open. She strode confidently in, Tsute following. Kumori gave Mikomi a firm push then flowed the stumbling girl in. The guards shut the door behind them.
"What news do you have for me," the queen asked eagerly from where she sat, a maid pulling her light blond hair into royal buns.
"Well," Tsute began, "We have a new recruit."
"A new what?" she asked excitedly.
"Queen Astra, may we present to you," Kumori started, giving Mikomi yet another slight shove forward, "Shiroi no Mikomi, Sailor White Sun, your newest soldier."
The queen quickly twisted around in her low seat, the maid quickly following her actions so as not to pull her hair. "Shiroi no Mikomi," she said thoughtfully, "I never thought that I would see you in garb like that. You did not strike me as that type. Welcome to the palace and the order of the Golden Sun Senshi. Now, if I were not getting my hair done at the moment, I would get up and give you a hug. But I will have to reserve that for another time dear."
"I… um…" Mikomi stammered awkwardly. Seeing her nervousness, Kumori lightly squeezed her hand. "Thank you," the white soldier said finally.
"How long have you been in the palace?" the queen asked.
"Well," Mikomi said shakily, "Just today."
"Rather fast, I would think," Astra commented.
"Kumori…" she trailed off, unable to think of words to say. I can't believe I'm having a casual conversation with the queen of the sun!
"I went after Mikomi to her home in the Shiroi prefecture after we deduced that she was the most likely candidate," Kumori explained for her, "After bringing her back, we did the scan today and she figured out how to henshin very quickly."
"Excellent Mikomi-chan," Queen Astra praised, "Now if you feel up to it and can find a suitable gown, we could hold your formal presentation at court this evening, or we could wait until next week's major function."
"This evening will be fine," Mikomi answered, in a daze.
"Wonderful," Astra nodded with a smile, "We will have your orientation and begin your training tomorrow. We will also have a much more in depth chat then as well. Hurry off and get dressed and ready. And again, welcome!"
"Thank you, Lady," Mikomi bowed shakily then was led out of the room by the other three girls. All four of them were saluted at the door by the guards.
Mikomi found herself, once again, being hurried down the halls, this time back to their own quarters.
"How much time do we have?" Tsute asked urgently.
"About twenty minutes," Kumori answered.
"I'll need to send for a maid to help with my hair then," Tsute mused, "That's not enough time for me to do it on my own."
Kashoku laughed.
"What?" Tsute asked accusingly, "You never do anything with your hair."
"Oh, I brush it once in a while," Kashoku joked casually.
"I suppose I will be needing to move my things to my permanent room tonight?" Mikomi asked.
Kumori laughed, "You're already in the right room. Didn't you notice the small white star engraved on your door?"
Mikomi only laughed lightly in response.
When they reached their hallway, Kumori followed Mikomi to her room. "Think you'll be able to find everything alright?" she asked politely.
"No, thank you, I'll be fine," Mikomi answered dismissively. When Kumori did not immediately leave, she asked, embarrassed, "How do I get out of this outfit."
"Just will yourself not to be wearing it and to return to normal clothes," Kumori explained.
Mikomi closed her pale blue eyes, brow furrowed in concentration. Her fuku faded away, leaving her gray traveling gown in its place.
Once she opened her eyes again and glanced over her dress, Kumori asked, "Is that everything?"
The newest soldier nodded.
"Alright then," Kumori said, "Come to my room as soon as you are ready and I'll show you down to the great hall. The other two will probably go ahead of us."
"Okay," Mikomi nodded again as Kumori left and closed the door behind her.
Mikomi proceeded to dig through her well-organized trunk for one of the icy white gowns that she always wore to court. Once she found the one she was looking for, she stripped out of and stowed away her travel gown and slowly slipped into her fancier one. She examined herself in the mirror then slowly left her room. Moving down the hallway, she scanned the doors for a small black star. Two doors down from her own, she found it. She knocked lightly on the door.
"Come in Mikomi!" Kumori's voice called from inside.
Mikomi obediently slipped inside to see Kumori just pulling up her dress. She politely averted her eyes.
Seeing Mikomi's reaction, Kumori blushed, "Sorry about that."
Mikomi just blushed as well.
"Now," Kumori said in a business-like tone as she moved over to her dresser and slid the white rose from its vase, "I really should be returning this to you. It is yours after all."
"I have nowhere to put it," Mikomi protested, blushing harder. So that is the same rose after all…
"If you will allow me to," Kumori suggested, "I can put it up in your hair.
"Well, I guess," Mikomi submitted.
Kumori stared up at Mikomi's head, not moving.
"Oh, right!" Mikomi laughed and kneeled down.
Kumori chuckled, "Now that's better!" She promptly snapped the stem to a shorter length, discarding the flowerless portion, and slid the rose into Mikomi's hair at the base of her bun. "There!" she said, "You're ready. Now let's go."
"Okay, thank you," Mikomi said and smiled.
This time they walked down the corridors at a more casual pace. "What does this whole presentation entitle?" Mikomi asked.
"The queen will announce that the guardian from Shiroi has been found and that it's you," Kumori explained, "You will be introduced to lots of people, including the rest of the royal family, then you just have to socialize, staying up near the throne area for the night. No hiding at the buffet table for you!"
Mikomi giggled at the last comment, then asked more seriously, "How long will I have to stay there?"
"Until court is over this evening, several hours, or until you are far too tired to stand any more," Kumori answered, "But if you need anything at all, feel free to send me off for it."
Mikomi smiled, "Okay. I cannot promise that I'll be good at the whole socializing thing though. I have never enjoyed court." As an afterthought, she added, "Do you think you could help me keep the boys off for tonight?"
"Of course!" Kumori exclaimed, "I'll do anything to make tonight go smoothly for you."
Finally they reached the entrance to the great hall. Kashoku and Tsute lingered outside of the curtained arch waiting for them. "Are you ready," Kashoku asked.
Mikomi nodded slowly.
"Alright," Kashoku answered, "We will alert the queen. When she says your name, come in, okay?"
"Okay," Mikomi said.
All three of the other guardians pushed through the curtain while Mikomi stayed carefully out of sight. Just before Kumori disappeared into the other room she winked and whispered encouragingly, "Good luck!"
Less than a minute later, she heard Queen Astra's voice rise up above the crowd. "Excuse me," she started. When the chatter did not seem to die down, she repeated more loudly, "Excuse me." Moments later there was near silence. "I have wonderful news for everyone here," she began brightly, "the fourth guardian soldier has been found." At this, the room broke into whispers, which quickly died down when the queen spoke again, "I present to you Sailor White Sun: Shiroi no Mikomi."
Hesitantly, Mikomi pulled the curtains back. She put on a proud smile and stepped forward, out onto the dais next to the other three guardian senshi; the room erupted into applause for her.
"Step farther forward," Kumori urged quietly, "Let them get a better look at you."
At her bidding, Mikomi walked stiffly to the front edge of the raised step, a smile on her face masking her nervousness. Farther back, she could see courtiers fighting to get space to see her.
After what seemed like hours of applause, the queen called to her, "Mikomi, please come here."
Leaving her place, she glided over to the thrones where the queen sat with her family.
"Yes, my queen?" she asked politely.
"Mikomi," she began, gesturing to each person as she spoke, "This is my husband King Helios."
"Pleased to meet you sir," she said and bowed.
"The pleasure is mine," he responded.
"And these are my two daughters: Princess Enogu is the oldest. You will answer to her in battle," Astra explained, "And Princess Aiji is the heir to the throne, the youngest. Her soldiers will be the Sun Spectrum Senshi, none of whom have been discovered yet."
"It is wonderful to meet you both!" Mikomi smiled.
The younger girl seemed to be daydreaming, paying little attention, but Princess Enogu answered, "I hope we will get to know each other better."
"Of course!" the newest soldier exclaimed.
"And lastly," the queen finished, "These are our guardian cats, Apollo, Helia, and Solara."
"Cats?" Mikomi asked quizzically.
"We're advisors, or something of the sort," the orange male cat said from where he sat, curled up at Aiji's feet.
"You can—?" she started in surprise.
"Talk," the midnight blue female interrupted as Enogu scratched her behind her ears, "Yes we can. We're here to make sure you all stay in line and watch over the princesses."
The third cat, light yellow in color, continued napping on Aiji's lap and said nothing.
This might take some getting used to… "Thank you for introducing me your highness" Mikomi said sweetly.
"Any time Mikomi dear," Queen Astra said, "Now go chat with the courtiers. I'm sure they are dying to meet you."
Mikomi giggled and performed one last slight bow to the royal family before turning away towards the crowd. She had not walked two steps before she found Kumori at her side. "Aren't they all wonderful people?" she asked.
Mikomi nodded with a smile.
"See!" the dark girl said triumphantly, "I told you it wouldn't be so bad!"
She giggled.
As soon as they descended the steps and were swallowed up by the crowd, Mikomi was bombarded with questions.
"How did you become Astra's guardian?"
"They found me and told me I was."
"I have seen you here at court before, have I not?"
"Yes, I have been here often."
"You are Lady Shiroi no Shinju's daughter, are you not?"
"Yes, that is me."
"You look lovely! Where did you get your dress?"
"Thank you, but I am afraid I do not know."
"Would you join me for afternoon tea some time?"
"Of course! When I get settled in, that is."
Mikomi found her head spinning with all the things she had to pay attention to and the rapid questioning.
"Are you alright Mikomi," Kumori asked, concerned, "You look paler than usual."
"Oh I'm fine," she said dismissively.
"I'll go get you something to drink," Kumori said, "You look like you need it."
Mikomi smiled weakly, "Thank you."
Just after Kumori left, she found herself face-to-face with the person she feared most that the moment: her mother.
"What do you thing you are you doing Mikomi?" she demanded furiously. "You did not return my letter and besides, I thought you were supposed to be resting! I could have kept you from them if you just would have written me back. You certainly cannot hold a position like this! You need to take my place as High Lady of the Shiroi Prefecture and continue the family line. I just found a suitable husband for you and now he surely will not have you. Look what you have done!"
"Mother I—" Mikomi stammered, wishing there was somewhere to hide. Meanwhile, courtiers all around them backed away, staring at the spectacle.
"You did not so much as ask my permission for this, or even tell me your intentions!" the white lady exclaimed, "This was a terrible way to surprise me, and you know that!"
"But—" she tried to defend herself.
"I will hear none of your excuses," Shinju said firmly, still fuming, "Now I want you to go right back up to our lady Queen Astra and tell her that you resign!"
"I—!" she started defiantly.
"Mikomi!" Lady Shinju raised her voice.
Just then, Kumori hurried over to Mikomi and shoved a glass of water into her hand then moved defensively in front of the taller girl. Despite Lady Shiroi no Shinju towering over her, Kumori's face held an expression of fierce determination and anger.
"How dare you Lady Shinju!" Kumori exclaimed. "Don't you know that Queen Astra has authority over you and your daughter? Mikomi has the right to choose her own path in life, just like every other normal girl."
"But she is the only heir to the unbroken Shiroi line," Shinju protested.
Shaking and wide-eyed, Mikomi drank the water.
"Just because she is one of Astra's guardian senshi does not mean that the line is broken. She is not taken from you completely," Kumori reminded firmly, "Being in Mikomi's position is an honor, remember that."
When Shinju did not answer, only glaring hard at the pair of young soldiers, Mikomi started, "Kumori, I—"
"Now," Kumori interrupted, "I will not have you two conversing until both of you have calmed down and can speak sensibly. Until then, goodbye Lady Shinju." She grabbed Mikomi's wrist and quickly dragged her away through the crowd.
"Don't let her corner you like that again," Kumori scolded firmly then sighed, "Boy is it exhausting to argue with your mother. I don't know how you do it." She casually took the glass of water from Mikomi's hand and drank the rest herself. Looking at the empty glass, she apologized, "Sorry."
"It's okay," Mikomi said, still shaking slightly, "I'm fine."
"Not yet you aren't," Kumori observed. Out of the corner of her eye she saw several boys, one pointed to Mikomi's hair. "Oh," she groaned, "Not him again."
"Not who again?" Mikomi asked then followed Kumori's gaze towards a wiry boy with unremarkable blond hair, "Oh, him."
Seeing Mikomi look his direction, the boy smiled and began to walk towards her.
"I'll handle this for you," Kumori said quietly, handed the glass back to Mikomi, and then walked over to meet him.
Mikomi watched him start to say something, gesturing to her, but Kumori interrupted him. After she finished her statement, she turned abruptly and walked back towards Mikomi. The boy's face held at first an expression of surprise, which was followed shortly by anger then perplexity. After glancing between Mikomi and Kumori with that look of confusion for a few moments, he shrugged and returned to his friends.
Kumori returned with a mischievous smile on her face.
"What did you say to him?" Mikomi asked suspiciously.
"I said," Kumori answered, wrapping one arm around Mikomi's waist, "That you're mine and he can't have you."
Mikomi smiled broadly and giggled and Kumori joined in her laughter.
8