A/N: The ages for the Senshi and Mamoru:
Usagi – 20
Rei and Makoto – 23
Minako and Ami – 24
Hotaru – 18
Haruka and Michiru – 27
Setsuna – ?
Mamoru - 25
* * *
They were making her wear the dress again. The pink, fluffy, trimmed with lace and oh so cute dress. She was the Senshi of Death and Destruction, and her parents still made her wear pink. And because of what? Because some petty earth noble suddenly decided to pay her a visit with no apparent reason? Hotaru sighed. It was going to be a long day.
She walked the way to the library with a causal pace, her curiosity battling with her irritation. It was more appropriate to have guests at her garden, where there were pretty flowers and sun and everything was bright, then in some dreary musty old library... But ever since she turned 18 and had at least some shred of liberty, Hotaru didn't do pretty. Well, except the dress. The things one had to do for family peace...
Her violet eyes fixed on the library door, she wondered if the prince was as silly as all the other men at court were. And most of the women. And some of the children too... Wearing all kinds of ridiculous things to attract attention, making fools of themselves with empty sentences and flattery and trying to out best each other with it. There were perhaps a dozen people in this system that had her respect and admiration... And eight of them were her fellow Senshi.
'Well... Let's meet the man that find's himself worthy of Usagi', she thought. Maybe she should give him a fair chance. She peeked through the door to catch a glimpse of him and took notice of the ornate and impractical jacket he wore, that just screamed money.
He is a fool, after all.
* * *
Mamoru shifted in his seat nervously. Why was she making him wait this long? He was royalty, after all. Well, so was she. But that's why she should know better! Usagi deserves someone who doesn't make people wait this long, he thought sulkily.
And he was in such a good mood, before. It took him all of 5 minutes to find who was Usagi's lady love; as the Saturn princess's file was the first one he pulled out. It could be no one else – black hair, purple eyes (or raven hair and violet eyes, as the poem went, but he wasn't feeling so poetic anymore)... Mysterious and serious too – what could be more serious then the Senshi of Destruction, after all?
Finally, she walked in. As he took her appearance in, at first he was certain he was mistaken. She was in a pink dress his 11 years old cousin would consider herself to old to wear, all lacey and as girly as it gets. This couldn't be Usagi's serious mysterious type, could it?
But when he saw her eyes, he knew that it could. Her eyes were dark and large, serious and deep, and held contempt for the world well beyond her years. She was beautiful, with her pale pale skin and dark hair (which wasn't waist long, but maybe she cut it? women and their hair, who would know...). All the Senshi were beautiful, or so he heard. But there was something about her he found disturbing. Scary even (and the pink dress didn't help). It was strange to Mamoru that the sunny moon princess would pick someone like that.
'But love is love, I suppose, and you can't choose who you fall in love with... Be it male or female, cute or creepy', he thought with a sigh. This is not going to be easy.
* * *
What on earth was this man talking about? He must be crazier than he looks, and that's saying a lot.
He started with the meaningless pleasantries about the weather, the latest courts rumors and such. She indulged him and answered all of his questions politely, but she couldn't quite hide the irritation from her voice, or the fact she thought the whole conversation useless. Hotaru badly wanted to just tell him to shut up and ask the reason for his visit, but he was obviously the kind of man who talks a lot, and she would never hear the end of it if the word got to her parents. So she nodded, and listened, and listened.
Then all of the sudden he stood up, and started pacing the room. Although the girl was grateful for the quiet, he looked so nervous it was starting to infect her too. This was impossible! 'Well, I'll TRY to be tactful... ', she lied to herself, before she went on to say:
"This visit was most... pleasant, and I've enjoyed your company immensely, but pray tell kind sir: what exactly brings you to my library?"
"It is... Not easy to say. Hotaru-hime... Do you find Usagi-hime beautiful?" the prince said, stopping his pacing.
"It is none of your business what I think of my friend and princess. Have you come to me to help you woo her? Then you are seriously mistaken – I have
no interest in such frivolous activities. Try Minako, she lives for that sort of thing. Are we done?" she answered, not even bothering to hide her exasperation anymore.
"I see I caught you in a bad mood, milady. I shall go now – but I really think you should talk to Usagi-hime. She is not well, and you might be the only one who could help her".
With those words he turned and left, red in the face and glaring at her all the way to the door. "It's not a bad mood, it's just me", Hotaru mumbled. Still... What was wrong with Usagi? What on earth was that weird man talking about?
* * *
A/N: This is my first try at fanfiction, and I would really appreciate the feedback... To improve the story and let me know that someone's reading it. ;)