Thanks for all your reviews guys!! Please keep reading and reviewing-
and remember, if something bugs ya, say so. This is a little on the
long side, but enjoy!! Oh, and an important note: the PoV (point of
view) changes in this chapter so watch out and pay attention!! If ya
skim, ya might miss it, so like Serena--- constant vigilance!! (Hmm,
isn't that reminiscent of someone from yet another fantasy, with a magic
eye??)
But to more pressing matters, I still had to figure out a specific way
to make Darien realize that I played to win, too- he seemed to think
he'd get away with his snide remarks and I'd be helpless and unable to
dish out anything to match his barbs. How to convince him that even a
"little princess" a foot shorter than him could fight right back? How?
How??
Well, whoever it was that said you can fix any problem with enough
concentration needs a good slap upside the head- the harder I
concentrated, the more impossible it seemed that I could come up with
any victory, how ever short-lived, against someone as sharp as him.
And then, epiphany! It is quite amazing, really, how the strangest
things can give you inspiration. In my case, it was the dinner bell.
I quickly changed my plain gray gown for one that Luna always sighed
over and complimented me fervently. It was very cheery and attracted
attention while allowing me to retain my modesty- a light shade of pink
with sunshine yellow ruffles and a neckline that, while not plunging,
hinted at my assets just enough for...well....I think you get the general
idea. I figured I might as well catch Mr. I'm-too-cocky-and-handsome-
for-my-own-good Shields' eye while playing my games, though just why I
wanted that sort of attention from him, I didn't quite know. Just keep
telling yourself that, darling, you know perfectly well why you want it,
and more. Ugh, that voice- what I would not do to simply stamp it out
for good! And yet, like a thorn in my side, it popped up with annoying
exuberance whenever I tried to deny what I really thought. I firmly
shoved it back to the far recesses of my mind, where it belonged,
straightened the pink bows around my two buns, and walked downstairs
with all the pomp and grace of a queen.
THUD!
Perhaps I should have been a little more specific. Perhaps I should
have said- "and walked downstairs with all the pomp and grace of a
queen until I tripped over the broken stair half way down and rolled
the rest of the way down after trying to regain my balance and failing
miserably."
I landed at the foot of the staircase on my rear with the skirt of my
gown completely over my head and my petticoats revealed for all and
sundry. Oh please, I'm sorry I stuck my tongue out at Richard last
Sunday at church, God, truly sorry, but please, do know I believe in
you with all my heart, especially right now, and with that in mind,
please do not let...
"Well, hello Serena. You certainly look stunning this evening, well
that is, your undergarments look stunning, and I'm sure your lovely
countenance does as well, although it is hard to be certain, what with
that skirt covering it. Correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't skirts
meant to be worn on your lower half, not your upper? Ah well, probably
just the latest fashion- it's so hard to keep up with fashions of today."
...him see me like this. Lovely, just wonderful. And if it's not too
much to ask right now, God, with all my other pending requests- DO YOU
THINK YOU COULD REQUEST A REDWOOD COFFIN ON MY BEHALF? I'd do it myself,
but seeing as I'm currently dying of humiliation...
"Hello yourself, Darien. I agree, it is definitely very hard to keep
up with modern fashion- no wonder you're 50 years behind it.," I replied
vehemently, as I violently pulled my skirt down and stood up, gathering
the shreds of my dignity together.
"The soul of wit, even under the most pressing of circumstances. Need
some help there, princess?" he asked, grinning.
"I'm quite alright, thank you. Had you simply helped me up without
shoving your foot in your mouth, like any other man would do in your
situation, I might have reconsidered my intense dislike for you. But
you went right ahead and forced your entire leg in that gaping maw of
yours, and now have my certified hate. Congratulations!" I finished
with false cheer, and stormed into the dining room.
How dare he! And to think I could have wanted the attentions of such
a boor! I sat down in my usual seat at the dining table, taking care
to first knock Sammy on the head for that oh-so-satisfying "Serenaaaaaa!!"
Ah, the glory of having a younger brother who was old enough to beat up
on without being called a bully, and yet young enough so that said
beatings-up were still effective. The way I saw it, I needed some sort
of concession for the disaster that had just occurred. As it was, I
doubted I would be forgetting the humiliation of falling down the
staircase anytime soon. And all this before I could even get my plans
into action! With this thought I looked up expectantly at the doorway,
having assumed that Darien would follow me into the dining hall for
dinner.
But, mysteriously enough, he was nowhere to be found.
Why do I care? I thought agitatedly. Why should I give a damn where he
is or why he suddenly disappeared? I crashed into him yesterday, met
him formally today, I hardly know him, and I must say, what I've seen
of him already isn't exactly working in his favor...Ah well, who cares?
Yes, here's dinner- TOTAL YUMMINESS! And with it, come my lovely
plans...
He chuckled a little at her retreating figure as she stomped out of the
hall and into the dining room, but as soon as her enchanting figure had
disappeared, he sobered. With a few brisk and graceful steps, he had
shut the door behind him and walked into the dark night outside.
Waiiiiiittt, enchanting???
Where in hell had THAT come from? Good lord, what in God's name was
the matter with him? She grated on his nerves, and that was about all
the effect she had, or would ever have on him. He'd always prided
himself on his ability to remain entirely unfazed by anything and
everything, and more specifically, every chit that he came across,
pretty or not.
Anyway, forget her...there were more important things to be dealt with
right now. Like his mission, and what he could possibly tell the King
that night when they all met up at the tavern to discuss updates on the
situation. The other four would be there too, he expected, with updates
on their own missions, all the same as his:
Take on a job at one of the five ruling estates in the Scarletvale
province, a job that would allow each to figure out the truth, and
if something was going on at that estate that shouldn't be.
It had been a month ago, Darien mused, as he quietly saddled a horse
from the estate stables, mounted it, and galloped quickly off onto
Crescent Moon Road. The sun was dying by fire, and it lit the sky with
a dazzling splash of pink and purple as it slowly descended behind the
far off mountains.
One month ago almost exactly, that King Diamond had called the five of
them together with the news that something was amiss in Scarletvale- or
to put it bluntly, the taxes coming in from that area were virtually
nonexistent, according to his chief accountant, Zoicite. He smelled a
rat, the King said, and he was putting his five most trusted advisors
in charge of the investigation.
Reaching into one of the inner pockets of his coat, he pulled out his
brass watch-chain. Perfect, he could reach the tavern in about an hour.
He allowed the horse to move at a slow gallop, and as his eyes took
in the sights about him, his mind traveled back to that day that now
seemed so long ago.
Diamond had said he could literally feel the corruption coming from the
province, and he just knew something sinister was afoot there that was
keeping the taxes from coming in as they should. So, without further
ado, he had assigned them to separate and work subtly but keenly, as
he knew only they could, to reveal the truth and restore justice. It
had taken the rest of that month to formulate plans.
As he traveled on, he appreciatively looked about him; so much perfect
greenery, flowers everywhere; this was, he'd found out from Tsukino,
was entirely due to Serena. She loved the outdoors, having a great
affinity for natural beauty, and made every effort to create a colorful
tapestry of various blossoms, trees and grass on their property, with
the aid of their hired help. It was Serena, too, who had decided on
the name of their estate- Lunaria...
There were five estates to be investigated, and they decided finally
that Kunzite would go to Venutia, Nephrite to Thunder Forest, Jadeite
to Tranquil Waters, Zoicite to Sacred Flame Hill, and Darien would go
to Lunaria. They had split up and left for their respective estates,
and tonight would be their first meeting at the tavern where the roads
to the five estates met, to discuss progress and methods of inspection.
The regal sun had completely disappeared past the mountain, and the moon
in all its mysterious splendor now gazed down at him. Bright but gentle,
beautiful past words, it was so much like Sere...ahem, enough distractions.
What to say tonight? He'd met Tsukino that morning, and had to say, he
liked the man, whose cheery demeanor he could already identify in his
daughter, Serenity. He smiled wryly at this thought. He'd observed her
even before they'd bumped into each other the day before, and was
astonished at the sunshine that radiated from her constantly. So much
energy, so much vivacity, such an unrestrained love for life!
Her passion was entirely alien to Darien. An orphan since soon after
his birth, he'd never really cared for anyone or anything- existence
was a day-to-day affair for him, and he had very little value for even
his own life. Undoubtedly, Kunz, Jed, Neph, and Zo were the best
friends a man could have, and had reached out to him since childhood
when he lacked the family and love everyone else seemed to have in
abundance. The five were really more like brothers and their easy
companionship was evident in every gesture and word to one another.
Nevertheless, he did not understand love, and he certainly didn't
understand how Serena could give it out so freely, to even little
sparrows, like the one with a broken wing he had seen her tenderly
caring for earlier the previous day. And another thing- why was she
so different from every other young woman he'd met?
The other young women, who fawned over him enough to cause temporary
asphyxiation, the ones that flirted shamelessly with every fellow under
sixty, the ones Jed strung up with two-edged compliments and fake
smiles, while laughing uproariously at their stupidity later in private
with Darien and the others. Whereas Serena, and he smirked at the
mental image this conjured up, had unhesitatingly told him exactly how
much she despised him, and he'd seen her slap a youth of about her age
who, apparently, had incurred her wrath by 'shoving his foot in his
mouth' in much the same way Darien had.
What a girl!
Ah, but he was going off about her AGAIN! He had to stop this
ludicrous behavior- how Jed would laugh if he caught wind of it! Now,
to the matter at hand. Before and after she'd come in for her first
meeting with him alone, he had surreptitiously looked through the bills,
documents and ledgers that cluttered the top of Tsukino's desk and filled
the drawers. As far as he could see at first glance, nothing was amiss,
and while giving the impression of being quite unorganized, the estate
owner's records were in perfect order.
Upon further scrutiny, they might reveal something else, however...so
he'd have to watch out. With that thought, he jumped off the horse,
giving it a gentle pat, and tied its reigns to a stake behind the
tavern.
The tavern keeper had been bribed into complete silence and was more
than willing to provide his underground room for the meeting. All
virtue was a matter of price, Darien thought sardonically, and one
could get a person, man or woman, to do just about anything if tempted
with a bit of gold.
He entered and walked towards the counter, subtly gestured to a flash
of silver in the side pocket of his coat, to which the tavern keeper
nodded and nodded his head towards the back of the dimly lit room.
Without any indication that he had seen the man, Darien moved so
imperceptibly to the right that it seemed he had simply disappeared
into the shadows.
He silently stepped down the steep, dingy stairwell, remembering only
too vividly a certain odangoed-creature's, ahem, encounter with one
just a little earlier...enough! Ah, there they were, all five. Wait,
what was the matter with Zo?
"Oy there, Dare, now that's a first! Never thought we'd have to wait
for you, of all people," Jed remarked with his trademark smirk.
Darien grinned at the thought of what had kept them waiting- a broken
stair and furious maiden. "Yes, well, I got a little sidetracked...
say, Zo, why the pained look? What's the matter with your head?"
At this, Jadeite and Nephrite exploded into laugher, while Kunzite
and King Diamond desperately tried to keep a straight face, though
they seemed on the verge of losing it, the corners of their lips
shaking with suppressed mirth. Zoicite looked even more miserable
and let out a completely uncharacteristic whine.
"It is not funny! I'm in severe agony here!"
"Oh, gasp, sorry, Zo, we're not, wheeze, laughing at you, cough
cough, it's just that...oh, hell, gasp, maybe we are, but the
thought of you, Sir Brainiac, with an IQ the size of Earth, chuckle
beaten and brought to your knees by a snicker mere woman!" Jadeite
finished, desperately trying to catch his breath, and holding on to
Nephrite for support.
"And I thought I had interesting news! This story certainly sounds
far more fascinating. Care to share, Zo?" Darien asked, raising an
eyebrow at the scene surrounding him.
"Not particularly..." grumbled the man with a cold, wet cloth atop
his forehead.
"Oh, come on, Zo, you know perfectly well, you'll split your britches
laughing over this whole incident...just...maybe...not...today,"
Nephrite finished shakily, upon receiving a death-glare from the target
of their laughter.
"Anyway, if you won't tell it, we will."
"NO, NO! Absolutely not! As much as I enjoy being the object of your
ridicule, I'd much rather save myself the obvious humiliation of having
YOU tell, and probably exaggerate wildly, my encounter with Sacred Flame
Hill, and its mistress." At this last word, he shuddered visibly, and
Jadeite and Nephrite predictably sniggered.
Zo took a deep breath and began.
"Well, I set off two days ago, like the rest of you, but due to, ahem,
complications, I only got there last night. And yes, I suppose you
louts will expect me to explain what the main complication was. I was
so preoccupied with getting something to drink- and what do you expect?
it was so hot!- that I sort of, uh, forgot to tie my horse's reins up
properly and so when I realized and ran out to get it, it was already
galloping away, but not before splashing muddy sludge all over me.
So, I basically lost the horse and was covered head-to-toe in filth.
Oh and did I mention that my entire provisions & clothes bag was tied
to the horse's saddle? Well, it was. So, really, I lost the horse,
my attire and supplies and had to walk the remaining 12 miles up Hikawa
Lane. And you think, 12 miles, Zo, you pansy, that's nothing to
complain of. Oh, is that so? Well, try walking it when said 12 miles
are on a G'DAMNED SLOPE! Note, it's called Sacred Flame HILL! And
when they say hill, they're not bloody joking!"
By this time, Jadeite and Nephrite had decided to start in on their
second roar fest for the evening- the image of their unfailingly mild-
mannered comrade swearing like this all the way up the mountain was
simply too much for them.
"But was that all? Of course not. I thought 'What else can possibly
happen to make this worse?' Had I been thinking clearly, Murphy's Law
would have brought me in for a reality check, but I wasn't in much of
a state to figure that out. So I finally made it to the Hill by the
next afternoon, and as I stopped to catch my breath, this, er,
attractive woman looks up from her garden."
"Attractive? Are you saying YOU found a woman beautiful, Zo? That
bump on your forehead must be worse that I thought." interjected Darien.
"Oh, shut up. She was- longest black hair I've ever seen- it almost
looked violet, like her eyes. Anyhow, God alone knows what she must
have thought when she saw my disgustingly disheveled state, but she
simply invited me in, gave me a delicious dinner of rolls, soup and
roast mutton, and offered me a place to stay overnight. I didn't
quite mention why I was there, but she didn't seem to care.
So I slept there, and when I woke up in the morning, I found her
praying in front of a fire in a nearby room of her mansion, if it can
be rightfully called that. I tiptoed in, not wanting to interrupt her,
but she sensed my presence immediately, and gently asked if I needed
anything.
I told her I needed a job, and she said she was terribly sorry and
there wasn't really much I could do. And this is where my inimitable
brilliance makes its entrance. I ventured to mention that maintaining
such a huge estate must be such entirely difficult for one person, and
at that, a woman like herself, to accomplish. BIG MISTAKE. She got
this look on her face like she was going to have a conniption or-"
"Zo, if it isn't too much to ask, you think you could continue speaking
English here?" Nephrite interrupted.
"Good lord, read a book, man! Fine, then, she looked like she was
ready to kill something, or someone rather. She just hollered at me.
Said something to the effect of how dare I question her abilities,
and why couldn't a woman do anything her censored-possessing counterpart
could. I don't quite remember the details of her tirade because then
she did this crazy kick, back-flip thing and before I even knew what
was going on, I was flat on my back, which might have cracked with the
impact had I been any less physically strong, and some sort of long
paper was stuck to my forehead.
She yelled at me to get off her property before she did even worse,
and I, well, I..."
"You basically scampered. Bravo, Zo! What a masterful presence!"
Darien remarked, grinning widely.
Jadeite and Nephrite, at this point, were rolling on the floor, laughing
wordlessly, tears streaming from their eyes.
"Gentlemen, as amusing as Zoicite's, ahem, little adventure is, we DO
have some business to discuss, that is, believe it or not, a little
more important than some madwoman's antics."
"Gah! Honestly, Kunz, you wouldn't even be putting on this farce of
propriety and calm if His Majesty weren't here," Jadeite jeered,
regaining his composure, and rising from his position curled up on the
floor.
"Well, at least Kunzite thankfully has enough sense to realize that
there is a time and place for everything, Jadeite," King Diamond noted
in his typically cool, emotionless tone. "What news do you bring, men?"
"Well, I, for one, found my first encounter with Tranquil Lake to be
singularly boring. Tranquil indeed! Everything about the place is
completely horrific!"
"In the context of what you said, I think you mean 'soporific,' Jed,"
Zoicite corrected patiently.
"Well, I mean both! It's so soporific it IS horrific! Granted, the
young lady, Ami I think her name was, is a hell of a looker, but so
damn shy! She barely spoke six words to me in the entire time I was
there! Actually, no, seven- 'it is my pleasure to meet you.'"
"Jed, anything with legs, long eyelashes and a pair of lips is 'a
hell of looker' to you,'" Darien observed dryly.
"Perhaps, but at least I'm honest about it," the blonde muttered,
casting a rather obvious glance in Kunzite's direction.
Darien chuckled, while Kunzite chose to ignore that statement and
instead asked, "Well, Nephrite, what about you? What of your journey
to Thunder Forest?"
Nephrite shrugged and replied, "It was alright. Very peaceful place,
actually. Just one woman living in the main establishment." And what
a woman she is, he added silently, remembering the brown-haired
Amazoness he'd met the day before and the way her green eyes sparkled
with energy and strength. Aloud, he said, "It shouldn't be much of a
problem to figure out if there's anything going on over there."
"Excellent," replied Diamond, "but nevertheless, keep a sharp eye out,
Nephrite. Leave no stone unturned- woman or not, she might be up to
something."
"Say, what about you, Kunz, you haven't said anything about your trip
to Venutia. I can only presume you're upset 'cause you weren't lucky
enough to find an estate with a lovely dame on it, like us?" Jadeite
taunted cheerfully.
"One-track mind," murmured the object of his mockery, shaking his head.
"But since you insist, I'll tell you what I found. It's a pretty big
place for a small family- Lord and Lady Aino and their daughter Mina.
I decided to follow Darien's example and play tutor to the girl- I
suppose it will be all right, though she'll talk my head off if I allow
her to.
Chatter, chatter, chatter- about this cotillion and that, this 'handsome
fellow' and the other ones, all of whom are desperately in love with
her," he groaned, although secretly he knew exactly why they would all
be desperately in love with her.
The curtain of golden silk that was her hair, and those deep, laughing
blue eyes were enough to drive any...ahem, yes well, enough of that.
"Ugh, a flirtatious, self-important chatterbox. What could be worse?
You poor Kunzite," Jaedite said sadly, shaking his head.
"Interesting you should say that, Jed, considering how remarkably that
description of Mina fits you. Anyway, I'll be able to conduct the
investigation well- her parents seem to trust me well enough..." Kunzite
finished, taking a sip of ale from the mug in front of him, and firmly
resolving to keep his own observations about the "lovely dame" of
Venutia to himself.
"Heck, it's no wonder they do, Kunz. I'm willing to bet they wouldn't
even hesitate to leave their only daughter, however curvaceous she
might be, entirely in your care for a year- it'd be like entrusting her
to the pope!" laughed Jaedite, receiving a murderous glare from the
other man.
"There's no such word as- ah, forget it, Jed," Zoicite ended rather
lamely, realizing the futility of his attempt, and going back to
massaging his bruised forehead.
"You have to admit it's quite true, Kunz- you haven't made any vows of
celibacy, but you might as well have," Darien added.
"You're one to talk, Dare- I've never see YOU give a female a second
glance, aside from the trademark 'Leave me the hell alone' one."
So, what have you got to say about Lunaria?"
"It's a great place. So many trees and the central mansion's
architecture is just incredib-"
"Sakes alive, man, that bad? What happened? It couldn't have been
worse than...well..." Nephrite trailed off, looking over at Zoicite
who was still wincing every time he touched his forehead.
"No, Serena's not violent like that, well, at least, not in my experience.
Although I did see her give a resounding slap to some fellow unfortunate
enough to incur her wrath. Gods, she's so...so...so..." he was at a
complete loss for words, something that never, ever happened to him.
The others glanced at one another, sensing, as always, hidden
feelings behind their friend's inability to express himself.
"ANNOYING! She's a walking disaster, I swear! And she hates school,
which is why her parents hired me in the first place, she's completely
unruly and, what's more, she doesn't even realize it! Her behavior is
completely out of line, as it's obvious she's been spoiled silly all her
life, but you can bet I'll change that. If ever I saw an uppity
creature who's in desperate need of a good lesson, she's it and I'm
lucky enough to be in the position to give it to her," he said,
stopping to catch his breath after that tirade, but not possessing half
as much conviction as his words did.
"Alright, then, you do that, Dare," Jadeite said quietly, a little
unnerved despite himself at the unabashed display of emotion that was
virtually unheard of coming from Darien. This Serena must be some girl
if she had already had such an effect on his permanently calm and
collected friend. Then he turned to Zoicite.
"Say, Zo, seeing as how you're REALLY not cut out for confrontations,
and with, gasp women, no less, what say I go to Sacred Flame Hill
instead and try my hand at making that nutty dame see things my way?
You can go to Tranquil Waters, that place is far too boring for me,
anyhow, " Jadeite suggested.
Despite his repeated jokes at Zoicite's expense, he couldn't help but
feel very sorry for the poor fellow. A gentle, quiet chap like Zoicite
didn't deserve such trouble, and besides, he was rather intrigued by
his friend's, ahem, attacker, and her black hair that "almost looked
violet, like her eyes."
Zoicite agreed gratefully, believing that Tranquil Waters would suit
him much better- and even if it didn't, it still HAD to be an
improvement over that...that...hellcat and her temper.
The six agreed to meet a few weeks later to discuss progress and
findings- once again, for half an hour lest they arouse suspicions
as to their whereabouts. After saluting their disguised King Diamond,
they all set off in their separate directions, but not before Jadeite
taunted Zoicite a few more times for good measure, and exchanged a
significant glance with Kunzite as they watched Darien jump onto his
horse and ride off onto Crescent Moon Road once again. Something was
up with him and that girl Serena, and eventually, they would have to
find out what it was.
Darien sped his horse on, though just why he was so eager to return to
Lunaria and that annoying girl, he did not want to consider. He
looked inside his coat pocket, and upon ascertaining that his journal
was still there, he rode on. He had decided to keep track of all
his actions, where the mission was concerned, in the leather-bound
book, to remember all important details for future meetings in the
tavern. Finally, he saw the telltale brilliance of the alabaster
white mansion under the moonlight, and remembered the platinum hair
and impossibly huge cerulean blue eyes of a certain little princess
therein.
and remember, if something bugs ya, say so. This is a little on the
long side, but enjoy!! Oh, and an important note: the PoV (point of
view) changes in this chapter so watch out and pay attention!! If ya
skim, ya might miss it, so like Serena--- constant vigilance!! (Hmm,
isn't that reminiscent of someone from yet another fantasy, with a magic
eye??)
But to more pressing matters, I still had to figure out a specific way
to make Darien realize that I played to win, too- he seemed to think
he'd get away with his snide remarks and I'd be helpless and unable to
dish out anything to match his barbs. How to convince him that even a
"little princess" a foot shorter than him could fight right back? How?
How??
Well, whoever it was that said you can fix any problem with enough
concentration needs a good slap upside the head- the harder I
concentrated, the more impossible it seemed that I could come up with
any victory, how ever short-lived, against someone as sharp as him.
And then, epiphany! It is quite amazing, really, how the strangest
things can give you inspiration. In my case, it was the dinner bell.
I quickly changed my plain gray gown for one that Luna always sighed
over and complimented me fervently. It was very cheery and attracted
attention while allowing me to retain my modesty- a light shade of pink
with sunshine yellow ruffles and a neckline that, while not plunging,
hinted at my assets just enough for...well....I think you get the general
idea. I figured I might as well catch Mr. I'm-too-cocky-and-handsome-
for-my-own-good Shields' eye while playing my games, though just why I
wanted that sort of attention from him, I didn't quite know. Just keep
telling yourself that, darling, you know perfectly well why you want it,
and more. Ugh, that voice- what I would not do to simply stamp it out
for good! And yet, like a thorn in my side, it popped up with annoying
exuberance whenever I tried to deny what I really thought. I firmly
shoved it back to the far recesses of my mind, where it belonged,
straightened the pink bows around my two buns, and walked downstairs
with all the pomp and grace of a queen.
THUD!
Perhaps I should have been a little more specific. Perhaps I should
have said- "and walked downstairs with all the pomp and grace of a
queen until I tripped over the broken stair half way down and rolled
the rest of the way down after trying to regain my balance and failing
miserably."
I landed at the foot of the staircase on my rear with the skirt of my
gown completely over my head and my petticoats revealed for all and
sundry. Oh please, I'm sorry I stuck my tongue out at Richard last
Sunday at church, God, truly sorry, but please, do know I believe in
you with all my heart, especially right now, and with that in mind,
please do not let...
"Well, hello Serena. You certainly look stunning this evening, well
that is, your undergarments look stunning, and I'm sure your lovely
countenance does as well, although it is hard to be certain, what with
that skirt covering it. Correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't skirts
meant to be worn on your lower half, not your upper? Ah well, probably
just the latest fashion- it's so hard to keep up with fashions of today."
...him see me like this. Lovely, just wonderful. And if it's not too
much to ask right now, God, with all my other pending requests- DO YOU
THINK YOU COULD REQUEST A REDWOOD COFFIN ON MY BEHALF? I'd do it myself,
but seeing as I'm currently dying of humiliation...
"Hello yourself, Darien. I agree, it is definitely very hard to keep
up with modern fashion- no wonder you're 50 years behind it.," I replied
vehemently, as I violently pulled my skirt down and stood up, gathering
the shreds of my dignity together.
"The soul of wit, even under the most pressing of circumstances. Need
some help there, princess?" he asked, grinning.
"I'm quite alright, thank you. Had you simply helped me up without
shoving your foot in your mouth, like any other man would do in your
situation, I might have reconsidered my intense dislike for you. But
you went right ahead and forced your entire leg in that gaping maw of
yours, and now have my certified hate. Congratulations!" I finished
with false cheer, and stormed into the dining room.
How dare he! And to think I could have wanted the attentions of such
a boor! I sat down in my usual seat at the dining table, taking care
to first knock Sammy on the head for that oh-so-satisfying "Serenaaaaaa!!"
Ah, the glory of having a younger brother who was old enough to beat up
on without being called a bully, and yet young enough so that said
beatings-up were still effective. The way I saw it, I needed some sort
of concession for the disaster that had just occurred. As it was, I
doubted I would be forgetting the humiliation of falling down the
staircase anytime soon. And all this before I could even get my plans
into action! With this thought I looked up expectantly at the doorway,
having assumed that Darien would follow me into the dining hall for
dinner.
But, mysteriously enough, he was nowhere to be found.
Why do I care? I thought agitatedly. Why should I give a damn where he
is or why he suddenly disappeared? I crashed into him yesterday, met
him formally today, I hardly know him, and I must say, what I've seen
of him already isn't exactly working in his favor...Ah well, who cares?
Yes, here's dinner- TOTAL YUMMINESS! And with it, come my lovely
plans...
He chuckled a little at her retreating figure as she stomped out of the
hall and into the dining room, but as soon as her enchanting figure had
disappeared, he sobered. With a few brisk and graceful steps, he had
shut the door behind him and walked into the dark night outside.
Waiiiiiittt, enchanting???
Where in hell had THAT come from? Good lord, what in God's name was
the matter with him? She grated on his nerves, and that was about all
the effect she had, or would ever have on him. He'd always prided
himself on his ability to remain entirely unfazed by anything and
everything, and more specifically, every chit that he came across,
pretty or not.
Anyway, forget her...there were more important things to be dealt with
right now. Like his mission, and what he could possibly tell the King
that night when they all met up at the tavern to discuss updates on the
situation. The other four would be there too, he expected, with updates
on their own missions, all the same as his:
Take on a job at one of the five ruling estates in the Scarletvale
province, a job that would allow each to figure out the truth, and
if something was going on at that estate that shouldn't be.
It had been a month ago, Darien mused, as he quietly saddled a horse
from the estate stables, mounted it, and galloped quickly off onto
Crescent Moon Road. The sun was dying by fire, and it lit the sky with
a dazzling splash of pink and purple as it slowly descended behind the
far off mountains.
One month ago almost exactly, that King Diamond had called the five of
them together with the news that something was amiss in Scarletvale- or
to put it bluntly, the taxes coming in from that area were virtually
nonexistent, according to his chief accountant, Zoicite. He smelled a
rat, the King said, and he was putting his five most trusted advisors
in charge of the investigation.
Reaching into one of the inner pockets of his coat, he pulled out his
brass watch-chain. Perfect, he could reach the tavern in about an hour.
He allowed the horse to move at a slow gallop, and as his eyes took
in the sights about him, his mind traveled back to that day that now
seemed so long ago.
Diamond had said he could literally feel the corruption coming from the
province, and he just knew something sinister was afoot there that was
keeping the taxes from coming in as they should. So, without further
ado, he had assigned them to separate and work subtly but keenly, as
he knew only they could, to reveal the truth and restore justice. It
had taken the rest of that month to formulate plans.
As he traveled on, he appreciatively looked about him; so much perfect
greenery, flowers everywhere; this was, he'd found out from Tsukino,
was entirely due to Serena. She loved the outdoors, having a great
affinity for natural beauty, and made every effort to create a colorful
tapestry of various blossoms, trees and grass on their property, with
the aid of their hired help. It was Serena, too, who had decided on
the name of their estate- Lunaria...
There were five estates to be investigated, and they decided finally
that Kunzite would go to Venutia, Nephrite to Thunder Forest, Jadeite
to Tranquil Waters, Zoicite to Sacred Flame Hill, and Darien would go
to Lunaria. They had split up and left for their respective estates,
and tonight would be their first meeting at the tavern where the roads
to the five estates met, to discuss progress and methods of inspection.
The regal sun had completely disappeared past the mountain, and the moon
in all its mysterious splendor now gazed down at him. Bright but gentle,
beautiful past words, it was so much like Sere...ahem, enough distractions.
What to say tonight? He'd met Tsukino that morning, and had to say, he
liked the man, whose cheery demeanor he could already identify in his
daughter, Serenity. He smiled wryly at this thought. He'd observed her
even before they'd bumped into each other the day before, and was
astonished at the sunshine that radiated from her constantly. So much
energy, so much vivacity, such an unrestrained love for life!
Her passion was entirely alien to Darien. An orphan since soon after
his birth, he'd never really cared for anyone or anything- existence
was a day-to-day affair for him, and he had very little value for even
his own life. Undoubtedly, Kunz, Jed, Neph, and Zo were the best
friends a man could have, and had reached out to him since childhood
when he lacked the family and love everyone else seemed to have in
abundance. The five were really more like brothers and their easy
companionship was evident in every gesture and word to one another.
Nevertheless, he did not understand love, and he certainly didn't
understand how Serena could give it out so freely, to even little
sparrows, like the one with a broken wing he had seen her tenderly
caring for earlier the previous day. And another thing- why was she
so different from every other young woman he'd met?
The other young women, who fawned over him enough to cause temporary
asphyxiation, the ones that flirted shamelessly with every fellow under
sixty, the ones Jed strung up with two-edged compliments and fake
smiles, while laughing uproariously at their stupidity later in private
with Darien and the others. Whereas Serena, and he smirked at the
mental image this conjured up, had unhesitatingly told him exactly how
much she despised him, and he'd seen her slap a youth of about her age
who, apparently, had incurred her wrath by 'shoving his foot in his
mouth' in much the same way Darien had.
What a girl!
Ah, but he was going off about her AGAIN! He had to stop this
ludicrous behavior- how Jed would laugh if he caught wind of it! Now,
to the matter at hand. Before and after she'd come in for her first
meeting with him alone, he had surreptitiously looked through the bills,
documents and ledgers that cluttered the top of Tsukino's desk and filled
the drawers. As far as he could see at first glance, nothing was amiss,
and while giving the impression of being quite unorganized, the estate
owner's records were in perfect order.
Upon further scrutiny, they might reveal something else, however...so
he'd have to watch out. With that thought, he jumped off the horse,
giving it a gentle pat, and tied its reigns to a stake behind the
tavern.
The tavern keeper had been bribed into complete silence and was more
than willing to provide his underground room for the meeting. All
virtue was a matter of price, Darien thought sardonically, and one
could get a person, man or woman, to do just about anything if tempted
with a bit of gold.
He entered and walked towards the counter, subtly gestured to a flash
of silver in the side pocket of his coat, to which the tavern keeper
nodded and nodded his head towards the back of the dimly lit room.
Without any indication that he had seen the man, Darien moved so
imperceptibly to the right that it seemed he had simply disappeared
into the shadows.
He silently stepped down the steep, dingy stairwell, remembering only
too vividly a certain odangoed-creature's, ahem, encounter with one
just a little earlier...enough! Ah, there they were, all five. Wait,
what was the matter with Zo?
"Oy there, Dare, now that's a first! Never thought we'd have to wait
for you, of all people," Jed remarked with his trademark smirk.
Darien grinned at the thought of what had kept them waiting- a broken
stair and furious maiden. "Yes, well, I got a little sidetracked...
say, Zo, why the pained look? What's the matter with your head?"
At this, Jadeite and Nephrite exploded into laugher, while Kunzite
and King Diamond desperately tried to keep a straight face, though
they seemed on the verge of losing it, the corners of their lips
shaking with suppressed mirth. Zoicite looked even more miserable
and let out a completely uncharacteristic whine.
"It is not funny! I'm in severe agony here!"
"Oh, gasp, sorry, Zo, we're not, wheeze, laughing at you, cough
cough, it's just that...oh, hell, gasp, maybe we are, but the
thought of you, Sir Brainiac, with an IQ the size of Earth, chuckle
beaten and brought to your knees by a snicker mere woman!" Jadeite
finished, desperately trying to catch his breath, and holding on to
Nephrite for support.
"And I thought I had interesting news! This story certainly sounds
far more fascinating. Care to share, Zo?" Darien asked, raising an
eyebrow at the scene surrounding him.
"Not particularly..." grumbled the man with a cold, wet cloth atop
his forehead.
"Oh, come on, Zo, you know perfectly well, you'll split your britches
laughing over this whole incident...just...maybe...not...today,"
Nephrite finished shakily, upon receiving a death-glare from the target
of their laughter.
"Anyway, if you won't tell it, we will."
"NO, NO! Absolutely not! As much as I enjoy being the object of your
ridicule, I'd much rather save myself the obvious humiliation of having
YOU tell, and probably exaggerate wildly, my encounter with Sacred Flame
Hill, and its mistress." At this last word, he shuddered visibly, and
Jadeite and Nephrite predictably sniggered.
Zo took a deep breath and began.
"Well, I set off two days ago, like the rest of you, but due to, ahem,
complications, I only got there last night. And yes, I suppose you
louts will expect me to explain what the main complication was. I was
so preoccupied with getting something to drink- and what do you expect?
it was so hot!- that I sort of, uh, forgot to tie my horse's reins up
properly and so when I realized and ran out to get it, it was already
galloping away, but not before splashing muddy sludge all over me.
So, I basically lost the horse and was covered head-to-toe in filth.
Oh and did I mention that my entire provisions & clothes bag was tied
to the horse's saddle? Well, it was. So, really, I lost the horse,
my attire and supplies and had to walk the remaining 12 miles up Hikawa
Lane. And you think, 12 miles, Zo, you pansy, that's nothing to
complain of. Oh, is that so? Well, try walking it when said 12 miles
are on a G'DAMNED SLOPE! Note, it's called Sacred Flame HILL! And
when they say hill, they're not bloody joking!"
By this time, Jadeite and Nephrite had decided to start in on their
second roar fest for the evening- the image of their unfailingly mild-
mannered comrade swearing like this all the way up the mountain was
simply too much for them.
"But was that all? Of course not. I thought 'What else can possibly
happen to make this worse?' Had I been thinking clearly, Murphy's Law
would have brought me in for a reality check, but I wasn't in much of
a state to figure that out. So I finally made it to the Hill by the
next afternoon, and as I stopped to catch my breath, this, er,
attractive woman looks up from her garden."
"Attractive? Are you saying YOU found a woman beautiful, Zo? That
bump on your forehead must be worse that I thought." interjected Darien.
"Oh, shut up. She was- longest black hair I've ever seen- it almost
looked violet, like her eyes. Anyhow, God alone knows what she must
have thought when she saw my disgustingly disheveled state, but she
simply invited me in, gave me a delicious dinner of rolls, soup and
roast mutton, and offered me a place to stay overnight. I didn't
quite mention why I was there, but she didn't seem to care.
So I slept there, and when I woke up in the morning, I found her
praying in front of a fire in a nearby room of her mansion, if it can
be rightfully called that. I tiptoed in, not wanting to interrupt her,
but she sensed my presence immediately, and gently asked if I needed
anything.
I told her I needed a job, and she said she was terribly sorry and
there wasn't really much I could do. And this is where my inimitable
brilliance makes its entrance. I ventured to mention that maintaining
such a huge estate must be such entirely difficult for one person, and
at that, a woman like herself, to accomplish. BIG MISTAKE. She got
this look on her face like she was going to have a conniption or-"
"Zo, if it isn't too much to ask, you think you could continue speaking
English here?" Nephrite interrupted.
"Good lord, read a book, man! Fine, then, she looked like she was
ready to kill something, or someone rather. She just hollered at me.
Said something to the effect of how dare I question her abilities,
and why couldn't a woman do anything her censored-possessing counterpart
could. I don't quite remember the details of her tirade because then
she did this crazy kick, back-flip thing and before I even knew what
was going on, I was flat on my back, which might have cracked with the
impact had I been any less physically strong, and some sort of long
paper was stuck to my forehead.
She yelled at me to get off her property before she did even worse,
and I, well, I..."
"You basically scampered. Bravo, Zo! What a masterful presence!"
Darien remarked, grinning widely.
Jadeite and Nephrite, at this point, were rolling on the floor, laughing
wordlessly, tears streaming from their eyes.
"Gentlemen, as amusing as Zoicite's, ahem, little adventure is, we DO
have some business to discuss, that is, believe it or not, a little
more important than some madwoman's antics."
"Gah! Honestly, Kunz, you wouldn't even be putting on this farce of
propriety and calm if His Majesty weren't here," Jadeite jeered,
regaining his composure, and rising from his position curled up on the
floor.
"Well, at least Kunzite thankfully has enough sense to realize that
there is a time and place for everything, Jadeite," King Diamond noted
in his typically cool, emotionless tone. "What news do you bring, men?"
"Well, I, for one, found my first encounter with Tranquil Lake to be
singularly boring. Tranquil indeed! Everything about the place is
completely horrific!"
"In the context of what you said, I think you mean 'soporific,' Jed,"
Zoicite corrected patiently.
"Well, I mean both! It's so soporific it IS horrific! Granted, the
young lady, Ami I think her name was, is a hell of a looker, but so
damn shy! She barely spoke six words to me in the entire time I was
there! Actually, no, seven- 'it is my pleasure to meet you.'"
"Jed, anything with legs, long eyelashes and a pair of lips is 'a
hell of looker' to you,'" Darien observed dryly.
"Perhaps, but at least I'm honest about it," the blonde muttered,
casting a rather obvious glance in Kunzite's direction.
Darien chuckled, while Kunzite chose to ignore that statement and
instead asked, "Well, Nephrite, what about you? What of your journey
to Thunder Forest?"
Nephrite shrugged and replied, "It was alright. Very peaceful place,
actually. Just one woman living in the main establishment." And what
a woman she is, he added silently, remembering the brown-haired
Amazoness he'd met the day before and the way her green eyes sparkled
with energy and strength. Aloud, he said, "It shouldn't be much of a
problem to figure out if there's anything going on over there."
"Excellent," replied Diamond, "but nevertheless, keep a sharp eye out,
Nephrite. Leave no stone unturned- woman or not, she might be up to
something."
"Say, what about you, Kunz, you haven't said anything about your trip
to Venutia. I can only presume you're upset 'cause you weren't lucky
enough to find an estate with a lovely dame on it, like us?" Jadeite
taunted cheerfully.
"One-track mind," murmured the object of his mockery, shaking his head.
"But since you insist, I'll tell you what I found. It's a pretty big
place for a small family- Lord and Lady Aino and their daughter Mina.
I decided to follow Darien's example and play tutor to the girl- I
suppose it will be all right, though she'll talk my head off if I allow
her to.
Chatter, chatter, chatter- about this cotillion and that, this 'handsome
fellow' and the other ones, all of whom are desperately in love with
her," he groaned, although secretly he knew exactly why they would all
be desperately in love with her.
The curtain of golden silk that was her hair, and those deep, laughing
blue eyes were enough to drive any...ahem, yes well, enough of that.
"Ugh, a flirtatious, self-important chatterbox. What could be worse?
You poor Kunzite," Jaedite said sadly, shaking his head.
"Interesting you should say that, Jed, considering how remarkably that
description of Mina fits you. Anyway, I'll be able to conduct the
investigation well- her parents seem to trust me well enough..." Kunzite
finished, taking a sip of ale from the mug in front of him, and firmly
resolving to keep his own observations about the "lovely dame" of
Venutia to himself.
"Heck, it's no wonder they do, Kunz. I'm willing to bet they wouldn't
even hesitate to leave their only daughter, however curvaceous she
might be, entirely in your care for a year- it'd be like entrusting her
to the pope!" laughed Jaedite, receiving a murderous glare from the
other man.
"There's no such word as- ah, forget it, Jed," Zoicite ended rather
lamely, realizing the futility of his attempt, and going back to
massaging his bruised forehead.
"You have to admit it's quite true, Kunz- you haven't made any vows of
celibacy, but you might as well have," Darien added.
"You're one to talk, Dare- I've never see YOU give a female a second
glance, aside from the trademark 'Leave me the hell alone' one."
So, what have you got to say about Lunaria?"
"It's a great place. So many trees and the central mansion's
architecture is just incredib-"
"Sakes alive, man, that bad? What happened? It couldn't have been
worse than...well..." Nephrite trailed off, looking over at Zoicite
who was still wincing every time he touched his forehead.
"No, Serena's not violent like that, well, at least, not in my experience.
Although I did see her give a resounding slap to some fellow unfortunate
enough to incur her wrath. Gods, she's so...so...so..." he was at a
complete loss for words, something that never, ever happened to him.
The others glanced at one another, sensing, as always, hidden
feelings behind their friend's inability to express himself.
"ANNOYING! She's a walking disaster, I swear! And she hates school,
which is why her parents hired me in the first place, she's completely
unruly and, what's more, she doesn't even realize it! Her behavior is
completely out of line, as it's obvious she's been spoiled silly all her
life, but you can bet I'll change that. If ever I saw an uppity
creature who's in desperate need of a good lesson, she's it and I'm
lucky enough to be in the position to give it to her," he said,
stopping to catch his breath after that tirade, but not possessing half
as much conviction as his words did.
"Alright, then, you do that, Dare," Jadeite said quietly, a little
unnerved despite himself at the unabashed display of emotion that was
virtually unheard of coming from Darien. This Serena must be some girl
if she had already had such an effect on his permanently calm and
collected friend. Then he turned to Zoicite.
"Say, Zo, seeing as how you're REALLY not cut out for confrontations,
and with, gasp women, no less, what say I go to Sacred Flame Hill
instead and try my hand at making that nutty dame see things my way?
You can go to Tranquil Waters, that place is far too boring for me,
anyhow, " Jadeite suggested.
Despite his repeated jokes at Zoicite's expense, he couldn't help but
feel very sorry for the poor fellow. A gentle, quiet chap like Zoicite
didn't deserve such trouble, and besides, he was rather intrigued by
his friend's, ahem, attacker, and her black hair that "almost looked
violet, like her eyes."
Zoicite agreed gratefully, believing that Tranquil Waters would suit
him much better- and even if it didn't, it still HAD to be an
improvement over that...that...hellcat and her temper.
The six agreed to meet a few weeks later to discuss progress and
findings- once again, for half an hour lest they arouse suspicions
as to their whereabouts. After saluting their disguised King Diamond,
they all set off in their separate directions, but not before Jadeite
taunted Zoicite a few more times for good measure, and exchanged a
significant glance with Kunzite as they watched Darien jump onto his
horse and ride off onto Crescent Moon Road once again. Something was
up with him and that girl Serena, and eventually, they would have to
find out what it was.
Darien sped his horse on, though just why he was so eager to return to
Lunaria and that annoying girl, he did not want to consider. He
looked inside his coat pocket, and upon ascertaining that his journal
was still there, he rode on. He had decided to keep track of all
his actions, where the mission was concerned, in the leather-bound
book, to remember all important details for future meetings in the
tavern. Finally, he saw the telltale brilliance of the alabaster
white mansion under the moonlight, and remembered the platinum hair
and impossibly huge cerulean blue eyes of a certain little princess
therein.
