AN: Again, this chapter took longer than I wanted it to. Sorry about that. School is a big pain in the rear, but I'm sure most of you know that.
Many thank goes to all that reviewed the last chapter and all of the previous ones (and a great big hello and kiss to the new people also!). Some people seem to be dropping off though and I really hope it's just because they're busy and I'm not boring them to death. I know this is annoying, but I need to say it: I am a very insecure person. I need comments to tell me if I'm doing a good or bad job. It's as simple as that folks. My heart is in your hands. PLEASE REVIEW. The less reviews, the slower I write. :(
Also, if there's one thing I don't like about this story, it's that it is far from original. But what can I say? It was my first story on here and I started it before I had read a lot of the fics out there. So I hope you'll forgive me for that, and like some of the new things I'm trying to bring to this despite that.
One more thing before the new chapter: I need someone who would be willing to let me bounce ideas off of them for a new story, to see how original it is and see if it would work. Of course, if the person is also willing to be my beta reader, I would be eternally grateful as well. The story is going to be a comedy/romance AU. A LOT different from this one.
Ok, I'm done. On with the chapter.
Chapter Five- Waiting
The next morning, Serenity did something she had never done before; she feigned sick. Both Minako and Ami came in to visit her, Minako petting her and Ami asking an endless string of questions, worried that the princess had somehow contracted a harmful Earth disease that she might not recover from. Serenity had insisted (feeling quite guilty) that she would be fine, that she was just very tired and that it was probably just the trip after all and she would feel better tomorrow. Ami had nodded, but with worry in her eyes.
Finally they had left for the first meeting of the Silver Alliance with Earth as a member and Serenity had fell back in the bed, relieved. Guilty or not, she was exhausted and confused. She soon fell into a fitful sleep in which she dreamed she was lying on her back in a purple mist, unable to cry out as she choked and smothered on the taste of liquid pennies.
It was generally a bad idea to tell Eizou not to do something, because as soon as the words of warning left your mouth, she immediately set to work doing exactly what you had just said not to do. Some people (her parents) never learned. They had absolutely forbid her from visiting the Moon Princess. More over, they had demanded that she stay with Beryl all day. So she had listened, nodded politely, even curtsied for good show, and promptly walked out of the door scheming.
Endymion knew her, if no one else. He had given her the look he always did and touched his heart. This was their secret sign for each other, roughly translated it meant, don't hurt me. Endymion had started doing it when they were younger and Eizou was always getting into trouble or hurting herself. Because of their bond, strengthened by magic, they often shared each other's pain, so the warning made sense. However, coupled with the look he often gave her, the message became even clearer:
Stay out of trouble!
Ah... but trouble wasn't really trouble unless you got caught... right?
So now there she was, tiptoeing down the hall towards the room the Moon Princess was staying in, wearing a gown of pure black silk, her long, dark hair cascading behind her and her high heels clicking quietly against the marble floor. Losing Beryl had been almost boringly easy, but the guards outside the princess' door would prove more interesting. She could zap them, but that would cause too much trouble and she didn't really want to hurt anyone. She had been practicing at larger forms of magic, but she didn't trust her ability in them enough just yet to give them a try. Deep in thought, she rested in a hallway adjacent from the door and waited.
After no more than two minutes, a figure in an orange fuku stepped out of the princess' door. The guards jumped immediately to attention, addressing her as she strode by, her walk purposeful and fast.
"We didn't realize you were still in with the princess, Sailor Venus," one ventured, looking slightly afraid. Eizou understood why. Talk of the Sailor Senshi's powers drifted through the galaxy, often tinged with something close to awe. Although Eizou had never met any of the senshi personally, she had seen pictures of them and Venus, as the leader, had especially stood out. Something about the girl walking down the hallway struck her as odd, though. Her hair was extremely long.
"Well then, you aren't paying enough attention," the girl said stiffly, and Eizou had to sink into the shadows of the other doorway so she wouldn't see her as she walked past. Waiting until the guards had turned away and began to mutter amongst themselves, Eizou quietly stepped out of her hiding place and began to follow the girl. Venus (or whoever this girl was) paused and Eizou had to jump quickly into a doorway to avoid being seen when she turned around. Her pulse beating a crazy rhythm in her head, Eizou smiled when the girl lifted a pink pen in the air and whispered something softly. For a moment there was nothing but light, warm and pink and inviting. Then it faded, and Eizou was staring in interest at the princess of the Moon.
She paused for a moment, considering and smiling, before curiosity won over. Stepping out of her hiding place, she cleared her throat and waited while Serenity whirled around quickly, her eyes wide at being discovered. Both princesses surveyed the other, taking in their differences and waiting, thinking truly they could not have been more different if they had been opposites. Serenity's silver hair and glowing skin contrasted sharply to Eizou's own raven tresses and tanned complexion, and although both pairs of eyes were wide and blue, Eizou's eyes were much darker and much more sharp that that of the Serenity's, whose lighter blue eyes were soft and innocent in appearance.
They stood there that way for what must have been at least a minute before the sound of approaching guards drew them out of their reverie. Eizou spared not even a second to think about her actions, simply put out her hand and grasped Serenity's within her own to pull her along. The moon princess did not protest (she was too shocked and worried about being caught), but instead made only one small noise as she was dragged down the hallway and into an empty room.
"Well, that was close," Eizou said, smiling. Serenity mirrored the gesture, although her smiled was somewhat shaky. Their hands dropped apart from each other and Serenity brought hers up to her chest, fingers resting lightly on the racing beat of her heart. She looked at Eizou for a long moment, eyes narrowing in concentration. Finally she said, "Pardon me, but you look very familiar."
Eizou's smile only grew as she gave a mock curtsey. Serenity noticed for the first time a gold medallion around the girl's neck, inlayed with a jewel swirled with blue and green. It dangled as she bowed, reminding Serenity of the blue glass ball that Earth appeared to be from the Moon.
Eizou straightened.
"Well, actually princess, I came in search of you, but it is only by accident that I found you. We are both curious it seems."
It was only when Serenity's eyes clouded with confusion so obvious that Eizou had to stifle her laughter that the dark-haired princess continued.
"I am Eizou, the princess of Earth." She put her hand out once again but the silver-haired young woman could only look on in shock. "I am pleased to finally meet you Princess Serenity."
And the sweet, shocked smile of the Moon Princess, the light that poured from her, was almost overwhelming.
When they had calmed some, they talked about a great many things, their silk gowns spread out on the ground around them and their knees nearly touching. It seemed they were instant friends; a concept Eizou had neither believed in nor expected before. Both girls, who had been kept from each other for years, were mystified at the other's presence and a seemingly endless stream of questions poured from their mouths.
Finally that one question came up, the one question that rendered the moon princess shy:
"Do you... know about the prophecy?"
Eizou looked at her, her mouth slightly parted. Finally she smiled, surprised.
"Of course. Everyone knows about it. Don't you?"
Serenity shook her head and Eizou stared. Feeling self-conscious, Serenity rambled.
"I know the people dislike me, or are afraid of me, but I don't know why. On the Moon we are not supposed to speak of it and my mother..." she paused, not knowing if she should finish that thought. Finally she looked up away from her fingers, which were twisting like snakes in her hand, and toward the sympathetic, surprised face of the dark princess. "Will you tell me?" she asked quietly, and Eizou nodded.
Opening her mouth, she began...
Eighteen years before the birth of Serenity, Endymion, or Eizou, the Earth was a relatively peaceful place. The main reason for this was that it was still under protection of the Moon, and its two rulers Otoko and Shujin were peaceful people who cared for the Earth and all that inhabited it. Still, as their rule continued, they became restless at the idea of always depending on the moon and its rulers, Queen Serenity and King Heiwa. They wanted their own place in the Silver Millennium and more so, they wanted their own Sailor Senshi.
Shujin wanted nothing more than to have a child. Daily she went into the temple and prayed to the Gods for such, but soon selfishness crept into her wishes. A male child would be needed for an heir, a ruler, and a Sailor Senshi could only be female. So she prayed, and instead of praying for the health of her child, or the well being of her world, she prayed that the Gods would find a way to give her both. She told no one of her desires, and soon she did indeed become pregnant. The people rejoiced.
She gave birth to twins, Endymion and Eizou. Shujin was ecstatic that the Gods had found a way to answer her prayers. When the children were a week old she threw a party, inviting people from the other planets, including a very pregnant Queen Serenity and her husband. She stood in front of the crowd of people and unveiled the two children, announcing that now the Earth had everything that it needed and that "this star shall indeed be independent."
From the crowd there stepped a woman, a hood over her head, masking all of her features. She regarded the two children with a sneer and with a voice steady and bold proclaimed, "Queen, you lie!"
The crowd gasped. The Queen, too shocked and angry to move, only stood there as the lady went on.
"These children do indeed contain the heart of a soldier; the Golden crystal shines within them. But your greed has blinded you, Shujin. You asked for too much without giving even a single thought to the consequences! The crystal is split, each contains half and only half." She waited until these words had sunk in and the people were giving each other looks of worry before she continued.
"But I am here not to reprimand you but instead to tell you of the prophecy that has been shown to me. You shall have your independence, Shujin, but it shall be at the cost of many lives, for fate will leave this star lonely and unprotected. Your people shall die and your kingdom as you know it shall crumble. And your children..." the woman stepped forward and ran her hands over both children's rosy red cheeks. "Two shall become one, and both shall die in the name of the new moon. You shall have your soldier and your heir, but your selfishness will have cost you everything."
When she was finished, the room was silent, unable to comprehend the horrors she had described. The noise that followed did not start small, instead it erupted with a swell and crash that resembled a breaking wave. Men cried out in alarm, holding their terrified wives and looking to the Queen in worry. Shujin, suddenly overcome with fury and fear (two emotions which all too often walk hand in hand) proclaimed that she wanted the woman hung for treason. Before they could do any such thing however, she disappeared, never to be seen again.
Time passed.
At first there was disbelief, then fear, then rage. When the Princess Serenity was born, the people of Earth found a good place to direct all of these emotions. She was everything that stood for the new moon and, because of this, she was an enemy. The people rioted, destroying communications with the moon and cutting themselves free of any planet that supported Serenity. Small battles broke out and it was all the Moon could do to avoid war. King Heiwa visited the Earth several times promoting peace, and it was rumored that it was there that he was killed by rioters. Trying to preserve the shaky hold on peace that her husband had so fought for, Serenity told the people of the Moon that the King had died of a sudden illness. The kingdom mourned, the Queen grew cold, and across the span of two stars, three children grew up.
Part of the prophecy proved true; although Endymion and Eizou were both capable of small forms of magic, their powers were not that of a senshi. Still, they were well-loved and protected by their people, many believing that with a little practice, Eizou could be the senshi they desired and Endymion would be the leader they soon needed. The Moon Princess remained a light of hope for the rest of the galaxy; her kind, forgiving nature and equal curiosity endeared the people to her.
In time they grew older, even as the hatred from the people of Earth cooled slightly. This was, in a large part, due to the fact that the Earth suffered greatly without the protection of the Moon. Fearing the loss of their star, the King proposed a deal: the Earth would stop all wars and would again allow the Moon ultimate control, as long as the Earth was allowed a place in the Silver Alliance. Queen Serenity agreed, promising also to keep the Moon Princess away from the Prince and Princess of Earth.
After all, how could they die for someone they would never meet?
Eizou told Serenity all of this, barring the rumor of how her father had died, and watched in amazement as the silver haired princess began to cry. Normally a person in complete control of her emotions, Eizou could only sit in open-mouthed wonder, shocked by the sadness and undeniable sincerity in her tears.
"It's all because of me, all of this. No wonder they hate me. I put everything they have in danger." Her large eyes turned to Eizou, suddenly comprehending. She began to stand. "Even you. Especially you. I shouldn't be here. I should..."
Eizou grabbed her, a tiny smile whispering across her lips. She suddenly understood the love that the rest of the galaxy had for this girl, barely younger than herself. Her heart shown in her eyes, and what a big heart that was!
"All you should do is sit down." When Serenity hesitated, Eizou continued, her eyes and smirk hauntingly familiar. "The future is not set in stone, Serenity. It is something we shape with our own hands. Bad things may happen, but there is always hope, if we allow it. Do you believe that?"
Serenity hesitated a moment longer, then sat down beside her, nodding through her tears. Eizou laughed.
"Good."
Flicking her hand, a rose appeared out of nowhere. She handed it to Serenity who looked at her with wet eyes and wonder.
"Just a little trick I can do."
They both smiled.
That night, after being visited by Minako and Ami (who was beginning to feel the princess was being honest about feeling better and was not dying of some horrible Earth disease after all), Serenity lay in her bed thinking. She knew she shouldn't. She knew it was wrong.
And yet...
She pictured his eyes, that dark shade of unreadable midnight blue and remembered his smirk...
"Do I frustrate you?"
...Then his lips, their hands intertwined like two lovers, their kiss chaste, secret...
"You frustrate me too."
...She had seen longing in his eyes, those secret stranger eyes, and she had felt something so large twist inside her that she wasn't sure she could contain it.
It is beginning...
What was beginning? And did she have the power to deny whatever it was?
Closing her eyes, she thought for a long time. His image hung on the back of her eyelids like it had been burned there and when she had opened them, her decision had been made. Throwing the covers back, she jumped out of the bed and thrust the pen in the air. There was a moment of hesitation, but it could not take hold with the pink light filtering down and sinking into her bones. Her last thought before starting over the balcony was one that made her giggle despite her heavy heart:
Trouble isn't really trouble unless you got caught... right?
He didn't think she would come; in fact, he was sure she wouldn't. More over, he didn't care if she came or not, he was just enjoying the gardens in solitude. Endymion lifted his eyes to the light of the moon and sighed. Nope, he didn't care one bit. Which was precisely why he had been sitting in that space next to the fountain, unmoving, for the past hour.
In truth, he had been hard pressed to think of anything else all day long. Although barred from the meeting because of the Princess' presence, Endymion had secretly looked around the palace for Usagi every chance he got, but to no avail. He could only guess that she was with the Princess somewhere and, unless she showed up in the gardens, he feared he would never see her again.
He sighed again, the light from the moon so bright that it made his eyes water, and finally stood.
And there she was, waiting, watching.
"Hello," she said, looking almost shy. The fire in her eyes was dim, but still there. A pleasant fire of his own burned down deep in his heart, and he smiled in confusion at the emotions that fueled it.
"Hello."
They stared at each other for a long moment, neither moving in their sudden shyness. He was struck by how strange it was, them being so timid when the night before so much had happened between them. In a flash he recalled her large eyes and trembling fingers in the moment of their kiss, her sweet taste like something exotic and forbidden lingering far after he had walked back to the palace and returned to being the prince. In the dark he flushed and gave her his cockiest smile to cover it.
"Wondering the gardens again? And why may I ask?"
"To see you."
Her honesty was surprising, but pleasant. He stepped towards her and she put her hands up, blushing clearly even in the dark.
"I didn't... I mean... I have to ask you something."
He stopped, rocked back on his heels, smiling. Finally he sat down on the ledge of the fountain and gestured for her to do the same... which she did after placing some distance between them.
Hands in her lap, her fingers squirmed restlessly for a moment, and for that moment she watched them. Finally she looked up, effectively knocking the breath from him with just that look in her eyes.
"What does your Prince think about her... the Moon Princess that is?"
Endymion (or Mamoru to this small stranger) was somewhat surprised by the question and it took him a moment to answer.
"Well, he fears her a little I think, as most of us do." He didn't notice her flinch. "But he has also heard stories of her kindness and gentleness and is intrigued by her as well."
"And you?" Usagi asked, her voice small, breathless.
He smiled.
"I have heard she is the most gorgeous woman in the galaxy by many people. But they didn't know."
He was growing closer and she was blushing more because of it, her face childishly serious in the light of the full moon.
"They didn't know what?" she whispered. His lips were near her ear now and she could feel the shivers traveling down her spine.
"They didn't know about you."
She blushed a moment longer, then began to laugh at the unbelievable irony of it all. Just when he was pulling back and feeling like the most assuming jerk in the galaxy, she grabbed him and kissed his doubts away.
"That was the worst line I've ever heard," she told him, laughing again once they had pulled apart. Blushing, he could only reach for her again, wondering what had gotten into him, saying something like that. But something inside of him was growing, twisting, coming to life in his heart. It was pushing at the edges, fighting to get out, stretching the limits of his own lies.
I wasn't waiting on her.
But it was a lie. He had been waiting on her.
He felt like he had been waiting on her his whole life.