Her heart beat was slower. She was calmer and her body was slightly warmer. She was breathing deeply and ever so slowly. The monkey chattering in her mind had ceased; she was more in tune with her inner world though still aware of her surrounding. Her legs were crossed, seated in a lotus position, and her spine was straight. Her palms were facing upward, on top of each other, as her thumbs touched. Her eyes were closed. She was definitely in an altered state of consciousness.
"How long will you keep on staring at me?" She uttered.
"Is it a sin to stare at such beauty?" He was lying upside down with his legs suspended as support on a sturdy branch. His cape abided by the law of gravity, almost covering his face. He was amused she could still sense him despite his subtle approach behind her.
"Ah, getting more confident each day huh? I am telepathically communicating with my kin. In a moment, I will be done." In Neptune, telepathy was the norm of communication. There were no needs for words. Words are limited, and can often distort meaning. In telepathy, they could convey their thoughts and emotion accurately. Furthermore, distant does not deteriorate communication. Transmission is instant and convenient. To establish a link, all they have to do is imagine the face of the person. The closer the person, the better is the connection. Nonetheless, they still engage in oral conversation especially for diplomatic ties.
"Here." His hand emerged from his behind along with a bouquet of flowers. He tossed it toward her direction, perfectly landing a few centimeters away from her.
She remained steadfast in her original position.
"I thought you might like them. I'll see you near the river." He swung back and forth, until he eventually catapulted himself to mid-air, and contacted the ground gracefully with feet flat. He waved his hand and walked away.
She opened her eyes, they were red as blood, the color of passion. Is this a proposal? Ah too early to tell! Nonetheless, his romantic, charming and thoughtful self is surfacing.
The sound of rushing water echoed. It was cool, refreshing and crystal clear. His pants were drenched knees downward. He was standing in the river, with an improvised spear. With exceptional agility and absolute concentration, he seized the fishes with impeccable precision. He grinned arrogantly, expecting some praise.
Amethyst softly giggled. She closed her eyes, and let the water flow through her hand while the other supported a basin. She swiftly scooped fishes as if she was picking berries on an open field.
"No fair, that's cheating!" A bewildered Valiant remarked!
"Sour loser, eh?" She teased. "Why coerce, when it can be given? I asked the river, and it was granted. Water is my element after all!"
Perhaps, impressing her with his valiant ways is not such a good idea after all.
Over dinner, both engaged idly in a conversation once again...
"Valiant, what is your dream?"
He looked at her and solemnly replied, "To do something that I could only do. Even it means I have to sacrifice everything, so be it!"
Shrieks of children could be heard. On an overview, 2 children were swimming while a third one jumped, causing a catastrophic splash on his colleagues evoking more laughter.
His eyes softened. His facial features glowed. "They are my life. They are my strength. Their infectious smiles and incurable innocence ceases my misery, my anxiety. They are living testimonies of joy, love and hope. They are the lights that brighten this world enabling miracles to occur on a daily basis. No pretension, no expectation, no complication. To see the world in the eyes of a child, I would do anything to have that again...they are the future. I would do everything to protect them."
His philosophy is compelling. Quite profound than she expected. It was heartfelt and sincere. Compassion is his driving force. It did not take much persuasion; she should take some points from him, fortifying her senshi oath.
"My apology, I was referring to the unconscious imagery during sleep." Neptunians have always revered dreams as messages from collective and higher consciousness of the gods via the subconscious mind. Dreams contain significant messages coated in symbols that should never be ignored. Often, it contains the solution to a certain predicament and can serve as warning, too. At times, a means of releasing repressed desires. As such, dreams of every citizen are collected and reported; from these, future projects are drawn. Children are thought to fly whenever they fall off a cliff, or transmute hounding monsters to miniature and cute furry animals. High esteem for dreams have transformed Neptune into a society where crime as nothing more but a figment of imagination. Seemingly agrarian with a strong attunement with nature, the true majesty and sophistication of Neptune lies in its architecture and hidden treasure beneath the oceans and sea. Truly, a mystical civilization often misunderstood by its neighboring planets.
She continued, "In the context of your response, to be in the arms of love. To find and be found by my soulmate. Someone who could complement me beyond romantic pretenses, but in every aspect of my being. A bond so strong, illness would result if they are apart for too long; if one dies, the other would soon follow. Have you ever been in love?"
Pain registered in his face. So much tragedy happened during his tender years. At an early age, his mother had departed, and his father followed in a politically motivated murder. His brother was too preoccupied with too many royal tasks he drastically inherited. There was no room for love at home anymore. He conceded his right to live his own life, and dedicated himself to public service; under his reign, no child would be denied of a parent again. He swore he would never shed tears again; never will he be ever weak again. He would be the best Sailor Uranus in history, training was his outlet. He pushed everyone who cared. His pain is his pain alone, why burden his love ones when he could shield them? Pain desensitizes him, eventually shutting his heart. The girl he ever loved was no exception. He knew he hurt her most than anyone else. It hurt him more, but it was too much. He needed space. He needed to be alone. Will she ever forgive him? Would she even heed his explanation? Foolish thoughts. "It is rather late. We have to improve and fortify our shelter before it gets dark soon."
Branches with long and narrow coconut leaves were chopped and dragged to their camp site. In turn, these leaves were dried and interweaved as a roof structure. Support frameworks were moored. The roof height was designed for proper convection, regulating the temperature to be just enough. Food, medical and fire fuel containers were organized and stocked. Additional hunting paraphernalia were prepared, stones were sharpened.
Throughout, it was unusual been quiet. Both were occupied with their respective tasks. There was no need for spoken words, the slightest look or eye contact was enough. It was as if their thoughts were in synchronized. Truly, a magnificent partnership would result!
Over break, they shared some sweet potato cooked under a pile of leaves. A flute melody filled the air. It was sweet, it was bitter, it was everlasting.
"Beautiful." A glittered tear drop rolled over her cheek.
"Aren't you becoming too emotional?"
"Listen. Open your heart, and listen. To encompass illusion is through the eye of the heart; the invisible shall be visible, and the visible shall be invisible."
"So what was that all about?"
"Pardon, plea and promise. Lovers have they become yet circumstance compelled them to part; no matter how much they loved each other, how much they meant to each other, it wasn't enough. Tragedy struck, trauma imprinted. Sorrow was inevitable. Yet, both remained faithful and pledge to defeat all adversaries; love will survive and triumph."
She further offered, "come and dance with me, and you will feel..."
"Oh come on, I do not have time for trivial matters."
"So much for the high and mighty sangre Valiant! How ever could you fight?"
"And what does my combative capability have anything to do with dancing?"
"Rhythm, body coordination, agility, endurance and dexterity. Need I go on?"
"Points taken. If it is as you claim it to be, let us put it to a test." He took a white rose, and held it by the stem.
"Whoever takes hold of this flower for more than 10 seconds win before it touches the ground."
"But we both must never be more than half a meter apart, typical of pair dancing." Her addendum
"You're on! Of course, something must be at stake to make this more enticing. The winner shall be master for the day and the loser..."
"Shall be the slave of the day." Amethyst continued.
"Serve well, Amethyst. This will be over in a blink of an eye."
"I won't be too sure, if I were you."
"Watch me!"
Face to face, both held the complementing hand of the other while the other hand both held the flower together. Both tossed it in the air. The contest has commenced. As Valiant was about to reach the rose, his hand was knock off by hers. It glided smoothly along his arm toward his hand. In a rhythmic footwork, she waved mockingly the index finger of her semi-closed fist. "Why end it so soon when it has just begun? Enjoy and have fun!"
He swiftly kicked his left foot backward, mimicking a swan with arms extended. The decelerating object of contest was propelled again with energy transfer by momentum-impulse collision of his foot. He grabbed the price possession with his mouth in one complete sway. Ah, victory is his!
"A look befitting of a true Casanova" She slid her hand toward his lower torso ever so affectionate and sensual. A gasp followed, releasing the flower. The game resumed.
"You are enjoying this!"
"Well, aren't you?"
True, he never imagined it could be this enjoyable. Ritual dancing is ritual dancing, very solemn and collective in a sense. On the other hand, ballroom dancing is quite intimate and personally involving. He had always dismissed the same as futile past time of the elite, an excuse for extravagance over public service. As an added bonus, he gets to touch her in areas under normal circumstance would be nay.
A series of knocks, spars and blocks followed. Virtually all part of the body was used to keep the game rolling-- foots, knees, elbows, shoulders and head-- under all sorts of foot work, and improvised techniques. Even compromising position no longer pose any unnecessary reaction, it was all part of the game.
In the end, the flower fell on the ground. His arm was wrapped around her. In a forward stance, the foot that contains majority of his weight was also used in support of an almost lying Amethyst. His other hand is extended in the air for balance.
"I guess no one won." She broke the silence.
He pulled her up and helped her regain her stance. "How, how did you know..."
"I didn't. I trust you, and that is all there is. Trust is imperative, even in dancing. When you dislike the person, it shows in your movements. The chemistry withers. The energy repels and scatters. It not merely dancing, it is celebrating life itself."
Amethyst left a rather stunned Valiant.
'Am I truly in love, it has become obvious!', he asked himself.
Author's note: I was lost in articulation in that dynamic scene! I didn't even know how those moves are even called in English! I guess that is why action, martial arts in particular are best captured in a screen. To think I have imagined every detailed movement, but I have no choice but to summarize it or this will never be done.
Rose seemed inappropriate in the last scene, but my flower vocabulary is limited. I am a visual person. Suggestions are welcomed again.
I have revamped chapter 9. I feel its too casual tone have reduced it to substandard. I still somewhat dissatisfied with chapter 8, and contemplating if it deserves revision. Chapter 8-10 are the most difficult for me to write; the pacing is too slow, yet it is necessary for plot development. Friendship is critical for their relationship, a level of trust and confidence must exist. Hopefully things will speed up again.