Disclaimer: I don't own Sailor Moon.
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Makoto grinned as stirred the stew in front of her. Pinching a bit of spices from a small jar and sprinkling it into the stew. She stirred slow and lethargically, taking a big whiff of the smells rising from the stew. "Mmm...nearly do-ooone!"
Makoto turned quickly causing Nephlite to have to duck quickly from the punch that would have nailed his check. "Sorry, Makoto."
"I told you-don't just wrap your arms around me like that!" she yelped, shaking her finger at them. "Last time I nearly knocked your block off."
"Darling, you knocked me off my feet and gave me a concussion-I would say you DID knock my block off." he chuckled, straightening up. Makoto shook her head and turned back to the stew.
"I keep telling you not to do it-the leches around here give me hell so I give it back." she told him as she began to stir again. He grinned and propped his arms against the counter placing his chin on his upturned fist.
"My poor darling fiancee, do you want me to come by more often to scare them off?" he asked, putting a hand up on her shoulder and rubbing it.
"Mmm...it would be nice just to see you more often." He grinned up at her.
"Once everything's finished...we'll have the biggest wedding possible." he chuckled. She turned and grinned at him.
"I'm going to take your word at that." They grinned at each other in companionable silence until Nephlite suddenly perked up.
"Oh, that reminds me!" he started, straightened and turned to walk back to the back of the "kitchen". Makoto blinked and casted a glance to see Unazuki tending to the customers up front. She turned and began to follow Nephlite. He dipped underneath the table in back and swung upward with something in his grasp.
"Oh, Nephlite! It's the most beautiful-!" He grinned as he set it on the table. Makoto purred and cooed around her present. "Where in the world did you find a Wilted Buddha Lotus?"
Nephlite grinned-Makoto had a not so secret love for plants. The Wilted Buddha Lotus as she had called it had been hard to get for his fiancee but just seeing the joy on her face made him decide it was all worth it. It was a rather large lily blossom that rose tall and thick in the stock to uphold a rather magnificent pink blossom. "How will it do?"
"Well...it actually blooms TWICE so after the second time you take the petals and grind them into a thick paste and then it makes for an antidote to any known poison. Besides, it's one of the most beautiful flowers in existence-if I DO say so myself!" she laughed. Nephlite grinned at her.
"So, did I do good?"
Makoto turned and grinned at him. "Yes, yes, you did." She wrapped her arms around his neck. "Thank you."
"Well, you're welcome." he chuckled, wrapping an arm around her waist. He tapped their foreheads together and stood there for a bit till loud cat calls came from the front.
"Woohoo!"
"Save it for the honeymoon people!"
"Way to go, sir!" laughed the patrons up front. Makoto blushed and rushed back to her stew. Nephlite rolled his eyes and began to help Unazuki up front.
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"So, um, Rei?"
Rei turned and blinked to look at Usagi sitting at the table. Hotaru was sitting in the chair next to her, reading a rather large book with Jadeite by her side to help her sound out the harder words.
"Yes, Usagi?"
"I've been meaning to ask...what are big wives and little wives anyway?" she asked, folding a shirt as she talked-while staying with Rei and her family she had decided to be helpfully by folding clothes. Jadeite looked up from the book to share a look with his wife before turning back to his daughter and the book. Rei sighed and flipped her rag over her shoulder-she had been cleaning the dishes.
"Well, "Big Wives" is what a lot of people call the head wives of the Skeit. The head wives are the real important ones-the one's with the most proper heritage, most outstanding inheritance, and usually the most beloved of the Skeit. They help him make big decisions so they're usually very bright too." explained Rei. Jadeite sat up and turned to Usagi.
"Little wives are just a fancy name for concubines-usually they're the ones who from poorer backgrounds and such." answered Jadeite. Hotaru decided to her two bits to the conversation.
"They're from unrespectable backgrounds!"
"Hotaru!" admonished Rei.
"Where in the world did you learn that?" asked Jadeite with raised eyebrows. Hotaru shrugged.
"From uncle Zoisite."
"Ah." muttered Jadeite.
"Don't say such things, Hotaru." huffed Rei. "And YOU!" she turned to Jadeite, who merely raised his eyebrows and waited patiently. "Don't let them say such things around our daughter!"
"Yes, ma'am!" tolled both of them. Usagi giggled.
"So "Big Wives" are the main wives...how many are there?" Rei huffed.
"Well, there's only supposed to be three or four...if the Skeit marries this new lady he'll have seven!" Rei shook her head. "It's folly-the old lords are already in a uproar as it is."
"...the Skeit isn't very popular, is he?"
The three others in the room tensed, even little Hotaru who looked up at her with big eyes. "Usagi, you must never repeat that again." toned Jadeite firmly.
"Why?" asked Usagi surprised.
"People get killed for that kind of talk." snapped Rei. "Are you trying to get yourself killed!"
Usagi shrank back. "I-no!" she spluttered. "I just-"
"Rei, calm down," soothed Jadeite, "She's a foreigner here, leave be."
Rei shook her head. "She's going to get herself killed." Before Usagi could saying a scathing comment Jadeite bet her to the punch.
"You care so much about her so soon?" he asked in mock surprise. Rei squawked and Usagi's eyes widened. "My dear wife, I'm hurt-she's been here three days and already she has a piece of you heart; took me three YEARS to get you to marry me."
Usagi pressed a hand to her mouth to keep her giggles in; watching Jadeite give his wife a good dressing down will Rei stood by powerless was quite funny. Already, Hotaru was giggling happily unable to hold it in.
Rei was red in the face and, for lack of a better word, pissed. "JADEITE MIYAMOTO!"
"Uh-oh!" giggled Hotaru. Jadeite nodded in agreement.
"Uh-oh indeed! Using my full name!"
By now, Usagi had tears slipping down her face and gave up trying to stop the laughter.
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A shadowy figure slipped off his horse and strolled through the large encampment of tents. He nodded to the guards at the main tent and went inside the large silver tent.
Inside, a handsome man with striking features of coal black hair and piercing blue eyes stared up at him. He wore fine, royal clothing-cinnamon colored tunics, green trousers, a white billowy long sleeved undershirt and a handsome looking turban sitting by his side upon his many cushions. In front of him was a large low table with a tea service already placed upon it.
"Greetings to you, most royal Endymion." toned the figure. Endymion looked up at him and nodded to the servants to leave him. As the last left, a small smile graced his lips.
"Sit with me and drink."
The figure nodded and sat across from the banished prince not bothering to reveal his face by drawing back his hood before drinking the tea. "Where's the other two, milord?"
"Taiki and Yaten, my advisors?" asked Endymion with a grin. "There out and about I suppose, how's my old friends?"
"They send their greetings." answered the man. "Jadeite's wife is having his first in eight months-she hasn't told him yet."
"Poor Jadeite-Rei must be feeling vindictive about something."
"He got captured."
"I've heard." toned the prince solemnly. "And did he reveal anything about us?"
"No, sir-he was trained well."
Endymion cracked a grin. "Funny since you helped train him." The figure didn't comment. "So who's his little adopted one-?"
"Hotaru, she's fine as well. Nephlite and Makoto are getting married "as soon as this is over" as they put it." Endymion sighed.
"This may never end...or at least not for a long time." he shook his head. "How goes Kunzite and Zoisite?"
Beneath his hood the figure cracked a smile of his own. "Zoisite's a flirt-but right now he's forgotten women."
Endymion raised his brows. "Why on earth for?"
"He's got one in particular who's feathers he's trying to ruffle." Endymion chuckled.
"About time he settled down." Endymion sipped his tea. "And Kunzite...?"
"Well, first off he sends greetings to his banished cousin, Yaten."
Endymion nodded. "I'll make sure he get's it."
"And he's very busy."
"No one may have more to lose than you and I then him." he sighed. "Tell him to be careful. It's hard enough to find good allies among the nobles while losing support from the others as it is."
The figure nodded and smiled to himself. "Understood. I'll be leaving then, sir."
"Good luck." intoned Endymion as the figure left.
One word! I wanted to add one word right there but it would have spoiled the surprise-so, nyah! XD Don't ask me now, cause I won't tell. You'll understand later. God, I keep pushing Minako farther and farther back! I can't wait to see my blonde love goddess! Hee, Rei's baby wasn't exactly planned but oh, well, it's fun!
You guys are so funny. It makes me laugh. XD
Tsubasa-chan-I'm glad you appreciate the love between those two-they might just be my favorite ever. He keeps her grounded and humble and she gives a fun and loving relationship. Honey, you haven't seen twists yet.
Allison-I'm glad you like it. I hope the later chapters can keep on par with the first chapters then.
Chester91-I read your review and decide to expand on the idea of little wives; does it help? Little Women...XD
Serenath-Your review made me laugh so hard. "Couldn't keep his snake in the cage"...(snicker) Does the explanation help any? Is my Ami so transparent? Shh! Don't mention it to the others! XD Yes, she is a spy. It doesn't matter if you tell now or not because it's not what is REALLY important. What did you think of the Ami/Zoisite? Any good?
Sapphire Midnight-Review #1: OMG! IT'S YOU! I love Untouchable! I actually did a fan girl scream when I realized who you were. XD Don't worry, this story is writing itself so it won't let me go soon! HELP! THE FANDOM HAS ME!
Review #2: Uh-oh...here it comes!
Review #3: You poor thing! XD Ph34R the B34r! No need to beg-I know what it's like to have someone stop dead in a story. But chapters may be slow in coming-unless I get reviews like yours, they motivate me. I work VERY hard to get rid of spelling errors-they're terribly annoying. Anybody in particular you want to see in here? Hmm...President...I'd make a kind of peacemaker because I'd be too busy writing to go to war. XD