Disclaimer: I don't own Sailor Moon.
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The parade had been nearly a mile long when the Lady Aphrodite Minako the Third of the Aino Line entered the Royal City of the Skeit Diamond; now it was nearly twice as long. Minako sighed and shifted in her thinly veiled jalis atop her large elephant. Her jalis was an ivory cage bejeweled with emeralds. It was beautiful but she always knew it to be a cage. She waved her servant girl to continue fanning her as she readjusted against her pillows. She quickly sat up though and turned to her servant girl.
"Naru!" she whispered. Her servant raised a brow-Minako never usually called her by her name unless she knew that no one could hear them.
"My lady-"
"Enough of that." cut off Minako. Uh oh, thought Naru, something's got her riled up or worried again. "I want to know how long it will take to get to the palace."
Naru sighed. Not this again... "My-" Minako's glare stopped her short. "Minako. I believe not too long now that we've entered the city-surely an hour or two til we get there."
Minako sighed and flopped against her pillows. Naru gave a small smile. Seemed as if her mistress was getting antsy and tired in the confines of her jalis.
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Ami wiped down the large low wooden table in front of her, buffering it's polish to a fine shine. She huffed as she reached out with her rag nearly making it to the far side of the table. She frowned and huffed, leaning over farther over to reach the edge so she wouldn't have to get up and walk over to just polish up perhaps three inches of table. "Nearly...there..."
Suddenly, her rag was tugged away from her hands and to her chagrin Zoisite sat down on the oppisite side of the table and began to buffer the table. "Looked like you needed help there, twiggy."
"I'm shocked you have it in you to help at all, Zoisite." she huffed. "And what do you mean by twiggy?"
"Well, to be blunt..." he started as he stuck his tongue between his teeth as he buffered a particularly stubborn smudge. "...you have no figure..." Ami squeaked in shock but he went on. "And you're a stick in the mud. Stick, twig, you figure it out."
"I-I'm not a twig-I mean-" she spluttered. She caught her breath and glared. "What do you want, you-you chauvinistic brat!"
"I'm touched you noticed." he muttered and kept rubbing the spot. "Kunzite's got a girl ready for the maid position for the little wives-make sure to show her the ropes and stuff, kay?"
Ami sniffed. She knew as much-part of her position for them was to help out the new recruits so they didn't get themselves killed or exposed. Not to mention she kept a watch on themselves to watch out for double agents. "I understand."
"Do you? That's good..." his voice was patronizing but he never looked up at her. She fumed silently and waited for him to hand her rag back. He grinned up at her suddenly and tossed the rag straight at her face-she caught it before it hit and he pouted. "You're no fun-help the girl. I'll give you more information later. Keep on your toes-Twiggy!"
She pratically screamed in fury and shot the rag at his face-he laughed and it bounced off the door which he shut behind him. "How does he always do that?" He got her riled up so easily-she was by nature shy but he was so vexing and tried her patience!
She stilled suddenly as she heard a loud bell toll.
Ami stood up straight and stared out the window. Well it seemed the Lady Aphrodite had made it to the city after all.
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The elephants trumpeted and her acrobats dance, horses trotted and her slaves moved sluggishly with their burdens of her presents. Up in her jalis atop her elephant, Minako winced for her slaves. Those chests must be awfully heavy...maybe I should issue double rations to night...
"Milady," whispered Naru, "We've arrived-will be received by the Skeit in less than an hour."
"So soon?" huffed Minako. "I thought we would have soon resting time before meeting his majesty."
Naru shook her head. "A messenger sent word that you shall be made ready within the hour."
"That's twenty minutes at most!" she gasped looking at her sand-turner. "Oh-oh-! Naru! Get some rogue pots! And my garments-quickly!"
Naru nodded and slipped out of the jalis. Minako sat there willing herself to not bite her nails-a bad habit she had picked up as a child. Besides, gnawing on her nails now would ruin the manicure. She was hardly court acceptable-by the Nataraja, she wasn't even wearing her veil! By merciful Vishnu, this was going to be a rush job at best!
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"So, did Lady Aphrodite have a safe journey here?" asked Usagi as she sipped from her cup. Kunzite, how sat beside her at Jadeite and Rei's table, nodded and sipped his tea before starting to talk. Usagi and Kunzite were sitting, chatting as they waited for Jadeite to return-Rei had needed help bathing Hotaru and he had excused himself to go help her.
"Nothing out the ordinary," answered Kunzite. "If they had waited much longer they would have had to cross the borders in the middle of the raiding season."
"Raiding season?" echoed Usagi in confusion. Kunzite nodded.
"Bandits like to raid then-it's prime weather for raiding caravans along the way."
"Ahh..." murmured Usagi. "Kunzite...I...have a question."
"What is it?" asked Kunzite curious.
"Lady Aphrodite's arrival...is it upsetting the nobles AND the commoners?"
Kunzite tensed at the question. "You're very observant, Usagi. Yes, both are getting rather upset..."
"So then, what's your reason to start a rebellion?"
Kunzite tore his gaze up from his cup to see her sitting there looking nonchalant as she sipped her tea. "Excuse me?"
"Well, you're not a commoner...you all tensed at when Makoto mentioned job openings up in the palace-for spies, right? And, everyone's on edge whenever the Skeit's mentioned. So then why-"
Her question was cut off into a hiss as she felt the prick of Jadeite's dagger against her neck. It seemed Rei had no longer need his help bathing Hotaru.
"Shall I dispatch her, milord?"
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Ami knew it would only be to soon til she saw Zoisite again. Want she hadn't planned was the rushed, anxious look he had on his face when he gave her instructions-entirely free of taunts oddly enough. She had stared up into his face feeling a bit concerned-no, she wasn't worried! She would never worry about Zoisite...-as he babbled her instructions. She had made him repeat it twice just so she could understand it.
"Say that again, please?"
"Just-show her around." he muttered.
"Zoisite." she murmured in what she hope was a soothing voice like her mother used on her nervous patients to calm them. "Who is this girl?"
"She's-she's a good kid." he said off handily and laughed a little. "She's-well, I suppose you could say she's kinda like the little sister I never had but-"
"Zoisite." she said again. "Her name, Zoisite."
He laughed again. "Usagi."
Serenathy-I knew it was you, I was wondering if you changed your handle or just forgot. I mentioned it before-I had to go back and change that part with Kunzite talking in the pub. That WASN'T Artemis! I'm sorry for the confusion-you'll find out who it was later. (raises brows) You doubted Endymion? Tsk tsk, never doubt him. Don't worry-U and E's paths are going to cross; you may just realize it at first. The Skeit is based upon old Indian-not native American-monarchies. The king had large harems. XD Seriously, Zoisite in fanfiction never quite hit me as a GREAT portrayal-he's not really like that in the anime nor manga. He's only gay in the Japanese anime-in the manga the relationship's not there. Ami has a backbone-she's just terribly shy but she's actually pretty outspoken compared to usual when she's with Zoisite.
whitey9h-Miss you already! XD Later.
Allison-You make me blush.(blushes) I hope I can keep you on your toes-the plot's finally getting going now that Usa's a spy.
Low/Astrum-Thanks. Here's the next chapter.
Sapphire Midnight-I was happy to get your review! Yay, more Untouchable! Sque! Here's your next chapter!
FOR THE LOVE OF PETE-I MENTIONED IT BEFORE...KUNZITE WAS NOT TALKING TO ARTEMIS! THAT PART HAS BEEN CHANGED-PLEASE GO LOOK!