Life in the harem wasn't easy but having three other women to finally talk to made it easier. Minako wasn't even married yet to the Skeit and she was already hated by half the harem and she was willing to bet quite the few nobles. If it wasn't for Haruka, Michiru, and Setsuna she didn't know how'd she manage it.

"So why are you all little wives in the first place?" she asked once while all four of them were having tea inside the compartments set aside for the three of the little wives.

Haruka glared up at the ceiling. "My family went broke and decided to marry me off to get more money."

Michiru giggled and patted Haruka's hand. "Me and Setsuna are both here for the same reasons-are families wanted the political powers attached to being the family of little wives."

Minako raised her brows and turned to Setsuna. "Is that so?"

Setsuna nodded before she sipped her tea. "Mmmhmm-I was...thirteen."

"Fourteen." provided Michiru.

"Eleven." grumbled Haruka. Minako's brows flew up.

"Eleven?" she gasped and nearly spilled tea down her front.

"Like I said-family went bankrupt."

"Did...did anyone of you...want to get married to the Skeit?" Three pairs of eyebrows rose up.

"Do you?" shot back Haruka.

"Don't mind her, Minako," soothed Michiru taking Haruka's hand in her own. Haruka responded by rubbing her thumb over Michiru's knuckles. "Haruka just doesn't like to be caged up." Michiru's voice nearly made her start as she was ripped away from her ponderings.

"Well, how about you, Minako? Do you want to marry the Skeit?"

Minako didn't have to think about the answer but how to word it.

"Well...I would be ...much more...adverse to ...marrying someone else."

Haruka snorted. "Thought so."

Michiru rolled her eyes and Setsuna simply sipped her tea while Minako stared at the bold woman sitting in front of her.

---------------

Hotaru swung her legs back and forth as she waited for her mother to serve her her lunch. She watched as her mother bustled around the kitchen, trying to cook the stew.

About the sixth time she heard her mother not so subtly curse Hotaru knew that they were going to Auntie Makoto's grill to eat.

Hotaru grinned as she slurped her aunt's stew and dipped the thick bread in the stew. Next to her, her mother and her Auntie Makoto talked to each other. She didn't pay them much mind.

After checking to make sure no one would over hear them besides Hotaru, Makoto asked Rei a question. "So...do you know why Kunzite picked Usagi to go to the palace?"

"He didn't tell me-but I got a sinking supposition she figured out what we were doing. And like a idiot, she blurted out to him. Jadeite only gave me the gist of it." she shook her head just think about it. "She's lucky he just didn't have Jadeite kill her then..."

"So now she's up there with the others?"

About right Hotaru tuned them out and nearly fell asleep in the remains of her stew from boredom. She wished Usagi was there-it was boring with only her parents to play with her.

---------------

Kunzite sighed and rubbed the side of his neck as he walked down the corridor. He had fallen asleep at his desk, funny that he slept better on that desk than in his own bed, and had managed to terrorify the maid who had come in to find him half sprawled on the desk and thought he had been murdered. After talking and assuring her that he was quite alive, he decided to wander a bit in the palace and maybe head to one of the gardens or courtyards.

He blinked as sunlight blared down into his face as he reached a courtyard. He looked about-he had been here a week before hiding from the celebration to welcome the Lady Aphrodite Minako. It was a large courtyard with a large, shallow wading pool in the middle. In the corner next to a jalis doorway was a winding tree, rising up.

His jaw dropped a little-it seemed someone had wanted to sap up the sun shine today. They had placed a large, plush fainting couch in the court yard next to the tree with a matching chair across from it. Laying on the couch, a young woman stretched out, sipped her wine, and nibbled at sticky figs. Kunzite stood dumbfounded-women never went without veils in public. This young woman lazed about happily with her veils thrown back.

He shut his jaw and shook his head. Could this be the "legendary" free spirited Lady Aphrodite Minako? Well, if it was than as a prospective bride for the Skeit she had to be bloody mad-the nobles all ready dislike her when wore thin veils, what would they do when she wore naught at all? This girl was asking to get assassinated for simple court intrigue-well, her background was enough to ensure that but still-! To go asking for it?

Before he could turn around and leave, she opened one cornflower blue eye and caught him in her sight. She blinked and sat up. She had a surprised and bemused look on her face.

It struck now he couldn't leave unless she laid back down and ignored in dismissal-court etiquette and such. I bloody hate court intrigues... a balent lie yet-as much as he liked a good challenge-much as a good game of Zoisite's chess-he missed his freedom at times.

If I wasn't so bloody good at this, I would go mad. he thought grouchily.

She stood up and grabbed her wine glass before sauntering over to him, her only true conscious thought repeating like a mantra: It's him! It's him, it's him, it's him-! She grinned as stepped up in front of him.

He found that if he was blunt in his greetings usually it made other person fumble awkwardly over their words giving him the upper hand-great when working with snooty nobles if he did say so himself. "Nice day, huh?"

"Quite. The weather's pleasurable as I sure the company is as well."

Touche. "Ahh, on that, milady, we find ourselves in agreement." He raised his glass as if toasting her and took a swift drink of the wine, emptying it. She noticed it and grinned.

"Would milord like to join and refill his goblet?"

He grinned applicably. "Of course, milady." She grinned back at him before waltzing back over to her couch and gestured to the chair. He shrugged mentally, walked to the chair, and sat.

"Wine, milord?" she offered, tilting the bottle towards him. He grinned and took it and filled up his glass before placing it back on the ground next to her couch.

"May I beg a question of the lady?" he blurted. What the hell did you just do that for! snapped a sharp voice in his mind that sounded oddly like his scolding mother. My own damn mouth is running away from me...as is my sanity apparently.

She lifted her brows and nodded. "Yes, yes, of course."

"May I be so bold-" damnit, I'm already too bold. "as to ask why have you thrown back your veils and slipped away from the jalis of your rooms?"

She laughed, actually tossed back her hand and let out a big belly laugh that had nearly made him start in surprise-to see such a delicate woman with such booming laughter was half bizarre and totally unsuspected-unsuspected but not unappreciated. "Ha, milord, I had guessed you blunt but not nearly as much as this!" When she finally composed herself, but still giggling sporadically, she shook her head. "No bird in it's right mind wishes to remain in a cage no matter how ornate."

Kunzite stared at the lady for a moment struck by her words. He stood up and began to walk away. He stopped and stared back at the lady-she faced the pool, hunched with her arms resting on her legs. "Milady?" She blinked and looked his way. "A bird may still use it's beak to destroy the lock holding it there." He touched his fingers to his temples in salute. "By your leave, milady."

"Yes, yes..." she murmured with a perplexed look on her face. Kunzite nodded and turned to leave. "Milord!" He turned back and looked at her. She smiled half sorrowful. "Milord, it's rude to leave without least leaving your name."

He blinked half shocked he'd forgotten to mention his name. "Kunzite of the Kou House, milady."

"And I suppose you know me as Aphrodite Minako the Third of the Aino Line."

"Aye, milady." He turned to leave again and walked away from the blonde beauty, nearly missing the words carried on the wind.

"...thank you...Kunzite."

---------------

Usagi swung her legs back and forth as she sat on the highest plank of wood of the stable's fence. Sitting next to her, Mamoru bit deep into his apple while she had already polished hers off and tossed the core into the corral behind them.

"So, what do you do anyway, Mamoru?" she asked as she watched him finish his apple.

"I'm a horse trader." he answered. "I've been on horses since before I could walk."

"No! Really?"

He laughed and nodded. "My father liked to carry me as he rode on his own horse. I could ride a pony before I could walk straight. I'm told I made quite the sight, falling down all the time and then pulling myself up onto this fat little pony."

Usagi laughed hardily, holding her stomach. "I can picture it! You on chubby little legs on this chubby little pony!" He grinned at her.

"Well, I'm glad I provide such amusement to you."

She stopped and grinned up at him before straightening and looking up to the sky. It was rapidly turning dark and stars were appearing in the sky. He smiled slightly and turned his own gaze to the heavens. They sat in companionable silence staring up at the sky.

"So, Usagi," She started slightly in surprise at his voice. "Where are you from?"

She stopped and smiled mysteriously as her eyes softened mistily. She grinned and jumped down, she ran ahead a bit before turning back to wave and running back inside the palace. Mamoru stared after her, one hand raised forgotten in the air. Then he grinned and chuckled. "Silly thing wants to keep herself a mystery, eh? Well, I always liked a challenge..."

Pwhee, a lot reviews to answer actually. Heh, XD, yay! Sorry, this took so long but that M/K was being a bastard to work with and turned out not how I wanted it. Bah, don't care if I don't like it-I'm just glad it's done. Eek! Schools starts tomorrow so don't expect a quick update unless a miracle happens...or I get swamped by reviews. They're a great ego boost.

Friends1004-Bout time huh? Heh, I'll try to write quickly so you aren't disappointed all the time, kay?

Chester 91-Bad news? Well, I'm glad this helps.

Serenathy-Actually, it was funny when you mentioned that because that was EXACTLY what I had been planning with this chapter! XD Psychic girl! Now, you know why Haruka is the way she is, eh? What do you think of the M/K in this chapter? I'm not very happy with it but...bah! I'll try to compensate for it later...more M/K!

Sapphire Midnight-Correcto mundo! Endymion isn't about to sit on him bum while others do his dirty work-but wait there's still surprises to do with him yet. Mamo-chan's smart enough not to get caught with Usa but Usa could always blunder it out to K...but actually Mamo doesn't realize Usa's a spy for him yet! You should be asking what he's going to do when he finds out about her. Actually she's still got quite the few secrets herself as you can tell in this chapter. AS for Serenity...well, you'll just have to wait and read, ne? Actually, the reason why she was in the rugs isn't entirely as important as the fact that she was in that city in the first place. ...um, now I've said too much. Oh, well. Yay, Untouchable updates! WHEE!

Lady of Masbolle-Heh, I'm glad you think I'm being original about this. Thank you! (Psst...I love Usa/Mamo as well, X3)

whitey9h Review #1: Glad to have you back! Don't worry it ain't over til the fat lady sings! And I ain't singing yet so don't worry bout it. XD

Review #2: Actually it is-the set up and nearly all the characters are here. It's a-swinging!