Sweet Nocturne
Disclaimer: I don't own Sailor Moon.
Chapter 8: Close One
Author's Note: Oh my gosh! I know, I am one of the most horrible people on earth for leaving this story behind for two friggin' years, and to think this was my baby! Good news is, I'm graduating soon, very soon (not soon enough) so I should be back on track to finishing this and I have a few more ideas for stories lined up, which I'm more than excited to start on. To those of you who still read this, thank you so much. You have no idea how I love seeing each and every review, even after such a long hiatus (ugh, I hate that word). And with my sincerest apologies I present to you the rest of Sweet Nocturne.
Over the next few days, something peculiar had happened to the young princess. In the midst of all the terror in the village a few days ago (the attempted kidnapping and looming threats of an invasion over the kingdom), Rini frolicked around the palace with a glowing face and with seemingly different dark eyes that gave a magnificent gleam of a deep, ardent red.
No one minded, really. The palace workers smiled as she passed by, the generals and senshi dropped their works to bask in her intoxicating, newfound happiness. But from what, and why, is the burden the Queen herself chose to shoulder. Along with the stress of the mysterious disappearance of weirdness in the village.
"How are things, my love?"
Rini smiled at her mother. "Fine, mama. Just fine." She took a plump, oversized strawberry and dipped it in the little pot of melted dark chocolate. "And you?"
Serena did the same. "Oh, same old, same old."
Rini finished the strawberry in two bites and licked the chocolate off her fingers. "Mmm. Good, good." Another strawberry. She relaxed herself on the sofa lengthwise and crossed her legs.
"Now we're just repeating ourselves, aren't we?" Serena said, in a bored tone.
"I guess." Rini waited for the dripping chocolate to stop, twirling the strawberry. "It's pretty redundant to have this conversation. I mean, we see each other every day," she said in mock indignation.
"Yes, I suppose…" This is going nowhere. "…But I feel as if something has changed."
"Changed?" Rini stared out at the bright sky and yawned. "What do you mean?"
"Well, asides from the events that have taken place the past few days—"
Rini waved her hand nonchalantly. "Oh, mama. You worry too much, really. I have a feeling that everything will be just fine. Good will always triumph," she stated confidently.
Serena's eyebrow twitched. "I'm glad you're being very optimistic, my love. But I do believe that there is a balance in this universe." She leaned over to dip another strawberry. "Prices must be paid, and usually the cost of something good is a very expensive one." She took a bite. "Going through the experience of obtaining what you want is as valuable as the end result. But right now, we're at a standstill. Again. There's something to be worried about. And not just outside, but in the palace as well."
"Aw, don't get all philosophical and dutiful with me now, mama." Rini yawned again. "I think it's time for my siesta anyway."
"Small Lady, you've been sleeping too much lately." Serena poured herself some merlot and stood up, taking a hasty swig, her pre-stately infamous temper slowly surfacing. What is she hiding? How could she take matters so lightly? Rini recognized under what situations the endearing nickname is often used and sat up, realizing she had angered her mother somewhat. The Queen paced slowly towards the large window, and took another sip from her glass. "Rini, I'm just concerned as a mother and as a friend." She turned.
"There's nothing to talk about, and I'm just fine." Rini said hotly. "Why are you so jumpy anyway?"
Serena finished her glass. "Why am I so jumpy?" She set her glass down. "Have you forgotten that you were almost kidnapped just a week ago?"
"Mama—"
"Rini." Serena walked toward her daughter. "I'm just concerned, my love." She repeated.
Rini smiled. "I know." She moved down the sofa and Serena sat next to her. After a short moment, Rini decided to clue her mother in, just to get her to relax. Really, there is nothing to worry about. Right? "Mama, first of all, I want you to understand now that I am absolutely fine. No sickness, no nothing. Alright?"
Serena nodded. "Right." The heaviness in the room seemed to lift. She breathed out and wringed her hands together. "And there's nothing of any manner like that of the past incident that has occ—"
"Mama! Nothing! Really. Nothing. If there were, you'd be the first to sense and the first to know."
"True." Serena looked at her. "I'm just making sure, my love." Then her stance relaxed. "So, your giddiness over the past few days must be the cause of what? It cannot just be from the return of the generals." Her tone was loose but her face seemed intent to know what her daughter had been up to.
Quite the perceptive one, aren't you? Rini thought about her last dreamy encounter and decided that it would be okay for her mother to know. But not everything. "Well, as glad as I am seeing the power trips between Mina and Kunzite," at this, the Queen smiled, "I just… that is…" Rini wasn't sure of how to say it. "I just have this feeling that there's something there that will come to my rescue when I need it, and it reassured me. I know I have you, Daddy, Diana, the senshi and the shitennou to watch over me… but this is the kind that stays at the back of my head, giving me that extra… that extra something I needed." Wow, that must've been the most incoherent sentence I've ever blabbered out. "Do you know what I mean?" She looked expectantly to find a blank or otherwise mildly peeved expression on her mother's face.
Instead, she found a thoughtful look. "I think I do, actually."
Rini tried to hide her slight surprise. "Honestly?" She can't be that perceptive.
"Yes." Then she straightened her pose. "I felt that extra something, as you call it…" Rini shrugged at her own vagueness. "…When I met your father."
She's on to me!
The Queen was on to her. "So just who—"
"Your Majesty," a servant entered and bowed hastily. "Lady Raye asks for your presence at the temple immediately."
"Please send a message back that I will be with her shortly."
"Your Majesty," the servant fidgeted. "Milady says it is very urgent." And she'll probably bite my head off if you don't show up.
The Queen sighed and gave a curt nod. "Very well."
With a look promising more to be said later, the Queen kissed the top of Rini's head and promptly disappeared through the door. The princess sat in contemplative and relief-filled silence as she listened to the fading click-click of heels and shuffling skirts.
Serena's thoughts were in a mess as she walked in the direction of the temple. She was slightly peeved that she always seemed to be interrupted when her headstrong teenage daughter was about to tell her some life-altering secret, or something like that. She caught sight of the temple and quickened her pace.
Raye looked up expectedly a second before Serena opened the gigantic door. "Took you a while."
"Hello to you too, my dear." Serena removed her heels and sat on the cushion opposite of the priestess. "You said it was important?"
Raye noted her slightly hassled demeanor. "Did I interrupt something? Have you been drinking?" She noted her pink cheeks as well.
"I was just talking to Rini. Gods, that girl is stubborn." She looked up exasperatedly, missing Raye's smile. "And yes but not really, I just had some wine because I was so stressed trying to get something out of that girl. It took some time for her to finally tell me something."
"What did she tell you?"
"Nothing; you called. And about what, by the way? I want to get back to Rini before she disappears or goes to sleep." She leaned towards her friend attentively, eyes bright.
"Well, it's about her, actually. About Rini." Raye waited a while as she saw Serena's frame shudder.
"It's something, isn't it? There's something out there after her." The Queen crossed her arms and closed her eyes.
"I feel a presence. A dark one." Raye stood up and walked towards her blazing fire, looking deeply into it. "I've been trying to read into it for the past few days, but it seems as if the harder I try to look, the more vague or distant the images get. All I know is—" She turned back to Serena, "—Rini is involved in this. I just don't want us to underestimate this… this thing. Whatever it is. And considering how the mood has lifted in the area over the past few days, we have to remind people that this threat is still there. I can feel it. I'm sure the senshi and the shitennou can as well." She looked seriously at Serena.
The queen looked back at her and gave a long sigh. "Yes, yes, I know… Thank you, Raye." She stood up shakily. Raye went towards her and gave her that all-too familiar sisterly hug.
"Everything will be fine, Serena. You will be fine. Rini will be fine. So will Darien and the kingdom." She patted her back.
"I know. I'm just so worried about Small Lady." She smiled at Raye. "I know she's grown up, but I still want to protect her. I don't want anything to come after her like that."
"I understand." Raye looked back at fire. "Perhaps you should consider her request."
"What request?"
"That she be put back into training—"
"No." Serena cut Raye off. "I am absolutely not sending her to the past again—"
"Doesn't have to be in the past." Raye gave Serena her signature "duh, dumbass" look. "Here. In the present. Or future. Whatever." She smiled. "We can all train her. Starting tomorrow. She'll be happy that we're honoring her wishes and you can sleep a little better at night."
Serena pondered for a while. "I guess you're right." She nodded her head. "You're absolutely right." The sad look on her face remained. "It's just that we shouldn't be doing this, still. It's supposed to be over now."
Raye returned the sad sentiment. "It will be, soon." Her fire blazed. "Let's just get this one out of the way. It'll be over soon enough."
Rini lay on her side and stared at the glowing silver moon outside her window, once again showering her in its sleepy glow. A breeze flew into her room and blew tenderly through her sheer lacy shift, making her shiver slightly. The flames of her candles danced and weakened as her eyes began to drift slowly downwards.
The whole week has been good. She hasn't been having any dreams at all, which she prefers now as opposed to having sweet ones going awry. She felt happy that she had seen Elios again, and she was so sure that he was in fact the man who had been visiting her in her dreams late at night for the past month. Who else could it be? It makes so much sense. He will come back soon, he said. And maybe he can explain who that intruder was, that jerk who had tried to kidnap her in her room or assault her that night Diana gave her the tea hex. Asshole. I will find you and kick your ass off this planet myself, she vowed silently to herself.
Rini's eyes shut slowly right after the breeze kissed the flames of her candle away and left her room covered in midnight blue and platinum moonlight. As the numbness of sleep took over, she was able to relax, although somewhat weirdly. Tonight felt… different, somehow.
Different, in the sense that Rini felt a presence behind her. On her bed. Oh gods.
Before she could scream or do anything, a hand covered her mouth. "No need for that." A silky baritone poured into her ears and made her heart sing. Elios! Rini's mind screamed in joy. She peeked behind her and saw his handsome face and she was filled with relief. Am I dreaming?
"You're still dreaming right now," Elios said, as if reading her mind. "I just thought it would be better to meet here than in our usual place." He shifted himself so that his body was parallel to hers, but at a proper distance. Though Rini could feel the heat of his body and it was driving her nuts. Is he not going to remove his hand from my mouth?
"Listen, Rini, I know you're confused right now, but I need you to listen to me first with no interruptions. Okay?" his tone was authoritative and serious, his face inched close to her head that she could feel his sweet breath against her ear. She gave a little sound of accordance.
"The situation with the intruders right now is very serious. I can feel something foreboding about them, and the fact that they were able to go through dreams is very disturbing on my part, and even more so that they almost got to you." He shifted himself closer to her. "I won't let that happen, never again will any man touch you like that," he said fervently in a whisper, and Rini felt her stomach jump and her heartbeat quicken. The familiar heat of desire was pooling in her body, and it was embarrassing her. She couldn't think so coherently with his extremely close proximity.
"Secondly," Elios continued, unaware of his effect on her. "I will come to visit you. In person. As in, I am planning to come to Crystal Tokyo physically and offer my services to the kingdom regarding this matter. I want to help." Rini's heart swooned at the thought of seeing him again, for real! She was more than excited now, and she wanted so desperately to hold him at that moment. She needed to do something. "I am sorry it's nothing but vague at this moment, but I'm sure the court is working on it, as am I. And I promise to keep you updated on anything new I find out." Rini nodded in agreement that at least someone is treating her like an adult.
"And finally," he continued. "You look absolutely delectable in this lacy work of art," he whispered against her ear. Rini's vision clouded. She closed her eyes as her body started feeling that ache of intense want again. Elios removed his hand from her mouth and caressed her cheek, then let it travel slowly and sensually down her frame. His large, hard hands contrasted beautifully against her soft, pale skin which can be seen right through the extremely scandalous little number she was wearing tonight.
As Rini was sure her heart was about to leap out of her chest, someone started pounding on her door. "Rini! Wake up, princess! Early breakfast for you today, it's the start of your training!"
How was it? I hope my writing didn't wander too much from the old style. Please review, I love hearing from my readers. I actually wrote this last scene out longer but my imagination got way out of line and way too citrusy, not to mention my Rini turning into some wanton too-sexy damsel (Oh my). That will come in due time (perhaps in another story).
