"So, how was it?" SunTzu asked Hotaru after they touched down.
"It was great. But it's different to the simulator. More tense and more things to take care of."
"Yeah, it is. Especially in combat. But you know that already." He said with a smile. She straightened up. Busted.
"Anyway, you did great. I might hire you as my personal taxi driver."
After a post flight check and inspection, they left AICA, who flew over in her hangar on her own and got to the flight center, where they took care of some organizational stuff and Cadet Meiou received a proper debriefing from her instructor.
A motor pool vehicle and driver brought her to the palace where she would meet with her mother to go home.
Rei sent him a message stating that she would have to stay at the palace some more for getting some work done with the Royals and that she also had to go to the shrine and see if everything was alright over there.
We saw each other more when we weren't dating he briefly thought as he answered with a Kay.
Rei was in the Royal Quarters up in the Crystal Tower working out a concept for the receiving of the Senators of some of the Core Worlds with Usagi, Luna and Mamoru.
She was feeling a bit of blue, because as soon as they were dating she and SunTzu didn't have time to see each other anymore. Keeping it on the low was the one thing, not seeing each other at all the other, especially since they thought it would get easier when they were back on Earth. But the visit of the senators took away all her time. And she should hit up the shrine too and see how things were going.
The raven haired beauty sighed as she texted SunTzu, informing him that she still was busy.
The only answer she got back was a Kay. She rubbed her temple and sighed again.
SunTzu arrived at home and soon went to Juban for some shopping, lunch and simply to kill time. He spent two hours in a video game arcade there. Crazy that they still were making Sailor V Games. He mentally noted to ask Minako if she received got any royalties for this.
He also brought his tuxedo to a laundry to have it ready for the ball and bought a new shirt for it. He even went for a stroll trough Ginza and it's expensive shops.
Occasionally he was checking his phone for messages from Rei but he didn't receive any. Maybe his answer was a bit over the top but he was really upset when she texted him that they wouldn't see each other again today.
It was evening and around 7pm and he just gotten home, when his doorbell rang. How could that be?
He checked for his pistol that was lying on the stand next to the door, old habits die hard, and opened it.
"Hello Mr. Monosyllabic-Answers-to-my-Girlfriend-why-she-has-another-rough-day."
"Oh, hey Rei. I didn't expect you." He spluttered out, completely taken by surprise as he saw the beautiful black haired girl, standing in front of him in a long red sweater and leggins, holding a plastic bag In her arms, another small sports bag was over here shoulder.
"Yes, it's Rei, your girlfriend." She stated sarcastically. She raised the bag. "And I hope you didn't have dinner yet or I have to burn down your apartment."
She pushed the bag into his hands and he made room for her to enter into his apartment. She closed the door with her foot and as soon as the door closed she fell onto him, arms around his neck and kissed him on the mouth.
"I missed you so much." She looked into his eyes. "Do you like Karē?"
She demanded a thorough tour of his apartment but was rather quiet when it came to commenting it.
"It took me some years but I make a bomb ass Curry now. I can even give Mako a run for her money with this." She said with a lot of pride after she checked if SunTzu's small kitchen had all the necessary tools for her to cook her Curry. She even wore an apron she took with her.
"But first of all Music." She connected her phone to the small sound bar SunTzu had and got to work. "I put beer into the fridge, if you want one."
Apart from the usual sarcastic Hino-esque comments in the beginning she was a changed woman. Who would have known there was a homemaker in Rei Hino?
The Japanese Curry she cooked up was delicious. She was right, it didn't have to hide behind Makoto's cooking skills.
They were sitting at the floor around the table, eating and drinking beer, enjoying themselves.
Dutiful he took on the washing up afterwards and as they were done the two cuddled up on his sofa, she was laying on top of him, back of her head resting on his chest.
"Oh, I have something for you." He suddenly told her. She already was wondering what was in that small bag from a mall in Ginza.
He handed her the bag and she opened it. It was a case with a Cartier sign on it. Her eyes widened and she looked up to him with a questioning look.
"Go on, open it."
It was a silver and gold colored watch.
"If it's too big we have to shorten it, but I guess It will fit."
He helped her put it on. The watch fit perfectly.
She turned around and kissed him happily.
"Are you crazy? We're not even together for a week!" She told him, glancing at her gift again.
"I..., I cannot take this. It must have been to expensive." She protested.
"I wanted to give you something that will stay with you if I'd should be gone one day. You know if something should happen." He paused for a moment" And I thought a watch would be the obvious choice without alarming anyone."
She kissed him again.
"This must have been so expensive!"
"It's okay, I make good money. And I don't need much for me." Another pause before he leaned in. "I just need you."
The couple kissed passionately and Rei rested her head back on his chest afterwards, hands entangled with his.
"I noticed there is not much than the necessary in here. No personal touch or belongings." She said.
"I don't spent much time here. And I didn't have the time yet to take care much of decorating home."
He pulled out his phone and opened something on it.
"My most prized possession is actually this."
He gave her his mobile phone, a folder with pictures was opened. She took the phone and started looking through the folder.
"Hey that's the Selfies took with you since you arrived here." Right now showing was the one Minako took after they fought the Sky Boxer in the Docks.
"I still can't believe you jumped out of AICA and onto that thing." She laughed and squeezed his hands.
He had his eyes closed, reminiscing but grinning.
"I think when I opened my eyes again after I flew out that building on that door and behold your blue eyes was the moment I fell in love with you."
"Awww, I didn't know." She said with a big smile.
"At first I thought it was over for me and you were an angel."
"Too bad I'm just the goddess of war." She giggled.
She looked through the pictures.
"Hey, that's the one we took at the captain's dinner." She said when she came to a picture showing them both on the captain's table on the cruise ship they saved. Both were smiling in the camera in their fine gowns.
"That's actually my favorite picture of all of them. My god you looked so amazing that night. I'm still pissed I had to leave."
She turned around and kissed him tenderly, her hands around his head.
"I think I already told you this but I always wanted a date on a cruise ship with someone special to me. Thanks for making this dream come true."
She kissed him again and then started to run her finger down his chest.
"I hope the food boosted your energy Pilot. We have to inaugurate this place. Every single room."
Rei woke up somewhen at 9am when her phone rang. SunTzu was still sleeping.
It was Minako, she got up and quietly left the room before she answered the call, Minako immediately started talking. She sat down on the sofa, still naked from the night before.
"Bonjour ma petite salope." Minako, the quarter french and british, greeted her best friend.
"First of, who you calling Salope Bitch?" Rei, quarter US-american, giggled. "Good Morning Baby, how are you?"
"I'm hungover again. I went out to celebrate the passing of my exam with some fellow students yesterday. My stupid friends don't have time for me anymore now that they're all cuffed."
"Maybe if you would stop partying like a teenager someone would cuff you too."
They both laughed.
"Where are you? You're not at the palace right?" Minako asked.
"No, I'm at a certain someone I'm officially not dating at all's place. He's still sleeping, someone used him pretty hard the last night."
"Oh, you have to let me know all the dirty details later. But why I called. Usagi wants me to help with the planning of the ball too and I thought maybe I can start with helping you."
"Oh god, yes. I love you for this. I really need help to pamper all this stupid senators and I'm still at the stage to compile infos about them."
"Alright, see you later than. If you can stop touching your boyfriend."
"Are you jealous?"
Both girls laughed again before they said goodbye to each other and hung up.
Rei sneaked back to bed, light was falling through the shutters.
She saw his phone and had an idea.
If you liked that picture of me in that yellow dress you will love this one, she thought as she began to pose for a picture, still naked.
Rei watched him sleep a little bit longer and then cuddled next to him, waking him up with kisses.
"TopGun, for a poster pilot you sleep pretty long."
He opened his eyes and after a moment to collect himself looked at her, beginning to grin widely.
"As seasoned warrior I know to get as many sleep in as I can. Need to be a hundred when you try to guard a flock of Senshi. Especially that one in the red skirt, smoking hot as she is."
"Oh, tell me more. She sounds interesting."
She was lying next to him, supporting her head with her hand and sported a big grin too.
"Well, I heard she's a bit of a Tsundere but if you ever get a taste of her passion you know why you keep up with her. You should be aware to not get lost in her blue eyes."
She smiled even more broadly than before and leaned over to him, gently pressing her lips on his.
"I have to leave soon. I'm sorry, but now that I had my fun with you the whole night my duties for the Royal Palace can't wait anymore."
"Diplomat Rei Hino, head party planner of the crown." He said, while he let his hand run through her hair.
"Believe me when I say it's gonna be lit." She shrugged confidently. "By the way, bring your dancing shoes, I want a dance. You still owe me one from the night on the Zenobia."
Problem was, he couldn't dance. For once this was something he was completly sure about.
She left his apartment with a cab, after they had to remind each other they really needed to get going after a steamy make-out session that almost lead on to more. He followed ten minutes later, a cab bringing him to the AirBase's gate. It was almost 11pm.
After changing into a flight suit and greeting Terra Squadron who were about to go for an exercise too he went over to AICA's refugium.
A black haired figure in an orange colored flight suit that was quite too big for her was already doing an inspection on the A-Wing.
"Good Morning Ms. Murder, good morning most sophisticated Fighter in existence. How are my favorite black dressed girls feeling today?"
"Good morning. Perfect weather for a little fly over the pacific." Hotaru greeted him with a big grin.
"Good Morning. Hotaru already ordered me to run preflight. We're basically good to go." AICA told him.
Good that he didn't came any later, she probably would have taken AICA for a ride without waiting for him.
A small time later AICA shot in the midday sky and followed the Tokyo Bay into the pacific.
A hour and a half later they were back and landed at the airbase.
Another flawless flight from his protégé, although he had to remind her to fly a bit higher over the Tokyo Bay on the way back. Stunting was exclusively to him still.
She excused herself and told that she had an appointment with Chibiusa. The other girl was busy with preparing the ball to so they didn't see each other much lately.
Yeah, he could understand that. They better park a brand new Star Destroyer in the orbit as gift for the work that went into that diplomatic visit.
They parted ways and after some organizational work SunTzu made his way to the dining hall. Rei wrote him that she and Minako were waiting there.
As he got into the room he could see both were engaged in a seemingly deep conversation. He got his food first and then walked up to the table, sitting down next to Rei.
It took quite the effort to not greet his girlfriend with a kiss.
"TopGun! I see Hotaru didn't drop you over the pacific." Rei greeted him with a smile.
"Moeru Shōjo, Minako." He greeted the two girls. "Do I disturb you girls? You seemed to be in a serious conversation."
"Oh absolutely not, our innocent shrine maiden here just told me in detail how you rearranged her insides yesterday night." Minako replied and started laughing as they both blushed.
"Actually we were talking about the ball and the diplomatic mission, now that I'm on board also. I don't even know why Usagi is making such a fuzz out of this." Minako let him know.
"It's about getting us known on Coruscant. She has big plans for this and therefore takes it very serious. And don't forget how important we could be for the Galactic Alliance, we have powers that surpass the Jedi."
Minako just shrugged but then started grinning when she noticed that the two persons opposite of her were obviously holding hands under the table, looking innocently through the room.
Those two werejust too cute with each other.
They finished the meal and Rei got up.
"I gotta go back. TopGun, you clean up after me I heard. Thank you."
"Yes, Diplomat Hino, as always I got your back."
She pulled out her phone and motioned him secretly that she'd text him.
"Minako, try not to seduce my boyfriend, please. At least not till I'm back."
"I'll try my best but if he puts on his puppy dog eyes I cannot guarantee for anything." She shrugged innocently.
Rei smiled and left, motion a little kiss over to SunTzu who answered her with a smile.
As Rei walked out the room in her grey pencil skirt left Minako followed her out of the room with her eyes.
"You know, sometimes I get why you date her. Dat Ass tho."
He had to nod approvingly.
As soon she was gone, he leaned forward to Minako.
"Mina-Chan, I need your help again."
"Hum? What did you do now again?"
"What? I didn't do nothing. It's about that ball. Rei wants me to dance with her." He paused and frowned. "But I can't dance."
"I see. And know you need a teacher."
"Exactly."
"You're lucky that apart from being Sailor Venus, the Soldier of Beauty, the Goddess of Love and an idol I'm also a great dance teacher."
She got up from her seat.
"I'll see you at 5:30pm at the main building for your first lesson. And please put my tray away recruit." She winked at him and left the table.
He cleaned the table and put away the three trays and left, on the way out he met Setsuna.
"Here you are. Time to resume your training Lieutenant. The next pan might actually bring you down."
So much for a relaxed afternoon.
And also, did even Setsuna start mocking him now?
Setsuna actually went more easy as usual on him and trained him close quarter combat using a staff as weapon. He was eager to learn but he still preferred a sword or light saber in combat.
Two hours later he stepped out of the Flight Center, wearing a fresh uniform and made his way to the palace main building.
Minako was already waiting for him.
They greeted each other and the blonde woman lead him into the big ball room, that was empty now.
She told him the basic steps for dancing and put him into posture before she started to actually try to dance with him, but he didn't do very well.
After three hours and many, many times stepping on Minako's toes he was at least able to be lead through the room from Mina without hurting her.
Mina was a patient teacher but this would be a lot of work. And they only had three days left till the ball.
They finished their first lesson after she lead him swirling two times through the ball room without getting stepped on.
"As compensation you could invite me to dinner. And before a certain someone bursts into flames being jealous we take her along."
She pulled out her phone and called her fellow Sailor Guardian.
"Where are you? I'd like your boyfriend to take me out to dinner but it wouldn't be the same without seeing your jealous face."
Rei needed a few minutes more to finish her work and they met her at the entrance of the Crystal Tower.
They took a car and went to a Sushi Restaurant in Juban. For a tender girl Minako could really eat a whole lot of fish, his dance teacher really made him pay for the bruises on her feet.
Afterwards he drove Minako home, she was living near Makoto's place, which left him and Rei alone in the car.
"You and Mina are up to something, right? Why did you invite her for dinner?"
"Oh, no. I just wanted to say thank you for helping us both to finally come clear. That's all. Are you jealous?"
"Honestly? No. I trust you and I trust Minako. But I still think you two are up to something. I'll keep a close eye on you buddy." She said and motioned that she'd watch him. "And now, would you have the decency to bring me to your place? I'll need a shower and my man."
It was around midnight and he was beginning to doze away, while they were cuddling on the sofa and watching Netflix when she got up.
"Whatcha doing?" He asked her, eyes closed.
"I'm going home. I haven't really seen grandpa since we came back and I want to have at least breakfast with him. Also, you said you're on full duty tomorrow and I'm not gonna get up at six in the morning. This girl needs her beauty sleep."
She got up and dressed, took the car key from the table and leaned over to him.
"I'll see you tomorrow. Good Night Babe." She kissed him and he held her close.
"What if I just don't let you go?" He said, eyes still closed pulling her closer.
"Do you really wanna find out? Don't forget I am the mighty Moeru Shojō. And you need your sleep. And with me around you tend to do other things than sleep." She smiled.
She had a point and it was understandable that she wanted to see her grandfather as much as she still could.
"Text me when you're home, okay?"
"You're so cute, when you think I'm a regular woman and worry about me."
She gave him a last long kiss goodnight and left.
The next two days went similar, morning sport, flying exercises for him, flight training for Hotaru or flight training with Michiru and Haruka and afterwards close quarter combat training with Setsuna.
And in the afternoon or evening Mina tried to teach him to dance.
He was doing progress but she really was not sure if he could make it till the ball. He was just too stiff. There was too much thinking and not enough passion.
Rei didn't found the time to sleep at his place because she was so busy working but the day before the ball she came over in the early morning and they stayed together till they had to leave for Crystal Tokyo two hours later.
The day of the ball came and after morning sport and some training with his wingmen, theme being the perfect honorary escort he left the base to get his beard and hair cut.
Admiral Artemis showed up the day before and told SunTzu to shave his beard clean off and to appear in his full dress. So much for the tuxedo, but Artemis also had a surprise for him. He handed him a medal for being an ace with at least ten confirmed kills in combat.
Haruka got one too, there weren't too many pilots in this galaxy with that amount of victories in dogfighting and it was a pleasant surprise and was even worth shaving his beard.
He got back in time for lunch to at least get a glance at Rei there. Almost all of the Senshi were assembled. While the Inner Senshi were busy with the last preparations the Outer Senshi were already getting ready for their Escort duties.
In fact, after lunch AICA and the Voyager would lift off to meet the Shuttle the Senators would arrive in and escort it to the palace. Boring task but at least they would be able to spent some time in space. And get away from the chaos that was going on in the whole Palace right now, to get everything done in time.
He didn't get to kiss Rei but at least they could spent some minutes next to each other. They hoped that nobody would notice how close they were sitting to each other.
When he and his both female wingmen finished their lunch they got ready to leave.
"Hey TopGun, if you or Haruka accidentally shoot down the shuttle I'm not mad." She said before they left.
"Rei! That was just a joke of course." Ami chimed in, shocked.
"Oh Ami, of course that was joke. And I mean we're talking about SunTzu but not even he would be so crazy to actually do that." She said, mocking her boyfriend a bit.
"Maybe I'll just do it and say Diplomat Hino told me so." He shrugged and left, leaving a ranting Rei behind.
He knew she'd revenge this but it was still totally worth it.
The escort mission went as planned and expected, no troubles but a bit boring. When the GA Shuttle touched down in the courtyard the veered away and left for the airbase to land.
The two women left the base, they wanted to get ready for the ball.
SunTzu messaged Minako, how busy she was and she said she was on her way to the hair dresser to get ready too. He desperately needed another lesson, they both knew.
He had to beg to the point where he had to promise her another Sushi dinner on his expense but this time in a real expensive Restaurants. The things I do for my girlfriend he thought. She said come over before the ball and show him the things a last time.
The Pilot had to get ready too and this was the first moment he pulled out his Gala Uniform after he received it on Kamino. The Kingdom didn't give out Gala Uniforms yet, probably the budget was responsible for this.
The black uniform with golden seams, rank insignias, GA Logos and buttons, fitting pants and a black belt with silver colored buckle showing the Galactic Alliance Defence Force Crest fitted him perfectly.
Shined black shoes, black gloves and a fitting uniform hat completed the outfit. A also put on a good perfume and as finishing touch he put the small silver medal for at least ten victories in space fighter combat on his left chest, under his colored GADF Insignia pin.
He wondered how Rei would like his outfit, maybe it was a bit too much glitter for her and she'd rather wanted him in a tuxedo. He himself found him to be extra sharp though.
Soon Minako arrived, dressed in a wonderful long yellow ball dress and her best red bow her hair.
"Damn, Minako you look great." He complimented her.
"Same to you. I've never seen you in that uniform."
"It's my Gala Uniform, I've never worn it before."
"You should more. Are you ready?"
"Absolutely not, I just can't keep the steps in my head."
"Okay, one last time, but we gotta hurry, the ball starts soon."
She showed him the steps again, it wasn't that easy in the small apartment at all but they made some room. He still was too stiff to make it look good.
"Okay. Let's try something different. Close your eyes and think about Rei and how'd you dance with Rei. Hands above the hips tho."
And somehow, when he thought about Rei and how happy she probably would be to have a dance with him it worked. He began to move way more fluent and with passion.
"See, it worked. And now let's get to that ball Cinderella."
They went to the car and when they started it the onboard computer immediately told them there were traffic jams everywhere.
"Fuck!" Both of them commented unisono.
"There's no way we gonna make it in time." Minako stated displeased. "We'd need a helicopter to get to the palace before the ball starts."
"Oh, we have something even better." SunTzu said and brought up his chrono. "AICA, how fast can you be here?"
A few minutes later AICA landed on the street in front of the house. The scene caused quite some commotion, when the Starfighter blocked the street as he helped the blonde woman in her long yellow dress into the cockpit before he jumped in also and they took off.
Goodbye Neighbor of the Year commendation.
As they were in the air, flight center came in asked why the A-Wing was flying over Tokyo. Thank God, Minako could silence them very fast by stating that Lieutenant SunTzu helped her with an emergency in official duty for the Queen.
"We make quite the team." She stated, while they rushed over Juban.
"Apart from the chaos we cause." They both laughed.
"Grand entrance?" He asked her, looking into his cockpit rear mirror.
"I request for it."
"Alright. AICA, inform the palace we're landing in front. And turn the music on. The Godess of Love and the Doitsu no Akuma are coming in for a dance."
In a matter of minutes they flew over Crystal Tokyo Island and shot towards the Palace.
Safety measures were increased and he noticed some more activity on the base and around the palace including covered Anti-Air-emplacements and checkpoints. No expenses were spared for the visitors.
SunTzu flew a loop around the Crystal Tower and then touched down AICA in front of the main palace building entrance, causing the present representatives of the media to turn heads and cameras
The canopy opened and he rose, putting on his officers hat.
He gave them a second to make some pics before he gallantly took Minako's hand to help her up.
While she bowed slightly down as a greeting for the cameras, he got out and got ready to help her get to the ground.
Minako pulled up her dress a bit and jumped straight into his arms.
He catched her and she landed safely in his arms. Just to finish the show for the cameras she looked him deep in the eyes.
If Rei would see uswe would probably be toast. Very burnt toast.
The pilot let the Senshi down and Minako stepped forward to pose some more for the cameras.
A minute later they walked up the stairs and soon stood in front of the palace front.
Where an angry looking Rei stood.
The shock that she probably just saw their show was moderated by the sting of pain caused by her beauty he felt in his chest when SunTzu saw her.
She was wearing a gorgeous shoulder free two-tone ball dress in dark and light red with a golden ornament under the chest. Her hair was pinned up in a complicated way and held in place by golden pins and a golden hair decoration.
"Would you have the decency to tell me what that just was?" She asked them both.
While she stood there, tapping her right foot on the ground, anticipating an answer, Minako walked up to her very self confident.
"Oh, c'mon, don't act like your jealous.
SunTzu just picked me up and we got here together. I mean look at him, he's about to start drooling over you." Minako told her and gave her a kiss on the cheek.
SunTzu snapped after the last sentence. Yes his mouth was opened since he catched sight of his girlfriend. God, was she looking beautiful.
"Good evening Rei. You look beautiful." He walked up to her.
"I'm sorry. I didn't want to give a wrong expression." He said as they were standing close to each other now.
"Baka! You should be lucky that I cannot cause a scene here in public with you." She said, already less angry than before.
"Right now I'm just annoyed I cannot kiss you. You look so beautiful." They both looked each other deep in the eyes while an Awww came over from an affected Mina.
She took the silver medal on his chest In her hand and examined it.
"Well, I hope that you at least don't forget that you owe me a dance." She let the medal go and turned around, linking arms with Minako and leading her inside.
"The next big entrance TopGun is going to have will be definitely with me."
He followed the two girls close behind.
"Well, see it like that. I provided you some secrecy. Nobody will ask you tonight what's up with the two of you." Minako told her and both girls laughed.
"Hey, you girls excuse me a second."
The two girls turned around and looked surprised at him.
"Whatcha doing?"
"Oh, I need a cigarette. I'll catch up soon."
"Oh, I could use one too, but I don't have the time. Lucky you." Rei told him.
SunTzu left and went for the courtyard nearby.
A nice shrub where red roses grew was nearby the ashtray he stood, smoking his cigarette.
He had an idea. A patrol of two guards in their guard uniform strolled passed him.
"Guards, you got a knife?"
The two soldiers stoped and one handed him a small knife he was wearing on his belt.
"Thanks, I'll get it back in a minute."
He went over to the shrub and cut a beautiful rose from it.
He handed the knife back to the guard, after saluting they left again.
After he smoked up his cigarette he went inside the palace building. Tables were arranged in the room before the ball room and through the room he saw Michiru standing up at one of the tables and waving him over.
Rei and Minako were sitting at the most central table, talking to each other and having a glass of champagne. Neither the GA Delegation nor the Royals were there yet.
SunTzu passed the central table and while passing he causally laid the small rose next to Rei, who was sunk in her talk with Minako. Without saying or stopping he walked over to the table Haruka and Michiru were sitting at, not even looking back.
Rei glanced at the rose and stopped mid sentence, while Minako took on a stirred face.
He got over to the table his wingmen were located at, it was a bit aside from the central table but still nearby. Michiru was wearing a great looking purple ball robe and even Haruka wore a dress, showing some cleavage and front legs, as the back was longer than the front. They both looked stunning, especially Haruka, who usually opted for more male fashion and a less feminine outfit.
"Haruka, you're wearing a dress. You actually are a woman." SunTzu stated, playing the surprised.
"Yes. And high heels. And why I might look like one I'm not as much a bitch as you are." They laughed while he leaned down to give her a hug.
"Michiru, apple of my eye. You look stunning too." He leaned down to her too and she gave him a kiss on the cheek.
"Yeah, but I'm not beating Haruka's look tonight. Damn, Babe, you're looking hot." Michiru answered and looked at her girlfriend, while SunTzu sat down.
Haruka smiled widely, that had been pure sugar for her ego.
"Gotta say, I dig the uniform too, Lieutenant. Which Imperial Warlord you dated to to get it?" Haruka asked SunTzu, mockingly.
"Official GA Starfighter Corps Gala Uniform, guess a certain TIE-Pilot is just not galaxy versed enough to get one yet." He shrugged after mocking her.
The two pilots were in a great mood.
A waiter came and they took three glasses of champagne. Toasting to Marvin they emptied the glasses in one sip and ordered the next one.
While SunTzu had his mobile phone in the hand. Rei had written him, stating that the rose was not enough to make up for the show he did with Minako. And also to stop staring at Haruka's cleavage. She was mocking him. He wasn't staring. At least not that much.
He answered if she shouldn't be taking care of some certain political delegation instead of drinking champagne with Minako.
When she looked his way with a frown he raised his glass to her and smiled broadly.
"You saw who's gonna be joining our table?"
Michiru asked. "As merited veterans we share the table with Admirality tonight."
"Bummer, I thought I could start drinking without any sense of honor just after the dinner."
Haruka replied.
"I don't think so Lieutenant Tenoh. You owe your girlfriend some dancing tonight." Michiru reprimanded her and Haruka let out a sigh.
Soon said Admiral in a white gala uniform with gold ornaments and his beautiful wife, dressed in a black ball dress with gold ornaments, appeared and started greeting the incoming guests. They do looked great too.
Rei and Minako meanwhile left their table and went out of the building. Probably to join the delegation.
Ami and Ryo, her wearing a blue ball dress and him a dark tuxedo, looking even more uncomfortable than usual ,appeared and sat down on the pilots' table. Next on the table was Odegana, the Mirialalian pilot, who was dressed in a decorated formal dress from her home planet.
Two tables further, Motoki and his wife sat down, he was in his complete guard outfit including a feather on the helmet. Next to him sat the french commander of the Taskforce's ground troops Pierre Bernard and his wife. Also the german platoon leader of their hover tank detachment was sitting on the table.
The ground troop officer's neighboring table was vacant with high ranking Officers from the Far Side and Flight Center including First Officer Santos, Chief Jordan and their wives.
A group appeared into the room, making head turn. It was Mako, wearing a dark green ball robe and pinned up hair, strutting into the room with a dressed up Kenji and an escort of two Special Forces Team Leaders in the US Marine Corps Dress Blue Gala Uniforms and a third man in the Gala Uniform of the Russian FSB Service.
Teams 1 to 3 and their commanding officer just arrived. They sat down at the table next to Ami and the pilots. Too bad, if it wasn't for Artemis, that would have made the perfect table neighbors for rough shit talking and hard drinking.
Soon the music played up and the Royals, guarded by Sailor Saturn and Sailor Pluto as well as Rei and Minako and the delegation from the Core Worlds entered the room.
The Royals were all dressed in white, making them stand out.
The delegation was introduced and then places were taken for the banquet.
The delegation was made up of five Senators from various planets including the female Senator of Chandrila and the Senator of Metellos. The latter, a middle aged man, quite attractive, was sat next to Rei and seemed to have a good time orating with her as well with the other women on the table. For SunTzu's liking there was way too much smiling and attentiveness from her part towards him too.
Artemis sat at their table, while Luna joined the Royal's table, sitting on the other side of Metello's senator. Artemis didn't seem to be pleased with the seating arrangements either and took his third glass of champagne in ten minutes. The compliant officer he was SunTzu followed his superior and got another glass of champagne too and dried to wash down the bitter taste in his mouth as he saw Rei laughing over the stories the Senator told.
"What's wrong? You look like you've been forbidden to fly for the whole next week." Haruka leaned in and asked him quietly.
"Oh, it's nothing. I was just thinking about something."
Michiru leaned in too, looking over to the central table.
"SunTzu, as honorable officer of the crown is probably just thinking how inappropriate the obvious flirting of that Senator with the women on that table is." Michiru leaned in.
"He's not flirting with the Queen, right?" Haruka asked angrily, louder than she wanted too. That was a no go for her and always had been. Nobody except the king was allowed to flirt with the Queen. And her, but that was long past. At least mostly.
"I hate politicians. No other scum in the universe would flirt like this on a table full of married woman." Artemis said and chugged down his glass.
The pilots all nodded their approval.
The dinner was great but SunTzu was getting more and more pissed when he looked over to the central table.
Is she doing this on purpose to make me jealous?
He had to stop downing champagne glasses or otherwise he would get drunk before the dance would be opened. Artemis didn't have such notion and kept downing glasses of champagne. Good thing he had an enemy image, nobody wanted to become the target of his mood right now.
Soon after the dinner ended the dance was opened and the first dance, a Waltz, was done by King Endymion and Neo Queen Serenity. The couple glided over the dance floor like they were born for it.
People were applauding when they finished and opened the dance floor.
Artemis walked over to Luna with a sour expression and took her hand leading her to the dance floor. Good Soldiers speak through actions not words. The Senshi, except for Saturn and Pluto who stood overwatch near the Royal Couple, presenting their weapons, entered the dance floor too. Haruka and Michiru turned quite some heads, looking stunning as they were.
And Rei? She entered the dance floor, lead in by the Senator.
Wait did she even blush when he took her hand?
Okay, fuck it.
He took another glass of champagne from a passing waiter's tray and finished it in one sip, observing the beginning of the dance and Rei gracefully dancing with the middle aged politician, obviously enjoying herself.
He needed a cigarette. He left for the main courtyard and went for his favorite bench.
Frowning angrily he sat down and lighted a cigarette up, blowing smoke into the mild may night.
"Why is it that you always leave the ball so early?" A voice said behind him, making him turn around. It was Michiru.
"Not much of a dancer. And right now I'm not in the mood to dance. I leave it to politicians and diplomats to dance. My profession is flying." He took another draw while she stopped behind him.
"Too bad. I was hoping for a small dance with the best dressed male officer, not counting Admirals, of course. After you had your first dance with a certain diplomat that is."
"As I said, not in a mood. Also I don't know what you mean. Why you don't go back in and dance some more with Haruka?"
"Oh, she's dancing with every woman she can right now. You know her, she was just spinning around Odegana on the dancefloor as I left."
SunTzu nodded, classic Haruka Tenoh, even if she was wearing a dress tonight.
"Also I don't know what you mean with Rei. We're not a thing as we already stated numerous times before."
"Stop it. It's pretty obvious with you two. I saw the kiss in the hangar."
SunTzu shrugged.
"Obviously she's in the better company than mine right now."
The teal haired Woman sighed. "That's not the spirit of the guy that one time jumped out of an A-Wing defending his Senshi."
She had a point. And being so jealous showed him something. Maybe his feelings were even deeper than he thought. And a good soldier spoke through actions and not words.
He extinguished his cigarette and got up, smoothing his uniform and medal.
He was a decorated fighter ace, Guardian of Guardians and an officer of the crown. How could any motherfucker full of corrupt air even compete with him.
"Lieutenant Kaioh, you're right. Time to do show some politicians the gameness of the kingdom's troops." He put on a determined look. "Thanks wingman."
They left the courtyard and headed back to the ball room. He held open the door and they entered. A song just ended and the pairs changed their dancing partners.
The two Pilots flounced over to the dance floor and he held Michiru's hand up for Haruka to take it.
"Lieutenant Tenoh, enough playing around. Take your girlfriend for a dance."
Then he strutted on the dance floor, closing into his target. The Senator was dancing with Minako the last song and was walking up to Rei now. She stood next to the dance floor, talking with Ami, glass of champagne in hand. Just as the Senator wanted to extend his hand to ask her for the dance, SunTzu moved in front of him, between the two.
"May I have the pleasure of the next dance." SunTzu asked his girlfriend.
Rei looked back to Ami and handed her glass over to her. The blue haired girl started to smile.
SunTzu let Rei out in the middle of the dance floor as the Orchester started to play Litvinovsky's La Forêt et La Rivière.
They glided over the dance floor, he was leading her. And he danced better than he ever danced before. What some dedication can do. Well, maybe asking the force to stay by his side helped too.
"I thought you'd never ask me for a dance." She said as they moved around, close together, glancing at each other.
"Yeah, you seemed busy with a certain Senator and I didn't want to disturb you."
"You told me I rather should concentrate on my work than drink champagne." She answered with a challenging smile. "Jealous?" She asked him after a moment.
"Like hell. I get it now though. I'm sorry if I made you jealous with Minako."
"What were you guys doing anyway?"
He began to smile.
"She taught me how to dance."
Rei looked up in surprise.
"I mean teaching someone something and Minako is usually not something one would think belongs together but obviously she did pretty well."
"I was too embarrassed to tell you. So I asked for her help. I might get broke the next dinner I owe her and her toes might never fully recover from this but yeah, here we are."
They shared a deep glance in each other's eyes.
"Oh TopGun, that's so typically you. And I don't know if I should hit you or kiss you now." She shook her head and smiled. She preferred kissing but that wasn't a possibility in front of all this people to not blow their cover.
The couple finished the dance in silence just enjoying the vicinity of each other and their first dance.
When the music stopped they stood still for a moment and looked each other deep into the eyes again.
"Hey non-daters, the music stopped." Haruka's voice came quietly in from behind. Her and Michiru were standing behind them.
And Michiru just settled into an angry frown at her girlfriend.
"Cigarette?" Rei asked.
"Cigarette!" SunTzu answered.
Rei linked in his arm and they left the ball room, the Senator from Metellos looking after them as he was just introducing himself to a unimpressed looking Odegana.
The couple went up to the balcony overlooking the entrance of the building and lighted a cigarette each. There were few other people standing on the balcony also.
"My god. I needed this." She said as she blew out the first cloud of smoke. "This Metellosian is so full of his own shit, it was really getting hard to act friendly towards him." She cringed. "Thank god my Knight in his black and gold armor came to safe me." She almost let the cover slip and kissed him.
They both grimaced dramatically and then shared a laugh.
The couple smoked their cigarettes up and just when they were about to leave the last person except for them left the balcony.
After a quick glance at each other they immediately were in one of the dark corners of the balcony, profusely kissing each other, hands over each other.
"You look so damn hot in this uniform." She said as he was kissing around her neck.
Suddenly the door to the stairs opened and two guards entered.
SunTzu and Rei hid in the shadows as King Endymion and Neo Queen Serenity appeared on the balcony. The king dismissed the guards who closed the door from the inside.
The Royal couple walked up to the railing and embraced each other.
The low hanging moon was beautiful tonight.
"Remember our first kiss?" The king asked the Queen.
"Like it was yesterday." She answered.
Both shared a romantic long kiss. In a dark corner Rei and SunTzu observed the romantic scene, holding each other tight and smiling, touched by it.
The Royal Couple soon ended their small romantic break from the ball and after a few minutes of waiting, Rei and SunTzu went back to the ball too.
As they entered the room they headed back to the dance floor the Senator from Metellos walked up to Rei.
Before he could even open his mouth she already introduced SunTzu.
"Senator Ivgen, may I introduce you to First Lieutenant SunTzu, one of our finest pilots."
SunTzu took on the fakest smile he could muster and extended his hand to greet the politician.
"Lieutant, this is Dall Ivgen, Senator of Metellos."
The Senator took the hand, his handshake was rather weak. But maybe that was because SunTzu gave him a handshake worth of a screw clamp.
"My pleasure Senator. Ah Metellos, Home of the famous Pop Dog Unit. The planet that never fell."
"Huh?" The Senator asked.
"You know, the Yuuzhan Vong never conquered Metellos in the war." SunTzu explained to him.
"Ah yes. That was before my time as Senator though. I'm not so skilled In military history, I have an economical background."
That war costed a trillion lives and devastated the whole galaxy, and it didn't even ended ten years before. And the Senator talked about it, like it was nothing.
"Too bad Senator. Here on earth we take much pride on our skills as warriors. For example Diplomat Hino can best advanced combat droids on her own." SunTzu motioned over to Rei.
Rei had to really concentrate not to laugh. Was SunTzu just besting a Senator with words?
TopGun at his finest, always good for a surprise.
"That is true. My pride as Sailor Senshi doesn't permit me a companion that cannot best me in combat." She lied to him blatantly.
"Oh, is that so? Excuse me, I'm needed somewhere else." The Senator told and urgently left the two alone.
They had to turn around to not completely start roaring with laughter.
The Senator tried to excuse a dance with Minako who was dancing with Artemis, both of them talking. The white haired Admiral denied the older men's request, stating that he wanted to enjoy the whole song with his foster daughter. He had more than enough of the arrogant politician.
The Senator then tried his luck asking Haruka for a dance but she just laughed out loud and walked away.
The Senator's face blushed up a deep red and he sneaked out of the room.
Rei and SunTzu watched him the whole time, still trying not to erupt into laughter. They needed to leave the room again after they saw him sneaking out of a side entrance because they couldn't take it anymore. They went out the next entrance and exploded in laughter. Soon they were joined by Minako, who joined in. She laughed even more when Rei told her what SunTzu said to him.
They needed a few minutes to gather themselves and when they finally stopped laughing SunTzu let them both back into the ballroom.
Minako excused herself to get something to drink and he took another dance with Rei.
"Thinking about it, you didn't best me in combat either, Pilot." She told him with flirtatious voice while they swirled over the dance floor.
"Maybe you just wait till later and I'll best you in something else."
"Challenge accepted."
The Lovers finished the dance and afterwards she excused herself to go to table and take care of the remaining people of the delegation.
"That Chandrilan Senator is pretty cool. Very reasonable. Enjoy the time a bit. Grateful as I am you are allowed to dance with somebody else. But please don't get picked up by any Senators." She smiled and let her hand glide over his hip when she turned around and left for her table.
"Perfect timing I see." It was Michiru again and they started to dance, leaving Haruka with a fake sour expression before she took Minako's hand and lead her on the dance floor.
"You two looked great together. And you seemed to actually enjoy it."
"Rei does that to me, that enjoy everything when she's around. But don't tell her, she'd just would use it against me." He joked and swirled her around.
"You saw how Haruka treated that Senator?" She laughed. "I love when she's not giving a damn. But don't tell her, I want her to keep her in suspense a bit more tonight."
"She looks great tonight. But don't tell her, she'd probably would kill me."
"I won't, let alone for her ego. But yes, I can't wait till we're done here and can go home. That dress is way too hot on her."
A few moments later they heard a voice.
"Mind if we change partners? You danced long enough with my girlfriend now." Haruka said as she and Minako appeared next to them dancing.
"Actually SunTzu owes me a dance without stepping on my toes too." Minako chimed in.
They changed partners again and SunTzu now danced with Minako.
"Thanks for the help again."
"You're doing quite alright now. And you looked great dancing with Rei."
"I'm glad I took her for a dance." Minako placed a hand over his chest while they danced on and concentrated for a moment before she looked up to him.
"Someone is really deeply falling for her, hm?"
"There's no sense in lying to you since you got an unfair advantage." He smiled. "But yeah, you're right."
"Good. I'm glad you found your luck."
They left the dance floor after the song ended and he went to get something to drink. Dancing had made him thirsty.
He hydrated and then took a drink and went over to the table. Artemis and Luna were at the table, they were beaming at each other like teenagers in love. Ami and Ryu were also present at the table at the moment and they started to talk, SunTzu asking if Ryu could detail him something about the electronic power unit the Queen was talking about lately.
Soon the first people began to leave and the Minako, Luna and Rei bid goodbye for the night to the GA's Delegation. The Delegation was then lead to their quarters with a honorary guard and the Royal Couple accompanying them.
The Taskforce's personnel mingled now with each other, SunTzu getting introduced to the various wife's of the officers that attended.
Soon Artemis and Luna bid goodnight as well too. Chibiusa and Sailor Saturn joined their table instead as well as Rei and Minako.
SunTzu made sure his protégé was taken care of and asked Saturn if she had dinner yet. When she negated he told one of the waiters to please organize some food for her as well as her mother in advance.
Pluto soon joined them and was quite happy when she found food for her at the table.
"Lieutenant, you sure are the Guardian of Guardians." She said with a happy smile.
Soon after Makoto and Kenji, mockingly pleaded from her subordinates to stay for the drinking left the ball and was accompanied by Ryu and Ami. Ami asked if they'd needed to take SunTzu too but he neglected and told her he'd stay a bit more. Rei was sitting next to him now and they were secretly holding hands under the table.
Minako yawned and looked over to Rei.
"Hey Diplomat Hotness? Let's go?" She asked her friend and then looked over to SunTzu "You're joining us? You can pay the taxi." She mocked him.
He held up his finger.
"See people. This is what happens when you get help from Minako. I get the feeling that a dance school would have been cheaper."
Laughter followed and they said their goodbye afterwards.
Haruka, Michiru and Saturn were the last ones he said his goodbyes to.
"I'll see you tomorrow. Sailor Saturn, we're training flying in formation with our wingmen tomorrow. Get some rest till then."
Rei, Minako and SunTzu left and took an chauffeured limousine from the palace to Minako's place.
They said their goodbyes to her and she went into the small house she lived in.
"Taxi or Uber?" Rei asked, his uniform jacket over her shoulders.
"Neither."
He had sent a message to AICA before they arrived at the house to take them.
The A-Wing landed on the street next to them.
"TopGun, you're quite good to surprise me tonight."
"I got to keep up with the Core Worlds elite, you know." He said and gave her wry grin.
They kissed briefly before he helped her inside.
Since he had drunken alcohol he told AICA to fly them home.
Best designated driver ever.
They landed exactly where AICA picked him and Minako up a few hours earlier. This time without a commotion thought.
The Pilot thanked his starfighter and they both told each other good night.
Rei had to smile because the tender contact ship and Pilot sometimes showed with each other. Also how he treated Hotaru. His concern for her well-being was more like a father figure than an superior or regular instructor.
The Diplomat and Senshi held his uniform jacket with one hand and thought how good of a guy he was.
AICA left off again and SunTzu walked over to Rei.
She jumped into his arms and gave him a long kiss.
"What was that for?" He asked her surprised.
"Reward. For being the good guy." She let her hand run down his chest. "But the challenge from earlier still stands."
His eyes lighted up and he started grinning. Good guy or not, he still was a man, Rei thought. But i do have to admit I'm glad he's mine.
The raven haired woman gave him back his uniform jacket and fixed it up for him, after he put it on again. She wanted to see him in all his glory again. He stood there, looking into her eyes, unbelievably happy that she was his girlfriend.
Then Rei took his hand and lead him to his apartment's door. After he opened the door he lifted her up and gently and carefully carried her inside.
"That's not a marriage dress."
She laughed as she was lying in his arms, her hands around his neck.
"Just because I haven't bested you in combat. Yet!" He answered her with a wide grin as he carried her over into his bedroom.
