Standard disclaimers applied. See the first chapter for further details.
Author's Note: Not a direct sequel to 23 - Flirt, but think of it as a side story in the general timeline. It's more appropriate a sequel to 4- secret admirer and 10 - shared secret.
1- Star Gazing
Words: 539
She escaped to the gardens in the middle of the third dance. In her minds eye, she saw the lovely image of Serenity dancing with General Jadeite. They were both vivacious and all in the name of good joke. They were both literally and figuratively playing with fire, because Rei, though she would deny it, was a bit jealous of their closeness and Jadeite's incessant flirting. Not to mention, Endymion would have a few choice words (if not blows) at his General's advances.
She took a path down to the palace gardens. She had discovered a small sanctuary where she could admire the night sky with little intervention of her own. It was little wonder that General Nephrite was so fascinated by these ephemeral twilights.
Often, she would come alone to clear her mind, but she found herself coming more often after receiving her mysterious gift. The girls had questioned her thoroughly about the intricate necklace and its lovely swan pendant. She herself had ran that note through numerous scans and computer analysis, but came up with nothing of value.
"What answers do you seek in the stars, Princess?"
She was startled and found the intruder to be General Zoicite. She blushed at the sight of him with his emerald eyes and gentle smile. He stepped forward and the natural moon rays cast a glowing contrast on his countenance. She had trouble drawing her next breath, so she avoided his gaze entirely by looking up at the skies.
"Princess?"
"It is not simply answers that I seek, General."
"Zoicite," taking a forwarding leap in their address.
"Pardon?"
"Please Princess, call me Zoicite. General is too formal."
"Then, you must call me Ami, Zoicite."
"Ami. What else do you seek from amongst the stars?"
"Understanding, hope, peace ..."
"Such things you cannot find here?"
"Such things that cannot be found in books, or computer databases ..."
"No, but you can find them there?" He asked almost incredulously.
She turned to face him, but before she could open her mouth, he interjected. "It's beautiful."
"What?"
Then she followed his gaze to the spot around her neck. Closing her arms around the necklace, she murmured, "I know, thank you."
"It is fitting for you, the Lady of Mercury."
His eyes met hers imploringly as she recognized the familiarity of the phrase. "For you the Lady of Mercury ... From a secret admirer."
"But ..."
"Glass signifies ice for such is the entity of your powers, and a swan because you are graceful, and elegant, but your beauty ... surpasses the brightest stars in the sky."
She was speechless and he wondered if he had spoken prematurely. Taking her silence as a rejection, he backed away into the shadows.
"Wait!"
She caught one of his arms. "But I thought ..."
"You thought what?"
"I saw Jadeite."
"You saw him?"
"Or somebody who resembled him."
"So much for the legendary skills of a Terran General," he retorted.
She looked up at him quizzically until he wrapped his arms firmly around her. "Ami."
The single syllable of her name coming from his lips was enough. She knew not to look to the stars for all the intangibles because the man in front of her was ready to give her the world.
