It was one of those almost too clear Midsummer's nights, the Moon casting a soft glow over everything with a vibrancy that almost rivaled the Sun. Every single star seemed bright and visible and despite the heavy heat on the air the wind remained gentle and refreshing with a salty freshness picked up by the nearby ocean. Venus bit her lip, unable to look up at the taller man she'd linked arms with, glancing only a moment in the opposite direction Serenity and Endymion had gone with a thought they should follow them. Instead Kunzite seemed to be leading her in the other direction, away from the ivy invaded haven her Princess had gone, and into a neighboring garden instead.
"The Heavenly Four are wardens to these gardens, my guard won't intrude passed the outer wall." Kunzite gestured with his free hand, amusement not reaching his lips but flickering somewhere in the grey depth of his eyes. "We reside nearby, or pace through them on guard. Since that is me tonight, they will stay empty. Your Princess will be quite safe with Endymion."
Venus found herself struggling not to look up at him, breathing a slow sigh of relief at his words and remembering that Serenity told her on more than one occasion that she felt safest with Kunzite on guard. She had to force herself to trust, to let go of anxieties brought on by previous visits and that she wasn't close enough to Serenity's side to assure herself that she was indeed safe. Anxieties of old laws being broken, new alliances formed without permission, and a strikingly handsome man walking her through the most beautiful gardens by Moonlight amidst the dancing fireflies. She felt his gentle pull away from the comfort of Endymion's private courtyard by their linked arms, stealing a glance up at him and catching his eyes as they drifted forward away from her.
"I am sorry that I wasn't able to discuss this new arrangement with you." Her heart jumped oddly in her chest when he glanced down at her again, not quite the so bored expression she was used to but indifferent nonetheless. "I wouldn't have known how to contact you..."
"I'd be lying if I said I hadn't been contemplating how I'd handle things should you come back." Venus studied his face, the sharp angles and very subtle twitches and movements had to be the only thing about him to give away whatever he was thinking or feeling. She sought to read them, or try, finding his eyes weren't bored or indifferent but somewhat defeated. His jaw wasn't clenched as it had been the previous times, but relaxed softening his too perfect lips.
"Well you didn't draw your sword, or tell us to leave. I'd say that's a good start." Venus bit the inside of her cheek and gazed around the gardens Kunzite had ushered her to when he seemed to notice her staring. It had an old world feel to it, romantic muted colored yellow flowers, pink and white roses, ivy and weathered stone. Kunzite seemed to laugh in his throat lightly, distracting her from the strange copper statues, sundials and wind contraptions that gave the garden a bit more of a dignified atmosphere.
"I guess I decided that certain things are worth taking chances on." He didn't look at her but lazily reached out to spin one of the copper ornaments on the lawn creating hypnotizing patterns. Venus giggled and spun another in passing, Kunzite spun more as well so when she glanced behind them she fell entranced by the shining copper patterns they created together. He seemed amused and her head was suddenly filled with images of him secretly frolicking among the copper decorations on his own during night shifts. A ridiculous image of course but she laughed nonetheless, fading when their eyes met for just the slightest moment.
"When you love someone... that's worth everything." Venus replied with an understanding of his decision, unsure if she could have done the same were the roles reversed. They stepped passed a very intricate sun dial, centered around aged stone pillars laced with flowering ivy. She spied a light stone statue of a pretty girl about to take flight on winged sandals centered between two pillars that opened up further into a smaller, romantic courtyard. A rare depiction of Mercury who was so often portrayed as a toga clad man. It was hard to keep up with all of the winding stone paths between walls and hidden areas lush with secrets she longed to explore. "You and I, our hands are tied in this scenario I think. You must admit we have much to gain from this if it works. I think you love Endymion as much as I love Serenity, even you would find gains in joining our Alliance."
"A bold assumption all around. I know there are gains to joining the Alliance, but I have no need to be so long lived and powerful. An Earthen life is made more precious by our short spans of time, keeps us motivated in our goals with a more precise limit. There are always scenarios to consider, I refuse to allow my hands to be tied in anything without an escape plan." Venus gave him a side glance, a teasing smirk on her lips while her fingers toyed with the cuff on the thick jacket he wore, arm still linked with his. She found him fascinating, a bit too serious maybe, too content even to keep things as they were. Did he not understand Earth's potential with the power of their Crystal? The powerhouse they would be with their Moon by their side?
"Pity Terrans aren't so adventurous...I would think people like us would get so used to being tied down that we begin to enjoy the routine of it. Maybe resent it for its restrictions. Or maybe we secretly relish in the wild freedom events like this give us. To have no option but to break some of those ties so that we might be able to touch something new. Create something beautiful." Kunzite seemed to contemplate something, she smiled to herself, tearing her stare away to gaze out over the vast fountains, statues, ponds, gazebos, and hedge mazes all contained in this first garden so romantic with the soft Moonlight pouring its soft filter over everything. This with the fireflies made it all feel more romantic than it should have.
Venus' attention was brought back to him when he pulled a handkerchief from his pocket to wipe the sweat from his brow, not missing a keen amusement tugging at his lips, perhaps from her words bordering on flirtation as well as fact. It was hot, though she could guess his uniform was less than kind against the heat, she wondered if she made him nervous. She still couldn't read his face well but she was getting better at guessing.
"I'm sure there was another solution than just to cave to their desires...I assume you have some sort of plan?"
"Oh General, if only you knew just how painful that would be for them you wouldn't say that. I think that in time, and with your help, I could possibly build a case with the Queen. Find a way to get him in front of her to discuss the goals of the Elysian royalty in line with the Silver Millennium. From what Serenity has told me they are rather similar, in the end peace is all any civilization strives for." Kunzite's brows were raised, grey eyes fixed downward at her as they approached another iron gate, framed by a stone archway to a completely different garden. She could see the hesitation, the mistrust in that moment and tried not to take offense.
"That's ambitious." He commented, his eyes seemed to drift over her face carefully as though he tried to read her too. "Surely the Queen wouldn't be so open to meeting until the Golden Crystal is found and in his grasp. As you now know some of us are blessed with magic... none of us are worthy or ready to hold such power." Venus could see it near pained him to say it, triumphant that the slight furrow of his brow gave it away and she tried to not show excitement over it. No doubt it would give the wrong impression.
"We could train you... she could train him to strengthen his powers. It's difficult, and might take time but if you let us, we could help you." Her breath caught at the visible surprise in his features, eyes widening just slightly and he tore his stare from her. It was so easy for her to forget the Terran's mistrust of people from the Alliance, that their willingness to help might be unwelcome or offensive.
This new garden was full of more open areas, green and blue flowers mingled with hints of pink. There was a huge and strange sundial in the center of the garden strategically placed at the foot of a small hill with a huge gazebo seated at the top. She could scarcely see the copper telescope and that the gazebo was full of plush cushions and small tables as though someone spent a good deal of time there. Kunzite stopped at the foot of this hill, turning slightly to face her with confusion on his brow.
"Why? Why would you help place such power in our hands when you know the risk of rebellion after so many years we've been.. displaced." Venus appreciated that he put it so diplomatically when she knew he meant discarded, discriminated, mistrusted... a dozen other words she could think to describe how the people of Earth must have felt. Sadly she could see how they'd feel that way, and longed to speak of something outside their duties, something more casual. Perhaps she was being too open about things that mattered, telling her plans to someone she maybe shouldn't trust.
"You love Endymion as much as I love Serenity. Their love will end in tragedy if we don't act, I can see that you know this. Earth and Moon were supposed to be great allies and something happened... something stole that from your people and no one knows why. There are myths and legends written about everything but this, and we are told to fear this planet. If there is something to unite us... is it not worth it? If for nothing else than for those we love above ourselves?" Venus felt her face grow hot, his expression had gone from stone indifference to awed at her words and she felt a drop of sweat sneak down the contour of her back. She never did release his arm, still linked with hers and yet they stood in silence a moment in such proximity to look like lovers.
"It is what it is for now... I'll be vigilant in keeping the gardens free of other guard. The other three know about your visits and will aid me in keeping this discreet as possible." She could tell by the quiet tone of his voice that matters of the heart weren't something he was intimate with, and Venus would be lying if she said that the way he suddenly shut her out didn't frustrate her immensely. His willingness to cooperate however, sated her for the moment. He gave an inch to her purpose, and given the circumstances it might as well have been a mile. "I wasn't prepared for a debate on such heavy topics right away. You speak with passion though, it makes me sorry we didn't speak much before."
"Admittingly I was very much on a mission General... a flurry of emotion not suited for proper conversation. Does Endymion ever make you so angry you forget yourself? I think we very much got off on the wrong leg." They began walking again, Kunzite's gentle laugh made her forget the gazebo on top of the hill she wanted to explore, finding her cheeks grow hot in admiration of his smile.
"Foot? Is how I'm certain the expression goes. We got off on the wrong foot." He smiled amusedly, furthering the wild flush she was certain trailed up to her hairline at this point and she turned her face away to peer at some of the flowers lining the path. "And to answer your question, of course Endymion infuriates me. I believe you've been allowed to bear witness to this already."
"Is that why you were so rude before?" Her brow raised, snapping her head back up to him with a flick of her hair. She was surprised to see his eyes twinkle in further amusement, smiling wide enough to bare perhaps the most beautiful smile she's ever seen. Kunzite seemed to reel himself in, coughing to mask is face back into his usual solemn demeanor and Venus immediately missed the warmth.
"I'm sure you would have reacted much the same if my Prince and I crash landed onto your planet without warning." He responded, lips tightening as though he would speak more but refrained. She took a deep inhale of the thick, humid air, kicking a pebble on the walkway. He wasn't wrong, but she didn't have the heart to tell him that regardless of how Serenity acted or how beautiful she found the Earthen Prince and this silver haired God, she would have had them removed. So instead of elaborating she nodded with a small hum in her throat for affirmation.
The very center of this garden was open to a patterned stone pathway lined with the most fascinating of flowers. In the middle stood a tall statue that made her suspicious on some level because normally when Jupiter was portrayed it was of a very strong elderly man wielding lightning. This statue was of a woman, long wavy hair, fierce expression and stronger of build with a lightning bolt in her hand. It was a gorgeous portrayal of her friend, not quite the same in appearance but the sentiment was there. Venus found herself entranced by one of the pink and white flowers planted in beds around the statue and the beautiful fragrance they seemed to permeate. Kunzite was wiping sweat from his brow with a handkerchief when she stopped to point toward them.
"General, what do you call those?" Venus didn't release his arm, merely rest her hand on the forearm to loosen her grasp so she could kneel down to smell one of the flowers. "These are beautiful! They remind me of one of my friends."
"Stargazer Lilies I believe." He pocketed his handkerchief and she smiled when he stepped closer to prevent her hand from slipping off his arm.
"They're fierce but feminine and they smell nice. They're much like one of my soldiers." She explained, bringing the bloom back to her nose for another smell. She thought of her Jupiter right away, so gentle but strong and sweet. For never having met, the Terrans were very in tune with the four guardians of the Silver Millennium.
"You may take one back with you if you wish to give one to him." Her breath caught at the slight edge to his voice, widening her blue eyes. It made her laugh then, masking the nerves behind her understanding of the tone for amusement.
"SHE would love it, if I may." She giggled, only furthering her fascination of him when Kunzite looked away seemingly in mild embarrassment. It was easy for her to forget that she was not in uniform and looked nothing like the warrior she truly was but more the Princess tonight.
"My apologies, it is uncommon for there to be female warriors on Earth. I forget my place." He cleared his throat, wiping his brow with the back of his hand. Venus gazed up at him in amusement, admiring how his silver hair caught the light and how his slightly deeper skin cast an almost bronze effect with the sheen of sweat over his skin. "I don't think Nephrite will mind."
"Who is Nephrite?" The words fell out of her mouth and she hadn't meant for them to sound accusatory as his had been, clamping her mouth shut from her place crouched on the ground. It was his turn to look amused as he kneeled beside her, allowing her to fully hook her arm into his again. Something about him being so close, something spicy mingling with the floral scent of the flowers they examined. Venus recognized it, her uniform smelled of it that night he held her against him, shielding her from one of his guard.
"Nephrite is next in command to myself. This is his garden and the previous one belonged to Zoisite, adviser to the Royal Family." Kunzite reached to pluck one of the flowers from the bed they were kneeling in front of, and handed it to her. Their fingers brushed, eyes met and she was far too consumed by how close he was to notice that he too fell entranced perhaps by the strange lacing of gold within her eyes. Otherwise his face revealed nothing and she became envious of his demeanor or perhaps accepting that he wasn't as effected by her as she appeared to be by him. All she knew was that his eyes matched the Moon above them, a grey shade she had never seen in the eyes of anyone else, unique as his vibrant silver hair. She rose with him as he stood slowly, giggling at the prospect that perhaps Kunzite didn't seek the pleasure of women as Serenity had gossiped and favored men in their place. Another vain thought that maybe he was one of very few that didn't find her attractive. "And what might be so amusing Princess?"
"Nothing General, just thinking is all." She smiled at the flower in her fingers, seeing his raised brow from the corner of her eye as he looked down at her. Venus pretended to be entranced by the flower to avoid his gaze, it would make sense with the vivid memory of his reaction to Endymion kissing her Princess.
"Do share so that I might have a laugh as well? I'm afraid laughter has been hard to come by these days." He began to walk, her previous urge to explore the rather homey looking gazebo, or inquiring about the strange depiction of Jupiter's statue forgotten with the humorous notion of Kunzite laughing.
"I didn't think you dared to do such a thing as laugh General, you're always so serious." He answered with a devastating smile that sought to weaken her knees really, avoiding the topic of his preference toward men or women entirely. Venus nudged him playfully, smiling despite herself because his grin was infectious, and gorgeous all the same. She knew, reminded herself again she shouldn't be entertaining this, but the more they spoke, the more they touched, the more she wanted to know him. The more she wanted to be near him, and she couldn't place it. He was so different from her, and so the same. Something Serenity had said about Endymion, a notion chalked up to coincidence because that was easier to accept.
"Of course I laugh. I'm known to do that and a great many other things that might surprise you Princess." She smiled up at him, leaning into his arm a bit more and she twirled the flower playfully in her fingers. Despite the heat around them, his warmth was comfortable, it felt right. "Well...I supposed it's not a trait I'm known for."
"Consider my curiosity piqued General, do elaborate." She bit her lip, knowing that this shouldn't feel so natural given his previous behavior, but it did and it was decided that he was better off an ally if she was going to make this whole plan work. Kunzite didn't look back down at her and yet there was a wicked glint in his eye.
"Oh you know... rescue distraught kittens from trees, save little children from runaway carriages... occasionally I even take a days rest from my duties."
"Something tells me you're omitting a lot of information General, pardon my skepticism." His lips quirked just slightly as he held a curtain of ivy that seemed to block the entrance into the next garden for her to pass through to a rather Oriental looking garden of mostly red and violet flowers, accented by a red and gold gazebo overlooking a pond full of koi. This one had more ponds and creeks running through it and they had to step onto a bridge to continue on the main path which was elegantly lined with bamboo. She paused on it, leaning against the railing with her arm still in his to watch the larger gold fish swim peacefully below.
"You seem to know something, I'm curious about your theories." He leaned beside her, the silver of his hair cascading over his shoulders, she swore he leaned into her the same as she leaned into him. The sudden urge to touch it, to run her fingers through the silver strands made her focus harder on the distracting flower in her hand.
"What about your brutish reputations? Your armies are well known even to the Alliance and yet you seem to be the cause and symptom of your soldier's pains. Not to mention your scandalous reputation with women? I understand harsh training regimens but are you so harsh with women that they describe you as barbaric?" Kunzite's head fell forward with the deflation of his shoulders, his long hair further falling forward and over the railing in front of them. Venus couldn't tell if he laughed, he seemed to chuckle somewhat in his throat.
"And where pray tell are you getting such stories from? Not exactly conversation a Princess should be having." She had to swallow a lump in her throat, his hair that was usually so perfectly in place had become somewhat mussed by the action of his head rising to glance at her over a shoulder.
"Your Prince is a vicious gossip and my Princess is no better." She mused, grinning over at him. Kunzite shook his head with the faintest hint of amusement while he ran his free hand through his hair with ease to put it somewhat back into place. "And I am more soldier than Princess, General, I do not place limits on the topics I can discuss."
"Your blunt tongue tonight suggested as much. I fear anything I admit to may be used against me." He sighed, the smile he shot her way making her blush so she stood up straight and urged him to keep walking with a light tug, stopping to smell an orchid along the way. "You should know, when you lead the world's armies you must be a brute to an extent. It's only to make my men better."
"Of course I understand this, though I'm more curious about the women." Her brow raised and she fixed her gaze ahead of her with her lips quirked in a small smile usually used on men to distract them. Something seemed to shift between them as they crossed the bridge that stole her breath from her, the way they leaned into each other more, their strides becoming slower and more relaxed. The statue in this garden was stunning, a white marble fixture of a woman with very long, very straight hair. She wore traditional robes and her hands were extended downward, the whole thing encompassed in a circular pattern of flames. Even Mars would have been proud at the craftsmanship, for often their likenesses were nude or sexualized.
"The same could be said of the women." He remarked with a smug little smirk of his own. Venus bit her lip, an attempt to not say something out of line or overly flirtatious as she was known to do. Instead she nudged him playfully yet forcefully in the ribs.
"Brute." They both laughed, and Venus found she needed to look away because it seemed that reality had gotten far, far away from her. It was followed by a heavy and uncomfortable silence, she'd never heard him laugh like this before.
The last gate they came to was different, silver and ornate and opened to a vast garden of white flowers and sweet perfume that mixed with something cool on the breeze that was unique to the soft crash of ocean waves on the shore nearby. The whole garden looked and smelled like Heaven. The end of the main path next to the palace lead up to a large terrace over the cliffs ahead, she noticed this garden was part of where they'd almost been caught last time and she remembered once more the feeling of being pressed so close to his chest. The center of the garden housed a huge white marbled statue of Aphrodite, a smaller gold orb lifted in triumph above her head, lips quirked in an alluring smile. It was the first time she dropped her hold on his arm for the better part of the hour or so that they walked as she stepped forward toward it.
"I really do want to thank you." She swallowed hard, her hands fidgeting with the flower in her hands nervously when she tore her gaze from the wonder of the gardens back to Kunzite with ease. She took him in from more of a distance again, surrounded by the white petals that blew in the breeze and carried his hair with it, she had to remind herself to breathe. "Endymion has been beside himself. First when Serenity stopped visiting he became withdrawn... then when the Queen died neither myself or my men have been able to bring any life back to him. You've brought him light that no one else could." Tonight was certainly more than she'd heard him speak at once and she noted the hint of a slight accent to his words, the sincerity of his voice suiting and alarming at once.
"It does not change the fact that their love is forbidden." She muttered softly. Venus could feel her mood slipping, wishing that he'd just engage her further in their light banter of earlier. Wishing she hadn't let go of his arm.
"No more forbidden than us here, having this conversation right now." She snapped her gaze to his. Kunzite looked somewhere between amused and pained at the statement, his intense stare drifting over her profile slowly. She tried not to see the longing in it and walked away from him toward the large statue of her Mother, who she very much missed in this moment. Venus gazed up into the tall statue's face finding that the likeness was rather good and the gold pearl gleamed brilliantly in the Moonlight. She frowned as Kunzite approached her again, barely audible with the sound of the ocean waves on the night air.
"Terrans hate us so much. So why do they carve such beautiful images of us?" She whispered, mostly to herself but a question her companion was more than qualified to answer.
"We don't hate you... they fear you. Long for your power, for your gifts. They worship you and beg for you to bless their lives. They pray to you most of all Venus." She became keenly aware that he stood directly behind her and found herself listlessly leaning back against his solid chest as if she belonged there. "This statue was called Aphrodite's Victory."
"These gardens are yours." She stated, still appreciating the fine craftsmanship of the fabric and details of the statue's hair and hands.
"They are."
"I'm no idol to be worshiped. I've proven myself destined to fail no matter how hard I try. I wanted to be good... strong...absolute in my duties and oaths." Venus sighed, watching white petals of flowers float down to the ground on the breeze in almost a daze. "I wanted to prevent their love from becoming unstoppable so that no one had to risk everything to keep it sacred. I'm not sorry that I failed in this, only that I wasn't strong enough to stop it entirely..."
Her eyes went wide, face burning hot when she realized she was leaning on him, that his hands were running softly down the length of her arms and her breath caught in her throat, wanting to get lost in the sensation and run away all at once. Venus cleared her throat loudly, and his hands slipped away from her skin like a whisper. She could only think to walk away again- she wanted to see the terrace by the sea anyway. Anything to distract her from the light, warm caress on her arms that she missed. She shouldn't miss it, it shouldn't have happened and yet her skin tingled, and ached, and she felt so much lonelier without his presence at her side. She felt less safe.
Her skirts floated around her legs in her ascent up the short stone stairs to the overlooking view of the ocean. The wind picked up, filling her lungs with salty and fresh air, a welcome relief from the heavy humidity as it blew through her hair cooling the sweat around the crown of her head. She could have easily spent the remainder of the night up there, high on the black cliffs with the clear emerald waters below. She was tempted to go down the stairs off to the right that lead to the sandy shore but opted to stay put when her companion joined her shortly. She almost wept at the beauty of it all, how the Moon cast silver over the waters and the water kissed the stars on the horizon.
Kunzite leaned against the railing, facing her and the wind carried his silver hair with it, the moonlight playing with the fine sculpt of his face and softening him, once more convincing her that he couldn't be just any mere Terran but some disguised God. If only he would just go back to being rude, to being awful, then perhaps she could ignore whatever storm was stirring inside of her.
"We are both failures then." He offered, tone reassuring and he turned to gaze out at the water, eyes almost green in the shifting light. "They fell in love at first sight, and neither of us were there to catch it."
"This is not your failure to carry...she came here of her own accord and there wasn't a thing you could do." Their eyes met again, both smiling at the other and she had this strange sensation she was falling. "I should have been better..." Venus turned away from the ocean to lean her back against the iron railing, the wind picked up her hair and skirts gracefully and she lifted her face to the sky until she found home as though it might offer her some guidance. Kunzite boldly guided her hair behind her again, fingers lightly brushing against her cheek in their errand and quite by accident. It snapped her out of it of course and he was so close it seemed. "I didn't peg you as a man who believes in things such as love at first sight."
"As I mentioned Princess... there are a great many things about me that might surprise you." He spoke softly, further turning his body into hers. "As the Knight of Purity and Affection I have been placed under Aphrodite's favor... I do not believe in love at first sight, but I do believe that the soul knows its place, and the heart wants what it wants. Love is not a place a man like myself believes in."
"The pure white flowers of your gardens make sense now... they're very beautiful. I think I like your gardens most of all." His hand moved her hair away from her face again, fingers tracing lightly down her arm and it thrilled her in ways that it shouldn't.
"My gardens pale in comparison now that you have graced them." His eyes were locked to her face, leaning against the railing on his elbow and it was her that took the smallest step closer to him.
"What if I am more like the sea?" She felt breathless, leaning against his shoulder slightly with note that there was mere inches between their lips and fought to hold his eyes.
"I would say that the sea does not compare." Venus had to swallow hard, watching as his eyes roamed over her face before returning to meet her gaze. "Venus surely isn't your real name." He leaned into her too, but she was too captivated by his eyes to notice, too busy fighting the urge to run her fingers through his hair.
"No... it isn't." She admitted, unable to breathe properly. He was the stereotypical flame and she was the moth it seemed. She wasn't sure where it came from, this attraction to him, but she guessed it came somewhere between Stargazer Lilies and failure. Or perhaps maybe somewhere in his cold and calculating demeanor of before it was there even then, she was just too busy being annoyed with him to notice. He was beyond the realms of beauty, and yet there was something more that she had yet to place.
"May I know it? Your real name?" His fingers brushed her jaw and she could almost feel his breath on her lips. The fight, the struggle to tear herself from his grasp took all the effort she had and Venus quickly shifted back to face the water before his lips could brush hers. Her lungs burned and she gripped the railing hard to keep herself from throwing herself into him but she needed to create distance before she made a grave mistake. Normally Venus would have invited a beautiful man to sample her lips, but there was something different here. Not just the obvious forbidden nature of it, the danger, but something all consuming and natural. Something painful to resist.
"It's not important General." She cleared her throat softly, glancing over at him, unable to keep the apology or the longing from her eyes. It was no lack of want to kiss him that kept her from it, but a fear she'd only felt before when emotions were involved. Easy to get swept up in the kinship, the understanding that had developed between them. It was madness, the strangest of sensations she had been trained since birth to steer clear of. Venus wasn't a fool, emotions weren't high enough for her to claim no road back. It wasn't a road in fact, but a cliff she danced along, and had danced along it before. She tried to save face, offering him a smile and she stepped carefully away from the railing. "It's getting late...we should head back."
He did not smile really, his face had become that blank, hard to read mask of indifference and supplied her with an agreeing nod. They had been away a long time now, surely by the time they walked back Serenity would be waiting for her impatiently. Reality would take the reins of her life back and steal her into the silver abyss of her duties.
Venus berated herself the entire way, not bothering to stop and examine more of the flowers she wanted to smell, or the inciting gazebo with its cushions and telescope. Kunzite kept his distance for the most part and she hadn't realized how much they had taken their time until it took no time at all before they were back in Endymion's courtyard. Before she could enter through the familiar stone doorway, she felt his warm fingers at her arm, soft and gentle and it stopped her footfalls as well as her heart.
"Thank you." Kunzite whispered softly, taking her hand in his and bringing it to his lips to place the lightest of kisses to her knuckle. She didn't know what he thanked her for, knowing if she thought about it too much she'd probably do something spontaneous and stupid. Instead she bit her lip, meeting his grey stare and drifting over the angles and planes of his face before she turned to walk back into Endymion's courtyard.
Venus snuck a glance at him, he'd taken his post at the entrance they'd come through and she continued back over to the safe haven of the fountain. Their eyes met again and his lips tensed as though he wanted to say something, anything to break the awkward silence before Serenity's laughter stole their attention.
Serenity and Endymion walked back through the other side of the garden's arched walkway and they paused to kiss making their two guardian's glance at each other again briefly. She wanted to say something, but had no words. Venus knew he was going to kiss her, and worse yet she really hadn't wanted to stop him. She swallowed hard when Kunzite stood up straight and offered a bow, that strained and indifferent expression on his face as he slunk back through the way they'd just walked and disappeared. All Venus could do was stare after him and pull herself together to bid Endymion goodnight and gather Serenity.
The Princess didn't miss the tension on Venus's brow when she made sure Serenity got to bed, but little was said between the two that night. All she wanted to do was take a cold shower because Earth was hot and between Kunzite, Endymion, and Serenity no one had stopped thanking her which made her uncomfortable and sweaty. Then there was that stupid silver haired charming as hell, insanely gorgeous General who had the nerve to be the perfect gentleman. The gardens and ocean HAD to be romantic and beautiful and gods did he have to be so damned beautiful?
She took a cold shower, trying hard not to think about him because she felt like a stupid lovesick child, pining for someone she didn't know and couldn't have. She met him a total of four times now, all four times he was a jerk... mostly... and totally uncharming and frustrating. With exception of that night of course. It was late, or very early, so she grabbed some papers from her desk and plopped on her bed to get a head start on the day since she knew she'd never get to sleep. Anything to not think about him.
Several more days passed and Venus found out that Serenity had managed to sneak away nearly every night for a week. She allowed it when Mars released her temper on the Princess, impressed that the Martian soldier dared to follow her for the first time down to the alien planet so forbidden to them. It was later that Venus managed to scold Serenity on her carelessness, that she should not travel to Elysium so often since someone, namely her mother, would soon notice her continued absence. Venus flopped on Serenity's bed after with a deep and tired sigh, gazing through the sheer white canopy of her bed. The whole arrangement was proving far more stressful than she had anticipated.
"Venus... could you.. " Serenity's face was pink when she climbed in bed beside Venus and sat back nervously fingering one of her pigtails. "I think Endymion wants to..."
"What is it that you want Princess?" She glanced over with wide blue eyes to the nervous girl who flushed further. Venus smiled slyly and sat up, shifting so she lay on her stomach facing the Princess. "You feel the same?"
"Things have just sort of...escalated recently and I find myself wanting him more and more." She swallowed nervously and gave Venus a small smile. "I just want to know what to expect...things I should do..I want to please him."
The irony that she asked this of Venus who was still a virgin herself was not lost on her. True any barriers of her virginity were lost long ago in the harsh throes of battle training though she had never experienced a man before. She'd seen her fair share of male anatomy growing up on Venus where couples made love in darkened alcoves in the streets, or bathed in the public baths and even ran around without clothing. As a Venusian, and daughter to the Goddess of Desire herself she'd been born with perhaps too much knowledge of a sexual nature yet all she'd ever done was kiss men and explore her own resolve against some of their more amorous touches, no stranger to the want and sensations that came with it.
She spent the rest of the night in shameless explanation and demonstration on the basic knowledge Serenity should need and they fell into girl talk that would make the Terran Prince blush if he knew the graphic details the Princess spilled about their various trysts, and Venus couldn't help but feel jealous. This was the night it became very clear to Venus that she needed to do something, and fast about Earth's relationship to the Silver Millennium.