He was angry. The glass he emptied with one swift gulp flew across the room and smashed against the wall. That blonde bitch, leader of Princess's guardians had reclaimed her chained blade and his plans were moving too slowly for his liking. He stood up from his chair and paced the room, a few lonely shards from the glass crunched under his soles. Perhaps it would be easier to just do it all by himself. Despite Wiseman's mind games, the little Princess is still not ready for picking.
Demande knew that in order for him to control his trophy, she needed to remember her nightmares. Only then could he toy with her perception of events and her daily life. Once the girl had full recollection of her nightly dreams, he would barely need to move a finger to take her for himself. And nothing would bring him more pleasure than plucking her in front of her terran Prince and that posse of hers. Except maybe having her for himself to toy with.
Something must be done. And quick. He stopped pacing and once again looked at the array of pictures with the Princess that he considered being his. A sinister sneer bloomed on his face. He knew what he must do.
Standing in front of Kennet's apartment, Mina heard the doorbell ring and waited for the door to be opened. She did first go to her own apartment to take a quick shower and change clothes, and she knew her strength was back. Back and restored to the full power of one of the legendary Senshi. The door was opened by Zachary who, with a polite smile, invited her inside. He closed the door after her but did not move or gave any notion of calling Kennet who he was sure was her purpose of visiting.
There was a short silence between them and Mina thought that perhaps he was alone in the apartment. "I thought Kennet will be home," Mina spoke.
"He is," Zachary supplied and seeing Mina ready to shout for his friend, "Venus…" She thought it was her imagination but it did make her stop and look at Zachary. Although her expression was unreadable. "You are remembering, correct? With 'you' I mean the Senshi."
"What gave me away?" She asked calmly, a tinge of curiosity in her voice.
Zachary smiled, "actually, it was Kennet." He saw surprise pass her features but quickly her thoughts were hidden by the unreadable expression. "Not intentionally. I think, well… I am sure that he wants us to find you, the Senshi, on our own. I think he only found out the truth about you on accident."
Mina relaxed, the initial fear of possible betrayal from Kennet eased by Zachary's explanation. For a moment, she even felt shame. He would never betray her. Only if the cost would be his Prince's life. She sent Zachary a smile and decided that a truthful conversation won't hurt anyone. Especially if it is with Zoisite. "I gave myself away, on accident, as you said. My fluke and his reasoning in the situation, that caused it, all came together, and now I have my 'memories', and the Senshi will have their own soon as well."
"If Neph or Jade would be in my place just now, would you have told the truth?"
"I would not. I can rely on my past experience to at least try to understand where you are coming from and why you decided to ask me the questions." Zachary noticed her looking sad. "You are guided more by logic than by emotions. Just like her. You understand the implications of rushing things through, they might not." Suddenly she let out a laugh that contradicted her sad tone.
Zachary was startled by how much she was the same before he knew the truth and at the same time, how much she resembled her past self. The resemblance was too uncanny, too close to be just coincidence. That would lead to only one explanation.
"The memories…" he started but the realisation was finished by Mina "…were meant for us just to be more prepared, it doesn't change the fate of meeting each other, it was never about choosing a new path and being pained by the past. We are the same but born to different parents, different time and place. The feelings are genuine even if you feel as if being disloyal. It is just a side effect of retaining the knowledge with minimum pain to your heart. Once you are together, they will be real memories because you found each other. For Senshi the remembering just takes an extra toll, as it all comes back all at once. It's easier for you than it is for us."
"So the confusion about our feelings is just a side effect? As simple as that?" he asked, almost not believing. "Yes. And also because the Senshi, just like us, have a protecting glamour. Knowing does not simply dissipate it, you need a confirmation from the other party as well. Then it all falls down and you feel free." Answered Kennet, who had listened to the conversation without revealing his presence. He walked towards Mina and hugged her from behind, and Zach almost felt the relief of being together coming from the pair as Mina leaned into the hug.
Zachary didn't need much incentive to act, "where can I find Ami?"
"Why don't you try the University?" suggested Mina.
"But it's closed!"
"Exactly." She finished with a knowing smile.
Zachary smiled back and grabbed his keys from the key rack by the entrance and, just before closing the doors behind him, called to the couple now left alone in the apartment. "Guys, lock the door and use protection." He heard the sound of Kennet's laugh receding in the background, along with his distance from the apartment's door. He had to find his girl as well.
When the door closed after Zachary, Kennet did not waste time to pull Mina closer to him, his hands slowly making their way up her body until they were cupping her breasts, his breath hot on her neck. Mina arched her back, her round ass grinding against him, "how long do we have?" she asked eagerly. "Well, since all of my Shitennou are currently getting more or less cosy with your Senshi, I would say it gives us at least couple of hours. Their personal battles have to be fought on their own."
"Then don't let us waste time anymore. Please, remind me why are you always making me hot and bothered."
Ami slumped on the park's bench in a very unflattering way, her skirt hindering her to sit cross-legged. It was her way of expressing frustration when finding a few Universities students staying late in the laboratories. She couldn't just walk in there, even if she had borrowed Luna pen, the students who frequented the labs were well known to each other and a new face would just bring along unwanted curiosity. Which is the last thing she needs right now.
She thought that while waiting for them to clear out she could read her guilty pleasure – steampunk romances – even in the not overly bright light of park's streetlights. It would certainly take her mind off some two individuals who seemed to be here only to confuse her, she was sure of it. Leaning towards her bag and straightening her posture as not to appear a slouch, her eyes caught the damned gymnastics ball she actually bought on her way to the labs. Maybe Mina does know better now that she has that weapon of hers.
She hesitantly took out the ball and let her arms feel the weight of it. Ami shrugged and stood up to bounce the ball a bit. Having no special athletic capabilities, apart from youma fighting skills and swimming, she missed the bounce back a couple of times but decided that practice makes perfect.
Feeling content with her dribbling skills for the time being as she had no wish to apply for a place in a basketball team, she decided that maybe she should kick it against something solid. At first, she stood few steps away from the foot of the bench and after a few fails in catching the ball, she decided to step even further and kick the ball back and forth. Silently she was sure that this was not the way one should handle a gymnastics ball.
Ami was ready for another round of kicking the ball back and forth when a voice greeting her startled her mid kick. She turned towards the sound after her leg finished the movement and, to her surprise, saw Zachary standing under one of the streetlights.
She noticed him to be catching his breath as if he had just finished running, but the second was too short to be sure of her observation as the ball, that she had forgotten in the same time period, had come back to hit her in the lower back. As her kick was abruptly interrupted by Zachary calling out to her, the angle was different than before and the ball had bounced back in a steeper point. Her turning towards his sound of voice hadn't helped with the situation to regain her balance and after the ball returned towards the start she was caught off guard and landed on the rough pavement scraping her knee.
Zachary, of course, rushed towards her, instantly feeling guilty about causing her harm, no matter how insignificant. He scooped her up and carried to sit on the same bench that was partly responsible for causing the situation. Ami was sat down feeling flustered by the turn of events. Only when Zachary knelt before her to check the scrape, with her skin only barely harmed, she noticed that in the few seconds it took the man to carry her to her sitting place, her skirt had hunched up her thighs showing an awful lot more of skin than she wished and even rivalling Mina's shortest shorts.
Ami was sure she would rather face a youma alone than allow the kneeling man to see her panties with kittens. Sue her, the material was comfortable and she did appreciate the pussy joke, but the man that had so far been a very delightful conversationalist (and very pleasing eye candy) and all in all pleasant guy (who she did fancy) did not need to see her choice of underwear. (Not yet at least.)
Slightly embarrassed by the whole situation, she grabbed the skirt and with quick movement yanked the piece of clothing down. In her frustration, she hadn't grabbed enough fabric in her left hand and the quick movement caused her hand to slip and continue its forward momentum and hit Zachary in the face.
With her quick and quiet 'sorrys' and gentle touches to his assaulted face Zachary decided that maybe feelings and emotions should sometimes overrule logic, and sitting down next to Ami scooped her in his arms once again placing the girl in his lap, gently encircled her waist with his warm hands and kissed her 'sorrys' and confused expression away. It was a quick and gentle kiss, and he leaned back to gauge her feelings on the matter.
A light pink had spread over her cheeks and she slowly lowered her hands to rest them on his shoulders. Zachary felt relieved that she hadn't screamed or slapped him yet. Although, her skirt-yanking-hit in his face might be counted as a slap. He just looked at her allowing Ami to process everything. When Zachary saw her slightly leaning in with hesitation, he met her halfway and kissed her, unleashing a fraction of passion he felt for her but not before whispering 'Mercury, my precious water nymph'.
