A/N: Okay, first let me apologize for taking eleven months to update. I have had some family medical drama and some major writer's block while writing this chapter. Thankfully the fact that I have been obsessively watching Sailor Moon Crystal and have gotten the newly redubbed original Sailor Moon anime have gotten me back into my Sailor Moon rhythm and inspired me to finish the chapter I started probably nine months ago. I hope you enjoy it. As always reviews help me stay inspired in my writings and helps me update quicker.
You Know You Love Me,
XOXO,
Alyss
Chapter Five
Celine sat in front of her bathroom vanity as she nervously tucked a stray hair back into the bun on the back of her head and took in her own appearance. She wore a slender dark purple floor length dress with a slit that ran from her knee to the bottom of the dress. The dress had a halter top and had golden trim. Her wavy hair had been difficult to style but was now in a perfect bun save one small section of her bangs which framed her face untouched by any hair product. She wore little make-up, preferring to let her natural and inner beauty to shine. On the back of her chair, lay a translucent shawl scarf the exact shade of purple as her dress.
Slowly she began putting on her jewelry for the evening, a purple tanzanite bracelet with a matching ring. She had just gently lifted the Moon Crystal, disguised as a purple tanzanite necklace, when Seiya pushed away from the door way where he had been admiring the young princess.
"Allow me." Celine nodded her head in appreciation as she put the precious stone into her protector's outstretched hand. Seiya carefully undid the clasp, placed the crystal around her neck, and redid the clasp, securing the necklace on the young women. The Moon Crystal glistened sliver in recognition of its princess before returning to the soft purple of its disguise. "You look radiant, Short Cake." Celine smiled her signature sad smile before turning and straightening his tie.
"You don't look half bad yourself," her reply came quietly and without the bounce that it would have years ago that was just returning to her.
"Are you sure you're ready to face them again?" he asked, his concern at her depressed state getting the best of him.
"I don't really have a choice do I?" she answered with a question. "I can't exactly skip a charity date auction ball for the Ogasawara Children's Home, when I am the host and I am one of the dates being auctioned just because the scouts managed to afford tickets. The winner of each date gets one dance with said date this evening."
"I still don't see why those being auctioned can't bid on a chance for a date with one of the others."
"You agreed to this. Besides how fair would it be if my boyfriend bought a date with me or me with him?"
Seiya conceited her point and the pair went downstairs to have final adjustments made before guests start to arrive.
Rini sighed as she waited on Darien to get dressed for the charity event they and the others were attending that evening. She couldn't help but be impatient with her father as he made her wait to go to an event that they were only going to because of his and the scouts obsession with finding her mother. At least it gave her an excuse to get a new dress, a V-neck lavender gown with silver trim, and a new stars and moon necklace.
She was nervous; her mission here in the past was to keep most of the scouts and, especially, her father, from finding her mother. Trista would tell the scouts who were allowed to find their missing princess where to find her when the time was right and they agreed to go alone. They were cutting it close on this one, though, going to the place where her mother was now residing for a ball she was hosting, but there was nothing she could do, Michelle had bought these tickets weeks ago and Pluto had had one set aside for her. The plan was that Michelle would win the date with Seiya, Lita would win the date with Taiki, Mina would win the date with Yaten, and Amara would win the with Celine, on Darien's insistence that she knew something; each would have the dance with their dates to get the actual date set up and the date to see whatever it was they could get out of them on Serena's whereabouts. Amara and Michelle would be floating the bill; Rini hated this plan.
"Why can't I get this thing tied?" Darien asked as he walked out of his bedroom his suit jacket slung over his shoulder and his bow tie hung, untied, around his neck.
"You're just nervous," Rini replied with amusement in her voice. "I would be too if I were practically stalking Lady Celine. Mom once told me that, before Fighter thawed it, she had a wall of ice around her heart; that people called her the Ice Queen. Come here, you teach me how to do that when I'm five." She smiled at the man that would be her father as she skillfully the bow he had failed to tie.
"We defeated the Ice Queen," he replied as she finished the task before her and he went to the mirror Serena had insisted he put by the door to straighten the tie. "It's one of Luna's favorite battles."
"Well you've spoken to her," Rini pressed. "She hasn't been with Seiya long; how'd she seem to you?"
"I didn't have long to talk to her," he answered, chuckling at her eagerness to get his opinion on the heiress. "Her hazel eyes were guarded, yet sad and knowing, I will admit, she was a bit cold and distant until Seiya arrived, the tension seemed to melt out of her body when she saw him behind me. Still she seemed sad as we left."
"I bet you could recognize that sadness if you truly tried. It's a burden you both bare. Losing parents at such young ages; I'm thankful I didn't lose Momma when Prince Diamond attacked us. I couldn't imagine losing both of you in an accident."
Darien looked at his future daughter, nodding in acknowledgement of her words, seeing her in a new light but unable to speak. When had she become so wise, so mature? Sighing, he reached for first his coat and scarf and then Rini's.
"Come on, Raye's gonna be pissed that we are running late."
