Chapter 10: Moments of Respite

*Minako*

The sun was near setting and the Senshi of Love had made her last patrol of the day. Tonight, Uranus and Saturn were taking patrol duty. The two of them had volunteered since they knew that they would not be sleeping well until this was over. Of course, in reality none of them would. Minako knew that and so she was not surprised to find Makoto milling about the kitchen as she went looking for something to eat. The normally jovial blonde entered quietly and reached for a cupcake. Just as she was about to pick it up, Makoto's voice rang in her ears, "DO NOT TOUCH THAT!" Her tone nearly made Minako jump out of her skin.

She walked over to her old friend and the best cook she had ever known, who was clearly cooking up a storm at the moment and peered over her shoulder, "What are you doing Makoto? You aren't making dinner for everyone, are you?" Minako did not think that she could celebrate at the moment.

Makoto looked at her sharply, "Out! Now!" Not saying anything else, she pointed a wooden spoon at the doorway through which Minako had entered. Minako was confused, but complied. As she walked out a frown spread across her face. It only lasted a moment though. Minako remembered that Usagi always kept something on hand in her chambers. The Senshi of Venus would simply find something to eat there.

Confusion took an even deeper hold when she approached Usagi's chambers and found Rei standing in front of the doors with her arms crossed and her eyes stone cold. She stopped a few feet away, "What are you doing here Rei?"

Rei kept her arms crossed and pierced Minako with her eyes, "I could ask you the same thing Minako. What business do you have in the Queen Mother's chambers while she is away?" There was something in Rei's eyes that Minako could not put her finger on.

Minako shifted uneasily under that gaze and frowned, "There was merely something… Something that I left inside and I need to retrieve it. That is all." She was beginning to get upset. First Makoto had kicked her out of the kitchen and now Rei was blocking her way.

The raven haired fire priestess put her hands on her hips now, "Something like… I don't know… Usagi's hidden sweets?"

Of course Rei had seen through her. Minako occasionally cursed all of the psychics in her life. She saw no point in keeping up the charade. Minako stuck her tongue out and huffed, "Maybe! By Selene, I think you people are trying to starve me!"

Laughter erupted from Rei's lips, infuriating Minako. Then her friend smiled and said, "Go and find Kunzite little miss Venus."

Minako huffed once more, crossing her arms and stalking off to the gardens she sensed Kunzite in. It was strange. Since the two had become engaged, Minako found the strength of their connection growing at an astounding rate.

When she stepped out into the garden, Minako was stunned into silence. There were yellow twinkling lights strung everywhere and a large table with a golden cloth draped over it. The crystal settings were perfect and a small centerpiece that looked as if someone had sculpted the happy couple out of stone. Minako counted nine seats and then she saw him.

Kunzite faced her with one of his rare smiles. He was wearing a silver suit with a lavender dress shirt and a silver striped tie. Minako could not move. She could not speak. She was not entirely sure she was still breathing. The Shitenou that held her heart walked over and extended his hand to her, "Welcome to our engagement dinner Minako." Still speechless, all the blonde Senshi could do was smile and wipe the tears from the blue eyes.

*Kiyoko*

She stood in front of the mirror, looking closely at the person staring back at her. Kiyoko felt much better after her encounter with Michiru, but something inside of her still ached as she thought of the pain she had caused her beloved wife. Her eldest daughter rose from her sleep. She stretched and stood, "It's my turn to go to the cockpit." The blonde frowned as she passed the mirror.

Kiyoko smiled a little, "Bring me the brush Ruka. I'll fix it." She knew that her daughter hated anyone knowing that she worried about her hair at all, but she always had to have it braided. Ruka was a tomboy through and through, but since she did not keep her hair short she did insist on having it look presentable and a braid was still the only thing that she would tolerate.

Ruka nodded and grabbed her brush, coming to stand in front of her mother. Her mother always looked so beautiful and refined. Ruka's admiration for her mother, despite their varied dispositions, was obvious in her eyes. She handed the bush to Kiyoko and spoke softly, "Thank you mama."

With a genuine smile spreading across her lips, Kiyoko found herself brushing Ruka's hair and thinking about when her daughter was little. Ruka used to run around the castle, refusing to put on whatever pretty dress she had picked out for her for the day. Eventually Kiyoko had given in and began letting her dress however she wanted. Ruka had been strong and stubborn since birth, just like Seiya.

Once the braid was complete, Ruka smiled and kissed her mother's cheek before running off to the cockpit. That left Kiyoko alone again, staring at her reflection once more.

A few minutes later, the doors to her quarters opened again and her beloved wife came to stand behind her, wrapping her arms around Kiyoko, "You're too hard on yourself my love."

The Golden Queen shook her head and placed her hand over Seiya's, "You love me too much."

Seiya pulled her around to face her and placed one hand on Kiyoko's cheek, "Kiyoko Chiba-Kou…. Please do not beat yourself up anymore. I know that we've both hurt over the years…. But I chose you and I always will. I have no regret of that, please believe me. I love you so very much." She leaned down and kissed Kiyoko softly.

Her cheeks filling with blush, Kiyoko kissed Seiya in return and smiled, "I love you too Seiya." For a moment, her mind was no longer on all of the unknown ahead of them. It was wholly and completely on her wife. The center of her heart and soul.

As Seiya looked into her eyes Kiyoko felt like she could get lost in those midnight orbs for all of eternity. She felt the magic within her responding as well, pulling at her heart. Even in the void of space, Kiyoko could feel the elements coursing through her and she gasped. Seiya cupped her face and kissed her again, this time with hunger and purpose.

Kiyoko placed her arms around Seiya's neck and returned her kiss, her eyes sparkling with the tears of love. The starlight she loved ran her fingers down Kiyoko's side and spoke to her telepathically instead of aloud… …'I have missed this… Your kiss, your skin, everything about you.'... Kiyoko nodded, her fingers twirling through Seiya's hair and down her back.

Her cheeks flushed as Seiya kissed her yet again, beginning to slide the straps of her dress from her shoulders and she moved her lips to Kiyoko's neck. Kiyoko gasped and attempted to concentrate long enough to reach Seiya's mind… …'What about Ruka?'...

Seiya stopped and smiled, speaking aloud this time, "She will be on duty for the next six hours Kiyoko. And one thing we have taught her is to be vigilant in her duties." Her voice stopped, but Kiyoko felt that need in her growing in its furiousness. So much, they had been through so much together. So many challenges and threats had tested their love and sometimes they had failed. Her wife needed this moment of respite. She needed to let it all go and simply be with Kiyoko.

When Kiyoko thought of that, she felt the same way and so she nodded as she kissed Seiya and began unbuttoning her silken shirt. Seiya trailed her kisses to Kiyoko's neck and her dress slipped to the floor. Her hands seemed to touch and ignite every inch of Kiyoko's skin and she felt alive and fearless for the time being. She pushed Seiya's shirt to the floor and soon the two were stumbling to their bed Unable to stop touching the other. They laughed and cherished each moment as they lost themselves in their passion for one another. Nothing could take away their happiness just then.

*Yaten*

The snow haired Starlight followed the strange and disconcerting visitor with her neon green eyes. She straightened her grey shirt and crossed her arms. This… Keeper… She confounded Yaten so deeply. Why did she want to help them? Was it a ploy to gain access to the princess Michiko? Speaking of, Yaten saw Michiko approaching Hestia but they were too far away for Yaten to overhear them. So she watched them as she fidgeted uncomfortably. Her eyes studied Hestia, looking for any suspicious body language. Her eyes, her posture, her soft lips…. She shook her head, chastising herself for allowing the keeper's beauty to distract her.

At that moment Yaten heard footsteps and when she turned her eyes met the dark blue orbs of her young prince. She bowed slightly, "Endo, what can I do for you this morning?"

Endo eyed her a bit speculatively, "Why such formality Yaten? It's just us." His eyes fell to the scene that Yaten had been observing, "Are you spying on our guest?"

Yaten through her hands up, "Certainly not Endo! I am merely doing surveillance of a potential threat." She was firm in her belief that Hestia could be up to something by offering to be there. At the same time, deep down she was also a bit curious about her.

The young prince of Estara who so resembled his grandfather looked from Yaten to Hestia and Michiko, "Give her a chance. She is not hiding anything… Well, anything malicious. She is like Setsuna… Michiko too… They are always hiding something." He sighed and Yaten saw a bit of his mother in him. It made her smile.

Yaten nodded and went back inside the castle, trying to heed her all too wise prince's words. She shook her head and mumbled, "Too smart for his age… Definitely their kid."

Behind her she heard a chuckle and turned to see Taiki. Yaten rolled her eyes and crossed her arms again, waiting for lecture number two to begin.

Taiki stood there for a minute before speaking, "Are you done with the snark?" Yaten knew what she meant. She just nodded and uncrossed her arms. Then Taiki surprised her, "So…. Have you noticed anything about our… Guest yet?"

She had surprised Yaten with that. Yaten knew that Taiki was as loyal to Kiyoko as she had been to Kakyuu. Returning to the matter at hand, "No, I haven't. And it seems that the prince and princess have both taken to her."

"Just great," Taiki replied. She ran her fingers through her chocolate colored pony tail and groaned, "Why must they be so….?"

"Open-minded," Yaten filled in for her comrade. She exhaled, "They have not seen and lived through the horrors you and I have. It makes us warier of a lot of things. Hell, we were wary of our Queen when we met her."

Taiki frowned, "I think that was mostly because of Seiya… And what happened last time we were there. We were not entirely welcome."

Yaten agreed, "No, we certainly weren't…. Especially by the Outer Senshi of Earth. Of course, that is not likely to ever change. Not from what I have seen in my time since."

Her brunette friend conceded, "Yes, from what I've seen and heard…. We won't… But we both know why…"

The two exchanged a look and Yaten could not help but laugh, "She is just greedy, and a sore loser."

It appeared Taiki was about to say something when prince Endymion ran in and shouted, "Come quickly, Michiko has collapsed!"