Happy Friday! And happy late Valentine's Day! Hope you enjoy this chapter! :)
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Kakyuu POV
I hummed softly to a tune that played through my mind nearly everyday. It was permanently embedded on my heart – I knew the song upside down and backwards – yet it never, ever got old. Every once in a while I would find myself humming or even singing it and it never ceased to make me feel safe. Safe, and loved.
"That's a beautiful song, Princess." Hana, one of my personal caretakers, commented as she ran a comb through my long, damp scarlet hair.
Careful not to let out a longing sigh, I thanked her with a warm smile and she continued with her work. I wished she could hear the true song, how it was meant to be heard. She hadn't been the first person to comment on it, and each time someone said something it made my heart ache even more. No one on Kinmoku knew the real melody; the melody that my three beloved Starlights used to find me back on Earth.
As I continued to hum the tune of 'Search for Your Love', Hana went back to working with my hair. Now combed through, it fell in bold red waves and swept past my stool, nearly to the floor. Using a heated, round metal brush, Hana pulled my locks in such a fashion that they would dry straight.
With long, graying purple locks of her own to deal with everyday, Hana was the most qualified lady to style my hair. Her delicate, nimble fingers twirled each strand into position easily, despite the slight shaking they had acquired over time.
Within minutes my hair had been pinned up in their usual loops, with the rest pouring over my shoulders. Hana fetched two other caretakers, who brought in an orange and yellow ensemble complete with an elegant wrap and train, along with that wretched corset. I gave a slight wince when I saw the laced contraption, thankfully quiet enough that none of the dressers heard me.
Hana had been around the palace much longer than I had. She cared for my grandmother when she was queen and for my mother throughout her entire life. They had always expressed how important they thought the corset was to a lady's posture, and never went a day without it. So Hana felt the need to pass this 'ladylike attire' down to me, and I on the other hand wanted no part of it.
I held as much breath as I could in my lungs, trying to make it so that the corset would be tied a tad bit looser. No such luck.
In all her years of experience, Hana easily squeezed the air right out of me and knotted the laces, stepping back a moment to admire her handiwork. Though I had to admit there was a certain royal look to the garment, it was unbearably painful to breathe in. The three of them then quickly wrapped the thin, sunny layers of the royal kimono around me, fastening the ties together in a bow on my back. With my navy and gold tiara balanced atop my head, I was ready for the day.
A rather special day, mind you.
It was the 217th day of our calendar year; the dead center of the floral season, and my late mother's birthday. As tradition, the village just outside my palace's walls was preparing for the Akane Flower Festival, an annual event celebrating the lives of the past royals. The entire day would be filled with feasts, games, entertainers and hundreds of specialty vendors. But when nightfall came, the magic began. Nearly every person in the kingdom will gather in the historic district, where hanging lanterns will be strung from every corner and the most talented of musicians will play, for the real celebration. It was like a giant ball or a dance, with everyone invited.
I forced a smile onto my lips as I dismissed Hana and the others, and watched as the three silently exited my chambers. For a minute or so I stood there, staring at the closed doors, when I finally heard the knock I'd been expecting.
Opening the doors to two familiar faces, relief washed over me. Sailor Star Fighter and Sailor Star Maker stepped inside, and I closed the door behind them.
"You're looking a tad pale this morning, princess." Fighter teased with a smile.
"Yes, well… you know Hana." I responded breathlessly.
The two immediately set to work. As had become routine, Maker shifted the layers of the robe to the side just enough so Fighter could reach the knot on the corset, and soon I was able to breathe again. They retied the lace so it was comfortable, and positioned the robes back in place.
"Thank you!" I said, lifting my arms above my head to exaggerate my newfound freedom.
Maker bowed her head slightly. "Of course." She offered her elbow and a small smile. "We must be going, the others will be expecting us."
I smiled warmly to them, and we wordlessly fell into step towards the dining hall.
The palace was full of energy; people bustled about carrying various clothing and food items in every direction, but each person took a moment to bow their head to us as they hurried by.
"I don't remember this day being so hectic last year." I said to no one in particular.
"There was a cancellation. Some of the dancers backed out of the parade at the last second for unknown reasons. Also, from my understanding, there was a problem with the food that was prepared yesterday for this afternoon's meal." Maker explained. She shook her head. "It's a shame, but we may be short an entrée later."
"It's ridiculous." With her arms crossed over her chest and a deep pout on her face, Fighter looked more put-out with the issues than Maker did. "The chefs in charge of our feast should have been more careful! Now the banquet is ruined!"
"I'm sure the other entrees will more than make up for it, Fighter." I interjected softly. "Besides, tonight is more about the desserts and celebrating than the feasting."
A chuckle pulled my attention back to Maker. "Fighter's just mad because it was herfavorite dish that they messed up."
Fighter playfully punched the taller starlight on the shoulder. "I bet if they ruined your favorite you would be just as mad!"
"Probably not." Maker retorted. "Besides, I'm looking forward to the champagne and cider more so than the food." She said with a shrug.
The two dropped the subject when we reached the east corridor. The dining hall here was smaller, built specifically for morning meals and small gatherings between myself and the Starlights. Sitting in her usual seat when we entered was one of my Starlights-in-training, Sailor Star Catcher. She sat with her hands folded neatly in front of her, waiting. Her golden-orange hair was pulled into the signature low-ponytail, almost blending in with the red accents on her fuku. Catcher was the oldest of the three new Starlights, and had tentatively been named their leader. She proved to be a quick learner in training and always had an air of politeness around her. When she saw us she immediately jumped to a standing position, bowing her head respectfully.
"Good morning, Catcher." I smiled.
"Good morning Princess Kakyuu, Maker, Fighter." She greeted each of us, her dark eyes flashing to each of our faces. When they landed on Fighter, they softened just the tiniest bit. "Are you still grumpy?" A smirk played across her face as she spoke.
"Yes, she is." Maker answered before Fighter had a chance to.
"Well I can't help it." She grumbled, tossing her raven hair around her shoulder. "Now I have nothing to look forward to at the banquet!"
I gave a soft chuckle. "Surely there will be something to lift your spirits." Taking my place at the head of the table, the two Starlights followed suit. "Besides, I'm sure the chefs can cook you your meal later in the week."
"Still…" Fighter's sullen look didn't waiver as she twirled her spoon around on the table.
"Do you really need something to look forward to that much?" Catcher asked. After a slow nod from Fighter, she rolled her eyes and let out a sigh. "Fine. I will personally go all the way to that berry vendor in town and get you your favorite champagne. Problem solved."
"What?" Fighter's widened eyes flashed up to her face, obviously surprised at the offer. "You don't have to…"
Catcher held up her hand to quiet him. "No, no. We can't have you being all sour. You have a parade to be a part of. But you owe me."
I stifled a giggle with my hand, knowing that Catcher was going out that direction anyway while she was on duty. She would be right next to that vendor; it wasn't out of her way at all. I snuck a side glance to Maker, who seemed to know this as well. Though her expression revealed nothing, I could see the smirk dancing in her eyes.
Fighter's jaw dropped. "I don't owe you anything! I never asked you to go and get it!"
"But I am anyway. In fact…" Catcher glanced out the window, at the clusters of people getting ready for the day. "I better get going right about now. Who knows how long it'll take me to work through that crowd." She quickly got up and excused herself with a bow.
"Hey, wait!" Fighter tried to stop her, slumping in her chair when the trail of orange hair disappeared from sight.
"Stop complaining." Maker elbowed her, eyes fixed on the waiters bringing out our meal.
She straightened up; trying to put on her best frustrated face, but couldn't stop the grin slowly spreading across it.
"Now," I said, smiling. "We can enjoy the festival!"
The rest of the morning had gone by relatively quietly, and I soon found myself sitting in front of a large bay window in the second story foyer, quietly watching over the bustling kingdom. A group of children caught my attention, innocently chasing each other through the maze of people and booths. A smile slowly spread across my face as I watched them.
With a sigh I brought my ivory cup to my lips and sipped at the cold, sweet drink. It was common nectar, sweetened just how I liked it. I used to find this drink to be my absolute favorite, but for some reason now it only reminded me of the sweetened tea I found on Earth. I chuckled, forcing down another sip, and looked out over the city again.
Before the war with Galaxia, each of the great cities would have their own festivities, on a much smaller scale. However, when more than half of the planet was wiped out during the attack, the population of Kinmoku was cut down significantly. When the four of us returned for the Reconstruction, we gathered all the remaining citizens and built one grand kingdom, instead of smaller cities united under one monarch. Now that there was only one celebration for the entire Flower Festival, it was gigantic.
"Just how my mother wanted it…" I murmured. She had always envisioned a beautiful empire, a single great kingdom where everyone was together as one. The segregated, politically competitive cities she ruled had been a far cry from her dream. Though there was peace back then, it wasn't the flourishing prosperity she imagined. But now…
With only one city to build, one population to feed, one group of people to keep happy... Kinmoku was simply blossoming.
"I wish you could see it, your kingdom." I looked up at the stars, completely visible in the middle of the day. That was one thing about Earth I didn't quite warm up to; the fact that they could only see their stars at night.
When we first started Reconstruction, it seemed nearly impossible that we would be able to find this 'normal' again. Although it was a fear I shared with no one, I was scared that in spite of all our efforts, the planet would simply be too weak to hold us and would collapse.
Then what would we do? Where would we all go? It was still all too real of a possibility. Another attack, another tragedy… who knew what could be waiting for us just around the corner?
I shook the disturbing thoughts from my head. 'Chaos is gone.' I reminded myself.
'But… is it really?'
That thought had been troubling me more and more lately. Sometimes it felt too peaceful, like the calm before the storm. There had been absolutely nothing to lead me to doubt that Chaos was defeated, but for some reason I couldn't shake the feeling that our battle wasn't over.
My Starlights had chalked it up to being unaccustomed to the peace, or perhaps me being a cautious leader. Despite their belief that the war was over, I had insisted on training more senshi, just in case.
Over the few years, the Kingdom of Kinmoku had grown to be much larger than I had first expected. Built on top of the previous capital, many of the older structures near the center were cherished as war-weary buildings and monuments. The castle, located just behind the center of town and in the exact same place as the old one, had been built completely from scratch. It was surrounded by a labyrinth of gardens and cobblestone pathways, which were the only cultivated lands inside the city walls.
As I looked over the city, my thoughts drifted to the subtle differences between the New Kingdom and the Old Kingdom. There were so many underlying similarities with Earth now; from the way the buildings were shaped to the ways we prepared food. The Starlights had brought some of their favorites to the planet, including a strange activity where you hit a small ball with a wooden pole and then run around a diamond – something called baseball.
A genuine smile graced my lips as my gaze settled on one of my favorite buildings in the entire city. Many people had gathered on its marble steps to enjoy the festivities, giving the small church a strong vibe.
When we had returned from the defeat of Galaxia, word quickly spread amongst the people of a 'white winged angel' that saved the universe. This soon spiraled into a full-blown story of a 'Goddess of Light that sent her strongest warrior to defeat Sailor Galaxia'. Although she had become a bit of an inflated rumor, the people of Kinmoku held a certain respect for the senshi that had saved them all. Some even worshipped her alongside the Gods and Goddesses of Kinmoku legends. So, it seemed only natural to establish a church in her honor.
The Serenity Church, a small token of appreciation for Eternal Sailor Moon, had stood in front of the palace ever since.
I stood suddenly, a strange mix of dread and anxiety washing over me. As soon as I was upright my head started spinning, forcing me to fall back in my chair again, and I could feel my heart pounding against my ribcage. There was only one other time in my life when this feeling had overcome me… years ago, just before Chaos had attacked.
Gasping for breath, darkness started fading into my vision until everything blurred into one swirling color. I was gone, I was weightless. My eyes flew open, though I couldn't figure out when they had closed in the first place, and was instantly greeted with a sharp, blinding light. It had a certain warmth that felt oddly familiar, yet some part of it felt unusually cold. The shine reminded me of Sailor Moon's, but I knew in my heart that there was no way it was hers. There was something different about it… the stoic aura it possessed sent a chill of sympathy down my spine, and I shivered.
For a second the light seemed to dim when a spark of pink flared from it, coming towards me. Now this light I knew. I held my hand out for it, and a happy, fluttering feeling settled in my stomach when a small, childlike hand fell into mine.
"Sailor Chibi Chibi…" I breathed, taking in her sparkling blue eyes.
She smiled and pointed to the light behind her. "Chibii!"
I blinked, my gaze flashing from her to the light and back to her. "Do you… is that a friend of yours?"
She didn't answer and instead tugged on my arm, silently asking me to follow. I shifted my weight to walk with her and realized that we were floating among the stars. It was a strange feeling, but my body floated alongside her anyway. She seemed to be getting restless, letting out small whimpers each time the light sputtered and dimmed.
"What is it, Chibi Chibi? Do you need help?"
"Help!" She repeated, though she didn't stop tugging me.
I wasn't sure what to say. Some part of me felt as though this was a dream; that Chibi Chibi was gone and I wasn't here right now, with her. "How… how do I help?"
"Help!" She said again.
We stopped, and I bent down so I could be eyelevel with her. "What do you need?"
The girl looked up at me with her big blue eyes and lifted her hand to my heart. I could feel the power of my star seed calling back to her, and confusion crossed my mind.
"You need my power?" She pointed at the light again. "Your… friend needs my power?"
"Chibi! Chi-chibi!" She smiled. "Escape!"
A soft glow spread from her, and for some reason my heart swelled in my chest. I couldn't say no to her… she had helped me for so long back on Earth. "Okay." I agreed.
There was another flash, and Chibi Chibi whipped her head around to the light. She quickly flew towards it as it grew brighter, leaving me calling after her.
"Princess!" A voice called out to me between the stars.
I squeezed my eyes shut and felt everything spin around me. A hand materialized on my shoulder, gently shaking me.
"Princess, wake up! You'll be late!" That voice said.
My eyelids fluttered, and Sailor Star Healer came into view. She offered me a smile. I looked around; lifting my head from the arm of the chair I'd been sitting in, and saw that the suns had fallen considerably in the sky.
"I… fell asleep?" I inquired, rubbing my eyes.
"Yes. I've actually been sitting here awhile with you. You must have been tired to have nodded off like that, so I didn't want to wake you up." She looked down and gestured to my robe. "Is that one new?"
I inspected it thoroughly for the first time and blinked. "I suppose it is. Tell me, what time is it?"
"Just about time for our feast!" Healer offered me her hand, which I graciously took, and helped me to my feet. Any sign of the dizziness I'd had earlier was gone.
I bit my lip, contemplating whether or not to tell her about it at the dream, and decided against doing so. It would just worry her, and judging by how I saw it there was nothing to be overly worried about.
She led be back towards the dining room, down the stairs and through the courtyard. I looked up at the sky while we were out there, wondering if the whole thing had all been a dream or if it had really happened.
"Good luck, Chibi Chibi." I murmured, just to be safe.
Well, thanks for reading! I hope everything works out so far... I mean, with character's personalities and such. Let me know if there's anything I should work on.
And lets see if we can get a couple more reviews BEFORE I post the next chapter. ;)
Thanks! :)
