Chapter Seventeen

Princess Jupiter

Mina, Serena, and Raye stood at Serena's locker chatting about the weekend. Raye was mostly silent, and didn't want to talk about what happened even though the whole school was talking about the huge bruise that covered half of Daita Atsuji's face. With hearts and stars in her eyes, Serena rattled off every detail of the night with Darien from what she ate that morning for breakfast to when he asked if she was sitting on his watch in the car as he took her home.

Serena glanced over at the entrance of the hallway. "Oh, look at them! They are so cute!"

"Yeah," Mina sighed. "My plan really worked. I think he really likes her."

Kyoji and Achika walked down the hallway having a conversation together and laughing.

Raye scowled for a moment at the couple. "I have to go." Raye slung her bag over her shoulder and walked off from the group.

Serena and Mina hardly noticed that Raye left. They kept their eyes on Kyoji and Achika in excitement until they walked up to another boy and Achika took a hold of the other boy's hand.

"What!" Serena and Mina exclaimed.

Kyoji left Achika and the other boy alone. He saw Serena and Mina and walked up to them. Before he could even say hello, Mina and Serena were bombarding him with questions.

"Why is Achika holding Genki Miyazaki's hand?"

"Didn't your date go well?"

"What happened at the dance?"

Kyoji waved his hands to get them to stop talking. "Let me explain!"

"Explain then!" Mina tapped her foot on the ground.

"Achika and I were at the dance, and she admitted she really liked Genki. I told her to talk to him. Turns out that he really liked her too, and they started dating the next day."

"But why are you still talking to her?"

"Because she's my friend." Kyoji smirked, something he rarely did. "I guess you're just upset that I'm a better matchmaker than you, Mina."

She looked nervous. "Who says I was trying to set you up with Achika? I just said she didn't have a date for the dance…"

He kept smirking. "You said the same thing to her."

Mina nervously laughed. "Well, you know, I was just trying to make sure nobody got left out…"

Kyoji shook his head. "Forget about it. Things worked out for the better." He glanced back at the couple. "They look really happy together." He looked up at Serena and smiled. He then glanced up at the clock. "I need to get to class early. I will see you both later." He walked off.

Serena and Mina chatted among themselves about how to get Kyoji interested in someone else besides Serena. They stopped talking once they saw Lita walking up to her locker hauling a large bag and a sleeping bag. She dropped the heavy bag in front of her locker, huffing and puffing, and did her combination on the lock.

"What is all this?" Serena asked.

Lita glanced up, serious look in her face. "After lunch, I'm going to Hokkaido for the weekend."

"Why?" Mina asked, extremely confused.

Raye walked back up to the group with Ami by her side. They both looked confused at the sight of the camping gear.

"Where are you going?" Raye asked.

"Hokkaido." Lita stuffed some of her possessions in her locker.

Ami pondered for a moment. "To find your Planet Crystal?"

Lita nodded.

"Why are you going alone? We should be going with you. If we go to my house, I can get some things…" Serena said.

"No!" Lita exclaimed. "I have to do this alone."

"Why?" Ami questioned. "It could be dangerous."

"I need some time to think and be alone."

Mina sighed. "You're not still upset about Taro, are you?"

Lita stood silent for a moment. "There have been a lot of things on my mind. I just need some time to work them out by myself, okay?"

Raye nodded. "Please promise to contact us if you get into any trouble, okay?"

Lita grabbed her bags and walked off in silence.

After many hours and many train rides, Lita was finally approaching her destination—Sapporo, Japan—the capital of Hokkaido. She sat alone on all of her journey. A group of boys walked past her, she looked up, but they didn't acknowledge her. She sighed and glanced back out the window. So many things were going wrong in her life at the moment—she didn't have enough power as Sailor Jupiter to protect her friends, she felt so alone since her parents were deceased, and she never felt good enough when it came to boys. She would try to venture out and find someone new, but they always just saw her as a friend, like Ken. Over and over again, she found herself going back to the same guy, Freddy, and he'd treat her horribly all over again. She closed her eyes and pressed her forehead against the glass. Perhaps being out in nature would help her discover the answers and clear her mind.

The evil Queen stared into the murky waters watching the scene unfold. She watched as the young Sailor Jupiter rode a train across the landscape of Japan. Through her study, she was discovering that all the Sailor Scouts were collecting objects called Planet Crystals. She wasn't sure what they were or what value they had, but she couldn't take any chances.

"Alexandrite!"

The girl with blue hair and turquoise, silver, and purple highlights stepped forward. "Yes, your Majesty?"

"Follow Sailor Jupiter and collect the object called the Planet Crystal. Kill her when you are finished."

"Yes, your Majesty." Alexandrite bowed before evaporating.

Queen Beryl looked back into the water at the image of Lita. "You won't get away from me, Sailor Jupiter."

She was thankful that Ami let her borrow the supercomputer. She looked behind her, field of grass empty for miles. She then looked forward. The landscape started to roll up into forest covered hills. She looked back down at the supercomputer. "Fifteen miles," She sighed. She peered into the forest and noticed a slight path covered in leaves and snow. Adjusting the grip on her backpack, she stepped forward and disappeared into the trees.

It was a difficult journey. The path was a steep climb up the side of the mountain, and along with a heavy backpack, it made the climb more strenuous. The path winded left then right while gradually getting steeper. Many thoughts swirled in her mind. Even though she was all alone in a remote forest, the thoughts of her life in the city followed her and haunted her all the way through the forest.

It was as if the voices of the past echoed through the trees, rusting in the wind.

"I'm sorry, your parents are gone."

"Lita, I'm sorry, I don't have the same feelings for you."

"I'm breaking up with you."

"Why in the world would I ever go with someone like you?"

"Because we don't allow dogs at the dance!"

She stopped walking and looked around. "Who's out there?" She called out in fear. She looked around frantically. Only the sound of the rustling wind whispered through the forest. She shook her head. "I'm just being silly." She continued walking.

From behind the trees, a young girl peeked out to look at the traveler through the forest.

It was the second day, and the sun was high in the sky. She started to feel hungry for lunch so she stopped at a large rock. As she started to unpack, she felt a tingling rush up her spine. "Who are you? You've been following me since yesterday." She stood up.

"Princess Jupiter, I presume."

Lita turned around. "Not yet!" She whipped out her sailor pen. "JUPITER CRYSTAL POWER!" Soon, she was transformed into Sailor Jupiter. She got into a defensive stance. "Who are you, and what do you want from me?" She hollered.

"I mean no harm, my Lady."

Sailor Jupiter relented from her defensive stance. A young girl dressed in brown drab clothing stepped forward. Three more came out from behind the trees and bowed to Lita. They were all young—maybe in their early to mid-teens. They were all dress similarly in brown clothing. They looked almost tribal with face paint on their faces and headbands over their foreheads.

"Who are you?" Lita asked.

The girl that appeared to be the oldest stood up. "We are your servants, my Lady."

Lita listened carefully. The girl spoke Japanese but slightly awkwardly, as if it wasn't her first language. "Servants? I don't understand."

"I am Keiko." She pointed to the other girls starting with the oldest and moving to the youngest. "These are my sisters: Aya, Yumi, and Rina." She looked back to Lita. "We are your servants, Princess."

"Princess?" Lita looked extremely confused.

The youngest, Rina, stepped forward. She was maybe eleven or twelve years old. "We've waited for you, Princess, and now you have come to us."

Lita shook her head. "I don't understand. Why are you calling me Princess?"

Yumi, who was the second youngest, stepped forward with a bow strung around her arm. "Are you not the reborn Princess of Jupiter?"

"Well, yes I am, but I still don't understand. How do you know who I am?"

The last sister, Aya, who was the second old, came forward. She walked up to Lita and grasped her hand. "We are a people who remember the past. We know who you are, and we know who we once were. Long ago and far away in the past, we were your servants on Jupiter."

"How do you remember?" Lita shook her head in wonder. "I don't even remember."

"We also have your stone, my Lady," Keiko answered. "Our elders prophesied that you would return one day."

Rina came up to Lita and grabbed her hand. "Please, come with us. We will take you to our village. There will be a grand feast for you, Princess."

"Yes, come with us!"

"Come with us!" The sisters began to push Sailor Jupiter along.

"Alright! Alright!" Lita almost laughed at the enthusiasm of the young girls. "I will go with you to your village."

After a few miles walk, the girls led Sailor Jupiter into the tiny village. Situated in the middle of the forest, the tiny village, named Ando Village, was never reached by most outsiders. These people who seemed almost tribal lived in small wooden huts with thatched roofs. They would cook over the fire and wash their clothing in the rivers. As the four girls brought Sailor Jupiter into the village, the people started whispering in an unusual language, which Lita never heard before. They would bow and whisper in excitement, which at least made her feel that she was safe with these people.

The girls looked ahead and saw a middle-aged woman. They started hollering, and they left Lita's side to run up to the woman. The woman and the four girls dialogued back and forth in the strange language then walked up to Lita. The woman, with tears in her eyes, took a hold of Lita's hands. She bowed her head. "Princess Jupiter."

Lita bowed, but still confused. "Can you explain to me what is going on here?"

The woman looked confused and looked to one of the girls. The girls spoke in the strange language. The woman looked back to Lita. "Forgive me, Princess Jupiter. I don't speak Japanese well."

Lita nodded.

"I am happy you have come, Princess. I am Sayuri." She smiled. She looked back to the girls. "These are my daughters. They will take care of you." She then spoke to her four daughters. The girls then took a hold of Lita's hands and lead her off into the village. They directed her to the largest building of the village. Lita assumed it must be the village hall.

The girls let her inside. At the back of the room, five old men sat before a great fire. Most of the villagers had already gathered within the hall while the others were slowly filtered in the room. The girls brought Lita before the Elders and spoke to them in their language. The Elders dialogued back and forth with Keiko.

Keiko looked to Lita. "The Elders welcome you, Princess Jupiter." Keiko turned back to the Elders and continued to speak with them.

Lita looked to Rina, the youngest. "Why do you speak Japanese, but the rest of your village does not?"

Rina leaned in to whisper the answer. "Us younger ones have been educated outside the village in Japanese public schools. We walk seven miles to a small town in the north to go to school." She paused for a moment. "We are highly disliked by the outside world. They don't understand our ways."

Lita nodded then turned her attention back to the Elders. They offered her a place to sit in front of the Elders which she took. She watched patiently as the villagers, Keiko, and the Elders dialogued in their own language. They offered her a drink and baked bread to eat. She slowly chewed on the warm bread while everyone talked back and forth. Suddenly, the Elders stopped talking. The looked up towards the doorway. Keiko looked towards the back and smiled. The whole room was silent. Interested, Lita turned her head around to look. The sitting villagers parted to clear a pathway towards the Elders. The middle-aged woman, Sayuri, headed towards the Elders. Lita stood up to get out of the way. Sayuri walked up to Lita. "This is my son, Princess Jupiter."

The woman stepped out of the way—behind her stood a tall and strong young man. His hair was of wild, forest green locks, and his eyes were the deepest brown. His hair was kept out of his face with with a navy blue headband, and on each cheek was painted two purple stripes. He locked eyes with Lita, staring into her emerald green orbs. "I am glad you have come, Princess Jupiter." He smiled warmly.

"What is your name?" Lita asked.

"My name is Eiji, Princess."

The villagers started to chatter in their own language again. Sayuri, her four daughters, and the Elders started to chatter again too. Lita looked around at all the commotion that she didn't understand. She looked back to the boy with a confused look. He locked eyes with her again, and he smiled warmly. Without words, he gave her a sense of peace and comfort.

It soon appeared that the deliberations were over. The villagers scurried out of the hall. Sayuri came over chattering in her language at her four daughters. She grabbed her son, Eiji, by the arm and pulled him out of the building.

"What's going on?" Lita looked to the four girls.

"There's to be a celebration!" Rina exclaimed. "It's so exciting!"

"Celebration for what?" Lita asked.

Lita was pulled into the crowd by the villagers. They started to pull her along to leave the building.

"What's going on? Where are they taking me?" Lita hollered to the sisters.

"Don't worry! They're going to get you ready!"

"Wait a minute!" Lita called, but she was pulled so far into the crowd that she couldn't see the others anymore.

It felt strange to have everyone wait on her hand and foot. They had stripped her down and bathed her, dried her off and brushed her hair, and trimmed her nails. She tried talking to the women who were serving her, but none of them spoke Japanese. They would chatter on and occasionally giggle. Lita walked around the small hut only wearing a towel from her grooming. She walked over to the fireplace and stared deeply into the fire. This was the strangest experience of her entire life. Never in her entire life had she ever been somewhere this remote and isolated from the entire world. Despite the fact that the circumstances were strange enough, these people knew and understood things about herself that she didn't even know. She was torn away from her thoughts when one of the women placed a hand on her shoulder. Lita turned around and smiled. The women held up a white outfit. It almost looked kimono-like with the wrap style cut, but it wasn't nearly as elaborate as a kimono. Lita smiled however—she knew this was probably the nicest outfit in the entire village, and they gave it to her. Since these women were her servants, they insisted on dressing their Princess. After wrapping the under layers, they put on the white outfit. They added their most precious jewelry to adorn their Princess. Lita smiled for their generosity.

Once she was finished, the women led her out of the hut. The whole village was in celebration. There was a large fire in the middle of the village in front of a large table that the Elders sat at. There were other tables with fruits, vegetables, breads, and meats on it. There were other small fires with meat roasting above them. Loud musical precessions weaved through the crowds beating on their drums and playing their flutes. Lita was escorted through the village by the women who dressed her. Sayuri came up to Lita, and took her from the women.

"What is going on here?"

Sayuri looked confused. "I'm sorry. I do not understand." She kept pulling Lita forward. She was brought before the table of Elders, and made to sit down at a small fire. She looked around utterly confused, but stopped her gaze once she saw him.

The boy she met earlier, Eiji, stepped forward out of the crowd. He was dressed in a black robe with a black headband around his forehead. His mother walked over to him, and she guided him towards the small fire. He sat down on the other side of fire. He peered over the cackling fire into Lita's eyes, and she met his gaze. He soon was handed a wooden goblet. He stood up. By the look he gave Lita, she figured that she was supposed to stand up too. He drank from the goblet then passed it to Lita over the fire. She took it and from the impression she got from his face, she took a drink too. Sayuri walked up and took the goblet from Lita. Next, Eiji was handed a small wooden bowl filled with a bright red liquid. He dipped his finger into the liquid and reached forward. He drew two red lines of each of Lita's cheeks then drew a line down her nose. He handed the bowl to Lita. She took it and made the same marks on his face. Once she was finished, Sayuri took the bowl from Lita. Immediately, Lita was pulled into the crowd. She tried to find someone who spoke Japanese to explain, but none of them did. She was pulled over to a large table and made to sit down.

It was a feast—she was offered many foods to eat and choices of drinks. All the villagers celebrated and pampered her with everything a girl could ask for or want. The musicians played beautiful while some of the villagers danced around the fire. The villagers even performed songs and plays for the Princess. She didn't understand, but she clapped and smiled anyway. The celebration went on for a long time. Lita looked towards the horizons. The sun was starting to set. Suddenly, the women of the village grabbed a hold of Lita and pulled her away from the feast. They took her through the village and escorted her into a hut.

"What's going on? Is the party over?"

It was to no avail. None of them understood what Lita was asking. They brought her into the hut and made her sit down in a chair while they started a fire in the fireplace. After they finished, they bowed to Lita and exited the hut. Lita got up from the chair and looked around. After pacing for a few minutes, she sat down on the bed. "Perhaps they think it's my bed time. Too bad, I'm not tired," She said to herself. She sighed deeply. The music and sound of celebration quietly echoed through her hut as she sat alone in silence.

She wasn't sure how many hours passed. The sound of the celebration continued, but as time went on, the sound died down. She stared up at the ceiling of the thatched roof as she lay in the bed. She rolled onto her side and stared into the cackling fire. She sighed deeply as she thought of her friends, and her life back in Tokyo. Her thoughts trailed to the Winter Formal. She stopped herself when her memories came back to Izumi and Taro's comments. She rolled back over to look at the ceiling. She tried not to cry, but tears escaped her eyes. She lay in silence with faint hot tears running down her cheeks. Suddenly, she heard faint voices outside the hut. The bearskin flap opened up. She quickly sprung up and wiped up her tears. She looked to the entrance of the hut.

He stood in the entrance looking at her gingerly. "Princess Jupiter," He faintly uttered. Still in his black robe, he took one step forward.

Lita stood up off the bed. "You can call me, Lita." She walked up to him. He was tall—a few inches taller than her. She glanced up looking into his face.

"Lita," He uttered then faintly smiled. She glanced around the room and walked over to the chair. He wearily sat down in the chair and released a deep sigh. "How are you?"

Lita took a seat back on the bed. "I'm fine. How about you?"

He nodded. "Fine. I'm fine."

"I want to say thank you for the wonderful hospitality your village has given me."

Eiji nodded. "We are happy to have you, Princess…uh…Lita." He faintly smiled. "We have waited for you a long time."

Lita shook her head. "It's all so surreal." She glanced around the hut. "You all seem to know more about me than I know about myself." She sighed and looked around the room.

They ran out of things to talk about. She looked over at Eiji and faintly smiled. He faintly smiled back, and they sat in silence for a few minutes just looking at each other. He blew some air and nervously laughed. In response, she nervously laughed too. He twiddled his fingers together and stared at them for a few moments. He sighed again and looked up at Lita.

"Is there something wrong?" Lita asked.

He sighed again and pulled his eyes away from Lita's. "I'm sorry. I'm just really nervous."

"Nervous?" She looked confused. "Nervous about what?"

He looked at her, shocked. "You're not nervous at all?"

She looked even more confused. "Should I be nervous?" She pondered for a moment and came up with nothing. "Why are you nervous?"

He leaned forward in the chair and blew more air from his mouth. "About tonight."

"What's happening tonight?" She looked into his eyes. His eyes were kind and innocent, but was clearly afraid.

His glanced to his feet for a moment then he gulped. "It is our first night as husband and wife." He looked up.

"WHAT!" Lita exclaimed while jumping up on the bed. She stood on the bed and pressed back into the wall.

Eiji stood up from the chair. "What is wrong?"

Lita looked around frantically. "What are you talking about?" Lita put her hand on her forehead. "We're married? When did this happen?"

Eiji looked confused. "We were married today. You were there. I don't understand."

Lita thought for a moment. "You mean when we drank from that cup and painted each other's faces that made us married?"

Eiji nodded. "Yes, Princess Lita. It is our destiny."

Lita shook her head. "I didn't know we were getting married! I thought it was just some ritual or something! I don't even know you!"

A hurt expression appeared on Eiji's face. "You don't want to be with me, Princess Lita."

She felt guilty from his look. "I didn't mean it like that. It's just I…I don't know you. I've never seen you before, and now I'm married to you."

Eiji looked confused. "That is how things are done. My parents did not know each other until they were married."

Lita shook her head. "Not where I'm from! We don't have arranged marriages. I didn't agree to this."

He looked sad. "But it is our destiny to be together. The Elders prophesied it long ago that you would come to our village, and I was to be your husband."

"We don't even know each other!" Lita put her hands on her head. "Don't you feel awkward about this?"

Eiji sighed and sat back down in the chair. "Yes, I suppose." He was silent for a moment, and he played with his fingers again. "I knew that one day soon you would be coming, and I knew it was my destiny to be with you." He paused and sighed again. "I was afraid. Over and over I wondered if I would be a good husband, if I could take care of you, if I was ready to be married, but when I first saw you today…" He paused again and looked up into Lita's eyes. "…all the fear inside me disappeared."

Lita looked confused. "What?"

"You're the most beautiful thing I have ever seen…"

She put her hands on her hips. "That's my point. It's all about looks because you don't know me."

He shook his frantically. "No! It's not like that. No, I don't mean that you're not beautiful, it's just…it's just…when I looked into your eyes, I saw kindness and compassion and love and…and…" He blushed deeply. "You have a beautiful spirit. You truly are Princess Lita."

Calmed down, Lita sat down on the bed. "I don't understand how you know me. How to you have memories of the past, and I don't?"

Eiji dug into his robe and pulled out a green crystal. Lita's eyes widened. "My father found this crystal in the woods one day. When he brought it back to the village, my mother said that I instantly started kicking inside her stomach, and she went into labor prematurely that night. The Elders were able to see the past through the crystal, and they prophesied that you would return to collect your crystal."

"And why are we married?"

Eiji sighed. "In the past, my village was once the servants of your royal family. I was your bodyguard, and once we were in love. I was your protector and your lover." He handed her the crystal, and she took it into her hands. She gazed deeply into the crystal then looked up at the boy. He was a handsome and strong boy. His hair was a beautiful forest green, and his eyes were the deepest of brown. She sensed in her heart that what he said was true, but there still seemed to be a gap between the past and the present.

He sat up from the chair and kneeled before Lita. He placed his hands on her cheeks. "Princess Lita, I am sorry if I have offended you in anyway." Tears started to form in his eyes. "Since I have displeased you for a husband, I will see to it that our marriage is annulled…"

He stopped talking when she put her hands over his. "No, I'm sorry, Eiji." She paused. "It's just this is all so new for me, and I don't understand your customs."

"What are you saying, Princess?"

She closed her eyes for a moment. "Deep down inside I know you're right. I just…I…this is all so fast. I mean, married?" She always thought she'd be the last to get married of her friends, but now she was the first, and she wasn't even out of high school.

"What do you want me to do, Princess?"

She sighed. "I need more time to get to know you first."

He nodded. "I see what you mean, but my people will not understand this."

Lita slightly shook her head. "We don't have to tell them anything. We will act like normal."

He looked confused. "So what do we do?"

She kept her hands over his. "I will be your wife. I just need some more time before we start acting like it."

He nodded then smiled. Relieve washed over his face as he slightly laughed.

She faintly smiled when looking into his eyes. His brown eyes sparkled brightly as she stared into them. His eyes spoke warmth and innocence. Her eyes danced in wonder as she studied his face. He was looking at her in the same way. All fears and worries melted away as she looked into his eyes. She surprised even herself as she leaned forward to meet with his advance. They shared their first kiss—it was gentle and sweet. After a few moments, they pulled away and looked at each other.

She opened her eyes and rolled over. The cackling fire was dying down into embers. She sighed and faintly smiled. On the floor a top of a bearskin rug, Eiji slept peacefully. He watched the gentle rise and fall of his chest as he inhaled and exhaled in his sleep. She couldn't believe the huge twist in her life. She was now a married woman. She snuggled deeper into her blanket. She racked her eyes over his peaceful face. He was such a gentleman. Even though they were married, he never pressured her to do something that made her uncomfortable. They had kissed earlier that night, and that was all. She touched her lips and smiled. She closed her eyes and peacefully drifted back to sleep.

To be continued…