Fearless
"Would you calm down? I've just told you she'll live!" Maiestas protested angrily at Rei who was forcefully trying to heave Minako into her arms. The old man pushed her away and laid the sickened girl back down. The miko, seeing no support for her actions, calmed down and fought hard to keep her hands attached to the blonde's bleeding head.
"Not for long if you continue to stall! Go on, take her to her room!" Saeko ordered pressingly.
"...I couldn't...the guards are searching..." Maiestas proclaimed reasonably, a sincere grin on his face.
"She, I mean, you can use my chambers, I see no fault in it.." Rei quickly said.
Serenity, despite the urgency of the situation, hesitated "I don't know...I wouldn't feel right leaving either of you uncomfortable or unprotected...especially after this...perhaps it would be safer if she is taken to my courters?" she suggested uncertainly.
"That's not necessary..." the Mercurian Queen replied dully.
"Taking the princess to Rei-chan's room is a fine and safe idea, she'll be protected and I'm sure we can find descent accommodation in the time being for Rei-chan" Maiestas agreed slyly. Knowingly, he was sure his queen would not take Minako's health as her first priority, therefore, he could keenly infiltrate into the Martian princess's room and keep a close eye on the ill girl at the same time.
"Alright, that seems fair for now" - Serenity said dryly but determined from seeing the black haired girl's urgent stares and Minako's paling face - "Saeko, please take them upstairs and see to it that Minako-chan is well taken care of" she added.
Saeko, herself very pale but lively angered, nodded and motioned the old man who motioned two almost hidden guards to come out of their hiding places and take the still shaking blonde up. They lifted Minako carefully and followed the blue gowned queen towards the double doors. Rei followed, her step in sync with the armored men.
"You don't need to come, I promise we won't pry in your things" the Queen said as she suddenly stopped and held the miko back with a gentle but firm hand. The princess frowned before taking a step forward, her torso touching Saeko's cold limb, but before she could protest a kind voice drifted into the awkward moment.
"Let her go, I doubt she'll be better off anywhere else" Serenity said so warmly that even Maiestas did not dare proclaim, he simply nodded along with his queen. "I'll send dinner in a little while" she added.
"Maybe I should go too" Ami said quickly, feeling she could maybe counteract what was to happen when they found the package and dress sent by the princess of Jupiter. The thought of sitting and waiting was too much to bear, especially when in her heart, a place she barely knew or trusted, she felt painful at that moment.
"No, you stay. And I mean it, you stay here and go back to your room immediately after dinner" Saeko demanded, her back turned towards the table, before she motioned again for Maiestas, Rei and the two guards carrying Minako to follow her out.
The room fell silent except for the various footsteps filing out the the dining hall, they grew further until the echoes tapped into the great hall and still further up the stairs. With a loud thump the double doors of the hall closed and were followed by the soft sighs from the maids and princesses. Despite the sudden relief, everyone in the room continued to stand still and wonder what was next.
"Mother?" Usagi asked kindly. She felt her mother calmer, though her eyes still lingered cautiously as if trying to catch the criminal inside.
"Yes? Oh! Yes! Please sit down! I'm sorry, this is very difficult..." Serenity said almost mechanically, she didn't seem as worried as she did thoughtful. Confused and awkwardly the princesses were beginning to sit down before the Queen stopped them and scooted her daughter over - "It's alright. Makoto-chan, why don't you sit next to Ami-chan? It's only the four of us after all" she mumbled as she sat in Usagi's previous spot and motioned the brunette to the other side. They all rearranged themselves and sat silently looking at their plates. As on juncture the room was filled with maids serving freshly warm soup and refilling glasses. They all glanced at each other with forced smiles before Serenity took a sip of from her bowl and a drink from her cup.
"I don't want to eat. In fact, I don't want to even change my clothes" Usagi said bravely what everyone was thinking.
"Please, don't worry. I can assure you the food and drink are not poisoned. I have eyes and ears everywhere and such a thing will not go unpunished. We are kind and respectful but not forgiving..." - the Queen said harshly as she eyed the servants in the room with a raged filled glare - "what happened to Minako-chan was unseen and unfortunate but I promise you it will never happen again. I will keep a much closer watch on everything. Meanwhile please eat, I'm sure you're hungry" she said with a smile.
Makoto, who was the only one who was eating happily, smiled with a mouthful of soup before blushing. In front of her, Usagi was taking small and careful sips of her food but was clearly relieved by her mother's speech and the brunette's confidence. Ami, on the other hand, still seemed nervous and unable to eat, her gaze switched between a starved Makoto and the doors.
Serenity noticed this and reached her hand over to the blue haired girl's who jumped "I also promise we'll find the true architect of this. There will be no speculation or doubt, the guilty will be found" she assured Ami who somehow understood and smiled. Feeling a little better she began eating, especially seeing Makoto next to her so lively and hungry.
As the next course was served, everyone able to finish their soup, it was clear the room was still tense. They ate, much more calmly than before, until they began to speak.
"Tell us Makoto-chan, what are you fond of?" the Queen asked as she clasped her hands and stared uniquely interested at the princess who was still savoring her food.
Makoto blushed and chewed quickly before she wiped her mouth with her napkin, she turned quickly towards Ami before answering "Oh...I like many things! Well, not many. I like...fighting! No! Not fighting...well...I like combat skills but not only that!" - she giggled nervously before turning again to look at the girl next to her - "...I also like cooking and gardening. But I really like...um...both things..." she mumbled stupidly.
"Cooking and gardening?" Usagi asked with a chuckle.
"No! I mean...a like those but I also like..."
"Fighting?" Ami added jokingly but kindly.
"No! Not fighting!" - the brunette waved her hands innocently at the girl beside her, the gestures were much too aggressive as she managed to wave her wine glass down and spill the dark purple liquid across the table - "Sorry! Sorry! I didn't mean to!" she cried frantically trying to wipe the mess which worsened it.
"Don't worry! It's alright!" the Queen said happily as she tried to stop the tall girl from cleaning.
Usagi began laughing heartily "I can't wait until Minako-chan hears this! She'll feel much better!" she giggled cheerfully, with no bad intention.
"Usagi-chan! She didn't mean too!" Ami attacked as she sat a shaken Makoto down.
"Calm down, this is silly. Don't worry Makoto-chan, we'll have it cleaned up. Let's sit back down and..." - Serenity began saying before the double doors burst open and a small black cat came running in. Luna ignored the other three girls and immediately jumped on her queen's lap. The feline, looking very startled and frantic, lifted her paws onto Serenity's shoulder and clearly whispered something in her ear.
"Is that cat talking?" the brunette asked excitedly, her previous anxiousness completely gone. Beside her, the blue haired girl shushed her discreetly as she noticed the queen's face turned worried and tense.
Serenity nodded slowly before Luna climbed off of her and jumped to the ground, she looked up at her queen in expectance. Taking a deep heave, which made Usagi grab her arm worriedly, the Queen stood up and smiled "Ami-chan, why don't you take Makoto-chan to her room? Make her feel more welcomed, tonight has been a little intense. The guards are uneasy so I think you should lock the door, to avoid any unwelcome visitors" she said calmly but with a tone of wariness that only Ami could notice in the confusing declaration.
"Can I go too?" Usagi asked innocently.
"No. You'll stay with me. Go on!" Serenity urged as she motioned Ami to take Makoto away. The smaller girl hesitated before she quickly took the taller girl's arm and led her to the double doors which were immediately opened. The two girls stumbled into the great hall where they were met by several soldiers who glared at them suspiciously. The blue haired girl led her friend away from them and up the stairs carefully.
"Why are they looking at us like that? They should know better..." Makoto growled as she watched several armored men giving her dirtied looks. She tugged Ami back and tried to menace them.
"No! Let's keep going! They only want to scare us..." the genius lied as she tugged the stronger girl further up the stairs. As she pulled Makoto's sleeve her scarfed hand was revealed. Pulling back, Ami tried to hide it but was taken aback when taller girl held it and smiled.
"I'll follow you" Makoto whispered as she led the smaller girl up two steps. Smiling back, Ami nodded and led her up until they reached the landing. Almost too excited and unweary to notice, they stepped into the familiar corridor. There, with terrible luck but sure presence, was Maiestas standing heatedly with two soldiers in front of Minako's room. The old man was discussing so fiercely with the two taller men that their sounds were hardly heard. The Mercurian princess was quick to halt herself and her companion at the corner, subtly watching Maiestas at the end of the corridor.
"What's wrong? My room is just over there" Makoto whispered discreetly but mystified.
Ami bit her lip and tightened her grip on the Jovian's hand "Follow me like you said, very quietly" she whispered before launching herself along with her companion into the first room in the hallway, she threw the taller girl in before gently closing the door. Without thinking the smaller girl turned and bumped into Makoto who chuckled before holding her firmly by the shoulders.
"Careful" the brunette said kindly. She let go of the nervous girl and began scrutinizing the room; noticing the juncture of dust barely visible by the light of the Earth shining from the window.
"Sorry..." Ami mumbled as she slid past her guest and began to fumble around in the cabinets and drawers, occasionally hitting or tripping on something due to the lack of light. For a moment she was thankful the darkness hid her crimson face until a slowly growing light behind her made her embarrassment clear. She turned to find Makoto holding an oil lamp near the fireplace, the tall girl held it in front of her inviting her host to take it.
"Thank you" Ami whispered a little darkly as she took the lamp and quickly set off to draw the curtains. She was surprised and even jumped a little when the taller girl suddenly appeared next to her. Unsure of what to do Ami smiled shyly "It's alright, you can sit wherever you like" she said awkwardly.
Makoto raised an eyebrow and shrugged "Thank you, I will once I've lit some candles, it's very dark in here" she replied before presenting a long and very thin piece of wood. Without permission she scooped it into the oil lamp until it was flaming. Quickly the tall girl, while protecting the small flame with her other hand, ran off to light the wax candles on each side of the room.
Ami felt a wave of uncontrollable heat and sweat invade her, the humiliation rising in her like a fever. Realizing she was just standing there, face red and hands visibly shaking, the blue haired girl set the lamp by the fireplace before taking a slow and careful seat on the dusty bed, clouds of grey specks still rose from the linens despite her small figure. She watched the other girl finish lighting the candles, she secretly despised so much light giving away the status of the room and her own anxious state.
"Is this your room?" Makoto asked skeptically from the corner where she now stood.
"No, I don't know who's room this is or was" - Ami answered earnestly, the taller girl's mischievous and welcoming smile made her calmer - "I suppose I just wanted to get away from Maiestas" she admitted with a small chuckle.
The brunette held her chin in thought as she made her way over to the smaller girl and took a dust filled seat beside her "Maiestas...he's the man who tended to...Minako-chan?" she asked hopefully.
"Yes, that's him" the blue haired girl answered avoiding Makoto's glance from beside her.
"Is he your father?" the taller girl questioned in doubt, she wasn't quite sure why she said it.
This time Ami laughed wholeheartedly, her outburst making the girl next to her jump "No! Oh my! How could you think that?" she announced still amazed by the idea.
The brunette scooted away and waved her hands innocently "I'm sorry! I didn't know! i just thought...he might be your father, he's also a healer, no?" she said continuing to excuse herself with flailing limbs.
The reaction made Ami also nervous "No, no, don't worry! I understand why you could've made that assumption, he is after all the only male Mercurian here. Please, don't think twice about it!" she said taking Makoto's hands in hers. The two girls quieted down and sat still, the brunette carefully grazed her thumb along the roughness of Ami's scarred hand. She smiled but the smaller girl pulled away.
"I don't believe I have a father anymore. I expect he's dead or perhaps, well, it doesn't matter. He's gone" the blue haired girl explained in the attempt to sway the attention from her flawed hand. Her tone was placid and mild with no hint of pain or anger which, somehow, made the other girl feel detached from her.
"Oh, I'm sorry. My parents are gone too, I mean, I'm sure they're dead. They died trying to save Jupiter, I suppose most Jovians did" Makoto said quietly.
"Is that how you got hurt?" Ami asked as she discreetly pointed towards the wounded area. The memory of seeing it made her blush deeply.
The brunette mechanically touched her side "Oh! Yes, I thought I could help but...I guess I wasn't ready to fight just yet. My parents were right. I'm glad they're not around to see what a mess I've made of myself!" she forced a sad laugh which made the atmosphere tense again.
"Does it still hurt?" the smaller girl finally decided to break the silence.
"Just a little, sometimes" - Makoto answered before moving closer to Ami - "Listen, thank you so much for saving me. I promise I'll find a way to repay you. Although, truthfully, I would've preferred to have seen you when I awoke instead of Maiestas and...your mother..." she added carefully.
Ami seemed taken by surprise, she tried to control herself though a spot of deep red colored each cheek instantly "I...thank you, you don't need to do anything, I was happy to help you. I'm sorry to say you'll be seeing more of Maiestas and my mother in the next few days, they'll have to change your bandages. I'm terribly sorry" she said beginning to shrink, descend into herself.
"Well...couldn't you do it? I'd very much prefer it" the taller girl suggested unabashedly.
The statement, or request, pulled the blue haired girl out of her reverie "Me? Oh, no. I don't think that's a good idea. I shouldn't" she said apprehensively.
Feeling somehow pushed aside and also nervous Makoto stood up "That's alright, I suppose I should go. Hopefully my trunks are in my room, then maybe I can change" she said kindly but looking downhearted.
"Wait! Don't go!" - Ami quickly got up and took hold of the brunette's strong forearm - "I think it would be better if you stayed here, with me, tonight" she said in a daze.
Makoto stood silently and expecting the other girl to begin laughing, when no noise or movement came from her, she finally decided to speak "I really should change and I don't think Serenity or ,for that matter, your mother would approve" she said trying to free herself from the smaller girl's grasp.
"Please stay, if you go..."
"What? What happens if I go?"
"You'll have to wake up and see Maiestas and my mother standing over you. I will change your bandages tomorrow morning but I can only do that if you stay here, with me" Ami said with a firm and decided tone.
"...Ok, I'll stay. Only because you're the only person I trust here, yes?" Makoto agreed harshly but followed it with a boyish grin.
Quick chapter! hope you like it and review! I promise I'll update sooner!