Chapter 5

Minako's New Friend

It had been about two weeks or so since their wedding and Minako had begun to feel the effects of the toxins in her body. It wasn't anything overly painful yet, just a felling of being off she could just tell something wasn't right. During that time Rei had spent a lot of time training with a new friend she found when the Prince of Earth came to visit. It seemed Rei and one of the Princes four generals, Jadeite were both very much obsessed with training, weapons anything to do with getting stronger. Minako knew Rei wouldn't cheat on her but she couldn't help feeling jealous of the time Jadeite got to spend with the raven, time Minako fervently wished she could occupy sometime. At first Minako spent her time with Makoto having gotten strangely close to the Jovian. At least until Makoto got close to another of the generals called Nephrite and although he seemed nice, Minako couldn't spend that much time around him and Makoto together, they both had brown hair and it made her nervous the whole time she was with them. So Minako searched out Ami but soon found she didn't have the intellect to spend a large amount of time with the girl especially since her and Zoicite, another Earthling General, were always together discussing this formula or that scientific method Minako just couldn't keep up. So once again Minako found herself alone in the very large maze/garden softly tending to a group of white roses she decided to take on as her charge.

"Oh my gosh you guys you need more water here now drink up, the sun had been hot lately it makes the ground to dry so you will need this, its only going to get hotter for a while." Minako mumbled to the flowers as she picked up the watering can and gave them a drink.

"You must be taking good care of them, they look beautiful." A strong voice said behind the Venusian effectively making her jump. The stranger noticed and quickly apologized as Minako stood.

"I'm sorry I didn't mean to frighten you I just saw the garden out the palace window and thought I would take a stroll, I love white roses they are my favorite." The man said as he walked closer. Minako smiled and answered.

"Mine to, were I'm from its rare to find a true white one but they are all over here." Minako motioned to the blatantly white roses. The man smiled again and said.

"I didn't know the Queen hired such beautiful gardeners if I had know I may have come out here sooner." Minako blushed and set down the watering can.

"Actually I'm not really a gardener I just enjoy it from time to time." The man took a few more steps closer and said.

"Well if your not a gardener then who are you." He said with a smile. Minako smiled and said.

"Its funny you asking me when you have yet to introduce yourself like a true gentlemen should." The man laughed and nodded his head.

"Ah yes so very true I have completely forgotten my manners in the presence of such radiance, forgive me I am Kunzite of Earth, 1st General of the northern companies and leader of the Shitennou." Minako smiled 'ah so this is the elusive last general she knew existed but had yet to actually see' he was tall and handsome with silver white hair and eyes that looked gray with a hint of teal in them. Minako quirked her brow and asked.

"Shitennou? What is that exactly." The man smiled and answered.

"Well we are much like the Princess's of the moon kingdom we are the companions and protectors of the Prince of Earth. We're like the senshi although we do not have their planetary power." Minako nodded and said.

"You're their leader hu so does that make you stronger then Jadeite, smarter then Zoicite, and more patient then Nephrite." Kunzite laughed.

"I would like to think so but in the end I believe we all have our strengths to compliment each other as a team." Minako nodded.

"A very wise answer."

"And you are? my lady." Minako smiled and curtsied.

"Minako Aino XIII, Crown Princess of Venus." Kunzite smiled.

"Princess Venus forgive me for treating you so informally I had no idea." Minako smiled and said.

"of course you had no idea I'm in the garden on my hands and knees covered in dirt and talking to the flowers." Kunzite smiled and stepped forward offering his arm.

"Well Princess it is very nice to meet you but it seems to be about time for dinner and you do seem to need a shower I offer you my escort back to the palace." Minako took Kunzites arm and began to walk towards the castle with him.

"Thank you General its nice to meet you too. How are you enjoying being on the Moon?" Kunzite frowned for a second and said.

"So far it had been extremely dull and I've been bored, my generals seem to be having a good time but not so much myself. Although things do seem to be better now that I've met you." Minako giggled and said.

"Well thank you sir but I hope your interests are not in romance, for you see I'm married." Minako said as she held up her left hand showing the obsidian black ring around her left ring finger indicating her being wed. Kunzite took her hand and looked at the ring closely.

"Obsidian wedding band, married to a Martian I see. A very powerful one too this obsidian is very valuable." Minako smiled and said.

"Yes" Kunzite smiled back.

"He is very lucky then." Minako smiled a little sadly since she figured Rei wouldn't really think so.

"Actually I'm married to the Martian Princess and I think I'm the lucky one." Kunzite noticed Minako's smile had lessened and said.

"You care for her very much don't you." Minako nodded as they continued to walk the halls of the palace.

"I love her very much." Minako said.

"I hope she realizes the gem she was gifted with." Minako blushed a little.

The blonde was just getting over her blush when Kunzite called out.

"Jadeite! How was training? Are you learning a lot of new tactics here on the moon." Minako lifted her head to see Rei and Jadeite walking down the hall also heading towards Minako's and Rei's room. Jadeite smiled and said.

"yes sir, I've learned a lot and not just about weapons but also how to counter fight magic as well. I think it will help a lot with those strange monsters that have been popping up at home." Kunzite laughed a little when he noticed the tips of Jadeites clothes and hair were singed.

Rei frowned when she looked down the hall and saw Minako blushing at something the handsome man escorting her was saying. Then the man called out to her companion and they all met outside the door to her room. Rei didn't much follow the men's conversation as she looked at Minako who was hanging on to the white haired mans arm and listening to his every word. Then Minako turned and looked at Rei asking.

"Rei did you set Jadeite on fire? I think you may have ruined his tunic." Minako said with a little giggle. Rei just shrugged and crossed her arms. Minako sighed and turned towards Kunzite.

"Kunzite this is Rei Hino, Crown Princess of Mars and my wife." Kunzite smiled at Rei and lifted his hand for a hand shake. Rei eyed him for a moment and considered ignoring the hand completely but figured diplomacy was best since it was obvious this Kunzite was Jadeites leader meaning he was an important ambassador from Earth. Rei grabbed the mans hand roughly and shook. Kunzite smiled and turned to Minako.

"Thank you for the walk Princess but I think its time you had that shower. Come Jadeite lets find Endymion before dinner, he's probably off with the Moon Princess again somewhere." Kunzite said as him and the blond General walked away.

Rei opened the door with a little bit more gusto then she had intended and immediately began undressing quickly jumping in the shower. Minako wondered about Rei's attitude as she stepped into the room and quietly shut the door. Taking her clothes off at a much slower pace so as to give Rei more time in the shower. Minako was standing there with a towel wrapped around her body when the water stopped and Rei slid the shower curtain open. Minako immediately turned to the side keeping her eyes on the ground. Seeing Rei naked was not helping to control her desire and Minako was greatly craving intimacy, she figured it was a side affect of the toxins she knew were building in her body. Minako quickly got into the shower and turned the water on cold. The blond was about half way through her shower when Rei said.

"I don't like him Minako."

"what? Who?" Minako asked. Rei growled as she put some clothes on.

"That Kunzite…I don't like him. Stay away from him." Minako frowned as she turned off the water and opened the curtain of the shower.

"Stay away from him? Rei we are just friends what's your problem? You don't even know him." Rei frowned as her voice rose a little in volume.

"Just friends my ass you were looking at the man like you were his little love sick puppy." Minako frowned as she got dressed and said.

"We had just met Rei and I was trying to be polite, besides why shouldn't I be friends with him he actually likes me and notices me, I've only known him for one day and I already like him." Rei glared and said with sarcasm.

"I bet you do, I don't want you seeing him Minako." Rei commanded. Minako glared and said.

"Rei that's not fair, you have friends a lot of friends you spend all of your time with Jadeite, me what do I have? nothing I don't even have you. I'm so lonely Rei, I'm always alone. So I made a friend and I don't care what you say I'm not letting you keep me away from him." Minako yelled as she slammed out the door. Rei sat on the end of the bed and brooded. 'Minako yelled, Minako has never yelled at me before, why do I even care who she see's, I don't care she can sleep with who ever she wants. I knew this was going to end up happening why am I even trying to fight it?' Rei thought as she slowly put on her boots and made her way to the dinning room. Rei's temper flared when she noticed Minako sitting by Kunzite at the generals table the group was laughing at something Nephrite had just said. When she entered Jadeite stood and waved to her. Rei smiled and walked towards her blond friend sitting next to him. Minako frowned and looked at her food. Rei looked mad and Minako knew it was her fault. But she could no longer handle having no one to talk to. She loved Rei but the raven haired princess seemed to want to ignore her one second then dictate her life the next and Minako wouldn't have that. They were either a couple and together or they weren't Rei couldn't have both.