Disclaimer: Take note, people: 1) I'm borderline poor, 2) I'm as creative as a textbook, and 3) I'm not old enough to be taken seriously. *I* don't even take myself seriously. The possibility of me owning the rights of Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon is slim to none, and slim went right out the window. However, this story is all mine.
Author's Notes: I think I'm losing my touch… the creative juices are not coming as smoothly to me as they used to -- hence the lateness. I'm so paranoid right now…
I dedicate this chapter to my editor because he tolerates my indolence and moodiness.
Also, special thanks to the following people who have honored me by adding me to their favorite authors list: Mintora, girl of darkness, Abigail, and Shizuka Kaze.
' denotes thought
AN: =author's notes
denotes mental messages (Senshi communicate privately this way to each other, and Shittenou do the same. Blood relations can also communicate mentally.)
Extra note: Remember that there are different forms of address: lord, king, princess, general, captain, lady… How one would address another demonstrates either formality (by last name/planet) or familiarity (first name or nickname).
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The Winning Losers
Chapter 14: Ready, Set, Oh No
"This is the Imperial Infirmary? It's okay, I guess. Roomy. Maybe too roomy. I don't like too much open space. I feel like there should be something to fill the vacant areas. In fact, I'm tempted to stand over there just for the sake of filling it. Though I must say, I make a fine addition to the décor. This interior design is scandalous. It's so plain that it's actually shocking. Don't you think that white walls and white lighting would scare a patient half to death? It's one thing to think about dying and going to Heaven. It's another to think that you've already arrived. That's the impression I got when I first stepped foot in here. Chilling, absolutely chilling. The walls really need something to brighten up this dreary place. A painting here and there wouldn't hurt, you know. Or is art against your religion? You don't seem like the type to be interested in subjects relating to human expression, so I guess art would be lost on you.
"Of course, your desk is neat and tidy. Not a speckle of dust! Files arranged by alphabet, category, date, and -- dare I say it -- color! My God, I actually found something in here that has color on it. Papers tucked into their folders, feather pen in the ink well, daily planner in the corner. Daily planner? Why would you, of all people, need a daily planner? It's not as if you have a social life. Oh, it's for medical appointments. Well, if you're so popular with the patients, why don't I see anybody here? Did you treat everyone and then 'accidentally' prescribe overdoses of medicine? I'm only kidding; no need to ruffle your feathers.
"Goodness, it's awfully cold in here. What does the thermostat indicate? Holy monkey! You've got to be joking! What are you, a penguin? At this temperature, an ice cube would get goose bumps. Truly, I need to run tests on you. You are clearly a mammal, but your habits and needs are particularly cold-blooded.
"What? You want me to sit there? On that? But it's made of metal! Do you know how cold that will feel? I cannot think of a more uncomfortable sensation. My trousers can hardly protect my sensitive skin against such arctic conditions. Hand me a cushion or something. I refuse to freeze my buttocks to that counter.
"You look pale, Lady Mizuno. I can hardly see you against these pasty walls. From far away, it looks like you're a floating blue wig above an empty dress."
With insult upon insult and question upon question, it was no wonder that Ami was white with rage. Not a moment of silence had passed from the time she and Lord Zoisite Aufait had left their respective friends to the time they had arrived at her private medical practice. Her gentle patience was much abused. Zoisite was naturally a garrulous creature, but he was making a famous effort this day. Determined to drag Ami into his own misery, Zoisite flapped his terrible tongue and lilted his cockiest voice to the utmost of his considerable ability. He said anything that would belittle her, irritate her, anger her, and/or affront her. If he was going to be stuck with her, he figured that he might as well do something productive. In other words, he'd be the bane of her day. Even if that meant denying his own opinions just to oppose hers, he did it gamely. The years of practice on General Kunzite, his senior officer, really paid off.
'If I can get a reaction out of Kunzite the Stony, this so called 'Ice Queen' will go insane by the end of the day.'
Ami saw through his ploy right when he first opened his mouth. 'Why would a man, who would rather take a vow of silence than have a genuine conversation with me, suddenly become so loquacious? Careful, Mizuno, he's fishing for a rude response so he can accuse you of being ungracious. Ha! Child's play.'
No matter how much blood would drain from her face, she stubbornly refused to react to his insolence. 'I am *the* ice queen. I have had a million more acerbic words fired at me in the Senate house. If I can stand up to those iniquitous old men, then this stupid boy can never move me.' Early in her life, she had learned that it was infinitely more offensive to act calmly than to actually fight back.
And it was working. Zoisite was getting impatient. His plan was backfiring.
"Hey now, careful with that thermometer! *Gag* You're choking me! Watch it! That's my eye, not my mouth! Do you want me to go blind? What are you trying to do?"
"It's called taking your temperature, my lord. If you will cease your wiggling, I can put this into your mouth, and we can depart much sooner."
"Are you saying that you do not like my company?" Zoisite smiled. 'I almost got her!'
"Actually, it is getting close to supper," replied sensible Ami. "I'm sure you have not eaten yet."
'Damn it!' he cursed. "Oh, yes, quite right. You're as thin as that cotton swab in that jar," he said, pointing at the jar of cotton swabs in the clear container with the metal lid. "You surely could use a couple more meals. I can hardly tell you apart from that model skeleton hanging in the corner." He pulled the skeletal display closer and opened and closed the fleshless jaw, as if to make it talk. "Food for thought wouldn't hurt, ya know," he voiced, though his lips barely moved. Among his many talents, ventriloquism was one of them. "Though why would I care?" he continued. "I'm already dead!"
Ami was horrified. She prayed that the person who so kindly left their skeletal remains for scientific purposes was not watching this. 'How can someone like Lord Aufait, a certified genius with an I.Q. of 520, so patently exhibit the maturity of an underdeveloped ape?'
"I am usually so busy, I have to skip a meal every now and then. Thank you for your concern, Lord Aufait." She had the gall to curtsey. Zoisite wanted to scream at her.
'Yell at me, swear at me, slap me, anything! For God's sake, blink if you must! This will not work. I'll make her display some raw human emotion if it's the last thing I do!' Thoughtfully, he leaned his elbow on the metal counter.
"Lord Aufait?"
"Yes, yes, hold on, Princess."
"Umm… My lord?"
"Sheesh! Can't a man think without interruption?"
"Well…"
"What is it now?"
"You're resting your elbow in my week-old mucus sample."
'Shit…'
"All of these fine horses have been specially bred," stated Makoto proudly. After all, she was their breeder. "Pick one, Lord Jusdivinum. I assure you that they are just as good as my Sweetie Pie."
Nephrite inspected each stall very carefully. Coats of chestnut, ebony, and mahogany shined in the dim light and saddles studded with gemstones winked at him. First place ribbons streamed down every wall, and he had no idea how to make his decision. Five thousand gold pieces were at stake, but more importantly, he was betting his own reputation as the best horsemen that Earth had to offer.
Rumors of the prowess of his regal, emerald-eyed opponent circulated in his brooding mind. She was said to have beaten a hundred other veteran riders in the Race of the Century when she was only fifteen. It was also rumored that her palace on Jupiter included an entire wing filled to the ceiling with first place trophies. The walls were supposedly hidden behind countless championship sashes, wreaths, and ribbons. 'Of course,' he thought disgustedly. 'Only she would dedicate an entire hall to herself. Shameless.'
While he chose his steed, she changed into her riding habit. Her olive green riding coat melded with her healthy, curvaceous body, and her shining black boots fit snugly to her toned, shapely legs. Her chocolate curls under her night-colored velvet helmet framed her pleasant, heart-shaped face, yet there was a cultured strength in her features. Her haughtiness radiated from her in blasting waves, and she smiled a smile that screamed she had already won.
'She's incredibly attractive. It's a shame she's psycho.'
"I was thinking, Lord Jusdivinum," spoke Makoto, "that a half-mile seems awfully… amateurish. I mean, if you feel that such a short distance is safer for you, I'll understand, but--"
"Name the distance," Nephrite snapped irritably. "I can ride any distance that you can, and probably further."
"Oh my, don't get so crotchety. I wasn't implying anything, nor was I doubting your skill," she said, laying the sarcasm as heavy as her horse. "I just thought that extending the course would provide a greater amount of entertainment. The property of the Imperial palace consists of a couple million acres of beautiful terrain. So why not take the scenic route? We could start at these stables, travel through the woods, cross the creek, go over the hills, traverse the prairie, and finish in the grove of willow trees. That's approximately thirty-eight miles, which would be like a walk in the park. Mina-chan and King Acoupser can wait at the finish line and watch our progress on the crystal globe so that no cheating will go unseen." She eyed him portentously.
"I don't know how you play, Princess," sneered Nephrite, "but cheating is certainly not an option. However, it is most wise to have them watching the race as carefully as possible. And since we're elongating the route, let us also raise the stakes. Fifteen thousand in gold sound good?"
"Twenty thousand sounds even better."
"Deal. I was thinking of building a new ranch on Earth anyway."
Nephrite's gaze finally fell on a smoky gray stallion with a white diamond on its forehead. It stood sedately, its eyes as calm as a placid murky lake, yet it had an aura of quiet strength. It had an inexplicable appeal that instantly won Nephrite's favor.
"I'll take that one," he pointed out confidently.
"Excellent choice," commented Makoto. "Her name is Somber Haze. She's one of Princess Pluto's favorites."
Once the saddle was in place, Nephrite put his foot into the stirrup and easily swung himself onto his horse. Makoto watched him from the corner of her sharp eyes as she effortlessly mounted her faithful animal. Nephrite made a striking picture on a horse with his long russet cape and auburn hair billowing in the light wind and his broad sword sheathed at his narrow waist. Being the tallest of his companions, Nephrite became even more imposing atop the imperial steed. If she was not who she was, Makoto would have been a little intimidated, if not distracted.
"Somber Haze," he repeated, patting the horse's neck. "Rather morbid, but it has a lucky ring to it."
His comment slighted Makoto. "Luck has nothing to do with this, Earthling. Horseracing is a skill, not a lottery."
Standing amused to the side were Minako and Kunzite. The Venusian princess swiped a delicate handkerchief across her smooth, creamy brow as she watched her friend glare poisonously at General Nephrite. "He's done it now," moaned Minako. "Mako-chan's the most competitive person I know, and she lives to destroy her rivals. If he keeps treating this like a game (which it clearly is, but don't tell Mako-chan I said that), she will painfully demonstrate that this is no game to her. Prepare his funeral, Lord Acoupser, and say farewell before she runs him into the dirt."
"What makes you so sure that she will win?" questioned the platinum-haired Kunzite. "You Senshi are awfully full of yourselves."
"We cannot be 'full of ourselves' when it is the pure and simple truth."
"Nonsense. Nephrite is the best horseman on Earth. He has tamed a stampede of wild Arabian stallions blindfolded and has raced across a continent in a flat week. How can your friend possibly compare to him?"
"There is no comparison," Minako declared boldly. "She is way out of his league."
"If you mean that she's way below his league, then I completely agree with you."
Menacingly, Minako backed him into a shadowy corner with a fine, manicured finger shaking angrily in his face. "You, King Acoupser, are a disgrace to the gentlemen of Earth. How dare you speak so blasphemously of Princess Makoto! Did your governess never teach you how a guest should behave? Or did your mother fail to rear you with morals?"
Nonchalantly, Kunzite pushed her hand away from his face and said rather impassively, "I should be saying the same to you, Princess. This is how you normally treat your guests? Stick a finger in their face and insult their mothers? Really, I haven't encountered anything like this since I left the nursery."
"Judging by your attitude, that probably wasn't too long ago."
"That's big talk from an insignificant insect."
"Excuse me?"
"Are you hard of hearing, or are you just incredibly slow?"
"I am rubber and you are glue--"
"You can't be serious."
She laughed wryly. "Took you a while to figure that out. This odd little thing between us right now is just a game, like when we were kids. It's who can make who lose control first. Eight years ago, I was really bent on exposing your humility because you so maliciously uncovered mine. Today, it's different. Sure, we'll start out with games, but I warn you, I get tired of games very quickly. Soon, I will not be aiming for ordinary embarrassment. I'll be seeking your annihilation."
Moving with deliberate slowness, Minako leaned closer to him and batted her long, voluminous lashes over her gorgeous periwinkle eyes. "All I need to do now is decide how I should do it." She clasped her hands behind her back and looked up at him with huge, lucent eyes. Kunzite, an inveterate stoic, stood as still and straight as a metal rod while she inched closer to him. "You are a formidable opponent. I have to choose my methods carefully." She stood so close that he could smell her vanilla and cinnamon perfume. When she finally stopped advancing, her body made contact with his, causing him to involuntarily look down at her petite form. His first urge was to shove her as far away as he could, but he was determined not to betray any sign of discomfort. Her doll-like face was directed to the ground, but her seductive eyes remained locked with his phlegmatic gaze. The tip of her golden slippers dug thoughtfully into the dirt. "I guess," she sighed, tickling his neck with her breath, "I just have to use what Venus gave me."
Promptly, she spun around on her heel, successfully whipping Kunzite hard in the face with her luxurious blonde mane, and swaggered away with a triumphant smirk plastered across her face. Changing from coquette to killjoy was as easy as changing outfits for Minako, and she could put the best actors of the stage to shame. The goddess Venus could not have done better herself. Exploiting her famous charms was playing unfair, but as long as it gave her the upper hand, the rules of fairness did not apply. 'This is absolutely delicious,' she thought delightfully. 'I'm gonna have so much fun.'
Kunzite stared coldly after her. His indifferent expression and his authoritative posture remained the same. He did not look or move in any way that expressed perturbation or perplexity.
In fact, he did not move from his spot for a very long time.
The reunion of Princess Serenity and Prince Endymion was so touching and intimate that Rei could not bear to sit in visible or audible distance of them. Their tight, sentimental embrace was not meant to fit a third wheel, as Rei sharply saw herself, and their covert whispers were meant for their ears only. After a few moments of agonizing self-consciousness, she finally announced that her presence was quite unnecessary. "I fear that I am becoming an intrusion, and you know how I hate to ruin a good thing. There is no need to flatter me with your kind objections," she declared, interrupting their genuine protests, "for I do not feel comfortable watching the two of you make saucer-shaped eyes at each other all day. My young eyes do not deserve such violation. No, no, I'd be much happier wallowing in bitter solitude. Trust me."
Her jest succeeded in eliciting more objections, but she would hear none of it. Departing with a handsome curtsey, Rei disappeared into the lush foliage.
Yet she was not entirely gone. Endymion, knowing well that Rei could run like the very devil, yanked frantically on their cerebral line. Rei! You can't leave me at such a critical moment! You know Usako better than anyone. It would be easier if you were here to prod the conversation!
Listen, Cousin, echoed Rei's cogent voice, and listen well. If you are to woo my friend, then you must woo her alone. You think you're the only one who's nervous? It's all over Usa-chan's face. She needs you to make the first move. A third party is not only unromantic, but also inconvenient… not to mention awkward for me when you're proclaiming your 'undying love' and all that twaddle. So stop being a wimp and start being a man! Being psychically superior to her cousin, Rei cut off their connection and made herself inaccessible.
'All he needs is to be himself. Besides, the Lunar Gardens are meant for lovers. Staying there would put me in a false position.'
**Flashback**
"Hello, Usako. Long time, no see."
"Endy? Am I hallucinating? It's been so long… too long! Oh, Endy! I'm so happy to see you!"
"As am I, m'lady, as am I."
"Ah yes, young love. Enjoy it while it lasts, kids. The only thing after marriage is death."
(Serenity and Endymion together) "Shut up, Rei."
"It's a fact of life. Learn to live with it."
"Don't mind Rei-chan. She's starved for attention."
"Usa-chan's starving all the time. She'll eat a three-course meal and half the dinner table as an appetizer."
"You can see that Rei-chan is as charming as ever. Now, you two, explain yourselves."
"It's simple, really. Rei and I, minding our own business, were taking a leisurely stroll through these gardens when lo and behold, we hear that we're not alone. Imagine my surprise when I see the fairest maiden in all the land, a flower in a field of thorns, an angel fallen from Heaven--"
"Cut the poetry, Cousin."
"Is there no room for elegant speech in this modern world? Well, anyhow, I was thoroughly appalled to see such an odious villain in the presence of my Usako. I saw it as my personal duty to rescue the damsel in distress, and if it weren't for Rei and her freakishly mannish grip, I would have hung the beast by his ears."
"I thought you said you'd hang him by his--"
"Rei!! Don't interrupt my story!"
"That's okay. I think I get the general picture. Our talented little Martian sorceress was behind the elaborate disguises and the perverse scare-tactic. Honestly, Rei-chan, you need a new hobby."
"She drilled me for a whole five minutes on my character, Rutherfurd. (You know, Rei, you'd make a fortune in theatre.) From then on, it was nothing but improvisation! I'm not ashamed to say that I found it ridiculously entertaining. My performance deserves an award."
"Bravo, Endy! You definitely deserve some kind of reward. How can I ever repay you for your heroic and noble deeds?"
"Ahem… well…"
**End of Flashback**
The sea of saffron and lime grass sighed lazily as Zypher blew his cool breath over the picturesque prairie. The warm light of the sleepy sun reflected on the snow-white doves, giving them a soft pink glow. Floating freely in the stream of wind, they camouflaged themselves in the feathers of fluffy clouds, and the clouds walked through the rainbow of the late afternoon sky. All was peace and harmony in the prairie.
Until the thunderous drum of hooves shattered the stillness.
Like two smoking bullets, Makoto and Nephrite shot through the once-serene pampas, leaving a path of crooked shrubbery and frightened rodents. Nephrite's cape thrashed wildly, like a flag in the midst of a storm, and his lengthy hair threatened to fly out of its cincture. The breakneck speed at which he traveled made the beads of sweat stream into his ears instead of down his face, and the wind slapped his face so forcefully that his eyes stung and watered. But his discomfort was not worth his attention. He focused on one thing and one thing only: the finish line.
Directly beside him and not an inch ahead or behind was the equally determined Makoto. Her coffee curls bobbed crazily under her riding cap yet in rhythm with the beat of the hooves, and a flattering blush stained her high cheeks. Her powerful, long legs barely kept her posterior from touching her saddle, and her adroit hands firmly clutched the jingling reigns. She angled her body so sharply that her back was almost parallel to the trampled ground, and she was peripherally aware of an annoying ache in her thigh. Still, the physical pain would be nothing compared to the pain of defeat, and the latter would hurt much, much longer.
Working the hardest were, of course, the horses themselves. Their flanks glistened with sweat, and their muscles rippled against the force of their phenomenal speed. But they were not normal horses, so the spectacle that they made while they ran was even more impressive than their momentum. Somber Haze became an ominous, ghostly figure whose hooves made no noise against the earth. Her semi-transparent body dissolved into a glittering, silver and black mist that trailed for several meters, and her ash-gray mane and tail seemed to fade into the wind. The antithesis of Somber Haze was Sweetie Pie, for wherever he went, he made sure that his presence was known. All the rumble and thunder came from his pounding gallop alone. Beneath him, the world trembled, and around him, the air fluttered in visible waves. When Sweetie Pie ran, the ebony velvet of his coat became a black mirror of volcanic glass, and his silken tail and mane transformed into sweeping bolts of electric green lightning that spontaneously branched in a million directions. The sparks violently exploded and hissed, and static electricity was left in his wake. For thirty-six miles, Somber Haze and Sweetie Pie sprinted tirelessly, creating a thick swirl of debris that made the landscape temporarily disappear. Only two miles separated them from the end of the race.
Finally, after miles and miles of scenery and sweat, they burst into the grove of willow trees. It was the last stage of their race. Until this point, neither Nephrite nor Makoto had gained a decisive lead. They were so close that Minako and Kunzite, who watched them attentively via crystal globe, found no point in arguing over it. Then a miracle happened: Makoto began to slow down, allowing Nephrite to completely pull his horse ahead of hers.
"Aha!" cried Kunzite as he watched the drama unfold. He pointed victoriously at the enchanted satellite and smiled smugly at Minako. "You see, Princess Aino? In the end, Lady Jupiter fell victim to her own conceit. Granted, she made a valiant effort, but she is no match for Nephrite. Don't look so confused, Princess. It was guaranteed to happen."
Minako cupped her chin thoughtfully in her hand. "You are mistaken, my lord. It is not confusion that my face betrays. It is doubt. No, no, Mako-chan is not getting tired… she's purposely slowing down."
"Impossible! Why on Earth would she do that? You're lying."
"I wish I was, King Acoupser. Now I really am confused."
In the corner of his eye, Nephrite saw Makoto disappear from his view. 'What's going on? Is she really admitting defeat, of is this some kind of ploy?' It was too good to be true, but the finish line was only a stretch away, and she was already too far behind to catch up. Euphoria never embraced him as it did now. 'I must take advantage of this moment! What better opportunity to revel in her disgrace?' He turned his head to grin sadistically at her. "What's the matter?" he hollered over his shoulder. "All talk and nothing to show for it, that's what!" Hysterical with laughter, he closed his eyes in sheer merriment and turned his face toward the finish line.
And when he opened his eyes again, all he saw was white.
"Wha… ? Where am I?" he asked groggily. The sound of his voice seemed muddled and distant to him. He tried to focus his vision, but all he could make out were bright white lights and clean white walls. "Great… I've spontaneously died and gone to Heaven…"
"Aha!" exclaimed an unmistakably familiar and haughty voice. "I told you, Lady Mizuno. This place looks more like an eternal resting place rather than an infirmary."
"Infirmary…?" A light was shined in his eye, and the scrutinizing face of Princess Mercury swam into clarity. Sluggishly, he propped himself up against marshmallow-like pillows to observe the room and its occupants in dazed silence. Perfectly made hospital beds with spotless linen sheets lined the polished limestone walls, and between each bed were retractable curtains and a miniature whitewashed nightstand. To his left was Dr. Ami Mizuno, who scrupulously studied him and scribbled down notes. To his right were two of his comrades -- a concerned yet slightly embarrassed Kunzite and an equally concerned yet obviously condescending Zoisite. Lady Venus stood at the foot of his bed, flipping aimlessly through one of Ami's medical journals.
The puzzle began to come together once his forehead started to throb. He lifted a weary hand to touch the skillfully wrapped bandage around his sore head. "What… happened?"
Ami took the floor. "You have a minor concussion, Lord Jusdivinum," she explained as she slowly and theatrically removed her reading glasses from her delicate nose. "Based on our witness' account, your forehead made seriously hard contact with a low willow branch, thus rupturing a generous layer of your epidermis. Fortunately, it will not scar, but you'll have a nasty bruise and a collection of scabs for a couple of days. I've already applied a special Mercurian cream that will exfoliate and replenish your skin." She handed Zoisite a small bottle of the stuff. "It will expedite the healing process. Remind Lord Jusdivinum to apply this medication every night right before he goes to bed. After a week's use, the injury will have entirely healed." Zoisite slipped the bottle into his pocket to throw away later. 'I can concoct something that will get the job done in two days,' he thought disdainfully.
Dr. Mizuno pointed to a glass of bubbly aquamarine liquid on top of the adjacent nightstand. "Drink that. It will alleviate the head pains." Obediently, Nephrite imbibed the minty substance.
"Feeling better?" asked Kunzite.
Nephrite rolled his eyes at him. He touched the bandage again and mumbled, "That damn woman sabotaged the race."
Ami looked up from her notes. "What was that?"
"I said 'that darn willow sabotaged my face.'"
The young doctor blinked. "Oh."
The door of the medical center opened, and the click-clack of boots hurried to the gathering of royalty. Nephrite could feel his head begin to throb again.
"Mako-chan!" hailed Minako and Ami.
"Hey you two," Makoto responded. "It took so long to calm Somber Haze down." She rushed to Nephrite's side and eyed the dressing above his eyes. "Oh gosh, are you alright? Does it hurt much?"
He glared at her. "I'm alive, thank you."
"At the speed we were going, I'm surprised that branch didn't rip your head from your neck. You have to be careful in the grove of willow trees. The branches near the end are extremely low. One must slow down in that area."
"Thanks for the warning," he grumbled.
Worry lines marred the smoothness of her brow. "My lord, is there anything I can do to help?"
"NO! I mean, no." His bold eyebrows knitted together, and he regarded her suspiciously. "Why are you so concerned about me, Princess Kino?"
Makoto burst into laughter. "HA! I'm only concerned about my twenty thousand in gold! The sooner you recover, the sooner I get my money!"
Rei continued down a sinuous stone path that provided an escape from the Lunar Gardens. It eventually led her into a thick forest of tall, deciduous trees that grew proudly in their verdant prime and boasted of their summer splendor. Pleasing shade carpeted almost every inch of every surface, and the light that broke through the canopy of supple leaves created a pattern of bright, twinkling stars on the cool, dark floor. As she traveled deeper into the forest, the density of trees and vegetation increased. Another person would have felt claustrophobic. The robust tree trunks seemed to be guarding a secret treasure, but Rei casually threaded herself through them and reached a clearing in the middle of the wood. Situated there was Hikawa Jinja, a rustic outdoor temple.
Unlike the opulent temple within the Imperial Palace, Hikawa Jinja looked incredibly unadorned. Not a glittering gem or a fleck of gold was in sight, and no doors of polished stone greeted her. The entire structure was comprised of smooth, unpainted wooden planks, and the sliding doors were nothing more than timber and rice paper. The windows, outlined with the same sand-colored lumber, were just rectangular holes with pure white linen curtains. Hikawa Jinja was simplicity manifested, and compared to the palace temple, it looked awfully plain, but Rei loved it just as much. Maybe even more.
The late Martian empress, Lady Azalynn, was a free, nature-loving spirit, and she often found it hard to meditate within the confines of the palace. So for Azalynn's eighteenth birthday, Rei's grandfather had Hikawa Jinja built for her in a tranquil, isolated outdoor setting. During her service as Senshi leader, Azalynn spent the most time in Hikawa Jinja and maintained it lovingly. Now it belonged to Rei, and she continued her mother's work.
But something marred the unpretentious beauty of the temple -- something that normally was not and certainly did not belong there. Something blonde.
"King Amerveille," greeted Rei solemnly. She did not bother to curtsey. "What an un… expected surprise."
Jadeite turned around to face her with that infuriating smirk of his. "You were about to say 'unpleasant surprise.' Nice to see you too, Princess Hino," he added, bowing ironically. The fact that he was absurdly handsome maddened Rei even more.
"No 'princess.' Hino will do nicely."
"Hino the Martian it is then. I guess you'll just have to address me by my last name as well. I do hate formal address."
"I concur. The title 'king' does seem ill-fitting for you."
He made a face of mock hurt. "Ouch, Hino. Only a couple of lines exchanged and you're already aiming to kill."
Her exquisite amethyst eyes flashed as the left corner of her sensual lips twisted upwards in a disdainful smile. "I try."
As strange as it was to admit, he was rather glad that Princess Rei had run into him. She was hardly delightful company, but at least she was interesting. Unlike all the beautiful women he had encountered in his wild life, Rei Hino never once showed any attraction to him. In fact, she had only expressed insurmountable hatred for him. Moreover, she was cunning. Unwelcome memories from his childhood began to surface, and he remembered the admirable skill she possessed in terrorizing him. He was intrigued - outraged and annoyed, but intrigued. 'She's still a raging bitch, that much I can tell, though she hides it much more now. However, she's grown up into the most gorgeous woman I've ever seen.' He sighed. 'One of life's frustrating idiosyncrasies.'
He obliged his mind to move from the enchanting hellcat to the structure in front of him. "What is this pile of match sticks? You don't think that beggars are living on the premises, do you? It's absolutely hideous. Whoever used and left this deplorable shanty was either a hobo or a whore."
Suddenly, his legs lost all their strength, and he crumpled roughly to the dirt. Next, his numb right leg viciously dragged him across the rock-strewn ground for at least three hundred feet. Finally, he was flung up to the sky, but two feet before his head could smash into ground, an unidentified force held onto his left leg. Dazedly, he dangled upside down and watched the world spin around him. A ring of airborne fire circled around him, the ferocious flames licking hungrily at his bare skin. The heat was unbearable; he was literally roasting like a festive pig. He stopped spinning once the upside image of Rei was directly in his plane of sight. 'Never mind,' his mind determined. 'She doesn't hide her true self at all.'
Her eyes were half-lidded, making her look drowsy, but they glinted more dangerously than he had ever seen before. The beautiful amethyst sparkle was replaced with an endless abyss of black. The expression on her face was the same as it was when she had tied him to the Great Willow Tree eight years ago. "I do not care about what you say about me," she whispered darkly, "but do not disparage this building or its former owner."
"Okay! Just put me down!"
The feeling returned to his legs when he was abruptly turned upright and dropped carelessly to the ground.
Jadeite could not understand the importance of the seemingly worthless shack. She probably would not tell him now. However, the horrifying ordeal he had just endured did not dampen his spirit or strike fear in his heart. He was much too lackadaisical for that. Limping painfully, he instead commented on her powers. "Your sorcery is far more advanced than I could have possibly imagined. I know that you were powerful as a child, but now your command of magic seems effortless. Commendable."
Rei, amazed, realized that he was actually quite amused. "However," he continued, "your level of restraint has not grown at all. I, a royal guest, have just arrived on the Moon, and you, a hostess, have already begun to make my stay disagreeable. If you were still a child, it would be more understandable. But here you are, a grown woman who should know better. Be thankful that I have not dashed off and reported you to your queen."
He was entirely right, and a little voice in the back of Rei's head acknowledged it. The dim hardness of her eyes disappeared after a couple of blinks, returning to their normal violet vibrancy. Breathing hard, Rei swung around, whipping her long raven tresses around her, and shut her eyes tightly. She held her fist to the cruel, familiar warmth that began to spread inside her chest. Her heavy gasps were the only sounds that echoed in the forest. Registering that the situation appeared serious, Jadeite approached her back, but Rei put up the back of a rigid hand to stop him from advancing toward her. 'Not now,' she mutely implored. 'It has escaped dormancy. I must be careful… I haven't lost my temper like that since before Mother… *He* has this effect on me.'
(AN: Remember two chapters back when Endymion realized a change in Rei? This part of the story has something to do with that. The full explanation will be revealed in the next chapter.)
A minute passed before she felt like her old self again. Jadeite was relieved. 'Not that I was really worried about her or anything,' he thought quickly. 'Though…if she died on me, the guys would likely think I was responsible. Kunzite would kill me.'
Realizing how pitiful and unsavory Jadeite still looked, Rei lifted her arm so that her palm faced upwards. A swirl of silver and blue materialized in her hand to create a shining sphere of light. When it grew to the size of a cantaloupe, it rapidly flew over to Jadeite and burst over his head. A shower of miniature blue and silver stars fell upon him, magically patching up the rips in his clothing, healing all his bruises, burns, and cuts, and cleaning the dirt that swathed his entire body. By the time the last sparkle disappeared, he looked and felt better than he did before he was flung around like a rag doll. She lifted her head at a slightly elevated angle and looked down at him with what could only be described as bored superiority.
But then her features softened, and the pride was replaced with tired resignation. Softly, she turned on her heel so that she faced Hikawa Jinja. Her sensitive fingers caressed the bare wooden handrail before she dropped them wistfully to her side. "This was my mother's temple," Rei whispered. "She died when I was thirteen."
Jadeite was shaken by this naked truth, and he was ashamed of his careless words. "I'm sorry, I didn't--"
"Don't apologize. Just remember what you said, and remember never to repeat those words."
He nodded, understanding how callous he must have sounded, but he still hated being humbled. Her words stung horribly, but now was clearly not the time for a smart-ass comeback. Secretly, Jadeite studied her profile. 'Clear and delicate, yet sharp. A profile of glass.' The startling contrast in behavior both baffled and fascinated him. The young, undomesticated feline from hell was back with a vengeance, but that day, she inadvertently revealed a totally different side of herself.
'This other part of Princess Hino seems more authentic, more human. She seems so sad, so mysterious. She's still as cynical and arrogant as ever, but simultaneously, she's a little self-deprecating.'
A lone star appeared in the orange sky before the silence was broken. "What are you doing here alone anyway?" asked Rei.
"Technically, now that you're here, I'm not alone." To Rei's lack of surprise, the years had failed to discipline his smart-mouth. Yet both were glad that the uncomfortable silence had passed. They could resume their verbal jousting. "You could kindly do me a favor, Hino, and make that statement true by disappearing. I did get here first, you know. Or are you intentionally following me? I'm inclined to think that your anger is a mask for your infatuation with me, and the more violent you act, the deeper I think you're in love. Proud women are known to do such things to conceal their true feelings. But remember: stalkers don't make friends. They get restraining order slapped on their foreheads. Oh, there's no need to deny it, Hino. I saw the way you were looking at me during the reintroductions."
Still, she would not be baited into losing her temper again. "You did not answer my question, Amerveille. Why are you here?"
Jadeite looked up to the heavens. Then, as if he were a patient yet exasperated parent who was explaining a very simple concept to a slow child, he replied. "I'm here on vacation."
A gap of ten paces separated her itching hands to his tempting neck, but she decided that he was not worth the brief walk. Her next words matched the weariness of his. "Yes, Mr. Insightful, I know that. Now for the last time, what are you doing here in this secluded area when you should be with my friends and the other Shittenou? I thought sheep were supposed to follow their flock."
"You're Senshi friends were much too dull, so I decided to go exploring. "
"All the way here?" she asked incredulously. "You're probably lost and unwilling to admit it. And my friends are not dull. Obviously, their intellectual repartee is far too high-brow for you. I don't blame a simpleton like yourself for getting bored."
Raising an eyebrow, Jadeite turned to face the temple. "If you call them intellectual, then bow down and hail me as the greatest mind in the universe."
"Stop it. You're ego is suffocating me."
"You wouldn't be suffocating if you'd stop your constant yapping and take a breath between sentences."
"Long-winded I may be, but that is only because I like to say what is on my mind."
"My God, it can think."
Mustering as much dignity as she could, Rei pointed her pert nose to the sky and glared fiercely at him. "Unfortunately, you cannot. You apparently do not have enough brains to distinguish an 'it' from a 'she.'"
She expected him to deliver a swift counterattack with his sharp semantic sword, but he surprised her by not speaking at all. Tilting his handsome blonde head a little to the side, Jadeite deliberately ran his stormy sapphire eyes slowly up and down her figure. Almost immediately, Rei's extrasensory nerves detected a distinct change in the atmospheric vibrations, yet despite how hard she focused her psychic energy, she could not precisely identify the new emotional waves. She shivered unconsciously. After what seemed like an inappropriate chunk of time, his breathtaking gaze traveled back up to her piercing one. "Do not doubt my sense of judgment, Hino," he murmured gently. "I can always tell the difference between an 'it' and a 'she.'" His expression became rather matter-of-fact. "And this case is not an exception."
Just before Jadeite could get her reaction, every muscle in Rei's body locked into place and the clearing was washed in a flare of red. Unbeknownst to him, Rei was having an involuntary vision - a message from the gods, the Martians called it. Random images of faceless people and nameless places flashed briefly before her wide, unseeing eyes, and faint, incomprehensible voices echoed erratically in her head. The uncontrollable flood of images and the cacophonous song of conversations became too rapid and too intense for her mind to imbibe all at once. Then the flow of the manic vision turned into rushing river of blissful darkness, and the last thing Rei knew was a pair of strong, masculine arms carrying her further and further into oblivion.
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Author's comments: I know where this story will go. I have no idea exactly how it's gonna get there. Writer's block sucks. Especially during an uncomfortably hot summer. And I have a Mount Everest of summer homework…
I can't believe you all are still reading this story. In about two months, it will be a year since I posted the first chapter. That's amazing… I usually lose interest in things pretty quickly, and I don't even have attention deficit disorder.
Thanks to all my delightful reviewers. I also appreciate some of the negative comments… they keep me on my toes. Keep sending the reviews. Public pressure forces me to work!
Author's Notes: I think I'm losing my touch… the creative juices are not coming as smoothly to me as they used to -- hence the lateness. I'm so paranoid right now…
I dedicate this chapter to my editor because he tolerates my indolence and moodiness.
Also, special thanks to the following people who have honored me by adding me to their favorite authors list: Mintora, girl of darkness, Abigail, and Shizuka Kaze.
' denotes thought
AN: =author's notes
denotes mental messages (Senshi communicate privately this way to each other, and Shittenou do the same. Blood relations can also communicate mentally.)
Extra note: Remember that there are different forms of address: lord, king, princess, general, captain, lady… How one would address another demonstrates either formality (by last name/planet) or familiarity (first name or nickname).
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The Winning Losers
Chapter 14: Ready, Set, Oh No
"This is the Imperial Infirmary? It's okay, I guess. Roomy. Maybe too roomy. I don't like too much open space. I feel like there should be something to fill the vacant areas. In fact, I'm tempted to stand over there just for the sake of filling it. Though I must say, I make a fine addition to the décor. This interior design is scandalous. It's so plain that it's actually shocking. Don't you think that white walls and white lighting would scare a patient half to death? It's one thing to think about dying and going to Heaven. It's another to think that you've already arrived. That's the impression I got when I first stepped foot in here. Chilling, absolutely chilling. The walls really need something to brighten up this dreary place. A painting here and there wouldn't hurt, you know. Or is art against your religion? You don't seem like the type to be interested in subjects relating to human expression, so I guess art would be lost on you.
"Of course, your desk is neat and tidy. Not a speckle of dust! Files arranged by alphabet, category, date, and -- dare I say it -- color! My God, I actually found something in here that has color on it. Papers tucked into their folders, feather pen in the ink well, daily planner in the corner. Daily planner? Why would you, of all people, need a daily planner? It's not as if you have a social life. Oh, it's for medical appointments. Well, if you're so popular with the patients, why don't I see anybody here? Did you treat everyone and then 'accidentally' prescribe overdoses of medicine? I'm only kidding; no need to ruffle your feathers.
"Goodness, it's awfully cold in here. What does the thermostat indicate? Holy monkey! You've got to be joking! What are you, a penguin? At this temperature, an ice cube would get goose bumps. Truly, I need to run tests on you. You are clearly a mammal, but your habits and needs are particularly cold-blooded.
"What? You want me to sit there? On that? But it's made of metal! Do you know how cold that will feel? I cannot think of a more uncomfortable sensation. My trousers can hardly protect my sensitive skin against such arctic conditions. Hand me a cushion or something. I refuse to freeze my buttocks to that counter.
"You look pale, Lady Mizuno. I can hardly see you against these pasty walls. From far away, it looks like you're a floating blue wig above an empty dress."
With insult upon insult and question upon question, it was no wonder that Ami was white with rage. Not a moment of silence had passed from the time she and Lord Zoisite Aufait had left their respective friends to the time they had arrived at her private medical practice. Her gentle patience was much abused. Zoisite was naturally a garrulous creature, but he was making a famous effort this day. Determined to drag Ami into his own misery, Zoisite flapped his terrible tongue and lilted his cockiest voice to the utmost of his considerable ability. He said anything that would belittle her, irritate her, anger her, and/or affront her. If he was going to be stuck with her, he figured that he might as well do something productive. In other words, he'd be the bane of her day. Even if that meant denying his own opinions just to oppose hers, he did it gamely. The years of practice on General Kunzite, his senior officer, really paid off.
'If I can get a reaction out of Kunzite the Stony, this so called 'Ice Queen' will go insane by the end of the day.'
Ami saw through his ploy right when he first opened his mouth. 'Why would a man, who would rather take a vow of silence than have a genuine conversation with me, suddenly become so loquacious? Careful, Mizuno, he's fishing for a rude response so he can accuse you of being ungracious. Ha! Child's play.'
No matter how much blood would drain from her face, she stubbornly refused to react to his insolence. 'I am *the* ice queen. I have had a million more acerbic words fired at me in the Senate house. If I can stand up to those iniquitous old men, then this stupid boy can never move me.' Early in her life, she had learned that it was infinitely more offensive to act calmly than to actually fight back.
And it was working. Zoisite was getting impatient. His plan was backfiring.
"Hey now, careful with that thermometer! *Gag* You're choking me! Watch it! That's my eye, not my mouth! Do you want me to go blind? What are you trying to do?"
"It's called taking your temperature, my lord. If you will cease your wiggling, I can put this into your mouth, and we can depart much sooner."
"Are you saying that you do not like my company?" Zoisite smiled. 'I almost got her!'
"Actually, it is getting close to supper," replied sensible Ami. "I'm sure you have not eaten yet."
'Damn it!' he cursed. "Oh, yes, quite right. You're as thin as that cotton swab in that jar," he said, pointing at the jar of cotton swabs in the clear container with the metal lid. "You surely could use a couple more meals. I can hardly tell you apart from that model skeleton hanging in the corner." He pulled the skeletal display closer and opened and closed the fleshless jaw, as if to make it talk. "Food for thought wouldn't hurt, ya know," he voiced, though his lips barely moved. Among his many talents, ventriloquism was one of them. "Though why would I care?" he continued. "I'm already dead!"
Ami was horrified. She prayed that the person who so kindly left their skeletal remains for scientific purposes was not watching this. 'How can someone like Lord Aufait, a certified genius with an I.Q. of 520, so patently exhibit the maturity of an underdeveloped ape?'
"I am usually so busy, I have to skip a meal every now and then. Thank you for your concern, Lord Aufait." She had the gall to curtsey. Zoisite wanted to scream at her.
'Yell at me, swear at me, slap me, anything! For God's sake, blink if you must! This will not work. I'll make her display some raw human emotion if it's the last thing I do!' Thoughtfully, he leaned his elbow on the metal counter.
"Lord Aufait?"
"Yes, yes, hold on, Princess."
"Umm… My lord?"
"Sheesh! Can't a man think without interruption?"
"Well…"
"What is it now?"
"You're resting your elbow in my week-old mucus sample."
'Shit…'
"All of these fine horses have been specially bred," stated Makoto proudly. After all, she was their breeder. "Pick one, Lord Jusdivinum. I assure you that they are just as good as my Sweetie Pie."
Nephrite inspected each stall very carefully. Coats of chestnut, ebony, and mahogany shined in the dim light and saddles studded with gemstones winked at him. First place ribbons streamed down every wall, and he had no idea how to make his decision. Five thousand gold pieces were at stake, but more importantly, he was betting his own reputation as the best horsemen that Earth had to offer.
Rumors of the prowess of his regal, emerald-eyed opponent circulated in his brooding mind. She was said to have beaten a hundred other veteran riders in the Race of the Century when she was only fifteen. It was also rumored that her palace on Jupiter included an entire wing filled to the ceiling with first place trophies. The walls were supposedly hidden behind countless championship sashes, wreaths, and ribbons. 'Of course,' he thought disgustedly. 'Only she would dedicate an entire hall to herself. Shameless.'
While he chose his steed, she changed into her riding habit. Her olive green riding coat melded with her healthy, curvaceous body, and her shining black boots fit snugly to her toned, shapely legs. Her chocolate curls under her night-colored velvet helmet framed her pleasant, heart-shaped face, yet there was a cultured strength in her features. Her haughtiness radiated from her in blasting waves, and she smiled a smile that screamed she had already won.
'She's incredibly attractive. It's a shame she's psycho.'
"I was thinking, Lord Jusdivinum," spoke Makoto, "that a half-mile seems awfully… amateurish. I mean, if you feel that such a short distance is safer for you, I'll understand, but--"
"Name the distance," Nephrite snapped irritably. "I can ride any distance that you can, and probably further."
"Oh my, don't get so crotchety. I wasn't implying anything, nor was I doubting your skill," she said, laying the sarcasm as heavy as her horse. "I just thought that extending the course would provide a greater amount of entertainment. The property of the Imperial palace consists of a couple million acres of beautiful terrain. So why not take the scenic route? We could start at these stables, travel through the woods, cross the creek, go over the hills, traverse the prairie, and finish in the grove of willow trees. That's approximately thirty-eight miles, which would be like a walk in the park. Mina-chan and King Acoupser can wait at the finish line and watch our progress on the crystal globe so that no cheating will go unseen." She eyed him portentously.
"I don't know how you play, Princess," sneered Nephrite, "but cheating is certainly not an option. However, it is most wise to have them watching the race as carefully as possible. And since we're elongating the route, let us also raise the stakes. Fifteen thousand in gold sound good?"
"Twenty thousand sounds even better."
"Deal. I was thinking of building a new ranch on Earth anyway."
Nephrite's gaze finally fell on a smoky gray stallion with a white diamond on its forehead. It stood sedately, its eyes as calm as a placid murky lake, yet it had an aura of quiet strength. It had an inexplicable appeal that instantly won Nephrite's favor.
"I'll take that one," he pointed out confidently.
"Excellent choice," commented Makoto. "Her name is Somber Haze. She's one of Princess Pluto's favorites."
Once the saddle was in place, Nephrite put his foot into the stirrup and easily swung himself onto his horse. Makoto watched him from the corner of her sharp eyes as she effortlessly mounted her faithful animal. Nephrite made a striking picture on a horse with his long russet cape and auburn hair billowing in the light wind and his broad sword sheathed at his narrow waist. Being the tallest of his companions, Nephrite became even more imposing atop the imperial steed. If she was not who she was, Makoto would have been a little intimidated, if not distracted.
"Somber Haze," he repeated, patting the horse's neck. "Rather morbid, but it has a lucky ring to it."
His comment slighted Makoto. "Luck has nothing to do with this, Earthling. Horseracing is a skill, not a lottery."
Standing amused to the side were Minako and Kunzite. The Venusian princess swiped a delicate handkerchief across her smooth, creamy brow as she watched her friend glare poisonously at General Nephrite. "He's done it now," moaned Minako. "Mako-chan's the most competitive person I know, and she lives to destroy her rivals. If he keeps treating this like a game (which it clearly is, but don't tell Mako-chan I said that), she will painfully demonstrate that this is no game to her. Prepare his funeral, Lord Acoupser, and say farewell before she runs him into the dirt."
"What makes you so sure that she will win?" questioned the platinum-haired Kunzite. "You Senshi are awfully full of yourselves."
"We cannot be 'full of ourselves' when it is the pure and simple truth."
"Nonsense. Nephrite is the best horseman on Earth. He has tamed a stampede of wild Arabian stallions blindfolded and has raced across a continent in a flat week. How can your friend possibly compare to him?"
"There is no comparison," Minako declared boldly. "She is way out of his league."
"If you mean that she's way below his league, then I completely agree with you."
Menacingly, Minako backed him into a shadowy corner with a fine, manicured finger shaking angrily in his face. "You, King Acoupser, are a disgrace to the gentlemen of Earth. How dare you speak so blasphemously of Princess Makoto! Did your governess never teach you how a guest should behave? Or did your mother fail to rear you with morals?"
Nonchalantly, Kunzite pushed her hand away from his face and said rather impassively, "I should be saying the same to you, Princess. This is how you normally treat your guests? Stick a finger in their face and insult their mothers? Really, I haven't encountered anything like this since I left the nursery."
"Judging by your attitude, that probably wasn't too long ago."
"That's big talk from an insignificant insect."
"Excuse me?"
"Are you hard of hearing, or are you just incredibly slow?"
"I am rubber and you are glue--"
"You can't be serious."
She laughed wryly. "Took you a while to figure that out. This odd little thing between us right now is just a game, like when we were kids. It's who can make who lose control first. Eight years ago, I was really bent on exposing your humility because you so maliciously uncovered mine. Today, it's different. Sure, we'll start out with games, but I warn you, I get tired of games very quickly. Soon, I will not be aiming for ordinary embarrassment. I'll be seeking your annihilation."
Moving with deliberate slowness, Minako leaned closer to him and batted her long, voluminous lashes over her gorgeous periwinkle eyes. "All I need to do now is decide how I should do it." She clasped her hands behind her back and looked up at him with huge, lucent eyes. Kunzite, an inveterate stoic, stood as still and straight as a metal rod while she inched closer to him. "You are a formidable opponent. I have to choose my methods carefully." She stood so close that he could smell her vanilla and cinnamon perfume. When she finally stopped advancing, her body made contact with his, causing him to involuntarily look down at her petite form. His first urge was to shove her as far away as he could, but he was determined not to betray any sign of discomfort. Her doll-like face was directed to the ground, but her seductive eyes remained locked with his phlegmatic gaze. The tip of her golden slippers dug thoughtfully into the dirt. "I guess," she sighed, tickling his neck with her breath, "I just have to use what Venus gave me."
Promptly, she spun around on her heel, successfully whipping Kunzite hard in the face with her luxurious blonde mane, and swaggered away with a triumphant smirk plastered across her face. Changing from coquette to killjoy was as easy as changing outfits for Minako, and she could put the best actors of the stage to shame. The goddess Venus could not have done better herself. Exploiting her famous charms was playing unfair, but as long as it gave her the upper hand, the rules of fairness did not apply. 'This is absolutely delicious,' she thought delightfully. 'I'm gonna have so much fun.'
Kunzite stared coldly after her. His indifferent expression and his authoritative posture remained the same. He did not look or move in any way that expressed perturbation or perplexity.
In fact, he did not move from his spot for a very long time.
The reunion of Princess Serenity and Prince Endymion was so touching and intimate that Rei could not bear to sit in visible or audible distance of them. Their tight, sentimental embrace was not meant to fit a third wheel, as Rei sharply saw herself, and their covert whispers were meant for their ears only. After a few moments of agonizing self-consciousness, she finally announced that her presence was quite unnecessary. "I fear that I am becoming an intrusion, and you know how I hate to ruin a good thing. There is no need to flatter me with your kind objections," she declared, interrupting their genuine protests, "for I do not feel comfortable watching the two of you make saucer-shaped eyes at each other all day. My young eyes do not deserve such violation. No, no, I'd be much happier wallowing in bitter solitude. Trust me."
Her jest succeeded in eliciting more objections, but she would hear none of it. Departing with a handsome curtsey, Rei disappeared into the lush foliage.
Yet she was not entirely gone. Endymion, knowing well that Rei could run like the very devil, yanked frantically on their cerebral line. Rei! You can't leave me at such a critical moment! You know Usako better than anyone. It would be easier if you were here to prod the conversation!
Listen, Cousin, echoed Rei's cogent voice, and listen well. If you are to woo my friend, then you must woo her alone. You think you're the only one who's nervous? It's all over Usa-chan's face. She needs you to make the first move. A third party is not only unromantic, but also inconvenient… not to mention awkward for me when you're proclaiming your 'undying love' and all that twaddle. So stop being a wimp and start being a man! Being psychically superior to her cousin, Rei cut off their connection and made herself inaccessible.
'All he needs is to be himself. Besides, the Lunar Gardens are meant for lovers. Staying there would put me in a false position.'
**Flashback**
"Hello, Usako. Long time, no see."
"Endy? Am I hallucinating? It's been so long… too long! Oh, Endy! I'm so happy to see you!"
"As am I, m'lady, as am I."
"Ah yes, young love. Enjoy it while it lasts, kids. The only thing after marriage is death."
(Serenity and Endymion together) "Shut up, Rei."
"It's a fact of life. Learn to live with it."
"Don't mind Rei-chan. She's starved for attention."
"Usa-chan's starving all the time. She'll eat a three-course meal and half the dinner table as an appetizer."
"You can see that Rei-chan is as charming as ever. Now, you two, explain yourselves."
"It's simple, really. Rei and I, minding our own business, were taking a leisurely stroll through these gardens when lo and behold, we hear that we're not alone. Imagine my surprise when I see the fairest maiden in all the land, a flower in a field of thorns, an angel fallen from Heaven--"
"Cut the poetry, Cousin."
"Is there no room for elegant speech in this modern world? Well, anyhow, I was thoroughly appalled to see such an odious villain in the presence of my Usako. I saw it as my personal duty to rescue the damsel in distress, and if it weren't for Rei and her freakishly mannish grip, I would have hung the beast by his ears."
"I thought you said you'd hang him by his--"
"Rei!! Don't interrupt my story!"
"That's okay. I think I get the general picture. Our talented little Martian sorceress was behind the elaborate disguises and the perverse scare-tactic. Honestly, Rei-chan, you need a new hobby."
"She drilled me for a whole five minutes on my character, Rutherfurd. (You know, Rei, you'd make a fortune in theatre.) From then on, it was nothing but improvisation! I'm not ashamed to say that I found it ridiculously entertaining. My performance deserves an award."
"Bravo, Endy! You definitely deserve some kind of reward. How can I ever repay you for your heroic and noble deeds?"
"Ahem… well…"
**End of Flashback**
The sea of saffron and lime grass sighed lazily as Zypher blew his cool breath over the picturesque prairie. The warm light of the sleepy sun reflected on the snow-white doves, giving them a soft pink glow. Floating freely in the stream of wind, they camouflaged themselves in the feathers of fluffy clouds, and the clouds walked through the rainbow of the late afternoon sky. All was peace and harmony in the prairie.
Until the thunderous drum of hooves shattered the stillness.
Like two smoking bullets, Makoto and Nephrite shot through the once-serene pampas, leaving a path of crooked shrubbery and frightened rodents. Nephrite's cape thrashed wildly, like a flag in the midst of a storm, and his lengthy hair threatened to fly out of its cincture. The breakneck speed at which he traveled made the beads of sweat stream into his ears instead of down his face, and the wind slapped his face so forcefully that his eyes stung and watered. But his discomfort was not worth his attention. He focused on one thing and one thing only: the finish line.
Directly beside him and not an inch ahead or behind was the equally determined Makoto. Her coffee curls bobbed crazily under her riding cap yet in rhythm with the beat of the hooves, and a flattering blush stained her high cheeks. Her powerful, long legs barely kept her posterior from touching her saddle, and her adroit hands firmly clutched the jingling reigns. She angled her body so sharply that her back was almost parallel to the trampled ground, and she was peripherally aware of an annoying ache in her thigh. Still, the physical pain would be nothing compared to the pain of defeat, and the latter would hurt much, much longer.
Working the hardest were, of course, the horses themselves. Their flanks glistened with sweat, and their muscles rippled against the force of their phenomenal speed. But they were not normal horses, so the spectacle that they made while they ran was even more impressive than their momentum. Somber Haze became an ominous, ghostly figure whose hooves made no noise against the earth. Her semi-transparent body dissolved into a glittering, silver and black mist that trailed for several meters, and her ash-gray mane and tail seemed to fade into the wind. The antithesis of Somber Haze was Sweetie Pie, for wherever he went, he made sure that his presence was known. All the rumble and thunder came from his pounding gallop alone. Beneath him, the world trembled, and around him, the air fluttered in visible waves. When Sweetie Pie ran, the ebony velvet of his coat became a black mirror of volcanic glass, and his silken tail and mane transformed into sweeping bolts of electric green lightning that spontaneously branched in a million directions. The sparks violently exploded and hissed, and static electricity was left in his wake. For thirty-six miles, Somber Haze and Sweetie Pie sprinted tirelessly, creating a thick swirl of debris that made the landscape temporarily disappear. Only two miles separated them from the end of the race.
Finally, after miles and miles of scenery and sweat, they burst into the grove of willow trees. It was the last stage of their race. Until this point, neither Nephrite nor Makoto had gained a decisive lead. They were so close that Minako and Kunzite, who watched them attentively via crystal globe, found no point in arguing over it. Then a miracle happened: Makoto began to slow down, allowing Nephrite to completely pull his horse ahead of hers.
"Aha!" cried Kunzite as he watched the drama unfold. He pointed victoriously at the enchanted satellite and smiled smugly at Minako. "You see, Princess Aino? In the end, Lady Jupiter fell victim to her own conceit. Granted, she made a valiant effort, but she is no match for Nephrite. Don't look so confused, Princess. It was guaranteed to happen."
Minako cupped her chin thoughtfully in her hand. "You are mistaken, my lord. It is not confusion that my face betrays. It is doubt. No, no, Mako-chan is not getting tired… she's purposely slowing down."
"Impossible! Why on Earth would she do that? You're lying."
"I wish I was, King Acoupser. Now I really am confused."
In the corner of his eye, Nephrite saw Makoto disappear from his view. 'What's going on? Is she really admitting defeat, of is this some kind of ploy?' It was too good to be true, but the finish line was only a stretch away, and she was already too far behind to catch up. Euphoria never embraced him as it did now. 'I must take advantage of this moment! What better opportunity to revel in her disgrace?' He turned his head to grin sadistically at her. "What's the matter?" he hollered over his shoulder. "All talk and nothing to show for it, that's what!" Hysterical with laughter, he closed his eyes in sheer merriment and turned his face toward the finish line.
And when he opened his eyes again, all he saw was white.
"Wha… ? Where am I?" he asked groggily. The sound of his voice seemed muddled and distant to him. He tried to focus his vision, but all he could make out were bright white lights and clean white walls. "Great… I've spontaneously died and gone to Heaven…"
"Aha!" exclaimed an unmistakably familiar and haughty voice. "I told you, Lady Mizuno. This place looks more like an eternal resting place rather than an infirmary."
"Infirmary…?" A light was shined in his eye, and the scrutinizing face of Princess Mercury swam into clarity. Sluggishly, he propped himself up against marshmallow-like pillows to observe the room and its occupants in dazed silence. Perfectly made hospital beds with spotless linen sheets lined the polished limestone walls, and between each bed were retractable curtains and a miniature whitewashed nightstand. To his left was Dr. Ami Mizuno, who scrupulously studied him and scribbled down notes. To his right were two of his comrades -- a concerned yet slightly embarrassed Kunzite and an equally concerned yet obviously condescending Zoisite. Lady Venus stood at the foot of his bed, flipping aimlessly through one of Ami's medical journals.
The puzzle began to come together once his forehead started to throb. He lifted a weary hand to touch the skillfully wrapped bandage around his sore head. "What… happened?"
Ami took the floor. "You have a minor concussion, Lord Jusdivinum," she explained as she slowly and theatrically removed her reading glasses from her delicate nose. "Based on our witness' account, your forehead made seriously hard contact with a low willow branch, thus rupturing a generous layer of your epidermis. Fortunately, it will not scar, but you'll have a nasty bruise and a collection of scabs for a couple of days. I've already applied a special Mercurian cream that will exfoliate and replenish your skin." She handed Zoisite a small bottle of the stuff. "It will expedite the healing process. Remind Lord Jusdivinum to apply this medication every night right before he goes to bed. After a week's use, the injury will have entirely healed." Zoisite slipped the bottle into his pocket to throw away later. 'I can concoct something that will get the job done in two days,' he thought disdainfully.
Dr. Mizuno pointed to a glass of bubbly aquamarine liquid on top of the adjacent nightstand. "Drink that. It will alleviate the head pains." Obediently, Nephrite imbibed the minty substance.
"Feeling better?" asked Kunzite.
Nephrite rolled his eyes at him. He touched the bandage again and mumbled, "That damn woman sabotaged the race."
Ami looked up from her notes. "What was that?"
"I said 'that darn willow sabotaged my face.'"
The young doctor blinked. "Oh."
The door of the medical center opened, and the click-clack of boots hurried to the gathering of royalty. Nephrite could feel his head begin to throb again.
"Mako-chan!" hailed Minako and Ami.
"Hey you two," Makoto responded. "It took so long to calm Somber Haze down." She rushed to Nephrite's side and eyed the dressing above his eyes. "Oh gosh, are you alright? Does it hurt much?"
He glared at her. "I'm alive, thank you."
"At the speed we were going, I'm surprised that branch didn't rip your head from your neck. You have to be careful in the grove of willow trees. The branches near the end are extremely low. One must slow down in that area."
"Thanks for the warning," he grumbled.
Worry lines marred the smoothness of her brow. "My lord, is there anything I can do to help?"
"NO! I mean, no." His bold eyebrows knitted together, and he regarded her suspiciously. "Why are you so concerned about me, Princess Kino?"
Makoto burst into laughter. "HA! I'm only concerned about my twenty thousand in gold! The sooner you recover, the sooner I get my money!"
Rei continued down a sinuous stone path that provided an escape from the Lunar Gardens. It eventually led her into a thick forest of tall, deciduous trees that grew proudly in their verdant prime and boasted of their summer splendor. Pleasing shade carpeted almost every inch of every surface, and the light that broke through the canopy of supple leaves created a pattern of bright, twinkling stars on the cool, dark floor. As she traveled deeper into the forest, the density of trees and vegetation increased. Another person would have felt claustrophobic. The robust tree trunks seemed to be guarding a secret treasure, but Rei casually threaded herself through them and reached a clearing in the middle of the wood. Situated there was Hikawa Jinja, a rustic outdoor temple.
Unlike the opulent temple within the Imperial Palace, Hikawa Jinja looked incredibly unadorned. Not a glittering gem or a fleck of gold was in sight, and no doors of polished stone greeted her. The entire structure was comprised of smooth, unpainted wooden planks, and the sliding doors were nothing more than timber and rice paper. The windows, outlined with the same sand-colored lumber, were just rectangular holes with pure white linen curtains. Hikawa Jinja was simplicity manifested, and compared to the palace temple, it looked awfully plain, but Rei loved it just as much. Maybe even more.
The late Martian empress, Lady Azalynn, was a free, nature-loving spirit, and she often found it hard to meditate within the confines of the palace. So for Azalynn's eighteenth birthday, Rei's grandfather had Hikawa Jinja built for her in a tranquil, isolated outdoor setting. During her service as Senshi leader, Azalynn spent the most time in Hikawa Jinja and maintained it lovingly. Now it belonged to Rei, and she continued her mother's work.
But something marred the unpretentious beauty of the temple -- something that normally was not and certainly did not belong there. Something blonde.
"King Amerveille," greeted Rei solemnly. She did not bother to curtsey. "What an un… expected surprise."
Jadeite turned around to face her with that infuriating smirk of his. "You were about to say 'unpleasant surprise.' Nice to see you too, Princess Hino," he added, bowing ironically. The fact that he was absurdly handsome maddened Rei even more.
"No 'princess.' Hino will do nicely."
"Hino the Martian it is then. I guess you'll just have to address me by my last name as well. I do hate formal address."
"I concur. The title 'king' does seem ill-fitting for you."
He made a face of mock hurt. "Ouch, Hino. Only a couple of lines exchanged and you're already aiming to kill."
Her exquisite amethyst eyes flashed as the left corner of her sensual lips twisted upwards in a disdainful smile. "I try."
As strange as it was to admit, he was rather glad that Princess Rei had run into him. She was hardly delightful company, but at least she was interesting. Unlike all the beautiful women he had encountered in his wild life, Rei Hino never once showed any attraction to him. In fact, she had only expressed insurmountable hatred for him. Moreover, she was cunning. Unwelcome memories from his childhood began to surface, and he remembered the admirable skill she possessed in terrorizing him. He was intrigued - outraged and annoyed, but intrigued. 'She's still a raging bitch, that much I can tell, though she hides it much more now. However, she's grown up into the most gorgeous woman I've ever seen.' He sighed. 'One of life's frustrating idiosyncrasies.'
He obliged his mind to move from the enchanting hellcat to the structure in front of him. "What is this pile of match sticks? You don't think that beggars are living on the premises, do you? It's absolutely hideous. Whoever used and left this deplorable shanty was either a hobo or a whore."
Suddenly, his legs lost all their strength, and he crumpled roughly to the dirt. Next, his numb right leg viciously dragged him across the rock-strewn ground for at least three hundred feet. Finally, he was flung up to the sky, but two feet before his head could smash into ground, an unidentified force held onto his left leg. Dazedly, he dangled upside down and watched the world spin around him. A ring of airborne fire circled around him, the ferocious flames licking hungrily at his bare skin. The heat was unbearable; he was literally roasting like a festive pig. He stopped spinning once the upside image of Rei was directly in his plane of sight. 'Never mind,' his mind determined. 'She doesn't hide her true self at all.'
Her eyes were half-lidded, making her look drowsy, but they glinted more dangerously than he had ever seen before. The beautiful amethyst sparkle was replaced with an endless abyss of black. The expression on her face was the same as it was when she had tied him to the Great Willow Tree eight years ago. "I do not care about what you say about me," she whispered darkly, "but do not disparage this building or its former owner."
"Okay! Just put me down!"
The feeling returned to his legs when he was abruptly turned upright and dropped carelessly to the ground.
Jadeite could not understand the importance of the seemingly worthless shack. She probably would not tell him now. However, the horrifying ordeal he had just endured did not dampen his spirit or strike fear in his heart. He was much too lackadaisical for that. Limping painfully, he instead commented on her powers. "Your sorcery is far more advanced than I could have possibly imagined. I know that you were powerful as a child, but now your command of magic seems effortless. Commendable."
Rei, amazed, realized that he was actually quite amused. "However," he continued, "your level of restraint has not grown at all. I, a royal guest, have just arrived on the Moon, and you, a hostess, have already begun to make my stay disagreeable. If you were still a child, it would be more understandable. But here you are, a grown woman who should know better. Be thankful that I have not dashed off and reported you to your queen."
He was entirely right, and a little voice in the back of Rei's head acknowledged it. The dim hardness of her eyes disappeared after a couple of blinks, returning to their normal violet vibrancy. Breathing hard, Rei swung around, whipping her long raven tresses around her, and shut her eyes tightly. She held her fist to the cruel, familiar warmth that began to spread inside her chest. Her heavy gasps were the only sounds that echoed in the forest. Registering that the situation appeared serious, Jadeite approached her back, but Rei put up the back of a rigid hand to stop him from advancing toward her. 'Not now,' she mutely implored. 'It has escaped dormancy. I must be careful… I haven't lost my temper like that since before Mother… *He* has this effect on me.'
(AN: Remember two chapters back when Endymion realized a change in Rei? This part of the story has something to do with that. The full explanation will be revealed in the next chapter.)
A minute passed before she felt like her old self again. Jadeite was relieved. 'Not that I was really worried about her or anything,' he thought quickly. 'Though…if she died on me, the guys would likely think I was responsible. Kunzite would kill me.'
Realizing how pitiful and unsavory Jadeite still looked, Rei lifted her arm so that her palm faced upwards. A swirl of silver and blue materialized in her hand to create a shining sphere of light. When it grew to the size of a cantaloupe, it rapidly flew over to Jadeite and burst over his head. A shower of miniature blue and silver stars fell upon him, magically patching up the rips in his clothing, healing all his bruises, burns, and cuts, and cleaning the dirt that swathed his entire body. By the time the last sparkle disappeared, he looked and felt better than he did before he was flung around like a rag doll. She lifted her head at a slightly elevated angle and looked down at him with what could only be described as bored superiority.
But then her features softened, and the pride was replaced with tired resignation. Softly, she turned on her heel so that she faced Hikawa Jinja. Her sensitive fingers caressed the bare wooden handrail before she dropped them wistfully to her side. "This was my mother's temple," Rei whispered. "She died when I was thirteen."
Jadeite was shaken by this naked truth, and he was ashamed of his careless words. "I'm sorry, I didn't--"
"Don't apologize. Just remember what you said, and remember never to repeat those words."
He nodded, understanding how callous he must have sounded, but he still hated being humbled. Her words stung horribly, but now was clearly not the time for a smart-ass comeback. Secretly, Jadeite studied her profile. 'Clear and delicate, yet sharp. A profile of glass.' The startling contrast in behavior both baffled and fascinated him. The young, undomesticated feline from hell was back with a vengeance, but that day, she inadvertently revealed a totally different side of herself.
'This other part of Princess Hino seems more authentic, more human. She seems so sad, so mysterious. She's still as cynical and arrogant as ever, but simultaneously, she's a little self-deprecating.'
A lone star appeared in the orange sky before the silence was broken. "What are you doing here alone anyway?" asked Rei.
"Technically, now that you're here, I'm not alone." To Rei's lack of surprise, the years had failed to discipline his smart-mouth. Yet both were glad that the uncomfortable silence had passed. They could resume their verbal jousting. "You could kindly do me a favor, Hino, and make that statement true by disappearing. I did get here first, you know. Or are you intentionally following me? I'm inclined to think that your anger is a mask for your infatuation with me, and the more violent you act, the deeper I think you're in love. Proud women are known to do such things to conceal their true feelings. But remember: stalkers don't make friends. They get restraining order slapped on their foreheads. Oh, there's no need to deny it, Hino. I saw the way you were looking at me during the reintroductions."
Still, she would not be baited into losing her temper again. "You did not answer my question, Amerveille. Why are you here?"
Jadeite looked up to the heavens. Then, as if he were a patient yet exasperated parent who was explaining a very simple concept to a slow child, he replied. "I'm here on vacation."
A gap of ten paces separated her itching hands to his tempting neck, but she decided that he was not worth the brief walk. Her next words matched the weariness of his. "Yes, Mr. Insightful, I know that. Now for the last time, what are you doing here in this secluded area when you should be with my friends and the other Shittenou? I thought sheep were supposed to follow their flock."
"You're Senshi friends were much too dull, so I decided to go exploring. "
"All the way here?" she asked incredulously. "You're probably lost and unwilling to admit it. And my friends are not dull. Obviously, their intellectual repartee is far too high-brow for you. I don't blame a simpleton like yourself for getting bored."
Raising an eyebrow, Jadeite turned to face the temple. "If you call them intellectual, then bow down and hail me as the greatest mind in the universe."
"Stop it. You're ego is suffocating me."
"You wouldn't be suffocating if you'd stop your constant yapping and take a breath between sentences."
"Long-winded I may be, but that is only because I like to say what is on my mind."
"My God, it can think."
Mustering as much dignity as she could, Rei pointed her pert nose to the sky and glared fiercely at him. "Unfortunately, you cannot. You apparently do not have enough brains to distinguish an 'it' from a 'she.'"
She expected him to deliver a swift counterattack with his sharp semantic sword, but he surprised her by not speaking at all. Tilting his handsome blonde head a little to the side, Jadeite deliberately ran his stormy sapphire eyes slowly up and down her figure. Almost immediately, Rei's extrasensory nerves detected a distinct change in the atmospheric vibrations, yet despite how hard she focused her psychic energy, she could not precisely identify the new emotional waves. She shivered unconsciously. After what seemed like an inappropriate chunk of time, his breathtaking gaze traveled back up to her piercing one. "Do not doubt my sense of judgment, Hino," he murmured gently. "I can always tell the difference between an 'it' and a 'she.'" His expression became rather matter-of-fact. "And this case is not an exception."
Just before Jadeite could get her reaction, every muscle in Rei's body locked into place and the clearing was washed in a flare of red. Unbeknownst to him, Rei was having an involuntary vision - a message from the gods, the Martians called it. Random images of faceless people and nameless places flashed briefly before her wide, unseeing eyes, and faint, incomprehensible voices echoed erratically in her head. The uncontrollable flood of images and the cacophonous song of conversations became too rapid and too intense for her mind to imbibe all at once. Then the flow of the manic vision turned into rushing river of blissful darkness, and the last thing Rei knew was a pair of strong, masculine arms carrying her further and further into oblivion.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Author's comments: I know where this story will go. I have no idea exactly how it's gonna get there. Writer's block sucks. Especially during an uncomfortably hot summer. And I have a Mount Everest of summer homework…
I can't believe you all are still reading this story. In about two months, it will be a year since I posted the first chapter. That's amazing… I usually lose interest in things pretty quickly, and I don't even have attention deficit disorder.
Thanks to all my delightful reviewers. I also appreciate some of the negative comments… they keep me on my toes. Keep sending the reviews. Public pressure forces me to work!