Chapter Eleven
Two weeks passed, and Serenity's pleas for Venus to go retrieve her response had finally begun to get to her. The palace had come to life with the preparations for the annual festival and ball in two weeks. The other senshi were to return back to the palace shortly, having been gone for a week to spend some time at their respective homes, and then Venus would be busy going over security with them and the palace guards, and then would need to finally find something to wear for herself. She'd been using all of this as an excuse, hoping to buy time so she could send one of the others instead, but the sad looks and recent refusal to train until she went down there, had finally broken her and tonight she was going to venture down.
After her morning training with the princess, Selene sent word to speak with Venus. Venus promptly made her way to the throne room.
"Ah, Venus, there you are, dear," the Queen prompted Venus to come closer. "By my daughter's change in mood, I assume that you will be making a trip soon to gather her letter."
Venus smiled slightly and shook her head. "Yes. I was going to go later this evening."
"Well," Selene started as she reached over to a table, "Since you're already venturing down." She picked up a ornately sealed envelope. "Would you mind delivering something for me?"
Venus was confused, and was sure it showed on her face as she stepped forward to take the envelope. "What is this?"
Selene handed it over and stood from her chair. "It's the official invitation to the royal court on Earth. With instructions on where to be when I lift the seal long enough for them to attend the ball."
"I expect that this isn't to be slipped into the prince's chamber in the dead of night?"
Selene smiled. "No. I expect that you deliver this is the light of day, and unto someone else perhaps." She placed one of her delicate hands onto Venus' shoulder. "Take a break from the sneaking around. Attend to this matter in a more dignified way. One that suits you more."
Well, there goes that. There was no escaping Kunzite's sight if she came down in the middle of the day. She only hoped that perhaps he was outside the palace dealing with matters somewhere else. Venus agreed to deliver the Queen's invitation that afternoon, and decided to don a light weight gown rather than her fuku.
The Earth's palace was quite a different place during the daylight hours. Servants running about every where she looked, and well dressed dignitaries walking the halls trying to look important. When she arrived, immediately some one saw and recognized her. A big commotion erupted, and people left and right were asking if they could escort her to the King's chamber, and asking her why she was there, or if they could get her anything. She graciously declined the offers, knowing her way around quite well by now.
Kunzite and his companion, and fellow general, Zoicite, rounded a corner as they left a meeting they had been at. They were done for the day and headed off towards their chambers.
"It seems that woman was spotted near the castle again," Zoicite stated.
"What woman?" He couldn't mean Venus. Kunzite hadn't heard anything from the Prince about any letters.
"That strange woman with the fiery hair."
Oh, thought Kunzite. Of course!
"Apparently, she again was trying to grant audience with the Prince. Nephrite tells me that they turned her away, and told her the next time they'd apprehend her. She has absolutely no business up here."
Kunzite nodded in agreement. "That's for certain. I-" It was at this moment he noticed people scurrying around in a hurry. He shot a look of confusion to his companion, who shared his lack of knowledge and shrugged. "You there!" he called to a servant walking down the hall. The man stopped, and bowed his head, acknowledging Kunzite. "What is going on? What is this all about?"
The man looked to the two generals. "Did you not hear, m'lords? The Princess of Venus has audience with the King! She arrived just a short while ago."
Venus? Here? Kunzite felt his heart begin to race, though his face did not show it. "Very well. Thank you. You may go now." The servant quickly left. Kunzite couldn't help but wonder what she was doing here, especially during the daylight hours.
"That's interesting." Zoicite's voice broke Kunzite's thoughts. "I wonder what she's doing here. I didn't think we'd asked for assistance from the planets. Maybe they've come to do so for us?" Zoicite shrugged and began to walk again, stopping when he realized that his friend wasn't following him. "Are you coming?"
Kunzite snapped out of it. "Yes. Right."
Venus clasped her hands together and took a deep breath in. "King Hafnon, I must reiterate, this is not a political visit. I am merely here to extend the Queen's invitation."
The Earth's King face was hard and determined. "I understand that, but since you are here, I would like for you to meet with my main general. I am aware of your people's strength in particular, and I am asking now, for your help in defeating this uprising. It does not only affect the Earth, as you know. I would think that you would do everything in your power, Princess."
Venus took a moment, wondering why he hadn't asked for her help prior to this—stubborn man, then spoke. "It is our duty to assist and protect your people." She paused, slightly annoyed that she even had the authority to entertain his request. She really wanted to leave as soon as possible. "Therefor, despite the reason I came down here was not for this, I will meet with your general and discuss how I can be of assistance."
The King's features softened a bit, feeling victorious. He motioned for his aide, "Please, go inform Lord Kunzite that he is to come immediately."
Kunzite? Kunzite is his main general? Wasn't he just the Prince's guardian? The two had never discussed much about Kunzite's position, or what he did in particular, the conversations were always lighthearted and never focused on any sort of work related topic. Kunzite had always asked about her home planet and life on the Moon, and never really spoke too much of himself. She only knew that he was in charge of operations in the Middle East and was the Prince's guardian and mentor. She assumed someone much older would be the King's general. Though, now that she was thinking about it, perhaps it did make sense?
It didn't take Kunzite long to appear at the entrance to the King's throne room. The King introduced the two, not knowing that they had, in fact, met before, and sent them off to talk while his staff prepared a feast in her honor. The two walked in silence, until they were out of the range of any others' ears. They ended up outside on a veranda, overlooking a grassy field behind the castle.
"You never came back. I didn't get a chance to apologize."
Venus ignored the fact that his eyes were on her. She rested her hands on the stone railing and looked over the magnificent view. The sun had started to set, and the sky was on fire. They never experienced this on the moon, and it made her think of home.
Kunzite was put off by her silence. "Are you listening to me?"
A small sigh escaped her mouth, and she turned her head just enough to look him in the eye. "You have nothing to apologize for. I should be the one apologizing for leaving without explanation." She paused and looked away. "I really think we should keep to the matter at hand. How can I help you with the-"
He couldn't stand being so close to her. There she was, the object of his affection, standing there, not looking at him, and avoiding the one thing he needed to get off his mind. He hadn't been able to focus on much of anything the past few weeks. He reached over and placed his hand over hers, stopping her mid-sentence. "I need to talk to you."
Venus stiffened upon his touch. Part of her wanted to stop him before he could open his mouth, and move on, ignoring his request. But her heart wanted to hear what he had to say. Wanted to give into his request, and pursue this—whatever it was—ignoring every rule she'd set in place for herself. Why couldn't it be that easy? And what made him bold enough to continue when he knew her stance on the matter? She felt herself begin to get frustrated, and a few tears began to well up in her eyes.
Kunzite felt his blonde companion tense up. "I am truly sorry for the other night. I never intended to offend." He paused, waiting to see if she'd look up at him, or cut him off. "I feel like you and I have some sort of connection. I want to see where that might lead us, but apparently, you don't feel the same. I can accept that. I don't even need to know why. I just wanted to let you know how I feel, and that I'm sorry for putting you in an uncomfortable situation."
Venus used her free hand to wipe a tear that had fallen away, and after a moment, looked over to him. "You're wrong."
Kunzite raised a brow in confusion.
"I do want to pursue this. I want to have someone to hold, someone to confide in, someone to spend my free time with." She shook her head and looked off across the field again. "I just can't balance that with my duty. I've tried. It doesn't work. It's too much of a distraction. I can't risk a distraction right now. Things are too fragile." She paused, letting her words trail off. "You would be better off with someone who can give herself in her entirety. Not just when she gets a minute."
He lightly squeezed her hand. "I'd be happy with a second of your time."
A shiver went down her spine. Venus smirked and looked back to him. "You are persistent, Kuzite-san."
He smiled at her, feeling slightly victorious at this moment. "One of my stronger points."
Her smirk changed into a smile. "We still should talk about what sort of help I can offer. I'm sure Hafnon will want to hear something. It would be odd if we returned with no news after all this time."
"Right." He nodded and let go of her hand to lean up against the railing, his back facing the open field. "We have found several areas of operation, and have done our best to go in, break them up, and apprehend active members. But it seems that no matter what we do, more people are joining their ranks. Our attempts to locate the person responsible for spreading this propaganda have all failed. What reports we do have, is that it is a woman, and she seems to have some sort of dark powers."
"Hrm." Venus pondered as to what help she could offer. "It seems as though you have enough manpower, you just need help sustaining and interrogating so that this woman can be found. I wasn't aware that this was more than just a simple uprising. Dark magic is involved. That is interesting."
"Very much so. We believe that is how she is growing in number so quickly. Preying on people's weak minds."
"I will have to speak with Selene to grant me permission and lift her travel restriction, but I would like to allocate a small group of agents to aid your forces." She paused. "And, I can help, too. If we find her, it would be smart to fight with more than swords." She stopped as she noticed he was grinning at her. "What is that for?"
He chuckled. "Just a short while ago, you didn't want to see me. And now, you're offering to come visit. You are a very fickle girl."
Her heart began to flutter. She felt exposed. "I wanted to see you... I just, well, I was afraid," she stated, and continued with a more steady tone. "I'm not sure where I want this to go, but I know that I want to see you. I don't know what that means, it makes no sense to me, but my heart tells me that is what I should do." She smiled and motioned to the entrance back inside where a messenger was waiting. "I think they are ready for us."