Minako yanked at her friend's sleeve a pressing question had been on her mind but she had to hold it until after every one had gone to bed. "Rei-Chan do you know what the four kings look like?"
Rei seemed extremely disturbed at the question as if Minako had let loose a swear word or told a sacred secret. But her friend's smooth voice challenged the alarmed look.
"Why do you want to know Minako?" Rei tried to act natural accomplishing the fact very well as if her surprise it been a mistake. Just as if she had been worried over nothing but wasn't quite sure yet.
"No reason." Minako stared at her feet as the two of them walked to Serenity's room in silence. Serenity had called for all her friends to come to her at this late hour and none of them had any doubt that she wanted to talk about the night's events. Mars and Venus had met up in hallway and were now slowly making their way down a dusky deserted hall dressed in no less than nightgowns. Minako had hesitated to tell about her encounter with the man although she did not know yet why. She knew she had done nothing wrong and Rei would certainly be able to handle it. But something about how he made her feel kept her lips shut tight. Inside she ached to tell but could only for the moment stare down at her feet.
"I'm sorry Minako you asked a good question I didn't mean to be so sharp like that." Rei had obviously misunderstood the look Minako was giving the floor. But Rei's worry was soon fixed because the spiritedly girl smiled and laughed,
"Oh no Rei-Chan nothing like that. It just that-" but she never got the chance to try to find an excuse because down the hall they were passing to the right was the short friend in blue lacey apparel.
"Rei! Minako!" Ami quickened her pace and joined the group blushing slightly "I'm not interrupting am I? I just thought we could walk together." She shyly smiled embarrassed at her inconsiderateness.
"Oh don't be silly Ami. Of course not!" Minako beamed and took the arm of Mercury in her own. They chatted briskly until the great pearl door was hung in front of them. The guards on ether side swept up their weapons and opened the door to allow admittance. The girls laughed and hugged and the conversation bust forth from before the doors had closed again behind them. The first subject obviously had been subjected around Makoto who blushed and swayed back and forth with the music obviously still ringing in her ears. Minako could see that even as Mako came in later than the rest, she was panting as if she had run to come talk to them.
"Huh". Growled Mars folding her arms widely in front of her. "Well I'm glad you had a good time. I had some bungler."
"Ooh I saw that Rei!" Serenity clapped her hands gleefully over her mouth. And looking to Rei for the approval to continue the story, "You should have seen! He just falls out of his chair like he's going to faint and then," The white princess fell off the bed scrambling around her arms and hand in the air as if trying to catch some bird out a window. "Just collapsed after Rei knocking her over. It was so funny! She was so mad!" Makoto had thrown out her arms and successfully caught the falling girl now laughing and holding her gut as all of them re-enacted the tale.
"Like this?" cried Minako throwing herself across the room onto some pillows lined with lace.
"Or this?" Mako now fell dramatically beside Serenity's drooping torso as if she had had a blow to the head. "Struck by love just at the sight of the fair lady!"
Rei's face was stony cold watching them all forgetting she was about to make fun of him too. But then her face smoothed out its lines of worry when even Mercury joined in the fray saying, "and who could help but be so caught in such a net as Mars?"
"And who would want to get out?" cried Minako. She laughed and reached out to Rei's hand now close to her face. "Oh Rei. But that I had such a trap!" Mars slid a small smile down her arm.
"Oh but you do have one! But as opposed to mine, I set my men free when they weep 'no more!'" The girls could not contain their laughter. It as after all around 3o'clcok now and it was coming on that hour where any thing is funny no matter how stupid it sounded in the daylight. If any royal had heard them speaking in such relaxed terms, they would surely get talked to severely about their composure. They were also not supposed to address one another by their first names in public. No one in any kingdom or planet knew of the girl's first names but those of proper authority. And none dare speak them. So the girls treasured the moment they heard their names spoken allowed by those they loved most.
" And so! When do we get to meet these dashing young kings?" Minako rested her chin of the palms of her hands the way she did the night Rei confessed that see he found a man she liked. Minako's mind had been whirling ever since she saw her own knight in shining armor at the bottom of the steps. His face-
"Tomorrow." Serenity was up on the bed again and had climbed under the covers. Mercury cuddled into the bed next to her.
"Tomorrow?" said Rei her face went tight in a grimace. "I think I had better go before then princess. I had not-"
"Rei Chan! You could not possibly give up the legendary opportunity! Meeting the four kings is like meeting the great minds of our day. I'm surprised you would not want such an honor." Mercury laid her head down and cradled its blue curls into the folds of fabric.
"Oh yes Rei! We can not meet them without you there." Mako gave a faint laugh and turned to the rest of girls changing the subject tactfully. "Oh Serenity, what a lovely time we'll have here! Two weeks at your house! I just hope Jupiter doesn't burn down while I'm away." The girls on the bed laughed and chatted away about their plans for the next two weeks. Some occasions included the generals as well, in which all the girls seemed very excited about.
But Minako had not long been apart of the itinerary plans when she saw Rei staring out the wind, her cheeks hot. Minako felt that it was probably because she wanted to return home again to only think of her Earthman and she could not blame her. She too wanted to think about the man she had met.
It was like strings had been attached to their hearts pulling at hers every time she saw him. But she did not know him. She could not understand why the man mooning had come to her planet. Now she was sure he was an intruder but was he a criminal? If he had been after her he could have taken her off at any moment he liked. Especially the first time they had met. No one had been stopping him. And what about the thick power coming from him? Was he some kind of spy from the moon? No no that couldn't be. Neither Serenity nor the Queen would ever need to spy on Venus. She swept this thought was away with an unconscious wave of her hand.
"You don't think so Minako? Ok well then, what if we went to tea instead? That could be fun!" Mako had assumed Minako was listening again. Minako smiled into her knees sometimes very glad her friends could be so oblivious. She still did not wish to tell them her secret about the masked moon man.
The next day He dressed quickly and silently listening to the sound of the room next to his that occupied his master. After he had been ready to leave he still heard nothing coming from the rooms of his companions. Finding nothing to do, he slid out of his room careful to close it carefully behind him so as not to make a large clanging sound. The corridors of the great hall were like that of his home but definitely more feminine. He was happy that morning but he did not know why.
Inside he knew he should be worried. He was to finally reveal himself to the princess. She could tell the moon queen everything if she remembered who he was. Judging by her obvious look of frustration last night he had no doubt that she did. But he would make no sign. He would pretend they had only met last night under the light of the Earth. She was glowing then. He sighed through his mouth as he pictured her, as he finally knew why he wasn't feeling dread. He had missed her.
A bird chirped somewhere. After the tinkling sound had died out, sharp taps on the floor could be heard much closer than he's realized. He turned abruptly to face who ever it was with a fist over her heart ready to bow. The step was light an obviously a woman's. Kunzite held his breath and kept his stony eyes on the corner.
A short woman with blue hair gently swaying just above her shoulders and a blue headband emerged from the shadows cast by dawn's light. She seemed surprised to see someone in the world other than herself. They both bowed curiously as anyone might do. And he would have gladly let her return to her dreamy walk and stepped back to his own room to see if anyone had yet awoken when her sweet, regal tone asked his a question.
"Wait good sir. I don't think I've seen you before. And by your apparel you don't look like a servant. May I be troubled as to ask who you might be?" she seemed genuinely interested in his sudden appearance and being a noble Lady that she obviously was, he answered her directly.
"My name is General Kunzite of the Four Kings of Earth." He cared not that her eyes opened slightly or that she seemed a little bewildered. He thought she would bow or express some apologies. Instead she told him who she was.
"Kunzite?" She tested him. "I welcome you on behalf of Mercury." Of course she was a princess. It was his turn to open his eyes slightly. His back straitened a little bit more and he stood at attention.
"Forgive me princess. I am truly honored to make your acquaintance." He knew the Venus princess and would probably hear tell of their encounter. But the young girl made no motion or sign that she had heard him. She actually was keeping her eyes locked quite comfortably on his head. The two stood there analyzing one another for a while almost as if in battle one trying to conquer the other with power. So far Ami was winning. Neither cared for how long they stood. But the woman broke the silence.
"May I see your-" She hesitated a little blush kissed her pale lips, "stone?"
Kunzite almost let spill a light smile. But held it back and reached up to his head. From what Ami could see, a faint pink light was pulsing from his forehead. Just before she could see what he had, a small gasp escaped her lips and her hands braced each other in preparation. She came closer and bent over the thing he pulled from his mind. It was small, round, and pink but she dared not touch it.
Minako once again had the duty to find the little blue princess. When Mako had come from her room to collect the little doll, her bed was empty and her door was open. Rei would not leave her room until she was entirely ready for the day and they all knew waking the princess Serenity would be completely worthless, Mako and Minako had gone on a hunt to fine the elusive lily and start breakfast. Minako was walking along one hall quickly running her hand over the walls thinking of only what would go into her mouth. Bacon and eggs, little bits of toast with warm jam all floate3d around and Minako could almost smell it. She quickened her step when she heard a faint feminine voice waft though the long hallway. It was obviously her prey by the sweet tones and gentle usage of long words.
A grin spread across her face and she ran to the place the voice was coming from. It became louder and louder and soon Minako could tell she was just around one more corner. She was giggling and laughing with her hand to her small mouth when Minako flung half of her body around a corner with a wild excited grin.
"What are you doing? It's breakfast-" Minako cut short her words at the sight of the moonling. Gaining composure once again her sights turned back to Ami, a little bit more solemn but eyes still twinkling.
"It's breakfast time."
"Oh yes Venus I know. I was just chatting with a friend. Princess of Venus meet General kunzite." She paused leaning forward putting a little emphasis on her next words. " One of the four kings." Minako out of duty turned and bent her neck in a bow and kept her lips in a tight smile so as not to let her brilliant friend catch on to the feeling of uncomfortably now pulsing through her very veins. Kunzite did like wise. His face was stony and still. He seemed much more keen to keep laughing with the sort girl to his left. Minako also noticed that he gave absolutely no sign what so ever that they had ever met.
It made her wonder if she ever even had.
"An honor my lord. I've heard great things about you." Slowly Minako put on a half warrior, half princess masks: polite but steady and sure. Keeping the conversation just the way she wanted it. He did seem to mind.
"And you." Was his simple reply.
"Venus, let us retire to breakfast. I'm sorry I kept you waiting." Her small voice was enough to give Minako strength to move her limbs but she kept her eyes on his until the finally moment when she tore herself away taking the little princess (not too much shorter than she was but still shorter than herself which was rare) by the arm and leading her down the hallway she had come.
Minako had to hold her finger tight to keep from tears that boiled in her bursting heart. She thought she had handled it well. Not giving anything away until the met again. But it didn't stop her wish to be left alone.
He didn't feel the same way. He wanted her to stay. To greet him with a sweet smile. When she turned away, one could almo9st hear the pang in his chest. He winced when she was out of sight and cursed his self. He went in the opposite direction and once turned to see the last of golden hair and blue robes flutter behind a row.
He cursed his luck. He cursed the planet. He even cursed her for not being easier. For being so strong and open. But what could he have expected. He could still feel like her golden eyes were boring through him, reading him and taking him apart. And yet she said nothing! Nothing at all! What was he to do? Did she expect him to apologize? Beg forgiveness? Explain why he was illegally on her planet? No. He would not succumb to her power. She was obviously twisting his heart and head. He would not give up the information because she wanted it. He would not be alone with her nor would he even give the fraction of confidence that she had won.
His brain shouted and stomped it's foot. He felt like smacking a stick into his hand the many time he had ever lead and army. His mind demanded attention and said 'because she hasn't won. Not me. Not Kunzite!'
But his heart knew better. Had it been a person, it would have heartily laughed.
Down the hall not too far away, Minako let out a helpless bubble breath as her heart sighed in response.
Hey hey hey!!! I know this is dumb. But I want you guys to R&R PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE or else it will suck more!
I Need Help!
More soon soon.
Love love.
^.~ -me