Ladies and Gentlemen: I have been gone for so long I would be wrong of me even to apologize. I sad I could not be consistent, and so I am not. But I still love you all. your cute to me even thought none of you write me anymore. I suppose that's my own fault. But I still would like to know hat everyone thinks about this age old tale. So please let me know if you like it, if you've been a long time reader or even if you start started reading and you skipped to the end. I hope you enjoy this. I love you all and I'm glad I have the chance to let you (and only you) see what I do.
So I guess instead of 'sorry' I mean to say…Thanks.
-Vbabe
Part 15: Purple Skies
They called it the Week of War. At least, when the people were far enough from the massacre to see what was happening. There were few who knew of it's coming even when the signs were given, such bliss in this time and age blinded even the most prominent beings. And in the end, it could not be stopped.
But we are at a time only a month now from the beginning of this terrible time. Now, there is still one girl dreaming in the window of a palace on the Moon.
He knew she must be dreaming because that girl never slept when there was a party to be attended.
And so it was, Kunzite sat on Earth still gazing at the moon in it's shinning glory, like a gentle second sun. And in the very distance he could see the fireworks burst. He thought about the face that clouded his mind and throat so he could not breath. She was a ridiculous thing to be so concerned over because she was also so strong.
More than so many knew.
A step behind him and he turned from his own window.
"Yes?"
"General Kunzite," The tall figure bowed and her long black hair rolled over pointed shoulders.
"Beryl? What do you want?" He always felt weary talking with her. She was radical and only recently had he felt increasingly that she was right, although his heart screamed against it. It made him shiver. Like he had been losing control over his mind the past few months.
"Just to talk a little while." She smiled with a broad grin and her hair seemed to shine red for a moment. "About…the Moon."
"Princess Venus it's so good to see you again!"
"Princess Mars you seem so happy!" Venus smiled as she accepted the great warm hug. She had been in the Transporting room waiting for Mars to return. Now that she was here, many of the greeting party went back into the dinning room to continue the all-night feast.
"And you wouldn't know why?" Mars took her hand and the two stayed behind the rest who were still leaving the room. "I have good news and bad news."
Minako laughed, "Bad news?"
"Let me tell you the good news first for which you are responsible." She rounded her hand and tossed her hair over her shoulder.
"So he told you did he?" The hands of the princess dressed in red were very warm and her palms were pulsating with life. She whispered the next part. "He told you he loved you?"
Mars looked shocked for a moment and then happy. But the next emotion that came to her face was not one she expected to see. As the universe knew Mars had the most poised and gentle face like her mother goddess. But now it twisted in dark worry.
"Thank you Venus. Goddess of Love. You have brought to me the most wonderful of gifts and I will never forget it." Venus kissed their hands now entwined together. "But there is something else. You are not just a princess and friend, but you are our leader. So I must tell you what I have done…"
"Enyalisis, there is nothing in the world you could have done. Tell me." Rei turned her face away from her blond reverse mirror. She took a few deep breaths, probably to get herself organized again. She had been emotional lately and in a way she was not native to. Love did not come easily to the goddess of war. So Venus did not mind waiting in the silent room for her friend to gather up her thoughts and tears. It gave her time to prepare for what she had to say.
What could possibly be the matter? Something Rei was more concerned about than angry is very odd. Something to do with Earth no doubt. But what would be so terrible from that beautiful blue ball?
Finally, the two locked eyes and she spoke. Her voice was changed. It was fierce and cold. Like when they plan strategies against the enemy.
"They know." It was flat and stated. "The Four Heavenly Kings now know we are the sailor senshi."
"Ah..." was all Minako could say at the moment. She reflected it could have been worse.
"I don't know what it means but, I had a terrible fire reading after General Jedite found out. One of wars and flames and terrible things." It was as if Venus could see into Rei's eyes and see what she saw. They were large and ebony, and…fearful?
"I don't know what your readings mean. I suggest you research them as soon as you can." She paused to think. "but let yourself rest tonight. Eat with us, and play games." She smiled and began to turn her head to walk out the near-by door (she hoped no one had over heard them) but a familiar tug kept her there.
"Venus. What about the Heavenly Kings knowing our dark secret?"
"We have darker secrets than that. As for their knowledge," she sighed and dipped her head, "I think it was about time that someone knew." Rei did not look convinced. She continues with an extra boost of regality and cheer. "I decree that this shall be a good thing, and that by it we may all be better friends, when we are honest with one another. It helps us to love and to…understand. Therefore worry not Enyalis. For everything will be alright." She kissed her head.
Minako's eyes were tired from being so serious and her thoughts being so weighed down. So when Rei smiled at her gratefully, she pop up and became the bouncy version of herself, full of life and swirling carefree hair.
"Now, let's go! I'm so hungry I could meet a horse!"
"That's eat a hor-"
"Whatever! I'll race you to the banquet hall!"
"We're not supposed to run!"
"Oh yes, that's right…onetwothreeGO!" and she shot down the hallway and Rei went after her to stop her foolishness with many disapproving glares following after them. But all the laughter, food, and dancing tonight was merely a blanket over Minako's thoughts.
'That means all four are now engaged in the love of a man. But not I! I will stay by their sides to protect them if ever they fall.'
On an unrelated subject Jupiter sang out, "Why thank you Princess Venus!"
"That is what I'm here for!"
It was her response to both exclamations.
Two weeks later and none of the soldiers had heard from Earth. But they knew that the King, Queen, and their son were coming at moon set to dine with the Royal family. This, surprisingly, did not include the senshi or the Generals of Earth.
So the four helped clean the castle, dress the princess, and prepare for the extremely formal evening. The princess was to join the Family at dinner and then was to be put in her room for the rest of the night. The guardians were up to the challenge of keeping her away from the prince. Although none of them worried more than Venus.
She did not show it of course but the signs were still there. She thought about it as the welcoming flowers were being displayed, she thought about it when she watched Mako-chan put cream on her pies, she thought about it when she helped Ami set the table with the other servants. And all the while she wished she didn't know about the happiness her friends had found.
More than ever before she even wished they were not senshi. But she banished the thought in an instant.
As the sun set on their horizon she followed far behind her friends down the long hallway. She tried to be happy. She even gave the princess a little wink as a goodbye. But she couldn't decide what to do with the time given her.
Like Ami, would she read a book? No. Nothing interested her at the moment. Practicing her homework? Right, she wouldn't even consider it. Eat something? No. Mako chan filled her an hour ago.
She walked down the hallway with her fingers trailing nonchalantly along the wall of the palace. Her hand fell though a doorway to see the passage leading to the faux Fire reading room where Rei inevitably was. Minako didn't want to see her tonight. She wanted to be alone. She wanted to fill this gap in her heart.
She came to her room at last and she lazily sat on her fluffy blanket. She reached over to pick a stuffed pillow and under it lay her solution.
She looked at it for a moment, her hand in mid motion gripping the pillow.
That would keep her occupied.
His heart pounded as he entered into the palace. But she was not with the greeting party nor was she at the banquet hall. After completing his duty he excused himself and closed the double doors on the two Royal Families, neither was very happy. Something about the Legendary Sailor Senshi being the Planetary Princesses. But he had long suspected this was true. He wasn't terribly surprised but the King and Queen was offended they had not been notified for generations. The prince was in good hands at this meeting. He would be safe.
So he had no choice but to wander the halls of the immense moon palace.
"General Kunzite?" He looked up and saw the brunette princess ahead of him. Quickly she untied her apron and jogged to him.
"General Kunzite I did not know you were coming!" She bowed and stood strait again. She had never before been so kind to him but he had a faint feeling he knew why. His friend and she had been very close recently.
"Princess Jupiter. How have you been?"
"Very well. It has been a long time hasn't it?" Her slang did not escape him. He enjoyed it. A few more polite questions were exchanged and he was able to extend a wish the other kings had come but they were being detained tonight.
She replied. "I'm sorry but everyone is entertaining themselves this evening." Her smile was broad but slightly sad. Subconsciously, she reached up and pulled a hair over her ear. Her eyes fell away from him. And she said mostly to herself.
"How strange…"
"Never mind Princess. There are many things of which I am familiar with here and I'm sure I can entertain myself." He bowed and excused himself. The brunette waves passed by him (she being the only girl he knew nearer to his height and age,) and he smelled that faint aroma so far from him now.
As if she knew his thoughts she turned and said, "I don't know where the Princess of Venus is. She may be in her room. Try there."
Kunzite blushed at being so singled out for her. However, she quickly fixed her mistake and added, "Lady Mercury is in the library as always, and I'm sure Princess Mars does not want to be bothered. Have a nice evening sir."
Darn.
He would not know where to go to look for her room, even though he did not know what to say had he gotten the information anyway. Nonetheless, he went in search of her, for company's sake. He was lucky it was in the direction of the library. If anyone were to question his destination he would have an alibi. He walked down the hallway with his fingers trailing nonchalantly along the wall of the palace.
He came to a place that seemed like an open hallway. It was an open hallway in fact but between the pillars on his left side there was no wall but an open space to see out into the courtyard one story below.
It was the place they had met for the second time. He could see the stair she had stood at the bottom of when he saw her again. He could remember the golden light playing upon her corn colored hair, her delightful golden eyes that had been so dazzled by the swirling party around her, the blue and white gleams of Earthlight illuminated the entire place but for the bright white lamps that bobbed in the wind. She was separate from the rest of the party. She was standing on the side looking up at him with small features she was just a young girl from what he could see. A light from a lamp hung near by. It had a soft yellow glow and it warmed her features. She wore a sunny summer dress and her hair was tied up in two yellow bends of braids.
That was almost a year ago. Still he had rolled so many images around in his mind they were still as clear as glass. But the Earth was up then and now it was dusk here on the holy ground of the Moon. He took a deep breath of lush cooling night air and it filled his lungs.
He stopped inhaling when he smelled it again. That fresh scent of violets after rain at home. She was near. He didn't need to look for her because she came into his view. She was below in the courtyard, but not.
She was the girl he knew. She was…
Kunzite blinked.
He hurried toward the nearest set of stairs to be nearer to her.
His heart beat wildly trying to escape himself, if he could only get near to her…
She wasn't in her senshi uniform but something like it. A blue fighting skirt and a red and white armored top. She had her gloves on to her wrists with a single gold band at the edges. Her mask she thrown out.
She took the sacred sword of the moon and began balancing it in her hand. Its weight was perfectly balances from hilt to tip. She swung it around her body a few times. The last bits of the remaining sun gleamed on the weapon and passed.
She thrust forward and came back. Lunge and back. She stood in a strict position for a while. Her body feeling the bidding of the blade.
She swung one two three. A turn, an upper cut and pause. Slashing and waving the sun became dimmer and her body warmer.
"Hah." She couldn't help the power sounds. The resonating off the pillars. The light breath that echoed around the empty courtyard. Strike! Strike, strike, and pause. Then it was as if her body went on it's own finding the things she was swinging at, her hand twisted and the blade slicing the air current as easily as a slice of paper. She let her entire body sway with the rhythm she was taught.
Left
Left
Up
Jab-up
Turn down and up again
In one movement.
Clang! The sound echoed into the dusk sky she opened her eyes to see what she had hit- another sword.
He stood with the long purple and pink sky behind him. His hair, as if waving to her, was blown into the wind. He was smiling with kindness in his eyes. With laughter playing at his cheeks and a type of bliss on his lips.
"Kunzite!"
"Princess."
She should have known he would come. Stupid girl! The prince would never go anywhere without his trusted guardian and friend. Why hadn't she remembered? Perhaps she didn't want to. But now he stood close to her their swords still touching in the stilling air.
"You were watching?"
"Forgive me. You fight well. But I feel safe."
"Oh?" Venus took the indication and he swirled the sword off his own. She stood smiling at him. She raised her hand with the sword in it directly at him and smiled a question.
He took the invitation and readied himself.
That crack of metal on stone was wonderful to her ears. The scrape of feet in synchronization, that light cloud of dust that floated into the dusk and filled her nostrils. This was where her heart lied. In the fight. And he made it fun.
He would smile and comment every once in a while. He was playing with her. One or twice he gave the clue he was going to do something sneaky. This put her on awares and she was able to avoid the tricks. Once he went for her legs and she jumped and came down awkwardly. She almost fell over backward but she steadied herself just in time. They could have continued their battle seriously as before but he laughed at the funny face she made. Warrior as she was, she was still Minako.
He was reminded of her humor. That light laughing face only complemented by the soft breeze and the clang of strength.
"You doing alright over there?"
"Don't kid yourself." She came very close to knocking him over.
"Princess, you kid." He smiled. Even though he knew he was in love, for some reason he felt like he was being more of himself than ever before. Sophisticated and funny. He felt she understood that. That he could be both- just like her.
Night began to over take her features and he was truly happy. His mind began to say things he wanted to say in the most complete blissful moment of his life. She could not notice the break in his speech:
"You are-"
Wonderful, beautiful, intelligent, breathtaking,
"Very-"
Elegant, fun, sweet, brave
"strong. I think-"
About you all the time
"You do a great job at-"
Making me feel outstanding, protecting your light
"protecting that princess of yours. I wonder if-"
You would ever love me?
"she is very difficult? As I said she was?"
She nodded that golden head but did not elaborate.
She wanted to tell him about the cloud that covered her heart. Did he have to bring her up? It was no fault of the princess that she was in love with the prince.
Wait... why was she covering this up to Kunzite? It's not like he didn't know. She had stopped the princess ad Prince dozens of times. Her heart said, "There isn't any reason not to talk to him. He'll understand. But her head knew she had been letting go of too many things recently.
But he looked at her now with such wonderful concern.
She almost forgot they were still fighting one another.
She laughed at her silliness and struck at him. He took the challenge and shielded himself obviously as silly as she was. Laughing out loud, she struck again and woke him up and she knocked him over.
She let herself collapse beside him, a little moist from sweat. She smiled at him and helped him sit back up.
"Tell me Princess, is it OK?"
She looked up at him? I what ok? His eyes were misty and serious. Could he mean-
"Your moon princess. Is everything alright?" A part of her sighed with relief he only meant her beloved. Bt the other part cringed she had considered the fact. Then she thought about he had asked her. She put her hand to her face and stared out onto the party grounds. Without turning her head she spoke firmly.
"I am not sure. I guess. She is my precious one and I want her to be happy. But still, I feel this pain in my heart for her. I think about her all the time and I can't control this feeling. I'm worried…"
Almost as if he could hear her the words passed through her mind, 'Someday she will be queen, watching over Earth and protecting the Phantom Silver Crystal. Even though she's in love, she may get hurt...
"She won't get hurt by falling in love will she?"
The clouds behind the majestic face tuned a purple and faded.
He watched her as her serious eye turned to pain and long suffering. How he loved her. How he adored every last feature.
'Did you know I want to be near to you, to hold you smell you touch you.
Your voice is intoxicating. I can't let you out of my thoughts
You are a part of me and my dreams. This passion you have for the protection of a that little one is most beautiful thing about you.
I almost don't understand. But your face makes everything clear again.'
He thought about it for a moment. What should he say? Never would he argue what she thought was right. But he wanted her to smile again.
"Things will turn out alright. Believe in your princess."
Her eyes were wide as she looked at him. But instead of going on, there was nothing left to say. He stood and reached out a hand to her.
"Come. Fight with me." He smiled and she took his hand. They continued to circle one another conversing about nothing and laughing about it. It was the best conversation they had ever had.
"It's like a dance to them."
"That is silly."
"I think it's sweet."
"I just don't understand why they won't concede to liking one another."
"Yeah, I don't know why she won't flirt with him."
"Probably true love."
"That still doesn't answer the question. Why is she being so shy? Never letting him know, or even telling me. She always tells me."
"I don't-"
The princess of the Moon's giggles could be heard and a flap of white face crossed the hallway with a back figure close behind. The Prince and princess were not being very discrete about it. Mercury stood to follow them but stopped. Her voice went cold and dark. Rougher than any of them had heard in a long time.
"I know why she won't take this love."
Mars and Jupiter stared at her. Then it dawned on them. Venus's duty to the princess. She felt she could never love more than that.
So the blue haired one instead of following the princess wrapped her arms around her best friend and buried a side of her face in a pink fabric. Mars too turned to look out the window as if it held a conferment. Jupiter reached down and wiped one of Mercury's tears. But Mars spoke for them all.
"Oh Minako-Chan!" And they stood at the window for a while longer watching the two dance in their own distinctive way-
Never touching but for their swords and their hearts.
Neh? You liked it? And no- it's not the end. .
Please say something to me!
And