3.) Midnight Tides
Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers all offences.
- Proverbs 10-12
MINAKO
I sighed, I hadn't realized that the Princess's coming of age ceremony would be this big of a deal. I could understand the need for celebration but in my mind a week's worth of parties and festivities was pushing it just a little bit. I didn't even fully understand why they 'came of age' at seventeen, it seemed a rather inconsequential age... Oh well, it was a Lunar custom. Who was I to argue?
Normally I loved a party but now that I was in charge of the protection of the Princess the whole concept seemed more of a pain than anything else. I had to coordinate the security of the parties with my cadre, this was not made any easier by the fact I had the Martian to contend with.
Despite the fact there hadn't been an assassination attempt on the barbarian in a month and a half, I was still wary of placing her in close proximity to the Princess for fear that some catastrophe would befall her. The princess that is, not that godforsaken Martian, I couldn't care less about her.
To make matters worse she was still our most adept fighter, making it hard for me to argue against placing her by the Princess's side during the ball. The Martian would surely be able to pick out threats faster and more accurately than the rest of us, making her a valuable asset despite the danger she represented.
I groaned again, unsure of what to do about the situation.
Why did she have to complicate everything? Whenever she was concerned, things became harder, less clear, and confusing. I scowled at the maps of the palace layout before me, focusing on the areas surrounding the ballroom.
REI
I awoke in a sweat again breathing heavily. I hunched over, hoping the nausea would pass. It had been ages since I'd had a decent night's sleep unmarred by the nightmares. I would get four hours of sleep a night, at most. As the weeks wore on, I found it increasingly hard to concentrate on my surroundings; the world was covered by a thick fog.
I unsteadily rose to my feet, making my way to the washroom. I splashed water over my face in an attempt to free my mind from the sickening dream world I had been pulled into yet again. My hands tightened on the edge of the sink as I looked up at the mirror.
I got changed and left my room for the training fields. Hopefully it would distract me from the problems I was having, somehow though, I doubted it.
HARUKA
We were greeted upon our arrival to the moon by Minako and the Princess. Both seemed rather happy to see me. I gave them each a warm greeting before introducing Mina to Michiru. I wasn't sure if they had met before or not, Michiru didn't really travel the worlds before we had met. She was too wrapped up in worlds of her own creation.
"She's your... fiancée?" Minako asked as Michiru politely greeted the Princess. Serenity, as always, seemed rather enraptured by Michiru's composure and grace. Michiru was a prime example of a princess in both poise and appearance, whereas Serenity still had... a little growing up to do. She had amazing potential, she just needed to grow into her position.
"Yeah." I replied with a grin, Michiru was smiling distractedly. She was bored with this conversation...already. Serenity had little to add to the conversation and seemed content just to listen to us talk. I looked back to Minako. "So I hear you got hit with this planetary agreement recently, how's that working out for you two?"
The planetary alliance had been how Michiru and I met originally, we'd fallen in love without it though, and I could only hope that things were going as well for the others. Judging by Minako's expression, however, that was not that case. She seemed in a state somewhere between vexation and utter annoyance.
"What?" I asked, trying my hardest not to grin at their reaction. "You're not happy with it?"
At my words I noticed Michiru became more focused on the conversation. Minako gave a noncommittal response and that alone said more than they ever could have meant it to.
"Oh, come on. You can tell me, Mina. What's wrong?" I asked, trying to coerce her into telling me.
"It's just who I got paired with. She's..." Minako groaned, it looked like she was unable to verbalize what was going through her mind.
"Oh, I get it. You're just upset she's not as good looking as me." I teased, Minako and I had an odd relationship. For the last few years we'd run into each other at various celebrations and parties throughout our worlds and had gotten caught up in a continuous stream of flirtation and innuendo. I was fairly certain that we'd both wanted to take it a step further but then I'd met Michiru... for some reason though, my relationship with Minako hadn't changed.
"She's good looking and all, she's just... a Martian." Minako replied. I winced slightly.
"Oh. Geez." I responded, I felt bad for her now. I'd been hoping Minako wouldn't get paired with the Martian, not that I really was hoping she'd be paired with any of the others, I didn't really know any of them. I'd run into Makoto at a couple of athletic gatherings and I only knew of Rei and Ami by reputation. I couldn't exactly see how any of these couples could ever work out.
"Haruka, I've some other business to attend to, if you'll excuse me..." Michiru said, slipping her hand out of my grip. She gave a small nod of farewell in the Princess's direction, completely ignoring Minako.
I held back my frown, I knew where she was going. She was off to see that bloody Martian, Minako's fiancée. Quite frankly, I didn't approve of the Martian, but she was Michiru's friend, so who was I to argue? What Michiru wanted, she got. I'd do anything for her.
I sighed, watching Michiru's retreating form. It seemed we were always at odds with what was going on in the others heart and mind. I allowed myself a soft smile. We loved each other and could allow each other some leeway.
MICHIRU
I watched Rei carefully, studying the way she drew back the string of her bow in calm confidence before releasing it. The arrow buried itself into the target's bull's-eye.
I silently approached, waiting until she had drawn another arrow before trailing my hands up her back to rest on her shoulders.
Rei gave a startled noise, releasing the arrow in her surprise. The arrow released from her bow, spiralling wildly in roughly the direction of the target.
"So tense, Rei." I commented, trying to conceal my laughter.
"Michiru." Rei growled in greeting as she turned around. I laughed, giving her a hug which she grudgingly returned.
"You're not really angry are you?" I asked, grinning. She glanced back at the target, her arrow was imbedded in the ground a few feet away from it.
"I missed." She commented bluntly, sounding mildly annoyed.
"It's not my fault you're so easily distracted." I replied, smiling at her tone.
"You practically assaulted me." Rei scoffed. "That's not what I would call 'easily distracted'."
I took her hand in mine gently.
"Come on, let's go meet up with the others." I prodded.
"You mean, let's go meet up with Haruka?" Rei replied, the barest hint of a smirk on her face. I rolled my eyes but didn't respond. I couldn't argue her point, she was right. Rei's almost-smirk became more pronounced.
"Come on then." She said, giving a gentle pull on my hand. We started walking, I glanced over. She was still smirking. I rolled my eyes again, she obviously found amusement in my relationship with Haruka. We'd have to talk later...
REI
On our way to meet up with the others, we stopped by my quarters to drop of my weapons. Michiru seemed to think I was inappropriately dressed for anything but training, so I ended up changing into a fresh set of clothes. Nothing from my home planet was as elegant or refined as everything needed to be on this planet of protocol and decadence.
We departed from my room and made our way to the common room, one of the places Haruka had likely retreated to.
We were passing through the south corridor and through one of the many windows overlooking the courtyard I spied Haruka and Minako talking. The close conversation between them was punctuated with soft touches and gestures. I must have somehow betrayed what I was seeing for Michiru's eyes followed my gaze. A brief flash of pain passed through her eyes. I frowned but allowed a moment of silence as Michiru gazed out the window.
MICHIRU
You okay with that?" Rei asked nodding her head in the direction of Haruka and Minako. I gave a half shrug.
"Haruka is just being... Haruka. That's how she is, she flirts." I told her, wishing I didn't sound so defensive.
"You're saying you're not jealous?" Rei asked me, leaning back against the window sill and gazing out across the courtyard. I glanced in her direction, imagining that her gaze had most likely come to rest on the topic of our conversation.
"A proper lady doesn't get jealous." I replied, somehow my voice managed to remain steady. Sometimes watching Haruka hurt, not a physical pain, but an emotional one. Rei gave me a look I had trouble deciphering, that was odd. Normally I could read her like a book.
"No. They get even." Rei said lowly, looking away from the window and concentrating solely on me. I burst out laughing. My hand came to rest on her arm gently as she rose to her feet again. Without verbalizing our plan we both continued on towards the common room.
"I've missed you." I said softly. Rei nodded, I could tell she was agreeing with my statement without verbalizing it. Her silences had become a unique language to me, one I learned and studied until I became fluent.
I had realized a long time ago that she saw admitting to emotions as weakness and that she was fashioned by her culture more than she cared to admit. I rested my head on her shoulder, settling into the familiarity of the situation.
When we were younger Rei had visited my home planet once a year or so at my mother's request. So, in a way, we had grown up together. When these visits had first started I hadn't understood the reason for them and had been terrified of Rei, despite the fact she was a few years younger than I. I could barely remember her first visit, I rarely saw her that time around but my fear of her had taken root in the visits after that.
However, as the years passed I had grown accustomed to Rei's presence and even looked forward to her visits, but along with the feeling of excitement came the knowledge of experience. I had learned why Rei visited. It was so my mother could check up on her wellbeing, to make sure she was still living and in decent health.
From my mother's accounts, Rei's first visit had stemmed from her diplomatic visit to Mars during the Purge. She had returned to Neptune with Rei in tow, I was too young to know this at the time but Rei had nearly been killed a few days earlier. My mother had stayed by Rei's bedside while she recovered, acting like a mother to Rei. I knew to this day my mother still saw Rei as a surrogate daughter and was never quite satisfied with Rei's condition when she showed up on Neptune.
The first few days of Rei's visits always consisted of my mom fussing over Rei, making sure she was fed properly and, more often than not, stitched up from her most recent run in with sharp objects. I could scarcely remember a visit where Rei didn't start out the trip in the sick bay. I sighed.
Rei hadn't spoken during my silence and I had the feeling similar thoughts had run through her head.
"When we were younger I thought you and I would end up together." I commented, breaking the silence. Rei looked over at me, her eyes widened slightly in surprise.
"I liked to think about that too, that you and I could be something special one day." I murmured. When I was younger Rei and I had developed a rapport. All that changed when I met Haruka.
Rei and I were no longer as close as we once were. During a few of her more recent visits to Neptune, I had been away with Haruka, busy falling in love.
I'd left Rei behind, it was only now that I realized she had closed herself off from everyone when I'd done that. We were no longer the children we used to be... She had changed, but she wasn't completely unrecognizable.
"You're always going to be something special; you don't need me for that." She whispered in response. I took her hand, threading my fingers through hers. I was slightly surprised she allowed this action.
"Even now, some part of me wants to end up with you." I admitted, finally bringing myself to say what I'd been thinking for years. We may not have been in love but we loved each other, that much was clear.
"But the other part, the majority, is so desperately in love with Haruka that it will never be a possibility." Rei said, seeming to know what I was feeling. We had a mutual understanding of one another.
"I just want you to know that if... things don't work out for you. I will be here for you." I said.
"If things don't work out, I'll be dead." Rei stated without any true emotion showing in her voice. To me she sounded resigned, almost accepting of that fate.
"You can be a real ass, you know that?" I pointed out allowing myself to be exceedingly blunt. It was usually the most effective way to talk to Rei. "I was saying that I won't let that happen if I can do anything about it."
"All you would be able to do is marry..." Rei suddenly clued into what I was saying.
"No." She said firmly, looking me in the eyes. "You are not giving up your happiness, your love, for me."
"Having my best friend alive would make me happy." I remarked drily, taking a page out of Haruka's playbook. Rei rolled her eyes.
"No." She repeated firmly. "I'm not worth that. You deserve to be in love. Don't give that up for me."
Her voice and tone had an underlying message to it. She didn't think she was deserving of love. It was sounding like she had been confronted with something she wasn't sure how to deal with.
I sighed. I sensed this conversation had gone as far as it could at the moment. I rested against her side, content to let the conversation drop and just be. I, however, knew that she was worth it... in every sense of the phrase. The trick was getting her to see it.
ARTEMIS
"Rei." I called from the doorway, hating to disturb her. She and the Neptunian girl seemed quite comfortable together and I loathed being the one to tear Rei away from that. Especially when I considered what I was tearing her away for. My earlier talk with Eros had not instilled me with confidence. I had hoped he would at least be a bit more mature about the betrothal than Minako had been... apparently that was asking for too much.
Rei looked towards me.
"Eros wishes to speak to you." I told her. I noticed that the Neptunian girl, Michiru, cast Rei a worried glance. It seemed they had discussed the others' opinion and treatment of Rei... who had seemed all too forgiving when her comrades insulted her.
Rei caught Michiru's look and rolled her eyes slightly.
"Honestly Michiru, what's the worst he can do to me? Dislike me?" Rei gave a low chuckle, which was tinged with bitterness. "That won't be anything new."
Michiru looked like she wanted to argue the point but Rei rose from where she had been seated. Michiru gave a sigh.
"See you later?" Michiru asked, Rei looked back. There was a genuine smile on her face.
"I'll find you after, if not then we'll see each other at the Ball later on." Rei told her. Michiru gave a nod then brushed past us on her way out the door.
EROS
I paced back and forth across the floor as I awaited the arrival of Artemis and the Martian. There was a sickening feeling in my stomach at the thought of those barbaric people, along with a deep sense of contempt. I let out a sigh. How could mother even think about letting Minako wed one of those savages?
I kicked over a chair in my temper. More and more was being taken out of my control. There was nothing I could even do to protect Mina any more. At least those bastards back on Venus had to bow before my superior skill... Against a Martian I was woefully inadequate. I was nothing.
There was nothing I could do to protect my younger sister from her fiancée. And that scared me more than I could ever possibly admit out loud.
I let out an apprehensive sigh as I heard footsteps approaching.
ARTEMIS
I had accompanied Rei back to her quarters doing my best to apologize for Eros' behaviour.
I sighed as Rei and I parted ways. From the very moment Rei had set foot in the lounge Eros had been rude and careless with his words. I had hoped he would be more restrained, more mature about the whole ordeal but apparently that was too much to ask of him.
She had looked unfazed by everything he had said, but I knew that she was more bothered by Eros' words than she was letting on. Eros was a Venusian after all. They all had a disturbing knack for knowing what words would wound you the deepest, even if you didn't show that it actually hurt.
I suppose his attitude to be expected. As the eldest, he was protective of his two younger siblings and that was only amplified when their father had died. Eros had stepped up and taken on his father's responsibilities towards household and family.
REI
I left the 'conference' with Artemis and Eros feeling drained. Eros had spent the entire time expounding on my people's flaws along with his own perceptions of my shortcomings. He had warned me away from his sister and family in no uncertain terms.
Despite Artemis's quick defence of me, and his many profuse apologies for Eros's behaviour, I felt worthless and dangerous.
I let out a low growl, annoyed with how easily Eros had managed to upset me. Before I came to the Moon, others' opinions of me mattered little. Why did I care so much about what other people thought of me?
I closed my eyes momentarily, I knew the reason for the sudden influx of feelings I now had to contend with. Minako. She was at the root of... everything.
Eros' words bothered me so because I knew that was exactly how Minako saw me even if she didn't say it to my face. To them I was a heartless murderer. A savage barbarian whose hands would always be covered with blood. I would always be dirty in their eyes.
I felt sick with myself, knowing there was nothing that could make me more acceptable in Minako's eyes. More human.
I did my best to push those thoughts away as I left the sanctuary of my room. Hopefully Michiru and I would be able to spend some time together at the ball, her presence always did seem to simplify things. Or at least distract me.
RHODE
A dark and intimidating figure lingered by the doorway to the ballroom. I edged my way closer, mindful of my siblings' warnings about Martians. Apparently they were blood thirsty monsters. This one, however, was watching the night sky with a peaceful expression on her face. She was displaying none of the raw fury or passionate hate that was described in the horror stories about Martians. She emitted an aura of serenity and calm into her immediate surroundings.
From my place in the shadows I watched as two large ravens swooped down and landed near the Martian, idly she reached out and stroked the feathers of one bird. It was as if she were lost in thought.
"Storm's coming." She whispered, the raven nuzzled against her hand.
The other bird hopped onto her shoulder, staring in my direction unblinkingly. I took a step backwards, unnerved by the bird's attention as its beady eyes watched me. However I stumbled as I backed off, revealing my presence as I fell to the ground. The woman turned around, raising a hand to the bird on her shoulder.
"Phobos, you shouldn't be scaring people." She commented, shooing the bird away before she knelt in front of me.
"Are you alright?" She asked kindly. I felt a hint of fear at this. Martians were supposed to be savages, what was she trying to do? What was she trying to accomplish?
The bird she'd spoken to landed next to me in a flurry of feathers. I flinched slightly. The Martian sighed.
"I apologize for him. " The woman said. I nodded, not looking away from the bird. It cocked its head slightly before hopping forward. I shied away.
"He won't hurt you. He's just curious. It's a trait that plagues most ravens." She said. The bird made a soft cawing noise as if in protest to her words. The other raven lingered on the balcony railing, watching the scene unfold.
"Deimos, tell your brother to back off a little bit." The Martian said over her shoulder. The smaller raven seemed to cough. Phobos retreated, joining the other raven, who I assumed to be Deimos.
"Here." The Martian said, offering a hand. I took it and found myself pulled to my feet.
"You're Rhode, Lady Minako's younger sister, correct?" The Martian asked me. I nodded, not sure if I should ask for her name. I knew she was 'betrothed' to my sister but I knew nothing else. Eros had neglected to mention her name to me, only referring to her as the 'Martian' or 'savage'.
"I'm Rei." She said, answering my unasked question.
I nodded again, feeling young and foolish.
"Would you like to meet Phobos and Deimos? They're not actually all that bad." Rei offered, gesturing to the ravens. I peered around her; the smaller of the two ravens was preening its feathers while the larger one strutted back and forth along the ledge. I edged closer.
"Sure." I replied, trying to keep the hesitation out of my voice. Deimos stopped preening and raised her head, black eyes turning towards me.
Rei reached out and Deimos hopped onto her arm, bringing the bird closer to me. I reached out cautiously and stroked the bird's feathers, it leaned into my touch.
I glanced up at Rei, who gave me a small smile. I was momentarily taken aback. She was pretty.
"You talk about them like they're humans." I said, watching Rei. What I would describe as a wistful smile crossed her face.
"I've known them since I was very small. They've looked out for me and helped keep me safe." Rei replied. There was a moment where she just gazed at the two of them fondly. She cleared her throat.
"If you're bored in there, I'm sure Phobos and Deimos would keep you company." Rei told me, Deimos shuffled over to my arm, making a cawing noise. "Now you two take care of Rhode and I'll be back soon."
"Where are you going?" I asked, curiously. I was no longer afraid of her, she didn't seem that bad. She paid more attention to me than anybody else at the gathering. Even Minako had few words for me.
"I'm just going to check on someone. I'll be back momentarily." She replied, then I recalled she was one of guards to the Princess.
I nodded watching her walk back into the palace.
"She really can't be all that bad, can she?" I asked the two ravens. She hadn't seemed like a savage to me. If anything she seemed calm and controlled. It was puzzling.
REI
I left Rhode out on the balcony with Phobos and Deimos. I was trying to make sure that she was at least looked after if she wandered off. From the rumours I'd heard she was a sickly child, unlike her elder siblings and it concerned me that she had left the warmth and safety of the ball room to explore. I sighed, what was I talking about? It wasn't like she'd get assassinated while on the Moon. It was unlikely she'd get assassinated at all.
I scanned the ball room for the Princess, she was surrounded by people, none of whom I judged a threat. My gaze shifted around the room, taking in all potential entrances or means of assassination. One thing in particular that drew my gaze was the skylight, however I judged it irrelevant. An assassin would have landed in the middle of the room if they came from there, it was not an ideal location for an attack of any kind. You would find yourself surrounded and completely outnumbered.
I eventually was satisfied with what I saw, other palace guards flanked the doorways and I had spotted Minako and the others amongst the crowd. One of them was never too far from the Princess. I then retreated back to the balcony. I was the outer guard, Minako had decreed that my presence inside would probably just make things more dangerous for the princess...
Rhode turned to me as I came back. Her eyes studied my face, this time more in curiosity than in fear.
"What's Mars like?" She asked. I was startled by her question.
"Why do you ask?"
Rhode shrugged.
"I'm rarely allowed to travel. My mother says it's because I'm too delicate. I always wanted to travel the worlds but it seems it's never going to happen. They didn't even want me to visit here, they said the journey would be too taxing." She replied, looking away.
I leaned on the railing. I could understand that. I saw a part of myself in her, we were both looking for something different than our current lifestyle. I wanted to escape the fighting; she wanted to live a little. I nodded.
"You just want to get out and see the world, huh?" I asked. She nodded. "Trust me, there are some things in this world you don't ever want to see."
She studied my face again, then nodded.
"What's it like being..."
"A Martian?" I asked, quirking my eyebrow. She smiled and shook her head.
"No. Being betrothed." She asked. "I haven't found..."
"Your sister does not love me." I cut in, it was common knowledge that Venusians only married for love. Her younger sister seemed under the impression there was actually something between us. "At the moment I have little faith in this situations success."
"But you..."
"It doesn't matter what I want, that isn't taken into account on my planet."
"So if you love her and she doesn't love you, the marriage won't happen?" There was a pause. I had a faint suspicion the child was more astute than she was letting on. "Or if she loves you and you don't love her, the marriage will still go through, regardless of whether or not you're happy?"
I nodded.
"Well, that's a dumb planet." She commented. I had to stifle a laugh at her words, they were so blunt and honestly spoken. Her words were spoken purely and from her heart.
I was used to dancing around the topic of the betrothal with Minako, I hadn't expected her sister to be so forthright.
"So what do you think of my sister?"
"Lady Minako is... a good person." I replied after some thought. I really did not want to discuss my feelings with someone I'd just met. Especially when Minako had captured my very soul and I knew that one day it would be ripped from me on her account.
"A good person..." Rhode murmured. I glanced over at her, choosing not to prod. She would talk when she was ready.
"She's always been the favourite. Beautiful, strong, popular, and talented at everything she tried." Rhode said softly. I had a feeling Rhode felt she was none of those things.
"Yes, she is all of those things but she's also loud, stubborn, obnoxious, and flighty." I said, Rhode looked to me a small smile twitching on her face. "Rhode, you'll never be like her in some ways but in others you've already surpassed her."
"Yeah?" She asked sounding doubtful.
"A goddess of love is supposed to see with her heart." I told her before beginning to turn away from her. I shouldn't even be talking to Rhode. Minako and Eros would react poorly; a fight was probable at this point.
RHODE
For a few seconds I was shocked by the Martian's words, I barely noticed her leaving me on the balcony again.
"Wait." I said softly. Rei turned around, not quite looking at me; she seemed to be focused on something over my shoulder. "What will happen to you if this marriage falls through?"
Rei's gaze fell on me again, her expression blank.
"I'll just disappear." She replied. I caught her wrist before releasing it again quickly, annoyed with my actions. I was acting in a manner unbecoming for a Princess... even if no one was watching.
"What do you mean by that?" I asked.
"I'll run for my life or I'll die." She said and then left me standing alone on the balcony. One of the ravens had taken flight when she'd left, the other remained with me. I found myself staring out at the palace grounds as she had done earlier, an odd feeling of serenity washed over me despite the turmoil within my mind.
MICHIRU
I watched as Rei walked back in from the balcony. She was under strict orders to maintain her distance from the Princess. I looked around, the princess was occupied by a line of suitors are the moment and Haruka was deep in discussion with Minako.
I wove my way through the crowd.
MINAKO
I watched as Michiru pulled Rei out on to the dance floor and I almost laughed when I saw Rei's face. She looked annoyed and apprehensive, the combination of which gave her a rather amusing expression. This piqued my interest, or rather; I wanted to see Rei make a fool of herself on the dance floor.
How could my mother expect me to marry such an uncouth barbarian? I mean, the woman was afraid of a dance floor!
Michiru positioned Rei's arms around her body and I felt Haruka stir next to me uncomfortably. She seemed just as intrigued with this event as I was, though for completely different reasons.
What happened next surprised me. Rei led Michiru around the dance floor with appalling ease and grace, never faltering or missing a step.
"I hate it when she does this." Haruka grumbled, glaring at the pair, though I assumed she was glaring more at Rei who was now adding in extra steps, confusing Michiru and making her laugh as she tried to figure it out. The steps were not only complicated but joined with the rest of the dance seamlessly. Rei's face remained as impassive as always, despite Michiru's laughter and smile.
"Where'd she learn to do that?" I questioned, unable to keep the awe out of my voice.
"Hmm?" Haruka questioned, tearing her eyes off the two dancers to look at me. I gestured back at Rei.
"Oh, the dancing." Haruka muttered then she waved her hand dismissively. "It's a part of the training regimen on Mars, it's thought to improve balance or something like that. Everything they do on that damn planet involves war in one way or another."
REI
Michiru seized my hand, pulling me out on to the dance floor. What fresh hell was Michiru trying to introduce me to today? I sighed inwardly, knowing there was nothing I could do about it if I took past experiences at face value.
As we neared the centre of the floor I concentrated on the music for a moment, glancing at the other dancers. I fell seamlessly into step.
"You dance well." Michiru pointed out after a few moments as I led her through the motions. "I thought I would have to be the one leading."
I raised an eyebrow.
"Would you like to be the one leading?" I asked, frowning. She laughed, the noise echoing through the dance hall.
"No, I just hadn't expected you to be so competent a dancer, seeing how much time you spend swinging a sword around." Michiru said, reaching out and brushing back some of my hair. I raised an eyebrow and began to add in steps fluidly.
"On Mars, dance is commonly used to improve a soldier's footwork and creativity. It is all a part of... swinging a sword around."
"Was that a jest?" Michiru asked, squeezing my shoulder slightly as she studied my face. She was smiling.
"What do you think?" I replied, cocking an eyebrow while I studied Michiru. She was always a hard one to figure out.
There were a few moments of silence between us where we both just listened to the music. The song came to an end, I dropped Michiru's hands and made to step back as the next dance started up. It was a fast paced Venusian one. A tango I think it was called.
"One more, Rei." Michiru requested, pulling me back against her. I raised an eyebrow and readjusted my stance, sliding my arm around her waist fluidly causing our bodies to interlock suggestively.
"Why do you care to dance with me? I believe you have a ready and able dance partner already..." I pointed out, nodding my head slightly in Haruka's direction. I could feel her murderous gaze on me with every step I took; I would be unsurprised if blades were drawn at some point in the near future. I scoffed inwardly; she had the nerve to call me uncivilized? I found the irony amusing.
"I think that should be quite an obvious answer." Michiru replied, allowing herself another coy smile. I clenched my teeth at her flirtatious tone as we continued to dance. I had an idea of how we looked together, spectators would no doubt be drawing some false conclusions about the nature of our relationship. Or rather our current relationship...
"Oh?" I asked, almost growling out my question.
"I wanted to talk." She stated as if it were abundantly clear what her intentions were. I fought back a sigh and the urge to roll my eyes. She was toying with Haruka's affections at this point... or maybe mine. One could never be too sure with Michiru. She certainly knew what she wanted and how to attain it.
"Oh yes, because all the best discussions happen on the dance floor." I remarked sarcastically. Michiru laughed.
"I wanted to talk about you and your fiancée."
I scowled, doing my best not to glare directly at Michiru.
"What's there to talk about?" I asked stoically.
"Well if the mere topic brings up this much resistance surely there's something to discuss." Michiru responded gently in her best patronizing tone. This time I rolled my eyes, that tone had prompted many a discussion throughout my childhood. I decided just to get the conversation over with, she would poke and prod until she got what she was after... and all the while I would be stuck on the dance floor. It was better to get it over with.
"I am a Martian, thus incapable of basic human feelings. Other than that there are no problems between Minako and me." I replied in a stiff voice. Michiru laughed, cupping my face with one hand.
"It will get easier." She whispered, bringing her lips close to my ear. "She will learn to see you for who you are and she will fall in love with you, just as you did with her."
I pulled back slightly.
"I find that hard to believe." I replied. What was there to love, but a monster?
"Just trust me Rei. You're a good person, she just can't truly see you yet. Even you can't see what a good person you are." Michiru said. She always managed to see right through my feelings and facades.
"How can you say that?" I asked. My heart aching.
"Rei, we shared something special and through sharing that, I came to know you better than anyone else. Someday everyone else will come to see what I see... I just hope that day comes before it's too late." She whispered, pressing her lips to my cheek.
Michiru pulled back, giving me a smile. A rush of memories flooded over me along with the accompanying heat. My face no longer obeyed my commands and a small smile grew, along with a soft blush. She laughed again, caressing my cheek.
"See? I knew you hadn't really forgotten how to smile." She said, suddenly a hand grabbed my shoulder and pulled me away from Michiru. It seemed Haruka was finally jealous enough to intervene. The kiss had something to do with that, I'd wager.
I spun around, deftly placing Michiru between her and me. If it came to a fight it would, no doubt, be placed at my feet, not Haruka's and I did not want to deal with that, especially since Minako would most likely take that as a personal affront. No, we couldn't disappoint her, could we?
"It was a pleasure dancing with you Michi, let us never do it again." I said, kissing Michiru's hand before giving her a gentle push in Haruka's direction. Michiru gave me a look that said she knew I'd only kissed her hand to piss off Haruka. I smirked in response as I walked off the dance floor, glancing back at the couple. The look on Haruka's face showed stunned disbelief, I heard Michiru laugh softly.
"Jealous, love?" I heard Michiru ask innocently. I let out a low chuckle, shaking my head. She knew damn well what she had been doing to Haruka the whole time she talked to me... It was probably pay back for Haruka's stint with Minako earlier. I still couldn't figure Haruka and Michiru out as a couple. They were so damn complicated.
I gave a wry laugh at that thought. I sure was one to talk.