Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon, it belongs to Naoko Takeuchi/Toei animation
A/N: Mild violence and swearing ahead.
3. Revelations and an unexpected savior
Sailor Mercury sat at her desk, drawing a picture of Sailor Jupiter. It was still dark but Ami hadn't got enough sleep in the previous night. When Ami had woken up she had been pretty tired but absolutely unable to fell asleep again, because a mental picture of certain princess of Jupiter occupied her mind quite wholly. Finally she had to admit to herself she had a crush on Sailor Jupiter and that was the reason why she spend every possible opportunity staring at her or thinking about her. She had been unable to concentrate fully onto anything since the training duel between her and Makoto. All that had happened then had been too much for the shy Mercurian: she had touched her crush, talked to her almost casually and Jupiter had been almost nice to her. Since then the two had started to greet each other when they met in the hallways and Ami had doubled the amount of staring she practised in the level she was starting to feel she was a stalker.
Ami was sure her psyche couldn't take all this much longer and she would blow up. The more you try to forget something the more you think about it so Ami tried to do other way around: She tried to think Jupiter as much as she could but that didn't seem to work either. However, she enjoyed the 'thinking as much as one could' part so much she decided to keep practising it, who knows if it would work eventually.
Ami finished drawing a picture; she had portrayed Jupiter in a sleeveless tight shirt and in her uniform trousers which embraced her legs quite nicely. Makoto's posture was a bit provocative; she was portrayed from her right side, stretching as if she were doing her warm-ups, her chest pushed up and head cocked back while a satisfied smile painted her beautiful face. It looked as if it was a photo instead of drawing and Ami was happy with the result. She was especially happy with the picture's realism since it had managed to make her nose bleed by all the naughty thoughts it rose into her mind. Blushing like a tomato she put the picture into her scanner and saved the file to her computer where she could later attach it to her writings about the thunder senshi just like when she attached her drawings of the plants to their information. With shaking hands Ami started to pour her heart and thoughts in her laptop feverishly, just writing everything that came to her mind:
''It has been only couple of days since I had the training duel with Sailor Jupiter but I can't get her out of my mind. It's very nice to feel this excited about something else than science, but it just makes me feel even more confused and makes me act like an idot, like now. My thoughts and feelings doesn't make any sense anymore and I'm certainly not used to it. I mean how can one wild, barbaric, hunk, absolutely sexy Jovian mess with my mind like this? I mean she is so blunt with her speech, always saying what she thinks no matter what.. unlike my fellow Mercurians whose shilly-shallying always gave me a splitting headache, you always had to think which comments were hidden insults because they were the masters of playing mind and power games.
Anyway back to the subject. The way Jupiter moves, damn (sorry for the bad language) it is as if she were the most confident person in the whole world. Like she isn't scared of anyone or anything (which probably is the truth) and takes what she wants (I just wish she would want me!! Oh gosh, bad Ami! Bad). Her eyes.. when she looks at me my knees go oh so weak and it feels like she undresses me with her gaze both physically and mentally and looks right into my sould and through my clothes and I feel so naked before her and I would like to see her naked as well, I mean oh no not this line of thinking again! Why am I even writing this stuff.. Oh anyway, did I meantion thar she looks like a goddess, her auburn hair shining in the light..? her face.. Oh my god I would like to see her with her hair undone and messed up by my hands and tickling all over my face and my abdomen and..and..dammit (sorry)!
Oh my god how about those hands, her long slender fingers, muscles seeming to break through her tight shirt when she moves her arms and what about her chest! I mean I've never seen one so..so well equipped at a girl at my age..wait a minute! Since when I have stared other girl's chests?! This is starting to get too far.. so back on Mako-chan (doesn't that sound cute? Much better than the official Sailor Jupiter I have to call her). Oh gosh her legs, they are so long! I wonder how it would feel if those legs were wrapped around me as she has her way with me over and over again and oh my god that was just plain horrible (but hot)! Bad Ami! Very bad!
I have read too many sexual anatomy textbooks and those books which were stored in the adults only section in our castle's library, which I read anyway when no one was looking; it's very fine trait to be a quick reader. Especially the parts dealing with same sex's sex life were how could I put it..educational. It is a very good thing that we Mercurians are so curious about everything and intrigued by every form of known sex, after I read them the thought of Makoto being a girl and me lusting after her doesn't feel that odd and I know bunch of interesting techniques I would want to try with her. I have to say my fellow Mercurians were quite throrough with that book, maybe they were doing it because of something else than plain scientific pleasure? Oh my god bad Ami! It's not right to question their morale like that!.. but still did they had to photograph everything they were describing in the book..?
My parents would probably brainwash me if they heard my thoughts, but blah I say. For once this had nothing to do with them, this is my thing. Thing? Since when this has been a thing? And what is this? I think I'm losing my sanity. Still it's so embarassing! I'm so happy no one knows (I would die if they did). So why on the moon I'm writing this down? Nah, this is my personal computer with special unbreakable password. Hah, for once there's something good about being intelligent.
Oh damn (sorry) I got lost from the track again, now back to that sexy Jovian. I mean I would like to see her without clothes and feel that skin under my fingers. I would like to trace invisible patterns on her back and abdomen and legs and thighs and... I thought I was a normal innocent girl.. am I supposed to think this way? I have no idea.. all I can say before I met that girl again year ago I had no such thoughts.. and before that training duel the thoughts weren't so..intimate..there's something about her.. I feel so enchanted by her.. and she isn't even trying! I bet if she tried she wouldn't have to try that much before I was all over her.. Not again! I would like to talk about this with someone but I can't.. What is wrong with me? Or maybe nothing.. how the hell (especially sorry) should I know how the people of my age behave and feel.. it was a tabu to show one's emotions public back on Mercury.. and it isn't common here either.. All I know I like her much even when I'm supposed to hate her instead of liking.''
Ami stared her own text in shock, unable to believe what she had just written. It didn't make much of sense and it was far from her scientific textes. She had no idea she was able to write something like that, there were awfully lot of errors and such and she was sure if her teachers saw it they would hang her and if her parents would know her feelings towards Makoto, Ami would be hung at least twice. Mercury was even more confused as she realised her physical condition was far from normal; every nerve on her body seemed to be on fire. 'Am I sick or something? Let me see.. my thoughts are a mess my heart beats way too fast, my hands are shaking, it feels very hot and I'm probably blushing like there's no tomorrow, my nose is still bleeding..' she listed her symptoms and went white as blanket as she realised she had just decribed the symptoms of love she had read in one book and she realised she might be in love with a certain 'sexy hunky Jovian girl' as she put it. 'Why I cannot supress these thoughts?' Ami thought and felt absolutely terrified and totally happy by the thought in the same time as she bang her head against her laptop before she realised it wasn't healthy (to her laptop).
It was already bright when Mercury finally shook of her wild thoughts away for a moment, stopped typing, saved the file under the title 'stormbringer' and closed the laptop. She stood up and decided to go to breakfast in the palace's canteen. She usually fetched breakfast from the kitchen and ate alone in her room but that morning she didn't feel like being alone with her thoughts. Who knows, maybe Sailor Jupiter would be eating there as well?
---
Sailor Jupiter sat at round table in a room where the princess' bodyguards usually held their regular morning meetings. Jupiter stole glances of Mercury as Rei explained something about Minako gotten sick and therefore being unable to attend the meeting this time. Jupiter had hard time concentrating on what Mars was saying since she had other thoughts occupying her mind like the one sitting across from her. Mercury and Jupiter hadn't got much closer after their duel few days ago, but at least they now acknowledged each other's when they met in the hallways.
Still Jupiter foud herself wanting more, a real friendship at least. She was almost certain the shy Mercurian wouldn't want to such a thing with her. There was nothing in her the other girl would find interesting. She wasn't smart, intellectual, moderate or cute; the list was endless. Makoto was the almost exact opposite of Ami and they had nothing in common. Why Jupiter then found herself drawn to that blue haired senshi like a fly to a fire? Well, Mercury was so different from herself which Jupiter found more interesting than repulsive. It seemed like Ami hid herself behind walls; she didn't let anyone to get close to her even though Makoto could see sadness and loneliness in her eyes. Makoto wanted to get to know the other girl better, to make her pain go away. She also wanted to know find out whether or not the things she had heard about Mercurians were true.
Besides Mercury looked really cute when she concentrated on something; her short blue locks falling almost into her eyes, her lips pressed into tight line as she pondered something hard. She seemed so fragile yet she had been surprisingly strong in the training duel. Her small hands looked so slender that Makoto wondered how it would feel if those hands roamed all over her body while the bluenette's lips were claimed by Jupiter. Jupiter was completely tired thinking what she was supposed to think and she just let her mind wander on its own. There was nothing she could do to stop it anyway, not after that damn duel. They had been so painfully close and Mercury had looked so absolutely hot. Makoto had no idea what had been going on between them then, but she would like to know what it had been.
The fact she was in love with a girl coming from Mercury was more confusing than the fact she was in love with a girl. In Jupiter that was no big deal; some people liked their own sex, some didn't. As simple as that. They had bigger concerns than who people were supposed to mate with. They actually even had a ceremony compared to marriage, the blood bondage ceremony, which was especially popular with soldiers. Public show of affection wasn't practised. Things like cuddling and love weren't that important compared to fighting and strength and they were considered private; behind bedroom doors stuff and it was absolutely no one's business what happened behind those doors.
Jupiter tapped the wooden table with the tip of her fingers as her gaze wandered between Mars and Mercury. She had noticed some time ago that Mercury tended to stare her more than she thought was normal, especially since she didn't do so with Mars or Venus. Everytime Jupiter turned to look at her, she turned her gaze away quickly and blushed ever so slightly. Jupiter didn't know the reason for her behavior, perhaps it was the same why Mercury came everytime to watch hers and Mars' duels. She didn't know the reason for that either so that line of thinking was pretty useless.
''Nothing new has come up, so I guess we might as well end the meeting here and continue tomorrow if Venus is feeling any better. Any questions?'' Mars asked living up to her vice leader's role.
''No.'' Both Mercury and Jupiter replied.
''Good. Dismissed.'' Sailor Mars concluded in her leader tone.
Mars left quickly after they all had risen up and bowed to each other's. Jupiter delayed her leaving for a moment so Mercury would leave first. Their meeting wasn't usually so short and Jupiter wanted to find out if Mercury would head to the royal garden right away or later or if would she go back to her room first. Jupiter knew all this about Mercury's habits because she (as she herself called it) spied on Mercury and ever since she had started to go to the garden . For whatever reason she went there, Jupiter had started to follow her and be there 'spying' all the time Ami spent in there. It was weird and she wasn't supposed to do it, but she told her it was because she had to know what her enemy was up to. All the time she had spend spying the other girl she had seen no evil plans of Mercury put to action. Instead she had seen something that looked like gardening, but wasn't after all and she didn't understand what Mercury did there. She had also gotten to see how cute the bluenette looked when she concentrated fully onto something.
Finally Mercury left the meeting room and Jupiter sneaked after her. As she had thought Mercury didn't go to her room but walked straight into the garden. Makoto sighed, she might as well go back to her room for a while since Mercury tended to do this regularly: To forget the pile of paper she always carried with her when going to garden. At least she now knew Mercury intended to go to the garden as soon as possible. Jupiter had watched countless times Mercury forgetting her stuff and returning to her room to fetch it. Sometimes she would have wanted to remind her about it, but she naturally knew she couldn't. Jupiter walked back to her room smirking for Mercury's behavior; she couldn't help the fact she considered it quite adorable.
It took a while for Mercury to return and Jupiter had to wait all that time her ear pressed against her door so she could hear when the other girl came back. It was also common that the she girl got distracted and it took a while before she returned to the garden, just like it did now. Finally Jupiter heard Mercury going and as silently as possible she sneaked after her. Jupiter kept their distance short because it wasn't necessary keep it long since the other girl had never noticed she had been followed. Makoto could have as well stand right behind her and she probably wouldn't have noticed that either. It seemed that the bluenette was always in a world of her own and sometimes Jupiter had this urge to get her out of that world.
The actual royal garden was, in a way, divided into three different sections. There were three different paths leading to those sections and the paths began at the garden's gates. There were flowers, plants, trees and different kinds of bushes everywhere along the grit paths. The left path was usually used when people wanted to have quiet walks in the garden and admire beautiful and impressive flora. There were also benches along the path if one just wanted to sit and enjoy the artificial nature. Right path led to a small fountain and the path was full of benches since that part of the garden were usually used to associate with other people. The middle path led to the deeper parts of the garden which weren't usually used by other's than palace's gardeners since the flora there were rare and almost endangered.
Today Ami chose the middle path again and walked in the other end of the long path Makoto following right behind. Finally Mercury stopped and searched the spot where she had left yesterday and continued her odd work. Jupiter stepped out of the path and hid behind tree a bit further away, just in case. Everytime Jupiter came to the garden she enjoyed being there. The flowers were beautiful, the athmosphere almost serene and the were all kinds of interesting insects and other bugs flying in the air. Back on Jupiter Makoto never had time to think things like that. Makoto especially liked the colorful butterflies and the scent given by thousandths flowers. The truth was, however, that she liked staring at Mercury even more. Makoto smiled contently as she saw Ami concentrating her job dead seriously.
---
Sailor Mercury kneeled down on the ground just where the actual garden began and the grit path ended. She made sure her knees weren't against the hard and sharp stones so she carefully adjusted her position so that she was halfly kneeling in the garden area while her legs were on the path. They had gotten off the meeting way more earlier than Mercury had expected so she had decided to use that free time on her research in the garden. She would have gone there earlier if she hadn't forgotten to fetch her notebook and pen from her room like she had done many times earlier. 'Maybe I should write a reminder and glue it on my forehead..' Mercury pondered as she searched the spot where she had left, '..then again if I don't look into mirror I won't notice it..' Mercury continued her useless thinking when she finally noticed the spot she had left yesterday.
Her research was lonely work, but Mercury enjoyed it nevertheless and being alone in the garden was much better than being alone in her room. After Ami had read every interesting book she could find from the palace's library, the places where she could spend time had reduced into zero. Ami especially enjoyed the feeling of soft soil against her skin and the many exotic scents of the garden. Something that could naturally be experienced only on the planet Earth they say, since in the other planet's flora were all artificially produced and grown nowadays, because of the unfavorable circumstances. Still they were the best attempts to keep the old flora alive. It was important for Mercury to preserve nature's uniqueness and to find new ways to stop extinction of different species. Mercury was almost certain the answer to the problems could be found from science.
Suddenly Mercury noticed she hadn't thought Sailor Jupiter for a moment. She was in a way a bit relieved by that since it proved she hadn't lost her sanity for good after all and that she was still able to concentrate on things in some level. Ami sifted her spot a bit and chose an entirely new bush to be recorded. It wasn't that beautiful bush, on the contrary very thorny and stunted. Ami never touched the plants with bare hands because she didn't know all the plants in the garden and some of them might be toxic or might die when touched bare handedly. Mercury couldn't identify the bush so she just took its information up, she also didn't see similar bushes anywhere near that one.
''Well, hello there. Nice view.'' Mercury was startled by the sudden voice coming behind her.
There had never been anyone else in the garden besides her in that time of day she usually visited the garden so she hadn't prepared to meet other people while being there. Mercury stood up and turned around quickly only to find herself looking into pair of dark green eyes belonging to a blonde man. Immediately Sailor Mercury figured out that the man must be from Uranus by his looks and that he must be one of the palace's soldiers since he wore a similar grey uniform as Ami; only distinction being Mercury's planetal symbol next to moon on both of Mercury's arms indicating she was a royal and one of the princess' bodyguards.
''Hello.'' Mercury answered hesitantly and continued as she thought the man must be wondering what she was doing there, ''Don't worry, I have a permission from the queen to study the plants here.''
The man looked a bit puzzled by Mercury's response to her greeting but quickly he recovered: ''Oh yeah, that. Yes I know. I've heard one of the princess' senshi was, but I have never met her here. So, nice to meet...?''
''...Sailor Mercury..'' Ami answered as officially as possible.
''Not talkative, aren't you?'' the man almost snorted since that wasn't the answer he had waited but he continued, ''Anyway, my name is Gendo.''
''Nice to meet you..Gendo.'' Mercury mumbled, wanting to end the pointless conversation with the boy.
There was something odd about him but Mercury couldn't quite put her finger on it.
''So Sailor Mercury, my shift is ending soon so would you like to go out of the palace and in to the city to have a drink with me after that? And maybe something else later if we hit it off..'' the man said winking and smirking unashamedly.
Mercury stared him in disbelief, thinking did he really mean what Mercury thought he were implying. It was so hard to believe since he seemed to be over twenty years old when Ami was just fourteen and no one had been so direct towards her in things like that ever before. Mercury shifted uncomfortably where she was standing, wanting to get out of the situation as quickly as possible. She was blushing in embarrassment by the rudeness of this Gendo guy and as the man took a step forward and she immediately took a step backwards.
''I-I'm sorry but I'm busy right now..'' Mercury tried to stutter, not coming up with better excuse at the moment.
''Well, how about tomorrow then?'' the man asked untiringly and took another step forward.
''Um.. I'm flattered but I don't want to. I'm sorry I'm not interested--''
Finally the man's grin was swept away and an angry expression painted his otherwise handsome face.
''Oh, is that so? I see, the little princess of Mercury is not good enough for a mere soldier.'' he stated mockingly.
''I didn't say that. It's just th--'' Ami's explanation was cut short as the man's fist connected with her jaw; she had no time to block it because she certainly hadn't expected it
Mercury fell on her back by the impact and landed on the ugly bush she had studied and she felt its thorns piercing her uniform coat and blood running down her arm. For a moment she hoped the bush hadn't been ruined entirely but her mind was occupied by the sudden assault. Mercury wasted no time after she recovered from the first shock and when the man took as step forward again she kicked him between his legs. The man growled and bent in pain, took a step back and stopped to mutter and swear.
''You don't seem to understand the meaning of no, do you? I really suggest leaving me alone now or you will regret this.'' Sailor Mercury stated as she stood up fast.
''Shut up, I'll do just what I want.'' The man replied and the smirk returned on his face.
Mercury decided no talking at this point would stop the man so she decided to take him into custody and let him to do the explaining at the Moon Kingdom's court. Mercury didn't understand how someone like that was able to get a job from the palace in the first place, she figured he must have used his so-called charm on his preys like he had tried now.
Just when Mercury took a step forward to make her plan reality, she started to loose her sense of touch. Quickly she stopped wondering what was wrong with her, it felt as if she were starting to paralyze. Mercury knew it wasn't out of fear or anything as simple as that since she knew she could beat a guy like that even without the help of her laptop. 'This got to be because of that bush, it has to be poisonous!' Sailor Mercury thought as she faintly felt the thorns stinging in her arm. She decided to summon her planet's power since it was able to heal or remove most of the toxic and other substance.
''Mercury eternal force, I su--'' Mercury started in commanding tone but suddenly lost her voice.
No matter how hard she tried she couldn't say anything and suddenly she found herself on the ground again as her legs gave up. She tried to get up with the help of her hands but she was unable to move them. The man stared her smirking evilly.
''Oh, I see that you're eager to get it on after all, you were just playing hard to get.'' He said laughing a bit and continued, ''When I'm done with you, I might beat you as a thanks!'' the man said and laughed even more evilly.
Mercury tried to scream for help and in horror and stand up but she couldn't as she was now almost totally paralyzed.
She heard the man mumbling: ''No one would waste an opportunity like this.'' and Ami thought only bastards like him would take an opportunity like this.
The man came closer and started to unbuckle his belt. Mercury wanted to cry and fight back, she had never before in her whole life felt so helpless. She knew the situation wouldn't end well since there were no one at this time of day in that part of the garden. She had thought that the Moon Kingdom's palace was the safest place in the whole world but it didn't certainly seem so now.
The man was excited, he didn't seem to know if he should have undressed himself or Sailor Mercury first as he suddenly started to unbutton Mercury's coat instead of his trousers. Then he got a better idea and decided to get a taste of the Mercurian girl first. Mercury stared in horror as the man's face came closer but suddenly he was jerked backwards. Mercury stared in disbelief as Sailor Jupiter had came out of nowhere and was now dragging the man off her by his hair and threw him hard on the grit path. Mercury saw some of the man's hair had been pulled of and were in Jupiter's hands when she just threw them on the ground.
''You asshole! No always means no! Scumbag!'' Jupiter growled and punched the man's face.
The man whimpered and lay on the ground as helpless as Mercury had been just moments ago.
''Get up and fight like a man you miserable son of a bitch!'' Jupiter yelled, dragging the man up and then kicking him between his legs and then punching him again.
Mercury couldn't literally do anything else than stare at her unexpected helper beating the crap out of her attacker. Jupiter lifted the man off the ground by his collar, glaring him murderingly and almost choking him.
''Please don't kill me, I'm sorry! Please..'' the man was now pleading.
''I didn't see you showing any mercy towards the girl you attacked juts moments ago.'' Jupiter stated in cold tone and the man started to whimper and sob.
''..But..I, unlike you, know that if you can do something doesn't mean you should do it.'' Jupiter said behind gritted teeth and allowed the man's feet to touch the ground.
''But mark my words: if you try to escape the palace before I send someone to fetch you, I swear I will hunt you down and tore you into pieces with my bare hands.''
The man nodded in fear and Jupiter threw him several feets away in disgust. The man landed the ground even harer than before and he stood up and hobbled away as fast as he could. Mercury was absolutely happy and relieved that she hadn't been raped on one hand, but on the other hand she was confused of why and how Jupiter had come for her help.
---
Sailor Jupiter took deep breaths and managed to calm herself down. She was angry at herself for reacting so slowly to the situation, but she had had no idea the bastard would really attack Sailor Mercury. They were the princess' bodyguards and royalties for heaven's sake. If it was unforgivable to do something like that to normal people, it was even worse to try to do it to a planet's heir. Luckily she had been quick enough to interfere before something irreversible had happened.
Suddenly she remembered she had more importants things to do than thinking. She hurried to Sailor Mercury's side who was still lying on the ground. She had a bad feeling about what was wrong with Mercury since she had stopped fighting back so suddenly. She knew there were poisons which were able to do that. Sailor Mercury looked at her but was unable to say anything or move. Only her eyes seemed to move but Jupiter was glad she wasn't yet totally paralyzed.
She knelt next to Mercury who managed to look relieved and frightened in the same time and there was small bruise on her jaw. Carefully Jupiter searched something that would indicate to poisoning and noticed the cuts on Mercury's arm. She looked around frantically and saw the the damn bush, 'The Devil's lair'. It also grew on planet Jupiter and Makoto knew its poison would eventually paralyze all the inner organs as well and lead to its victim's death.
''Did you hurt yourself on that ugly stunted bush near you?'' Jupiter asked in shaking tone.
Mercury blinked her eyes quickly as an 'yes'. Jupiter swore in her mind and hoped the man who did this would burn in hell.
''I think you have been poisoned.'' Jupiter stated in calm tone and Mercury's eyes widened with comphrehension.
''It's a rare plant, growing also on my planet and it's poison is used in arrows and such because it paralyzes the enemy or prey like this.'' Jupiter explained as she pulled the surprised and very limb Sailor Mercury in her arms, ''Don't worry, I'll help you.''
Jupiter lifted the Mercury easily of the ground as if she weighted no more than a feather, making Mercury blush by the touch she didn't quite feel but imagined anyway. Sailor Jupiter ran the path leading to the palace and into her room carrying the blushing and shocked Mercury in her arms. Makoto had no idea if the palace's infirmary even got the antidote in question so she decided to go to her room instead since she was sure she had one bottle left. When Mercury realised Jupiter wasn't taking her to the infirmary a wave of uncertainty washed over her, but she quickly pushed it out of her mind since she wanted, needed to trust Jupiter; she had saved her after all.
Jupiter didn't notice Mercury's confusion bacause she was so worried about the poisoning. She rushed through the hallways of the palace and straight into her room, banging the door shut behind her. Jupiter carefully lowered Mercury on the couch and went to rummage through her supplies. Jupiter knew all the antidotes to most common poisons and she had brought most of the antidotes with her in the Moon Kingdom's palace. It had been part of her battle training to learn different kind of poisons used in weapons and especially arrows.
Finally Sailor Jupiter found the small bottle she was looking for. The antidote had to be swallowed, but Jupiter was quite sure Mercury could do it since she was still able to move her eyes. For a small passing moment she thought what her fellow Jovians would think about her helping the heir of Mercury, but she mentally beat the thought away and walked over to the waiting Ami who looked absolutely confused lying on the couch in Jupiter's personal room.
''Um.. Everything is going to be just fine, I have the antidote to that poison here. Just relax.'' Jupiter stated and realised how stupid the last comment had been: ''I mean don't worry.''
Jupiter sat next to the lying Mercury and helped her in the sitting position. She took carefully Mercury's coat off and removed the thorns from Ami's arm. While doing it she had plenty of time think how soft Mercury's skin felt and how nice it had felt to hold Mercury in her arms. She shook the thoughts away and when there were no thorns left she cleaned the area with the antidote like she had been teached and saved the most of the antidote to be swallowed.
''Can you swallow?'' Jupiter asked and got a bunch of blinks as an answer.
Carefully Jupiter opened Mercury's paralyzed mouth and poured the bottles contents in, making Mercury redder than she had ever seen her. Mercury managed to swallow all of it except a tiny drop which ran down her bruised jaw. Makoto swept it away so tenderly she didn't even knew she was capable of. After she was sure Mercury didn't suffocate she lowered her back on the couch and started to wait since that antidote should be rather fast.
Sailor Jupiter had no idea what else she should do since she knew Mercury must be shocked about what almost happened to her. Hesitantly she took Mercury's small limb hand to her own and tried to look encouraging. Mercury blushed again, but otherwise seemed to appreciate the gesture as her expression relaxed. Sailor Jupiter had hard time fighting back her own blush since she was now even closer to Mercury than she had been in that training duel. Quickly she turned her head away and tried to look everywhere else than into those blue piercing eyes. Jupiter had had no time to think when she had rushed for Mercury's aid but she knew she would do it again without hesitation. She didn't understand how anyone would want to hurt someone like Ami, she had done no harm to anyone and certainly didn't deserve to be treated like that. She also wondered if it would affect the things between them somehow. The incident had been awful, but she silently hoped it would bring them closer; she really wanted to get to know Ami better.
Finally Jupiter felt Mercury's hand squeezing her own and she turned to look at her.
''Can you speak.'' Jupiter asked as Mercury slowly rose to sit.
Before Jupiter had chance to say anything else Mercury wrapped her arms around her and buried her head into Jupiter's shoulder. Jupiter totally froze as realised the other girl was crying and it made her even more confused; she hadn't waited that kind of reaction from the reserved girl. To tell the truth she had no idea how Mercury would feel, but she wanted to understand her better. Hesitantly and kind of stiffly Makoto wrapped her arms around the smaller girl and held her close.
''Um..it's over now and everything is fine.. He won't hurt you again.'' Sailor Jupiter whispered, not knowing what else to say.
''T-Thank you. For everything. I don't even want to think what would have happened if you weren't there..'' Mercury mumbled between sobs.
''It's okay.'' Jupiter muttered and felt embarrassed by their closeness and the attention she received.
''Um..Do I need to take you to the infirmary?'' Jupiter asked as Mercury finally pulled away blushing again.
''No, I don't think so. These will heal fast, I think.'' Mercury answered after inspecting her arm.
Suddenly Mercury's expression changed drastically as she seemed to remember something and she asked almost in demanding tone: ''Why you were in the garden? I mean, there's never no one there..''
''I-um--'' Jupiter started and decided to tell the truth, she had been doing that too long anyway: ''I-I have been spying you. You know since you started to go there and--''
There could be seen disbelief, disappointment, hurt and angriness in the same time on Mercury's face as she almost yelled: ''You what?”
Jupiter actually flinched; it hurted her to see Mercury so upset. She had never wanted that but what else could she expect when something like that was revealed.
''I-um-sorry-but-let me ex--''
*SLAP*
Makoto's explanation was cut short as Ami slapped her on her left cheek and then literally ran out of the room looking angry, hurt and confused as she muttered: ''I knew I can trust no one, especially any Jovian. I'm so stupid.''
Jupiter whacked herself with a mental stick, she should have known no one would take something like that well, especially after what had just happened. Still it hadn't been the reaction she had waited or certainly she had wanted. Though even if Mercury would have let her explain her true motives, meaning she had a crush on Mercury, she had no idea if she had had the courage to confess that.
Mercury hadn't hit her that hard but for some reason Jupiter noticed tears in her eyes. It was funny because she hadn't cried since she was a little kid. Somehow the mere thought that Mercury was hurt by something she did, made her feel like shit. Jupiter stared at the closed door and wrapped her arms around herself as if trying to comfort herself.
To be continued...
A/N: So there was the third chappie.. that was a cliffhanger, muahaha, I should do them more often. Before you all behead me, I might as well tell that in the next chapter I will explain reasons for Mercury's reaction and Mercury regrets her behavior and tries to apologize Jupiter. ;)
As always, please tell me what you thought about this chapter. :D I don't know when my next update will be but see you later anyway! :)
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