Not all blondes are created equal, and Rei really didn’t know what to do with the one in her arms, for the one on her mind, she knew, was casting a rather dangerous glare in her general direction.
The leader of the senshi was perched on the balcony of Serenity’s private courtyard, her back to a pillar, her feet dangling over the balcony’s edge. She aimed for casual indifference as she examined how Rei interacted with the others in general and with their Princess specifically. She could have been a leader observing her troops. Conversely, if Martians were known for their possessiveness, Venusians were known for jealousy, and she could have been a jealous woman keeping an eye on what she deemed was hers.
Even she didn’t know which of the two was truer.
The Princess of the Moon Kingdom snuggled deeper into Rei’s arms. “Did you know,” she asked as she looked at the others, “that Rei-chan is Sailor Mars?”
Makoto nearly spat out the drink she’d been sipping. “What? When did this happen?”
“Five Lunar days ago.” Serenity said smugly. “We couldn’t announce it earlier because afterwards, Rei-chan ran off to bring Minako back from Venus.”
Rei and Minako blushed and turned their heads in opposite directions.
“Five days ago!?” Makoto looked to an unfazed Ami. “This doesn’t surprise you?”
“Well,” the blunette began nervously, “I knew Rei-san wasn’t normal-“
A snicker from a distance caused Rei to bristle and she shot her eyes to Minako. “Nothing out of you.” She barked as she tried to peel the exuberant Princess from her body. “Stop taking things out of context!”
“-because of the sensing powers she displayed on Jupiter.” Ami was quick to continue. “That kind of tipped it off for me.”
“Well, you could have told me.” Makoto said with a slight pout.
“Ooh, lover’s spat.” The voice in the back said.
The tall brunette shot a glance to her leader. “Nothing out of you!”
Minako sighed and crossed her legs. “Must be one of those days.”
A small, genuine smile touched the Venusian’s lips as she examined her team. Never before had her group felt so… complete, a completeness that had only come to fruition when Rei had stumbled into her life… into their lives. Minako noted the gentle softening of the Priestess’ fierce, amethyst eyes, a response she knew was similar to, but not nearly as drastic as the one she’d received from the crimson warrior on several occasions, and she wanted to believe that the Martian felt the same way for her new comrades too.
Minako rose from her perch and approached her soldiers and her Princess. Ami and Makoto’s mock squabbling came to a cease-fire. The Princess detached herself from Rei and retreated to a spot on the grass. The Venusian inserted herself into the middle of the courtyard, not as their friend, but as their commander.
“Lets talk of our next steps regarding the youma.”
Ever Minako’s equal, Rei had no problem asserting her opinion. “We’ve searched the planets closest to the Earth, but what of the others?”
Ami fidgeted slightly. “The planets of the outer rim-“
“Keh!” Minako crossed her arms in a huff.
“-have their own senshi.” Ami continued. “Their reports indicate that the youma invasion has reached as far as Neptune.”
“Wonderful.” Minako groaned.
The Martian watched the dynamics between the Venusian and the Mercurian with a confused sense of interest.
“Their leader will blame me,” Minako clarified bitterly, “blame us, for allowing a problem that began in the inner reaches of the solar system, to expand to the outer reaches.”
“Mina-chan and Haruka-san don’t get along very well, you see.” Serenity added helpfully.
Makoto snorted. “That’s putting it mildly.”
Minako’s frown deepened. “Anyway, I’m sorry, Princess, but we can no longer err on the side of coincidence when it comes to the Earth’s involvement in the matters at hand.”
Serenity frowned. Her eyes dropped to the ground. All four of her guardians looked elsewhere lest their better judgment be clouded by their Princess’ disappointment.
“All of our clues point to the blue planet.” Minako said quietly. “The access points found on each planet’s pole seem to be of Earth make. Rei insists that the signatures of the five individuals we saw time and again were definitely human. Ami-chan is still researching the data, but we believe that the location that the access points were pointed to in order to transport the youma from was Earth as well.”
“This whole thing reeks of that damned planet.” Rei spat, and then had the decency to look sheepish once scolded by Minako’s reprimanding glare.
“Still,” the leader of the senshi said cautiously, “this will be a touchy political issue, and there is already word that there is a large amount of civil unrest on Earth. It’s widely known that the Earthlings harbor mistrust against the Moon Kingdom.”
Ami nodded. She called to life her transparent super computer and wasted no time in analyzing data. “We must also keep in mind that the youma are not a native Earth species.” She examined Rei and Makoto’s blank expressions and chose to clarify. “That means the youma have technically invaded their planet as well, and though it must mean that someone is controlling them to their own ends, we don’t know who that person is, and even if it is an Earthling, we can’t condemn the entire race of humans for it.”
Serenity rose on shaky legs. “We must meet with their Prince. We must initiate diplomatic relations with the Earthlings.”
Minako eyed Serenity warily. “But Princess-“
“Endymion will talk to us like he did before, and both our peoples will benefit from opening communications again.” There was a childish longing in those big, blue eyes, but there was also wisdom there, waiting for its chance for Serenity to lead her people. “We can’t just leave them in the dark and make their decisions for them.”
Minako hung her head. “You’re right, Princess. And under the conditions of our previous treaty, we can’t even step foot onto their planet without their advance knowledge.”
“It would only serve to create more unrest if we did.” Ami agreed.
Of one mind, Rei cracked her knuckles and Makoto paced. This plan went against their fighting instincts and their displeasure was clear. Left up to them, they would storm the planet and get their answers first hand.
“Mercury,” Minako’s authoritative voice shook everyone in the courtyard, “continue your research. I want an update at thirteen hundred hours.”
She turned to her two rogue warriors, “Mars, as a senshi, you are to join in guard patrols. Jupiter will show you the ropes.”
Assignments given, Minako turned, expecting her senshi to disperse, but a voice caught her off guard. She turned and frowned. The Martian lingered boldly.
“And you?” Rei asked. “No solo more missions, I trust?”
Minako turned to meet Rei’s amethyst gaze. The smile that touched her lips was soft. “No solo missions. I will take personal guard duty of the Princess, and she and I will make plans to contact the Earthling Prince and his entourage.”
“You are dismissed.” The Venusian smiled at her subordinate mischievously. “For now.”
She’d been told it was a kind of siesta, a time when the population at large rested in their shops and homes for several hours before gearing up for evening activities.
It didn’t make much sense to the Martian, but then, not much about this strange, new place did, and she continued her patrol of the western edge of the Moon Palace regardless.
Mars walked forward confidently, amethyst eyes scanning in all directions, ever on the lookout. She turned a corner and that confident strut stumbled slightly upon finding herself at a dead end. Jupiter may have taught her the beat pretty well, but she figured her own sense of direction could use some improvement.
Just as she was about to return to the main thoroughfare, a pair of strong arms wrapped around her waist and she was pulled back into a supple, welcoming body.
Mars tensed. She felt the flame of her powers ready themselves at her disposal. But at the last second, she fought that fight or flight instinct, and relaxed into the arms she knew belonged to Venus.
“Didn’t sense my approach?” Venus purred coyly as she laid a hot kiss to the back of Mars’ neck.
“Can’t always detect… the one who’s already… flooded your senses.” The Martian’s words were halting as she succumbed to the Venusian’s ministrations.
“Hnn. I like that answer.”
Mars tipped her head back onto Venus’ shoulder as the golden warrior’s hands splayed themselves across the hollow of her stomach. Wet lips traveled to the side of her neck, and up to her ear.
The Martian fought for her sense of awareness in the tumult of unexpected desire she felt. “What of the meeting with the Earthlings?”
“Three Lunar days from now, they’ll arrive.” The response was rushed, and as her lips were preoccupied with speaking, Venus allowed her hands to make up the difference, one traveling north, caressing the area beneath the Martian’s breasts, and the other traveling south to the crimson warrior’s hip.
“Venus…” Mars growled with wavering resolve, “I’m supposed to be on patrol. You’re not being a very good commander.”
“Oh? I think I’m being a great commander.” Gloved fingers trailed along Mars’ thigh for emphasis.
“Venus…” Mars’ breath hitched in her throat, somewhere between a plea and a complaint.
“Hmm? But I’ve already patrolled this section for you, Rei.”
The Martian’s body finally relaxed. “You’re incorrigible, Mina.” She half-scolded.
And then she turned the tables, spinning in the Venusian’s hold and swiftly pressing the golden warrior’s back against a stone wall before she slid a knee between the other woman’s welcoming thighs.
“You’re one to talk.” Venus purred right before Mars claimed her lips roughly.
Mercury and Jupiter – wisdom and courage, flanked Serenity’s right side, and Venus and Mars – love and passion, flanked her left. But the Princess herself was the one who rose to her full height. In a flowing, white gown, she was every bit the kind and fabled Princess she was portrayed to be by the peoples of her kingdom.
“Shouldn’t this be a job for the Lunar diplomats?” Mars growled low enough for Venus’ ears only.
The golden warrior smirked. “We are the Lunar diplomats.”
“Wonderful.” The Martian spat.
Venus snorted and smoothed out her skirt. “Do I look presentable?”
“You embody the attributes you wish to project, if that’s what you mean.” Mars said. What went unsaid, but which was implicitly understood, was that Mars could see through Venus’ mask to her mistrust of the humans. They were emotions that mirrored her own darkly.
Serenity shifted her weight from one foot to the other. The leader of the senshi elbowed her discreetly. “Stand tall, Princess. I’m sure Endymion’s missed you as much as you’ve missed him.”
Mars frowned. “You shouldn’t encourage her. You don’t know his intentions.”
Venus only smirked. “Zip it, Rei. Here they come.”
Led by a tall and handsome man adorned in a flowing cloak and upper body armor, the sounds of booted heels and the rough Earthian language snapped the senshi to attention, and they waited for the Prince and his entourage to approach.
“Ah, the Prince and his four lackeys, the shittenou are pretty faces with easily forgotten names.”
Mars knew that Venus’ quietly whispered words were for her sake. There had been little time for the new senshi to involve herself with learning who she was about to meet, but her leader’s manner of explanation bothered her. She glared at the men the Venusian had called beautiful.
A gentle hand touched the Martian’s elbow. “Oh come now, possessive one. I didn’t mean it like that.”
Mars broke her dark glare to gaze at her leader. She met that smirk with one of her own. “Zip it, Minako.”
The group of six humans came to a halt a respectable distance away from the Princess of the Moon. Venus bridged that gap as both leader and diplomat, and began the introductions required by etiquette.
“Her Majesty, Princess Serenity of the Moon Kingdom,” she began, and Serenity bowed her head slightly. “Sailors Mercury and Jupiter,” Mercury bowed respectfully and Jupiter nodded, her arms crossed over her chest. “Sailor Mars,” Rei only frowned, “and Sailor Venus.” Minako tipped her head in introduction to the Earth Prince. “It is good to see you all again, and the Moon Kingdom welcomes and honors your arrival.”
A rogue human, a tall woman with shockingly red hair, and the only female of the entourage, stepped before her Prince and his four guardians.
“His majesty, Prince Endymion, ruler of Earth.” Endymion’s eyes firmly locked on Princess Serenity’s and he bowed deeply. “Kunzite, leader of Earth’s Mid-Eastern Lands,” a tall man with long, white hair merely smirked, “Zoisite, of the European Lands,” a slender man with a long pony tail nearly curtsied, “Nephrite, of North America,” a man of stocky build with dark hair only frowned, “and Jadeite, of the Far-Eastern Lands,” the wispy frame of a blonde haired boy bowed slightly.
Venus narrowed her cerulean eyes, “And you, ma’am, who might you be?”
“Beryl.” The woman nearly sneered. “Prince Endymion’s advisor and tactician. And what is your rank, little girl?”
The golden warrior rose above the taunt and refused to take the bait. “I am Venus, leader of Princess Serenity’s senshi.”
Meeting the tactician’s beady gaze, the Venusian was unfaltering and neither woman was willing to bend. Finally, Beryl smiled. The gesture didn’t reach her eyes.
“Nice skirt, Venus.”
The golden warrior showed no outward offence at the poorly disguised insult. Instead, she motioned for their guests to follow her down the hallway. Over her shoulder, she addressed Beryl in particular,
“Take your place, tactician.”
“It’s been far too long since we last met. I think it’s long past due that we repair the failing relations between our peoples. I fear that by maintaining segregation, we have only created mistrust.”
Endymion leaned his frame across the table. “Much agreed, Princess. Earthlings, I fear, do not understand the Moon Kingdom’s good intent, and despite our continued attempts to keep the peace, my people have much to worry about these days. Between the ecological disasters we have been experiencing-”
The Princess frowned. “What kind of ecological disasters?”
The Prince’s brow furrowed, and he turned to Beryl. “Was that not in the report we sent before our arrival?”
“Perhaps it accidentally got left out.” The red haired woman shrugged casually.
Endymion returned his attention to Serenity. “Of late, the Earth has been experiencing minor tectonic activity, a decrease in rain, increasing temperatures, and severe electrical storms that have caused widespread failures of our technologies.”
“Prince Endymion,” Mercury spoke tentatively. She glanced to her Princess and leader who nodded for her to continue, and despite the hard glare she felt from the Earthling female, she continued. “ Most of those problems you described may be related to an increase in sunspot activity I’ve been tracking lately.”
“Sunspots?” The Prince asked. He was too preoccupied to notice the shittenou shifting uneasily in their seats.
“If you like, I can run some models based off my data. I’m sure it would prove most beneficial.”
Endymion bowed slightly to the Mercurian. “We would be most thankful for-”
“Our scientists are already hard at work on this issue.” Beryl barked. “Your assistance-“ The Prince’s scolding glare seemed to silence the woman, and the tactician backpedaled. “-may be of some use, I suppose.”
Venus nodded sagely, though her eyes were trained on Beryl. “You may be onto something, Mercury. Hopefully any joint effort made by the Moon and Earth to work together will be viewed as an advantageous effort to all of our peoples.”
“I hope it will be so,” Endymion sighed, “but between these disasters and the discovery of those hideous monsters that have been found at our pole, I’m afraid the Earthlings seek to make the Moon Kingdom their scapegoat. It may not be a logical conclusion, but my people are frightened. You must understand.”
Serenity’s cobalt eyes softened. Her hands reached across the table to close around his warmly. “I do understand, Endymion.”
Beryl pushed herself away from the table’s edge. Leaning back in her chair, she crossed her legs. “What information can you share with us about these monsters you call youma?”
The very name seemed to make the Princess of the Moon cringe. Endymion sat straight and pulled away from Serenity. Beryl smiled.
Venus rested her elbows on the table’s edge and leaned forward. Her measured words had been carefully rehearsed. “We know that they have infiltrated the planets of our solar system as far as Neptune.”
“And what? They simply mill around the pole of these planets like they do on ours?”
Mars’ fist connected with the table loudly. “They attack and kill each planets’ inhabitants mercilessly!”
Venus’ reprimanding glare silenced her subordinate, but she laid a steadying hand on Mars’ thigh under the privacy of the table’s edge.
“We also know that before they slaughter their victims, they suck the life-energy from their bodies.”
“Life-energy?” One of Beryl’s finely shaped eyebrows arched.
“Yes.” Venus chose to ignore the sarcasm.
“And what do they do with that life-energy?”
“We… don’t know… but we do know that they are not intelligent creatures, yet they have the means by which to teleport between planets via access points of unknown origin.”
“Then you are implying that these creatures are being controlled by a third party.” It was a statement, not a question. Beryl’s cold eyes dared Venus to make a presumption.
“I am implying that the youma could not make such moves on their own.”
Endymion clenched a fist. “None of this explains why they are on Earth, though. And if they’re attacking the populations of the other planets, why has ours escaped their carnage?”
Kunzite, seated immediately to his Prince’s right, growled. “Would you prefer that to be the case, my Prince?”
“No! No. Of course not.” Endymion sighed. “There are too many questions, and we are torn in so many different directions.”
“Then let us help you.” Venus stood, her fingers splayed on the tabletop, her long, golden hair falling over a shoulder. “We can work on this together. Allow the senshi access to your planet, and we’ll scout it out ourselves-“
“Absolutely not,” Beryl’s fist hit the table, “that would violate our treaty. Considering their current distrust of the Moon Kingdom, our people wouldn’t take too kindly to that, would they, Prince?”
Endymion’s hopeful smile faltered. “Ah, no. But… perhaps we could-“
“Perhaps we should take a break.” The human tactician stood, and leveled her gaze on Venus.
The leader of the senshi narrowed her cerulean eyes. “Thirty minutes should be sufficient.”
The figures around the table stood, chairs squeaked against the marble floor, conversations in several languages and dialects filled the room. Beryl leaned across the table, closer to Venus.
“Trust me, that’ll be more than sufficient. I don’t want to be here any longer than you want me here, little girl.”
“Venus Minako, I heard that language.” Serenity scolded from the opposite side of her courtyard where she lounged next to Ami and Makoto, blissfully stuffing her mouth with cookies as though she weren’t in the middle of such stressful negotiations.
“Damn it.” The Venusian grumbled, albeit much, much quieter. She needed a distraction. She glanced at Rei. A seductive smile tugged at her lips. No. That would have to wait for later. For now, she’d have to resort to her other favorite pastime that involved that woman.
She headed towards the brooding warrior. With her back facing Minako, her legs were swung over the balcony’s edge and her chin rested in her palm as she gazed towards the garden below. The Martian seemed unapproachable.
“Rei? Are you in there?” Minako asked quietly.
Those amethyst eyes blinked and the Martian looked over her shoulder. She smiled slightly when Minako slung an arm around her shoulder.
“Don’t think too hard, you might break something.”
Rei let the barb roll off her. She wouldn’t fall victim to the Venusian’s avoidance – she wanted to talk about this as much as Minako did. There was just something about that human tactician, something that rubbed Rei the wrong way, as though she’d seen her somewhere before. Usually, her senses would have given her a clearer reason for her uneasiness, but she’d been through so much over the past several weeks that all her experiences blended together to create a cloudy haze out of her senses.
“It’s Beryl.” The Martian finally said haltingly. “I don’t trust her any farther than I can throw her.”
Minako snorted. “I don’t know, I bet you’ve got a pretty mean throw, I mean, what with you being a barbarian and all.”
Rei groaned and rolled her eyes dramatically. “Three weeks ago called. They want their joke back.”
“Burn.” Minako chuckled.
“Really, Beryl is the one running the show.”
“I could tell.” Minako said offhandedly. Their skill at shifting from serious conversation to witty banter and back again was becoming impeccable. “She was speaking for the entire planet, completely railroading Endymion.”
“It was more than that. I think it’s less so with the Prince for some reason, but the shittenou seem to hang on her every word.”
“I picked up on that too, which is strange because when we first met them three years ago, the shittenou were blindly devoted to Endymion.”
“And what of Beryl back then?”
Minako shrugged uneasily. “She wasn’t with them. We hadn’t even heard of her.”
“Doesn’t that seem a bit odd?”
“A bit. But you know what’s worse? She’s in love with Endymion, too.”
Rei turned to catch Minako’s gaze. “Eh!?”
“Oh yeah. She’s got it bad. The emotion is so strong it borders on desperation. It hurts just to be near her.”
“And Endymion? What of his feelings?”
The Venusian rolled her eyes. “Please. Even you must have noticed. He couldn’t keep his eyes off Serenity.”
Rei sighed. “And she couldn’t keep her eyes off him, either.“
“This is going to get ugly.”
“Not as ugly as you.” Rei said with a satisfied chuckle.
Minako sucked her teeth. “Low blow!”
Rei smiled appreciatively. “I prefer to call it payback.”
Endymion fidgeted in his seat. He did not meet the leader of the senshi’s eyes. “We would permit Princess Serenity to travel to Earth. There, we could conduct more talks on our territory to raise morale amongst our peoples. It would be the first step to repairing our interplanetary relationship before any further steps are taken.”
Venus snorted. “That’s unacceptable. We cannot delay research of the youma that are on your planet. Let us all come. Between the senshi and the shittenou, if we work together and combine our resources, we should be able to infiltrate the pole and assess the youma threat more effectively, all while repairing the relationship between our kingdoms. We could accomplish two feats at once.”
The Venusian’s glare hardened. “Besides, I will not permit my Princess to travel to your planet unattended.”
The Prince of the Earth steepled his fingers together. Uncertain eyes met Beryl’s and the tactician stood.
“In that case, she may bring one of you as her aide. I fear that the presence of all the senshi will raise too many questions amongst our people. We can’t risk further mistrust. And that is our final decision.”
“And what of the youma?” Venus barked.
“We will send our own researchers to the pole. The shittenou have graciously agreed to meet this threat head on.” Beryl replied with a cool smirk, and then met the leader of the senshi with a coy smile. “Is this acceptable?”
Venus’ gloved hand balled into a fist.
With a sad look towards the Prince who was avoiding her imploring gaze, it was Serenity who answered.
“It will have to be so.”
Mercury cracked open the door to the Princess’ courtyard, uncertainty evident in her cobalt eyes. “Princess… Prince Endymion requests an audience.”
Underneath her white gown, Serenity’s feet hastened double time to the door. She knew her guardian was taking a great chance. “Ami-chan, please let him in.”
The Mercurian worried her bottom lip. Serenity’s hands clasped in front of her eager form. With a slight sigh, the senshi of wisdom stepped aside and opened the door for the human visitor. Endymion hastened forward into the opening.
“You have five minutes.” Mercury said sternly before shutting the door.
The Princess of the Moon launched herself into Endymion’s waiting arms. The Prince of the Earth held the woman close.
“I’m sorry we can’t see each other as much as we’d like, Princess.”
“But I’ll see you in just a week, right?” Serenity’s voice was a whispered exhale.
Much to Serenity’s displeasure, Endymion stepped back, but in his absence, he pressed a small, plastic device into the woman’s palm. Her blue eyes widened.
“This will make our separation more bearable. All the men in my army use these to keep in touch with their girlfriends back home.”
“Then does that mean…”
Smiling handsomely, Endymion captured Serenity’s trembling lips with his own, but only briefly. He parted quickly. “I’m sorry, my love, but it’ll raise suspicion if I’m not aboard the transport shuttle soon.”
The Princess reluctantly released her Prince. Blinking back tears, she nodded bravely. “I’ll see you soon, Endymion. In a matter of days.”
The Prince saluted his Princess sharply. His cape swished about as he turned and headed for the door.
“Endymion, wait!” Serenity’s voice bordered on desperation.
Dark eyes looked back over his shoulder to see the Princess running towards him. He opened his arms just in time to catch her. Her lips tasted like tears.
“I wish you hadn’t done that.” He sighed quietly.
“Endymion?”
“You break my resolve.”
Tears spilled from shut eyes as Endymion kissed Serenity deeply.
Minako neared the Priestess’ favorite spot and came to a halt on the other side of the giant tree’s trunk, resting her back against it and gazing back towards the Palace.
“One week.” She said darkly.
“Until the Princess is to head to Earth?”
“Yes.”
There was too much going on all at once, and Minako felt no small amount of irritation that it kept getting in the way of other things she wanted to pursue. Her thoughts ranged from such conflicting topics as the youma invasion, to the threat of the Earth, to the woman she’d become so desperately addicted to.
Given the time and place, her Venusian nature won this struggle. She turned her body around the tree and for a second, was nearly blinded by the brightness of the sun glinting off the sea that the Martian seemed so entranced by. She nudged Rei with a toe. Amethyst eyes slowly turned to her.
“Catch me.” She said sharply. It was almost an order.
“What?”
But before the Martian’s face could even register a look of confusion, the Venusian was off and running in a giggling sprint.
Rei grinned and spun her weight on a hand. She launched herself to her feet and gave chase, following the golden streak of hair as Minako dashed through small crowds of Lunarians and bolted right down the back entrance of the palace proper.
She chased the woman through the small town that surrounded the palace of the Moon, realizing that she was being lured into the plain that lay outside the city’s reach. Golden, waist height grasses swayed in a gentle breeze, and small, scraggly little-leafed trees dotted the flat plains.
Finally, either Minako was tiring under the exertion, or the woman simply wanted to be caught. Rei knew it to be the latter when her arms wrapped around the Venusian’s waist and the two women tumbled to the ground in raucous laughter, flattening the tall grasses beneath their bodies.
The run had been a long one, and they lay on their backs in a bed of long, golden grass. Finally catching their labored breaths, they laced their fingers together loosely as they gazed at the myriad stars seen through the Moon’s thin atmosphere, despite the light of the Sun.
Thin sheens of sweat finally dried and the chill brought on by a gentle breeze caused Minako to shiver. The Priestess turned and unclasped her cloak, and with her free hand, she threw the makeshift blanket over both their bodies.
It was better than any bed, for both the barbarian and the Princess.
There was no ‘night’ on the near side of the moon; as their celestial body was locked in synchronous orbit with the Earth, they always received the combined light of the Sun and Earth. Still, their internal clocks told them that it was well past midnight. Minako yawned and rolled to her side, wrapping an arm and a leg around Rei, the second time she’d found herself in such a position.
Finally, the heavy blue orb of the Earth caught their attention and the two women stared at it in helpless wonder.
“It looks like it could crush us.”
The Venusian’s desolate whisper made the Martian’s heart ache, but she was every bit the realist and could not sugar coat the situation.
“They may be our enemies in due time.” She admitted.
The silence became too heavy to bear.
“What are we getting ourselves into, Rei?”
The Martian met the Venusian’s gaze. She knew she wasn’t talking about the Earth anymore.
Rei’s arm reluctantly left Minako’s waist. Her hand made up for the loss by cupping the golden warrior’s cheek and drawing the Venusian into a gentle kiss. Slowly, she knew she’d achieved her goal when she felt the frown on the other woman’s lips become a tentative smile.
Finally, Minako relaxed into Rei’s embrace and even if only for a short time, allowed all her fears and worries to be erased.
Gasp – political intrigue? Definitely not my forte, but the dialogue in this chapter was a lot of fun to write. Beryl’s quite the antagonist, and she and Minako are like fire and ice.
OOO
Preview: Chapter 9: Like You and Me
Preparing for landing, a long range shuttle flew low over the Lunar plain.
Its two occupants gazed down at a makeshift sparring arena where two figures – a golden warrior and a crimson warrior – circled each other. Their closely choreographed movements could have been preemptive of a sparring session or a dance. At their altitude, it was hard to determine.
“Ara, Minako and the new one too?” A petite, aqua haired woman asked.
A tall woman with short, sandy hair snorted. “Just like Ami and Makoto.”
“Just like you and me you mean?“
“Do you think its coincidence, Michiru?”
The aqua haired woman smiled. “No more so than you and I.”
The white noise of the shuttle almost drowned the tall woman’s quietly spoken words. “These girls don’t need men or families to compete with their duty to the Princess.”
“Saa.”
“And no one is better suited to understanding the hardships of being a senshi than another senshi.”
“You’re being incredibly deep today.” Michiru said.
“Am I?” The other woman rested her chin in her hand thoughtfully. “Seeing Serenity must bring it out of me.”
“Maa.” The more introspective of the two wasn’t the only one apt to retreating into her own world at times. She’d have to remind her partner of this fact when she was in a more receptive mood. The slightest touch of her hand on the other woman’s knee snapped the blonde back to her attention.
“Haruka?”
“Hn?”
“Take it easy on them. Especially the little Venusian.”
“I’ll try.” A coy smirk tugged at Haruka’s lips. “But they need to be toughened up. Her especially.”
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