Note on Planet Names: Ten'ousei=Uranus; Kaiousei=Neptune; Meiousei=Pluto; Dosei=Saturn; Kasei=Mars; Suisei=Mercury; Mokusei=Jupiter; Kinsei=Venus ---------------------------------------------------------------------- "A Duke's son? What Duke?" "He claims that he's from Ten'ousei, Highness, though he did not name his father." Minako exchanged a glance with her best friend Rei, and the taller princess shrugged. "He did travel all the way to this resort looking for us. There's no harm in letting him in. Please, permit him to approach." The servant nodded and opened the door, and a tall young man with blonde hair and a richly embroidered suit entered, boots echoing on the floor, a sword by his side. He wore a tight, amused smile on his lips, but his bow befit his rank, and the princesses of Kasei and Kinsei inclined their heads. "Your name, young sir?" "Boku no namae wa Urakaze Haruka desu. Dozo yoroshiku onegaishimasu." "Pleased to meet you, Haruka-kun. Atashi wa Kino Rei de, Atashi no tomodachi wa Aino Minako to iimasu. Dozo yoroshiku. Why have you come?" "To learn, Highness, and to meet you at last. I imagine there is much you could teach a lowly Duke's son." Rei smiled, her fighter's sense catching the challenge. "I'm certain. You're welcome in my castle for as long as you can stand it." Haruka bowed his head mockingly, his eyes dancing at the challenge. "We shall see who gives first." *~*~*~*~*~*~* "Oh my . . . Minako, he is quite a fighter." Minako smiled as she helped Rei sit down on her bed. "You were great, but he was better. I think he was trained by King Koshu, as good as he is. Are you okay?" Minako began to massage Rei's knotted shoulders, and the taller senshi began to relax. "Thank you, Mina. That feels wonderful." She reached up and covered Mina's hand with hers, but Mina pulled away. "Rei-chan, we can't. My father called today, again, and he found me a new suitor. He wants me married as soon as possible." Rei took Mina's hand and placed it against her cheek, pouting. "I never get to have any fun." Minako raised an eyebrow, and Rei sighed. "I know. But you don't have to leave just yet. You can extend your visit a little bit." "I really can't, Rei. He's already suspicious and Mother is sick with worry. It's not proper for the two of us to be so close. We're supposed to be friends and partners but not anything more. We can't break our family lines for the sake of our relationship." "I love you, Minako. Isn't that enough?" "No, Rei, but I wish it was. It's the Curse of the Sailor Senshi to love and lose. I'll marry some Duke but I'll always think of you." Mina let Rei draw her into her arms, and she closed her eyes as her tears began to flow. "Always." Haruka watched the pair from the partially opened door, and she sighed. No matter where in the Silver Millennium she went, she found parents who would not leave their daughters alone. Poor Rei and Minako. Haruka clenched her fist, barely refraining from slamming her hand into the wall. Maybe they really didn't love each other forever and with their whole heart, but even just a little love like theirs should be respected. Minako and Rei would both marry men one day and rule their respective kingdoms well, but they deserved to keep caring about each other. Silently, Haruka retired to the room she had been given, ready to relax her aching muscles and desperate to keep her identity a secret. Kasei's Phobos Deimos Castle and Mokusei's Io Castle would be testing grounds for her, then the Moon, then she should be ready for Kaiousei's Triton Castle and Michiru. The image of little Princess Kaiou Michiru snapped into Haruka's mind, and she just smiled. That girl, wavy aqua hair barely restrained, pale blue dress accenting the sapphire blue in her eyes, had been beautiful that day, and Haruka suddenly wished that she had kept in touch with the Neptunian Princess, or spoken to her at least once. She would rectify that mistake on Michiru's upcoming birthday, and she would become the senshi's partner as the Soldiers of Kaiousei and Ten'ousei should be. Then she would have the power to be the Queen of Uranus as she deserved to be, as she was born to be. *~*~*~*~*~*~* "Leaving? Why, Haruka-kun? Are you afraid of being beaten?" "By you, Rei-san? No, I do not believe so. You have improved in unarmed combat and learned the particulars of sword-fighting that only come from knowledge and practice, so my damage here is done." Haruka bowed, his hand on the hilt of his jewel-encrusted sword sheath. He had not used that sword for practice, and Rei supposed that it was some beautiful, expensive heirloom. "By the way, Rei-san, Minako-san; all love is a fragile flower that must be nurtured, even if it must be hidden. Do not let others destroy your flower before it has a chance to blossom and grow. I wish you luck as princesses, senshi, and queens." Haruka once again bowed. In his mind, as he left, he could hear the one song he had composed on his new instrument, and he smiled to himself. That was his song. Rei laid her hand on Mina's and smiled. "I think he knows, Mina." "He does. We'll think about it."
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