Disclaimer: I don't own Sailor moon, it belongs to Naoko Takeuchi/Toei animation
7. A dream no more
''Ami-chan?'' Sailor Jupiter's voice startled Sailor Mercury out of her reverie.
''Yes, Mako-chan?''
''This morning, when you were on your laptop, did you wrote about us?''
''Um.. yes.''
''Can I read it?'' Jupiter asked eagerly.
''Eh.. I'm not sure.. it's so embarrassing..'' Mercury tried to reason.
''Aww, c'mon, I read that other thing you wrote earlier! It can't be that bad, or can it?''
''...''
''Pretty please? I want to know what you think..'' Jupiter said and looked Mercury with eyes that could put a puppy in shame any day.
''...but...''
''I'll cook you a nice romantic dinner if you let me read it.''
''..Fine, go ahead.'' Mercury agreed, unable to resist Makoto nor her offer.
''Thanks.'' Jupiter declared cheerfully and opened the file where Mercury wrote her thoughts and poetry.
Jupiter's eyes followed slowly the lines as she read:
''It has been almost three days since I got together with Mako-chan. Never in billion years could I have believed that she too had feelings for me. I've never felt this happy, not even then when I first learned to read or got my first 20 volumes large encyclopedia. This is something entirely different, it's a matter of heart instead of mind. During this week I have gotten to see an entirely different side of Mako-chan.. it has taught me one shouldn't believe blindly what others say or taught as plain truth. There's so much to learn in the universe.. what was truth today may not be it tomorrow. What is the truth for me, might not be truth for someone else. It's odd how one can see so much, yet be so blind. Blinded by others, blinded by oneself. It's funny how one can walk pass by something familiar everyday, never really seeing it at all, but once looking at it properly, one realises how beautiful and unique it had been all that time. When the moment comes to realise the way things really are.. it's hard to describe with words.. I guess you could say it's world shattering but also creating. It's a feeling. Confusing, scarying.. yet once you have experienced it, you don't want to change it for anything.
I'm happy I'm finally able to say 'I love you' to Mako-chan without fearing anything. Without fearing my own feelings.. rejection.. my parents.. other's opinions.. new emotions.. No man is an island, that is what I've learned. I used to think differently, I used to think I could make it on my own.. I used to think love and romance were just illusions.. pretty names to veil the act of getting offsprings and ensure the procreation.. Now when I have experienced it myself, I realise many of my thoughts have been silly.. black and white.. only seeing things in one point of view.. never questioning anything.
All the time spend in this duty of protecting the princess has been very liberating for me. I have seen and done things I wouldn't have experienced if I had stayed home. I would still be lonely. It was funny how I managed to isolate myself even when I got here. During all this time I have waded in my own misery, and I haven't understood that all this time I had people who I could call friends if I had wanted to.. Serenity-sama and her daughter, Artemis and Luna, Minako-san and Rei-san.. I was so bound to my own prejudices I didn't even consider trying to befriend Mako-chan.. Even though I hate that man who tried to hurt me, I wouldn't want to change how the things went since it lead to this. I doubt everything would have worked out so fast (if at all) between me and Mako-chan without that disgusting encounter. Sometimes the unpleasant or insignificant feeling events are the ones that changed things or had meanings, we just have to learn to deal and live with them. Nothing is certain in life.
All I can say is, I'm happy now. She makes me happy. I'm glad she found the courage from herself to confront me after reading my text. I'm not sure if I had had the same kind of courage.. It's hard to believe that just year ago I couldn't have believed that things like cooking, taking walks, talking and cuddling with someone would make me content and set my heart and mind in peace. We have done all those things during these last few days and I can honestly say I've never been happier. What started with fascination and lust, has developed into deep love. I really love Makoto.. our future is everything but certain.. still I'm grateful even for these few moments I have had with her.. I'm going to fight for our future. I do everything I can and I know I'm capable of doing all that because she's there.. by my side. And I know that is all I'll ever need.. Now I have to stop, it seems my angel is waking up. She looks so peaceful while sleeping.. I hope she is as happy with me as I am with her.''
Sailor Jupiter moved her gaze away from Mercury's text and looked at Sailor Mercury who was fidgetting the hem of her shirt nervously. This time Ami's text had been quite a different than last one Makoto had read. It seemed the other girl had found some sort of inner peace and Jupiter wondered could it really be just because of her. Mercury kept playing with her shirt and Jupiter decided to break the silence.
''Yes, I am.'', was all Jupiter said out loud after reading the text.
Mercury looked up and her gaze met Makoto's. Mercury needed no more words as she walked over to Jupiter and sat on her lap. Jupiter wrapped her other arm around Mercury and her fingers through Ami's short locks. Mercury sighed in relief as she rested her head against Jupiter's shoulder. Somehow it felt like the place where she belonged and everything else faded away.
---
''Ami-chan, how is the research going?'' Sailor Jupiter asked while typing up their plant and flower notes of that afternoon; they had agreed Makoto would do that while Ami was working on their peace making project.
''It's almost finished. Now we just have to decide what else we could do to persuade them beside this. If you don't mind, I would do a body scan on you. You know, since one of the reasons why Mercurians consider Jovians suspicious is the fact they don't understand Jovians's physical abilities. If you let me do an exam on you, they would see there's nothing more to it than an enormous amount of disciplined training.''
Sailor Jupiter raised an eyebrow and asked coyly: ''Would that demand undressing?''
''Well, yes. The scanner is more precise if there aren't any thick materials in the way.'' Mercury explained in her teacher tone.
Sailor Jupiter sweatdropped as Mercury started to explain the structure of her scanner, totally ingnoring Makoto's attempt to flirt with her.
''Ami-chan, I was just trying to tease you..'' Jupiter mumbled, trying to hide her amusement, after Mercury had finished her lecture.
''Oh? Ehe.. well you have to undress anyhow so..'' Mercury said sheepishly and managed to blush.
''Yes, I guess so.'' Jupiter replied smiling.
''Have you thought about how we could show something concrete to your people.'' Mercury asked changing the subject in attempt overcome her mortification.
''Yeah, I've been thinking about that and I have come to the conclusion all they need is to see you fighting. After that, they can't call any Mercurian a wimp.'' Sailor Jupiter stated rather proudly.
''What?!'', Mercury exclaimed, ''No, I can't! I can't fight before all the Jovians! I'm not good enough!''
''You were great when we had the fight last week.''
''First of all, you were holding back. Secondly, I wasn't good!! I was near of giving in from mere exhaustion when you ended the fight!''
''Well.. first of all, you're a sailor senshi. Secondly, I'm one of the best fighters on my planet and when I'll grow up, I'll become the best, I have to if I want to claim the throne of Jupiter. There're many soldiers back on Jupiter of whom you could kick the crap out of. With little more training duels and maybe few taught moves and you'll be a champion! By the time our parents figure out we're friends (and more), we're ready to defend out relationship in all fronts!'' Jupiter stated rather excitedly and showed victory sign to Mercury.
Sailor Mercury looked thoughtful for a moment as she tried to find a gap or flaw in the plan. She couldn't find any and finally she had to admit it was a good idea.
''Fine then, I'll do it.'' Mercury mumbled, her eyes closed.
''Good!'' Jupiter stated energeticly as she saved the file she was typing, closed the laptop and sat next to Mercury on the couch.
''Will all the things we do be enough in the end?'' Mercury asked worried.
''I don't know but it is a start.'' Jupiter answered smiling.
''Yeah.. but I could still do with a little more persuation with the dueling thing.'' Mercury spoke in soft tone, keeping her eyes closed.
Jupiter looked confused for a moment before she understood Mercury was paying back her earlier coyness.
''Well, I could do a written list for you of the reasons why we should do as I said.'' Makoto said as innocently as she could.
''Mako-chan! I show you what I think of your lists!'' Ami replied opening her eyes.
Sailor Jupiter smirked as Mercury pulled her closer so she could start the persuation.
---
''I wonder what's going on between Rei and Minako.. Rei didn't show up in the meeting this morning and I'm kinda worried Minako has broken her heart.'' Sailor Jupiter said while preparing the romatic dinner she had promised earlier to Mercury.
Mercury was leaning on the kitchen counter and watching how Jupiter's kitchen knife bit easily on the substances she cut. Once in a while her gaze wandered on Jupiter's form and she found herself oggling again.This time, however, she didn't have to do it in secret.
''...I don't think so. I think Minako was telling the truth when she said Rei got sick.''
''I hope you're right. Rei is very nice person once you get to know to her and she deserves some happines in her life.. I think she as been in love with Minako for some time..''
''I think so too.. Let's just hope for the best.'' Mercury replied.
''Yeah.'' Makoto agreed wistfully, hoping there was something she could do for them but not figuring anything.
''By the way, I really love your cookings. I never would have believed food tasted this good when cooked. I was so used to raw food I didn't even want to try anything else in the cantine.'' Sailor Mercury mumbled as she wrapped her arms around Jupiter's waist.
''Hmm.. nice that there's someone I can share my cookings with.''
''You mean, you didn't cook for anyone back in your home planet?''
''Oh dear, no. What do you think they would have said if they had got to know the fierce heir of Jupiter was hustling and bustling around in the kitchen, her pink apron laid over her uniform?'' Jupiter replied, laughing bitterly.
''I think it's sexy.'' Mercury tried to console her lover.
''The fierce heir of Jupiter or the pink apron?'' Jupiter asked amused, forgotting her temporarily upset.
''Both. So where did you learn to cook if no one knew about it?''
''I took the lessons in secret. One of the palace's cooks were willing to teach me. We veiled it as a cleaning duty in the palace's kitchen. My parents were thrilled, thinking it would grow me to appreciate hard work. Well it wasn't far from it since we did clean the kitchen afterwards, I just learned something new in the progress beside the mere cleaning.'' Jupiter explained while chopping an eggplant into sticks.
''Oh, I see. I understand, I used to had to read books meant for merely entertainment in secret since my parents considered them as dissolute distraction for my greater goals. I think they tried to kill me with the amount of study they made me do.''
''I'm sorry.'' Jupiter replied softly and stopped the chopping to hold Mercury's hands comfortably.
''Please, don't be. It's past now and I had my ways to survive.'' Mercury stated and rested her head against Jupiter's back.
Jupiter caressed Mercury's hands for a while before continuing the chopping.
''What are you making? Is it a Jovian dish?'' Ami asked after a while of comfortable silence.
''Actually no. The Jovian kitchen naturally prefers heavy foods, mostly including many different kind of meat dishes, since we need lots of energy to train and fight. I wanted to make something a bit lighter, so I decided to make fish, vegetables, giant-sized shrimps and mushrooms dipped in a batter and then deep fried. I call this a fusion dish because it is made by mixing the kitchens from different planets. I'm almost done with the ingredients, but we better fry it just before eating, because if it is left lying around for a long time, the structure suffers and it's not so good.''
''I see.. so are your preparations ready soon?''
''Beside this chopping, I just have to put the rice to boil. Why?''
''Could we go on the balcony to watch the night sky?''
''Sure.'' Jupiter replied, putting the knife aside, ''Just give me a moment.''
Mercury let go of Jupiter's waist and watched as Makoto carefully collected everything she had chopped on a plate before adding the rice in the pan, in the already boiling water. She stirred the rices few times before adjusting the lid on, putting the spoon aside. Then she washed her hands and undressed the pink apron.
''Is it cold outside? Do I need my coat?''
''Yes, I think so. It's already dark so it might be chilly.'' Mercury answered while searching her own.
In these past few weeks they had had much of free time in their hands, to do whatever they wished to do with it. No escorting of the princess, no compulsory trainings, no extra meetings, nothing. Now when Ami and Makoto had finally confessed their feelings for one another, they hoped it would continue in that way for a while. However, usually that kind of peace was just the calm before the storm broke.
That, however, wasn't the most important thing in their mind as Mercury eagerly opened the balcony doors and waited Jupiter to join her. The balcony was made of white marble as almost everything in the Moon Kingdom's palace. Few climbing plants reached the balcony's floor from between the railing and continued their way on the wall nearby. A wave of cool night air hit them as they stepped in the balcony. Stars were shining brightly and over half of the planet Earth could be seen clearly on the night sky, radiating its exotic colors. Other planets could be seen as faint dots far away in the space.
''Funny, we both are so far away from the place we call home, yet I feel my home is right here -with you.'' Ami said and turned her gaze away from the night sky to look at Makoto.
She blinked in confusion as it seemed the fierce Jovian was holding back tears. Jupiter pulled Mercury in her arms and whispered: ''Beside the words 'I love you', that is the most beautiful thing anyone has ever said to me.'' before bending down to kiss Mercury softly.
Mercury wrapped her arms around Juiter's waist and leaned her head on Jupiter's shoulder after the lingering kiss ended. Jupiter buried her face in Mercury's soft hair as she pressed the smaller girl more firmly against herself. Couple tears escaped from her closed eyes before the breeze dried them, leaving no marks of their existence in the first place. Jupiter would have never imagined a person could feel something like she was feeling at the moment, heck, she had had no idea that something like that could even exist. She was starting to understand the princibles of the Moon Kingdom and their motto: ''For love and justice!'' much better than when she had first arrived there. True strength was being able recognize one's own feelings and then learn to deal with them, accept and live with them. The disability to do that was the main reason why she had lost the duel against Rei, who knew exactly why and for what she was fighting for. However, now Jupiter believed she was finally at ease with her emotions. She sighed contently and let herself get lost in Ami's warmth.
''I've never been that good with words, Ami-chan, but I really love you.''
''I love you too.'' Mercury murmured and opened her eyes as she suddenly got the oddest feeling.
Cautiously Mercury turned her head and saw Sailor Venus and Mars embracing each other in a nearby balcony. For Mercury's horror they weren't that concentrated on each others at the moment because they were busy staring and smiling at.. her and Jupiter.
''Oh, kami-sama..'' Sailor Mercury muttered and pressed her face against Jupiter's chest in a vain attempt to hide her blush.
Being with her Mako-chan didn't mean she was still at ease with showing her emotions to others. Regardless her embarrassment, though, she was happy to see that Minako and Rei had found each other's as well.
Finally Jupiter noticed there was something odd going on with Mercury since it seemed the other girl was blushing. Jupiter looked around and saw Minako and Rei in a nearby balcony. A wide grin spread on Jupiter's face as she realised what the other couple was doing. She was relieved that Minako had returned Rei's feelings instead of breaking her heart, which was the last thing Jupiter would have wanted to see. The other happy couple greeted them and Jupiter raised her hand to wave back. It seemed her lover wasn't ready yet to show this side of her to others as she kept her face hidden.
After a moment Venus and Mars disappeared through their balcony doors.
''You can relax now, they left.'' Jupiter said amused.
Mercury opened her eyes and loosened her grip on Jupiter while smiling sheepishly.
''It seems that answered our question earlier.'' Jupiter stated cheerfully.
That seemed to drag Mercury out of her embarrassment as she replied: ''Yes, I'm just wondering what happened.''
''I honestly think our Minako-san busted our Rei-san. I don't think anyone, especially Rei, could beat a Venusian in that kind of game.''
''Yeah, I think so too.'' Mercury agreed laughing a bit, ''Do you want to stay for a moment or do you want to go back?''
''Let's stay for a moment, the night is so beautiful.''
The two lovers enjoyed the silence of the night until cold started to crept through their uniforms and they had to return inside.
''Would you make the table, so I can start to fry these?'' Jupiter asked while putting her apron back on.
''Sure thing.'' Mercury replied and started to search right kind of plates.
After Mercury had found all the necessary utensils, she made a small ice sculpture, picturing a delicate swan swimming across a glassy lake. For a finishing touch, she lit two romantic candles without being nervous nor burning anything this time. Mercury had gotten everything ready by the time Jupiter had finished deep frying their dinner.
''You can sit down and relax, I'll serve the dinner.''
''Okay.'' Mercury agreed, knowing how Jupiter seemed to love her cooking and serving it in the right way.
Jupiter served out the cooked rise on the, almost bowl like, plates and added the deep fried dish on top. Mercury took the seat across from Mercury and they both wished ''Itadakimasu'' before digging in.
---
Later that night the two ''enemies'' lay side by side on Sailor Jupiter's bed, snuggling together.
''I've never eaten anything so good than your cooking.'' Mercury mumbled, feeling rather tired.
''Good to hear I haven't lost my touch.'' Jupiter replied while her fingertips wandered on Mercury's back.
''No, you certainly haven't.'' Mercury purred while enjoying the soft caressing.
Jupiter smiled and bent down to kiss her girlfriend. They made it last as long as physically possible, enjoying every second of it.
''Can this last?'' Ami wondered after the kiss ended.
It was so hard for her to belief she could experience that kind of happiness in her life. The hole inside her had disappeared when Makoto had stepped in to her life, and made her old haunters go away with her mere presence, but her touch was the thing which made her addicted even more.
''I don't know, Ami-chan.'' Jupiter murmured, thinking about the very same things, ''I don't know, but I sure hope so.''
To be continued...
A/N: That was the oh so romantic fluffy seventh chappie. I wish I could have ended this here, because in the next (meaning the last) chapter the end of the Silver Millenium approaches.
But something less horrible (nevertheless very intimidating) as that is approaching me (meaning my exams), so I won't be able to post the last chapter before June.. Please, be patient and I try to make it extra long or something.. ehe.
The food Makoto made was actually a real dish called Dombura, which is made of cooked rice with Tempura (in this version) on top.
Thank you all who bothered to review and as always tell me what you thought about this. See you later :D
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