Thank you reviewers! Here is the next long-awaited installment of "When the Battle is Over." Review, puh-lease! ;)
Stilling the Wind: Chapter 4
On Serenity's twenty-second birthday, Crystal Toyko held it's first Grand Ball. It was a joint celebration, both of the young queen's birthday and in honor of the new two-month old princess.
Serenity was breathtaking. She had recovered very quickly from her trying delivery and resumed her delicate pre-pregnancy physique. She stood on the raised platform in front of the formal thrones with Endymion on her arm. Within reach of her hand, a beautiful bassinet held the lovely, pink baby. Serenity touched the bassinet with the tips of her fingers, seemingly not wanting to be removed from her daughter.
Serenity wore her formal gown, long and flowing in white and silvery tones. She wore gossamer wings on her back and beautiful pearls adorned her arms and waist. Endymion beamed in joy, his happiness stemming from his beautiful wife and daughter. He wore a delicately embroidered tuxedo and a violet cape billowed behind him.
Serenity smiled warmly at the guests of the Ball, including Senshi, Council members, and members of Court. After welcoming everyone and encouraging the band to begin to play, she settled back in her throne with the bassinet at her side.
Haruka and Michiru waltzed around the dance floor, reveling in the beauty of the music and gauze covered walls and columns. Michiru wore a sky-blue gown accented with lace and ruffles. Haruka, declining a red gown at the last minute, wore a silver tuxedo, but she wore the shirt unbuttoned without a bow tie, defiant to the end.
Makoto and Ami laughed gleefully as they clumsily danced together. Ami's navy blue gown was sleeveless and unadorned, except for a bow at the back of her waist. Makoto's pale green gown had half-sleeves and vertical seams down the front. They twirled together, the navy blue ribbons of Ami's gown twisting around Makoto's pale green gown.
To everyone's surprise, Hotaru was dancing with a young nobleman from her class. She blushed so continually, the red stained cheeks almost appeared permanent. Haruka and Michiru noted with pride of how beautiful she looked in the simple dark maroon gown.
Minako danced with a member of the Council. The man obviously enjoyed
Minako's company more than she did his, because she was continually
looking away and flirting with any other man who smiled at her. She
was the belle of the Ball in her lemon yellow gown, fluffy and frilly.
Lastly she wore a tiger lily behind one ear and she often found an
excuse to findle with an earring or brush away a stray lock of hair
in order to call attention to it.
Rei stood near Serenity, occasionally cooing at the baby and conversing with the queen. Only Haruka noticed the sidelong glances cast at Minako with flashing violet eyes. Rei adjusted the skirt of her red gown, accented with a black bodice.
Serenity looked up from the laughing baby to see a flash of unrest in Rei's eyes. She laid a cool hand on Rei's bare arm. "Rei, are you troubled?"
Rei instantly smiled and masked her eyes. "No, Your Majesty. I'm going to get some air," she said coolly. Rei walked down the steps of the platform and around all the dancing couples out to the large balcony.
Rei leaned on the railing and breathed in the warm summer breeze. Rei tucked a lock of raven-black hair behind her ear,irritated that it had fallen from the intricate braids her hair was twisted into. She was startled by footsteps coming behind her, but exhaled softly seeing Haruka in her silver tuxedo.
"Scare ya?" Haruka said with a grin.
Rei laughed shakily. "I've been so jumpy lately." She stared hard into Haruka. "Having fun? You and Michiru look great together on the dance floor."
Haruka propped her elbows on the railing next to Rei. "Yeah, we both like to dance. I noticed you haven't been dancing."
Rei smiled grimly. "Haven't been asked."
"Liar. I saw at least four noblemen approach you tonight," Haruka replied firmly.
Rei's eyes narrowed. "Why have you been paying such close attention to me this evening? Michiru would be jealous."
"I notice someone crying out for help."
Rei's face shot up, alarmed by the genuine softness of Haruka's tone.
"How did you know?"
"Don't worry. I'm sure no one else noticed anything. You are excellent at hiding the loneliness. Maybe that's why I noticed. You and I are a lot alike."
Rei sighed softly. "Are we?"
Haruka eyes scanned the ballroom with all the dancing couples swirling together in beautiful formations. Minako was fluttering from nobleman to nobleman, whisking around the room like a delicate yellow butterfly. Haruka's eyes settled on Serenity sitting in her alabaster throne while Endymion leaned over her, both of them playing with the small child in the basinet.
Rei spoke carefully, studying Haruka's expression thoughtfully. "Yes, I suppose we are..."
Haruka cleared her throat and straighted her stance. She bowed regally in front of Rei, as Rei averted her eyes to keep from noticing the blonde girl's plunging cleavege. Haruka smirked, feeding off of the blush on Rei's face. "My lady," she said. "Please try to enjoy the rest of the Ball." She lowered her voice to a whisper. "Sometimes it is best to forget the unattainable. I learned it the hard way."
Rei nodded slowly, as Haruka squeezed her hand. Michiru walked over, seemingly floating on the marble floor like a cloud. Giving Rei a graceful smile, Michiru extended her arm to Haruka and escorted her away.
Rei exhaled and fidgeted with the black choker around her neck. She and Minako went two weeks ago to visit the new jeweler in Crystal Toyko. Rei had paused seeing the garnet stone set in intricate silver designs on a piece of black velvet ribbon. She merely momentarily studied the choker and moved on, unwilling to admit how much she liked the trinket.
She and Minako went for an ice cream, an unusual treat having eaten all meals in the Palace. The warm sunny day melted the ice cream quickly, so the two women ate hastily and laughed as it melted over their hands. Rei snorted when she glanced up and saw ice cream covering Minako's nose.
Minako frowned and stuck her tongue out as she tried to lick the ice cream off her nose. Rei laughed hard and managed to swallow the last of her cone. "What?" Minako asked innocently.
"You," Rei answered lifting a napkin to wipe off Minako's face.
Minako touched her face gingerly. "Now my face is going to be all sticky."
Rei leaned over the small table and kissed Minako's nose. "Poor baby"
she murmured, realizing what she had just done.
Minako looked at Rei quizzically and then pulled out a long narrow box. "Here," she said aburpty, putting the box in Rei's hand.
"What is this?"
Minako fluffed her hair aimlessly. "Open it. I saw you looking at it and got it for you."
Rei fingered the choker gently, cradled in white tissue paper. "Minako?"
Minako cut her off with a motion of her hand. "Oh forget it, Rei. I know you never buy anything for yourself, so I got it for you."
Rei closed her eyes to the memory and continued to finger the garnet stone resting at the base of her neck, feeling the coolness of the silver. The band began playing another waltz and Rei let the refrains of the swelling violins dance over her.
"Where are you Rei?"
Rei opened her eyes to see a lemon colored fairy standing before her.
"Rei?" Minako said again impatiently. "What's going on? Why aren't you out there having fun?"
Rei stared blankly, speechless. Minako tilted her face and placed her hands on her hips. "Okay, then Rei. Come dance with me."
Minako grabbed Rei's hand and began dragging her out to the Ballroom floor. "Wait," Rei said in frustration. "What are you doing?"
Minako stopped and clasped Rei's hands, ignoring the look of fury on the raven-haired woman's face. Minako shot Rei a look of her own and the two women began dancing, each with a scowl on her face.
Ami and Makoto stopped and shared an amused glance. Makoto whispered in Ami's ear and the two laughed as they walked out to the balcony arm in arm.
Rei frowned. "Are you leading or am I?"
Minako growled, "Will you please just have fun?"
"Fun?" Rei spit angrily. "How am I supposed to have fun?"
"Oh, I don't know, Rei. It is a Ball. Maybe you could dance, have fun with your friends?" Minako tugged on Rei's hand sending the two of them spinning again.
"Well, I suppose you've been having heaps of fun, huh, Minako"
Rei replied bitterly.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
Rei suddenly jerked on Minako's hand forcing her to stop. Lowering her voice she spoke harshly, "You have been acting like a fool. Flitting around from man to man like a sixteen year old. You are not a little girl anymore, Minako."
Rei let her words settle and seeing the rage in Minako's face, she turned to leave the blond butterfly alone on the Ballroom floor.
"Who should I dance with then, Rei? You?" Minako's words were biting.
Rei felt her eyes fill with hot tears and hitched up her skirt and fled from the Ballroom. She ran blindly, with her face hidden in her hands, and fell into someone who caught her strongly. Rei refused to sob, but she was unable to stop the tears falling unchecked down her porcelian face. She looked up shyly to see Haruka's blue eyes studying her thoughtfully.
"Rei?" Serenity asked as she stood behind Rei, her voice melting with compassion. It reminded Rei of years ago, of sitting on swings in a park and talking in subdued tones.
The voice was almost too much to bear. Rei stepped away from Haruka's arms and faced Serenity like a soldier preparing for battle.
"Rei," Serenity said again, the musical quality of her voice was beginning to soothing the agony in Rei's mind. "My friend," she said softly holding out her hands.
Rei stepped forward and placed her hands in Serenity's palms. Serenity was basked in the moonlight, the glow only adding to her goddess-like beauty. "Rei, there is no need for you to tell me your turmoil. I know the burden you bear."
Rei looked up to see tears shining in the depths of Serenity's blue eyes. Serenity continued softly, "It is a burden born by all the Senshi, save I. But dear one, you can find happiness."
Rei whispered, "Can I?"
Serenity smiled and kissed Rei gently. Rei felt her pain increase and fade slowly, replaced with a wisdom of the world and her fate. Rei remembered wanting this, wanting to be kissed, to be loved. She remembered that day on the swing set when Usagi had lifted her hand to place a lock of black hair behind her ear, her fingertips just barely brushing Rei's face. Now, Rei understood. Rei and Serenity broke the kiss and clasped each other warmly. Rei did not know what to say as she gazed into Serenity's eyes so blue and tranquil. Serenity nodded sadly, answering the unasked question. Rei walked away treasuring this knowledge; Serenity knew. She had always known.
Haruka spoke from the shadows. "Will she be alright?"
Serenity did not turn toward the voice, but watched Rei approach Minako shyly. "What do you think, Haruka?"
Haruka stepped behind the small framed queen and placed her hands on her delicate shoulders. "What did you tell her?" Haruka asked softly.
"Only what she had known all along. Only what you yourself know." Serenity felt Haruka's warmth behind her and stepped back to be closer to the restless summer wind.
"And what is that?" Haruka whispered close to her ear.
Serenity sighed and leaned her head back against Haruka's shoulder.
"You know, Haruka.. you know.."
Minako swung the door to her suite in the Palace open with such force it slammed against the wall and closed itself with a loud crash. She stomped into her sitting room, removing gloves and jewerly and dropping the pieces carelessly on the floor.
"I take it you did not enjoy the Ball?" Artemis sat on the back of the couch stretching his feline form languidly.
"What are you doing here?" Minako accused angrily. "Shouldn't you be in your own room, tending to Luna? She's pregnant Artemis, you should be taking care of her!"
Artemis was taken aback by the unusual fury in Minako's voice. "Luna is fine. She is sleeping. I came by to see how you were doing."
"Oh don't think you have to come check on me, Artemis. After all, I'm not sixteen anymore," she spit with words with bitter contempt. "Go back to Luna, Artemis. Go back to the woman you love. Go back! I don't need you. I don't need anybody!" Minako tore off her soft slippers and threw them at the wall.
"What is going on?" Artemis cried out in confusion. "I have never seen you act like this. What happened?"
"Oh, I'll tell you what happened! It was Rei with her high and
mighty attitude. She thinks she can tell me what to do, just because
I've been hanging out with her and sleeping at her place sometimes.
Well, she can't! I'm not married to her!"
Artemis watched Minako pace the room from his perch of the couch.
His feline face twisted in confusion. "You're mad at Rei?"
Minako flung her arms in the air. "Yes, haven't you been listening? Yes, I am mad at Rei." She stomped to the couch and flopped into it with a defeated grimace maring her natural beauty. She sunk her face into her hands slowly. "She doesn't understand, Artemis. None of them do. I have faced more pain, I have fought more battles than any of them."
Artemis leapt off the top of the couch to sit next to Minako on the soft cushions. Minako laughed wryly. "I got so mad at her. She called me a child. Me! I.. I was mean to her and she ran off. She came back and apologized." Minako paused a moment and Artemis kneaded his paws into the cushions patiently. "She looked at me with those big, luminous eyes, and I know what she was asking me. I know that in the quiver of her bottom lip and the way she held her hand out shyly for mine, she was asking me.. She was asking for.." Minako stared out into space fixated on a point on the wall.
"What," Artemis asked softly. "What was she asking for?"
"Me."
Artemis shifted uncomfortably on the couch. It was almost midnight and the moon was half full shedding its light into the room through the vertical blinds. Minako continued to stare ahead almost as if she was committing Rei's lovelorn face to memory.
Artemis didn't see this one coming. He thought Minako couldn't shock him anymore. Maybe he was getting old. "So then what?" he asked patiently.
"I left her there. Alone. Without saying a word."
"Why would you do such a thing, Minako? She's your friend." Artemis paced on the couch.
"I can't Artemis," she said through gritted teeth as her eyes filled with tears. "I can't love her. I can't let her love me."
Artemis stopped and felt his stomach churn with fatherly emotions.
She continued slowly. "I have loved and lost before, Artemis. And I learned a valuable lesson in that loss. Do you remember what he said?"
Artemis nodded slowly as old, faded memories slowly came back into focus. "Yes, Mina."
She wiped her face with the back of her hand. "He lay there, dying and my heart broke into a million pieces. He told me then, that it was my fate to lose him, my true love, because in the future I wouldn't have to choose between love and duty." Her voice trailed off and she stood from the couch. "I can still remember how beautiful his eyes were. Sometimes at night I wake up and I think I can smell his cologne and hear his laugh. Losing Ace was the hardest thing I have ever had to live through, but I did. I came to Toyko and fought bravely for my queen."
Minako sucked in a shaky breath and leaned against the wall. "I used to say to myself when things got really hard that when the battle is over, I'll find happiness. I'll find something meaningful, when the battle is over. I thought that when the battle would be over it meant death would come and I'd be reunited with Ace. I didn't realize it meant a thousand years of eternal youth alone!" Minako broke down sobbing and slumped to the floor in a withering heap.
Artemis nimbly jumped from the couch and nuzzled against Minako's chin. She wrapped her arms around his silky fur and he licked her cheek affectionately. "You know you don't have to be alone. I know you must care for Rei on some level or else this wouldn't bother you so. Go to her."
Minako shook her head. "I haven't forgotten Ace, Artemis. Sure, I joked and flirted with other guys along the way but I was so desperately trying to move on. His death was pivotal for my life. I can't lessen the impact he had on me by allowing myself to love someone else."
Artemis pulled away from Minako and stared into the depths of her wet blue eyes. He suddenly wished that he was in human form and able to draw Minako into his arms and hold her warmly. "Minako, loving someone else doesn't lessen the love you had for Ace. What you and Ace shared was once in a lifetime and sadly it was cut short." Artemis lowered his voice. "You have fought bravely and faced more adversity than anyone your age should have. You deserve happiness, Minako."
Minako breathed in the warm night air letting the consistency absorb in her nostrils. She slowly stood to her feet and ran from the room.
Artemis sighed heavily as he watched the door swing back open. "I'll get the door," he muttered to the empty room.
Minako flew barefoot down the corridor and stopped at Rei's door. Without a moments hesitation she knocked briskly and hastily wiped her tear-stained face with her palms.
Rei opened the door slowly, her own face shining with tears. Minako threw herself at Rei, wrapping her arms around the raven-haired girl's neck. Rei closed her arms around Minako and they held each other for long moments, midnight black hair mingling with glistening blond strands. The world paused, seemingly holding its breath, and then exhaled in a quiet contentment as Rei and Minako entered Rei's room hand in hand.
Chapter 5 on the way. Please review! Encouragement inspires me to write!