DISCLAIMER: Sailor Moon belongs to Naoko Takeuchi.

~ Behind the Mask ~

The last place he would have expected to run across her is at the Moon Kingdom's masquerade ball. The mask may conceal her eyes, but she has done nothing to hide the telltale mass of blood-red hair which falls nearly to her ankles in loose waves.

She obviously doesn't recognize him, and most likely would not know him even if he bared his face to her gaze.

But it couldn't hurt, he thinks to himself, if I ask her dance.

She has eyes only for the prince of the Earth Kingdom - or so she thinks, until she is approached by a masked stranger. She has a fleeting feeling that she should know this person - but he is of average height and build, and that sandy-blond hair could belong to almost anyone.

Wordlessly, he extends his hand in invitation. She hesitates before accepting.

He leads her to the dancefloor. As he takes her into his arms, she catches a flash of blue behind the mask.

The vague idea of his identity that she'd had before now solidifies itself in her mind, and his name drops from her lips.

He smiles.

~end~