"The bed sheets have flowers." The shock and disbelief were evident in his silky baritone, and his posture was rigid as he surveyed the room. Light grey eyes darkened to the colour of storm clouds before zeroing in on her. His face was impassive, but the light twitch at the corner of his mouth that indicated his amusement didn't escape her notice. Repressing the urge to giggle as she was wont to, Minako knelt on the bed. Her arms encircled Kunzite's broad shoulders as his hands settled on her waist.

"Don't complain. I let you paint the walls blue," she said, and batted her eyelashes at him. "You can always change the bedding when you want to."

His mouth formed a straight line. "Sky blue," he corrected, long fingers digging a little harder into the bare skin between her green tank top and white shorts. A moment of silence, then a finely sculpted eyebrow rose. "What colour would you have painted them otherwise?"

Her smile widened into a Cheshire Cat grin. "Yellow!" she exclaimed, beaming. "Pastel yellow. Like the ribbon of my fuku."

Horror flashed on his face. It vanished as soon as it had come. "You're kidding."

Shaking her head, she bit her lower lip to contain her bubbling laughter at his deadpan expression. It always brought her joy to catch him unawares; a rare occurrence, given his uncanny ability to anticipate her every thought. "Nope, am not. I'd paint it butter yellow just to annoy you," she said, pressing her body against his.

Eyes the shade of the Caribbean Sea sparkled. He knew if she was given carte blanche, the house would be furnished in patterned wallpaper and frills and gilded furniture, with snapshots of their lives displayed on every sideboard, the fireplace, and a variety of surfaces which were impossible to miss. Dipping his forehead to hers, Kunzite exhaled a heavy sigh, defeated for the time being. She would have given him premature grey hairs if his hair wasn't a light colour to begin with.

"Why did I let you decorate the bedrooms again?" he said. He studied the golden girl in his arms, her face bright like the afternoon sun streaming into the room. Birdsong and the distant conversations of their neighbours drifted in. Despite his excellent hearing, he was only dimly aware of the voices outside. Minako filled his vision, her distinct roses and honeysuckle scent encompassing all his senses.

"Because you already picked the house and the furniture and tableware, though I still think the Vera Wang collection would have gone better than the Queen's Plain," she quipped, matter-of-fact. "It's Wedgwood, for crying out loud, no one I know ever opted for their non-patterned plates and cups and bowls that look like standard Ikea or Jusco when they go to Wedgwood. Not that I hold anything against the other two, mind you, but I'm finally escaping the evil clutches of my mother and moving in with you, which I was unable to in our past life because of the decree of some selfish, narrow-minded gods and goddesses. And then you have to be boring like my dad in your choices, going straight for the plainest designs when there are multiple ranges that would complement the kitchen to perfection." She pouted, and huffed, her small nose wriggling prettily. He thought the same nose movement would have procured a bizarre and comical effect on another. "It's our home, Kunzite. We are beginning a new adventure together after—"

Her diatribe was interrupted when his lips descended in a fierce kiss that stole her breath and sent her mind reeling, the unexpected passion of the touch causing the room and the July heat and everything else to fade into nothingness. Her legs had become water. Minako was thankful of the bed supporting her weight and his strong hands holding her upright in his arms. Sinking into the kiss, her eyes fluttered closed as one of her hands became lost in the silk of his hair. The other fisted in the front of his cotton shirt as she pulled him down onto the bed.

She moaned when his mouth parted hers, mentally noting the feeling of completion that enveloped her every time they touched. Kunzite was her missing half, her light in the shadows. If they were alone right now, she would have ripped his clothes away to become one in body and soul with him. Too bad she couldn't monopolise her love to her heart's content just yet.

"I love you," she breathed, dazed from their kiss. It mattered naught that he hadn't let her finish her monologue. She could always remind him in future days to come. They had time aplenty. Didn't have to rush.

He rose on his elbows, and smoothed back her bangs from her face. "This isn't how I envisioned christening our new home."

"That is the only way to christen our new home, love. Besides," Giving him a saucy smile, she glanced at the ring on her ring finger. She couldn't help wondering why he continued to wear his on a necklace. They were practically married, anyway. "Isn't that why you love me?"

He chuckled. Her chest hummed as his warm breath fanned her face. "Always a minx, aren't you?"

"What do you think?" she said and slammed her mouth against his, thirsting for his taste of peppermint and exotic spices that she could never quite name.

Kunzite groaned, momentarily succumbing to her seduction. His hand slid under the hem of her top, and palmed her flat stomach. He could feel her heart beat in tandem with his, feel her shivers as his hand ventured higher. As she yanked his shirt out of the waistband of his jeans, he tapered down his desire, and tried to break away. "Mina…"

As always, she ardently refused to release him. She arched her body in protest. "Hmm."

"They know what we are doing," he said in between kisses.

Tangling her hands in his hair, she stared into his eyes. Desire swam in her clear blue gaze. "Let them wait."

As much as he would love to indulge her, they did have other matters that needed tackling. "We should go down." He slanted his mouth against hers. "When have we," A flick of his tongue on her bottom lip, "taken," Allowing one, last heated kiss, he pulled away, and checked his watch. "ten minutes."

She pouted, like a child denied her favourite toy. "What is one exception?"

His heart softened at the sight of her: face flushed, long hair fanned out in a golden halo, blue, blue eyes filled with love and trust. He smiled, stroked her silken cheek with his thumb. "We will have the house all to ourselves once they leave."

Minako blinked up at him as she considered this. She bit her lip, her brow furrowed. In less than five seconds, a blindingly exquisite grin lit up her face. "Okay," she chirped, voice melodious. "Is that a promise?"

Kunzite laughed. Give it to Minako to have such swift change in moods. She would make his life a merry dance.

The phone rang, blaring Holly Valance's "Kiss Kiss". She slipped out from under him to grab her phone from the night stand. Pressing answer, she put the call on speaker. She failed to stifle the laughter in her voice as he kissed the curve where neck met shoulder. "Hi there. We're busy at the moment. Please call again in-"

"Busy my ass!" Zoisite's annoyed voice reverberated in the room. "Stop having so much sex and come downstairs if you want to move in today, you idiots. We can hear you from the kitchen!"