Chapter 5:***************Silver*******Millenium********Ball*********
"This was a good idea, it was extremely
hot in there!" Rei breathed in,
as Jaedite escorted her onto the balcony
room overlooking the Gardens of the Moon
Palace.
He laughed. "That's because you kept
wanting to dance...you do that very well
by the way!"Forming his powers he concentrated
and produced a small white lily like the one
she wore in hair...
"A Casablanca....these are my favorite
flowers!" "She said enchanted
by the simple spell... "Oh it's beautiful..."
"Not as much as you..." He whispered, leaning
forward to caress her cheek. "You're
something special... " She blushed.
"You shouldn't say these things...I might think you
mean all those compliments." She teased.
"You think I don't?" he said, his tone light.
A smile played on his lips.
"You aren't the serious type...OH! Look,
I never noticed it before, but all the
trees form the pattern of a Rabbit!" She looked
out over the gardens below, neatly changing
the subject.
He leaned over the balustrade next to her.
"You're right! Funny..from the Earth all
we see is the back side of the Moon...
The side with the craters."
"That's the ugliest part of it too! How
sad!" Rei commented. "It's a beautiful
place though..."
"The Moon does look beautiful on Earth--
the thing is I mentioned the craters
because they *form* a rabbit--at least,
that's what I see when I look up at it.
I wonder what the significance of the rabit
is?"
"Not everything has symbollic meaning.
Look at the Earth! It's beautiful, but
I don't see any patterns in it. And isn't that Mars"
She pointed. He leaned in closer...
"Where" he whispered in her ear--"I don't see
it...but then, I'd rather look at *this*
Mars..."
She turned, her eyes meeting his.
Slowly, her face moved into his, and
he leaned forward and gently kissed her. She pulled
back surprised.
"Lord Jaedite!!" She said.
"I've wanted to do that for a year."
"Then what stopped you!?" She blurted out, her
hand coming up to late to stop the admission.
"Your cousin, your father...and You." He smiled.
"I hope you didn't mind?"
She turned away, so he could see her only in
profile..."And now?" She asked... "What changed?"
He smiled, and moved forward to hold
her again... "I decided that I was more afraid
of not telling you how I feel, then of
telling you."
"I see.."She seemed to be weighing his
words. She turned back towards the garden.
"So...are you going to give me another
punnishment now, for insulting you?" He asked
smiling boyishly.... "We're a little far
for me to clean the canals..."
"Oh no!" She blushed again, half-turning
to face him... "I was so mean
to you that day! "
"You weren't, I deserved everything you did...I
thought too much of my self, and needed to
be taken down a peg or two." He took her
hands in his. "But, then I've never enjoyed a punnishment
so much either...." The movement
pulled her around to face him again.
Her blush and smile deepened. "So you said."
Her voice was coy. "And I told you
then you'd enjoy the reward much more..."
He grinned and lowered his head again to hers--
"About that reward..." Rei closed her eyes, as
she felt his arms encircle her...She was so
glad no one else was there...it was like
their own private world...
A little while later, Jaedite went to refill
their glasses of Moon Punch, and Rei gazed
over the gardens. As she heard him approach
she said. "Isn't that Queen Beryl?" She pointed
to the figure of a woman stalking through the gardens.
He peered down. "Wonder what she's doing out there?"
"Does she know Endymion's here? Perhaps they
arranged to meet...That's so romantic...I didn't
know he had that in him..." She smiled down.
"Actually, I think he's avoiding her. I wouldn't
mention him to her if I were you." He cautioned.
"But why? They *are* engaged.." She said sipping
the frizzy white beverage.
"I doubt he's meeting her...he can't stand her."
He laughed. "I'm sure she doesn't know he's here...
He's not supposed to be after all."
"If he doesn't even like her, why is
he marrying her? He never told me that!" She asked
her voice softening out of sympathy. "Why is
she so awful?"
" To know Beryl is to...dislike her." He put down his
glass... "I can't explain why....I feel bad for him..."
"Oh! I do too...I wish he could marry for
love!" She sighed. "But I suppose politics
and duty prevent such things..."
"Would they prevent that for you?" He asked, his
voice suddenly serious.
She frowned... "I don't know...but then, I
had not thought about that..." She blushed. "Somethings
you cannot talk about...."She said more quietly,
as she drained her glass and set it down.
"I'd like to know...." He
said leaning down and taking her hand, as he
knelt below her. "Otherwise, I'm not sure that
a lowly warrior such as myself has a right
to court you."
"Be serious." she said pulling her hands
away and pushing his shoulder playfully.
"I am, though I feel too happy to be serious
...Will you marry me?--" He said, the words
forming of their own accord....
"Rei? Did you hear me?" He asked as she
leaned against the balcony wall,
wide eyed in shock.
"What did you say?" She said, regaining
some composure.
"I said I want to marry you...The Goddess
of the Moon protect me, but I think I
fell in love with you the moment I saw you!"
"This...it's too much!!" She said, pulling away
and leaning over the balcony. She took a huge
gulp of air. She was drawn to this man...she
felt alive and warm when she was near him--but
marry? How could she when she'd just started her
duties gaurding the Princess? He was the Prince's
gaurd...She was only eighteen!
She heard him utter a low oath... "I'm Sorry,
Princess Mars....."He bowed slightly.. "I..."
IDIOT...he thought to himself...why had he said that?
He shouldn't...at least not so *soon*....
He couldn't shake the feeling though,
that he would never get another chance..."If you
would prefer, I never said ...what I just did."
She looked up, and then turned around to face
him. She met his eyes, holding his gaze
she stepped forward, leaned in and kissed him.
He held her, until his curiosity won over passion
and he pulled back and asked "Does this mean..."
He trailed off again.
"I mean yes." She said. "Yes I will marry you,
Lord Warrior Jaedite!" Her eyes shined... "That
is...*IF* My Father and Queen Serenity approve
and permit me to do so...and IF" She smiled
coyly "You earn such a reward!"
He laughed, the tension shooting out of him.
"And...how would I do that, My Lady?"
She merely smiled. "You'll figure that out..."
He grinned... "Would it hurt my cause
to give you this?" He handed her a small
case, holding a delicate gold ring
of rubies and moonstones,forming
an infinity symbol. "This
was my grandmother's ring." He said.
"It's so..."She didn't complete the words
..."But I can't wear it...not yet! I
have ..."
"Permission from the Queen? Surely
you could wear it as a necklace then?" He
asked..."I wish I had one...or that
I were Mal, he can form gold with his power...
Or..."
"There..." She said having put it on
the simple gold chain she was wearing. "Until
the ring can answer for my heart, I shall
wear it near my heart..." She smiled...
"If only you weren't leaving tomorrow!" She cried
then.
"Then let's make the most of tonight then,
my love..."he smiled, at being able to
finally call her that.
She blushed, but moved closer in his embrace.
**************************************
*******************************present day******
After the plane took off, Serena went to meet Darrien and Rei
and Lita walked off together towards the temple.
Lita smiled, admiring the view "It's too bad
Ami and Mina will miss Chad's wedding, ...I bet
it'll be really pretty here with the Cherry Blossoms
in bloom."
Rei suddenly noticed a flower box with two dozen white
roses in it. " If things work like I think,there won't
be one to miss. Chad'll come to his senses before this Saturday
...."Rei said excitedly, noting the expensive floral shop signature.
"These are probably to thank me for saving him last night!
She smiled, lost in her fantasies as she said.
"I better go put these in some water."
Lita began to read the card. Rei returned with the vase
just as Lita's breath drew in sharply.
"What's that?" She said, tenderly touching the flowers--
revelling in the scent. She noticed Lita reading the card.
"Hey, that's private!" She said snatching the card away.
"They're not from Chad! "
"Well who else would they be from?" Rei asked her voice growing sharper
"They're from Sarah! The card says--"thanks for saving
my love...do you think these flowers will work for the
wedding? See you for tea? Sarah"" Lita could barely finnish
she could not stop laughing. "Sorry Rei" She wiped the
tears out of her eyes
but your're expression when I told you that!"
Rei's face grew as red as her jumper. She opened the card,
and read for herself. Lita could almost see the steam coming
out of her ears.
"She's got really bad handwriting doesn't she?" Lita said, soothingly.
"GET OUT!" Rei screamed, shoving Lita, card, and the flowers out the door.
Unfortunately, she didn't do this too gracefully, and Lita ended up getting
hit
with the vase.
"OUCH" Lita said. She grumbled looking back at the door,
and rubbed her head. Fortunately,all the vase broke was
the clipholding her hair, so not much
impacted her skull. She shook her hair loose, its brown strands
framing her face. It felt messy and in her way--Lita was a
little annoyed. She turned around
and pounded the door. "REI--YOU WENT TOO FAR THIS TIME--CHAD OR
NO CHAD!"
Though both were prone to fighting, they usually
didn't get into it with each other. This would
probably be a dangerous situation that sensible people would
avoid.
Two men who didn't ordinarily visit temples
observed this, but were not sensible people.
"This is the temple all right where the wedding is to be--"One said.
"Yeah, and our source said that the girl was coming here for tea.."
"That must be her!" They said to each other hearing the girl
yell out Chad's name. "Looks like the right color and length
of hair...seems taller."
"Got to be her. Let's get this over with...the boss wasn't
too happy that the first team botched the job--turns out
it was even the *wrong* girl."
"What idiots. Let's show Ôem how its done." The first said.
They charged and grabbed Lita, who, not expecting to
do any fighting other than verbally with Rei was at first shocked.
But not too shocked to be taken down. She shrugged, throwing her
assailants into the wall,at that moment Rei opened the door. "Lita
get in, I felt something ev----"
Seeing Rei, one of the men tried to grab her. She threw him backwards,
and he fell down the first set of steps. The other sunk as Lita
got in a good roundhouse kick to his chest.
"Rei...what's going on here?" Lita asked, confused. "Why
are thugs attacking you?"
Rei looked up from checking the pulse of the man she'd pushed
down the stairs..."I don't know...twice in two days...."
She looked up to see Chad's whitened worried face.
"Rei--have you seen Sarah?" his voice
was barely a gasp.
"What?" Rei asked, letting the thug's head fall to the ground.
"Oh god...you've been attacked again! They've got Sarah then..."
As if someone had drained his energy, he lowered himself to the ground...
"We got a ransom note...but I thought she was coming here....she'd
have been safe if she were here...." He muttered to himself
inchorently..."But
they must have taken her before she got here..."
He looked at the man at Rei's feet. With one hand he picked him up, slapped
him awake "TALK DAMN IT--WHERE IS SHE?" He barked.
"I don't know man...stop it" The guy whined. "I didn't do anything...
This psycho priestess just attacked me..."
Roughly, Chad shoved the guy to the ground. "Yeah, well tell
that to the police...you're in a lot of trouble."
"Not half so much as your girlfriend" The other
thief said crawling up, clutching his stomach.
Lita turned, but he was too quick, as
he scrambled away, leapt onto Jed's bike and drove
down the steps of the temple.
That sound brought Jed out quickly, his robes swirling about him
"Rei--what's going on, did Gramps--hey"
He saw the figure speeding away on his bike. "That's my bike!"
Without thinking, he took off running...and as he ran, almost unbidden
the words formed in his mouth "Earth Mineral Power" and suddenly, he was
flying
over the side of the temple away from the steps.
Fortunately, Chad's back was turned, staring at
the thug. But unfortunatley the remaining
thug, as well as Rei and Lita saw the transformation.
The thug kept saying "Flying man" in a litany...
"So much for your four points." Rei said under her
breath to Lita. "Chad, you'd better call
the police. Come on Lita, we've got to follow him."
"One second, I was right about point number four.... look behind you."
Lita was staring and blushing, Wolf Malder strolled up the steps. A light
sheen of perspiration glazed his brow, and he was breathing slightly quick.
He raised an eyebrow. "Another attack, Ms. Hino? Rather
unusual at a Shrine isn't it?"
"What are you doing here?" She said unceremoniously.
Lita began to try and fix her hair.
"I told you I had some questions for you...thought of a couple more...
But now it looks like I'll have to add to that." He glanced over
at the shocked thug.
"Flying manflying man flying man"
"He hit his head." Rei said.
"Oh really....pattern with you isn't it?" Malder said, looking over and up
at Lita. "Who's your friend?"
"I'm Lita...Kino..." She smiled shyly.
"Care to tell me what happened here Miss Kino?" He asked.
"Sure thing.." she looked at Rei who was saying "But not right now."
The two took off running down the steps...when
they were around a corner,
Rei shouted out "Mars Crystal Power" as Jupiter
cried "Jupiter Crystal power"
Each was bathed in her color right, as warm winds
spun them around,
their uniforms appearing and replacing their clothes...
they stood for barely
a second, poised for battle, before they started running
faster than humanly possible.
"Where are we going Mars?" Jupiter said.
"After Jaedite." Mars said, jumping over a fence, to land on
the other side of an alley. Jupiter did the same.
The buildings flew by beside them
"Gathered that--but how? I can't see him"
"I just *sense* where he is when he's transformed...it's odd...
But I can tell which direction to go--" she stopped short
as they almost ran into a brick wall. "He's on the other side"
"Guess it's up and over then--" Jupiter said, boosting her
friend over the 10 foot wall. Then jumping and scrambling
over herself. Gingerly they landed on the other side...
"I lost him" Mars said.
"See him--over there" Jupiter responded, pointing to
a young man in a temple robe lovingly checking out a bike.
"Where'd the man go you were chasing?" Mars asked.
He looked up his face shocked---"HEY! You're the one
that saved me!!! Sa sa sailor Mars?" he said in shock.
She sighed. "Would you answer?."
"Ssssailor Jupiter--you're real? I thought it was a dream..." He
said wonderstruck.
"Look Jed,"
"You know my name? Did you come about my powers?"
Jupiter noticed something then. "Mars, look up there!" She pointed.
To a balcony in one of the apartments. The two deftly jumped
up the fire escape and scrambled, kicking in the glass of the window.
The thief shrank back. "Oh no!"
"Oh yes!" Jupiter declared, posing, ready to
attack. She and Mars circled around the small room, trapping him.
Mars exhaled sharply "I thought she'd be here....but its empty."
"Why were you attacking that girl at the temple?" Jupiter demanded.
"Hey they attacked us....how do you know about that?" he whimpered.
"Don't like to us." Mars said. "You know who we are don't you?"
"You don't really want to experience what its like to be hit by lightening
do you?" Jupiter threatened.
"All right! I was supposed to kidnap that girl" He said. "Why do you
care....
Please don't hurt me." he added as Jupiter edged closer.
"We'd rather not." Jupiter said. "But if you tell us what we need to
know, we wouldn't have to hurt you, would we?"
"Who hired you?"Rei asked.
"I don't know" He reached behind him and pulled out a gun.
"Ok girlies, tables are turned aren't they now? I'm going to leave...
And next time I'll get your friend." He laughed evily. He barely turned
his head as he tried to open the door, but it was enough. Jupiter
leapt forward, kicked the gun out, and trapped him in a headlock.
"Talk. Answer the lady." She growled.
He whimpered as Jupiter tightened the hold."I just know
he's some rich guy, never lets us see him." She pushed him again.
"I swear I"m telling the truth. He just leaves us instructions in the
mailbox....." He mumbled it. Rei concentrated...
"He's not lying. Ok, second question, Do you know
where Sora Tamaguchi is?"
"What?...Isn't she at the temple? OUCH--(Lita shifted her hold again) all I
know
is we were supposed to take the girl to a wherehouse near the harbor...hold
her there." He paused, and continued. "Maybe one of the others got her...
If she's already missing.....I'm going to be in big trouble"
"You already are" Lita thundered. "So which wharehouse?"
"All I know is on that" He said, nodding
to the picture on the floor. "The wharehouse street's on the back"
They picked up the picture of Sora, which
was ripped down the middle, and flipped it over.
In blurred numbers it read 58 Grain...The letters looked as if
they'd been torn too. "Where's the rest?"
"Moe has it...we split it so we could each have the picture to look."
"Where's Moe...?"
"I left him..when we got attacked by those
crazy girls at the temple..
Hey...why do you care about those girls so much?"
"We're defenders of justice...and that includes helpless girls who
are kidnapped before their wedding!" Mars said. "The police'll
be paying you a visit. Sit tight." They tied him to the chair with the
curtains, and then exited the way they came.
Jed and the bike were gone. "Lets get back to the temple then,
and see if Chad knows anymore details."
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