She was being foolish. Simply because he’d loved her long ago didn’t mean he would again. Simply because all of his friends had fallen for her friends didn’t guarantee anything. Simply because she was Usagi’s closest confidante and he was Mamoru’s didn’t mean they had anything in common.
          Simply because she loved him didn’t mean he loved her back.
          She wrapped her arms around herself and left the ballroom. She suddenly wasn’t in the mood to celebrate.

          She locked the door to her suite as it closed behind her. Unhooking her gown, she let it drop to the floor and stepped out of it. Undoubtedly, she would be chastised tomorrow for her carelessness, but tonight she didn’t care.
          She grabbed her ivory silk robe off her loveseat and slid it on over her lingerie as she made her way to the window.
          "As lovely as that robe is, you look far more beautiful without it."
          She spun around. He was standing in her bedroom doorway, leaning against the frame. He was dressed in full court regalia however, his collar was unhooked and open as usual. The soft charcoal gray set off the pale blue tint in his silver-white hair.
          "K...Kunzite."
          "It’s nice to know you remember me, little princess. I was afraid you wouldn’t." His piercing gaze seemed to devour her. She blushed then noticed he wasn’t staring at her face. She looked down to see her robe had fallen open. She blushed again and pulled it close. His eyes traveled slowly upwards to meet hers. "Hello again Minako."
          She swallowed hard. He made her name a caress. "Hello Kunzite." She tied her robe with shaky hands. "Why aren’t you at the ball?"
          "Why aren’t you?" His smile - sensual, knowing and slightly mocking - sent a thrill down her spine.
          "No one to dance with?" She made it a question, her eyes never leaving his.
          He stepped forward and extended his hand. "Perhaps you’ll dance with me?"
          Minako stepped toward him, drawn to him as if against her will. She shook her head and stopped. "Why are you in my room?"
          He closed the distance between them. "We’re always surrounded by people. We have much that needs to be said. Privately. I want to know you, my little princess."
          "Know me?" she asked as he took her into his arms and held her close. His body moved against hers in a sensual dance. She sighed happily. "I was afraid you weren’t interested in me." Her warm breath caressed his neck, heating up the already overwhelming embrace.
          He put some distance between them. "There was someone else. A long time ago." His eyes seemed lost for a moment before returning to her. "I needed a clear head to think. And you, sweet Minako, are far too distracting."
          She looked up at him, all her hopes and fears played out in her eyes. "Thank you. For the compliment and the consideration."
          "If I hurt you, I’ve got four pissed off scouts after me. I don’t want that." He smiled. "Besides, I could not bear to see pain in those beautiful blue eyes." He rested two fingers lightly on her temple then slid his hand down the side of her face until his thumb rested on her lower lip.
          He breath caught as his platinum eyes closed and he drew her closer. Pressing her lip down, ever so slightly, his lips met hers. She sighed, moving into the kiss. Her hands slid into his long, thick hair and pulled him closer.
          His tongue parted her lips fully and he wrapped his arms around her. She moaned and he pulled quickly away.
          Frustrated passion filled her eyes. "Kunzite?"
          "Quiet princess." He pressed a finger to her lip then withdrew it. "I should go."
          "You can’t go." Her breathing was labored. "Please, don’t go."
          "You’re young. You’re still so young."
          "I’ve know you for a thousand lifetimes. You’re my soul. You felt it when we touched. Didn’t you?"
          "Minako..."
          "Didn’t you?"
          "I’ve loved you forever. A thousand lifetimes. Maybe more. But not all of them were pleasant. And I didn’t love only you."
          "We both have pasts. Some good. Some...not so good. But love triumphs over everything."
          "I know."
          "You don’t. At least you don’t believe it." She turned away. "If you did, you wouldn’t worry."
          "I can’t rush headlong into this."
          "Then why were you waiting in my bedroom?’ Tears lurked in her voice, wrenching his heart.
          He lay his hand gently on her shoulder and turned her to face him. "Because you are irresistible."
          Taking a deep breath, Minako reached down and untied her robe. Allowing it to fall open, she looked up at him. "So why resist?"

          The top of her breasts were the color of honeyed cream, set off by the ivory bustier. His eyes traveled over her slim, satin clad figure to the matching panties and garter belt that held up her sheer stockings. "Minako..." his voice was barely above a whisper.
          She shrugged her shoulders and the robe fell to the floor. He watched her body move as the silk rustled. She stepped closer to him and slid her silk covered leg between his. Putting her hands on his shoulders, she pulled herself up to kiss him lightly. He looked down and his breath caught at the faintest glimpse of her nipple beneath the satin fabric. Tight and hard, much like...
          Her hand slid down his side then between his legs slightly higher than her own. This was about to go too far. He put his hands on her shoulders and put her away from him. "No."
          Her eyes surveyed his reaction to her. "Why not?"
          "It’s not right." He refused to look at her, wishing she’d stop looking at his erection, wishing he could use his powers to get rid of it.
          "Not right? How can it not be right? We’re soul mates."
          "Minako...Venus..."
          "Answer me truthfully. Do you love me?"
          "I won’t play childish games with you."
          "Love is not a childish game."
          "Minako," he began.
          "Answer the question Kunzite. Do you?" She forced him to meet her eyes. "Or is this all a game to you? Am I something to play with to help ease the pain of Zoicite falling for Ami this time around instead of you?"
          His body went stiff in shock. "What?"
          "You’re relationship is no secret. I’ve seen the past. It’s all a cycle. I help destroy you and what you helped Beryl create. You let yourself be destroyed because you couldn’t face the guilt. Zoicite’s moved on. Can’t you? Or was your guilt not because you knew you’d betrayed me but because he knew you’d betrayed him?"
          He sank to the floor. "You were never to know."
          "Kunzite, love forgives everything." She sat next to him, making sure to wrap her robe around her scantily clad body. "Go. Think some more. But I don’t hold what you two had against you. I’m glad you were able to find love amidst all that evil."
          He was silent for a moment. "When did you get so wise, Mina-sama?"
          "I’m Venus. Goddess of love. Nothin’ gets by me." She smiled somewhat sadly.
          "I betrayed you."
          "No." She shook her head. "Not if it was love."
          He stood and helped her to her feet. "You are, by far, the most beautiful creature I’ve ever encountered." He stared at her intensely for what seemed like an eternity. "May I kiss you?"
          She fell into his arms and his kiss. The robe slid to the floor again, The feel of her body against his had it’s predictable effect. She caught his face between her hands and stared into his platinum eyes. "Love me."
          He swung her up into his arms and carried her into the bedroom. "Who am I to say no to a goddess?"

          Minako stood at the edge of the bed and stared down at Kunzite’s sleeping form. His arm was thrown back casually over his head and his hair fanned out around him. His body was a milky pale in the candlelit room, the sheet barely covering him.
          She’d lain beside him for a while, but couldn’t sleep. She walked over to the window and stared down into the reception hall through the skylights. Focusing on the crowd, she could see the faintest outlines of chains linking people together.
          She looked at her closest friends in particular. Rei and Jadeite were talking to some visiting dignitaries, but their concentration was mainly on each other. The link between them glowed a soft rose. Tonight they would be lovers.
          Makoto and Nephrite stood by the buffet table where she was feeding him morsels she’d help create. Theirs was a strong purple bond, the intimacy of the moment, even in the crowd bringing their passion to life.
          Zoicite and Ami were dancing. Their bond was a mixture of colors reflecting love, passion and insecurities. Both were nervous and insecure, the links fading in and out of view. She concentrated more intensely as she looked at Zoicite. Thinking of Kunzite showed her the bond between them. White for friendship, the faintest tinges of rose and lavender so slight, she doubted they were even aware they still existed.
          The crowd below suddenly stopped dancing and turned their attention to the throne. Minako looked as well to see Usagi and Endymion emerge from their antechambers.
          *Yes*
          Minako looked around. Kunzite still slept, but she was sure she’d heard something.
          *My love.*
          She closed her eyes and shook her head. She was definitely hearing voices.
          *Look*
          Minako did as the voice said. It hurt to resist it. She stared down into the ballroom and found herself locked in a gaze with Endymion. She felt as though the world had narrowed to just the two of them, and she basked in the pleasure he was taking in her nude form.
          Even without concentrating , she could see the dark purple chain form, link by link, from Endymion toward her. It built itself faster and faster, stopping only when it reached the circle of her aura. Meeting the obstruction, it hung there, almost malevolently.
          "Minako?" Kunzite touched her shoulder and brought her out of her reverie. "Are you all right?"
          "Of course," she turned and smiled at him, ignoring the voice screaming in her mind. "Just watching everyone."
          He sat on the window seat and held open the blanket he had wrapped around himself. She sat between his legs and leaned back against his chest. "And what do you see?"
          She explained how she could see the bonds between people. "I could tell you, pretty accurately what’s going to happen after the ball tonight."
          "What are yours?"
          "White with the other scouts and Usagi, all tinged with blue for loyalty. Usagi’s is almost all blue."
          "And the other kings?"
          "Weak white ones, simply because I haven’t been around them much. The links have to be forged each time."
          "And Endymion?"
          "You don’t like him all that much, do you?"
          "I know how I feel about him. How do you?"
          She looked down at the man in question. Without trying, she caught his eye and felt the strong pull. "We’re just friends. And he has my loyalty like Usagi." She managed to look away. "Why don’t you like him?"
          "We’ve always been rivals." He stroked her golden hair. "Is it inappropriate to ask what binds you to me?"
          "You don’t know?" She giggled and snuggled closer, blocking out the thoughts of Endymion and the voice in her head.
          "So why do you seem so sad?"
          "I told you I could tell you what will happen tonight. I can also tell you who else they all might be thinking of."
          "Do we have a soap opera brewing?"
          She sat up, her back to the window. "Unrequited passion has dangerous potential. I’m sorry. I suppose I’m indulging in the wrong behavior right now. I’m afraid I’m not sure what to do."
          He sat up as well. "There’s no wrong thing, little princess." He stood, picking her up and carrying her back to the bed. "So, do I have to worry about any passion lurking unrequited?"
          The voice in her head cried out for Endymion. "Only for you."
          "We’re not quite unrequited, Mina-san."
          She smiled, "But we’re not quite finished either."