Affair - Chapter 8
by Sereko
sereko13@yahoo.com
FINALLY! I am SO sorry that this took me so long to finish...I
lost my train of thought for a while, there. But, I'm back and
so is 'Affair'! I hope 'So Hard to Find' was a nice distraction
for you all last week. I'm posting Chapter 1 of it at the same
time that I'm posting this. Please check it out and tell me
what you think...so far, it has recieved the most praise more
quickly than any of my other stories (which is SO exciting!)!
Anyway, enjoy this here Chapter 8...it's one of the best
chapters to date, if I do say so myself. It is also the pinacle
of romance for this story - the calm before the storm, if you
will. Enjoy!!
Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon or any of the characters
associated with the story. I merely use Naoko Takeuchi's genius
as a starting point for my own storytelling.
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Chapter 8
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Everything in her system halted.
It was him. It was HIM! And with that realization, Serenity fell
back into the stupor that she had been in for the past month. Her friends
noticed it immediately and cringed. They hoped that the visitor would be
able to knock her out of it. Permanently.
“Usako.” There was so much pain in his voice that everyone present
wanted to shed a tear.
“Mamo-chan,” her voice was dull, lifeless. Her friends were
shocked by her response. The fact that she said anything was a miracle,
but they were more blown away by the extreme intimacy of the nicknames
that were being used.
“I had to see you. I am sorry if it bothers you,” he spat the
words out almost as an accusation. “Last month when I felt your anguish, I
pleaded with you to tell me what had happened. You ignored me. Do you know
how much that hurt? You shut me out like I was some stranger. A stranger!”
he roared the words. “And I managed to last a month. A month without
knowing why or how or what had happened to you. I had almost accepted the
fact that you would not talk to me telepathically or empathically,” he was
interrupted by three large intakes of breath. Empathically? What was going
on? How were the two connected in such a way? Kunzite whispered the answer
in Venus’ ear and her shock nearly made her faint. Endymion ignored them
and continued on, “But I had not yet given up hope that if I were to see
you face to face, I would be able to learn the answer.”
He took two more steps closer to her. Since she had not moved
backward to accommodate him, the two were standing only a foot apart.
“So tell me. Please. What has happened?” He earnestly looked into
her eyes. “I will be able to move on like you have if you at least answer
me.”
Her gaze was blind and her eyes grey. He nearly wept at the sight.
After a long, pregnant pause, she spoke.
“I am engaged.”
Endymion could not process that. Instinctively, he asked in very
calm and very collected manner, “What did you say?”
“I am engaged.”
“Engaged?” How could he do anymore than repeat that?
“Yes.”
“To whom?”
“To me.” The tall, brown haired man named Arian had walked up
behind Serenity. He was the one that answered. Endymion’s eyes shifted to
his for but a moment before they returned to the angel before him.
“I…I do not understand,” his words split as his breath started to
become shallow. His stance was taught and his heart increased in speed. He
had to hold himself back from absorbing the information and simply falling
to pieces.
Serenity replied just as she had before, with a cool breeze
pervading her lungs, “I am engaged to marry Prince Arian of Mars. My
mother made the arrangements last month while I was on Earth. I was
informed of the engagement when I returned to the Moon.” She didn’t even
flinch.
To prevent himself from breaking down right then and there, the
prince laughed weakly. “This is some sick joke, is it not?” Yes, he
assured himself, it had to be. Kunzite and Venus had spilled the beans to
her about his surprise visit and she was just getting back at him for it.
That had to be it.
“That was Serenity’s reaction to the news, as well. But I must
answer you as I did her and say that no, it is not a joke - no matter
how much we all wish it were.” Mercury said as she stood up to join the
conversation. She continued, “I understand now why this arrangement
affected the princess as much as it did. There she was, just returning
from a romp in the hay with you, only to find out that she had to marry
her best friend. I say it is for the best. Heathens like you should stay
away from princesses like her!” she hissed with steel lining her voice.
“Mercury!” Venus thundered. She halted her prepared onslaught when
Endymion lifted his hand.
He had to do this quick. He had only come to say goodbye anyway,
right? “It seems I am unwelcome here. I shall leave at once, in that case.
I got the answer I came for.” Turning briskly, he figured he had a good
twenty yards in him before he needed to lean against a tree and cry in a
very unmanly way.
There was silence at his back.
Venus and Kunzite watched with sad eyes. They had set this meeting
up so that Serenity and Endymion could talk long and thoughtfully about
the engagement. They were supposed to be reasonable and find some way to
work things out. The two were bonded for heaven’s sake! It was not like
they could just accept the facts and go their separate ways. Serenity had
pretended to for the last month and her soul was deteriorating because of
it.
“How many…How many times are we going to run away from each other?”
Serenity laughed miserably. “I know I have tried twice and both times you
were able to stop me.” Everyone watched as she walked forward. She paused
when she reached Endymion’s stiff and stoic form.
“Please ignore Ami’s words. She is just trying to protect me. Her
methods are harsh, but they work.” Her hand stretched out and fell to his
back. She let it slide down the side of his arm until her fingers brushed
up against his. “Do you understand? You should, for I used the same
methods to protect you.” She gripped his hand tightly.
“I shut you out so that you would not feel what I was feeling, so
that you would not have to experience the same pain. I did not do it
because I had stopped caring about you.” With a little pressure here and
there she was able to turn Endymion around to face her. “I love you. I
always will,” she said as she stroked the side of his face, “Which is why
I did not want you to feel this!” Serenity pulled back a step and threw
out her arms. The onlookers could feel electricity ignite in the air
around them and turned to stare in awe of the princess.
Endymion cried out painfully when Serenity opened her flood gates.
The feelings inside her were unbearably potent. He hunched forward and
grabbed onto the blonde’s shoulders for support. His knees begged to
buckle beneath him but he wouldn’t let them. Everything inside of him was
constricting in defense at the assault. It was virtually impossible for
him to relax his muscles and calm himself down.
Kunzite would have run to his prince’s side had Venus not gripped
his arm. She was having trouble breathing. Though she was sure that she
couldn’t feel her princess as well as Endymion could, her powers let her
feel quite enough.
“Sere! What is going on? What are you doing to him?!” screamed
Arian. When he saw the prince scrunch his face in pain once more, he
bellowed, “Stop it!!”
“No!” the denial was urgent on Endymion’s part. His eyes burned
holes into Serenity’s. “I would rather feel this…this intensity than
nothing at all. I could not bare it if you shut me out again, whether for
my protection or not.”
He drew himself together hastily so that he could stand straight
and lighten his grip on Serenity’s shoulders. One of his hands slipped to
her neck and massaged the skin it touched. The other rose to her face as
he dropped the back of his knuckles against her smooth cheek. “If we are
to find a way through this life together, we have to learn how to live
with these emotions and control them.” He took a half step forward so that
he was pressed up against the princess. “We have to call on our other,
stronger emotions to overpower the bad ones and guide us along. So,” he
whispered while slipping a thumb under Serenity’s chin and raising it,
“feel free to let your anguish consume you and I will show you something
that can keep it at bay.”
While four pairs of eager eyes watched, Endymion leaned down to
kiss his beloved.
She did not respond to him at first. Her heart was in her eyes and
her body was weak, but she was unable to immediately respond. ‘What is
wrong with you?’ she mentally screamed. He was here. After all of the
longing that had flittered through her when embracing Kunzite, she was
rewarded with the real thing. Yet she could do nothing more than stand
stiffly in his grasp.
It was too hard, she decided. There were too many restrictions.
Too many laws. Too many reasons why everything should stop. While she
valued her freedom, at that moment she reached for boundaries. She needed
control. She needed to bring herself together as she always had before and
be a princess. Her duties and her kingdom had forever been at the top of
her list of priorities and they would continue to be. Queen Serenity
taught her firsthand how family and love fell deeply to the bottom.
Strengthening her resolve was not as easy as she had hoped when a
lover’s lips were touching her own. Even pulling away was not as
successful a venue. The four audience members inhaled sharply as they
watched her try.
[‘I am not going to let you retreat again. I will not let you hide
behind your icy mask. We have to defeat these problems together.’]
Endymion’s telepathic proclamation sent a lightning bolt through Serenity’s
system. He had her in a corner and wasn’t going to let her get away again.
The princess felt trapped. A sense of panic started to spiral around her
system. She desperately tried to get away from him and the feelings he was
sending her.
Despair had been so much easier. It had let her walk through life
without the complications of emotions. She had ignored all but what she
was supposed to focus on as a leader of the people. Everything had been
just fine.
A little voice nagged at her, ‘Wrong. Letting despair guide you
had made things simple but it had also made things painful.’ Serenity
tried to block the realization from her mind. It found a way to seep in,
though, just as Endymion’s affection was managing to seep into her heart.
If she followed the prince’s logic and let love act as a defense
against all-consuming sadness, then she would be vulnerable again. It
occurred to the blonde that there were worse things than being vulnerable
to the man you loved.
-----
Endymion felt the change come, as slow as it was.
The universe rejoiced with him when Serenity finally responded to
his touch. Off to his left, Venus gratefully sunk into Kunzite’s arms. She
had followed her princess on the blonde’s emotional rollercoaster just as
the prince had and was happy for it to be over. The arms surrounding her
squeezed her tighter. The senshi was barely able to lift her eyes to those
of her general before he placed a chaste kiss upon her lips. “Everything
will be all right, now,” he whispered.
And everything was all right, for a while.
Endymion and Serenity were able to coordinate secret meetings a
few times each week. Venus and Kunzite did as much as they could to cover
for the two…while arranging for their own meetings at the same time.
Oftentimes they used the excuse that Serenity was going to visit Arian at
Mars or something of the sort.
Queen Serenity became thoroughly thrilled that the two monarchs
that were once so reluctant to become engaged had turned a new leaf and
were courting each other as they ought. She sped up the wedding plans to
accommodate them. Needless to say, the excuse backfired.
The princess found that when she wasn’t sneaking off to Earth or
to the Sea of Serenity during the day, a seamstress was fitting her for
her elaborate wedding dress. If she was not being bombarded with dress
alterations, gardeners were showing her bouquets of flowers and chefs were
consulting her about the menu. Throughout it all, she tried to focus on
the fact that her mother was finally including her in some of the decision-
making, however, she could not block out the very scary truth…
She was to be married in less than two months.
To a man she didn’t love.
The desperation that those two thoughts brought had her going to
meet Endymion all the more often. They did as much as they could together.
They took walks,
-----
“What beautiful sand! I have never seen such wonder!” Serenity
exclaimed as she kicked up another pile of the soft, golden pebbles.
Endymion smiled affectionately at her. “I could say the same for
the sand upon the Moon. We have a few white beaches in the more exotic
locations here, but they give off nothing like silver sheen that yours do.”
With impish delight, the blonde grabbed her companion’s hand and
pulled him with her as she skittered through the rising surf. When her
feet sunk beneath the waves, she let out a happy squeal. The sound tempted
Endymion until he ran up behind her and whisked her up in his arms.
The joyful tinkle of Serenity’s laughter floated amongst the ocean
breeze miles down the abandoned shore.
-----
had picnics,
-----
Serenity quieted, enjoying the sweet, rich taste as it slid down
her throat. “They’re good.” She turned to Endymion and smiled.
“Are they?” he asked absently as he looked deeply into her eyes.
Serenity noticed him drawing forward and found herself following him.
“Mm-hmm.”
“That’s good.”
“I thought so.”
Their quiet mumbles died down just as both sets of lips joined
together. As the princess’ heart soared, she reached out and touched
Endymion’s emotions with a smile.
-----
hiked through Earth’s rich forests
-----
The leaves were the deepest green that she had ever seen them.
Their trunks were healthy and strong while touched by a cover of lush moss.
It was a stormy day so the air was thick with fog and mist. It trailed
through the growth in front of her as if following a plotted path. The
water was vibrant and full as it tumbled down a collection of rocks and
into a small pool. There was a gathering of wildflowers at her foot.
Bright pink and orange grinned up at her as if they knew she would
appreciate their vibrancy.
A long breath passed through her lips while an approving noise
sung from the back of her throat. “I love this place.”
Two sturdy arms wrapped around her from behind. She leaned back
into their warmth as she heard, “And I love you,” whispered into her ear.
-----
and upon the Moon’s expansive hills –
-----
Endymion was quick to catch her tear and even quicker to catch her
lips before she could speak further. The flavor of sun-kissed berries met
his senses and he moaned quietly. Her intoxicating aura would get the best
of him one day, but not today. He had business to take care of. The Earth
Prince pulled away slowly from his angel’s sweet lips. He smoothed her
cheek with the backs of his fingers as he caressed her heart with soothing
words, “Usako, we will find a way past this. There is no way I will let
you go without a fight. Queens and kingdoms be damned! I love you, Usako!
I love you more than words can say.”
A sad, but genuine smile graced Serenity’s lips. “And I you, my
prince. I love you.” She gripped the hands by her face and kissed the
palms of each. Turning her head, she stared out at the huge expanse of the
capital city of the Moon. They had climbed to the top of Mount Tryen, which
served a border for the North side of the city.
Everything, including buildings and people, was shiny and lively
in defiance of her turmoil.
-----
all the while falling further and further into the abyss of one
another.
-----
She was sure she had never cried so much in her life. The moment
the words were spoken, her body crumbled helplessly to the floor. Sobs
shook through her no matter how hard she tried to keep them at bay.
This wasn’t happening. She couldn’t believe it. For four weeks she
had managed to affectively seal herself inside a dream world where
everything was all right and nothing could go wrong. Her friends and lover
were inside that dream world with her, so she had felt no real reason to
escape. Now, however, she wished that she had escaped in order to prepare
harder or fight longer...anything to keep the truth from hitting her as
full-on as it had.
But it was too late now. Too late for anything. For magic or
miracles. For brute strength or loud voices.
There was no escaping.
There was no changing.
“The day is upon you, Serenity. You are to be married tomorrow.”
End Chapter 8
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So, what, they said "I love you"
three or four times in total?
*Laughs* My excuse is that they
had to. This chapter is supposed
to be super-sappy to sum up a
month-or-so's worth of meetings
between Usa and Mamo. I can't
start in on any of the major
conflicts before I set a very
thorough groundwork of love
between the two. ^_-
Please send ANY comments to me, Sereko.
My e-mail is: sereko13@yahoo.com
Copyright © 2002 by Sereko
(
geocities.com/sereko13)