The room felt alive that night, echoing with the resonance of music and laughter. A large chandelier hung over the center of the room creating a luminous glow over the multitude of dancers. Shadows were cast on the outskirts of the room creating a romantic atmosphere illuminated only by candle light lining the tan walls with burgundy accents. Many of the party goers had long since spilled out onto the grounds outside for some fresh air and a quieter place to hold private discussions. The royal family of Earth had thrown a masque in honor of visiting dignitaries from the surrounding areas in an attempt to unite the people of Earth under the Golden Kingdom. Endymion had tried his hardest to stay hidden among the throngs of people but not even his white mask would conceal his true identity. With his dark hair, tanned skin and bold blue eyes blending in was never an option, especially when he was constantly being shadowed by one of his Shitennou. As the song came to an end, his current dance partner clung to him hoping to get in another dance with him. It had taken some gentle persuading and the promise of another dance later in the evening to get her to release him from her almost painful grasp. He watched her walking away, red hair falling in gentle waves swishing in her wake and breathed a sigh of relief that he had bought himself at least a moment of peace. Did his Shitennou not see these women as a threat to his well being or were they finding amusement in his struggles?
He could hear a giggle sounding out from behind him and he turned his head to see a flash of long silvery hair disappearing out of the corner of his eye. A smile formed on his face and he quickly spun his body around the other way to entrap the beautiful girl in his arms. She pouted for a second before erupting into another round of giggling. “How did you get here?” he whispered against her hair, which he now noticed hung straight down her back instead of being set in her normal pair of odangos. A thin pink mask rested on her nose, doing very little to hide the amused expression lighting up her light blue eyes.
“I snuck away, just for a little while anyway,” she responded, eyes wide with delight.
“And what about Venus? How soon before she comes to steal you away again?”
Serenity smiled knowingly. “We don’t have to worry about her for tonight. She came with me this time, almost willingly at that.”
“How did you manage this?”
“She won’t admit it to me, but I think she has a crush on one of your Shitennou.”
“Which one?”
“Maybe Jadeite. I’ve seen them whispering to each other a few times.”
“That’s your logic?” he grinned at her. “Then by those rules she’s also been seen talking with Kunzite.”
Serenity laughed. “Can you imagine the two of them? The way that they fight with each other? They each have territorial boundaries that I don’t think the other would be bold enough to cross.”
“All the more reason why they might be fascinated by one other. I would imagine that Jadeite would be too brooding for her.”
“Then we’ll wait to see which one she avoids the most tonight and then we will know for sure.”
“So what do we do until then?” he smiled softly at her, adoration present in his eyes.
“Well if your admirer isn’t coming back then maybe you can dance with me.”
“You are the only admirer that counts, Serenity,” he gently kissed her cheek and pulled her into his arms and onto the dance floor.
Across the room stood a blonde haired beauty leaning against a wall, her eyes intensely fixated on the woman with long silvery locks and the tall man with ebony hair that held her closer than the blonde would have liked. She could feel a pair of eyes focused no less intensely on her own back, before she felt his body in close proximity to her own.
“I would think that you would relax at least a little knowing that she was in good hands,” his baritone voice spoke softly into her ear.
“That’s not the only couple I have my eye on tonight,” she answered with a smirk.
“I can assure you that Jadeite will be on his best behavior this evening.”
“Can you really assure me this?”
“He knows that I am watching him.”
“And she knows that I am watching her.”
“So then who is watching us?” his fingers lightly trailed down her arms sending a shiver down her spine.
Minako’s eyes darted around the room to where Rei and Jadeite were dancing off to the side. Rei held him at a distance, but every few steps she would allow him to pull her closer before stepping back again. This was their dance, Minako noticed. Rei would not profess her interest as easily as Jadeite was willing to, yet she was clear in that no one else would have him. Nobody was watching her as an example, Minako thought to herself sadly. Rei would not find herself on the same pedestal that the Queen had placed her on when making her the leader of the Senshi. Everyone looked to her for boundaries and rules and once she set them, she could not cross them. But once in a while, when her Senshi only thought that she wasn’t looking, she would allow them the simple pleasures that she denied herself. Simple pleasures such as finding herself in love with a man as handsome as the one who now breathed in her scent and made her want to give up her many titles just to spend one night in his arms. “It appears that no one is watching us at this moment.”
“We could dance you know,” he took her hand in his. “If anyone asks it was for the sake of your Princess and my Prince.”
“I don’t know if that would be a good idea,” her free hand moved to absently rub her ribs.
He noticed the moment and turned her to face him. “Why do you look so pale? Are you not feeling well?”
“I’m almost embarrassed to say.”
“What could be that bad? Did you hurt yourself.”
“Something like that,” she muttered.
“Something like that?” he repeated.
“It’s this dress. Serenity insisted that we dress in clothing native to your planet and I fear that this piece,” she gestured around her waist pitifully, “is a bit….restricting.”
“The corset?” he asked her.
“Corset,” she rolled the word over her tongue. “If that’s what is called then yes. How do women on your planet breathe when wearing one of these?”
He laughed. “That is a mystery that I have never been able to solve. But if it makes any difference, I think you look absolutely breathtaking tonight.”
“Then I suppose this makes my slow death by suffocation all the more worthwhile,” she laughed.
“Then I suppose I would be forced to breathe life back into you,” his lips gently brushed her own.
“You always seem to have the right words to say,” she whispered.
“Only where you’re concerned,” he smiled, lightly adjusting the white mask perched upon her nose.
Endymion glanced in the direction of Kunzite and noticed him leaning over a blonde haired girl clothed in a blue dress and hidden behind a feathered mask. Kunzite leaned forward and appeared to be adjusting the ornate mask of the girl as if he knew her intimately. Interesting, he thought to himself, this was a change of events for the silver haired man who normally seemed more reserved at these functions. For a moment he wondered who the girl could be until he remembered Serenity’s words. Venus was here on Earth under the suspicion that she may have feelings for one of his Shitennou. Could it really be possible that she and Kunzite might be romantically involved despite their arguments? Serenity looked up at him wondering where his attention was diverted to. He quickly spun her from his arms and back again, trying to distract her from noticing the couple hiding in the corner. If they did not want to admit their affections for one another he certainly would not be the one to tell their secret. That didn’t mean, however, that he wouldn’t press Kunzite for details when the night was over.
