Prompt 8:
Mulled Wine and Hot Cocoa
“Wine?”
She shook her head slowly, which always meant dangerously.
“It’s mulled,” he offered, calmly hiding his nerves from her. It was one of his strengths. “I thought you would like it.”
Again, she shook her head.
With a sigh, he looked towards her and found her arms crossed over her chest, glaring daggers at him. He narrowed his eyes in thought. “No, you never did like mulled wine when it was cold.”
He pretended not to see the twitch of her head in surprise at his words as he moved to signal the waitress over. The candle between them flickered in the silence, and it would have been romantic if it not for the harsh, angry glares of his dinner companion. Finally, the waitress approached. Katsumi thanked her, though he kept his eyes on Minako the whole time. “The lady would like a hot cocoa, I believe.”
The young girl nodded and quickly disappeared from the table as he watched Minako’s face melt into skepticism.
“Who told you that?” she pried warily. “Usagi? Mamoru?”
“Neither,” he said calmly after a drink of his own wine. “I remembered it. The only wine you cared for was white, and only when it was cold. It was never a problem until winter came, and then you’d tip off a love-struck servant boy to fill your goblet with cocoa when no one looked. It was your secret back then, but I don’t think it’s as much of a secret now.”
Venus wore a reluctant grin. “No, it’s not. But you’re right. I still don’t like red wine.”
“Too bitter?”
She smirked coyly. “What is this? Why did you ask me here?”
“I thought it’d be best for us to meet privately,” Katsumi said.
“You thought it best,” she mocked playfully.
“Yes,” he sighed, exhausted already by her. “In all honesty, I just wanted us to make peace. The Prince has asked to remain at his side again, and I have every intention of doing so. As respective leaders, I just wanted to make sure that everything was all right between us.”
“Make peace?”
“I know. It is a large request to ask of you, but I do hope you will understand. I want to make my return to service as easy for everyone as possible, especially the Prince and Princess. I do not know the Princess very well, but I think that both of them would appreciate if we settled whatever affairs we needed to in order to make this work peacefully.”
Minako stared at him for a moment without moving, but from the way her brows knitted together, it was clear that she took some form of insult from his words. Finally, she leaned in towards him, keeping her voice low as her eyes smoldered. “You always were the gentlemen, dear Kunzite.”
“Katsumi.”
“Fine, Katsumi,” the annoyance was clear in her voice as she leaned back, but it soon regained its seductive tone. “I will always admire you for that. Perhaps more than admire. I don’t think that will ever change, but I should have known better.”
He smiled at her hints, but it faded quickly when the candle flickered brightly for a moment and he saw tears in her eyes. Confusion wrinkled his brow as her voice fought to remain steady. He heard it waver as she spoke, and he recognized her effort to be strong when she didn’t feel like it. Katsumi, or Kunzite, rather, recalled her devotion that surpassed her own self.
“If you truly remember, and of course you do, then you know as well as I do that this would never work. I’m not sure I should ever trust you again, and I don’t know how you can even look at me. If the details haven’t come back to you yet, you might as well know that I was the one who killed you. Twice. If Mamoru wishes to have you at his side, I am in no place to argue. But if you put my Princess in any danger, I will not hesitate to do what I must a third time.”
Katsumi watched a single tear fall down her cheek and felt a sharp stab in his chest. Her honesty was appreciated. The roughness was not. She was forcing it, trying to push him away. He would not argue with her, mostly because he knew she wanted him to. She wanted him to fight against her for their love, but he had lost that right a long time ago when he forced her to kill him. He nodded coldly. “I remember, Venus.”
“Minako.”
“Minako, of course. And I would expect no less of you. If I am to fail again, I would want someone to take me out before I can do any harm. But I am willing to strive for better. As long as you will not forbid it, I hope to prove to you that at my Prince’s side, I can be a better man.”
Minako waited. She wanted more from him. He knew it very well, but there was nothing he could do. He could not make promises for her any longer, or could he tell her that he had dreamed of her every night since he remembered. Katsumi wanted to tell her that she was the very sight that brought his soul back from a stranger’s life, but how could he? She was honorable, the most devoted fighter, having stood in her Princess’ place for some time to protect her. He was a flawed man, who gave up his Prince’s kingdom to a devil. No reason could justify that. How could he ever allow her to love him again?
The waitress placed the hot cocoa down in front of her, and politely asked if there was anything else she could do. Minako shook her head slowly, which always meant dangerously. The girl scampered off to another table.
Katsumi leaned back. “I’m sorry.”
Minako steadied herself, wiping away the tear from her cheek. She took a deep breath as her hand moved to her purse at her side. She smiled at the silver-haired man across from her. “No, I’m sorry. I should’ve known better.”
Minako got up and left. Katsumi took a long sip of mulled wine and sat there, wondering why the hell he thought this was a good idea, until the cocoa turned cold.
