I Can't Stay Away
Continued from: Mouth Shut
Started from: I Don't Wanna Wait
Once is Happenstance
Venus stood atop the edge of the cliff overlooking the terran village. Behind her the turrets of the palace could scarcely be seen through the dense wooded forest she had passed through to get here. Light footprints were faintly visible in the soft earth around her as if someone had recently stood in the same place that she now occupied. Her eyes glanced down to her sandal clad feet, noticing that she had somehow come to stand exactly atop a pair of larger footprints that had been left by a man in boots if the finely shaped tread left behind was anything to go by.
Gusts of wind blew against her skin and she crossed her arms over her chest against the chill. Her skirt rippled against her pale skin as golden tendrils wrapped around her body. She closed her eyes and let her senses take in her surroundings, enjoying the scent the forest gave off as well as the songs of the birds flying overhead. There were no birds on Venus, nor was there any forest for her to lose herself in. The rays of the sun did little to warm her skin as the heat radiating from the glowing orb was nowhere near as warm as the sun on her home planet. It was the wind though that brought her the most enjoyment. Her planet was ravaged by the storms blowing along the surface and so her people had been forced to the skies where the majestic floating palace of Magellan hung in the air like a delicate jewel along the surface of the water.
Her ears perked at the sounds of someone approaching nearby. Without pausing to see who it was, she called on her powers and teleported away.
Twice is Coincidence
Again she found herself standing on the precipice. She stood precariously at the edge overlooking the sharp drop with interest. The contrast of the imposing sheer drop against the peaceful background of the sleeping town intrigued her. On her home planet, she was not afforded such a sight. The gardens off of her room were located on the east wing of the palace and overlooked the palace walls. Once she had stood atop the wall, her toes against the edge of the stone and marble edge, her arms out at her sides as she balanced herself like a delicate bird or ballerina. Adonis stood nearby, his arms crossed over his chest, making every effort to appear angry at her for doing something so dangerous when really she knew that he wanted nothing more than to reach out and pull her down off the wall and to safety. Did she really think that she could fly? If she stepped off the edge of the wall, would she soar above the plummeting ground below her? Or would she fall into the abysmal storm that raged below her? Standing here though, she didn’t feel that same urge. She was content to stay above high and watch the lives of those below her unfold.
She remained statuesquely still, her hands clasped behind her back. The wind shear was much less today, not nearly as imposing as it had been the last time. Her eyes glanced down to where her sandaled feet rested atop the dry earth. The footprints that had been there last time still remained, but this time they were much more faded. Had it been a traveler who paused here on his way to where ever it was that his destiny was calling him?
Her mind was so absorbed in her random thoughts that she didn’t notice that she was no longer alone. Silently she cursed herself for not sensing the arrival of this person until they were right behind her. A shadow eclipsed hers and she tensed, unsure of who it was and unwilling to turn to find out. A golden glow began to encompass her as she prepared to transport. As her body began to fade she felt the sudden touch of the person besides her. Fearing who it was, and not wanting them to be transported with her, she froze, her powers fading as her body lost its faint appearance. A wave of dizziness washed over her at the sudden release of her powers, but she forced the vertigo sensation from her mind as she spun to look upon the face of the man who had managed to catch her off guard.
Sharp green eyes looked down on her and she could feel herself growing pale. She wasn’t supposed to be here without an invitation from Earth and the approval of the moon. Of all those that could have caught a glimpse of her on that night, why did it have to be him?
“If I had known we were expecting a delegate of the moon I would have been more prepared for your visit,” the deep voice said with a trace of humor, finally breaking the silence. “It seems that a Princess’s curiosity never can be satiated.”
Venus tried not blush at his comment. There was a lightness to his voice that told her he was teasing her, but there was also a deeper sound underneath that made her think that he was perhaps not happy with her presence. “Please give my apologies to Endymion,” she finally responded after a brief moment. “I will depart at once.” Kunzite’s grip tightened on her wrist, not enough to hurt her, but just enough so that she knew he was not done with her. Somehow she had forgotten that he had taken possession of it once she heard the sound of his voice.
“Then why are you here?”
She opened her mouth to respond, thousands of excuses pouring into her mind, yet it was somehow the truth that came out instead. “Your planet is beautiful. I just wanted to see it.” He looked at her without speaking and she fought to keep herself from saying any more than she already had. Something about the way he looked at her made her feel as if she wanted - no, needed - to tell him everything like she had no control over her own tongue. His presence was daunting and she had to pause to remind herself that she was the leader of the senshi and not just some peasant girl that he could control.
“Kunzite!” a voice shouted out to them through the wooded area. “My fearless leader!” Venus strained her ears and recognized the voice as belonging to Nephrite. “You are either out here for some horrid training session or else you have found yourself some pretty girl that you plan on keeping all to yourself whilst you do dastardly deeds.”
While Kunzite’s attention was diverted by the arrival of his fellow Shitennou, Venus pulled her wrist free and leaped back from the tall imposing man. His eyes narrowed as he looked to where she had moved to, only to catch a glimpse of her form fading into that now familiar golden haze.
Nephrite emerged from the woods with a bottle in his hand and leaned against the nearest tree. “Hmm,” he sighed. “It was just as I feared.” He shook his head and took a drink from the brown tinted glass decanter. “One day I will catch you out here doing things with a pretty girl rather than with your own sword.”
Kunzite walked up to the auburn haired man and grabbed the bottle with one hand while punching him in the chest with his other. “Asshole,” he murmured as he walked back towards the cliff’s edge, taking a long swig from the bottle.
Third time is….
Kunzite sat on the edge of the cliff, one knee drawn up to his chest while the other leg dangled off the drop. Nearby rested his leather belt and sheathed sword. The light footsteps behind him did not escape his attention, although he made no effort to acknowledge them. Whoever it was, was taking every precaution to not be heard, yet to him it sounded as if they were walking in metal boots along a stone paved road. Even when he could see his belt slowly being dragged from where he had left it at his side from the corner of his eye, he still did not make any move to indicate that he noticed them. It wasn’t until he could hear the metallic grating noise of his sword being pulled from his sheath that he finally spoke.
“Still not satiated?” he asked her, his eyes still watching the open space in front of him.
“You were waiting for me,” Venus said lowly, her eyes fixated on the heavy blade in her hands.
“You were watching me.” He turned to face her. She studied his sword, looking at it as if she expected something more than the dull moonlight reflecting off the pristine surface. “You don’t like what you see?” he asked her, his left eyebrow arching.
She looked at him, unable to decide whether he was asking about his sword or himself. “I don’t know what I was expecting.”
“We have a saying on Earth.”
Venus smiled lightly, her hand putting the sword back into its sheath. “And what’s that?”
“When something happens once it’s called happenstance, twice is coincidence, and three times is enemy action.” His eyes watched as her hand tightened over the hilt of his sword. He knew his words were almost daring her to use his own weapon against him. “This is the third time that we’re seeing each other like this.”
“So this is how one garners the attention of Endymion’s ever elusive lead Shitennou?”
He smiled at her comment. “One does not want to garner my attention.”
“I see.” Her fingers began to wind themselves around the length of his leather belt, the action giving her reason to look away from his piercing eyes.
“You can sit if you wish to stay.”
“I shouldn’t be here.”
“No you shouldn’t,” he agreed. “But then again, you shouldn’t have been here the other times that I caught you either.” She looked at him hesitantly and his gaze softened. “Your princess loves the prince.”
“I’m afraid that he will break her heart.”
“My voracious prince?” he asked. She laughed deeply at his comment. “Many larger men have been punished for smaller words.”
“But not me?” she asked with a trace of curiosity, taking the smallest step closer towards him.
He smiled at her, his eyes crinkling slightly, and he could see how the small gesture seemed to momentarily affect her. “Never a delegate of the moon.” His eyes looked at her hands, noticing the way that her slender fingers still held his sword. “Do you plan on using that?” he asked her.
Venus looked at her hands and debated with herself as to what she would do with the weapon. She knew that she didn’t need to fear him, but the idea of leaving him armed while it was just the two of them left her feeling uneasy for reasons that she couldn’t name. In the end she closed the small distance between them and knelt down to hand him back his property. His fingers brushed over hers and for a brief second she wondered if he would take this opportunity to grab hold of her again. A part of her wanted to be free of his touch, the other to have his hand move from over hers to rest against her hip, his thumb brushing gently over the skin giving away to her waist. But then the moment passed and he broke their contact, his long fingers weaving around the brown leather as he took it from her and placed it back on the ground nearby where he had originally put it.
His eyes studied her as she remained down on one knee, her fingers splayed against the ground, completely statuesque. She was as beautiful as he was told she would be and he understood why he had been warned against being so near to her. Wide innocent eyes looked at him, but he didn’t allow himself to be swayed by their light blue depths. She was a senshi and he could not let himself forget that. While her status might be more that of a figurehead than an experienced warrior, he knew that when pushed she would have no trouble pushing back. The only thing that pulled at his mind was why she was acting as she was now. Nephrite had had no trouble conversing with the girl, and Jadeite had been quick to mention how she evaded most of his questioning no matter how discreet his questions had been posed. Zoicite, as expected, made little effort to speak with her, allowing Jadeite to handle that task. Why was it that he could not get her to speak to him then?
And then he saw it.
Beauty.
The way her eyes never quite seemed to hold his. The way her eyes would break away for the briefest second to take in the details of his face, almost tracing the contours of his jaw line.
It was beauty she looked for and beauty that called to her. She is a child of Venus and this fact he should have known.
“If you have questions about my planet,” he said kindly, yet cautiously, changing his approach, “you may ask me and I would be happy to tell you whatever you would like to know.”
Venus hesitated for a moment before responding. “I already know quite a bit about your home. I was required to learn everything once I became the designated ambassador.” She paused, reconsidering her words. “It’s not that I wasn’t interested to learn, but before this there was just a lot more that….I didn’t….know.” She swallowed despite the dry feeling in her throat. Why did he have to look at her so intensely? It was as if he could see everything she was. “I should go,” she said softly, her body extending to its full height.
Kunzite copied the action, smoothly rising to his feet and standing several inches taller than her. “I’m interested to know more about you, Minako,” he said sveltely, his voice smooth and deep. “Please come to see me again.”
She took a step back, not missing how he had called her by her given name rather than by her senshi name. Was that an accident?
“Yes.” She stood suddenly, part unsure of why she agreed and part angry for having to admit to herself what she already knew. “I should go,” she repeated again. Then she disappeared in that now familiar flash of golden light.
Continued from: Change the World
Started from: I Don't Wanna Wait
Once is Happenstance
Venus stood atop the edge of the cliff overlooking the terran village. Behind her the turrets of the palace could scarcely be seen through the dense wooded forest she had passed through to get here. Light footprints were faintly visible in the soft earth around her as if someone had recently stood in the same place that she now occupied. Her eyes glanced down to her sandal clad feet, noticing that she had somehow come to stand exactly atop a pair of larger footprints that had been left by a man in boots if the finely shaped tread left behind was anything to go by.
Gusts of wind blew against her skin and she crossed her arms over her chest against the chill. Her skirt rippled against her pale skin as golden tendrils wrapped around her body. She closed her eyes and let her senses take in her surroundings, enjoying the scent the forest gave off as well as the songs of the birds flying overhead. There were no birds on Venus, nor was there any forest for her to lose herself in. The rays of the sun did little to warm her skin as the heat radiating from the glowing orb was nowhere near as warm as the sun on her home planet. It was the wind though that brought her the most enjoyment. Her planet was ravaged by the storms blowing along the surface and so her people had been forced to the skies where the majestic floating palace of Magellan hung in the air like a delicate jewel along the surface of the water.
Her ears perked at the sounds of someone approaching nearby. Without pausing to see who it was, she called on her powers and teleported away.
Twice is Coincidence
Again she found herself standing on the precipice. She stood precariously at the edge overlooking the sharp drop with interest. The contrast of the imposing sheer drop against the peaceful background of the sleeping town intrigued her. On her home planet, she was not afforded such a sight. The gardens off of her room were located on the east wing of the palace and overlooked the palace walls. Once she had stood atop the wall, her toes against the edge of the stone and marble edge, her arms out at her sides as she balanced herself like a delicate bird or ballerina. Adonis stood nearby, his arms crossed over his chest, making every effort to appear angry at her for doing something so dangerous when really she knew that he wanted nothing more than to reach out and pull her down off the wall and to safety. Did she really think that she could fly? If she stepped off the edge of the wall, would she soar above the plummeting ground below her? Or would she fall into the abysmal storm that raged below her? Standing here though, she didn’t feel that same urge. She was content to stay above high and watch the lives of those below her unfold.
She remained statuesquely still, her hands clasped behind her back. The wind shear was much less today, not nearly as imposing as it had been the last time. Her eyes glanced down to where her sandaled feet rested atop the dry earth. The footprints that had been there last time still remained, but this time they were much more faded. Had it been a traveler who paused here on his way to where ever it was that his destiny was calling him?
Her mind was so absorbed in her random thoughts that she didn’t notice that she was no longer alone. Silently she cursed herself for not sensing the arrival of this person until they were right behind her. A shadow eclipsed hers and she tensed, unsure of who it was and unwilling to turn to find out. A golden glow began to encompass her as she prepared to transport. As her body began to fade she felt the sudden touch of the person besides her. Fearing who it was, and not wanting them to be transported with her, she froze, her powers fading as her body lost its faint appearance. A wave of dizziness washed over her at the sudden release of her powers, but she forced the vertigo sensation from her mind as she spun to look upon the face of the man who had managed to catch her off guard.
Sharp green eyes looked down on her and she could feel herself growing pale. She wasn’t supposed to be here without an invitation from Earth and the approval of the moon. Of all those that could have caught a glimpse of her on that night, why did it have to be him?
“If I had known we were expecting a delegate of the moon I would have been more prepared for your visit,” the deep voice said with a trace of humor, finally breaking the silence. “It seems that a Princess’s curiosity never can be satiated.”
Venus tried not blush at his comment. There was a lightness to his voice that told her he was teasing her, but there was also a deeper sound underneath that made her think that he was perhaps not happy with her presence. “Please give my apologies to Endymion,” she finally responded after a brief moment. “I will depart at once.” Kunzite’s grip tightened on her wrist, not enough to hurt her, but just enough so that she knew he was not done with her. Somehow she had forgotten that he had taken possession of it once she heard the sound of his voice.
“Then why are you here?”
She opened her mouth to respond, thousands of excuses pouring into her mind, yet it was somehow the truth that came out instead. “Your planet is beautiful. I just wanted to see it.” He looked at her without speaking and she fought to keep herself from saying any more than she already had. Something about the way he looked at her made her feel as if she wanted - no, needed - to tell him everything like she had no control over her own tongue. His presence was daunting and she had to pause to remind herself that she was the leader of the senshi and not just some peasant girl that he could control.
“Kunzite!” a voice shouted out to them through the wooded area. “My fearless leader!” Venus strained her ears and recognized the voice as belonging to Nephrite. “You are either out here for some horrid training session or else you have found yourself some pretty girl that you plan on keeping all to yourself whilst you do dastardly deeds.”
While Kunzite’s attention was diverted by the arrival of his fellow Shitennou, Venus pulled her wrist free and leaped back from the tall imposing man. His eyes narrowed as he looked to where she had moved to, only to catch a glimpse of her form fading into that now familiar golden haze.
Nephrite emerged from the woods with a bottle in his hand and leaned against the nearest tree. “Hmm,” he sighed. “It was just as I feared.” He shook his head and took a drink from the brown tinted glass decanter. “One day I will catch you out here doing things with a pretty girl rather than with your own sword.”
Kunzite walked up to the auburn haired man and grabbed the bottle with one hand while punching him in the chest with his other. “Asshole,” he murmured as he walked back towards the cliff’s edge, taking a long swig from the bottle.
Third time is….
Kunzite sat on the edge of the cliff, one knee drawn up to his chest while the other leg dangled off the drop. Nearby rested his leather belt and sheathed sword. The light footsteps behind him did not escape his attention, although he made no effort to acknowledge them. Whoever it was, was taking every precaution to not be heard, yet to him it sounded as if they were walking in metal boots along a stone paved road. Even when he could see his belt slowly being dragged from where he had left it at his side from the corner of his eye, he still did not make any move to indicate that he noticed them. It wasn’t until he could hear the metallic grating noise of his sword being pulled from his sheath that he finally spoke.
“Still not satiated?” he asked her, his eyes still watching the open space in front of him.
“You were waiting for me,” Venus said lowly, her eyes fixated on the heavy blade in her hands.
“You were watching me.” He turned to face her. She studied his sword, looking at it as if she expected something more than the dull moonlight reflecting off the pristine surface. “You don’t like what you see?” he asked her, his left eyebrow arching.
She looked at him, unable to decide whether he was asking about his sword or himself. “I don’t know what I was expecting.”
“We have a saying on Earth.”
Venus smiled lightly, her hand putting the sword back into its sheath. “And what’s that?”
“When something happens once it’s called happenstance, twice is coincidence, and three times is enemy action.” His eyes watched as her hand tightened over the hilt of his sword. He knew his words were almost daring her to use his own weapon against him. “This is the third time that we’re seeing each other like this.”
“So this is how one garners the attention of Endymion’s ever elusive lead Shitennou?”
He smiled at her comment. “One does not want to garner my attention.”
“I see.” Her fingers began to wind themselves around the length of his leather belt, the action giving her reason to look away from his piercing eyes.
“You can sit if you wish to stay.”
“I shouldn’t be here.”
“No you shouldn’t,” he agreed. “But then again, you shouldn’t have been here the other times that I caught you either.” She looked at him hesitantly and his gaze softened. “Your princess loves the prince.”
“I’m afraid that he will break her heart.”
“My voracious prince?” he asked. She laughed deeply at his comment. “Many larger men have been punished for smaller words.”
“But not me?” she asked with a trace of curiosity, taking the smallest step closer towards him.
He smiled at her, his eyes crinkling slightly, and he could see how the small gesture seemed to momentarily affect her. “Never a delegate of the moon.” His eyes looked at her hands, noticing the way that her slender fingers still held his sword. “Do you plan on using that?” he asked her.
Venus looked at her hands and debated with herself as to what she would do with the weapon. She knew that she didn’t need to fear him, but the idea of leaving him armed while it was just the two of them left her feeling uneasy for reasons that she couldn’t name. In the end she closed the small distance between them and knelt down to hand him back his property. His fingers brushed over hers and for a brief second she wondered if he would take this opportunity to grab hold of her again. A part of her wanted to be free of his touch, the other to have his hand move from over hers to rest against her hip, his thumb brushing gently over the skin giving away to her waist. But then the moment passed and he broke their contact, his long fingers weaving around the brown leather as he took it from her and placed it back on the ground nearby where he had originally put it.
His eyes studied her as she remained down on one knee, her fingers splayed against the ground, completely statuesque. She was as beautiful as he was told she would be and he understood why he had been warned against being so near to her. Wide innocent eyes looked at him, but he didn’t allow himself to be swayed by their light blue depths. She was a senshi and he could not let himself forget that. While her status might be more that of a figurehead than an experienced warrior, he knew that when pushed she would have no trouble pushing back. The only thing that pulled at his mind was why she was acting as she was now. Nephrite had had no trouble conversing with the girl, and Jadeite had been quick to mention how she evaded most of his questioning no matter how discreet his questions had been posed. Zoicite, as expected, made little effort to speak with her, allowing Jadeite to handle that task. Why was it that he could not get her to speak to him then?
And then he saw it.
Beauty.
The way her eyes never quite seemed to hold his. The way her eyes would break away for the briefest second to take in the details of his face, almost tracing the contours of his jaw line.
It was beauty she looked for and beauty that called to her. She is a child of Venus and this fact he should have known.
“If you have questions about my planet,” he said kindly, yet cautiously, changing his approach, “you may ask me and I would be happy to tell you whatever you would like to know.”
Venus hesitated for a moment before responding. “I already know quite a bit about your home. I was required to learn everything once I became the designated ambassador.” She paused, reconsidering her words. “It’s not that I wasn’t interested to learn, but before this there was just a lot more that….I didn’t….know.” She swallowed despite the dry feeling in her throat. Why did he have to look at her so intensely? It was as if he could see everything she was. “I should go,” she said softly, her body extending to its full height.
Kunzite copied the action, smoothly rising to his feet and standing several inches taller than her. “I’m interested to know more about you, Minako,” he said sveltely, his voice smooth and deep. “Please come to see me again.”
She took a step back, not missing how he had called her by her given name rather than by her senshi name. Was that an accident?
“Yes.” She stood suddenly, part unsure of why she agreed and part angry for having to admit to herself what she already knew. “I should go,” she repeated again. Then she disappeared in that now familiar flash of golden light.
Continued from: Change the World