Mine's Bigger Than Yours
The Senshi and Shitennou were seated in a distorted circle scattered across the orchard. For the first time, Queen Selenity had allowed for the Princess to travel to Earth to stay at the Elysian Palace. Of course with this decree meant that the Senshi would have to accompany her to protect her from any potential threats that may lie in wait to her on the blue planet. All were present save for their leaders and lieges. Venus and Kunzite were meeting with Serenity and Endymion to discuss the itinerary of this trip and to cover all potential security issues. Despite the laid back appearance of this journey, part of the Queen’s true intentions was to work on securing the alliance with the people of Earth.
Nephrite sat with his back to a tree, enjoying the cool shade that it provided on this hot summer day. Jupiter sat next to him, resting against the same tree with their shoulders touching. He absently played with the ends of her hair, although to any observer this gesture was intimate in its nature. From time to time she would glance over at him and smile, leaving the others to debate whether the couple preferred to stay and talk, or if they were opting to be somewhere else alone.
Nearby Jadeite stood leaning against a large tree with his arms crossed. His eyes seemed to be permanently fixed on the red clad Senshi who resided against a tree on the other side of the clearing in a similar pose. Mars would pretend to not notice his constant attentions, but every once in a while she would give herself away by meeting his eyes and smiling in return.
Zoicite and Mercury sat on the blanket that had been spread out with their picnic basket and were currently competing against each other by using the water in their glasses to create various ice sculptures. She would mold the water and freeze it to appear in the shape of her Princess, to which he would freeze his water into a beautiful rose.
All of the couples chatted amicably about various topics until they came upon one to which they determinably disagreed with each other.
“I don’t understand how you could possibly think such a thing,” Nephrite said to Mars. “Have you looked at the size difference between the two? There is no way that someone as small as Venus could be worse than Kunzite. He looks like a stone wall and acts as one too.”
“Do you think that physical strength and size is the only indication of a leader?” Mars retorted.
“That’s not what he meant, Rei,” Jadeite jumped in. “He just meant that Kunzite physically works us harder because he himself can physically work so much harder.”
“That’s what Mars just said,” Jupiter replied.
“You’re equating physical strength to a leader’s stamina,” Mercury interjected, her concentration still on the ice shard being shaped in front of her. Zoicite turned his eyes to the object in her hand, and upon realizing that it was forming into something better than what he was working on decided to take the sore loser approach. He concentrated on the ice and with a mere thought he caused the ice in her hands to dissipate leaving her empty handed. She looked up at him with wide eyes as he proudly displayed the dove sculpted ice in his hand. In retaliation she reached over and touched the beak of the bird, causing the ice to turn to water, then laughing as the cold fluid spilled into his lap.
“It’s not just the physical size that he’s referring to though,” Zoicite muttered as he blotted at the water being absorbed into his uniform. “He’s also talking about their personalities. Have you seen Kunzite smile once in all this time?”
“Don’t be deceived by Venus’s smile,” Jupiter countered. “The sweeter her smile the more malicious her intent.”
“You really expect us to believe that she works you harder?” Nephrite tugged on her hair.
“How long do you train for?” she asked.
“At least four hours a day - three on Sunday’s. He claims to have a soul buried beneath that cool exterior, although we’re all still waiting to see it.”
“That’s nothing to complain about,” Mars laughed. “If we only trained for four hours a day we would probably be in as bad of shape as you guys.”
“I don’t recall you saying that when you were -.”
“Not necessary, Jadeite,” she quickly interjected, to which he smiled that mischievous smile of his.
“Training with your powers is hardly the same as practicing with heavy weapons in the dead of the summer,” Jadeite protested. “I won’t even go into the issue of practicing with body armor on.” Although his words didn’t say what he was thinking, the glance of his eyes at the scantiness of her uniform said it all.
“Give her a break, Jadeite,” Zoicite laughed. “I hardly heard you complaining the other day when you were discussing the finer vantage points of their fukus.”
“And what was your opinion?” Mercury asked.
“How did this get turned back on me?” he asked wide eyed as all eyes were cast his way. “This isn’t about how lovely these ladies look while they are giving us a thorough thrashing in the training arena,” he said hoping to appease Mercury. “This is about who is worse - Kunzite, the obvious choice, or Venus.”
“I would think that was a simple enough question to answer,” Venus spoke up. Everyone looked her way to see a bemused Venus being flanked by a not so amused looking Kunzite. Serenity and Endymion stood nearby laughing silently. “It’s me,” she smiled sweetly.
“Are you going to accept that answer, Kunzite?” Nephrite looked to his leader.
“Once you find out what she has in store for you gentleman, I believe you’ll be able to answer that question on your own,” Kunzite grinned.
Appearances