"Princess... what are you doing here?"

"Sshh. Not so loud! They are after me."

"After you? Who?"

The Royal Guard of course. I made a mistake, and appeared in the middle of their quarters."

"You did what?!?!"

"It doesn't matter now. Now listen to me. Do you want to see Mercury again?"

He was startled, and babbled his answer. "I...we...you...what?"

"Listen Lord Zoisite, I don't have much time. Do you want to see her or not?"

Of course I do. It's all I want. To see her again will fill my heart again. But, quieting his heart, he frowned, and answered, each word being a dagger in his body: "I already told your friends; it's none of your business."

"Look, Zoisite--may I call you that? You and I know that you still love her so stop being so stubborn!"

"No I don't."

"You don't? Then what's this?"

Before he could react, she walked to his night table and opened the drawer. From inside, she took something, and showed it to him. "So, will you still deny you feel anything for her?"

"Give that to me!"

Venus was surprised by his tone, and tossed it to him. Zoisite took it, and looked at it intently. It was Mercury's picture, which weeks ago he couldn't break.

"How did you know where this was?"

"I have my ways."

"But, I hid it. I didn't want anyone to find it."

"Love is my second name. Now, do you want to see her or not?"

Zoisite looked at Mercury's eyes on the picture, and the last resistance he had broke into pieces. His need of answering was getting almost unbearable. He tried to stop it by asking what troubled him:

"But she doesn't want to see me again...."

"Don't worry. I've got that fixed. Have you ever heard of--no, you haven't. Look. My mother taught me a way of hiding your true appearance."

"Changing my body?"

"No, just your aura. That way, your shape will change, and you'll look different."

"And for what use would that be?"

"If no one can recognize you, they'll let you in. Then, the rest is up to you."

"I still don't believe you."

"Humph! You doubt of my powers? Look!"

Venus stretched her hands, facing him. Her eyes were looking straight at his forehead. Then, she began chanting some old Venusian words, which Zoisite couldn't identify. A faint glow appeared on her hands, and she directed it to him. A thin ray of yellow light emerged from them, and struck him in the middle of his forehead. As soon as it did, Zoisite started feeling strange. It was as if he was being warmed by something. Like being under the sun. Then, it stopped. He opened his eyes, which he had involuntarily closed, and saw a grinning lady Venus.

"It's not bad at all. As a matter of fact, you look very handsome," said she.

"What do you mean? That's it?"

"Look in the mirror."

He walked up to it, and looked inside. He almost jumped backwards for what he saw. The reflection showed a man, who had nothing to do with him. He had green hair, up to his shoulders. His eyes were green also. It appeared they had stayed the same. His skin was more tanned than it used to be. Surprised, Zoisite touched his face. He was amazed as he saw the man in the mirror doing the same. He grasped a tangle of his now short hair, and ruffled it. He blinked, but the figure remained there. He moved to the side, and so did the reflection.

"It's... it's amazing." Zoisite was surprised. His voice had changed too. It was almost an octave higher, but pleasant to hear. Lady Venus smiled, and walked to his side.

"It is. See now? No one will recognize you like this."

"There's something that puzzles me. How come my eyes keep being green? They are the same as before."

"Well, eyes can't change."

"Why?"

"Simple. According to an ancient Venusian legend, eyes are the window to people's souls. If I changed your eyes, I'd be changing your insides too. That way, no matter how powerful a spell is, eyes always stay as they were conceived."

"Hmm, nice theory. Can I ask you something?"

"What?"

"How will I enter the party? I would need an invitation, and I don't have one, and he... -he motioned to the mirror- I mean me... I mean. . .."

Venus giggled at his confusion, and putting a finger on his lips, silenced him. "You will go as my partner."

"Your partner?"

"Yeah. No one will mess with me, less with my companion."

"But... wouldn't it look bad if then I leave you and go and court Mercury?"

"Nah. That place is so big, no one will notice. Besides, as soon as we enter, you may go and talk with her or dance with her or do with her whatever you want."

Zoisite blushed, and said: "Lady Venus!!"

"Oh, come on. You can't fool me; you never did. When you two are together, uff, sparks fly everywhere."

Zoisite blushed deeper. He coughed a little, trying to hide his embarrassment. Venus giggled again, trying not to embarrass him more. Then, she looked through the window, and saw as the sun was almost setting. "Ok now, Zoisite. Shall we start our journey to the Moon palace?"

"Hmm, that's another problem."

"What?"

"You can't go around calling me Zoisite with this appearance. I'm gonna need a new name."

"True. Name, name, name for you", chanted Venus, as she walked around the room. "What about Aina?"

"Aina? That's a girl's name!"

"Hmm. Then, what do you think of Murifa?"

What? Where have you seen a human called Murifa? It sounds like a dog's name."

"You're right. It *is* my dog's name. Then, what about Suki?"

"Suki? It doesn't sound bad, but I still don't quite like it."

"Well Zoisite, aren't we being exigent today? Then you think of a good name!"

"Hmm, Suki... Sumi... Suri!"

"Suri? You wanna call yourself Suri?"

"Yeah, why not?"

"It's a strange name, but it'll do. Then, shall we go?"

"What? Now?"

"Yeah. We need to prepare everything."

"But, isn't it a bit early?"

"Nope. Look outside." Zoisite walked to the window, and looked around. Venus was right; the sun was setting, spreading reds, pinks and yellows everywhere his eye could reach. He turned around, and said: "I'm ready then." Venus nodded, and walked to his side. She grabbed his arm, and entwined it with her own.

"La--Lady Venus... what are you doing?"

"Oh, silly. You don't want your friends to see you like this, do you? So, I'm just speeding things a little."

"I know but...." "Look, Suri, you'd better get used to this, because you'll be like this for some time, until we enter the party at least. Don't worry, I won't try anything, I know you are already taken. Besides, I need physical contact to be able to transport both of us to the Moon."

"Gee, sorry. Let's go then."

"As you say." Venus closed her eyes, and in a flash of orange light, they disappeared from the room, headed to the satellite over the planet...