Disclaimer: All of these characters from Sailor Moon belong to Naoko Takeuchi, etc, etc.
"Will you be attending Endymion's birthday celebrations?"
"Of course I will. The entire palace will enjoy the revelries."
"Oh. I… That's not what I meant. Are you…I mean, what have you…" He sighed and looked down as he wrung his slender hands. "Have you made arrangements to attend the festivities with anyone?"
I smile as I notice his blush and realize what he is asking of me. I had wondered why he approached me. Since his outburst several weeks ago, I had continued to spend as much time as I could near him. He had not discouraged me but he had not directly encouraged me either. He had endured my attentions and had even agreed to accompany me to certain formal gatherings, as long as it was reputable and there was no chance for me to be alone with him. He did not seek my company but did not deny my requests. This morning was the first time he had sought me and I had wondered at his embarrassed, timid expression. Now I understood.
"No. I have made no plans at all. Why do you ask?" It must have taken him substantial courage to finally initiate something between us. I will not steal this small victory from him.
"I…" He takes a deep breath, steadying his nerves and tries again. "I wanted to know if you would like to go with me." He stared at the floor, refusing to make eye contact.
"I would be delighted Zoisite." His head shot up and he looked at me, shocked and pleasantly surprised. How could I refuse him?
"Really? Great! I'll be looking forward to tonight." I was enchanted as he beamed at me. Sometimes he reminded me of a radiant star, shining on all those around him.
He started to leave but turned when I spoke. "Shall I come to your bedchambers tonight?"
He turned, his cheeks flaming bright red. "No! That's not what I meant at all!"
"Zoisite…?" Then I realized what I said. "I meant to ask where would you like to meet me tonight? I could come to your chambers or you could come to mine."
"Oh. Sorry, I guess I should think more before I rush to conclusions. Could we meet at the marble statue, the pale one of the young girl, near the rose gardens? Do you know it?"
I nodded. "Fine... Although, I do wonder why you leaped to that particular conclusion."
He blushed brighter; almost as red as those strawberries he loved so much. "I…I have to go. Please excuse me."
I stepped aside as he passed, barely containing my smile. Sometimes I forget how innocent my young paramour truly is. I laughed aloud after he disappeared from sight. Finally a sign that all my labors had not been wasted. I walked to the gardens filled with thoughts of the upcoming event.
"Have you been waiting long?"
"No, not at all." If truth were told, I had been pacing around the statue since sunset. The royal ball was scheduled to start when the moon rose, an hour after sunset. Most of the other guests had already gone to the ballroom. I had started to think that Zoisite would not come.
"I am so sorry! I didn't mean to be so late. I was talking to Selenite - she is to be Endymion's escort tonight. Then Jadeite said Nephrite wanted to talk to me and I had to search all over the palace to find him, and when I did find him, he said he would talk to me tomorrow and then I was late!" I could not help smiling as Zoisite paused for breath. "Are we terribly late? I haven't had time to look at a clock and when I got here I could not see you and I thought you had already left and - "
"Zoisite, relax. Stop and catch your breath." He was panting; he must have run all the way here. "Are you ready to go?"
I looked down at the plain dark green uniform he wore. It was the same outfit he wore almost every day and was in the fashion of his homelands' military.
"Is that what you are going to wear?" I suddenly felt rather foolish in my own attire. I had worn a formal uniform in white and gold complete with a silk-lined cape and gaudy epaulets.
"No, I - well, I … I guess so." He sounded disappointed. "I thought I would have time to change… but it would make us too late. We should go."
"Nonsense. You might as well go and dress first. No one will notice if we are a little late…"
"But…" He bit his lower lip, uncertain.
"Yes?"
"Thank you Kunzite." He looked up at me and smiled.
"It is my pleasure Zoisite," I said as I traced my fingertips along the gentle line of his jaw. He gasped and looked away, but did not pull away from me. I drew my hand from his face. I had no reason to push him tonight. He had invited me and I was determined to show him that it was the right thing to do… and that I was worthy of his trust.
I waited at the bottom of the staircase. I had known that his quarters were in this wing of the palace, but had not realised how close they were to my own. His door was to the left of the staircase and mine was to the right. Only one doorway had separated us since he arrived. I could not help smiling at the thought that we had been so physically close, yet so distanced.
The cause was probably our different lifestyles. He rose early and I rose late. He spent his morning hours outside in the gardens while I devoted those same hours to paperwork and tactics. We both lunched alone in our rooms. I used the afternoons to explore the countryside, to ride the horses or simply walk through the forest. He rested indoors after lunch as was customary in his homeland. We both attended the formal dinners in Endymion's dining rooms but he left early in the night, while I did not make my way to bed until the night was half over. All in all, apart from the dinners and the scheduled meetings and discussions of the Earthly Princes, we barely saw one another. It had made it difficult to court him, but eventually I became used to early mornings full of sunshine and afternoons filled with paperwork at my desk!
I pulled myself out of my thoughts as I heard his door open. He gracefully closed his door and descended the stairs in a long formal robe of dark green silk. The garment was covered in embroidery of cherry blossoms with golden leaves and matched his eyes to perfection. He was gorgeous, utterly divine. My thoughts must have been apparent for he blushed when he met my gaze, murmuring for us to go.
Surprisingly, for me at least, we left early. Actually, Zoisite had attempted to leave without me. He did not dance, but had claimed he had no objections if I did. Then, when I was in the middle of a waltz with a charming redhead, he had simply waved goodbye to me as he walked out the glass doors! I was forced to rush across the dance-floor through a crowd of couples, just to catch up with him.
"You do not have to leave because of me, Kunzite. You seemed to be enjoying yourself. Why not return and enjoy the rest of the ball?"
Zoisite looked surprised that I had come after him and more than a little confused. As if he did not expect me to notice, or to care, that he had left. I shook my head and watched him. Perhaps he regretted inviting me?
"Please do not take it personally, Kunzite. It is just that I…" He glanced over at the doorway, and the overrun room beyond. "I have never enjoyed crowds. Besides, I wanted to see the fireworks display." He stared at his hands, waiting for me to leave, I guess. I could not understand how a person so forceful and sure when dealing with battle tactics, could be so shy. I took hold of his small hands in one of mine.
"I would prefer to watch the fireworks with you, Zoisite."
He gave me an uncertain smile and nodded.
Like many other couples, we sat in the gardens, awaiting the fireworks that always accompanied Endymion's celebrations. He sat beside me on the cool grass and I could feel him shivering.
"Are you cold?" I asked.
He nodded, saying, "Just a little. I have not worn this since I left home. It never gets as cold as this back home."
"Perhaps you should visit Nephrite's homeland. It seems to snow there more often than not."
"Really? I have never been there. I… I have not traveled much. This is the first time I have left my own country. I miss it so much…" He looked up at me and smiled sheepishly. "But that is not important."
"It is, to me." I brushed his icy cheeks with my fingertips. "You are freezing. Here, let me…" I started to unfasten my cape.
He shook his head, "But then you will be cold."
"If you will not allow me to be cold," He nodded. "And I refuse to let you freeze…there is only one solution."
"What?" Confused green eyes questioned me.
"This." I said as I leant over and lifted him onto my lap. He gasped in surprise. I wrapped the cloak around the pair of us and felt him relax against me, letting his head rest on my shoulder as the display began. The fireworks illuminated the sky with blossoms of green and red, yellow and blue. Zoisite stared in wonder, his sweet lips slightly parted in awe. The final flowers were the most spectacular, lighting the sky with Endymion's own colour, silver. Green, red, yellow, blue and silver. The colours of the Earthly Princes. Why was I not surprised that the most impressive exhibition had been silver?
The noise ended, signaling the intermission between the fireworks. The first time I saw Endymion's fireworks, the second set of explosions took me by surprise and I had to run back outside to see them. Now, I know better.
After several minutes he lifted his head and asked me timidly, "Kunzite, will you keep your promise to me?"
I nodded. "Always."
He looked skeptical of my swift answer. "Do you even remember your promise, sir?"
His angry tone had surprised me. "Of course I do. I promised to wait until you asked me to kiss you." I watched him intently, unsure of what he meant by such questioning. It was then that I noticed the deep red staining his cheeks.
"Then, would you…?" He stopped and turned away. His golden mane, free and unbound for once, covered his face in shadow. "I mean, if I asked you… would you… Just forget I said anything," He all but whispers with a shake of his head.
I lean down, whispering in his ear, hoping to give him he confidence he needs. "Zoisite, I am yours to command."
"…Kiss me."
He turns towards me and I can see the anticipation and… not quite fear, but almost… concern or worry. I know this is not the first time he has been kissed but I wonder if this is the first time that he has wanted to be kissed. I run my hand against his jawbone, cupping his cheek in my hand and allowing my thumb to gently graze against his lips as the concern in his eyes is replaced by desire. Slowly I lean down and kiss him. It is a chaste kiss, his soft lips against mine, as his sweet floral scent and the warmth of his skin enfold me. It is a tender kiss, something which makes my soul ache in a way I could not describe.
Above all, it is a kiss swiftly finished as the abrupt noise of firecrackers and exploding blossoms of light cause him to jerk away from me.
"They have started again!" he says, slightly breathlessly as he spares me a brief smile and settles against my chest. "It is so beautiful."
"True." I agree as I watch him. It is beautiful, but tonight I can only see his beauty before me. I would gladly miss a thousand such spectacles to have this. To have him against me, to feel him in my arms, and watch him smile and laugh with delight. I remember a phrase spoken long ago and smile at the truth within those glib and flippant words. I was right. He is worth any wait and any task. Sitting in the shadows, I feel his small hands search for mine, and clasp them in the darkness.