Water splashed around her, wetting her more than she already was. Her night-blue hair waved around her face, and her laughter filled the air. Her blue eyes shone in happiness, as she tried in vain to avoid water.

"Zoi...stop it!"

"Why? It's fun!"

"You think so? Take this!"

She turned around to face her companion, and splashed him with seawater. He was surprised, and put his hands in front of his face, but water hit him anyway.

The couple was Princess Mercury and Lord Zoicite. Just some weeks ago, they had discovered that they loved each other, and since then, they had been inseparable. At first, they had tried to hide their affair as much as possible. Not that they were anti-social, but they only wanted to share their love alone. Zoicite had said it when they first met; he wanted her only to himself. They alternated their trips, some times Zoicite going to the Moon, sometimes Mercury going to Earth; not telling anyone of course. But they didn't have much to do up on the Moon, the Senshi and Princess Serenity were always trying to find out where had their Mercury friend gone. Sometimes they walked through the Moon Gardens, late at night, just the both of them, talking about everything. Other times, Mercury escaped from the palace, and they met in secret places only they knew, but they didn't feel safe. So they decided it was better for them to meet on Earth.

And there they were now, at a beach hundred of miles away from the palace. It was midday, the sun shining brightly in the sky. Mercury was wearing a light-green swimming suit, which showed how beautiful her body was. Zoicite had a brownish swimming suit, which showed his muscular chest. They were both in the ocean, at the shore, just where the water reached Mercury's knees and Zoicite's mid calf. The general was splashing water over Mercury, while she returned the attack only seconds later. This is where our story begins...

"This time I will get you Zoi!"

"First you'll have to catch me!"

Mercury ran towards the general, and jumping with energy, knocked them both to the water. Just then, a wave hit, wetting them completely. When they stood up again, they were all covered with salty water and sand. They looked at each other and laughed. "I'll call it a draw, don't you think?" Mercury giggled, and answered, "I don't think so."

"You don't?

"Why? We are both wet."

"Yeah, but I don't have a sea crab hanging out of my hair."

Zoicite opened his eyes widely, and taking his hand to his hair, took the little creature out of it. It was red and little, and moved its little legs frantically. Zoicite placed him on the water, and sighed in defeat. "I surrender, almighty warrior", he said a grin in his face. "Only for this time I will spare your life, young man. You may leave my sight now", answered Mercury mockingly, while pointing up her nose and closing her eyes.

That was the opportunity Zoicite was waiting for. Silently, he stood up, and taking her in his arms, walked deeper into the water. Mercury shrieked in surprise, and hung from his neck. "What are you doing?"

"Taking my revenge" Just then, a big blue-green wave formed in front of them. "Zoi...!"

"Hold your breath Ami!"

The big amount of water hit them with energy, and they disappeared for a couple of seconds under the water. Few instants later, they appeared at the shore again, the water rolling them on their sides. When they finished, Mercury coughed, and looking at him, said, "You are so... impulsive."

"But you enjoyed it didn't you?" said Zoicite while taking a few bangs of hair out of his face. "No I didn't," answered she, the sparkles in her eyes denying her mouth. "You didn't, ha?" Zoicite crawled to her side, and with quickness, started tickling her. She was very ticklish, especially in the stomach.

"Zoi! Ha, ha--stop it!" She tried to back away, but she slipped in the wet sand. "Not until you say you liked it!" Mercury laughed, her eyes closed, tried to avoid telling him that she had liked it a lot. Soon, she couldn't hold on anymore. "Ok, ok -ha, ha, ha- I admit it. I enjoyed it a lot!"

"I knew you did."

"You're a little...crazy boy."

Zoicite smiled, and moving upwards, kissed her. She purred, and with her hand, pressed his face harder on hers. When they broke apart, she said: "But you are my crazy boy." Zoicite nodded, and looked at her directly into her eyes. They were so full of love that he felt overwhelmed. It was like looking at the night sky; she had little sparks in them that looked like stars. They fell silent, just looking at each other. He noticed as Mercury's cheeks blushed, but she didn't look away. Her eyes, those bottomless seas of light, the passage to heaven, the day-view of the night sky... those eyes drove him crazy. "Have I ever told you that you are gorgeous?"

"A hundred times, but I never get tired of hearing it... especially from you."

"Aha, so you have someone else? My heart is broken, I can't stand the pain," joked him, putting a hand over his heart and taking a desolated look on his eyes, knowing too well that they were one and only one for each other. "You fool! Of course I don't. Only my kawaii lion here by my side."

"Well, thanks little mouse". (They had nicknamed the other with animals they most looked liked. Zoicite's orange hair remembered her of a wild lion, and a mouse was the perfect comparison to Mercury's tiny body).

"Then, let me escort you to a drier place, my princess". He stood up, and took her in his arms again. This time, Mercury didn't yelp, just relaxed in the comfortable embrace. Zoicite walked out of the water, heading to where their towels were, looking at her all the time. He saw as her blue hair waved back and forth, matching his step-compass, brushing time over time on her cheeks. He suddenly started wondering how would she look like with long hair, like Lady Venus or Mars'.

"Have you ever thought of letting your hair grow?"

"Why, you don't like me this way?" she replied, a little bit of worry in her voice. He hugged her reassuringly, and clearly felt as her body relaxed. "No, I love you the way you are. You could be bold and ugly, and I would love you anyway. I was just thinking how would you look like." She relaxed, and answered: "You're right. When I get home, I will cut all my hair off." Zoicite noticed her mocking tone, and hugged her strongly. "No, you won't. Not with me around."

"You can't hold me like this forever."

"Wanna bet?"

She giggled. "I would love to."

"Little minx," he whispered back, not sure if he meant it or no. She snuggled deeper, and sighed in happiness. Zoicite lowered his face, and met hers. They kissed again, tasting each other's lips, enjoying the feeling. "Hmm, I'm beginning to like this visit..."

"Shh, don't say anything." Only the sound of the water, the sea-gulls quirking and the waves crashing on the shore was heard. They were in peace, Mercury still in his arms. The sun was shining brightly, warming them both. Besides, their bodies were warm also, despite the water they had been in. Then, Mercury jumped out of his embrace, and walking to the towels, took them in her hands, and tossed one of them to Zoicite. He caught it in the air, and started drying his hair. The cloth covered his face for a couple of seconds, and when he took it off, Mercury was sitting on the sand, stretching the towel to lay on it. She closed an eye, and put her hand over her face to protect it of the sunlight, and said: "It's better this way. I've always enjoy the touch of the sun, but up there it is never this strong."

"Great idea," Zoicite kneeled by her side, and lay on the towel himself. She was right; the sun was great. It wasn't as strong to the point of burning, but strong enough to tan up the skin. He closed his eyes, and relaxed, letting the sun caress his body. Suddenly, a hairy thing pressed against his chest. Surprised, he opened his eyes, just to see Mercury's head resting on her abdomen. She was smiling, but said nothing.

"So, who gave you permission to do this?" said he.

"Oh, I pleased myself today. Besides, you wouldn't want me to go, would you?" She batted her long eyelashes, looking at him with puppy dog eyes. He laughed, and stroked her hair. "Stay then". Again, they stopped talking, and looked to the sky and their surroundings.

Mercury was beginning to feel sleepy; the sun warming her skin... she couldn't keep her eyes open. Several times she opened them abruptly, just for a few seconds later start to doze off again. The up and down of Zoicite's chest wasn't helping much, it was like being lulled by her mother, when she was a little girl...

Zoicite was looking at her by the corner of his eye, and saw, as she became sleepier and sleepier, until she fell asleep in his lap. Her face fell to the side, facing him. He looked at her intently, saving every little detail of her face on his mind. She is so beautiful. I still can't believe we are together. Just then, a light breeze moved her hair, covering her face for a while. When it went off, Zoicite saw that her closed eyes were shining. What? How can that be? Raising his head, he took a closer view. What he saw made his heart stiffen in pain... she was crying. Crying in her sleep.