Disclaimer: All characters portrayed in this story are the property of Naoko Takeuchi and co.
This story, while NOT a lemon and NO real crass words are used, is gratuitous. You have been
warned.
C & C welcomed.
Defending Her Majesty
A sequel to For Want of Moon
by
Donny Cheng
Endymion paced nervously in the antechamber to their bedroom as he waited for his
wife. It never ceased to amaze him how long it could take her to get ready. He supposed that
the ‘girl’ in his wife took over on these special court functions. She could wear something other
than her usual, regal, but ultimately plain, white dress. *Her former self would probably have
killed herself if she knew that she would be wearing a single style for the rest of her life,* he
thought wryly.
“Stop moving around, you’re making me nervous now,” Serenity chided as the maids
opened to doors for her. She almost giggled as Endymion’s jaw dropped at her appearance. “I
take it that this is to his Majesty’s liking?”
Endymion nodded numbly as he hesitantly held out his arm for his wife. “You look
amazing.” And she did. Her dress was similar to her queenly outfit in that it was strapless with
the same lacing along the top with a cute bow at her back. However, this gown was midnight
black, and the instead of a voluminous skirt, the hem was cut short, way too short, above her
knees, in the fashion of a mini-skirt. He could imagine how even more impressive she would look
with her pale, flawless skin enhanced against the dress and darkness of the night sky. What was
more, she hand undone her hair, letting it out so that it looked much like Minako’s.
“Really?” Serenity asked as she twirled around in her new dress, before linking her arm
with her husband’s. She stood on her toes to nuzzle at his ears, whispering, “Mmm... for that.
you will get a special treat tonight. I’m not wearing any....”
The shock had almost worn off before the caressing lips of his queen made him stiffen up
again. “Stop that or we’ll never leave this room.”
“Is that a promise or a threat?” She asked impishly with a twinkle in her eye.
“You do realize that we’re not alone right?”
Serenity had the decency to blush as she remembered her maids were still in the room.
They were looking at their feet as long suffering servants accustomed to their employers’
carelessness were wont to do. “Okay, let’s go. Loosen up, Endy-chan. We’re going to a
masquerade, not a battle. Nobody will know who we are so we can mingle freely.”
Endymion grimaced. A battle was indeed what he was going to be going into tonight.
* * * * *
Endymion smiled as he glanced around the room, pausing to look at the ambassadors in
particular. The lack of Starlights among them improved his earlier mood of anxiety considerably.
Tonight, he would not have to worry about those three at least. They took exceptionally long
turns at hugging Serenity and shaking her hand. His mood almost dipped as he remembered the
look of insolence on that guy, Seiya’s face. The worst part of it all was that Serenity didn’t see
any of it and just thought it cute that he was jealous.
Lost in his thoughts, he didn’t even realize it when Serenity had left his side. A quick
scan of the ballroom alerted him to the presence of one Sailor Neptune. And where she was,
_the other_ was bound to be. As expected, both Serenity and Uranus was chatting by the wall at
the far side of the court, alone. It was hard to imagine Uranus as anything but a man, with her
body posture and smirk. The woman was leaning too close for comfort to his queen, with one
hand against the wall, and Serenity caught in between her and the wall. Needless to say, he
rushed over there immediately.
* * * * *
“No, I’m sure I would remember someone as cute as you,” Uranus grinned.
Serenity giggled at Uranus’s husky voice. “I bet you say that to everyone. How do you
know I’m cute behind this mask?”
Uranus let her eyes drift downwards, causing her prey to blush. “Let’s just say it’s
intuition. Your beautiful eyes and sweet voice betray you, little kitten.”
Her eyes flashed, “Do you call everyone that as well?”
“I only call one person that,” she grinned.
“Oh?” a grin replaced the upturned pout immediately.
“Would you care to dance, little kitten?”
“I would love to, kind sir,” she giggled again and allowed herself to be swept away into a
loose embrace of the taller ‘stranger.’
The dance was slow as Uranus liked it. She stepped in closer, their bodies close to
touching. “This is a rather tight dress you’re wearing.”
“Implying something?” Serenity asked hotly. Her friends all knew she was sore about her
diet.
“Only that,” Uranus started to say, then bent down to the woman’s ear to finish her
thought, “I think anything underneath would show up.”
The now fiery woman raised an eyebrow, “You’re one to someone else flat chested.”
“That wasn’t what I meant. What I meant was…,” Uranus’s lips came even closer to the
soft pale ear that was fast becoming pink and finished what she wanted to say in a whisper.
Serenity blushed, her tempers cooling only to have her body temperature rise at once.
“Maybe I am, maybe I’m not.”
“I could check,” she threatened teasingly.
“You wouldn’t.”
“Wouldn’t I?” Uranus lowered her hands from the small of the shorter woman’s back.
* * * * *
Endymion tried desperately to move through the throng of people on the dance floor
without appearing to be in a state of panic, which he was. He looked again at the wall where he
had just seen his wife moments ago. Suddenly, Uranus straightened up, bowed, and extended a
hand to Serenity. Oh, god, they were going to dance.
As he hurried towards them, he noticed Uranus’s hand slip from the small of Serenity’s
back slowly to the swell of her hips. Just as Uranus’s hand dipped past the hip to the rise of his
queen’s backside, her fingers clenching slightly, he lost sight of them as the crowd swelled up
between him and them. He cast his gaze left and right frantically, hoping he was not too late. He
did not like how the taller woman’s hand had almost reached the hem of Serenity’s short skirt. In
his mind, he could imagine Uranus’s fingers in places they did not belong.
In a moment of despair, a flash of brilliance hit him. He rushed over to where he had
seen Neptune admiring the art of the palace. “Neptune. It is so nice to see you, tonight.”
“Endymion,” Neptune nodded in his direction. “You’re out of breath. In a hurry?”
“In a manner of speaking, yes I was. I was wondering if you would like to dance with me
for the next song...,” Endymion barely had time to finish his request when he felt a hand leading
him away by the arm and noticed Neptune being similarly led away by another blonde. A
mischievous grin from the green haired beauty let him know that she knew what that was all
about.
“Endy-chan, I was looking all over for you. You really shouldn’t wander off like that,”
Serenity scolded as regally as she could, but came across looking petulant.
“I’m sorry, your Majesty. It was just that I couldn’t find you, so I thought I would entertain
myself in other ways,” Endymion said, looking as contrite as possible. When he looked back up,
he found his queen missing again.
* * * * *
It didn’t take long for Endymion to find Serenity as she was currently with the most
blindingly gaudy person in the room. His mood further darkened as he saw what said gaudy
person was wearing. He knew he should have argued against the masquerade as it would just
give that woman a chance to wear her Sailor V costume again. His wife was the queen, an idol to
billions and worshipped as a living goddess, but she reverted to a little girl whenever Sailor V
made her appearance.
“Sailor V!” Serenity squealed, as she wrapped her longtime friend in a hug.
“Your Majesty,” Sailor V tried to say and curtsy in response, but it was hard when you
had a hundred pound woman holding you in a death grip. “You know the point of the
masquerade is for me not to guess who you are, right?”
“Oh, like I could fool anyone. Everyone just humors me and pretends they don’t know the
shortest blonde in the room is their Queen. And you’re one to talk. Who else would dress as
Sailor V?”
“Well you’ve got to admit, who else could pull it off?” Venus smiled as she stepped back
from Serenity to pose, her fingers spread out to form a V. A blush formed as her queen looked at
her with vapid adoration. She had always known that Serenity idolized Sailor V, but she hadn’t
really known how much until she wore her old costume to a Halloween party so many centuries
ago. A shiver shot through her spine as she remembered those curious hands that night. She
now tried to wear it whenever opportunity gave her an excuse.
“Sailor _Venus_,” Endymion greeted, emphasizing on the current title of the woman
before him.
“Endymion,” Venus greeted, smiling as if glad to see him.
He saw through her immediately, knowing full well she was easily the most deceptive of
the lot. “How are you this fine evening?”
“I’m… okay.”
“V… I mean, Venus, what’s wrong?” Serenity was immediately by her friend’s side
sensing something wrong.
“Nothing. You know how nights like these get me down sometimes. I see you and
Endymion. I can’t help but think...”
“Endy-chan, maybe you should leave us two alone.”
Half-truths, Endymion was sure, but he couldn’t really argue against it. Damn the woman
for attacking Serenity’s greatest weakness, compassion. A vein burst on his forehead as he saw
Venus’s head being cradled on Serenity’s bosom. Another vein popped up as he saw Venus
deliberately nuzzle her face deeper into Serenity’s chest and back his wife into the make-shift
lounge they had set up beside the dance floor.
* * * * *
Venus couldn’t help but feel a little guilty whenever Serenity held her as she was doing
now. As she was about to push herself away, she felt other woman hug her even tighter.
“I’ve been meaning to talk to you about this since my last holiday. It’s been awhile since
you last married or even dated seriously.”
That brought her down even more. Serenity only cared to help her, while Venus had
ulterior motives and used those feeling to her advantage. “Well, I’ve been busy.”
“This is the same Venus that once had to study for five midterms, but decided to go out
on two dates the night before?”
“Well, I’m getting old….”
“I heard you saved a group of citizens that wondered out of the boundaries from youma
single handedly while sick with fever. Doesn’t sound like someone old to me.”
“I…,” Venus hesitated, quickly running out of excuses, *…love you madly…* “...have
found someone,” she finished instead. She felt some small amount of relief when Serenity finally
let go of her, but at the same time she was already beginning to miss that warm soft ‘pillow.’ She
wasn’t disappointed for long as the other woman kept hold of her hand.
“Really?” Serenity asked, a little skeptical and a little hurt at the possibility was true. “You
didn’t tell me when I visited you last time. I thought you would tell me of all people.”
“Ah, s… he has someone already.”
“I see,” Serenity said gently, but her hold on the Venus’s hand became stronger. “It must
be hard for you then.”
“A little,” Venus answer truthfully. She lowered her eyes as if her friend could see what
she was feeling through them. Suddenly, she began to feel very hot as her eyes now centered
on the top of Serenity’s dress. The strapless gown showed off her flawless skin and they way it
hugged her body showed exactly how much the woman had filled out since her teen years.
Serenity mistook her friend’s averted gaze for not wanting to talk about it. “You know that
if you want to talk about it, I’ll always be here.”
“I know that.” Again, the kindness. Each word ate at her, wracking her with guilt as she
ogled Serenity. And yet, she could not help it. Their friendship was something she would have
liked to place above all else, but her need would never go away and only became stronger the
deeper their friendship. Shame brought her head down even more, and again her love tempered
guilt and shame, allowing her to once more notice such things as the hemline of her queen’s
dress riding up the thighs.
Endymion looked warily at Mercury. The woman appeared to be sheepish, but at the
same time determined to do what was necessary. Of all the others, she was the one that
Endymion feared the most. “Hello, Mercury,” he said curtly.
“King Endymion,” Mercury greeted. “Let me introduce you to Ambassador Topaz. I was
about to take him to see Serenity.”
“That’s nice to hear… wait, did you say Topaz? Of the Dark Moon? Now?” Endymion
asked incredulously. On the list of things that Serenity worried about, was that particular faction.
Mercury knew this of course. She also knew that he would try and prevent anything from
disrupting Serenity’s enjoyment tonight. “Uh, she is occupied at the moment, perhaps you would
care to speak with me first.”
“Of course, your Majesty,” Prince Topaz said, bowing deeply.
Endymion could only watch as Mercury took her leave now that her task of diverting his
attention had been accomplished. She was no doubt going to roam freely looking for her prey
now. Damn the woman.
* * * * *
It didn’t take long for Endymion to realize that this Ambassador carried no great mission.
He was simply here to monitor peace negotiations and was only going to pay his respects to the
Queen. “I see, as I said she was speaking alone with a friend at the moment.”
“Oh, yes, I saw her walk off with Sailor Venus.”
The way the man said the woman’s name made Endymion pause. “Yes, do you know
her?”
“Only in legends I’m afraid. I have been a great admirer of hers for a long time. She was
one of the reasons I became interested in resolving our conflicts.”
“Would you like me to introduce you to her? You could also take this moment to pay your
respects.” A plan began to form in his mind. He just noticed that the man was quite handsome.
Very handsome actually, judging from the glares from other men as their escorts looked this way.
“That would please me greatly. Please, lead the way.”
*I will be taking your pawn now Mercury,* Endymion thought, chortling gleefully inside as
he saw Venus’s eyes widen as they approached them in the lounge. “My Queen, Sailor Venus,”
he said, tipping his head to the two in acknowledgement.
“I have an Ambassador Topaz from the Black Moon. He is just here to enjoy the party,”
he said quickly to not worry Serenity. He apparently needn’t have worried as the two women
zipped past him to immediately greet the man.
“Topaz did you say?” Serenity said smilingly, offering a hand up for the man to kiss. Her
hips budging Sailor Venus out of the way, who was mirroring her with the same words and
actions.
“Yes, you honor me with your presence,” Topaz said taking each woman’s hand and
kissing them in turn, lingering a little longer with Venus.
However, to Endymion, he felt the Ambassador’s lips had stayed too long with Serenity’s
hand also. Another thing that had remained constant throughout his wife’s life, was her tendency
to flirt outrageously even when he was there. The woman could not stop ogling beautiful men.
“I would like to hear more about your journey, Ambassador. Would you like to sit down
with me… us?” Sailor Venus asked, wincing slightly as she felt Serenity’s elbow.
“Uh, I would also like to hear about your travels,” Endymion quickly said, joining in.
“There you are, you Majesty,” Sailor Mercury chose at that moment to appear. “Uh…
could I have a word with you?”
Serenity immediately forgot about Topaz as she quickly went towards her friend. “Of
course. I’m sorry, Ambassador. I will hear about your travels later. My King, if you would look
after our guest for me.”
And with that they were gone. Endymion blinked at the speed of the turn of events. It
took him a moment to register how everything had been orchestrated. He had not figured the
woman to be up to diverting one of her friends also. Damn her.
* * * * *
Mercury fidgeted as she and Serenity sat down at the bar counter. Now that she actually
had the woman to herself, she didn’t know what to do. Well, she knew what to do, just that she
didn’t know how she should go about confessing to her oldest friend.
“Can I get you two anything?” the bartender asked the two new guests.
“Yes! Liquor!”
Serenity blinked at Mercury’s outburst for alcohol. Could her friend have a problem? The
woman did seem a little out of sorts. Maybe a little talk was in order.
* * * * *
“And then?” Mercury asked, her eyes glazed.
“Well, I move my hands up and down the sides.”
“You mean you caress your hips?”
“Uh, I guess you can say that.”
“What next?”
“I move to the… um, lower end of my body.”
“How low?” she asked her Queen insistently.
“Just to the undersides of my bu… well you know.”
“What do you do there?”
“Mercury!” Serenity squealed, before realizing that she was still at the bar and that her
friend was quite drunk and wasn’t of right mind. Reluctantly, she indulged her friend and
answered, quite embarrassed, “I rub.”
“Rub what?”
“The cheeks, okay?”
“Oh,” Mercury replied in a small voice before perking up again to ask, “then what do you
do?”
“I finish off my legs and then I’m done. Honestly, the topics that come up when you’re
drunk.”
“I’m not drunk!” Mercury declared loudly and stared down everyone that looked her way
at her statement. “Now, where was I?”
“You were just finished telling me that you were in love with my perfume. I told you that it
was just from the scented soap I use and somehow you ended up telling me about your bathing
habits and forced me to tell mine. Does that sum it up?”
“Oh,” Mercury said again in the same dejected whisper from before. “I am really in love
with yo….”
“With my perfume, I know, I know,” Serenity whispered gently before waving the
bartender over. “Get the Head Maid over here and have her prepare a room for Mercury.”
She waited for Miriam to appear before she slipped outside and walked towards one of
the terraces. It was just about time for her to meet a visitor. *This is so naughty,* she thought
giggling to herself.
* * * * *
*Constant vigilance!* Endymion reprimanded himself when he felt his eyelids lower from
the entrance. He was tired with all the running around he had done, but there were still two that
hadn’t made their appearance yet. He couldn’t afford to let them get by him like Mercury had
done. Salvation had come because, despite all her intelligence, she was the shyest of them.
Endymion’s patience was rewarded by the sight of a tall masked woman in a trench coat
entering the room and then just as quickly, slip outside onto one of the terraces. This one was
just as dirty a fighter as the others, if not more so, attacking another of his wife’s weak points.
Those were not extra pounds the woman was packing underneath that coat. It was not long until
he saw his wife also slip outside.
Fortunately, he was prepared for her this time. “Miriam,” he called over the head maid.
There was a silent feud between the maid and Jupiter over Serenity’s diet. “I think I saw Sailor
Jupiter come in just now. I think she was with my wife. I recall that you wanted to say something
to her?”
“Oh yes, I did. Where did she go?”
Endymion pointed the old woman towards the balcony where he last saw Jupiter. Three
Inner Senshi down, one to go.
* * * * *
“Hey there, little girl.”
Serenity turned her head at the sound of the husky voice coming from the terrace out
outside. The glass door was slightly ajar, causing the curtains to billow about. She looked out
the balcony door, at first not seeing anything. “Who’s there?” The clouds parted in the sky just
then, letting moonlight fall upon one Senshi of Jupiter dressed in a trench coat that covered her
tall frame.
“I’ve got some treats for you. Why don’t you come out here?”
“You sound like a big, bad, hungry wolf from a fairy tale,” Serenity whispered as she let
herself out, closing the door behind her.
“Ah… heh, really?” Jupiter asked, bringing up her hand to her mouth, wondering if she
was drooling that much.
“What is that you’re wearing? It isn’t that cold out tonight.”
“Look,” Jupiter winked, and then opened up her trench coat to reveal cakes, candy, and
various sweets lined up along each side of the coat like some cheap peddler. Running out of
space, she also wore several pouches bound to her body. “Enough food here that even you can’t
finish.”
Serenity’s eyes widened, before tears formed. “J-Jupiter… I don’t know what to say…”
“I heard about that old coot Miriam putting you on a diet for gaining weight during your
last holiday. So I thought you could use a little cheering up.”
“What was that? Jupiter?” came Miriam’s voice from inside.
“Oh no, it’s her. I have to hide. If she sees me here with you and all this food, she’ll
make me diet even longer!” Serenity whispered shriekingly, which Jupiter was amazed was even
possible.
“Quick, hide in my coat, behind me.”
“But....”
Whatever her objections were, they were lost when the door opened and Miriam stepped
on to the terrace. “Jupiter, how nice to see you here. You’re looking… swell.” *As an ox. You’ve
put on some weight it looks like.*
Jupiter didn’t miss the sarcasm in the senior maid’s voice. “Likewise, I’m sure.”
“Have you seen the Queen around? I thought for sure I saw her standing outside the
door a minute ago. And weren’t you just talking to someone?”
“Oh, just mumbling to myself when I saw you inside and I thought I’d give your name a
call.” *Good ears for an old bat* “You probably just missed her majesty. She’s just a thin little
thing isn’t she? She used to stick out a bit more.” *You’re starving her you sadistic old woman.*
“Like a whale you mean? I had to secretly have her dress altered so it wouldn’t burst at
the seams one time because she came back from her holidays a few pounds heavier. That girl
has no self-control sometimes.” *Especially around you, you evil temptress plying your trade with
sweets.*
*That _girl_ is your Queen, you… you… aaah, Serenity, not there.* It seemed Serenity
had found the stash of food in the coat more pressing then the situation they were in. Jupiter
could feel the other woman behind her fumbling about. Hands tentatively moved along her sides,
tickling her, as they searched and found some offerings taped to the coat.
“Is something wrong, Jupiter?” Miriam asked as she noticed some perspiration on the
Senshi’s brow. Is she sick? It would explain the overly large trench coat on this warm night.
“No, I’m fi~ine!” Jupiter screeched out as she felt Serenity’s hands start to move again
over her waist, this time to the pouch on her belt. Her body temperature shot up several degrees
as she felt fingers press against thin layering of the pouch that now dipped below her waistline.
In order to reach, Serenity’s cheek was pressed against Jupiter’s lower cheeks.
“Well, if you haven’t seen her. I’ll be going now.”
“No~o! I mean stay for a bit. I hear you’re something of a cook yourself. I’m always
interested in new recipes.”
“I’m afraid my recipes might be a little bland for a master chef such as yourself,” Miriam
actually found that she blushed a little, with no sarcasm in her voice this time. Despite what she
may think of her, everyone in Crystal Tokyo, including her, knew that Jupiter was the greatest
chef that ever lived.
“Ple~ease, you been taking care of the King and Queen for decades. I’m sure you’ve got
a few tricks that keep them happy.”
“Well… I have been experimenting a little in the kitchen lately. And your opinion would
be greatly appreciated. Would you like to go inside? I can’t really see you very clearly out here
with my eyesight and all.”
“No, out here is fine. I am a little under the weather and the palace is incredibly stuffy
and noisy. It’s much nicer out here. And believe me, the pleasure would be all mine,” Jupiter
managed to say with a straight voice as Serenity’s hands now found the pouch tied to against the
inside of her thigh.
* * * * *
*Poor Jupiter,* Serenity thought as she slipped back inside to the party after Miriam had
left for a few minutes. The inner Senshi had collapsed on the floor and was slightly delirious. It
must have been a nerve wracking experience for her in this heat and in that coat with another
body behind her. Serenity was a little overheated herself, but she had also found it mischievous
fun hiding from Miriam like that. It was especially sweet of her old friend to stall Miriam while she
had her fill.
* * * * *
Rei stood in the middle of a throng of men that hung on her every word. Out of uniform,
she was not the respected and out of reach Senshi. She was simply another woman. A very
beautiful woman. She wore a strapless black evening gown that sparkled with priceless jewels,
but they paled compared to her own brilliance…. Endymion coughed. Or at least that was what
he heard the other men whisper.
At Endymion’s cough, the men around Rei dispersed to allow their King to talk to their
idol. However, many kept within view of her. *Respect only went so far after all,* Rei smiled at
the thought. “King Endymion. How are you this evening?”
“Oh, a little tired, but fine. I had a busy night chasing some pests away.”
Rei had little doubt to who those pests were. “I’m sorry to hear that. You should really
enjoy yourself on nights like these. It’s not often we can let our hair down and just have some
fun. And her Majesty? I hope her night has been eventful.”
“Maybe a little too eventful. I am thinking of asking her to retire to her chambers. It really
has been a long night.”
“Oh, she’ll miss out on my performance… won’t you my Queen,” Rei turned and curtsied
to the new arrival. She noticed Serenity immediately placing herself slightly in between Rei and
Endymion. Centuries earlier, she had felt hurt, as if Serenity did not trust her around Endymion.
She’d since come to know that Serenity did not step out in front to bar Rei from Endymion but to
stop her from seeing them side by side as a couple. It had been about that time she discovered
the real reason she had felt hurt. It was amazing how a realization of one’s feelings altered her
views.
“I wouldn’t miss it for the world. I think I saw them finishing up the preparation by the
lounge. A large crowd has already gathered. I don’t think anyone wanted to miss a free concert
from the most famous Idol in the world.”
“I don’t think too many people would remember that. I haven’t been an idol in a long
time.”
“Your voice isn’t easy to forget, Rei.”
Rei blushed at the words as Serenity held her gaze. She was so much easier to deal
with back when she gave out insults rather than compliments. “Then I hope my performance
won’t disappoint tonight.”
“Yes, your voice is very beautiful. It is too bad you only sing once in a while. A talent like
yours should be shared,” Endymion interjected, stepping forward past his wife, and taking hold of
Rei’s hand. While the woman professed to be above petty things like jealousy, there were times
where his wife could become very childish. He hated himself for wielding the same tactics the
others used, but he could not ignore their effectiveness.
“Hmm, maybe we should be retiring soon. We have a long day ahead of us. You know
how long your concerts can last with everyone always asking for more,” Serenity said, and let
loose a loud yawn to emphasize her tiredness.
*That bastard!* Rei fumed inwardly. She dropped her hands, pulling them away from
Endymion. She’ll get back at him later. “Oh, I was hoping I’d see you two there. Just one song?
Surely you can stay for one song.” She let her disappointment show on her face which didn’t
need any acting on her part at all.
“Yes, I think we can take in one song,” Serenity said immediately at the tone of Rei’s
voice. She went took Endymion’s arm and made her way to the front of the chairs that had been
set up in front of the lounge’s piano.
Endymion groaned. This was going to be hell. And it was. The song was one of Rei’s
most popular during the height of her fame. A woman’s ballad to someone she loved, but
couldn’t have.
Serenity sighed as Rei began to sing. It was this song again. It didn’t have a title but it
didn’t matter to those that loved to listen to it. She suspected the name of the song was person
that Rei had longed for.
“…you in my arms~” Rei sang. Her eyes shining as she looked around the audience.
She took in each of their faces and was filled with great sadness when she didn’t see the one
face she wanted. It had bee the main reason she had quit singing. The profound sadness she
felt at the end of each concert had been overwhelming. She finally let her eyes drop the woman
in the front row and joy filled her. Did she dare?
Serenity smiled when she saw Rei smile and slink towards her. She had heard that Rei
often chose an audience member to sing this song to. There was never really any pattern that
any of her fans could see. Sometimes she choose a man, sometimes she chose a woman.
“…look in your eyes~” Rei sang with a whisper as she lowered her face to Serenity’s,
searching the other woman’s eyes. She stood up again as if scared to see what was there. Yet,
she didn’t move away. Rather, she let a hand glide on the woman’s bare arm up to her shoulders
as she walked around the chair.
“…feel you~” The tips of her fingers trailed up the woman’s neck and stopped. Her pulse
was fast… she couldn’t try and think why, however. Her fingers threaded themselves into the
luscious blonde hair next, needing to get away from the hot skin.
“…hold me…~” Rei’s voice suddenly rose as she twirled around the body and sat herself
down across Serenity’s lap. Only past years of training forced her to concentrate on the song.
Years of doing this song, imagining the person’s lap who she sat in was another.
“…never let go~” Her voice almost cracked as Serenity seemed to obey the song and
held her tighter. She had to stop herself from thinking of the woman with one arm around her
back, touching her goose pimpled skin and the other arm on her knee keeping her steady. And
she definitely could not think of the comfortable feeling of her side resting against a pillow. I
pillow with something definitely hard on the end of it.
“…but I can’t~” Rei sang in a pained voice as she ripped herself out of Serenity’s
embrace. At the same time glad that her mind had regained some semblance of intelligence and
saddened by the loss of that warm feeling. Finally she looked at Serenity’s face, wondering if she
understood. All she could see, however, was an extremely happy woman. And that was all Rei
could hope for.
Endymion gasped when it was all over. He hadn’t been aware he had been holding his
breath for the entire song. Rei had been so blatant, that he felt himself lose a few years of his life
as his heart pounded. When he looked at his wife’s face as she joined the entire audience in
applauding the woman, he didn’t see any trace of acknowledgement and could finally allow
himself to feel relief.
He couldn’t help but feel some sadness for Rei as he looked at her with tears streaming
down her eyes, smiling beautifully. He understood them all and knew if circumstances were
different, he might have been in their positions. Theirs was a dangerous game of balance, the
war between her happiness and theirs. He sought only for her to be happy and would not
jeopardize that for anything in the world. If she… accepted them, then he would also, however
grudgingly. Until that time however, they could just keep their hands to themselves.
* * * * *
Serenity sighed as she tugged at Endymion. Her promise of a special treat would have
to wait for another day it looked like. She never understood how her husband could get so tired
at a party. It wasn’t like it was a war or anything.
Endymion slept soundly, his mission accomplished for yet another day. He had held his
ground.
* * * * *
The End. (maybe)
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