Sailor Moon Fan Fiction ❯ Kiss and Tell ❯ Three's a Crowd ( Chapter 5 )

Kiss and Tell

Chapter Five:

Three's A Crowd

Ami

Well if nothing else Kunzite was right about one thing…we were getting attention, but whether Zoicite suddenly took an interest in me I couldn't tell because I was too busy being swept away by the current of balls and parties that we at least had to make an `appearance' at and at the most at least look like we were having a good time together.

The first ball we attended together was well…awkward. I have never stepped out on the dance floor before let alone waltzed on it so when Kunzite approached me my first thought was to run and duck under one of the buffet tables and stay there until the ball just faded away…kind of like hiding under one's bed to avoid having a nightmare.

Only for me it was too late to avoid the nightmare because before I could even make a mad dash for the buffet tables Kunzite grabbed my right wrist and spun me around to face him.

For a brief moment we just stared at each other…well actually he stared down at me since he was almost a foot taller than me. He must have noticed how nervous I was because for a split second I saw a look of concern in his gray blue eyes but that moment passed quickly and without a word spoken he all but dragged me to the dance floor…no I am serious he nearly did have to drag me there since I was trying hard to grind the high heels of my dancing slippers into the wooden floor only to end up slipping and crashing into his back.

This caused him to turn around and glare at me, I couldn't help but shutter slightly.

“Is something wrong?” he asked coldly.

Shaking my head vigorously I suddenly found my palms interlocked with his as he began to lead me through the waltz.

…Correction he `tried' to lead me through the waltz…because if there is one rule that I have learned in my life is that bookworms were just not cut out to `boogie' on the dance floor.

So instead of dancing I tried to mirror his steps only to end up stomping on his right foot with my left heel.

He winced in pain but didn't say anything, which I was grateful for since I was already embarrassed enough.

When the waltz was finally over Kunzite dragged me back to one of the balconies over looking the gardens; still feeling a bit light headed and flushed from dancing I had no choice but follow him. Once we were standing on the balcony Kunzite opened the glass door and the then shut it behind me. Gazing out at the gardens just below us and the Earth hanging in the sky above us I couldn't help but think that something had gone amiss…I mean wasn't the whole purpose of us `courting' was to make Zoicite notice me? And he certainly couldn't see me from this balcony…so something must be wrong.

Suddenly I found myself facing a very peevish looking Kunzite.

“Well?” he scowled.

“Well what?” I asked meekly.

“Aren't you going to at least apologize?”

“For what?” replied timidly, since I hadn't the slightest clue as to just what I should be feeling guilty about.

He bent over took off his right boot and dangled it in front of me, “These, were brand new boots…and you're silly high heeled slippers punched a hole in the leather!”

I blinked for a moment and then noticed that yes there was a rather sizable hole torn into the soft leather of the boots.

Feeling even more embarrassed and sheepish I felt my face heat up to the point that it had to be as red as a tomato while I stammered an apology but not able to find the words.

He tossed the boot aside and took the other one off to examine the `damage' that I had taken on his feet and toes.

Forgetting dignity for a moment I sunk to my knees and picked up his right foot only to cringe as I saw several purplish bruises that I had created from my careless stomping. Without even pausing for a moment to think I pulled my gloves off carefully ran my index finger across his foot trying to feel if there was a broken bone.

“Does this hurt?” I asked as I pressed the pad of my finger against the middle of his right foot.

Not receiving a `yes' or `no' I glanced up only to find him looking down at me. Feeling my face flush…again I cleared my throat and tried to explain myself.

“Umm I was studying to become a healer before I came to live here at the Lunar Palace…I am checking to see if you have any fractures in your foot.”

Silence settled in again and then he shook his head, “In that case, no it doesn't hurt.”

Satisfied with his answer I checked the other foot and found that even though both of them were covered with bruises the bones were alright.

Standing up I glanced back to the glass door, another waltz had just ended and vibrantly dressed couples were either moving away from the dance floor to take a break or merging towards it for their first dance of the evening.

Turning back I carelessly hoped up to sit on the railing of the balcony and tilted my head back slightly to gaze up at the endless night sky.

“You really don't like participating in balls…do you?” Kunzite suddenly asked.

Turning my gaze to the ground this time I shook my head, “No…not really. I just don't like the idea of dressing up and dancing around a room in hopes of someone taking notice of me.”

He snorted, “No, instead you resort to underhanded means to capture the attentions of a weary man.”

I shot him a cold glare, “If I were you Kunzite I would keep a civil tongue in my in the center of my mouth instead of my cheek.”

His right eyebrow arched up slightly, “Oh really. Well then Ami mind telling me how you see this little game of ours? We are tricking one of my comrades in arms…”

“On your insistence,” I growled.

“I am only trying to assist you since it is painfully obvious that you're in desperate need of getting his attention…”

“I don't ask for your help!” I bit out.

“And yet you accepted it so readily,” Kunzite replied glibly.

“.,..Alright! I'll admit it, I am desperate but only because…” suddenly feeling like I was about to revel too much I shut my mouth and with a pout that would have made Minako proud I turned my head and stared out at the rose garden.

“…Because?” Kunzite drawled.

Sulkily I turned my head back towards him, “You wouldn't understand.”

Kunzite smirked and then softly chuckled to himself but soon his laughter became so loud that I had no choice but to stare at him, thinking that my icy gaze might make him shut up.

Finally he stifled his laughter, “Oh yes great and wise Ami, please implore this ignorant sap your broad and advance knowledge…but speak slowly because it might take me a few moments to grasp the concept,” he said flippantly.

If there is one thing in the world that I HATE it is being treated lightly so I hopped down from the railing and stood in front of him.

“Fine! If I have to spell it out for you so be it! The reason that I am so `desperate' to get Zoicite's attention is because I am in love with him!”

The silence that enclosed around us was not only complete but chilling as well even though it was a warm May evening inside our own little angry world nothing could have warmed me up as we both stared at each other.

I have said the words that I've been so afraid to say that I didn't even openly admit it to Makoto and Minako until they `forced' it out of me and even then my answer was vague on purpose.

Finally the `bubble' that surrounded our world was shattered when the door to the balcony opened wide and a figure intruded upon us.

Me and Kunzite turned our heads and saw that Zoicite was the one who had interrupted our quiet staring match.

Glancing at the two of us he smiled widely and then strode over to Kunzite, his green eyes sparkling with laughter.

“Well well, what do we have here?” he said teasingly as he looked at Kunzite, who suddenly seemed very uncomfortable by the presence of the shorter blonde haired man.

Zoicite only smiled wider, “Ah so romantic, the two of you out here on the balcony, gazing up at the beautiful starlight and…ahh so that's what Earth looks like from here,” he said as he leaned on the railing slightly and gazed up at his home planet as it hung in the sky suspended among the black expanse of space.

I felt my heart flutter and then literally pound against my rib cage as I very slowly walked towards him. If I could just reach him and stand beside him to share this beautiful scene even for just a second I'll be the happiest woman alive. Slowly I shuffled my feet forward, edging closer and closer towards him, mere inches seeming like miles.

Just as I was about to stand next to Zoicite two strong arms loosely wrapped around my waist and drew me towards a broad chest. Confused I looked up to see Kunzite staring down at me, his gaze cold and seemingly unmoved…maybe even a bit angry. I shuttered slightly feeling terrified that this seething man had me trapped in his embrace and then weakly I turned a pleading gaze to Zoicite's back but he was still staring up at the Earth.

I tried to break free from Kunzite's arms but he held onto me tighter and then leaned forward to whisper in my ear, “Relax, this is all just part of the plan. You just need to calm down so that he doesn't suspect anything.”

Gulping and feeling very uneasy about this stage of the `plan' I simply nodded and `tenderly' grasped Kunzite's hands, that still lay at my waist, with my hands and gently stroked the back of his right hand with my fingertips.

At that moment Zoicite turned his head and openly gapped at us as we tried to fake an intimate embrace.

He laughed nervously, “You two look cozy…I think I'll just make my exit now.”

Kunzite nodded curtly, “Good idea Zoicite, I am sure that your latest girl has been missing you dreadfully.”

Zoicite tossed him a rakish grin, “I am sure she is Kunzite. Good night to both of you.”

“Good night to you as well Lord Zoicite,” I whispered just before he opened the door and left us alone.

The instant that door closed I roughly jerked free from Kunzite and gave him a venomous stare which was quickly returned to me.

“All part of the plan? The way you were holding me I thought you were going to molest me in front of him!”

“Well you looked so tense that Zoicite must have thought that we hated each other rather than being in love…”

“We are not in love!” I snapped.

“I know that! But if Zoicite or anyone else knows that then our cover is completely blown! Kunzite snarled at me.

“This is a ridiculous plan to begin with. I mean no one in their right mind would ever picture us together.”

“No that's what makes it brilliant,” Kunzite argued, “It's unexpected and it has caught Zoicite's attention.”

“…How so?” I asked, now more curious than angry.

“He came out here didn't he? I've rarely known Zoicite for leaving the ball room for anything especially if he has a pretty new girlfriend.”

As much as I hated to admit it Kunzite had a good point…but still the way he held me with such familiarity and the closeness of our bodies…one would think that to him all of this was more than just an `act' to him.

But the more I thought about it the less it made sense…since we were arguing so much I could only begin to imagine why he wanted to `help' me since it was painfully obvious that he disliked me as much as I do him…maybe even more so.

“If what you say is true…” I began, “the only question that I have is where do we go from here?”

Kunzite gave me a half smirk, “I thought you would never ask…”

And the rest of our evening was spent discussing the next phase of our plan by the time we departed from the balcony it was well after midnight and the lights in the ballroom and gone out and was completely abandoned since everyone had headed back to their respective chambers for the evening.

Carefully we snuck down separate hallways, Kunzite to his quarters and mine towards the west wing where all the princesses had their chambers.

Creeping up to the large blue door that lead to my chamber…glancing around I saw the thankfully the hallway was empty so I thought that I had nothing to worry about…apparently I was mistaken.

For as soon as I opened the door I was dragged in by two pairs of slender arms, one pair went to drag me in while the other clapped over my mouth to keep me from crying out. I tried to struggle against the grasping hands but it was all in vain for as soon as the door slammed behind me I found that Makoto and Minako were not willing to release me.

They set me down in a large blue chair in my reading room and then scooted chairs up so that they surrounded me.

Both girls gazed at me, both hungry gazes, starving for a good gossip scoop.

“Alright Ami-chan, you're going to sit here and tell us just why you are two-timing on Zoicite.” Makoto said.

`I uh…I don't know what you're talking about.” I said, as I rubbed my now sweating palms against one another.

“Don't play dumb Ami….we both know that's Minako's department.”

“Yeah that's rig…hey! Makoto that was so mean!” Minako protested.

Makoto waved it off, “Sorry, sorry. The point is that me and Minako are not leaving until we know what the hell is going on between you and Kunzite.”

I gulped nervously and suddenly realized that right about now I would much rather spend the rest of the evening in Kunzite's python like grasp instead of being tortured and integrated by two of my friends.

Kunzite

Zoicite breathlessly leaned against the doorway to my bedroom, wheezing and coughing from laughing so hard, while yours truly tried to ease the pain in my feet by soaking them in a basin of cold water.

Zoicite having remembered to breathe looked at me, still appearing as if he would burst into giggles at any given moment, said, “I've heard of this being a ritual for girl's whom have danced too much during a ball…but this is the first time I've seen a grown man dipping his `dainty' toes into ice water.”

“You would be soaking your feet in ice water too if you had a dance partner that not only has two left feet but also wearing slippers than can cripple,” I muttered to myself as I reached over to pour more ice over my aching and throbbing feet.

Zoicite just grinned at me, “So….how was it?”

I shrugged, “Aside from the fact that she seemed to be on a mission to cripple me for life quite enjoyable.”

“Oh come on, you can do better than that. For someone who was so in `love' with her just a few weeks ago you're now acting like you couldn't care less about her.” Zoicite teased.

I shook my head, “No, I just don't see why we have to gossip like school girls just because you're curious…and I thought that you had somewhere else to be anyway?”

Zoicite had a puzzled expression on his face then it suddenly dawned on him, “…Actually no, I didn't have a dancer partner tonight so I am afraid that I shall go to my bed…alone…cold…unfulfilled…”

“Please spare me the details,” I snarled, still feeling like my toes had been pounded by hammers.

“I am really surprised that you're alone Kunzite…well unless you have your little blue haired mistress hidden in the closet or something and this is all just a rouge to drive me away.”

I stared at Zoicite with a heated glare, “Unlike the whores you parade on your arm Zoicite, Ami is not the type of woman that you dance with once and then pull into your bed.”

Zoicite smirked, “Oh really, then what kind of woman is she then?”

“She's…”

A smart ass

Sarcastic

Hopeless romantic

Spineless

…Why do I like this girl again?

“Well I am waiting,” Zoicite said.

“She's… a very sweet and innocent young woman.”

“Ah, the `virgin lamb' type.” Zoicite said shrugging his shoulders, “I've met a few of those, on the surface they are some of the nicest and shy creatures but rather contradictory…since they tend to be the most selfish, jealous and sometimes spiteful witches.”

..Correction…what does Ami see in this jerk?

“Well that's your opinion,” I said, standing up and stepping out of the basin, “Now if you don't mind I am going to bed.”

“Say no more, I'll go.” Zoicite said as he left and closed the door behind him.

Crawling into bed for the first time I began to wonder just what I had not only con Ami into but what I was getting myself tangled up in. Turns out even my best dreams and my worst nightmare could begin to comprehend the beautiful disaster that was unfolding around not only me, Ami, and Zoicite but the whole society and planets that fostered us.