Sailor Moon Fan Fiction ❯ Lady of Love ❯ So Begins the Dance ( Chapter 4 )

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Later that night, Minako found herself in the King and Queen's rooms, dining privately with the two of them and Kunzite. The room was simple and elegant with its paneled walls and oak furniture.

As the King and Kunzite spoke of current events, Minako took the opportunity to look over the man who was to be her husband.

He was certainly handsome with his pale gray eyes and off-white hair. She could guess that he would be all the more handsome if he'd smile. But from what Serenity and the other woman had told her, he hadn't had much reason to.

So intent on studying Kunzite, Minako didn't notice Serenity watching her as well. Nor did she notice her smile knowingly.

"So," Serenity said brightly, "Now that we have Minako here in Avalon, we will have to decide a date for the wedding."

Endymion and Kunzite broke off their conversation and turned to her, as did Minako.

There was a moment of silence, then Kunzite spoke, "I suppose that you are right, Your Majesty. The Fall Campaign doesn't begin for another four months, so we have more than enough time on our hands."

"I believe that it should be done as soon as possible," Serenity immediately replied, her silver eyes now set in a regal determination.

Kunzite and Minako stared at her in surprise for a moment. Though one certainly knew her better than the other, neither of them had seen her so firm about something. Did she know something they did not?

"I have to agree with my wife," Endymion interjected. "Malagent could attack at any time. With you two already through the ceremony, then Erosa will be able to officially take part in this blasted war."

Minako looked to Kunzite. This was something they both had to agree or disagree on. She knew that she would support his decision.

Kunzite's eyes shifted from Endymion to her. Minako didn't know what he saw, but he nodded briefly to her, then turned to Endymion and Serenity to agree.

"Good. Now, since it is a relatively simple ceremony, do you think that two weeks is long enough," Serenity inquired.

Minako nodded. "That should be enough for me."

Kunzite silently conceded as well.

(*)

Time flied for the next two weeks. Minako rarely saw Kunzite, as she was so busy trying to put the finishing touches on her wedding robes. They were done in the traditional colors of both Erosa and Avalon: gold and silver, respectively. With the help of Michiru, Serenity, the four Princesses, and several of Minako's ladies, everything seemed to be going smoothly.

Kunzite, on the other hand, was rather disoriented about the entire thing. A part of him had expected to wake up and find that the last eight years had been a horrible nightmare, that his Lili would be lying next to him, sleeping peacefully.

But, of course, that was not the path that destiny had in mind.

(*)

The day of the ceremony began with clouds and drizzle. Serenity feared that the dismal weather would reflect the mood of Minako and Kunzite, thus upsetting the people, but the two managed to keep their spirits up.

And just as the two tried, so did the sun try to break through the clouds. By mid-day, it had succeeded. Though many clouds remained, enough were gone to show a bright blue sky and the brightly shining sun.

In the absence of a parental figure to escort her down the aisle, Minako consented to allow Erosa's Ambassador, Eli, to give her to Kunzite.

Draped in the ceremonial robes as well as a silver veil, Minako walked stately down the aisle. Though it was hard to keep a smile on her face, she did it for Serenity's sake, who was almost at her wits end.

Once Ambassador Eli had given her to Kunzite in the name of her dead parents and the people of Erosa, he stepped back to allow the two to continue forward alone.

The priest, a man by the name of Helios, smiled down at them kindly. With that, he began the rites before all the witnesses in the abbey.

(*)

Truth be known, neither Minako nor Kunzite remembered much about the ceremony. Minako remembered swearing to honor, cherish, and revere her husband and she remembered putting the ring on his finger.

Kunzite remembered the same things. It was obvious that both her on auto pilot throughout it all.

Later, at the reception, Kunzite found a moment to escape the men that had surrounded him and their offerings of their `sage advice.' Looking about the ballroom, he saw Minako surrounded by the Queen, Rei, Ami, and Makoto.

Straightening his shoulders, he started towards them. He may not love the woman, but he would do his duty to her, just as he'd sworn to do. He'd ensure that she was cared for and wanted for nothing.

And he'd keep up appearances so that no scandal ensued.

(*)

Minako was laughing at a joke that Makoto had made when she noticed that she was now the only one showing her mirth. Glancing at her friends, she noticed that their eyes were glued to something. Following that line of sight, she fought down a gasp.

Kunzite was walking steadily towards her, an unassuming look on his face.

The group was silent, wondering at his intentions.

`Sweet Aphrodite,' Minako thought, `What is he doing? And just *how* did he get away from all of those men? I would have thought that feat impossible!'

Bowing to the ladies present, Kunzite turned to her. His face impassive, he held out a hand and spoke quietly.

"May I have this dance?"

For a moment, she merely stared at him in surprise. Then her manners kicked in. She held out her hand for him to take and she nodded. Like a true gentleman, he lead her gently out to the dance floor. Minako, whose eyes had not left Kunzite's, did not notice that many had stepped away as the two came out.

(*)

Kunzite, for his part, found himself curious about his new wife. They hadn't had much chance to speak privately, and thus the two only knew about each other from what others had told them.

Jadeite had said that she was known in Erosa as the "Lady of Love," a title only given to special people. While Kunzite didn't know what to make of it, he knew that she was much honored and cherished by her people.

Endymion had said that she was similar to Serenity, a sunny creature. That she was naturally a happy young woman, but could often be as serious as a priest was when called for.

Nephrite had said that though she bore the title "Lady of Love," she had never truly experienced it. The only love she had known were the love she received from her friends, the loving loyalty from her government, and the loving adoration from her subjects.

Zoisite had simply stated that she was gorgeous, which would have earned him an exceptionally hard poke in the ribs and a glare from Ami, had she witnessed it.

`Well,' Kunzite thought wryly, `She is a good dancer.'

(*)

Minako was enticed by her husband as well. Serenity and the other woman had told her everything they could about him, but that would pale in comparison to what he could tell her himself.

`Will things always be this way,' she wondered. `Will we always hide behind the veil of formality and protocol? Will our only knowledge of one another come from second-hand sources?'

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