Sailor Moon Fan Fiction ❯ Portrait Of A Princess (Jupiter) ❯ Portrait Of A Princess (Jupiter) Chapter 4 ( Chapter 4 )

[ P - Pre-Teen ]

Portrait Of A Princess (Jupiter)
Chapter 4
By Essence (Saphrians_Water_Reflection@hotmail.com)



Lita layed down her fork and daintly wiped her mouth with a white napkin. The large formal dining area glowed from the light of the candles hidden in the shadows of the corners.
Lita was about to take a bite of cherry cobbler when the door opened and Margret walked in. Her stern face set in the grim features of a frown. Lita groaned and layed down her fork.
" Yes Margret?" Lita asked in a bored tone, turning around in her chair.
"This is for you," Margret grinded out handing over a folded white paper with a red wax seal.
" What is this? Who is it from?" Lita asked taking the paper and looking over the seal.
" It was delivered by a young boy, he would not say who it was from. All I can say is that you better not be carnivaying with suitors that I do not of. It would be a disgrace on your dear late parents lives to hear of you being courted around in such a scandlous manner. Why to think what the royal familes of the moon kingdom are thinking now, to know such buisness. You are bringing disgrace to this family, has the first princess of Jupiter, you… Lita? Where did you go?" Margret asked looking down at the empty chair that the princess had been sitting in just seconds before.

Meanwhile Lita ran through the gardens laughing happily and looking behind her. She slipped through a curtain of willow branches and dropped down to the ground tucking her legs beneath her.
The wax seal was different, it was not the symbol of any of the royal familes. Instead it was a strange mix of symbols crudely carved into the wax before it had hardned. Lita broke the seal and unfolded the hick crème colored paper.
Her green eyes lit up with a mix of surprise and happiness has she read the sprawling words of the paper.

Later at the ball Lita looked behind her before slipping behind the giant turnk of a tree. Light filtered down through the leaves, shining down upon the still figure of Ken in the distance.
He stood with his back to her, the white backing of his shirt glowing with it's own light to match his pale hair.
Lita felt her breath catch as she stared at him, then with quivering fingers she smoothed out her dress and tucked a stray strand of hair away before stepping forward.
All was silent, the music from the castle died it's own death and the sound of wind filled their air. Ken looked up and turned around to face her. As their gazes met, the trees disappered from view, the only thing left to look upon them was the stars in the sky and the earth rising in the distance. Lita came to stop just inches from him, they continued to stare into the depths of each other.
" I missed you Lita," he whispered stepping closer to her and cupping her face.
Tears seeped into Lita's eyes and ran down her cheeks.
" Ken," she whispered before his lips claimed hers and the silence returned.

Lita shot up in her bed, the moonlight lay on the floor and glowed on the pink coverlet. A cold sweat had broke out over her face and now dripped down damping her hair and pillow.
" What was that?" she asked the silence looking to the french doors. They were wide open and the forest green drapes pulled back.
Lita climbed out of the bed and paddled over the cold marble floor, her white night gown trailing behind her. The moonlight shone down on the clipped green grass below. It was a full moon, the kind that cast shadows on the ground and allowed evil to roam free. She looked away from the night and closed the doors and locked them again but left the curtains hanging free.

A shadow mixed with the tall shadow of the oak tree glowing in the sost light. With a few steps the figure disappered, leaving a strand of red hair on the bark.

" Lita!" the voice rang through the morning light. Maids folding bedclothes and setting tables looked up from their work. Butlers bringing in trays and setting out flowers looked up from their work to meet the gaze of the maids before shoulders were shrugged.
Lady Margret stomped through the carpted hall past high windows with light shining through them. Her spiced gray hair was pulled back into a tight bun, so normally neat was now allowing loose pieces to fly around her face.
She clutched her black book in her white knuckled fist the other hand lifting her blue skirt.
" Princess Makoto! Where are you?!" The women screamed through the hall ways.
Maids popped their heads out of open doorways too see the lady running through the halls. They giggled and disappered into the empty rooms.
Lady Margret stopped and pushed back a stray strand of hair, trying to compose her emotions.
" Princess Makoto!!!!" She screamed loudly looking up at the ceiling screwing her face up and shuting her eyes.

The brezze blew past the girl running through the fields, her brown hair like a cloak floating behind her. The grass was wet with morning dew that shone in the bright light. Sparkling drops covered her bare feet, legs clad in loose black pants.
Lita, Princess Makoto of Jupiter ran past the dark trees on the edge of the castle grounds. She was breathing hard and a cramp was forming in her side yet Lita ran on.
It had been 9 years since Ken had left and many things had changed in both her and around her. She had seen the death of her parents when she was 13 and now was left alone to run her own kingdom. She had seen suitors and wars come and go like a flash of light on a rain drop. She had seen it all and would face any challenge that faced her.
With a light foot, Lita jumped from the ground and scaled the garden wall, landing on her feet inside the garden.

" Please tell her higness that I request her pressence immeaditly when she gets in," Lady Margret said sternly to the maid in front of her.
The girl nodded then broke into a smile and looked past Lady Margret.
The Lady turned around a puzzled look on her face to see a dirt stained and sweaty Princess of Jupiter.
" Never mind Geniveve, you are dismissed," Lady Margret said waving the maid away.
The girl nodded and curstied beofre hurrying away laughing softly to herself.
" Hi Margret, did I miss anything?" Lita asked stepping past the womyn and walking over to the breakfast table.
" Where have you been? And why do you smell like the barn?" Lady Margret asked wrinkling her nose distastefully.
Lita picked up a roll and took a bite of it. " I went running in the woods, I need some air," she replied, her mouth full.
" Quite," Lady Margret said rasing herself a little bit. " While I've been looking for you all morning. You have an appoitment with the King of Pluto this morning and after that your lessons with Princess Mercury on her planet. After your lessons you need to go to Neptune and meet with the King there. Of course you also need to report to the Moon Kingdom to help in greeting Princess Kaguya and her royal guard," Margret said shifting through the pages on her book.

Lita sighed and swallowed her bite of roll.

" But first you'll need a bath and a proper breakfast," Lady Margret said closing her book and grabbing Lita's arm.
" Hey!" Lita yelled startled as she was pulled out of the room.


The day was coming to a close. The moon's rose has the sun disappered under the horizon. The few hours of sunlight that they had was the most beautiful part of the day. Yet it always came to an end.
Lita sat in front of her vanity, combing out her long brown hair. The letter lay open on top of the table. It's words blended togethor except for the signuture at the bottom. A blush rose into her cheeks everytime she read that word.
How many years had it been?
13?
And out of the blue, like a whirl wind. He returns and sends her this.
A letter.

Lita layed down the hair brush and fixed her hair back into a pony tail, waving it slightly and leaving two trendils to hang down on each side. She then got up and picked up the dress off her bed.
The soft fabric crushed in her hand she looked at the wooden floor and sighed.
Who knew what this night could turn out to be.

It was a full swing into the night. People stood all around the glowing ballroom. Lita smiled at her dancing partner as she waltzed through the crowded room. The other girls were all with their respected partners, except for prehaps Mars and Venus. Rei had been switching between partners all night, her laughter ringing through the room. Poor Minako had been stuck to dance with Sir Glen. Their engagement would be announced next week at a ball being held on the Plant Venus. The pain she felt from dancing could be seen on her face.
The music came to a floating end and the couples politly clapped before moving off the floor. Minako took this chance to slip away into the crowds and disapper from Sir Glen while Rei thanked her third dancing partner for the waltz.

Lita sighed and raised her damp bangs to allow a little air to run through them. The ball was a great success and Lita could safely say she was having a wonderful time. Nephrite had disappered awhile ago, but Lita made no move to find him. She had enough men asking her to dance and besides it would soon be time to meet him.

Minako looked behind her before lifting her skirts and running to the glowing portal. The ball was still in full swing and so far no one had noticed the fact that she had disappered. This meaning there was no one coming after her. Minako ran up to the glass doors and stepped in. She pressed a few buttons then looked back up to the palace. The firewors were about to go off but she disappered before she could see them.

Lita was headed to the doors of the balcony when she felt someone grab her arm. She turned around to look up at a man who was a few inches taller then her. His eyes were covered by a white mask and he had sandy brown hair. Lita peered into his face but she did not recognize him. Then why did she feel so weird all of a sudden.
" May I have this dance?" the man asked tightning his hold on her elbow with the most gentle of squeezes.
Lita nodded and allowed him to lead her onto the floor. The music dimmed aproritly has the orchrstra struck up a soft slow song. Lita placed one hand into his gloved one and the other on his sholder. They swayed effortlessly to the music, both looking into each other.
Lita felt so odd, her stomach tumbled around in circles nad her heart beat a fast tatto in her breast.
'Who are you?' her mind screamed. 'Why do you make me feel this way?'
The other couples dancing around them disappered into the darkness. It was just them now, a stranger and her.
They danced out on to the balcony, weaving through the crowds to dance over the smooth tiles. Never noticing when the music ended. They were in their own world, that was until the first burst of fire in the sky.
Lita looked away from her partner to the sky. Sparks of color fell down has another burst of fire sparkled agaisn't the stars. The fireworks had started, each burst of color more beautiful then the last. Colors exploding all above them, staining everything with light.
The man reached up and without a word pulled off his mask. Lita caught the movement in the cornor of her eye and turned back to face him.
His eyes were brown, the same eyes that looked down at her their last night togethor. They had both been 9 years old, nothing but children saying goodbye to their friendship.
" Ken?"Lita whispered drinking in his looks.
He nodded and gave her a crooked smile.
" So how you doin' Lita," he replied.

" I returned to Jupiter about a week ago," Ken said twirling his mask through his fingers.
Lita pulled her knees up to her chest and rested her chin on them.
" Is that why you sent me that note?" she asked looking at him.
Ken nodded and stopped twirling.
" I heard that you were now the sole ruler of the Kingdom, I wanted to see you again so I secured an invite to the ball and sent you that note. I wanted you to be ready for me," he replied.
Lita sighed and looked down. The thought of her parents always depressed her.
" My parents were killed en route to the planet of Triton. I was 14 at the time, so it was a pretty big shock to hear that your parents are dead and you are now the ruler of the biggest planet in the solar system," Lita replied rocking her feet.
" I'm sorry to hear that," he whispered watching her profile before turning back to the ground.
" My parent are dead also, they were killed when I was 10. An accident while visiting friends. No one is sure what happened. I was forced to survive by living off the streets and selling my art." Lita looked up, shock in her eyes.
" Oh Ken why didn't you come back here? I would have, we would have gladly taken you in," Lita said crawling closer to him.
Ken looked away clenching his jaw.
" I don't need anyone to help me, I did fine alone and now I'm better off. Those days are behind me," he replied rather tensely.
Lita backed away and tucked her legs under her. She rested her hands in her lap and looked at the small silver band on her third finger.
" I'm sorry for bringing up such a thing. I had no idea you felt that way," she said softly.Ken looked over his sholder at her, the followed her gaze to the ring.
" It's okay," he replied getting up and walking a little ways from her.
Lita looked up to him, she noticed the way the material of his jacket streatched to fit the form of his sholders and the way the threads glowed slightly in the light.
" I've heard a lot about the kingdom since I've left," Ken said fingering a bush full of camillas.
" Like what?" Lita asked smiling at his back.
" Oh lets see," Ken said plucking off a blossom and turning around. " Well for starters I've heard you're an engaged to be married to one of Prince Endymions Guards. Neflyte is it?"

Lita smiled and got up also.
" No it's Nephrite," She laughed walking up next to him.
Ken blushed and turned away tucking the flower into his buttonhole.
" Yea, well, whatever," he replied walking away into the bushes.
Lita stopped her giggling to notice that he had walked off. She picked up her skirts and followed his into the bushes.
" Ken where are you going?" she called pushing tree branches out of her way and stumbling over roots.
All of a sudden the trees and bushes gave way to a field of grass. The moonlight shown down over her. The green grasses swirling in the wind, trees framing the horizon where the sky touched the ground.
Lita looked all around her, this place was so familiar, she had been here before.
" Beautiful, isn't it?" Kens voice asked floating down from the wind.
" Ken where are you?" Lita called out looking around her.
" You know where," his voice replied fading out.
Lita picked up her skirts and ran forward. The grass whipped around her feet as she ran. Over the crest of a hill a pavillion began to apear. Lita stopped and looked up to the pavillion. She could just faintly see a figure standing in the darkness of pavillion. Lita ran forward to the pavillion but when she got there it was empty.
" Ken where are you?" she called walking to the middle of the pavillion.
Her only answer was the wind blowing through the grass.
Lita turned around in circles looking for Ken when all of a sudden a pair of hands covered her eyes.
" Guess who?" Ken said, laughter in his voice.
Lita reached up and pulled his hands away.
" Ken where are we?" she asked looking up to the sky, still holding on to his hands.
" Don't you know? Can't you remember this place?" Ken asked close to her ear.
Lita shook her head and let go of his hands. She walked to the wooden railing and looked out over the landscape.
" It feels so familiar yet I don't remember being in this place. Let alone ever knowing it existed."
Ken walked up next to her and leaned his head on the wooden pole.
" We used to come here as kids, remember the last time we were here? You had run away from home because your parents were forcing you to take lessons on lady like manners and you and I hid out here in the pavillion for a whole day. We were only 8 years old," Ken said looking out to the distance trees.
" I remember," Lita whispered following Ken's gaze. " We vowed to never go home and live on our own and we stayed up all night playing in the grass. Except we forgot to bring food and when morning came we were so hungry, we returned home. My parents were so mad, and they still made me attend the lessons. I'm in them to this day still," Lita added laughing at the last thought.
Ken smiled and turned his head to look at her.
" I missed those days with you Lita," he said softly.
Lita turned to look at him and gave him a small smile.
" I missed them too," she replied.
Ken's gaze grew stronger and he took on a serious look.
" Gosh you grew up Lita," he whispered staring at her. A blush spread like wild fire through her cheeks. Lita looked away from Ken to her hands resting one on top of the other. The silver ring on her finger glowing softly.

Ken moved forward and lifted her chin with his hands. Lita turned her body to his, staring into his brown eyes. She could feel his breath on her lips has he bent closer to her. She closed her eyes the moment she felt him brush her lips so softly. Lita ached to feel him kiss her, with trembling fingers she reached up and grabbed a hold of his coat lapels and deepining the kiss.

When they broke away, her eyes sparkled with their own stars.
" I want to paint you," Ken whispered resting his forehead on hers.
" What do you mean?" Lita asked puzzled.
" I want to paint your portrait," he replied lacing his fingers through hers.
" Yes," Lita replied tightning her grip on his hand.
" Yes, what?" Ken asked.
" Yes I want you to paint my portrait," Lita whispered leaning in for another kiss.

End of chapter 4. This chapter also signifes the story title. If you haven't noticed then please go back and reread over the last part. Thank you. Please send all questions, comment's, suggustions, flames, and Darien look-alikes to An_Icy_Breath_of_Wind@hotmail.com.