Part 3: The Embarrassment

"He gave you a *bath*?" Bunny's eyes were wide.
     "No," Minako sighed.  "He just put me *in* it."
     "Still."
     "No, he was moving," Minako replied absently and got a giggle from her friend
after a moment.  The Venusian girl smiled slightly and spoke, "It wasn't anything bad.
He was just helping out. . . . I think."
     "You *think*?"
     "Would you stop doing that?" Minako popped another piece of cheese in her
mouth and slapped the Princess' hand away from her meat pies.
     "Fine, fine."  Serenity looked with such pitiful eyes at the pies that Minako
finally gave in and gave her one.  "So, do you like him?" she asked around a mouthful.
     "Kunzite?" Minako blushed a little.  "He . . . well, he doesn't really treat me like
anything other than a patient.  All he ever wants to talk about are my injuries   which is
fine, I guess, but it gets a little boring sometimes."
      Serenity grinned.  "So you *do* like him!"
     "Who?" Artemis asked, entering.
     "No!" Minako protested, and shot Serenity a Look.  She turned to Artemis as he
closed the door.  "Nobody, Bunny's just trying to meddle in my love-life."
     "You know," Serenity added, waving the remaining half of her meat pie at
Artemis, "that nonexistent thing?"
     "Ah," Artemis was oddly quiet as they continued their debate, only making
noncommittal noises when they would ask him a question.
     "I just don't want to see you old and alone," Serenity told Minako earnestly.  "I
feel that it's somehow my fault, and I want to see you happy."
     "I'll be happy when we get home!" Minako growled, giving vent to some of her
deeper concerns.  She pushed away the rest of her tray and lay back pensively, not
looking at either of them.  Kunzite was dominating her mind and confusing her to no
end.  Why had he done that?  Was he only trying to be helpful?  She doubted a fellow
like that would offer only for the purpose of seeing her nude.  He was more noble than
that.
      So why?  He could have just gone to get Bunny, or sent a servant to find her,
when it came to that.  Perhaps he only saw her as a child he needed to take care of.  But
there was no indication that he had a soft spot for children, either. . . .
     "Mina-chan?" Artemis touched her shoulder lightly.
     "Please go," she whispered.  "I'm tired." *And confused,* her mind added. *So
very confused.*
     "Of course."  She listened to them leave and turned into her pillow, letting the
tears come.

Kunzite's hands shook as he broke into Jadeite's liquor cabinet.  It was too early for any
of his fellow Generals to be back, and he needed something to calm himself.
Succeeding in the lock-picking, he pulled out a bottle of the strongest stuff and poured
a sloppy little glass full.  Downing it, he poured another and just held it for a moment,
closing his eyes and drinking it.
      He locked the cabinet back and went to his room to lie down. What the *hell*
had he been thinking?!  Eyes closed, he went back over the moments in which he had
made that one decision.
      It was nothing, he had told himself.  Just being helpful.  No harm.
      Gods, he was an *idiot*.  He should have taken a clue from how uncomfortable
the girl had been.  It hadn't been appropriate   it had been wildly, horrifyingly *wrong*
of him to do that.
      He felt as if he had just raped the girl.
     *Woman*, Kunzite corrected, remembering the curves he had glimpsed as he
put her in the water, and the long legs he had been working with lately to keep strong
despite her lack of physical activity. *A rather *young* woman, but no girl.*  A
shudder went through him and he groaned, throwing an arm over his eyes in
mortification.
      There was a light knock on his door and his fellow Generals came in.  Zoicite
sat on the edge of his bed and the other two stood.
     "We heard some rumors," Nephrite began.
     "And we were worried about them," Zoicite finished.  "Worried about you."
      Kunzite sighed.  "They're true."
      Jadeite stepped forward.  "So you really took a bath with the injured girl?!"
     "*What*?!" Kunzite sat straight up, staring at his friends.
      Zoicite breathed a relieved sigh.  "I thought it must have been exaggerated.  So
what really happened?  Did you walk in on her or something?"
      Kunzite fell back again.  "Thank you for thinking me so virtuous, but it was
worse than that."  He sighed and turned his head to look Zoicite calmly in the eye, not
flinching from the bitter truth, and told them.
     "Wow," Jadeite murmured in the following silence.
     "Why?" Nephrite asked.
     "I don't *know*!"  Kunzite sat up and banged his fist against the bed.
     "Why is *any* man stupid around a woman?" Zoicite finally spoke, looking up
at Jadeite, who had enough grace to blush through his grin.  Zoicite turned to Kunzite.
"I think you like her.  You wanted to do something nice for her, but you were stupid.
Happens all the time, doesn't it, Jade?"
     "*Hell*, yeah," the blonde replied, smiling at Kunzite.
     "Apologize to her, Kunz.  Go right now if you have to and talk to her.  You'll be
glad you did."
      Kunzite thought about it for a moment, and a faint smile crossed his lips.
"Okay."

Artemis watched Minako sleep.  The moonlight was falling over her wrist and cheek.
The resemblance to her mother was increased tenfold as she lie there, hair spread
around her.
      Artemis moved to look down at her, careful not to disturb the rays of moonlight
falling over her.  "My Goddess," he murmured, an image of similar beauty
superimposing itself over Minako.  He bent and brushed his lips gently across the
sleeping woman's.  Her eyelids fluttered and she looked up in drowsy confusion.
Artemis smiled down at his Lady.  He often went to her rooms at night, being a favorite
consort of the Venusian Queen's, besides her advisor; since he was of another race,
there was no fear that she would conceive.
     "Kunzite?"  The voice was different.  His Queen's was soft and sweet, with low
bell-like tones.  This voice was similar, but had the ring of authority and power that the
other lacked.  This was not his Queen!  Artemis frowned and backed away.  "Oh,
Artemis," his vision broke and he saw Minako sitting up in worry before him, "what's
going on?"
      Artemis was shocked.  "Princess!  Mina-chan.  Forgive me, I had been
dreaming and . . ." his eyes narrowed and he shifted to a fighting stance as he caught
sight of movement across the room.  Someone was coming in.
     "Minako?" Kunzite whispered, startled as a candle inside the room sprang to
life.  He glimpsed over to see Minako's slim, pale hand withdrawing from lighting the
wick.
      Artemis strode to the door and blocked Kunzite's brief view of Minako, lit from
the side, her face averted.  "The Princess of Venus will not be seeing anyone tonight.
Please leave."
      Artemis was cold as ice and Kunzite scowled.  "I have to talk to Minako."
     "That's *Lady* Minako to you, pervert," Artemis spit, looking particularly
immovable.
      Kunzite's eyes narrowed to bright blue chips.  "I'm warning you.  If you don't
move . . ."
     "And I'm warning *you*," Artemis snapped, stepping up to the broader General.
"I have served that girl for twelve years, and her mother longer.  She's practically a
*daughter* to me, and I swear by the Earth, the Moon, and Venus itself that if you
come near her again I will kill you."
      Realizing the fervor and justness of the other man's position, Kunzite fell back
a bit, relenting   but before he could speak, a small voice came from the bed.
     "Let him speak, Artemis.  He will do no harm if you stay right outside the door
to mangle his body should he do something offensive."
     "Are you sure, Mina-chan?" he turned partially, concerned.
     "Go, Artemis."  Silken steel lined her voice and he did not resist any more, only
giving Kunzite a cold glare before slipping out of the door.
      Kunzite waited for the door to shut firmly before moving to Minako's bedside.
He knelt.  "I'm sorry.  You have no idea how sorry.  I was foolish and did not think
about my actions.  I should have realized I was making you uncomfortable. . . ."
     "Uncomfortable," she repeated, an odd quality tinging her voice.  Her head
turned to him with a swish of her golden hair against the blankets and she glared at
him, fists tightening on the bedspread.  "I was *mortified*!  What in the name of
Selene were you *thinking*?!"
      Kunzite grimaced, self-loathing rising in him like bile, and he cringed from her
anger.  "I wasn't, lady, I wasn't thinking," he whispered, and looked up at her, meeting
her hard blue eyes with difficulty.  No enemy had ever made him so nervous.  "Zoicite
said that men do stupid things when they like a woman.  He said that," Kunzite was
blushing but would not take his eyes from hers, "the greater the stupidity, the more they
care for the woman."  Kunzite paused and licked his lips nervously.  "I *do* like you,
Minako.  I suppose it took that jolt to make me face it, but I *do* like you."  He turned
away, cheeks fully burning.  "Anyway," he cleared his throat, "I'm very sorry and I'll
leave you alone now."  He stood and turned.
      A cool, slim hand caught his.  "Wait."
      Kunzite turned back in surprise, staring at the long tanned arm that had shot out
to grab him, and the beautiful girl attached to it, hair cascading behind her and glinting
rich gold in the firelight.  Her eyes, blue as the sky on a warm spring day, were solemn
and heated.
     "Don't go yet," she murmured, pulling him to sit on the side of her bed   very
near herself.  He looked down at her, gazes only inches apart, and saw her blink and
blush.  "Sorry," she looked down and shifted away.  She tried to release his hand, but he
wouldn't let her.  "Please," she blushed more deeply and tugged on her hand.  He
released it gently.
     "Forgive me, lady."
     "It's Minako," she hissed, not quite losing her blush.  "If anyone should hear you
giving me title, they will become suspicious.  I will *not* have you jeopardizing my
Princess."
      He looked away and gave a brief, unhappy laugh.  "Apparently, I do nothing
right."  He looked bitterly at the candle.
      Minako touched his hand.  "I'm sorry.  I'm just confused.  This has never
happened to me before."
      Kunzite turned his head and smiled slightly, the line of his neck tightening
deliciously.  "It's new for me, too, Minako."  He smiled and sighed a chuckle, putting
his warm, dry hand over hers.  "Though I'm probably a lot less experienced than you."
      Minako frowned.  "What's that supposed to mean?"  She drew in a breath
indignantly.  "You know, just because I'm the Goddess of Love doesn't mean I'm a   a
whore or anything!"
     "No, no!" Kunzite fretted, trying to calm her.  "I didn't mean that!  I just
thought. . . . you. . . ."
     "Had been with men," Minako folded her arms angrily.
     "No!"
     "Fine," she turned, cold fury pouring from every inch of her body, and slipped
off the other side of the bed.
     "Minako," Kunzite sat straighter, concerned.  Minako took a determined step,
but faltered and almost fell.  Kunzite leapt across the bed and had pulled her up onto it
before she could go any further.  "You foolish little thing!" he cried, looking at her
bandaged foot.  It had begun to throb and Minako groaned as he loosed it from the
bandages.
     "It hurts."
      Kunzite looked at her foot for a long moment, then up at her face.  "I could
heal you.  Completely.  But I need your permission."
     "You have it," she gasped as a terrible cramping ache shot through her foot.
     "I need you," he said, turning her face toward him, "to trust me.  It won't work if
you don't."
      Minako looked into his eyes for a long moment, gazing deep, deep into him.
She found a warrior, full of resolve and kindness, fun and pride, pain and a sweet,
gentle, pounding emotion.  For *her*.  He cared for her.
      She nodded silently, and he kissed her.
      Minako gave herself up to the kiss and suddenly felt a wash of silver energy
pulse through her, pouring from his mouth to hers and spreading to every extension of
her body.  It gushed and flowed and trickled, filling her with effervescent silver
bubbles, like champagne or some sweet, fizzy soda.
      When Kunzite released her, they were both gasping.
     "There," he smiled breathlessly and kissed her lightly on the nose, "all better."
She watched him turn to go, sending one pale glance back at her, filled with delicious
promises.

Minako got up the next morning and wondered at the lack of pain in her body.  She
ached a little, but it was a good, healthy ache, and served to fuel her appetite when a
delighted Serenity brought her breakfast.
     "But how did it happen?!" Serenity exclaimed, watching her friend stretch on
the floor and nibble meat pies alternately.
      Venus bent one knee and put the other leg straight out behind her, holding the
position for five seconds before switching legs.  "That's a secret," she replied, blue eyes
twinkling up at her Princess.
     "Oh, you!" Serenity threw a piece of cheese at Venus, who caught it and did a
back-bend.
     "It's so *good* to be well again," she gloried.  She kicked at an invisible
opponent and the door opened.
     "Mina-chan," Artemis came in, staring at her.  After Kunzite had left the night
before, Minako had told Artemis to go on back to his rooms.  "Are you sure you should
be doing that?" he frowned.
     "Yes," she smiled, twirling and giving him a deep curtsey.  "Now," she rose
gracefully on her whole, healthy feet, "where's the training area?"
      In only minutes, Minako was out on the training field, watching the men
practice.  She was dressed in a pair of slacks Artemis had borrowed and found too
small for himself, and one of his undershirts, her chest bound with cloth.  Her hair was
pinned up under one of Endymion's old, ragged hats, and her face was concealed by
one of the protective face-masks the men used in training.  The men on the field also
had on lots of padding, but Minako had always hated that stuff.  It was heavy, like the
weights she had always worn to train in, and was in no mood to wear those horrible,
cumbersome things.  Healed, she was in a mood to fly, not be dragged down by stupid
old gravity.
      Minako picked up a long, slender pole from those polished, wooden ones
available and walked out onto the field, keeping a sharp eye out for a sparring partner.
A little bit away she caught sight of an unmasked blonde head instructing one of the
other men on a blocking technique.  It was one of the Generals, the one that had
knocked her down.  What was his name again?  Oh yes.  Jadeite.
      Minako smiled under her mask as she sauntered over and poked him in the
side.  He stopped talking and blinked, turning around to look at her.  She slipped into
an attack stance and waited as his eyes registered understanding.  He nodded, agreeing
to the fight, and slid his mask down, waving the trainees away with the flick of his
pole.  She took the first move, jabbing up and then blocking as he moved in.  They
whirled and jabbed and feinted, drawing an audience of the other men.  It was startling
how well the skinny, short boy was doing against their General!
      Minako was having a tough time   he was better than she had thought!   but
her exhilaration took her up into the realms of invulnerability and she finally disarmed
him.
      Jadeite pushed back his mask and smiled, a little bemused, shaking her hand.
"Good fight," he panted.
     "Care to try your hand at me?" someone asked from behind her, and Minako
turned in surprise to look at Kunzite.  He adjusted his gloves and glanced at her, not
seeming to realize who she was.  She wondered a little, though, if he knew.  His eyes
grazed over her analytically and he frowned, looking back up at her masked face.
"Well?" he finally said, picking up his own pole.
      She responded by nodding and falling into a defensive stance.  The fight was a
valiant display, and all those on the field made a large, loose ring around the pair.
Minako managed to keep pace with Kunzite and made a few breath-taking moves of
her own, almost getting him disarmed at several points.
      Minako twirled and blocked his newest attempt, still a little tired from her fight
with Jadeite, when she saw the opening   he had left his right side unprotected.  She
went for it, lunging out of the way of his pole as he tried to trip her up. . . .
      The padding made a soft poof as her pole slammed into it, marking the victory
of her fight.
      They stopped, Kunzite standing silently and looking down at where she had hit
him.  He pushed the dark mask back on his head as she sat on the grass, gasping for
breath, and had a very curious expression in his eyes.  He looked from his side to where
she sat and strode forward purposefully, reaching down and pushing her mask up
before she could stop him.  He stared at her for a moment, then blinked.
     "What are you doing here?" he asked.
      His tone made her triumphant smile falter, and she was suddenly unsure of her
decision to come out.  "I wanted some practice," her eyes flickered to the grass and she
brought her legs up to her in a very self-conscious movement.
     "You should be resting," he told her softly as the circle began to press toward
them.
      She glared up at him, anger suddenly flooding her, and leapt to her feet.  "I've
been resting for three *weeks*!" she ranted.  "I needed to get back out!"  She glared and
added, "Or are you just miffed that you were whipped by a girl?"
     "You shouldn't even be *out* here," he whispered at her fiercely, conscious of
the other three generals quickly converging on them.
     "Why the hell not?!" she glared at him, furious.  "Because I'm too weak and
pitiful for your little boys' games?  Is that it?!"
     "Minako," his jaw was working fiercely, as if he was fighting to keep control.
     "Forget it," she muttered hotly, ripping the hat and hairpins from her head and
throwing them at Kunzite.  Her hair, freed, blew around her as she turned, a dangerous
glint in her eye.  "I can't wait to get home."
     "I was beaten by a *girl*?!" Jadeite mourned and Minako sent him a withering
look.
      She set off toward the castle, the men parting in front of her as if she might cut
off one of their heads at any minute, and found Artemis hurrying toward her, a worried
glint in his eye.  "Lady," he whispered as he reached her, "the Queen is coming tonight
to bring us all home.  You need to prepare for her."
      Despite her recent words, she had no wish to hurry home.  A pang hit her
stomach, both of disappointment and urgency, and she grabbed Artemis' sleeve,
running toward the castle.  It would take a while for her to wash, not to mention do her
hair and dress!
      She scrubbed fiercely and had Artemis help with the ties on her dress,
borrowing some shoes from one of the court ladies and some orchids from the garden,
twining them into the curls and bounds of her hair.
      Artemis was a master hairstylist.
      She was finished just as a knock sounded on her door.  Artemis opened it,
expecting Serenity, but found Kunzite standing there instead, hands clasped behind his
back.  Artemis scowled.
     "Get lost," he growled to the general.  Kunzite only looked over Artemis'
shoulder to Minako, who had been looking tensely for Serenity.  Presently, the color
drained from her face and she looked away, her pride still hurt.
     "Please," was all Kunzite said to her, and she sighed, telling Artemis to give
them a minute.  He did, grudgingly, and Kunzite stood awkwardly in the room with her.  "I'm
sorry I was rude," he whispered and looked at her, bringing a bouquet of white
orchids from behind his back.
      Startled at the gift, she took them gingerly.
     "I hope you like that kind," he added lamely.
     "I love them," she smiled softly and turned a little so he could see the matching
flowers in her hair.
     "Oh," he looked away and blushed, heaving a great breath.  "Sorry."
      She stepped forward to reassure him   about everything   when another knock
interrupted her.  Minako sighed, biting her lip.
     "Mina!" Serenity called urgently from the other side and Minako groaned.
     "I'm sorry Kunzite," she put a hand on his, understanding the frustration in his
eyes, and went to the door, holding the flowers carefully as she reached to open it.
     "Another match, when I see you again," he said quickly, and she turned back,
startled, then nodded and smiled.
     "Can't let that masculine pride go undefended," she quipped dismally, then
opened the door and was gone.