Rules Are Meant To Be Broken-Part 4
Kathrina chattered excitedly as she helped Ami prepare for the ball, talking about the people that were attending and how beautiful Ami looked in her dress. The ball gown, the princess thought to herself sourly, was indeed stunning. And she hated it for being so. Unfortunately, Ami had no black or gray gowns, so she was forced to choose among her blue and white ones. White, she thought privately to herself, was much too cheerful. And yet, white was a pure color, and Leon certainly represented a pure spirit if no one else did. She had then considered, after much debate, a navy blue gown. It was very elegant, very formal, very somber...and a very dark blue indeed. But then again, the color represented her mood, so she wore it. Admiring the silvery embroidery that flashed at the hem, neckline, waistline, and sleeves, Kathrina asked, "Are you wearing any jewelry, Miss Ami?"
Thinking about the very trivial matter for a minute, Ami came to a decision and stuck her nose back into her book. "Just the sapphire earrings will do."
"The round drops?"
"Yes."
"The silver necklace with the little water sapphires with the matching bracelet would look nice, my lady."
Sighing and wondering if she would never be left in peace to finish Indigo, the princess figured it was better to submit then spend time arguing and replaced the blue ribbon that served as a bookmark. "All right, Kathrina. But no more. Is it time already?" she asked, slightly unnerved that the time had passed so quickly.
"It is, Miss Ami. And don't worry, because you look perfect. I'll be watching you catch all the stares of the gentlemen."
Laughing at the ridiculous statement and pushing aside the thought that she did want to ‘catch the stare' of a particular gentlemen, Ami replied, "Thank you, Kathrina, but I doubt that it'll really happen."
As it was, Ami did get everyone's attention, but it was only because of the extravagant appearance that Greg had planned. And if there was any one she hated in the world, she most disliked him at the moment. She beamed brightly at the crowd that gathered around the gigantic marble stars, inwardly wondering why her ancestors had chosen to make the thing so damned big and LONG. With one hand on the right stair rail, Ami addressed them all. "Welcome, everyone. Tonight, we honor the late Sir Leon, a very great and wise man. But we are also gathered to celebrate our good relations with Earth and her prince, Endymion. We thank the Terran Embassy for their kind and considerate journey."
Zoicite, in gray uniform, rolled his eyes expressively at the speech, guessing how she felt. He had been there earlier, admiring the large but not overdone crystal chandeliers. The ball room was quite large without being overbearing, and the music was provided by an orchestral quartet. The blue-and-white tiling of the floor was cool and serene, and a light breeze came in from the open windows and the door to a little balcony that he could just glimpse if he strained his eyes. Now, however, he could only feel very relieved that he wasn't called upon to make any announcements today.
As the dance began, he threaded his ways through the crowds masterfully until he was at the princess's elbow. Smiling and speaking softly, he asked, "Princess Ami, may I have the first dance?"
Flushing, she nodded and placed her hand in his outstretched palm. "You may, General Zoicite."
"That was a very nice speech you just made."
Rather sardonically, she replied, "Thank you. I'm sure half the people here think so, as well."
"Ah well. If I may be so bold, may I see that half the people here are men, and that they are all watching you?"
Maneuvering her way through the crowd of dancers, Ami retorted, "The other half of the population is also watching you, if you'd be so kind as notice."
The first dance had ended, and Zoicite bowed elegantly, with a slight grin on his face, his right arm in a fist at his left shoulder. "As you wish, my lady."
She watched shocked from her position at the edge of floor and then during her dances with Greg as the general proceeded to ask almost every eligible woman for dance after dance, secretly jealous of the women that flirted unashamedly with the oh-so-charming general. Before the night was over, she had heard thousands of remarks about his adorable curls, the manly form and height, the piercing green eyes, and his suave and charismatic manner. Around a dance or two before the last one, Ami decided she had had enough, bored of watching Zoicite charm all the women at the ball. Walking out onto the balcony, feeling decidedly ruffled, she was slightly soothed to find no one else there, so she could fume in peace. Suddenly, she was shocked. Fuming? Annoyed? What was the matter with her? He was just a rather nice man after all, who would be leaving soon. It didn't matter that he was extremely attractive when he wanted to be, as he was proving, or that he had good taste in books and just about everything. Out of patience with everything, including herself, the princess marched purposefully to the nearest door, willing herself not to look at any of the dancers-particularly not to search for Zoicite.
Just as she put her hand on the door handle, his light voice said from behind her, "I wouldn't do that, if I were you."
Whirling around to glare at him, she asked, "And why not?"
"Well, the last dance is about to begin, and I'd rather you have your hand in mine than on the door handle."
"Why, you-" She was shocked when he reached out and caught the hand that she had almost slapped him with. "I'm...so sorry...I didn't know what I was doing..."
Watching her with more than mere shock, Zoicite bowed. "I apologize for my most uncultured manners, Princess Ami, and beg that you dance this last dance with me."
Surrendering reluctantly, she allowed him to draw her back into the press of men and women on the floor. "You can be a very confusing person at times, you know."
Smiling, Zoicite stopped to kiss her gloved hand. "I know. But you're the same, did you realize? I didn't expect that you would be this way."
With a rather crooked smile, she asked, "I'm not your average damsel in distress, am I? Or even the rebellious, headstrong girl who won't listen to anyone?"
"Well, I wouldn't say that...but you, my lady, are definitely not a girl."
"And why do you say that?"
Seriously, green eyes sharp and appraisingly, he replied, "Because your eyes are much too old."
~~~~*~~~~
Furious once more at the same exact person, Ami strode back to her rooms purposefully, along. She had rejected the gen's offer to escort her back to her rooms-which was, anyway, one of the most important rules of protocol (no one must ever be seen in or near a princess's rooms, especially not one of lower rank). How could he be so...scholarly, then understanding, so normal...and then...a womanizer? It just did not make sense to her. And he had dared to tell her that her eyes were old. "I don't think my eyes are old," she muttered to herself disgustedly, rather disgruntled.
Hearing her, Kathrina called, "Miss Ami?"
"Yes, it's me. Did you enjoy the ball?"
"Oh yes, my lady. I saw you dancing quite a few times with Commander Urawa, too. But you danced twice with General Zoicite."
As she got ready for bed, Ami asked tiredly, "And what did you think of him?"
"General Zoicite? Oh, he's quite dashing, Miss Ami! All the women at the ball giggled at his jokes, and he was very charming. Quite the gentleman. But besides his charm, he's also very attractive. Everyone commented about his eyes, and the sunshine of his hair. It's a pity that he isn't a prince, because everyone would certainly like it if he was the Prince of Mercury! Didn't you think he was charming too, Miss Ami?"
Shortly, she answered, "Quite."
"And isn't it a very great pity he's only a general?"
"I suppose so. Good night, Kathrina."
"Oh, good night, Miss Ami."
~~~~*~~~~
The next morning, Ami woke up in a particularly foul mood. She would have skipped breakfast completely if Kathrina had not insisted and refused to let her out of her room if she didn't eat something. Afterwards, she had dressed in simple white shirt and tan pants before heading off to the training room-not that it would matter. After all the princesses had left the Moon five years ago, they had still kept in shape by using the exercises and training that the Lunar cats had beaten into their minds and bodies to make them remember. Ah, the memories...
Once inside one of the highly warded practice rooms, Ami transformed into Sailor Mercury and prepared to use the computer simulations. Doggedly, she fought enemy after enemy, using both her fists and feet as well as her powers granted as a senshi. She had no idea how long she was at it, taking out her frustrations on the simulations, but when she finally stopped (being too exhausted too continue, which was a rare occurrence, as Ami usually paced herself more sensibly), she realized that it had been quite a few hours. Shrugging moodily as she detransformed and examined various bruises and cuts that she had gotten today, on top of a few old scars and yellow-green bruises that were fading, the princess winced at the extent thorough beating she had taken. "Oh well...it could have been worse," she muttered, less than optimistically. Teleporting back to her room, to assure that no one in the hallways would see her in her sweaty, disheveled state, Ami checked the clock on her wall and decided she would have time to shower before her wonderful and much-anticipated meeting with the embassy. Besides, it wouldn't do to greet everyone smelling like sweat, blood, and a number of other unpleasant things. After a relaxing hot shower, Ami examined her closet closely before choosing another simple gray dress. Perhaps, she thought to herself, it was time to increase the size of her wardrobe, if she had so much trouble deciding what to wear. Putting the matter aside for the moment, she zipped up the back of the dress with ease and quickly put a pair of simple white pearl earrings in her ears and left the room without looking back.
~~~~*~~~~
The Prime Minister, otherwise known as the General Commander of the Navy, also just called Greg Urawa, shifted nervously. Ami was making him very nervous during the talks. Of course, all the formalities had to be gone through first, and he wasn't paying any attention to the political garbage pouring out of any of the diplomats' mouths. He had heard it all before; it was boring and monotonous, and he wasn't going to waste his time listening to it. His princess, of course, had to appear very interested and attentive during the entire process and make the correct replies. However, whenever Greg had attempted to catch her eye, she had coldly refused to meet his own and ignored him with an air of extreme iciness that chilled him. It really was too bad he wasn't telepathic, he cursed himself inwardly. Then she couldn't refuse to talk to him.
The only thing that appeased him and drew him out of his very foul mood was the fact that Ami was also pointedly refusing to acknowledge General Zoicite's existence. Greg knew it wasn't a very nice thing, but he was jealous of the general, although he knew Zoicite was bewildered as to why Greg resented him. Especially after last night's events...he clenched his teeth, ignoring the pain in his jaw, remembering how distracted his princess had been all last night. Even when he had attempted to converse with her, Ami had kept her eyes on Zoicite, watching him and all the women he danced him. Well, Greg scoffed, serves the fool right. If there's anything that Ami hates more than youma, the Negaverse, and getting married, it's a womanizer. Grudgingly, he admitted that womanizer wasn't exactly the right term. Although Zoicite had danced with more than quite a few women, he had always remained a perfect, polite gentleman with very honorable intentions. He suspected Ami was thinking around the same lines of thought and smiled grimly. All he would have to do was catch her later in the most secluded garden, where Greg was sure she would be, reading (as her reclusive habits had taught him). It was almost too easy...
~~~~*~~~~
After the meeting and lunch, in which nothing had been resolved (certainly not the matters of dispute between both planets) but a lot of rubbish meaninglessly instigated, Ami was quite certain that she was not looking forward to the next day's schedule, where they would meet once more. Feeling slightly warm as the sun rose to its highest point, the dark-haired woman searched through her closet for one of her favorite dresses. Reaching her ankles, the thin white dress was cool and relaxing, the material slipping through her fingers. It was also sleeveless, with a rather low neckline, but both of these attributes of the dress slipped her mind. Gathering up Indigo, with full intentions of finishing it, Ami teleported to her favorite garden. She had, with Lita's help on her infrequent visits to Mercury (it was hard for all of them to get away from their respective planets) grown many different plants from each of the planets and even created some interesting new breeds. But her main reason was the seclusion. Only a few other people besides herself, Greg included (she was resenting that fact today) knew the key to finding their way to the garden. It was concealed in a puzzling labyrinth of hedges that formed a maze, and the garden was hidden at the very center. If any one was fortunate enough to reach the garden, which had only happened once or twice, they needed to be able to see the door, which had been cleverly disguised by the Princess of Jupiter. Smiling in satisfaction, Ami settled down to read in peace and quiet.
Before long, however, an intruder knocked lightly on the door. Luckily, the particular passage Ami had been reading had calmed her some, with its beautiful description and almost soporific effect. "Yes? Who is it?"
"It's me, Ami. Can I come in?"
‘Greg,' she thought to herself. Sighing, she called back, "You might as well." As he entered, she asked, "Nothing's happened, has it?"
"No," he assured her, forcing a smile on his face as he ruffled his previously unruly brown hair. "Can't old friends just have a talk in private?" She said nothing, waiting patiently, until Greg sighed and complained, "You know me too well, and you always know what I'm thinking-even though I have no idea what you're thinking about."
Casting her eyes down, Ami murmured, "It's a gift," smirking uncharacteristically as she gazed at the greenery.
Dryly, he told her, "Don't try to work your mysterious gift thing on me. I wanted to-I wanted to-oh, never mind."
Softly, she said, "It hurts me to think that you can't tell me anything, Greg."
Looking into her deep, ocean-blue eyes, he exhaled deeply and tried to collect his thoughts. "I'm sorry, Ames. What I came here to do was apologize for that meeting."
"But you're already forgiven," she exclaimed in surprise. "I had no idea you thought I was still angry at you."
"You were doing a good impression today at the meeting," he pointed out.
Blushing, she shrugged slender white shoulders. "Alright, I guess I was still a little upset, but I'm over it now. And you promise not to do it again, right?" she asked with a gentle smile.
Feeling his heart do flip flops, Greg nodded quickly. "Yeah. Oh, damn it," he cursed as he glanced at his watch. Feeling her eyes on him, he said, "I'm late for an appointment with one of my officers. Your leave, my lady?"
Wondering for a minute what he was asking for, Ami jumped as she realized that formality he wanted. Holding out her hand uneasily, she drew it back as soon as he had kissed it. "Greg-"
"Until another time, your highness."
Frowning as she watched him go, Ami sighed and made a mental note to talk properly with him. After around another hour or so, she beamed in perfect contentment, having finished the book. Suddenly, her attention was attracted by the scraping of the door. Greg and the other persons who knew how to get in always knocked, and the door was beginning to open slowly. "Hello?" she called cautiously as the book fell from her lap.
"My lady...Ami?" Zoicite emerged from the doorway, blinking curiously. "What is this place?"
"How did you get in here?" she gasped.
"I'm so sorry," he apologized, bowing as he backed out the door. "I didn't mean to intrude on you-"
"No, wait!" Ami cried. Flushing furiously as red color came into her cheeks, accenting her sapphire eyes and the blue tints in her hair, she explained, "I just...was surprised, that's all. See, this garden is concealed by green magic by a friend of mine, and the maze is almost impossible to get through."
Mouth curving wryly, he picked a few leaves off his gray uniform and out of his hair. "It certainly fooled me a few times, but I cheated." When she looked at him inquiringly, Zoicite smiled. "I have powers as you do, Ami, but I have green magic like your friend. I can siphon useful information with plants, besides growing them and caring for them in a way that other people cannot. The garden is really hidden?"
"Oh, yes, but only by the plants. The pattern they're grown in should have mystified everyone. But I suppose, with your magic," she trailed off shyly.
"Tell me," he said curiously, "what does your magic allow you to do?"
Inviting him to sit down on one of the many stone benches, she sat across from him, blue eyes growing dreamy as she talked about her powers. "I can work with water and ice but mostly ice. I can also create thick fogs and mists that are nearly impenetrable. Nearly as impenetrable as this maze was supposed to be," she laughed.
Suddenly spotting the book on the ground, Zoicite asked, "I take it you were finishing up Indigo?"
Also seeing the tome, she leaned over just as he did. Wincing, realizing that she had pulled a muscle that morning during her grueling practice, she reached the book much quicker than he did but straightened up slowly and carefully. Catching his concerned look as she rubbed her arm and asked defensively, "What are you staring at?"
"What happened to your arm?"
"Nothing."
Ignoring her belligerent tone, the general's quick green eyes traveled over her neck and shoulders that the dress left bare. They took in the various bruises and cuts, something seeming even worse than they had that morning. "What happened to you? Did someone hurt you? Threaten you?"
Laughing at his protective tone, she replied, "Nothing and no one has hurt me, although people have tried to before."
"What happened, Ami. You have to tell me," Zoicite commanded her seriously.
Stiffening, her eyes became angry and darker-hued. "You overstep your boundaries, general. Don't presume to order me around. I don't have to tell you anything I don't want to."
"You sound like a spoiled child. Tell me, really," he said, sounding worried, "did you get hurt? Look at all those injuries?"
For a few minutes, the princess just laughed again, but this time, it was without real mirth...until she grew silent and said nothing, shadows in her eyes.