Ah, after a few months I've finally done part 8 ^.^ Oh, and for all you hopeless romantics out there, Naru finally does find Nephrite, though it's not as you expect their meeting to be *laughs evilly* oh, and "hime" is japanese for princess, or young woman of noble birth.

August Moon
Part 7 : Meetings
©MM T h r e a d s

Naru stood wide-eyed in the main entryway of the Earth Kingdom's palace and gasped.

It was so beautiful.

Large ivory pillars stood on either side of her and stretched up to an inconceivably high ceiling that formed into archways, before disappearing into the shadows. Spaced in between, at the base were large, green potted plants and elaborately armed guards, each holding a menacing weapon that looked to be a halberd. A wide, navy blue rug ran in front of her until it reached a massive staircase, and flowed up. Up the stairs, after about 20 steps or so there was a landing that split the stairs up into two directions, one to the left and one to the right. Mounted on the wall by the landing was a beautiful portrait of the outside of a castle, likely the very one she stood in now.

Naru looked down at her feet from feelings of shame and inferiority the boiled up inside her. She felt like she should be one of the maids here, and not a guest. She wasn't even dressed appropriately- she still wore her dirty riding clothes.

Two servants approached her and the two guardians. They swept up their bags and the taller one with dark hair informed them that their bags could be found in their rooms.

After the servants disappeared, Naru looked to Jadeite and Zoisite.

"Um, where is my room exactly?"

Jadeite laughed. "That's right, I forgot, we'll take you upstairs and show you. It's likely be close to ours so you don't have to worry if you need anything.

Naru nodded in response and then followed the two up the winding staircase.

"This is my room!" Naru exclaimed in surprise.

The thin maid nodded in response.

Naru turned to her again. "You're absolutely sure?"

The maid, though now looking confused still nodded.

"I can't believe this." Naru said shaking her head in disbelief.

"You and your companions have already missed lunch, though the chef will be preparing something for you down in the kitchen or one of the servants can bring something to you."

"No, it's okay, I'll be eating in the kitchen- will Jadeite and Zoisite be there as well?"

"I can notify you when Alves-sama and Brunet-sama leave their rooms."

Naru felt a little awkward amidst all the formality.

"If you can, thank you."

The maid nodded.

"Oh, and Osaka-sama, since you didn't have any appropriate clothing in your travel bag, I placed a few dresses in your closet, they should be around your size. I'll send the tailor up to your room when you feel up to being fitted."

Naru nodded eagerly. "Oh, I would love that… I'd prefer if you call me Naru."

The maid nodded. "Alright Naru-sama."

Naru sighed and turned back to the giant room, the maid still wasn't going to drop the formalities. "I can't believe that this is mine." She muttered, still in disbelief.

"If you do not further require my services, I must attend to other things."

"Oh, one more thing before you leave." Naru asked, turning back to the maid.

She stopped and brushed a lose strand of curly blond hair behind her ear.

"Yes, milady?"

"What's your name?"

The maid looked surprised that someone had asked her that and was silent for a moment.

"Sasa."

"Thank you, Sasa."

For a moment Naru thought she caught a glimpse of a smile on the girls face, but in another moment, it was gone.

The maid exited the room quietly, closing the door behind her.

Naru still looked at the room in disbelief- there was no way it could be hers!

Before her sat a large, rectangular room. To the side was a big canopy bed; all around there were assorted dressers, cupboards, tables, and shelves. On the far wall directly in front of her was a huge opened window with a large stone sill underneath, big enough to sit down on. Naru walked over to it and looked out.

Naru was at least four floors up, maybe even more. She had lost count going up all the stairs. Far below she could see the castle moat and various members of the royal staff plodding about their daily business in the front courtyard.

Naru turned back around and began making her way to the bathroom, stripping off her clothes as she did. She was hot, sticky and tired and there was nice relaxing bath waiting for her.

Naru stood waiting for Jadeite outside his room in a "waiting" area, that was still somehow part of his entire room.

It was about the size of her room- she was almost afraid to see the actual size of his room; it had to be at least 4 times the size of hers.

After about an hour or so she finally dragged herself out of the water and gotten changed. The bathroom was just as ridiculously large for a bathroom as her room was for a normal sized bedroom.

Naru had grabbed a dressing gown on one of the racks and then found the dresses Sasa had been talking about.

Naru had chosen a rather plain, off-white colored dress. It had long sleeves and reached to her ankles. It laced up at the back and at the shoulder seam. Delicate crocheted lace trimmed the end of the dress, sleeves and neck part. Naru had also found a long gold chain in one of the dresser drawers and put it on. Not allowing her short red hair to dry long, she had combed it up into a halfback and tied it with a ribbon.

Almost the second she had finished changing Sasa had entered informing her that "Alves-sama" wanted her to meet her in his room before the went down to eat.

So now Naru waited.

The door to Jadeites room opened a crack, and then swung open fully where Jadeite presented himself, wearing a huge grin.

His short blond hair glimmered in the sunlight streaming through the open window. He wore black boots, tan breeches, a fitted maroon vest with a high collar and short flaps in the back. Underneath he wore a white shirt.

"Ah, I see Sasa spoke with you."

Naru nodded. "I guess it's all for the better that I met you here, I would likely have gotten lost in the castle otherwise."

Jadeite chuckled. "My thoughts exactly."

After a filling meal in the palace kitchen with Jadeite, and Zoisite who eventually joined the two, and coincidently didn't look to thrilled to see Naru still inside the palace walls.

After the meal and consuming a few glasses of wine he had more than eagerly offered to show Naru around the palace.

"And this," Zoisite said as he opened up two elaborately engraved French-doors. "Is the royal ballroom."

Naru and Jadeite followed him inside.

Naru's jaw dropped. It was absolutely stunning.

It was a massive room, circular in shape with high ceiling and elaborate architecture. Black marble tiles covered the floor; a small fountain was at the center of the room, and an exquisite crystal and gold chandelier above.

All around the room, spaced out systematically were large windows to look out of, on opposite ends there were even doors leading out onto balconies.

Naru smiled, she would just love to go dancing here, even though she couldn't dance very well.

"I can't believe that this is the ballroom!" Naru exclaimed, wide-eyed.

"Yup." Zoisite nodded.

"Actually," Jadeite said, walking up beside Naru. "There is a ball scheduled in about three weeks or so… perhaps you may end up being invited…"

Zoisite glared slightly at Jadeite for a moment, denoting his disapproval of what he had said.

"Though I can't speak for the King," Jadeite said putting his hands on his hips. "This is a fairly politically oriented ball, aside from the small celebration on behalf of the prince's return from the moon kingdom… your presence wouldn't be required, and well, to be blunt, I can't say you would be trusted, I'm sure more than one regent would feel uncomfortable."

Zoisite seemed to be a little more pleased at that statement, though Naru couldn't help but feel a little sad. She was surprised enough to find out she was invited to stay at the Palace for an undetermined amount of time, so even though pleased at their initial trust and generosity, she still couldn't expect to be invited to social functions, especially if they included the royal family and the better half of the political powers in these parts.

"Ah, there you are!" Echoed a voice from across the halls. Naru heard footsteps begin to approach their small party.

Naru turned around and felt her hear skip a beat.

She had found him, finally.

Naru had finally found Nephrite… he was walking towards her.

His stride was filled with a kind of nonchalance as he approached them. He wore long white pants over a pair of dark brown boots. He had on a smooth, black uniform jacket; similar in style to the ones Jadeite and Zoisite were wearing when she met them for the first time. The top button was left undone which seemed to flaunt a type of arrogance and relaxed attitude. Though black wasn't necessarily 'his color' it certainly did exemplify the dark auburn flare in his hair.

For a brief moment Naru mourned the loss of it… or rather, mourned that he hadn't bothered to grow it out yet. His hair, still as wavy and luxurious as she remembered it, had a much shorter, layered look. It rested just below his ears, and seemed to stick out in the most adorable places.

He strolled up between Zoisite and Jadeite and stopped.

Naru's heart beat even faster.

"I've been looking all over for you, Zoisite." His deep voice had a slight hint of what sounded like a European accent to her.

For a moment Naru though she saw Zoisite roll his eyes.

Zoisite rubbed his temples painfully. "I just got in this afternoon. Can't this wait till tomorrow… or at least till later tonight."

Nephrite shrugged. "I suppose, but I'd prefer to get this out of the way as soon as possible."

"Alright then, what is it?"

"Well…" He said trailing off, his eyes darting to Naru for a moment.

"Oh yes… sorry, I'm a little tired."

"Don't worry about it." Nephrite said as he shoved one of his hands in his pocket.

"If you two will excuse me, I have to speak with Nephrite for a moment." Zoisite said as he began to break away from the group.

"Oh," Jadeite broke in, catching both of the guardian's attentions. "Before you go, Nephrite, I'd like to introduce Naru to you."

Nephrite turned back around almost painfully and nodded to Naru, hardly even acknowledging her.

"A pleasure meeting you, Naru." He said looking at her quickly.

Naru bowed slightly. "And I as well."

After a moment, Nephrite smiled and shook his head. "You know Jadeite, I would have never pinned you for something like this… Rei-hime is not going to be pleased." He said laughing.

Jadeite blushed slightly. "Oh, no… it's not like that."

Nephrite smiled slyly. "Sure, whatever you say."

He walked off with Zoisite leaving Naru and Jadeite standing in the middle of the ballroom alone.

She couldn't help but feel a little sad. The man she had gone to great lengths to help, and whom she technically wasn't supposed to meet for another 1000 years had hardly even acknowledged her presence.

This wasn't going to be easy …easy for her, and easy for her heart.

"And that over-confidant chap you just met," Jadeite said breaking the silence. "Is the Prince's second highest ranking guardian- Nephrite Aldrich."

"And the highest?" Naru asked.

"That would be Kunzite Calder. He is also one of the chief commanding generals to a large portion of the King's army."

"Oh." Naru said, looking away. "Where is he right now?"

Jadeite smiled. "With the Prince on his 'visit' to the Moon Kingdom."

"Aren't you Nephrite and Zoisite his guardian's as well? How come you three didn't go as well?"

"Oh well, originally myself and Nephrite was there as well, but I left after a number of days because myself and Zoisite had to get some documents signed by his father, and a few days before the three of us arrived back here, Nephrite retuned with some important treaty information for the King."

Naru nodded.

"Besides," Jadeite added. "The Moon Kingdom is fairly safe, with their security and Kunzite at his side, I feel Endymion is in good hands."

Naru nodded again and looked to the floor, staring endlessly at the mosaic of black tiles patched all across the floor.

"What's the matter? Why do you all of a sudden look so glum? " Jadeite said looking down at her. "Am I that much of a bore?" He added jokingly, trying to put a smile on her face.

Naru tried to make an effort to look pleased, but it just wasn't working.

"Hey, come on now." He said, lifting her chin up with his fingers. "You sure there's nothing bothering you?"

"No, no." She said, brushing his hand away gently. "I'm just really tired all of a sudden… it's really nothing you should worry about."

"Well, if you're sure." He said slowly, still looking at her with worry in his eye.

Naru was surprised at how much Jadeite was worrying over her all of a sudden, she liked that someone was worrying over her that much for nothing, but was it really that good a thing?

And it wasn't Nephrite that was worrying either.

"I think I'm going to go to be for a while." Naru said as she headed towards the doors.

"Well, sleep well then." Jadeite said smiling. "I'll escort you to your room if you like?"

Naru waved her hand. "I know where it is." Though she knew what he really meant.

Naru headed to the larger doors quickly and made her exit, leaving a slightly confused Jadeite behind her.

Naru ran into her room quickly and locked the door behind her.

Nephrite.

That was all she could think about.

Only Nephrite.

She cupped her face in her hands.

Why did his memory still torture her so… why couldn't she just let go of that unmentionable attraction and only do what she was here to do… help him from falling into Metallia's clutches.

But every time she closed her eyes, every time she fell asleep, every time she felt a little bit of sorrow creep inside of her, there he would be, reminding her that maybe she wasn't really alone, that maybe if she had a chance with someone like him, she would have a chance of being with someone wonderful forever.

But in the end, he never truly felt the way she wanted him to.

It was only in her head.

And that made tears well up in the corners of her eyes.

She threw herself onto her bed and buried her face in her pillow.

How could she have done this?

How!

How could she have thrown away her whole life on a whim? On a secret dream, a secret fantasy. She gave up her home, her education, her friends, her family for a man that didn't even love her. For a man she had longed for so many years ago, for a man who looked the other way until it was too late.

She was so selfish.

She wanted to help Nephrite, she truly did. But another part of her wanted to do more than just help him, she wanted to love and be loved by him.

But after today that dream seemed more than impossible.

If not that he completely ignored her, than the fact that he thought that she and Jadeite were engaged, or even worse, married, and that, even though Jadeite denied it, Nephrite still didn't believe him.

How she wanted to go home. How she wanted to run a hot bath, or check her e-mail on the computer, or listen to loud music, or go for a ride with Usagi and Mamoru like they always used to do.

But she was stuck 1000 years in the past- alone and without a clue as to what she was supposed to do.

"Oh Nephrite…" She whimpered as the tears finally came.

End Part Seven.

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