Chapter 6: Emotions are Bared

The two stopped in front of the ball room doors.
"You need an Earth name," Kunzite said 
matter-of-factly, "for tonight, you're name is Aino Minako."
Venus looked puzzled. "What does that mean?"
"Beautiful child of love."
Venus, now Minako, blushed. 
"That's sweet, Kunzite." 
Kunzite smiled at her. "Shall we?" Venus 
nodded happily. The couple entered the palace 
ballroom arm in arm.
The second they entered the room, people flocked to them.
"Kunzite!" a man with long, wavy brown hair called to him, 
"it's about time you came!" The man approached them, then stopped to 
eye Venus. "Who's this pretty thing?"
"This is Aino Minako," Kunzite introduced her. Minako 
bowed gracefully. "This is Nephrite," Kunzite continued, 
introducing the man to Minako, "He's one of Endymion's 
four generals." Minako nodded as she took the informationin. 
Kunzite pointed to a man with orange hair tied back into 
a ponytail. "That's Zoicite. He's one of us too. 
He's an interesting one…" Minako laughed as Kunzite rolled his eyes.
Lastly, Kunzite motioned towards a very innocent, 
yet handsome, looking man. He had short blonde hair 
that hung loose about his face. He was smiling and 
laughing with a large group of young women. "That's 
Jadeite. He's the last of the four. He always seems
 to have pretty girls around him." 
Kunzite led her by the hand out to the middle of the 
dance floor. "Would you care to dance?" he asked with
 a debonair smile. Minako accepted. He took one 
of her hands in his, and he wrapped his other arm around her waist. 
They joined in on a fast paced minuet, and after 
a while they were both laughing and simply enjoying 
each other's company. Minako felt… well, she didn't 
know exactly how she felt. But it was different than 
she'd ever felt before. She was so free, so happy, 
so calm yet so excited dancing in the arms of a man 
that had turned out to be an unexpectedly good friend.

After the dance, Minako exhausted. "Let's rest awhile," 
she said, short of breath. She and Kunzite sat and 
watched the others continue dancing. 
"So, are you enjoying yourself?" Kunzite asked.
Minako's eyes widened and a smile spread clear across 
her face. "Yes! Yes! I've never had so much fun before!"
Kunzite smiled gently at the blonde haired girl. "You're 
a great girl. I've never met anyone like you before," Minako
 blushed as he continued, "When I first saw you, I had a 
feeling that we could be good friends, especially when I 
heard you were a guardian as well. I knew that you probably
 shared my loneliness of leading a solitary life. I've 
always wanted someone who could understand me, and I 
understand him or her in return. I think I finally found
 that friend in you, Minako."
Minako simply nodded as Kunzite spoke. She was amazed at 
how much they had in common. He knew the same longing 
for love and freedom she had experienced for years. He 
knew her loneliness, her responsibility, and her 
sacrifice. They were the same. Maybe this is destiny, 
she thought romantically.
After a deafening silence, Kunzite offered, "Would you 
like a drink of punch?"
"Yes, I'd like that," Minako said, and watched as Kunzite
 left for the refreshments table. She noticed that he 
looked very handsome in his white, tailored suit. She 
lso noticed that the silver decorations on his coat matched
 the ribbons on her gown. She wondered if that was 
purposeful.

Kunzite soon returned with a glass full of red 
liquid. Minako accepted the glass and sipped some 
of the punch. She looked up to Kunzite to thank him, 
but she became lost in his lavender eyes. She shook 
her head abruptly to break the trance.
"What is it?" Kunzite asked.
"Oh nothing," Minako murmured, "would you like to dance 
again? It's a lot of fun."
They returned to the dance floor. They had begun to dance
when the fast paced song changed to a slow waltz. 

Deep in my soul, A love so strong it takes control
Now we both know, the secrets bared, the feelings show
Our destiny is shown, I make a wish on a shooting star

There will come a day
Somewhere far away
In your arms I'll stay
My Only Love

You've reached the deepest part
Of the secret in my heart
I knew it from the start
My Only Love

My Only Love…

	The song floated in the air as the couple glided 
across the floor in perfect time. As they danced they 
held onto each other closer with each step, and an 
unsaid feeling passed between the two. The other dancers 
faded into the background as Minako's clear blue eyes 
connected with Kunzite's shining lavender. Minako felt 
whole for the first time in the arms of this young man, 
this man that had once shared her loneliness. Now they 
shared the same security.

"That was wonderful!" Minako exclaimed. She and Kunzite 
walked out of the ballroom into the courtyard. The 
orchestra had stopped playing, and all the guests were
 beginning to leave. "I've never had so much fun! 
I've never been around so many people!" Minako continued
 excitedly. She was absolutely overflowing with joy, 
so happy to go places like a normal girl, so happy to 
be with someone who understood her.
Minako commenced to chatter about everything that had 
happened while Kunzite led her outside the gates. She 
began to realize how far they were getting from the 
castle, and asked, "Where are we going?" Kunzite didn't
 reply, and Minako began to feel concerned. "Kunzite, I…"
"Don't worry. I just want to show you something."
Minako continued to follow him until he stopped on the 
side of a grassy hill. She watched him sit, then lay 
down comfortably on his back. "What are you doing, Kunzite?"
Kunzite motioned for her to join him on the soft grass.
 Minako tried to sit gracefully, but the long dress 
caused her to flop onto the ground. Kunzite chuckled,
 and Minako giggled nervously. 
"Look," Kunzite sat up next to her and put his 
arm around her. Minako's heart beat wildly as she 
felt his warmth so close to her. He pointed to the 
sky and she followed his hand with her eyes. She gasped
 when the sight filled her vision. Above her was a 
sea of planets, galaxies and stars. And right in the
 middle of it shone her home, the crescent moon.
Kunzite was pleased to see Minako's spellbound face. 
On the moon, the thin atmosphere causes a starless 
sky. Kunzite knew she had probably never seen a starry 
sky before.
"See, there's Jupiter," Kunzite said softly, pointing 
to a bright light in the sky, "and there's Mars," he 
pointed to a smaller, reddish light, "You can tell 
whether each one is a planet or a star by looking to 
see if they twinkle. Planets don't twinkle."
"Show me more," Minako whispered.
"Well, there's Saturn over there, if you look at 
it through a glass you can see its rings!" 
"That's amazing! What's that one?" Venus pointed to 
a planet just rising above the eastern horizon. 
"It's so pretty!"
"Why, that's your planet, Venus," Kunzite explained, 
"but it isn't nearly as pretty as you are. My little 
Princess Venus."
Minako quickly turned her face towards his and began to 
say something, but Kunzite put a finger to her lips. His 
eyes twinkled like the stars in the sky as he gently 
stroked her face. His gaze upon her was compassionate 
and full of caring. Minako's gaze softened as well as 
he ran his thumb over her lips. She shut her eyes and 
kissed it gently.
Minako reached around Kunzite's sturdy neck, and he 
wrapped his arms around her waist. They pulled each 
other close as their lips met in a tender, passionate 
kiss. They held each other tightly, lying on the grass
 in the comfort of one another's arms. The stars above
 watched them, and the Moon's white light poured down 
on their bodies, casting dramatic white and black 
shadows over them. They kissed each other's faces and
 lips as a breeze gently caressed the new found lovers.
Still holding each other, Minako rested her head on 
Kunzite's strong chest. "Kunzite, I don't know how I 
feel right now, but it's different than I've ever 
felt before. I… I don't know what love is exactly, but 
I think we're in it. Or at least close to it."
"Minako, Venus, I know we were meant to find each other."
She cuddled up closer to him and sighed happily. If
 only this moment could last forever.