Planet Bound: Venus by Marj Please e-mail your comments and constructive criticisms at . Thanks! Disclaimers: The characters of Bishoujo Senshi Sailormoon were created by Naoko Takeuchi-san, its copyright owned by Toei Animation, Kodansha, Nakayoshi, Sterling Animation Inc., and many other companies scattered throughout the world. Meaning, I cannot claim the characters as my own, and am mearly borrowing them. The character Ayukawa Himeru and all the characters of the . . . umm . . . characters not found in the manga are mine. So please don't sue, as I don't earn anything from this other than the satisfaction of making a story. Chapter Twenty: Minako and Himeru The next day, Minako accompanied Ares and his family to Venus. The Venusians, upon seeing their princess alive and well, rejoiced at her homecoming. Words could not express the joy they all felt after they discovered that the Moon Princess was also alive, and that she and the Inner Senshi had been able to defeat the same force that had killed them hundreds of years ago. "They feel more secure with their future now, now that they finally know that their defenders are still here to protect them," Ares had whispered to her while they were passing through the crowd of people in a glamorous parade. Minako just nodded, speechless from the words of admiration the people of Venus were giving her. The Duke smiled at her. "Are you happy to see them, my princess?" he asked. The young princess nodded again. Minutes later, the horse-drawn carriage that carried the royalty of the planet Venus stopped in front of yet another huge castle located on top of a hill at the north end of the city. It shone like gold and glittered with thousands of precious jewels whose names Minako did not know. Ares, Himeru, and the Duke dismounted first so that they could help the women get down from the carriage. "Thank you," Minako said to Ares, who held her hand as she descended. Himeru was watching them as he helped the princess's servant dismount. Minako turned to look at him and smiled brightly. He simply smiled briefly in turn, then rotated to help the attendant with the luggage. Minako felt herself frown at Himeru's sudden change of behavior. The Duchess placed her hand on Minako's shoulder. "There will be a grand ball the night before you leave for the castle. It is being held in your honor," she said softly. "A ball?" Minako gulped while Artemis, who was on her shoulder, snickered a bit. Ares nodded. "It is only right for a princess to receive a grand celebration for returning to her homeland after hundreds of years," he said. Minako looked at the red carpet that had been laid in front of them, her face turning scarlet. A ball? she thought, her memories wandering to the time when she and the Inner Senshi had attended the Princess Seminar. Ami and Makoto had passed with flying colors, but she, Rei and Usagi had failed due to lack of grace during the ballroom dance. "Umm . . . Minako? Are you all right?" Ares asked. "Yeah. Yeah, I'm fine," Minako said. The truth was, her stomach was churning from nervousness. Ares and his mother looked at each other, then shrugged. Later on, Minako was in her room, staring at the scenery that lay before her. From her point of view, she could see the entirety of the Venusian capital, Cyprus. The sight was so breathtaking, that she didn't notice how time flew by as she gazed at it. "It would have been much more beautiful if the city wasn't located underground," Minako said softly. Artemis looked up from his place on Minako's bed. "I don't think the people would like to rebuild the domes and risk another attack like that of the Dark Kingdom." Somebody knocked on the door. She forced her eyes away from the window of her room and turned them to the door. "Come in! It's open!" she said. The entrance to her room opened, revealing the youngest duke of Venus. "Request permission to enter, Your Highness," Himeru said, bowing. Minako smiled. "No need to be so formal, Himeru-san. You can relax." But Himeru was still stiff. "You should never leave the door open, princess. The locks are there for a purpose." Minako was getting confused and a bit frustrated over Himeru's behavior. "What is wrong with you?" she asked quietly. The young duke just shook his head. "I have been sent here to inform you that dinner is ready in the dining hall. My parents and brother are waiting for you there." "Will you join us?" Himeru shook his head. "I regret to inform you that I cannot accompany Her Highness. Please, pardon me. I have many things to do." With that, he bowed once more and left, leaving Minako speechless. Artemis jumped from the bed and went beside Minako. "Not quite used to his new behavior, huh, Minako-chan?" he asked. "'Not quite used to' is an understatement, Artemis. It's like we never met before," she said sadly, staring down the hall at Himeru's retreating back . She sighed, bent over and picked up her guardian. "We might as well join them for dinner." "Good. I'm hungry." Minako raised an eyebrow at him. "You're always hungry. You have a bottomless pit for a stomach!" Artemis scowled at her. "I do not!" "I feed you three times a day, not including snack time, and you still go to those restaurant kitchens and hunt for something to eat!" So the girl and her cat bickered each other all the way to the dining hall, both knowing that it was their normal way of saying how fond they were of each other, amidst the looks the servants gave them as they passed by. ***** The night of the ball. Minako stood in front of a mirror in her room, studying herself. She had searched her closet earlier and found herself in a paradise of beautiful gowns that she alone actually owned. After a few hours - and a few mutters from Artemis - she was finally ready. Ares was waiting outside her room. He avoided whistling as he stood in front of her door, despite being terribly bored. He even tried not to tap his foot, for he knew all the proper manners and customs of one who held a title. His patience was worth it, for when his princess's servants opened the door, he was greeted with the sight of a goddess. Minako was wearing a gown, the gold and burgundy colors highlighting her already shining hair. The gown was off shouldered, with no decorations other than pearls, the golden lace at the hem sliding gracefully on the carpeted floor. Its neck line was low, and a nameless Venusian gem glowed at the middle, its color and radiance matching that of Minako's eyes. The duke was so caught up in her beauty that he didn't realize that he was gawking. He suddenly blinked and cleared his throat, standing up straighter. "Shall we be going now, my princess?" he asked. Minako looked at him, his black tuxedo embracing his well-built frame and making him look more handsome than before. She felt herself blush a bit, then she giggled softly as his suit reminded her of Tuxedo Kamen. She took his hand and, with Artemis beside her, they walked in the direction of the Grand Ballroom located on the first floor of the palace, where the majestic celebration was taking place. ***** Himeru stood beside the Queen of Venus, his hands behind his back, his back as straight as a ruler. The queen went down to the planet to attend the ceremonies. Usually, escorting her was his brother's job, but now that his supposed fiancee had returned, the task had fallen to him. He helped seat her before walking towards his own chair, yet he still did not sit, waiting for his brother and father to arrive and be seated at their places. His father guided his mother, and as she sat beside the queen he couldn't help but notice how stunningly beautiful both women were. The Duke of Venus stood beside him and winked. "There are plenty of girls here tonight, Anchises," he said in a stage whisper. "Maybe you'll find your soul mate, today." Himeru managed a weak smile, then looked down at the ground to study himself on the shining marble floor. He heard the clapping of the people and the announcer proclaimed Minako's title, but he didn't look up until she passed by him on her way to her chair with his brother. And when he did raise his head, he wished that he never had. What he saw was the most beautiful woman in the entire universe, her face filled with the gentlest smile he had ever seen that threatened to take his heart away. He found his head following the beautiful girl to her place, where she sat beside her mother, her cat sitting beside her chair. His brother walked towards him and his father, a dreamy look on his face. And he still wore the same expression when they sat down. For once in his life, Himeru envied his brother. ***** Time passed by, and soon, everyone was asking people to dance. As custom demanded, the queen got to dance first with her escort. So Minako watched as Himeru took her mother's hand and led her to the huge space in the middle of the room. She smiled a bit. In contrast to his brother's black suit, Himeru was wearing a white tuxedo, which reminded her of Tsukikage no Knight. She noticed as they twirled around the dance floor that their blond hair shone under the lights, making them glow like two angels that had descended to the ground. Minako sighed. Her mother was so graceful, and so was the duchess, who was dancing with her husband. The occasion was very formal and a bit solemn and she didn't want to destroy it through her clumsiness. So when Ares invited her to dance, she just smiled and said no. Soon, she found him dancing with another girl. By and by, she grew tired of watching people dance. She only envied them more. So she wandered around and found herself in the palace garden just outside the hall. There, she could still hear the beautiful music, but nobody in the room would be able to see her. She had spent quite some time there when somebody touched her shoulder. She jumped from surprise and turned around. It was Himeru. "What are you doing here, my princess? Shouldn't you be inside dancing?" he asked. "What about you? What are you doing here?" Minako asked. "I was sent to look for you. You are the celebrated guest of honor, Your Highness. You should be inside." She looked away from him. "Well, I don't want to be." Minako stared at the shining lights of Cyprus from the garden. she thought, homesick. "You look very ravishing tonight," Himeru said quietly. The princess turned her head slightly and saw with the corner of her eye that he was blushing. She smiled. "One cannot wear a fuku at such an elegant ball," she answered softly, glad that he was starting to loosen up a bit. As she said those words, she felt something from the back of her mind trying to push itself forward to her consciousness. "Why don't you dance?" Himeru asked. Minako shook her head. "I don't . . . I don't know how." "You've always been such a graceful dancer." "Ballroom dancing? Since when? I know that I can dance . . . just as long as I don't have a partner!" "You *know* how to dance. I'm sure of it." Himeru stepped closer to her. "Would you like to dance, Venus?" Minako looked at him, captivated by his handsome face, his beautiful eyes staring intently at her. "Are you sure you don't mind being stepped on?" she asked, barely above a whisper. Himeru smiled. "I'm a good teacher. I could teach you. Don't feel embarrassed. Nobody can see us here unless they will it to be so." He placed one of his hands on her waist, the other he cupped with her hand. "When you get back out there, you'll stun everyone because of your grace," he whispered in her ear. She placed her free hand on his shoulder. "I will?" "You will." The young princess let herself be guided by the young duke as they glided on the soft green grass of the garden. When they started, each step she took she winced, expecting to see her partner howl in pain. But he didn't, nor had she stepped on him. It was like dancing had come naturally to her . . . as if ballroom dancing had always been one of her greatest talents. They swirled around and around, each turn following the gentle beat of the music. Himeru's hands were soft but firm as he lead his princess through the song smoothly. He smiled as he looked in Minako's eyes, which were looking back at him. When the music halted, their dance stopped, each still staring deeply into the other's eyes. "I told you . . ." Himeru said softly. Minako blinked. She still couldn't believe that she had danced flawlessly. It felt like heaven as he lead her around and around, and it seemed as if only a few seconds had passed by since they had first started. A smile appeared slowly on her face. Himeru held her for a few seconds more, then removed his hands from her. "You have to go back to the ball, Your Highness. The people await you." Minako nodded slowly, still speechless. She was walking back to the palace when she realized that she had forgotten to thank him. She turned around. He was gone. ***** Minako sat down quietly on her chair back in the ballroom, still in a daze over what had happened in the palace garden. Artemis, who had been watching the ball from atop a table beside her chair, looked at her questioningly. "Where have you been?" he asked. "Here and there. I just got kind of bored," she answered, watching the dancers twirl on the dance floor. Her gaze fell on her mother, who was dancing with Himeru once more. she thought. "Why don't you dance?" Artemis asked, smirking. "Afraid you'll step on someone's foot again?" He laughed. Minako glared at him. "That isn't very funny, you know. I can dance better than you think." "Oh really? Then why don't you dance with him, then?" Artemis said, pointing at Ares who was walking slowly towards them. "Maybe I will." Artemis raised an eyebrow. Ares stopped in front of the table. "Is Her Highness ready to dance now?" Minako nodded. She threw a smug look at Artemis, who had an amused grin on his feline face. "I guess I'm ready now," she said. Her partner smiled widely. He held her hand and led her to the dance floor. Minako gulped. she thought nervously. She felt herself clutching Ares's hand tighter as they started to whirl around on the wooden floor. Artemis watched wide-eyed as his charge danced flawlessly on the dance floor. he asked himself. Everyone stopped dancing and watched as the duke and the princess danced gracefully around the dance floor. Ares's parents beamed. The queen smiled gently at the young duke beside her. "What do you think, Anchises?" she asked. Himeru didn't answer her. "I don't understand why you didn't want to dance earlier," Ares whispered in Minako's ear as he led her in another swirl. "You're such a magnificent dancer." Minako just smiled, then looked down at the floor. She knew that she was dancing splendidly in front of so many people. It was supposed to thrill her to her very bone, as she loved the attention she was receiving. Not to mention teaching Artemis a lesson or two in not believing in her abilities. Then why didn't it feel right? Where was the wonderful feeling she had experienced when she was dancing in the gardens alone with Himeru? Her eyes wandered over the crowd until it finally came to rest on the person she was looking for. The queen of Venus looked up at Himeru, concerned, for he had never ignored anything she had ever said before. Her sixth sense as a goddess of love enabled her to see the jealousy and despair that was emanating from him. Himeru was watching the young couple with a straight lip line and a firm look on his face. The arm that was supporting the queen's hand was stiff, and its hand was tightly clenched. The queen's gaze fell on her daughter, who was also staring back at the man beside her mother, an unnoticable look of longing invading her beautiful blue eyes. The queen bit her lip worriedly. Could they possibly have made a mistake? ***** The next day, Minako and the queen headed back to the Magellan Castle, Himeru accompanying them. Before they left, Ares kissed the princess, this time on her cheek. "I know that you've only known me for six days, Princess. That's less than a week. But . . . I just want you to know that I've loved you since I first laid my eyes on you." Minako had been expecting those words, but she did not show it. Ares sighed deeply. "Even if you were engaged first to my brother . . ." he said so softly that she barely heard. Was there a hint of pain in his voice? He cupped her chin in his hand. "Don't go back to Earth. I know you will . . . someday . . . but please, don't go. I don't want to lose you again . . ." "Minako-chan, it's time," Himeru said softly. Minako saw Ares glare at his brother. She looked at Ares apologetically. "I'm sorry . . ." she said in a voice that only Himeru and Artemis, who were the ones closest to her, heard. She watched quietly as the duke and the duchess bade her mother goodbye. She had made her decision, and it was final. She was going home. ***** The night after Minako and Himeru returned to Magellan Castle, Minako wanted to think alone. Artemis was inside her room relaxing, so she decided to go to the palace garden. Besides, she would be able to see Venus from there, as well as the small star that was actually the planet Earth. While walking, she was already thinking. How could she tell the queen about her decision? What would her mother say? How would she feel? How would the others feel? Minako sighed. She just didn't know what to do. As she entered the palace gardens, she realized that she wouldn't have the place to herself. At the edge of the garden stood Himeru, all alone. She walked towards him silently. Before he knew there was someone behind him, Minako covered his eyes. "Hey!" he exclaimed. He never would have guessed that it was Minako, but her giggling gave her away. "You! I'm gonna get you for this!" he cried as he abruptly turned and grabbed Minako around her waist. They tumbled down on the grass from Himeru's momentum, laughing. "Gosh, you don't know how much I missed laughing with you," Minako giggled. Himeru smiled and stood up. He bent over, took Minako's hand, and helped her up. "It has been six days. Almost a week," he said softly. Minako pouted. "Yeah, it's been almost a week, and you've been ignoring me! Or are you just too busy to talk to me for even more than a few minutes . . . ?" She dusted herself off. "You were being so incredibly stiff, you looked like a programmed robot!" She giggled. Himeru blushed. "I'm sorry. It's just . . . it's just . . ." He sighed. "I'm a warrior. I have my duties and responsibilities to attend to." Minako smiled, knowing exactly how he felt. "Oh, Himeru-san . . ." His smile widened. "You don't know how much I miss being called by that name, either!" "Oh, yeah. You're called 'Anchises' here, Anchises-kun!" "Don't call me that!" Minako laughed. "Why not? That's your birth name, right?" "Yeah, but I would rather have something different. I had some rather pleasant memories with 'Himeru' . . ." Minako's smile ceased a little. "You mean you had a much better time on Earth . . ." Himeru looked at her, frowning a bit. "You still want to return to Earth, don't you?" Minako stood up straighter. "I do." "You can't. I mean . . . don't you care about your life? You'll die if you go back!" She looked at him seriously. "Life isn't worth living if you can't spend it with your loved ones." "But death isn't worth it if you can't love them the same way that they love you!" Himeru argued. "Please don't make this hard on me." "Don't you love your mother? My brother? Your people? Your planet?" Minako became frustrated. "I love them all! But this is my life! My new life! I belong on the Earth, and on Earth I shall stay!" She looked at him accusingly. "Besides, you, yourself, hesitated to bring me here because you were afraid that I won't be able to go back! But now I'm going back, Himeru-san! I'm going *home*!" "What about me?" Himeru asked softly, looking away from her. "Don't you love me?" "What are you talking about?! Of course I love -" Minako stopped in mid-sentence, her mouth hanging open. "That kiss I gave you in that Truth or Dare game wasn't just because I admire you. I . . . I'm in love with you, Minako-chan." Minako stared at him in shock. She knew. Deep in her heart, she had known it all along. No wonder he didn't want her to return when he found out that she was his princess. He knew that she and his brother were bound to be engaged! “Why . . . how . . . ?” “I know what you’re thinking. Why you? Why not Makoto?” The princess nodded silently. “I . . . I don’t know either. Maybe it was because you had amused me when we first met . . .” Minako blushed, remembering how they first met. She had been thinking so deep that she almost bumped into a door. Luckily, Himeru was there to open it for her. “Maybe it’s because your aura had told me that you have a cheerful disposition about you, and that you always tried to make your friends happy. Or maybe it’s because you were brave enough to accept something that most people could not . . . your death . . . a troubled past, perhaps . . .” Himeru continued, squinting his eyes as he tried to read her. “Whatever the reason was, I’ve always remembered you for it, admired you for it, and as we became even closer, I started to love you.” Himeru's eyes grew sad. "But I guess we were never really meant to be . . ." "Himeru-san . . . I . . . I don't know what to say . . ." Nobody spoke. Minako's head was whirling in confusion, and Himeru was thinking of what to say next. He looked up from the ground where he was staring. "I'll be leaving soon." "Oh." She kept staring blankly in front of her. "Where are you going?" "Pluto. Where your father was last assigned." "When . . . when are you coming back?" He fingered the strands of her golden hair that fell on her shoulders. "I'm not coming back . . ." Minako's eyes grew distant. "Why?" "I have to let go of the time I spent with you . . . I don't want to interfere with you and my brother. I have to forget . . . yet I know that I cannot . . . not ever . . ." Himeru paused, then continued. "Can I ask you a favor?" "What is it?" "Can I kiss you, one last time?" Minako took a deep, shaky breath. Yet she did not object. She let him hold her close in his arms and felt his gentle breath on her hair. She closed her eyes as Himeru slowly leaned forward. It wasn't long before she felt his lips on hers. She was filled with warmth, his kiss being so familiar to her already. Then, she finally found out why Cassandra had said that she wouldn't fall in love with Ares. She was already deeply in love with Himeru. On Earth, she had tried to ignore her feelings for Makoto's sake. But now, she couldn't hide her feelings any more. She kissed him back. Himeru was surprised. Minako looked in his eyes. They were twinkling with happiness. He embraced her, and she returned it. "I love you, Minako. I'll love you forever." Minako felt tears rising in her eyes as he embraced her more tightly. For probably the last time. "TRAITOR!!!!!!!!!!!!" Minako and Himeru turned around. Their eyes widened as they found themselves looking straight into Ares's burning eyes . . .