Chapter 4

(Kunzite's point of view)

I sat at the desk in my studio. I was trying to design a new outfit to enter into the prestigious National Designer of the Year Awards (NDYA). I scrunched up the drawing I'd been working on and threw it across the room. I needed an inspiration. Instead, my head was full of Mina-chan. Did she remember? If she did, she was doing a very good job of acting like she didn't. But then again, how should she act? It was so long ago, and I'd betrayed her - it was stupid to expect her to still feel the same way. And she was so beautiful. She'd insisted that there wasn't someone else, but was she telling the truth? She'd only just met me, so why should I expect her to trust me with her inner-most feelings? What's wrong with me? I asked myself, I seriously need to get some help.

Suddenly, a loud ring interupted my thoughts. I leant across the desk and grabbed the telephone reciever. "Hello?"

"Kunzite, is that you? It's me, Minako."

"Oh, hi Mina-chan!" I was suprised she'd rung so soon.

"Kunzite, I told Serenity and Endymion about meeting you." My heart began to thud. To be honest, I was a little scared, but I wasn't about to let her know that.

"And?" I asked calmly.

"Serenity was a little shocked, but Endymion seemed happy - he wants you and the other generals to come for dinner. I guess that's really why I'm ringing."

"Ohh..." I felt a bit dejected. Maybe she wasn't as keen as I'd first thought.

"Kunzite? You sound disapointed. I thought you be glad!"

"I'm am glad! It's just...well, I hoped you were ringing for another reason."

"Huh?" She sounded puzzled.

"You know, apart from because Endymion asked you to." I explained.

"Oh, Kunzite! I didn't mean it like that! Anyway, Endymion was going to ring personally, but I told him I'd do it. I... I wanted an excuse to talk to you."

"Talk about what?"

"Nothing in particular. I just like talking to you, that's all." I smiled to myself.

"Mina-chan, come out with me tonight." I asked, impulsively.

"Where to?"

"A restaurant, if you like. You can choose." Silently, I prayed that she'd say yes. The seconds before she answered seemed like hours.

"Umm, I guess I can. Pick me up, OK."

"Fine, around 7, if that's alright."

"Sure. Bye, Kunzite."

"Bye, Minako." Reluctantly, I hung up the phone.

(Minako's point of view)

I hung up the phone and glanced at my watch. 5 O'clock. That gave me exactly two hours to get ready. My stomach started to fill with butterflies. Why am I suddenly so excited? I wondered, It's not like it's a proper date, is it? I turned on the taps on the bath, and poured a little bath foam into the stream of running water. When it was full I stripped off and climbed in, enjoying the warmth of the water swishing around my body. I shampooed and conditioned her hair, then climbed out again, grabbing a big, fluffy, warm towel from the radiator and wrapping myself up in it.

I left the bathroom, and went to my wardrobe. What should I wear? What kind of restaurant? Would it just be a pizza parlour, or would it be an exclusive restaurant where only A-listers could dine? I didn't want to look to dressed up if it wasn't, but if he took me to some fancy restaurant I'd need to be fairly smart. In the end, I opted for a dark red pencil skirt and a black polo-neck top with flesh-coloured tights, and the new ribbon-tie, Tom Ford stilletoes I'd bought the day before. A quick look at the clock told me that it was 6.15 already. I needed to hurry up! I dried my hair, and clipped it back with a gold hairslide. I put some make-up on; not too much, just a bit of mascara and lipstick. I examined myself in the mirror. Simething was missing - earrings! I located a pair of dangly gold ones, and spritzed on a bit of Chanel no.5.

"Minako, he's here!" I heard Makoto call excitedly. To my suprise, my heart almost skipped a beat. What was wrong with me?

Be calm, I told herself, You've done this plenty of times before. Everything will be fine.

Carefully, I made my way down the staircase. I didn't want to trip up in my new shoes, and fall down the stairs! When I reached the bottom, everyone was there! Serenity, the other senshi, and Endymion, chatting away with Kunzite as if they'd never been apart. I could feel my face flush red, but I took a deep breathe, and announced,

"Kunzite, I'm ready!" Kunzite looked up.

"You, look, um, you look... amazing." he managed to utter. I smiled. Obviously my outfit was fine.