Here it is, finally. The author's notes and disclaimers are at the
bottom. PLEASE don't sue me unless you want toy money. -_^ Love,
Sue Mei

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~				
			     MATTERS OF THE HEART
					PART 3
				    by Sue Mei

The ball was a scene out of a fairytale; light sparkled everywhere,
reflecting off the brilliant facets of gems that burned with their own
inner glow on the swan-like necks and coils of shining hair of Earth's
aristocrats. Everybody was smiling, happy, dancing the night away.
Champagne tinkled in ice buckets, roses decorated the hall. It looked
like heaven.

That is, all except for the two people who were glowering darkly at
another couple who had just entered the ballroom.

""""""

The women swirl around me like butterflies, smiling flirtatiously,
but I barely even acknowledge it through the red fog of anger. My
eyes see only her arm through his. Blindly, I turn away, not
caring to watch anymore. The whole ball, so full of possibilities
earlier, now was nothing more than a chore. God only knew how I was 
going to get through the formalities without killing him. Or maybe I'd
kill her instead; for preferring his company instead of mine. Then 
again, considering how pleasant my company had been for the last few
days, maybe I should kill myself instead. I could feel the beginnings
of a headache start up. My heartbeat was a dull, steady, pain-numbing
thud-thud-thud in my chest. Decisions, decisions. I look around for
a way to escape this purgatory.

That was when I caught sight of the Lady Rei of Mars.

She was looking at Jadeite with a face so black that if looks could
kill, he would have been a smoking corpse by now.

I could feel the little light click on above my head. Wasn't jealousy
a wonderful thing? I made my way over to her. She barely noticed me,
fixed as she was on the couple in the doorway.

I bowed deeply. "Milady, may I have this dance?,"in a lower tone,"are
you just going to stand here and take it?"

She finally looked at me fully, and her face lit up with almost demonic
glee. She curtsied,"But of course, sire,"under her breath,"not a chance
in hell."

The orchestra started a light waltz. I held out my hand to her and we
stepped out on the dance floor. In that very instant, Jadeite and 
Serenity caught sight of us. I made a show of smiling down at Rei, 
looking at them surreptiously out of the corner of my eye, as Rei did
while she smiled up at me, all blackness wiped off her face.

Serenity paled noticeably, and her hand clutched convulsively at the
material of her skirt. Jadeite looked readily to kill me, Prince or
no Prince. My heart gave a regretful pang at the sight of Serenity.
She looked ready to run from the ballroom crying. *I'm sorry, Serenity.*

Then Jadeite's face hardened to a mask of determination. I turned Mars 
into a pirouette, wondering what on Earth he was up to. He forced a 
smile; by this time the waltz had turned my back to them and Mars' in
their direction. I didn't know what Jade was doing, but from the 
widening in her eyes, it couldn't have been good.

By the time I faced them again, Jade and Serenity were already stepping
out onto the dance floor, arm in arm, with sweet angelic smiles on their
faces. White-hot jealousy almost obscured my vision at the matched pair
they made; both golden and fair, strong and delicate. Bitter bile rose
in my throat. It worsened when he bowed to her and she stepped into his
arms before joining into the waltz.

"Jerk," Mars hissed. I would have had to agree. My fingers itched to
kill him. *Just one little punch. Maybe a kick or two. A small slash of
my sword. After all, they can't convict a prince of killing his 
guardian... can they??*

Wasn't he holding Serenity a little *too* close? Was it legal for his 
hand to be *that* low on her waist?? I looked around quickly... Damn,
yes, it was.

*This is all your own fault, you know.*

*Would you just SHUT UP?!*

*If you hadn't over-reacted, Endy, you might just be the one over there
dancing with the most beautiful woman in the universe, but did you keep
cool??? Nooooo... you just _had_ to make assumptions and dance with 
Lady Mars. _Man_ you are smart, aren't you?*

*_SHUT_ _UP_!!*

Desperate to escape that annoying little voice, I looked around quickly.
Mars was looking quite pale by now... in fact, she looked sick and tired
and angry and defeated all at once.

"Are you all right?," I asked her in concern. 

She almost wavered. "I don't feel very well,"with a significant glance 
at Jade," do you think we could step out for some fresh air?"

"Sure."

She smiled gratefully and led us out onto a balcony.

The night was beautiful... dark and mysterious and unfathomable. I 
leaned my hands on the railing and sighed up at the sky, littered
with diamond stars.

*Serenity...* I mused, staring up at the sparkling stars that reminded
me of the silver and gold flecks in her blue eyes... which Jade was
undoubtedly enjoying right now. I sighed heavily as Mars fanned herself
quietly beside me, also lost in her own thoughts. 

For a love both of us could never obtain...

""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
Finally, huh?? And now I suppose I'll have to get Part 4 out... 
PLEASE no more flames. Writer's Block is not something you get over in
2 shakes. Anyway, Sailormoon belongs to Kodansha, Toei Animation, DiC
and Naoko Takeuchi and not to me, sadly (they must make a real bundle 
out of it -_^) I know this isn't the most romantic thing I have ever
written, but hey. Hope you enjoyed it.