Shopping for Dresses (Finished)

[Aino Minako]

Aino Minako was a star. Aino Minako was a celebrity. Aino Minako could no longer walk down the street without starstruck fanboys and gushing giddy fangirls following her around like little lost puppy dogs. And Aino Minako loved every moment of it.

Minako shifted her expensive leather purse from one shoulder to the other in order to turn so she could wave to the adoring crowd. Her body guards - two muscular and attractive men - flanked either side of her, their stern gaze enough to keep her admirer's at bay. Even so, Minako's face was aglow as she smiled and waved and flirted with the crowd around her. After all, a good idol let her fans know she appreciated them, and Minako strove to be more than just a good idol.

She had learned from the best. Her first experience close up to idols had been with the three lights during her teenage years. She'd pushed herself on them too hard, but in the end, through their mutual destinies, they'd become close friends. Watching their grace and poise, Minako knew she'd have to learn how to control her over-the-top personality without losing the part of her that was fun and adventurous. After winning her first idol contest, she put aside her dream until the senshi had finished their battles, then picked up right where she'd left off.

And now, here she was, a star in the world of pop music. Minako loved to sing, loved to perform, loved to be the girl pinned up on the wall of every fanboy and fangirl's room. She gave her adoring crowd one last wave, blew a kiss to one of the dorkier guys, and then disappeared through the doors of the Boutique. She'd been dying to go shopping all day and nothing was going to stop her from trying on a dress or two.

Minako browsed through the first few racks, while one of her bodyguards trailed her. The other stood at the front door, attempting to keep the crowd from following her in. The sales lady, upon noticing her arrival, rushed over to hold the clothes she pulled off the rack. A soft sigh escaped her lips. Despite her love of the spotlight, sometimes she wished a shopping trip could just be a simple shopping trip. "Can you put these in a room for me?" Minako asked the sales woman, hoping to be left alone for a few minutes. "I'd still like to look for a few minutes before trying them on." The women bowed her head and took off with the clothing, while Minako turned to another rack of evening gowns. "I hope Usagi throws a party soon..." Minako said softly, pulling a gold sequined evening gown from the rack and looking it over.

[Ten'ou Haruka]

Surprisingly enough Haruka was out shopping for a dress. Most of her friends (which were just her fellow senshi) would probably have small conniptions at the site of her browsing the dress racks. Her long calloused fingers flipping through dress after dress like the pages of a magazine, a decidedly bored expression on her androgynous face.

In fact, it was a very bored expression, until the door opened and she could hear the screaming and yelling of an excited crowd that had been whipped up into a frenzy. What, did they just decide to mark everythign half off or something? Haruka smirked and mused to herself before turning her lithe frame towards the door and the raucous racket just outside.

"Ha! I should have known it would be you to draw such a crazy crowd. And here I thought I would be able to get through this grueling process in peace and quiet." Haruka snorted rudely but there was a playful smile flirting about her lips.

Minako was Venus, and Venus was Minako. Interchangeable and obvious. From her gorgeous mane of hair down to her dainty little feet. It would be a lie for Haruka to say she was unimpressed. In fact she thought her fellow senshi was drop dead gorgeous...if just a taaad bit of an airhead.

Huffing softly to herself she abandoned the abused dress rack and stalked over towards her friend, ignoring the bodyguard. "Just what is it you are looking for?"

[Aino Minako]

At the sound of a familiar voice, Minako looked up and smiled. Santo stepped up to intercept the interloper, but Minako held up a hand and waved him off with a look that indicated this woman was a friend.

"What a surprise to see you here, Haruka." Minako's smirk matched Haruka's. After all, the older senshi was known for her love of pants, even if she did occasionally indulge in a dress. "It's been too long..." she whispered softly. Her latest tour had taken her away from Tokyo for nearly a month - the longest she'd been absent from her Princess and her duties. She recalled the conversation she'd had with Usagi about leaving: she insisting that a month was far too long to be gone; Usagi adamantly pushing her to finish pursuing her dreams. They knew enough about the future to know that they'd be serving the kingdom for centuries and they should enjoy their lives while they could.

"I'm looking for a dress." Minako replied brightly. "Uh... obviously!" The airhead smile that was trademark Minako shined on her face. "Something black, something sexy. I really just wanted to get out and enjoy myself, but apparently," she rambled, gesturing toward the door, "the fans had something else in mind." At least, she thought to herself, her body guards kept the masses at bay.

[Neo Queen Serenity]

When she accepted the responsibility of being queen, Usagi never quite fathomed how... intense it could be. She figured she would be in a palace and take care of day to day duties, and be herself in private... Ha! Whatever "private" meant, nowadays. She didn't think that everywhere she went there would be photographers and advisors and security and someone demanding her attention. Her day to day schedule was managed by three different people. If she wanted to take a nap, she almost had to ask for permission! It was getting to the point where the only place she could be alone was in the restroom. She knew everything was getting to her when she broke down into tears over an addendum to the trade agreement.

Of course, going out was a ritual in and of itself. Frankly, Usagi wanted to get away from the caravan of people that seemed to shadow her every move nowadays; which meant she had to keep security... in the dark about this little venture outside. She had managed to disguise herself enough to slip away, but the sudden onslaught of reporters made her eyes widen, they're jostling and the blinding camera flashes making her panic.

"How'd they find out?" she squeaked. Did paparazzi have spies everywhere? It was insane! If she escaped the palace security, how did they find her...? What if she was photographed like this? It wasn't exactly her best day...

"I just wanted to go shopping! Do something normal!" Usagi wailed as she stepped into the nearest shop, darting agilely behind the two burly men who seemed to be keeping the crowd away.

"Leave me alone! How did they find me? How did...?" Recovering for a moment, her eyes widened as she took in two of the senshi there with her. "Minako! Oh thank goodness, they're following you, not me. Err... You're not going to tell my head of security about this, are you?" Usagi would die of guilt if he found out she went out alone.

[Aino Minako]

Minako turned as the sound of a wailing voice. A second later she realized she knew the voice, and a second after that she recognized the face that accompanied it. Her face melted into a smile at the sight of her queen. Minako hadn't seen her friend in weeks. Usagi, Haruka, or any of the other senshi. Her last tour had ended only yesterday and that afternoon she arrived back in town. Open arms greeted Usagi as Minako pulled her into a hug. "I've missed you!" she squeaked, then glanced sheepishly back at Haruka. "I missed you too." Minako had never been as affectionate with the older outer senshi.

"What are you doing here?" Minako asked. "And I won't tell a soul." Her own bodyguard hadn't even bothered to come close this time. Everyone knew who Usagi was, her own guards no exception, and they were bright enough to know that Minako and the Queen were friends. "I'll make sure they won't either."

[Neo Queen Serenity]

Usagi didn't have time to really respond to Minako before she was being hugged. "Oh Minako-chan... I missed you too..." Usagi said, sagging a bit into the hug as she felt some of tension leave her body. She had no idea how much she needed a hug until she had one. And seeing Minako again... She was tearing up.

"I'm..." Usagi lowered her voice conspiratorily. "...sneaking out. I couldn't take it anymore. You have no idea what the past few days..." Days? Nay, weeks! "...have been like. Oh, Minako..." She sniffled, trying desperately not to shed a single tear. Usagi knew from experience that if she cried once in a day, it made crying about other things later on much easier. "Thank you. How was your tour? I'm so glad you're home!" she beamed, her undivided attention on Minako for the moment. "You're a real idol now, Minako-chan-- I'm so proud of you!" Usagi blurted out in a spontaneous burst of pride.

[Ten'ou Haruka]

Of course she recognized the other voice, it was one she would never forget. Her eyes darkened as she watched her Queen come in, hidden emotions flickering behind them. She adored her Queen but sometimes believed that it was not returned as fervently. Haruka would watch her fawn over the inner senshi, and it was true that they had been through so much together, but that did not make the outer feel somewhat alone and not as wanted.

I missed you too. Maybe she was just feeling melancholy now. Haruka never felt all that close to anyone, unless it was Michiru. Though all she did was nod at the two of them as they embraced and the Queen did what she did best, whined about things. She was still so young.

While they were busy Haruka wandered off to the other side of the shop, not wanting to be a burden or bother them in their girly talk. She never understood that and right now wanted Michiru here more then ever. She was the only person who stopped her from feeling so lonely.

[Kaioh Michiru]

Something sad nagged at the back of Michiru's head as she paid for the tubes of paint, and she hurried gracefully over to the dress shop Haruka had been browsing in when they parted.

There was a crowd of security guards in front of the door, and that raised her brows. Someone "important" was in the shop, and a list of potentials ran through her head as she negotiated the group of burly, dark suited men. Usagi should be in her office going over some papers, Mamoru was tending to his work as well, and none of the other senshi would ever take this many guards out with them in public. At least, not willingly anyway.

The door opened with a cheerful sounding chime and Michiru found herself a little taken aback to see her queen standing there with Minako. She smiled warmly over Usagi's head while placing one long fingered hand on the young queen's shoulder, and said loud enough for Haruka to hear her, wherever she was in the store.

"Our lovely idol has returned. Welcome back, Minako."

[Aino Minako]

Between Haruka, Usagi, and now Michiru, the dress shop was turning into a reunion of proportions. Minako saw the owner of the store, eyes giddy from the 'star' power rush to offer her assistance to Neo Queen Serenity. "Anything I can help you with at all your highness," she gushed, bowing her head slightly as a show of respect.

Minako leaned back her eyes flicking toward the woman. While she and Usagi had grown up strolling down main street, shopping and laughing, and playing like kids, she knew her queen well enough to know that shopping was the last thing on Usagi's mind. Instead, she thrust the black dress she'd been eyeing at the shopkeeper. "I'd like this wrapped up. Put it on my card." From her purse, she extracted a small piece of plastic and handed the credit card to the lady. One look from Minako's normally bubbly face was all it took for the lady to get lost.

She turned back to Usagi and gave her queen another hug. "The tour was grand and I will tell you ALL about it when we get back to the palace. But Usagi..." Minako trailed off. How could leave again if this was the friend she came home to? Her dreams were her dreams, but she had sacrificed them before for her responsibilities and she wouldn't hesitant to do so again. She pushed the words aside for now. Usagi would fight her tooth and nail about hanging up her idol hat. The conversation could wait until she had spoken with the other inners.

Instead, she smiled to greet Michiru. "I'm glad to be back. I missed you all. And just to prove it, I brought you all souvenirs! Of course, they're being shipped to the palace, so I will have to pass them out at another time... Where did Haruka go?"

[Neo Queen Serenity]

Usagi cringed at the sycophantic voice of the boutique's shopkeeper. "You can do me a huge favor! I was never here. You never saw me. Just some civilian trying to get Aino Minako's autograph. I. Was. Never. Here. For all you know I'm at the palace. Right? Right."

Thank goodness Minako got rid of the woman. Usagi was distracted by the entrance of Michiru, and then further distracted by mention of Haruka. "You're here?" she said happily, her voice rising in pitch from sheer happiness. Leaving the palace today was the best decision of my life!

"Yes, tell me all about the tour later, I want to hear every detail," Usagi said happily, too distracted by the other two senshi to see Minako's hesitation. "Ooh, presents! You got me a present? Oh-- Michiru, Haruka!" Usagi tugged Minako along. "You have to give me a hug! I haven't seen you in ages!!" She had to make sure she didn't cry-- out of happiness or relief or whatever. It was getting increasingly hard not to.

[Ten'ou Haruka]

The only thing to pull her attention away from her inner monologue was the sweet dulcet tones of the one woman whom she was entirely devoted to, through everything, before anyone else. It was true that she would lay down her life for her Queen, but Michiru meant so much more. Haruka never told anyone this, but only because she believed some of the inners, who right now had no one to love and call their own, would see that as a bad thing and maybe that she could not be trusted. She was already annoyed at their cliquishness.

Head turning her eyes alighted upon Michiru. Her entire face changed, going from dark and hidden to bright happy and excited in one fell swoop. Quickly she stepped over and wrapped her long, strong arms around her lover and placed a kiss upon her lips so passionate that it left even her breathless.

"You have no idea how happy I am to see you. I hate being away from you for even a few minutes!" Haruka gushed and ran her fingers through her life partners hair, marveling in its softness.

Then she saw Usagi again and this time didn't feel like she would be intruding. "Hello Your Highness. What brings you to such a store?" She smiled brighter, her entire demeanor having changed once Michiru got here.

[Kaioh Michiru]

Michiru's eyes lit up a little at the mention of souvenirs. Minako had rather good taste, and she enjoyed any thing that was given with a good thought behind it. She also would have teased Usagi for becoming so excited, but Haruka chose that very moment to appear and steal her breath a passionate kiss. The enthusiasm with which she returned the kiss should leave no doubt in Haruka's mind how happy Michiru was to see her as well

Clutching at her lover's shoulders to remain upright, the violinist smiled, slightly glassy-eyed at the two Inner Senshi as she lay her head against Haruka's chest, practically purring at the sensation of the other woman's hands in her hair.

"Ah," with one arm resting around her lover's waist, her free hand stroked down over Usagi's cheek, she could see the tears beginning in the young queen's clear blue eyes, and she smiled again at Minako, "it has been a long time since we were all together. Perhaps we should escape out the back and make our getaway to somewhere that we can have the peace to catch up? I do not think even your tactics, Minako, will keep that woman's enthusiasm at bay forever."

[Aino Minako]

Minako took one glance at the crowd milling outside and nodded her agreement. "Sneaking out the back sounds perfect. The annoying store owner is less of a concern to me than the giggly fangirls." Minako made a face, forgetting the fact that she used to be the giggliest fangirl of all.

As if on cue, the woman approached the group again, this time carrying Minako's perfectly wrapped black dress and her credit card. "If there is anything else I could get you ladies.." she asked, her eyes still glinting with pride that queen and her friends had chosen her boutique to converse in.

"This is all for me," Minako replied. "In fact, we were wondering if we could use your back door. And like the Queen said, she was not here. You can advertise all you want that I bought a dress in your store, but mention that Neo Queen Serenity was here..." Minako trailed off. She was horrible at threats. "Well, just don't."

The women led the group to the back of the store and out the service exit. "Please, please come back!" she waved, her words oozing out of her mouth like sticky sweet syrup. "We'd love to help you anytime!"

Minako sighed, but inside was eating up every word. Instead, she turned to the others. "So where to?"

[Neo Queen Serenity]

Beaming, Usagi approached the two outer senshi, joy radiating off of her in waves. It was nearly desperate. Her need for human companionship beyond the endless train of advisors and ministers was not hard to see.

"You two, always together," she laughed, but halted immediately when Haruka referred to her as "your highness." Had they been separated for that long, that she was now to be referred to in such formal terms? Had their friendship withered that much? She tried to wipe the shocked and hurt look off of her face, but it took several second of struggling. "Ah..." Then came the problem, how to refer to them? They had been older than her, it had always been Haruka-san, Michiru-san... But now they were speaking to her in such formal terms, technically she had moved up...

Usagi hated formalities. "Haruka-chan..." she said, hoping the senshi would not be offended as she changed her mode of address-- Usagi herself had been shocked at being talked to so formally! "I... Well, it's not the store, per say. I... sneaked out of the palace. Please don't tell anyone, you too, Michiru-chan!" Usagi begged them. "I know I'm not supposed to go anywhere without my security detail, but I managed to get past them disguised-- I thought that would make it so I was secure, but..." she sighed. "That I was recognized so easily by you three is testament enough that I'm not." Her cheeks flamed as she realized how irresponsible she was really being-- she heard about the many credible threats against her life and the dangers of being out. Once again, I wasn't thinking, but seeing them here I don't regret it! "Besides," she said, trying to laugh it off. "You're my senshi-- I'm safe with you!" She smiled gratefully at Michiru, nearly melting at the warm touch. "Yes, let's leave, and catch up," Usagi hurriedly agreed, scrambling towards the back entrance. "I don't care where we go, as long as it's not the palace... As long as there's nobody to interrupt, or who wants something from me!"

[Ten'ou Haruka]

One pale blond brow quirked upwards but it was the only indication she gave Usagi that she noticed the incredibly familiar tone. She had no problem with it but with everything that had been going on lately, Haruka herself had very little time to speak with her Queen. Therefore had been unsure how to address her. Now she knew and she was much happier for it. Formalities were all well and good in the palace, but they were friends and Haruka saw Usagi as more then just her Queen, she was someone whom she had watched grow up in such a short amount of time.

"Anywhere but here I would say. And if we need to keep the crowd at bay I could most definitely help." A gleam appeared in her eyes with that, she was all too eager to 'help' out, it had been awhile since she had gotten in a good tussle. Sure her students gave her bruises and offered up some decent fights, but it was a far cry from what she used to do. Haruka needed some excitement in her life or she began to pace around like a caged animal.