Subject: [FFML] Repost:Lime: Sailor Moon. "In My Mind's Eye"
From: "Robyn, Duke of Amber" <seraphim@sentex.net>
Date: 2/23/1999, 12:26 AM
To: ffml@fanfic.com, anime-creative@solaris.cc.vt.edu
Newsgroups: rec.arts.anime.misc



 Foreword/Introduction.
             and a new bit or two.
 It's sort-of Dark and is a little lemony in that darkness.
..maybe it's just a painful kiss of realism.....or it could be crap.
Whoops...ignore that last bit and everybody tell me how much you loved it :)
  Originally this was written as part of the ffml 1 hour writing
 challenge it took 3.
   - then I fixed it up.
 Now, a year and a half later I'm re-posting it with a couple of
 *tiny* revisions. I know my formatting still sucks...it's a congenital
 illness.


  All characters are property of their respective owners and are used 
 without permission. The story itself is mine, mine, mine......would 
 that it were not so. :)
 I don't think this has anything to do with the rest of my Sailor 
 Moon stories.

  But then again....


                                     C&C welcome
                                 
                                  Robyn, Duke of Amber
                                   aka Neil Sinclair
                                    cm784@torfree.net
                                    seraphim@sentex.net
                    

                        In My Mind's Eye.

  Possibly not the best of titles..(hint hint) I'm open to suggestions.

 Maybe "Girl of his Dreams." or something...

     In The Darkness of his Night
    She came to him her name was Light.
                 ***


 The dream was different as many times as it was the same.
  She in her white (red?) dress, her long flowing
  blond (red?) hair done up in some ornate way.
 No matter what - they would be together.

 He emerged like a swimmer from the deep.

 He was awake.

  The smell of the beeswax scented the air of his quarters.
  - that and the faint musky hint of her perfume.
  He remembered her looking down at him in his sleep.
 She had been unaware that he had in fact been awake.
 She entered his room every night when she was sure he was asleep and 
 looked upon him.
 She had never made any advances - simply smiled.

  He was a Prince. And she was his beloved.

  He knew these things with a strange certainty.

  In fact he felt them as a sort of other voices which seemed to
 repeat those very words in his mind when he was with her.

  He felt it echo within his very bones.

  It was strange he mused, that he had not realized it earlier.
  Now that was a dream of which he was glad he had woken from.

  The Queen - his Queen had told him that he had suffered an almost 
 mortal blow and that he had been cast adrift in time - lost from her.
 She had (she told him) only recently been strong enough to sense his 
 soul and bring it and his body back from the dreary mortal world and 
 fully heal it.
 She had mended his tattered flesh in a warm womb of  light 
 as she had mended too his ragged memories.

  There were gaps of course: She told him it was only natural and
 that eventually he would again have them. That he would be whole.

  Patience she told him time and time again when he had clenched his
 fists white in frustration; patience, and he would remember their nights
 together of another time in this fair dark kingdom.

  Of this he was most thankful.
 His mortal life was a faint blur now as he grew stronger and 
 stronger in the ways of the Dark Kingdom now and that was as it 
 should be.
 He wondered who had been able to weaken him to such a point that he 
 could barely handle the weakest of the Shadow-magicks?

  Whoever it had been was no more, his Queen (and soon his consort)  
 had assured him of this telling him of the glorious battle in which 
 she had struck down the her sinister foe.

  He shivered.
 It was horrible, whatever it was that had been done to him.
 It had scarred him so deeply as to have taken not just memories of 
 his real life but also warped them beyond belief.
 His Beautiful Love had repeatedly tried to help him using all of the 
 vast powers at her disposal as he had lain in the healing fluids of 
 the restoration pod but this had been in vain.
 He was told that his revival had actually occurred a few months 
 earlier but he had weakened considerably and finally collapsed. He 
 had fought his foes but so newly had he awakened that he had scarce 
 survived.
  The Queen, stroking his dark hair as he had lain, head in her lap,
 had told him of her concern at this time but all he himself could
 remember were a few fragments - dreams and nightmares.
 He could remember glimpses of the before-times in which his Generals 
 had been obedient and friendly but he also remembered a time when 
 they seemed to have turned upon him and fought against all he loved.

  Thinking about this the Prince felt his jaws clenching and his teeth
 grind at the thought. He found lately that he often did this or 
 when foiled felt his lips curl as he bared his teeth wolfishly in
 frustration.
 He had once had more followers he remembered...although they also 
 had worn the drab grays that was so favored by the surly Kunzite.

 "Problems my lord?" The voice was mocking.

  Speak of the very devil. It was the slippery fellow himself.
 Kunzite had appeared just beyond the arched curtain of his bed and 
 seemed to easily sense the mood of he who lay within.

  Slipping from the bed the Prince felt a twinge of frustration that 
 none of the servitors had roused him.
 Ah, perhaps His Lady had bid them let him rest.

  "Nothing you could help me with."
  The Prince had attempted to say this in an offhand but it
  came out of his mouth sounding (at least to his ears much more bitter.

  This fellow had an arrogance about him which the Prince disliked.
 It seemed that no matter what the fellow could prick him upon any 
 matter.
 He stepped behind the dressing curtain and began to suitably garb 
 himself.

  Kunzite was silent for a moment but spoke as the Prince re-appeared
 wearing his half-cape with the black crystal rose his love had 
 given him. He then fastened about  himself his swordbelt
  wrougt of fine silver links

  "Thinking of your last failure to the Crystal?"

  "Yes." the Prince lied. "I do not see how they could have slipped 
 through my hands."

  "Well, no matter." Kunzite replied with a slight bitter smile. "You 
 shouldn't worry. Your betters have sometimes received the same 
 results."

  He poured two goblets of thick red wine from the cut-glass
 decanter on the table in front of him.

 "My Betters?" The Prince asked in a dangerous tone, his hand 
 hesitating in mid-reach.

  "Excuse me Highness, What I meant was of course others had failed as 
 well. And you my Lord - Well, perhaps you have not grown as strong as 
 you were."
  - A pause as if doubting the Prince ever would. "Yet - of course."

  "Of course." The Prince acknowledged dryly and helped himself to the 
 wine.
 If the Queen had not made this fellow his guardian while he was 
 restoring himself the Prince would have been tempted to strike him 
 down.
 Kunzite had shown himself to have some strengths in the Shadow-arts.
 Perhaps this one did hold some favor to get such an enviable position.

  - And perhaps, Endymion thought, he would gather even more power to 
 himself before a challenge.

  "Where is the Queen?" Endymion asked.

  "She speaks with her ruler - the Great Metallia, and gives her the 
 gift of the energy we harvested from the mortals. She asked your 
 forgiveness for a day and asked me to apologize for her." Kunzite did 
 not seem pleased at giving the Prince an apology from anyone.

  "Our Queen also asked." Kunzite continued."That if you felt the 
 desire to amuse yourself by walking among our subjects-to-be I was to 
 so transport you. She knows that after your long separation you have 
 - needs."

  The last word had an unpleasant suggestion in it although the
 sniggering that could have been present was absent.


  Ignoring this, Endymion felt an idea beginning to form when, but, as 
 if reading his thoughts Kunzite raised a cautioning hand.

  "My Lady also mentioned that she would be most displeased if you - 
 If either of us actually, was to attempt recovery of the crystal 
 without first gaining her permission."

  Endymion saw that particular hope fade quickly and was surprised to 
 feel Kunzite's hand upon his arm. 
 He looked up ready to draw if need be.

 Instead he was surprised.

  Kunzite nodded sympathetically to him.

  "Do not worry. There shall be chances anew to gain the crystal and 
 destroy our common foe. I understand you have no reason to bear 
 malice towards her but understand this - She has destroyed one near 
 and dear to me and will suffer. I do not ask for your aid in this 
 but I do ask that you stand aside when the time comes to give her 
 such payment."
 
  The Prince was surprised to find such pain in his rival's eyes and 
 was stunned into momentary silence. Finally he turned away.

  "I cannot say yes or no to your request as it depends how it serves 
 the will of My Lady. I will however consider it."

  The Prince was surprised again as Kunzite again took his arm.  
 Looking this time he say pained relief in the eyes of the other.

  "Thank you Milord...you see..." Kunzite here seemed to struggle for 
 words. 
  "I too have loved." Kunzite spoke and turned away quickly and was 
 gone in a flash of darkness.
  
  Endymion had the strangest feeling that he had seen the man with 
 that look in his eyes before....something about the request to duel 
 the man who had broken his sister's heart.....no, 
 nonsense....illusions and nothing else.

  It also seemed he saw Kunzite with another in a garden.

  No...foolishness.

  He shook his head.

  He knew that the General spoke of the one whom Queen had punished
 for failure.
 She was indeed sometimes as cruel and stern as she was beautiful.
 Restlessly, he turned his thoughts elsewhere.

                            ***

  He dined alone that night in the dark fortress served by some of 
 the many heavily-robed servants of that place.
 He slowly drank from the cut-crystal goblet the dark purple
 wine which had grown from grapes that had never seen a sun.
 He read from one of the great tomes of forbidden lore but it was no 
 good.
 He was bored.

  He summoned a servant and in a few moments Kunzite stood before him.

  "My Lord?"

  "I think I shall take the Queen's advice." Endymion said.

  "Indeed?"

  "Perhaps I need some...diversion."

  "Very well." Kunzite said. "If my Lord would allow me to garb him 
 appropriately."

  The Prince inclined his head and in a flash of sorcery  was soon 
 garbed in the stuff of the mundane world.

  Looking down the Prince found himself appropriately garbed in a black.
 A turtleneck, jeans and soft suede shoes and a dark grey sports jacket.

 He nodded his head appreciatively.

  "Oh wait." There was another small swirl of darkness and three 
 objects appeared in Kunzite's hand. He handed them to the Prince.
 The Prince took the silver-lined black silk handkerchief and stuck 
 it neatly in his breast pocket. He stared at the other items.

  "A wallet." Kunzite explained. "If the Queen doesn't want trouble 
 that means you will be paying for things with money - which will fade 
 in a day anyway."
  "And of course, your way home."

  The Prince raised an inquisitive eyebrow.

  Kunzite handed it to him.

  The item in question was a thick silver ring with a small faceted 
 black crystal.

  "Wear it. Place your will upon it." Kunzite said "And it will be 
 consumed to bring you here."

  The Prince could not help but be impressed.  
            
  "You...You have an eye for detail." He said approvingly and honestly.

  "And such flare for style."
 
  Kunzite's face filled with mixed emotions then rage and then sudden 
 sadness and quickly transported the prince from him. Before all had 
 faded in the spell of transportation the Prince though he had heard 
 the words. "I learned from a good teacher." but it might have been a 
 rustle of air.

  The Prince found himself in  night-lit dim alleyway and when he 
 emerged from it was dazzled in a brilliant dazzle of neon.


  He looked around in confusion for a moment for few places in this 
 world were fully known to him.
 After looking about and reading the signs he finally came to the 
 conclusion he was in the city called Tokyo in the country of Japan.
 He smiled wryly.
 It made a sort of twisted sense.
 Kunzite had placed him where he could most likely cause trouble
 (or rather most likely get in trouble with the Queen).
 This was the place where all of the omens had placed both the 
 Kingdoms greatest riches and greatest threat. It was, he decided no 
 coincidence that he had also been found here.

  Endymion wondered where he should go and what he should do. 
 Dalliance with mere mortals was something the Queen considered 
 acceptable as long as no attachments were formed or no visible marks 
 were left on the victims - participants.
 A little energy draining of course was a differing matter.
  Strangely unquiet, Endymion was looking for something, for someone 
 who would fill the odd yearning inside him.
 He wasn't really sure what he was lacking but would look for it 
 tonight.
 And, hopefully in his seeking would lay its' dark influence
 upon his soul to rest.
 He emerged from the alley and began his hunt.

  Endymion walked slowly down the crowded night street where he was 
 unimpeded by the surge of pedestrian traffic. He had exerted his will 
 mildly and projected a mental shield which made people naturally 
 avoid bumping into him without knowing why.
 At two different times two pickpockets, spotting him as an easy mark
 began to move in only to feel an icy grip around their hearts.
 He had no time for their sort.
 Trembling with sudden chill both had felt that maybe this was not
 the prey for the evening.

  Finally the young man stepped into a lavish looking building which 
 bore the motto "Five Doors".
 Although not sure why he felt that this might be the place to go. 
 Perhaps it was pollution from his false life which guided him.

  He was greeted by a man at the door and paid the rather costly
 entry fee before being escorted by an attractive woman to a small and 
 comfortable lounge and well-stocked bar.

  A few other men sat at the bar each with an attractive young woman 
 as his companion. At the bar he ordered a beer (no one questioned his 
 age.) and was handed a menu. Which he set down without looking at.
 
  "Hello." a smiling young woman had come up to him silently.

  He greeted her and she seated herself next to him.
  The man tending the bar gave her a small amber drink with a slice of lime.

  "I'm Michi." The girl said cheerily."And I'm here to help make your 
 evening a happy one." He said nothing but looked at her speculatively.

  "You aren't happy with me." She pouted.

  "How could I be? I don't even know you." Endymion replied.

  "So." She laughed covering her mouth with her hand. "It's not me you 
 are unhappy with but with everyone."

  The Prince, no, the man felt a rise in anger and an urge to strike the
 impudent girl but then realized she spoke the truth.
 Endymion nodded slowly. Although he had not been sure of this it now
 resolved.
 She was right.

 "I'm sorry." He said hoping that only his rudeness and not his
 rage had showed.

  "Don't be." Michi replied. "Here you are to stop being sorry for a 
 little while. and also to stop being a little less angry." She smiled 
 impishly.
  She leaned over conspiratorially and the conservative cut
  of her dress opened itself to him showing her white and graceful
  neck and further..
  "I'm here to help you."

  "How?" he asked uncomprehending.

  "I have been chosen by the management to help you with your 
 selection this evening. I'd like to think that it's because I have a 
 special sensitivity to what a man really wants."

 Endymion looked at her blankly.

 "Ah." realization dawned upon the girl."You have not been here 
 before?"

 It was a question more than a statement.

 "No." He replied. "I...I am from a different country."

  Michi nodded. either the man was playing a game or he was telling a 
 highly improbable truth. Any way you looked at it no matter what he 
 said however he was right.
 Michi had not graduated from working in the health clubs to becoming 
 a much more fashionable (and much higher paid) Hostess by arguing 
 with customers.

  "I see," She said understandingly. "Perhaps you are unfamiliar with places
 such as this?"

  "I don't understand."

  "In these places men come and..." She looked down and giggled 
 girlishly. She was 27 but many (including both her employer and
 customers agreed) she could still look a mature 17 in the right light.

  "The come and what?" Endymion asked curiously....this all seemed so 
 strange to him. He wished he could remember more about his previous 
 life. It would come in handy at times like this.

  "You know." She said. "A man and a woman." she let the emphasis of 
 the words explain for themselves.

  "Oh." he said satisfied. He finished his beer and the bartender had 
 another poured for him almost as he set the glass down. Michi, he 
 noticed was drinking her beverage as if it was coloured water. 
 Extending his will slightly he found this observation confirmed. It
 was puzzling for a moment until he understood this as well.

  "You?" he asked in interest.
  He reached out and with a fingertip stroked her cheek.
  She was not unattractive and reminded him of some of the
  Youma who acted as his Lady's maids.

  "No." She replied blushing.
  His finger seemed to burn her with its' touch but it was a pleasurable
  burn.
  She felt another warmth as she felt his slate-grey eyes upon her.
  They had an innocent frankness which made her feel somewhat
 heated and it was not a bad thing - not at all.

  "No." she managed again. "Unless we go out later....I'm...I'm here
 to help you find what you want."

  "What I want." he repeated. How could anyone know what he wanted when he
  himself was at a loss?

  "Look." she said picking up the leather-bound gold-gilt folder which
 contained several pages of listings.
 "You see, we look through here and we find what you like."

  Endymion glanced at the folder with more fascinated curiosity now. 
 How strange. These common mortals seemed to be selling....selling sex.

  On the first two pages were listed a few things which seemed
 quite straightforward...others were not. When he asked Michi about 
 them she looked a little....could it be bashful... and then explained.
 He now understood a little better about such items as
   "Hand rolled sushi"
   "Nuclear Bomb Attack"
   and 
   "Toothbrush Service"

  "None of these are what I am looking for." he sighed.

  "He's like a great warrior-poet from the past" Michi thought as she 
 watched him looking out at the world dejectedly through his long dark 
 lashes... She wondered about the feel of his lips upon her body. No. 
 her foolish mind rebelled and rebuked. Business. Business.

  "Perhaps." she offered. one of the specialties of the house "A
 scenario."

  "A scenario?"

  "Yes, something that you fantasize about.....something that you 
 dream of...." Her voice faded as she saw how intently he looked at 
 her as she said this.

  "How?"  He asked simply.

  "Well," She said turning to the back of the menu. These are the most 
 popular."

 Endymion looked at a page full of items titled like:
               "Gym Teacher"
               "Back-seat nostalgia special"
               "Schoolgirl on the Train."
               "Samurai Drama"
               "Newlywed Kitchen"
 
  "No." He shook his head, his dark hair moving gently as he did so.
 It looked as soft as swan's down she thought.

  "No. These are....."

  "We also have a few others." Michi said swiftly so as not to lose 
 him as a prospective customer... and maybe later more.
  "They are usually for preferred clients as they are a little more 
 expensive."
  
  "I really don't care about cost." Endymion said indifferently.

  "Well." Michiko said speculatively. "I don't think you would like 
 some of them but we have a new one with super-heroes."

  "Super-heroes?"
 
  Michiko nodded and sipped her iced water. The bartender had put to 
 much colouring in it and it had a faint caramelized taste. Dealing with
 this one however she needed something cool.
 Actually, she felt like she needed a real drink - a double.

  "Everyone is talking about that new girl super-hero SailorMoon... 
 and then of course there is Sailor V and....."

 "Tell me about SailorMoon!" Endymion asked, feeling strangely excited.

  Ah, she had him now. Michiko thought. She never would have guessed 
 that he would be the type....oh well. The fact that the scenario was 
 new meant that the price was upwardly flexible....and she would get 
 20% of that not to mention if he later made an outside date with her. 

  "Picture this." She said, with eyes shining personal visions of cash
  and lust dancing in her head. "You are a caped and masked villain who
  struggles with SailorMoon. You can choose to have her vanquish you.
  You can vanquish her and maybe a little rope play..
 ...or you can convince her you are right and she will join you
 freely in evil naughtiness."

  Endymion did not even ask the price but pulled a suitably created 
 credit card from his wallet. The dark Kingdom's magics could fool the 
 simplistic banks of this world and he had decided that his Hostess 
 deserved a lasting reward for this. Of course, he reflected he could 
 never tell the Queen or Kunzite - but it was a small price.
                                  
                     ****************************


  The capped and masked man stood alone in the park.
                                *****
  (Actually it was a section of a warehouse at the back of the main 
 building but the detail was lavish. the floor was covered with actual 
 soil and sod and small trees and bushes "grew" in clumps.)

  After he had handed the barman his card, Michi had talked with him
 for a time to make sure that he knew what he wanted and that he knew 
 what he was getting. 
Michiko had then escorted him out into another hallway where they 
 had stepped into a cubicle. She had helped him out of his clothing  
 which she placed carefully in a locker. 
 Then, after slipping off her dress (she wore nothing except it and a 
 pair of jeweled pumps.) and joined him in a shower where she had 
 carefully washed him.

  It was a task that she had to steel herself to do professionally.
  At this point all of the effort of her sales-pitch could go out the window.
  As she lathered his body she thought about the first boy she had been with
  - really with, and in both love and control and shivered.
  His skin was so soft and (here she had to smile to herself.) so hard.

  He could not believe how arousing it was -  simply the concept of 
 confronting SailorMoon even if he knew it wasn't really her. He did 
 dream about her - constantly, and in ways which made him feel confused.

  Michi then dried him off with a warm fluffy towel and helped him
 dressed in his "Evil Villain" costume.
 All the while he was dressing she was talking enthusiastically about 
 the girl he was about to meet. 
 She seemed to be hiding something from him under her constant babble 
 but he could not understand what. Whatever it was it was not harmful.
 He felt and responded to her desire and drew a thin trickle of energy from
 her which gave him more strength and inflamed her more.

  "She looks young." She said almost babbling."But is of course over 18.
 It would be illegal otherwise. We at this club care about such matters.
 An indiscretion on our part of course would reflect poorly. We value 
 return visits of course.  All of our actresses are quite healthy as well 
 and are tested once a week."

  "Tested?" He asked, wondering if there was an educational merit to 
 all of this.

  "The blood." She replied by way of explanation, as if that was all 
 she needed to say.

  "Oh." He said nodding but not actually understanding. Was he then
 supposed to ravish her as the vampire youma were known to do? He 
 doubted it.
 He also noted Michi's blood was evident in the healthy flush of it in her
 pale skin.
                                   ****

  The breeze blew gently in the park (a fan) ringing with it the faint 
 smell of jasmine (real!!!)

  Suddenly She appeared in front of him, her form lit by moonlight (a 
 diffused spot.)

  "Halt evildoer!" The voice was wrong but the stance was right.
  "Halt I say."
 
  Endymion advanced. He felt a little foolish but also aroused and 
 wanting to get into the spirit of the thing. His dark costume 
 constrained his desire.

 "Never." He said licking suddenly dry lips. "I am....I am The Mask 
 and I shall take this city and enslave it all!"
 "In fact my dear girl, I shall start with you!"
   
  He wanted her now with a passion, a terrible urgency but also felt a 
 need to play out his part. To postpone the inevitable and increase 
 his pleasure.

  "No." SailorMoon cried. "I won't let you!"

  "Oh." Mask drew himself up. "And who are you?"

  "I am." SailorMoon posed again. "The champion of this city. No harm 
 shall come to it while I stand against them. I am SailorMoon, and in 
 the name of the Moon I shall punish you!"

  "You may try." Mask laughed. "But evil is stronger than a mere 
 little chit of a girl!"

  The two combatants faced each other and closed. Soon They were on 
 the ground rolling and grappling. 

  "You see." The girl cried."I have vanquished you!"

  She had straddled the masked figure and ground herself against his 
 desire with each of his struggling movements. 

  Endymion felt the moist heat of her against him and bucked his hips
 slightly with each of her movements. Her bare thighs were taught as she
 clung to him.
 He could feel her warmth though both his costume and her own - she 
 felt like fire.

 "Admit defeat." She whispered biting her lip. He noticed the faint sheen
 of perspiration upon her.
 Almost all pretense was gone now leaving only want.
 She was not the right girl but for now she was a good substitute.

  "I think not" He said. He rolled and in a slow motion struggle (so 
 no-one would get hurt) He wanted her to struggle against him. He 
 wanted to feel her arms and legs about him as he pressed her to the 
 soft earth.
  Suddenly he was the one on top of her .

  "Give in." He said his voice rough and his breathing ragged..

  "Never" She said and the word was giving in. It was an invitation. 
  
  He pressed her more closely into the earth and felt the hardened 
 nipples of her small breasts press through her uniform and his shirt.

  "You cannot escape." He said and moved his hips against her.
 He kissed her opened mouth and felt her moan against him.
 Tasted her.

  "Give in to me." He whispered and it was not to this replica, this 
 actress he was talking. Without meaning to he invoked the Dark power 
 and drew her will to his.

  "Yesssss." She hissed and clutched at him.

  The next few moments were a blur of heated confusion. 

 The taste of salt. Clothing tearing. Sweat slicked skin upon skin. 
 The sound of one body slapping wetly against another.
 The sounds of desperation and release.

 After it was over it was he who rolled away sobbing.
 
  "Shhhhh, Shhhhh, it's alright." The girl said brushing the sweaty 
 tangle of hair from his eyes, the tears from his face.

  "Shhh, It's fine."

  "But it's not." His voice was still coming out in sobs.
  "It's not okay.....you're not her. You're not her."

  After a little while the shuddering subsided and she helped him, like
 a child, wash his face at the conveniently placed water fountain.

  As far as things went (according to her) his performance was "well
 beyond the call of duty"  
 She was just fine.
 As she testified to friends later about her one "magic customer"

  "It was like the first time...only the way you imagine it - not
 like what it's really like."
 
  A very bedraggled SailorMoon escorted her customer to the door and 
 gave him into the keeping of Michiko. Michi took him to the shower, 
 helped him off with what was left of his costume (another charge for 
 the bill) and again helped him shower.
 A she watched him in the shower (alone this time as she held a
 large warm towel) Michi thought he looked if anything more
 despondent than when he had come in.
 The anger was gone and replaced with a sort of melancholy.
 Instead of lust now all she found within herself was the
 overwhelming urge to mother him.
 She wanted to take him home and simply lie with him, hold his head
 close to her breast and tell him all was right with him
 and that all would be right with the world.

  Instead she would give him a complimentary drink.

  It wasn't her business to pry but in hopes of getting a return
 customer - hopes of seeing him again, she did.
 
  "The scenario?" she asked.

  "Yes?" he asked in a muffled voice as she towelled his hair.

  "It was good?" She asked "Enjoyable?"

  "I guess, but not for me." He took the towel from her and draped it 
 across a knee. He sat silently for a moment his eyes closed.
      
  "I don't think this is really something I enjoy." He said finally 
 looking at her with those eyes of his.
  "I mean, I enjoy being with women...with a woman. But...." He 
 trailed off.
  "You have a girlfriend?" Michi asked in genuine interest and a 
 little jealousy.
 Perhaps she could show this one what a real lover was like.
 - Mend this little fallen bird.

  "Yes, No...well....I'm sort of involved with someone." He said. no 
 matter how much he felt devoted to Beryl he was distracted, 
 tormented, possessed in a way he could not say by that girl.

  "It's sort of complicated." he finally said lamely.
 
  "Well," Michi said, quickly hiding her disappointment with professional
  ease.
  "Things will work out. They always do."

  "I guess so."

  Endymion politely declined the complementary drink upon getting 
 dressed.

  Before he left, using the card which would give them real and
 lasting money he added a large tip to both his Hostess and the
 actress" that he had been with on his carefully itemized bill.
 The "tips" were each at least 3 times the cost listed on the bill. 

  The actress decided she could afford not to work any longer that 
 night and went out to a club with her friends. She had the money to 
 do it.

 Michiko took the morning train home and when she slept dreamt of a 
 dark slate-eyed Prince who told her of his love in beautiful poems before 
 he ravaged her in softness whispering his words of love and crying.

 The Prince summoned his will and was transported into his chambers.

  Night in the Dark Kingdom is a thing of mind.... He drew his silken 
 sheets about himself and then he dreamed.


                  **********************
                            END



  I'd like to blame a couple of things for this.
 Ryo Mourakami's "Almost Transparent Blue" and "Tokyo Decadence"
 as well as the film "In the Realm of the Senses."
 along with "The White Serpent" (story) and "Ugetsu" (movie) and 
 finally  "Japan's Sex Trade" by Peter Constantine.

 Just a small qualifying note to this piece, and an idea.

  Here's a handy little fact from Japan's Sex Trade - a handy little 
 book for stuff like this.

   The Law On Business Affecting Public Morals which took effect  in 
 1985 in February (actually Valentines' day of that year...no really!) 
 disallowed the hiring of minors by Japans Bath Association. It also 
 imposed safety regulations. It also covered "service" of minors as 
 well. (this is why we don't have anyone at the age of consent (13) in the 
 story)

  I think you could make the story even darker and more desperate in 
 it's efforts to find the light by talking out the first part and 
 simply writing it as an encounter by a normal youth...it that starts 
 to get to depressing even for me.
                    Ya... right :)                                              



                                       Neil
                               aka Robyn, Duke of Amber.
                                        seraphim@sentex.net
                                         cm784@torfree.net






 __________________________________________________________________
"The Pink-Haired Goddess, the Blue-Haired Goddess, I can't decide....
   I must have them both!"
                (Me in Kuno mode thinking about Mizumo Ami and Nene)
                     _______________________
   Robyn, Duke of Amber. Agent of Chaos. Part-time-God. Monkey-Boy 
 ***************************************************************************