I do not own Sailor Moon, nor do I claim to own her or the characters of Sailor Moon. The Bishoujo Senshi Sailormoon manga and anime series are copyrighted property of Naoko Takeuchi, Kodansha Ltd., Toei Animation Ltd. all rights reserved. This is a non-profit story made for Sailormoon fans. I'm young, please don't sue me! A Peasant's Piano By Enigma (scorpio_sweetie@yahoo.com) Rating- PG Chapter 2: Face to Face Petz walked with her sisters out into the seemingly empty foyer. There were plaques, pictures, posters all showing the renowned actors, performers, singers and speakers. The girls admired some of the pictures and talked of dreams that they swore were soon to come, "One day I'll be here! Petz Ayakashi the famous pianist!" Petz exclaimed as Calaveras followed suit. "And I'll be right beside ya! Calaveras Ayakashi, painter of masterpieces!" "And I too! Beruche Ayakashi, Nemesis champion chess player!" "And Cooan Ayakashi, the voice of an angel!" Each of the girls shouted their dreams, their talents. They wouldn't be so silly in public, shouting hopes on a planet full of limitations. So they were surprised and slightly embarrassed as a voice spoke from a distance down the hall. "Petz Ayakashi?" said a man's voice as the sound of shoes approaching the sisters came from the darkened corridors, "The girl who played tonight on the piano?" "Yes, that's me." Petz stated a tad nervously. "May I say that you played beautifully." The voice showed its source. A tall male dressed in a blue jacket and white pants walked up to the sisters. All for of them bowed with respect to the famous Prince. "No, No," he said objecting, "No need to bow, I should bow to you." "Prince Saffiru," Petz said nervously, "I can't possibly accept such compliments from your grace-" "Petz Ayakashi...I now wish I had had a better view of such a beauty. See I was far up in the balcony-" "I know. I noticed you clapping." Petz said with a slight blush, "Anyway I thank you for your compliments..." Petz stated as she tried to turn away. His arm grabbed her sternly, yet gently. "Petz I would enjoy it if you could play for the Royalty some time. That is if you can find time." He said staring at her with kind eyes. "Would you like to go for a walk with me? There is a disgusting display that has no right whatsoever to follow a performance of your's. I couldn't stand to watch it." "Sure," Petz said quietly as she looked to her sisters. They smiled towards her with encouraging eyes. "Petz-chan, we'll be at home. Have fun!" said Calaveras as she ushered the other sisters out of the foyer. Petz wanted to object, to cry out, "Don't go! Don't leave me!" but they did. They left her to make a fool out of herself in front of one of the most powerful figures of Nemesis. "My brother, Demando-sama is entranced by some of these performances that have no value. The only performance worth seeing was your's. You play beautifully. What was it that you were playing?" "Rachmaninoff" Petz replied, "A simpler piece of his that is. I hope to one day play his-" "Piano Concerto 3 in D minor?" Saffiru finished. Petz looked at him strangely as he explained, "That's the hardest piece ever written. I enjoy the piano myself. It mechanical and orderly, the way things should be. There is no secret to it, for the notes are so often mathematical. Yet, it takes miracles and prodigies to play it as well as yourself." "That's the way I feel too." She said, finally feeling comfortable, "I mean Rachmaninoff was a genious! His hands were so perfect for the piano. Too bad he was an Earthling, and not of high standards as a Nemesan is. So many piano masterpieces come from that dreadful world of senshi." "Well I see that the Earth wasn't too greedy with distributing it's prodigies. Petz your hands, your music is beautiful!" he then kissed her hand with the charm of a prince. "Prince Saffiru, I believe you have me mistaken for another." She pulled her hand from his lips as she continued, "I am a common girl, eldest to a traitor of the planet. My mother is weak and is barely holding on to dear life. She will die any day now! In no way am I of class, status or any royalty, so I suggest you keep your face and remember who I am. I am nobody!" "Petz, I haven't mistaken you. And it is by chance that I am of this standing of a so-called Prince. Not even a prince, but the young prince!" he laughed as he continued, "It is rare that I am at all flamboyant and I have denied many dowries and women of so-called class. But when I heard you play tonight-" "Oh! So it's your ears that are what's making you act in such a way! Save me your pity, Saffiru-sama. I need to get home now, good-night." She bowed respectfully and turned away. "Why are you denying me Petz-chan?" he asked to her retreating figure, "Are you in love with another?" "Love? I know no such thing! All men, a prince, a peasant, a merchant, a soldier, ALL men I despise! They know only a few things and after they've mastered it with one girl they move on to another. They know how to do one thing and that is break a woman's soul! I need to be strong and raise my sisters. I play the piano for money, and I cannot have a man blur my true mission which is to make sure my sisters get some chance in life!" "Petz, you are very noble, but I guarantee you my plans were none of betrayal. I am intrigued by you Petz, that is all. I too know what it is like to be protective of kin. I may be the youngest, but about every moment I am thinking of my brother. Protecting, planning, watching out for him." Saffiru pleaded with her, "Anyway, your sisters must have taken your only ride home. You'll need some mean of transportation. May I at least supply you with that?" Petz gave a stubborn sigh as she conceded, "Oh, all right!" Her sisters had always walked home, but Petz felt tired and slightly rude at her previous outbursts. So without the least bit of grace she followed him outside of the foyer. ___________________________________________________________________ That's the end of chapter 2. The beginnings are always slow, gomen nasai! But expect very steamy things to come up in a few more chapters! And I promise it's not at all what you may think... ^_^ What could it be? Have patience and you'll soon find out! Email me at scorpio_sweetie@yahoo.com with anything but junk mail! Ciao! -Enigma scorpio_sweetie@yahoo.com