Wavering Destiny

Chapter 9: Black Eclipse

Minako swerved through customers and mannequins, still thinking about what she had seen. Dancing, huh? Maybe. But Seiya and Usagi had been close enough to make her wonder.

"Hey Minako, did any of those fit?" Rei asked when she returned.

"Yeah, most of them did," Minako replied nervously. She dropped the pile of clothes into the shopping cart, but her eyes caught the front windows. The sky outside had darkened, and the light sprinkle had turned into a full downpour, rain splashing against the sidewalk.

"I thought it was supposed to let up," she muttered, still distracted by what she had just seen.

Makoto caught her attention with a wave. She approached with Taiki and Ami at her side. Yaten was nowhere in sight.

Taiki reached them first. "I was just coming over here to tell you two about the party's attire. It is a bit formal, so you should pick out something nice."

"Yeah, look at mine!" Makoto held up the dress she had chosen. It was a long and flowing light pink gown.

"Wow, Mako, that's gonna look great on you!" Minako gushed.

"It's really pretty," Rei agreed. "Do you have something, Taiki?"

Taiki folded her arms. "Unlike Seiya's decision to wait until the last minute, I have had mine picked out well in advance."

Ami smiled. "You two should go get yours. We were just going to look at the jewelry," she said motioning to the glass case on the other side of the boutique.

"You don't have to tell me twice." Minako headed over to a rack full of dresses and began to rummage through them excitedly. Rei followed a minute later. They searched together for a while, pulling out anything that caught their eye.

Rei spotted a fire-red dress almost immediately and held it against herself in front of the dressing room mirrors.

"That's it," Minako told her. "That's definitely the one."

Rei blushed and examined her reflection. She gathered her silky black hair and bunched it up as if it were in an updo. "You really think so?"

"Are you kidding? Red is your color."

Rei smiled, pleased despite herself. "I was thinking the same thing, actually."

Minako disappeared behind her curtained stall with a black dress she had chosen from the rack. The hem was short, and the neckline dipped lower than she expected once she had it on. She paused in front of the mirror, suddenly unsure.

Then she stepped out anyway. "Well?"

Rei turned. For a second, she didn't say anything.

Minako shifted under her stare. "That bad?"

"No," Rei said quickly, her face warming. "Not bad. Just..."

"Just what?"

Rei looked her over again, then glanced away. "It's a little bold for a royal celebration, don't you think?"

Minako looked down at the dress. "Too much?"

"Maybe a little."

"Oh." Minako tugged self-consciously at the hem. "Yeah. I guess you're right."

Rei softened. "You look good. I just don't think that's the dress though."

Minako gave a small sigh. "Fine, fine. I'll try the maroon one."

"That one was pretty."

Minako slipped back behind the curtain. "Go look for shoes or something, Rei. You don't have to wait on me."