Two Hearts Mended
By Bashfulglowfly
Chapter One
Ishida Kazuya flung back the covers to his bed and, without turning on any lights, staggered to the bathroom. He turned on the shower and stepped in. Bracing two hands against the cool tile, he leaned forward and let the slowly warming water wash away the cold, slick sweat that covered his body. He took deep shuddering breaths as he tried to wash the nightmare from his brain.
But he knew that it would never disappear.
He cursed quietly as he remembered being captured by the witch.
He spat the foulness from his mouth at the memory of her knives and black magic sinking into his flesh and bones.
He retched violently as he remembered attacking the glowing city and murdering the woman that he had loved.
He reached out and turned off the water. Stepping out of the shower, he reached for a towel with one hand and the light with the other. He blinked quickly at the sudden brightness. After quickly rubbing the towel over his hair and body, he wrapped the damp towel around his waist and turned to the mirror, wiped away the steam and stared at his reflection.
A man with short damp silver hair and gray eyes stared back at him. He could see the demons of the past reflected in those eyes and acknowledged them as being a part of himself. He wasn't going to hide from them. He was going to use them and become stronger. He smiled and laughed softly. At least my hair didn't grow. I'd have a hard time explaining that at work he thought.
He removed the towel and hung it up. Turning off the bathroom light, he made his way back to his bed. He pulled open the drapes and let the moonlight stream across the sheets. He lay down and made himself comfortable on the bed. Using ancient skills newly remembered, he centered himself and reached out for ancient friends, using equally ancient bonds.
He wasn't surprised when three answered him. He would have surprised if they had been asleep. The fact that the fourth had not answered was troubling. The others were troubled by the lack of answer as well. He ordered them to meet him the next day.
Without hesitation, they agreed.
Promises were made and until tomorrows exchanged.
Kazuya took a deep breath, relaxed and searched for the missing bond. He couldn't find it. He stared at the ceiling for a moment then searched for another bond that he should have. And like the first, it was not there. Not a single trace.
He looked out the window to the full moon glowing over the rooftop of the building next door. Slowly his lids grew heavy. He yawned, stretched, closed his eyes and spent the rest of the night in dreamless sleep.
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The bar was nothing special. It was just a small place, one that was known only to the people who lived in the neighborhood. Which made it perfect for the four old friends who met each other for the first time.
Words between the men were not initially exchanged. Beer was ordered from the bartender and they sat down at a small, dark corner table.
"Ishida Kazuya."
"Takaki Nobuyuki."
"Yamamoto Jun."
"Sakurazuka Soichiro."
An uncomfortable silence filled the air, then one man laughed wryly. "So are we going to be like this all the time?" asked Jun.
"Blessed Selene, I hope not!" replied Soichiro.
Nobuyuki smiled. "We might as well talk about it. The past, the present and the fact that I can't find the bonds for Endymion or Jupiter."
It was out in the open. Their greatest fear.
Kazuya nodded. "I found the bonds to the three of you easily enough but I couldn't even find a trace of the bonds I had with Endymion or Venus." He looked at Jun and Soichiro. "I take it you couldn't find your bonds with Endymion or Mars and Mercury."
The two younger Shitennou nodded. Soichiro spoke. "Yet, they exist. They are out there fighting youma. So why can't we feel them?"
"Are we being punished?" asked Jun.
"No." Kazuya said firmly. "No, we are not being punished. Yes, we were captured by the witch and forced to do the unimaginable. But punished…no."
The other three relaxed. It was an old habit to believe when Kunzite spoke so firmly.
"So what do we do?"
"I think that we need to approach Endymion." Said Kazuya.
"Do you know where he is?" asked Nobuyuki.
"I suspect that he's Tuxedo Mask."
The other three exchanged startled looks. "Tuxedo Mask? How in the hell did Dymion become that?"
Soichiro leaned back and took a long drink of his beer. "If I remember correctly," he said slowly, "tuxedos were the formal wear of the Moon Kingdom. Perhaps it has something to do with that."
"Well, even if Dymion isn't Tuxedo Mask, there are the Senshi. We can watch them." Said Jun.