Illusions

Part 1

There was a reason- oh they say it was for the good of the people. The good of the world and universe. Still, if one looked at the pretty marble called Earth, it would wonder why... why did they allow it to happen?

The people, they look up to the crystal glass castle that has been there since the freeze. Did they see them? Did those people- those fairy tale people...know about the world outside their glided cage?

He knew. He always knew about the world beyond the gates and crystal. Why though, he ponders, why does she keep them like this? Separated from the rest of the world?

Was it some sick pleasure she got out of it? To know she had the power to destroy it all and save this world? He ponders more about it even know. The girl he had married was no longer there any more. No she had been replaced.

By Serenity, the heir to the moon kingdom of long ago.

He wipes his mouth out of habit rather then nervousness. Yes, she was Serenity. Not Usagi. Serenity that was proper, that blushed at even a hint of sexual remark. Serenity who thought of only her kingdom and her destiny to fulfill it.

His storm blue eyes turned towards the mirror seeing his reflection. He looked no different. The same tuxedo, the same mask, the white gloves and dress shoes. He moves over towards the mirror and stared at himself.

Was there anything different?

Yes...there was. Something about the way he stood, something about the way his eye...what was wrong with his eyes?

A light confusion fell across his face, making him frown more. He always seemed scary when he frowned.

His hands lifted slowly to take it off- the mask that he had worn for a long time. So long that he didn't remember not wearing it. His days with the girl named Usagi were nothing but a dream...and there too, he wore his mask. But some times... some times he didn't.

He breathed out staring at his own reflection. He shook his head a little and chuckled. He was being ridiculous. There was nothing wrong with his eyes. They were the same as they had been for the last two thousand years...

Empty.

He hears a soft knock at the door. Unhurriedly he puts his mask back on and turns slightly, "Enter."
His voice sounded like a soft rumble- almost like a thunderstorm that was far away and had yet to decide which path to take.

A pale pink head looked through the door, looking very much like the teenager her mother once was. "Father, they're waiting on you for supper."

This girl... yes he remembered her too. She was his daughter. Lady Princess Serenity Usagi Chiba. She was very much like her mother- the Queen Serenity. Proper...graceful...

She hadn't called him 'papa' since she was nine. Now, it was always 'father'. Like that would make a young person mature. Still, he nods to her. It seemed to be a ritual now.

"...I'll be there in a shortly." He told her and hoped she would leave quickly. Lately, everything grinded his nerves.

The meetings, the scheduled 'family' time with the senshi, his own 'training', and of course -his wife.

He sighs softly feeling the odd stirrings of anger towards the woman he had loved for thousands of years- it seemed. He loved her- there was no doubt of that. He loved her very much. Yet...

Yet...

He wished she would die. How was it that the pure feelings of love and devotion turned to something akin to hate? Was this how his people felt? This anger towards the moon those long long years ago?

It was the crystal, he had told himself as he walked down the quiet and silent halls of the palace. The crystal palace with it's glitter and shine. His shoes made quiet tapping noises on the scratched crystal floors.

It was the Silver Crystal that led them all to this. He paused by the window and looked out over the city. The city that held light and shined brighter then anything.

It was because of that Silver Crystal... and her...

He knew better then the senshi- hell even Pluto knew, but she never said anything. No, the Time Guardian only interfered when it came to continuing the Moon's line. To keep some semblance of what used to be. Yes, she was a cause to that end.

But Serenity, the former Tsukino Usagi, was more cunning and sly then what they thought. In the past- yes it was always that blasted thing that kept him hooked- she had came to him.

He felt a sneer curl up his lips making him turn from the glass and continuing down the hallway.

Yes, pretty pure princess Serenity had came to him a wanton thing excited by the thought of him being the 'forbidden' earth prince of a barbaric planet that snuffed it's nose up at those outside it's realm.
And he, being the man he was then, had taken her for all it's worth.
Somehow...someway back then, they had become obsessed with each other.

Then all this happened. Beryl and her jealousy- gods that was the irony of it all. Beryl, the lady in waiting to his mother, had been in 'love' with him. He laughed softly to himself now. How childishly stupid.

Love.

He wasn't even sure if he felt that any more. Still, he let his feet guide him to the right place.

After dinner- there was much silence there too- he ended up standing at the window once more looking out at the city below.

Then...she came. Pale as a bloodless corpse swath in fine white silk and satin, she came to him and wrapped her cold arms around him.
He understood then as he always did when she touched him-, which was rare, now in these days- that there was never much hope of anything.

He could feel it then- her lips...those strange red lips of hers- pressed against his mouth. He returned the kiss half-heartedly, they were cold…her lips were cold...like ice.

She pulls back, her deep blue eyes almost looked black now, and she smiled at him so softly and lovingly that it gave him pause and hope she had returned to the girl she had once been.

"I'm cold." Her voice sounded like the tinkling of a bell- or perhaps he was imagining it. "Come warm me up, Endymion."

'What for?' he wanted to ask her but knew he would always give in. After all, it was written, wasn't it? They were soul mates. Tied together for eternity. What a pleasant thought.


AN: What cha think? This is onlyt he begining of course

Please R&R!

(and for Disclaimer: Sailormoon Characters? Nope, not mine Though I wish they were! Everyone else...mine...)