Kunzite smirked "Isn't this interesting." He walked away and Zoicite looked at the unconscious girl in his arms. She was sweating, her breathing ragged, and she was pale. As he held her, he wondered if she had succumbed to Beryl's power. A normal human wouldn't have given in to Beryls power so easily. Her health must have already been compromised. He brushed the bangs out of her eyes, whispering "Hang in there."
"Hang in there"
Minako turned around. There was no one there. It was strange though, she thought she felt someone touch her face. Looking around, she saw everything covered in fog and wondered where she was. She rubbed her neck. There was no wind, but she felt air move. Shrugging it off as remnants of a dream, she looked for something she recognized. However, there was only fog and empty space. Minako wondered how she was going to get back home, but couldn't remember where that was. There were other voices and she tried to locate them. Maybe they could give her answers.
Zoicite and the other shitennou stood before Beryl. The teen was on her back, floating. Beryl addressed Kunzite "What happened?" He shrugged "They seemed to be arguing when I entered the room. I asked Zoicite what was going on, he replied that he didn't have power and they were trapped in the room. At that moment she suddenly collapsed. Then something very interesting happened."
Queen Beryl said "Oh?" Kunzite smirked, glanced at Zoicite then looked back to Beryl "He caught her." Beryl narrowed her eyes at Zoicite then returned her gaze to Kunzite "Is that so? I wonder why she collapsed." Jadeite stepped forward "Does it matter? She's useless. It will be a waste of time and energy to make her usable. We cannot risk the senshi healing her and finding out the layout of the Dark Kingdom. This girl needs to be disposed of."
Disposed of? Zoicite wanted to punch him. Somehow Jadeite always got on his nerve. He took a deep breath, controlling his anger "So can the other humans." Jadeite shook his head "They won't remember anything after they're healed." Zoicite chuckled "And how do you know that?" He hoped it would create tension between the two, but knew Beryl would side with Jadeite. She always did. He wasn't surprised when Beryl didn't question Jadeite's information. She never did.
Beryl said "It doesn't matter. The girl is too weak and it will take too much energy to make her usable. She will be disposed of." Zoicite watched in horror as Beryl drew her hand back, producing a purple ball of energy to deliver a fatal blow. There was something about the teen that intrigued him. He couldn't let her die. Not like this.
"I'll soul flight you to Master."
They looked at him in shock. Beryl paused "Endymion?" Zoicite nodded. Beryl was suspicious; this was unlike Zoicite "In exchange for what?" He said "Let her go. I will take you to Master once Nephrite returns her." He didn't trust Kunzite and he'd be damned if he trusted Jadeite. Beryl narrowed her eyes, studying Zoicite. "You never try to please me, only Endymion. Who is this girl? Why is she more important than Endymion?" Zoicite stayed silent. The teen intrigued him, but that was not any of her business.
Beryl sighed, knowing he wasn't going to answer. She probably wouldn't like his answer anyway. Deciding to take advantage of him offering to soul flight her to Endymion, she said "Okay. I will let her go." She let the teen fall to the floor. "Nephrite, take her back and find out everything you can. There is something about her I don't like." He bowed and teleported away with the teen. Zoicite left the room since he no longer had a reason to stay.
She addressed Jadeite "Keep an eye on Zoicite. He's up to something and I want to know what it is." He bowed "Yes". Once he left, Kunzite walked away. Queen Beryl said "Don't think I haven't noticed." Kunzite paused in the entrance and looked over his shoulder. She continued "Jadeite is the only shitennou whom is truly loyal, but even he is disposable."
He faced her "What?" She smirked "You think you can do whatever you want without me knowing?" Kunzite figured Jadeite reported everything he saw and heard which is why he was careful about what he said and did around him. Beryl asking him to keep an eye on Zoicite confirmed that. He held up a purple flower "I have been working on something. When this is in full bloom, it will be time to put the plan in action."
Queen Beryl said "It's almost fully bloomed. So what is the plan?" Kunzite nodded "Yes, it is. However, I don't want to risk any interferences." She replied "Yes, I've noticed you four tend to interfere with each others plans." He said "Resulting in everyone failing…." the flower finished opening and he smirked "Queen Beryl, I think you'll enjoy the surprise waiting for you when you return from your soul flight." He crushed the flower with his hand.
Jadeite stood near Zoicite "I wonder what Endymion will think of a visit from Queen Beryl." He didn't say anything as he placed the appropriate sheet music on the piano. Jadeite leaned against the instrument "Why did you catch that disgusting human?" Zoicite glared. Jadeite was baiting him. He was Beryl's favorite, could do no wrong and he knew it; which made him even more annoying. Zoicite closed his eyes as he started playing. If he had to see that smirk any longer, Beryl would be without her precious Jadeite.
Minako continued to look for the voices. They were familiar and the one they called Nephrite was speaking.
"I wonder why he caught you. He seemed to only care for his master. You must have really made an impression on him for him to offer to take Queen Beryl to his master. Anyway, time to get you help. Hey! Over here! She needs help!"
There were rushed footsteps and another familiar voice, but she couldn't place it. For whatever reason, she thought of turtles.
"What happened?" said the man.
"I walked into the room and found her unconscious."
Minako wondered why Nephrite was lying. Then she heard another familiar voice, but this time a very lively female. Very energetic, like a bunny.
"Minako! What happened to her?"
Turtle man said "I don't know. This man found her."
Nephrite said "Her name is Minako?"
"You don't recognize her?" Said the man. She couldn't figure out why she was associating him with turtles and the girl with bunnies.
Then the lively girl exploded "You don't know who she is!" Minako shook her head as the girl kept chatting away about this Aino Minako. She wondered if Nephrite was suffering from information overload. She stopped walking when she saw a figure. Ignoring the voices, she focused on the person in front of her.
The figure approached her but was still hidden by the fog. "You need to stop lingering here. Have you forgotten your mission?" The woman stepped forward becoming slightly clearer. Minako stepped back as the woman continued walking to her. She gave off an air of power and determination.
She wore orange heels, an orange skirt, something that looked like a giant bow on her shirt, something gold on her forehead and she had long blonde hair. The woman said "We have a mission. The Prince and Princess cannot be together. History will repeat itself if they are not kept apart. You're being given another chance. Don't fail."
She watched the woman disappear into the fog. There were so many questions she had. A beeping cut through the air and she noticed the voices were different. Minako felt a pull and wondered what was happening.
Minako's eyes fluttered open. She looked around the room. It was a hospital room. There was a large bouquet of flowers on the bedside table, and there was a white plush cat on her bed. The nurse standing near her said "You're awake!"
A man stood and approached the bed "You had us all worried! How are you feeling?" Minako said "Fine." He crossed his arms, shaking his head "Of course you are! Now…" She stared at him as he theatrically talked about things unfamiliar to her.
The nurse said "I'm going to get the doctor. She'll want to examine Minako now that the patient is able to answer questions." The nurse left and the man said "I've already cleared your schedule for the next week."
Not wanting anyone to know she didn't remember, she decided to tell the nurse in private. So, changing the subject, she asked "Who brought the flowers?" The man smiled "Your friends. There's a card with it." He gave her the card and she read the get well messages each had written. It was signed Usagi, Rei, Makoto, Motoki, and Mamoru.
She wondered how she knew them. Looking the plush cat over, she didn't see anything on it "And the cat? Who brought it?" His smile disappeared and he said "The…cat?" She nodded and held up the plush. He said "Minako… that is your cat." Setting the plush down, she sighed. Well, so much for privately telling the nurse she couldn't remember.
At that moment the doctor walked in. The manager said "Are you having trouble remembering?" Sighing, Minako nodded. There was no point in lying. The doctor stood next to the bed and asked "What do you remember?" She looked at him and her doctor "Nothing. I don't remember anything."
