Act 38

Kunzite had been walking the room up and down ever since the Master had gone with Mio to meet Queen Beryl.

"You should be grateful and protect the Master instead of attacking him," Zoisite said. "After all, he came with Beryl because of us. You are one of his guardians. You even used to be our leader, remember?"

Kunzite clenched his fists.

"I won't protect a traitor," he hissed.

"The Princess…" Zoisite started to say.

"Don't bother me with your princess-story again," Kunzite shouted and turned around to face Zoisite. "You and I know very well that she's not the only one to be blamed for what happened. If the Master would have listened to me, if he would have kept his hands away from her…"

"You fought for him - for his love - to the end," Zoisite said.

Kunzite didn't answer. Yes, he had fought for his Master to the end, that terrifying end; because he had been such a fool to believe that he had been fighting for the right thing. Love. His Master's love. But what happened had taught him.

First the revolt on the earth against the Moon Princess' and the Master's relationship. And it had been obvious that the aggression of the revolt had been nourished with a dark power.

Afterwards, the necessity to flee to the moon, and then the thing with Nephrite and the Princess…

Kunzite tried to suppress the intense feeling of shock and rage he still felt, remembering the state in which Nephrite had been after the Princess was done with him. Even then, his Master hadn't been able to realize how dangerous she was. He'd been blind with love.

And then, that moment that only Kunzite could remember:

The moon palace was in ruins.

Kunzite looked at the three men who were lying slayed under its debris.

"Jadeite," he whispered, but the eyes of the youngest of the Shitennou were looking lifelessly towards the heavens. He'd been so young, too young…

"Zoisite." The calmest of them. He who had always found a solution for anything. The talented piano player. He would never play his magical music again.

And then Kunzite forced himself to look at the last Shitennou.

"Nephrite," Kunzite said with trembling voice, "Little brother."

The red-haired man's gaze hadn't changed. It was still empty and emotionless – this was the Princess' work - but the difference now was that he was dead.

He had always been so hot-tempered even Kunzite had sometimes had trouble calming him down. But he had taken total responsibility for him, just as an elder brother. And Nephrite had relied on him too, just as younger brothers did. And then Mercury had appeared, and everything had changed until the day…

Kunzite looked away. Unable to look at him anymore. Pain, grief and anger took possession of his heart. Jadeite, Zoisite, Nephrite.

He fell down on his knees, propping himself up on his sword, and screamed into the night. His best men, his friends, were dead. All because of the Master's irresponsibility and selfishness.

And then he heard steps and a tall, red-haired woman appeared and stood before his three dead friends.

"What a tragedy," she said, her voice hoarse. "What a shame for three such… attractive young men."

She stretched her hands and black spots came out of them, covering the three dead bodies until they had turned into stones. The woman reached for those stones, kissed each one of them and finally put them into the folds of her dress.

Kunzite had watched that scene paralyzed in shock, but finally he rose up, drew his sword and ran toward the sinister woman. She turned around to face him and smiled. Again she stretched out her hand, and Kunzite felt an invisible power which froze him in his place.

"You are Kunzite, leader of the Prince's Shitennou," she ascertained.

"Who… are you?" Kunzite whispered.

The woman's smile widened. "I am your new Master. I am Queen Beryl."

So this is Queen Beryl, Kunzite thought, the woman who caused all that misery.

Queen Beryl smiled in satisfaction as she noticed that he had recognized her. "I feel fire and hatred in you. That's just what I need."

Black spots came out of her hands again, and Kunzite was helpless as they flew towards him.

Beryl walked towards him until her mouth was close to his left ear. "Go," she whispered, "Kill the Princess; eliminate her once and for all, so Endymion will finally belong to me."

Kunzite stopped resisting the black spots that had penetrated him. "The Princess," he said tonelessly. "I'll kill her for you, my Queen."

He walked over the ruins of the palace until he had reached an open platform. The Princess was standing there beside the Prince. Kunzite approached her and raised his sword for the mortal blow, but just at the very last moment the Prince became aware of his intention. He pushed the Princess away and blocked the attack with his own body.

He fell dead to the ground and the Princess kneeled down to him in shock.

At this moment, when Kunzite saw his Master lying dead at his feet, the shadow Queen Beryl had cast over him fell away, and he realized how much damage had been caused by a woman's love for a man. Jealousy over the relationship between his Master and the Moon Princess had caused this.

A relationship that should never had been. One that his Master should never have started, because it had thrown both the earth and the moon into disaster.

"Endymion," the Princess cried now and a white, hot light flashed out of her body.

Kunzite winced at the memory that had overwhelmed him.

Yes, on that day he had lost everything. His friends, his faith in goodness and love, even his own free will. And why?

Because the Master had closed his eyes to the consequences his relationship with the Moon Princess would have.

And now everything was about to be repeated. Nephrite had only been the first casualty. Kunzite knew that there would be many more.

So how could he be grateful for the Master's decision to join the Dark Kingdom, if in the end he would be willing to sacrifice even the earth itself to be with the princess?

He has to be stopped, Kunzite thought, and I won't rest until he is.

xxxx

Ami rolled to the other side of her bed, unable to get any sleep.

Yes, in front of her friends she somehow had been able to cover up what had happened. She'd acted normally as ever; but now, lying in her bed, all alone with her thoughts, she was unable to suppress the memories that crushed down on her. Everything, just everything here reminded her of him.

Nephrite smiling at her, Nephrite holding her hand, Nephrite embracing her, and his kiss, that volatile but soft and brief kiss.

Ami sobbed as tears started to run down her cheeks again, and though she knew that it was useless, she tried to wipe them away.

"I will overcome the curse. And as soon as I do, I'll come for you. I swear on my life."

"Will you wait for me... Ami?"

Now Nephrite was dead. He wasn't able to come for her anymore, and nothing would ever bring him back to her. The grief and desperation brought on by that thought were so strong, Ami didn't know how to stand it.

She suppressed another sob and rolled to her other side again, but suddenly she realized that she was just laying exactly the same way she had when she'd caught Nephrite in her room for the very first time. She had pretended to be asleep.

She remembered the energy she'd felt when he had appeared in her room and approached her, and his surprised gaze when she had opened her eyes, looking into his incredible blue and… beautiful eyes.

"You weren't asleep."

She had really caught him by surprise. Her heart had been beating so strong that she was sure he must have been able to hear it, and even when he had grabbed her by the throat, trying to make her believe that he would kill her, she had never been afraid of him. She had trusted him from the very first moment. And he'd been the one who had finally told her how she'd behaved when she was in the Dark Kingdom, when she was evil.

"I… I'm a bad person."

"No!"

He had believed in the good inside her from the beginning, though he had seen her worst side. He had defended her… from herself.

"If there has ever been a thoroughly good person I've met, it is you."

His first embrace, when she had burst into tears. Had it been then that she'd fallen in love with him?

No, Ami thought, it was earlier. It was right at the moment he had saved her life from Kunzite's mortal stroke, when he had turned around and his incredible gaze had met hers. From that day she hadn't been able to forget him, and though she didn't really know him, she had longed for him. That feeling had grown every day.

Ami dug her fingers into her pillow.

And now he was gone… forever. And all that remained was her grief and longing for him, and the certainty that she would never again be able to talk to him, she would never feel his tight embrace again, she would never feel his hand entwined with hers again, he would never caress her cheek again, he would never… kiss her again.

Would she ever be able to feel happiness and joy again?

No, Ami thought and buried her face in her pillow to stifle the sobs that were coming out of her throat once more, never.

xxxx

Nephrite flinched and blinked, but around him there was nothing but darkness. Where was he? Was he dead?

Now he remembered. He had entered that building when the sun had started to rise, looking for a place where he felt less conspicuous… and where he wouldn't have to look at his weak form. The place was full of cars, and the lights only flicked on from time to time, obviously when somebody parked his car or drove away in it.

Suddenly Nephrite realized the irony of the situation: Here he was again, sitting in a dark place, alone, pitiful.

"Seeing you all alone like this, somehow I don't like it."

Nephrite closed his eyes and tried to ignore the memories about… her. He could never see her again. Not like this.

"You must have been very lonely."

He opened his eyes again. When had he started to care so much for her? And why? Just because she had given him a new cape? After all, hadn't that been the moment everything had started? From that day, he couldn't stop thinking about her, and that feeling had only grown when she had returned to the world outside of the Dark Kingdom.

Nephrite remembered how surprised he had been when Ami, as Dark Mercury then, stood before him, throwing a new cape on his shoulder, when he had expected more nastiness. After all, that had been all he knew of her before that day. Yes, maybe that had been the moment he'd started to have feelings for her, though at the time he hadn't been able to understand or accept it. All he knew was that he didn't want anybody to harm her; and when Kunzite was about to kill her, Nephrite finally had been able to do at least one thing right in his life. For once, he hadn't failed.

"And why did you come to my room every night?"

Why? Because he hadn't been able to forget her, because watching her sleeping gave him peace, because - he understood it now - he had fallen in love with her.

"Mercury… Ami," Nephrite whispered. Though he had been very rude to her at the beginning, she had never turned her back on him; no, she had even trusted him and, for some reason Nephrite still couldn't understand, she wanted to be with him too. And every time she'd smiled at him or she had let him embrace her, reciprocating, she had given him the greatest happiness.

But the curse, that horrible curse Beryl had placed on him had always thrown a shadow over all.

"I will overcome the curse. And as soon as I do, I'll come for you."

Nephrite burrowed his head in his arms and sighed. Well, he had overcome Beryl's curse, but at what price? He had become a human. He was without any powers; he was no Shitennou anymore. He was nothing, he was useless. How could he protect Ami like this?

And there it was again. The feeling of rage and anger, but now this was all he had.

The lights went on and Nephrite blinked. Maybe this wasn't a good place to hide after all. He stood up slowly and stepped out of the corner where he'd been sitting.

xxxx

Rei sighed. It had really been a long day. Since they had seen the princess playing the harp last night there hadn't been any trace of her again. And though Rei, Makoto, Luna and Ami had been looking for Usagi everywhere for hours, she was still missing.

Ami. This was something else that caused Rei concern. She was so calm, so restrained. Just as if really nothing had happened. But Rei knew better.

As she had the ability to feel the supernatural; this also meant that she was more empathetic than other people. She was able to perceive and sense strong feelings. And at this moment Ami's grief was so strong, Rei was truly afraid that it would break her sensitive friend.

If Rei had been able to… avoid that, would this have happened to Ami? What if she hadn't insisted that Ami end this relationship? What if she had for once been able to overcome her own nature and simply believe in what Ami had told her? That Nephrite hadn't been evil anymore; that he had really cared for Ami.

Now, after what had happened, Rei realized that she had been wrong about him. For some reason, she felt that Queen Beryl hadn't chosen him to die simply by coincidence. It had all been planned; it had been revenge. She had wanted to separate them, and Ami should be the one who would suffer the most.

Maybe if Rei hadn't been so stubborn, she would have been able to find a way, and Nephrite could have overcome his curse. After all, wasn't this her specialty?

"Ami, I'm so sorry," she whispered. "Please forgive me."

She sat down on a bench and, all alone now, she allowed herself to do what she normally never did in front of other people, not even her friends. She buried her face in her hands—not to cry, but out of exhaustion.

"Rei-san!" a delighted voice suddenly said. Rei looked up in surprise and could hardly resist rolling her eyes. Of course that hiccupping, turtle-freaking friend of Motoki had to appear just then. What had his name been?

"Takai," the young man said, smiling, and hiccupped.

Here we go, Rei thought in annoyance. It was really hard to believe that he was the same age as Motoki. With his striped pullover and that silly turtle backpack, he looked more than ever like a little boy, rather than a young college student.

"Takai-kun, hi," Rei finally said, forcing a smile.

"Are you… all right?" he asked.

What's it to you? Rei was about to say, but managed to bite it back at the very last moment. "Yeah," she said as she stood up.

"Really?"

"I'm fine, thanks."

"Are you… going home? I… can walk… with you," Takai offered.

Rei shook her head, trying to keep up her smile. "Don't worry, I'm alright. I can take care of myself."

"Nevertheless… please, let me… take you… where you're going," Takai insisted.

Rei was just about to shout at him to mind his own business, but when she saw the honest smile on his face, suddenly she somehow felt incapable of telling him "no."

"Whatever you say," she answered and started to walk. Takai stepped beside her, and while he was walking by her side he took off his backpack and grabbed for the box with the lemon slices.

Rei couldn't avoid grinning. This wouldn't help at all, but it amused her to see how he grimaced when he bit the lemon and then… hiccupped again.

"Have you ever gone to see a doctor about your hiccups?" she asked to break the silence that was only interrupted by his hicks.

"Yes," Takai answered and grabbed for another slice of lemon.

"What did he say?"

"He said… that I… should go out… with girls… more often… That way… sooner or… later… it would stop."

"So?"

Takai looked at her in honest surprise. "Do you have… any idea… how exhausting it is… not being able… to say at… least one… complete sentence?"

Rei had to admit that she had never thought about that. In fact, she had only been annoyed by it, but she had never thought about how frustrating this might be for Takai. "I'm sorry," she said honestly.

He shrugged. "And anyway,… what girl… would be patient… enough to… hold out… more than… a few minutes… with me?"

Now Rei felt really ashamed. She wasn't any better than the girls Takai was talking about. It had never dawned on her that he could be lonely. "Well," she answered, "I would."

Takai looked at her in disbelief, and for a moment there was nothing but silence. "Really?" Takai asked then.

"Takai-kun…"

"Are you serious?"

"Takai-kun…"

"You're not making fun of me, right?"

"Takai-kun, your hiccup," Rei finally was able to say.

Takai paused in surprise and placed one hand on his chest. "It's gone," he remarked unbelievingly, "Rei-san…" He hiccupped again. "Darn!"

Rei suddenly had to laugh. "Don't worry," she finally said and patted his arm, "We can take care of that."

Her mobile rang and she picked it up quickly. "Yes?"

"Rei-chan," Makoto's voice resounded on the other end.

"Did you find her?" Rei asked hopefully.

"No," Makoto answered, "I'm calling you for another reason."

"What is it?"

"It's about Ami-chan."

Rei stood still so suddenly, Takai almost bumped into her. "I'm sorry," he whispered. Rei waved placatingly.

"What about her?" Rei asked.

"I hoped you could tell me that. Luna told me that she had found her completely drained at the river's shore last night. You two go almost the same way home. Did she tell you anything?"

"No." Silence.

"So… you don't know what could have caused her such… grief?"

"Why don't you ask her that?" Rei answered guardedly.

"I will," Makoto said. "But I wanted to know if maybe there's something you know… that we don't."

"I don't know more than what you've just told me," Rei replied, hating herself for that lie.

"Okay," Makoto answered, "So, see you tomorrow, I guess."

"Yes, see you tomorrow."

The other end of the line clicked, and Rei hung up too. For a moment she stared at her cell phone.

I'm sorry, Makoto, she thought, but this is something, Ami has to decide for herself: if she wants you to know or not.

"Is everything… all right?" Takai asked suddenly, reminding Rei that she wasn't alone. She put her mobile back into her bag and smiled at him

"Yes… yes, thank you."

They continued walking and finally reached the stairs that went to the temple.

"This is me," Rei explained.

"Wow," Takai said, astonished, as he looked up the stairs, "You… live in… a temple.?"

"Yes, since I was a little girl," she answered, and asked herself at the same time why she had told him that.

"Impressive." Takai looked at her again and smiled a little insecurely. "So… see you… soon?"

Rei nodded. "I've got things to do tomorrow, but maybe the day after, if you like?"

"That would make me… happy."

Why isn't he leaving? Rei thought a little nervously. She put one foot on the first step. "So then, see you."

Takai nodded, but still he didn't make any move to go.

"Umm… Takai?" Rei stammered, "You… can go now."

"I'll wait… until you're… upstairs."

"You really don't have to do that."

"I just… want to be… sure, you get… home safe."

Rei bit her lip. Why did she felt that sudden warmth in her chest? "Okay, so long," she said quickly and ran up the stairs. She was panting by the time she reached the top. Normally she walked up the stairs to the temple more leisurely, but this was a very special situation, wasn't it?

And Rei knew very well that there was no point standing still and turning around one last time, but for some unknown reason she did anyway.

Takai was still standing at the bottom of the stairs, and when she looked at him now, he smiled and waved; then he turned around and finally left.

Rei suddenly noticed a movement at her right. She turned her head quickly, only to realize that it was her own hand waving back. She looked at it in disbelief, but then she shook her head and walked the rest of the way back to the temple alone.