Chapter two revisions. Enjoy

Disclaimer: I don't own Sailor moon or any of its characters. I simply use them to further the enjoyment of all

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"Kunzite, what's going on?" Minako asked, her head snapping towards the sound. The alarms were increasing in volume by the second and she was getting a little scared. She knew that the sound couldn't be good. Kunzite pulled her to her feet.

"The General alarm has gone off," he told her, looking around to make sure there was no danger near them. "Someone is attacking the premises. I have to go find out what's happening. Follow me so I can take you back safely." He took her hand and started dragging her across the lawn. He was going so fast that Minako could barely keep up.

"Kunzite… Kunzite!" she screamed at him. He stopped abruptly and looked back at her.

"Yes? What is it? I really must get you to safety," he told her. His eyes kept flitting from side to side, checking for any dangers that might be near.

"Kunzite, I can get back on my own. I'm the Princess of Venus and a Sailor Senshi. I protect Princess Serenity like you protect Endymion. I come equipped with my own fire power," she told him. They both knew it but that still didn't stop him from wanting to protect her. In reality, she could probably kill whatever came at her better than he could. That realization didn't change his opinion.

"Minako…" he began, not wanting her to be on her own. She put her hand to his lips.

"I'll be fine. Go help fight the enemy and stop worrying about me," she told him. He leaned over and quickly kissed her.

"Minako-chan, if I could stop worrying about you I wouldn't have asked to escort you in the first place." With one last kiss he took off to go fight whatever foe had violated the grounds of the castle. Minako ran across the grounds as fast as she could in heels and a dress. Finally fed up, she tore the heels off and sprinted to the castle, shoes strung over her wrists.

Just as she was about to reach the outer gates of the castle, a large yoma appeared in front of her, no doubt one of the invaders. Minako dropped the shoes she held to the ground and blasted it with her Love Me Chain. It dodged as she continued to attack it. Finally one of the blasts hit its mark and destroyed an entire arm of the yoma.

Kunzite had been watching the whole episode and, after killing a yoma of his own, ran to help Minako. He saw her blast off the creatures arm with her Love Me Chain. But as the attacked finished, the yoma threw a dark energy ball at her. She dodged but didn't see the second one that was thrown. The one that was now headed straight for her.

"Minako!" Kunzite ran and jumped, knocking her to the side just as the dark energy would have hit her. They rolled to lessen the shock and ended with Kunzite over her. He pulled himself up and looked down at her. "Are you alright?" he asked frantically, scared that she had been seriously injured. She nodded at him.

"I… I think so," she told him, her voice shaky. He was about to lean down and kiss her when Prince Endymion and the other generals arrived around them. Remembering where he was, he hoisted himself up and then offered his hand to Minako, pulling her to her feet as well.

"Are you well, Princess? I am sorry for knocking you so improperly but it was only for your safety."

"Think nothing of it, General. Anytime you feel you need to knock me to the ground to save my life I will welcome it then as I do now." She smiled at him and the others chuckled at her small joke. Nephlite stepped up.

"Well I think that you two have had enough excitement. We have to go type up our reports." Nephlite turned to Kunzite. "Shall I assume you will be taking the rest of the night off, sir?"

Kunzite finally tore his eyes away from the Princess of Venus and turned his attention to Nephlite. "Hmm? Oh yes I will, thank you." Endymion and the other generals left, leaving Kunzite and Minako by themselves. "I'm escorting you back to your chambers," he told her firmly. "I should have escorted you to the castle but I went against my better judgment."

"Kunzite, I'm fine. You have destroyed the enemy. I think I can handle anything that's in the castle."

"Minako, you almost died!" He said it like she hadn't been there. "I could never have lived with myself if you had been hurt knowing I should have taken you back myself. God Minako…" He pulled her into a tight embrace, not caring who saw he was so upset. "I thought I had lost you. I don't think I've ever been so scared in my entire life. What would I ever do without you?" he mumbled into her hair. Minako pushed back from him.

"I guess you'll find out when my parents find me a suitable husband." She turned and stalked off.

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It was two A.M and Minako was still awake. She had been berating herself over what she had said to Kunzite. She didn't even know why she had said it. He was only worried about her and he had every right to be. She just was tired of the charade they were playing. She hated being a princess, knowing she would never be able to be with the one person she wanted. He was constantly putting off the discussion of their relationship, convinced that she would never be married, though he never said that. Between almost being killed by the yoma and their discussion earlier at the lake, her patience had snapped.

She stared at the ceiling and knew she would never be able to sleep unless she talked to Kunzite. She got up and wrapped her robe around her and slipped on a pair of slippers. She opened the door quietly and slipped out. The quickest way to Kunzite's quarters was left but that was also the most used way. If she didn't want to run into loose servant lips, she'd be wise to take the round about way. The only problem was that she had to pass not only Nephlite's room but also Rei, Ami, and Makoto's. She debated her options. She could sneak past the other rooms unnoticed better then she could avoid a large amount of servants.

She took off down the hall as quickly as she thought safe. Other then a slight mishap that almost caused Ami to wake from her position at her desk, Minako arrived at Kunzite's door relatively quickly. Right as she was about to knock she realized it was almost four in the morning at this point. Why didn't it occur to her that he would be asleep? She turned to leave when she heard a door open behind her. She turned surprised. If one of the servants caught her here at this time of night they'd both be done for.

"Minako? What are you doing here at four in the morning? What if someone catches you?" Kunzite stood before her, clad in nothing but his uniform pants and a button down white shirt that was opened halfway.

"Hello, Kunzite. I couldn't sleep," she explained and then realized it didn't explain her presence there. "I needed to talk to you."

"I think you said plenty this evening. Now if you'll excuse me…" He attempted to close the door but Minako put her hand on it, stopping him.

"Kunzite… I didn't mean what I said. I was just… scared I guess. I don't know." She shook her head as if that would clear away the confusion she was feeling. "I'm just as afraid of losing you as you are of me. But the only time you realize that you're losing me is when I almost die. Kunzite, if, when, my parents find me a husband," she conveniently left out the word suitable. No use arguing about that, "you'll lose me then too. I can't be married to one man and have another on the side. And I don't want you to be the man on the side. I want you to be my husband."

Kunzite stepped aside, allowing her to enter. "Maybe we should talk about this inside," he said, gesturing into the room. She checked the hall quickly before ducking into his doorway.

"I want you to be my wife, Minako," he said, sitting on the couch in front of the fire, "but we have to face reality eventually. Maybe we should just call it off now before either of us gets too emotionally involved with the other." The hurt in Minako's eyes was so great that Kunzite felt as if his own heart was being ripped from his chest.

"Look me in the eyes and tell me that you haven't already become 'emotionally involved,' Kunzite. Look me straight in the eyes and say it," she demanded, angry. Kunzite took a deep breath and then looked directly into her eyes. Damned if he could do it.

"Oh, Minako…" he sighed. He pulled her towards him and embraced her tightly but gently. "You know I could never do that. I love you more then anything, woman, and I'll be damned if I'm ever going to let some puffed up prince take you away from me. I don't know how but I will figure out a way to make you mine in the eyes of everyone." She hugged him tighter hearing the exact words she had hoped to.

"Oh, Kunzite, what are we going to do? How are we ever going to get through this?" she asked, her mouth against his ear.

"I don't know," he said releasing her. He was reluctant to do so but it was late. "But you'd better get back to your room before someone catches you. I don't want this to end before I have a chance to make it work."

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These are proving relatively easy to clean up so it shouldn't take that long to finish. Enjoy!