Chapter Three:
Zoisite hated audiences with Beryl. The demon Queen always seemed to be staring directly into his soul, discovering every niggling doubt in the back of his mind and storing it away in her own for future uses, or that was how it often seemed, and today was no exception. Nephrite stood to his left, his head bowed in submission. The Kurozuishou hovered a few centimeters away from Beryl's face as her hardened gaze flickered back and forth between her two kings. Zoisite chewed his lower lip, drawing some blood as he again wished that Kunzite-sama were attending this audience with the Queen. Kunzite-sama always knew what to say to appease Beryl. Zoisite always managed to say the wrong thing, and today would be no different, he was sure.
"Nephrite," Beryl seemed more interested in the auburn haired king at present and Zoisite, if he had any sense, would keep quiet until Beryl had finished; if he had any sense that was. "Your mission to collect energy for the great ruler has been fraught with difficulties, but we have finally obtained enough to partially awaken the glorious creator of our Dark Kingdom, Queen Metallia."
Zoisite was shocked, shocked and angered that Beryl would praise Nephrite so after so many failures and he voiced his thoughts to this extent.
"Zoisite!" Beryl's gaze whipped round to glare into his own, "You forget your place! If I understand correctly, it was your job to find the illusionary Ginzuishou, a powerful weapon that will aid the full revival of Metallia-sama. You are in no position to criticize Nephrite's failures when you overlook your own."
"If you'd just given me permission to seek the Ginzuishou in the Earth realm, then you would have the damn thing by now," Zoisite sniped back and instantly regretted it.
Yet Beryl did not explode in anger, as Zoisite suspected that she would. Her lips tightened in a terrifying combination of a smile and a grimace. "You are so sure of this, but I fear that you have been chasing after the wrong thing. With Metallia-sama partly revived, I have learned the true fate of the Ginzuishou."
"The true fate?" Nephrite repeated, also annoyed that he had been kept in the dark, so to speak.
"Yes. It was during our battle with the Moon Kingdom, the Silver Millennium."
"The Silver Millennium?" Zoisite repeated to himself. That had truly been an age ago; indeed he had not even known Kunzite-sama very well back then!
"We used the awesome power of the Seven Great Youma to conquer the Moon, but damn our hateful enemies. They utilised the power of the Ginzuishou and trapped them inside seven shards known as the Nijizuishou."
"Nijizuishou?" Nephrite nodded, "So that was why the Kurozuishou could not locate the Ginzuishou?"
Beryl nodded, a feral smile twisting her lips as she continued, "The Seven Great Youma fell to Earth in the shards of crystal and were reborn as humans without any memories of their former existence. I have modified the Kurozuishou to find and draw out the Nijizuishou from their respective owners," as she said this, the black crystal floated from her side and stopped in front of Nephrite.
"You have had many failings so far," Beryl told him coldly. "Do not let this mission be one of them."
"What?" Zoisite gasped, "What about me? It was my job to locate the Ginzuishou!"
"And you failed!" Beryl snapped, furious at her orders being questioned, "Metallia-sama hates failure."
"Then let me have a chance to redeem myself," Zoisite pleaded.
"You had your chance," Beryl replied. "Nephrite will seek out the Nijizuishou, whilst you will continue with his old mission and collect energy. Until we obtain the Ginzuishou, Metallia-sama will still need to feed off of the energy of humans. I suggest that you do not fail her."
Zoisite opened his mouth to further any protests, but the words died on his lips and he could only bow in submission before Beryl dismissed them both.
"I wouldn't be co cocky if I were you," Zoisite said to Nephrite as they exited the throne room. "I fear that the Sailor Senshi will also be interested in the Ginzuishou and we all know how much luck you have with them."
Nephrite snorted in contempt and then whipped around with a sudden force and ferocity and grabbed the little king around the neck and slammed him up against the now closed throne room door. Zoisite gasped in some pain as his head connected with the stone. Determined not to let his fear show, Zoisite instead started issuing threats to do with Kunzite killing Nephrite for this, but the second king did not seem to care for this in the slightest.
"I don't believe I made myself quite clear enough for you," he growled in Zoisite's face. "You will stay away from me and you will not hinder my mission in the slightest. If you do then I will kill you."
"You wouldn't dare!" Zoisite cried as Nephrite released him and took a step back.
"Wouldn't I?" He mocked before invoking a teleport to take him to the Earth realm.
For a moment, all Zoisite could do was stare at the fading teleport signature, Nephrite's words echoing around in his mind. The back of his head hurt, but it was his pride that stung the most at allowing Nephrite to threaten him in such a manner and win the favor of the Queen!
Zoisite stamped his foot on the floor in frustration as tears stung the backs of his eyes. It wasn't fair! Why should Nephrite undertake such an important mission? And how dare he threaten Zoisite in such a way? If Kunzite-sama was here… Kunzite-sama! That was it! Zoisite's mood suddenly brightened and he quickly teleported to their castle home, leaving a trail of Sakura petals in his wake.
Naru-chan…
Usagi trailed home from school, her feet dragging at the ground, her face set in a worried frown as her mind kept on replying the events of the previous night over and over in her mind. Nothing, not even Ami-chan's reassurances that it wasn't her fault, could ease the aching pain that burned through Usagi's soul. It was her fault. It did not matter how many times she told herself otherwise. She should have been there for Naru more and not let her duties as a Senshi stop her from seeing how lonely and despondent Naru had become.
"Cheer up, Usagi-chan," Luna called worried as she scampered alongside the pigtailed heroine of love and justice. "You've been a good friend to Naru and she knows this deep down. You shouldn't be so hard on yourself."
That was what my friends said, Usagi thought sadly, but I know I've been neglecting our friendship lately. That was why she fell for someone like Nephrite.
Usagi shivered slightly when thinking of the second Shitennou of the Dark Kingdom. Nephrite now knew who she was and if it hadn't have been for Tuxedo Kamen, he would have killed her. Her frown turned into a dreamy smile when she thought of the caped object of her affections. They had been ready to fight alongside each other until those Youma had showed up… Youma who, instead of going for them, tried to kill Nephrite. The man managed to escape after killing one and left Usagi to finish of the other two with her 'Moon Tiara Action' attack. By that time Tuxedo Kamen had gone too. Life was so unfair!
Usagi gasped, realising that she had completely forgotten about Naru again!
Her best friend had not come to school that day and Usagi was trying to decide whether to go over and see her. She hated lying to Naru about the Youma and even more so that she couldn't tell her that she was Sailor Moon. Of course, Usagi had told herself it was to keep Naru out of danger, but having a crush on a Dark Kingdom Tennou was as dangerous as one could get. Usagi sighed, not even the prospect of planning Naru's surprise party could cheer her up now.
"Itai!" Usagi squealed as she turned a corner and walked right into someone. With another squeal, she fell back onto the sidewalk and allowed a sigh to escape her lips. Why was it whenever she was miserable she always bumped into him?
Chiba Mamoru made a noise of disapproval and knelt down to pick up various textbooks that had been scattered all over the paving stones.
"Watch where you are going, Odango Atama," he sniped angrily.
Usagi sprang up, seething; she was not in the mood for his cruel jokes regarding her hair.
"Why don't you watch where you're going? If you hadn't have had your nose in those books you would have seen me coming!"
"I shouldn't have to when I'm not even moving!" Was the retort and Usagi pouted but could think of nothing to say. For some reason tears sprang into her eyes and she bit back a small sob. She really didn't need this today of all days.
"Out of my way!" She struggled to push passed him but Mamoru, seeing that she was upset, caught her arm.
"What's the matter Odango? You're not your usual perky self today?"
"Why do you care?"
"Because I bumped into you and it is only right that I take you for a coffee to apologise, after all."
Usagi eyed him suspiciously, "But I thought you said that I walked into you?"
Mamoru rolled his eyes, "Baka, I'm trying to cheer you up!"
"Why would I want to be seen dead with you?"
"I'll buy you an ice cream."
"Chocolate?"
"Yes."
"Wai!" Usagi clapped her hands together and was unable to stop the huge grin from spreading across her face. Mamoru rolled his eyes at this childish display; he already knew that he was going to regret this.
Usagi was on her third helping of ice cream, ignoring the weird looks that the other customers in Crown's Fruit Parlor gave her as she dug her spoon into the mound of melting chocolate and gave Mamoru a sticky smile.
"You know, you're not too bad for a jerk," she said happily between mouthfuls.
"Thanks," Mamoru said sarcastically, "Now are you going to tell me what is wrong?"
"It's Naru, my best friend," Usagi's gaze saddened again and Mamoru almost wished that she would start eating again. "She's still involved with an older man. I know he's really bad for her, but she won't listen to me when I try to tell her just what he is like. She thinks she can change him, but I know she can't and what is worse is that it is partly my fault for not being there for her nearly as much as I should be."
Mamoru frowned, "That is a difficult one. Why haven't you been spending time with her anymore? Is it because of this older man?"
"No," Usagi shook her head, "Something happened a few months ago and I've changed a lot. This new thing I have to do takes up a lot of my spare time."
"Is it something that Naru can help with?"
"No. I don't want her involved."
"Is Rei-san involved?"
Usagi looked at him, "Yes."
"And your other friend, Mizuno Ami?"
"Hai."
"Naru probably feels left out and that is why she turns to this older man. He probably makes her feel special."
"I know, but he's so bad for her. A few nights ago her mother caught Naru stealing this really expensive jewel and when I asked her about it she said that he had asked her too."
"Did she give a reason?"
"She thinks he's in some kind of trouble, but not as much as she's going to be in if she doesn't stop seeing him."
Mamoru took a sip of his coffee before saying; "Rei-san said something about a surprise party for Naru. That will show her how much you care about her and perhaps afterwards you two could talk and you can voice your feelings concerning this older man?"
Usagi nodded enthusiastically, "That might work! But how am I going to throw a surprise party? I used all my allowance up at Crown playing the Sailor V game and Mama won't let me have a party at our house."
She looked so sad, so unlike the Usagi that Mamoru was used to, thus his only explanation for his next words, "You can have the party at my place. I live alone so you can be as loud as you like."
"Honto?"
"Hai."
"Wai!" Usagi clapped her hands together, "But what about money?"
"Come round after school tomorrow. My apartment hasn't been cleaned in ages. If you do some cleaning I'll give you some Yen to buy food and stuff."
Usagi smiled and almost hugged him. Then a frown clouded her face once again, "Why are you being so nice to me? Why do you care if Naru-chan gets into trouble?"
Mamoru, in all honesty, did not know. All he knew was that he hated seeing Usagi so down.
"I need a cleaner," he shrugged. "Though if you break anything, Odango Atama, you will be paying for it out of your allowance for the next five years."
"You're so mean!" Usagi pouted.
Mamoru smirked, until the waiter set down the bill for the ice cream. Usagi sweatdropped when she saw all the figures and jumped up, "Well, thanks for the ice cream. I should be going now!"
"Here's my address," Mamoru scrawled some kanji down on a napkin, "Come round tomorrow after school."
"Ok!" Usagi waved and hurried out of the door. Once round the corner she stopped to stare at the address he'd given her. What had happened? Why was Mamoru being so nice to her? Usagi sighed and stuffed the napkin in her pocket. It was funny, how just talking to him had cheered her right up. Suddenly her problems with Naru didn't seem so terrible after all.
Zoisite sat in front of the marble dresser, carefully watching Kunzite's impassive expression in the mirror as he brushed some knots out of his coppery hair. It fell loose around his shoulders in waves, as it always did after it had been tied back all day.
His mind wandered back to the audience with Beryl earlier that day. Again the anger surfaced and Zoisite clenched the brush so hard that he was afraid that it would snap. Why Nephrite? Of all the beings in the Dark Kingdom why did it have to be him? Setting down the brush, Zoisite let the bathrobe fall to the floor, before climbing into the bed and snuggling against Kunzite.
Kunzite put an arm around the younger king's waist and pulled him closer, even as Zoisite murmured, "Kunzite-sama? You have an influence with Beryl, don't you? Couldn't you persuade her that I would be much more suited for the mission to collect the Nijizuishou?"
He awaited Kunzite's reply with baited breath and when it came he was bitterly disappointed.
"I could, but I won't."
"Why?" Zoisite reacted violently, pushing himself away from the older king and sitting up in the bed.
"You should have had that mission, yes," Kunzite allowed. "But it was your own foolishness concerning Nephrite that cost you it. You should have known that he was strong enough to force down any feelings he might have had for that dirty human. It was your own fault."
Your own fault…Zoisite bit his lip, "But, Kunzite-sama," he lowered his gaze and toyed with a strand of his hair, "don't you want me to succeed?"
"No student of mine would want me to interfere. You should receive the mission on your own merit."
"What if I kill him?"
"Don't. You have failed once. It would be an unwise move to take his life now that Beryl had placed her trust in him. You should wait. There will be other opportunities."
"Kunzite-sama…" Zoisite trailed off in a hurt voice. He lay back down, this time his back to Kunzite as he brought one hand up to his mouth to bite his nails.
"What he said. It was cruel. He shouldn't have said that. You deserve to be treated better."
"What the hell do you know about it?"
"Nothing, but I know a person's heart, even someone as evil as you."
"I deserve better," Zoisite whispered to himself. That couldn't be true, could it? Kunzite-sama was good to him. He had always been a source of comfort for the little king, though he seldom showed him any affection outside the bedroom. That had always been enough, hadn't it? Kunzite-sama was cold to everyone and Zoisite had long since stopped expecting him to be any different. It did not mean that his coldness did not hurt at times, though. His remark of earlier had stung, as had his comments the night before.
Did he deserve better? Contrary to the rumors in the kingdom, Zoisite had never had anyone aside from Kunzite. He had to admit he knew little of relationships on Earth and had no wish to. Humans were a dirty race and Zoisite saw them as nothing but an energy source. Humans cared a lot for love. Zoisite loved Kunzite-sama, but he was loath to put his feelings for the older Tennou on the same par as humans love for each other.
He turned back to face his lover, seeing no pity, no remorse, or even any kind of feeling in those platinum eyes. Did he deserve better? Zoisite did not know.
Then the usual pink rose was placed under his nose. Zoisite frowned at the flower, for the first time seeing the offering as it really was, rather than how he had always disillusioned himself that it was.
It was meant to appease him, to make him gasp Kunzite's name and forget how cruelly his lover had treated him. It worked, too, Zoisite thought miserably. It had worked every time and even now his hand had reached out to take the flower. No! This time it would not work. Slowly, and very deliberately, Zoisite crushed the pink blossom in his palm, ignoring the sharp pain as the thorns dug into his soft flesh. Blood dripped onto the white sheet as Zoisite released the rose; its stem broken and its petals fell onto the bed. Not waiting for Kunzite's reaction, Zoisite rolled over again so that his back was facing the older man.
Kunzite did not do anything. He did not say anything and Zoisite did not expect him too. He felt Kunzite's hand move to sweep the dead rose off of the bed and then he, too, rolled over and put his back to his lover. Zoisite bit his lip so hard that he drew blood as he battled against the want to make amends, to cuddle up against Kunzite-sama as he always did and to have the man make love to him as they usually did. Yet Zoisite did not. He simply lay on his side, ignoring the throbbing in his hand until sleep claimed him.