Prisoner of His Heart

by Odango Atama

To protect Venus from being taken as prisoner, Princess Serenity disguises herself as a maid with the help of Kunzite in the Earthen castle. As Serenity finds herself being drawn to the silver haired general, she is unaware that the Prince is also captivated by the mysterious blonde maid. Can she hide her identity from the Prince while also dealing with her feelings for the two?

4. Clutch

Author's Notes: Sorry about the monthly releases, but with the lengths of each chapter, that's probably going to be the schedule. I know some of you have been commenting on Endymion's not so likable personality. I wanted to make him unlikable in the beginning so that Serenity would be naturally more drawn to Kunzite at first. Things will change as the chapters progress, especially in terms of Endymion's more "human" side, but for now, that's the direction I want to go in. (Although looking back on the previous chapters, I may have made him too unlikeable..) Thank you for the comments about Serenity's characterization, especially in regards to her "attraction" for Endymion. I've re-written parts of this chapter and future plot points, so thank you very much for your suggestions. Even though he was horrible to her, Serenity can't help but be attracted to him physically, as much as it disgusts her, but I can see how it might not be as believable as I had hoped. I'll keep that in mind as I write the future chapters, so thank you again for your comments!

Before you (hopefully) continue with this chapter, a quick warning. In the end, a rather graphic scene happens. This chapter is rated M/NC-17, so I assume the readers are of the right age, but I thought I'd give a fair warning, so please be warned. That being said, please enjoy the next chapter.

I'm so en-captured

Got me wrapped up in your touch
Feel so enamoured

Hold me tight within your clutch

How do you do it?

You got me losing every breath

What did you give me to make my heart bleed out my chest?

Latch – Sam Smith

Chapter 4: Clutch

---

She ran as fast as her long legs could take her through the gardens, trying her best to avoid the pesky hedges and trees that were in her way. Serenity didn't dare to look behind her, knowing fully that if she had, it would only slow her down. As her breath grew weaker from the exertion, she wondered how long they had been chasing her.

The Prince announced it earlier that morning. Standing tall in front of his subjects, boastful as always, with his dark raven hair dangling above his cold and emotionless eyes. "Anyone caught associating with the maid will be punished severely," Endymion warned the crowd sternly. "But do not hesitate to show her some... Earthen hospitality," he finished with a devilish grin. His cruel words cut through her like an ice storm as his eyes met hers from across the courtyard. It was then she felt the weight of the gawking eyes of her peers on her like a hawk and Serenity knew she had to get away.

Serenity saw Elizabeth and her subordinates standing by the rose gardens with four other girls and three men standing behind her, scowling in Serenity's direction. The Princess ignored her initial instincts that told her to walk away. She just about had it with being like she was beneath everyone! Perhaps it was her aggressive encounter with the Prince the previous night that fuelled her desire to seek justice, or Kunzite's words of encouragement. Either way, the fiery Princess couldn't help herself when the sound of her hand smacking across the arrogant face of Elizabeth echoed throughout the gardens. "That was for attacking me," she snarled at them, eyes narrowed in their direction.

Elizabeth reeled back, holding her throbbing face in her hand. "How dare you strike your superior, maid!" The older woman stared icily at the Princess, still in shock that someone had struck her. "The Prince was right. You really are an uncultured wench, aren't you?" Serenity returned the glare, enraged at the Prince's words. Before she was able to say anything else, Elizabeth turned to the group behind her. "What are you waiting for? Get her!"

Serenity knew her limit was near. The castle grounds were close, so willed her legs to sprint in that direction. The muscles in her legs burned as she pushed herself further, desperately seeking a place to hide.

All of a sudden, Serenity gasped when an arm snaked around her waist and mouth, pulling her into a nearby closet. Serenity tried to calm and quiet her panicked breaths, but found it difficult as she was only able to breathe through her nose. Her eyes widened in fear as the hold around her body and mouth tightened. Hot breath pressed against her ear, the captor whispered softly in her ear to stay still. Her body stiffened at the comforting sound of the deep and masculine voice, to which she instantly recognized.

Slowly turning her head, Serenity met the all too familiar blue eyes looking back at her with strained eyes. His silver hair flowed along the side of his face, touching her skin ever so slightly. How was it that he was always able to come to her rescue, no matter what the situation? "Kunzite-" she tried to say, but her voice was immediately muffled by his hand.

"Shh," he whispered in her ear, making her eyes roll up from the pleasure of his warm breath. After a few moments, Kunzite released his hold around the slender girl, much to the Princess' both relief and dismay. Peering through the slitted door frame, Kunzite released a heavy sigh. "It should be safe to come out now," he told her reassuringly. Opening the door for her, Serenity waited for her breaths to subside. "My chambers are nearby. Let's get you something to drink." The Princess nodded, before hesitantly following him into the halls.

Serenity's jaw dropped when her eyes gazed upon the size of Kunzite's room. Not because it was large, but because it was so... small. Almost as large as hers, in fact. On the right side of the room was a small bed that looked as if was big enough to fit one person. At the back of the room stood a large bookcase, almost spanning across the entire back wall. To the left was the door which she assumed was a bathroom, but other than a window next to his bed, his room was lacking in any type of extravagance one would expect from the Prince's guard. "Kunzite... your room," she started, but wasn't quite sure how she would finish.

Kunzite's lips formed into a smile before closing the door behind him. "It's not much, I realize. The King insisted I take a bigger room, but this was sufficient enough for me." The tall soldier motioned towards his bed, patting the mattress gently. "Sit," he told her, before pulling up a chair next to it.

The Princess paused for a moment and wondered why her heart began to beat the moment he pointed to his bed. Trying to ignore her jittery heart, Serenity made her way to his bed before sitting down in front of him. Before she could ask a single question, Kunzite gently grabbed her hand in his, causing her to flinch in pain. "Oww!" she gasped, as he held her hand in his.

"I knew it had to be you," Kunzite mumbled with annoyance as he examined her bruised hand. "What did I tell you about going around and striking the Prince as you please?" He didn't mean to scold her, but she was making it very difficult to remain unnoticed. Plus, she could have easily broken her hand!

Serenity lips dipped into a frown, pulling her hand away from his. "He deserved it! He... He..." Her eyes grew huge when she recalled the warm and tingling feeling of the Prince's lips brushing against her skin and found her face suddenly burning. Now was not the time to remembering that!

"How many times do we need to have this conversation, Princess?" he asked, frustration clear in his voice. "The more attention you bring to yourself, the harder it'll be for me to help you."

The Princess looked away from Kunzite, unsure of how what to say to the general. "I am not trying to make life any harder for you, Kunzite. I'm alright with hiding my appearance from others, but... for me to ignore what the Prince was doing... to hide who I really am..." The Princess held her hand to her chest and sighed heavily, her eyes settling on her lap. "You're asking the impossible of me."

He didn't expect to hear that answer. "How so?" he asked, tilting his head.

Serenity also cocked her head to the side. "I'm... doing things... allowing... things to be done... that I normally would never do. Things that I never would have let happened," she replied softly. A blush splashed across her cheeks as memories of the ill-timed kiss with the Prince and the aggressive way he held her in the halls flashed before her eyes. How could such a horrible person manage to effect her body so strangely? She never would have let this happen if she were back home. Her eyes shyly looked up to meet his, watching him as he leaned back in his chair.

"Like punching a royal in the face?" Kunzite sighed, frowning at her.

The Princess frowned back at the general. "I told you, he deserved it!"

"It's not about what he does or does not deserve, Serenity," the silver-haired general began, his hands scratching the back of his neck. "He is a Prince. You are a maid. It's about not drawing attention to yourself until I can get you out of here." He really didn't mean to scold her like a child. Her saving grace was that the Prince couldn't remember who it was that hit him. If he had, Kunzite didn't know how he'd be able to save her this time.

She sighed in frustration, throwing her hands up in the air. "I did not ask for this at all, Kunzite. I agreed to adopting this... ridiculous identity, but I did not agree to letting your lecherous Prince do as he pleases with me! Why do I have to feel guilty every time I try to defend myself? My father taught me never to let anyone make me feel like I'm beneath them, and ever since I arrived in this kingdom, that's all anyone has ever done!" she yelled, unaware of the tears that were building in her eyes.

The Princess didn't realize just how much anger and frustration was in her voice was until she saw the look of surprise in Kunzite's eyes. Her eyes softened, aware that this was the first time he had ever looked at her like that. "Just like that, Kunzite. I feel guilty every day for making your life harder when I shouldn't have to! You were the one who tricked me into staying here!" Turning her head away from him, Serenity desperately tried to fight back the tears. She wasn't going to cry, she wasn't!

Kunzite hadn't realized she had been feeling this way. This entire time he thought her main frustration was with the Prince, but in actuality, he had also played a cruel part in her capture. It wasn't until then that he realized he had never really owned up to it either. He had asked so much of the Princess, yet gave her nothing in return.

After a few moments of agonizing silence, Serenity briefly glanced over at the general and watched as he reached out to hold her tiny hand within his, before glancing up to meet her eyes. When her eyes settled onto his, the Princess felt her body still from his tender gaze and the warmth of his hands. "You're absolutely right, Princess. I haven't been fair to you at all. I've asked you to keep my secret and to hide who you are, and yet I never once thought about how it might be affecting you."

All she could hear was the sound of her heart thrashing against her chest. Serenity looked into his soft and gentle eyes, knowing that everything he was saying was genuine. Her heart sank in her chest as a feeling of guilt washed over her. "I... I didn't mean to sound so... I shouldn't expect so much," she began, brushing a piece of her hair back behind her ear. "I know you are only caring for me because you feel guilty, or that you know Venus would want you to..." Her eyes trailed away from his, settling back down onto her lap.

A soft smile formed on his lips. "I admit, that was true in the beginning, but I must say, I do enjoy being around you." Serenity's eyes widened at his words, her eyes slowly rising back to his. "You're funny, strong willed, and you do manage to keep things interesting around here." Leaning in towards the Princess, Serenity drew in a sharp breath as he drew near. He pulled out a navy blue handkerchief from his pocket and began to wrap it around her tiny hand. "By keeping my secret, you've shown me that I can trust you. I realize now, I haven't done much to earn your trust."

Serenity watched with both confusion and anticipation as he handled her hand with a delicateness she hadn't seen before. Her stomach felt like it was in knots for yelling at him because she knew at that moment, the man in front of her was actually an incredibly kind person. Even just the way he manipulated her injured hand was kinder than anything anyone else had done for her in this kingdom. "Have you ever been taught how to properly defend yourself, Princess?" he asked.

"Not after my father passed," she said sadly, eyes never leaving his hands.

"Well, I happen to be an excellent fighter," Kunzite grinned, almost finishing the wrapping. "Since I can't stop you from going around and throwing punches, I can at least teach you how to properly do it without hurting yourself."

Serenity pondered his answer for a moment, and as she was doing so, Kunzite wrapped the ends of the cloth in a small bow. Serenity's fixated upon her bandaged hand, noting how more comfortable it felt being bound. Suddenly, Serenity gasped when Kunzite brought her clothed hand near his lips and placed a feathery light kiss on her back of her fingers. Her face immediately reddened from the touch of his lips and felt her body stiffen. What was he doing?

Gently releasing her hand, Kunzite's eyes searched for hers. "What do you say, Princess?"

The Moon Princess stared at her hand in his in disbelief. His large hands enveloped hers and yet for some reason, she had never felt safer. After another hesitant moment, the Princess finally nodded. "That sounds wonderful, Kunzite. Thank you. And I apologize earlier for my outburst."

Kunzite shook his head. "No, do not ever apologize, Princess. You were right. I'm no different from when Endymion threw you in dungeon. Except, the bars I placed around you just couldn't be seen. Which is a shame, because you really are amazing, Princess. Nothing should ever stop you from being you." Blushing, Serenity was speechless from his words. He thought she was amazing? "Honestly, itès been a while since I've seen someone stand up to the Prince like you have and that takes a certain kind of strength. You're true to who you are, and in this world, that's an admirable trait."

What was it about his words that made her feel so... so... Serenity looked away, unsure of what to say to him. Her heart felt like it was full of warmth and ready to burst at any minute. "T-Thank you, Kunzite," she finally said with a smile.

"After your tasks tomorrow, I'll come by your chambers. We can begin your training then." The Princess nodded. Her eyes met with his for a moment as her heart began to beat faster and faster, to the point where she thought it was going to punch through her chest. Seeing her bright smile, it was the general's turn to redden. Alarmed at his reaction, Kunzite stood up immediately from his seat. What in the world was that?

"Well, I'd best get going," Serenity began, before standing up as well. She had forgotten momentarily that it was still midday. "Thank you again, Kunzite. Despite what I said, I do... I do appreciate what you're trying to do for me." Serenity flashed one last smile at him, before walking past him towards the door. As she closed the door behind her, Serenity collapsed against the door as she held her beating chest in her hand. Why did this seem to always happen around him?

Staring down at her wrapped hand, the Princess found herself smiling ear to ear as she recalled his gentle hands around hers and his sweet words. You really are amazing, Princess. Filled with a new found confidence to take on her enemies, Serenity pushed herself off the door and was truly no longer afraid to run.

---

She clung to his every thought since their last encounter, like a blood sucking leech, slowly and agonizingly sucking the life right out of him. No matter what he did, Endymion couldn't get that meddlesome blonde out of his mind. Resting his weary head against the comfort of his open hands, he hoped he would be granted with just a brief moment of solitude.

Yet there she was, staring at him even as he clenched his eyes shut, with slightly closed eyes, cheeks flushed with a pink hue, and her teeth gently biting down on the ends of her delicate and slender fingers. Bright and golden hair pooled around her like the brightest sun of summer, covering parts of her delectable body that he wanted nothing more than to roam his hands all over. Serena's eyes never strayed from his when she pulled her fingers away from her mouth, and slowly ran her tongue over her peachy and sinful lips, making his throat suddenly go dry. "Prince," a breathy moan left her aching lips as she stared at him with such a lustful expression, Endymion could feel him harden against his restraints instantly.

Gods, he was obsessed! Over a maid, none the less. Why was it that the more he tried to get rid of her, the more she managed to seep her way into his life, consuming every part of him in a fiery blaze of glory. Even that morning, where he forbade anyone to associate with the maid, his eyes managed to catch her scowl from across the courtyard, and all he could think about at that moment was storming through the crowd and taking her right there and then. This was ridiculous! He should be focusing on how to get rid of her, not on how to ravage her!

"You look like you haven't slept in days." Endymion almost jumped in his seat as Jaedite took a seat next to him at the assembly table. The Prince briefly glanced over at his friend, hoping that he would be able to provide that momentary distraction that he longed for.

"I've got... a lot on my mind," Endymion replied, returning his weary head to the dark comfort of his hands.

The sandy blonde general chuckled, placing a comforting pat on his back. "I heard about your announcement this morning," the general began, an amused smile forming on his lips. "I'm assuming this is your plan for 'revenge'?"

Another deep sigh left his lips and the Prince leaned back in his seat. "One of the basic human needs is companionship. Take that way, and you have nothing." Endy... a soft voice called to him as his body tensed. No, now was not a time to be thinking of her! Clearing his throat, the Prince leaned forward. "By the time I get to her, she'll be so broken down, she won't have a fighting chance against me. If my father won't get rid of her, then I'll have to force her out." No one should be able to hurt his face like that and walk away clean. No one should be able to embarrass him in front of his father like that. No one should be able to consume his thoughts the way she does... no one.

"What's this I hear about someone being broken down?" Zoicite inquired as he sat down. The Prince watched as the two other generals took a seat next to him.

"Endymion is not so pleased with our feisty little maid," Jaedite mused, resting his chin on his palm. "If you're not too busy making her life a living hell, I wouldn't mind a go with her," the blonde offered as his lips curled into a devilish smile. The Prince's eyes narrowed in his direction, before taking his hand and slapping it across the back of his head.

"Do not be fooled by her womanly charms, Jaedite," the Prince warned, sneering at his friend. Endymion felt his stomach harden at the thought of his general with the maid. No one was to touch her. No one.

Shaking his head, the Prince wondered where this sudden possessiveness came from. "Your taste is despicable, Jaedite." And yet, even then as he was scolding his friend, Endymion couldn't stop the haunting images of the golden temptress on his lap, clinging to his shoulders and crying in pleasure as she rode him in front of his comrades.

Suddenly, the door swung open with a loud crash, thankfully ripping Endymion from his dream. The entire room stood up as the King entered the room hastily, taking a seat near the Prince at the head of the table. The Prince watched his father curiously and noticed something was off about his normally stoic face. The moment the King sat down, he closed his eyes and began to furiously rub his temples. Something was clearly bothering him.

As the soldiers and generals in the room sat down, the King removed his hands from his face and placed them flat onto the table. "We have a problem, gentlemen," the King began, his voice strong and deep as always, but Endymion could hear the strain in his words. "I've just received an alarming message from the Moon Queen. Apparently, the old witch has been trying to contact us for weeks."

A wave of whispers and chatter filled the room at the sudden news. Endymion couldn't take his eyes off his father. He had never seen his father so... bothered before. The King was always a man of pride and strength, always standing up tall ever since he could remember. And yet, the man before him was hunched over, resting his face against his linked fingers, staring pensively at the table in front of him. What could the Moon Queen have possibly said to him that would make him so tense?

"What is the news, your grace?" Nephrite asked.

After a beat, the King pulled away from his hands. His eyebrows drew together across his aged face as his finger reached up to stroke his eyebrow. "The Moon Princess is missing," he revealed. "And the wench claims we've been holding her captive."

The room burst into a roar of chatter; the sound almost deafening. Slamming his fist into the table, the room fell into a silent lull almost immediately after. "Has anyone else heard of this and did not inform me?" the King demanded, eyes tightening as he stared down at the men in front of him.

The Prince leaned casually back into his chair, almost enjoying the struggle his father was going through. "I think we would know if we've been holding the Moon Princess captive. Tell the old bitch to look for her trash elsewhere."

The King didn't even bother to look at his son, and instead simply shook his head. "Thank you, Endymion, for the beautiful choice of words."

Endymion narrowed his eyes at his father. There he goes again, dismissing anything he had to say. In front of the other generals, as well. Why was it that his father never took him seriously? Folding his arms across his chest, the Prince frowned. "Why would someone from the Moon be so stupid to come to Earth? Does this idiot of a Princess not know of the consequences if she is caught?"

"Queen Serenity was adamant that we have her. Therefore, she must have had an inside informant," the King began to explain, taking a deep breath. "We will not tolerate treason, especially when it concerns that wretched Moon Kingdom," the King explained. "If this is true, and she is on Terran grounds, we need to find and capture her. If we can obtain the Princess, we can use her as a bargaining chip for their crystal and their kingdom."

The Prince tilted his head slightly as he watched his father. Ever since he could remember, his father had been consumed with the belief that all Moonlings were not to be trusted. Most people didn't trust them because Moonlings somehow never aged; a concept that was lost on the Earthlings who faced mortality every day. However, there was always something dark and heavy hidden in the depths of his father's eyes anytime he mentioned or spoke of the Moon kingdom. As if something painful happened to him, long ago...

"What does the Princess look like, Nephrite?" Zoicite asked, leaning in closer to the generals.

"I remembering seeing her long, golden hair... and her hairstyle was similar to that of the Queen's," Nephrite began, as he held his chin in his hand, cocking his head slightly. "However, if she is taking cover in our kingdom... surely, she must have adopted a disguise."

King Endymion nodded in Nephrite's direction. "That is most likely to be true. I want the kingdom on alert and that if anyone sees anything suspicious, they are to inform me immediately," he ordered, his eyes darting around the room. "I want to know why she's here, and who has been hiding her. She is to be given to me alive, is that clear?"

"Yes, your grace," the soldiers replied in unison while bowing their heads. Endymion rolled his eyes as his fingers began to tap against the table. Why wasn't anyone mentioning the obvious?

"You'll probably need to inform the people of the castle as well, father," the Prince suggested, his gaze flicking up towards his father. The King raised his eyebrow at his son, scoffing at his weak suggestion.

"You think the Princess would be hiding in my castle? Don't you think I would notice if a Moonling was living under my roof?" Endymion could practically hear the disappointment in his voice. Clenching his jaw for a brief moment, the Prince leaned forward with his elbow resting on the table.

"I'm just saying, father, it wouldn't hurt to cover your bases," he retorted as the dark Prince sneered at his father. "Hiding in the one place no one would suspect? Sounds like something those Moonlings would do." The King remained silent; only the sound of him releasing a deep breath could be heard before he turned to his adviser at hand to the right.

"Make it known," King Endymion ordered. "Restrict all outbound transportation, and absolutely no transportation spells are to be created unless I give specific authorization." As the older gentleman next to him began to scribble down his words furiously, King Endymion stood up from his seat at the table. "That is all for today, gentlemen." The generals stood from the seats and bowed, as the King turned to leave the room, but not before giving his son one last glare.

Endymion frowned, as he watched his father and the rest of the soldiers begin to clear out. Folding his arms across his chest, the Prince closed his eyes. For sure he thought he would at least acknowledge his good ideas. Perhaps he was expecting too much from the man who never knew or understood how to be a father. Not to me, at least...

"Well," Zoicite began, also leaning back in his chair. "That was interesting. I wonder what the Moon Princess would be doing here."

"I hope they find the bitch," Jaedite growled, clenching his fist. "I want to see the look on the Queen's face when we take her kingdom."

Endymion glanced over at his sandy blonde-haired general. Jaedite shared a similar, if not mutual, distaste for the Moon kingdom, ever since he was a young boy. He never seemed to figure out why Jaedite felt such animosity towards them. However, if Endymion was being truly honest, he wasn't quite sure how he felt about them either. His father never wasted a single moment telling him how Moonlings were not to be trusted and were horrible human beings. He followed his father into battles and wars, to defend their kingdom. However, Endymion wasn't sure whether he truly despised the Moonlings, or whether he only did those things so his father would be proud of him...

The Prince looked at Nephrite, realizing he hadn't said a word in a while. "Nephrite," Endymion called. "You're awfully quiet today."

The chestnut-haired soldier remained silent and removed his glasses. "My apologies, Endymion. I was just wondering where Kunzite was."

"He mentioned that he had some business to attend to first," Zoicite said with a furrowed brow. "Endymion, do you really think the Princess would be hiding in the castle? What if she was here, spying on us?"

The dark-haired general inhaled sharply. "It would be the last place we would look, that's for sure. But perhaps my father is right. Wouldn't we all notice if the Princess was hiding-" Suddenly, Endymion's entire body came to a standstill as he felt his body become rooted in his spot. His pulse quickened against his chest and his palms became suddenly drenched in sweat. Eyes widening, Endymion shook his head. No... it couldn't possibly be...

"What's wrong, Endymion?" Nephrite asked, leaning in slightly.

The Prince stood up from his chair, palms flat against the table. Endymion almost wanted to applaud the wench for being so damned tactful and shake her for being so obvious at the same time. Why... why did I not realize it before? How could I have been so blind? Slowly, he looked up at his comrades from across the table as an evil smile slowly formed on his lips. "I think I've just found exactly what I need to exact my revenge," Endymion replied, before turning around and leaving his confused generals in a hurry.

---

The sound of three roaring knocks roused the Princess from her sleep that night. Her eyes slowly fluttered open as the familiar, yet not so familiar room around her slowly came into view. Her eyes had trouble adjusting to the lack of light, with her room only being lit by the moonlight from her window. What time is it? She wondered while rubbing her weary eyes. Serenity remembered collapsing immediately after returning to her chambers, and that after a day of running and trying to complete her tasks so she could have something to eat, she was exhausted.

She heard the knocks again, but this time, a familiar voice beckoned from behind the door. "It's me," the low voice called, and immediately, Serenity bolted up from her bed, suddenly feeling more energized than ever before. Throwing the covers off her body, the Princess pushed herself off of the comfort of her bed and dashed towards the door, opening it without any hesitation.

There he stood, in all his magnificent glory. With two wooden swords in his gloved hands, the silver-haired general's lips slowly curled into an infectious smile, which Serenity soon followed suit. His hair, looked more perfect than ever, as it glided along the side of his face. His uniform, which was always open ever so slightly, revealed more of his sculpted and toned chest. The Princess could already feel her skin flushing just by the mere sight of the soldier as she gazed into his captivating blue eyes. "Come on in," Serenity greeted, stepping back to allow him to enter.

As the general walked past her and entered, Serenity hands flew to her hair and began to quickly pat down any strays while his back was turned to her. "Did you have any trouble today?" Kunzite asked, while turning around to face her. She looked absolutely exhausted, but at the same time, the energy emanating from her was infectious.

Serenity's hands quickly dropped to her sides, flashing him a casual smile. "No problems today," she lied. Well, partly lied, at least. No one dared to speak to her today, but she could practically feel the stare of death from Elizabeth on the back of her neck as she watched her every movement.

Her body stiffened when she felt Kunzite's hands reach out for her injured one as he held it gently in his hands. "Looks like it's healing," he noted, turning her hand slightly to examine it further. Serenity could feel her breath quicken as his feather-like touches brought shivers all throughout her body. "Alright, let's get started," Kunzite spoke, and before Serenity could even say a word, the silver-haired general began to unbutton his uniform completely.

The Princess' eyes grew wide as the sight of Kunzite's muscular chest slowly came into complete view. The roar of her heartbeat was deafening, and suddenly the room felt warmer than usual. Palms sweaty, Serenity almost felt like choking when her throat became parched. His body was toned in all the right places and not too muscular. With the moonlight bouncing off his tanned skin, the Princess couldn't help but feel flustered by his body. This was the first time she had ever seen the male body up close, and what a body! Suddenly, her eyes quickly darted away, knowing that these reactions she was feeling were completely inappropriate. He is Venus'! Why... why are you staring at him like that?

Yet, she couldn't help but steal another glance as Kunzite began to tie his hair back. He really was a magnificent creature, and it didn't help that he was also an amazingly kind person. He caught her glazed stare, and found himself smiling in response. Serenity's brows furrowed when she felt her heart shift; a sudden pang in her chest. Clutching her hand to her chest, Serenity shook her head. What was that? She wondered.

Slowly, Kunzite walked towards her, each step bringing his warm body closer and closer to hers. With only a few inches separating them, an overwhelming light-headed feeling washed over her. She swore she would have fallen if Kunzite had not took her hand in his. The moment he held her hand in his, Serenity could feel every nerve ending in her body tingle from his touch. "Here," he said in almost a whisper, as he handed her the wooden sword before walking away. No longer flooded by his captivating warmth, Serenity nodded and tried desperately to regain control over her emotions.

"The first thing you need to learn is how to control your power," Kunzite began, holding his sword out with both hands in front of him. "You have strength, Serenity, but you need to learn how to focus that power in your moves."

Without any warning, Kunzite lunged forward at her with his sword. Serenity gasped as he closed the distance with a speed she had never seen before. Instinctively, she raised her sword above her head to block his attack. "Good," he noted, pleased that she had some kind of instinctual response to battle. Pulling away from her, he motioned for her to come forward with his hand.

Her shaking hands gripped tightly onto the handle. Although it had been a long time since she had held a sword, the memories of when her father used to teach her came rushing back to her. Taking a step forward, Serenity lunged forward and attacked from above, which Kunzite easily blocked. Before Serenity could even get a chance to react, Kunzite pushed her away with the weight of his sword, and swung his sword, hitting her gently on the right side of her ribs.

The golden-haired Princess' eyes widened when she felt his sword on her body. How did he move so fast? "How... how did you even-"

A shriek escaped her lips as she felt her legs being knocked out from beneath her. Before she could even register what had just happened, Serenity gasped when two large and strong arms caught her before her head hit the floor.

Her eyes hesitantly met with the silvery blue eyes staring down at her. Bathed in the moonlight from the window, Serenity found herself being drawn further and further into his alluring eyes as he stared at her with an expression she couldn't quite understand. The light of the moon danced off his hair, almost as if he was emanating his own light. His exposed skin brushed against hers whenever she took a deep breath as a shiver ran down her spine every time they touched.

He didn't mean to be so rough with her at the beginning, but Kunzite knew he had to show the Princess how serious this training would be. If she was going to survive, she needed to know how to defend herself. But, even as he held her to him, Kunzite couldn't deny that strange feeling in the pits of his stomach as she glanced up at him with her big, blue confused eyes.

Lips slightly parted, Serenity found herself unable to look away from his eyes. Her breaths became deeper, as if she was scared of forgetting how to breathe. Her heart roared against her chest and she could swear she felt his arms pull her closer to him ever so slightly. Her eyes betrayed every bone in her body as they glanced over his slightly pursed lips, and suddenly she was filled with the need to want to touch them.

Kunzite slowly felt himself being drawn closer to her. Whether it was her golden hair, or her peachy skin, the general found his face looming in towards hers. His face inched closer and closer to hers, bringing those alluring lips closer to hers, and Serenity began to panic. What exactly was he planning on doing? Serenity drew in a sharp breath when he passed her aching lips and and moved towards her ear. The Princess clenched her eyes when she felt his hot breath against her ear, sending that pleasurable shiver throughout her body. Her tiny hands clutched onto his shoulders, not sure if she wanted him to let her go or to continue his tantalizing torture. Whatever he was planning on doing, she wanted him to do it quickly!

"Rule number one," he whispered softly into her ear, his warm breath against her ear making the hairs at the back of her neck stand up. "Never let your guard down."

Serenity squealed as he lifted her up back on her feet. As she held onto his arms, the Princess avoided his gaze, knowing very well she was as bright as a tomato. How was it that he was able to have this effect on her? Everything about it was wrong, so so so wrong! How many times did she need to remind herself this man belonged to her best friend? Yet even as she held onto him ever so tightly, Serenity knew she couldn't deny the way her heart fluttered when he drew near her.

Kunzite's hands released his hold on her body. He hadn't expected at all to be so drawn to her. It must be the moon tonight, he wondered as he backed away from the Princess. Bending down to pick up the fallen sword, he placed it back into her trembling hands. "Ready for lesson number two?"

Serenity slowly reached out for the handle and held it shakily in her hands. Still unable to look him in the eyes, the Princess simply nodded, trying her best to brush off that fluttery feeling in her pits of her stomach.

Their lesson soon ended about an hour after Kunzite decided he couldn't go any further with her that night. After a long and exhausting day, Serenity could feel her body ready to give up at any moment. As she rested against the comfort of her bed, the Princess brushed a bead of sweat that dripped down her neck. Although she wasn't able to properly strike Kunzite, she felt at least comfortable with a sword in her hand.

"You said the King taught you how to use a sword when you were younger, is that correct?" Kunzite asked, as he reached for his jacket and placed it on. "You're not too bad, Princess. I was pleasantly surprised," the soldier noted as a smile formed on his lips.

Stealing a brief glance at his body before he began to button up his jacket, Serenity quickly looked away when she felt a blush splash across her face yet again. "He did, but I was only six at the time, so I can hardly even remember how it felt to hold a sword," she recalled, pulling her legs closer to her body as she stared at the floor vacantly. Anytime she remembered her father, she couldn't help but feel like she was sinking further and further into the ground, as if everything seemed out of her grasp without him to help her stand up.

Serenity jumped slightly when she felt the weight shift next to her, as Kunzite took a seat next to her and rested against her bed. Propping up his knee to rest his arm against it, the silver soldier rested his head against the bed behind him. "I never met the Moon King, but I remember my father telling me he was a kind and well-respected man," Kunzite said, turning his head to look at her. Serenity immediately turned to face him, as if he pulled her in magnetically. "I'm sorry for what happened, Princess."

Unable to take her eyes away from his soft gaze, Serenity felt her chest expand with a warmth she had never felt before that began to cascade all throughout her body. This was the first Terran that had ever offered her condolences for her father's death. Without even realizing it, her lips slowly curled into a smile that lit up her entire face. "Thank you, Kunzite," she replied softly. The moment he saw her bright smile, Kunzite's eyes widened when he felt his heart drop in his chest. As Serenity turned her head away from his, Kunzite drew in a sharp breath. What... what was that?

"Where did you learn to fight, Kunzite?" Serenity asked, hoping a change of topic would ease the tension and fluttering in her stomach.

Leaning further into the bed, the Earthen general sighed as he felt his body relax against the support. "I suppose it was my father who taught me, who was, as I told you before, the head of the King's guard." His lips curled into a slight smile as he recalled the memories of sparing with his father. "The King also had a hand in my training. I in turn, taught Endymion how to use a sword, but slowly he began to surpass me."

Serenity remembered watching the Prince in the courtyard the other day dueling with Nephrite. As much as she wanted to deny it, she knew there was something alluring about the way the Prince moved with his sword. Perhaps it was because it was Kunzite who had taught him, which made her feel less guilty about her moment of admiration.

"Did you train the others as well?" she found herself asking, but already knew the answer to her question.

"I was the eldest of the Shitennou, so I taught them what I could," he explained. "But they learned from their fathers as well."

The Princess found herself smiling again as she turned to face him again. "You took care of them when you were young, didn't you? Perhaps that is why you're... not as difficult to get along with than the others," Serenity noted, stretching her fingers out in front of her. Kunzite paused for a moment before he cocked his head to the side.

"That's probably because you don't know the others very well." Kunzite sighed heavily. "I know that the Prince can be... difficult, and sometimes irrational-"

"Sometimes?" the Princess scoffed, turning her gaze away from his.

"But," Kunzite continued, bringing his other knee up so that he could rest his other arm on it. "I've seen enough good in him to know that there's someone worth caring about. Even if his methods are questionable sometimes..."

She couldn't believe what he was saying. The Prince? A good person?! Were they talking about the same person? Her mouth dropped as she gawked at him, unsure of how to respond to him. How in the world could he ever consider the Prince to be a good person? This was the very same person who practically forbade anyone from talking to her and treating her as if she was a human play toy he could handle as he pleased. Folding her arms across her chest, Serenity shook her head vigorously. "There is absolutely nothing good about that horrible man," she said adamantly. "You and him are complete opposites."

Kunzite turned his head to look at her, an amused smile forming on his lips. "Oh? How so, Princess?"

"The Prince is rash, stubborn, annoying, pigheaded, arrogant and you're... you're..." she paused, unsure as to why she was at a loss of words. Kunzite waited patiently as he watched her struggle to think of what to say, unable to stop that smile from widening. Gods, she really was adorable!

"I'm what?" he asked, leaning forward to get a better look of her face.

Serenity turned her head and came to a halt when she saw how close he was to her. There it was again: her thunderous heart pounding against her chest and that ill-timed fluttering in her stomach that seemed to travel up to her heart as well. Her eyes met with his gentle gaze yet again and she could feel time around her come to a stop. She could have spent forever staring into his captivating blue eyes and that kind, boyish smile that danced across his lips.

She truly would have been lost without his help. True, she wouldn't have been in this situation if he hadn't been there in the first place. However, Kunzite could have easily just offered her to the King, knowing there would be a very handsome reward. Instead, he spent his time not only trying to keep her safe from harm, but also, in his own way, trying to comfort her. He didn't have to do that, and yet here he was, staring at her with those eyes that made her heart melt.

"Kind," Serenity found herself saying as a smile splashed across her lips. "Warm, gentle... and I feel-" the Princess stopped, worried that she was about say something strange.

"You feel what, Serenity?" he asked again, his voice suddenly becoming hoarser than before.

She found herself getting more lost and lost into his eyes. "Warm," she replied. "At peace. Like I don't have a worry in the world."

His chuckle shook her out of her trance as Kunzite turned away, closing his eyes for a moment. "That's funny," he mused as he opened his eyes and stared off into the distance. "Venus said the same thing about me."

The Princess felt her entire body come to a complete standstill at the mention of her friend. Like a freight train crashing into her, she felt the weight of reality hit her hard that she almost felt like someone had pulled her heart out. What in the world was she thinking? She needed to stop whatever pull he had on her. He belonged to someone else, who was not only her best friend, but was practically her sister! Serenity wanted nothing more than to crawl under a hole as she felt her entire body crumple in on itself.

"Can you tell me about her, Princess?" he asked, eyes glancing over in her direction. "What kind of person was she like before I knew her?"

Serenity met his gaze for a brief moment, before looking away. Biting down on her lip, Serenity tried her best to recall her happy moments with her friend. Closing her eyes, the Princess drew in a deep breath before exhaling deeply. "Venus was always there for me growing up, but we haven't been able to see each other as much. But, we were always mistaken for each other when we were young. We would sometimes switch places and see how long it would take for someone to notice." She recalled the time Venus helped her run from a pestering suitor who Serenity had absolutely no interest in. Venus ended up dressing up as her and practically cursed the poor Prince out until he left in tears. Serenity couldn't help but giggle at the fond memory. Her body slowly began to slowly relax as the tension from her shoulders began to disappear.

Kunzite smiled at her reaction, noting to himself how he liked her smile. "That must have been difficult for the others to tell," he mused, as he tried to imagine Venus with Serenity's bun hair style.

Suddenly, Serenity's smile slowly faded, and the light from her eyes began to flicker out. "When we got older, they could always tell who was who. Venus ended up being more beautiful and graceful, and was very intune with reading the air. It became very clear who was who in the end," she said, staring emptily at the floor below her. "I was always brash, spoke my mind without thinking, and my mother would always say, 'Why can't you be more like Venus?'" Serenity's eyes widened, realizing she had probably said more than he was asking for.

Kunzite couldn't help but frown when he saw her sudden change in expression. Why did she look so sad? Without giving it a second thought, Kunzite reached forward and brushed the hair from her eyes. Serenity's eyes slowly rose to meet his as hand gently cupped the side of her face, with his thumb rubbing her cheek delicately. The Princess was worried that he could feel exactly how warm her face was, but for some reason, at that moment, she didn't seem to care. "I wouldn't want to change a single thing about you Serenity, and neither should you."

Serenity's lips slightly parted as her eyes widened. The sound of her heart was deafening, as if it were trying to escape from her throat. Time and space came to a halt and she swore she could feel her breath stop. How did he always know exactly what to say to make her feel so... so...

The Princess whimpered quietly when she felt him pull her head towards him as he placed a soft kiss on her forehead. Her eyes widened when she felt his soft lips brush against her skin. She swore she felt her heart stop at that moment. As he reluctantly pulled away, Serenity avoided his gaze, unsure of exactly what to say.

Kunzite grinned again. The Princess really was adorable sometimes! "I'd best be going," he said, although he knew a part of him wanted to say for at least a little while longer. "Good night, Serenity," he spoke, before standing up from his seat.

"Good night, Kunzite," she replied back, still unable to meet his gaze. Whatever this was, whatever it was he was making her feel, it needed to stop. However, as she watched him leave, Serenity's fingers flew to her face, unable to stop that infectious grin from forming on her lips.

---

The next day, Serenity found herself in a trance watching the silver-haired soldier from a window overlooking the gardens, duelling with his fellow soldiers. His movements were like a sheet in the wind, moving ever so delicately with a speed she had never seen before. The younger blonde general was having trouble anticipating his moves but was desperately trying to keep up with his comrade. It was difficult not getting lost in the intricacy of his movements and just on time, that fluttery feeling in her chest was back.

Sitting on the ledge of the window, the Princess leaned back as she let out a heavy sigh. What in the world was she doing? This man was in love with someone she cared deeply about, but no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't deny the way her heart quickened when he drew near. Or the way her skin was on fire when his fingers were on her skin. Or the way his warm smile and captivating stare lured her in and made everything around her stop in its tracks. She really was a horrible person, wasn't she? What would Venus say to her if she knew what was going on in her mind?

"You know," a voice suddenly called from behind. "You can probably get a better view from just down the hall." Immediately, Serenity flinched just from the sound of that irritatingly familiar arrogant voice and knew it could only be one person. Pushing herself off the ledge, the Princess narrowed her eyes as the man who brought her nothing but annoyance and torment stood before her in all of his prideful glory.

"Your grace," she reluctantly greeted, gritting her teeth while trying to avoid his stare. Why did she have to bump into him now of all times?

With his signature sneer and scowl, Endymion folded his arms across his chest. At first, he was absolutely delighted when he saw her standing helplessly and alone in the hallways. What he wasn't expecting was for her to be staring longingly out the window; at one of his general's no doubt! Peering over her shoulder, all four of his generals could be seen, so it was difficult to tell who exactly it was she was looking at. An uneasy and unsettling feeling wrestled within him as he clenched his jaw. Why exactly what he so bothered by this?

"I hope you are aware that yesterday's ban also applies to my generals," Endymion warned, taking a step closer. Serenity's eyes widened and wondered if the Prince had caught her staring at Kunzite. She would be absolutely mortified if he had!

Instead, the Princess flashed him a forced smile, knowing that the more she provoked him, the more likely those compromising positions he seemed to put her in would most likely happen. "Whatever your grace wills, I will follow," she replied, while trying to ignore that nauseating feeling from her words.

The Prince's eyes narrowed at the blonde, wondering where that hot-headedness was. His eyes briefly settled on her slightly parted lips before blinking quickly and looking away. No, now was not the time to be thinking about that! Not when he had something more important to attend to. Taking a step forward, Serenity immediately reeled back, not wanting him anywhere near her. Not after what happened last time, and the time before that... and the time before that...

However, just behind her was the window, so there was not much further that she could go. When the back of her legs hit the window, Serenity had no choice but to sit down on the sill, hoping to create more of a distance between them. She glared at him from below, lips slightly pursed, as Endymion tried his best to fight the urge to grab that lip in between his. Focus, Endymion, focus!

Leaning closer to her, Endymion brought his lips slowly to her ear. Her body stiffened when she felt his warmth cascade over her, making her body shiver for some reason. His hot breath tickled her skin, causing Serenity to clench her eyes, hoping to shut out whatever strange and disgusting reactions he was making her feel. The Prince lingered near her for a moment in time, taking in her scent. She smelled like lavenders, he noted, after taking in a deep breath. His lips, only a brush away from her tempting skin, wanting nothing more than to taste her again, but Endymion knew he had to fight whatever it was he was feeling for the blasted woman.

Gripping the wall next to him tightly, Endymion lips lightly brushed against her ear, sending another shiver all through Serenity's body. "Tell me, is that how your subjects address you, Princess?"

The Princess gasped as her eyes grew wide in horror as she felt her stomach drop. Her face turned white as she could feel the blood rush to her frantic heart. For a moment, she was glad he couldn't see her reaction, but was worried he could feel her heartbeat so close to her. Her face suddenly grew warm as she clenched her sweaty fists in her lap, wondering how he could have figured it out. He knew? He knew her identity?! Although he couldn't see her facial reaction, Endymion could feel her tense against him. Was he right? Was it really her?

Suddenly, Serenity bolted up from her seat, hands gently pushing against his chest so she could move past him. Endymion fought back a groan when he felt her small hands on his chest, but knew by her reaction he had her. Right as he was about to grab her wrist to pull her back to him, Serenity spun around with a surprising smile on her face. "'P-Princess'? What do you mean, your grace?" she asked innocently.

Playing dumb now, are we? The Prince frowned as he eyed her curiously, before taking a step forward. Without warning, his hand slowly reached for the ends of her hair as he ran his hand through her silky strands. "Did anyone ever tell you your hair colour is very similar to the Moon Princess?"

It took all of her strength not to show her fear on her face. She clenched her jaw to stop herself from trembling, but found it difficult with his fingers so close to her as well as his piercing stare. How did he figure out she was the Moon Princess? Was he going to turn her into the King? But wait, if he knew for sure I was the Princess, then why didn't he just tell his father?

Serenity's eyes widened as an overwhelming sense of relief soothed her body. He was just trying to get a rise out of her! If he truly knew, he would have come after her with guards and offered her head to the King. All he had were suspicions, and with the King on her side, she knew she would be safe without any proof.

Swatting his hand aside from her hair, the Princess glared at him. "I have no idea what you're talking about, your highness. The colour of our hair must be a coincidence," she replied with her chin up, trying to mask the shakiness in her voice. "Now, if you will excuse me, your grace." Giving as polite of a bow as she possibly could, Serenity turned on her heel, hoping to escape the Prince's interrogation.

But the Gods were not on her side that morning, as Endymion's large hand wrapped around her wrist, stopping her in her tracks. "I'm not finished talking to you, Princess," he growled hoarsely at her, yanking her back to him.

Serenity yelped in pain when he yanked forcefully on her arm. Turning around, the Princess sneered at him as the little amount of patience she once had for this arrogant creature flew out the window. Plus, she couldn't have him go around calling her 'Princess'! What if someone had heard?! "Why do you call me by such an honorable title," she asked through seething teeth, pulling her hand out from his grasp and holding it tightly to her chest. "Your highness."

Trying his best to ignore the heat from her skin on his hand, Endymion took a step forward and closed the distance between them. "It seems like the Moon Queen is looking for her precious daughter, and suspects that she might be here," he explained, carefully studying her reaction. Serenity clenched her fist hard, trying so hard not to show any kind of emotion. Her mother was looking for her? She's finally noticed that she's missing? "Would you happen to know anything about that, maid?"

The Princess took a long and deep breath, hoping that the air would calm her frantic heart. Her mind went blank, unsure of how to respond. While a part of her was delighted her mother knew she was missing, the other part was mortified that the Prince figured out her identity! All she could do at this point was desperately deny him over and over, hoping that he'd eventually give up. He had no proof. The only person who truly knew her identity was Kunzite.

"I do not know a thing about this Moon Princess, your grace," Serenity said again. "You must have me mistaken for someone else." Holding her arms to her chest so that he couldn't grab her again, the Princess bowed respectfully, before turning around to flee.

"Tell me then," Endymion began as he latched onto her shoulder and spun her around to face him. "The capital city of Veneer." That arrogant and devilish smirk slowly spread across his lips as he crossed his arms.

Serenity bit down on her lip, trying her best not to break her gaze with the Princess. "Veneer?" she repeated, as she scrambled through her brain, trying to find the answer.

"You're from the East, are you not?" the dark-haired Prince challenged, his hand reaching forward to touch her hair once again. He ran his fingers through her silky golden strands, unable to rip his eyes from it. As much as he hated her, he couldn't deny her gorgeous, golden locks and the way it felt against his skin. His stomach tightened as he recalled one of his dreams where she was bound with the locks of her hair, ready for his taking. Biting back a moan, Endymion recoiled his hand away from her hair, knowing he had to focus on the task at hand.

Serenity frowned when he saw him rip his hand away from her hair. Why did he have to act so disgusted? He was the one who touched her hair first! Shaking her head, the Princess knew she had to focus. Veneer? She had never heard of that place before... Her narrowed eyes rose to meet his, and immediately it all started to come together. His cold piercing stare bore into hers and Serenity knew exactly what kind of trap he laid for her.

"There is no city in the East called Veneer, your highness," Serenity explained. Endymion's stern face faltered, making the Princess smile from ear to ear. "If you're inquiring about the capital city of the East, it's Braados."

The Prince sneered at the annoying blond as he drew in a sharp breath. How in the world did she know that? He thought she would fall right into his trap, but she was one step ahead of him. "Of course. My mistake," he replied, convinced that she must have studied Earthen geography in her studies.

Inside, Serenity was screaming with joy. She had never been more relieved that she studied Earthen cities when she was younger! All those nights spent memorizing city names finally came into use. Remind me to thank Mercury when I return home!

Clenching his jaw, Endymion took another step towards the blonde. "Mark my words. I'll expose you for the fraud that you are, Princess," he threatened menacingly, his voice cold and emotionless as his eyes. "And when I do, you'll be begging me to send you to your father."

Although she was able to hide her reactions before, this one slipped by her without her noticing. Her fists trembled in rage as she glared with hard eyes at the Prince with all her might. She could feel the tears build behind her eyes, but Serenity knew she could not allow this insufferable man another glimpse into her weaknesses. As she was about to turn around and storm away from him for the last time, Endymion grabbed her by both shoulders and pulled her body up against his. "And where do you think you're going?" he asked coldly. "We're not finished here."

A gasp left her lips as she felt his armour against her chest, as the coolness of the metal against her chest sent a shiver throughout her body. Shaking her head, Serenity kept her eyes narrowed at the Prince. No matter how strange he may or may not have made her body feel, the fact of the matter was, he was a horrible person. From day one, the Prince has been nothing but insufferable, with no trace of any humanity worth caring about. He may be able to get her heart racing and her skin warm, but there was no way she could ever possibly trust or care for this man front of her.

"I'll defend myself against whatever sick game you have in store for me," Serenity began, raising her chin high. "But I refuse to sink down to your level and play your stupid games, Prince," she hissed at him.

Endymion's lips curled into that mischievous grin as his grip around her arms tightened. There she was. That tight little firecracker he met in front of his room. The girl he was determined to expose as the Moon Princess! "Whether or not you'll play, you're still in it." Serenity cried in pain as his grip tightened even more. "You made that perfectly clear when you hurt my face," he growled.

As focused as he was on making his point, his eyes betrayed every wish in his body and gazed over her pursed lips, only inches away from his. The rage and hurt in her eyes burned into him with an all consuming fire as she tried to stand in front of him strong and fearless. But she could not control her trembling lip, and the tears in her eyes that threatened to fall down her face. For the second time that day, Endymion felt his stomach drop at the mere sight of her hateful expression. Why did it bother him so much to have her stare at him like that?

"It's not just about your face, is it, Prince?" she asked through her gritted teeth. Her heartbeat roared against her ears, not sure if it was from the grip on her arms or from the rage boiling inside of her.

"What are you talking about, maid?" Endymion scoffed.

She knew she was about to regret what she was about to say, but her mind was void of all reasoning at that moment. No one was to speak such ill words about her father! Not even the Prince of the Earth had that privilege. "Just because your parents never loved you, doesn't mean you have the right to be an awful, pitiful human being," she said as harshly as she possibly could.

Her words pierced his heart as painfully as any battle wound he ever experienced. Not just because she mentioned his parents, but because she was completely right. Endymion wasn't just exacting revenge on hurting his face. Since the very beginning, this maid, Princess, woman, whoever she was, was consistently able to hurt him with her words. Endymion had spent years putting up the walls to prevent this exact situation from happening, and yet this blonde force of nature managed to do it in just a few weeks of knowing him. How was she able to read his weaknesses so well?

Serenity watched as his ice hard gaze faltered. His furrowed brow loosened and his jaw relaxed, and for a brief moment, she saw it again. A small, brief glimpse into the real Prince. The one hidden beneath all the smoke and mirrors, all the arrogance, and all the bravado. Serenity's lips parted when the iciness of his stare disappeared for a brief second, only to be replaced with a vacant, empty gaze. For some reason, it made her more uneasy and frightened than his cold and piercing stare.

As quickly as it appeared, his vacant expression disappeared, and those ice cold eyes reappeared. Serenity wasn't sure if she was comforted by it or not, but she knew it was easier to deal with. "Mark my words, Princess," Endymion repeated, as he quickly released his grip on her arms as he threw her aside. "You will regret those words."

The Princess' eyes grew wide in horror when she felt her entire body tremble from the coldness in his tone. She watched as he turned around and began to storm off in the other direction. She knew she had won this battle, but knew the war was not yet over. He was fired up, ready to attack, but this time, Serenity would be ready for him.

---

It was her last task of the day, but by the time she got to the library, Serenity was exhausted. She didn't have any more tasks than she normally did, but the extra steps she took to avoid the Prince and Elizabeth felt like a whole other set of tasks. Her head always looked over her shoulder every minute, she wouldn't enter a room scouting it out first and she kept a measurable distance between herself and the others.

Well, they were the ones that kept the measurable distance because of the Prince's announcement early that morning, but it was still exhausting to make sure they maintained it!

The Princess rested her tired head against the bookshelf, allowing the silence of the room to ease her tension. Once she finished cleaning the shelves, then she could rest and just forget this whole day ever happened. But wait! I'm supposed to meet Kunzite tonight!

Serenity frowned, wondering why she almost forgot about their meeting. Her lips soon after unwillingly curled into a smile when that pesky fluttery feeling in her chest appeared. Whatever it was going on inside of her heart, Serenity knew it was wrong. But, she just couldn't resist that tender stare and the way her heart would skip a beat. Sighing, perhaps if she finished early, she might able to catch a bit of sleep before their training session. She began to dust quickly, filled with a sudden burst of energy.

The Princess froze when she heard the clashing sound of the door closing. Did someone just enter? Her eyes settled on the clock behind her, wondering who in the world would be here at this time? It was close to midnight and she was the only one assigned to the library. Shaking her head, Serenity returned to her task at hand. Perhaps it was a general wanting to do some late night reading before they slept.

That was when she heard the ominous sound of footsteps. Serenity stopped dusting and turned her head to peer into the darkness. With only a few lights illuminating the room, Serenity could only see a few steps ahead, before a blanket of darkness engulfed the room. Gripping the duster to the point where her knuckles turned white, the Princess suddenly became of aware of her erratically beating heart as it thundered against her chest. Don't be foolish, she told herself. It's just someone getting a book. You're in a library, for the Gods sake! Still, she couldn't shake that ominous feeling at the back of her mind; the kind that made the hair on the back of her neck stand up.

She gasped when she heard another scatter of footsteps from the other side. The Lunarian Princess looked to the side with wide eyes as she held the duster to her body protectively. There was another person? She jumped when she heard another step of footsteps, except this time it was from the shelf behind her. Unless this person somehow managed to run around the library in less than a minute, there were at least three people in the room with her. Maybe they all wanted a book before they slept? If she were on the Moon, perhaps that would be the case, but she was on Terran soil, and the entire castle was out to get her in order to impress their precious Prince.

She jumped on her feet and calmly walked towards the exit. Perhaps she was being paranoid, but Serenity didn't want to take a chance. She should have trusted her gut, but knew it was too late to beat herself up for it. Just get out of the library and into your room, and you'll be fine... she told herself, but soon found herself sprinting to the door when she heard the frightening sounds of another set of footsteps.

Just as her hand was about to grab onto the handle, Serenity screamed when a pair of large arms picked her up off the ground. One wrapped around her waist, the other clamped itself around her mouth, snuffing out her cries for help. Serenity's eyes widened in horror when the figure behind her dragged her away from the exit as she desperately struggled to get out of his grasp.

"Did you get her?" she heard another figure ask, but Serenity could hardly see in the darkness.

"What does it look like?" The man behind her asked sarcastically. Serenity didn't recognize the voice and wondered if that was a good or a bad thing. The figure pulled her towards the back of the room, where it was lit only by a few candles. From here she could see the shadowy figures of one other man, and the other figure that followed. Her eyes desperately searched for an exit and felt her face turn white when she couldn't find one.

Without warning, the figure tossed her to the ground and Serenity groaned when she hit the hard floor. Lifting her upper body off the floor with her arms, the Princess slowly looked up in horror as the three figures began to approach her. She didn't recognize any of them, but they all seemed to know who she was. The largest one, who Serenity assumed was the one that picked her up, had a wickedly awful grin splashed across his face as he stared at her hungrily. Serenity immediately felt a wave of nausea, knowing this disgusting man had just held her so aggressively.

"What do you want?" the Princess demanded, as her eyes narrowed at the three men. "Surely you heard the Prince's announcement this morning. You three will be severely punished if you're caught associating with me," she reminded them, somewhat thankful for the Prince's irrationality at that point.

The man in the middle was skinnier than the other two, but just as revolting as the others. He too, had a malicious grin on his face. "That's odd, because it was the Prince who told us to do this," he explained as he stared at her with an overly friendly expression.

Serenity's pulse raced against her skin. The Prince was behind all this? Is this what he meant when he said she would regret her words? More importantly, what exactly was he planning on having these men do? The Princess gulped and tried to hide her trembling arms. Whatever it was, Serenity knew she wasn't safe. Not with the way those men were looking at her.

As if they had heard her thoughts, the heavier man leaped at her, just as she was about to get up. Serenity screamed when she felt his sweaty palms around her wrists, and his disgustingly wet body on top of hers. She struggled against his grasp as hard as she could, but his weight over powered her. Oh Gods, Oh Gods, Oh Gods, she cried as her entire body filled with a panic. "Get off of me!" the Princess demanded, but the larger man held her down with his body.

"She's a struggler, this one," he said from above, tightening his grip. "Grab that chair, would you?!" The man ordered to the skinnier one. The lanky man ran up to them with the chair and placed it underneath her shoulders and above her head and sat down, trapping her between the legs of the chair. Serenity's eyes widened in horror as the futility of the situation began to sink in. Oh god, they were going to... they were going to...

She struggled harder against the fat man's grip, as the tears began to fall from her eyes. "Let me go, please...!" she begged, her pleas slowly turning into whimpers. The man sitting on the chair motioned for the other man to come closer.

"Would you shut this one up already? Someone might hear us." When she saw the figure approach, Serenity screamed at the top of her lungs, hoping someone nearby would hear. But her screams would not last long, as the figure shoved a cloth into her mouth, masking her pleas for help. "Finally," the man above her sighed. "Not that anyone would care."

"So who gets a go with her first?" the third man asked, staring down at her with a hungry look.

"I'll let you know what she's like when I'm done," the bigger man drawled, grinning at the Princess. As he leaned in closer to her neck, Serenity wrenched away from his face. Inhaling her intoxicating scent, the figure licked his lips in anticipation. "Don't worry maid. It'll all be over before you know it." As the sound of his zipper filled the air, Serenity's eyes widened in horror and struggled against his grip as her muffled screams filled the room.

The third gentleman came up to them and pinned her arms down to the floor next to her head. With his newly freed hands, the Princess screamed when she felt his rough, calloused hands begin to roam up her leg. The other reached for her top and began to yank her top down. She screamed as hard as she could, but with the cloth muffling her voice, it could barely be heard. Serenity tried to kick him away, but their grips were strong. She had to get out of here! She was about to get raped and no one would be there to stop them. No one knew she was here. No one was coming to save her. She was all alone...

Just when she had given up all hope, Serenity's eyes grew wide when she felt a warm sensation in her chest. Lifting her head up slightly, the Princess gasped when a bright white light began to emanate from her body. "What the hell?!" she heard the fat man say. The man holding her wrists immediately recoiled from her body, as he grasped his hands in pain.

"The bitch just burned me!" he growled angrily. Just as he was about to push the larger man off, all four of them froze in their spot when they heard a book fall to the ground from a nearby shelf. Soon after, the warm sensation from her chest disappeared and along with it the light.

Turning her head slowly to the side, Serenity's eyes widened at the figure standing before them. Her heart immediately dropped but the tears would not stop falling from her eyes. "S-sir K-kunzite!" the three men greeted nervously, realizing just how inconspicuous this situation probably looked to the general.

Serenity watched as he stood there with his arms folded across his chest, with an expression she just couldn't read. She pleaded at him with her eyes, hoping that even though he was a Terran, he wouldn't let these men do these things to her. "What are you gentlemen doing?" Kunzite asked calmly, eyes narrowing slightly at them.

The three remained silent for a moment, before the larger one finally spoke up. "Master Endymion ordered for us to teach this maid a lesson in obedience," he explained while zipping up his pants.

"So... your intention was to... rape her?" He said, without any wavering in his voice. Serenity couldn't tell if he was angry or nonchalant with what was happening.

"Well... she's a maid. We figured no one would care," the man on the chair said honestly, shrugging his shoulders. Another wave of silence passed, as Serenity refused to rip her eyes away from him, hoping he would look back at her and see the desperation and fear in her eyes.

Yet, the silver-haired general's eyes did not meet hers. Instead, Kunzite closed the book he was holding and placed it back in the shelf. "Fair enough," he replied nonchalantly.

Serenity couldn't stop the tears from falling down her face as she felt as if her heart had been ripped out of her chest. "Kunzite," she pleaded, muffled against the cloth in her mouth. "Please help..."

The man gripping her wrists slams her hands against the floor. "Quiet, maid," he ordered, holding her grip harder. "Sir, if it pleases you, you're welcome to have a go at her first."

Without hesitation, Kunzite removed his glasses from his face, placing them on a nearby desk. "How kind of you to offer," he replied, void of any discernible emotion. As he slowly approached the four, Serenity clenched her eyes shut. Did she make it all up in her head? Was Kunzite just like the rest of them? Was it merely just wishful thinking hoping he was different from the rest? She remember earlier that morning when he kissed her forehead, and when he held her in his arms... she couldn't have made that up, could she?

Just when she had given up all hope, Serenity opened her eyes suddenly when she felt the weight of the larger man being lifted off her body. Picking him up by the shirt, Kunzite hurled him across the room, grinning in satisfaction when he heard the crunching sound of the fat man's body against the wooden shelf. "What the hell?!" the skinny and tall man demanded as he rose from the chair. "These were the Prince's orders!"

Kunzite's eyes narrowed at the man before his hands reached forward and grabbed him by the collars of his shirt. Pulling him towards him, the man yelled when he felt his feet being lifted off the floor. "Orders or not, look at yourself," Kunzite snarled through his gritted teeth. "Is this what it means to be human? To follow your Prince blindly?" The trembling rapist remained silent, unsure of what to say.

"If you have a problem with us, talk to the Prince!" The shorter figure shouted, but immediately took a step back when Kunzite turned his head towards him, sneering at him with an intensity he had never seen before on the general.

"Wrong answer," he growled, before tossing the taller man into to him, as the two stumbled backwards into a nearby table. As the dust began to settle, Kunzite pulled out his sword, brandishing it towards their direction. "Now get out of here before I kill you myself." Without any hesitation, the three scrambled to their feet before bolting away in the opposite direction.

The Princess stared at the bottom of the chair, unable to fully register what had just happened. Pulling the cloth out of her mouth, the Princess breathed heavily, but could not stop her limbs from trembling. As Kunzite removed the chair from above her head, he gazed down at her shaking form. His gaze softened, never before seeing her so vulnerable and so shaken up before. With his own fists trembling at his side, he wanted nothing more than to turn around and murder those bastards.

Bending down on a knee, Kunzite held out his hand to her. Serenity's face slowly turned to his as she gazed into his eyes. He looked at her with a tender gaze when their eyes met, thankful to the Gods he had gotten there in time before they were able to do anything to her. However, Kunzite was worried that the experience alone might have traumatized her too much.

Slowly, Serenity's shaky hands hesitantly reached for his, and it was Kunzite's eyes' turn to widen. With his help, the Princess propped herself upright. Soon after, her breaths became heavier and quicker as she wrapped her arms around her body. As she began to hyperventilate, Kunzite quickly pulled his cape off and wrapped it around her trembling body like a blanket. "Just breathe," he whispered to her, while rubbing her arms up and down, hoping to generate some warmth in her. Serenity nodded, as the breaths began to subside.

"T-thank you," she whispered in between breaths, feeling slightly comforted by the warmth of his cape and body.

"I'm sorry I couldn't get here sooner," he said regretfully, placing a soothing hand on her shoulder. Serenity's eyes grew wide, but still couldn't muster up the strength to look at him. "Are... are you alright?" Kunzite asked, but knew just how stupid of a question that was.

The Princess blinked a few times, unable to believe what had almost just transpired. She was almost... she was about to be... If Kunzite hadn't shown up, I would have been... I... Her eyes burned as the tear drops began to fall from her face, one after the other, falling to her lap like the first drops of rain. She bit her lip as more tears fell, and before she knew it, she threw her face in her hands and began to cry.

Sitting down on the ground next to her, the general wrapped his arms around her shaking body, pulling her into his warmth. "I'm so sorry," he whispered, resting his chin on the top of her head. "I won't let anything like this ever happen again..."

As his large and soothing hand ran up and her back in a reassuring manner, Serenity found her self clutching onto his jacket as she poured her fears and sadness into her tears and into his arms. He had saved her from an unspeakable evil, and even though he belonged to someone else, for that suspended moment in time, his kindness and warmth were the only things that mattered to her.