6.) Memories of Ice

Like fragile ice, anger passes away in time.

- Ovid

REI

I blinked softly as a glaring light hit my eyes, distracting my from the book that was spread across my lap. I looked towards the source of the light; sun was just beginning to filter in through the window. I sat up on the couch, stretching my body as I adjusted myself to the fact it was morning again. I had just had another sleepless night. I rose to my feet, abandoning the book where I had been sitting, and walked over to the window.

Almost immediately Phobos landed before me. I let my fingers trail down his back, watching the light play across his inky black feathers.

"Both Minako and Rhode are alright?" I asked. Phobos just gave me a look. I chuckled softly.

"I do trust you." I told him when his sceptical look didn't fade. "I just... wanted to be sure."

I could have sworn he raised an eyebrow at me. Or at least he would have if he wasn't, at that moment, a bird. I rolled my eyes.

"Don't give me that look." I told him. Phobos met my gaze evenly before taking flight. I watched him fly away, hoping that he would be going back to keep an eye on Minako for me.

I shook my head softly at myself, letting my eyes close for a moment. Last night I had made me uneasy. The Terrans had made me uneasy. Even thinking about the pain I had experienced upon meeting Beryl made me feel sick. I gave an involuntary shudder. The events that had followed did little to make me feel more at ease.

My hands clenched at the thought of the Terran Jadeite. I fought back the urge to go find him and kill him. Even now I couldn't get the thought of his threats out of my head.

All I had wanted to do last night was sleep but my mind would not let me rest. I was plagued by my thoughts.

I had only briefly returned to my rooms to change my attire before I had settled down in the common room with a book I'd brought with me. I had hoped that reading would prove to be a worthy distraction, despite the fact I had read this particular text many times. Luck had been on my side and the night had simply disappeared, giving way to morning.

I shook my head again, walking back to where I had sat most of the night. I picked up the book, glancing down at the cover. The Neptunian script leaped out at me, I frowned. Only one thought was on my mind now. Michiru.

I sat down, holding the book between my hands gently. I opened to the title page, finding a note written in Michiru's neat handwriting.

I clenched my teeth again as I fought the urge to throw the book across the room. I was more angry with myself at this point. I had pushed Michiru away so she wouldn't get hurt and here I wanted desperately to talk to her again. Everything that had happened last night made me want to talk to Michiru. I needed someone who would believe me...

I sighed as I leaned back in my seat. Why did things have to be so complicated?


AMI

I swung open the door to my room and nearly ran into Makoto.

"Uh, hey." Makoto greeted, rubbing a hand across the back of her neck. I was somewhat surprised at her appearance outside my door. Usually she took advantage of her days off. Normally she would just be getting up at this hour.

"Good morning. How are you today?" I asked. Makoto shifted her weight almost uneasily.

"I'm feeling... Well, I didn't sleep well last night." She replied. I looked her over again, noticing the way she moved gingerly and seemed to be favouring one side of her body.

"On a scale of one to ten, how much pain are you in?" I asked, motioning for her to come into my room. She followed me inside, I gestured for her to take a seat on one of the sofas.

"Uh... what?" Makoto asked. I glanced over.

"One being no pain and ten being the worst pain you've ever experienced." I replied. Makoto nodded.

"Seven, maybe?" She replied, trailing off with a questioning tone. I nodded, it was hard to quantify pain.

"Are you taking the medication I gave you?"

Out of the corner of my eye I saw Makoto bite her lip and rub at her bruised cheek softly. I stopped what I was doing and turned to face her fully.

"What's wrong?" I asked her.

"Well, what was it that you gave me?" She asked. "I didn't recognize it, it didn't look like any medicine I'd ever seen before."

For a moment I was surprised, I had given her a bottle of standard painkillers, but then, as I thought about it, I realized that what was standard for me could be completely foreign to her. I almost laughed at my mistake.

I paused shortly, trying to figure out how to explain what these pills were.

"Can you explain to me what medicine on your planet is like?" I asked, trying to figure out how to relate my world to hers.

"I'm not really all that familiar with it." She replied. "Never interested me much. I was more interested in..."

Makoto's voice trailed off, she shrugged looking mildly embarrassed. This seemed to happen a lot when she spoke to me.

From what I'd learned about Jovian culture they were primarily nomadic, travelling between established settlements both following food sources and avoiding storms. The people of Jupiter bore every marker of civilization except for the 'discovery' of agriculture and that was only because they had no need for it. Food was abundant and the storms would destroy any attempt at establishing farm lands. They were hunter-gatherers and from what I knew of Makoto she was more of the 'hunter' kind.

"You were more interested in stuff that could get you killed?" I suggested Makoto looked surprised at my words. She laughed softly.

"Yeah, pretty much."

"Well you must have been injured at least once. What did they give you to help with the pain?" I asked her.

"Usually some sort of tea. My tribe's healer explained it to me once but she was stitching me up at the time so I wasn't really paying attention." Makoto told me. "They said it was made from a special kind of plant..."

"Okay well in those medicinal plants there's a part of it that relieves pain, we've managed to extract that from the plant and make it into something more easily accessible."

"And that's what you've given me?" Makoto asked, pulling the bottle from her pocket and looking at the pills curiously. "So this is pretty much just part of a plant?"

I nodded, there was no need to complicate the explanation.

"And I use it as I would the tea they gave me? Every four hours or so?"

I nodded again.

"Okay, well thanks for explaining that to me. Sorry to interrupt whatever it was that you were doing..."

"It was no problem, Makoto. I should have explained it when I gave them to you."

Makoto smiled.


MAKOTO

I smiled at Ami as I got to my feet.

"So, uh, what were you doing when I interrupted?" I asked her. I could have sworn I saw a faint blush on her cheeks.

"I was coming to check up on you actually." She replied.

"Really?" I asked, my voice betraying my surprise.

"I wanted to make sure you were okay." She replied with a shrug. The conversation trailed off after this statement and we were left facing one another awkwardly. Ami averted her eyes slightly. "So, are you? Okay, I mean?"

I was about to say yes but then I remembered the events of yesterday. The argument I'd had with my father, the disappointment I'd seen in his eyes.

"I'll be okay." I told Ami. She was frowning slightly, as if she could read my mind.

"Is your father still mad at you?" She asked. I looked over at her in surprise. How had she known about that? She shifted uncomfortably. "He didn't talk to you at all during the ball; he could barely look at you. I was just wondering if you wanted to talk about it..?"

"It's not a big deal, it's not the first time I've disappointed him." I replied, sitting back down on the couch, she sat beside me.

"Is your relationship with him normally like that?" Ami asked her voice quiet. I gave another noncommittal shrug before clearing my throat.

"Sometimes, I mean ever since I told him I didn't want to even try to take his place things have been... hard."

"What?" She asked, looking at me curiously.

"How much do you know about Jupiter?" I asked her.

"Not as much as I should... given the circumstances." Ami replied, clearly referencing our betrothal.

"Well, Jupiter consists of wandering tribes, right?" I asked her, Ami nodded to show she was following what I was saying. "Each of these tribes has a Chieftain and they make up the council."

Ami nodded again.

"Okay, well, of those Chieftains, a Chief is chosen and they're the Jovian equivalent of a king. They're our ruler and all that. Well, that's the position my family's held for nearly five generations now. They've all become Chief, really good Chiefs... and, well, that's never been something I've wanted for myself. My father seems to think the reason I don't want it is because I'm a girl. I mean he just wants these things for me and I have no interest in it."

I glanced at Ami after I'd finished. She seemed to be thinking hard, her face seemed saddened though. I frowned, I didn't want to be the one who had upset her. Ami raised her head and looked at me.

"Why don't you want to become the Chief?" Ami asked quietly. I was momentarily taken aback; I had never been asked that before. I fought to find words to accurately explain my situation.

"As I was growing up my father was never accessible, he was always... Well, he was never around. He was always off planet. As the Chief he had the responsibility to oversee the clans and our relations to the outside worlds. In the strictest sense, he is never supposed to get involved with day to day life other than conflict resolution. He's the impartial judge who settles resource disputes and he's the one to mediate between the Chieftains. He makes sure the tribes don't compete for food or shelter, he governs practically the whole planet but he never managed to..." I cut myself off abruptly, not saying what had always bothered me about him and the position he held.

"It sounds like there's something else on your mind." Ami commented, laying a hand on my arm. I looked over. I knew what she was talking about, it was what I had just stopped myself from saying. It was the thing that was always on my mind when I was around my father.

I swallowed heavily, meeting Ami's eyes. We were supposed to be engaged, we needed to be able to talk to one another about what we were thinking, what we were feeling. I sighed.

"It's just he has always seemed so far removed from the human side of life. When I was younger... a landslide tore through one of the settlements. My father showed up three days after the land slide, he'd gotten word of the event and responded accordingly. He assessed the damage, arranged for help from one of the neighbouring tribes, and then left us to rebuild what we could of our lives." I paused, taking in a deep breath. "My mother died in that accident and he walked away like it was no concern of his."

I felt Ami's hand slide into mine and give a gentle squeeze. My voice was hoarse and tears were welling up in my eyes. This was the first time I'd ever talked about this to someone. All these years I'd just been letting it fester inside of me. I cleared my throat again.

"I don't want to turn out like him. I want to be there to help my people when things go wrong. I want to protect my family and friends from the dangers of our world, not show up after the damage is done."

My voice cracked slightly, I bit down on the inside of my cheek in an attempt to stop myself from crying. Ami's hand remained firmly in mine, the gentle pressure of her grip reminding me I wasn't alone. And would never have to be again. It didn't matter what we were to one another, it was what we could help one another with. Understanding was all we had to offer one another at this point. We needed to reconcile our minds and our hearts.

All of a sudden I was struck by what I was feeling. It hit me like a flash of lightning in the dark, so completely overpowering that it couldn't be ignored. It was beautiful and confusing, spilling out my soul so I could finally understand who I was, what I was. I couldn't even find a word that truly fit what I was feeling, I just knew once this lightning had struck, there was no going back.

I let out a shaky breath and looked over at Ami.

"Um, thanks for... well, listening." I said my voice soft. She gave a small smile.

"You don't have to thank me for that." She replied, her hand gave mine one last squeeze before she released it. It was like she knew what I had just experienced. The closeness of the moment lingered around us, filling the room.

I ran a hand through my hair as I studied Ami. We really knew nothing about one another and that wasn't sitting well with me of late.


AMI

Later in the common room I found myself mulling over what Makoto had said. I had never feared disappointing my parents. Both of them had been supportive of what I wanted for myself, so I had never had to deal with the kind of pressure that Makoto did.

She was afraid of disappointing him even though she clearly didn't hold him in high regard as her father.

"Ami?" Makoto asked. "You alright?"

"Hmm?"

"You just seemed a little... distracted." Makoto replied, sitting across from me. I shrugged, noticing the way both Rei and Makoto seemed to be ignoring one another. Rei had barely acknowledged us when we entered the room and she had remained seated on the couch as if refusing to join us. However I took it as a good sign that she hadn't just gotten up and left.

"I was just thinking." I told her, Makoto seemed to be grinning at something.

"What?" I asked, catching the look on her face.

"It's nothing. You just seem to do that a lot, wandering off in your thoughts." Makoto told me. "So what were you thinking about?"

"You." I replied, startling myself with the bluntness in my voice. I felt heat rise in my cheeks but Makoto, however, just took it in stride. I rushed to fill in the silence. "I was just wondering what it was that you wanted to do with your life."

Makoto leaned back in her seat, shifting carefully to avoid irritating her injuries.

"On Jupiter there are Shamans, in Jovian the name literally means 'Reader', and that's as close to a calling as I've found. You know what that is, right?"

I nodded in reply.

"They read the weather and tell their tribe or clan how to avoid the more serious weather systems. It makes sense that an ability to foretell weather patterns would be considered a valuable skill on your planet. But I thought you needed years of training to accurately read the weather and track storm systems?" I replied.

"You do need training, but it's deeper than that. Okay, to start off; it's customary for the Shaman or Reader to marry the one of the tribe's Chieftains. And usually the talent for accurately predicting the weather patterns doesn't pass down through bloodlines; it tends to spring up randomly. My mother had the gift... and for some reason I got it too."

Makoto shrugged.

"Apparently even by the Reader's standards I'm gifted. I've only gone through minimal training because of my father and I can still detect the signs sooner and more accurately than some of the older, more experienced Readers. It just feels more like where I'm meant to be." Makoto shrugged again. "My father sees it differently though. He thinks that I should be learning how to become more like him."

"More like him in what way?" I asked.

"He thinks I should be mastering my blood trait. I don't want to play at being a god, I don't want to toy with nature. He of all people should understand just how fragile that balance is on Jupiter. We depend on our world for our very survival, it just seems like he forgets that sometimes. He's too wrapped up in governing our world that he forgets that our people remain rooted in their customs and ways. He toys with his elemental power, forgetting the meaning it has for our people."

I stayed silent, listening to Makoto talk. I was always eager to learn more about other ways of life but with Makoto... it felt different. Like I was absorbing the information for a different reason.

"What do you mean?" I asked Makoto.

"My father was visiting Jupiter when one of the storms suddenly accelerated, the tribe was caught in it. In an attempt to save lives my father summoned his power and caused the storm to disperse. This angered a lot of people. On Jupiter, the common belief is that when lightning strikes close to a settlement, the souls of our dead are released back into the world to be reborn. Most of the people thought that my father was actively preventing our people from being reborn, it didn't help that one of his political rivals had just passed away. It's just myth but he disrespected his people through his actions. And... I just don't see how he could have forgotten the things that make him a part of our world."

Makoto shook her head.

"I just don't understand him and I don't think he understands our world anymore." Makoto looked over at me. "That's enough about me though what about you? Your world? Your family?"

I blinked, surprised at the interest she was showing in me.

"What do you want to know about first?" I asked her.

"How about you tell me a bit about your family?" Makoto suggested, leaning forward a bit. "I mean, I've met your father once but I don't really know all that much about him."

"You've met one of my fathers?" I replied, a little surprised. I couldn't think of where they would have crossed paths.

"Fathers?" Makoto replied, stressing the pluralization of the word. Her expression changed. "Wait, if you have two fathers then, how are you... here?"

"Yes, I have fathers, they aren't my biological family but they raised me." I told her, almost laughing at the look on her face. She smiled in return, gesturing for me to continue. "I don't know anything about my biological family. That doesn't really set me apart though, adoption isn't terribly uncommon on Mercury."

Makoto held up a finger, asking me to slow down for a second.

"Adoption?" Makoto asked. I nodded, realizing the term might be unfamiliar to her.

"It's the creation of a parent-child relationship between individuals who are not naturally related in that manner. The adopted child receives the rights, privileges, and duties of a child and heir by the adoptive parents."

"Wouldn't the rest of the biological family assume that responsibility?" Makoto asked, looking puzzled.

"The Mercurian idea of kinship and family is far different from the Jovian one. Generally a family consists of the parents and a single child, sometimes even just a single parent and child. If the grandparents die and the child's parents die, there is no one to look after the child. Sometimes a Mercurian will choose to pursue their career over raising a child. The child is placed in the state's care. Progress is the height of our society's aims, sometimes at the cost of emotional connections and family values."

Makoto frowned.

"So the government cares for these children?"

"People are hired to care for them in special facilities where they are raised with other children or they are 'adopted' into other families."

"I guess that's somewhat similar to how it's done on Jupiter. If all of a child's relatives are dead, they're cared for by the tribe or a specific family who has the means and ability to take care of them. But why do they require a special term for it? They are family just the same, correct?"

I was taken aback. Makoto's view of the process was so simple, so unconcerned with the details it amazed me. All that mattered to her was the bottom line, they were family. I smiled at her.

"Mercury is... complicated." I replied and honestly that was all I could think to say. Makoto laughed.

"So, continue on with what you were saying."

"Who did you meet? The politician or the doctor?" I asked her, Makoto smirked and I got the feeling I knew who she had met.

"It was definitely the politician." Makoto told me, still grinning. I nodded, most people were that way about Dolos. He wasn't exactly the standard Mercurian. He was a fast talker, charming, and a persuasive speaker. Most Mercurians were more sedate.

"That would be Dolos, he's the current Prime Minister of Mercury. He's one of the most influential leaders Mercury has seen in a long time. He's the unify force on Mercury and has a better understanding of the political scene than anyone else I know. He can be... a bit much at times though." I told Makoto with a sigh. My father's energy and enthusiasm was overpowering. Although that was what made him so captivating, he lived his life for the political scene. "Paean says I'm a lot like him but I can't for the life of me see why."

"Paean would be your other father?" She asked, I nodded in response. "What's he like?"

"He's one of the best doctors on Mercury. For a few years when I was younger Paean took an extended leave of absence from work, just so he could teach me himself. He said it was just because he wanted to spend time with me. At that time Dolos was occupied with work, he'd only just been reelected as the Prime Minister. I think Paean wanted to spend more time with the two of us. Family was always important to us. Paean wanted us to stay together I think."

Makoto nodded.

"So what career are you pursuing?"

"When I was younger I wanted to be a doctor like Paean, but more recently I've been drawn in a different direction. On Mercury, there are four categories of leadership. There's the Prime Minister, the Senate, the Sub-Senate, and the Youth Senate. It's a democracy, so it's a fair bit different from the other planets in the system. A few years ago elected by my peers to take part in the Youth Senate."

"What's the Youth Senate?"

"The Youth Senate works independently from the other two Senates, and tends to work side by side with the Prime Minister and discuss our plans for the future. It's all about what the younger generation would like to see happen, they listen to the youth to make sure the world they inherit is as good as it can be."

"What's this have to do with your career?"

"Well, the year I came of age I was elected into the Senate, I by passed the Sub-Senate completely... that's almost unheard of. Apparently after my father's last term is up, I'm supposed to take his place. I know that it's not exactly what I had in mind for myself but... I know where I'm needed. The people who elected me obviously think I'm up for the job, I owe it to them to at least try when the time comes."

I let my voice trail off, Makoto was watching me with a bewildered expression on her face.

"That sounds complicated."

"It's not... really. Or at least I don't think so, but that could just be because I was raised around the political scene."

"What do your fathers think about this?"

"Dolos is happy that I've followed him into the political world. I think that's just because he enjoys debating things with me though. And Paean is fine with whatever I do, he knows that I'll become a doctor someday."

"What exactly does it mean to be Prime Minister or a member of the Senate?"

"Being a politician is seen as a public service, your life is devoted to serving the people, making sure that the world is run in a way that meets the needs of the citizens. That's why I feel I can't turn down the position even if I'd rather do something else. I feel as though I am required to do this for the people, it's my duty."

Makoto was watching me closely.

"That's what got you into this, isn't it?" She asked. "If you hadn't been elected as a member of the Senate, or favoured to become the next Prime Minister, you wouldn't have been pushed into this betrothal."

I gave a hesitant nod at this.

"So you lost your preferred career and your future to the notion of serving the public?" Makoto asked me. When it was put like that I couldn't really argue against it, but some part of me was saying that I really didn't lose my future to it, I had just gained a new one. The one I was meant to have.

"I don't think I really lost anything. I mean I got to meet all of you and this marriage won't really be all that bad, will it?"

Makoto met my eyes.

"No, it won't be." She replied. I was struck by the obvious sincerity in her voice and the way she never once looked away.


HARUKA
I rolled over, wrapping my arm around Michiru's waist.

"We really shouldn't be staying in bed all day." I whispered. There was a soft murmur of assent from Michiru, I was quite certain she was still half asleep. I nestled in close to the warmth of her body, she shifted slightly.

"Of course you would say that and then start snuggling." Michiru muttered, I laughed.

"But seriously, we ought to get up. We're supposed to meet up with Setsuna in the common room." I replied. There was a sigh from Michiru.

"You saw who she was talking with last night, didn't you?" She asked. I nodded, not quite understanding the apprehensive tone in her voice.

"What about it?" I questioned, kissing her shoulder blade lightly. Michiru sat up, her long hair flowing over her shoulder. I studied her face carefully, the first hint of a frown was showing in her eyes.

"What's wrong?" I asked more urgently. Seeing Michiru this way was causing unease to stir within me.

"It just felt wrong." Michiru whispered, in the depths of her eyes I could see fear swirling. I reached out, brushing hair away from her face.

"What do you mean?" Michiru shook her head in response.

"It's nothing... Never mind." She replied. The look on her face told me that it was, in fact, something. The fact that Michiru was pretty much telling me not to worry about it was making me worry. Usually Michiru's senses were dead on.

"Don't do that. Not to me." I whispered, pulling her closer to me. "Don't shut me out."

Michiru sighed softly again, letting her head rest on my shoulder.

"I have a bad feeling about Setsuna and Beryl talking last night." I frowned, I hadn't noticed anything particularly 'off'' about their conversation.

"Did you hear what they were speaking off?" I asked, I had only heard parts of their conversation. I didn't think any of it was reason to worry.

"Nothing in context. I think it was more the body language that concerned me."

I forced down a laugh. I'd seen the not-so-subtle seduction techniques Beryl had been using. Setsuna had been... well, Setsuna. She had seemed interested enough though and that alone said a lot.

"If it helps her forget that fiasco with Queen Serenity, then isn't that a good thing?" I asked Michiru softly. "Setsuna was really broken up about that. You know how long it takes her to get attached to people and then to be turned down like that..."

"I know. It just makes me uneasy." Michiru conceded, worry was still etched into her features.

I nodded. I'd learned to trust Michiru's feelings over my own. If she was uneasy over this, then there was reason to be.

"We'll keep an eye on them, alright?" I said reassuringly. Michiru gave a small smile.

In the silence that followed I found myself watching Michiru, studying each and every curve. Just as I leaned in to kiss her, Michiru spoke.

"We really should get up you know..."


MICHIRU

After dressing in fresh clothes Haruka and I made our way to the common room. As we approached we heard Makoto and Ami talking quietly. Haruka grinned.

"Sounds like things are starting to work themselves out." She commented as she placed her hand on the door knob. As she opened the door, we noticed that there were three people inside the room rather than just two. Rei was sprawled across one of the sofas, looking lost in thought.

However the moment she caught sight of me, she scowled. In the moments after, that she rose to her feet and crossed the room towards us. Haruka stepped protectively in front of me, however Rei brushed by us without a second glance. The door slammed shut behind her. I felt an icy cold take hold of my body as memories of yesterday's events returned. I had hoped to forget.

"You left me."

Rei's words still rang in my head, all the pain that she had betrayed in them left me wracked with guilt. I couldn't even bring myself to go after her.

"Are you alright Michiru?" Came Haruka's soft voice. I opened my mouth to answer but no sound came out. Haruka pulled me into a quick hug before taking a step back.

"I'll be right back." Haruka told me. I grabbed her wrist.

"No. Please don't go after her, she wasn't going to hurt me."

"Don't worry, I'm not going to pick a fight... we can't afford that right now." Haruka muttered, sharing a glance with Makoto. And with that she was out the door, running after Rei as if chased by the very wind.

I sat down in the spot Rei had vacated. I looked down at the floor, trying my hardest not to cry as I saw the book on the floor. It wasn't just any book, it was the book. It was the basis of our friendship and she had left it behind. I covered my mouth with my hand.


HARUKA

I ran down the corridor in pursuit of Rei, my feet pounding against the wooden flooring. I skidded to a stop as I caught up.

"You're supposed to be looking after her, what are you doing following me?" Rei asked, sounding weary as she spared me a glance.

"I just needed to say thank you." I muttered. Now that I was here, I felt like an idiot.

"For what?" Rei replied, looking perplexed.

"For letting her go. For doing this to keep her safe. For... everything I guess."

"If you're grateful for it then you should concern yourself with her and not foolish sentiments." Rei replied, walking away from me.

I watched her go in mild surprise, I had understood what she meant in that statement; she wanted me to show I was thankful by taking care of Michiru, rather than concerning myself with her. But she just happened to state it in the most infuriating way.

"Bitch." I muttered before making my way back to the common room. "Why do I even try...?"


RHODE

"All I'm saying is to be careful Minako." Eros said with a heavy sigh. They'd been arguing back and forth all morning, it was getting tiresome. Both of their tempers had grown short over the past few hours. I shifted uneasily in my seat, Minako suddenly straightened and looked in my direction. Eros' attention turned in my direction as well. Both looked rather concerned.

"What is it Rhode?" Minako asked, her voice had softened. I shook my head. It was probably pointless to tell her that I wanted her to be careful as well. I didn't trust the Terrans, I got the feeling that if Minako continued on trusting them bad things would happen.

"I think Rhode wants you to be careful too." Eros commented. "She's worried about you."

"Why?" Minako asked. Eros rolled his eyes.

"Because she cares about you." Eros replied. "And she doesn't trust the Terrans."

"And why is that?" Minako asked, turning to me.

"You didn't feel it?" I asked, feeling increasingly uneasy. Maybe I had imagined the darkness that permeated the air around the Terrans.

Both Minako and Eros shook their heads, looking curious as to what I was talking about. I swallowed.

"B-but then why...?" I asked, looking in Eros' direction. Why didn't he trust them? Had I really been the only one to feel the evil that lingered in the Terrans' shadows? He shook his head.

"Never mind that Rhode." He told me. "I have my reasons. Now what did you feel last night?"

"It was like being doused in cold water, it lingered around them as though waiting to strike. I felt like I couldn't escape it." I took in a shaky breath, Eros reached out and placed a hand on my shoulder comfortingly. His eyes met Minako's over my head, her concern was now laced with a shred of doubt.

"You still trust them?" Eros asked Minako in an almost challenging tone. I looked over my shoulder at her, she bit down on her lip. She was obviously conflicted about this.

"She has always been the most sensitive to these things..." Minako admitted. A grin spread across Eros' face, he had taken her concession as his victory.

"What happened?" Minako asked me, taking a seat on the couch next to me.

"You two disappeared on me and I was... cornered by one of the Terrans."

"And?" Minako prompted.

"Rei found me." I murmured, wary of Minako's wrath. She seemed a little irrational where Rei was concerned.

Predictably, Minako's expression darkened. I could tell that she was ready to launch into a rant. I sent a pleading look in Eros' direction, for some reason he had... softened towards Rei. I was hoping he'd help me out. He nodded.

"It was a good thing too." He stated. Minako's gaze turned to him. "Even thinking about the Terrans is distressing for Rhode. Rei interceded when we couldn't. I don't see a problem with that, we showed up soon after. No harm done."

"But there could have been." Minako muttered lowly. "Speaking of Rei, I really ought to go find her. I need to make sure she knows she's covering Makoto's shift."

I nodded. At least that was a step in the right direction, Minako was no longer fighting.


REI

I did my best to control my pace as I walked away from Haruka. She had not made leaving Michiru in the common room any easier by coming after me. I wanted nothing more than to return to Michiru's side and reassure her that everything would be alright. But that was a lie and returning would do nothing but put her in danger.

I rounded a corner and practically ran into Jadeite. Immediately my guard was raised, my hand wrapped around one of my knives; ready to draw at a moments notice.

Jadeite hastily took a step backwards, his hands raised in surrender. There was an outburst of laughter from his companions. I glanced around, the other three generals were accompanying Jadeite and all of them looked amused by his reaction to me. I eased my hand way from my weapon, doing my best to remain calm.

I had the feeling Minako would be severely annoyed if one of them happened to end up a corpse.

Automatically I stiffened as their leader stepped forward.

"Don't mind him, he's always been an easy one to intimidate." Kunzite explained, the pair behind him chuckled softly. I glanced at Jadeite, who looked infuriated by Kunzite's words. However his murderous gaze turned in my direction with barely a second's hesitation. "We didn't get much of a chance to talk last night, Mars."

My eyes jerked back to Kunzite, his position was relaxed but a menacing aura still hung in the air.

"And what would we have to discuss?" I asked coolly. Kunzite smiled.

"We do genuinely believe that you belong on Earth with us. We hope that you'll consider what we've said as we're quite prepared to go to any lengths to get you to join us in our campaign." Kunzite told me. I met his gaze evenly, somehow managing to stifle my urge to kill them all right in the hallway, my hand still strayed towards my weapons though. A perverse sense of pleasure shot through me at the way Jadeite flinched. I glanced at Nephrite, whose hand had jerked to his sword when I had moved.

"Maybe Jadeite didn't pass on my message properly. If any of you lay a hand on Minako or Rhode again... I'll kill you." I stated. My voice was as calm as I could make it under the circumstances.

It was just then I heard familiar footfalls approaching us. I sighed and looked heavenward, only just catching Kunzite's satisfied smirk. I had walked right into that.

MINAKO

As I approached the common room a low conversation drifted down the corridor towards me. One voice in particular stood out.

"... I'll kill you." I heard Rei threaten. I quickened my pace and rounded the corner, catching sight of Rei and the four Terran generals. Rage tore its way through my body. She was deliberately disobeying orders. I had specifically stated that she wasn't to cause trouble. Rei glanced over her shoulder at me.

"Commander." She acknowledged, sounding resigned. All I could do was glare at her, rage building up inside me.

"Ah, Lady Minako." Kunzite greeted, a pleasant smile stretched across his face as though he had been discussing the weather or some other trivial matter... not being threatened. "I was hoping to find you before we departed... it seems luck was on my side."

I cast Rei another glare before stepping up beside her.

"What was it you were all discussing before I arrived? It sounded most interesting..." I questioned with a false smile. Kunzite cast Rei a glance before replying.

"Jadeite was just asking Rei for a quick sparring match before we left. It seems Rei thinks it a poor match and has little faith in his abilities." Kunzite replied without hesitation. Out of the corner of my eye I noticed Rei's eyebrow quirk upwards slightly. I gave another smile.

"As much as I'm sure Rei would love the chance to cause general mayhem and bloodshed, she has work to do." I replied, and then I turned my attention to Rei.

"I need you to cover the next shift." I told her, giving her a look that clearly conveyed that she was covering Makoto's shift as punishment and she was to cover her own shift. Rei nodded slightly, she understood that a double shift was the price she had to pay for taking Makoto out of commission.

"As you wish. Shall I take my leave then...?" Rei questioned, her eyes flickering dangerously as she studied the Terrans before me.

"Yes. Princess Serenity should be in the Queen's chambers at the moment. Go." I ordered. Rei gave what I could only describe as a mocking bow before departing. The rage I had felt at her early on was transforming into anger with myself. She could get me riled up so easily. I watched her retreat down the hallway.

What had Rei been doing with them anyway? If she distrusted them so much, why was she calmly discussing sparring matches with them?

"Is she on duty alone today then?" Kunzite asked, still looking towards the corridor Rei had disappeared down.

"Yes, due to the last week's celebrations we've been left a little shorthanded." I replied. "Rei's the most... capable of all of us. Now what was it you wished to see me about?"

"I merely wanted to come and say farewell to you and your team. This meeting has proved to be most illuminating." Kunzite replied graciously. I nodded, internally pausing over his choice of words. Something felt wrong about this entire exchange, like I had stepped into the middle of something I shouldn't have. I sincerely hoped that the hidden context to the exchange was harmless and that Kunzite had merely covered for Rei to prevent an incident. Somehow I doubted it though. What Rhode had said earlier put me on edge.

"Well I assume the remainder of my team is in our common rooms." I replied, eager to rejoin the rest of my team. I didn't particularly feel like being with them alone, it was unnerving now.


REI

Every fibre of my being told me I shouldn't leave Minako alone with the Terrans but I had my orders. With each step farther way from Minako, I felt my annoyance grow. She wasn't going to listen to me, was she?

I scowled as I approached the Queen's chamber's, glancing at one of the Palace Guards as I neared. He shifted uneasily.

"What?" I asked.

"N-nothing. I just thought that Makoto was on duty today..." He replied, avoiding my eyes. One of his comrades left his position and approached me.

"She's been removed from active duty for medical reasons." I told the first guard, at this he paled slightly, turning his head to face forward again as he swallowed forcefully. I rolled my eyes, taking a seat on one of the benches that lined the walls. The other guard came forward warily, as if expecting me to attack him.

"You're filling in for Makoto then?" He asked quietly. I nodded.

"Is there anything of note you wish to report before you leave?" I asked him when he didn't leave.

"There has been a change of plans for the afternoon, you're to accompany the Princess to her lessons with Luna after she has finished here." He told me. "There's been nothing else of note. Everything has been quiet."

"Very well, you can go now." I replied dismissive gesture. The soldier threw a sharp salute and left his post. I shook my head softly.

The Princess would not be in a good mood today, she resented having to attend these lessons and my presence would only serve to worsen her day. I sighed. The others had to deal with her attempts to avoid her tutoring sessions but I was always met with quiet obedience and fear. In all my time guarding her, Princess Serenity had hardly spoken ten words to me.

I studied the pair of double doors in front of me. The two guards flanking the doors stood rigidly as if fearing I would reprimand them. I leaned back against the wall, doing my best to relax. The day would be long.

After a few minutes, my mind began to stray back to Terrans; thinking on the dreams I'd been having of late. The redheaded one, Beryl, had been haunting my nightmares over the last few months, taking the liberty of intruding on my waking hours as well. I couldn't escape the thought of her or what accompanied her in my nightmares. A faceless evil of darkness and chaos followed her like a shadow, a harbinger of the end.

Even before I had ever come to the Palace of the Moon, I had seen it in my nightmares falling into ruin. Rivers of blood painting the capital city red. A sick sense of dread filled me as these images came to mind.

I shook myself out of my contemplation when the door opened. I got to my feet, expecting the Princess to emerge from her mother's chambers. To my horror, the one who greeted my eyes was none other than the one I had just been thinking about.

Beryl stalled upon seeing me, a delicate smile crossing her face. She stepped forward to greet me. From behind her Prince Endymion emerged.

"Mars Rei." She said with a graceful incline of her head. I clenched my jaw, nodding slightly in response. "You're waiting for the Princess, are you not?"

Endymion gave a smile.

"She'll be a while yet, she and her mother wished to spend some time together." He told me, a fond smile appearing. I glanced over at him, it seemed to me he was infatuated with the Princess. "Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to find my friends."

Beryl nodded in acknowledgement, her eyes never leaving my face.

"I'll join you shortly. There is something I wish to speak to Rei about." Beryl told him. He smiled and left the two of us under the watchful eye of the Palace guards.

"Walk with me?" Beryl requested, gesturing down the hallway.

"I'm on duty, I shouldn't leave my post."

"I'm sure if tragedy strikes within the few moments you're away, the Palace Guards will be more than enough to handle it."

After a split second of hesitation, I nodded.

"Make it quick." I told her, walking in the direction she had indicated. Once we were out of earshot of the guards I stopped.

"I just wanted to speak to you personally. I'm not sure that Jadeite conveyed my feelings towards you properly."

My eyes narrowed as Beryl reached out and placed a hand on my arm.

"I truly feel that you would thrive on Earth. I say this merely to offer you an alternative to the life you've been living here. Away from the people who fear who you are and what you can do."

"You were also afraid last night." I commented, watching a frown cross her stunning features.

"I was afraid that I'd said the wrong thing. When I said you lived up to the Martian reputation I did not mean the reputation of warriors and bloodshed. I was talking about the bravery you showed when coming to terms with what you've seen."

Shock flooded my system, how had she known about that?

"I know what you've seen because I've seen it too. But you're wrong about the visions, I'm not the cause of what you saw. I too am doing my best to work against that outcome."

I shook my head, unable to find words. She sounded so sincere. Pain ricocheted around my skull, flaring to life in an intense explosion that left me reeling. The hand on my arm steadied me.

"I just want you to know I am nothing to fear. I don't wish to cause you pain, I only want to help you."

"How can you help me?" I asked her through gritted teeth.

"Rei, they won't accept you here. I just want to offer you a place away from the hate and death. You wouldn't have to worry about the politics or fear those who despise you. I just want to offer you a better life; one where you don't live pursued by guilt and nightmares. A world where you can be free."

Silence fell between us. Her words were heavy with seduction, desire for the life she offered flooded through me. Again pain flared behind my eyes, in its wake I was left with flickering images of death; some past, some future. One image lingered with me, Minako's bloodied body as it laid in a silver field, the corpses of her foes lay scattered around her. My heart ached as I saw this... and I knew only one thing for certain. I could never let this become reality.

I took a step away from Beryl and shook my head.

"I can never be free." I told her, turning my back on her and returning to my post. Before I turned away, a look of genuine disappointment had crossed Beryl's face.