Kunzite watched as his lover slept. The young man's eyelashes fluttered occasionally against his pale cheeks as he dreamed. Zoisite was a strong and able warrior, but when he slept, he looked more like a doll. His porcelain skin was almost luminescent in the pale glow of morning and Kunzite couldn't resist the urge to run his hand through those golden locks. Zoisite stirred, but didn't awaken at his lover's touch.
Kunzite had kept his distance throughout the trials and they had kept their relationship quiet to all but their brothers. They demanded nothing of each other, but Kunzite could not lie to himself as well as he could lie to others. This was the man who truly held his heart. Sooner or later he would have to tell Prince Endymion, especially if he hoped to continue their relationship in something other than small stolen kisses and the moonlight. Jadeite was still too sore about Zoisite's new position to care about their relationship, but he had voiced some of his concerns to Nephrite. Nephrite had laughed at him and told him that he'd known of Kunzite's attraction to the younger man for some time. Zoisite had turned in early last night and Nephrite had used the opportunity to ask Kunzite if he loved Zoisite.
Kunzite's breath had stalled in his chest. He hadn't been able to force the words out of his mouth, but he felt them nonetheless and had settled for nodding his head. Their conversation was still fresh in his mind, even after a night's sleep.
"You can't say it, can you?" Nephrite had looked at Kunzite with amusement shining in his eyes. "How are you going to convince Prince Endymion to accept your relationship if you can't even say that you love him?"
"Why does it matter if I say it or not? It doesn't change how I feel." Kunzite pushed the plate of food away from himself.
"No, but maybe if you can't say it, then it's not real." Nephrite's words had stung Kunzite more than he lead Nephrite to believe. Kunzite had shrugged his shoulders and gone for a walk.
Prince Endymion had not returned yet and Kunzite had not had a chance to tell his Prince that he was infatuated with another man. Why was that word so important? Kunzite turned his attention back to his sleeping lover, kissed his lips tenderly and leaned to his ear. "I...I love you..."
FIN
