Chapter: 9
Hours later after everyone had gone to sleep, one was still very much awake. Sitting up in bed, the Princess of Mars really, really was hoping she could get some action now that she and Jadeite were alone. For goodness sake, he used up most of his energy deflecting a new threat! She wanted to make sure she could give him some comfort at least... and he wouldn't respond to her touches. She sighed deeply and was extremely frustrated. Perhaps that conversation lingered in his mind from the first meeting of her parents. Geez, it's not like they were outright disobeying her parents... it was just a little kissing... what harm could that do?
With all that had happened that night, Jadeite was more than ready to call it quits for now and sleep till the end of the millennium. But the touch of his fiance kept him from reaching slumber - not that he would've minded. "Can't stay mad at me forever, can you," he snickered, laying on his side rolling over to face her.
She looked into his eyes giving a hint of a smile. "I'm not mad at you... just frustrated."
"About what happened tonight," Jadeite guessed, his voice flat.
"No. That my fiance won't kiss me the way he used to," she spoke with a sigh.
Well, that just wouldn't do. He sat up and smashed his lips into Rei's enjoying her answering moans and mewls as they fell back to the covers in a tangle of clothes and limbs. Her inner fire started responding to his, threatening to overtake him if he let it - for once he found he didn't mind that notion. Being baptized in flame might just sear away all of those doubts he'd started developing as of late. "We all have our secrets, love. What you saw tonight was mine...though one I thought I had left buried."
She held onto him, listening to his words and remaining silent. Her heart beat was still quickened by his loving touches and kisses feeling satisfied that her inner fire was being kindled carefully, masterfully. She nestled her head in the crook of his neck. "He tried calling you a different name... I couldn't quite catch what he was saying."
Jadeite stiffened. So she had heard that, huh...? Well, the cat was out of the bag now it seemed. "Tell me something, when you are meeting someone new, what do you have them call you?"
The young princess paused and thought about it. "It depends on the situation. When introduced in court, I'm the Princess of Mars. When in my warrior fuku, Sailor Mars is my introduction. When friends and family are present, I'm Rei. Why do you ask?"
Jadeite smiled at her honesty, holding her a little tighter. He envied her a bit for that. "I'm afraid it's quite different for me, dear heart. When a Shitennou is appointed, they are then sworn in service to their charge. Our predecessors have served the Royal Family for generations and have come from many different backgrounds - all of them tragic. Mine is no exception. When a Shitennou takes that vow, they give themselves to their charge, body and soul, casting off everything they once knew to become something new. I am Jadeite, Shitennou of the Far Eastern Lands of Terra...but once I was a simple village boy by the name of Vasileios."
She blinked. So his name wasn't originally Jadeite. That surprised her! She originally thought that perhaps his parents were super intrigued with that particular stone that was found on Earth! She never considered that he may have been born with a different name. "Vasileios." She tested the sound of that name. She liked how it rolled off her tongue. "That's a sexy name," she muttered to him with a smirk.
Jadeite blushed. He hadn't heard his own name is years, let alone from a woman who he had fancied. But hearing Rei say it was...cathartic. At least she knew now, "Yours is no different, Rei," he countered with a suave grin, brushing the back of the nape of her neck.
She sighed contently. "Perhaps then In public I shall call you Jadeite, the feared Shittenou, loyal to the Terran prince. But in private, I shall call you Vasileios, the sexy romantic." She gave a quick smirk, "What do you think?"
Sexy romantic had a ring to it, he considered smugly. "I suppose I should be glad you're not laughing at my real name. The other...kids didn't find it that appealing. They never could pronounce it correctly and made fun of me. But yes, that little admission is meant to be intensely private little bird, so keep it to yourself. Other than the rest of my brothers and Endymion, you will be the only one left alive who knows it."
She smiled and nodded her head. "Of course, my dear Vasileios."
"So I'm dear to you now," Jadeite grinned impishly, thoroughly enjoying how fast her cheeks bloomed red. "We've come a long way from you "wanting to roast me alive on a pole", haven't we?"
She scoffed. "That was when you had a death wish teasing me relentlessly. Geez. Did you have a book you read from daily labeled "How to Piss Off the Princess of Mars?" I'm sure it gave you thousands of ideas."
"Not a bad idea. Where's some parchment, I'll get started right now..." He started to get up to leave the bed...
She grabbed his arm and pulled him back into the bed, "You better not!"
He laughed and fell back down beside her, gazing at her adoringly. How had he gotten so lucky? It was hard to believe only a few weeks ago he was still at odds with this woman, now here she was laying next to him curled up in the crook of his arm with only a white negligee on that left very little to the imagination, his perverted mind trailed off.
"Don't think too loud," muttered Rei with her eyes closed, "my dad might hear you. "
Jadeite paled slightly at that. If her family was full of telepaths and they could hear thoughts...and if Rei's dad really was listening in on them, then there wouldn't be anything of him come morning. "It's late, you should get some sleep."
"Good night Vasileios." She cozied herself into his embrace falling into a content sleep.
He pressed a kiss to her temple, "Good night...Rei."
Jadeite leaned his head back against the head board and let his eyes slide shut. This would probably be the only time he'd be able to be around her for the foreseeable future. With Kiba's ability to breach security like that, both the Moon and Terran palaces were going to locked down tight until the madman was found. And somehow, he feared that would be sooner than later - but not on their terms. But for now all he could do was weather the storm, especially when his commander would be barging in here in a few hours when he woke up. 'If Venus lets him go that is,' he thought with a sleepy grin. At least he'd have until morning to be with his little fiance, and with that thought he soon drifted off to a dreamless sleep.
Where others would be enjoying dreams of sunny days, happy times and perhaps being with loved ones again for a short time, Jadeite was not one of them. His dreams were filled with fire and pain - his pain. When he looked down at his hands he saw a child's hands - the hands that he'd brunt the first time he'd learned of his powers. People had scorned him for it but his parents had tried to protect their only son. He rarely looked back on his childhood but now he couldn't stop himself - what with Kiba returning.
His name was Vasileios, and he was the son of a hard working father and stay-at-home mother. His father ran their village's mill, taking his son with him whenever he could. Mother protested the idea of a child being so close to dangerous machinery only for his father to laugh off her concern, assuring her they would be fine. And they had been...until that night. He couldn't remember exactly how it happened but one minute he had been asleep in bed, the very next his home had been in flames from fire that seemed to burn at his finger tips. His father had burst into his room to whisk him out to the main yard, only to rush back in to get his mother. The very next minute the house collapsed and Vasileios screamed.
"Don't be frightened," a voice soothed, stopping his cries. Then Kiba appeared, then a boy the same age as him but with those very same eyes of unbridled hate towards everything in the world. How he hadn't been devoured by those eyes he couldn't fathom. Kiba held out his hand to the distraught blond, "Your power is not a curse, do not listen to them. It is a gift, one of which we both share. They are the ones to fear us, not the other way around - and we could show them."
No...no this wasn't right. His powers were curse - they had gotten mama and papa killed.
"Come with me, Vasileios-"
"NO!" The boy screamed, throwing out his hand to Kiba sending a wave of flame that completely devoured him. But it wasn't him that screamed - but her.
"REI!" Jadeite breathed heavily, looking around expecting danger but he was safe and beside him, Rei was still there, unharmed and undisturbed. He reached out a shaking hand to stroke back one of her errant locks, but his hand started shaking. He gripped and pulled it back to him, shaking his head. "I won't let you get near her, you bastard," he swore silently, curling up again next to his fianc , losing himself in her scent. "I'll protect her no matter what it costs me."
It was later that morning, a young woman entered the room of the Princess of Mars.
One of the servants of the Moon palace woke the couple bright and early. In the hands of the maid was a scroll with the Royal Seal of Mars. With sleep still lingering in their eyes, the couple read it slowly as they remained in the bed, Rei's face becoming pale. She gave a small groan as Jadeite took the parchment reading aloud, "His Royal Highness of Mars invites Princess Rei and Lord Jadeite to breakfast in the East parlor of the Moon Palace. The Moon Queen and Terran Royals have already given their fullest permission for invited guests to be relieved of their duties for the day. "
Rei noticed Jadeite's touch as she sighed loudly, "Its going to be a VERY long day..." Once the maid left, the Terran and the Martian quickly willed their uniforms on and headed towards the east wing of the palace. There was a comfortable silence between the two as Mars held onto his arm as he escorted her. They didn't dare speak a word when they entered into the room where Aries and Aria sat already sipping on morning tea. The young couple formally bowed before the royals, the King of Mars waved his hand, "Sit sit. We have much to discuss today. "
Taking a seat next to Mars, Jadeite would much rather have preferred to remain in bed with his wife-to-be all day after what happened the night before, but fate had something else planned for them it seemed. When the servant arrived this morning to hand them that scroll, the blond Shitennou was already fearing what would come next especially since it was from Rei's parents. He hadn't missed the stern look that Aries had sent him when they both walked in, hinting of things to come. He sighed. Yes, this was going to be a long day indeed...
"We have some matters to discuss, especially after last night's... visitor," boomed Aries voice. His coal eyes turned to each individual sitting before him. The King waved the servants and guards out of the room, leaving the family alone. "Who is he?" Finally asked the King after the doors were securely closed.
Jadeite had dreaded this moment. He had hoped to only be able to tell his fellow Shitennou and at worst the Prince himself, but Aries had other plans it seemed. Of course, Kiba had made an indirect threat to not just kill him but Rei too, so his actions were justifiable. Didn't make things easier for him though. "His name is Kiba. He is...was an old friend of mine, before I became a Shitennou."
"And?"
Jadeite winced at the expectant tone from his father-in-law. What was he supposed to tell them? Kiba had been all but erased from his mind until last night, and now he didn't even recognize the guy anymore. "He's...like me. He was born with affinity to manipulating the elements, mine being able to control fire. He can control wind and air, to devastating effects it seems. Other than that...I don't know what else I could tell you except that he's very dangerous."
The king's dark, stony eyes narrowed, "Looks like you have your work cut out for you."
Jadeite nodded. "I'm sure after we're through here, I'll be heading back to Earth for an emergency meeting with my fellow Shitennou and my Prince. Old friend or not, Kiba breached one of the most secure places in the universe as if he just walked in through the front door; that won't be allowed to stand. Kiba will be hunted down, that much I know."
Sailor Mars sat quietly listening. She didn't get a chance to see the man up close and personal, but she remembered his voice and the words he spoke the night of the ball after deciding to fight along side her fiance and leaving her mother behind. She saw her father watch her betrothed with calculated precision before he nodded. "Though I have the utmost confidence that you will come out victor over this nuscence, I offer you my expertise to keep my daughter from fearing your safety in this matter."
"I welcome His Majesty's wisdom on this matter," Jadeite said humbly. Because frankly he didn't even know where to start with Kiba, especially after how he just threw his brothers aside like toys.
The King of Mars nodded his head. "I don't know about you, but I am starved!" He gave a clap calling in the servants with a bellowing voice that almost crushed both Jadeite and Sailor Mars' eardrums.
The Queen sat very quaintly sipping her tea. She set it down after the food was brought in and the servants left once again. "I can sense that Kiba is hiding somewhere in the palace."
Jadeite's eyes widened. The fool hadn't left the palace yet? Then...what was he waiting for? "Can you find him," he asked the Queen, hoping he didn't sound too anxious.
The Queen coolly looked at the Shittenou warrior, "He's somewhere on the north wing of the palace. I don't sense a growth in his power or strength. Perhaps he is 'nursing his wounds' and waiting for another day to strike." She reached over to place some fruit on her plate. She boredly looked at Jadeite as he was ready to open his mouth, "And no I will not assist in pinpointing Kiba. Ask Rei to assist you. She's been slacking on her telepatic skills."
Jadeite winced at the cold rebuke then turned his eyes to Mars, who lifted one delicate eyebrow in a silent challenge. With no other options, he gave her a tired smile, "I don't suppose you'd be up for a little witch hunt, my dear?"
Rei felt her cheeks burn from embarrassment. Why did her mother have to call her out on that? She prefered to use fire over the telepathic skills any day of the week. Sure, they weren't as honed in as her mother's, but if she really concentrated, she could do a decent job. She glared at her mother, "Mama, you could easily pinpoint where this 'Kiba' is. Why can't you tell us so Jadeite and I could burn his rear off the face of the Moon?"
The cool eyes of amethyst locked on to the Senshi, her lip never twitching to smirk, "You and Jadeite need to learn to work along side each other. If you will be ruling the planet one day, you need to learn each other's strengths and weaknesses to help compensate for each other. The last thing we want to see is you becoming too dependent on your father and I." She grabbed her cup of tea to sip it.
Sailor Mars glared at her mother. She kept from pouting because it wasn't becoming of a princess, yet she knew her parents could find and take care of this Kiba-guy in a snap.
'Much as I hate to admit, she's right...damn I really wish I knew other people for this job,' mentally considered the younger man in the room beside turning to his soon-to-be bride. "Well, so sense sticking around here then," Jadeite said, rising to his feet. "We'll check in with the Captain of the Guard and get a search going. We'll rout him out, one way or another."
Rei remained silent... thinking. She tried recalculating what was located on the north side of the Moon Palace. What rooms were there, where someone could hide, and why they would hide there?
She looked up to Jadeite with a frown, "Why would Kiba hide in the northern section of the palace? That's where the Maids and Servants reside."
Jadeite looked thoughtful for a minute as well, puzzled. Then he looked up, eyes wide, "He's trying to blend in," he murmured, stunned. "He must be after the others!"
Sailor Mars looked to her parents as they casually ate their breakfast. Were her and Jadeite still required to stay here with them? Her mother reached out her hand calling her daugher to her. Sailor Mars stood and kissed her mother's cheek before the older woman gave her daughter an embrace. "Keep watch. Kiba is a sly one. Use your telepathy to communicate with Jadeite so no surprise attacks are thwarted."
Her father stood as well reaching over to give his daughter a hug. "Ah! Tell Kiba I said hello, would you? I'm sure he has a nice tender wound on his side from our last encounter." She returned to her fiance's side and nodded her head. "Ready?"
Jadeite nodded. The two of them hurried out of the room towards the barracks. It felt like two seconds passed while when in full sprint they arrived in less than five minutes. There they found the remainder of the soldiers that hadn't been injured/killed when Kiba appeared last night. There were only a dozen but it was enough.
The Captain of the Guard was an elderly but not feeble old man, still lively enough to wear the armor of the Moon and defend its rulers. The balding man stood to attention when the blond walked in, "General Jadeite," he greeted. "We got word you were coming. We're at your command."
Jadeite wasted no time - if Kiba was where he thought he was, this was their only chance to find him. "Captain, I need you and your men to perform a perimeter sweep of the north end of the palace; we have reason to believe the intruder is hiding there."
The Captain looked reluctant, "Sir, with all due respect, we simply do not have the man power at this time - and with the Shitennou incapacitated, there's very little we can do at the moment."
Jadeite cursed. Kiba had done a number alright, and with Endymion safely back on Earth under lock and key, that left him, the remainder of the Lunarian Guard and...
Inspiration hit him like a mammoth. Turning to Rei, he smirked, "Think we could convince your senshi sisters to put Kiba in his place?"
Sailor Mars smirked. "I thought you would never ask."
