Standard disclaimer - I don't own Sailor Moon, or its characters. All OCs, however, are mine.
He held Mina to him, wide awake despite the late hour. Metalia and Beryl had overrun Earth, and were now in command of an incredible army. They'd made no secret of their intentions…tomorrow would likely be war.
"You're worrying again," she said softly.
"Yes…" he admitted.
"It's out of your hands, now…if war comes, then we'll face it…together."
"It's not that. I spoke with Selene…sought her council…"
"And?" she asked.
"She told me the Moon Kingdom is going to fall. That nothing can change that."
She was silent.
"There's more." He closed his eyes. "She told me that I'll be forced to make one, last terrible choice… to betray all I know…or all I hold dear." He looked down at her, feeling a crushing sense of hopelessness descend around him. "I'm afraid, Mina…afraid of what I'll do…"
"It doesn't matter," she whispered. "I know you'll make the right choice…"
"How can you be so sure?"
"Because you're a good man, Corval...I know that. And I love you." She slid up and kissed him deeply. "Now…don't worry about tomorrow. Live in the moment, my love…with me."
She was right. Nothing else mattered tonight...only his love for his goddess.
Corey had known he'd loved Mina, from the moment his memories first started 'unlocking'. But he hadn't realised quite how much. They were soulmates in every sense of the word; he hadn't believed in destiny, or fate, or anything like that…but after witnessing all of this…he'd been converted. He'd found Mina all over again…in a world of almost seven billion people. Even without their memories…they'd started over, forging a new relationship. It was unbelievable…
Flames raged around him, and the smell of death was on the wind. The forces of Earth had attacked, as expected…and the battle was going poorly. Earth's army dwarfed their own, and they had many magic users among them, negating the advantage of the Sailor Senshi and himself. As hard as he fought, he was only one man, and he could only be in one place at a time. They'd been slowly but surely pushed back to the palace itself. The Sailor Senshi had withdrawn inside, defending the main doors from there. Justice led the battle in the courtyard; he must have killed fifty men already, and yet they just kept coming.
One of Beryl's many 'witches' appeared; a hideous mockery of someone once human, twisted and malformed by her evil power. It hurled a ball of blue flame at him, and he summoned his shield, letting the attack break harmlessly over it. He whirled about, swinging his sword in a backhanded arc, and retaliated with a 'Crescent Blade Slash'. The golden energy blade lashed out, cutting the witch in half and dropping it to the ground. Justice had learned the technique from Honour just after he was initiated. He'd taught him much, in fact…skills and abilities he was finally putting to use, after six years of doing nothing. The Guardian Knight dove back into the battle, dispatching opponents with deadly efficiency…
Corey was impressed. He struggled to fight more than one enemy at once, but Corval was flitting about the battlefield like…well, like a Sailor Senshi. This wasn't the slow, almost clumsy movement he was used to; this was art! He'd hit on the tactic of using his teleport as a battle technique already, but Corval was just amazing; he'd never realised how fast, strong or powerful he could be. Titus' endless nagging about training started to make sense…if the cat remembered him like this, it was no wonder he always seemed disappointed…
A new wave of enemies entered the courtyard. Justice turned. The soldiers around him were tired, on the verge of buckling. They needed something to energise them, to lift their spirits…and he knew just what to do. The Knight turned back to the approaching battalion, and sheathed his sword. It was time to see just how many of these dog's hearts were just!
"I beseech the spirit of justice that resides in all beings...hear my call!" He felt the strength flowing into him, filling his body with warmth. That warmth slowly grew in intensity, becoming hot…until it manifested. Flames erupted around his gauntlets, slowly burning their way up his arms. "Grant me the power to destroy this evil before me!" The fire raged, consuming his entire body. Despite the flames, he felt no heat. Only a soothing calm.
Corey had never felt this much power before. When he'd summoned this ability against the Revenant Knight, it hadn't felt anything like this. His gauntlets had caught fire, and he'd felt a small surge of power, but this… he felt unstoppable!
Justice raised his hands, letting the flames dance from palm to palm, his entire body surrounded in the fire. "Let us cleanse it from this world, together!" The approaching Earth troops had halted; it seemed they'd never seen a Guardian Knight wield his true power before. Well…he would show it to them! Justice set his feet, and thrust his hands forward, palms out. "Judicial Flames!"
A blinding torrent of fire erupted from his gauntlets, washing over the enemy like a veritable storm of flame; their screams filled the courtyard as they were caught in the inferno and burned alive. Justice continued to stream flame over them until he was certain they were no more, and finally relented, breathing heavily. Nought remained of them but some melted weapons and charred bones. Now, if he could only do that another hundred times they may stand a chance!
Scattered cheers broke out around him from the Moon Kingdom troops. He nodded in satisfaction. Yes, they seemed to be back in the fight now.
He raised his fist into the air. "Men! Don't lose heart! We will drive these curs back, and save our home! For the queen!"
More cheers and applause broke followed, with scattered cries of agreement.
"Make ready for the next wave!" he ordered. "Let's show them how the Moon Kingdom fights!"
He immediately set about inspecting the barricades; with the help of a few men, they were able to get them back in place. It might hold off Metalia's forces…for all of thirty seconds.
"Sir Justice!" He looked around, and saw a black cat sprinting towards him.
"Titus? What are you doing here?"
"I need your help!"
"What?! Can't you see we're at war?"
"Just listen to me!" Titus snapped, breathing heavily. "Your former comrades…I sought them out, following their little rampage the other night!"
Justice resisted the urge to roll his eyes; Titus had an amazing ability for understatement. "You found them, then?"
"Yes…I thought to follow them, keeps tabs on their movements…but once I overheard their plans, I knew I had to find you at once!" His eyes went wide. "They seek to kill the queen! She's the 'last step' in their plan." Titus bowed his head. "I want to seize control of the Moon Kingdom for themselves!"
"Ridiculous," he scoffed. He knew Faith…Marus had tried to convince him of the need for action, and when he refused, he'd acted without him. But he was sure these actions came from his need to 'fix' the Moon Kingdom…not from ambitions of power. As for Honour…he had simply snapped. He was sure of it.
"Regardless of their intentions, will you just allow Queen Serenity to be murdered?"
Justice hesitated. He had no desire to fight his brothers…and his duty was here, on the battlefield. He stood in defence of the kingdom…not of the queen. But he also stood for justice…and despite their many disagreements in the past…he considered the queen a friend. He could not stand idly by and allow her to die.
"Where?"
"The Chamber of Prayer!" Titus replied. "Go on ahead, I'll try and summon more help!"
Justice closed his eyes, felt the barest hint of movement…and opened them, standing before the Great Doors to the Chamber of Prayer. Four Royal Guardsmen lay dead on the floor, no match for his fellow Guardian Knights. He heard voices inside…they were already here.
"Please…" It was the queen. "Not here…not now! Not while the battle rages outside!"
"It is the perfect time." That was Faith; he sounded strangely calm. "We will clear away the last of this kingdom's corruption with your death. Then we will emerge…and destroy the forces of Earth, securing a new future for the Moon Kingdom."
Was Faith mad? Had he not seen the forces they battled against? Perhaps, if they'd all been together from the start, fighting as one, they may have been able to stem the tide, but now? No…the battle was lost.
He heard a somewhat familiar voice; Artemis, another of the queen's advisers. "Have you no decency? Can't you see the queen is already devastated?" Were he and Luna both here as well?
Serenity's voice broke. "My daughter is dead…"
His eyes went wide. Princess Serenity, dead? How?!
"My kingdom lies in ruins around me…and you worry of corruption? There is no Moon Kingdom left for you to save! Don't you see that?"
"You're wrong," Faith replied coldly. "Grieve not, Your Majesty…you'll join your daughter in the afterlife momentarily."
Justice stepped inside. "Stop!"
"Corval!" Serenity called.
Faith turned to him and cocked his head to the side. "Shouldn't you be defending the kingdom…brother?"
"The kingdom is lost," he said bluntly, echoing the queen's own words. "We fight a losing battle, Faith. Your betrayal has seen to that."
"Betrayal?" Faith demanded. "All that I've done…all that we've done…was done for the continued existence of the Moon Kingdom! I tried to reach out to you, brother…I tried to warn you! But you couldn't see it. You just wanted to keep the status quo. You grew comfortable, and lazy!" He gestured around. "This is where the status quo has led us. The Moon Kingdom under siege, countless dead…and the stench of corruption and decay all around."
"It is…terrible…" Serenity agreed softly.
"Shut up!" Honour barked. "You lost your right to speak a long time ago!"
Faith took a step towards him. "Have you reconsidered, perhaps? Come to join us at long last? There's still time to change your mind…"
"I…" Why was he hesitating? He'd come here with the full intention of stopping this.
"Sir Justice, you can't!" Luna cried.
"Silence!" Honour roared, brandishing his flail menacingly.
"Join us, brother…together we can cleanse the Moon Kingdom of evil," Faith continued eagerly. "We can bring peace and justice to its people once more! I know how much you've always wanted that!"
"We can punish the guilty, Justice," Honour added darkly. "Bring retribution to those deserving of it. Tyford, Barlow…Howe…they were only the start. Think about it…the Guardian Knight of Justice, free to act as his conscience demanded!"
"We could abolish those draconian love laws!" Faith spat. "Allow people the freedom to marry for love, like in the old days. To hell with the nobility keeping their bloodlines 'pure'!" He turned and placed his hand on Honour's shoulder. "Nobody should have to go through what Honour did, Justice. Nobody."
Justice bowed his head. Yes…Liara. Honour had loved her just as much as he loved Mina. She was a vibrant, compassionate woman, and the flame of her existence had been snuffed out far too early. There was little doubt she would still be alive, had they not been forcibly torn apart. If it had been he and Mina torn apart instead…what might he have done? If it had been he in Honour's place, told of Mina's death, and the reason for it…he knew the answer. He'd have gone mad with grief and rage as well. He'd want to punish those who'd stolen his love from him. He'd want to bring them pain. He would become a force of vengeance…not justice. After all…what kind of life would he have, without his love to share it with?
He turned slowly to face Queen Serenity. A woman he'd long respected, despite the frost that had formed over their friendship in recent times. "Do you hear them, Your Majesty? Do you really hear them?"
She simply nodded, tears glistening in her eyes.
"These are not evil men…they took The Oath, just as I did. They care for this kingdom, just as I do. And they have encountered corruption and injustice at every turn…just as I have." He bowed his head. "Oh, my queen…you have no idea how tempted I am to just say yes."
"Sir Justice!" Artemis sounded shocked.
"I have stood idle and watched in silence for more than six years now, as the Moon Kingdom descended into despair. I know you made every terrible choice with a heavy heart…but it pained me no less to witness it."
"But you always understood…" she whispered. "I know you did, my friend."
"I did. I saw the reason behind your choices." He bowed his head. "But that doesn't lessen the depth of your failure. You lacked the courage to stand up for your convictions. You lacked the courage to do what was right in the face of adversity. If some of the nobility had broken away from the Moon Kingdom…so be it. If they had raised arms against you…let them! Your Guardian Knights would have destroyed them all to protect this kingdom." His tone grew suddenly bitter. "Even if we had lost to Metalia and Beryl…at least we would have died with a clear conscience."
"Oh, I know that," she said softly, "and that knowledge terrifies me. That you would so easily turn on the same people you swore to protect…"
"Bastards like Tyford and Howe made their choice. If others like them had become threats in our eyes…then yes. We would have ended them too."
"Yes…" she agreed, a sudden urgency in her voice. "But don't you see a problem with that? When did you all become so comfortable with the idea of killing? The Guardian Knights have not drawn their weapons in anger for centuries!" She pointed to his brothers. "They have slaughtered entire noble houses!" Fresh tears formed in her eyes. "And even you, my friend, have blood on your hands..."
He looked down at his gauntlets. The Howe boy…could she be right? A cold sliver of regret formed in his stomach, even now. It was true…that had been a mistake. A foolish mistake, made for what he thought were the right reasons at the time. He shook his head sadly. He and Queen Serenity were not so different, after all. He just hadn't seen it until now.
"I sought a peaceful end to all of this; without violence, without bloodshed. But I see now…that I was a fool," she admitted. "Through inaction, I allowed the problems facing my kingdom to grow ever greater. You're right, Corval…I was afraid. I looked back at the history of this great kingdom, and I knew I couldn't let it crumble under my watch. How could I? The Moon Kingdom has stood for more than a thousand years…watching over the people of Earth, and guiding them. Now, they slaughter my people, while I stand here…at the mercy of my own Guardian Knights." Her voice broke. "I have failed my people, Corval…but I accept the choices I made. Now it is time, at last, for you to make your own difficult decision…I pray you find it easier than I did."
Faith's voice was confident. "You heard her, brother…she admits her failure! Stand with us. We will finish her quickly, then go to battle! The Moon Kingdom will be born anew, and it will stand for another thousand years!"
"And who would rule this new Moon Kingdom?" Justice asked softly. "You?"
"The three of us would watch over it…the Divine Triumvirate…until peace was assured. Then, we would turn it over to its people...when they were ready."
"You speak of a dictatorship!" Luna snapped angrily.
"We are already under one," Faith shot back. "I speak of a few years of pain and bloodshed, for a millennia of prosperity!"
Corval could almost see it; the people's faith restored, the future of the Moon Kingdom secured, and justice for all, no matter their rank or station. It would be a utopia. Only…it would all be a lie. Peace and justice...at the point of a sword. Was that really what he wanted? Was that really…justice? He remembered The Oath, once more. 'Do you vow to serve as an exemplar of Justice to all, a shining beacon of morality and even-handedness, until your final breath?' Morality…and even-handedness. It referred to justice itself, of course; fairness...righteousness. Was this just? Slaying his queen, and usurping her throne…even for the greater good?
With a heavy heart, he pulled his compass from his belt. The needle turned slowly to face his fellow Guardian Knights…before swinging to face the queen. It flickered between black and white, unable to show him the truth…because there wasn't one. There was no black or white choice here. Both sides had acted justly in their eyes. Both sides believed they were right. The compass was wavering and unwilling to choose...just like him. He sighed deeply; Selene's words finally made sense to him…
You will have to make a difficult choice, my dear Justice…to betray all you know…or all you hold dear.
A difficult choice indeed, he thought reluctantly. To stand with his brothers, the Guardian Knights, all he had known for the last six years…or with the queen, and all he held dear…including Mina. His thoughts lingered on her the longest. Would she understand if he chose to side with them? She knew him better than he knew himself. Yes...she would understand. But she would never approve…and she would never accept it. Perhaps it made him selfish…but with that in mind, his choice wasn't so difficult after all. Siding with Honour and Faith meant losing the woman he loved…and the thought of that was unbearable.
Queen Serenity had always acted with the long-term safety of her kingdom in mind…and while she had ultimately failed…she was just.
"For all your failings, Your Majesty…I know you've always tried to do the right thing, even when faced with an impossible choice. I have argued with you countless times…and watched the consequences with sorrow." He raised his hands, and removed his helmet. He felt a tear slide down his cheek; he wept for what he knew would happen next.
He faced his brothers. "Garrod…I'm so sorry for Liara…and I'm sorry for what her death has done to you. But this? This is wrong! One injustice does not excuse another!"
"You're a hypocrite…" Honour muttered coldly. "Both of you!" He stabbed a finger toward the queen angrily. "Your precious daughter was free to skip off to Earth whenever she felt like it. Did you think that nobody knew she was seeing Prince Endymion?! In direct violation of the same law you judged me under…"
"I know…" Serenity whispered sadly.
He practically spat his next words. "As for you, brother, let's not pretend you're making some grand stand for justice! You're doing this for her! You're not siding with Serenity…you're siding with Mina!"
Corval nodded slowly. Perhaps he was a hypocrite…but that changed nothing. "I'm sorry, Garrod…for everything that's happened."
"I don't want your pity!" Honour snapped. "You think I care anymore? I feel nothing! Nothing but this terrible wrath inside me that won't be sated…not until Liara's blood-debt is paid." His gaze fixed on the queen, and his voice grew cold again. "No matter what the nobles did…however they cajoled or threatened…you are responsible for the laws, Serenity. You are responsible for Liara's death…and only your blood will make up for Liara's life!"
"That's not going to happen," Justice said firmly.
Faith answered for Honour, his voice a furious rasp. "I should have known you wouldn't have the courage to do what's necessary, Justice!" He snorted derisively. "Even your very name is a mockery! I extended you my hand for a second time…and you slapped it away again. You have failed the Moon Kingdom just as completely as she has. Your blood is demanded…just as hers is! There will be justice for the people!"
"You speak of vengeance!" Corval snapped. "Not justice!"
"So be it…" Faith muttered coldly. "I will do what I must, to ensure this kingdom's survival. It will be great again!" His halberd blinked into existence in his hands. "If you will not stand with us…then you will fall before us!"
Justice exhaled slowly, forcing all his anger and fear out with the breath. He would follow Honour's advice from all those years ago. Fight for peace, not from anger. He would fight for the queen…for the Moon Kingdom...and most importantly of all…for Mina!
With a practiced hand, he slid his helmet back over his head, and drew Justiciar from its sheath. "So be it. Face me…traitors."
Honour swung his flail, narrowly missing Justice's head. The massive steel ball slammed into the pillar behind him, tearing a chunk of stone away from it. Justice deflected Honour's second strike with his sword, and slashed in, feinting for his chest. Try as he might, his heart just wasn't in it. Honour was his friend…he didn't want to kill him.
"Damn you!" Honour roared. "Fight me like you mean it!"
"We don't have to do this! We can still come back from this!"
"If that's what you want, then you must turn and kill your queen; that's the only way to avoid this fight now!"
Honour was right. He'd completely lost himself to his rage. Garrod wasn't in there anymore; not the Garrod he knew, at any rate. He was going to have to kill his best friend…there was no avoiding it.
Faith chose that moment to enter the fight, swinging his halberd in a vicious arc that took a chip out of his right pauldron. Justice immediately withdrew. Fighting one Guardian Knight was difficult; fighting two at the same time would be impossible. Justice leapt back and whirled, channelling his energy through his sword. A crescent blade of light short forth, slamming into Honour's chestplate and cracking it. He roared in pain and launched himself forward at Justice. His flail swung out again and again, making it difficult to close in. Faith attacked from behind, and Justice summoned his shield in a small, focused area between them, blocking his weapon repeatedly.
"Damn you! Stop hiding and face me!" Marus had lost himself to anger now; he wasn't the same man he'd once known. Somehow, his faith in the Moon Kingdom had become a kind of warped fervour, to the point where he was willing to do anything to save it; he couldn't even see that saving it his way meant its end.
Honour lashed out again with an almighty roar, swinging his flail wildly…and Justice saw his opening. He couldn't hold out against them both for much longer; if he didn't take this chance now, then Serenity would die right after he did.
He focused all his energy into his sword and swung it; Justiciar glowed a brilliant white as it slashed out, cutting through the chain holding the spiked ball of Honour's flail in place…and then down. It pierced the fallen Knight's armour effortlessly, and lodged in his chest. The flail hit the floor, and Honour twitched. He fell free of Justice's sword and hit the floor hard.
Remorse welled up inside him. "I'm sorry…Garrod."
He coughed, blood leaking from under his helmet. "What do I care…for this world…anymore?" He drew in a ragged, raspy breath. "Without my love…my Liara…my life…is…meaningless…" Honour went still and Justice felt…numb. He'd been forced to kill his best friend. Selene had been right…this was a terrible choice indeed.
"All that regret over my sister's murderer!" Faith spat. "Yet you kill your friends so easily?!"
"I tried to stop this, Marus!" Justice shot back. "If you would have just listened to me…but, no! You had to act. You couldn't wait!"
"I'd waited long enough!" Faith roared. "Six years, you were a Guardian Knight, Corval! Six years! What did you accomplish in that time?! Nothing! You just watched, as the plight of the people grew more and more desperate! You failed, brother, and now you've chosen her…siding with the queen over the Moon Kingdom! You're the traitor here, not me!" He launched himself forward, attacking relentlessly.
Justice had underestimated Faith's fighting ability; he knew he was skilled, but this halberd was a difficult weapon to face with a sword. Faith had reach…and strength. Justice couldn't get close enough to attack him. He was growing tired; he'd spent too much energy dodging Honour's attacks, and he still hadn't fully recovered from calling the Judicial Flames earlier. The halberd's axe-head scraped across his chest plate as he dodged a little too slowly.
"I can see this is getting us nowhere!" Faith looked at the queen, and stepped towards her. "Perhaps…"
"No!" Faith was going for the…feint! He was caught off-guard; Faith's sudden reversal of direction surprised him, and he backed away, barely blocking Marus' furious attacks. It wasn't enough. Faith battered aside his guard with one final heavy blow, and plunged the spiked tip of his halberd right through Justice's chestplate.
"Corval!" the queen cried.
He felt the cold steel digging into his chest, tearing flesh and organs alike. His former comrade leaned in, helmet inches from his own; driving him back against the pillar behind him.
No…I can't lose…I won't fail the queen. The wounded knight reached down, slowly, for the dagger on his hip, slipping it free of its sheath.
"You chose the wrong side, brother!" Faith declared coldly. "You betrayed me. You betrayed us!" He chuckled darkly. "Your foolish obsession with morality always was your greatest weakness!"
Justice feigned weakness, reaching up to hold Faith's pauldron. "And…your arrogance…is yours!"
He drove the dagger up under Faith's helmet. Marus made a strangled, gurgling noise as he tried to pull away, blood spurting from his jaw. Justice held him tight, gripping the back of his neck as he lurched, until finally, he stopped moving. With an overwhelming feeling of regret, he let his brother fall, watching as the Guardian Knight of Faith collapsed backwards to the floor…dead. He sank back against the pillar behind him, slowly sliding down until he rested on the floor.
Justice stared across the room, at his best friend's body. Garrod. Damn him. Why had he forced him to fight? Faith, he could believe…it saddened him to admit that he should have seen this coming. Honour, though…never in a thousand years would he have considered him capable of such an act of betrayal. He reflected on his brother's final words; what do I care for this world anymore? Without my love…my Liara…my life is meaningless…
His thoughts turned to his own love. Mina. He lowered his hand to his belt, seeking a familiar chain. With considerable effort, he pulled his compass from its pouch and held it before his eyes. "Show me my goddess," he whispered. He became vaguely aware of Queen Serenity kneeling beside him. She was speaking…but he didn't care what she had to say. He needed to see her.The needle span slowly, seemingly searching…but after several agonising seconds it stopped, returning to its resting point. There was only one way his compass would fail to point her out; he felt his heart break. She had fallen too. His love…was dead. All the warmth seemed to be draining out of him, pouring through the hole in his chest along with his blood. He understood Honour's words all too well now; life indeed seemed meaningless without Mina to light his world.
"Corval…my friend," Serenity said gently, rousing him from his reverie.
He turned his head slowly, reaching up to fumble with his helmet. She reached forward, and carefully removed it for him.
Tears sparkled in her eyes; the Queen was crying. "I thank you…"
"Their actions were unjust. The choice was easy…in the end." he murmured. It was difficult to speak.
Her eyes fell to the compass, before rising again, to look into his eyes. "Mina?"
He nodded slightly, too numb to shed tears of his own. "She's gone. Blessedly…I feel I won't linger in this life…much longer…myself."
"Do not mourn for her, my faithful knight…your sacrifice is not in vain. My daughter, her friends…and your love…even you. You will all live again." The Queen rose to her feet. "It is not the life I had wished for my Serenity…or any of you. But it is life, nonetheless. Be at peace, my friend. You will see Mina again."
"I…I hope so…"
Luna approached; she seemed drained. "Your Majesty…there isn't much time."
Serenity ignored her, seemingly lost in thought. "Might I ask one last favour of you, Corval?"
"Of course…my queen."
"Find my daughter…my Serenity…in this new world you will awaken in. Find her…and watch over her." A single tear slid down her cheek. "Guide her on the path of justice. Ensure that she becomes a better queen…than I was."
"As you wish…so shall…it be…Your Majesty…" His eyes closed for the last time…
…and Corey awoke with a start, looking up into a familiar pair of light blue eyes.
"That doesn't look very comfortable," Minako observed sleepily. She was hanging over the foot of the bed, looking down at him in confusion. "What are you doing down there anyway?"
Where...how...of course. It had all taken place in his dreams. He'd relived his live as Corval in only a few hours…but this was the real world. And she was here…alive and well. There was so much he wanted to say…so much to tell her.
"Just sleeping," he replied gently, smiling up at her. He could fill her in tomorrow. She'd had a bad day, and she needed the rest.
"Well…don't be silly. There's plenty of room up here with me."
He frowned. "But, Artemis said…"
"Artemis isn't my mother," she sighed. "We're just sleeping. Artemis will get over it." A familiar smile appeared on her face. "Now, will you just get in the bed already?"
"Mina!" It seemed the cat was going to protest.
"Artemis," Minako growled. "I'm sore all over and kinda cranky. Be quiet, and move!"
Artemis just shook his head as Corey shrugged, moving to the foot of the bed. Minako had spoken. He slipped under the sheets, shuffling gingerly on his back. His neck was sore…damned jacket pillow. Minako slid back up the bed, and slipped in beside him…rolling over to snuggle into his side.
"Minako…?" he asked, gaze flicking down to Artemis. The cat seemed annoyed…but he didn't say anything.
"I had a rough day," she pouted, yawning quietly. "I just want to cuddle…is that a problem?"
He smiled as he wrapped his arm around her. Her head lay on his shoulder, her arm draped gently across his chest. It felt very familiar. In fact…it felt perfect. "No…no problem." Corey placed a gentle kiss on the top of her head, and she sighed happily.
"Goodnight, Corey…"
"Goodnight…" My love…
AN: Wow, finally done. That turned out much bigger than I'd planned...but hopefully it was a good trip! That concludes the 'Awakening' mini-fic, as I see it. I had a lot of fun exploring Corey's past, and looking at our villains before they were...well, villains :D
We're back in the present, now, though, and if there are any other flashbacks, they'll be just that. Flash backs. I hope you enjoyed reading this as much as I enjoyed writing it - my sincere thanks to everyone for reading, and reviewing. I'll be back with more soon!
