The ride to the palace had been long as they rode whilst the sun was at its highest point in the sky. It was warm for winter, and the sun being at its highest peak made it feel much hotter than it was. Alternating between open roads and shaded paths helped to keep the sun from bearing down on them too much, but it also made it harder to keep a steady body temperature. Minako alternated between wanting to take off her cape and asking Kunzite for his.
Kunzite and Jadeite had talked with low voices for most of the journey, trying to keep their conversation from Minako. At different intervals Jadeite would attempt conversation with her, Kunzite seeming too distracted to interject himself. Minako had never seen this look in his eyes before and it made her nervous that he was so disturbed by whatever topic had been discussed.
After some time she realized that she too had become tangled in her own thoughts, not realizing that they were coming up on the borders of the palace proper. People now bustled around them as the road converged with others, families walking on the wide, main roadways, horses trailing carts filled with goods. The noise was a pleasant distraction after the hour that they had spent in the near silence of the woods.
Some of the children pointed at the two soldiers on horseback, and many townspeople offered bows and greetings. Both men would nod out of politeness, both clearly used to the encounters while in uniform. For Minako, this was different.
She wore a light colored mantel over her shoulders that spanned the length of her horse's back, the ends hanging nearly to her own feet. She had pulled the hood over head some time ago to block the sun from beating directly down on her, and then kept it on when she became chilled when the trees blocked the suns rays. Now she appeared as a stranger trailing the two soldiers. Perhaps a dignitary or minor royalty from a neighboring kingdom. Eyes watched her pass by them but no one spoke a word to her, too consumed with curiosity, and daunted by the two armed generals.
As they neared the palace, a young boy peddling flowers plucked a rose from his cart and jogged up to Minako's horse, trying to keep pace as he held out his outstretched hand.
Minako took the flower from the boy and thanked him for the gift, her eyes casting towards Kunzite and noticing the frown on his face as he looked over his shoulder to catch the exchange. She brought the flower to her nose and sniffed the delicate fragrant smell.
As they reached the stables, Jadeite jumped from his horse before allowing it to come to a complete stop. He held the reins in his hand and offered the mare a treat from his pocket of which the mare gladly gobbled it up. A stable boy jogged up and walked with Jadeite as he led the horse to its stall.
Kunzite did the same, dismounting from his horse as it slowed to a stop. He stuck his hand out to grab the reins of Minako's horse as she neared and he helped her to dismount, his hands reaching up to grab her around the waist and lifting her off the saddle.
She always felt nervous when he did this, but she knew that he wouldn't drop her. His arms bent at the elbow and remained that way as he brought her to the ground.
"Thank you," she said.
"How are you feeling?" he asked, voice low.
"I'm okay."
"Do you like the rose?"
She laughed lightly. "Are you jealous that I accepted a gift from another man?"
He leaned in to whisper in her ear, "If you don't know the difference between a man and a boy, I've done you a great injustice."
Her cheeks flushed as she looked around, noticing Jadeite's eyes on them as he emerged from the stable, speaking with a small group of palace guards.
Kunzite brushed Minako's hand with his own, then moved away to hand over the horses reins to the stable boy. She stood where he left her, cheeks flushed, breath caught in her throat, back straight as if he still held her. When he returned, he placed his hand at the small of her back and led her through the stable's grounds and across the courtyard.
Courtiers were everywhere, all smiling and bowing and nodding their heads in the direction of the General. Kunzite offered no acknowledgement of their displayed adulation and continued leading Minako down the path and towards the palace interior. It was a strange departure from the acknowledgement that he had offered to the townspeople they had passed on the road verses those that stood in front of them now.
Minako could hear some of the less than hushed whispers as she passed. Many wondered if she was the rumored woman he was to marry or some affair of pure companionship while away from his betrothed. So few people knew who she was or what she looked like that her true identity was anyone's guess. Although seeing as she and Serenity were identical enough to be sisters, it surely wouldn't be long until the connection was made.
She mentally shook her head free of those thoughts. Palace gossip would eat a person alive if allowed to run rampant. As they passed the sweet saccharine smiles she began to understand Kunzite's disdain. Minako wondered how her sweet cousin could thrive in such a place where scandal was more important than decency.
A guard approached the couple, indicating that Minako was to follow him as Serenity was waiting for her in the gardens. Kunzite squeezed her hand and continued on his path, allowing the guard to lead Minako away.
Jadeite jogged after Kunzite, catching up with him a few yards down the hallway. "What are you going to tell Endymion?"
"That despite my absence there was still a continuity of command."
"Even the most dull man knows not to downplay his worthiness."
Kunzite offered Jadeite a wry grin. "It's good to know that on top of all the other names you have called me over the years, 'dull' is now one of them."
Jadeite laughed. "If you can't trust the words of those closest to you..."
"Have you told Rei you're leaving?"
"Yesterday. She wasn't encouraging to say the least."
"I can tell Endymion that I'm going by myself."
"Someone needs to go with you, he wants Zoicite back here."
"Then I'll take Nephrite."
"Do you think that Salas will be worth it?"
"I don't know."
Kunzite paused as if to say something further, but stopped himself. They continued to walk in silence, pushing open the door to Endymion's study when they arrived. The Prince and Nephrite were both leaning over a map, fingers extended over points in the western kingdom.
"So the rumors of your demise were exaggerated as you promised. I'm happy to find this to be the truth," Endymion muttered without bothering to look up.
"I'm allowed to take leave," Kunzite responded.
"And here I thought that all leaves went through me," Endymion drawled as he drew a small triangle over map coordinates. "I'm glad that you educated me on the matter."
"It was a few days and I was in contact."
Endymion looked up at his top general. "Two weeks."
"Ten days."
"You told no one where you were and you created a tense moment when Nephrite got in a fight with Adonis who refused to say where you were."
Nephrite chuckled. "I do respect him a bit more now." He sat on the edge of the table, stretching his long legs out in front of him. "Although I think there's a bit more that you may want to tell us about where you were."
Kunzite looked over the table at where Endymion had drawn his mark. "Are you doubting the fact that I've been with Minako?"
A rumbling laugh came in response. "I have no reason to doubt you've been at her side. That is not the rumor."
"If you spent nearly as much time gathering information as you do rumors I have no doubt there would not be a single mystery left unsolved in the entire kingdom."
"Rumor has it," Nephrite went on, "that you were seen in Calingstone. At the small temple they recently constructed."
Kunzite crossed his arms and looked impassively at the brown haired man across from him.
"Surely you must be thinking to yourself," Nephrite continued, "that I must have a better network of spies than even Zoicite that I was able to find you - the proverbial needle in a haystack - so easily.
"Unfortunately I must credit this to the cousin of a girl who is dating the cook in your kitchen, who is somehow involved with one of Makoto's maids, who told anyone who would listen that she saw you. Apparently she finds you very handsome." Kunzite snorted in response. "At one point we all feared that you had taken the girl to be your bride and eloped."
"I told you not to use that word," Endymion muttered as he scribbled a note on a piece of paper. Endymion paused to look up at Kunzite. "Please tell me that you didn't."
Jadeite clapped Kunzite on the shoulder. "As if our fearless leader would ever risk such disobedience."
The prince turned to look back at the map again. "And here I was thinking that was the only reason that he showed up today. To talk about his disobedience."
Nephrite laughed, rumbling and deep. Kunzite continued to frown at the other men in the room, not responding to their words. Endymion looked at Kunzite and shrugged his shoulders. "If I hadn't been left to needlessly worry about your safety for the past week, I might be more concerned about your humility today."
"Tell me where Zoicite is and what he has found," Kunzite said, changing the subject. "Jadeite tells me that he has gathered some intelligence, and I'm assuming it is of a more useful variety than rogue palace gossip."
"Tell me you didn't elope." Endymion stood rigid.
"We didn't elope."
"Are you saying that because it's true or because you took that as a literal instruction?"
Kunzite bristled. "Why would we elope?"
The prince stood firm. "Tell me what you were doing."
Jadeite and Nephrite glanced at each other. The previous, jovial atmosphere gone.
"I've barely had any time to spend with her so we took a few days together. Minako wanted to see the temple in Calingstone. She believes in praying to the gods."
"Why weren't you in uniform?"
"Because I didn't think that bringing attention to us would be a good idea with all things considered." The two men stared at each other, the seconds ticking by. "We didn't elope," Kunzite repeated. "It never even crossed my mind. You have my word."
Endymion seemed to relax, the tension breaking. "Good."
"Tell me what Zoicite found," Kunzite said, moving to stand next to the prince.
Nephrite leaned towards Jadeite and loudly whispered, "I really thought he was going to hit him."
Kunzite cleared his throat, the two generals looking at him with smug smiles on their faces. He turned back to look at their prince.
"Zoicite sent another letter that arrived late last night," Endymion said, his eyes turning back to the map, his finger running along the surface of the paper as he searched out a specific location, stopping when he finger landed over a small city. "He's been completely stonewalled and that makes me nervous."
~~~(O)~~~ (&) ~~~(O)~~~ (&) ~~~(O)~~~
Minako and Serenity sat several rows up in the abandoned arena. Once upon a time, this place had been used as a great battleground for champions and warriors and a place of death for the wicked. Now though, the building had been relegated to a playground for Endymion's Generals. It was here that they worked out and practiced - or as they referred to it - played.
Four men stood in a circular formation on a floor covered with a thin layer of black sand, swords drawn. All had long since shed their shirts from the heat of the room and effort of their movements. No one had been safe from jabs of the others, each remarking at how another was lacking, as had become their tradition.
Jadeite would normally tease Zoicite, asking him when his lanky arms would grow into a man's arms. Nephrite would come to Zoicite's defense telling Jadeite that he would do well to put on some mass lest an errant breeze knock him over.
Even Kunzite took his share of the jesting as the others asked if his physique was starting to round out a bit. Attributing this change to less focus in his practicing due to the new resident at his estate.
It was ultimately the prince though, that took the brunt of the jokes at his own expense. Each parry that he failed to meet, he was asked if he'd ever even held a sword beyond the wood one used at boyhood. Every swing of his sword that was easily deflected away resulted in him being teased that palace life was making him soft. The privacy of the arena gave them the opportunity to make jests without the public to witness.
None of the men took the comments of the others seriously, knowing that this type of humility would only come from those in their inner circle.
Swords clashed, the metallic sound echoing in the otherwise empty arena. Each made calculated movements meant to instruct one another or as an attempt at a mock duel. This downtime was rare for the men, yet they interacted as if it were a daily occurrence, brothers not yet separated by the hardships of life.
The two blonde women had come to watch the Generals while they waited for dinner time to come around. Jadeite had mentioned that his wife Rei, and Nephrite's current love interest Makoto, were traveling together while Ami was delayed attending to visitors at her own home.
Minako was not privy to what events were taking place at the palace as Kunzite and Jadeite had been mute about the issue whenever she was within earshot of them speaking. She did know though, that something was amiss that Kunzite had been summoned and not able to refuse.
Serenity acted oblivious to whatever the situation was and Minako couldn't decide if it was because she didn't want to talk about it or if she had been left in the dark as well. It certainly did not take much to realize that something was going on that all the Generals had been summoned together.
"Well, boys," a woman's voice drawled, her voice echoing in the vast open space, "you certainly know how to put on a show for a girl." Minako turned to see who this new voice belonged to. Serenity jumped from her seat and rushed to throw her arms around the raven haired girl. A tall woman dressed in a heavily layered crimson red gown that accented her pale skin stood in the aisle on the stairs. Her dark hair seemed almost purple in its sheen.
Next to her stood another woman with auburn hair pulled back from her face and falling over her shoulders in a cascade of curls. She wore a soft pink dress making her tall body seem softer and more feminine. Both women were beautiful, yet it was the raven haired girl that Minako could not take her eyes off of. She radiated beauty and confidence, clearly not afraid to make herself heard in a room.
Jadeite turned his head and saw his wife standing on the stairs, her arms wrapped around Serenity. He dropped his practice sword and jogged to the wall, effortlessly jumping to reach the lip and pulling himself over. "You look beautiful as ever, Rei," he murmured against her lips as he slipped his arms around her.
She slid out from his reach, putting distance between their bodies. "Sweaty from your workout is not the same as being sweaty in the bedroom," she teased, laughing as he pulled her back to him.
Nephrite looked to Kunzite. "There is no house breaking him is there?"
"Don't look to me," Kunzite said, pushing a strand of sweat soaked hair from his face. "That is your prince who can't get him to listen."
Endymion laughed and parried a blow from Kunzite. "Shall I order two weeks of travel duty for this indiscretion?"
Nephrite yelled up to Jadeite, "Two weeks of poor conversation with a dignitary, Jadeite. I don't know who to feel worse for."
Jadeite lifted Rei into his arms and spun around to face the other men. "Risking the wrath and punishment from any of you is far easier than anything my love here could do to me."
"I fear that comment will cost you her wrath as well," Makoto teased.
Jadeite laughed loudly, kissing Rei's forehead before placing her back on her feet. As his hands lingered over her stomach, Minako noticed the rounded bulge of pregnancy that had been less than obvious initially due to the many different layers Rei wore. "You made it here okay?" he asked, his voice low.
"It was fine, just like it's always fine."
"Yes, but now I have more to worry about," he responded with a wink. With one last kiss, he ran down the stairs and jumped over the wall to land at the lower ground level, a small puff of dirt kicking up at his feet. A muttered oath could be heard escaping from his lips as he threw an ingenuine punch in Nephrite's direction.
"Minako, this is Rei and Makoto," Serenity said, making introductions to the new arrivals. "This is my cousin Minako."
Minako stood and smiled in the direction of both women. "I've heard so much about both of you from Serenity. I'm happy to finally have the chance to for us to meet."
Rei looked her over, dark almond shaped eyes taking in Minako's appearance from head to toe and back up again. She offered a slight smile but said nothing, instead sitting next to Serenity and casting her eyes down towards the men below. Makoto sat behind Serenity so that she was centered between the girls. "Don't mind my friend here," she said, tugging on Rei's dark hair, "she thinks of nothing but babies now."
Rei swatted away Makoto's hand. "I can think of plenty else. Such as those perfect male specimens down there." Rei turned her head to look at Serenity. "Does Endymion mind that you are here watching the show?" She winked at the blonde heiress.
"I'm not watching the show," Serenity responded, faking indigence at the comment. "I'm keeping my cousin company while she watches the show." She paused and then continued as if speaking an additional afterthought, "It's just merely an added bonus."
"What do you think of the boys?" Rei asked Minako.
"I think that they are all very skilled at what they do."
Rei laughed. "That was hardly the question that I was asking, but the way that your eyes have hardly turned away from them, I'm inclined to think that you know that."
"I think it's just one that she's really watching," Serenity giggled.
"Have you fallen in love with him yet?" Rei asked, her voice full of boredom. "It usually never takes a girl very long."
"Rei," Makoto hissed.
"Kunzite and I have come to understand one another," Minako responded, her voice low.
Rei laughed. "Oh yes," she said, "there are definitely some parts that Kunzite understands more than others." Serenity looked at the dark haired girl with her mouth agape while Makoto smacked her arm. "What?" Rei asked, looking at them as if she had inquired about the weather. "What one does so do the others."
Minako stood from her seat with embarrassment clearly visible on her features and walked toward the stairs. Serenity followed after her, holding her hand as they ascended the steps. Rei turned her eyes down to see Kunzite watching the blonde leave. He stood motionless while the others play fought around him, his lips pulled into a frown.
As Minako and Serenity disappeared from sight, Nephrite grabbed Kunzite into a headlock and pulled him down to the ground. Kunzite's sword dropped as he pulled at Nephrite's arm and wrestled to get out from under the larger man. Jadeite and Endymion stood over the other two men, both taunting Kunzite for being caught so unaware.
Minutes later, a servant of the palace walked into the arena, approaching the men. He spoke to the prince quickly with his voice low and then offered a bow of his head before departing. Weapons were tucked into sheaths and pockets, and shirts were donned again, indicating that their time had come to a close.
Kunzite raised his arm to eye level, elbow bent, hand in a fist. The other men leaned in, arms lifting and forearms bumping. Kunzite grabbed his shirt and threw it over his shoulder, too warm to dress himself. Unlike Jadeite, Kunzite opted to use the steps to gain access to the seating area.
Rei and Makoto had their heads close together and seemed to be having a heated conversation as he approached them, neither looking in his direction until he stood right in front of them. "Ladies," he said, dipping his head as he spoke.
Makoto rose from her seat and smiled at Kunzite. "I see Nephrite is waiting for me. We will have to catch up later." She moved down the steps, quickly and gracefully, long skirts held in both hands to keep herself from tripping on the long hem.
When she reached the bottom, she sat on the ledge, swinging her legs and skirt over the edge. Nephrite reached his long arms up and wrapped his hands around her waist, effortlessly lifting her down. His arm wrapped around her waist, pulling her close against his side as they followed after Endymion and Jadeite.
Kunzite sat next to Rei, his eyes watching the couple below them. "How is the baby?" he asked.
"Well," Rei sighed, her hand moving over the bulge of her stomach. "The doctor said that I am not putting on enough weight and Jadeite says that I'm not resting enough. Status quo I would say."
"The thought of being a father makes him grin like a fool."
"Jadeite has always been a fool, now he's just my fool instead of yours," Rei chuckled.
"Isn't it a little soon for you to dislike her?"
"Your lover?" Rei asked with disinterest tinging her voice. "I hardly had the chance to speak with her to decide anything."
"Your face tells me a lot more than your words."
"Should I take her anymore seriously than the last one?"
"You still won't say Esmeraude's name?"
"It's rude for me to repeat my name for her," Rei said with a smirk.
Kunzite pretended to frown. "Minako is nothing like her. There will be no others after her."
"Have you fallen for her?" Rei asked, her eyes lighting up with curiosity.
"I am still waiting for her to fall for me."
"Wonders will never cease. A woman who can resist you with all of your charms. Perhaps I will like her after all."
A wry smile formed on Kunzite's lips as he stood up. "I need to wash up before dinner. Do make sure you rest and take care of yourself." Without another word, Kunzite retreated down the stairs, this time jumping over the wall to land on the ground below.
~~~(O)~~~ (&) ~~~(O)~~~ (&) ~~~(O)~~~
Kunzite stepped out of the washroom, a white towel wrapped around his waist, his long hair falling in thick, damp tendrils at his shoulders. As he stepped into the bedroom, cool air enveloped his body leaving a trail of goosebumps on his warm skin. He looked around the room, pausing as he saw Minako standing in front of a window, her fingers tapping on the ledge. In a few, scant steps he closed the distance between them and wrapped his hands around her hips.
"You startled me," she said, her voice soft.
"Tell me what daydreams are stealing you away from me so that I can steal you back."
Minako blanched at his ridiculous comment. "I fear that your silver tongue is failing you today."
Kunzite's lips brushed over Minako's temple. "Then I suppose I shall have to work harder at finding ways to please you if I cannot do so with my lips."
She blushed in response, her cheeks tinged pink as she slipped free of his arms. "I don't know how you will find the time when you plan on being away for so long."
"Hopefully two weeks at the most," Kunzite responded, moving to lean against the window ledge in front of her, his arms crossing at his chest.
"Where is Salas? Is that to the north?"
A sound of a horn blowing caught Kunzite's attention. His eyes looked to the window, a frown on his face. "It's southwest of the kingdom," he finally answered, his voice distracted. "It's one of our territories that we're hoping to bring under our kingdom."
"I've never heard of it. Will it be dangerous?"
"That's a matter of opinion," he said as he released his hold on her and walked away, disappearing back into the washroom. "You will be safe here though."
"That is a matter of perspective," she sighed as she moved towards the bed, sitting on the edge. "I may be safe behind the walls of my gilded cage, but I fear I will go crazy listening to the gossip that spills through these halls."
"So don't listen."
"What else will I do with all my free time? Besides, if I don't listen, then how will I ever know what the final consensus is on our relationship? I think the most popular theory now is that a one night affair with you in a tavern left me pregnant, and in an effort to make amends to your prince and his future queen - who, fortunately for me and unfortunately for you, happens to be my cousin - you agreed to marry me. Of which I am of course very gracious."
His chuckle could be heard coming from the other room. "Tell me who said you were a conquest and I will have words with them myself."
"Take your pick" Minako mumbled.
Kunzite emerged from the washroom, now wearing his uniform pants. "Don't believe everything that you hear, most of it is greatly exaggerated if there is any truth to it at all. All of these courtiers seem to have too much free time and even more ambition when it comes to keeping close to court hoping to fall into favor."
"I suppose these are nothing more than the silly worries of a lovesick fool."
He drew back to look into her eyes. "We will be fools together."
She smiled as she looked up to meet his eyes. Her hands pressed against his chest, the defined muscles tensing at her touch.
"Promise me you'll stay here. Don't leave the palace grounds for any reason."
"As happy as I am to see Serenity, I don't want to be here with everyone and their whispering and gossiping. I want to go home."
Kunzite's palms cupped her cheeks. "One step from the grounds and there will be a guard nearby to bring you back. How gracefully you are carried is completely up to you." His thumb brushed over her cheekbone. "I can't afford to worry about you."
"One week?" Minako asked.
"No more than two I hope," Kunzite responded, his lips brushing over her forehead. "I should be back on time before the Feast of Nights celebrations to begin."
She relaxed further into his arms. "I hear the celebrations are elaborate."
"How is it possible you have never been?"
"In Fallsmead we did not celebrate the spring solstice, only the summer one. The surrounding villages didn't celebrate it either." She paused. "My father would not allow me to go on my own - I was hardly allowed to leave our home to visit the temple. He brought me to the capital once years ago, but said that we would never return after that. For a while, I did not mind at all."
Kunzite changed the subject at the pained tone in her voice. "The spring solstice pales in comparison to the summer solstice. Although with so many events happening at this year's summer solstice, all other celebrations will feel inadequate in comparison."
"A birthday, a wedding, and a coronation. It's no wonder that everyone speaks of prince Endymion as though he was preordained by the gods. To be born in the 600th year on the 21st day of June. Turning 21 on the day of the summer solstice and the age of crowning. I am not a believer in numerology, but even I can't help but to be amazed."
Kunzite made a wry expression. "He is still only a man."
"No one says those words about either of you."
"It is only through good fortune that any of us stand where we are."
"What fortune brought you to stand where you are?"
"I am here through misfortune. I didn't choose this path for myself, I was forced into it. Sometimes to do the right thing you must first do the wrong thing."
"Do you not love the prince like a brother?"
"Some bonds are made in the darkest of times. I have killed for him because I know that only he can lead this kingdom." He paused and brushed his fingers across the hair at her temple. "I don't want to speak of these things. I'll be gone for weeks and I don't want to think of this when I think of you."
"Two weeks," she reminded him.
"At minimum two," he corrected her.
"You'll try to return as soon as possible though?"
"There are fireworks on the first night." He looked down at her, watching as her eyes widened.
"I have never seen fireworks before."
"They are set off by lake. If you sit in the right place, it's like a mirror watching them reflect off the lake."
"Is that where we will be watching from?"
He laughed in response. "No. We will be much further away than that. I have to worry about Endymion's safety and placing him in a crowd of people unsecured like that is dangerous.."
Minako laughed lightly. "Perhaps this will be the year that you shirk your responsibilities and leave someone else in charge."
His eyes darkened as he looked down on her. "Perhaps."
"Pardon my interruption, Master Kunzite," a young maid said from the doorway. Minako jumped at the interruption and moved to step away from Kunzite's arms but he held her firmly in place. The maid cleared her throat softly, her eyes turning down to the floor. "I'm here to bring the Lady Minako to her room to help her prepare to retire for the evening. I was also asked to inform you that Prince Endymion asked to speak with you before you leave."
Minako could feel Kunzite's hand tense against her back. She glanced from the maid to Kunzite. "You should go. I've kept you long enough." Her voice dropped to a whisper as she added, "you should also put a shirt on before this becomes any more scandalous than it is."
Kunzite's eyes crinkled so subtly that she almost failed to notice his smile. "The Lady Minako will stay in here while I'm away," he said to the maid, releasing Minako. "My room is far more comfortable and further away from the other guest rooms. Have her things moved into here."
"Yes, General Kunzite."
"There's really no need," Minako said. "I'm sure the room that Serenity picked for me is fine."
Kunzite kept his eyes on the maid. "Have her things brought here." He turned to cross the room and disappeared through the doorway of the walk-in closet. His tone implied finality, all traces of the previous humor gone from his voice.
"As you wish," the maid said with a curtsey. She then turned her eyes to Minako. "I will return shortly to help you prepare for bed."
"What is your name?"
"It's Koan, Lady Minako," she said with another curtsy as she turned to leave the room.
~~~(O)~~~ (&) ~~~(O)~~~ (&) ~~~(O)~~~
Jadeite sighed in frustration. "The doctor said you need rest. You know that you need rest and I'm telling you that you need rest. Please don't be stubborn and take advantage of the pampering provided to you here."
Rei shook her head in mock annoyance as she sat at her vanity brushing the long lengths of her dark hair. "I rest plenty throughout the day. You're being dramatic."
"I want you and our baby to be healthy."
Rei put down her brush and swiveled in her seat to face the soldier sitting on the edge of the bed behind her. "I am healthy. The doctor said that everything is fine this time. You're worrying yourself needlessly."
Jadeite walked over to her and knelt down in front of her, pressing his lips to her belly and refusing to allow his thoughts to go to darker places. "It will be a boy."
"It may also be a girl."
"He will serve as a guard to Endymion's son."
"She may not want to be a soldier," Rei teased, her fingers tangling in the short blonde curls on his head.
"Then we will have to wait a couple more months to find out that I'm right, now won't we?"
It was times like this that she allowed herself to forget who her husband really was and what it was that he did as a soldier. With his shaggy blond hair, light blue eyes and handsome features, he seemed to be nothing more than a large child in man's clothing.
At this moment he was just a father-to-be, and it was this moment that Rei was going to keep in her heart until he returned. Deep down her insides churned with worry that this may be the time that he would not return to her, but she would not allow those feelings to surface. She knew that he would not be able to rest easy while he was gone if he knew how she really felt – although she was sure that he was not completely oblivious to her concerns either.
They had come to an understanding after the years that they had been together that they no longer needed to put into words their feelings. It was something that was silently understood and accepted. Much like now as he rose to one knee and kissed her one last time before heading for the door. "Think of me while I'm gone," he said with a wink as he shut the door behind him.
His footsteps seemed to echo hollowly in his ears as he made his way down the stone hallway, mirroring the emptiness he suddenly felt within. Before Rei, he would relish these times when he would be sent out on missions. The excitement of never knowing what would happen thrilled him.
He could still remember back to the times when he and Nephrite would boldly put themselves in danger, not caring what the fates had in mind for them. Wild battles and drunken nights in saloons was their way of life – even Kunzite at times would indulge himself.
But now all of that had changed.
Rei took that restlessness from Jadeite.
Nephrite was all but married to Makoto.
And Kunzite had never been the same since Calingstone.
But then again, had any of them?
