Sorry that I haven't posted in awhile. I've been busy with work, and if it could go wrong at my house, it has. So, I haven't really been giving this story a lot of throught. I hope you guys like this chapter, and remember that we're going back and forth between the now and then.

Pompeii

Chapter Nine

Nephrite stared at her, his grey eyes moving over her body while they sat in the large game room. Once the shock of what was said wore off, Usagi was pretty sure Mamoru was insane and had brainwashed these two to go along with his delusions. And my stupid ass came along willingly, she thought to herself.

"Are you sure she's the princess?" Nephrite asked. "She doesn't look like the princess nor does she act like one."

Mamoru glanced at him, one eyebrow raised. Usagi was starting to notice that was his trademark when he was annoyed. "And you do, Nephrite?" he responded back. "I do remember a time when you couldn't even make your bed, let alone lead an army." He moved about the room, his long legs and posture that of royalty. He walked over to where Usagi was sitting on the long couch, holding a glass out to her. She paused in taking the glass from him, eyeing him. "Water. I would never give someone something they didn't need."

Usagi smiled, taking the glass from him. "Thank you," she replied softly as she took a sip of the cool liquid. Lowering the glass to her lap, she held it there with both her hands. "I don't understand any of this."

"No, you wouldn't," Mamoru replied. He sat down beside her on the large red couch, his gaze on her. "I didn't really understand until after my parents… Well, the five of us never understood the bond between us, but it has always been there. Kunzite would always know when something was wrong, or Nephrite would be able to finish my sentences, etc. We've always been as close as brothers, but I always felt like something was missing."

Usagi nodded her head, her blond curls falling over her shoulder. She knew what he meant, that something was missing from his life and he just couldn't figure it out. Usagi had spent most of her life feeling as through something was missing, like a piece of her. It wasn't until the dreams that she finally begin to figure out that it was a part of her soul, that she was missing something that had always been there.

"Where do I come in?" she asked. "I don't have anyone I'm close to, like you guys clearly are. And while I've always felt that something was missing, I didn't quiet know what until the dreams started."

"Your guardians," Mamoru started. He raised a hand to rub a spot in the back of his neck, not quiet sure how to proceed. "How do I say this…?"

"Princess Iremia had four guardians," Kunzite began. "They were her protectors as well as her friends, and our wives. They were human, as was the princess. However, we… we weren't."

"Endymiona was the crown prince to Elysion, he was the son of Zeus and as such a god. He was to marry a immortal, but instead fell in love with Iremia," Mamoru explained. He wasn't looking at her anymore, but instead was staring out the window, a far away look in his deep blue eyes. "I was to marry Viryllos, but I didn't love her. I refused, which in turn angered the Gods."

"Viryllos…I know that name," Usagi replied, a concern look on her face. She looked down, her eyes cast upon the water. "That was what they called her, the thing that claimed to have made the volcano explode in Pompeii. She claimed she had the help of a God."

"Aye, she did," Nephrite answered. "Hephaestus, the god of fire, metalworking, stone masonry, forges and the art of sculpture. Endymiona's brother through their father. He was in love with Viryllos, but married to Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty."

"Your guardians were named after the gods or goddess they represented: 'Aris' after the God of War, Ares; 'Afroditi' after Aphrodite; 'Ermis' after the messenger of the Gods, Hermes; and 'Zefs' after the king of the Gods, Zeus," Kunzite explained. "We married them, knowing we would outlive them by thousands of years. But we didn't. Viryllos had convinced Hephaestus that we were going to overthrow Zeus, and so he convinced Hecate to make a potion in which when drank, turned us into stone."

"Wait.…" Usagi held up a hand, shaking her head. "I don't understand… Why would she do that? If Endymiona loved Iremia, why couldn't he just marry her?"

Kunzite and Nephrite looked at each other before they turned their gazes to Mamoru. He was silent for a few minutes, but it was just enough for the intercom on the wall to buzz and a female voice spoke.

"Master Chiba, there seems to be a car coming up the driveway. What do you wish to have done?"

Mamoru stood up, his legs taking him to the window that looked out over the grounds. Kunzite and Nephrite followed behind him, Usagi staying where she was on the couch. The three men watched as the small car came to a stop at the end of the drive, and Makoto, Rei, and Minako got out. All three girls stood in silence as they looked at the massive house.

Kunzite felt his heart beating quicker, the wind being knocked out of his body as if someone had sucker punched him. He put his hand on the window pane, watching as Minako nervously played with her long blond hair. Nephrite was in the same state as Kunzite, watching as Makoto pull on her long ponytail, taking the lead as they walked up the path to the front door.

"Zefs… But how?" Nephrite asked, wonder in his voice. He turned his gaze to the other two men beside him, eyes wide. "She went in search of the young princess…"

"And died before they made it back to the docks," Kunzite finished. "We were already gone, however they weren't told that."

"Master Chiba, there are guests," a voice came from behind them. Usagi turned her head, her blond hair moving quickly but softly as she stood up from her seat on the couch and smiled, seeing her friends behind the butler.

"Minako! Rei! Makoto!" she cried as she sat down her drink and ran to them, engulfing all three girls in a hug. The others hugged her back, happy to see that she was safe.

Minako was the first to speak. "Usagi! We were so worried about you!" she cried, tears coming to her light eyes. "Rei and I saw you get into the vehicle with Mamoru and another man, and since you hadn't said anything about going anywhere with him, we decided to follow you."

"Oh Minako! Mamoru and I needed to talk somewhere private, and so I came with them," Usagi replied, laughing. She looked at the other two girls, smiling. "I'm sorry you were dragged into this," she said. "I should have sent a text message or called before just leaving. Please forgive me."

Makoto leaned closer to the small blond, a smile playing on the corner of her lips. "I'll forgive you, if you introduce us to the gentlemen standing by the window."