A.N.: It was recently brought to my attention that there is an excess of typos in this story. I want to formally apologize to anyone who is offended by that fact. I do have a Beta, but she tends to get so wrapped up in the actual events of the tale that she tends to miss a few here or there. Admittedly, it was particularly bad in the last two chapters, and for that, I am sorry. But, I am truly grateful to everyone who has stuck with this story despite the multiple eyesores known as typos. For anyone who has written a story that consumes one's attention so very thoroughly as this one, you understand the sad truth that typos come with the territory. Nonetheless, I have been extra careful to catch them this time in a continued effort not to offend anyone's sense of writing morality. So, without further ado, "Here Without You" chapter 11 with as few typos as possible.

Jecir

Here Without You

Chapter 11: Band of Brothers

By: Jecir

"What did the doctor say?"

Kunzite let the door slam behind him as he took his rightful place by Endymion's side. Arms crossed and a scowl firmly in place, the young Shittenou reported in a cold tone, "Congratulations, master. You have a cold."

Endymion groaned and pulled the covers over his head.

Jadeite laughed. "Way to go, master!"

"It is not funny, Jadeite!" Tanzanite chided as he sat on the end of the bed. "There is no cure for a cold."

"Exactly!" Jadeite howled through peals of laughter. He straightened as best he could and adopted a formal tone as he continued. "The one chosen by the heart of Terra and gifted with the strongest healing magic in the entire universe caught a cold!" He nearly fell over laughing.

Kunzite shot him a disapproving look. "The doctor says you will have to remain in bed until the fever has run its course."

"Look on the bright side, master," Tanzanite said. He summoned a crystal flute with the wave of his hand and gave it a test toot. "You are not required to attend class until then."

Endymion gave a weak smile. "That may be the only good thing about this." He forced himself into a sitting position. "I wanted to start training with you guys this week!"

"Why?" Jadeite asked as he flopped onto the end of the bed opposite of Tanzanite.

"Yeah," Tanzanite added. "Commander Adama is the worst!" He started to play a Terrain lullaby.

"I do not care," Endymion whined. "My father finally agreed to allow me train with you." He slumped back against his pillows. "Then I could spend all my time with you guys instead of with those stuffy advisors." Turning his best puppy-dog pout to his best friend, Endymion asked, "Do you think you could tell Adama that I am feeling much better and should be allowed to start my training tomorrow?"

Kunzite looked uneasy. He was never good at telling Endymion "No."

Nephrite noticed the look and came to his rescue. "If you are feeling that much better, let us help you to not fall behind in your studies." He pulled a rather thick tome from the book shelf and opened it, saying, "You are already too far behind in the study of inner kingdom politics. Now, we will start with the Treaty of King Mesena in the year 53 After the First Dark Era."

"Oh…um…" Endymion released an over dramatic groan and rolled over. "I am so very tired."

Jadeite and Tanzanite laughed at the antics of their Prince while Nephrite scowled and put the book away. "Very well. Get some rest, master."

"And while you sleep, I'll draw the fever out so you can get your wish," Jadeite promised as he crawled up to his ill leader and pressed his hand against his clammy forehead.

Nephrite frowned disapprovingly. "You cannot simply draw out a fever. It is not within your magical jurisdiction."

"Oh please," Jadeite muttered with a roll of his eyes. "What is the point of having magic if you do not take a few risks?"

"And if this risk entails a high percentage of you burning him alive?"

Jadeite paused. "Um…well…that will not happen."

Endymion shot a pleading look at Kunzite. He did not want to be burned alive. Kunzite grabbed Jadeite's wrist. "Enough," he commanded. "Out, everyone. Let him rest."

Jadeite frowned. "Fine." He sat back and crossed his arms. "Stingy."

"Out."

"No!" They stopped in their various states of retreating. Endymion had latched onto Kunzite's sleeve, an embarrassed flush covering his already pale cheeks. In a shy voice, he stuttered, "Stay, please?"

The four exchanged looks. Nephrite smiled and shook his head. "Of course, master." He retrieved the book from the shelf and sat at Endymion's desk to read. Kunzite pulled a chair up to the bed and sat with his arms crossed. Tanzanite and Jadeite reclaimed their spots on the bed.

Endymion sank lower into the safety of his sheets and smiled. "Thanks, guys."

"We will stay with you for as long as you desire," Kunzite promised.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"As long as you desire…"

A phantom smile drifted over Mamoru's face. The memory was so powerful; it filled him to overflowing with longing and determination. He forced more of his energy into the Golden Crystal, which released his call in pulsing waves. Over and over again, it flowed out over the city to the country and beyond. And with each wave went a large portion of his power.

He could not sustain this state for much longer. His arms trembled, and his knees grew weak. Sweat broke out over his body, freezing him even in the warm morning light. He was exhausting his magic, he knew, but he had to keep it up, for just a little longer. He had to.

Pain shot through his body. He gasped; his arms dropping and his form shifting back. His magic was spent.

Mamoru unwillingly slipped into unconsciousness, never once sensing the surge of magic responding to his or feeling the strong arms that caught him as he fell.

"Master!" Kyouya quickly yet gently lowered him to the roof.

Jadeite was by his side within a heart beat, the remnants of his reincarnating fires dwindling in the wind as he pressed his hands against his master's chest.

"Is he still breathing?!" Tamaki asked desperately as he and Seiya ran through the rippling remains of a sky light.

Kyouya checked his pulse. "He's alive. And breathing."

Jadeite laid one hand over Mamoru's hearts and another over his eyes and closed his eyes in concentration. A moment later, he said, "He's exhausted his magic. Moron! He could have died! We need to move him someplace safe where he can rest."

"Let's take him back to Kyouya's," Tamaki suggested.

Jadeite shook his head. "We shouldn't move him far. Too much magical exposure might cause more damage." Looking around, he wondered, "Why was he up here?"

"He lives here," Seiya confirmed.

None thought to question how he knew that. Kyouya reached into his pockets and found a set of keys but no wallet. "How do we know which place is his?"

Seiya knelt down and touched on finger to his liege's forehead. His search was quick. "Apartment 423A. Two floors down." He projected the image into Kyouya's mind.

"Got it." They huddled around the silver-haired leader as he began to gather the shadows around them. He would have to make this in one, quick jump. Any more would be a risk. Latching firmly onto the image of the apartment, he dropped them through the portal.

They landed in a well furnished bed room. Kyouya and Seiya laid Mamoru on the bed and covered him with a blanket. Jadeite knelt on the other side.

"What are you doing?" Tamaki panted.

"You cannot draw out the fever," Seiya said in a half-joking tone.

Jadeite shot him a look at could be interpreted so many ways. It said "I know that!" in both a sharp and a sorrowful way and "Thank you" in a regretful way. "I am going to accelerate his magical regeneration. That is within my magical jurisdiction, and it will not hurt him. Promise."

Seiya gripped Jadeite's shoulder, drawing his eyes. With a kind smile, Seiya said, "We know you'd never intentionally hurt him."

Jadeite's eyes slowly widened. The depth of meaning behind his words…it left him breathless and a little shaken. "How…but…" he stammered, trying to come to grips with what just happened. In that one moment, his brothers were offering him their forgiveness. They each watched him with a smile that made it hard for him to hold onto his own disbelief. Soon, he was smiling too.

"Quit stammering," Kyouya finally said. "Get to work."

"Yes, sir," Jadeite said. He turned back to Mamoru and closed his eyes. Soon the room hummed with the familiar power of the Phoenix Lord, finally returned to the world.

"Hey, look at this!" Tamaki exclaimed. He had found a picture sitting on the dresser draw. He picked it up to get a better look. It was a group shot. He did not recognize most of the people in the picture, but the petite girl with blue hair stood out. Turning, he said excitedly, "It's the Senshi!"

That drew everyone's attention. He sat on the bed so the others could see. "Look? It's got to be them! See?"

Though he expected it, the feeling of Seiya's magic infiltrating his mind still caused him to start. The blind psychic drank in the image through his younger brother's eyes, focusing on the tall brunette dressed in the navy blue and white school uniform trimmed with a burgundy sailor's collar. Her hair was pulled up in a ponytail that fell past her shoulders. Her green eyes danced with laughter as she stood with her friends.

"Mars is wearing a particularly short skirt," Tamaki said in a mock-observational tone he knew would get under Jadeite's skin.

Jadeite visibly flinched at the imagery.

Tamaki smirked. "I wonder if she is trying to impress the three older men in this shot."

That did it. Jadeite dropped Mamoru's hand and lunged for the picture. Tamaki tumbled back off the bed in his attempts to keep it out of reach.

"Give me that picture!" Jadeite demanded as he dove over the bed. Tamaki jumped up and danced out of the room, calling over his shoulder, "Hm…she is definitely making eyes at the tall brunette. Looks like you got replaced!"

"Take that back!" Jadeite tackled Tamaki from behind. The two fell onto the hardwood floor of the living room and proceeded to wrestle for possession of the picture.

"Stop it!" Seiya called after them. "You are going to wake him up!"

They ignored him. Jadeite soon gained the upper hand when he landed an elbow into Tamaki's stomach. The young blond was temporarily immobilized by the blow, allowing Jadeite to wrench the picture from his grasp.

"Cheater," Tamaki growled as he curled in on himself.

Jadeite stood, ran a quick hand through his hair, and looked down. Mars was standing protectively next to her princess, dressed in a drab grey uniform that was, indeed, quite short and showing a good portion of her long legs; she had one hand one her princess's arm and was no where near the three effeminate young man posing in the back of the group photo. He glared at the laughing Tamaki before he stalked back into the bedroom.

"Got you!" Tamaki called.

Jadeite growled something in Old Terrain as he threw the picture onto the bed and resumed his spell.

Kyouya shook his head. Some things never changed. His eyes drifted over the picture. One blue eye looked up at him through a wink and a smile. She was holding onto Mercury's petite shoulders, posing in a way that was completely unlike her. It made his heart flutter to see her so relaxed. A lot must have changed between lives for her to let go so much. He resisted the urge to run his fingers over the glass. Her hair was tied back by one red ribbon. He smiled, a memory drifting over his consciousness.

"You are wearing your hair down," he commented lightly as he stood next to her, keeping a sharp eye on his liege as the young ruler escorted his lady through the gardens.

Venus's spine stiffened and her eyes hardened with pride. "Do not presume you had anything to do with that decision."

He stifled a smirk. "Of course, my lady."

"Hello, my love." Tamaki flopped back onto the bed, the picture once again in his hands. He dropped a short kiss over Mercury. "Did you miss me? I missed you! Don't you worry your cute blue head about it anymore. I'll be back soon to hold you and kiss you and—"

"And then we can do each other's nails!" Jadeite snarled a little too bitterly.

Tamaki shot a dirty look at Jadeite. "Party pooper can't take a joke." He looked at the group shot for a few long moments, his face contorting into a weird sort of confusion. "Is that a guy?" He turned it around and pointed to the tall blond in the outdated, tan blazer.

Seiya leaned down to get a better look. "No," he concluded. "I believe that is Uranus."

Tamaki turned the picture around. "Oh. There was a Sailor Uranus?"

Seiya nodded. "The aquamarine one is Sailor Neptune. The tall one with the dark green hair is Sailor Pluto, and the purple-haired child is Sailor Saturn."

"Huh. And what about the guys?"

"You mean the alien transvestites?"

Tamaki looked up with wide eyes. "No! Are you serious?"

Seiya nodded. "They are alien transvestites. They transform into female Sailor Soldiers."

Tamaki gagged and dropped the picture like it had suddenly burned him. "Oh, master!" he lamented, turning his traumatized face to his slumbering Lord. "Why did you not summon us sooner? We could have saved you from this overdose of weirdness and estrogen!"

"That explains the pink shirt," Kyouya commented.

"I know!" Tamaki groaned over dramatically. "Any longer without us, and he might as well have become Endymiona, Sailor Scout of Terra! Tiara and all!" Sitting up quickly, he summoned a crystal flute to his hands. "I will fix that! Do not worry, master, the testosterone is here!" He began to tune his flute, wincing after a few shaky notes. "Wow, it's been forever since I've played this."

"So very manly," Jadeite muttered.

"This coming from the one who draws fevers out with fire," Seiya observed as he scanned the medical books lined up on the far wall.

"I am not drawing out a fever!" Jadeite snapped. "And what did that have to do with anything? I am recharging his magic. Get it right."

Seiya selected the thickest book and opened it to the middle. "You should not mess with a dwindling magic. It is dangerous." His tone was disinterested and boarder lining boredom.

"I am the Keeper of the Sacred Fires of Terra," Jadeite growled. "I can do whatever I want with his magic!"

"Gentlemen." Kyouya silenced them with that one word. He nodded to Mamoru. "He's awake."

All eyes locked onto the figure sitting on the bed. Blue eyes stared at them, confusion and disbelief burning in the depths of his gaze. Tamaki immediately got off the bed. Seiya reshelved the book with a guilty flush. Jadeite scooted back as quickly as possible. And Kyouya simply turned to face him. They watched him, not certain of what to do. In that moment, doubt assaulted them. Perhaps they had been wrong in assuming he had been expecting them. Maybe he had not wanted them back at all. Perhaps they should leave.

The apartment door opened.

"Mamo-chan!" cried a high-pitched voice. Bags dropped onto the floor and keys jangled onto a table as high-healed footsteps echoed through the apartment, coming closer with each tense second. "Baby? I felt your magic! Is everything all right?"

A pale face passed over the threshold, topped with two buns tailed with fluttering ponytails. Blue eyes blinked in confusion at the scene before her. The air filled with tension.

And then the Moon Princess squealed.

"It's you!" she shrieked, launching herself at Tamaki with open arms. She wrapped her arms around his neck and hung there for a second. "I can't believe it! You're actually here!" She pulled back only to trap Tamaki's startled face in her hands and plant a quick kiss on his nose. "Tanzanite! And Nephrite!" She danced over to Seiya and pulled him into a big hug, laughing as she did. "I prayed every night for years that you would come back! And now you're here! Kunzite!" The stoic police officer smiled brightly at the Moon Princess and graciously accepted her hug. "Oh, Mina's gonna be so happy to see you. You don't even know!"

Then, her innocent eyes found him. Jadeite swallowed nervously as the girl he had attempted to kill time and again stared at him. Slowly, ever so slowly, she crossed the room to kneel before him. He could feel the sweat trailing down his face. If she lashed out at him, he would understand. If she demanded he leave, he would. If she wanted him to die, he would commit seppuku right then and there.

"Jadeite?" she whispered.

He waited.

Tears welled into her eyes as she hugged him the hardest. "I'm so glad you're here," she whispered with great conviction.

He melted into her forgiveness. "Please forgive me, your majesty," he whispered through choked sobs.

She pulled away and placed one hand against his warm cheek. "There is nothing to forgive."

She finally turned to her lover, who, through the whole exchange, remained frozen on the bed. "Mamoru," she said, her smile brighter than the Sun, "They came back."

Mamoru slowly took in everyone in the room with wide eyes. He did not want to believe what he saw. He stopped at Kunzite, no longer able to hold back the tears that were welling in his eyes. Breath coming out in short gasps, he whispered in a trembling voice, "Where have you been?"

Kyouya pulled his master into a protective embrace, his face buried in the tousled black hair that still smelled like damp forest, and breathed out, "I am sorry, master."

Mamoru cried unabashedly in front of the four he had wanted nothing more than to find for the entirety of his life. Throughout his journey, he had thought that his heart longed solely for the mysterious princess haunting his dreams. It was the reason he had searched so long and so desperately for her; willing to lose his life in the pursuit if it meant driving away the pain once and for all. Yet, when he had finally found her, the pain had lingered. It had lessened, yes, but it never faded. When his memories had truly been restored to him, he knew why. His heart had not simply been shared with one, but with five. Each one of the men here with him now had held a piece of him that he could never have reclaimed. They were back. They were truly back!

"But how?" he asked as he pulled away, his face stained with tears. "I didn't sense anything…when the spell was over…" He looked at them, desperate for an answer.

"We were never gone," Kunzite explained.

"I was," Jadeite said in an attempt to lighten the mood. However, it only served to remind them why, effectively dampening the mood. Lowering his head, he continued, "But that doesn't matter. I am here now." The last was said with firm resolve.

"Still unbalanced," Seiya half-whispered to Tamaki.

Tamaki laughed and half-whispered his reply. "I, for one, don't like the idea of a mentally unstable person being near my liege."

The hurt that flashed through Jadeite's eyes made it clear that it was still too early to tease that part of his memory. Tamaki and Seiya both looked away, contrite. "I'm fine!" Jadeite protested weakly. "The Crystal set everything right!" He bowed low to Mamoru, his voice and manner the vision of contrition. "You saved me, master. Thank you."

Mamoru sat agape at the display. He had most certainly missed something important. He looked to Kunzite for an explanation.

"Tamaki." He pointed to Tanzanite. "Seiya." He indicated Nephrite, who gave a short nod. "And myself were reincarnated after the fall of the Silver Millennium. For reasons we do not know, we lived without our memories up until two weeks ago, when your magic summoned us."

The day I released the secret memories of Terra, Mamoru thought. He glanced at his wife. She was grinning a knowing sort of grin. He returned it, passing along his thanks through his eyes.

"We spent the last few weeks searching for you. But, before we could, we needed to save Jadeite from his own stubbornness." Kyouya shot a look at the still bowing Shittenou. Jadeite clenched his fists but did not say anything. "We were all able to return to you due to your summons this morning."

"And not a moment too soon!" Tamaki cut in. "Seriously, master!" Pushing past Kyouya, he sat next to Mamoru and thrust the picture in his face. "Why pink? What possessed you to wear pink?"

Mamoru blushed in embarrassment. He had no real answer to that. Instead, he said, "Please stop calling me "Master". My name is Chiba Mamoru. I am not the Prince of the Earth anymore."

"On the contrary, sire," Seiya said, adding the honorific just to spite him. "According to the Stars, you are still destined to rule the planet as King in the future. Thus, you remain a prince. But, as it is your will, we will call you Mamoru."

"Thank you," he said, relieved.

"And I'm Usagi!" Usagi chimed in. "We're married now!" She showed them her ring. "I wish you guys could have been there! Oo! I got it!" She jumped onto the bed and threw her arms around her husband. "Let's get married again so they can be in the wedding!"

"That won't be necessary, Usagi-chan," Tamaki said with a wave of his hand.

Usagi pouted, but her sorrow was short lived. "Who's hungry?" she asked suddenly, bouncing off the bed and hurrying out the door, saying, "I need to go to the store, of course, but we can whip up some noodles or maybe order out!"

Kyouya sent one more smile down at his master. "I'm Kyouya," he said. "And I think I will go help your wife." He walked out of the room.

"I believe I shall let you sleep," Seiya said. "Come along, Tamaki."

"Ah man!" Tamaki groaned but obeyed. The door shut behind him, leaving Mamoru alone with Jadeite.

The blond Shittenou had not moved from his kneeling position; his head remained down in contrition. "Master," he whispered, not certain what to say. How could he apologize for all he had done? For breaking the vows he had made as a child? For betraying the trust his liege had so confidently bestowed on him?

He sat with his kneels pulled to his chest in front of the wooden cross marking his mother's grave. The salty sea breeze ruffled his hair, bringing with it the sound of the waves and the call of seagulls. The sand was hot beneath his feet. The Sun was high overhead, but the day was moderately cool. There was a storm coming from the north. Grey clouds already dotted the sky. In all of this, he sat alone, trying to figure out what to do.

"Ko?" Prince Endymion, the mysterious boy he had tried to kill, sat next to him.

Ko did not look at him. He knew what the young boy wanted. He had known it the moment he had seen him. Perhaps that was why he tried to kill him. The fire inside his heart refused to be tamed. It did not want to serve this human. But, at the same time, his very core yearned to be part of what the young Prince was offering. He was so confused. He did not know what to do.

"You do not want me," he finally said, breaking the silence. "I will destroy you."

To his surprise, Endymion laughed. "No, you won't," he said confidently.

"Are you stupid?" he snapped. "Did you forget that I already tried?"

"And you failed," Endymion pointed out. "You won't do it again. I know you won't."

Ko rolled his head over to face him. "How do you know?" It was meant as a challenge but came out as a desperate plea.

Endymion touched the medallion hanging around his neck. "I know what this means. Helios told me. You are the chosen Keeper of the Sacred Fires. Legend says you are capable of great good and great evil depending on what is around you. When pain is around you, you destroy things. But when love is around you, you are fine." He looked at the cross. "Your mother loved you. The fire kept her alive. But, the people feared you. The fire tried to destroy them."

Ko looked longingly at the cross. He missed his mother.

Endymion summoned the Golden Crystal to his hands. "The Crystal is purity. When you attacked me, you did so because you were threatened by me. But, when the Crystal touched you, it gave you purity and calmed you down. That is how I know you won't hurt me again. Because I want to be your friend, to show you love and kindness and adventure and brotherhood and all the good things in life. The others do too. And I know you want that. You don't want to destroy. You hate it. I saw it on your face."

"You presume to know so much," he whispered, a last effort at defiance, but they both know he had lost this battle.

Endymion smiled and gripped his shoulder. "Just think about it." He stood to go.

But Ko grabbed his cape, refusing to let him leave. For a few long moments, neither of them spoke. Then, in a strained voice, Ko said, "I will serve you. In every life, I will serve you." He looked over his shoulder, the symbol of the south blazing in a deep red from his forehead. "So, you need to keep your end of the bargain."

Endymion smiled. "Always."

"Master," he tried again. "I…"

"I was captured by Beryl and brainwashed into being her slave," Mamoru said.

"What?" Jadeite could not believe what he had heard. Anger raced through his veins at the news. He wanted to raise the bitch from the dead simply so he could send her back to hell.

But Mamoru's kind blue eyes drove away the anger and the guilt as he looked down at him. "I understand what you must have gone through. And I do not hold any of your actions against you. You have been and always will be my Shittenou."

Tears brimmed in Jadeite's eyes, but he quickly wiped them away. He nodded, unable to speak, overwhelmed by his lord's grace and forgiveness.

Mamoru slipped out of the bed to sit in front of him. He gripped his shoulder in a familiar way, a smile on his face. "You are back. Now, we need to choose a new name for you. All of us have new names. You need one."

Jadeite looked up at him, taken by surprise at the sudden change in topic, and then started to laugh. Mamoru joined in. And healing flowed between them with each peal.

A.N: Promise there is more after this. I am so not done yet!