Chapter 11: "Oh..."
After the meeting, Jimmy had gone off with Co-co for some games while the other guards got into a discussion with Taiki and Yaten about the travel plans. Darius personally couldn't believe they took this so seriously.
Then again, two years of being trained for this he suppose they were.
Turning, he heads down the hallway, Helios keeping a steady pace next to him. Darius kept stealing looks of him trying to figure out the best way to talk to him again.
"Something on your mind, my prince?"
Darius stops walking and turns towards him, choosing his words carefully. "Helios...I...I was wondering.."
The serene priest looks at him, tilting his head, "Wondering?"
"I was wondering if you wouldn't mind spending..more time with me outside of the palace?" There he said it, but still he wonders if the priest would accept such things. "I wonder if you've seen much of the world as it is from the shrine there."
"I have." He admitted but smiles, "However, I have never had the pleasure to gaze upon it with my own eyes."
"Then-"
"Oh, this is where you are." Jareth strolls up and puts an arm around Darius's shoulder, however he looks Helios over with almost a challenging look. "So you are Helios?"
Helios inclines his head, "Priest Helios of the Elysian Shrine."
"A priest?" Jareth looks from the blushing blonde to the white haired priest, "Darius didn't say that. So do you priests.. ? Well can you screw around or is it one of those 'sin' things we've read about?"
"Jareth!" Darius hissed glaring at him, "That's a private thing to ask about."
Helios's brows rose before he considered to answer the teen's question. It didn't bother him, not like it once would've when he was much younger and far more naive. In a way, he was a bit amused by this boy and his obvious jealousy.
"As a high priest, my body and soul belong to the Earth and her commands. On the same note it then belongs to the heir to Earth and it's ruler." He answered watching with a strange satisfaction as both boys blushed-for two different reasons. " If Darius wishes for that...well I wouldn't deny him anything."
"Anything?" Jareth's brows rose though he could already imagine it. Not that the priest wasn't easy on the eyes..but still.
Helios actually smiles a little at that as he repeats the word. "Anything."
"Guys this isn't- I mean..." It was a strange position for him right now. Part of him felt utterly guilty and the other part couldn't help but be glad that the priest had more than just duty towards him.
"Now now, we're getting to something here. " Jareth said but he wonders exactly how far it would go. "I mean, he is your lover-isn't he?"
"I..uh.." Darius looks at him. "That's rude.. you know. Prying into-"
"Well I told you I love you." Jareth looks at him, "Or did that fly over your head?"
Helios's brows rose at this, "Are you truly in love with my prince?"
Did that just sound possessive? Darius wasn't sure if the man could be possessive or not. What kind of situation was this? How do you defuse things like this anyway?
Why him?
It was just one of those face palm moments for him.
"Didn't I say that?" Jareth frowns, "Calling me a liar?"
"I do not perceive to know your feelings, but question them. After all, you're young still, it could easily be confused for lust." Helios's serene look didn't falter at all.
It was pissing Jareth off.
"Lust? You think it's lust?" Jareth's voice held an accusatory tone to it. "You think this is some game?"
"No, I believe that when you're young like this, everything seems..more than it is." Helios told him, "But if your feelings are true, then perhaps it'll work out."
Darius breathes out trying to say something until he heard his name being called.
Thank the gods.
"There you are!" Jimmu ran up to him pulling on his arm, "Come play with us!"
"Of course." He was glad for the distraction and lets the boy drag him out for now.
"So, they sent word that he will be leaving that day?" Makoto asked as she mixes a batter, "That's good. He might be in time for the baby's birth."
"Hm." Ami nods, "The problem though, is that I still have no idea what sex the child is. It hasn't turned at all much for me to see."
"Well surprises are fun." She smiles at her, "It won't be long now will it?"
"No, not long now. We've been monitoring her since last night. The Asteroid Senshi and the Shitennou have been a big help."
Nodding, the brown haired senshi moves to pour the batter into the molding, "To think there will be even more people once Darius comes home. I can't believe Helios didn't tell us anything about anyone and the Shitennou are just as bad." She huffs a bit, "I almost wanted to hit them for it."
Laughing, Ami shook her head, "It must've been important though. I mean they were safe enough where they were and out of the public eye long enough that it hasn't raised too many questions yet."
"Thank gods." Makoto puts the pan in the oven before setting the timer, "Do you think Chibiusa-chan will be back soon?"
"Any day now if her letters indicate anything." Ami told her. "It'll be nice to see if they have grown any."
"Well, we know Chibiusa will grow up, but what about Darius?" Makoto asks pushing some fruit towards the blue haired woman. "Are you certain that if he awakens to his powers that he would grow up?"
"From what I've gathered about Chibiusa, the mixing of Silver Millennium Blood and that of Terrans might be responsible for it, or it could just be a freak of nature type of thing." She didn't sound too convinced of the last part. "Either way, we'll know more when they get back to run an evaluation on them."
"Hm..." Makoto simply nods but sighs, "Alright, so what's this between you and Nephrite...?"
"Eh?" Ami blushes and looks away, "Nothing! How could you say that?"
Makoto only grins.
So it was time, he had to go and he hated to do it. Darius reluctantly got on the ship that would be taking him home after he gave the proper goodbyes to the royal family of Tankei.
It sucked. Plain and simple. So many unanswered questions, so many things left unsaid and...
He sighs, glancing once more at them though his eyes fell on both Jareth and Aigle. Aigle was smiling warmly, but it seemed strange on her face. She hadn't bothered him again since that day and Jareth...
Jareth was sulking but had given him a smile back. An odd smile that only made Darius blush and look away annoyed with himself.
It was nothing.
At least he told himself that.
He sat with everyone else in their seats to be strapped down for the intial launch. There had been little talk amongst them and Darius was wary of the journey itself. After all, it took a week or less to get from Kinmoku to Earth- and that's with light speed.
What would he say to them? Or would they even want to talk to him?
Now that he can no longer figure out that mystery, he had other things to think about. Like his mother and the new baby.
He had pushed that to the back of his mind and forgotten it there but now that he was returning home...
He wasn't sure what he would do.
"Well, everyone." Chibiusa said with Diana on her shoulder, "It looks like I have to go."
"We'll miss you, Chibiusa." Rei said smiling giving her a luck charm.
"Keep up with your studies." Ami adds but offers a book to her, "This should help, though I don't think you'll need it much. You're a bright girl."
Blushing slightly at the comment she smiles, "Thanks, Ami."
"Diana..." Artemis smiles, a bit watery, he had really grown attached to his future daughter, "Remember everything you've learned here and don't be afraid to ever get involved."
Diana smiles at him, "I'll remember." She looks at her mother feeling a little awkward. In a weird way she sort of felt a little unwanted by Luna...but then again she reminded herself that her mother was just as young as she was. Besides she changed a bit in the future too. "We'll be going now." She glances over seeing Chibiusa's eyes were locked on her future parents.
She knew the girl wanted to say so much, but held it back. They had to. For their future to exist...
"We'll meet again." The pink haired girl said smiling at them though obviously she was trying not to cry. This version of her parents had been so endearing to her.
"Chibiusa..." Usagi only moves to hug the girl tightly, "Of course we will. We'll look forward to it."
This warm embrace, she'll know she'll miss even though she heading towards the same people it felt..a bit heartbreaking as she turns to hug Mamoru too tightly.
"I'll really miss you guys and everything here." She told them before backing away holding the time key and Diana perched on her shoulder, "Goodbye!"
With only a few words more to open the portal home, Chibiusa watches them as she floats up and disappears into the pink cloud.
"So, he's gone?"
"Yes, he is. On his way back to Earth."
"That's no good. We need him here. If for nothing else then to get him on our side."
"There is no way to do that. Even so we have the Regent's followers surging back up. Even though they're lying low for now."
"It's because of the Princess Exams. They're pushing that through fast. "
"Our operative within the palace is telling us to stay back, but I think he's switched on us."
"It doesn't matter." Breathes out, "It won't. Soon enough things will change. It must be done before the Princess Exams are over."
"A new Regime will come forth from it."
Two days and he hadn't said a word to anyone. He would hear them talk sometimes but he wasn't sure what to say to them. After all...
How do you start a conversation here?
By the third day it was little more then pleasantries, a 'hello'' or even 'please pass' something but in the end he could never quite feel comfortable.
Ren, the black haired one, always seemed to be glaring at him. Hiroshi was polite but that was all it was. Kurama gave him a friendly smile but the guy always seemed uncertain what to do or say and Consus...
Consus seemed solemn. Always looking out the windows of the space ship looking for something.
It was now the 'ending' of the fourth day and he was watching the youngest member of the group curiously. He moves quietly, wearing nothing more then the usual clothing he tended to wear when not in public. He was certain that after the first day, they had been rather surprised at his common wardrobe. It was partly because his aunts, Michiru and Minako, were no longer there to try and play dress the prince.
Still, he watches him for a bit before clearing his throat a little.
"So..Consus...what are you looking for?"
"Dunno." the tweleve year old replies, "Something...anything. It looks big out there."
"It is.." He agreed, "Very big. Anything could be out there."
Consus nods slowly thinking about it before looking at him. "You know, Ren doesn't like you."
"Why's that?" He had a feeling.
"Because, he's still mad that your family didn't do anything to help us when the Black Moon people were around." He looks back out, " Hiroshi and Ren's parents died in that and their sister too."
"What about you?" Darius knew a lot of people died during that, but since he had been unconscious during that entire battle, he couldn't say much.
"Hm, I..don't remember my parents, but my sisters are Senshi too. They're protecting your sister." He told him, "So, they're at the palace right now."
"I see." Darius runs his hands through his hair, "For what it's what it's worth, I am sorry about it all. Even though I wasn't even awake during that."
Chocolate brown eyes turns to him, "You weren't?" It was a curious tone, as if he hadn't expected that, "But I thought...?"
Darius shook his head, "I wasn't awake. Though I heard that Diana and my sister were and that Diana was able to get help from others to save them from the Black Moon. I don't know what else happened."
"Strange.." Consus said looking back at the darkness that was littered with twinkling stars. "Very strange."
"I suppose so."
"Usagi, please, hang in there!" Minako cries out helping her friend, "Mamoru will be here soon."
"Oh gods, I didn't expect it to be this soon!" Serenity sniffles before crying out in pain as another contraction hit her, "She wasn't suppose to come yet!"
"It'll be alright." Michiru said as they hurried down the hallway to the Med wing, "I should've guess that this was too much."
The three of them had gone for a short walk before all this had started because Serenity was, quite frankly, bored of staring at the walls all day long.
It had gone fine until she started getting back pains and then her water broke sometime in that.
And right now, she was scared to death because the baby wasn't due for another three days. But here she was, breathing trying to not scream at the sharp pains. With Darius and Chibiusa it had been a c-section and pain killers and now she was without either one!
"We're here, Usagi." Minako told her, "Get Ami- someone call Dr. Mizuno!"
"Mama.. Papa..?" Chibiusa came home but didn't see anyone was there to greet her. "Diana, where do you think everyone is?"
"I don't know- though it could be the baby?"
"Hm..." She nods slightly walking towards the Medical Wing, "We should go and see if they're there." She smiles a bit shifting her back pack, "We could give the baby some presents we got from the 20th century. "
Nodding, Diana transforms into her more humanoid form walking beside her young charge. "Look there's someone ahead."
"Hm?" Chibiusa blinks seeing the person before them had similar coloring to her. "Is...that?"
"Welcome back, Small Lady." Cere-cere smiles at her, "Sorry we weren't all here to greet you, but your mother went into early labor. They're with her right now."
"Oh, I see." Chibiusa smiles, "We thought something like that happened. I guess we should go then?"
"Right this way."
The fourth day, he managed to carry a conversation on with Consus-who wanted to be called Co-Co- with the others there. He felt happier when Kurama commented and started chatting with him.
He was grateful for that at least. Maybe, there was hope of being friends with them.
However the dark look Ren was giving him made it hard to ignore. The black haired teen only glowers for a moment before getting up and leaving the room.
Hiroshi only gave them all an apologetic smile before chasing after his younger brother.
"I don't know what to do or say.." Darius mutters watching them go. "I shouldn't expect miracles."
"Of course not." Kurama told him and ate another piece of candy, "Give it...a year. He'll warm up eventually."
"Hm.. " Consus nods, "It won't be so bad."
"I hope you're right."
"There..." Ami held the squirming baby that wailed it's discomfort to the world, "Oh..."
"Oh?" Both monarchs looked over at her. Endymion had arrived just before the baby was delivered, therefore was able to be with his wife. Outside the doors the guardians and their daughter were standing waiting for news.
However, when Ami said 'oh' and she looked surprise.
"What is it?" Serenity pants softly laying back still wincing a little. "What's wrong?"
"N-Nothing is." Ami turns and puts the baby down cleaning it up and looking the infant over, scanning to makes sure she wasn't seeing things. She wasn't.. It was...well.. an anomaly.
To think it could actually happen to her closest and dearest friends.
"Ami.. my baby?" Serenity was starting to feel dread pooling in the pit of her stomach, "What's wrong with my baby?"
"Nothing is." Ami was trying to sound calm and professional. "Your baby is a healthy one."
"Then, what's with your expression?" Endymion frowns watching her as she turns wrapping their baby up, "Is it a boy or girl?"
Serenity reaches for it, even if it was a boy she could live with it but secretly she hoped it was a girl. If it was a girl then there's no danger. She'd be healthy and fine just like her sister.
Still, even so, she took the wrapped up baby and cooes softly to hush it's cries.
"Well, " Ami clears her throat, "it's both."
Silence fell over them as they stared at her disbelieving, "What?" Though they didn't know who said that or if they had both said it at once.
"But.. Ami..." Serenity looks down at the yawning child who snuggled up to her, "It's..a girl right?"
"Well...with surgery and hormones therapy, yes." Ami told her, "But there's a likely who that it could be a boy just as easily...we'll know more when it grows ups."
"Our baby..is a hermaphrodite?" Endymion said slowly though knew there was a different name for it.
Ami took off her gloves saying, "Well the correct term is intersexaul- I.S. for short. I've read about this-"
Serenity rolls her eyes and glances at her husband who also smiles a little. It was Ami. She always read something or another.
"-most parents decided the gender now and raise the child like that but sometimes some of them allow the child to choose." She was saying before finally finishing tidying up. "So what remains is, what would you like to do now?"
Serenity and Endymion glanced at each other. What..should they do? It was deciding an entire life for this child. And after Darius and Chibiusa...
Could they do this again?
"A..girl. " Serenity said, "Her name will be Yuzuki"
"Yuzuki?" Endymion looks at her. "Then.. the surgery...?"
She shook her head, "I don't... I don't want to make a mistake like that.. Can't we wait, Ami?" She looks at her, "I mean, do we have to decided right now?"
"To have her oblivious to it? Perhaps when she's two or three. But necessary? No. Not until she starts puberty." Ami answered, "Depending on how well her health is and if it's necessary at all will be evaluated then."
Nodding she sighs softly letting Endymion have the child. "I see.. Then officially we'll say it's a girl."
"And what about later?" Endymion looks at his child who had startlingly mint green eyes-similar to Shingo's if he recalled- but the hair was his with a strange mix of Ikuko's. How odd, "What if she decides to be a he? We'll have to make up a very good cover story for that."
Serenity yawns but nods, "We will, but until then no one should know but those in our family."
He only nods but cradles the infant in his arms, "Yuzuki Koios Chiba."
An: About the pairings for the Shitennou and Inner Court - it will not be the standard. Mostly because I'm actually kinda bored of it. So I'll probably mix Manga with PGSM pairings. But probably not personalities. To make it interesting.