Chapter Fourteen: Burden

"So he is like the Youma that almost killed him. If we cut Metallia off from him then these loyalties will overcome her again."

"No" Kunzite snapped sharply, "It is too late now. Metallia's powers have almost certainly completely consumed him. Whatever is left of his former existence cannot hope to prevail now. He has reached the point where Metallia no longer sustains him."

"What exactly are you saying?"

"Zoisite is now a separate being from Metallia, despite it being her powers that course through his body. He is now stronger than her and she knows this and will not interfere with his will, as it is the same as her own. The only thing that you can do for him now is to kill him."

Kunzite regarded Mamoru with caution after speaking, awaiting his response to this revelation. Giving away nothing, the former Prince sat heavily down on his sofa, his eyes narrowed slightly as he continued to silently debate Kunzite's words.

"Why did you come here to tell me this?" he asked at length, his voice holding some bitterness as well as the obvious pain.

"Because you need to know exactly what you are fighting" Kunzite answered, keeping his voice steady, "Because Zoisite was once one of the Shitennou and, therefore, is your responsibility."

"So you are telling me that it is my responsibility to kill him?"

"Yes."

Mamoru shook his head silently, which angered Kunzite somewhat and his hatred for the man that he had once been proud to call 'Master' deepened. Was he going to continue to shirk his responsibilities even now?

"You are the only one who can do this."

"Why?"

"You were his Master, even in this world. Only Endymion can rightfully take the life of one of the Shitennou."

"And if I don't?"

"He will destroy the planet."

Mamoru nodded, "I will consider your words."

"Consider?" Kunzite snarled, now making no secret of his disappointment.

"I am not going to take a life on the words of one man" Mamoru shot back.

Endymion… always a fool, Kunzite thought bitterly. Him coming here had not been easy and nor had his suggestion or explanation as to Zoisite's fate. Despite the fact that Kunzite had constantly clashed with Zoisite over the Master and where their loyalties should lie, he did not want this to happen, although he had seen it coming a long time ago.

"Beryl isn't your true enemy"

"Then who is?"

"You are."

He had even tried to warn Zoisite. Why else had Beryl allowed him to live, despite his disrespect? She knew that his loyalty to Endymion would prove useful and that she could manipulate Zoisite into serving her own purposes. Of course Beryl had underestimated the second strongest of the Shitennou and this grave error had cost her, her life.

"Did Zoisite return to the Dark Kingdom?" Mamoru enquired suddenly, breaking into Kunzite's thoughts.

The most powerful Tennou nodded; he could no longer sense Zoisite's energy pattern in the Earth realm.

"Then take me there. I want to speak with him."

"Fool" Kunzite snapped scornfully, unable to believe what the man was saying. Endymion's heart had always led him to destruction and, in this world, it appeared to be the same, "You can no longer reason with him. He is not the Zoisite that you knew before."

"I wish to see for myself. Only then can I make a decision as to his fate."

Kunzite sneered at Mamoru and turned away, "His fate was sealed from the moment that Sailor Moon healed him with the Ginzuishou. The only decision to make is whether he dies at your hands now or whether you will watch as he takes the rest of the planet with him."

Then, without awaiting Mamoru's response, Kunzite invoked a teleport to take him from the room.

Nephrite watched the other Senshi leave the room in silence, the Princess shutting the door behind them, before he turned to Ami. She was very pale, and seeing her blood still seeping through the bandage on her forehead was enough to intensify Nephrite's fury.

Zoisite…

It had taken him a while to recover himself from the blows dealt to him by the second strongest Tennou and even longer for Nephrite to try to understand what had happened to him. It would have been obvious from the outset, had he had his former powers. Metallia's energies now flowed through him, but it was more than that, Nephrite knew. Zoisite now surpassed Metallia. He was his own entity but, together with her powers and rage, he was the most powerful man on the planet. Nephrite doubted that even Endymion could face him and have a hope of winning.

The logical side to Nephrite could reason this out, but the rage at what Zoisite had done to Ami burned deeper than that and now seeing her this way…

"Nephrite?" Ami said slowly, breaking into his thoughts, "Daijobu?"

"I think I should be the one asking you that" he replied gruffly, concealing his anger as Ami bade him to take a seat. Nephrite did so, opting for the chair furthest away from her, and nearest the door but Ami smiled slightly, almost encouragingly, and he changed his mind and moved nearer so that he was sitting next to the bed.

"So how are you?" he asked, a little apprehensively.

When Nephrite had heard of her being in hospital his first instinct was to go to her and see if she was all right, but now that he had done this he found himself wanting to leave again. Ami did not want him. How could she? Despite appearances, he was still one of the Shitennou. Such a union had been forbidden since the past life and was as fated as the Prince's love for the Princess, or so Kunzite would claim. Ami, too, must believe this. Why else would she resist their obvious attraction so?

This line of thought surprised him. Nephrite had always resisted his feelings up until now, but suddenly he had no desire to. Living out a mortal life wouldn't be so bad, he thought, if Ami would live it with him.

"My head hurts a little" Ami allowed in response to his question, "The doctors say that I will have to stay in for a few days, just to be on the safe side."

Nephrite nodded, "Zoisite did this didn't he? Why?"

"She got in my way"

Although he knew the answer, he needed to hear it from her. Ami seemed to sense this, but still hesitated before replying:

"He tried to kill Rei-chan."

Sailor Mars… Nephrite frowned. Why would…? The answer came to him in a flash. He had seen how Mars had looked at Venus. There were more to her feelings that just friendship that was for certain. Again his thoughts wandered to the letter in his pocket. Venus's, what she thought was, last letter to her lover. Who else would she have entrusted to deliver it than her closest friend? Of course that trust had been misplaced. Nephrite knew all too well what jealousy and hatred could do to a person. Mars had not given Zoisite the letter. Why should she when she was in love with Venus herself?

Ami seemed to sense that Nephrite knew more about this than he was prepared to let on, but he refused to enlighten her and Ami lacked the strength to pursue the matter.

"As long as you are alright" Nephrite said, "I found out you were in here from that baka Motoki."

Ami smiled, "You shouldn't be so hard on him. Motoki is a good person."

Nephrite snorted slightly at this but could not fault Ami's words. "You really do like to see the best in people, don't you" he answered finally.

"I like to believe that there is good in all of us, even when we are at our worst."

You being alone like this… I don't like it…

"I saw the good in you" Nephrite said, without thinking, "Even when you--" he was cut off when Ami visibly flinched and whispered:

"Please, don't. Don't speak of… of that monster that I became."

Monster? She wasn't a monster. She could never be a monster.

"Why?" Nephrite asked, genuinely puzzled.

"I don't like to be reminded of what I was… what I did."

Don't touch me!

This time it was Nephrite's turn to recoil from her as the reason behind her behaviour dawned on him.

I am a part of that past. Whereas the memory of her kindness is, for me, a fond one… her memories of me are hated. My constant presence only serves to hurt her, to remind her of what she did. By being here I am only hurting her…

"Nephrite" Ami whispered as he stood, making his decision.

"I should go" he answered her, "I would hate to be a cause of your pain, Mercury."

"You're not."

"Your memories of being Dark Mercury pain you. I am a part of those memories so, therefore, I also pain you with my presence."

"You saved my life" Ami said as she struggled to push herself into a sitting position once more. As she did so, she must have felt some pain in her head as she winced and closed her eyes, one hand pressing against her forehead.

Without thinking, Nephrite moved forward, placing one arm around her shoulders to support her as he helped her to lie against the pillows once more. Ami was grateful for his help and tilted her head up slightly to meet his gaze.

By doing this, and because Nephrite was still awkwardly leant over her, he realised that her lips were mere centimetres from his own. It would be so easy to lean down a little more and…

No, Nephrite tried to tell himself. This isn't what she wants. Even the sight of me hurts her. The best thing he could do for Ami would be to leave her. She had her friends. She didn't need him. Still, despite that, Nephrite found himself leaning down that little bit closer to press a tentative kiss to her lips.

As he did so, he felt her tense against him, her lips quivering slightly against his own. Nephrite felt her left hand reaching up, presumably to push him away, and thus he was shocked when, instead, he felt that hand wrap around the back of his neck, pulling him closer still as Ami now returned his kiss.

Stunned, Nephrite was the first to break this embrace, staring at her in a mixture of disbelief and horror. What the hell had he done? She would regret this. Already he could see tears forming in her eyes. He had hurt her, despite his resolve not to, he had hurt her in the worst possible way.

"I--" he started, unsure of what to say, what he could say to take back his actions of the passed few moments.

Ami met his gaze with a shy smile, "Not all memories are bad ones."

Does this mean?

She again answered his silent question, by pulling him down to meet her lips in another gentle kiss.

"She got in my way"

As they embraced for the second time, Nephrite made a vow to protect her, no matter what, but also a vow to himself. Zoisite could have killed her. This attempt on her life could not go without retribution. Nephrite would not allow for it to go unpunished.

He moved slowly, yet cautiously, forward his sword drawn and his eyes narrowed into almost slits so that he could only see his destination ahead of him. His mind was calm and focused on one thing alone; revenge.

Beryl-sama…

That moment when his Queen fell… it would remain in Jadeite's mind for the rest of his life. Beryl-sama… his Master in this world taken away by the traitor. The traitor that Jadeite now sought to kill.

He stood outside of the door to the traitor's quarters, pausing only to assess the strength of the ward surrounding his sleeping chambers. Jadeite could sense that, although it was strong, the former Tennou's powers fluctuated and a momentary weakness was all he needed.

Pulling open the door to the outer chambers, he stepped inside, flinching slightly at the blackened energy that filled the room.

Jadeite had been used to Metallia's powers, but this was… he trembled almost dropping his sword in the process. He inhaled deeply, resisting the urge to turn back. This power… its oppressiveness was almost overwhelming.

Beryl-sama…

That was why he was here. His reason for throwing his life away. Without his Queen, Jadeite had nothing. He always knew he would die for her and this he would do.

Steeling himself against the dark energy, Jadeite crept closer still, his grip on his sword tightening. For days now, the traitor had remained in his quarters sleeping. His power, whilst it was stronger than even Metallia herself, was not without its disadvantages. The energy overwhelmed his body and thus exhausted him very quickly… at the moment. With time, and the right amount of additional magical energy that could be gained from humans such as the Senshi, his body would adjust and, if that happened, he would be more or less invincible.

This gave Jadeite the opening that he needed. The mere fact that traitor had dared to come back to the Dark Kingdom filled him with the type of fury that he needed. Uttering a few words under his breath he felt the wards surrounding Zoisite's sleeping chambers yield. Jadeite was surprised that these were simple spells, used perhaps by himself or Nephrite that had little use against one of the other Tennou or Beryl. He had obviously exhausted himself more than he had thought, Jadeite mused. This was no matter. It only served to his advantage.

Again, pressing forward, he reached out to open the door when he sensed a presence behind him.

Kuroki Mio was forced to leap back a step as Jadeite whirled around, raising the dagger high above his head as his gaze locked on her. Missing her face by no more than a hair, Jadeite snarled in fury as she reached out and grabbed his sword hand, twisting his wrist roughly and forcing him to drop his weapon. It clattered loudly on the stone floor and they both froze, each straining their ears for signs that they had woken the man slumbering in the next room.

After a few minutes more, Mio relaxed marginally. It was as she had suspected. Although his powers were strong, Zoisite's body was exhausted from the strain of these powers. It had already been two days and he had failed to stir. All the while the tension between Usagi-chan and her friends grew as Venus became stronger. Mio knew that this dissension would soon come to a head. When it did she intended to use it to her advantage.

"Jadeite" she said softly yet with what she hoped was a certain degree of authority. After all, as Beryl's shadow, the Dark Kingdom now belonged to her. "Do not try to harm Zoisite again."

"He killed Beryl-sama," the blonde hissed, making no secret of his anger, "I cannot allow that to go unpunished."

"He would kill you with a thought."

"My life is of no consequence, now that Beryl-sama is gone."

"I am a part of your Queen."

"No" Jadeite shook his head, "You will never be Beryl-sama."

Mio's lip curled up in a sneer as the blonde turned on his heel and left Zoisite's chambers.

"Fool" Mio whispered, although her voice wasn't without some degree of fury. Jadeite was indeed a fool but many mistakes were made because of such foolishness. She would have to keep an eye on him and, if need be, kill him.

As she turned, to also make her leave, Mio froze upon hearing the soft clinking of boots on a stone floor. An icy stab of terror shot down her spine as her now panicked mind registered this. She turned, not quite quickly enough, and felt a strong hand wrap itself around her neck and throw her back against the wall with a force that knocked the breath from her body. She gagged somewhat painfully as she felt some of the jagged rocks dig into her back and the hand around her throat squeezing her so tightly that she could barely breathe.

Zoisite regarded her silently for a few minutes, until she was forced to start clawing at his hand as the lack of oxygen began to cause her vision to darken. Only then did Zoisite let her go, allowing her to slump to the ground in a pitiful fashion at his feet and inwardly Mio seethed, but she knew that to show her fury would mean death.

Raising her head slightly, Mio stared silently up at the second Tennou, trying to read his intentions towards her in his eyes, but when she looked into those blue pools, all she saw was darkness. Then, after holding her gaze for a few moments more, Zoisite turned away, teleporting from the Dark Kingdom with a flip of his cape.

Why did he do that?

Because he could… he holds all the power and knows it…

Shakily Mio stumbled to her feet whilst trying to reign in her indignation of what had just happened. For now… she would have to wait. Despite this, she would continue with her plan. Zoisite thought her a fool but in reality it was he who was so. Destroying the Senshi would be to her own advantage as soon, Mio knew, he would come up against the Princess and when that happened they would destroy each other and Mamoru would belong to her.

As Usagi and Makoto left the room, Minako snuggled down further under her duvet feigning sleep until the door clicking shut behind them confirmed that she was, once again, alone.

Time passed slowly in hospital and, for Minako, the agonising slowness of each day tore at her very soul, as she recalled her words to Zoisite not three days ago now.

"Will you come and see me again?"

Whereas Zoisite had not replied to this question verbally, Minako had felt sure that he would. He had forgiven her so there was no reason for him to stay away. As it was, each passing hour without him was giving cause to all kinds of thoughts as to what could be keeping him and these weren't pleasant ones.

Now that she had been granted this second chance, Minako desperately wanted for them to be together properly despite knowing that, deep down, this would never happen. Zoisite had often expressed his own fears as to what would become of him and these fears, Minako was very much afraid, might have been realised.

She was still a Senshi. Her henshin bracelet was still sat in the drawer beside her bed together with her clothes and a few personal items that she had felt the need to hold onto during her stay in hospital. She was still a Senshi and he was still one of the Shitennou. Her rebirth meant that Venus was no longer her true form but, for Zoisite, despite glamour spells, he would always be one the four kings.

Minako could only stare, not even registering when he lunged forwards, knocking her back into the closed door and pressed his sword to her throat, "If I recall, I did not make any such promise" he growled angrily, which was rare for the most composed of the four kings.

Dazed, Minako could only focus on the sudden closeness of the king, the warmth of his body against her own and the feel of his breath upon her cheek. Shaking, she reached up with a hand and placed it upon the reddening mark. Zoisite's grip on her wavered and then went lax as she gently stroked his cheek and leaned forward to place a tentative kiss to his lips.

From that moment, their fate had become entwined. Minako could now not imagine a life without him but, the trouble was, she could not imagine one with him either. They had lived for the moment and now that moment was passed, Minako just didn't know what to think anymore.

Minako sat up, hating lying so still and alone with her thoughts. Even Artemis had gone, to see Luna most probably, and now that Usagi and Makoto had left, Minako was truly alone. She had appreciated them coming to see her and Usagi at least had been in twice each day, sometimes with Makoto and Rei but mostly alone, but it wasn't her friends that Minako truly wanted to see right now. She just wanted to see Zoisite, to confirm with her own eyes that he was okay.

Worrying her lower lip, Minako swung her legs out of the bed and leant down towards the cabinet beside the bed. She had been told that, in a day or so, she could go for some brief walks around the ward provided that someone was with her. Her strength was gradually returning her fever was going down. It was important to take a day at a time, Minako had been told, and she intended on doing just that.

Smiling as she found her object she was looking for, her diary, Minako opened up at the centre page, her forefinger lightly tracing the satin soft petal that was nestled between the pages.

Minako opened her eyes, feeling more than a little groggy as she did so, and her gaze settled upon the pink rose that was set upon her pillow.

"Zoisite" Minako breathed softly as she took the rose in one hand and lifted it to her face to inhale its sweet scent.

The rose had long since died but, pressed between the pages of her diary, this last petal remained as Minako had wanted to preserve it.

"At last, you are alone" she jumped slightly, and whirled around at the sound of her lover's voice.

Zoisite smirked a little at her reaction, seemingly again an act out of character. Leaning casually against the doorframe, he was in his glamour guise again, wearing the same clothes that he had been the last time she saw him.

As she acknowledged his presence, Zoisite moved further into the room, pushing the door shut behind him as he did so.

Minako felt herself flinch a little as he looked over her shoulder, a frown marring his handsome features as he stared down at the diary, and the rose petal nestled between the pages. He reached out for it and Minako automatically snapped the diary shut, clutching it protectively to her chest. Zoisite paused, unsure of what to make of this action.

"My diary" Minako answered quietly, "Is a collection of my own private thoughts and feelings. You do understand that?"

It was clear that he didn't understand and, for a brief second, his eyes narrowed slightly as though her actions had angered him but then, aloof once more, Zoisite withdrew his hand and took a step back from the bed.

Still unsure, Minako slipped the diary back into her drawer and then approached him, wrapping her arms around his neck as she placed a gentle kiss on his lips. Zoisite did not react to this embrace at all. Not understanding this coldness, Minako went to draw away from him when she suddenly felt his arms around her, one arm wrapping itself around her waist as he pulled her tightly against him. The other arm was around her shoulders, his hand gently entwining itself in her hair and pinning her head against his chest.

Not sure what to make of this gesture, Minako curved her arms around his back, closing her eyes as he held her. As she surrendered to his embrace, Minako couldn't help but shiver against him. He touched differed from the touch that she was used too. Whereas he was more forward, he lacked the depth and emotion that he had on previous occasions.

"What is wrong?" Minako murmured against him.

Zoisite responded to this by pulling her head back every so slightly to look him in the eyes, "What do you mean?"

"You. You seem different. You've been different since my operation. If there is something wrong… I would like to help you."

Zoisite released her, walking over to the window and looking out at the grounds below, he debated a reply. Finally he settled on: "I am different now."

Minako nodded. All the while they had been alone, his glamour had remained in place despite him having no need to hide his true form and she said as much, his hesitation on the matter was starting to frighten her.

"Queen Beryl" Zoisite said at last, keeping his back to Minako as he spoke, "She is dead. I killed her."

"You?" Minako took a step towards him, reaching out to touch his arm, but Zoisite moved away. "Why?"

"She thought she could control me. She assumed that she still had a hold on me in this world."

"So you killed her?" Minako wasn't sure how she was supposed to react. She knew that she should feel relief that their enemy was dead, but Zoisite appeared to be almost proud of his action. Of course it meant that he had overcome her, but there was something else… and Minako wasn't sure that she wanted to know what it was.

"I killed her," he repeated. "How does this knowledge make you feel?"

"How should I feel?" Minako replied, not understanding where he was coming from at all, "Do you expect me to be angry with you? This is war, Zoisite. She threatened both our lives. With her gone, the planet has a chance, Mamoru-san can be free and you have the chance to change your own destiny. I should feel relief but…"

"But?"

Minako shook her head, unsure of how to explain her feelings in a way that wouldn't offend him, "You are proud of this. You tell me this and obviously expect something of me and I don't know what that is."

"I want you to trust me, despite what I have done."

"I trust you. Nothing will ever change that."

Silently, he drew her against him once more. Minako closed her eyes as she laid her head against his chest still not quite understanding where he was coming from as she prompted him about his glamour spell once more.

"You do not like seeing me this way?" as always he answered a question with another question.

"I do like you this way" Minako said, unsure herself as to what was so alluring about his true form. As he was now they could, at least for a little while, have the normality that Minako yearned for but at the same time, this was denying the truth. Zoisite was denying who he truly was and Minako knew that this was too much to expect of him.

Also, as his Tennou self, Minako felt more his equal which was strange as, in his human form, they should really appear so. Around him at the moment, Minako felt unsure and inferior almost and she hated this.

Still she pressed the matter, in truth feeling a little curious as to his change of heart. The Zoisite she knew before her operation felt almost contempt for his human glamour but now it would seem that he had perfected it for reasons that Minako dearly wished to be explained to her.

"In this hospital it would not be good for my presence to be noticed" Zoisite answered her, "I am sure you can understand that?"

"But we are alone now. There is no need to keep up this pretence is there not?"

Zoisite was silent and then drew away from the embrace and Minako instantly regretted all her questioning.

"I must go," he said, abruptly turning his back on her.

"No" Minako half protested and half pleaded, "Please stay a bit longer. I've hardly seen you these past few days."

"You must rest" was his response.

Minako shook her head and took a step towards him when it happened. She stumbled slightly, her vision slowly losing its focus as vertigo crashed into her. Moaning, she pressed a hand to her forehead and felt the clamminess of her skin beneath her palm. Her fever… was it returning?

Then she felt him at her side once more, wrapping an arm around her waist as he guided her over to her bed and gently deposited her in it once more. Silently, Zoisite pulled the white sheet over her whilst his free hand reached up to brush some of her hair from her eyes. For fleeting moment, when his hand touched her forehead, Minako felt something else. It was almost a rush of energy and, momentarily, her vision went completely and all she could see was a colossal wave of black. The blackness overcame her closing her eyes as it took hold of her every nerve end, making her feel as though her body was on fire. Then, as suddenly as it came, it was gone, leaving her feeling weak. Barely able to open her eyes, Minako looked around the half blurred room and saw that, once again, she was alone.

Zoisite…

Unable to keep her focus, Minako found herself giving into sleep again.

Zoisite observed the sleeping idol in silence, her body trembling ever so slightly as she did so. Perhaps it had been too much, he mused. She was still weak, but her endless barrage of questions had become too much and he did not wish for her to know of what had become of him, not yet. This was not out of shame or guilt; indeed he was above such emotions. It would merely not do to have her aware of the changes that he had undergone. He didn't even understand them fully. He knew he was strong, stronger than Beryl, stronger than Metallia and, perhaps, Endymion, too. With this strength came pain and, already, he could feel the conflict between the two energies building up again.

Taking a breath, Zoisite clenched a fist at his side, willing the power back down again. This time, as he had only recently replenished his strength, it listened to his desire and, slowly, he felt the familiar throbbing in his head subside. Staring down at Aino Minako once more, Zoisite was satisfied to see that she appeared more comfortable once more. He hadn't given her enough energy to cause her any permanent harm, only enough to make her sleep. It had surprised him, however, how quickly, she had yielded to him. The Venus he remembered would never have succumbed to his powers without a struggle of some sort but she had and not even realised it.

"Is that it?" he managed to choke out, the lump that had been forming in his throat throughout Mars's reading tightening as he forced himself to voice his feelings.

Mars glanced up, meeting his gaze with her own teary one, but beneath that Zoisite might have been able to detect some sort of wild triumph, had he not been dwelling on the implications of Minako's final farewell.

"That's it" Mars confirmed and Zoisite sprang to his feet, angrily lunging forwards and tearing the letter from her grasp.

"What about me? Does she say anything about me?"

He desperately scanned it, searching for some mention, some sign that Minako had loved him and that what they had together had meant something to her. Rei was right. There was nothing. No mention of him at all. Zoisite exhaled deeply, allowing the piece of paper to flutter to the floor as he recalled Minako's poisonness words of before to him.

I was using you, Zoisite. You mean nothing to me!

Deep down he had always suspected that this was the case, despite his desperate will to believe otherwise and now this had been confirmed. Zoisite couldn't breath. The lump in his throat tightened further and tears leaked from the corners of his eyes as he turned away, allowing his glamour to disperse, regardless of how many people saw him.

Once before he had felt such weakness and Zoisite hated it. He hated the fact that she, this Senshi, could have made him feel that way. That she could invoke such a reaction in him. He had loathed the way that his former self had needed her. He had been such a fool to think that he could ever feel anything for her. Staring at her now, Zoisite felt nothing, yet still he was drawn back to her side. He had to remain close to her in order for him to obtain the energy he needed. It was the only way to quell the conflict inside of him. If he didn't then he would die. His body was not strong enough to sustain two powers equally. One had to be weaker and yet with them both continuously gaining in strength, the amount he needed to suppress one was growing.

Zoisite shuddered slightly as a fiercer spasm overtook his body and, for a fleeting moment, everything flashed white before his eyes. Opening them, he exhaled deeply and struggled to focus. Failing, he felt a rush of magical energy leave his body. It slammed into the piano; he had barely time to stumble away from the instrument before it was smashed into thousands of pieces, most no bigger than his hand.

The only other way to rid himself of this energy was to release it, but to do so would be a foolish move to make and not one that he was willing to risk as it would leave him too vulnerable… for the moment.

Turning away and allowing a teleport to take him back to the Dark Kingdom, Zoisite cast his thoughts of energy aside, in favour of the leader of the Senshi once more.

"I want you to trust me, despite what I have done."

"I trust you. Nothing will ever change that."

Trust made one weak, as Zoisite knew, and he no longer felt weak. In fact he felt strong and revelled in the knowledge that she needed him, that she was completely dependent on him. He had only left her side for a few days and already he had felt her desperation to see him again. It was pitiful really, he mused, and he intended to break her. To watch her fall apart as he had done. Then she would know what it was like to discover that the person who you thought cared most about you in fact never felt anything at all.

"What about me? Does she say anything about me?"

Rei took a step back staring in some satisfaction as she fixed the last corner of the rice paper screen into place. Now that this last fix had been done the shrine retained the normality that it had done before she was attacked, before her entire world was brought down.

Rei bit her lip at this thought, her former henshin bracelet hanging heavily on her wrist, the metal cold to her touch. Her current situation had not been spoken of, not in great depth. Rei had no wish to discuss such things. An eye for an eye, or so she believed and Zoisite's way of getting vengeance had been to destroy a part of her very soul, as she had done to him.

Each time she had seen Minako, Rei could tell who was really on her mind. The burning desire to know what had become of him was always there, although Minako had never voiced this aloud.

What was it like to rip apart another's soul? How did it feel to know that you alone were responsible for another's pain? Rei now knew how this felt and she hated it. What Zoisite and Minako had was wrong, but had she any right to take it and tear it in two? Minako had entrusted her to deliver her final message to her lover and Rei had allowed her own spiteful and resentful feelings to get in the way of what was right. Perhaps if she had only cast her feelings aside and given Zoisite the letter then he would not have turned down the path that he now walked. Keeping Minako in the dark would only serve to hurt her the more, Rei also knew. She had to be made aware of her lover's true fate.

Still, despite knowing this, Rei was unwilling to cause Minako further pain. She refused to be the cause of anymore suffering.

Then what do I do?

Rei didn't know. She just didn't know what to do anymore.