Zoicite sat across from Kunzite in the tent acquired from Adonis. It was not a large space nor did it come with any comforts, which led him to take this space and leave Minako and her uncle to his only slightly more comfortable tent. Only a flat rolled mattress and two hay bales, that were currently being used as seats by the two men, occupied the space.

Kunzite watched Zoicite watching him. The silence spoke volumes.

"You think I did this?" Kunzite asked.

Zoicite shook his head. "Of course not. You wouldn't have had enough time."

"What a rousing gesture of support from you."

The younger general shrugged his shoulders with indifference.

"I didn't send you away so that I could kill the man. His death only makes matters worse."

"I don't know that there is any truth to that. If he did not sign a new marriage contract with King Alexander, then the one he signed with Endymion stands."

"We don't know that he didn't."

"Of course we do. Only an idiot would have you standing there and not present it."

"Regardless, I want to know what he was doing. I wanted him to stop whatever it is that he put in motion."

"It's the same outcome."

"Then tell me what you think," Kunzite spat. "Your silence is patronizing."

"Let's say hypothetically Lord Jalen was in trouble. Perhaps the state of his finances was not as great as he would have boasted. Maybe he gambled too much. Maybe his last harvest did not bring in what it should have.

"Some lords have a tendency to overspend to show the greatness of their wealth. Sometimes, in the course of that spending, they make mistakes and are seen doing things they should not.

"Or maybe he regretted promising his daughter to a man that would have the kingdom thinking he has the personality of a stone."

Kunzite shot Zoicite a glare of annoyance. "He didn't care one way or another who her bridegroom was to be. He all but tried to sell her like a prized mare the one time I met him."

"Then I guess we can rule out the last option."

"You're being patronizing again."

"I'm thinking out loud."

"Think in a more useful way."

Zoicite sighed. "So he cared most of all about his social standing. If his daughter could not be queen in his own country, perhaps she could be the queen of another."

"Everyone knew that Endymion was going to marry Serenity. There was never a chance that anyone else would ever be queen."

"Perhaps he never intended for her to be queen here."

"His land is in the central kingdom. Her title would not have extended anything to him in our borders. He showed no signs of forfeiture."

Zoicite stood up and walked to the front of the tent, lifting the flap and looking around. He allowed the material to drop and moved back towards Kunzite. "You're being dense about this, Kunzite."

Kunzite didn't bother hiding his irritation. "His land couldn't be absorbed into the northern kingdom. He's too far away."

"What do borders matter?" Zoicite asked as he sat down across from Kunzite. "They are imaginary lines drawn in the dirt by men who don't necessarily care where they fall."

"Endymion would never give up that much land."

"Endymion does what you tell him. You already persuaded him to do it once. He will also do what Serenity tells him."

Kunzite crossed his arms at his chest, frowning in concentration. "That doesn't make any sense."

"Because you're still being dense."

The tent flap moved away and a soldier appeared at the entrance. "General Kunzite," he said with a bow of his head, "Captain Lindstrom is preparing to depart."

"Thank you," Kunzite answered. "Send him in." The soldier stepped back out of the tent leaving the two generals alone. "I'm not going to miss him," Kunzite muttered as he stood up, wrapping his cape around his shoulders and securing the epaulettes.

"I thought you liked being challenged," Zoicite quipped.

"You give me more than I need."

"It shows."

Kunzite scowled in response. It was a childish response, but exasperation and exhaustion won out.

Both men turned to look at the tent as Artemis stepped through. "General," he said curtly in greeting.

"You're returning to your post?" Kunzite asked.

"I am currently on break from my post. That's why I was able to be here so quickly. I'd like Minako to return with me."

"Minako stays with me."

"I want what is best for her."

"Is that what she said she wanted as well?"

"She is still a child and afraid. She doesn't know what she wants."

"She is a woman and not nearly as naive as she would have most think. Minako is far better served being closer to the capital with guards to protect her."

"Minako explained to me the events that brought her here. Perhaps she is less safe under your care."

"Rest assured that the guards who allowed her to depart will be dealt with swiftly upon my return."

"I know what my brother-in-law was doing."

"And what was that?" Kunzite asked.

Artemis looked between the two men. Kunzite expressionless; Zoicite wearing a grin. "You should not have lied to her about your betrothal ending."

Kunzite frowned. "She and I are still to be wed. Whatever it is that Jalen thought he would do, ends with his death."

"Is he dead now?"

"Captain," Zoicite interrupted, "perhaps there is a misunderstanding among gentlemen."

"There is no misunderstanding," Artemis rebutted. "I am trying to do what is right for her. Hiding what is happening will do nothing to protect her."

"I was going to speak to her about it once I had her father back at the palace," Kunzite said. "There was no reason to alarm her when so much had been left unclear."

"She has lived with her father's lies long enough. There is no reason that she should now live with yours."

"Minako tells enough of her own lies," Kunzite muttered. "My camp is in the process of being broken down," he said to Artemis, "and we will be departing for the palace after the midday meal. You and your men should depart now." When Artemis remained silent, Kunzite continued. "I'm not asking."

The pale haired captain's hands balled into fists at his side. Without further word he turned and stormed from the tent.

Zoicite looked to Kunzite. "What sort of things does she lie about?"

"What?"

"I heard you say under your breath that she lies about most things. What things?"

"What does it matter?"

"It's a sign of character."

"There is nothing wrong with her character. She tells little white lies that I'm sure even she doesn't believe. She is a terrible liar though. Her eyes will hold yours too long when she tells them."

"And how do you know that she wasn't lying about the letter?"

"How else would she have gotten past the guards?"

"With your own seal perhaps?"

"I'm not going to keep going around and around with this."

"Why would anyone want to bring her out here with this timing? Either someone knew this would happen, or this was an unintended event that waylaid her. There is no possibility that she was getting past the palace guard at the gate. Even if you wanted to account for incompetence throughout the palace, the guard at the gate would not let her pass without your seal."

"So where would she have been going?"

"Where do you think, Kunzite?"

Kunzite walked towards the tent flap. "Let me know if anything is found and how many wounded we have. I'm going to ensure that Minako's uncle departs without her." Without waiting for a response he exited the tent leaving the other general behind.

He crossed the arrangement of tents, watching as the men around him worked at packing up supplies as others prepared their meals. Men in tan uniforms were mounted on horseback, some speaking with his own men as they waited for their captain.

Kunzite didn't wish to intrude on Minako and her uncle, but it bothered him what the other man might say to her. Artemis could only be described as surly at best. He clearly put no effort into hiding his dislike of Kunzite - which was a first for one of his rank-and-file men. While honesty could always be appreciated, disdain was not.

Minako and Artemis emerged from the tent, his arm around her shoulders as always. Her face was still flushed from her tears, but at least she seemed calmer for what had transpired.

Kunzite approached the couple, not surprised to see Artemis cast him a side glance before saying one last parting to the blonde girl. The captain stepped away and walked towards his horse, pausing to address his squire before mounting the stallion.

Minako's arms wrapped around herself, her eyes turning down at the sight of the darkened landscape around her. Kunzite stopped at her side, taking one of her hands into his. "Are you going to send me away?" she asked quietly.

"To where?"

"The North."

Kunzite forced himself to release her hand, knowing that he would have crushed it otherwise. "Why would you even ask that?"

"I'm afraid of the consequences if I don't."

"You should be far more afraid of what happens if you do."

"What will happen if I stay here?"

"Alexander is full of bluster. Nothing will happen to you."

"Who is Alexander?"

"Their king."

Minako paused. "Why do you address him so informally?"

"He and I have a mutual dislike of titles." He shook his head. "He will bend on this."

"There is nothing that you can do."

Kunzite looked around noticing that several pairs of eyes discretely watched them. He placed his hand on her shoulder and led her into the tent. "Miko," he said, his voice softening. "There are many things that can be done."

"How could you say nothing to me about this?"

"Sit."

"I would rather stand."

"I think you will prefer to sit." He gestured towards the lone cot, opting to sit across from her on a wooden stool. She sat softly on the hard pallet, smoothing her dress. "With your father's disappearance, any talks he had should be invalidated. There is no one to support any claims that you are to wed someone else." He paused, leaning forward with his palms resting on his thighs. "I don't mean to sound so callous."

She waved him away. "It was only the initial shock. I'm fine now."

His voice softened as he reached out and took her hand. "You can mourn."

"He was not worth mourning."

"What you told me earlier-"

"I don't want to talk about him."

"Miko."

"Please." Her head dropped to look at her clasped hands resting on her lap.

"Miko, look at me." Her eyes slowly turned up, his heart breaking at seeing tears lining her eyes. "Tell me what you want. Do you want to stay with me?"

"Of course."

They sat without speaking, silence settling between them. "I'm sorry," he said. "I shouldn't have left without saying goodbye. I shouldn't have waited a day - even a minute - to see you when I returned from Salas." He paused. "I shouldn't have been so careless with you."

"How long have you known about this?"

"I only found out the day I returned from Salas. If I had known sooner I would have told you."

"Tell me what happened to you in Salas," Minako asked.

"Nothing happened to me."

"You're different."

Kunzite rose to his feet. "Endymion tells me where to go and I go. I have no say in the matter."

Minako stood as well. "Rei said that she has seen you come back different like this before. Like you're empty. She said that Jadeite has been the same way." She took a step towards him. "I've heard all the rumors of what happened between you two."

"You know that people love to speak as if they know something just so that they can hear the sounds of their own voices."

"I was there. In the stables." She dropped back down onto the pallet. "Zoicite didn't want you to know I was there, but I heard you fighting. I heard you say that you didn't want to see me."

"Zoicite told you to lie?" He held up his hand and shook his head. "Don't answer that." Kunzite knelt in front of Minako. "I told you I was wrong for not coming to see you right away. I was with Nephrite all night - Endymion was angry, I was angry. It had been a long three weeks. I did come to see you late that night, but I didn't want to wake you. I didn't trust myself."

The tent flap parted and Zoicite walked in. "The rest of the camp is nearly broken down. They are waiting for you to finish in here."

"I wish to go to the temple before we leave," Minako said, picking up her cloak from the pallet as she brushed past Kunzite.

"We should depart, Kunzite," Zoicite said.

"She and I will go," Kunzite said as he stood. "You will accompany us."

"Endymion is waiting. He will be furious over this." He glanced at Minako. "And probably just as furious at her for leaving in the middle of the night under false pretenses."

Minako opened her mouth to protest and Kunzite held his hand up. "It will take us a couple of days to get back as it is. A couple more hours will not make a difference. We will go while the soldiers finish working. I want to allow them time to look around."

Zoicite nodded his head, his eyes fixed on Minako for a moment more before turning and departing.

"He doesn't like me," she said.

"He doesn't seem to like me much either as of late," Kunzite muttered. He crossed over to the tent flap, lifting the material and holding it for Minako to pass through.

The ride to the temple was shorter than Kunzite had thought it would be and far shorter than Zoicite assumed it to be. Kunzite rode alongside of Minako, watching her throughout. She remained quiet and withdrawn, occasionally lifting her hand to wipe at errant tears that seemed to come from no where and disappear just as quickly.

Zoicite would say nothing either, staying just far enough behind them that conversation would be difficult. Kunzite knew that he should think nothing of Zoicite's odd - even bordering rude - behavior, but with everything going on, he couldn't stop thinking about it. Clearly the other man knew something and was either unable or unwilling to say what it was.

When they arrived at the temple, Zoicite followed Kunzite and Minako inside. The small room was empty of any other worshippers. Kunzite moved to a bench in the back, withdrawing his sword from his hip and placing it across the railing in front of him. Minako moved down the aisle, the ends of her cloak dragging on the threadbare carpet in her wake.

Zoicite slid onto the bench next to Kunzite, leaving his sword sheathed. "How long will we stay here?"

Kunzite leaned his head back against the wall and closed his eyes. "As long as she needs."

"I don't remember the last time I saw you in a house of the gods."

He chuckled in response. "Of course you do. I was 14. With any luck it will be another decade before I see the inside of one again."

"Will you pray today?"

"Doubtless I would have their ear."

"We are all men of god, whether or not there is a god is for each man to find on his own."

"Quoting scripture. How wonderful."

"I'll be outside," Zoicite said, rising to his feet.

Kunzite said nothing in response, just folded his hands in his lap and exhaled.