Chapter 33: Surprise, Surprise
After the discovery of the Fire Kingdom emblem, Minako fell silent and stayed that way. Inside, her head was buzzing with the information. How is Rei going to take this? I know her father is border-line evil, but I wouldn't think he would be capable of this. What's the purpose of this, anyway? War? Causing Rei more harm? Minako shook her head lightly, trying to dispel the thoughts that made her stomach turn. Before she knew it, they were standing back in front of the castle, where Endymion and Usagi were overseeing the transport of injured people.
"Endy, we need to have a meeting." Endy didn't look at Kunzite because he was directing more people into the palace. Kunzite grabbed Endymion's shoulder roughly, and when he opened his mouth to yell at Kunzite he showed him the chunk of bomb. "Endy, we need to meet right now." Endymion's eyes widened and he yelled for able bodied guards to find the other Kings and Queens and tell them to come to the throne room immediately. "Let's go, Kunzite." Endymion stopped in his tracks and turned towards Minako. "Sorry, Minako, I forget that there's extra people that need to be involved. You come too." Minako nodded wordlessly and followed.
While they were waiting, Endymion and Kunzite paced the throne room restlessly while Usagi sat with Minako trying to get her to speak. The doors to the throne room were flung open with abandon as the rest of the kings and queens filed in. "We came as fast as we could, what's going on Endy?" Zoisite was gasping for air, having run a long way. "Kunzite and Minako found something while they were out scouting. Kunzite, will you bring the item forward?" Kunzite grabbed the fragment and showed the group. Then the fireworks started.
Rei was the first to react with a string of violent and forceful curses. "He really just couldn't let me go, just when I thought I was rid of him that son of a bitch has to force his way back in." Jadeite put a hand lightly on her shoulder, but she shrugged him off. Makoto stepped forward and took Rei by the arm, directing her to a chair so she could cool down. A servant rushed up and poured Rei a glass of cool wine, which she drained in one drink. Minako shifted to be closer to Rei and pulled Rei's head to her chest, gently stroking her raven hair.
Jadeite turned from Rei to Endymion, knowing what the next question would be. "If you're going to ask if Rei had anything to do with this, she didn't. She's told me how she was treated under her father's raising and there is absolutely no way that she had anything to do with that." Zoisite interjected into the conversation, raising his voice to be heard. "We all know that the Fire Kingdom has a very long history of being ruthless and trying to invade other Kingdoms. I'm with Jadeite; I don't think Rei had anything to do with it." Endymion's forehead creased as he mulled over his thoughts. "The sun is coming up and we've all been up far too long. Let's all get some sleep and talk more about this later. If I know one thing, it's that Tatsuo will contact us before there is another attack. He forgets that I've worked alongside him in war and I know his tactics." Everyone nodded and started to file out except for Minako, Rei, Kunzite and Jadeite.
Minako looked up at the men, gentle tears rolling down her face. "This is going to be inconvenient for one or both of you, but let me stay with her. I've dealt with her through these kinds of things many a time over the years." Kunzite and Jadeite looked at each other for a moment then nodded. "I'll see you after a while Rei." Jadeite bent down and kissed her cheek lightly. "I love you." The words came out as barely a whisper, but Jadeite heard them all the same. "I love you too, Rei." She stood up and almost fell over, the combination of alcohol and no sleep wreaking havoc on her body. Jadeite caught her and lifted her into his arms. Minako stood next to Rei, tears still rolling down her face. "Minako, I'll be okay with Jadeite. You go to bed with your husband; you need him more right now than I need you."
Minako leaned over Rei and kissed her forehead. "Take it easy, firecracker. I'll see you soon." Jadeite carried Rei out of the hall and to their chambers, gently laying her on the bed. He went to the bathing chamber to get some cool towels to clean her face when he heard a terrifying sound come from the bed. He raced back into the room to see Rei curled up in a ball on the bed, sobbing hysterically and shaking uncontrollably. Jadeite sat on the bed next to her and pulled her into his lap. She curled into his chest as the sobs wracked her body, clutching his shirt to her face. They sat there like that for a long while, Jadeite gently rocking back and forth with Rei on his lap, until she finally had run out of energy and fell asleep. After some rearranging, he curled up next her on the bed, both falling asleep in their muddy clothes.
A few hours later, all the couples had reconvened in the throne room, some eating their lunch like they hadn't eaten in years, others barely picking at it. An announcement rang out that there was a messenger, and a young man stumbled in, covered in mud and blood. Endymion stood up in shock, seeming to know the man. "Yuko! I was afraid you were dead! Where have you been?" Yuko started to bow, but lost his balance and collapsed, seemingly dead. Endymion rushed forward, yelling for Ami to join him. After a brief exam, it was determined he was still alive, but had lost a lot of blood. Yuko gained consciousness enough to warn Endymion. "My liege, it was the King of Fire and the Dowager Queen of the East." The poor man fainted again after that, and guards took him to the medic wing on a stretcher after Endymion took the letter from him. "I want constant updates on his condition, and spare nothing. He is to get the best treatment we can give him."
Endymion walked back to his throne, sitting heavily. "That was my best friend as a child." He explained without being asked. "Several times, I have tried to up his station, but he would refuse every time." Endymion stared at the floor for a few minutes before shaking himself back to reality. "Alright, let's see what's in this letter." He tore the wax seal and read the letter aloud:
Kings of the Kaze Kingdom:
The Fire Kingdom has your castle in Central Kingdom surrounded, and we intend to take it over in 2 days. We have watch on all roads going out so no one will be allowed to leave. We are giving you the option to surrender, give up all lands, gold and holdings to your thrones. If we have not received word of your surrender in 48 hours, we will destroy the town and kill everyone in it, and then will move to each individual kingdom to repeat the process. You have been given the terms, so choose wisely.
Hi wa subete moemasu! King Tatsuo and Queen Homura
This time, it was Kunzite who swore loudly. "My mother?! I knew she was up to something before I banished her from the castle." Endymion put the letter down and looked at his friends. "Well, we have 48 hours to figure out how to make this work. Although, I do wonder, how did they know that we all would be here?" Ami spoke up at that point, strategy being her favorite thing.
"Well, if they had any intentions of truly taking over the Kaze Kingdom, they would have had to build up an intricate spy system. It would be a combination of people we trust and people we wouldn't suspect. More than likely, this has been going on for a long while and the Treaty was a convenient way of lulling both Kingdoms into a false sense of peace." Endymion sighed heavily and put his head in his hands. "You're perfectly correct, Ami. This is definitely well thought out."
Zoisite walked to the front of the room and drove a dagger through the letter. "Well, who's ready to go to war?"
A/N: DUN DUN DUUUUN!
Yes, I know, I'm evil with the cliffhangers! This time however, there will be a new chapter by next Tuesday/Wednesday. Oh, and I'm sure you guys want to know what Hi wa subete moemasu! means in English. It loosely translates to Fire burns all!Any theories as to what's going to happen? I want to know what you guys think our poor heroes are going to have to go through!