Z is for Zenith

Mamoru stepped carefully around his broken table, edged between a cabinet with broken plates and a splintered chair, and touched down on living room carpet, where he warily resisted the urge to start cleaning up the cutlery and shattered glasses strewn across the floor. He tried to push the thought of the fight that had caused the destruction from his mind, but it wasn't easy.

As soon as he had entered the building, the supervisor had stopped him and berated him for the incredible noise from the previous day – a lot of his neighbours had been disturbed by the commotion, and he should really be more considerate of others if he wanted to remain a tenant of the building. He had briefly considered blaming it on a break-in, but cast the thought aside; as nice as it might have been to have financial assistance reoutfitting his kitchen and some of his living room, he didn't want the police looking into it and possibly linking Midori and Usagi to the destruction. Instead, he had apologized, stated it would never happen again, and went on his way.

And now, just glancing back into the kitchen would remind him of how they had found Midori. Seeing the couch out of the corner of his eye as he passed it reminded him of what Midori had said, and the picture it had painted of Usagi, possessed as Jewel Tiara. In the end they had made it – they had, against the odds, saved the world, but the journey had been a hard one.

Mamoru made it through the living room and into his bedroom, grabbed a bag, and started packing to spend the night elsewhere – Hanada and Midori had offered; he'd take one of them up on it. As he was in the restroom, packing his toothbrush, a voice startled him.

So this is where you disappeared to. Mamoru's lip twitched up in a half-smile involuntarily as a small pegasus popped into existence just over the toilet. Helios threw his head, rearranging his mane as he regarded him with a sunstone-hued eye, Everyone had been so sure you returned to the hospital to visit with Usagi-chan.

"She should rest," he explained with a shrug, packing other toiletries, "She and the other girls have been answering questions from detectives ever since they woke up again."

So you did go and see her again. Helios smugly replied.

Mamoru ignored the jab and led his bag through the door to his bedroom, where he packed pajamas, some clothing, and threw his bag on his bed to cover his school uniform with a dry-cleaning bag, all the while remembering how nervous and excited Usako had been when he popped by before heading back here; the detectives were annoying, but she was following the other girls' leads with the answers – they had remembered nothing. They had faint recollections of falling down in public, and hazy images of a wide-open field, but that was it. Usagi was fairly certain that was all they remembered, honestly, except she believed they might recognize each other from somewhere. He had left soon after, noticing that ex-Venus was striking up a conversation with ex-Jupiter and knowing Usako deeply wanted to meet them again.

He knew they would love her; he hoped they would never have to reawaken as Senshi again. They deserved peace and a normal life, free from whatever terrible memories awaited them should transforming prove to cure them of their current amnesia.

You're going back to school tomorrow, then? Helios asked as Mamoru slung his overnight bag over his shoulder, and then his uniform on top of that, gripping the hanger head with the duffle straps.

He reached down and picked up his school briefcase, a brow quirking at Helio's question. "Why wouldn't I?"

You could stand to take a few days to rest, too, you know. Helios replied, gliding to keep pace. Midori's practically declared he's staying home for the rest of the week, and is working on getting the others to join him.

Mamoru smiled, "And what does Kobai have to say about that?" Really, practically anyone else's name could have fit there, though; then again, Hanada had been known to skip school on occasion, so maybe not...

He looked almost agreeable.

Both of Mamoru's brows raised – Kobai didn't seem the type; Kunzite definitely hadn't been, but then, they weren't their past selves.

He locked the door behind them, and glanced down the hallway to make sure they were alone before he asked, "Has Beryl come back yet?"

No, Helios replied gustily, She intends to stay in Elysion and do what she can to repair and cleanse it.

"Should I…" Mamoru trailed off, not exactly knowing how to phrase the question, just as he didn't know what he would say to her if Helios said he should. He had hurt her feelings – without meaning to, mostly – and nothing about their relationship had changed. She had nearly died for him – twice, if you count transforming herself into a fairy and sacrificing an afterlife on the off-chance he and his friends would be reborn – but that didn't mean he returned her romantic affections, and he didn't know how else he could tell her that would make her feel any better.

No, Helios replied, to Mamoru's relief, I think it's best to let her be for a while.

They started down the stairs together before Mamoru asked his next question, honestly a little nervous about this one, too. "So, what are you going to do now?"

Helios tossed his main irritably, What, you think you could get rid of me so easily? He whirled around on him, red eyes flashing in playful irritation, Prince Endymion, you have been reborn without court or council but with the ability to change this planet, for better or for worse. My job as your chief advisor is only just beginning. There is no way I could leave you now.

"So now you've promoted yourself to 'chief advisor', huh? On whose authority?" he teased.

On my own, as the High Priest of Elysion. Helios sniffed.

"Oooh, so you're keeping that title, too?"

It's still mine. Chief Advisor is simply an addition to my previous duties.

"I don't know, that seems like a lot for one person."

It'll be tough, but I'll manage somehow.

Mamoru grinned. "I'm sure you will," he replied, in all honesty. They reached the door to the stairwell and he paused, his hand on the handle. Helios drifted into place on his shoulder, arranging himself as a stuffed toy – something neither of them particularly enjoyed, but at the moment he preferred that to going without his company. "Helios," he said before opening the door, "Thank you. For everything."

Helios flicked his tail so the long silver hair smacked Mamoru on the back of his head. It's not over yet, but you're welcome.

He opened the door and almost ran into a young boy on the other side. He excused himself, ignoring the look Helios was getting from the red-eyed child, and they went on their way.

That's all for Cardinal King! :D This last one leads directly into the sequel~ I'll link that here when I get the first chapter up and rolling ^-^ As for the pieces I've skipped, I'll go back through and add those as I do them. ^^' I got inspired and plotted all of the next arc (and maybe the one after that, heh heh heh...) so the alphabet drabbles are cast aside for the moment. ^^'

Cardinal King's Second Arc - Architects of a New Age - can be found here: s/11866618/1/Cardinal-King-Arc-Two Thanks for reading, and I hope you enjoy the next week of Mamoru's life more than he does xD