Chapter 27

"Tell me everything." Kunzite heard Minako ask as she leaned over.

He gazed at her bent back, her slumped shoulders. Even the red bow she always wore in her hair wasn't straight. She looked so defeated. He hated seeing her like this. He didn't want to make her pain worse, but she had asked, and he couldn't deny her.

With a sign he walked over to her. Before sitting down, he gently straightened her bow. Once it was as perfect as it should be, he sat beside her, leaned back on his hands, and sighed again.

"The evening I arrived at the battle, it was a chaotic mess. I had no idea what was going on. I hadn't gotten a report from Zoisite or Nephrite in days. The only thing I got from Jadeite was that things were bad, and to hurry. No sooner had I stepped into my tent to review the reports that Jadeite came rushing in. He quickly told me Nephrite and Zoisite were gone. Their bodies weren't found, and he couldn't feel or reach them. I tried reaching out to them, but they were gone. Jadeite looked exhausted, but he filled me in on what Zoi, and Neph discovered about the beasts draining the energy of the soldiers, making them easier to defeat. He told me the only weapon against the beasts was magic. I told him to go get some rest. That we would need his magic at full strength for the battle in the morning. Twenty minutes later, a soldier ran into my tent telling me Jad was missing. I spent the rest of the night trying to find him. The only thing I found was a small puddle of blood where he had last been seen.

"By the time I went into battle the next morning, I had had no sleep. I spent hours trying to protect my soldiers, and battle the beasts. I was drained, and exhausted, but kept going. I don't know what happened, or how long we had been battling, but I looked up from the beast I had just taken down. There stood Zoisite, Nephrite, and Jadeite. I was so happy to see them. I paused, smiled, and started considering where to put them in the battle. Next thing I know Zoisite had a crystal in his hand, and stabbed me in the shoulder. Between my magic being depleted, lack of sleep from looking for Jad the night before, and the blood loss, I collapsed. It was then that I noticed all three of the guys eyes were glowing red. I barely had any strength left, but decided not to fight back when Neph picked my up. I thought, if I could get inside, and regain my strength, I could find a way to get them out. I never got the chance. Neph dropped me right into a possession chamber, crystal in my shoulder and all. I don't know how long I was in there.

"I remember nothing until I found myself in a torture chamber, chained to a wall, being tortured, and asked repeatedly how to kill to the senshi. I had no idea what I was being asked about. I had no memories of senshi, or anything. My next memory is in the same room, but Jad, Neph, and Zoi were chained to the walls as well. I felt horrible pain in my head as flashes of memories kept going past my mind's eye. Jad was about to be stabbed when a vivid memory popped into my head. My head hurt so bad, I almost passed out. The memory, it was of us. You and me, the day we got married. Beryl saw the whole scene while I was only focused on the beautiful woman standing in front of me. That was the one, and only time I remembered you, us, until that day on the moon. I became aware the moment you died. I was standing over you, with my sword in your belly, and so much blood. I was aware long enough to take off your wedding and engagement ring, cut a small lock of your hair, and put them in the box you gave me. I had taken my ring off before the battle I was captured in so it wouldn't get damaged or caught on anything. After I put the box back in my subspace pocket, I was preparing to kill myself. I couldn't live without you or with what I had done to you. Before I could, everything went dark. I think Metalia's possession of me was complete because that was my absolutely lowest moment."

Kunzite looked over at Minako to see her face in her hands, and her shoulders shaking. He pulled her hands away, took her face in his hands, and turned her face to look at him. He swiped her tears from her checks with his thumbs, starring into her eyes, he could see the anguish, and heart break there.

"Kunzite….I…..I am so sorry." Minako whispered.

"It's not your fault. None of it was your fault. We were ill prepared, didn't have enough knowledge of our enemy, and rushed in without thinking it through." Kunzite said gently.

"But." He placed his thumb over her lips.

"No. No buts. No I'm sorry. None of it was your fault. Maybe you were right. Maybe I wasn't strong enough." Kunzite said. Minako pulled his thumb away from her lips, and spoke.

"Kunzite, none of us would have been strong enough in that situation. Any of us would have fallen."

"I could have been smarter though."

"Maybe. Maybe not. We'll never know."

"True."

"Maybe, if I had been clear headed, I could have found a way to save you, but then again, maybe not."

"How could you have done that?"

"Maybe I could have tried to use the bond to pull you back. Like Usa did with Mamoru."

"Maybe, but I doubt it."

"Why do you doubt it?"

"Usagi has the Silver Crystal. She is one with it. Remember, the Silver Crystal heals."

"I guess."

"We'll never know. We can't change the past, as much as I wish we could."

"No we can't."

"Want to tell me what happened with your parents?"

Minako pulled her face from his hands, and turned back to look out at the city. She was silent for so long that he didn't think she would. It upset him, but he understood. Finally she started talking. She told him everything, from being discovered, to signing the contracts, even what had happened with the lawyer and Ami. When she was finished she was crying again. He slowly reached over, and took hold of her hand, interlacing their fingers. The jolt of her hand in his went straight to his heart, and warmed him to his toes.

"I'm so sorry they did that to you Minako." Kunzite said softly. He wanted to pull her into his arms, but he resisted.

"It's not your fault. I'm sorry I took my anger at them out on you." Minako responded.

"It's ok. I'm here for you any way you need me to be. Even to take your anger out on."

"Glutton for punishment, are you?"

"Anything for you."

"Thank you."

"For what?"

"For taking my anger. For listening tonight. For telling me what happened. For taking care of the lawyer."

"You don't have to thank me for any of that. It's not only my job, but it's also my honor."

"You know that we're not married any longer right?"

"Legally, you're right, but in my heart, we always will be."

"That was kind of corny."

"I know, but it's no less true."

"You don't even know me for who I am now."

"You're right. I don't. I want to though."

"Maybe."

"I better go. I've already pushed too much tonight, I think."

"Ok. Thank you again."

"Any time." Kunzite and walked toward the center of the observation deck them stopped and turned to her. "Hey Minako."

"Yeah?" Minako asked as she walked toward him.

"Can I….can I give you my number. Just in case you want to talk to someone?"

"Sure." She handed him her phone. After he input his number he handed it back.

"Anytime you need to talk to someone call or text me. Day or night. Ok?"

"Ok."

Kunzite watched her walk to the edge of the observation deck, and jumped off. He walked thru the portal with a small smile. As he was climbing into bed, he received a text from an unknown number.

Just in case.

He saved her number, and went to sleep with a smile on his face for the first time in over a thousand years.