Zoran still wasn't sure what Zoisite wanted with Khaled or Kunzite or whoever it was that they would meet when they walked through the doors. He'd tried to find out. He'd always assumed that Zoisite had had unlimited access to Zoran's thoughts and used the walls to keep his own in. That didn't appear to be true. He could read his emotions, but not his thoughts. Zoisite had to address the thoughts to him for Zoran to pick them up. Emotions, however, couldn't be controlled like thoughts could.

And so many emotions had rolled through Zoisite for that last week. Anxiety, excitement, mild annoyance. Zoran was never sure what the man was thinking about when these emotions surfaced and Zoisite refused to talk with him about it. However, this morning all Zoran could detect from Zoisite was a disconcerting calmness.

It made Zoran nervous. Khaled had done so much for Zoran and he wasn't sure how Zoisite would react to him. He wasn't sure how Khaled would react to Zoisite. Khaled had seemed to denounce everything regarding their past lives. Khaled wanted nothing to do with Mamoru. Zoran wondered if he'd want anything to do with him now that Zoisite had returned.

Relax, Zoisite directed towards him.

Zoran tried to take his advice, but the second the door came into view, the urge to run hit. He would have done it, too. He reached out for control but Zoisite pushed back and the fight left him as the voices drifted from the cracked door ahead.

He heard Khaled's first, tense and restrained, "Have you heard from him?"

"No," Jacob's answer was calmer in comparison.

"Is Zoisite still in control?"

"I don't know."

"Why have you check on him?"

"Why haven't you?"

Zoisite didn't wait for them to sense him. They were so wrapped up in their argument, Zoran wasn't sure if they would. Zoisite pushed open the door and stepped inside, "He's fine."

"Zoran," Jacob looked received to see him.

"Zoisite," Khaled corrected, eyeing him closely.

Zoran felt Zoisite smile, "Correct. I'd like to talk to you. Jacob, can we have some time?"

"Of course," Jacob nodded. "Is Zoran…"

"He's fine," Zoisite repeated. "He's almost ready."

Zoran wasn't completely sure that was true. Zoisite seemed convinced he was. It had been another two days since Ami had visited and Zoisite had told him that he'd be leaving at some point. Zoran still dreaded that time. His talk with Zoisite had relaxed him a little but witnessing the interaction between Zoisite and Ami still had him reeling.

"Okay," Jacob nodded again. He reached out and clapped Khaled on the shoulder before heading towards the door. He hesitated for only a second beside Zoisite before patting his shoulder as well and leaving.

"He's worried," Khaled announced once Jacob had shut the door. His body was tight, his hands clenched at his side.

"It seems you are, as well," Zoisite responded, but made no further comment.

Khaled stayed silent for several minutes. Zoisite seemed to be in no hurry to say anything either. He just eyed Khaled quietly. Zoran began to wonder why they had even come. He'd assumed that Zoisite had something he wished to discuss, but the man seemed completely at ease with the way the conversation's current progression, or lack thereof.

Finally, Khaled spoke, "He's not here. He left. You're wasting your time if you wanted to talk to him."

"It would have been nice to talk to him," Zoisite shrugged, as though it didn't concern him too much that he'd missed his chance to talk to Kunzite. "We were able to discuss enough while stuck in those stones while you were unconscious."

Khaled tilted his head and Zoran sensed his confusion. He understood as well. There were vague memories Zoisite and the others talking to Mamoru, but he couldn't make a lot of sense of them.

Zoisite smiled, "We were able to come to terms with a lot during that time. For ourselves. Though, this still hasn't been an… easy transition. You still have to do that."

Khaled gave a short laugh, "Came to terms. He couldn't get away from the consequences fast enough. He didn't want to deal with any of this."

"Kunzite always had a plan," Zoisite shrugged.

"He was full of shit," Khaled's eyes narrowed.

"He must have thought you were ready, then," Zoisite eyed Khaled closely and Zoran could feel his doubt. "He doesn't normally make mistakes in his plans like that."

"It wouldn't be the first time he miscalculated," Khaled responded. "I think you overestimate him. He just didn't want to deal with the repercussions."

"Now, that doesn't sound like Kunzite," Zoisite's voice was light and Zoran felt no defensiveness. Zoisite believed what he said. It seemed as though Khaled did as well. "Outside of the Prince and Aglaea, I was closest to Kunzite. I understood him well."

Zoran noticed the minute break in Khaled's stolid expression at the name. He pieced it together. He'd been so focused on the memories that involved him directly that he hadn't immediately recognized Venus's given name. He hadn't realized that he woman who had Khaled so off kilter was her reincarnation.

Zoisite realized it as well, a sense of triumph floating through him. He felt Zoisite smile, "I've been watching you as well."

Khaled had managed to school his features again and merely raised an eyebrow in response.

"You're more like him than you'd probably care to admit. And you care about them all. Zoran, Jacob, Nathanial. You won't allow yourself reprieve until they're happy, until you feel all those sins are paid for. Sins that weren't even yours to begin with," Zoisite tilted his head. "Kunzite wouldn't have either."

"There's more than that," Khaled responded, his arms crossing over his chest. The motion should have been defensive, but it seemed to leave Khaled in his element. His authority radiated.

"Ah, Jacob is correct, isn't he? You want to command, but you don't want to deal with the responsibility," Zoisite leaned forward. "Who is running now?"

Zoisite, Zoran hissed. He didn't like the way Zoisite questioned Khaled, pressured him. Khaled had supported him. He'd been a friend before Zoran understood why he'd needed one. Even since his return, Khaled had wanted nothing more than to protect Zoran from pain of the truth.

Zoisite ignored him.

"You don't have to be a martyr."

"There's more than that," Khaled repeated.

Zoisite bowed his head slightly, "As you say."

Silence reigned again, the two men sizing each other up. Zoran couldn't tell what was passing between them, but he knew it was something. Khaled's mask was firmly in place and Zoisite guarded his thoughts carefully.

Khaled ultimately broke the silence, "He cared for you all, too."

"I know."

"He'd be proud of how you've handled this."

"I think so."

Khaled hesitated, "I appreciate everything you have done for him."

"You didn't make the mess. You're just left to clean up the pieces," Zoisite smiled. "He didn't deserve having all of this thrust on him. But, he does deserve to have a choice in his future. Jacob was in the right. He should be able to go into this with eyes wide open."

"What if he would have preferred never to have known?" Khaled asked and Zoran saw a hint of defeat, of devastation.

"Who would make that decision? Me? You?" Zoisite gave a laugh. "We both tried. Jacob and Mamoru gave him an alternative. An alternative that he chose."

Khaled's jaw tightened.

Zoran could feel Zoisite's interest, his scrutiny, in the other man, "Would you have really preferred to have stayed blind? To live with that hole you couldn't quite place?"

Zoran recognized the indecision as it flashed through the older man's eyes, "I haven't decided."

Zoran felt a jolt of pity rush through Zoisite. Whatever Kunzite had planned, it has backfired. Khaled hadn't been ready, and Zoran could tell both he and Zoisite were wondering if he could be at this rate.

Zoran did suddenly realize what his own answer to Zoisite's question was.

No.

He'd spent so long restless and running. He'd understood that whatever was missing wasn't all pretty. Zoisite had made mistakes. The past was messy and full of death. Full of betrayal. But he knew, all along he knew, that he was supposed to be apart of something. He was beginning to realize that it was okay for him to be apart of it.

He could feel Zoisite relax, as though he had felt the acceptance roll through Zoran.

"No one is here to force you to do anything, Khaled. Your destiny is yours to control," Zoisite's voice was soft, comforting.

"Choice," the word left Khaled in huff of laughter. Khaled straightened, visibly pulled himself back together, "Tell Zoran I will always be here for him. Regardless of his choices."

Zoran felt himself release the last bit of tension that he had been holding. He knew what he would choose already, and he was glad that he wouldn't lose Khaled in the decision. The thought of facing the future without any of his brothers caused panic. Even Nathanial, who he had only met in group a few times and he was now able to recognize as having been Nephrite, seemed critical in life.

"He's relieved," Zoisite smiled. "Remember, there's no need to make yourself a martyr."

Khaled gave a tight nod and Zoisite turned, waving over his shoulder.

He'd always been aware of the dreams while Zoisite had been sleeping the last few weeks. They'd been flashes of memories, both good and terrifying. However, this was different. He could feel this wasn't a memory. It wasn't even really a dream.

It was just dark.

Dark except for him and… him.

Zoisite.

It was time.

"Now?" Zoran finally managed.

"You're going to tell me you aren't ready?" Zoisite smiled.

"No," Zoran felt sure for the first time in weeks. Months. Since he woke up. Possibly since he was born. He'd always known there was something and he was finally ready to face it.

"Good. You're stronger than you thought. Stronger than I gave you credit for," Zoisite nodded sharply. "You'll do well by them. It'll take some time for you four to get back together, but I have every confidence that you can do it. You'll find Nathanial. Or he'll find you. And Khaled will… figure out what he is looking for."

"We'll keep Endymion safe," Zoran promised.

"I know you will," Zoisite sounded to confident that Zoran was almost jealous. "You know everything that you need to know. You know what can separate you from him. You know what brought us back. You know your soul is pure."

"Why hadn't you been able to purify your souls before?" Zoran asked. He'd been understanding more about his powers. Zoran had the ability to heal physical wounds and magical ones.

"Two answers," Zoisite sighed. "I was too lost to do it. There wasn't enough light left in my soul to purify. Also… And, remember this well Zoran, healing and purification cost. The power to heal doesn't come from nowhere. It takes the energy and life force from you, whatever it costs to heal. I never would have survived purifying just one of our souls, let alone them all."

"You would have made the sacrifice if you could have, wouldn't you?" Zoran asked.

"You would, as well," Zoisite nodded.

"For her, too. On that battlefield, you would have given what was left of you to save her."

"I would have given anything to save her. That was the problem," Zoisite responded. "If it was just me, it would have been fine. But, I had a world, a kingdom, a Prince to protect. I couldn't give all of that to her. She knew it. You know it."

"She'll miss you," Zoran whispered, the fear creeping back in. "He may prefer you."

"Not as much as she'll miss you if you don't return," he responded. "They may miss me, but they won't prefer me. Mamoru understands what's at stake with my continued existence. He doesn't seem to hold anything against Jacob for not being Jadeite."

"You're sure I'm ready?"

Zoisite smiled, "I promised I wouldn't leave until you were."

"What do I do?"

"Exactly as you promised. Protect him and his princess. And, just live, Zoran."

Zoran awoke alone. Endlessly, uncomfortably alone. He'd never really realized how vast his own mind was. Maybe because he had never been truly alone with his thoughts. But, they were all his now. Every thought. Every emotion. Every memory.

He stared at the ceiling. He blinked. He moved his arms.

It was just him. In control. Alone. Alive.