Tales
from the Silver Millennium
by
Sakura
Kunzite's
Tale
I may have been born on Earth, but I
consider myself to be 100% Venusian. I was raised on Venus shortly after I was
born when my parents moved to Earth's sister planet to be closer to relatives.
I came from a good family. A long line of
wealthy merchants. My life before Endymion was highly uneventful and typical of
a merchant's son.
I went to school with the other children
in our village, got into the usual kind of trouble a rambunctious boy gets into
to, even broke a bone or two. Once I discovered I had a talent for art, I
enrolled in an extra-curricular art class adn found I like it. I could draw or
paint or do whatever I pleased to my heart's content without amyone bothering
me.
I became so good at it, that everyone
thought I was going to be a famous artist one day. Even me. However, fate
wouldn't let that happen. I began to spend my summers and other vacations
training in weaponry. I never really liked fighting that much, but I never protested
either. Somehow it just felt right. I tried to continue my art classes as well,
but reluctantly had to give them up eventually as I grew older.
Thinking that my training had ended once
my sensei announcec I had beaten everyone in the barracks, including him, I
immediately began to think of how I could find my art teacher and look her up.
But once again fate intervened.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Shortly after I turned 20, a ship came to
the training camp, not an unusual event. Or so I thougth. Ships often came to
deliver new trainees from all over Venus. Even as far as the great city of
Ishtar itself. But once I saw it, I knew that this was no Venusian shuttle.
This was a royal Lunar ship.
What's a Lunar ship doing here? I
think as I watch it land.
It opens up and a figure comes donwn the
gangway. As it approaches the edge of the landing strip, I can see it was a
woman with a long staff that looked like a giant key to me. The greened haired
woman is wearing some sort of sailor uniform with black trim and boots. She
looks around, then looks intently at me for a moment and turns back to speak to
Sensei who had just approached her.
I strain to hear what they're saying, but
can't. After a few minutes, Sensei and the woman walk up to me.
"Kunzite," he begins, "this
is the Lady Pluto. She says that The Queen has commanded that you continue your training elsewhere from now
on."
"But why Sensei? Where?" I ask.
"That is of no concern Kunzite."
says 'Lady Pluto'. "All you are to know is that it is your destiny to be
one of the royal guard of Earth. I will give you two days to prepare yourself
to say your good-byes." and with that, she turns and walks away. After
walking a few feet, she turns back and says, "I will be waiting at the
ship." then walks back to the ship. Talk about cold.
I just stand there too angry to move or
speak. Who does Queen Serenity think she is, ordering a person's life for
him like that?! Destiny, my ass! She just likes to play with people's lives.
We're nothing but dolls to her. I fume.
Sensei sees this and places a hand on my
shoulder. "I know son, I'd rather have you stay here as well, but Her word is law. It won't do any good to defy
Her or Lady Pluto. She has control over time. From what I hear, she can make a
person grow old in seconds just by thinking it." he says.
Definitely not a comforting thought.
Though, he does have a point. She did strike me as a person who was used to
getting her own way. I reluctantly take my leave of him and go to my barracks
to pack. Just two days. Hardly enough time to convince 'kasan and 'tosan
that this's for the best. I sit on my bunk and try desperately not to cry.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Two days came and went. That very day I
was to leave Venus, probably forever.
I took the very next shuttle craft to my
home village of Lothlorien. 'Kasan and 'Tosan were overjoyed to see me, for I
haven't been home in months. I tried my best to break the news to them as gently
as I could, but wound up making my mother cry anyway.
Pluto, Serenity, I'll make you both
pay forr this. I swore.
The next day, I took the shuttle back to
the training camp and boarded the ship with Pluto waiting for me at the
gangplank.
"I trust you were able to settle
things with your family." she says.
"Hai, my lady." I force myself
to say. I swear you'll pay for making me leave my home, my family, my
friends, everything I ever loved.
As I watch her turn and board the ship, I
take a long look at the person who ruined my life. She turned to face me again.
Her magenta colored eyes seemed to look deep itno my soul. A look one does not
want to remember. "Well Kunzite, are you coming with us or not?" she
asks rather impatiently. "Time may be infinite, but it is not always
patient.
I take a last look back at the golden
orange sky of my home for the last time, and reluctantly follow her itno the
royal transport.
Once inside we are greeted by a young man
about two years younger than me. "There you are Pu. We were getting
worried. Oh, who's your friend?" he says noticing me as I come out from
behind her.
"Endymion, you should know by now
that practically nothing can harm me." She smiles. A very rare sight from
this one I can tell.
Then it hits me. "Endymon?
Endymon-ouji of Earth, our sister planet?" I ask praying I'm not staring.
"Hai. How do you do, er.." he
extends his hand toward me.
Not sure what to make of it, I stare at
the hand for a few seconds before realiizing I should return the gesture.
"Kunzite. Kunzite Shidou, your highness." I shake his hand and then
bow as I was taughtt o do when in the prescence of royalty.
"No need for formality Kunzite. If I
believe who I think you are, we're going to be seeing a lot of each other from now
on." He smiles at me. It is a genuine, friendly smile. Not one royalty
would use to pacate subjects, but as real amiable smile. The smile and his deep
night sky blue eyes make me feel more relaxed.
If I am indeed to be one of the royal
guard of Earth, then maybe serving this prince woun't be so bad. I think.
"Perceptive as always Endymion."
says Pluto returning me to my previous uneasiness. "This is the other
guardian I told you about. Now that we're all aboard, I can tell the captain
we're ready to launch. We are all on board are we?"
"Don't worry Pu. I checked. Both
Nephrite and his companion are on board." answers the prince.
"Good I'd hate to waste time looking
for those two. My time away from the gate is limited. VERY limited. Endymion, why
don't you show Kunzite to his quarters then show him around."
"Sure Pu." She was gone before
he finished saying her name. "Well I guess you'd better follow me. The
cabins are this way." He starts down the long hallway and I follow, glad
to be away from that woman.
After a few minutes of walking, the ship
begins to shudder and I stumble nearly falling onto the prince in front of me.
"Gomen, your highness." I
apologize.
"Daijoubu. It's nothing to worry
about. I used to do that a lot too on my first time on a big ship like this.
You'll get used to take off, eventually." He gives me a reassuring smile
and my uneasiness fades. "By the way, I must insist you drop the
formalities Kunzite-kun, after all, we're going to train together."
"Train together? I thought we were
going to Earth." I say utterly surprised.
"Didn't Pu tell you? No, I suppose
not. She's always doing that, hoarding knowledge and never sharing it. It's ok.
Don't let her get to you. Anyway, she's hardly ever around so there's nothing to
worry about."
"Just who is she?" I ask trying
not to sound like a hick.
"You really don't know who she is?
Hmph. Typical of her. Pu's actually Princess Setsuna of Pluto."
"Pluto? The Dead Planet?" I ask
in disbelief. "I thought there was nothing living on it."
"Hai, well on the surface there
isn't. Listen, I'm not supposed to tell anyone this, but Pluto's whole
civilization is under the surface of the planet and the moon of Charon as well.
Pu's people are a, well, very guarded and private peoople."
"I could see. So 'Lady Pluto' is
actually the planet's ruler?"
"Well, yes and no. You see, she also
the legendary Sailor Senshi of Time, Sailor Pluto. Her duties regarding the
various time streams keep her away from actually ruling her planet, so the
people just govern themselves.
"She mentioned something about a
gate."
"'The Gate' I'm sorry Kunzite-kun. I
have no idea what she means by 'The Gate'. In all the years, I've known her,
she's never told me waht this gate of her is or where it leads to."
Just who is this Sailor Pluto? The
more I learn about her, the less I like her. I just pray that I may never see
her again. For the first time in my life, I found something or I should say
someone who gives me the shivers.
As we pass several cabin doors, I begin to
hear voices arguing from one of the open doors.
"I still say we should've gone to
Ishtar." says a female voice.
"You only say that because it sounds
like Istar. Admit it 'elf', you're homesick." a man's voice answers.
"Homesick? Me? Oh puh-leaze. Give me
some credit 'human'. There was nothing left for me on Krynn. Why should I be
homesick? It's you who's homesick." The woman again.
"I should've turned you into the city
watch when I had the chance." the man returned.
Endymion-ouji stops at the door. Inside
the moderately furnished cabin, are a man and a woman. The man is sitting at a
table, a glass of what appears to be wine in front of him. He is wearing
clothes in a style similar to mine. He's probably a travelling merchant.
I surmise. His long aburn hair flows down his back. The woman is... FLOATING IN
MIDAIR?!!!
She is wearing a simple, modest emerald
green dress that matches her eyes perfectly. Her long golden hair is tied in a
ponytail with a matching green ribbon, a few strands hang loose. Around her
neck, is a silver triple crescent moon medallion. All three moons being bound
together by one full moon. She has delicate features. Almost as if she were
carved from marble or cast in porcelain. Her almond shaped eyes seemed to be
made from two flawless emeralds to me. But the most striking feature of her
face are her pointed ears. I have head of such beings but, I never saw an elf,
until now.
As the elf and the man continued to argue
amicably, I continued to stare at the elf woman, so entranced am I by her
beauty. Thank you great Aphrodite for letting me gaze upon you. I
think, not able to say or think of anything else.
"Ahem." The prince clears his
throat, bringing me back to myself.
"Oh hello, Endymion-ouji-san."
says the elven goddess gently landing on the floor. She comes up to greet us.
"Hello Endymion-san. I trust your
tour on Venus was pleasureable as well." says her human companion.
"It was. Venus is truly the planet of
love and beauty, Nephrite-kun." replies the prince.
"It is, but it is nothing but a
pretty polished stone compared to the beauty aboard your ship." I say. What was I thinking?! Why did I say
that? I feel the blood rushing to my cheeks.
The elf woman blushes briefly, but quickly
recovers her composure. "Arigato. And you are?" she says coldly.
Gods, don't let her be like that Pluto
woman. Onegai. (Please) I silently beg.
"Oh, where are my manners?" says
Endymion-ouji. "Nephrite-kun, my lady, this is Kunzite Shidou fo Venus.
Kunzite-kun, this is Nephrite Stanton of Krynn and his friend 'Milady'."
"How do you do, Kunzite-san."
says the man, Nephrite. He appears to be Endymion-ouji's age. I shake his hand
and almost get mine broken by his powerful grip. "Ano, Gomen. I usually
don't know my own strength half the time." he chuckles. I like it, it's a
good-natured, earthy sound.
"How do you do, my lady?" I say
bowing to the figure of absolute perfection before me.
"I do fine, arigato." she
replies.
"Hajimemashite. (I'm honored to meet
you.)" I say taking her hand in mine and kiss it ever so gently. She
blushes briefly and goes back to floating in midair.
"Kunzite is going to train with us.
He's the other guardian Pluto spoke of." says the prince once again
breaking the 'goddess's' spell on me.
"Glad to have you aboard
Kunzite-san." says Nephrite.
"Likewise. Now I won't have to worry
about keeping him in line with the two of you to watch him." says
'Milady.'
"Ooohhh you!" says Nephrite and
gives her a friendly smack on the only reachable place on her body, her thigh.
"Well, I'll leave you two to, well,
whatever it was you were doing. See you later Nephrite-kun, 'Milady.'"
says Endymion-ouji turning to leave.
"It was a pleasure meeting both of
you." I say.
"Likewise, Kunzite-san."
'Milady' says and winks at me. I become rooted to the ship's floor unable to
move. I could have sworn my heart just skipped a beat.
"You coming, Kunzite-kun?"
Thank the gods for this Endymion-ouji,
or I'd become a permenant part of the hallway.
"Hai, your highness." I turn and
follow him down the hall to my quarters. As I follow him, I hear her voice say.
"Catch you later, Kunzite-san, Endymion-ouji-san!"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The voyage on the ship was uneventful and
I didn't see 'Milady' again as she chose to remain elusive. Neither of my
shipmates could tell me where she was. The three of us, however, spent most of
the time getting to know each other and practicing in one of the ship's
holodecks until we arrived at our destination, which was never revealed to any
of us. But what pleased me most was that I never again laid eyes on the Pluto
woman again throughout the whole trip.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
At landing, I rush to the door impatient
to get a look at what I've gotten myself into.
"Can't wait to get out too?"
asks Endymion-san as he comes up to me.
"Hai, Endymion-san. I hate being
cooped up." I reply.
"Can't blame you. The others should
be here shortly."
No sooner than he said that, Nephrite and
'Milady' come down the hall.
"So, the gang's all here." says
Nephrite smiling.
The door opens and Endymion motions for us
to stay behind. "Let me see if it's ok first." he says.
"But, Endymion-ouji-san, if we're
supposed be your guardians, shouldn't one of us go and check it out for
you?" says 'Milady.'
"No, because I already can see it's
all right." he says walking down the ramp towards a tall blond man about
his age.
"Endymion! What are you doing here?!
How'd you find me?!" says the blond man, running up to him.
"I brought him here lad." says
the old captain who'd been on the trip with us, helping us with the holodeck
controls.
The two are obviously friends or else they
wouldn't have been hugging each other. After a few moments of conversation, the
prince gestures for us to come join him. We walk down the ramp and when we
reach him, he says, "Jed, this is Kunzite Shidou, Nephrite Stanton, and
'Milady.'"
I walk to the blond and extend my hand.
"Hello, Jadeite is it?" I ask shaking his hand. He nods. "I'm
Kunzite, from Venus."
"Call me Jed. All my friends
do." he answers.
"I'm Nephrite, from Krynn. Pleased to
meet you." says Nephrite, extending his hand.
"I too am from Krynn. I am honored to
meet a friend of Endymion-ouji-san's." says 'Milady', extending her hand.
He stares at her a few seconds, obviously
bewitched by her as I was. Then he eventually says, "The honor is mine, my
lady." He takes her hand and gently kisses it. "May I have the
pleasure of knowing your name?" he asks.
She goes stiff. I go to ask if she is in
pain when I feel a hand on my shoulder. I turn to see Nephrite standing next to
me. He shakes his head slightly, warning me I should leave it alone.
"Captain, I'm sure 'Milady' would
like to see her quarters." he says.
"Of course. The lass is probably
tired from such a long journey. Right this way, my lady." says the old
captain forgetting to wait for her as he begins to walk toward the barracks.
She turns and begins to follow him.
Thinking I should help her, I go up to her and offer her my arm. "My
lady," I say waiting for her to take my arm.
She looks coldly at me as if I had
insulted her. I try my best not to be disappointed. Baka! There's no way
this beautiful creature would ever associate with such a lowly person as
me. I chide myself. To my utter surprise, she puts her hand on my arm and
indicates I should lead her and I follow the captain towards the barracks.
Along the way, we remain silent, both of
us too shy to speak. Then I remember her absence on the ship.
"I don't remember seeing you again
after we met on the ship. Were you ill, my lady?" I ask, hoping I'm not
prying to deep into her private afairs.
"Not exactly. I just prefer to be
alone sometimes." she answers.
"Must be awful lonely." I say
remembering times when I felt the same way when I began a new art work.
"Honto ne (Not really), it gives me
plenty of time to practice."
"Practice what, my lady?" I ask
curious as to what she could practice by herself.
"I have a power that allows me to
shape crystals into things."
"I hate to change the subject, my
lady, but I'm wonder what a beauty like you would be doing at a training
camp." I say suddenly remembering why she was here. She blushes again, but
doesn't return to her usual cold self.
"I don't just make pretty baubles
with my power." she says with a sly smile.
"Oh?"
"Watch." She produces a crystal
from a fold in her gown and concentrates. It grows longer and sharper until it
forms a crystal sword.
"Incredible. I've never seen anything
like that before." I say staring at the perfectly formed sword.
Masaka! (My god!) She can do that?! No wonder she's at a training camp.
"I hope you don't think I'm being forward, but since we're going to be training
together, I think we should know each other's name, don't you think? It'd be
very awkward calling you 'Milady' out on the field." I say changing the
subject once again and immediately regret opening my big mouth.
She looks down and notices the ring 'kasan
gave me before I left. She's trying to hide it but, I see her stare at it out
of the corner of her eye. "It's my mother's." I say glad for a chance
to cover for my previous mistake. If she doesn't want to reveal her name,
then, so be it. I have no right to pry into her private life. I chide
myself again.
She blushes and says, "It's
beautiful. What stone is that? I don't recall ever seeing it on Krynn
before."
"It's not from Krynn, but from Earth,
my lady. It's a very rare stone and is only found on Earth. I believe it's
called Zoisite." I say fingering the ring.
"No wonder I've never remembered
seeing it before." she giggles, the first time I've ever heard her do so.
What a charming sound! She must have a beautiful voice when singing.
She suddenly begins to sob and lose
control, shaking uncontrollably. Seeing, she is about to faint, I quickly catch
her and pick her up. Gods! She's so light, like a feather. I think,
carrying her the rest of the way to her quarters.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Once inside her room, I gently lay her on
the bed and ask for a washcloth, a bowl of water, and a bit of lavender. Soon,
someone comes with the items I requested and I put them by her bedside.
I dip the cloth into the bowl and wring it
out til it is cool and damp. Next, I crush a few lavender leaves with the
cloth, letting the fragnance seep into it. Placing the cool cloth on her
forehead, I pray she's all right.
She stirs and begins to open her eyes.
Thank Aphrodite, she's awake. I say looking into her emerald eyes. "Daijoubu desu ka?" I ask unable
to tear myself away from those eyes.
"Where am I? What happened?" she
asks, struggling to sit up.
"You fainted, my lady. We're in your
quarters. I hope you don't mind I carried you here." I say glad she's able
to speak.
"I'm sorry for being so much
trouble." she says trying to sit up again.
I gently push her back on the bed.
"You're no trouble at all. You need to rest." I say removing the
washcloth and dip it back into the bowl. As I place the cloth back on her head,
I say "I hate to pry, but maybe if you told me what made you cry like
that, it'd make you feel better."
She remains silent for a bit obviously
caught in some kind of inner struggle. I can see it in her eyes. She must
really be hurting if she's struggling against herself like this. I say
gently taking her hand in mine. She closes her eyes, but only to open them
seconds later. I give her a concerned look, she smiles a little and I relax a
little. I patiently wait for her to speak. She steels herself and begins to
tell me what has been troubling her so much that she could no longer control
it.
"...and so when one of us is exiled
or banished, his name is erased form all records as if he never existed and is
never allowed to return our homeland or he will be killed as an enemy."
she says finishing her tale.
I feel such pity for this woman, that I
want to hold her in my arms and tell her I'd be with her always, her home, but
I know I can't. It would probably hurt her even more if she saw my pity, my
true feelings for her, so I push my feelings aside.
"So that's why you didn't want us to
know your name. Technically you don't have one now, is that it?" I say
trying to be as gentle with my words as I can. It would kill me if I brought
her more pain.
"Hai. Thank you for listening to me,
Kunzite-san. I really needed to get that off my chest." she says sitting
up. I adjust the pillows so she can sit more comfortably.
"How about if I give you a new name,
my lady?" I ask hoping to cheer her up.
She stares at me in disbelief. "Nani?
You're serious?"
"Very. Would you mind if I gave it to
you or would you prefer to keep 'Milady'?" I blush a little trying my best not to embarrass myself.
She blushes and looks away from me.
You did it again, baka! You've probably insulted her again.
"You'd do that? For me?" she
asks.
I stare at her for a few seconds, not
believing she wasn't hurt. "Well, as I said before, it'd be awkward
calling you 'Milady' out on the field, if you're going to train with us, you'll
need a better name." I say chuckling a little.
"What did you have in mind,
Kunzite-san?" she says turning back to me. Her emerald eyes shining with
hope.
"How about Zoisite? Since you like my
mother's ring so much." I suggest.
She blushes again but, forces herself to
look at me.
"Of course, if you don't like it, we
could-" I start to say thinking I've said the wrong thing. Again. I seem
to be doing that a lot today.
"I love it. Arigato gozaimasu, Kunzite-san."
she says blushing and, miracles of miracles, hugs me!
Not knowing what else to do, I hug her
back and stroke her golden hair. What is this? Hair or silk? I say
marvelling at how soft it is. She falls asleep in my arms and I gently lay her
back on her bed.
I pick up the cloth that had fallen from
her forehead and place it beside the bowl and lavender leaves.
"Sleep well, Zoisite-chan." I
whisper then silently leave to find my own quarters.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Over the months of training, I begin to
slowly accept my new life on Earth. Nephrite, Jadeite, and Endymion, being such
good friends, make it easier for me to forget my old life on Venus. Of course,
with Zoisite there as well, I have no real desire to return home. At least
until, she completely recovers from her past.
Zoisite has been smiling more the past few
months and now readily laughs whenever one of us makes a joke.
Over the past few months, the other men
and I have been having parties once a week and I invited her to join us, but
every time she declined saying she'd be uncomfortable, being the only woman.
That was a long time ago. For the past few weeks, Zoisite has been joining in
our parties, she being the most rowdy of us.
Several times, Captain Antares has had to
pry her off one of us during our sparring matches during the parties. We always
wound up wrestling one another over some stupid argument and Zoisite was the
quickest to anger, especially when drunk on Venusian wine. I constantly
regretted ever smuggling it into the camp that day since it is one of the most
intoxicating liquors of the Silver Millennium.
When, we finished our training, months
later, we returned to the palace and took up our duties as Endymion's
guardians. For several weeks, we stayed at the palace until one day, Endymion
surprised us with a residence for each of us not too far from the palace.
I was not surprised to learn that
Zoisite's house was closer to mine than any of the others. Somehow, Endymion
guessed at our growing friendship. Neither was I surprised when Jadeite refused
to leave the palace. Him and the prince are very close friends, I only wish I
had someone I was that close to. Perhaps,... No she could never think of me
that way. Just having her for a friend is enough.
Our parties however, didn't end. All five
of us continued to meet once a week to do whatever one does at parties. And as
usual, we wound up with plenty of bruises the next day. Especially Zoisite. I
hate seeing her beauty marred by bruises.
It was at one such party, that I
discovered how she really felt about me. We both had been at the wine (not
Venusian, but a less potent brand) again and while Jadeite was going at
Nephrite, yet again, over some foolish thing or other, Zoisite came up to me
and whispers in my ear.
"Kunz-chan, can I have a word with
you? In private?" she says rather seductively.
"Um, sure Zoi-chan." I let
myself be led outside of Neph's house
and we didn't stop till we were completely hidden by the trees. "Doushita
no?" I ask once I managed to catch my breath.
"Nanimo (Nothing), Kunz-chan."
Again she called me that. She always either called me Kunzite-kun or
Kunzite-san, she never really dropped the formality, until now. "I just
wanted to get you alone, that's all." She smiled the charming crooked
smile I love so much.
"Uh, Zoi-chan, what are you
doing?" I ask as she begins to unbutton my jacket.
"I've always been attracted to you,
you know." she says as she removes my jacket.
She's drunk, Kunzite. Don't do
anything, you'll both probably regret it tomorrow. my mind warns me, but I
lose the battle my instincts is raging against it.
"You have?" I say hoping that it
really isn't the wine talking.
"Hmm-mm." She places a hand on
my chest feeling the muscles beneath my shirt. "You're so handsome, it's
no wonder the ladies at the palace look twice when you pass by."
"You noticed that?" I say
blushing.
"Kunz-chan, you're the most handsome
man I've ever seen. Aishiteru." She tilted her head and pulled mine close
to hers and kissed me. For moments, I could do nothing, but stare in utter
disbelief at the sudden forwardness of the usually reserved elf woman. It's
got to be the wine. I say. She's drunk and doesn't know what she's
doing. Don't do anything. I warn myself again, but I ignore it and begin to
kiss back. I wrap my arms around her and she suddenly pushes away, obviously
realizing what she just did.
"Gomen nasai, Kunzite-kun." she
says going back to the Zoisite I'm familiar with and blushes. "I must be
more plastered than I thought. I'd better head home. Would you tell the others
I was tired and went home?"
"Of course, Zoi-chan, but I'd better
take you home." I say knowing perfectly well that she could very easily
lose her way in the dark woods. I put my jacket back on, but leave it
unbuttoned.
"Thank you, but I don't think that'd
be necessary."
"It is. I'd like to hear you say
'aishiteru' again." Now it is my turn to blush.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt
your feelings or anything." she says turning away.
"You didn't. Zoi-chan, I love you
too." This time I kiss her and hold her close to me making sure she can't
run away.
She stares at me once I remove my mouth
from hers and I see the disbelief and hope in her moonlit emerald eyes. "Do
you... Do you really love me?" she asks trembling.
"Hai." I say and kiss her once
more, passionately.
My mind short circuits as I feel her wrap
her arms around my chest and she kisses me back.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Shortly after that night when, both of us
slightly drunk, confessed our love for each other, Zoisite moved into my home.
I couldn't believe it when she proposed that she'd live with me since neither
of us could last long without the other. I immediately said yes and the very
next day we moved her things to my house with the help of the others of course.
Nephrite was a little disappointed that
she chose me over him, that much I could see in his face when I told him the
good news. I can't say I blame him, because he has known her longer than any of
us. He most certainly would've fallen in love with her by now. However, he
quickly got over his disappointment shortly after one of the prince's
diplomatic missions to the Moon Kingdom. I could tell that the princess of
Jupiter managed to snare his heart, plus the two were often missing at the same
time as the other. It was obvious what was happening to him.
Jadeite was also happy for us, but I
somehow sensed a sadness and loneliness surrounding him whenever Zoey and I
were together with him. He buried himself in his books and duties, but I would
occasionally catch him sighing or just staring off into space. I knew a man in
love when I saw one. I was of course curious as to whom he'd fallen in love
with, but I just left him alone believing he'd tell us about his love when he
felt like it. I was never one to pry into other people's lives. After that
incident at the training camp, I never once pressed Zoisite to tell about her
past. I know she'll tell me when she's ready.
Endymion was the happiest. He
congratulated us and of course made many jokes about us already being married.
Both of us had blushed in embarrassment. It was indeed as if we were married.
Zoisite however, was a little worried
about leaving her beloved garden. I assured her that the royal gardeners would
keep excellent care of it, especially since it was one of the wonders of the
world. No other garden like it existed, except for those of the Moon Kingdom.
Zoey had tried her best to grow every plant and flower in the Millennium and
did manage to do an excellent job at it. She had every plant growing and
blooming for her. All except one, the trees of her home planet. No matter how
hard she tried, she could not get the countless seedlings she had imported to
take root. Many a time she'd come to me, in tears, saying she should have never
left Krynn. And many a time I remided her that if she hadn't, she never
would've met me.
She'd eventually cheer up and try again.
But now that she was living with me, she decided to give up on growing the
trees and began another garden, though not an extavagant one as her first.
True to my word, the royal gardeners kept
the weeds and pests from Zoey's plants and the garden was just as beautiful as
if she'd been tending it herself. But, however, still not trusting her 'babies'
to anyone else she'd go once a week to work in the garden. She could never find
any faults with the gardeners and soon came to respect their ability to care
for her garden.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I wake up with a start, sensing something
is wrong.
"Zoi-chan?" I call to my lover.
No answer. I turn on my side and see she is gone, the bed still warm from her
body.
Probably went downstairs for a late
night snack. I say to myself as I put on my light blue robe and head for
the kitchen.
The kitchen is as dark as the rest of the
house and still no sign of Zoisite. Now I know something is wrong.
"She'd never leave without telling me." I say to the shadows trying
my best not to panic.
"Do you think so, young
guardian?" says a voice coming somewhere from the shadows.
I quickly call up my sword and call forth
a ball of light. The light fills the kitchen and before me stands a woman. She
has flowing red hair and is wearing a tight, sleeveless purple dress. I
recognize her instantly. Beryl, queen of the Dark Kingdom, whom all the
Millennium was at war with.
"What have you done to Zoisite,
witch?!" I shout preparing run her through.
"Temper, temper, Kunzite. You'd better
put that toy away before someone gets hurt." she says smiling a wicked
smile.
"The only one who'll be hurt is you
and, it'll be too late for you to care."
I say. "For the last time, WHERE IS ZOISITE?!" I lunge at the dark
queen and raise my sword, thinking to cleave her in two.
She deftly steps aside and with a single
flick of her wrist, my sword disappears and I land flat on my face. Not a
very good way to impress one's enemy. I think with dry humor.
"Do you really think she loved you
that much?" the queen asks me. "Let me tell you something Kunzite,
she does. In fact she loves you so much that she'd betray her friends and
prince for you." She smiles evilly as I rise to my feet.
"What are you playing at Beryl?"
I ask glaring at her. If I can't kill her with ordinary weapons, then I'll
have to use less ordinary ones.
"Do you know anything about elven
lifespans, Kunzite.?"
"What does have that to do with
Zoisite? Where is she?!" I silently call forth a spell and keep it back
giving the bitch a last chance to answer me.
"Quite a lot I'm afraid. Are you
aware they are extremely long lived?"
"I am." I say. "Quit
stalling bitch, tell me where Zoisite is or-"
"Or what, Kunzite? You'll kill me
with that pathetic spell?" She laughs and I feel the spell's power leave
me and fade.
"Now, will you let me finish or do
you want me to deal with an extremely unhappy elf?" she asks, her anger
poorly veiled beneath a smile.
Both my weapons skills and magic are no
match for this demon witch so I sadly nod my head and let her say what she has
come to tell me.
"Just what exactly has Zoisite told
you, Kunzite?"
I am startled back to reality by the
question and stare at her uncomprehendingly at her for a few seconds before
answering, "She told me her race live longer than humans."
"True, but do you know just how
long?"
I honestly didn't know, she never told me.
"No." I say softly. My mind is already grasping where this is
leading.
"Elves live up to hundreds of years.
Some as long as 700 years, Kunzite. Do you think, she'd actually let herself
stay with you only to watch you die while she'd still look young?"
I feel my heart wrench in pain at what
she's implying. It can't be true! She wouldn't just leave me without saying
goodbye. I say.
"Poor boy." She comes up to me
and places a hand on my cheek. I flinch at her touch. It is like a corpse's,
stone cold. "Not to worry, she only left so she'd be able to be with you
and not have to watch you die before her."
"What do you mean?" I ask not understanding
a word of what she said.
"I offered her the chance to have a
lifespan as long as yours and she took it." she smiled triumphantly as I
stared at her, my mouth wide open.
"Iya. She'd never join you. Not even
if it was for me." I say not believing a word of it.
"She did and she's waiting for you.
I'm only here because she kept begging me for her to see you. I told her that
if she really wants a life with you, both of you'd have to be on my side or
either one of you would outlive the other."
"So basically what you're
telling me is that you're here to convince me to join you. Well, your
majesty," I say sarcastically, "it's not going to happen."
"I'm not. She is." She opens a
portal and a figure steps through it. I recognize it instantly as my beloved
Zoisite.
She is not wearing the blue and green
uniform of Earth, but a sickly purplish-grey uniform with green trim, a twisted
mockery of what we wore. There was a darkness to her once bright green eyes and
her gracefully pointed ears were no longer pointed, but were now those of a
human.
"Zoisite! What has she done to
you?!" I cry running to her.
"This is the only way we could be
together. Gomen nasai, Kunz-chan. I couldn't bear the thought of watching you
die before me any longer." I see tears form in her still beautiful emerald
eyes.
"Zoey, can't you see she's just using
you!" I say.
"I know, but I can't bear to be
parted from you Kunz-chan. Please, don't do this to me. Come back with me. I
need you." She presses herself against me, letting the tears fall
unheeded.
"Do you, or does Beryl?" I ask
pushing her away.
"I need you Kunzite. Onegai, don't
leave me. Not like this." She places her head on my shoulder and sobs,
very much like that time when she fainted at the training camp.
I try my best not to give in. She's
betrayed you. The prince. You must warn him! I shout at myself, but against
my will, I feel my arms envelop her and I begin stroking her golden hair. I
could never resist her when she was like this. I always felt compelled to
comfort her.
"Shh, daijoubu koishii.
Daijoubu." I say, kissing her. I silently make my decision and pray that I
am forgiven.
"You win Beryl. I'll join you, but if
you ever do anything to harm either the prince or Zoisite, I swear I'll make
you pay." I say turning to the snake in a woman's form.
"So be it." she says and opens
the portal again. She gestures for us to follow her and I still holding onto
Zoisite and wearing my robe, step trough after her.
Once on the on the other side, Beryl turns
to Zoisite and says, "Zoisite, see to it that Kunzite is taken care of
until I decide what to do with him."
My love bows still possessing the grace of
the elf she once was and says, "Of course, my queen."
When the queen is gone, she turns to me
and winks before kissing me again.
Author's
Note:
I know Zoey's a guy but, I'm making him a
her. Call it a little poetic license if you will. Ja ne.