**First Meetings**, chapter 6: Recovering

by Lily.

lilian413@yahoo.com

AN: so, here's chapter 6 for all of you who asked. Hope you enjoy!. And don't forget to write C&C.


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Lord Zoisite and Lady Mercury were now at the shore of a lake. Zoisite could now
distinguish colors, but so far, no details. And it was beginning to get on his
nerves.

The good thing was, that thanks to his General training, his ears were as
well developed as his eyes. So, he began relaying on it, and found it
pretty damn useful.

No sound interrupted the silence, except for their breathing. They had been running for
over half and hour now, Mercury leading the way. He would've surely ran into the
first tree they came across to.

Enormous plants covered the beach. The lake was very big, the other side
couldn't be seen from where they stood. Although Zoisite couldn't see anything, besides
a huge black spot, he could tell this silence was not normal.

It was eerie.

And he was beginning to worry.

"You think we outrun him?".

Her voice still trembled a little, but she had managed to control it.
Zoisite took pride in that. While they were on the run, he had been
thinking 'happy thoughts'. Although he had no idea whether she could actually feel
them or not, it helped him to stay up. But by the sound of her voice, he knew the worst
was already behind.

"I hope. I can't be of much help like this. On the other hand, neither is he".

When she spoke again, her voice came from his right.

"I--- I have not had the time to thank you".

"Lady Mercury, there's no need to---".

"Yes, there is. You are a total stranger to me, and yet, you've risked your life
for me twice now. That's something not everyone would do".

He turned, blindly trying to make a difference between the blue spot dancing
right out of his view, and that azure glow that kept calling for his attention.

Of course, he never saw the rock that sat right beneath his feet.

Never did he see, either, that Mercury was far closer than he had calculated.

As he slipped and fell, he managed to curse silently; a shriek came from her.

He was embracing her. In an attempt to stop the painful close encounter
with the ground that was surely coming, his hands had darted forward.

They never felt the hard, cold grainy soil.

They felt warm, soft, vanilla-like skin.

He was *hugging* her.

"Oh My GOD!. Lady Mercury, I'm so sorry, I didn't see you, I'm sorry, so sorry---".

Ami had long ago forgotten any proper answer. All she could feel, was his strong
body, pressed against her own. Warm. Alive. And hugging her.

A strong scent hit her nostrils: that of cinnamon and leather.

God, he was so *sexy*!.

As she blushed, thankful he couldn't see her flushed cheeks, her head laying on the
crook of his neck, his own face buried in her hair, all she could think was:

{Oh. My. God.}.

The strange thing was, she liked it.

A lot.

Back at the fountain, she had reacted in fear at his attempt to touch her. Now,
she couldn't get enough of him.

{Talk about hormonal women}.

Sadly, she realized they couldn't stay linked forever. Softly, her hands took
his arms off her waist, where they were comfortably placed. She raised them, and giving
in to impulse, kissed their gloved back.

Even through the layer of clothing, Zoisite felt her lips.

And he felt faint.

As he opened his mouth, to apologize again, her slender finger was pressed on
his lips, effectively silencing him.

"Don't. It's the least I can do".

He nodded, as his vision cleared once and for all.

And he gasped at the beauty of what he saw.

Never was a man happier to wake to such a heavenly vision.

He stared into her eyes, directly some inches below his own. They were so
beautiful---

The world seemed to dissappear around them, blurring into nothingness.

There only was the two of them now. Together.

His eyes were so beautiful, and he looked happy. But there was something else
beneath: worry?. No, stronger that worry: Loneliness. Mercury could see herself in his
eyes, her own despair, her own need for company.

Her eyes were like a bottomless abyss, and he felt lost in them. They
were so big, so deep, so mysterious... and they reflected her soul. Inside them, he
could see a fiery will, hidden by her natural shyness.

But, as he delved deeper, he saw a something else.

Loneliness.

She had several friends, but her heart was alone.

They stood still. Together, fused without touching.

But there was no need to touch. Their link was intangible.

He was almost holding her, but he did not need to do more. He looked at her
and saw her blushing furiously. However, she made no move to slip
away.

She felt safe in his arms. She wanted to be inside his embrace forever.
Ren couldn't hurt her if she was with him. Ami was surprised by the new
attitude she had developed; she knew, that if alone, she would have surrendered
a long time ago . Zoisite gave her an inner strength that she
didn't know she had.

She was warm, safe, content... everything she never had
been. Her loneliness was disappearing, she was feeling whole.

Zoisite wasn't in a different mood. Her little body complemented his own
perfectly. He felt so strange with her, as if somehow he was reborn whenever they touched. Her smell was enchanting, like the sea wind. Her pretty blue hair brushing against his face was a feeling he was sure nothing could overcome. The perfect line and curve of her neck was delicious, mixing harmoniously with her uniform.

Time stopped for the both of them, until a cold breeze made them shiver.
That broke the enchantment. They separated, and stayed silent.

Neither wanted to be the first to speak.

When he could stand the silence no more, a sudden though occurred to him. Coughing, to try an ease the tension between them, he spoke.

"Lady Mercury, we should be moving now. We're easy preys if we stay".

Ami was grateful for his sudden change of topic. She was in no condition to
discuss this strange feelings that ran rampage through her body.

"I don't think so".

"No?".

"If our powers do not work, then neither do Ren's. He's as defenseless as we
are".

"That's great, then your Majesty. We have a better chance of escaping now".

"Yes we do. May I ask you a favor, Lord Zoisite?".

"Anything, Lady Mercury".

"Please, since it seems we are going to be together for a long time, just call me Mercury. I never liked all that formality".

He smiled deviously, the grin lightening his features.

If possible, he looked even more handsome.

"As you wish, Mercury. Just promise me you'll call me Zoisite".

"It's a deal, then, Zoisite".

They smiled at each other, their lips drawn back in a gesture of true
friendship. And then they focused on the task at hand.

Getting out of the North side of the Gardens.

"Any ideas on how to cross this lake?".

"Well, we could swim---".

Both their eyes turned towards the murky surface, right on time to see a big dark shadow making its way across the not so clear waters.

A low rumble echoed in the distance. Maybe it was just the water, muffling the
sound of whatever creature had just graced them with its presence.

"I don't think swimming would be a good idea. I don't want to get close to
whatever is down there".

"Well, Mercury, if we are going to do anything, let's do it now. Ren can't be too
far away".

She thought for a few seconds, staring at the whirling surface of the water.
The thought struck her suddenly.

"Do you see anything weird about this lake?".

Zoisite was just behind her reasoning.

"Yes, the water is moving. It's moving, and quickly. So, that means---".

"There's a waterfall near. Maybe we can find a way to go down in it".

It seemed their only chance. To go back, would mean to stumble upon
Ren. So, forward it was.

"Let's go".

As they walked, circling the lake, the began to notice how the water was speeding
up. Faster and faster it moved, until a rumbling sound was heard. It became louder
and louder, until they neared a corner. The trees were high, not allowing them to see
any further. Their hearing was enough, though.

"There it is".

It was very high, about 100 feet from bottom to top. The silvery water
fell with a sound similar to an explosion. Where it met with the lake, foam frolicked, and
a big pool of water was naturally formed. It was a beautiful place, full of
the power of nature.

The big, gaping hole beneath them acted like a vacuum. It sucked life out of the
above, and forced it to the underground. As they walked on the edge, neither could
help looking down. Luckily, none of them
suffered of vertigo, so it was easy. Besides, Mercury felt very
comfortable. All this water around, made her feel more secure. She had
always had an affinity to water, even before she was revealed to be Sailor
Mercury.

Daringly, she got closer to the edge, and looked down. A feeling of light-headedness
took hold of her. All the beauty, all this power---

It was making her dizzy.

Her head was light. She couldn't think very well.

As a matter of fact, she couldn't think at all.

She felt light, floating---

Could she fly if she jumped?.

The breeze waved around her hair and uniform, almost pushing her over.

'go, child. Jump'.

The wind---

the water---

everything was calling her.

'join us'.

Her legs tensed, preparing her for the dive.

"Mercury, are you Ok?".

He was worried. Since they had arrived, Mercury had been really quiet. Her
eyes had taken a strange undertone of darkness--- clouded, troubled.

Enchanted.

His voice snapped her out of the trance. She blinked a few times, trying to
clear her head of the alluring numbness...

"Ye--Yes, I'm sorry".

"Well, let's go now. I think there is a passage in here where we may go down".

As they resumed walking, Ami forced herself not to look down. She knew that if
she did, not even Zoisite's voice would be able to pull her back.

But it was so beautiful--- the urge to look down, natural in all of
those standing above, was being overcome with something else.

She *needed* to look down.

She needed to.

As she fought herself, she suddenly realized this was not normal.

And when an evil chuckle echoed in her head, she screamed.

"Get out of my mind!".

As she grabbed her head in her hands, trying to squeeze him out, Zoisite
had turned back, and was by her within seconds.

"What?. What is it?".

"He is in my head!. Please, get out!".

The General was helpless. Inside her head?. Telepathical abilities weren't
very common in the Silver Millennium--- and to have broken through the natural
defenses of a Senshi, was remarkable.

He grabbed her shoulders, trying to comfort her.

Mercury was trembling, and shook Zoisite off.

"Leave me!. You won't get me! I'll kill myself first!".

Before he could even blink, she ran to the edge and jumped.

"Nooo!. Mercury!!".

He could not see her die!.

He would not!.

He ran, faster than he ever had, and sliding through the earth, stretched out
his arm, trying to reach her. The soil was hard under him, the rocks slashing his uniform,
and reaching skin.

He didn't care.

There was a split second in which he doubted he would make it.

She was too far away.

His heart cried out for her, and the miracle happened.

Mercury stretched her own arm, her eyes pleading---

SNAP.

His hand encircled her wrist, and her soft fingers held on tight.

Gasping at the sudden tightening of his muscles, he muttered through clenched teeth.

"Don't you ever, *ever*, do that again!".

Even if she was only hanging from his strong grip, her gloved hand shook in
accord to her sobbing.

"Let me fall, please!. I will never be rid of him. Just let me go!".

"Never, do you hear me?. Never".

Her tears fell into the void beneath her, and splashed into the foamy lake
beneath her, many, many feet below.

"Don't you see?. This is the only way".

"No. There's always another way. Death is never the solution".

Her fingers clenched tighter around his own wrist, as she forced herself to
vocalize her fears.

"It is this time. If I let him get me, the future will be destroyed. I *need*
to die!. Pluto will find another Mercury!. I am too weak!".

For a split second, Zoisite could see the truth.

This wasn't about fear of Ren.

This was fear of being rejected.

Of being replaced.

She had never fully accepted her place as a Senshi, her self doubt making
her vulnerable.

The phantom of inadequacy had plagued her since forever.

She was too weak. She wasn't strong enough.

She didn't deserve to be a Senshi.

"You're not weak. You're the strongest person I've ever met!".

At least, she stopped struggling when he spoke.

Zoisite knew her life was on his hands now. One wrong word, one harsh
comment, and she would release herself and fall.

"No one could've resisted so long, fought so hard. You think hanging on,
while being harassed by that--- that bastard is easy?. Anyone else would've crumbled
under the pressure--- you didn't".

"I--I did".

"No. If you had, we wouldn't be here. *You* attacked Ren, allowing us to
escape. You guided us through the forest. You stood up to him".

This time, she did not reply. Her eyes were closed, and she listened to
his calm, soft voice. When he spoke, why did it seem so right?. Why was it that when
she told herself all those things they seemed empty and hollow?.

"Don't you see?. Being strong does not mean having the most powerful attack. It
means having control. It means, knowing *who* you are. And you know that, Mercury.
It means being true to what you believe in. There's no wrong in being yourself. Not ever".

"Being myself is not good enough".

Her voice was so low, for a moment, he wasn't sure she had spoken at all.

"It is. It *is*. And whoever tells you otherwise, clearly cannot see straight".

Her eyes opened slowly, looking up into his own.

Hope flared in them.

"Yo--you think?".

"I *know*. Mercury, *I* believe in you. Why can not you believe in
yourself?".

Logic was something she had always aced at. There was no time like this in which
she thanked for it.

Zoisite watched as a rainbow of emotions displayed themselves for him through her
eyes.

And then, she smiled.

Faintly. But a smile nonetheless.

"Thank you".

He smiled back, a heavy load being lifted from his shoulders. He had done it.

"Anytime, My Lady".

As he began pulling her up, (and thanking whomever was listening that she had done
it so quickly, his arm was beginning to cramp), Ami spoke, mischeviousness dancing in
her voice.

"What did I tell you about formality?".

He grunted as he was able to kneel on the ground, her own free arm seeking
support on the earth---

Support which wasn't there.

The edge of the cliff was completely made of loose rock. It had held Zoisite's weight,
but when Ami threw herself in the mix, it decided it was enough.

And began crumbling, falling into the water below.

And dragging them with it.

Her hand slipped, but his never faltered. Yet, he had already lost his balance,
and was pulled down with her.

Time slowed down, as inch by inch, they neared the crash with the lake.

It was too tall, too damned tall!.

The fall would kill them both!.

The waterfall thundered in their ears, and Zoisite couldn't hear the scream
that left Ami's lips.

He did hear, though, her desperate prayer:

'I don't want to die'.

{You won't, my princess. You won't}.

That was his last thought, as they crashed into the water, the cold seeping into
his bones, and knocking him off....


* * * * * * * * * * * * *


A couple of hours later, Mercury opened her eyes.

The pain came back immediately.

She groaned loudly.

"Kuso".

She had never sworn much in her life, but hell, it hurt!.

It was then that she realized her lower body was numb.

But numb and all, it was cold. It was freezing!.

She tried to move, but she was trapped. Something was pressing her to
the floor, keeping her down.

Her first instinct was to panic. Was it a log?. A tree-trunk?. An animal?

Her mind soon took back the missing control. It wasn't a log. It was too
soft. And it sure wasn't an animal... at least, there were no animals she knew about
that breathed so evenly. Also, when she moved and groaned, any beast would've at least
snarled.

She suddenly realized she was laying down in water. It licked her legs, slowly, almost
like a caress--- her cheek was pressed against the cold mud, her hands spread out around her,
as if protecting her from a dangerous fall. And the heavy weight against her back, was
none other than Zoisite!.

She could tell from his breathing, that he was still alive, though apparently, fainted.

Something hard was beneath her, way beyond the point of comfort. It was starting to
hurt.

A quick check told her it was Zoisite's arm. He was holding her, even in
His state of unconsciousness.

She waited for panic to settle in.

It never did.

Actually, she liked it. A lot.

And then, she remembered what had being spoken up on the top of the waterfall.

She was suddenly grateful Zoisite could not see her blush. It was the deepest she had
ever blushed before.

The funny thing was, it was his own body what was keeping her from suffering
frostbite.

{Oh my God!. He must be freezing!}.

She was cold... and she was being warmed by his own heat!.

This time, panic *did* settle in.

As she trashed around some, to be able to weasel her way out from beneath him, she
began remembering the last instants before crashing into the water.

Zoisite had embraced her tightly, and had rolled in the air putting
himself under her, cushioning her fall. He had received most of the impact...
Gods, he had probably cracked a rib or two!

And even so, he had managed to drag them both through freezing, dark water, with
her unconscious body as a dead weight to the shore.

She couldn't help but feel amazed.

{Now, let's see if I can get out of here}.

As she squirmed, and slowly moved off under Zoisite, she prayed to the Gods above
that he lived. There was something growing in her heart, which couldn't even fathom the
idea of him gone.

Once she had managed to slip away, his limp body fell on the ground with a low thud.

He didn't even budge.

Her trembling hands were strong enough to lift him up, and slowly drag him off
the edge of the water. It was tiring, and her muscles ached, but she did not give up.

She would not give *him* up.

Carefully, almost tenderly, she lowered him down.

{Please, please, please live!}.

She had managed to turn him around, and as he laid there on his back, a
feeling of motherhood draped over Ami. He looked so defenseless...

Ever since she had met him, he had played strong. Powerful. Self-secure.

Now, he was like a child, sleeping, uncaring about the dangers lurking around him.

She would protect him.

Just as he had protected her.

She suddenly noticed something. Against the immaculate white of her glove, the tip of
her fingers were splattered with blood--- her mind froze.

Blood.

Red, warm, living, pulsing, blood.

She shook her head, clearing it.

No. This was no time to panic.

Her first instinct was to check herself.

Nope, no visible injures.

No pain either.

Just the dull, silent ache of over-stressed muscles.

Her worried eyes looked at Zoisite. And she gasped. The shock was too much, and
she fell to her knees.

His right arm was covered with blood!.

She crawled over to him, her heart racing in her chest. Her hands frantically
flew over the wound, trying to clean it... Gods, it was everywhere!. The blood was everywhere!.
She couldn't see anything!.

Soon, her gloves were stained red. She did not care. But her fawning had been productive.
She could now see the wound.

It wasn't big, yet it was still bleeding. Right above his elbow, a nasty
cut. Her medical training kicked in, and she thanked the eternal afternoons spent in the
library studying terran's anatomy.

At her ministrations, Zoisite moaned, but didn't wake.

Good. If he did, he would've probably screamed. She could tell just by
looking at it, the cut had been clean and straight. It would probably heal without scarring,
given the proper medical attention. Which wasn't available right now. She would have to
take care of it herself.

Just one look behind her, and she shivered. She hadn't noticed until then the sharp,
nasty-looking rocks at the bottom of the waterfall. Their edges were almost shinning
in the starlight... millennia of continuos sharpening had made them a terrible weapon,
upon which they had landed.

She groaned in ghost pain. She could almost feel them slicing through her skin...

They were the most probable cause for his injury--- at least there was no danger of infection. The rocks had been bathed by water for ages, and would continue to do so forever.
No bacteria nor virus could survive the constant rubbing of gallons and gallons of
water.

Gods she loved inertia.

Sighing deeply, whether in relief, or worry she did not know, she stood up, and walked to
the edge of the lake. The water lapped at her boots, yet she didn't feel it. She just kneeled,
and cupped some water in her hands.

As she quickly returned to Zoisite's still form, the water took a red tint, as the blood
in her gloves was somehow washed way...

She watered his face, searching on it for any signs of recovery.

His groan was enough.

"Oh, God. That hurts".

Before she could control herself, her arms were already around his neck, and
she was hugging the life out of him.

To wake into the tender arms of a lovely lady was something Zoisite had always
cherished. It gave you enough energy to go on the rest of the day.

This time, he would've gladly traded it for an aspirin.

Or a pain-killer.

Actually, *any* drug would be welcomed.

He was feeling as if a spacecraft had landed inside his head, and left the engines
running.

Through the drums beating inside his mind, he heard a distinct voice, one he had
grown to love.

"Zoisite, you're alright!".

Every sensation of pain fled his body.

She was hugging him.

Tight.

Her lithe body was pressed against his in ways the 'proper' ladies of the Court
would consider 'improper'.

Not that he cared on the least bit what they thought.

Hence, he did the only thing he could:

He hugged her back.

He buried his nose in her hair, and smelt her scent--- and with it, he
felt her worry, her caring... everything she was, and would one day become.

After a while, silence had settled in.

They had no reason to continue their body-proximity.

Yet they did not separate.

{Maybe she's to embarrassed to move away}.

The truth was, Ami did not want to move away. Not that she would ever admit that to
anyone. Even herself.

But she was enjoying this.

Yet Zoisite knew none of that, and decided to 'save the lady's honor', by making the
first move himself.

"Mercury, as much as I like the idea of your hugs, would you please not step on my arm?.
It kinda hurts".

{Oh yeah!. Smooth one, Zoisite!. That was as gentlemanly as Endimion with a few extra
drinks on his blood!}.

She retreated immediately, her small form blushing to her hair's end.

Uncomfortable silence took its place between them.

It was immediately broken when Zoisite tried to stand up, and his arm
refused to cooperate.

It made its point painfully clear.

"Ouch. Ouch. Ouchouchouch".

His childish whimpering was enough to send Ami into a fit of giggles. She stretched
her hand, and softly pushed him down again.

"You just stay down and relax. I've got everything under control".

His pained grin was the only answer she got.

As she stood up, and brushed her skirt of the now dry mud staining it, she failed
to notice Zoisite's sudden stiffening, and how a thin trickle of blood run from his nose
and down to his lips.

{White--Underwear}.

Male mind is not made to handle such torture. He promptly looked away, ashamed.
The good thing was, Ami never noticed his deep blush, and how he would not look at her in
the eye for the next couple of minutes.

She moved away, searching for everything she needed. If she didn't
take care of that wound quickly, if would probably get nasty. As she
walked through the tress and leaves, every now and then, she would look
back, and make sure he wasn't being gentlemanly (or stupid) and following her.

The last thing she needed, was for him to get killed by trying
to protect her.

She did not need to worry. Zoisite had followed her with his eyes,
trying to stand up. Pain won the upper hand. He just sat back, his eyes
intently fixed on where she had last been seen, waiting for her to return.


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TBc........