**First meetings**, chapter 7: Conversation

by Lily.

lilian413@yahoo.com


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Ami walked through the forest, remembering her training as a healer.
Even if she *was* a Senshi, it was practically obvious that at least *one*
of them had to know healing abilities.

The responsibility had landed on her, after Rei had proved to be
much too temperamental to handle a hurting soldier. Nor Makoto, or Minako
had even bothered to try. Many, many ill people had thanked the Gods for
that.

So, that only left her. Not that she had being forced to, anyway. She
had always had this affinity with the Mercury Healers, known throughout the
galaxy for their experience. Whenever she had a break in her studies, she would
slip down to downtown Arcana, her home city, where the wounded rested.

At that time, Mercury had been at war with the Sun people. She had never
really understood why, but it was something about old treaties, which the planet Mercury
refused to acknowledge.

Wars were always about old treaties not being acknowledged.

The first time, her princess title had proven to be an obstacle--- no
one wanted to be tended by her. They were either too ashamed to be seen
in such conditions, or they simply did not trust her.

That was why she had began dressing as a commoner. Had her mother known
this, she would've probably had a seizure. Even if she was an understanding,
caring woman, she was still old-fashioned. Luckily for her, she had never
found out.

When the initial shock had left, Chief Healer Mayan had accepted her.
Reluctantly, but accepted her.

And so, it had began. Her tending to the ill, the healing of diseases, the first
thankful, true smiles she ever received--- that was when she realized this what was
she wanted to do.

Ruling a planet had never appealed to her.

This did.

Luckily for her, she was not meant to rule Mercury. That's what her older sister (Lina) was supposed to do when she came of age.

She had learnt many things, things she hadn't even suspected until then. And when
she had had the chance to study with the Silver Millennium's best healers, she took it with passion.

As she wandered through the forest, looking for the plants needed to make an
unguent, memories filling her mind, she couldn't help but smile.

{God, am I glad I took those classes or what}.

As she practically stumbled upon the plants she was searching for,
she began looking for an appropriate rock.

She needed to blend the roots with some leaves--- it was easy to find a flat rock,
and take everything back to where Zoisite lied.

"What's that?".

His voice was firmer than before, no longer waving with dizzyness.

"Just a little healing paste for your arm. It will
prevent infection, and help it to heal. Here, munch on this, don't swallow".

She handed him some leaves, and kneeled by him. They were silent, as
Mercury smashed the leaves in the stone, creating a green juice. Never interrupting
her work, she spoke.

"Zoisite, I've been wondering something. When we were up there, why didn't
you just let me fall?".

He was caught in a surprise. He choked with the leaves, now reduced to a
bubblegum condition. He thanked every deity he knew of, as Ami did not seem
to hear him.

{I can't tell her how I feel!. What if she doesn't feel the same way?}.

After some seconds of thoughtful reflection, he managed to come up with
a reasonable explanation.

"I guess--- I mean--- what I'm trying to say is--- I don't want to see you
hurt".

Ami did not relent.

"Why?. To you, I must be like every other princess, stuck-up, vain and
air-headed. Why is it in me that you find so valuable?".

"Maybe, it's just how I was raised. I could never leave anyone in danger,
when there's something I can do about it".

He didn't know if it was his imagination, but the sutile slump of her
shoulders could be interpreted as deception.

They fell silent again. This time, he wanted to chew his arm off,
for being so blunt. Why couldn't he just tell her?.

{Oh, yeah, right. Dealing with a broken heart is just *soooo* easy}.

"Done".

She finished the grinding.

"Now, could you stay still for a while?. It will hurt at first, but
it's necessary".

Zoisite stood still as Mercury kneeled before him, and began applying the
paste in the wound. He hissed, as a sudden painful itch began spreading through
his arm.

She only smiled, so faintly, he wasn't sure if the grin was actually there.

When she finished, she untied her back bow, which immediately appeared
again, and tied it in his arm. She knotted it firmly, making sure the entire
wound was covered.

She was exuding confidence, confidence she really did not feel. She
was actually shaking, biting her cheek to avoid it to show on the outside.

{Please, please, oh please, don't let me hurt him!}.

"There. Try to move your arm".

He waved it around, drawing lazy circles. It did not hurt.

"Hey, it's great. It doesn't hurt anymore. Have you ever done this before?".

She looked away to hide her blushing, and fidgeted with her fingers. She
began cleaning her gloves, red with Zoisite's blood. When he did not stop
looking at her, waiting for an answer, she spoke.

"Never. I just used what I learnt in class. However, you need
to go and see a Healer. This is just temporary. I would have cured it
myself, but without our powers... ".

"What do you mean you would've healed me?. I didn't know Mercurians had healing
powers. I knew Saturn people could, but... ".

"I am the Mercury Senshi, right?. Well, when I was born, God
Mercury gave me a gift. It's his caduceus, the supreme wand of healing. I would
have used it on you, but since our powers are gone... ".

"Caduceus?. Why does that seem so familiar?".

"You know, it's a wand with two serpents coiled around it".

"Oh, yeah. I remember now. Healers use it as their symbol, don't they?".

"Yes, indeed. Now, if you can move, we've better start walking. We've got
to reach somewhere someday".

After some unfruitful attempts at standing up, and Zoisite's refusal
to accept Mercury's help, he had to handle his bruised male-ego. As Mercury helped
him up, and held his waist in a warm little embrace, they both began walking
through the jungle.

As they made their way through the thick forest, Ami couldn't help but feel
disappointed. She had thought that Zoisite felt something for her, because
of the way he had reacted several timed when they were close. A tiny flame of hope
had flared in her heart--- flame which had been harshly stomped over by Reason.

He had saved her just for responsibility.

{Why do I feel so sad?. What did I expect?. A full blown love confession?. He must
be at least five years older than me. He must have a girlfriend back on
Earth. She is very lucky to have him ... I hope she realizes that. Gods, if only I
was more beautiful-- funnier... I must be boring him with my very presence!.
Why, oh why can't I have Mina's spirit, of Mako's touch with men?. Why, why is it
so hard to be me?}.

Zoisite, trying hard to *not* feel her little body pressed against his, as the way it
snaked under him whenever they moved, was scanning the jungle, trying to find a way to go back.

It was then that he felt the intrusion.

It wasn't evil, just... scared?.

'If only I was more beautiful--- funnier--- why is it so hard to be me?'.

The voice... even if it wasn't really a physical thing, he knew it was her. And
then, the true meaning of her words struck him.

She was having a huge mental break down. Her very soul was being affected. Her
self-confidence was disappearing. If he allowed things to go any further, things would return
to the way they used to be--- all his work, all the effort, all the time--- it would be as
if they had never happened.

Mercury would return to the mouse-like routine, while Ren played with
her endlessly... submitting her to his will. He would have none of that!. She was going to
fight, even if it took his own life in the process!!.

Without turning to look at her, keeping his eyes fixed to the front, his own
arm, which had laid immobile between their bodies until then, snaked up, and
embraced her waist. Slowly, yet firmly, he pushed her against him, until
she was literally laying against him for support.

They walked together, in silence, Mercury's eyes fixed in a point
twenty feet away from where they were. Warmth spread
through both their bodies, as close contact brought new information to their
knowledge of each other.

As Zoisite's body practically melt against hers, he began noticing things
a simple look could not tell... she was lithe, her strong muscles hidden under
layers of soft skin. Her waist was impossibly tiny, and she was unexplainably warm under
his touch.

While Mercury tried to stop her knees from turning into jell-o, she inhaled
deeply, both trying to stay standing, and to feel his scent... cinnamon... leather...
so masculine... she blushed even deeper, and was thankful for her height. Her head reached only
the crook of his neck, allowing her to escape his probing gaze.

As time passed, they both noticed that the stars weren't shining anymore, and
an increasing light in the horizon told them that night was leaving.
The sunrise gave them new hope. They both were far more comfortable with
the sunlight, and knew that by now, the Moon army would be searching for
them.

They looked at each other, and saw as their eyes shone in happiness. Seeing
that they had walked about four miles by now, Zoisite spoke.

"Mercury, I think we can rest a while. We have moved a lot, and Ren won't find
us for now".

"If you say so".

Reluctantly, they let go of each other. Ami helped him sit, but Zoisite was
much stronger now, the walk awakening his senses, and giving him some of his
strength back.

"I'm hungry. You think there's something edible in this jungle?".

Ami smiled. She was hungry too. After all, she hadn't eaten much the day before,
her stomach tight with fear. But now, she felt safe, comfortable, and happy... and hungry.

"There should be. Let's take a look around".

Their eyes searched their surroundings. Plants, trees, more plants, more trees,
and even more plants and trees. Yet... There!.

"Mercury, look. These are strawberries".

Her eyes opened wide, amazed. Strawberries?. In the middle of the Lunarian Jungle?.
Maybe the Gods *were* helping them after all.

"Anything is better than nothing".

She began munching absently, looking around. It was so peaceful here... so calm,
so relaxing. She could almost forget Ren was chasing them. The lack of human intervention had created an environment Ami had rarely seen before.

Her life was spent in between people. Inside cities. Into the urban side of things. As a princess, she hadn't seen much of what the Universe had to offer. And neither had Zoisite, for that matter.

His youth had been spent inside the Castle's walls, training to be a General. Suitors were discovered young (hell, he had been barely twelve when they had wisked him off his mother's arms and into the life of a General-to-be), and forced to blossom early into manhood.

So, they both reveled in the sight before them, and enjoyed peace for a while.

As Ami chewed on the last of her fruit, a lack of coordination between her lips and her
muscles, made a drop of strawberry juice fall right into her glove.

They were beyond any washing, by now.

The otherwise snow-white pieces of clothing were unrecognizable. A sick
shade of brown (the last reminders of Zoisite's blood), some green
stains in the tip of her fingers, the tell-tale sign of paste grinding,
and even some mud, adding to the effect... boy, were they dirty!.

Her eyes fixed on them, she raised her hands a little, to look at
them closely. Her first instinct was to take them off. The feeling went away,
and she realized she should not. Her hands weren't exactly the best to be
prowling around the jungle with--- she would probably scratch them raw, and be
bleeding soon. The gloves, even if dirty, at least offered some kind of protection.

When she looked away from her hands, she encountered Zoisite's
own eyes, looking at her intently.

"Shouldn't you take them off?".

She snorted. It wasn't very ladylike.

But she had a feeling she had left all her etiquette back at the waterfall.

So, just for the pleasure of it, she snorted again.

"Don't need to. This fukus clean themselves when we change back".

"They do?. Then, transform. I'm sure a lady like you doesn't like to
walk around with dirt on her hands".

"Is that a threat, *Lord* Zoisite?".

Something akin to amusement ran through his eyes, so fast, she wasn't sure it
had been there in the first place.

"No, not all, Lady Mercury. It's just--- I thought you would prefer
to be 'newborn clean'".

Ami shrugged, and impishly replied.

"I think I've proven to you a good number of times I'm *not* like other Royalty".

"Indeed you have, Mercury. Indeed you have".

His tone was not normal to Ami's ears, but she did not press the issue.
After all, he was free to have his own opinion about her. She couldn't care less.

'Yeah, right. And pigs fly'.

'Well, technically, the Plutonian Porcs *do* have the ability to float...'.

SMACK!.

Scientist was smacked back into the deep corners of her mind, and Honesty took
her place.

'You know what I mean!'.

'Yes, I do. Sadly, I do'.

'I thought I told you to stay AWAY!'.

As Scientist and Honesty took their differences into the next level, she
sighed, and returned to reality.

Just to find Zoisite speaking again.

"Speaking of which, Mercury, why hasn't your fuku disappeared?. Magic
does not work here, as we have so painfully discovered".

Ami realized for the first time that she had remained a Senshi,
even after they had entered the North side of the Gardens. With the
adrenaline running rampant through her body, she hadn't given it a second
thought. But now, Zoisite had actually vocalized a question she had been
wondering about herself.

"Honestly, I don't know. My best guess is, since our fukus are directly
related to the Silver Crystal, they cannot dissappear unless we will them to.
They are Moon Magic".

"Meaning?".

"You see, my powers, are on ice. Venus' on love, Mars' on fire, and so on.
Those powers belong to our home planets, hence, whenever we are on them, our magic
becomes stronger. But now, being here on the Moon, it's Moon Magic the one who runs
strongest. I think it's a fairly safe choice to say I will remain as I am for the rest
of our little problem".

"Well, it's a good guess as any".

It was then that the sun began rising. They both fell silent, and watched
as the King of Stars presented them with his majestic awakening. It was such a beautiful
spectacle... specially to Zoisite, whose sunrises had only been witnessed down on
Earth.

Here, on the Moon, it was... beautiful. Even more so than on his
home planet. It was closer, bigger, better... specially with the gorgeous princess
sitting beside him.

Even to Ami this was no simplicity. No matter how many times she saw it,
it never ceased to amaze her.

The wonder of creation.

The power of nature.

The realization that in this universe, she was no more than a spec of dust,
who would one day be gone, forgotten... but the Sun would continue to rise,
into the millennia to come.

A silent tear made its way down her cheek.

And she thanked silently whomever was listening, that she suddenly had the
guts to take Zoisite's hand in her own. She never looked at him, just took
his hand, and watched...

A sudden sigh from her made him turn around. He had not moved when she had held
his hand, afraid to scare her away. But her sigh ahd been so sad... so nostalgic...

"It's funny you know".

He started. He hadn't expected her to speak.

"What?".

"I never thought I would be lost on a forest escaping of a madman,
with one of Prince Endimion's guards. I wasn't even suppose to be a
Senshi in the first place".

"You weren't?".

She pushed her knees tight against her body, and encircled them with
her arms. Her face was hidden from his view, only her eyes jutting out from
the protective cocoon she had created around her.

Her voice was low, and quiet, and Zoisite had to strain his ears to
hear her.

"When I was little, I was a very quiet kid. I didn't have many
friends, and always played alone. My mother, Queen Mercury, thought that I
hadn't inherited a Senshi's power. Generally, the power is passed through
generations, mother to daughter, and so on. But I, I had given no
signs of bearing the mark of Mercury. And time was running short".

Zoisite was entranced. The ability to weave tales Mercurian people possessed
was legendary, but until then, he had not had the chance to experience it
first hand.

"All my friends had somehow demonstrated that they had it at early ages,
but I was already eleven, and nothing magical could be sensed on me. Mom had taken
me to uncountable Healers, Wizards and Wisemen, but no one could tell
what was wrong with me".

Zoisite could not say for the love of his life what was it that entranced
him so about the little princess... once she began speaking, he was lost in a spell
he could swear she did not know she was chanting...

"It did not bother me. I did not want to be a Senshi. The tales of
their adventures had become a normal nightstory for children--- I did not want to
have the responsibility the powers came with. I preferred being a normal kid, whose
uttermost worry, was if she had dirtied her new dress--- not one with the weight
if an entire planet on her shoulders".

Her voice quivered as the memories began flooding her mind. She hadn't given
them much thought for years now, and yet, here she was, telling her life story to
someone she had only met a few hours ago.

The strange thing was, she was feeling better.

"I remember when it all started. Mercury was attacked by the Moldavians. The
Silver Millennium had not reached their door yet, and they continued to plunder worlds,
and then selling them to the highest bidder".

Zoisite remembered them too. A ruthless race, full of hate, and more
dangerous, full of power. They had been a thorn on the Silver Millennium's side
for years, until recently, when they had realized there were no worlds
left to attack, or they would be attacking the entire Kingdom. That was when
they had surrendered.

But not before entire civilizations had been wiped away, and countless fertile
worlds had been reduced to ashes.

"We were doing quite well, until some of them managed to enter the Royal Palace... ".


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TBc.............