JupiterHalo: Hello everyone! This is Chris's part of the story, so we hope you like it. Remember to e-mail us at SetsunaPuu21@cs.com and furore@sailormoonfan.com with feedback. Enjoy!
Title: Past Lives
Authors: JupiterHalo and Chris C.
Date written: Sepetember 22, 2001
Rating: PG to PG-13
Part: 4/?
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His mind paused for a moment, causing him to feel awkward, as he considered the incredible coincidence that had brought them together. Reflecting on the millions of possible paths for the future to take, realising that this situation was a near impossibility and yet defying all probability had happened, made him feel very small indeed. But then his mind raced. He was siting within two meters of the person he was told this very morning to kidnap, and if he did not get moving he would lose everything. He had to keep her occupied while he formulated a plan, so he asked in a forcedly enthusiastic tone "So, what brings you to this small neighbourhood?" Even before she gave a response he set his face to look attentive, but his thoughts blazed ahead. All his training screamed through his mind, and he remembered his teachers at the military school…..
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
A wizened old face with two ancient Church archways for eyebrows peered at him, hunch backed and staggering with age and said in a pathetic and weary voice, "What do you think of me? Hmm.., a weird old man, creepy and strange who's been stalking you for days?" A youthful Endymion said blunty "Get away from me. I despise old men, and hate being followed so stay away or else…." The old man seemed to undergo a metamorphosis before his eyes, straightening up and standing to attention, and replied commanding and firm "That is your first lesson, my young friend, but not your last. First impressions are easily formed, but be wary of leaping to conclusion. Us 'old men' have a few tricks up our sleeves and you'll learn the art of deception from me. I'll be you instructor in the intelligence of warfare". The scenes of his training swept across his mind's eye in quickly, but he remembered the key phrases that lingered in the memory……."When you are strong pretend weakness, when you are weak feign strength ……… "bait them with the prospect of gain, use anger to disrupt them, use humility to make them arrogant" ……… "Be so subtle that you are invisible, be so mysterious that you are intangible, then you will control you rivals' fate". Somewhere along the line, he wondered whether all this was fair or not, whether these dishonourable tactics were somehow not right, and he asked this, but he was decisively told "There is no such thing as treachery, only efficiency"
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
Endymion realised that he had two mammoth tasks ahead, instilling trust in the Princess and convincing her to meet him again, so that he could kidnap her with help. He tried to analyse the princess, desperately ignoring her beauty, charm and kindness that were already threatening to confound his sense, distracting him so badly the his mind went into overdrive. But that was it. In a second, he realised that her actions, saving him on the road, giving him clean clothes and now talking to him as if he was a friend, these actions demonstrated her kindness. And as much as this was distracting from his real task, as much as it cause compassion in him, it was a weakness in her. Predictability, in a military situation, gets you killed, and he would stake his life on the fact that if he asked for help, she would give it. Because she was kind….
"…..and I love the atmosphere, its not like it is in the palace you know. Why do you come here?" the melody that had enchanted Endymion had lost its magic, as he settled into a phase of cold hearted efficiency, masked with virtue. He forced himself to smile, turned towards her and said "To get a way from things. Here I can get a bit of peace" He calculated that she would reply with a question about his life, and focused on modifying his body language to be thoroughly convincing….
Serenity saw Endymion smile, a warm, genuine gesture with a hint of whiteness, but when she saw his eyes they were so sad, aching with untold sufferings. She asked gently "Why do you need to get away from things?"
Endymion leapt for joy mentally, he had been given his opening! He commanded his face to sag a little further, hunched his shoulders almost imperceptibly and in a more shaky voice he began " I don't really have much to live for. You see, I've been an orphan ever since I can remember, my parents were murdered by a gang and they took my sister." His eyes glistened with moisture as he looked away from her " I don't know what they have done with her, I don't even want to imagine. Its been impossible to find them and I ………." He turned back to her "I couldn't do anything. I was so weak, so afraid, its all my fault"
Serenity saw a man transform into a terrified child before her eyes, and she nearly wept at the sight. "I'm so sorry. That's absolutely dreadful."
Endymion was not focused on her reply, he was figuring out how to make his story vague enough to be able to cover any inconsistencies, while making it tear jerkingly heart-rending. He continued. "So I come here to look for those men, and also just to leave my life behind me. All I have is a room where I count numbers all day for some old man who is so rich that he pays me just enough to survive on."
As he continued, Serenity felt her heart melting with sympathy from him, his tragic life that was not his doing, but a victim of fortune. She could sense a pull, almost magnetic, to this brave survivor who had endured more than his fair share. All she could imagine was to help him in whatever way she could. She looked up to see his hand resting gently, protectively, on hers. "Thank you," he said.
"What for?"
"For taking me away from my world for a moment. Talking to you has helped me so much, I am in your debt."
She smiled and said "Anything I can do to help…"
"I wish we could do this again, just sit here and talk, it has been the best thing that's ever happened to me."
When she looked at him, she knew she could not refuse. "Of course," she replied softly "Shall we meet here again tomorrow"
Endymion fought furiously to keep the shades of laughter out of his voice. "I'd love to."
With that they parted with a short embrace, locking gazes for a while until Serenity had left his sight. Endymion counted to ten slowly, then jumped explosively in the air, fist punching out triumphantly. Success! He could barely contain his excitement as he whistled his way home to make the arrangements. He was always taught to be the best, and the application of his training with such precision and achievement made him very proud indeed. That night, he dreamed of a beautiful lady, with the kindness and bravery to help a fallen star, and explored the world of a fulfilled life of trust and relationship. He awoke with moisture in his eyes and a strange feeling of defeat.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
The next day Endymion was leaning against one of the wall of the barn, when he saw Serenity, stunning even under her disguise of rags, smile and wave. Serenity noticed that he paused for a long moment, as thought he was seeing her for the last time, and thought to herself: "How difficult his life must have been, for him to be so insecure."
Suddenly he fell over he tripped over and swore, and she rushed over to him to offer her hand to help him up, but when she saw his face it was full of pain and regret. Laughing she said "Don't be embarrassed, it's ok." His look remained unflinching as a sack crept over Serenity's head, and she was enveloped in darkness.
Title: Past Lives
Authors: JupiterHalo and Chris C.
Date written: Sepetember 22, 2001
Rating: PG to PG-13
Part: 4/?
----------------------------------------------
His mind paused for a moment, causing him to feel awkward, as he considered the incredible coincidence that had brought them together. Reflecting on the millions of possible paths for the future to take, realising that this situation was a near impossibility and yet defying all probability had happened, made him feel very small indeed. But then his mind raced. He was siting within two meters of the person he was told this very morning to kidnap, and if he did not get moving he would lose everything. He had to keep her occupied while he formulated a plan, so he asked in a forcedly enthusiastic tone "So, what brings you to this small neighbourhood?" Even before she gave a response he set his face to look attentive, but his thoughts blazed ahead. All his training screamed through his mind, and he remembered his teachers at the military school…..
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
A wizened old face with two ancient Church archways for eyebrows peered at him, hunch backed and staggering with age and said in a pathetic and weary voice, "What do you think of me? Hmm.., a weird old man, creepy and strange who's been stalking you for days?" A youthful Endymion said blunty "Get away from me. I despise old men, and hate being followed so stay away or else…." The old man seemed to undergo a metamorphosis before his eyes, straightening up and standing to attention, and replied commanding and firm "That is your first lesson, my young friend, but not your last. First impressions are easily formed, but be wary of leaping to conclusion. Us 'old men' have a few tricks up our sleeves and you'll learn the art of deception from me. I'll be you instructor in the intelligence of warfare". The scenes of his training swept across his mind's eye in quickly, but he remembered the key phrases that lingered in the memory……."When you are strong pretend weakness, when you are weak feign strength ……… "bait them with the prospect of gain, use anger to disrupt them, use humility to make them arrogant" ……… "Be so subtle that you are invisible, be so mysterious that you are intangible, then you will control you rivals' fate". Somewhere along the line, he wondered whether all this was fair or not, whether these dishonourable tactics were somehow not right, and he asked this, but he was decisively told "There is no such thing as treachery, only efficiency"
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
Endymion realised that he had two mammoth tasks ahead, instilling trust in the Princess and convincing her to meet him again, so that he could kidnap her with help. He tried to analyse the princess, desperately ignoring her beauty, charm and kindness that were already threatening to confound his sense, distracting him so badly the his mind went into overdrive. But that was it. In a second, he realised that her actions, saving him on the road, giving him clean clothes and now talking to him as if he was a friend, these actions demonstrated her kindness. And as much as this was distracting from his real task, as much as it cause compassion in him, it was a weakness in her. Predictability, in a military situation, gets you killed, and he would stake his life on the fact that if he asked for help, she would give it. Because she was kind….
"…..and I love the atmosphere, its not like it is in the palace you know. Why do you come here?" the melody that had enchanted Endymion had lost its magic, as he settled into a phase of cold hearted efficiency, masked with virtue. He forced himself to smile, turned towards her and said "To get a way from things. Here I can get a bit of peace" He calculated that she would reply with a question about his life, and focused on modifying his body language to be thoroughly convincing….
Serenity saw Endymion smile, a warm, genuine gesture with a hint of whiteness, but when she saw his eyes they were so sad, aching with untold sufferings. She asked gently "Why do you need to get away from things?"
Endymion leapt for joy mentally, he had been given his opening! He commanded his face to sag a little further, hunched his shoulders almost imperceptibly and in a more shaky voice he began " I don't really have much to live for. You see, I've been an orphan ever since I can remember, my parents were murdered by a gang and they took my sister." His eyes glistened with moisture as he looked away from her " I don't know what they have done with her, I don't even want to imagine. Its been impossible to find them and I ………." He turned back to her "I couldn't do anything. I was so weak, so afraid, its all my fault"
Serenity saw a man transform into a terrified child before her eyes, and she nearly wept at the sight. "I'm so sorry. That's absolutely dreadful."
Endymion was not focused on her reply, he was figuring out how to make his story vague enough to be able to cover any inconsistencies, while making it tear jerkingly heart-rending. He continued. "So I come here to look for those men, and also just to leave my life behind me. All I have is a room where I count numbers all day for some old man who is so rich that he pays me just enough to survive on."
As he continued, Serenity felt her heart melting with sympathy from him, his tragic life that was not his doing, but a victim of fortune. She could sense a pull, almost magnetic, to this brave survivor who had endured more than his fair share. All she could imagine was to help him in whatever way she could. She looked up to see his hand resting gently, protectively, on hers. "Thank you," he said.
"What for?"
"For taking me away from my world for a moment. Talking to you has helped me so much, I am in your debt."
She smiled and said "Anything I can do to help…"
"I wish we could do this again, just sit here and talk, it has been the best thing that's ever happened to me."
When she looked at him, she knew she could not refuse. "Of course," she replied softly "Shall we meet here again tomorrow"
Endymion fought furiously to keep the shades of laughter out of his voice. "I'd love to."
With that they parted with a short embrace, locking gazes for a while until Serenity had left his sight. Endymion counted to ten slowly, then jumped explosively in the air, fist punching out triumphantly. Success! He could barely contain his excitement as he whistled his way home to make the arrangements. He was always taught to be the best, and the application of his training with such precision and achievement made him very proud indeed. That night, he dreamed of a beautiful lady, with the kindness and bravery to help a fallen star, and explored the world of a fulfilled life of trust and relationship. He awoke with moisture in his eyes and a strange feeling of defeat.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
The next day Endymion was leaning against one of the wall of the barn, when he saw Serenity, stunning even under her disguise of rags, smile and wave. Serenity noticed that he paused for a long moment, as thought he was seeing her for the last time, and thought to herself: "How difficult his life must have been, for him to be so insecure."
Suddenly he fell over he tripped over and swore, and she rushed over to him to offer her hand to help him up, but when she saw his face it was full of pain and regret. Laughing she said "Don't be embarrassed, it's ok." His look remained unflinching as a sack crept over Serenity's head, and she was enveloped in darkness.