All I'm saying is that I'm disappointed with the number of reviews. It looks like the longer you take to update, the more reviews you get. Go figure.

Also before I forget, I'd like to thank Ice Blue Eyes (sorry for not having it exactly how you sign it) for her review and the japanese names of the generals. As for me having this done already, I wish. This is all on the spur of the moment, every night. The fic that I'm writing by hand is not even halfway through and has thirteen complete chapters. I'm taking a break from it.

And thank you to all my other reviewers. White Ivy, why don't you receive anonymous reviews? I wanted to review one of your fics and low and behold, the thing won't accept it and I was too lazy to sign in. Oh well. Maybe next time.

An Unlikely Bond

by:Lilaclight

Chapter Three

At the Palace...

Queen Selenity was striding angrily through the wide halls of the palace oblivious to the looks of concern and wariness that she was receiving from her servants. She was also blind to the magnificence that was her palace. The walls were made of an rare type of material called moonstone and the floor was covered with a pure red carpet that was as soft as fur. Ornate designs and murals adorned the walls around her, many telling stories of past battles both physical and emotional. The ceiling was high above her head and due to magic, showed a view of space from different points of view.

The heels of her comfortable pale leather slippers (imagine Cinderella's only in soft leather) thudded dully as she hastily made her way to the conference room to greet the leaders of the other planets. And to top her lateness of, her advisors and her daughter were nowhere to be found.

'Doko kuso ka (where the hell are ) those miserable felines!?!? First I can't find that unruly bitch of a daughter and now my 'trusted' advisors have disappeared!!' Selenity thought venomously.

Stopping before a busy servant, Selenity glared the poor man into submission. He stood still in shock and feared for his head, forgetting that beheadings were no longer the 'thing' to do. His silence and staring succeeded in irritating the already upset queen even more.

"Stop staring at me like you've never seen a woman before!!" she snapped harshly. "Well, don't just stand there. Go help search for that brat of mine!!!"

"Hai...your majesty." stuttered the poor servant. before escaping down the hall at a breakneck speed so that he would not be present in case Selenity changed her mind.

'Good help is sooo hard to find nowadays.' sighed Selenity while glaring balefully at the man's retreating back.

Gads, she was going to be later than ever for that damn meeting!! Selenity once again hurried through the hallways which were beginning to closely resemble a maze. Sometimes trying to find her way around the palace was stressful. And there was more stress to add to the heap. Queen Sarei was allowing her daughter to marry the ryuuou no Kasei (Dragon King of Mars), Draco (Wufei). Selenity saw that act as one of betrayal.

Feeling a headache coming on, Selenity winched slightly and tried to think soothing thoughts to relieve her stress but one thought stood out from among the others.

'Kami, I need to get laid and soon.'

Back to the Clearing...

Kuroi (Hiiro) felt the pain that Serenity was feeling. He knew not how, all he knew was that he had hurt her and that he would do anything to remedy that hurt. The urge to strangle his brother to death was curbed as he turned to full attention on Serenity. She was all that mattered for the moment. He did not wonder why and he thought not of examining the feelings coursing through his soul.

He turned her to face him and caught her eyes with his. The two different shades of blues clashed in a battle of wills, his pleading for a chance to be heard and hers determined to turn away from him. Finally her inner goodness won out. How could she not forgive him? He was her best friend in the entire of creation. Nothing should be able to change that.

Reading the forgiveness and acceptance in Serenity's eyes, Kuroi felt as if he had had a huge weight lifted from his chest. The rushing sense of relief that flooded through him almost made him giddy. A nod from Serenity indicated that she was ready for his story but the steel in her eyes warned him that it had better be legitimate.

"Kage and I, Kuroi, are two of Shinigami's bastard sons. The most powerful of them all." Kuroi began.

"I know, I know you're probably all wondering how that could possibly be. Especially when Kuroi appears to be a vuxanpaia (vampyre) and I am a kagemusha (shadow warrior). Blame our mothers." inserted Kage with his usual hyper attitude. The smile he was flashing the girls, namely Serenity, was more than enough to irritate his already angered brother some more.

"Shut up bakayarou!" snapped Kuroi.

'Hii...Kuroi, that was not very nice.' chided Serenity in his head.

'He deserves it. You try having this ..this poor excuse for a personage related to you.' he retorted good-naturedly.

'You try having a stubborn bitch who has the power to control your life make all the wrong decisions in your life,' Serenity countered bitterly as memories of her mother came flooding back.

'Don't think of it. I will always be there for you.' Kuroi said to comfort her.

Giving him a tremulous smile she responded with, 'True. I have that to look forward to no matter how much time has passed.'

The others present had been watching them closely. Reika had come to the conclusion that they were in love and did not yet realize it. She could feel the purity of their love and marveled at how Queen Selenity could be so blind and hard-headed as to marry her daughter to a man that she, the queen, chose leaving her only child with no say in the matter. Then again, Serenity could be pretty stubborn herself.

Kage was shaken by the realization that his brother, the only one he was close to, was in love. He had always seemed so...above that emotion that had someone told him before now that Kuroi would fall in love, he would have killed that person for lying. He also knew that the one person that he loved was out of his reach. Kage sensed, just as Reika had, that their forbidden love would lead to their destruction. Kage glanced around him to see if the others had reached the same conclusion.

Draco and Triton were also experiencing a the surprise. They had know Kuroi for a long time and, well, the thought that he was the brother of Kage had never occurred to them. Further more, Kuroi had shown every indication that falling in love was not high on his list of to do's . At the moment nothing like that mattered. The lives of thousands lay in the balance as the coming battle grew nearer. They were aware that it would take all the help they could get to defeat Beryl and they approved of Serenity if Kuroi approved of her skills.

"Enough of this already! Kuroi, Hiiro, whatever. You can go kill Kage after we discuss what we're going to do." Reika informed them with a glare at each.

"Hn," Kuroi muttered.

"You wouldn't let him kill me ,now would you?" Kage whimpered, giving all the girls present his cutest puppy look.

"Yes." snapped both Reika and Draco at the same time. They had had enough of Kage's antics. It was about time for someone to take him to task.

"Guys, let's not fight. I'm already in trouble as it is. The group from Earth should have arrived by now and I know that bitch I call Mother is probably looking for me." Serenity stated.

"She's right. We just came from the airfield and Beryl and the generals are with him. Queen Selenity appears to sense no negative aura around them but the advisors seemed to be a bit suspicious. They might be useful to us in the future." Triton stated calmly.

"Advisor?" Serenity repeated with a slight frown. "Ohhhhh! You mean Luna and Artemis. They would be useful because they can turn into cats. It's real neat." Serenity supplied as she remember who.

"Serenity, before I lose track , I want to know how you managed to keep your training such a big secret. You were never able to hold one for more than two hours before." Reika said, effectively cornering Serenity.

"Uh...well...um...it was all an act. I knew that the Inners would not understand me and I was to pretend all was fine and that I was weak so that my mother would not suspect a thing. You know how that fucking whore feels about vampyres and the like. I seriously doubt that she is happy with you and your mother's decision." informed Serenity.

Reika knew that Serenity was right. Her engagement and upcoming nuptials had most certainly produced a rift between their two houses. She also knew that there was no way in heaven or on earth that she would give up her koibito. Not on her life.

"You weak onna!! Shut up and let us decide who does what. We need a foolproof plan if we are to succeed." Draco growled in low tones that were his trademark growl. Being a ryuu had take its toll on him by leaving him as a highly aggressive person.

"Surveillance is simple enough. Serenity and Reika are royalty and will be expected to meet and take the bastards out. As Reika's fiancé, Draco should be able to follow the prince and Beryl and give reports on what they are planning. Triton mentioned the advisors and Serenity enlightened us as to their talent. If they can be persuaded to our side then they can spy from the bedrooms and follow them. We'll meet back here three days from now to determine further actions. Kage, you and Triton are to go to Chikyuu and lure the generals there and gather as much information as you can. You know what to do once you have the generals where you want them." Kuroi ordered, taking command of the situation.

"What about you?" challenged Reika. She did not know him like she did Duo...Kage and thought it weak that he would just sit around cowering while her friends did all the hard work.

"I do what I need to do." Kuroi replied cryptically. Serenity giggled at his behaviour but managed to shut up just in time. He was a stickler for payback and she did not want Kuroi playing pranks on her when she was asleep. (Hiiro playing pranks. Scary thought)

Reika was about to give a scathing retort when Draco laid a restraining hand on her shoulder. At the feel of her lover's touch, she quieted down and grudgingly gave Kuroi her acceptance. Draco smiled at her in gratitude and gave her a wink that no one saw. (now I know the world's coming to an end. Wufei just winked at a woman *drops into a faint*)

"It is time to go our separate ways. We have our different missions to complete and I would prefer to get started sooner rather than latter." Triton reminded them.

The group separated with the promise of meeting in three days. As they went their separate ways, Kuroi alone, Triton and Kage to Chikyuu and Serenity, Reika and Draco to the palace, the weight of their tasks laid heavily on their minds. Failure was unacceptable. Failure equaled death and destruction. Failure was something that would mean the end of what they all held dear. They would not fail.

Well I'm through. Sorry it's only one chapter. I plan to make chapter Four as long as chapter one since it will have the night and the next day combined. As for their names, you may have noticed that I'm changing them. What you see is what they'll be till the end of the fic. If there are enough requests for a sequel then I'll use their names from the animes. Only Serenity and Selenity, Luna , Beryl, Metalia, Endymion, the four generals and Artemis will remain the same. Please send me a description of Metalia that I can use. I don't remember what she looked like. Thanks in advance.

Ja ne.