Chapter Nine.
" I can't take it anymore ! " Jadeite yelled. " I need to talk to her ! "
" Okay, take it easy Jadeite . " Darien started. " I'll .. "
Bring !
" Hello ? Oh hi Serena . " Darien smiled. pause " What ! " pause " Yeah I'll tell them . Bye . "
Hanging up the phone he turned to the generals who were lounging in the living room. " I'm afraid that I have some bad news. "
" What kind of bad news ? " Corundum asked.
" Well it's not bad news for you but it is for you Jadeite , Kunzite and Zoicite . "
" Is it the girls ? "Jadeite asked.
" Amy, Rei and Mina were taken by the new enemy and the Scouts don't know where they were taken too. " Darien explained. " The others are all okay and are over at Leta's . "
" That's a relief." Corundum breathed,. " I mean that it's terrible that Amy , Rei and Mina were taken but it's a relief that the others are all okay . Maybe we should go over to Leta's . "
" Good idea." Rubellite agreed heading for the door.
" We'd better drive . " Darien sighed. " Corundum , you go get Kunzite , Zoicite and Nephrite . We'll wait for you in the parking lot. "
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
Seiya slowly opened his eyes . His whole body hurt and every time he tried to stretch he touched cold metal and grime. Jerking back his hand he elbowed the wall behind him.
" Ow ! "
" Seiya ? " A weak voice whispered.
" Taiki ? "
" Yeah, it's me . "
" Where are you ? "
" You're sitting on my hair . " He sighed. " I'm right beside you ."
"Oh sorry . " Seiya apologized. " Yaten , you here ? "
" Where else would I be . "
" Where are you ? "
" I'm right here you don't have to yell . "
" Where's here ? "
" He's right across from you , sitting in the cage between my wife and I . " A new voice said with authority .
" Who are you ?" Taiki asked.
" I am Zeus , King of the planet Jupiter . " " And I am Queen Clara . "
" Oh. " Taiki whispered. " What are you doing here . "
" Honesty we don't have a clue . "
" None of us do . " Another voice spoke .
" Umm , who are you ? "
" I am Queen Serenity of the Moon. "
" Guys I'm sitting beside a queen . " Seiya smiled.
" Seiya ."
" What ? "
" Mind your manners and be quiet. " Yaten growled.
Before Seiya could reply a new voice spoke for him .
" I hope that means that you're going to take your own advice Yaten . "
" Yes please. " Another voice sighed. " I can hardly hear myself think . "
" Amy ? Rei ? "
" Don't forget me . "
" Mina ? "
" The one and only . " Mina practically sang. " Anybody want an autograph ? "
" I'd like one . " A fourth voice rang out.
" Who the hell are you ? " Seiya demanded.
" That is none of your business. And watch your language , there's royalty."
" I don't care , tell us who you are . "
" Master may I ? "
" Yes . "
" My name is Sailor Jupiter and my employer and I are going to exterminate you . "
" Who's your employer . "
" I'll let you know when the time is right. "
" Tell them now . "
" Yes master . My name is Arlia Tao , my employer is Lord Callisto. "
" Callisto ! " Queen Clara cried in shock.
" Yes Callisto . " Arlia continued. " We are from the planet Jupiter . I was hired to kill the Sailor Scouts, with one exception , Sailor Jupiter . My master wants that pleasure for himself . " She explained with no emotion. " Why you ask ? It's simple , he wants to rule all of Jupiter and eventually the Silver Millennium. And as for Queen Serenity and the King of Jupiter , he wants them here to see you all die. Queen Clara he wants for himself."
" Never ! " Clara cried.
Arlia just laughed. " Never say never , You Majesty . Now if you don't mind I really have to run."
" My daughter will stop you ! " Serenity shouted.
Arlia just smirked and disappeared in a swirl of black smoke.
" Serena will stop her . " Mina said. " She can and she will . "
" If you say so Mina. "
" She will . "
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
" Alright, alright I'm coming . "
Still grumbling Serena opened the front door of Leta's house and found herself face to face with Darien.
" Darien ! " She cried as she flung her arms around his neck. " Come on in you guys . "
" Hi Serena . " The generals smiled.
" Serena you remember Corundum , Maganite, Rubellite and Cassorite , don't you ? "
" Of course I do . " She beamed. " How are you ? "
" We're fine . " Jadeite said impatiently . " How are the girls ? "
" Why don't you ask them for yourselves . " Serena suggested. " They're around here somewhere . "
" Oh Nephrite Leta's upstairs being healed by Hotaru a little more . " Serena added.
" What happened ? "
" She was injured during the fight at the warehouse . " She explained. " She would have been fine if it hadn't been for me . "
" H'uh ? "
" If she had been Sailor Jupiter she would have been fine . " Darien said. " But Serena took away y her transformation wands so she was in her mortal form . "
" You'd better go and see her . " Serena changed the subject. " Take Corundum with you , so he can see Hotaru . "
After Nephrite and Corundum left the others went their separate ways.
A minute later Nephrite returned. " This is going to sound pathetic but where's her room ? "
Once Nephrite went back upstairs the Scouts walked in.
" Is there something that you'd like to tell us Serena ? " Haruka asked icily .
" What do you mean ? "
" They're back . "
" Who ? "
" Quit acting so stupid Serena . " Haruka fumed.
" Where are they ? " Michiru asked quietly .
Chapter Ten.
Cassorite stood by the pool . His head was down and his eyes were staring at the water . Memories of her flooded back .
A moonlit walk on the beach hand-in-hand , looking happy and carefree. The two of them dancing at a ball held by Queen Serenity the night before he was to return to Earth and then them kissing goodbye . The memory became very dark , except for two figures . One was of him in the uniform of a Dark Kingdom general and a woman in a white and aqua sailor fuku . Sailor Neptune , Michiru ! The next thing that he saw was him driving his sword threw her chest and her falling to the ground . Dead.
He snapped out of his trance like state as his tears splattered on the pool deck.
" Hello Cassorite . "
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *
Maganite had wandered down to the gazebo where Setsuna found him He was in the middle of a flashback in which he killed her when she broke through his thoughts.
" Maganite . "
" Setsuna ? ! " He exclaimed , whirling around to face her . " I thought I'd never see you again . "
" You're killing me certainly helped that thought . "
" Sorry about that . " He said. " I wasn't exactly myself. "
" I know . "
" You know ? How do you know ? "
" I guard the gates of Time remember . I saw everything that happened in the timeline , after you killed me I saw the whole thing . Even Metallia brainwashing you . "
" Oh . "
" And I would forgive you but I can't . "
" You can't ! "
" That's right I can't forgive you ."
" Why ? "
" I'm a lonely person Maganite . I always have been , probably always will be. My only friends are the Sailor Scouts and I don't see them that often . I only ever got close to one other person and he broke my heart. " Setsuna said.
" That was me , wasn't it ? "
" Yes . " Setsuna was on the verge of tears. " I loved you and you killed me . Even though I saw what happened to cause it I can't get over the fact that you killed me . "
" If I could go back and do it over again I would." Maganite stepped closer to her .
Before Setsuna could step back he reached out and gently took her hands in his . " And I'd change only one thing . No two things . " He corrected himself.
Looking into Setsuna's garnet eyes he continued. " Number one I wouldn't kill you . I could never do that to you , I love you too much . The only reason I did then was because I was brainwashed. Number two I would make sure that you were never alone again . I'd spend the rest of my life with you by your side . I'd never willingly leave you Setsuna . I love you . "
" Before you ask why I came back I'll tell you . I wouldn't want you to waste your breath on a jerk like me. " He dropped her hands . " I came back to see if you could find it in your heart to forgive me . Now that I know that you can't I'll leave . I'm sorry Setsuna . " Maganite started to walk away . " I can't undo the past but I'll do my best to make sure that it'll never happen again ."
Setsuna stood there trying her best not to cry. She watched as he walked away , never to see her again . She stood there for a long time after he left , fighting her conflicting emotions . Suddenly she fell to her knees and began to cry. A hand touched her shoulder and she disappeared .
' Seven down , five to go '
Chapter Eleven.
" Michiru ! " Cassorite exclaimed as he spun around to face her .
" What are you doing here Cassorite ? " She demanded. " Didn't you do enough the last time . "
" I swear to you Michiru I wasn't myself . " He insisted to the woman before him.
' She hasn't changed a bit . She's still as beautiful and smart as ever . ' He thought.
" What are you doing here ? " She repeated impatiently.
" I came here to beg your forgiveness . " He replied. " I never would hurt you intentionally or ever for that matter."
" You want my forgiveness." Michiru repeated.
He nodded.
" After what you did to me and my friends, you want my forgiveness ! "
" Yes . "
" Well I can't." She said as bravely as she could.
" Why not Michiru ." Cassorite asked gently .
" You killed me !"
" I told you that I wasn't myself . " He pleaded. " I was under Metallia's spell."
" But..."
" And you know damn well that I would never hurt you . " He continued angrily. " I loved you too much to cause you any harm. I would rather die than cause you pain and I would kill the first person that ever even tried to hurt you ! "
" Ever consider suicide . " She muttered.
" I heard that Michiru ! " Cassorite yelled. " And yes as a matter of fact I have ."
' That got her attention . ' He thought as she looked up . Then he continued. " The day I woke up and realized what I had done to you . I would kill myself in a second if I thought that it would help but it won't. Killing myself would only ease my pain and that is something that I don't deserve. It's the cowards way out and I have never been a coward before in my life , like hell I'm going to start now . "
Michiru was fighting back tears but it was a losing battle. In her heart she knew the answer to his plea for forgiveness , her head was another matter . No matter how hard she tried not to she cared for him and the thought of him killing himself because of what he did to her was unbearable. Taking one tiny step at a time she slowly walked toward him . She stopped a few feet away from him.
" How am I supposed to trust you ? " She asked quietly.
" I don't know . " Cassorite said as he looked at her in surprise. " It's a risk. One that I've prayed for weeks that you'll take."
" Cassorite, I ..." Michiru began but found that she'd lost her voice. So she let her actions speak the words that she couldn't. She ran forward into his arms and kissed him as they fell into the pool.
Laughing and sputtering they surfaced facing each other. Treading water they just stared before Cassorite moved closer and kissed her.
" I love you . " He whispered in her ear before kissing her again.
Michiru smiled and back. " I forgive you and I love you too . "
They kissed again but where interrupted by a voice.
" Um sorry to interrupt you two but have you seen Darien and Serena ? "
" No we haven't." Michiru replied once she could speak. " Sorry Zoicite . " Cassorite added. " Why are you looking for them ? "
" I wanted to find out if they figured out a way to find Amy . "
" I'll help you find her . " A voice said as Zoicite disappeared, Amy's book in hand .
" Who are you ? ! " Cassorite demanded.
" Now there's an intelligent question . " The voice replied .
" Who..." He tried again but couldn't finish because he and Michiru disappeared together.
' Eight Scouts down , five to go ' ' Two generals down , six to go '
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
Kunzite was walking aimlessly through a garden of roses with Jadeite. Both men were lost in their thoughts. Absently Jadeite reached out and plucked a fiery red rose from a bush. As he gazed at it imagining his fiery tempered love he disappeared.
" What the ...." Kunzite began before he too disappeared.
' Four down , four to go '
Chapter Twelve.
Hotaru had just finished healing Leta completely when Nephrite and Corundum walked into the room. Too shocked to speak Hotaru ran from the room, down the stairs and out the front door . Corundum was right behind her as was Renee.
" Hotaru wait up ! " Renee shouted.
" What's wrong ? " She asked once she had caught up.
" Nothing ."
" Hotaru we need to talk." Corundum said.
" Who are you ? " Renee asked.
" His name is Corundum and I don't want to talk to him Renee."
" We have to talk . "
" What about ! "
" Us . "
" What us , you killed Us when YOU killed me ! "
" It wasn't me Hotaru it was Metallia." He insisted. " Please believe me , I could never have done anything like that to you . "
" I don't believe you . " Hotaru said . " Come on Renee let's get out of here."
" I'm sorry Hotaru , I'm sorry for what I did to you . How I ever could have done that I'll never know. " He whispered painfully. " But what I do know is that I loved you then and I love you still . Please Hotaru, you have to forgive me . "
" Says who ? "
Corundum couldn't answer that so he said nothing. All he did was turn around and walk away.
" Hotaru , you're a terrible liar." Renee smiled. " You want him to believe that you're mad at him but we both know that you're not. You're in love with him . "
" No I'm not . I hate him . " She declared with no conviction.
" Liar . " Renee whispered as she walked away and disappeared inside the house.
Hotaru stood there for a moment alone before she ran after Corundum.
" Cor wait ! " Hotaru shouted before she disappeared .
Corundum turned around in hopes of seeing Hotaru running towards him instead he saw a wall of intertwined wire. " H'uh ? "
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
" Hi Leta . " Nephrite said nervously as she stared at him. " Are you going to be okay ? "
" I've had better days . " She replied crisply. " You of all people should know that . "
" In case you haven't already guessed .."
" You here because you want something to eat . " Leta finished for him.
At his frown she continued. " Or because your car broke-down and you need to use the phone."
" Maybe because you trying to earn money by mowing lawns . "
Nephrite laughed at that.
" Well there's no grass in here to mow it's all outside." Leta joked. " And I can't think of any other reason why you're here. "
" Leta."
" I assume that Darien and Serena already forgave you." nod " And now you want mine."
" I was hoping that you would . " he said cautiously.
" Give me one good reason why I should , " Leta demanded. " after what you did to me."
" Okay. I wasn't myself. It was Metallia's spell . " Nephrite replied.
" That's not good enough."
" What do you want me to say Leta . " Nephrite said quietly. " It never should have happened , that much is true. " That I wanted to ? Never. If I could do it again, I would ? Not bloody likely. Time heals all wounds ? Maybe. What do you want me to say ? "
" Even if I did forgive you , how could I ever trust you again." Leta said boldly. " Every time that I trust a guy he has either broken my heart or killed me. " ' Every guy but Ken that is' She added to herself.
" I'm sorry Leta , I wish I could change what happened but I can't." He sighed. " All that I can do is say that I love you and hope that you can find it in your heart to forgive me."
" If you're so hell-bent on my forgiving you than why haven't you kissed me yet ? " Leta asked with a small smile.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
" I can't take it anymore ! " Jadeite yelled. " I need to talk to her ! "
" Okay, take it easy Jadeite . " Darien started. " I'll .. "
Bring !
" Hello ? Oh hi Serena . " Darien smiled. pause " What ! " pause " Yeah I'll tell them . Bye . "
Hanging up the phone he turned to the generals who were lounging in the living room. " I'm afraid that I have some bad news. "
" What kind of bad news ? " Corundum asked.
" Well it's not bad news for you but it is for you Jadeite , Kunzite and Zoicite . "
" Is it the girls ? "Jadeite asked.
" Amy, Rei and Mina were taken by the new enemy and the Scouts don't know where they were taken too. " Darien explained. " The others are all okay and are over at Leta's . "
" That's a relief." Corundum breathed,. " I mean that it's terrible that Amy , Rei and Mina were taken but it's a relief that the others are all okay . Maybe we should go over to Leta's . "
" Good idea." Rubellite agreed heading for the door.
" We'd better drive . " Darien sighed. " Corundum , you go get Kunzite , Zoicite and Nephrite . We'll wait for you in the parking lot. "
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
Seiya slowly opened his eyes . His whole body hurt and every time he tried to stretch he touched cold metal and grime. Jerking back his hand he elbowed the wall behind him.
" Ow ! "
" Seiya ? " A weak voice whispered.
" Taiki ? "
" Yeah, it's me . "
" Where are you ? "
" You're sitting on my hair . " He sighed. " I'm right beside you ."
"Oh sorry . " Seiya apologized. " Yaten , you here ? "
" Where else would I be . "
" Where are you ? "
" I'm right here you don't have to yell . "
" Where's here ? "
" He's right across from you , sitting in the cage between my wife and I . " A new voice said with authority .
" Who are you ?" Taiki asked.
" I am Zeus , King of the planet Jupiter . " " And I am Queen Clara . "
" Oh. " Taiki whispered. " What are you doing here . "
" Honesty we don't have a clue . "
" None of us do . " Another voice spoke .
" Umm , who are you ? "
" I am Queen Serenity of the Moon. "
" Guys I'm sitting beside a queen . " Seiya smiled.
" Seiya ."
" What ? "
" Mind your manners and be quiet. " Yaten growled.
Before Seiya could reply a new voice spoke for him .
" I hope that means that you're going to take your own advice Yaten . "
" Yes please. " Another voice sighed. " I can hardly hear myself think . "
" Amy ? Rei ? "
" Don't forget me . "
" Mina ? "
" The one and only . " Mina practically sang. " Anybody want an autograph ? "
" I'd like one . " A fourth voice rang out.
" Who the hell are you ? " Seiya demanded.
" That is none of your business. And watch your language , there's royalty."
" I don't care , tell us who you are . "
" Master may I ? "
" Yes . "
" My name is Sailor Jupiter and my employer and I are going to exterminate you . "
" Who's your employer . "
" I'll let you know when the time is right. "
" Tell them now . "
" Yes master . My name is Arlia Tao , my employer is Lord Callisto. "
" Callisto ! " Queen Clara cried in shock.
" Yes Callisto . " Arlia continued. " We are from the planet Jupiter . I was hired to kill the Sailor Scouts, with one exception , Sailor Jupiter . My master wants that pleasure for himself . " She explained with no emotion. " Why you ask ? It's simple , he wants to rule all of Jupiter and eventually the Silver Millennium. And as for Queen Serenity and the King of Jupiter , he wants them here to see you all die. Queen Clara he wants for himself."
" Never ! " Clara cried.
Arlia just laughed. " Never say never , You Majesty . Now if you don't mind I really have to run."
" My daughter will stop you ! " Serenity shouted.
Arlia just smirked and disappeared in a swirl of black smoke.
" Serena will stop her . " Mina said. " She can and she will . "
" If you say so Mina. "
" She will . "
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
" Alright, alright I'm coming . "
Still grumbling Serena opened the front door of Leta's house and found herself face to face with Darien.
" Darien ! " She cried as she flung her arms around his neck. " Come on in you guys . "
" Hi Serena . " The generals smiled.
" Serena you remember Corundum , Maganite, Rubellite and Cassorite , don't you ? "
" Of course I do . " She beamed. " How are you ? "
" We're fine . " Jadeite said impatiently . " How are the girls ? "
" Why don't you ask them for yourselves . " Serena suggested. " They're around here somewhere . "
" Oh Nephrite Leta's upstairs being healed by Hotaru a little more . " Serena added.
" What happened ? "
" She was injured during the fight at the warehouse . " She explained. " She would have been fine if it hadn't been for me . "
" H'uh ? "
" If she had been Sailor Jupiter she would have been fine . " Darien said. " But Serena took away y her transformation wands so she was in her mortal form . "
" You'd better go and see her . " Serena changed the subject. " Take Corundum with you , so he can see Hotaru . "
After Nephrite and Corundum left the others went their separate ways.
A minute later Nephrite returned. " This is going to sound pathetic but where's her room ? "
Once Nephrite went back upstairs the Scouts walked in.
" Is there something that you'd like to tell us Serena ? " Haruka asked icily .
" What do you mean ? "
" They're back . "
" Who ? "
" Quit acting so stupid Serena . " Haruka fumed.
" Where are they ? " Michiru asked quietly .
Chapter Ten.
Cassorite stood by the pool . His head was down and his eyes were staring at the water . Memories of her flooded back .
A moonlit walk on the beach hand-in-hand , looking happy and carefree. The two of them dancing at a ball held by Queen Serenity the night before he was to return to Earth and then them kissing goodbye . The memory became very dark , except for two figures . One was of him in the uniform of a Dark Kingdom general and a woman in a white and aqua sailor fuku . Sailor Neptune , Michiru ! The next thing that he saw was him driving his sword threw her chest and her falling to the ground . Dead.
He snapped out of his trance like state as his tears splattered on the pool deck.
" Hello Cassorite . "
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *
Maganite had wandered down to the gazebo where Setsuna found him He was in the middle of a flashback in which he killed her when she broke through his thoughts.
" Maganite . "
" Setsuna ? ! " He exclaimed , whirling around to face her . " I thought I'd never see you again . "
" You're killing me certainly helped that thought . "
" Sorry about that . " He said. " I wasn't exactly myself. "
" I know . "
" You know ? How do you know ? "
" I guard the gates of Time remember . I saw everything that happened in the timeline , after you killed me I saw the whole thing . Even Metallia brainwashing you . "
" Oh . "
" And I would forgive you but I can't . "
" You can't ! "
" That's right I can't forgive you ."
" Why ? "
" I'm a lonely person Maganite . I always have been , probably always will be. My only friends are the Sailor Scouts and I don't see them that often . I only ever got close to one other person and he broke my heart. " Setsuna said.
" That was me , wasn't it ? "
" Yes . " Setsuna was on the verge of tears. " I loved you and you killed me . Even though I saw what happened to cause it I can't get over the fact that you killed me . "
" If I could go back and do it over again I would." Maganite stepped closer to her .
Before Setsuna could step back he reached out and gently took her hands in his . " And I'd change only one thing . No two things . " He corrected himself.
Looking into Setsuna's garnet eyes he continued. " Number one I wouldn't kill you . I could never do that to you , I love you too much . The only reason I did then was because I was brainwashed. Number two I would make sure that you were never alone again . I'd spend the rest of my life with you by your side . I'd never willingly leave you Setsuna . I love you . "
" Before you ask why I came back I'll tell you . I wouldn't want you to waste your breath on a jerk like me. " He dropped her hands . " I came back to see if you could find it in your heart to forgive me . Now that I know that you can't I'll leave . I'm sorry Setsuna . " Maganite started to walk away . " I can't undo the past but I'll do my best to make sure that it'll never happen again ."
Setsuna stood there trying her best not to cry. She watched as he walked away , never to see her again . She stood there for a long time after he left , fighting her conflicting emotions . Suddenly she fell to her knees and began to cry. A hand touched her shoulder and she disappeared .
' Seven down , five to go '
Chapter Eleven.
" Michiru ! " Cassorite exclaimed as he spun around to face her .
" What are you doing here Cassorite ? " She demanded. " Didn't you do enough the last time . "
" I swear to you Michiru I wasn't myself . " He insisted to the woman before him.
' She hasn't changed a bit . She's still as beautiful and smart as ever . ' He thought.
" What are you doing here ? " She repeated impatiently.
" I came here to beg your forgiveness . " He replied. " I never would hurt you intentionally or ever for that matter."
" You want my forgiveness." Michiru repeated.
He nodded.
" After what you did to me and my friends, you want my forgiveness ! "
" Yes . "
" Well I can't." She said as bravely as she could.
" Why not Michiru ." Cassorite asked gently .
" You killed me !"
" I told you that I wasn't myself . " He pleaded. " I was under Metallia's spell."
" But..."
" And you know damn well that I would never hurt you . " He continued angrily. " I loved you too much to cause you any harm. I would rather die than cause you pain and I would kill the first person that ever even tried to hurt you ! "
" Ever consider suicide . " She muttered.
" I heard that Michiru ! " Cassorite yelled. " And yes as a matter of fact I have ."
' That got her attention . ' He thought as she looked up . Then he continued. " The day I woke up and realized what I had done to you . I would kill myself in a second if I thought that it would help but it won't. Killing myself would only ease my pain and that is something that I don't deserve. It's the cowards way out and I have never been a coward before in my life , like hell I'm going to start now . "
Michiru was fighting back tears but it was a losing battle. In her heart she knew the answer to his plea for forgiveness , her head was another matter . No matter how hard she tried not to she cared for him and the thought of him killing himself because of what he did to her was unbearable. Taking one tiny step at a time she slowly walked toward him . She stopped a few feet away from him.
" How am I supposed to trust you ? " She asked quietly.
" I don't know . " Cassorite said as he looked at her in surprise. " It's a risk. One that I've prayed for weeks that you'll take."
" Cassorite, I ..." Michiru began but found that she'd lost her voice. So she let her actions speak the words that she couldn't. She ran forward into his arms and kissed him as they fell into the pool.
Laughing and sputtering they surfaced facing each other. Treading water they just stared before Cassorite moved closer and kissed her.
" I love you . " He whispered in her ear before kissing her again.
Michiru smiled and back. " I forgive you and I love you too . "
They kissed again but where interrupted by a voice.
" Um sorry to interrupt you two but have you seen Darien and Serena ? "
" No we haven't." Michiru replied once she could speak. " Sorry Zoicite . " Cassorite added. " Why are you looking for them ? "
" I wanted to find out if they figured out a way to find Amy . "
" I'll help you find her . " A voice said as Zoicite disappeared, Amy's book in hand .
" Who are you ? ! " Cassorite demanded.
" Now there's an intelligent question . " The voice replied .
" Who..." He tried again but couldn't finish because he and Michiru disappeared together.
' Eight Scouts down , five to go ' ' Two generals down , six to go '
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
Kunzite was walking aimlessly through a garden of roses with Jadeite. Both men were lost in their thoughts. Absently Jadeite reached out and plucked a fiery red rose from a bush. As he gazed at it imagining his fiery tempered love he disappeared.
" What the ...." Kunzite began before he too disappeared.
' Four down , four to go '
Chapter Twelve.
Hotaru had just finished healing Leta completely when Nephrite and Corundum walked into the room. Too shocked to speak Hotaru ran from the room, down the stairs and out the front door . Corundum was right behind her as was Renee.
" Hotaru wait up ! " Renee shouted.
" What's wrong ? " She asked once she had caught up.
" Nothing ."
" Hotaru we need to talk." Corundum said.
" Who are you ? " Renee asked.
" His name is Corundum and I don't want to talk to him Renee."
" We have to talk . "
" What about ! "
" Us . "
" What us , you killed Us when YOU killed me ! "
" It wasn't me Hotaru it was Metallia." He insisted. " Please believe me , I could never have done anything like that to you . "
" I don't believe you . " Hotaru said . " Come on Renee let's get out of here."
" I'm sorry Hotaru , I'm sorry for what I did to you . How I ever could have done that I'll never know. " He whispered painfully. " But what I do know is that I loved you then and I love you still . Please Hotaru, you have to forgive me . "
" Says who ? "
Corundum couldn't answer that so he said nothing. All he did was turn around and walk away.
" Hotaru , you're a terrible liar." Renee smiled. " You want him to believe that you're mad at him but we both know that you're not. You're in love with him . "
" No I'm not . I hate him . " She declared with no conviction.
" Liar . " Renee whispered as she walked away and disappeared inside the house.
Hotaru stood there for a moment alone before she ran after Corundum.
" Cor wait ! " Hotaru shouted before she disappeared .
Corundum turned around in hopes of seeing Hotaru running towards him instead he saw a wall of intertwined wire. " H'uh ? "
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
" Hi Leta . " Nephrite said nervously as she stared at him. " Are you going to be okay ? "
" I've had better days . " She replied crisply. " You of all people should know that . "
" In case you haven't already guessed .."
" You here because you want something to eat . " Leta finished for him.
At his frown she continued. " Or because your car broke-down and you need to use the phone."
" Maybe because you trying to earn money by mowing lawns . "
Nephrite laughed at that.
" Well there's no grass in here to mow it's all outside." Leta joked. " And I can't think of any other reason why you're here. "
" Leta."
" I assume that Darien and Serena already forgave you." nod " And now you want mine."
" I was hoping that you would . " he said cautiously.
" Give me one good reason why I should , " Leta demanded. " after what you did to me."
" Okay. I wasn't myself. It was Metallia's spell . " Nephrite replied.
" That's not good enough."
" What do you want me to say Leta . " Nephrite said quietly. " It never should have happened , that much is true. " That I wanted to ? Never. If I could do it again, I would ? Not bloody likely. Time heals all wounds ? Maybe. What do you want me to say ? "
" Even if I did forgive you , how could I ever trust you again." Leta said boldly. " Every time that I trust a guy he has either broken my heart or killed me. " ' Every guy but Ken that is' She added to herself.
" I'm sorry Leta , I wish I could change what happened but I can't." He sighed. " All that I can do is say that I love you and hope that you can find it in your heart to forgive me."
" If you're so hell-bent on my forgiving you than why haven't you kissed me yet ? " Leta asked with a small smile.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~