Embracing Destiny
Disclaimer: I'm working with an idiot. He's brain damaged he's so stupid. If I owned Sailor Moon, I wouldn't be doing anything but Sailor Moon related stuff and wouldn't have to work with said idiot! _O
By Selenity Jade (Jadesama@aol.com)
Chapter Fourteen: Venus and Kunzite
Rated: PG13
"Serenity!"
Serenity looked over her shoulder at the approaching Senshi, waiting for her to catch up.
When the barely winded woman stopped beside her, she gave her Queen a smile. "Sorry, Your Majesty. I forgot protocol."
Serenity grimaced. "Don't start, Mina."
The blonde sighed. "I'm trying to joke, Serenity. It's been bleak these past few weeks. And I haven't seen you smiled since..."
Serenity winced, turning her eyes from her friend, and leader of her protectors.
"Gods, Serenity, I'm sorry, I didn't mean-"
"What did you want, Mina?"
Sailor Venus sighed. It was impossible to speak with Serenity now. She never smiled. She took everything so seriously, and yet she wouldn't talk about it. Or him. She hadn't uttered his name since the day he disappeared. "Kunzite and the Guardians have returned from Earth. Your Mother received them, but she thinks as Queen, you should hear their report."
Serenity shook her head. "Mother can brief me later."
"You have to face them sometime, Serenity!" Venus snapped finally. "They're serving you now! They swore to protect you as we do!"
She was sure Serenity remembered the day all four Guardians came to her rooms and swore to her that they would serve her as if she were Endymion's wife. They were the Guardian's of the royal line of Earth, and they included Serenity in that now. But since that day, Serenity avoided all four of them.
Venus knew that they had caught on to the new Queen's behavior, and they had to be hurt by it. Nonetheless, they allowed it, staying away until Serenity broke the silence between them.
Venus wasn't sure if that was happening anytime soon.
"I know that, Mina," Serenity replied, not bothering to glance at her protector.
"Then why? Why avoid them?"
"It's too painful!" the Queen snapped. "I can't, okay? Just leave me be!"
Sailor Venus started, staring at her friend's back. It was the first time she had admitted she wasn't 'fine'. "Serenity, we're all worried about you. They're worried about you."
"I don't care! I don't need them or you or anyone to tiptoe around my feelings! Stop treating me like I'm made out of glass! Stop looking at me with sympathy and pity! I don't need any of it!" Serenity cried and turned away from the Senshi, entering the palace.
Venus was left standing on the soft grass, confused and hurt. And even more worried about her friend.
That was how Kunzite found her. "Venus?"
She turned around and smiled slightly. "Hello, Kunzite."
He arched an eyebrow at the expression on her face. "What's wrong?"
The blonde sighed softly. "It's Serenity. She's... so different."
He nodded, stepping beside her. "She is upset that Endymion has been taken," he said softly.
"I know that! But couldn't she at least...talk about it with us? Or anyone? She just...shut everyone out. She won't see you or the rest of the Guardians, and whenever any of the Senshi approach her, she's tense and cold. I'm worried."
He nodded. "Just give her some time, Venus. All of us are handling this different ways. He was our friend, and we're all devastated, especially Jadeite. They were closest. But I think Serenity has been hit hardest by it. She truly loved him and if they bonded like you say, it has to be worse for her."
"I know that, but... it's like she's fading before our eyes. And I'm so helpless!"
He touched her shoulder lightly. "Just be there for her. Don't push, don't bring it up. Just let her know you love her, and maybe eventually she'll break and talk about it."
Venus nodded sadly, glancing up at the white-haired warrior. "She won't even say his name now... Ever since the morning after Endymion's disappearance, she won't cry, won't say his name, or talk about any of it."
He nodded. "Give her time. We're all grieving."
She smiled weakly. "I'm sorry. I'm giving you all my problems and you're upset about it too. At least I didn't know him that well."
He pulled his hand from her shoulder, and wrapped an arm around them instead. He pulled her against his side, and rested his chin on her blonde head. "You're hurting too. It affected us all. I don't mind listening to your woes, Minako."
She sighed and closed her eyes as he held her. Her name, which she gave out to no one but a select few, sounded beautiful coming from him. She had heard her name all her life, but never before did she wish someone would say it again, and again. She was definitely feeling something more than infatuation towards him, though she wouldn't call it love. Not yet.
"Thank you, Kunzite."
He nodded, wrapping the other arm around her. "You smell nice," he murmured softly.
She smiled slightly. "Thanks," she replied, turning in his embrace to wrap her arms around his waist. She buried her face into his chest. She held him and allowed him to hold her, comfort her. She hadn't given in to comforting before now, and it was long overdue. She just didn't feel comfortable feeling 'better' when her princess – no, her queen – was still suffering so much.
It was almost sad that the first time he held her, she wanted to cry. She felt his hand brush her hair back, and then rest on her spine. Then the arms around her tightened, and he buried his face in her hair. "Minako?"
"Hmm?"
"I... want something between us."
She blinked and blushed prettily. "Something?" she asked, though she knew what he meant.
He nodded against her hair. "Yes. I've never met a woman quite like you. I'm...drawn to you."
She giggled. "I'm a Senshi. I'm not like most women."
"That's not what I meant."
"I know," she murmured. "I want something between us too."
He sighed, kissing her hair softly. "It should make me happy, that you want me like I want you," he began softly. "But all I can think about is Endymion..."
She pulled away to look up at him. "Normally, I'd be offended that you were thinking of a man while with me, but given the circumstances, I think it's appropriate. I didn't ask, I'm sorry, but are *you* okay?"
He allowed a tender smile to grace his face. "Thank you for your concern, but I will be okay. I am worried about him, scared for him, and angry with myself. My duty is to protect him, and I failed. I failed. That's why we all swore our protection to Serenity. He loves her. He loves her and I will not fail my prince again."
She touched his cheek softly. "Don't worry, Kunzite. I'm sure Endymion does not blame you. I think he'd be relieved that you are protecting Serenity. I saw how they looked at each other. He wants to protect her. That you're willing to protect her in his stead would make him relieved, I think."
He nodded. "I hope so," he said, looking down into her azure eyes. "Minako?"
"Yes?" she returned, staring up at him.
"I'm going to kiss you now," he said and leaned down to brush his lips against hers without waiting for a reply.
The surprise lasted an instant before it turned to pleasure and peace. She closed her eyes, leaning into that kiss. She let him pull her more firmly against his body. She felt his hands feel her hair as he deepened the kiss.
It felt wonderful, so beautiful. To think, among all this pain and heartbreak, she'd find a man she could love. One she wanted to love. She kissed him back, unaware tears slipped beneath her lids and down her cheeks.
When Kunzite pulled away, he frowned worriedly, and brushed them away with his thumb. "Why are you crying, Minako?"
She sniffled daintily, rubbing the tears away. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't be crying when you kiss me. I just..."
He nodded and kissed her damp cheek softly. "Don't apologize. As long as it isn't me, I do not mind if you cry on me."
She nodded and wrapped her arms more tightly around him as she started to weep into his chest. She allowed him to hold and whisper soothing nonsense into her ears. She had never allowed herself such weakness, such comfort since she had been a child.
She sobbed out all the heartache and pain she had felt the last few weeks. She cried out the loneliness and sorrow she had been forced to hide. She let him take her pain into himself, share her heavy burdens, and soothe her fears.
She let herself go and wept like the child she had never been allowed to be.
~~~
AN: Sorry! Not much movement here, but you get a cute Venus/Kunzite moment! Doesn't that make everything all better? AND you all get a never before read (just because I wrote it now) chapter! ^_^; New chapter! Not a repost! I'm thrilled! Just one more chapter closer to finishing!
Lovies!
Disclaimer: I'm working with an idiot. He's brain damaged he's so stupid. If I owned Sailor Moon, I wouldn't be doing anything but Sailor Moon related stuff and wouldn't have to work with said idiot! _O
By Selenity Jade (Jadesama@aol.com)
Chapter Fourteen: Venus and Kunzite
Rated: PG13
"Serenity!"
Serenity looked over her shoulder at the approaching Senshi, waiting for her to catch up.
When the barely winded woman stopped beside her, she gave her Queen a smile. "Sorry, Your Majesty. I forgot protocol."
Serenity grimaced. "Don't start, Mina."
The blonde sighed. "I'm trying to joke, Serenity. It's been bleak these past few weeks. And I haven't seen you smiled since..."
Serenity winced, turning her eyes from her friend, and leader of her protectors.
"Gods, Serenity, I'm sorry, I didn't mean-"
"What did you want, Mina?"
Sailor Venus sighed. It was impossible to speak with Serenity now. She never smiled. She took everything so seriously, and yet she wouldn't talk about it. Or him. She hadn't uttered his name since the day he disappeared. "Kunzite and the Guardians have returned from Earth. Your Mother received them, but she thinks as Queen, you should hear their report."
Serenity shook her head. "Mother can brief me later."
"You have to face them sometime, Serenity!" Venus snapped finally. "They're serving you now! They swore to protect you as we do!"
She was sure Serenity remembered the day all four Guardians came to her rooms and swore to her that they would serve her as if she were Endymion's wife. They were the Guardian's of the royal line of Earth, and they included Serenity in that now. But since that day, Serenity avoided all four of them.
Venus knew that they had caught on to the new Queen's behavior, and they had to be hurt by it. Nonetheless, they allowed it, staying away until Serenity broke the silence between them.
Venus wasn't sure if that was happening anytime soon.
"I know that, Mina," Serenity replied, not bothering to glance at her protector.
"Then why? Why avoid them?"
"It's too painful!" the Queen snapped. "I can't, okay? Just leave me be!"
Sailor Venus started, staring at her friend's back. It was the first time she had admitted she wasn't 'fine'. "Serenity, we're all worried about you. They're worried about you."
"I don't care! I don't need them or you or anyone to tiptoe around my feelings! Stop treating me like I'm made out of glass! Stop looking at me with sympathy and pity! I don't need any of it!" Serenity cried and turned away from the Senshi, entering the palace.
Venus was left standing on the soft grass, confused and hurt. And even more worried about her friend.
That was how Kunzite found her. "Venus?"
She turned around and smiled slightly. "Hello, Kunzite."
He arched an eyebrow at the expression on her face. "What's wrong?"
The blonde sighed softly. "It's Serenity. She's... so different."
He nodded, stepping beside her. "She is upset that Endymion has been taken," he said softly.
"I know that! But couldn't she at least...talk about it with us? Or anyone? She just...shut everyone out. She won't see you or the rest of the Guardians, and whenever any of the Senshi approach her, she's tense and cold. I'm worried."
He nodded. "Just give her some time, Venus. All of us are handling this different ways. He was our friend, and we're all devastated, especially Jadeite. They were closest. But I think Serenity has been hit hardest by it. She truly loved him and if they bonded like you say, it has to be worse for her."
"I know that, but... it's like she's fading before our eyes. And I'm so helpless!"
He touched her shoulder lightly. "Just be there for her. Don't push, don't bring it up. Just let her know you love her, and maybe eventually she'll break and talk about it."
Venus nodded sadly, glancing up at the white-haired warrior. "She won't even say his name now... Ever since the morning after Endymion's disappearance, she won't cry, won't say his name, or talk about any of it."
He nodded. "Give her time. We're all grieving."
She smiled weakly. "I'm sorry. I'm giving you all my problems and you're upset about it too. At least I didn't know him that well."
He pulled his hand from her shoulder, and wrapped an arm around them instead. He pulled her against his side, and rested his chin on her blonde head. "You're hurting too. It affected us all. I don't mind listening to your woes, Minako."
She sighed and closed her eyes as he held her. Her name, which she gave out to no one but a select few, sounded beautiful coming from him. She had heard her name all her life, but never before did she wish someone would say it again, and again. She was definitely feeling something more than infatuation towards him, though she wouldn't call it love. Not yet.
"Thank you, Kunzite."
He nodded, wrapping the other arm around her. "You smell nice," he murmured softly.
She smiled slightly. "Thanks," she replied, turning in his embrace to wrap her arms around his waist. She buried her face into his chest. She held him and allowed him to hold her, comfort her. She hadn't given in to comforting before now, and it was long overdue. She just didn't feel comfortable feeling 'better' when her princess – no, her queen – was still suffering so much.
It was almost sad that the first time he held her, she wanted to cry. She felt his hand brush her hair back, and then rest on her spine. Then the arms around her tightened, and he buried his face in her hair. "Minako?"
"Hmm?"
"I... want something between us."
She blinked and blushed prettily. "Something?" she asked, though she knew what he meant.
He nodded against her hair. "Yes. I've never met a woman quite like you. I'm...drawn to you."
She giggled. "I'm a Senshi. I'm not like most women."
"That's not what I meant."
"I know," she murmured. "I want something between us too."
He sighed, kissing her hair softly. "It should make me happy, that you want me like I want you," he began softly. "But all I can think about is Endymion..."
She pulled away to look up at him. "Normally, I'd be offended that you were thinking of a man while with me, but given the circumstances, I think it's appropriate. I didn't ask, I'm sorry, but are *you* okay?"
He allowed a tender smile to grace his face. "Thank you for your concern, but I will be okay. I am worried about him, scared for him, and angry with myself. My duty is to protect him, and I failed. I failed. That's why we all swore our protection to Serenity. He loves her. He loves her and I will not fail my prince again."
She touched his cheek softly. "Don't worry, Kunzite. I'm sure Endymion does not blame you. I think he'd be relieved that you are protecting Serenity. I saw how they looked at each other. He wants to protect her. That you're willing to protect her in his stead would make him relieved, I think."
He nodded. "I hope so," he said, looking down into her azure eyes. "Minako?"
"Yes?" she returned, staring up at him.
"I'm going to kiss you now," he said and leaned down to brush his lips against hers without waiting for a reply.
The surprise lasted an instant before it turned to pleasure and peace. She closed her eyes, leaning into that kiss. She let him pull her more firmly against his body. She felt his hands feel her hair as he deepened the kiss.
It felt wonderful, so beautiful. To think, among all this pain and heartbreak, she'd find a man she could love. One she wanted to love. She kissed him back, unaware tears slipped beneath her lids and down her cheeks.
When Kunzite pulled away, he frowned worriedly, and brushed them away with his thumb. "Why are you crying, Minako?"
She sniffled daintily, rubbing the tears away. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't be crying when you kiss me. I just..."
He nodded and kissed her damp cheek softly. "Don't apologize. As long as it isn't me, I do not mind if you cry on me."
She nodded and wrapped her arms more tightly around him as she started to weep into his chest. She allowed him to hold and whisper soothing nonsense into her ears. She had never allowed herself such weakness, such comfort since she had been a child.
She sobbed out all the heartache and pain she had felt the last few weeks. She cried out the loneliness and sorrow she had been forced to hide. She let him take her pain into himself, share her heavy burdens, and soothe her fears.
She let herself go and wept like the child she had never been allowed to be.
~~~
AN: Sorry! Not much movement here, but you get a cute Venus/Kunzite moment! Doesn't that make everything all better? AND you all get a never before read (just because I wrote it now) chapter! ^_^; New chapter! Not a repost! I'm thrilled! Just one more chapter closer to finishing!
Lovies!