The Passion of Love; Part Two
Serenity looked up at Endymion as they walked outside in the sunny weather, it was cold but the coat she was wearing was making the cold tolerable.
"Is it always cold like this during the year?" she asked him.
"No, it's usually a little warmer," he said, "in fact it is very cold for this time of year."
Suddenly something brushed by her cheek and then she saw little tiny flakes of white falling from a now grey cloud filled sky and the air got a lot chillier.
"What the," Endymion said and held out his hand and the little flakes landed in his hand, "yuki? This is definitely to early."
"Your majesty," they heard Nephrite's voice call, "Endymion-sama."
They saw him coming running from the direction of the palace and with him was Midori.
"Nephrite, what is it?" Endymion asked as Nephrite came up to them and before he could answer anything he had to catch his breath.
"What's wrong?"
"Down in the shrine...Zoisite's...Mercury's bodies...turned...dust," he said panting.
"What?" Endymion and Serenity asked in unison.
"They turned into ashes right before our eyes," Midori said while Nephrite was trying to remember how to breathe.
"Do you know why?" Endymion asked and they both shook their heads. "Let's go back to the palace, there has to be a logic answer to this."
As they started to walk Nephrite stopped dead in his track and looked up.
"Endymion-sama," he said and Endymion turned, "when did it began to snow?"
"A few minutes ago," Endymion answered.
"Something really weird is going on here," Nephrite said and they hurried back to the castle.
As they entered the shrine of water they saw that all the others were there, even Jadeite seemed to have crawled outside the library. He was holding a hysterical crying Akai and he didn't look that far from breaking himself, tears had made tracks down his dust covered cheeks, dust obviously from the books he had plunged through the last three days.
Kunzite was holding Kiiro who was also crying he on the other hand seemed as stone faced as ever if not even more.
"What happened?" he asked and Aiiro that had been standing in the shadows stepped up.
"The line for returning back safely has been crossed and this door is closed," she said, "now everything depends on their own will to live."
"How? Return to what?" Nephrite asked.
"Resurrection," she said and placed a hand on Jadeite's shoulder and he handed over Akai to Midori and followed her.
Kunzite dumped Kiiro to Serenity as he stalked out of the room.
"That insensitive clod," she heard Kiiro hiss, "not crying over lost men is one thing but not crying over a friend is another, how can someone be so cold?"
Serenity could feel Kiiro's nails digging into her as her friend shook from a new wave of tears and sorrow and she felt her own tears well up in her eyes and flow free down her cheeks.
It was dark, cold and misty but the most appalling was the stench of decay, a smell he had familiarised himself with this spring and summer during the war, on hot summers day the stench of blood and rotting corpses was so thick it made one gag.
But it was a far better place then the one he had left, the pain was gone the overwhelming compassion of his friends was also gone and that was a huge relief, he loved his friends but their kindness and tiptoeing during this ordeal had been so annoying. Their ignorance and his reluctance to tell the truth had kept him on the edge between life and death. He did love his friends but in his desire to please everyone he had inevitable created an aura of reliability around himself; it wasn't a lie he was dependable, but too many depended on him too much.
As the demon was depriving him of strength they supplied more energy to keep him alive which prolonged the suffering, he had only himself to blame since the fault was his alone.
Ever since he let himself be possessed by the demon he was very careful not to drain himself in his use of energy and before the war it went fine, during the war however he had come close to loose the control many times and then during a few hour of insane happiness he had let go of that control completely and now paid the price.
With a heavy sigh he continued forward or what he believed to be forward, it was hard to tell in these surroundings. Vaguely he heard a voice and slowed, there it was again louder but still the word was unclear, he stopped altogether as he heard it a third time.
It was approaching fast and soon he could make out what it was the voice said, it was a female voice calling his name and he knew that voice. He had dreamed of that voice and it had been there the seconds before his death.
For a moment the mist parted and he saw her as did she and she started running towards him and the mist swept in and obscured the view but he started to walk the direction he had last seen her and as the mist parted again he found her in his arms. He held her tight and inhaled the fresh smell of sea that was she, a welcomed smell in this place.
"I've missed you," she whispered and her breath was hot against his neck.
"I've missed you too," he whispered in her ear. She was warm, soft and very much alive in this place that was death.
"How did you get here?" he asked her and her arms tightened around him.
"I was given a chance to bring you back to life," she said looking up at him, "I took the task willingly because I don't want to lose you."
"Foolish woman," he muttered and he felt her nails dig into his back.
"I came here because I want you to be with me in the world of the living and not as a wonderful memory turned bittersweet by your death," she said and he nodded, when he realised that he would probably have done the same for her, fully knowing that it would never have happened, only he was kind and stupid enough to actually fight such a strong demon alone.
"How are we supposed to find our way back," he said and she looked concerned.
"I don't know," she said trying to hide the tremble in her voice and looked around in the thickening mist, "don't you have a link to your friends that is still working, I broke mine when I removed the tiara."
"I can feel them all faintly," he said shivering as a cold wind started blowing, "but not enough to get a bearing."
"Then I guess we have to find our way out of here blindly," she said but he could see that her hands was trembling slightly, "maybe not such a clever plan but it's better than staying here doing nothing and at least we will be together this time."
"Let's go," he said and with his arms around her shoulder they started walking in what seemed the opposite direction from where they had been heading.
"Will you cry now?" he heard a voice say and he turned and saw Venus standing there with her hands on her hips and a determined frown on her face.
"Oh, it's you," he said and turned his back to her, going back to what he was doing and ignoring her.
"Don't you dare ignore me," she said and he looked at her again and saw spots of crimson on her cheeks, she was flushed with anger over his treatment of her.
"You may be a princess and one of the Sailor Senshi, but here on Earth I have more authority than you, meaning you are just a little girl!" he stated coldly and her whole face turned red at his patronising words.
"Little girl?" she said her voice low, "I have you know that I turn seventeen in a month."
"As I said, a little girl," he said knowing fully well that she wasn't little at all, but he wanted her out of there and instead of throwing her out, which would have been easier, he didn't, since their pointless conversation in some morbid way pleased him.
"You insensitive jerk," she shouted, "you don't feel anything do you? Your friend is dead, the man you've known since childhood is dead! And you don't cry! You don't even say good bye, you just walk away and start working as if nothing has happened!"
"Death is a natural part of life," he growled, "you told me to get on with life!"
"Because when something we cherish is gone we have to end it in a way that release the emotion we feel over the loss," she said in a calmer voice, "if we don't it will only build up until one breaks beneath the weight."
"I can't believe that I'm actually sitting here listening to a little girl dictate to me what to feel," he said.
"And as I told you I'm not a little girl," she said and turned with a force blast she had melted the door lock and rendered it useless sealing them inside the room.
"And just what did you hope that that would accomplish?" he asked her and she turned back to him removing her tiara, in a flash of light she transformed not into her normal self but rather something more breath taking.
"Omae ha dare?" he said in awe at the apparition in front of him.
"Ai no Megami," came the answer, the blond hair flowed around her as did the buttercup yellow dress that was fastened at her shoulder with straps and ribbon flowed down her arms, a yellow band encircled her slender throat and a necklace with a gold shaped drop rested against her breast right above the heart; her normal bow that rested in her soft hair had a red rose added to it, her normal blue eyes were the same colour as the golden necklace.
"Goddess of love," he breathed.
"The true form of Princess Venus," she said and the mark of Venus appeared blazing on her forehead.
"Doushite?" he asked and she stepped close to him and gentle cupped his face smiling gently.
"Because you need to be thought a lesson," she said, "a lesson in what it means to be human."
She leaned forward and kissed him, her lips were warm against his, her entire body was warm against his. Suddenly an overwhelming urge to cry flooded him and tears began streaming down his face, he sank to his knees as the sadness and pain took away all his strength.
His arms encircled her waist as he stood on his knees, his face hidden against her stomach as he cried, tears he had wanted to shed since this whole bizarre ordeal began weeks ago. He had so wanted to have hold Zoisite as his life slipped away to let his friend know that he loved him but he hadn't been able to move, hadn't been able to grasp that his friend was going to die.
He felt her hands in his hair and the sadness and pain eased a little.
"It's all right to cry," she said with a soft voice, "we all feel better afterwards."
"I feel like such an idiot," he said with a low raspy voice, not even he recognised as his own at first, "I never got to tell him that I loved him."
"I think he knows that," she said and he looked up at her, "you were his friend and friend knows without telling, so I think he knows."
She threaded her fingers through his silver grey hair, it felt just like silk, she could still remember what it was that had first attracted her to him and it had been his steel grey eyes. The first time she ever looked into them it had felt like she had been struck by lightning. As soon has she could think again and she had thanked all the gods that she hadn't drooled or something else embarrassing, she had noticed that he was a lost case, he seemed to be made of ice and stone and as Midori had pointed out she wasn't the kind that went tilting windmills.
She wondered where Midori had picked up that proverb since it wasn't a aphorism that was used or existed on the other planets, she most have picked it up this summer during the war.
Feeling that he looked at her, she looked down and met his gaze, and felt her knees go weak. He was so handsome, she felt that she could spend hours just looking into his eyes, actually this time they looked quite different instead of being cold and closed off they were full of emotions.
He got to his feet and now he was looking down at her and she looked up at him, transfixed by his eyes she hardly noticed the soft hand that was placed against her cheek moments before his lips touched hers in a gentle and sweet kiss.
Looking into his eyes she noticed that underneath everything else there was desire and it was directed at her.
"Kirei," he whispered and traced his fingertips lightly over her lips, she took hold of his hand and lightly kissed his fingertips one at the time never loosing eye contact. She kissed the inside of his palm and moved down to kiss the wrist right over the veins that was clearly visible underneath the thin, soft almost translucent skin. She felt a faint shudder run through his body as she did so she also felt his rapid pulse beneath her lips.
"Ai shiteru," he said and she looked at him in surprise, she hadn't expected this at all, she never thought he would be capable of this kind of emotional display.
"Atashi... Ai shiteru," she whispered and kissed him. She gasped in surprise as she felt a strange energy flow into her, and she looked at him and saw that he was surrounded by a pink and purple glow that seemed to emanate from his heart. The energy seemed to be a part of his power and it appeared love was that power. Of course, his real power was that of air, but something in this seemed to be the very essence of him.
"I won't leave you for tonight," she said and leaned her head against his chest listening to the sound of his heartbeat.
"I don't want you to leave," he said, "and you blasted the lock on my door remember."
She felt a blush creep over her cheeks.
"Oops," she said and turned to kiss him again.
Zoisite stopped dead in his tracks and she turned and looked at him, she saw that a small flush had spread over his cheeks and he had an embarrassed look on his face.
"What is it?" she asked him and he looked at her and the embarrassment was replaced with mirth.
"I felt something," he said, "it's faint but it was from one of my fellow Shitennou."
"Who?"
"Kunzite," he said and smiled, "I would say that whatever has happened in the world he has other things on his mind than grief, I'm glad."
She shuddered as she felt something warm and fuzzy flow through her system for the fraction of a second.
"Kiiro!" she said surprised. "She did it!"
"Did what?" he asked her.
"She seduced him," she answered, "she really did it."
"You mean..." he said and she nodded and they both burst into laughter.
"My God," he said realising something, "if we can feel it here, I wonder how the others will react?"
"I don't think we want to know," she said and noticed that it seemed to get a little brighter and turned and saw a pink golden light glimmer far in the distant. "What's that?"
"I don't know," Zoisite said looking at the light with a thoughtful expression, "but I think it's a good idea to walk towards it."
She didn't move and he stepped up to her, making her look up at him he looked into her eyes.
"What's wrong?" he asked her and she put her arms around his waist leaning her head against his chest, she felt his arms encircle her in a comforting embrace.
"As much as I want to get away from here," she said, "I'm afraid of what will happen when we get back, if we ever get out of here?"
"We will, don't worry," he said to her, "we've come too far to simply give up, when you are offered the chance to live you don't give it up."
"I know, but I'm scared," she said.
"Have faith and trust in yourself," he said, "true courage comes when you know your fears and face them, so don't give up."
"Sir, yes, sir," she said and they both smiled. He put his arm around her shoulders and they began walking towards the light.
It had been ten days since they had won the battle against the youma and lost both Zoisite and Mizuiro, seven days since it began to snow and their lost friends bodies had turned to dust. Seven days since they had last seen Jadeite and Aiiro-hime outside the library. The snow lay heavy over the country and it never seemed to stop either, but right now it seemed to have slowed and the sight was clear for about two hundred meters or more.
They had all been summoned to a parlour in the guest wing by Jadeite and were now sitting in the comfortable sofas or arm chairs drinking hot chocolate that Midori-hime had made, while a big fire was roaring in the marble fireplace heating the room.
They all looked up as a puffy eyed Jadeite and a weary Aiiro-hime stepped through the door. None of them looked very lively as they sat down. The room was quiet, silence thick enough you could cut it with a knife.
"It's still snowing," he said somewhat surprised as he looked out through the windows.
"Yes, it has snowed non-stop for seven days," Endymion said, "hadn't you covered the windows you would know that."
"A necessary precaution," he said, "it was distracting."
"And speaking of distractions," he continued and glared at Kunzite and Kiiro-hime, "can you two keep it down, the first time I came close to burn up some very ancient books! And the second time I almost set fire to Aiiro!"
"Gomen," Kunzite said trying to wipe away the foolish grin that had crawled over his face and Kiiro-hime was blushing so much that a tomato would look pale in comparison.
"That reminds me," Endymion said and turned to them, "Kiiro-hime I realise that you love my Shitennou but I do need him from time to time so I would be glad if I could borrow him when you're not using him."
The grin disappeared in a flash from Kunzite face and he was all business, but Kiiro-hime was if possible blushing even more fiercely.
Jadeite put down a book on the table and they could see it was the same that he had been given in the shrine ten days ago.
"I have managed to decipher it and learned what it has to tell," he said, "it is written in a ancient language and the handwriting is none other than Zoisite's."
He looked at the book and it opened and it started to flip through the pages by it's own.
"The book retell the same story as the scroll we received from Princess Pluto the day we were appointed our title's as the Shitennou," he said and the book stopped on a page where the text was written in blood red ink, "on this page a incantation begin that's why its written in blood red ink, to warn people."
"I thought incantations were always glowing?" Endymion said.
"When they are active yes, this one isn't and that was why I was able to translate it. The demon we fought was trapped inside the scroll this is only the retelling of the original incantation," he said.
"Trapped by whom?" Kunzite asked.
"Us, the Shitennou," he answered.
"What?" Kunzite and Nephrite said in unison.
"As we all know the last war took us out of our isolation that Earth has been in for thousand of years what is not known is why we were isolated so sudden," he said and rose as the book began flipping idly through the pages, "thousand of years ago Earth was open for commerce with the rest of the planets. But suddenly a youma started to wreck havoc in major cities with transport's point trying to get of planet. To trap the youma on Earth all the transport points were destroyed and the Shitennou was called in to destroy it. Unfortunately, this was a dangerous era in Earth's history when youma attacks wasn't uncommon and since the Shitennou were the only ones with the power to fight them they were too tired for this battle. The battle lasted for weeks, day and night made no difference as they battled. Weary and almost beaten the Shitennou of water, Zoisite, sent a communiqué to the Sailor Senshi of water, the queen of Mercury, they came up with a temporary solution and that was to seal the demon inside the scroll that told the history of the Shitennou. Using their combined forces they succeeded in sealing it inside the scroll. And using their last remaining powers, they sent the carrier of water off the planet, his power automatically brought him to Mercury. With the queen's help he wrote the incantation that would release the demon and then managed to take the scroll to Princess Pluto entrusting it to her until it was time to fight again."
"So what went wrong?" Jupiter asked and Jadeite continued ignoring her question.
"What nobody knew about was the little extra that he added in the incantation. When it was read, it would release the demon into the person reading it."
"Why?" Endymion asked.
"Because just as our Zoisite decided to read the incantation and release the demon inside him, did that Zoisite write it so it would happen," Jadeite said and put a hand on the book so it stopped flipping pages by itself, "the truth about our origin is revealed in the beginning in the book a part that Zoisite skipped the last time this was read."
"What is the truth?" Nephrite asked.
"Our names doesn't derive from stones because of a fluke," he said, "the first Shitennou to come into existence was made out of Kunzite, Nephrite, Jadeite and Zoisite. The Earth itself created them out of these stones and imbedded in them the powers of the elements also the essence in the stones used was created to create the souls of the Shitennou so each time reborn the same person for the same position throughout time."
"You can't be serious," Nephrite said, "if that was true we would remember our past life and we don't."
"That's because Zoisite blocked them," Jadeite said, "I know this to be the truth since the block was lifted from me as I read the spell to reverse it."
"Why didn't automatically bring back ours then?" Kunzite asked.
"This sort of magic only works when one is subjecting the person to it," he said, "that means hearing or reading it. But the question you need to ask yourself is do you want your memory back or not, because either way you will remember in your next life."
There was only silence.
"It would be better for you and us all if you accepted and regained lost memories," he said and looked at his friend, "you will be more at ease with yourself if you do, small personality changes can occur but in the end you will be what you were destined to be and the things I've just said will make sense."
Kunzite and Nephrite looked at each other and a silently conversation seemed to pass between them.
"We agree," Kunzite said looking up at him and Jadeite smiled.
As he started to chant something in an ancient language that none of them understood he started to glow with a green colour, the room was completely quiet and nobody moved.
As he stooped chanting and the green light disappeared both Nephrite and Kunzite looked dazed and stared out onto nothing.
"I think both of you should return to your chamber and rest for tonight," Jadeite said and they both nodded both rose and walked out the room. When Kiiro and Midori made a move to follow them he raised his hand and stopped them. "They have a long nigh ahead of them so let them be alone."
"And how do you know that?" Kiiro asked him.
"I didn't spend ten days looked inside the library because I enjoyed Aiiro's company," he said and walked up to Akai and whispered something to her and she followed him out of the room. But before the left he turned and looked at them.
"Rest," he said, "there is nothing more you can do tonight."
And then he and Akai were gone. The rest looked at each other and returned to their respective quarter to sleep, thinking about or generally going over the day's events in peace.
The unnatural winter had claimed all of Earth with bad weather and storms, wrecking havoc with Earth delicate ecosystem.
From the moon the queen looked on in growing terror as the shining blue green planet was being cowered in dark storm clouds.
In the confinements of what once had been Zoisite's garden something happened. At the exact moment of Zoisite's death the garden had died completely, but suddenly the small waterfall at the pond was beginning to run. At first there was only mouldy sluggish water, but soon fresh, clear water started to flow and purified the water in the pond and also awoke the water lilies resting on it surface.
Little green buds started pocking up beneath dead leaves and a soft green sheen covered the now soft dark brown earth. Hesitantly buds opened on trees and soon they started blooming and bird song was heard in the comfortable spring like air full of the sweet smell from hundreds of different flower mingled with the spicy smell of tropical plants.
But even though the garden had sprouted back to life it seemed as if it wasn't forever. It appeared to be waiting, waiting for something to return, all over the garden lay an air of expectation.
Over by the pond on the rocks near the waterfall lay an object also expecting something or someone, it was a beautiful necklace, the chain was braided in golden and dark blue strands and the third was pure water as an ornament sat a water lily with tiny water droplets on the soft flower petals.
Outside it stopped snowing and the cloud dissipated and showed a starry night with the moon full and bright in the sky illuminating the snow covered landscape.
Kunzite sat up in bed panting heavily and cold sweat was running down his face and back. He couldn't remember what had woke him up, he only knew that he needed to be somewhere and that that somewhere wasn't his bedroom. He got out of bed and put on a robe and walked down to the main hall were he saw Nephrite and Jadeite stand in the open door looking out into the now clear night, they also wore their sleepwear with only a robe as protection from the cold.
"So you managed to drag your ass out of bed," Nephrite said without looking at him, "we have been waiting."
"Well now that I am here," he said, "can one of you tell me what is going on?"
"Can't you feel it?" Jadeite said and Nephrite and Kunzite looked at him.
"Feel what?" Nephrite asked.
"The presence," Jadeite said and stepped out side, "we have to get to the garden."
"Kunzite," he heard Endymion call and turned and saw the Prince coming down the stairs and after him the Princess and the Sailor Senshi.
"Endymion-sama," he said as the Prince came up beside him, "you shouldn't be here."
"Where is Jadeite going?" he asked, ignoring him.
"The gardens," Nephrite said taking a deep breath he stepped out into the cold night and followed in Jadeite's footprints.
"Well, here we won't do any good," Mars said, "we might as well follow them."
"Good idea," Midori said and walked out and the others followed her.
Stepping into the garden and it had turned out to be Zoisite's garden they all stood in shock, different kinds of shock.
Those who had seen it decaying was utterly surprised that it had come back to life, its beauty amazed the ones who hadn't seen it before.
"It's so beautiful," Kiiro said, "it seems almost magical."
"Something weird is going on here," Nephrite said to Kunzite and he nodded, something weird indeed.
"And weirder it gets," Jadeite said and pointed at something in the distant and they saw a blue light illuminating everything drawing them towards it.
Blue light surrounded them as the wind started to blow and with it followed the scent of fresh water, clean air and the wonderful and delicate smell of newly opened flowers.
"What is going to happened now?" Mizuiro said holding on to him as it seemed they were lifted upward carried by the wind and the light grow stronger as did the sensation of smell.
"I think we are going back," he said and she looked up at him with her blue eyes wide.
"Honto ni?"
"Hai," he said and gave her a reassuring smile and put his arms around her and she managed to smile as he offered her some protection.
The wind grew stronger as did the light and they continued upward.
Following the blue light they arrived at the pond that looked as peaceful as ever, the whole garden was peaceful and that had been the goal with it.
"Look over there by the waterfall," Serenity said and they all looked and saw a necklace laying on one of the rocks.
"It's Mizuiro's necklace but it was destroyed as she transported to Earth?" Kiiro said sounding confused.
"They are on their way back!" Kunzite said unable to hide the hope in his voice, "they are on their way back right now."
"And not a minute too soon," they heard Aiiro's voice say and they turned and saw her and Huka-midori coming towards them.
"Now that everything is in order we will leave you," Hukamidori said and Princess Pluto appeared behind them and they were surrounded in mist and when it cleared they were all gone.
"As always they disappear at leaves the rest to you," Serenity said and the blue light intensified and it seemed to be concentrated at the waterfall.
"Why here?" Midori said. "Of all places, why here?"
"Because they are both connected to this place through the necklace," Jadeite said.
"And just how do you know that?" Kunzite asked him.
"A very secretive woman told me so," he answered.
"Aha," Kunzite said, "we will have a long and nice talk later."
Jadeite just looked at him but their attention was drawn back to the light and the waterfall as it seemed to solidify into shapes and suddenly they heard the sound of water hitting skin. The light faded and under the falling water stood Princess Mercury and Zoisite holding each other, however their appearance was anything but descent, except for Mercury that was once again wearing her necklace, either wore even a thread of clothing.
Zoisite was the first one to notice them and he whispered something to Mercury and she looked up and blushed deeply, still they remained mostly hidden by the waterfall.
'Your help would be greatly appreciated right about now,' Kunzite heard Zoisite's voice say in his mind and with a smile he gently tugged Kiiro's robe of her and his own and wadded out into the pond handing the reborn the clothes and returned to the shore them following a moment after and coming up on land soaked, but covered.
"Welcome back," Jadeite said as he helped Zoisite out of the pond.
"It's good to be back," he said and was pulled into a fierce embrace by his friends.
The princesses were taking turns hugging Mercury and like girls' reunions usually are, it was loud and full of overjoyed tears. In all the excitement Serenity launched herself towards Zoisite to hug him, completely surprised by this act he lost his footing and they both fell into the pond. It looked quite comical seeing them in the pond, Serenity was clinging to Zoisite who was sitting propped up on his arm in the knee high water.
"I'm glad to see you too, Serenity-hime," he said and she looked up at him with blushing cheeks and gave him a foolish grin.
They all laughed and Nephrite and Jadeite waded out into the water and helped them both up.
Twenty minutes they were ready to leave the garden to go back to the castle to sleep or talk, whichever came first.
"Snow? Now?" Zoisite said as he looked out over the white landscape and the others nodded. "Seems like I really can't leave this place alone for a minute before everything falls apart," he said with a smile and soon he was running in full speed toward the castle with his fellow Shitennou after him, trying to catch him so they could bury him in the snow.
He was standing by the window looking out, the winter had certainly came early this year, the last time he had had a chance to look outside it had been early autumn that had been the day before everything had started.
Mizuiro was fast asleep in his bed and though one could easily fit two normal sized people in it he had no hurry back to bed - he had spent more weeks then he wanted to know in.
He turned as the door creaked open and he saw that it was Kunzite.
"You are still up," Kunzite said half surprised and half expected.
"Can't sleep," he said.
"I'm surprised to hear that, considering what you two have been through," Kunzite said.
"Also I'm in no hurry to return to that bed were I was lying waiting for my death," he said.
"That I understand," he said, "why didn't you tell us about this?"
Zoisite froze at his words and looked away.
"I wanted to protect you I guess," he said, "just like I thought the last time when I rigged the scroll."
"We are your friends," he said and put his hands on Zoisite's shoulder, "you could have told us."
"You would have overreacted," he said and looked up at Kunzite, "and that was the last thing I needed."
Kunzite smiled as the meaning of his word sank in.
"Well, growing up and learning everything anew is hard," he said, "but you can't blame anyone but yourself for that."
"And what have I done to deserve friends like you?"
"Being born."
Kunzite put his arms around him and held him tight, Zoisite responded in kind and put his arms around him.
"Thank you for coming back," Kunzite said.
"It's good being back," he said, "as much as I'm glad I died in order to get rid of the demon I'm glad I could come back once more."
Kunzite loosened his grip but still held him, it was a welcome change in his friend. Though he hadn't regained all his past memories until today he had some come back to him as he had read the scroll, after all he had wrote it and with those memories came the knowledge of how his friends should be. No big changes in Nephrite or Jadeite, the biggest change was Kunzite, he had become cold and unfeeling it seemed to those who didn't know him, but even to his friend he sometimes acted cold and indifferent.
"I'm glad you are back to yourself," he said and Kunzite sighed.
"I'm kind of glad that I am too," he said, "as well being in control feels, some people can take it the wrong way."
"So it seems," Zoisite said and fainted by pure exhaustion.
Kunzite picked up the unconscious Zoisite and carried him into the bedroom and laid him down next to Mercury and exited the room.
"Checking up on our hopelessly kind-hearted friend?" he heard Jadeite say and saw him standing in the corridor.
"What I am doing is none of your business," he said, "but if you must know yes, I did."
Jadeite smiled and walked up to him placing his hands on his shoulders.
"Welcome back Kunzite-sama," he said and hugged his friend, "we missed you."
"It wasn't that bad was it?" he asked as Jadeite released him and took a step back.
"No, just enough to notice a difference when we all remembered again," he said, "we all have feelings for a reason, they are there so we can feel love, hate, fear and compassion."
"Why do you sound like Zoisite?" he asked him.
"If you look deep enough in your memory you will find out that we are more alike than we care to admit," Jadeite said, "after all we are the Shitennou, the Four Kings of Heaven, we are always together."
"Somebody has to keep out of the library," he said and Jadeite laughed.
"Actually, I came here to find you," he said, "neither Nephrite nor I could sleep so we went to the auditorium to talk and drink we wondered if you would care to join us?"
"Love to," Kunzite said.
"Good," Jadeite said, "we better hurry, Nephrite has a head start and you know he can't really hold his liquor."
They headed down the corridor to auditorium content with that everything was back to normal and with the promise of a happier future.
The Isle of Atlantis
The sun was shining and the sky was as blue as the ocean and it was hard to tell where one began and the other ended. Zoisite was standing on the shore looking out over the ocean wishing he could go for a swim.
"There you are," he heard Mizuiro's voice behind him and he turned and smiled at her as she approached him. She looked absolutely beautiful in her blue Princess dress. All the princesses wore almost identical dresses, though there were some differences, beside the colour on each one. On either one of Mizuiro's shoulder straps there were three golden circles with a blue stone in the middle and instead of the necklace that he had given her she now wore a gold chain with a golden tear drop in also with a blue stone and a lace encircled her slender neck, the dress left much of her back exposed. "Kunzite sent me to find you."
"He is a grown man," he said, "I believe he can take care of himself."
'Get over here or you'll be sorry!' he heard Kunzite's voice snap at him in his mind.
'Aren't we a little touchy today?' he said in the same fashion.
'Just get up here, now.'
As they walked back to the temple dedicated to the Ocean he saw Kunzite and the others Shitennou standing there talking.
"I'll take that," Zoisite said and snatched the wineglass from Nephrite's hand and gave the glass to one of the servants that passed by.
"Well, there is one reason to wish him dead," Nephrite said and the others smiled, they knew him to well to do anything else.
"I will not have you drunk and ruin the wedding," Zoisite said and Nephrite gave him a dark look, "if you are thirsty drink water instead it is better in this heat."
"Zoisite it is a wedding today," Jadeite said, "loosen up and spare us the lectures."
"And who did I see lurking around the library this morning?" he asked and Jadeite tried to look innocent.
"What were you doing in the library?" Nephrite asked holding a wineglass again that Zoisite again handed to a passing by servant.
"Avoiding me for sure," a voice said and they looked and saw Princesses Akai, Midori and Kiiro coming up the flower and leaf ornamented ail.
The princesses had arrived last night to help in the final arrangements of today's wedding.
"I would gladly talk to you hime-sama," he said and her eyes narrowed at his formal language, "but you insist on talking but nothing but marriage and other things like that and I haven't even proposed yet."
"Then do so already, baka!" she muttered and rolled her eyes.
"So that's what you wanted to get at?" he asked and she nodded, "you could have just said so."
"And spoil the surprise," she said.
"You're playing with fire," he said warningly to her and put his hands on her shoulders.
"I hope so," she said and they embraced in a fierce kiss.
"Calm down or get a room," Kunzite said and they parted reluctantly both panting for air.
"That's rich coming from you," Nephrite that was bereft of his third glass of wine that was now disappearing in the sea of people and he looked at Kiiro's stomach.
"Are you going for twins or have you been eating too much?" Jadeite asked her and she just looked at him with a stormy gaze that he met with a smile.
"There is nothing wrong with me and I'm not fat either," she said, "you should try it, it might actually do you some good."
"I would love to princess," he said, "but there is a little problem, a biological problem, men can't have children."
"Someone's got to be the first," she said and held up her hand.
"Don't you dare," Akai said and stepped between them.
"When are you planning to make an honest woman out of her?" Zoisite asked Kunzite and got a dark look back.
"When the wedding dress will fit me," Kiiro said, "I'm not going to add twelve inches on the dress for it to fit around my stomach."
They continued to talk a long time and as the sunset was approaching and the moon appeared in the sky along with the sun the bride and groom arrived from different directions and walked together up the aisle that was cowered with white and red flowers from all over Earth and some of the Inner planets. Endymion was wearing is traditional armour but white instead of the usual black and Serenity was wearing a snow white dress that was tight around her upper body and flowed around her legs in several layers of silk and laces. Her blond hair was piled on her head and then cascaded down her back in blond corkscrews decorated with tiny white flowers; her veil was attached on the top of her head with a golden tiara, a crescent moon adorning it. The veil was held up behind her by the two cat advisors Luna and Artemis who were wearing silver collars with sapphires around their necks.
As the bride and groom passed the Shitennou and Senshi flanking the aisle on both sides, they closed it off behind them, holding their respective love and watching the couple being wed as the moon replaced the sun on the sky; watching the moon strengthening its band to Earth forever.
At one point Zoisite glanced over at the moon queen, who was dressed in her customary royal attire and saw her discreetly wiping away a tear from her eye and looked at her daughter with a smile and he turned and looked straight ahead again with a smile on his lips.
Being back in the palace continuing the celebration Zoisite noticed that Mizuiro sneaked out and away to the gardens and he followed her and find her in the garden where they had went the first time, she was standing by the pond watching the water lilies resting their on the surface.
"Waiting for someone special?" he asked her.
"Not anymore," she said and turned toward him.
"And why is that?"
"I'm looking at him," said and he walked up to her and kissed her on the forehead where her sign still glowed.
"That tickles," she said, "the sign is very sensitive when it's apparent as it is now."
He traced the character with feather light fingers and she trembled slightly and her eyes glazed over as she looked at him and he bent down and kissed her lips in sweet kiss.
"Ai shiteru, Mizuiro, zutto," he whispered and looked into her eyes that seemed to be huge in the dim light from the moon.
"Ai shiteru, Zoisite, with all my heart," she answered and he claimed her lips for a kiss, her arms slid around his shoulders and her hands buried themselves in his hair that he for the first time had left hanging free; his arms encircled her slender waist and pulled her close as the kiss deepened.
Somewhere faraway from Earth a violin was playing a slow, romantic waltz all by itself as its owner danced with her partner. The view over Neptune was breathtaking and cast a pale green blue light into the room as they danced, both in their Princess clothing, deep blue silk mixing with turquoise as they whirled around the empty hall together to the seductive sound of the violin.
As the music stopped they halted in their movements and walked over were a crystal carafe white chilled wine waited and Hukamidori poured two glasses and gave one to Aiiro.
She raised her glass in a toast and so did Aiiro.
"To happy endings and ever lasting love," she said and the light sound of crystal touching crystal was heard in the vast hall.
Translation of Japanese words
Ai no Megami = Goddess of Love
kono = Kono yarou! is the whole insult and means bastard and when really angry only Kono comes out
minna = everyone
naruhodo = I see
nasakenai = pathetic
Akuryo Taisan = 'Evil spirits begone'
baka = idiot, stupid
mou! = enhough! or Geez!
otouto = little brother
doushite = why
yuki = snow
Omae ha dare = Who are you
Kirei = beutiful
Ai shiteru = I love you, really emotinol
Atashi = feminine way to say 'I'
Honto ni = Really
zutto = For a long time, forever