Lost Senshi
Chapter One: The Struggle
By Phoenix Fire Child

How could I let this happen? I was the one who was to save them. Instead I stayed away from them, no movement in my body...

The room was dark. Deserted. Empty. Why had he been chosen to stay? Why had the yoma picked him? Why couldn't she have been a person of strength? Who was he to search the great city, finding the missing senshi? Prince, he was Prince; yet his mind only went so far when he thought about his lost wife. Heavily he placed his head in his hands letting his emotions stir.

----

Four men waited by the two, each glistening with a slight sweat. The youngest, Jadeite, stood tall, his breath escaping in loud gasps. "Don't worry majesty," he mouthed, planting his feet into the ground and clenching his fists. Twenty-three and so full of spirit this boy, Endymion thought when he saw the stone faced man look at the senshi clad in red. He mouthed words to her, words of purity, words from his heart, his soul, "I love you..."

And the priestess answered back, with the slightest movement of her lips, only her eyes making the words clear, "And I you..." she moved forward, the strong breezes of wind flowing through her hair and about her body. Her thin frame was a mask of shadows, black abnormal shadows of hatred and evil. The only true thing about the senshi of Mars was her eyes, the strong violet eyes that could stare down any person, may they have the courage. Known for her Shinto ways, this priestess would no sooner die, than live a thousand decades.

Of the four men who stood, only one had the long brown hair that played with the eyes of the beast known to few as Kitada. Endymion saw this, his eyes casting cold stares and his hair sweeping about his body, dancing with such life only one could make out the meaning. The one and only child that could make out any of this generals motions, words, stares. Mokusei's only child, Lady Makoto. The princess of the planet Jupiter. How she was a strong willed person, engaged to this strong willed man no one knew. Only one and that one had a soul of steel. No one could break her innocence, her secrets were locked away deep in her mind and heart. And as Endymion noticed all the people of his court, he began to think himself. His mind didn't think, only his heart and his soul, which were both connected by a force unseen by any other, not even to him.

Words flew through Endymion's head; "You have terrorized this city for the last time. I will not let you take this from any of my people or friends. You have betrayed us Kitada-san! Why? Why do you do this to us?" The words rushed from his mouth, placing themselves in the ears of the monster that stood before him. The creature looked at him, eyes wide and mouth playing with a grin. "Kitada! Answer me! Why?"

The monster stared at him in disgust; "You have left me with nothing! I am now a creature brought back from the deathbed that you have sent me to. You are the fool who has turned me into what I am now. A creature from the dead! You have turned me into...this...this hideous monster!" Kitada shouted to Endymion with the same grin on her face, "But...now that I am this...this creature...I can destroy you! I have powers beyond belief! I can take you and your whole kingdom out!"

"Please Kitada. What ever it is that I have done to you...tell me! Let me help you! My senshi and I can be of use to you," Endymion said with a somber glare in his eyes. Serenity stood, looking into the eyes of the yoma that towered over her husband. "We can help you. We will help you! Just give us time!" Endymion brought his hands down, in a swift motion, toward the ground below his feet. He snatched a handful of earth and held it out to Kitada. "Take this!" Kitada Hikui looked at the soil that Endymion held in his hand and then at him.

"What is that?" she asked in a cynical tone. "Why would you give me dirt?" She continued to stare at Endymion, wondering what was on his mind. Her eyes changed expressions in a slow state. I don't understand... What is he trying to show me?

The soil in Endymion's hand began to glow. It was a strange mystical glow. The green light stood around the brown matter in his palm. It glowed, brighter and brighter with every breath he took. Finally the light faded, leaving behind a rock. The rock floated above his hand, mocking Kitada for a moment. Endymion's eyes gazed at the silver rock then at the creature that stood before him. "Take this..." he said in a soft voice. Kitada looked at him for a moment, then brought her hands above her head and let a red light flicker in the middle of them.

Mars planted her feet in the ground, raising her hands up and moving her mouth to the familiar words of her power. Usagi stood behind Mars with her hands on the ginzuishou and her eyes on her husband. She gasped when she saw the yoma's eyes, but smiled when she saw that Endymion had taken the soil from the ground.

Jupiter stood behind the stiff prince, her arms crossed, ready for any attack the yoma threw at her. Her eyes focused on the hands of her king and the eyes of the yoma that stood before him. She glanced at Mars, who caught her eye and nodded her head. And at that moment, Jupiter opened her mouth and chanted the words of a familiar phrase. A bright bolt of lightening towered through the sky, making it's way to the yoma. It lit up the dark clouds, that the yoma had placed around the palace, as well as the yoma's own startled face. It hit Kitada in the shoulder. She cried out in pain, but stood straight, giving off a nebulous gaze toward Jupiter.

Mars gave a devious smile at Jupiter's attack and opened her mouth, ready to chant the words of her power. A stream of fire raced through the air, its helical form making its way toward the yoma's body. At this point the yoma lowered her eyes and threw out a continuos current of water toward the fire. The two powers collided; creating an explosion that took out the pagoda in the center of the battle scene. Mars gasped and pushed Usagi over, trying to dodge the power that traveled through the air.

"Prince Endymion, I have come to a conclusion," Kitada said when the fire had disappeared. Endymion looked at her, his eyes squinting from the smoke that hung in the air. "I want you to do something for me..." There was furtiveness in her voice as well as her eyes. She raised her hands and threw a power at the senshi that stood behind him. There were screams and cries for help, but Endymion realized that he could not move, nor could he turn his head to see what Mars and Jupiter were going through as well as the four generals, his friends. Kitada gave a little smirk and raised her arms again, aiming her power at the Queen and the palace that stood at her side. The red light struck the air with a loud screech. More screams were heard from inside that palace, and Endymion could hear Usagi calling for help.

My feet won't move! Why can't I turn? Serenity, please hang on! Don't let her take you! Endymion's breathing got faster and faster with every inch he tried to move. His legs felt like a thousand bricks and his arms hung loosely at his side. His teeth were clenched and his eyes narrowed, giving Hikui the satisfaction she wanted.

"Endymion, I have asked you to do something for me...yes?" Hikui asked with a grin playing her lips. She threw her arm out, causing a bolt of red energy to emerge. Endymion's head nodded in response. "I have three tests for you. They are quite simple to tell you the truth," Kitada said in a low hum. Her face glowed as she spoke the words of her plans for Endymion. "Three tests is all I ask of you. Three and you shall be free from my power. The first is quite simple. It may only take you days, or it could take you years..." her voice trailed off, leaving Endymion stunned. "The first test involves strength and wisdom. You are to find your senshi and generals. I have sent them to different lives all throughout this world. They have no memory of you or this place you call your palace. Find them and I will give you yet another test, as well as an answer to your question about what you have done to me!" she said in a slow rising voice.

Fire blazed around the palace as she spoke. Endymion's hairline was covered with small beads of sweat from the fervor of the fire. His eyes widened in shock when he heard the words of his ex-advisor. He stared at her, his eyes unable to move, his breath rising and falling. "N-nani? You cannot ask me to do this! I-I...can't believe you are asking me to do such a thing. Return the senshi now, Kitada!" he yelled keeping his mind to the soil that lay beneath his feet. The silver rock was still lying in his hand, cold and hard. He looked at the stone and then at the yoma in front of him. He threw the stone to the floor, challenging her. "You will loose, and I shall win!" he gloated, watching her smile in disgust.

"All right, your majesty!" she mocked. Kitada looked at the burning castle and then at the Prince that stood before her. "I will be waiting in Abashiri. If you are able to find your court, then you will have your second test! Till then!" She left with a gust of wind following her, consuming the ground below her.

Prince Endymion watched the hysterical yoma leave and then looked at the empty ruins behind him. His eyes flooded and his knees collapsed. What have I done? Why? he asked himself. He stood from his position; his body sagging and his form ready to collapse at any moment. He made his way into the castle and up to his bedroom.

----

"So I have three tests?" Endymion asked himself, sitting on the soot-covered bed that lay in his room. He rolled the question over and over in his head. How was he to do this? Kitada said that she set the senshi into different lives in this country? What does that mean? Did she kill them and reincarnate them? Or did she just put them with families, and give the families back round about them? His mind would not focus on the problem that sat in front of him, only the ones he lost. The senshi, his wife. What was he going to do? How was he going to handle the commitment? "Oh gods...please help me get through this."

As he held his head in his hands and thought about the problem, he heard a tiny voice. It sounded like it was at ankle height? "Luna?" he whispered to himself. "Luna-chan?" his question was getting louder with each holler for the small black cat. "Luna, where are you?" he asked standing and letting his problems leave his mind. He heard the tiny voice again, calling from underneath the bed? He lifted the comforter and peered into the dark cave that lay under his bed. "Oh Luna!" he called, grabbing her and taking her into the light. He brushed the soot from her soft black coat and propped her on the bed. "Are you all right?" he asked in a soft voice, kneeling before her.

"Oh your majesty! I am so glad you found me. I saw what the yoma did, and I o-over heard her talking to one of her henchmen while she left. S-she said that it was a go-good thing she only sent them into different lives. It may ha-have been too much for her if she reincarnated them. Oh Endymion-san, what are you going to do?" her voice was soft and her body motionless. She had been caught in the slight fire that made its way to Usagi and his bedroom. He looked at her with soft eyes and stroked her back.

"Luna, I'm going to find them, all of them. Do you think you are strong enough to come with me? I'll need your help. You are the only one I know that can restore memory. I...I cannot do such a thing and would be lost without you." He stared at the black feline on the bed and waited for a response. Slowly she brought her head up and nodded her head whispering, "Hai" to him at the same moment.

He smiled and picked her up, ever so carefully, and brought her to the closet. "Now, let me see. I have to make myself look inconspicuous. Or else, how am I going to get through this country? What do you think Luna? A name change, a new outfit, a new identity." Luna managed a smile at what he was saying.

"Endymion-sama, you need a different name and a new look, all right? Otherwise your kingdom will be swarming around you, trying to get information." He smiled at her and continued to look through his closet. He pulled out an old pair of black pants and threw them onto the bed, "Good, but now you need a shirt, something that doesn't say too much about you," Luna said trying to stand. When she had stood on the soft bed she looked up at Endymion. He was standing, watching in wonder at how much strength the cat had.

"You know Luna, for being neko, you certainly are strong," he said laughing. Luna shot him a look of annoyance and continued to balance herself on the bed. "How about this?" he asked holding up a white shirt. "It doesn't look too bad. I can just say I'm a worker for the palace, "he said taking it off the hanger and placing it on the bed. He took his cloths into the bathroom, or whatever was left of it, and changed into the clothes he had just picked out.

"How do I look?" he asked stepping out of the bathroom. Luna glanced at him, finding it very difficult to see that he wasn't the prince of the Earth.

"Forgive me Endymion-sama, but are you going to wear your diamond when out in public?" she asked pointing her paw at his ear. Endymion blushed and removed the bright diamond, feeling very strange without it. He put it in his pocket and took a small gold loop from the nightstand and placed it in his ear. "You need something else," Luna said jumping from the bed and sitting in front of him. He kneeled on the floor beside her and looked at her, his eyes giving off looks of confusion as well as eagerness to get going.

"What do I need neko?" he asked smiling. Luna glared at him, narrowing her eyes and turning her head, "I'm sorry, Luna. What is it that I need? I don't think I need much else."

"You need to wear glasses or something," she said looking into his blue eyes.

"What about you?" he asked picking her up and stroking her back. She purred eagerly as he ran his long fingers down her back, placing them at the top of her head when he began again. "Don't you think that people will recognize you as Luna?" he asked gazing out of his window at the streets below.

"Perhaps, but I think I'll manage," Luna answered purring and giving him an innocent glance. "I can always duck into allies and such, I'll be fine, don't worry about me Endymion -san..."

"If you insist," he said taking his hand from her back and leaning back to meet his nightstand. He grabbed his reading glasses and put them on his face, blinking a few times to get used to the magnification. "Hmm?" he asked sitting back up and looking at Luna. "Do I pass as I commoner?" he said mocking Mina's words.

"Oh definitely," Luna replied jumping off of the bed and onto the ash covered floor. She looked up at her prince, wondering how she was going to be able to keep him in line. He wasn't the perfect student for her to take on. He was nice, but so temper-mental at times. Luna's eyes traced the prince's face, shaking her head finding he looked the same as he had done before, only clean and not as formal. "Gomen your majesty, but I don't think that this look is going for you. You look like Prince Endymion."

Endymion gazed at the black cat that stood before him. His mind filling with anger as he thought of his power. "Of course," he whispered to himself, placing his hands to his head and running them through the jet-black hair. He closed his eyes and tossed his head back. As he lifted his hands from his head a mass of golden tresses fell from his hands. He shot his eyes open and blinked at the cat. "How's that?" he asked giving her a mischievous grin. His eyes had been lightened in color; a soft blue now filled his cold gaze.

"You look like...Jadeite..." Luna said, her eyes filling with reminisce of his former best friend. "Gomen-nasi your majesty."

"Hai, well, we'd better get going," he said laughing a bit at the comment. He walked down the hall, his back facing her the whole time.

"Endymion -san..."

"No wait. Luna, I need a new name. How dense can I be?" he thought stopping in his tracks and looking at the startled feline. "I need something that doesn't sound too strange, got any ideas neko?" he asked turning his head and looking at the ground below him.

"Kuni?" she asked with a dubious glare. Endymion smiled and bent down to pick her up.

"Kuni? Luna, I'm not too sure, but I do think that people may connect that with the palace. Country, think about it," he said letting her jump onto his shoulder.

"Hayai?" she asked smiling. "It suits you Endymion-san." Endymion turned his head to see the black cat resting on his shoulders. His eyes grew wide and his mind flipped the name over in his head.

"It does, doesn't it?" he asked walking down the corridor to the entrance of the building. "I got it!" he exclaimed before resting his hand on the doorknob. "Tsuyoi Hayai!" his voice echoed through the empty castle. "It goes wonderfully!"

"Hai...it does," came a voice. It was soft and husky in sound, and the voice also had a certain pain in it.

"Who's there?" Endymion asked, turning around and looking for the carrier of the voice.

Soon a tall figure stumbled out from behind the shadows of the dark hallway. His blond hair reflected the light that filtered through the windows, while his suit was covered with ash. Endymion squinted his eyes, trying his best to see the stranger. "Oh Endymion, don't tell me you don't recognize me," he said, leaning against the wall. "I have been here for a while, I heard you when you came up with a name, good choice."

"Jadeite?" Endymion whispered, walking slowly to the other side of the hall. His hair glowed in the light as he made his way to his friend. His dearly devoted friend whom he had known all his life. "Jed?"

"Hai..." he replied, clenching his teeth and leaning his head against the wall.

"What happened to you?"

"I escaped Kitada...urgh...I managed to run away from the attack. I was going to go get the rest of the senshi...ah...but...ooh...I didn't make it past this hallway. She blew it up before I got out. I wanted to save Rei, Endymion. She's gone! I saw it. I saw the senshi disappear, I saw the princess vanish, I saw everything...urgh...and now I'm an injured fool who cannot save his love."

Endymion stared at his injured friend, unable to do what he felt he needed to. Slowly he approached; his heart was racing the entire time. He looked awful; his eyes were drained of life. The only thing that showed was shame and guilt. "Jadeite, you couldn't stop it," Endymion said, resting a hand on his friend's shoulder.

Jadeite took a deep breath and fell to the ground, clutching his left arm. Tears fell down his ash stained cheeks, his shoulders were quivering, and his body was tense. "But there was something I could have done!" he shouted, cringing when he felt the pain shoot through his arm. "I could have stayed with her! I could have stood in front of her and kept her from dying! But I failed, Endymion-kun! I failed!"

Endymion shook his head and help Jadeite to stand, "No. I failed. I let myself succumb to her whim. I didn't bother fighting. I don't know what came over me. I used the friendship spell, but I couldn't understand why."

Jadeite limped slowly back to the main room of the palace. There he sat on a bench and cleansed himself of every evil that had been put into his body. His open wounds healed over and the ash on his clothing vanished, "By the way Endymion," he called, rubbing his forehead, which still ached from the explosion.

Endymion turned and threw Jadeite a bandage for his arm, "What is it, Jed?"

"Why have you disguised yourself to look like me?"

Endymion laughed nervously and put a hand to his blonde hair, "It was an attempt to move about in the streets without having people mob me," he said.

The injured man sent a mental command out to the white bandage and watched as it wrapped itself around his now sprained arm, "But you think that by disguising yourself to look like me no one will go after you? Endymion I may not be prince of the earth, but I am a prince of my respected corner of the world, I would still get mobbed..." he said. He touched his arm gently and winced at the pain. "That disguise wouldn't have helped...much."

"I realize that now, dear friend. Thank you for dousing my hopes. Now I must come up with another identity," he said, tapping a finger to his lips. His eyes widened at that moment and a flash of brown hair fell over his head. It was still short and soft as it had been before, but now it was brown. His eyes had turned a hazel color as well. "Well...?"

Jadeite did a mock inspection of his prince and shook his head; "It will have to do. I suppose I can do something along those lines," he said.

At that moment Endymion held up his hand, "You are not coming with me..."

The blonde man turned his head up and looked Mamoru straight in the eye; "I am going with you. I have sworn fealty to you! I will not allow you to travel out in the cities alone! You will need me! What happens if Kitada-san attacks you on your journey? What then?" he asked. He was standing straighter than he normally did for he was outshining Endymion's height by half a head.

Finally Endymion broke away from Jadeite's stare and began pacing the room, "You don't understand. If I let you come with me, you could be injured far worse than you are now!" he retorted. He was shaking his head as he paced. "No, I can't allow it..."

Jadeite fell to his knee then, "Endymion, if you leave me here I will be consumed by grief and guilt. I will fall into depression for the woman I love is gone and my best friend walking into death's hands! I would be disgracing my family honor if I broke my vow to be loyal to you! Please, I am asking you to let me go with you and help fight the evil! I am begging you!" Jadeite stared up at the pacing prince and smiled, "There are such adventure out there, Endymion-kun. If we were both the same people we would be tracking down the beauties of this land side-by-side. Do you know what that means? It means that we are partners! We fight beside one another! You can't say that I am stuck in this old half eaten palace alone!"

Endymion stopped when he heard his friend's words. They were true, when they were younger, before they met the beautiful princesses; the two would work together in luring young maidens to them. It took them months to figure out the perfect plan; too many beautiful women were attracted to them, for each were young handsome men. There were times when Endymion would stand directly across from a beauty that he had spot and would wait as Jadeite made his move.

Endymion was laughing when he recalled the memory. "You are absolutely right, Jed!" he exclaimed walking over to the kneeling general. "We are partners. How could I forget?"

Jadeite looked up at his friend and cocked an eyebrow, "Prince Endymion, you are letting me attend?" he asked, standing.

"Of course! You have told me about our partnership! I have remembered the things you and I have done together to get fair maidens to join one of our embraces! You have helped me in training; you have helped me in my lessons. I can recall the time you false played a fight with Zoey so you could stand next to the tutor and give me answers to the test! You have been a great friend and I know how badly you wish to see the young Princess..." he said, taking his friend's hand and shaking it wildly. "Come then, hurry."

The youngest of the generals smiled greatly and put a hand to his head. "A disguise that won't make me to look like a fool, nor make me look to be a member of the court." His hand began to glow a mystical red as he concentrated on a spell. His hair faded from blonde to white then to a rich dark blonde. "Good?" he asked blinking his eyes twice. Green eyes that would pass for small emeralds stared back into Endymion's now hazel eyes.

His friend stared back in utter shock, "I never knew you had that power!" he stated.

"It takes a lot of nagging from Kunzite to get this power. I was forced to learn it, but I am still no where in comparison to him nor you," Jadeite said, shaking his head and rubbing his neck. "I have much to learn. As you can tell, I'm a slow learner. Singing has been my only high point."

"And you sing wonderfully!"

"Arigatou..." he replied blushing slightly. "Now," he began, changing the subject, "if I'm correct, I need a new name. One to roam the streets with..." he looked to Endymion for an answer.

The latter nodded his head and crossed his arms, "A name for protection, not to roam in the streets with."

"It serves for the exact same purposes. But a name is a hard decision. Let me see..." Jadeite began, pacing the large room. He stopped when he saw the harp leaning against a burned cello, "Music is pure. Look what that wench did to that harp!"

Endymion strode over to his friend and looked upon the same instrument he stared upon, "Your love for music is quite big," he said, putting a hand on his shoulder. "Ongaku..." Endymion sighed, then more harshly, "Ongaku! That's it! Ongaku!"

"Well yes, Endymion. Ongaku is what the harp is used for. Honestly, I thought you were smarter than that," he said walking away.

Endymion shook his head and ran after his friend, "Ongaku is the name I choose for you," he said.

The now brown haired man pondered the name and made an uneasy sigh, "It is a good name, but I don't know if I would want to roam the country being called that. Can't I do something like you did? Perhaps name myself after a characteristic?"

At that moment Luna, who had been sitting in the doorway of the room, jumped up into Jadeite's lap and purred. "Ah, you taunt me Luna. You with your beautiful black coat and me with my ivory complexion. Wait a minute! Are you trying to tell me something?" he asked, jumping up and staring down at the cat.

"Perhaps, Lord Jadeite. Did my trick succeed in making up your mind?" she asked, sitting before his feet and giving him her sly cat smile.

Jadeite contemplated the thought and nodded, "You've convinced me. But how did you know I was going to say ivory?"

Luna shrugged and closed her eyes, "I didn't. I took a chance. Either you chose the word ivory or you didn't. Either way I would have said something."

"You have a smart neko on your hands, Endymion. Ongaku Zoge. It suites me, just as your name suites you," Jadeite said, looking down at his clothing. "Are the rooms still in decent shape?" he asked, brushing off his gray suit.

Endymion shook his head and pointed to his clothing. "Half of my room has been destroyed. Perhaps you shall have better luck."

"And perhaps not. If I go in there I may regret my choice..." he said making his way out of the room. "Do you wish to follow or do you wish to sit in this room and think?" Jadeite asked, running up the stairs. "You will not make it there before I!"

Endymion took the challenge, and though very far behind, took up his own pace and ran after his friend.

As Endymion reached the top he stopped, noting that Jadeite stood in the doorway to his room, obviously stunned. He walked up behind his friend and put a hand on his shoulder, "Are...you all right?" he asked breathing harshly.

Jadeite, his breathing also rough, meekly nodded his head and walked in to the demolished room. The pictures that once hung on the beautifully painted walls were on the floor shredded and still burning with fire. The portrait his mother had painted of he and Rei was in flames, the painting of Endymion and Serenity was gone from the wall and lay face down on the carpeted floor. His dressers were thrown down, his clothes spilling every where. There were very few garments of the Lady Rei for she rarely stayed with him, but what was left was burned.

Slowly he picked up one of the blackened gowns of his ladylove. The once beautiful garment of red silk was a heap of black ash. There were no signs of anything whole. The bed had even been half destroyed. He had forgotten that his room lay on the same side of the palace as Endymion's. His hands skimmed the surface of the bed; his black sheets still looked the same, yet not. "Oh Gods, why did you choose me..." he asked, kneeling on the ground and picking up a crystal.

It was a silver gem that resembled quartz. It was heavy and sculpted into a figurine of a palace. "Oh Endymion...they have destroyed every bit of my pitiful life! Look! There, the once beautiful painting my mother made for me in the past! That is priceless! She had a vision that I would marry a woman with long raven hair and beautiful violet eyes. She painted the picture of the woman and I. And look where it is! On the damn floor, burned! Probably the last thing of Rei's I have or had!"

Endymion walked into the room and kneeled next to the picture of Jadeite and Rei. "Jed, you do know that Rei's chambers are on the other side of the palace one story up..." he reassured, leaning the large frame against an over turned desk.

Jadeite held the crystal palace in his hands and, before he could stop himself, broke it. His hand crushed it. Blood seeped from his wounds. He didn't seem to mind so much, for he stood and walked to his closet. Pulling out several articles of clothing and striping his own off.

Endymion did nothing but stand by the large window. He was content with his clothing and, although he and Jadeite had changed before one another before, felt strange. He pressed his body against the beige wall and waited patiently, his eyes focused on the ground.

Soon Jadeite emerged from the closet. He was wearing black pants and a white shirt. Draped over his shoulders, billowing about his floor, was a black cloak. It was simple and made of a sort of tight woven material, thus making it look more common than anything in the palace. There was a strip of white cloth surrounding the hand that had crushed the crystal and a black bag in his other hand. "You need a cloak, Endymion. It will get cold during the nights," he said with a tone unlike his own. "Kunzite should have one in his room. It's a black gray so it should fit you. You are slightly shorter than he is."

He strode quickly out of his room and down the hall into another. Tossing slightly blacked clothing out of the closet he came up with a nearly blackened cloak. "Gomen, but I suppose Nephrite's cloak will fit you..." he said when he saw Endymion walking into the room.

Endymion stood out of the way as Jadeite made a dash for the next room down the hall. There, finally, was a dark brown clock that was neither burnt nor shredded. "Put this on," Jadeite said, throwing Endymion the cloak, "And take this with you," he threw another black bag at him.

"What is this for?"

"Are we bringing horses?" Jadeite asked, stretching out the bag.

"Saddle bags. I'm sorry, Jed. I wasn't thinking. I was just in a hurry to get out and find the senshi so that I could get the princess back..." Endymion said, draping the large hood over his head. "By the way, where did you guys get these clothes?" he asked tying the neck of the cloak.

Jadeite hesitated slightly before answering, "While you went to the Moon for a small visit to Serenity, the other generals and I went out in search of warm bodies. I wasn't exactly in the mood for women, I was more interested in catching some thief and tying him to a tree, but I had no choice but to go with the others. It was an attempt to disguise ourselves. We bought them at a nearby market place. Each of us got a different color, I have black, Kunzite has dark gray, Nephrite has brown, and Zoicite has a deep forest green. You were gone quiet a while, we were going to get you one so that you may scour the countryside with us, but we didn't have time and when you got back you said that you would never want another maiden in your bed. Then we were glad we didn't get you one..."

Endymion narrowed his eyes and shook his head, "But we all went to the Moon several days after my return. How many times did you use these cloaks?"

Jadeite handed Endymion his saddle bag, "Only about twice. Could you fill my bag for me? I have some things to attend to..." he said pointing at the next case of stairs.

Endymion rolled his eyes and walked down to the kitchen. He wasn't in the mood to fill their saddlebags with food, nor was he interested in learning the whereabouts of his generals. It seemed to him that the most important thing was to leave the palace and find his wife. Ah Gods. I don't want to spend my time getting unnecessary things for this journey.

He was in the kitchen, roaming the pantry with haste. He had this burning urge to steal away and grab a purse of coins so that he could buy food instead of packing his own. But knowing his friend, bringing coins would not be smart. "I'm going to make sure this lout leaves before dawn," he said to himself, shoving a loaf of bread into one of his saddlebags. He found another day old loaf and threw that into Jadeite's bag. There was dried venison hanging with the other cured meats, and he grabbed a handful of those to pile into the four bags.

Jadeite, meanwhile, was searching the rooms on the third floor. He was rummaging through the Princess Mars' belongings when he felt the pain in his body tighten and fall. "Damn medicinal powers," he growled, wishing that his knowledge in magic were stronger so that he could heal himself as quickly as any of the other generals.

He stood; ready to leave the room without a memento of his love when he spotted the white gold necklace resting on the nightstand. It was gleaming it's beautiful white, taunting him with memories. It was the only thing he could do to pick it up and let the flood of remembrance flow through his mind...

----

"So you believe that you actually love me?" the beauty asked, wandering through her palace's gardens. She was just visiting her parents, but her presence on the Moon would be needed soon. Venus hadn't finished training the girls yet, and the professors still had lessons about etiquette for them.

Jadeite smiled and followed her as she picked flowers and wove them into a bushy garland. He was holding something behind his back, something that gleamed white and red when the sun caught it. "Hai...I do love you, Princess," he said in response to her question. "Do you love me?" he asked, bending over so that his mouth was right beside her ear.

She was not easily won. His charm was flattering, but his persistence was beginning to have her wish that he would leave her home and visit her while she was on the Moon.

A faint breeze passed by the couple in the gardens, sweeping the maidens hair and weaving through the general's. She closed her eyes and let the wind whisper in her ears, let the breeze flow over her body and let the fire within her build. "Lord Jadeite...I do care for you..." she whispered, walking over to the next group of flowers.

"Demo..."

"Demo...my duty lies with her highness. I don't have time to get involved with a man..." she said, her back to him and her hands busy weaving the stems with their partners.

Jadeite grinned slightly and brought the object from behind his back to drape over her neck.

She was stunned, and he felt it. He could feel her whole body stiffen when the cold chain made contact with her beautiful flesh. She dropped her garland then, to look upon the charm in the center. The beauty of the ruby heart caused a smile to form on her lips. "Jed..." she whispered, spinning around so that she was face to face with him. "Your soul belongs to the army of the prince," she said.

He shook his head and wrapped his arms around her waist, "My soul belongs with you...and it always will."

"Do you say that to all of the women you bed?"

"I would never let these lips speak those words to another living soul. You are the one for me, and you always will be. If you ever tell me that I am not allowed to love you, I will continue to do so no matter your wrath. I love you, Rei. I never thought I would be able to feel this kind of love for anyone, but when I met you...a fire raged through my body and my heart stopped beating. My mind said, 'This is her. This is whom you will spend your life with because she is your match.'" His lips were inches from hers. His voice was barely above a whisper and his eyes were glazing over.

She was shocked, stunned. Deep down she always knew that she loved this man, but she was always afraid to let the barrier around her heart fall. His words brought her new life; they gave her hope that someday she would be able to return those words with some of her own. "Are you willing to love a woman whose mind belongs to protecting a princess?" she asked, closing her eyes and waiting for his arms to fall.

They didn't move, "As long as her heart is beating beside mine." It was not a whisper, nor was it a shout. It was a sigh. A sigh of love, relief, and happiness.

"I...love you...Jed," she breathed, wrapping her arms around his neck and jumping up to meet his lips.

He broke the kiss to finger the necklace around her neck, "Never take it off?"

"Never."

Yea or Nay? I hope you enjoyed it. If no one likes it, then I'm going to stop the story here...so I hope people like it! Please review!

Sincerely, Phoenix Fire Child