Replies to Reviews:

Chibi Sarcasm: Yup, Grandpa IS a bit of a loony.  That's because I wasn't really sure how he behaves, so I kinda made him up. Hehe.

Regarding Rae's behavior, I am more familiar with the anime Rae, hence the teasing and joking stuff – I can't seem to find any mangas here in my place. Woe is me!

Bananagurl: Hope you got my email. ;-)

Angel: Thanks!  Sigh Still has a long way to finish though, hehe.

MagicMizzy(still on strike): Hehe, poor Jade indeed.  And with the way he and Rae met on this lifetime,. . .even I don't know what will happen! ;-)

By the way, what's with the name - (still on strike)?

Slice: Glad you like the Ami episode. ;-)

Kaze no beru: Hello!!! My, my, what a small world!  Who would have thought that the creator of the fanart behind this fic would get to read this!  Your fanart was absolutely charming – upon seeing it, my hands itched to type a story.  Thanks for the inspiration! *Rain gives a tiny salute* ;-)

Iryl: Hahaha!  You naughty girl. . .hmm, that gives me an idea, hehehe.

K. Wyse: Thanks for the review.  I guess I was a little bit off (ok, maybe not just a little bit) - in the grammar and tenses, *snicker* that's what I get for sleeping in my English classes, hehe.

Yup, I did see to it that each senshi/shitennou will have different encounters with their partners.  I mean, having similar experiences tend to be TOO much of a coincidence. ;-)

Blue Quartz: Wow, thanks for the vote of confidence!

Lilian: Aw, shucks, you made me blush!  Thanks! ;-)

NOW, on with the story!

Just a recap: (PLEASE READ!!!)

In Chapter 9 - Rae and Jadeite had just met in a rather awkward moment.  Rae, still reeling from the events of the previous night when she saw a figure in the fire; and Jadeite who after transforming to his human form, was befriended by Rae's grandfather.  The older Hino and Jadeite had a gameplan on how the young man will awaken the memories embedded in Rae's mind, and eventually, on how to win her heart, again.

Rae is a bit puzzled on the fire incident as well as the absence of her doll.  She also got to talk to Lita regarding the latter's so-called dream.

In Chapter 8 – Ami had just had an encounter with the lovable Zoicite in his boxers, and both were somehow pulled in a trance, memories of their first kiss remembered.  They were interrupted however when Ami's mom knocked on her door.  When Ami turned around after discussing a few minutes with her mom, the young man was gone.  A lapel was found attached at the window sill – and the blue-haired girl was left baffled.  Have yet to discover that her doll was missing.

In Chapter 7 – Lita woke up with a man lying on her bed.  After the initial panic, it was replaced by indignation at the young Nephrite for getting into her room, and into her bed.  She threatened the young man with pepper spray but a vision of him kissing her shook both characters to the core.  After which Lita charged at the helpless Nephrite – but (with reference to Lita's phone call to Rae) later claimed to have 'woken up' from her dream.  Like Ami, Lita has yet to realize that her doll was missing. 

In Chapter 6 – Kunzite transformed within the embrace of the sleeping Mina.  Upon learning that he could not really disentangle himself from the grip the girl had on him, he relaxed.  In the process, slices of memories came to him on how the couple was in their prior lifetime.  The chapter ended with the two of them sleeping blissfully. 

Notice that although the generals seemed to know the girls from their previous lifetime, the senshi have absolutely no idea that these guys are slowly fitting themselves in to their lives.  This is because the girls were reborn in modern day Tokyo with the memories of their past still intact in the farther depths of their minds, waiting to be 'reawakened'.  The generals however,. . .(My goodness, I'm almost telling the whole story here, better you guys continue reading.)

Chapter 10 – The Dark Shadow of Love II

Note: Warning, this chapter is WAY too long.  And if you guys find the format of the chapter confusing, please tell me so that I could something about it. Hehe. Enjoy!

[I'm yours, always had been – always will. . .]

Mina suddenly opened her eyes and sat up jerkily on top of her bed – her breathing uneven, her sleek body covered in a thin film of sweat.

"Wh-what. . .what was that?" she asked in an unusual raspy voice.

In her awakened state, the last scene of the dream she had ebbed away into the farthest depths of her mind as reality seeped into her consciousness in overwhelming magnitude. 

Disoriented, Mina turned towards the source of her perplexed state.

It was her damn alarm clock.

Shaped like her pet cat -

- and screeching its head off like the banshee from hell.

Groaning in a rather unladylike manner, the young blonde reached out to turn off the blasted thing, murmuring under her breath about soon-to-be-dead 'dim-witted pet cats giving bloody alarm clocks for birthday gifts', and then returned to lie back again on her bed.

All the while, still dazed from sleep.

The young woman sighed as she let her gaze, still droopy from sleep, wandered to the walls of her charming bedroom.  The morning rays shone through the prisms hanging from the window ledge, creating beautiful arrays of colors covering the walls of the room like pastel wallpaper.

Mina had a delicate frown on her face.

The dream she just had was now but a mere blur in her mind, but she still felt. . .disturbed somehow, as evidenced by the goose bumps running along her arms and shoulders.

"What was I dreaming about?"

Automatically, her hands reached out for her doll, which was fast becoming her 'comfort towel' –

-  but found nothing.

"Huh?"

With a confused look, Mina turned to look at the area beside her on the bed where her doll usually was.

Seeing that it wasn't there, the young blonde groaned.

"Rats!"

Obviously, her adorable little doll fell from her bed and was probably having a bloody wonderful time with the bogeyman under it.

Her dream somewhat forgotten, Mina moved and let half of her body hung in one of the edges of the bed, carefully balancing herself – hands stretched out to lift slowly the hem of her bed sheets to search for her cute little Keith under the bed. . .when,

"Mina honey wake up!"

[BIG Sweatdrop moment here.]

With a yelp, Mina fell on her back on the floor with a rather, er – unhealthy *thump*.

"Owww!!!. . .Argghh,. . .Daadddyyyyyy!!!"

The young blonde heard her father's UNABASHED chuckling beyond her bedroom door and growled loud enough to put to shame any snarling fierce canine.

"Wake up sunshine!  I got your breakfast ready.  Ooh, wait till you take a bite of my scrumptious eggplant omelette honey.  It's sooo delicious, you're even gonna forget your name."

. . .literally.  Mina continued in her mind sardonically.

The young woman then sighed dejectedly.  She was currently facing the bedroom door, her back against the bed, her supple body supported by her right elbow and her left hand rubbing to soothe her aching backside.

Oh boy, another day for 'Survivor' Mina.

"Um, be right there daddy!  I'm just gonna. . .um, go to the bathroom – "

- and probably hang myself.

A snickering sound was heard from her dad.

"Ok, sweetheart.  Better take a bath now,. . .I can smell you from way out here - and believe me honey, your aroma lacks a certain appeal."

Oh boy.

"DADDY!!!"

And with a few more parting chuckles, footsteps were heard moving away from the door.

Mina glared at her bedroom door and then sighed laughingly.

She loved her dad, and found comfort in his jovial behavior considering her mother's death a few years ago due to an illness that left them distraught for awhile.  The event was devastating for both of them, but because of their good-natured personalities and love for each other, they have learned to live happily again.

The young blonde then stretched her body like a contented cat, a satisfying purr coming out of her lovely lips, the hem of her sleeveless top revealing a portion of her well-shaped abs as it traveled upwards due to her lazy movements.

Sigh, today is going to be a BEAUTIFUL day!

And with a joyful cry, Mina gracefully rose from the floor – the doll momentarily forgotten – and reached out for the fluffy towel that was hanging in one of her light tangerine boudoir seats.  With the towel wrapped around her shoulders, the lovely blonde headed straight to the bathroom for her morning bath.

On the way to the bathroom, she happened to pass by her boudoir table where her large mirror was mounted at.  Instinctively, without stopping, the young woman glanced at her reflection on the mirror for a fleeting moment before she turned her head towards the awaiting, and sinfully-delightful tub.

Suddenly, the young blonde halted in her steps.

For several nanoseconds, her quick mind (normally used in memorizing boys' names and their phone numbers - EFFECTIVELY I might add) was able to pick up something during that one brief moment of looking at the reflection on the mirror.

. . .What the heck?!?

With a sudden jerk of her head - and graceful swerve of her amazingly lithe body – she faced herself once more in the mirror.  Her beautiful eyes darted in all directions, taking in every little detail reflected back to her.

Like all girls, Mina was entitled to have her share of what women referred to as their favorite sin – that oh-so delightful flaw called VANITY. 

In this case however, what made the young woman stopped had nothing to do with the sudden urge to take a glimpse of her beautiful face (good lord, she damn well knew that already!  Not to mention, half of the male population as well).

Nor did it have anything to do with the desire to check if her frequent visits to the gym have toned down her already fabulous body.

In fact, it had nothing to do with her looks AT ALL.

She didn't know why, but. . .

She just HAD to.

Stop.

There was something in the last scene she caught from the reflection on the mirror that made her want to,. . .

Mina's delicate face was scrunched in a small frown.

She knew that there was something – different,. . .out of place, not normal - heck, CREEPY even, about what she just saw. 

She was DAMN sure of it.

As sure as the bubbly 'meatball-head' Serena waking up late and rushing to school in one of her famous marathons EVERY bloody single day of her life.

And boy, you can't be any surer than THAT!

But what?

Mina's brain suddenly jumpstarted to reel in all that were processed at that moment – seeking,. . .hunting for that which made her feel this. . .disconcerted in the first place.

Heart beating wildly, the young woman continued darting her eyes back and forth, side by side, within the rectangular space where her mirror was placed.

She can feel it now - the usual excitement one had when approaching an answer to a mind-boggling question.

She had an image in her mind of a rock thrown onto a lake – ripples spreading out from the spot where the rock was dropped, reaching towards the rocky edges of the lake, causing the leaves on the surface of the lake to bob up and down because of the disturbing waves.

And Mina was definitely ONE disturbed, bobbing leaf.

She NEEDED that rock.

Mina narrowed her eyes as she attempted to search further into the depths of her mind - hopefully to regions where *boys* and their phone numbers were not occupying a large portion of it.

She cursed under her breath, her face distorted in a supposedly concentrated manner but came out almost comical – lower lip chewed and eyes narrowed twitchingly.

Just a few more seconds, and her brain can finally point out the blasted source of all this turbulence.

Then. . .a light bulb started to spark in her dainty little mind.

Mina cautiously glanced back at the scene in the mirror, where her cozy little bed was also reflected behind her figure, and realized that. . .

Oh. . my. . .God -

"Mina honey, are you done yet?!"

The young blonde screeched in fright, jumping back from the mirror and at least a storey high.

And just like that, the light bulb flickered its last spark.

Mina slumped.

My God, the first ever logical activity in my pathetic little brain – and now it's gone! All gone!!!

And like the pretty actress she was, she leaned back in a rather melodramatic movement, her right arm covering half of her face in a seemingly desperate gesture.  A theatrical gasp came out from her lips – and when she wasn't satisfied with the first one, wheezed in exasperation.

Then a sudden knock on her door and a persistent voice coming from behind it, ruined her performance.

"Mina honey, are you alright?  What was that scream all about?"

The young woman danced her way towards the door and opened the door to find her fine-looking dad clad in a ridiculously looking apron, looking at her worriedly.

Mina smiled brightly and leaned towards her father to give him a kiss on one flour-covered cheek.

"Nothing, daddy.  Just, er, practicing my um, - shrieking. duh!  You know, for the part I got in the play, hehe."

And with that, the blonde let out a hair-raising, blood curdling scream

– to prove her point, of course.

Mina's dad sweat-dropped at his lovely young daughter.

"Um, that's. . .*nice* sweetheart."

Eyes suddenly twinkling, he regarded his daughter with a teasing look,

"Well, I do hope that. . .I mean judging by the way you're er, um, *practicing* your screaming and all - that they are not planning on carrying out a bloody massacre on stage."

Mina's left eye twitched.

Her dad suddenly crossed his arms in front of his burly chest and looked at his adorable daughter wickedly, eyebrows rose questioningly – and in sheer amusement.

"You ARE playing the part of Beauty, aren't you sweetheart?  I mean, I TOTALLY agree that you're such a wonderful and *flexible* actress and all – "

Uh-huh. . . 

Mina's face contorted in a rather. . .ghastly manner.

Mina's dad then decided to be. . .nice.

" – but Honey, I DO *honestly* think that the BEAST suits you better."

Oh boy.

"DADDY!!!"

And with that, the 'beast' tackled its helpless 'victim' to the carpeted floor, with the horrific intent of tickling the poor man to his wretched demise.

Unbeknownst to the two engaging characters, the forgotten mirror – who, moments ago, was the unlucky recipient of a deathly glare from its lovely mistress - became a silent witness to a strand of silver-platinum hair slithering back farther under the so-called *beast's* cozy bed, slightly covered by the tiny flimsy drapes of the bed sheets edges – dormant, and still.

Waiting.

Kunzite was loosing it.

He was positively, unquestioningly, beyond reasonable doubt - LOOSING it.

He NEEDED to go, and boy, was he in dire need of a release right now. 

Not only was he compelled to follow the urgent commands being sent by his weeping bladder to his dazed brain to take a leak –

Shit!

- but also by his overtly active hormones who OBVIOUSLY wanted to awaken SOMETHING else as well.

DAMMIT!

A few hours had already passed since that incident where he almost got himself bloody caught by Mina if not for the sudden (and very much welcomed) intrusion of her charming dad.

It was then that Kunzite started worshipping the older man –

and cursing his exquisite offspring.

Who would have thought - that such a handsome giant of a man, who was well known for his rock hard countenance and cold intelligent stealth in dealing with military matters, and who could raise fear even in the most courageous and obnoxious of men – would ever end up cowering under a pitifully tiny bed, hiding like a quivering feeble rabbit?

And from what?!

Kunzite was trembling like a MAD rabbit - and continued cursing under his breath.

From one TINY, one FLIMSY young GIRL!!!  Arggghh!!!

Kunzite thumped his head on the floor – quietly, of course.

Although the young man wanted nothing more than drawing out a mallet out of nowhere and just whacked himself upside in the head, he didn't want to make the mistake of being found out yet. . .

. . .ESPECIALLY not at THIS moment.

Kunzite groaned as he raised his head a little to the left and peek through the flimsy bed sheet edges covering the undersides of the bed (and thankfully, concealing the young man under the tiny bed) - at the young woman sitting on one of the seats. . .

- and almost whimpered.

The beautiful blonde, who had just gotten out of the bathroom after a relaxing soak in the tub (and who happened to NEGLECT closing the bathroom door before doing so), was now sitting in one of the boudoir seats – wearing a towel bun on her head. . .

. . .AND (sweet damnation!) seemed to be content in wearing ONLY that ONE blasted piece of cloth.

If only Kunzite was able to move his hands freely, he would. . .he would  –

- he would bloody get the dratted bed sheet covers out of the way!

And with that thought, the young man took a deep breath, and FIRMLY, MERCILESSLY - closed his grey hawk-like eyes and gritted his teeth.

Damn her!

Kunzite then recalled how in the world he ended up in his current state of humiliation and utter misery.

- Early Dawn, Mina's bedroom –

The young silver-haired man was getting a little - NO, make that - EXTREMELY desperate.

It was almost morning, and still, he was very much imprisoned within the young woman's embrace – limbs entangled and hairs intertwined – beautiful gold laced with silky platinum.

One heart calm, the other in turmoil.

Kunzite HAD to make a choice.

He MUST.

Or he'll end up - DEAD!

Slowly, he withdrew both of his arms from the young girl and gradually moved his head away from the young blonde's.

But before he could sigh in relief, the young man immediately felt the sudden tightening of slim arms around his thick neck and a whimper escaped Mina's pouting mouth.  Her body pulled itself towards the warmth that tried to depart from her small body.

Aw Shit!!!

Kunzite was slowly loosing his patience - an amazing feat considering that he was iron will personified.

Indeed, if 'patience' was a man – Kunzite would have been a god.

Then again, even a deity would have been helpless before LOVE - as Cupid was to Psyche.

Kunzite clenched his teeth but refused to surrender.  He knew that if Mina woke up in his arms – there would be hell to pay.

Not to mention, he was downright broke at the moment.

Dammit!

Kunzite sighed dejectedly.

And in his misery, he murmured wretchedly, eyes closed,

"Love, please. . ."

A few quiet moments passed.

And right before Kunzite opened his eyes – determined to finally move his body away from the sleeping girl, whether she allowed him to or not -

- something amazingly soft brushed his lips.

Kunzite almost jerked violently in astonishment but settled to stop breathing altogether instead.

He opened his grey eyes to see Mina – his lovely wonderful Mina – nuzzling him with her lovely lips, like she often did when he was still a feeble little doll.

But dear Lord, nothing prepared him for this.

Hell, he was no longer an immobile, numb little doll. . .

He was a full-grown MAN, for crying out loud!

A breathing, feeling, blood-pumping MAN!

With functioning sensory organs at that!

And the soft brushing of luscious lips against his, only made those sensory organs work WAY overtime.

And not to mention, he was bloody HALF-NAKED!

Kunzite, despite the overwhelming assault of delicious sensations throughout his body, STILL had a few sense left in his pitiful muddled brain.

He HAD to refrain himself from moving – from responding to the brazen (divine) oblivious (sweet) girl, and the delightful treat she's offering.

And he Damn well intended to!

Only problem is (ohohoho) - Mina's lips started getting naughty.

As if they found Kunzite's own somewhat different from past *meetings*, Mina's luscious lips was at the moment, er, renewing its familiarity with the warmer, more solid, and definitely more responsive mouth. 

Lips slightly opened, Mina started nibbling gently on Kunzite's lower lip – her shy tongue, occasionally brushed the rougher mouth, creating a delicious friction for both parties.  All the while, the girl's eyes were shut, soft moans emitted deep from her throat.

. . .

The mighty Kunzite had just died.

- Current Time –

Kunzite gave out a deep sigh.

No, he didn't die.

The young man snorted in mocked annoyance.

Yeah, merely fainted.  Good grief!  I almost BLOODY FAINTED!

And well, he would have if the exquisite girl hadn't suddenly stopped from deliciously torturing him and turned her back from him, releasing him in the process.

Mouth wide open, Kunzite merely stared at the back of the young woman who had just given him a turnaround, and (dammit!) was even purring softly in satisfaction as she snuggled back to the covers.

He remembered hearing her murmured something though.

And upon hearing those words, Kunzite's heart clenched tightly.

He knew those words, knew them by heart.

And without hesitation, Kunzite slowly and carefully rose from Mina's bed and sat on the edge.  His head then turned to give the young blonde a last look, before leaning forward, getting ready to stand.

It was then that the silly girl's alarm clock set off.

Oh boy.

And that, was how Kunzite ended up under Mina's bed.

Mina was humming under her breath as she continued with her beauty morning rituals.

She was currently seated in front of her mirror – stark naked, if not for the towel bun on her head.

The young blonde had enjoyed her soak in the tub so much, that she had forgotten to use her bathrobe to cover herself up.

And she wasn't particularly eager to move from her seat yet to retrieve the said article of clothing hanging in her lovely bathroom.

Instead, after applying probably all beauty products known to a young woman at her age, she unwove the towel bun on her head and used the cloth to partially cover her body.

Mina then reached for her brush and proceeded to untangle her long silky blonde hair, raising her head to look at herself in the mirror.

Seeing her reflection on the mirror, Mina eyes suddenly glazed.

There was something about brushing her long blonde hair in front of her mirror that prod her mind to. . .wonder – to try to remember something.

Like an *itch* that needed to be scratched.

Mina felt like a car that was ignited, but was choking on its obviously *misused* engine.

The young blonde shook her head.

What is wrong with me?!  I can't seem to shake it off!!!

Mina then lowered her brush on top of her dresser.

As soon as the object touched the surface however, a wisp of memory suddenly flashed in the young woman's mind.

She then remembered her dream.

The dream she had this morning.

Of a man.

- Start Mina's Dream –

Princess Mina was having some problems at the moment.

She's currently determining the word that which held prominence as the filthiest demeaning word in the vocabulary of any self-respecting daughter of royalty.

And boy, being the lovely daughter of the most amorous couple known in the moon galaxy – was no exception.

She might be lovable – but she can be more lovable with her sharp claws unsheathed.

[Ouch.]

Princess Mina had finally made a choice, the foul term at the end of her lashing tongue.

Facing her adversary drabbed in crisp grey uniform and crimson cloak, Princess Mina uttered what would have been her greatest contribution to the history of womankind.

"You're rude."

Silence.

Then Lord Kunzite guffawed. 

He can't help it.  Heavens, he was supposed to be the frigid and daunting leader of the Earth generals.  His position taught him to be the cold and forbidding figure he was since young adulthood – silent and one who never laughed lest smile at anyone or anything at all.

But dear lord, He was chortling like a maniac.

And at a princess of the moon galaxy at that!

He had just bested the princess in one of their infamous mock fights in the moon palace training grounds. 

Ever since the earth prince and his royal generals arrived at the moon palace a few weeks ago for the engagement of the former to the moon princess, Lord Kunzite and Princess Mina seemed to have er, - developed a rather cool rapport with one another.

Both sides were wary of the other.

Princess Mina often secretly referred to the general as a *thunder* god.  Standing several inches over six feet, everything about him spoke of power and control.  ESPECIALLY of control.

Huh! The man was a frigging statue!

And more often than not, the man was almost always alone.  Although she can see how loyal and concern the young lord was to his prince and to his comrades, his free time was often spent on his own – and his comrades didn't seem to mind.

Well, can't blame them. Mina smirked.

With intense grey hawk-like eyes and a sharply angled face, his broad stature projected a fierceness that even the leader of the senshi's felt trepidation upon meeting him face to face.

But the most fascinating and incongruous feature she found in Lord Kunzite was the small earring he wore in his left ear – shaped like a small hammer.  Definitely a mark of a thunder god – crushing strength and power.

All in all, a very dangerous animal.

And a VERY attractive one at that!

For the past several weeks, both were involved in volatile encounters.  Princess Mina, wanting to prove to herself that she was quite the strong and formidable figure she was, often found herself competing with the general, may it be in terms of battle or verbal sparring.  There were times when the princess prevailed over the general, but more often than not, she ended up as the sulky loser.

Mina sighed.

Maybe because she never was the competing kind.  In front of the earth people, she projected herself as the perfect leader, but other than that, she was the princess of love – cheerful and lovable in nature.

Unknowingly, during those times when she was just being the silly girl she was, a pair of intense grey eyes were following the oblivious girl.

Lord Kunzite was indeed the domineering figure he was, but for the past several days, he found himself the one being subjugated.  As much as he found himself quite interested in the cool Mina, he was also drawn to the dazzling smile she often gave to the children she played with in the moon gardens.

Kunzite was never the dashing rake as Lord Zoicite and Lord Jadeite were.  But when he wanted something –

Looking at the princess however, he found himself smirking at the lovely sight.

The leader of the senshi's seemed er,. . .extremely upset by the loss in the mock fight they just had.

Who wouldn't?

He had just made the princess his personal slave for the day – a wager they had agreed on before the said mock fight commenced.

Lord Kunzite aided the young princess on her feet and smiled silently when the young blonde snappishly withdrew the hand he was holding and dusted off dirt from her battle uniform rather grumpily.

Straightening her figure and with a regal nod of her head, Mina regarded the taller stature with a grave countenance.

"Very well then, I shall. . .gulp y-yield myself to you for the day, within HONORABLE reason, My lord."

Lord Kunzite nodded solemnly.

Princess Mina rolled her eyes upward at the obviously *pleased* expression of the general despite the somber façade he's showing.

Lord Kunzite, despite the serious demeanor on the surface, can hardly control his amusement upon seeing the princess's expression.

She needed to be taught a lesson –

- and yet this was one lesson that he wanted no other to be taught to.

Only her.

The young man's face suddenly moved nearer to the princess's own. Seeing the hawk-like eyes of the general, Mina suddenly felt constricted.

But she stood her ground.

She can do this!

And when the day is through,. . .SOMEONE's going to get bloody knocked-out!  Someone with silver hair, particularly.

Mina glanced up at the general.

"You know, My Lord.  I was told that it is quite. . .ungentlemanly for a lord to um, allow a lovely delicate lady to tender to his er, wishes."

Kunzite raised an eyebrow lazily.

"Really My Lady, then again, since when do I really give a damn on whether I was referred to as a gentleman or not, hmm?"

Good point.

She sighed, giving in to the inevitable.  Maybe *pleading*, *prostrating* and throwing herself at his feet wouldn't be so bad, after all.

"All right then, I will pl – " She lifted a hand to her slim throat, choking on the word.

He chuckled.  He drew himself even nearer to the obviously uneasy girl.

"Pl? Pl what?"

"Pl –"  The word absolutely REFUSED to leave her mouth.  She tried to scrape it off her teeth and came up empty.  Maybe prostrating would work better.  "I will pros – "

"Pl pros?"  Kunzite's mouth twitched.

Mina took a steadying breath.  The man was insufferable!  His smile however heightened his striking appeal a hundredfold.  And Mina found herself staring helplessly at his lips.

Kunzite decided to stop beating around the bush.  He never was the risk taker as most of his comrades were, but with Mina, never would there be a risk he wouldn't take. 

Yes, the mighty thunder god had fallen.

But he ain't going down *alone*.

Kunzite reached out and a hand cupped her face, running a gentle thumb across Mina's lips.  He ran his other hand along her shoulders.

Mina's breath caught in her throat, she tried to pull away and met resistance.  The unexpectedness of the young lord's action left her unguarded, hence, her body reacted to the delightful sensations of being in his powerfully built arms.  Unknowingly, the young woman's intense eyes were clouded in uncertainty – and uncovered longing.

Heavens!  She must control herself.  She must - or she'll be lost.

"My Lord – ," She stopped talking upon glancing at the young lord's face.

Dear lord, forgive me.

Mina's eyes met his.

He's beautiful.

Kunzite smiled tenderly.

He's not going to be alone anymore.

"Your eyes betray you every time, princess," he murmured.

Mina's eyes widened at that remark.

Kunzite grinned.  "Despite your loss in our little battle today and to all other contests we had – "

Kunzite lowered his face towards the princess and smiled affectionately, murmuring in a husky voice,

" - you wanted me.  Only your pride got in the way."

The princess gasped and scoffed at the young man.

"You certainly managed to strip that from me, didn't you, my lord?"

Kunzite laughed in genuine amusement.  "It was a nasty job, princess."

He then lowered his head until their noses were touching. "But somebody had to do it."  And kissed the indignant princess.

Thoroughly.

Mina should fight him, she kept telling herself.  Her arms crept up his broad chest.  She should protest.  Her dainty fingers sank into his long silver hair.  At the very least, she shouldn't *enjoy* it.  That was her final thought before she shifted closer, losing herself in his embrace.

For the first time in her life,

Princess Mina didn't mind at all that she lost.

- End Mina's Dream –

Mina sighed.

Some dream THAT was.

She didn't even know the guy!!!

Who was he?  She had never met him before.  And yet, the sharp clear pictures on her mind baffled her.

Does he even exist?  He was in my dream for crying out loud!  But aren't dreams supposed to be a part of my subconscious?  Then how can he BE there when I don't even KNOW the dratted man!

Oh, but what a divine man he was!

Mina scoffed at herself.  With a frustrating grunt, the young woman stood and marched towards her bathroom, the towel wrapped around her slim body.

I need to think!  And for that, I need to use the toilet!!!

The young man was currently reciting the alphabet under his breath.

It was either that, or curse.  And he just ran out of those.

Cursing at nothing - at everything – at his bladder and at his wretched hormones.

P-Q-R-S-shit!-T-U-. . .

Kunzite sighed then opened his eyes –

- and stopped breathing.

Mina was gone.

She was no longer sitting on the chair.

Kunzite immediately scanned the entire floor area of the bedroom from his lying position under the bed to make sure that indeed, the young blonde had decided to leave the bedroom even for a moment.

Now's my chance!

He waited for a few more minutes to see if the blonde will be coming back any time soon – but didn't.

Where could she be?

His striking grey eyes drifted towards the bathroom door.

Closed.

Doesn't mean that she's not there, but still it's closed.

Kunzite grimaced, then sighed nervously.

It's time.

Stealthily, the young man edged his way out under the bed - carefully listening to any sounds that might alert him that the girl was anywhere near to appear before him.

Slowly he rose from his lying position and kneeled at one side of the bed, eyes darting to and fro, until they landed on the opened door leading to the balcony.

Kunzite's powerful frame shuddered.  He was downright nervous AND relieved.  And the fact that he didn't have his jacket on added the trembling of his body due to the cool morning air.

He needed to escape fast.

With determined steps, Kunzite moved towards the opened balcony.

And came face to face with intense blue eyes, and an angry hiss.

It was Artemis.

This time, Kunzite was really DEAD.