Disclaimer: I own nothing! I own nothing! (Sing along!)

A/N: I am very, very tired at this moment. I am working more than I ever have, I am trying to keep my house cleaned, and there have been some emotional upheavals recently around here. Hence the complete lack of updates. Gomen. I will try and wrap this monster up in the near future, if I ever have a free moment to myself again. I make no excuses for this chapter. It's fluffy, it's pointless, I'm sleepy. I was going to do it as an independent fic for Jupiter and Nephrite, but again with the sleepiness and the lack of energy, so it got stuck in here. I swear at least two more chapters up by Sunday night, actually moving the plot forward, or you can all review and call me a dirty liar. Also, an explanation for the last chapter: Setsuna has been pining for Endymion for over a thousand years, she deserved to get it off her chest. It was meant to be a sweet moment between two old friends, nothing more. Thanks go to Lysia Croft (I really am going to wrap this up soon, one last battle is coming up, and a lot of tears,) cardcaptor eternity (no sex for Setsuna), IssaLee (thank you! you got it!) kugaya (yeah, we love Haruka and Michiru), oxostardustoxo (it kinda turned into another season, didn't it?) SailorKagome (that's so sweet!) MoonBunny777 (okay, I admit it, it was a little weird) Cereberus (no! don't hate Setsuna! we can't help who we love!) Wow, that was really long. Now for the actually chapter.

"The scent of magic, the beauty that's been, when love was wilder, than the wind…"

She ran.

The branches of the tree clutched at her long hair, but she pushed through them, diving further into the woods. She heard the footsteps behind her. She grasped a thick shrub to swing around, and instead of heading north, she was running west, towards the setting sun.

The steps were growing closer. Somehow, he knew her every move, and followed her. Her heart hammered as she came suddenly to a break in the trees. A small meadow, a dangerous choice. She could go around, but that would take more time. To cut across would be quicker, at a risk.

He drew nearer, until she heard his laboring breath along with the pounding of his feet. She chose, and dashed out into the meadow.

Within five steps she knew he had seen her. A muffled shout urged her onward. She vaulted over a small depression, pushing herself harder through the pinks, blues, and greens of the wild flowers. Just ahead was the safety of the trees and the shadows. Just ahead…

"Iie!"

Arms seized her around the waist, and lifted her high into the air. A roar of triumph sounded from her captor.

"Let me go!" she shrieked.

"You'd be more convincing if you stopped grinning!" he growled against her ear.

She laughed, her head falling back, her chest heaving. "You brute! Put me down!"

"Now why in the name of the Moon would I do something silly like that? I won, didn't I?" He held her tighter. "Do you not remember our terms, Princess?"

"I almost won!" she muttered, playfully pouting over her shoulder.

He let her gently onto her feet. She spun around and leapt back into his arms.

"I thought you wanted to be down!"

"I just wanted to hold you, too," she murmured against his lips.

Sweat made their kiss salty, and their love made it sweet.

He began to spin. She shrieked and laughed, her feet flying out behind her, the world a whirl of flowers and sunset around them. Unconcerned for danger, she closed her eyes and kissed him again, melting into him while they spun around and around under the blue sky.

Perhaps his knees gave out, or perhaps the grass was just too inviting. They tumbled to the ground, rolling over each other, trusting and happy as children. Their laughter danced up into the sky as they kissed, tiny caresses over each other's faces, the wind bending the flowers down until they brushed over the back of her head.

"You are so amazing," he whispered. "Like a goddess."

"Aishiteru," she murmured as she prepared to kiss him again, and forever.

"I love you, too. I will never love anyone else. We are eternal."

In the gathering dark, the sweet wind caressed them, and she believed…

The first thing she felt when she woke, before even opening her eyes, was the pain.

It flared up her left arm, fiery agony that made her grit her teeth and breathe slowly. In through the nose, out through the mouth, and she focused her attention not on the tortured limb, but on the warmth cradling her body.

The ache faded to a corner of her consciousness, and she tried to understand in her mind the source of the heat. Something seemed wrapped around her, something blissfully warm and soft, something that breathed against her face. Carefully, almost afraid, she opened her eyes and looked.

A dark blue shirt was under her cheek and hand. Looking further up, she saw a long stretch of tanned neck, a firm chin, and just beyond that, a tumble of dark curls.

Makoto pushed herself up. She did not even wince at the pain in her arm as she stared down into that face, so beautiful in sleep, so peaceful and gentle.

Nephrite? What are we doing here? She looked around. Where are we?

The green jacket on the desk chair answered her question. Only Mamoru would wear that ugly thing. They must be in his apartment. As she came more awake, and the spinning in her head began to slow, she heard voices she knew and loved through the door. But the room swayed, and she did not bother sorting them out. She heard one say something to put her heart at ease.

"At least everyone is safe."

Safe. Such a sweet word, as she lay back on his chest. He was her safety, until the end of time.

He sighed and stirred. "Mako-chan?"

Another sweet word, especially on his lips.

"I'm awake," she whispered. "But I don't think I can stay… The room keeps moving."

A hand curved around the back of her head. "Lay still. You lost a lot of blood."

Blood. Glass. His voice calling her.

"Did you mean it? Did you really never stop loving me?" she murmured into his shirt.

"Hai." He combed his fingers through her messy hair. "We are-"

"Eternal." She smiled. "I know. The Abyss must have…I would never…"

He chuckled softly. "That is something I am happy to hear, my love."

She smiled as well. "Wake me up when we have a plan to destroy the Abyss."

"I promise." Nephrite smiled as her eyes closed. "And I will never break my promise to you again."

The flashback/dream bit was inspired by a line from the Roxette song, Listen to Your Heart.