I don't own Sailor Moon

The Battle Within: Goodbye

By: SpiritOfTheWind

I remember everything. Everything. My lover, my betrayal, and everything in between. Minako. The name tastes so sweet to my lips. Yet my heart beats with doubt. Has she forgiven me? Does she hate me? Does she remember our love? I am restless. What am I to think? How I am to face her again? She will scorn me; throw my love back in my face. No. I will not let her do that. My pride is greater than any emotion I know. It has come between us before. Back then, she was just a distraction to me, something to use, then cast aside. But she clung to me, and that was what attracted me – she was resilient, and she never gave up. That is what makes a true leader, something I never really achieved. How guilty I feel now. I regret how I treated her. She was so strong, mentally, physically, emotionally. She still is, I can guarantee.

Then I saw her again. She had changed. But she was still beautiful. Sensual. Passionate. Headstrong. My Minako. Mine. Mine. Mine. I called to her, hoping she would understand how I've longed for her to be in my arms again. But her voice sank my heart. It was curt. Blunt, completely devoid of any emotion. It reminded me of how I used to speak to her.

"Please. You must understand. I…I didn't know what I was doing!" I had never sounded so desperate before.

"You knew well enough. Beryl simply surfaced the darkness of your conscience."

"I was human. Humans are not perfect. No one is entirely pure inside."

"That is still no excuse to betray your liege. You swore on your life!"

"And I died. I broke my oath and I was killed. Later, Beryl resurrected my spirit, and used it to fight against you. Don't you see? That general was Malachite, my dark side!"

"But before you died, you killed me! I loved you! Were you so blind you didn't even recognize me?" She was almost delirious now. I ached to reach out and comfort her, but I knew she would shake me off.

"I'm sorry."

"'Sorry' isn't enough. 'Sorry' will not mend my scars. 'Sorry' will not pay for the hurt in my heart when I saw you turn against us, you and Nephrite and Jadeite and Zoisite. Kunzite, I am naïve anymore. I will not fall for you anymore. I am sorry, but it's finished. I never want to see you again." Silent tears rolled down her cheeks. I knew she meant it. And I knew it killed her to utter such harsh words.

"Goodbye, Kunzite," she whispered, before turning and running out of the room, the building, and my life.

If I had been human, I would have cried. I would have sobbed like a child, pride be damned. If I had been human, my heart would have broken, and the only person who could help wanted nothing to do with me.

"Goodbye, Minako," I was fading fast.

Yet I knew this was not the end. No. It was just the beginning.

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Ok, review and tell me which one of you cried. Or maybe it wasn't that good yet … (considers). Lots of thanks to 'trp0522': your review was very encouraging, being my first. See ya all soon! SpiritOfTheWind