Disclaimer: I don't own Sailor Moon. Wai, the largest chapter yet!
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It had taken several long weeks but Minako's back had finally healed-when she had been whipped it had actually sliced and cut the muscles in her back. Never before had she been so glad to move freely about again. The scars on her back still pinched and tugged painfully on her skin but she relished in the freedom to move.
She had been sipping her tea when she had seen the blur of movement from the corner of her eye. Minako blinked and looked out through the jalis door; standing on the opposite side of the courtyard was Kunzite. She sat up then stood, walking to the door. My, my, doesn't this look familiar? she thought with a grin.
On the other side of the courtyard, Kunzite leaned against a pillar sipping his wine. He looked over to see Minako, smiling and beckoning forward. He took swig from his glass, glancing on either side of him before walking over and leaning against the wall next to the jalis. "Would the lady have any wine to spare for me?"
"No wine," she chuckled. "But I am having some rather delicious tea."
He turned to look at her. "Tea is fine."
She grinned and pulled the doors as he slipped inside quickly. She looked up at him with a grin before snatching his wine glass and walking back to her squat tea table. "Sit." she ordered as she poured him a cup of tea. He shook his head but smiled as he sat down. She handed him the tea. He sipped his tea and waited a moment before speaking to her.
"How is your back?"
"Oh!" she laughed. "Fine, fine. I can finally walk now!"
"Tired of sit around and soaking?"
She gave him a hard look but a friendly smile-the facial expression came out fairly mischievous and laughing. "If I got tired of that in the weeks my back's been healing then I should run away home now-I don't that's any different from what the other wives do."
His expression softened for a moment. "You do miss your home."
She sighed and nodded morosely. "I miss my mother, my court, my little palaces, the gardens, the wind, ...but most of all...I miss the freedom I once had." she finished looking very gloomy. "I never wore veils at home unless for parties. I could walk, run, ride my horses, read, or do whatever I wanted...and here."
Kunzite sipped his tea. "'No bird in it's right mind wishes to remain in a cage no matter how ornate'?"
She blinked and nodded. "You remember that? Yes, that's exactly it." She rested her arms against her knees. "There's a saying where I come from: "I'm a bird trapped in this beautiful cage of jewels and royalty." It was from one of our first queens. It's where our way of life comes from-Live life fully."
"If your way of life is to live life fully then ours must be: obey and submit." he murmured. Minako turned her head to him. For a moment she remained sitting but then she twisted about and placed her forehead against his. He blinked and closed his eyes for a moment.
"You all are bringing about some revolution, aren't you?" she asked finally. He opened one grey eye and nodded against her head. "I thought so...I could tell." He sighed. "Don't worry-I haven't told anyone. Your secret is safe with me." They sat there like that for a while for either of them spoke again. When it was, it was Minako who spoke. "Is Usagi part of your group too?"
"Yes..." he sighed.
"I thought so." She sighed and put her head on his shoulder. "She told me where she was from."
Kunzite perked up at that one-even he didn't know his little spy's past. "Did she?"
"She said she was from the Silver Kingdom, which only made sense considering her looks. But she also lied to me."
"She did?" he asked, leaning back to look at her properly. "How'd you know?"
"Oh, little things she did. She fidgets when she lies, mostly with her hands. But she was truthfully when she told me she lived there, and that she had lost family-her shoulders sagged, like she told this big thing that had been weighing down her soul."
"But she still lied."
"She lied when she said she was from the border-her toes twitched when I mentioned the capital."
"...you can tell a lot of things can't you?"
She gave him a weary grin. "I used to sit in as my mother dealt with merchants, peasants, royalty, nobility...she taught how to tell when someone lies. Did you know that you can tell someone is lying if they look up and to their left?"
He grinned down at her. "I do now."
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"Usagi..."
"Zzz..."
"Usagi..."
"...?"
"Usagi! Wake up!"
Usagi squeaked when she felt a small body land on hers. She blinked and sat up-Hotaru lay grinning across her lap. "Wakey, wakey, Usagi, I missed you!"
Usagi laughed and twisted so she was sitting on the edge of the bed. She picked up the little girl and set her down before her. "Hello, Hotaru, I've missed you so much too!" she grinned. Hotaru grinned widely up at her. "What are you doing here?"
"Mamma and Papa said that they had to come take Mr. Mamoru away with Papa when they left."
That jolted Usagi wide awake. She whirled about and sighed relieved when she spotted Mamoru, sleeping deep and soundly. "Oh, I see..." then she blinked and sat up straighter. "Wait a minute, I slept here all night!"
"Uh huh, that's Auntie Makoto said...Usagi?"
"Huh? Oh, yes, Hotaru?"
"Can I call you Auntie Usagi?"
Usagi felt herself positively melt, what a little cutie! "Yes, yes, of course. Just for you."
Hotaru grinned and cheered. "Yay! No I have you and Auntie Makoto and Auntie Ami!"
Usagi blinked. "You know Ami?"
"Uh huh!" answered Hotaru. "Auntie Makoto helped get her a job so Auntie Ami could help her mamma!"
"Really!" whistled Usagi. "I never knew." Hotaru grinned and pulled at her hands.
"Come play with me, Auntie, please!" she asked as she pulled. "Please! Please! No one had to play with me since you left! Oh!" she stopped and leaned in, conspiratorially. "Did you know mamma's getting me a little brother!"
"What!" whispered Usagi. "Oh, she is? Lucky girl!"
"Yeah, but papa doesn't know so you can't tell him!" she giggled.
"Can't tell me what?"
Both girls jumped and looked up to see Jadeite grinning at them. "C'mon, Hotaru, what can't she tell me?"
"Can't tell! It's a secret!" she declared in a whisper.
"Ahh, come on, for your papa? Won't you tell?" he asked as he crouched in front of her.
"Nuh uh!" she said shaking her head vigorously. Jadeite grinned and ruffled her hair.
"Breakfast is ready-your mamma wants you to go eat now." he told her.
"Okay, papa." she nodded and went the door.
Jadeite stood and smiled at her. Usagi smiled back. "So, Usagi, long time no see." he grinned. "How've you been these last two months?"
"I've..." she started. Memories began to fly at her of her time in the palace and she smiled. "Been fine."
He smiled at her. "That's good to hear."
She stopped staring up at him silently as she listened to Mamoru's quiet breathing at her back. "Jadeite...why does Ami's mother need her help?" Jadeite blinked and smiled.
"Ah, I see Hotaru was quite talkative this morning. Ami's mother is a doctor-in fact, she's the very doctor who came here last night to help Mamoru-who's absolutely fine, by the way, but he needs plenty of bed rest."
Usagi released a sigh so relieved she thought she felt five pounds of stress roll off of her. "Oh...oh, good, I'm so...so..."
Jadeite smiled and took pity on her. "Happy?"
"Yes...yes, I'm so happy-!" He waited a moment for her to compose herself as she furiously wiped at her eyes. She finally stopped and laughed a little at herself. "Ah, I'm sorry, please continue."
"Well, Ami's mother is a very good and busy doctor but she doesn't always have enough money for herbs and medical supplies. So Ami works up at the palace to help support her." he finished and sat down with her on the side of the bed. "I guess none of us really know each other all that well." Usagi nodded. "It's funny how easily we forgot that when were all with each other."
"It's enough just to be there with each other." she said and he nodded.
"You've hit the nail on the head. Yes, I suppose that's exactly it." For several long moments they sat there in companionable silence. "Usagi?"
"Hmm?"
"Would you like to hear about us?"
Usagi turned with her eyes shining. "Yes. Yes, I want to hear everything."
"Well, I'll talk about myself first-I'm the only son to a priest and a weaver-just so you know, it's perfectly fine for priest to get married in our religion. My parents are both dead. I met Rei when was fifteen, she was twelve at the time. We got married when I was eighteen and she was fifteen. I adopted Hotaru when I was seventeen and Rei helped me raise her before and after we got married."
"Why did you adopt Hotaru?"
"Her father was an astrologer and her mother was his helper. Unfortunately, they both died in a fire. They had been long time friends of my family so I naturally took care of Hotaru."
"And Rei?"
"...it might be better for her to tell you herself-"
"Oh, it's okay." Usagi and Jadeite both looked up to see Rei standing at the door. "I was going to tell you sooner or later-Jadeite, Hotaru's calling for you. She's won't eat unless you're there."
"Okay." he groaned as he got up and rubbed his sore back. "It's my last day home." he murmured as he walked to her. As he passed, he brushed his knuckles against her arm and she smiled at him. Usagi colored slightly at the romantic gesture. Rei watched for a minute as her husband walked down the hall then turned back to Usagi.
"I was a high princess once."
"Huh!" gaped Usagi in surprise.
"I was born High Princess Rei of Aresian Desert People." she explained as she sat down beside her. "I was the only child of my father's first marriage. But I hated my father so I left."
"You hated your father?"
"Yes." she said, voice hard. "He so carelessly tossed aside my poor mamma's memory so soon after her death to try and begot a son." She chuckled. "Well, he never got one. I ran away after my eleventh birthday party."
"That's awfully young..."
"It's awfully young to get married at eleven to, right?" she snapped. "I didn't want to get married to some fat old man at eleven! So I ran away. I was twelve before I ended up here and Makoto found me. By then I had sworn to hate all men."
"You hate all men?"
"No." she snorted and grinned at her. "I'm married, right?" She shook her head and stood up. "Come on, enough talk for now-let's get you some breakfast."
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Usagi sat on the edge of one of the wagon, watching as many people bustled about. Many of them were men, most of those merchants. They hurried back forth from their wagons and their homes and businesses, getting their wares in the wagons. Other people were helping to hitch horses to the wagons. Several of the large wagons with heavier loads had oxen hitched in front.
Next to the wagon she was sitting in, the white stallion that she rode the night before was tethered to the wagon. It was now bridled and not enjoying a single second of it. Behind in the wagon, Mamoru slept on. Makoto walked up to her. "Usagi, are you sure about this?"
"Positive." she confirmed. "I'm going with them...I don't want to be anywhere near the palace at the moment." She shuddered remembering Diamond's hungry glances at her. Makoto patted her knee-after Nephlite had left to return to the palace and Jadeite had returned to their home with Hotaru in tow, Usagi had told her and Rei about what the Skeit had nearly done.
"Don't worry, Usagi-the caravan will give you plenty of time to be with Jadeite and Mamoru and away from that man." she hissed in distaste. She blinked when she heard steady footsteps behind her and turned. "Oh, Diana!" she laughed as a small grey haired child with large red eyes ran up to her. "What are you doing here!"
"Mama and Papa told me to give Mr. Mamoru this letter!" she said giving it to Makoto. "Do you know where Hotaru is?"
"I believe she's with her mother and fa-"
"Thanks,AuntieMakoto,bye!" she shouted as ran off.
"-ther..." she trailed off shaking her head amusedily. "Such an energetic little girl." she turned back to Usagi. "Here, you keep hold of this-looks like it's from milord." Usagi nodded, recognizing Kunzite's "codename", and took the letter. They stopped and stared at each other before Usagi leaned out and tossed her arms around Makoto.
"Makoto-" she sobbed.
"Oh, Usagi, there's no need to cry." she soothed and rubbed her back. "Shh shh, there, there." she murmured and took her by the shoulders and gave her a gentle shake. She bent a little and caught her eyes. They grinned at each other. "I'll see you in a month." They stood like that and hugged each other again. "You've had such a hard time, Usagi, when you come back stay with us for a bit and relax, okay?"
"That sounds nice, Makoto." she whispered as she pulled back.
"Wagons at the ready!" came a loud shout from far ahead then other voices lifted to carry the message farther down the line. "Wagons at the ready! Will be leaving in ten minutes!"
"Alright, Usagi, good luck." cheered Makoto patting her arm. Usagi grinned and wiped her eyes.
"Hey hey! What's with all this crying!" came a shout. Usagi looked over Makoto's shoulder and gasped in delight.
"Zoisite!" she cried hopping down and running to toss her arms around him. "I haven't seen you in ages! Where have you been!"
Zoisite was laughing hard and swung her around a bit. "Oh, busy, little Usagi." he grinned. "Though if I'm going to get more greetings like this than I've got to come here more often!"
"Zoisite!" shouted Rei and Usagi in unison. "Stop flirting!"
"Yeah, what would Ami say?" remarked Jadeite as he walked by with Hotaru swinging from one arm and Diana from another. "Oof, you girls are heavy!" he remarked as they swung around like monkeys. Usagi, Rei, and Makoto laughed as Zoisite colored.
"Zoisite, are you coming with us!" Usagi asked excitedly. He grinned.
"Yup! I've got busy along with Jadeite in Encarnación." he said loftily. Usagi grinned.
"Good, I'm glad we all be with each other-are you going by horse or do you have a wagon?"
"Nah, I'm riding on this one-I've got Mamoru's horse too when he's ready to ride." he said pointing to the two mares that Rei held the reins to. "But Jadeite's offered me a place to sleep next to you guys so I'll be with you most often."
"How will they ever survive?" remarked Rei dryly. Zoisite grimaced and stuck his tongue out at her.
"Don't you have a husband to go say goodbye to, Rei?" he grunted. She rolled her eyes and tossed him his horse's reins as she walked up to the wagon. Makoto watched all of this with a sigh.
"It's going to be a little lonely with all four of you going." she said. "Usagi, you make sure to come stay at my home for a while after you get back alright?"
"Yes, Makoto, I will-"
"ALL WAGONS! WE LEAVE NOW!" shouted a voice. Wagon wheels began to groan and dust flew upward as the start of the procession began to move forward. Makoto hugged Usagi quickly before hurrying with Rei and the girls off to the side.
"C'mon, Usagi, time to head out!" laughed Zoisite as he swung up onto his mare. Usagi nodded and raced for her stallion who was prancing at all the dust that was being kicked up.
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Minako sighed against the skin of Kunzite's chest sleepily, and curled closer to him. He lay beneath, one bare arm around her shoulders. He looked stoically content and sleepy. "What will happen now?" she whispered, tracing patterns above his heart.
He watched her hand as it moved lazily. His gaze hardened. "We will move soon-you should be far away when we do."
Her hand stilled. "Why?"
"They will be looking for a scape goat-you'll be a prime target."
"Where will you have me go?" she murmured.
"Away...you could go home if you so wished." He felt her stiffen atop him. She gazed up at him with hazy eyes.
"Truly?" she whispered. He nodded solemnly. She rested her head against his chest and thought. She made her decision and turned her face up to smile at him. "I would like that, but I won't go." Kunzite blinked and opened his mouth to speak but she placed her finger against his lips and smiled. "You can't send me away, I won't go."
Finally he relented and nodded. "Fine, I won't send you home-but I will hide you."
"Fine-but I won't leave your side so soon."
He smiled down at her. "I wouldn't have it any other way."
As I said before really long chapter-you've asked for and you got it! I DID split in half though! Think of how big the chapter would have been then. Well, chapter 18's started so I'll see soon at the end!
whitey9h-Review #1: Hee, you'll find out soon!
Review #2: Part of her secret's already been revealed as Minako explained but in the next chapter I promise you'll find out!
Megan Consoer-More is now!
Remyslove-Longer and sooner-how's this for you? Well, the next chapter might take awhile but oh well.
searchingformydarien-Hee, well the Mamo-chan thing's for later but I swear I'll tell you!
sailor lunakitty-Thanks!
Soup 'N Sandwhich-Ahh! Your pen name makes me hungry! Longer chapter, hopefully the last chapters will be too, eh?
KeraJeir-The crystal was crying for some loving! I had to obey! -Besides, it and the locket are important to the story...
MrsSakuraPotter-Thanks, and here's a longer chappie for all of you! "The moon bleeding once more was an excellent touch."-THANK YOU! X3
Laura-Thanks!