Hello everyone! Yes, another update...aren't you surprised?
Well, please review and tell me your thoughts!

I don't own PGSM or any of the characters. Please don't sue me. I'm just a fan with a mild obsession!

Please do not steal my story either. Not that anyone would want to.

And now...chapter 3!

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Chapter 3

Minako was confused.

The first thing she saw as her eyes fluttered open was Artemis, perched on her chest peering with concern into her face.

The first thing she felt was the dull ache her in head that never seemed to fully go away...a constant reminder that she was a prisoner within her own body. A prisoner that had only a few months left...

But the first thing Minako thought was...

"What happened, Artemis?" Artemis sighed in relief and nuzzled up under her chin, a low purr coming from deep within his throat.

"You fainted, Mina-chan...did you remember to take your medicine?"

Minako reached up and scratched Artemis' head before peeling him off and sitting up slowly. "Yes...I did...but how did I get here? And..." her eyes widened and she gasped as she remembered the circumstances before her untimely fainting spell. "Zoicite! Where is he? What happened?" Minako swung her legs around the side of the bed and tried to stand.

"I'm right here. And you certainly don't seem in any condition to stand and fight, Venus." The general stood in her doorway, his commanding presence filling the entire room as Minako unsuccessfully tried to bring herself to her feet to defend herself. Why in the world was he still here? And why hadn't he tried to kill her in her weakness?

Minako was having a difficult time controlling her legs. They simply did not seem to want to listen to her, no matter how hard she tried to stand on them. Minako sighed, and glared at Zoicite, who was now leaning against the door frame with his arms crossed, nonchalantly watching her.

"...No. I don't have the strength to fight," Minako said slowly, settling into the bed as she gave up on standing. She looked up at him seriously. "So if you want to kill me, do it now."

Zoicite regarded her carefully. He was having a difficult time comprehending the situation at hand. Here was Sailor Venus, leader of the sailor senshi, weak and unable to defend herself, looking up at him and telling him to kill her. It would be so easy...

And yet, strangely, he had no desire whatsoever to kill the beautiful woman who sat looking at him with such sadness in her eyes. What was wrong with her?

And, more importantly he thought, what was wrong with him?

"I don't want to kill you, Venus." The words escaped his lips before he could even think about what he was saying. What had he come here to accomplish, anyway?

Minako's eyes widened. She could distinctly remember him holding a knife, about to attack her, before she had slipped into blackness. So what did he want?

A smile tugged at Minako's lips. "So what is it that you want, Zoicite? Did you really just come here to tell me how disappointed you are that I chose to remain faithful to my princess, instead of rushing to your prince's aid?"

Zoicite's eyes narrowed. She wanted to talk about faithfulness? Well, he was an expert on the topic. "Let's talk about faithfulness, Venus. We made a deal. A deal you gave me your word on. You were expected to hold up your part of the bargain, as I was expected to hold up mine..."

Minako opened her mouth to protest, but Zoicite cut her off.

"I gave you the music box with explicit instructions. Don't you understand? Nothing matters but the mission."

Minako looked up at him and could tell he was angry. Really, she couldn't blame him. But she had heard it all before...nothing matters but the mission. She understood that better than anyone. Why, then, had she betrayed Zoicite? They both had the same goal, the same mission - the earth must not be destroyed. Why then had she allowed Usagi to retain her memories? Why had she jeopardized the earth's existence?

"I understand, Zoicite. I understand that more than you could possibly imagine."

Zoicite stood up straight and glared at the sailor senshi. Did she understand? If she understood, why had she failed him?

"I don't think you do, Venus. The prince and the princess must be kept apart, at all costs. Now, Queen Beryl has taken Endymion captive." Zoicite clenched his fists. "And I blame you."

Minako calmly looked up at him, and said in a voice barely above a whisper, "Then kill me."

Zoicite was annoyed. He knew he should kill her. Some part of him wanted to kill her. But something...deep inside...simply wanted to hold her...

Zoicite shook his head, as though to shake the thoughts from his mind, and sighed. "I'm not going to kill you, Venus. You're the only one who understands the gravity of this situation. You're the only one who understands the price of failure."

So he wasn't going to kill her? Minako was having a difficult time understanding this dangerously handsome general that was looking at her with such endless blue eyes. She was fairly certain she had seen him draw a knife on her earlier...what other reason is there to draw a knife if it wasn't to kill, or seriously injure someone?

She wished her head would stop pounding...

Minako winced and put a hand to her forehead as another wave of pain overtook her. Taking a shaky breath, she managed to whisper "...Yes...the world...must not end..."

Zoicite's features softened. There was something wrong with her, and he was suddenly very interested in finding out what.

"That's why I need you. That's why we need to work together...to prevent the end of the world." Zoicite stepped towards Minako, hesitantly, and lowered his voice. "But there's something very wrong with you, isn't there Venus?"

Minako looked up, willing the pain to go away as she met his cool gaze. Her heart skipped a beat, and she was fairly certain it wasn't because of her illness. There was something so familiar about this man...something

Should she lie to him? Or should she reveal her weakness to him, her enemy? Or was he her enemy? She was so confused!

Minako pursed her lips and looked away. "No. I just have a tendency to faint when I'm stressed or worried about something. And I obviously have much to worry about..."

Zoicite could tell she was lying. It didn't take an expert to see that.

He decided not to push the issue. "But you agree we must work together? That we must prevent the destruction of this planet? That we cannot allow the past to repeat once more?"

Minako looked at him. What was she to say to that? "Of course. It is the mission. And the mission is the only thing that matters."

Zoicite straightened and looked at Minako carefully. "Yes. The mission is the only thing that matters. You must realize, Venus, that we have a serious problem. A problem, I believe, YOU are responsible for. But also a problem you can fix." Zoicite leaned forward, gazing deeper into Minako's eyes. "If...you'll trust me."

Trust him? Was he out of mind, Minako wondered? He looked serious...deadly serious. And she knew she owed this man more than even he realized. Yes, she needed to pay for her betrayal, but she also knew that he was responsible for giving her the shot that might have saved her life...

Minako looked at Artemis, who sat next to her silently listening to the conversation. He blankly looked at her, obviously also at a loss. Minako sighed and, finally finding the strength, stood up in front of Zoicite.

Meeting his eyes, she said simply: "Just what do you have in mind?"