Hey again! In lack of reviews (and I do mean "lack"), I have decided not to put the twins' father in the story. I would have liked some words from my faithful readers about the fanfic though... Well, life sucks, you don't need me to tell you that. I mean, how could it not suck when I don't own Sailor Moon? Because I don't and I really regret it...
"If you do this you won't be better than him. You'll be just like Darien! Do you really want that?" she rose up her voice, ready to suffer the consequences of her actions… whatever those might be. Staring up at him, she saw his froze eyes, glaring down at her and especially at the man she was currently protecting. For the first time she had seen him truly angry and ready to commit murder easily… and she had been afraid of him.
"Get him out of my sight before I kill him!" he spoke icily, but Amy could already feel that he was controlling his impulses once again and he was starting to calm down. Of course, it was going to take a very long time for all that rage to go away. The short-haired girl nodded fastly and turned to the bloody man, running a very fast check-up on him. She was soon joined by Jade and, after making sure that the stranger wasn't going to bleed to death she allowed the fast man to take the other blonde up on his shoulders and carry him to the car. Behind, a thick silence fell between Rei, who was merely watching Amy's hands doing her magic and exchanging an occasional glance with Jade, and Kane who was catching his breath and trying vainly to calm down his pulse. After the three were already moving towards the car, the silver-haired man turned the young woman and said, this time on a much more normal tone than before.
"I hope you've already understood that you're still coming with me… us!" Rei simply nodded and followed him in silence, towards the motorbike. Staring at the back of his head, she let out a breath of air, thanking God that there were people such as Amy, who could calm down true wildfires, such as the group's leader. She would have to thank the doctor herself later. One last worried look could be seen on the raven-haired's face before she put on her helmet and hid her features away.
It had been the second day since Nick had refused the first time to leave Lita's infirmary room, or even the side of her bed. Or was it already the third…? He had constantly watched her, praying for every heart beat, almost begging for the tall woman to open her eyes and assure him that she was indeed alive and well. Without closing as much as one eyes during the previous nights, he had finally broke down and was currently fallen asleep, with his head on Lita's bed, his hands still clinging desperately even in his sleep onto hers and the rest of his body settled in a large armchair, right next to the bed. It could have been a romantic, but sad picture for anyone who would have entered room… but no one did. It was almost as if this once chipper place turned into a graveyard, with no one to run or talk on the hallways, watch TV or surf the net in the living-room or even to sleep 24 hours a day in some hidden bedroom. The entire hide-out had fallen into a peaceful silence, undisturbed even by the sounds of received e-mails.
Inside the room, only the machines connected to the amazonian's body were making some particular noises from time to time. Half on her bed, half next to it, Nicholas drew few deep breaths, revealing the fact that he was sleeping for the first time in days and that he was indeed beat. Once with the drawn breaths, his chest would rise up a bit from the mattress and give the impression that might have woken up and ready to jump from his position. But every time he would exhale and his back would return to the original status.
Suddenly, a small move made him recover from the depths of his unconsciousness and return to reality. The movement had been almost imperceptible, but he had felt it and it had woken him up. Cracking open his tired blue eyes, he could see his beloved chef's head moving slightly and he could hear her moan. Ok, if he hadn't been very sure on the movement, now her moan had definitely woken him up completely. He was exhausted, but the only that mattered was that Lita was finally recovering.
"Lita… Lita can you hear me?" he asked gently as he got up, as positioned himself above her face. Another deep breath and moan made him believe that her answer was "Yes". "Lita, open your eyes." He almost begged and, as if she had been magically ordered, Lita opened her dark green eyes, staring directly above, into his blue orbs. Her pale face grimaced in what wanted to be a smile and her eyes were filled with gratitude and… something else.
"Nick?" she asked barely above a whisper, but he heard loud and clear. He smiled as well, staring down at her and ready to fall on his knees and thank the stars for bringing her back.
"Thank God!" he said loud enough, drew away and throwing himself in the armchair, grabbed her hand and started kissing it madly, as if he wanted to make sure that she was indeed there, alive and well.
"What happened?" she asked, starting to recover her voice and sight… not to mention control over her muscles.
"Oh, Lita, when you went after Rei, you found that she wasn't there anymore. Anyway, Darien Shields attacked you. Mina was hurt, but not as bad as you were and Rena taken by the creep, so that Kane would trade Rei for his sister." Nick explained in a breath, almost going mad and leaving Lita scared and more confused than before. "Lita, you have no idea how bad you scared me!" he shouted and came down, leaning onto her bed and staring at her with wide-open eyes. "I mean, I thought I was going to lose you… God, what was I going to do without you… without your cooking or your punches!" he started practically hallucinating. "I mean…" he would have wanted to continue, but got stopped by the woman's still pretty strong arm, who easily grabbed his almost limp form and brought his face in front of hers. Then she stopped, with him right in front of her, staring one into each other's eyes mutely… without a breath. She waited for his action… and that came. Almost immediately, he supported his weight above her by holding his hand on each side of her, and came down, trapping her mouth with his and not letting go very soon. When her lips felt the contact, Lita let go of his hand and collar, and entangled her fingers into his brown hair, pulling him with the little strength she still had, down, onto her.
From the doorstep, Mina had watched the entire spectacle quietly, after wanting to burst inside the room and embrace her friend. Still, when her sixth sense told her that there was going to be more than just an explanation, she kept her mouth shut and observed the two caught so deep in each other. She suppressed a big grin when she saw the two and turned around, leaving the infirmary for the hallways and trying to get hold of the others.
"So, when are you going to let me out of here?" a girl not too tall, but not short either, with long blond hair and currently angry blue eyes stomped inside Darien Shields' home office, demanding for her release. It had been one day since he had wanted to kill her, but stopped himself before succeeding and she had recovered pretty fast. The man simply glanced at her, his dark eyes throwing flames.
"When you beloved brother will hand over to me Rei and Zack." He answered and returned to his papers. Still, she wouldn't give up. She came up to him and forced him to look up at her.
"You know how my brother works… and you know he won't just serve you up your twin sister, nor your employee." She was, by now, as mad as him, especially after having felt his level of anger. He was like a walking bomb of emotions, but always refused to show them. Slowly, he got up from his chair, closed the two buttons of his suit's jacket and simply walked past the fuming blonde, exiting the room. Behind him, she followed like a hurricane, jumping in front of him, right in the doorstep and blocking his only way out. "Why are you so afraid of admitting your true origin and powers? Why are you so turned on against your own kind… against those who are just like you?" she started a merciless interrogatory.
"Get out of my way!" he growled and leaned a bit to her, sticking his orbs in hers.
"I can feel your anger… it's so old and worn off… and you've still kept on feeding it all these years! Why?" she asked. Suddenly, he lowered his arms and grabbed her hands, squeezing them painfully. She winced in pain, but went on. "What has Rei done to you when you were kids that made you hating her so much… or at least simulating the feeling of hatred?"
"Do you really want me to end what I've started yesterday? Do you want your death so much?" his tone left little place for doubt that he wouldn't go on with the thought of her murder.
"What has your mother done to you?" she suddenly asked, this time her eyes turning clear blue and carrying fear and curiosity inside. His breath stopped and his eyes shot out almost real flames. She had hit that point that he hated in his life… The point that started all. Regaining his control one moment later, he pushed her on the floor, clearing the exit. He glanced down at her fallen body without any last words and then left her alone… again.
Kane entered silently the bedroom he and Mina shared. It was a large room, big enough to fit his desk and personal computer and her closet filled with an immense amount of clothes, not to mention the huge center bed, and the two bed tables positioned on each side. On the left wall there was a door leading to an adjacent bathroom, also a pretty large place. The lamps and ceiling spots were shut down, but he didn't need the light in order to get around his own room. He had learned a long time ago to get used to the darkness and to their room.
Easily, he took off most of his clothes, put aside his boots and went straight to the bed. However, when he got inside it, he had the surprise of his life.
"Is this how your greet your wife, fearless leader?" a voice he knew all-too-well broke the silence as a silhouette started moving in the same bed, near him. He stared into the darkness, to where the voice came from, of course after having identified the owner, who was the only person capable of calling him "fearless leader" on different tones and get away with it.
"Mina!" his voice was a mixture or sadeness, joy and love. Add a little lust on it and you got the Kane during his honeymoon.
"The one and only!" she presented herself and switched on one of the lights. In a second, Kane found himself in front of a Mina with raveled and long blonde hair, clear blue eyes, extremely few signs proving that she had just left the infirmary few hours earlier and only wearing one of his shirts, which could be more than easily be classified as large in her case. For the first time in days, the man actually smiled and his sight turned warm. She also smiled, but with that vixen and delicious smile of hers, which absolutely no one could copy. She was his one and only indeed. Not waiting for her reaction anymore, he leaned to her and covered her upper body with his, glad that her arms opened immediately, allowing him full access to her chest and embracing his wide shoulders. Right here, with his ear stuck above her heart, listening to her pulses, with his arms around her waist, caressing her back and with her head above his and her long hair forming a curtain around them, he felt the happiest man in the world. Only in the arms of his goddess he had ever felt the true taste of love every time they were together, the bite of jealousy every time some guy was staring at her and the instinct of protectiveness when she was close to danger. Yes, she was indeed his one and only love of his life… Mina, his wife.
Sighing content that, at the end of a rough day, he could come into her arms and hide away from the reality, falling inside a beautiful dream along with her, he leaned more on her, forcing her to fall on her back, all on the bed and him above her. Getting up in one elbow, he stared down at her and took the strands out of her face, also discovering all over again her inviting chest and rest of her perfect body. Without a word, Mina's hand traveled at the back of his head and let the strands of silver hair to fall down from the pigtail he usually wore. Then, entangling her finger into his hair, she pulled him down and kissed him. Content with her gestures, he let himself spoiled by her pale fingers and started taking over her.
In the following hours, the two spend their time admiring one another, confessing their feelings and taking advantage of the fact that they were more than just alone. Kane had a dark feeling that this might have been their last night together and he wanted to make it more than worth. Through his touches and mute language, he confessed everything to Mina, who could only embrace him and assure him that every time he'll ask for it or not, she'll be there, ready to support and to follow him even to the farthest end of the world.
Taking a deep breath, Zack opened his eyes and found this simple task more than painful. Still, when he regained his sight, he also found it highly awarding. Although he could feel the pain in his ribs, shoulders and face, he found himself staring senseless at a young girl working at something inside the room he was. Glancing around only for a moment, before returning to the lovely girl, he noticed that he was laid down on pretty large and comfy bed, inside a very equipped room, for this to only be a hospital. Then, the painful memories returned and understood that he was most probable inside one of Kane's mysterious hide-outs. That made him even more to try and smile for the nice girl wearing white robe over a pair of simple jeans and white top.
"Hi there!" he said and startled her, making her jump nervously and turn around to see his beaten face. That was the first time she saw exactly how green and attractive his eyes were and just how boyish a beaten smirk could look like. A part of Amy wished for her and her blush to be miles away from the man, while another part was determined to keep up with her profession and act absolutely normal around the man. And still…
"Hello… You must be Zack, right?" she asked, trying her best at keeping the crimson red away from her cheeks and her tone, pulse and sight normal.
"Right… and you would be…?"
"Amy." She simple answered, followed by a gap on silence.
"Amy." He repeated, as if he were in some kind of trance. "That's a beaufitul name… Amy." He continued, receiving a puzzled look from the girl. Approaching, she smiled nicely.
"You know, the sedatives I gave you are pretty strong and they still haven't worn off from your blood system." She explained, as she came closer and allowed him to fall back on the pillow again.
"Really? How can you tell?" he asked with wide eyes, just like he were a boy told that fairies didn't really exist.
"Because, right now you would have felt a hell of a headache." She said and smiled affectionately.
"Right…" his voice drifted off and he started laughing dumbly. He was on very strong painkillers.
"Kane has very rough fists that can do a lot of damage."
"Indeed he has!" Zack cheered as if he had held a toast previously. Then, he turned silent for the several minutes, staring absolutely captivated at the young girl. It was as if she looked like some mythical creature, like a mermaid, or an angel. Still, the creature he seemed to be looking at must have been extremely beautiful, because he was practically day-dreaming, with his emerald eyes half closed. "Are you my protective angel, by any chance?" he asked several moments later. She looked start-struck at him, as if he had grown another head. In the next second her face was red like a tomato.
"I don't think so… sorry!" she asked, feeling right now very uncomfortable with her position.
"Then would be so kind to fill that position in my life?" he asked, more than serious, considering his condition, staring calmly at her. Amy didn't think that her eyes could get wider, but apparently her orbs received even more impressive sizes ever since he spoke the last time.
"I…"
"You don't have to answer me now… I know, it's a very difficult task… especially in my case. But, you've been the most protective person with me I've ever met… So, let me know when I get up and I'm not sedated of your decision… my angel…" he ended as he lost consciousness and drifted away into a peaceful and painless sleep, all thanks to Amy's medicine and mere presence. Left alone again, the teenager could only stare absolutely amazed at the hurt man in front of her… Darien's right hand, who had most probable helped him taking Rena and harming the others… the man whose life she had saved from Kane's wrath not even twelve hours before… the first person to have asked her such a weird question.
Rei found herself sitting in front of one of the training rooms, not wanting to enter, but not to leave somewhere else either. She just sat there, staring into nothingness, with a thousand thoughts running through her mind. She had no idea why she had come there… why she had accepted their help to start with… why she ended in this strange group she hurt so much… why they still wanted her there after everything she had done.
"So, how long are you planning on staying there? Not too long I hope!" a voice woke her up from the deep thoughts. Looking above her, she could see Jade's tall body towering her and his blue eyes staring down at her.
"Sorry if I've interrupted you from something important!" she apologized, but her voice was far from a serious tone, indicating more irony than regret. With that, she looked away from him and turned away, ready to leave. She was about to exit the hallway when a determined hand on her arm stopped her. Turning around fastly, her gaze met the blue eyes of Jade himself. She turned around once again and eyes him curiously.
"I shouldn't have hurried you like that."
"I was sitting there for nothing and…this is still your home. You had every right to react the way you…did." Rei said and immediately asked herself why she started having the reactions of an infatuated school-girl around this man.
"It's been a rough week, with the girls either hurt or kidnapped… You have to understand all the pressure we're feeling right now."
"Trust me, I am! That's why I wanted to leave this place in the first instance. I knew that my brother could find and hurt you all. And, considering you guys are the first people that have actually been nice to me in years, I really didn't want to get in trouble because of me." Rei spoke and, after ending, she hid her face from Jade, feeling ready to cry… a feeling she had abandoned years before. To her great surprise, few moments later, she felt a warm hand pulling the black strands out of her hair and lifting her chin. Before she knew what was going on, she was gazing into Jade' incredibly blue eyes and he wasn't thinking about staring somewhere else than into her amethyst orbs either.
"I'm sure that Kane's cooking up some deadly plan, that involves getting Rena back... Now, I don't know about him, but I'm not letting you in Darien Shields' claws again…" his voice drifted off, making Rei shiver with his cold, yet assuring tone. And with that said, he leaned forward and captured her lips into a soft kiss. In a matter of seconds, Rei found his hand away from her chin and wrapped, along with his other one, around her waist, keeping her close. In the same time, almost unconsciously, she lifted her arms and did the same thing around his neck.
This was the moment when Rei was sure that she had found her home… her true home. Not in the bedroom of a mansion and the head of a multinational company, not locked up in a mental hospital, not hidden from the world in one of the last shrines, but here… in a safe hide-out, along with those who were just like her, those who accepted and understood her and, maybe, after a while, those who loved her as well.
Ok, I'm done! Phew... that took some time. Now I would appriciate mostly if you reconsider and decide to write down some words, not too many, about the work so far. If you love it, hate it, have some suggestions... I'm opened for flames... See'ya'll next time !