sabina21: you shall see. Lol there's still more to come and it's only getting better.
kera69love: glad you found it interesting, and yes the drama is going to add to the intensity coming in droves later. In fact things will be coming to a head soon enough.
smoon4409: thanks and glad your enjoying it to.
3 reviews, nice, glad your all enjoying this, there is still more to come, more of a lot of things to come still, please let me know what you all think!
The devil within ch.7
Sailor Moon POV
I hate myself a bit right now. I hate that I feel this way but right now it's unavoidable. It keeps churning in my gut like a line of grease that's pestering me to listen to it. I know it won't go away till I heed it. Out of all the times for this to happen my gut hits me now to tell me something that we're both not looking at. Willfully so too. I'm finally in my love's arms, I want to be swept away by his love, by our love.
Yet the nagging sensation Beryl could catch us as she has once already when she found out who we were as the prince and princess comes to mind. Then there was the last time when Malachite popped in to 'check on things. Endymion sensed this happening sure but my gut was telling me to be more watchful. That something could still happen. I hated it right now because I wanted so badly to be with him again.
To reunite our bodies...to enjoy each other again. Yet the possibility of being discovered is far too real. It claws at my gut till I have no choice but to confront it and I curse it for being there yet I know it is for a reason. I love this man beyond anything yet the fear is all too real that she could be within range. I separate the kiss and look around, recalling Malachite being at the rink earlier, "Malachite's not anywhere near us, right?"
He looks a bit dazed from our kisses. Both of our lips are a tad bruised from the intensity of it, "He's nowhere near us. I can't feel him or anyone else."
He closes his eyes and before I can say another word, he uses his powers to sense them. I arch a brow as he opens them again, "No one else is around that's from the negaverse." He sees the worry I display and cups my cheek in his palm. "We don't have to do anything right now."
I see what he was thinking I meant. "No! No, I do but..." It hits me what I let happen. My gut is normally right but the added threat of what position he's in took over my mind's eye. I couldn't see past what has happened recently and it killed the mood.
"I guess my worry just took over," I assure him, grabbing the lapels of his tuxedo jacket and pulling him closer to me. "I just couldn't stop thinking about what would happen if someone from there stumbled upon us here."
I take another glance around and see nothing. He simply smiles at me, "Trust me, my sweet princess...if there was anyone from the negaverse here or within range I would know about it." I go to voice my frustrations over myself when he continues with, "I get that it's scary, I do, trust me...But if they were within range, I'd make sure to separate us and keep you safe from them...while still keeping my position safe."
I nod knowing I was overthinking things, yet it doesn't stop me from cursing myself for the gut reaction of there being evil around. "I usually trust my gut so much this time it wasn't that reliable," I confess and feel bad about it.
"Never doubt your gut." His words are strong as I look up to him. "It is sensing evil, but it's within me, so it is reacting accordingly. Plus, you want to heal me and that is a natural reaction to, and when Beryl and Metallia are gone, you will."
I nod at his words as he leans in to kiss me once more. That's when I remember. Breaking the kiss I ask him, "What did Beryl say when you got back last time?"
I can see the frustration on his face at this and hope I didn't further ruin the moment, but it was important.
"I told Beryl my plan to seduce you for the crystal. She wasn't thrilled with it to say the least."
Something told me that was the edited short version. I sigh as I ask more to myself than anyone, "Why couldn't she just let us be together?"
He smiles, "Cause if we were together that would mean she couldn't have me, and I've been avoiding that particular part for a bit now and I don't plan on stepping within a ten-foot radius of it as long as I can."
His words make me both laugh and go 'ew' at the same time. Yet it does bring us both comfort to be on the same page with how we want things to go. As we enjoy this quite somber mood, I remember that Minako knows, and I know I have to tell him. "We can't tell the rest of the Senshi this yet, but one does know and she's on board and understanding of the position you're in."
I confess as he nods. "Let me guess Mercury."
I smile and shake my head knowing how logical that would have been to think of but also know that as much as I adore and love Ami as both my friend, sister, and Senshi, I needed another viewpoint to this that wasn't rooted so deeply or closely to both Rei and Luna. Minako feels almost like an unbiased third party that is also a Senshi. I feel like I can trust Minako with information that I can't trust the others with just yet.
It's nothing personal against them but there's a comfort I find in it with Minako. Perhaps it is due to her being the first to also know about Endymion in the past too, so I feel more at ease to tell her first now to and get her aid and counsel from. "Nope, Venus..."
I see his head curve upwards a bit at this as he seems slightly stunned by it. After all, she in the past was the 'leader of the Senshi' while I was the princess and now, she's the second in command so to speak while I take on the leader slash princess role.
I quickly explain, "She sees and feels that your heart is true just as I do. The others don't…they wouldn't get it…not yet." I place my hand over our hearts for emphasis.
He takes his hand in mine, "Well till they do, let's enjoy these stolen moments." He kisses my gloved fingertips before kissing me as we go back to kissing. Even though I'd love nothing more than to make love to him this evening this is fine for now.
Besides as the minutes pass by, even as we enjoy the feel of each other's bodies I can sense that my tiredness is getting to me and if I'm not mistaken, he even seems distracted now. I withdraw, my back now up against an air conditioning unit as we had subtly moved towards it as we made out. He looks slightly agitated and I can only think of one person who can make him frustrated with just the mere thought of them.
"Beryl calling you?" I ask, worry coming back.
He looks at me. "Yeah...she's a real nag," he mutters as I smile just a bit at how he sees her.
"That's the nicest thing she's probably ever been described as."
We both burst out laughing at that as he says, "I will treasure these moments with you always and forever." Before he kisses me again.
When we separate, I tell him, "You are my always and forever." I can see how my words affect him. How he loves me and even the evil within him shifts a bit at the words. "I promise to not let anything tear us apart...ever."
He gives me one final passionate kiss that feeds the fires just a bit more before vanishing. I touched my lips and while I wished we had done more there was just no more time, and I did learn new information. I didn't hear how he could still enact his plan on her...now I wish I knew how that conversation went down.
When I get back, Luna is sitting on my bed waiting for me. I didn't think she'd still be up as it was late out. I mean 'the sun would be up in a few hours' type of late.
"What took you so long?" she asks, concern and suspicion laced in her voice. I didn't want to lie to her but at the same time, this still needed to be kept under wraps till it was time and now was NOT the time just yet. I remained calm about it.
"After the events of tonight, I decided to take a walk around the city for a bit. I needed some air and space to think about things." I did get air, to be frank, it just happened to have been shared with my love. I de-transform and slip into the bathroom to shower and get dressed for bed. I know Luna may think something is up but for now, she needs to be in the dark. It was the only way to build this up safely.
Over the course of the next week, we kept a vigilant watch over the city when we could. The felines did nightly patrols, but nothing was amiss. So, when the following Saturday hit us, so did another monster. I had a feeling Endymion was trying to keep it to weekends, so we'd have a chance for resting and school during the week. I nearly gave a little laugh at that. Mamoru was still definitely in there for that to NOT be a coincidence.
The monster was a damn near simple one this time. Made me wonder if Endymion was purposely picking the easy ones to beat or using it as a way to give us target practice. It was a theory of both mine and Minako's that we'd been discussing with Artemis during this last week seeing as none of the youma since Endymion has been on 'their side' have been anything that seriously hurt us.
Makoto recovered fairly quickly, a few hours after the last one and she was right as rain, though still mildly irritated that she couldn't jam a lightning bolt up the youma's rear. Yet we noticed this. Rei called it 'us getting stronger in our powers and more skilled at using them.' While she wasn't wrong, she wasn't entirely accurate either. Trying to have that conversation with her during the week resulted in us getting into a catfight.
It seems she and I still have some issues that she's unwilling to discuss just yet and I want to do so in private but it's hard to do that when there's always someone around. I understood I wasn't initially the most gun-ho Senshi about all of this. I accept that but things have changed since then. A LOT of things have changed. Yet in such a short amount of time too. I had to try to talk with her in private so we could get to the root of this.
It was why I had been heading towards the temple a week from the last time I saw Endymion, just the thought of him alone and how we'd been able to partake in making out was making me smile. His lips were soft yet pliable and yet demanding. As if he didn't want to waste a single second of time together. I felt so comfortable in his arms that my anxiety over if we were truly alone or not didn't get in the way things would have happened.
Yet things do happen for a reason…or so I've been told on numerous occasions. I just hadn't counted on this particular walk, once I neared the temple, turning into hearing someone in the distance shouting for help. My gut instinct kicked in and I ran towards the sounds. Another youma, collecting energy it seemed. Right square in the middle of a clearing by a food truck selling hot foods to people taking walks.
The food actually smelled delicious. If not for the burning scent of the vendor trying to get away and nearly getting a severe burn by the grill that had been toppled over on him. As soon as I lifted it enough, as it was a fairly big-sized grill, he scrambled out, shouted a quick 'thanks!' before bolting. I looked up and around as the rest of the people in the area were also in an obvious hurry to get out.
Though this almost looked more random as I didn't see any specific target. It was definitely confusing for me but nevertheless, I had to stop it. Ducking behind a tree I transformed and wondered if this was Endymion's doing or if it was more Malachite's work. I looked up and around and couldn't spot either of them…at first. After the youma took a breath to stop and notice that no one else was around that's when Malachite appeared.
"Question answered," I muttered to myself. I called the other girls for backup as Malachite did tend to pick stronger youma's, I think he was hoping for a quick kill, so I'd need the assistance on this one. I got one response back pretty fast.
Ami, "Less than two minutes away."
I nodded. "Good, cause this thing is bigger than usual. Malachite sure does like 'em big," I couldn't help but gruffly respond.
The two minutes were spent with me getting its attention as I ran around and jumped all over the place. I was trying to get it to run out of energy. So, when Mercury popped up and I jumped towards her, narrowly dodging the monster I asked, "Make sure it's a youma and not a person he's using. We know how devious Malachite is."
She nods and gets to work on her computer as I duck away again. Keeping the monster from her as she worked her computer magic till it nearly got me. I barely avoided the strike that came my way as I jumped back towards her. Thankfully I was jumping around so much that even Malachite couldn't keep up with me.
"The weak spot is in its right shoulder, right where the connection is by where a human clavicle would be."
Her words made me glad I paid attention in health class.
"Thank Kami I pay attention to the teacher for health."
Mercury nods not getting how that could have gone over my head as I jump out, getting its attention again. She jumps out as she uses her power to create a fog so I can attack it. I use my tiara this time to throw it multiple slices, effectively pissing it off as it tries to send attacks my way. The cuts work enough for me to see blood on the shoulder I'm aiming for.
Knowing my next move is going to be risky as I slid on my knees to kick at it, just enough to get its attention as it diverted from Mercury and came after me again. Knowing it was behind me I jumped up, using a tree branch as leverage, twisted my body around and mid twist threw my tiara at it. Once I landed, I focused on the tiara. I used the power I had to turn it to its side last second and aim it to cut the youma's arm off.
It fell to the ground like a dead husk and as awesome as that was, it was also gross to see it laying there. The youma was pissed and definitely wounded. I'm just glad it was a straight youma though, not an innocent. Mercury then sends a pile of icy fog at it once more from behind as it blinds it from seeing me once more. I run up and jump as high as I can calling for the tiara as I focus my efforts once more.
As I've never done this before I knew it would cost me energy, but I needed to severe the shoulder as it was its weakness. I jammed the tiara like an electric grinding saw into its shoulder as it screamed in such agony I could practically see Malachite almost feeling pity for the monster. It used its other arm to bat me off of it as I swung out with my moon wand and called out the words to dust it.
"Pesky Senshi," Malachite complained as he 'stood' hovering over all of us as I turned to him angered that he was hurting people yet again.
"We're pesky? Trying dealing with evil dicks bent on wrecking this planet for their own selfish gain then we'll see who's 'pesky'." I nearly laughed at how gobsmacked he appeared as he growled and vanished into thin air.
"Tell me were pesky," I muttered this time.
That's when the rest of the Senshi come in having heard the '911' to come in but see that they're obviously too late. Mercury and I both give them a run down as Luna shows to hear it as well as we all wonder what the point of this was.
"Perhaps it was just for energy like this used to?" Jupiter suggests."Could be but if that's the case what are they gathering energy for this time?"
It was a good question and there was only one person who could possibly give us answers. I knew he had to be nearby.
Yet I didn't want to alert the Senshi that I knew this. "Let's convene at the temple early tomorrow to try to figure things out cause right now in the open isn't ideal."
The girls all agree despite Mars giving me a side-eye for my version of 'early' and shrugs it off as we all dart our own separate ways. It's once I've reached the buildings again and land on one that is close to home yet tall enough to not have any potential visual visitors that I stop.
I realize that I don't have a way to contact him but my gut says he was nearby. I wonder if this was a good idea seeing as MAYBE I should have waited for him at the attack site but knew how bad of an idea it would be to be the only person there, especially if anyone else decided to lag behind. I debate on going back as I do have those questions for him but also wonder if he's already left too.
I look around the rooftop and don't see him. I sigh and feel I've made an error in thinking here when I hear a whoosh behind me. Instinct alone has me on alert considering the fight I was just in as I swing out my arm only to find Endymion in his tux behind me.
I ease up as he talks, "Had to wait till the coast was clear before I followed you." He looks around. "Slick choice this building," He admits as I smile.
Just being in his presence is enough to make me feel happy again. "I wasn't sure you'd show up," I admit.
He turns to me. "I'd take any opportunity I could to see you, which by the way nice fighting skills. You're definitely improving which is going to be needed in these coming battles."
I nod glad to have gotten some positive feedback from someone other than Makoto and Minako. Don't get me wrong their great but it's different in the field.
He sees things that they don't and as nice as Mercury was to compliment me on my skills today Mars words of don't get cocky diminished it. which reminded me, "Why are they still gathering energy?" I ask.
He sighs. "Beryl's trying to gather enough energy now to fuel more youma to create a bigger one. You guys keep killing so many," He winks to me on that one.
"So she's trying to create a mega-youma with the energy. Lovely."
I couldn't help the sarcasm as he smiles, "We'll beat them back, their still pretty far from it and she's still using the energy to give to Metallia to yet it's obviously not enough yet."
I nod, "This is good though. I'll have to inform Minako of this." My thinking is still in Senshi mood so when he smirks, I can't help but be a tad confused by his response. Did I say something amusing to him? "What?"
He leans in, "There's something to be said for an independent woman who can handle herself in a fight and pick apart different things about the fight." Before I can respond he kisses me. "It's hot." Is his only response as the kiss deepens and takes over me. I wrap my arms around his shoulders and pull him in as I accept the heated exchange and kiss him back with as much passion as he's showing me.
Luna POV
Something about that girl's need to get home didn't sit right with me. I looked over the others who were leaving out themselves. Most of them hadn't been needed for the fight as even Mercury herself said Moon had handled a lot of it herself, being the first one here. The girls went and dispersed but I was wary as to why they were still gathering energy. Attacking for the crystal, we knew that but for energy still...why?
It left a gnawing sensation in my gut that I needed to talk to Moon about. There was something else too, maybe she had a clue since she was the first one here, and not that I don't trust her to not give us the details if did know, far from it, BUT...there might be details she knows that she doesn't know has a clue as to why they're doing this. Sometimes the simplest clue can lead to the downfall of a plan.
What was also problematic about this was the consistency of this. If the negaverse kept it up they'd start to become more widely known. That was the last thing that we needed. The news of the negaverse needed to stay a well-hidden secret. I strove for that but they didn't make it easy when their goals were world domination at best. It was made even less easy now that they had Mamoru working for them.
I was still very much iffy on his previous and after-the-fact involvement when it came to 'helping the senshi'. I still don't understand who he was beforehand and I know that he gave Moon his 'reasons' but it doesn't seem valid. Especially since he never wanted to work directly with us and only ever as an independent. It was bothersome to say the least in his regard. He was making me question things.
Yet not as Usagi was. I just couldn't believe that the idea that was projected at the last meeting was a soluble one to be thought of. To think Mamoru would have the mental stamina and ability to protect his mind from Beryl and her wickedness is nearly laughable. I hadn't wanted to laugh at it as that would be disrespectful and upsetting to Usagi but seriously, former prince or not he was still a human being first and foremost.
They were not well known for their abilities to fight off evil from their minds. Look at the generals, even now in this life they were made evil. That just went to show how strong and persistent the Negaverse is. Even Ami's friend that was a former shadow guardian couldn't not be overwhelmed by their influence. Even if only for a short time frame it still happened and there's no denying that.
I'm willing to put a tinge more stability into the idea but ONLY because not only did I see it displayed firsthand BUT Ami's friend was also able to see into the future. He KNEW in a very literal sense which I would say gave him the ability to fight it. Plus, he made sure Moon was able to heal him at the first chance they all got yet this version of 'Endymion' working for the dark kingdom was nothing short of avoiding interaction with us afterward.
It's no different than before which only makes me further think that my initial gut response was right. Despite the 'help' he gave us that he isn't to be trusted. Former prince or not if he's part of the dark kingdom now and all bets are off. I'm sorry to even say it now as I know the Moon Kingdom needs an heir to thrive once Usagi takes the throne many, many years from now...BUT there's more than one way to make that happen and I refuse to let the negaverse infect the moon line.
I know it sounds harsh but I have a duty to do, and my first Queen's orders to obey is still Queen Serenity. She, Artemis, and I alone know how powerful the silver crystal is. What it can do when pushed to the maximum when its full power can be unleashed. If the bearer of the crystal becomes somehow 'emotionally compromised' then it would not only be on me but it would be due to the influence of Beryl having infected the Terrain kingdom's last remaining heir, the last of the bloodline.
Queen Serenity entrusted me with her daughter, I will not let her down. That also means I will do whatever it takes to ensure Usagi only has the best when it comes to matters of the royal line. With the only prince we have with any power lineage now on the side of darkness we will yes still try to heal him. As it is we don't WANT to give up on the last royal Terrian left alive BUT if he proves to be someone that cannot be saved then I will not hold back on letting him become a casualty.
As it stands my first and primary mission is Usagi's safety and the well-being of the royal heritage she is AND to ensure that silver crystal NEVER falls into the wrong hands. The damage that could befall possibly trillions of people not just on earth but on other planets would affect by this too. It's why the moon kingdom back a thousand years ago had the protective dome over it.
We just hadn't counted on an army invading that evening. We should have been better prepared. We should have activated the shields sooner, but they were already inside. Beryl had used her manipulative skills and powers to slip in and it destroyed so much. So, my priorities are very center-focused, and for good reason. Those two are above anything else and I will not stand for the weakness that is him being on the other side jeopardize what I've been tasked to protect and ensure the safety of.
Usagi, I know means well and does hold love for him but she is still young and doesn't know that there are other suitors out there. Ones that can give her what Mamoru did. I knew I sounded harsh as I did condemn Rei earlier this month for her disregard of innocent lives BUT when those innocent lives are being used as collateral or as a way to get to the crystal directly, it's harsh and perhaps cruel to say but the lives of billions to trillions versus a few or ONE...the sacrifice is necessary.
Rei was right but we need to do what we can to save as many as possible. Innocents are yes, a priority to be saved, at the utmost, BUT...the Negaverse got crafty by taking someone that is cared for when they grabbed Mamoru. Yes, I feel for him and yes, we will try to save him, but the safety and security of the planet, its people, and the universe are far more important than one magical prince.
I felt the chill of the night begin to get to me as if it was chastising me for my thoughts of the Earth's last royal Terrain family member. I looked up and watched the winds through the trees as they move around. My head sunk further down in slight shame as I know that my thoughts were not preferred. I did feel bad BUT it didn't make them untrue. That's when I saw Moon's departure direction change just a bit.
Something was up with her and I needed to know WHAT that something was. My gut said to follow her. "I'll see you girls later on at the temple for the next meeting." They nod as I leap off and head towards the direction she went in. It wasn't far from her home but a little off track which just made me question it more. I don't get far when I see two silhouettes up on the rooftop of a very tall building.
Just a few buildings away. I manage to get closer to them so can at least identify them. I nearly admonish myself for watching the two when I see the woman's hair float about her. It's very strikingly similar as I've seen it VERY often. A pit settles in my gut as I keep on creeping towards the couple up on the rooftop. I can tell they're talking, but the wind and traffic below are making it difficult to hear what's being said.
I get closer and finally catch the right lighting. I stop dead in my tracks. It is them. It's Moon and...my blood begins to run cold at the sheer force of anger I feel. The evil version of Mamoru or the Prince of the Negaverse overheard him and Malachite talking about his placement in the negaverse. The benefits of being a feline. You can hear everything if you hide in just the right place.
I watch the two further. I don't understand what he's trying to play, some type of long game or something, but I won't have it. No Negaverse creation will get near my girls, especially near the Moon princess as long as I live. I start to run towards the couple who have no idea what kind of hell I'm about to unleash on them. Or more specifically on him before I ripe her a new one for trusting in him.
Especially knowing all that she knows about the negaverse and him now. I thought I taught that girl better than to believe what nega-scum will say. I can only hope she's unwilling to let him be intimate with her. That type of consummation is hard to break anyone out of. Once the bodies of two are shared, more so if those two bodies are previously destined for each other, then it's nearly impossible for them to break it off.
With their previous history, it's going to take a lot more to end this if she gives in. This is the past all over again when they were caught together. I was beyond upset she had let him into her chambers that night and even more astonished she was unashamed she let it happen. I understand that they were 'in love' but there's no excuse to lay with him before the wedding commences, and he was no better.
He seemed fully accepting of being with her. Apparently, the two couldn't wait for the wedding and gave each other a private ceremony for themselves. Nothing official mind you BUT they exchanged private vows to each other, private devotional vows that once Queen Serenity calmed down about the princess revealed them to be of their eternal love for each other, and while it was sweet and loving it was also forbidden to do so.
At least BEFORE marriage. Our Lunarian laws were very specific, and we followed them to the T at least I did. Queen Serenity would up finding out that they had already planned to get married in secret if both sets of parents rejected the idea. We even found out that the prince had even purchased some fairly nice homes on both his planet and ours for them to live in if their secret marriage was rejected.
He refused to even be introduced to anyone else from what I heard. I was glad that our Moon Princess had found someone, I truly was, but there are ways of being able to have what you want within reason. The only unfortunate side of that matter that never came to light was that if they did go through with that plan then the royals did have the power, if they could find a good enough reason within the loophole, to nullify the marriage.
This may be the reason why Endymion bought the homes away from the respective palaces, to be away from all of us and to live out their lives as they so choose to. Those two really did think of everything as a way to have their lives together, yet no one saw the destruction that would be brought about by Beryl once she came in. Perhaps if things had gone down differently, we wouldn't be here right now.
Right now I was seeing my charge passionately kissing him and dear...his hands were was making me want to scratch his eyes out and remove his testicles with my claws. Oh no sir, not on my watch. I knew my protective instincts could be a bit overbearing at times but it's not like she was on a regular date with a guy, this was a pawn of the Negaverse she was currently letting paw at her.
My gut told me he was using her and I refused to let my charge be used to get access to the crystal. This was a ploy. It had to be. I knew it was. He was going to take it from her and she'd be left defenseless and we'd all suffer from it. He couldn't trust me from the start and even back then I had my misgivings about him, I still had that and though there for different reasons now they're there for a reason.
I raced to tear them apart. My anger gave me more speed as I vaulted myself closer to the pair in question. I get within range to begin my loudest more primal yowl ever only to have Artemis jump in front of me. Blocking me. The intervention shocks me to my core. He's clearly protecting them from knowing I was there as I'm still out of earshot of the two. Oblivious to my presence there.
I go to try to get around him but he continues to block me before telling and begging me all at once, "Don't please!" I was stunned. "We have a plan in place but it involves everyone being compliant and right now the rest of everyone, including you are not actively being so."
He was HELPING THEM?! no more importantly he was helping HIM?! My anger was getting towards mount St. Helen's levels.
"Unbelievable," I growled at him. "You do remember that he's the enemy!" I snapped, my tone growing more frustrated and on edge with my current emotional state. It really felt like a betrayal had hit me. Here was the only other Mau who knew the seriousness and depth of how far back things went and he was protecting her being with an agent of the Negaverse? In what universe is that acceptable?
"We don't make out with enemies...wait making out?" I look over to see the two engaging in a strong make-out session. "She's too young for that."
I went to go stop them only for Artemis to stop me again. "She's not a child Luna, she's a growing teenage young lady and it's high time you see that." His tone and the factual statement didn't make me feel any differently. If anything, it only served to piss me off further.
"I'm well aware of that but this is too young to be engaging in that." I could easily see that they were starting to get wrapped up in each other but Artemis was successfully, and annoyingly holding me back from being able to stop the pair.
"Answer me this then?" Artemis begins as I snap my attention back to him. I had a feeling he was just trying to take up my time or rather an attention but I couldn't help but get engaged with him. Perhaps I could try to use it to my advantage. However, the expression on his face was dead serious. "She's old enough to fight the forces of evil on a nearly daily basis, nearly getting killed several times over..." He paused for dramatic effect as he allowed the information to sink in which it was. "BUT...she's too young to have a simple make-out session with the young man that she loves and who loves her?"
I blushed a bit at his observation but was also red from absolute anger at his leveling judgmental glare he had directed at me. He was absolutely right. Didn't mean I was going to admit that he had a point. "That's different, she's making out not just with any guy..."
Not that I would be okay with a full-on make-out session but a sweet kiss is acceptable. No, they were full-on, passionately kissing each other.
"She's making out with the Prince of the Dark Kingdom. The very kingdom that destroyed not just the Terrian kingdom a millennium ago but the moon kingdom. It was our home to and they ripped it from us. Don't you care about that at all?" I was beyond upset that he was doing this as it felt like an utter betrayal. When he walks up to me a few steps I can see the anger I've caused him now and I'm wondering if I went a bit too far.
"Are you seriously questioning my loyalty to the moon kingdom Luna? After all that we've been through together? After the pain, the suffering, the fighting both then and now?" I gulped and nearly cowered down at his words. Artemis rarely got in my face about anything and the fact that he was that upset showed that perhaps I had gone too far. Yet I couldn't help the stubborn streak that I had to persist that I was right.
"I'm questioning anything that hasn't been just recently proven to BE questioned!" I countered as he looked at me with disappointment.
"I really thought you knew me better," his gaze had me upset that he was gaining the upper verbal hand. "After everything that's happened you still question when I make a judgment call when YOU are the one without all the facts and still choose to run in guns blazing...so to speak."
I swallowed the lump in my throat as I countered with, "You put yourself into my place and tell me that you wouldn't want to pull apart a Prince of the Negaverse smooching with our Moon Princess. The only remaining HEIR to the royal family."
He looked exasperated now, but it was directed at me. "You seem to be focusing solely on him being over there and not at all about the fact that he's the last HEIR to the Terrain kingdom as well."
I turned away briefly, "I'm aware of that but he's working for the dark kingdom. He was in their kingdom trapped for more than enough time to convert him as one of their agents." I look back at him, hoping that he'll relent on my next words. "Is THAT not registering as my major concern in this whole thing?!" I manage to fire back at him. Yet it doesn't make him back down in the slightest as he stands his ground still.
If anything, he counters back with, "It's a long story, one that's not mine to tell, especially since there's quite a bit of information that you need to hear, but he's actually not…" He sees the confusion mounting on my face even with my anger. "Just go home and let Usagi tell you about it BEFORE you make any judgments on her actions cause we both know you can be quick to anger if things are beyond what you like," he gently orders. I try to get around him again but he's persistent and good at blocking me.
Oh, I was beyond pissed off at this point. Yes, he may have had a point but it didn't mean that I didn't either. How long had this been going on? What all did Usagi know? What all had she been keeping from me? How long has she been keeping secrets from me that I should have known about since day one? I had so many questions and she had been keeping this from me?! From us?!
If Rei or anyone else knew I would think they'd come to me or at least make her come to me and it would the responsible thing to do, but nothing, not a word from anyone. I had to wait now to get answers and much like Usagi I wasn't a patient one nor one to stay out of it. Sometimes it could be seen as a flaw but it was necessary for our line of work. I looked beyond Artemis but saw they were gone.
My visual was gone. I couldn't even bypass him now. I knew Artemis was good with his defenses, he wouldn't relent on keeping me away so I'd have to wait till she got home. I huffed and left off for home. She was going to get quite the earful when she arrived. I had some choice words for her so perhaps it was better to wait for her than try to engage where she could try to run off. At home, she was less likely to run as that was her destination after all. This whole thing just pissed me off.