sabina21: considering what has happened now there's a lot for both sides to consider, that no one thought would ever be happening.

Princesakarlita411: she and Usagi have that in common, both are stubborn.

kera69love: In this and really in the anime/manga when it started out, Luna was essentially having a guardian/advisor/take charge attitude. She was the one who brought all the girls into the fold. In a sense she feels that she still is in charge despite her putting Usagi in charge, in a way she still has that sense of being 'the leader' despite her not actually being a leader. But no your absolutely right, she is technically a servant herself and has forgotten that.

starmariofan4: true and true, their also seeing it as Usagi started out not taking her duties to seriously before she got very serious as she initially didn't want to be a senshi, but not only came around but became one of the best ones if not the best and is their princess, while Minako was not only the latest one to enter the fold while the girls developed a friendly bond over their time together but also has her abilities grounded in love near Usagi's. the rest, other than Usagi, aren't initially seeing the benefits of her own 'gifts' as Rei has pointed out along with Luna. So there are two sides to look at it from that the girls are and not seeing. And again yes he didn't have to save the girls and he did, multiple times but because he didn't allow them to interrogate him endlessly they have trust issues with him, mostly due to Luna's persistence that he can't be trusted since he was reluctant to talk. She grew more weary and even saw him as a third party working for the negaverse. So yeah that went down as expected cause we all know she wouldn't have given up her birthright. Luna got what was coming to her.

smoon4409: thanks yeah Luna in this one is not a fan favorite BUT she is acting this way for a reason and it's going to boil down soon enough.

5 reviews, nice, glad your all enjoying this, hopefully you like the next one to so stay tuned in, oh and also, I'm debating now but when this does end I'm trying to think of what to write next, a continuation to this one or a continuation of the vampire/lycan story, let me know your thoughts! Also shoutout again to 'masterray5' who's been such a help in beta'ing this story and the drabbles thank you once more!

The devil within ch.10

Makoto POV

What the hell just happened? Did that just happen? I looked over at Ami who was equally perplexed and stunned by the turn of events that just happened. This was a far cry from the beginning of the meeting we had planned. Or rather the meeting I thought we had planned for and this was not it. Luna didn't tell us about her plans to give Usagi her ultimatum and I sorely wished we had known cause I truly feel like we just got hit with a bomb of information that was kept from us.

Granted part of it was from Usagi, but I actually do understand why she kept it from us. I'm still hurt by it, but I get it. Luna and Rei's responses were telltale proof she was keeping this a secret due to not wanting to have this blow-up out of proportion. I could see the reactions on her face and felt for her. She reminded me a bit of myself in those moments. Wanting to protect but at the same time shield not just herself but those that she had under her protection on the other side from those she did trust.

It was a fine line she was on. She did care and love us as friends and sisters BUT, she was playing a bigger and longer game in this. Minako and Artemis both knew and agreed to it so I hold no doubt THAT was why she continued to keep things from us. Minako was a new player in this but knew things that we couldn't know due to her powers and judging from how dismissive Luna was to it Usagi kept the cards close to her heart for a reason and I couldn't dispute it.

I looked over at Ami who looked upset and confused at what had just happened. I wasn't sure what was on her mind so I spoke up.

"Usagi did what she did for a reason...I may not like it but I understand it."

She nods her head, "Yeah...no...I do it, in a sense. I just can't..."

She put her head into her hands for a moment. Trying to collect herself. I have a feeling this is hitting her a little harder since Usagi was her first friend here.

I reach across the table placing my hand over hers in comfort. She looks up. "She didn't do this to be mean to us, I think she did it because she pre-calculated the responses from everyone and it wasn't favorable to tell us just yet." She nods. "I know it's just...were we to rough on her?"

I sigh at her inquiry. "Not us in particular but we do tend to bow down sometimes to social pressure," I admit.

She looks over to where the moon want was as the material it was made out of left a small scrap against the wood it was placed on when Rei grabbed it. I couldn't help but narrow my eyes at that. Rei was the first to touch it. To pick it up after Artemis left out. It felt wrong to even see her holding it without Usagi handing it to her willingly. Not that she ever had but that would be the only way to see it in a positive light in Rei's hands.

Yet she grabbed it off the table and went to go see Luna in the next room. "She shouldn't have taken it." I mutter lower as Ami looks at me in confusion before realization dawns on her.

"I'm sure she just wants to know what Luna wants her to do with it."

I look at her. "Let's hope that's all it is. Rei's been wanting to be in charge for a while, I hope she doesn't try to use this as an opportunity," I tell her.

That's when Ami's face reddens as if in slight embarrassment.

"What is it?"

I ask her. She looks up as she divulges, "Don't count this against her as we have all grown since then..." She looks back to the door then to me again, and leans in a little bit, "Remember when we had met up during the rainbow crystal happening, and Luna was discussing possibly replacing Usagi as the leader?"

I nod remembering it clearly.

"Well, when Rei was next to me and I initially voted for Usagi to remain leader, Rei pinched my skin to make me change my mind. It was a small minor thing, but I changed my response to favor Rei as I was still a little intimidated by her at the time. Again things have changed for all of us." Ami tries to downplay Rei's actions and almost sounds to be taking on more of the responsibility herself.

I give the door a silent glare. "It's not your fault and in the end, Luna saw that Usagi was capable of being the leader," I assure her though I'm still perturbed Rei would go so far as to bully someone even in a subtle way to do things her way. Especially considering the fact all of us girls have been bullied for some reason or another and yet she goes, turns, and does something similar to someone else.

Irony considering i'm the one who's gotten kicked out of schools for that behavior when it was me who was either being bullied or protecting those from getting bullied. Those memories hit me too, especially when I was defending others and those in charge didn't want to admit to me NOT being the innocent one. I looked back out the door,."Usagi didn't deserve that. She kept it from us because of them." My anger getting the better of me.

Ami covers my hand this time, "No. I'm mean yes but not completely. Luna thinks she's doing what's right for all of us. Rei is in agreement with her and we didn't exactly throw up mounting defenses on Usagi's behalf. Granted we were too stunned to..."

That's when I wonder, "Do you think that's why Luna didn't tell us everything?"

Ami looks at me. "What do you mean?"

I look to the door again. "Do you think Luna purposely kept us in the dark on the ultimatum because she knew we'd be upset with her over it?"

I can see Ami is taking a moment to think it over. "I think we need more information before we make a decision. Both parties kept information from us and we're trying to decide who was better or more okay to do it."

I nod understanding as I speak, "Something tells me though that Luna's motives are more for herself."

Ami asks, "Meaning?"

I sigh and admit, "I don't know yet. What I do know is I recognize that tone she used. I recognize that glint in her eyes."

It really took me back. Luna reminded me a bit of the different superintendents I've had to deal with. I look back at her. "It wasn't in a positive light and it only makes me more worried about what we don't know from her and what Usagi does know about what's going on."

Now Ami was curious, "What are you thinking?"

I respond with, "I think Usagi knows more about what's going on, more about how Beryl's side of things is going but because Luna is getting tunnel vision and it's aimed at Endymion in this, she's ignoring what we could be learning in favor of doing things her way."

Ami now looks towards the door then back to me.

"Think about it," I present. "Usagi was gathering information about Beryl through Endymion. He's doing his double agent role but Usagi can't tell us much if at all cause Luna's tunnel vision gets in the way. She wants to be honest to us all but could only go to whom she could trust in this without it creating more issues."

"So she went to Minako, the newest member of the group who is more pulled away from the situation than we are." Ami concludes.

I nod. "Minako was the technical leader in the past, while Usagi was the moon princess. Now that Usagi is the leader, Minako is second in command, so it makes sense Usagi still goes to her for these instances. Especially since Artemis is close to Minako."

Ami nods, "And if Artemis didn't say anything to Luna or us then it speaks volumes about what's going on."

I agree with her as we try to figure things out.I trace the mark left behind from the moon want with my fingertips.

"I'm surprised she didn't give in," Ami says making me look at her.

"What Usagi?"

She looks to me. "Think about it, in the past, Usagi has mostly just bent over left and right to give Luna what she wants. This time, she didn't. Usagi gave up the moon want and it was clearly not what Luna was expecting."

I had to admit she had a point. Usagi gave up her moon wand without seemingly any regret but yet I saw the sadness and anger in her eyes at the factor that it was even happening to begin with.

"This cannot be happening," she uttered as I look at the place where the moon want was when Rei took it and went to go see Luna in the next room. I nearly glared at the door as I stood up.

"Where are you going?" Ami asks as she stands up.

"My gut tells me something is up, and we need to know what."

She nods and follows e as we linger by the door hearing the hushed voices behind it. We go up to the door and begin to listen in as I know there's something off. Between Luna's perception of what Minako was talking about to even what Artemis had said to even Usagi and Luna going back and forth like a chess match that even Ami was between perplexed and worried by we needed to know more details. Things weren't right. We listened in and overheard so much that we were definitely worried.

I'm ready to get involved there before Ami stops me.

"What?" I whisper.

"Let's get Artemis's viewpoint before we bulldoze inside. If anyone has more insight than we need HE has it."

I nod knowing she's right as we pack up and leave the temple. I know it's common courtesy to let the hosts know so we leave a note behind saying we had to get going before actually leaving out as we head right on over to Minako's place.

Upon arrival Minako answers but Usagi isn't there. We look at each other before I tell her, "We want to know more, and we think Artemis can tell us a lot."

She nods. "You are very correct. Come in."

She brings us to her room with some tea and cookies as we sit around as Artemis comes in with her as she sits on her bed. He regards us both, "I'm assuming Luna had some words after I left."

Ami breaches first. "In truth, we don't understand what's going on. Luna simply told us there had been a meeting to attend and that Usagi needed to understand what she was doing with her relationship with Endymion was wrong and held dire consequences. We hadn't known anything else at that point and everything that has happened since was a blur of not understanding what we missed."

I nod in agreement. "She's right, we weren't exactly given a full-on heads up on Usagi's situation. Not until Usagi divulged her side of things" I express further.

Artemis sighs. "I had a feeling that's what happened."

To this Ami asks, "Just curious, how'd you know there was a meeting going on today?"

I look at him as he tells her, "Once she found out about Usagi and Endymion...rather Mamoru, I kept a closer eye on her and what she was doing. It wasn't hard to figure out from there."

"Look I know your past memories aren't fully recovered as of yet, a lot is back yes, but not everything." We nod knowing that there are still missing pieces. Like I can remember that I had parents and trained in my youth, but I can't remember what my parents looked like. Though I have a gut feeling I wasn't close to my mother but close to my father as he did train me. I may not remember his face but I remember the feeling of being proud that I was making him proud of me and my abilities. Things were still so muddled though.

"Tell us what we're missing," Ami says after we get done telling him what we overheard from Luna in the other room with Rei. She gets settled in for Artemis's tale.

"That's what you heard from her?" he asks, a bit stunned before he sighs and remarks, "It seems she still sees things as black and white as always."

Ami and I look at each other in question. That's when Artemis goes into detail "Their love wasn't the cause of anything other than two worlds coming together," he genuinely looked disgruntled and perturbed by knowing this now. "Queen Serenity had been working very difficult channels for years to align the planets for a united front of power and peace against our enemies and there were many." He looked up at us as we listened on.

"You see the planets we had under our allegiance had enemies themselves and we banded together to eliminate our enemies or banish them."

It made sense to do so and I could see the understanding in Ami's eyes. I looked over and saw Minako merely appear to know this already. As if she were merely listening again to a story she heard once to see if she missed anything the first time.

"When Earth came up, their technology wasn't favorable BUT they had their own system of magics that we knew could attract some serious enemies and we felt that an allegiance could be beneficial all around."

We nodded as even we knew that earth while amazing as it was never once mentioned in any of the Terrain kingdoms, or its magics in its history. It was more fabulized than anything.

Something had to have happened for that part of Earth's history to be wiped away and while we know a great war happened how does one war make all of that disappear?

"So did their King and Queen. Queen Serenity went through years of negotiations with them, mostly through letters and a few meetings here and there but nothing too much till Princess Serenity was able to wield her own magics with the training she had undertaken."

Ami and I looked at each other recalling now some of the training now. I do recall seeing a younger Serenity doing just that while I wielded a sword with a lightning strike around it. The faint memory stirred up something within me I couldn't put my finger to.

"Queen Serenity saw the possibilities between her and Endymion hit and made sure to let them have their time and space together to see where things fell."

I don't even remember the woman, but it already sounds like her. I don't know why but it brings a smile to my face. At least things between Serenity and Endymion were like things on Earth, forced. Pressured. Who knows though, there could have previously been and Queen Serenity broke that cycle.

"She never pushed or forced anything so when the two naturally fell in love she presented a more united front for the King and Queen of Earth that would be certified in writing upon the wedding of the two."

Ami asked, "Isn't that a good thing though?"

Artemis looked at her. "Yes. Endymion's parents were thrilled with the prospects but many of their council members were not. See there were some that felt that the longevity we had was blasphemous and sacrilegious."

I couldn't help the sigh and eye roll that came from me. "Someone always has to be some fanatical nut to a degree," I mutter.

"You have no idea," Artemis continues. "Queen Serenity while surprised when she presented this as a united front at the council, with the King and Queen's blessing of course simply stated that it wasn't a requirement and that if someone choose not to have the crystal's blessing, they were free from it but it wasn't enough." I narrowed my eyes wondering where thisf was going now as Artemis looked like he was frowning even harder now.

"They felt that NO ONE should be able to live that long nor should anyone have the power to do so. Despite our Queen's many attempts to be appeasing it was clear that the room was divided and thus the marriage kept getting postponed, you see girls the wedding was supposed to have taken place months earlier than when negotiations finally came to a conclusion."

Ami and I both stiffened and moved forward in our seats.

"Wait Serenity and Endymion should have been married months before the final battle that took down both kingdoms?"

Artemis nodded. "It was only later on that we found out that the reason why there was a change of heart. That the reason why the other half of the council accepted the terms was that Beryl had gotten to them all."

Beryl...that witch bitch that had taken Endymion from Serenity again.

"She convinced them of the poison of the white moon kingdom, and they banded together to 'get rid of us' and to 'cleanse us' from not only the earth but from the universe."

My mouth dropped open. "Holy hell." I couldn't help by mutter in my own displeasure. Artemis nodded his agreement.

"She sounds like a master manipulator," Ami added as the feline agrees again as he seems to slip into memory now.

"That evening that the kingdom fell was initially supposed to be the engagement party for Serenity and Endymion, but Beryl caught wind of it through her own sorcery and spies and used it to not only tear down the Terrain kingdom but also to tear down the Moon Kingdom."

I recalled that night with more clarity now. We had been enjoying the evening, even having a laugh or two when we heard the alarm bells sound off. The frantic cries for help and the shock that it was happening so suddenly.

"Beryl is the root of the problems in this. She got to the other council members and twisted their thinking further than anyone could guess."

The blip of that new memory hits hard as I'm hit with a wave of emotional nostalgia. I remember even seeing Nephrite there but my memory goes blank after that. I take a breath to control the emotions rushing in.

I glance over to see a similar expression on Ami's face too. Faint memories must be hitting her as well.

"Luna seems to be forgetting what a significant role she played in this."

I couldn't but blurt out, "Well yeah!" Anger tinged in my voice as I calmed myself down.

"She wasn't just an enemy, she was a terribly crafted mastermind that used nature's tools to get what she wanted. She's a vicious snake that obviously still wants what she can't have the most of, Endymion and control," Artemis concludes.

He looks at all of us and adds, "I know what Luna wants is to be safe about it but in the end, she forgets the key details and focuses on the picture in front of her."

We all nod at his words before Ami says, "The sudden change in minds of the council along with Beryl's persistence adds up."

I nod getting to the point he's making. "Question is, how did Beryl get so close to them though? You said nature's gifts like magic?" I inquire.

Artemis winces and grows a little hot under the collar, so to speak. "That too...but mostly that half of the council or at least a lot of them other than Endyminion's generals were in arranged marriages and frequented...dens of ill repute."

That's when Minako arches a brow at his word choice, "You mean they went to whore houses? Wait Beryl was..."

At this Artemis blushes as Ami asks, confused now, "Wait I thought she was a maid or something?"

He responds with. "People can have more than one job." Making Ami now blush as he continues with, "I think you can all get how the council was 'infected' with Beryl's influence from there."

We all nod knowing how that influence went down at this point. Beryl made sure to hit them when they were at their weakest point and it worked. Then something else hit me as I sighed in frustration and leaned back in my seat.

"And because Beryl fell for Endymion, but Endymion fell for Serenity, she became jealous and decided to take what she wanted by force." Artemis agrees to tell me I hit the head on the nail.

"It still doesn't make it his fault. What Luna was implying was wrong in nature and she's only seeing it from one side," Ami adds as she correct deduces what's been explained.

That's when Minako sits up. "Don't get me wrong, he had a part to play in this..." She starts, "But Luna's conclusion that it's solely on him or that he's a primary factor is incorrect. He never encouraged Beryl back then, he was too busy courting Serenity and falling for her. I think what happened was she happened upon the dark force that gave her the powers she has now and traded her soul for what she wanted, power and him."

More chips fall into place on this. I'm beginning to see that the so-called love triangle was more one-sided than Beryl herself would like to believe.

"Pretty much yeah. And the darkness gets to have the planet via Beryl and the silver crystal," Artemis adds before Ami jumps in with, "And Usagi is smack in the middle of this as the person of interest to kill to get it."

Holy crap is this a crap fest and a half.

"Pretty much, but Endymion is working to keep them from doing so. They've already had a few chances but he's been working behind the scenes to prevent them from getting to the crystal or from doing major damage to Usagi," Minako adds in as I know that I can take comfort in the fact that Endymion is working on our side. Usagi was right. Ami and I see that now too. "Now there's one question remaining…"

We look over to her. "How do we get Luna to come around? Her stubbornness rivals Usagi and Rei's, and both of those two are stubborn."

Talk about calling it as you see it.

"That's going to be difficult. Luna only believes what she sees," Ami surmises as I agree, "The sad thing is in all of this is that Usagi's options are limited in this. She knows in her heart and gut what to do but is being placed in a hard spot."

Ami, Minako, and Artemis agree as we try to figure out how to solve this and get back to a happy medium.

Usagi POV

My head hits the pillow once I get home to my parents. I'm not even tired I'm just frustrated by the current events. I even miss the moon wand, but I know it's still safe where it's at. Having Luna give me that choice really helped me define things better and told me I was right from the start to keep things from her. I wish I DIDN'T have to but she was leaving me no choice and it sucks but it'll suck even harder if I had.

Which reminds me, Luna will be here at some point this evening. I REALLY didn't want to deal with her or her attitude. Her expectance for me to bow over to her demands. Her way of telling me I was being 'immature', 'childish', and even 'selfish' when all I've ever done was what was right for everyone involved. I protect people every time I go into battle yet she still did this to me this evening.

Frankly, I don't want to see or talk to her this evening. I don't want a barrage of lectures, or her condemning me for my actions when I knew in my heart I'm doing what's right. Not to mention I'm still pissed off Luna reacted the way she did. Putting me through a 'trial' of sorts like I was a damned criminal. Like I had messed up so badly that I was being put on the stand while she was judge, jury, and executioner.

As I sit up, I feel something poking in my side. I pull out the key Endymion gave me earlier this morning. All of a sudden, I realize I don't have to deal with Luna's attitude or her verbal attacks tonight. I can go over to his place and get some much-needed time to myself. Besides some time apart might do us both some good. I get up and go through my drawers packing an overnight bag with all that I need crammed inside of it.

As I'm ready to leave out I debate about grabbing more things. I realize it might be a good idea to put more inside in case of anything going forward into the future at least it's already taken care of. Going back to my drawers I grab more clothing of each to cram inside of the gym bag I have so I can be over for more than a night if need be. Just as I'm all packed up in walks Luna, the one person...feline that I didn't want to see or converse with.

I shove more clothes in stuffing them even further to the gills at the thought of dealing with her attitude even further. Even clothes for the change of season should it occur and yes perhaps I was overdoing it, but I'd rather be over-prepared than under-prepared. So as I barely manage to get the zipper up over everything Luna asks, "What's this about?" this is the confrontation I was trying to avoid.

Yet it seems fates are not on my side on this one. I turn to face her, grab the straps of the bag, and haul my much larger haul over my shoulder. My time as a Senshi really has been a great help as it's not as heavy as I thought it would be. "I need some time away from being around here." My tone is fairly obvious though. I'm looking to get away from her for a while till she can see why I'm doing what I'm doing.

Luna sees through it easily, not that I covered that veiled response well. "You mean from me." Her eyes narrow as if she's thinking about the real reason why and goes from slightly upset to disappointed, "He's got your head so warped that you can't tell which way is up and down. If only your moon mother could see this side of you now." I can't help but be hurt by her words as she brings my moon mother into this.

"If she were here then you and I would see how wrong you are for your words." I know my moon mother enough to know that she would take my words into consideration and NOT toss them out the window as Luna is doing. "You seem to think I'm just being immature and not thinking of others when all I've done is work towards the safety of others." It's like she's forgotten what I've done and given up as a Senshi.

"Yet you still question my judgment, you even belittle me, your lack of trust in me, your charge at that is mind-blowing," I tell her.

I see that she's going to go to blows with me though, "Because you are immature. You're being selfish for a man that's on the side of the Negaverse. I was willing to make concessions for him as he's being used and to save him as he's still an innocent BUT he's not our primary concern and you seem to forget that."

It really does feel like we're having the same argument at this point.I can't help but round on her in my frustration, "And you seem to forget that he's also Prince Endymion of Earth, and the last member of THAT royal family just as I am of mine, just as the girls are of their planets and you seem to forget our priority will always be the safety and welfare of the planet BUT it doesn't exclude the people that can be saved. He can be saved and he's still himself over there why is it so hard to believe?"

I demand of her, making sure my voice is lower as I don't want to attract any attention from the family that is at home. "Because humans cannot maintain their state of mind when ensnare by the Negaverse." She says it like it's a fact and not like it's her opinion. "He's using you, possibly even when it was the past too." Now I can even feel Serenity upset by this accusation from her, the insinuation is insulting.

"What about Ami's friend Ryo. He was a carrier of one of the crystals and was able to fight off the mind control, he did it and fought back." I countered as Luna argues back, "He was a rainbow crystal carrier, not Tuxedo Mask!"

Seeing my opportunity to shut her up, hopefully for good this time, or at least temporarily I snap in a low tone still, "Exactly!"

I get closer to her, the bag still in hand. "Which means as an agent of earth, fighting for Earth Mamoru would be stronger than a rainbow crystal carrier and therefore be able to fight off the mind control if given the chance. He took the moments that he could and did it." I can tell she's unable to counter this point, so I continue, "Luna you're still running off the anger and paranoia that he's not trustworthy even after everything that we've all been through." I know my anger is getting up there, but I know I'm right on this.

"I get that you want us to be safe and I agree, I'm not arguing that point, but we're not just us anymore. The generals that are left are Mamoru's old guards too. What if there's possible hope for THEM to be saved too? Shouldn't we do what we can so we can all fight together?" I watch as Luna scrambles for a logical argument to my words and only manages to blurt out, "We have no way of defeating the enemy AND saving everyone! You're not strong enough!"

I physically back up from her words. I feel like going silent on her but refuse to let her think that she's right, "Not yet…" I stand up straighter now. "But I'm getting there. I just need time and silent practice to do it and right now that means I need time away."

I wanted to be mean, say something snarky to her. Make her feel as bad as she's made me feel as I leave the room, but I just don't have it in me emotionally or mentally right now.

Besides I want to leave Luna to think about what we've discussed. To think about what I've said, maybe it'll even sink into her thick little feline skull. I know she's just trying to protect us, but this isn't the way to go about it. Besides, I really have been getting more work done on my own versus having her harping on me. She can be like a mini drill sergeant at times. I just hope she can understand me in this and accept that I know what I'm doing.

I hit the stairs going down and shout, "Bye mom, I'm going over to Minako's for the night, cram session!"

"Study hard!" she yells back with a smile as I leave out. I hated lying to her, but I didn't have much of a choice since this all started. I'm just glad she couldn't really tell. Once I arrive it's silent around, but I notice Endymion standing near the balcony. Drink in hand as he looks at his own place.

I keep silent not wanting to startle this moment as I take him in. The way he looks over everything makes me wonder if he's making connections to it that are lingering in there. I see he's struggling with something internally as if he's possibly even talking to himself. I watch closely as he takes a deep sip of the dark liquid. I can't tell whatever the voice on the inside says but when he blurts out, "Beryl won't find out and won't know because..."

That's when I feel a massive barrier being put around the structure of the condo were in. I almost lose my balance but maintain it. "My magic will now be hiding her whenever she's here. We have to protect her, and we will."

This makes me smile as I know he's still Mamoru, still himself. He's putting up protective barriers for me, something an agent of the Negaverse definitely wouldn't do for their so-called 'enemy', and while I couldn't understand what was going on inside of his head he was clearly trying to argue his point on it.

"Besides the last thing we need is to be caught while I'm balls deep inside of her."

I couldn't stop the smile that erupted on my face nor the deeply rooted blush hit me as I thought about him being 'balls deep inside me' again. Before I can make myself known I hear him say, "Besides, the last thing I'd want is for that demonic bitch to hurt Usagi."

My heart goes out to him for being so protective of me. I kick off my shoes and see his eyes dart to me. I can see the happiness mixed with slight surprise that I'm there.

"Hope you don't mind…," I put my overly stuffed duffle bag on the table. "I used my key to get in."

He smiles in response. "I want you to use it." I feel relieved that he's not at all put off that I'm there. I really hadn't intended to use it this soon, but I definitely needed to after today.

I can tell he's glad that I did use it already though. The glint in his eyes is telling. "Not that I'm complaining but what…?" He sees the duffle and gets curious so I recall the meeting that took place and while I'm initially hesitant about telling him the details of it, I do want to see his reaction to the 'trial' I was put through. His reaction could give me some insight into his own feelings on the matter.

So I divulge. I place another level of trust into him with this while keeping certain facts out, not that I don't trust him or where we're at but…I want to make sure I'm giving out the right details and not upsetting him as I was…am. Besides I want his opinion on the matter, new insight really and so I dive down the rabbit hole and even end up telling him about Luna's words. Hoping there isn't any merit to them.

I'm hoping that I did right by everyone, that there's no validity to her words. Just anger and paranoia. Even if you know you did right by people there's still a part of you that seeks validation from those you love and trust. It takes me several long minutes to go into the details of the evening but by the time I'm done he's silent. As he has been during the entire time I spoke, giving me plenty of time to get it all out.

He's silent for so long it makes me wonder if he tuned me out or even heard me. Before I can voice his name he takes the small clear glass he was holding, takes the last sip of whatever liquor was in it before hurling it at the balcony doors. It breaks on contact before falling in shattered pieces to the ground. I wince from the sound of it as it sets me on alert that he's as upset as I am about this now.

"It seems that no matter what I do for the side of good my motives are constantly questioned."

I want to tell him something to defend Luna, it's a natural response for me to do so, but right now with her words rolling around in my head it's hard. He must have noticed that I'm trying to sort through things myself now as he pulls me in for a comforting hug. I give in and let him pull me in as he gives me a gentle kiss. It belays how he must be feeling inside with his anger, "Listen, I'm sorry if that display shocked you but you must understand how upsetting this is for me."

I pull away just enough to look him in the eyes, "It's upsetting for me too." Wanting him to know we're on the same page and that I understand his anger. "Despite everything you've done for us, for me since the start it seems there are severe trust issues and something deep in me says there's more to it than what we see." I can tell I have him thinking about this.

"You may have a point," He concedes, "Question is, what's Luna upset with me about that goes beyond what is on the surface?"

That's a new good question. "I wish I knew," I admit as I debate and wonder if I should go back home and talk to her about it. Perhaps leaving as I did was more of an act of being childish rather than giving us both the space I thought we needed after the drama of today.

I guess it could be seen as both. I look back at my duffle bag as I mull over my internal debate on this. I do want to talk to her but not this evening, I do want to stay here, yet I know I NEED to talk to her about things. We do have things we don't want to do but that we have to do and this is perhaps one of those things that I have to do despite not wanting to do it right now, "Perhaps I should go back home and ask her." I wonder out loud.

That's when he pulls me into him, "Tomorrow, do that tomorrow. Tonight, I want for us to share some time together before I have to meet with Beryl in the am."

I can't help but roll my eyes at the hour his 'boss' wants his presence. That's when I wonder something. "Wait how does Beryl know where you are? Doesn't she keep tabs on all of her…people?" I ask as he chuckles at my word usage.

"Yes she does and I have a similar setup in my room there to prevent her from thinking I'm elsewhere."

His answer makes me smile, "Good, cause I would really prefer it if we could spend some time together. There's still so much to do and learn."

Yes, I wanted more sex too but right now, I was still a tad sore from both of those incredible rounds early this morning and from last night. I hadn't had a chance to rest yet today so as I went to settle my things in I pulled out my crystal so I could train with it.

He was there to help with my meditation of it. He kept himself at a decent distance away from it and myself but encouraged and helped me to center my focus and breathing. I could even feel new levels of the crystal connecting with me. I was already feeling more centered with his aid than I had with Luna's help in the last few weeks alone and it was encouraging to say the least. I knew this was a wise decision.