"So, she's not ready," Nathanial finally asked the question that had been burning to get out all through the walk from the Shrine and the tour of the small apartment.
Ami's mouth pursed, debating her words. The Mercurian had never spoken without careful consideration either. Nephrite seemed to relax in the familiarity and Nathanial found himself comfortable in the silence. Ami finally spoke, "We knew you were in America. No one had really expected your return."
Nathanial considered her answer. His brothers' powers weren't enough to sense his location in America specifically all the way from Japan. It weakens as the distance grows greater, tangible but feint at the greatest distance. He gave a sharp nod, understanding, "The news article? It's good to know the gossip reaches this far."
His family had long been fodder for the American gossip circuit. He'd given them plenty to gossip about over the years, whether it be women, fast cars, mysterious disappearances. He supposed it shouldn't be a complete shock that the grand revelation of his return, the passing of the family business, and the engagement had reached this far.
Ami nodded, "Your family must be something for the gossip to have reached us. We didn't really see much of the announcement. She had seen a piece of it, but no one really researched much further. We knew where you were and that you were with your family."
"What else could there be," Nathanial stated somewhat sarcastically. He had basically been put on the back burner. Cool it, Nephrite admonished softly in his head. If Nephrite had admonished him, there was definitely a problem. He glanced towards Ami, "Sorry."
She gave a small smile, "Don't think that no one cared about you. Everyone just knew you were safe. Makoto was too… well… And, there were… other things happening around that time."
"Zoran's memories?" Nathanial asked. "I believe I felt the shift not long after that news article… I know how unbalancing that can be."
Ami nodded, "Right."
Nathanial let silence fall, moving to a small chess table nearby. He quietly began picking up pieces, inspecting the craftsmanship. Not the most expensive set, but solid wood and well-made.
Ami made her way closer, plucking up a piece, "My mother feels every house needs a chessboard. She knows I enjoy the game. My father taught me and she indulges. Even in the rental properties."
"My father taught me as well. We'd have these grand multi-month games, since we'd rarely have the time or patience to sit and play," he gave a small smile, reaching into his pocket. He brought about a small stone, speckled with green, and set it on the table, "We used this to keep track of whose turn it was. You made your move and put the stone on your opponent's side. And, of course, we never thought of cheating."
She picked up the stone and eyed it closely, clearly a form of nephrite. He glanced back at Nathanial and rose an eyebrow at him.
"A coincidence, I swear," he chuckled.
"That's a nice memory, regardless," she smiled, softly. "I should be going. It was nice to meet you, Nathanial."
"Right," Nathanial nodded. "Maybe you can pass that on to Makoto?"
"Maybe," Ami added. She glanced down at the chess board, moved a white piece, and then set the stone in front of the black pieces. She smiled and then moved towards the door, "I'll see you."
Nathanial paced for hours the next morning. He'd long since moved a black piece and moved the stone from his side of the board to the other; that had only taken his mind off the next step for so long. Nephrite was growing steadily more frustrated. He'd made his position, what he wanted the next step to be, clear from the start.
He wanted to see her.
Nathanial wanted to respect her desire to stay away from him. He worried about pushing, of overwhelming her. He worried about becoming overwhelmed himself, "This is ridiculous. I've never even met the woman and I'm tied up in knots."
She'll do that to you, if she's anything like Empanda.
Nathanial sighed, "We should really see Khaled first. I suppose I should stop putting it off."
Nephrite shifted unhappily in his space, clearly wanting to disagree. However, eventually, he recognized the importance of seeing Khaled first. Okay. We will see Khaled. We will give her space.
"She will be different, you know. Like Ami is from Mercury. Like Rei is from Mars."
Nephrite was silent for several long moments, I just need to see.
Nathanial could understand. He only had the memories of Empanda, Princess of Jupiter, Guardian of Protection and Courage, Protector of Princess Serenity. A force to reckoned with. Everyone of those memories enthralled him, made him wonder how similar this Makoto would be.
He'd wanted to balk at the idea of destiny. He had wanted to write his feelings off as a delusion. She could be anyone. And, maybe in the end, they would. Maybe, in the end, she wouldn't be what he was looking for. But, he certainly wanted to find out.
He'd been looking for something for years. Maybe it was the Prince. Maybe I was her. Either way, he wasn't going to find out pacing around his apartment. He should speak with Khaled, apologize for running away the way he had. Maybe he could meet with Jacob, find out more about what they knew regarding the Prince and the Senshi. Maybe he could get Zoran to tell him more about Makoto.
Before he could take any step, do anything, someone knocked at the door. Nathanial paused, tuning into back into his instincts. So, Khaled had made the choice for him. He took a deep breath, checked in with a wary Nephrite, and then moved to open the door.
Khaled stepped in, all pomp and airs of leadership that should be surprising. The other man glanced around the small space before settling back his attention back to Nathanial, "You came back."
"I came back," Nathanial answered. He felt somewhat guilty about leaving. He could tell Khaled had worried for him. He knew Khaled would listen to him. However, Kunzite and Nathanial always held a mild air of competitiveness, being the two most advanced in the Prince's guard and far about the younger two men. Much in the same way Jadeite and Zoisite had competed for their rank. Nephrite had never truly entertained the idea of surpassing Kunzite. They each had their specialization, but Kunzite had still far outclassed Nephrite. Plus, in the end, Nephrite had respected Kunzite as a friend and a leader. Nathanial, however, hadn't had the chance to form the same deference, "Did you stop the elevator on every floor to find me?"
"I took the stairs," Khaled answered simply.
"Of course," Nathanial muttered. They were on the 11th floor but why not. Khaled didn't answer, just continued to watch Nathanial silently. Finally, Nathanial reached up and brushed back his hair nervously, "I'm sorry I left the way I did. I could feel that you remembered, but I wasn't ready to face it."
"That's fair. I don't blame you for leaving," Khaled gave a small smile. It was a sign Khaled wasn't raised in the rigid structure of military life the way Kunzite had been. Comfort and familiarity. "I am curious about why you returned."
Nathanial tilted his head. There was something off, something curious, about Khaled's lack of concern. Even raised outside of the military, Khaled would have a sense of duty, just as Nathanial did, "I felt Jacob remember and then Zoran remember. I assumed it was time reunite with everyone."
"You're the first to already remember before meeting the rest of them," Khaled said softly. "I suppose that is what you would believe. It's your right to choose."
Ah, Nephrite said softly. That's not his plan.
"You're doing something different?" Nathanial asked.
"I'm going to continue as a human. I'm going to continue atoning for the mistakes of my, and his, past," Khaled said simply.
He fell silent and Nathanial watched him with some disbelief.
"Can he do that?"
I guess he just did.
"What does that mean?" Nathanial finally asked.
"I guess," Khaled sighed, "I guess that makes you the leader."
You have GOT to be shitting me, the disbelief in Nephrite's voice matched the look on Nathanial's face.
Khaled had not, it turned out, been shitting them. He'd made his case, his refusal to return to the Prince or the Senshi or any of it, and left. Nathanial had debated it with Nephrite until his hurt from the internal arguing. When he'd felt presence draw closer and move into the apartment next door, he'd gone over and banged on the door.
Ami answered, curiosity plain on her face, and Zoran stood over his shoulder, clear understanding on his.
"I felt Khaled here," he explained. "I suppose you heard about his… refusal."
"What is going on?" Nathanial breezing into the apartment when Ami moved to the side.
"We don't really know. He was more resistant to my remember than either Zoisite or I. He antagonistic when it involves the Senshi or the Prince. Her and Jacob are almost constantly arguing about something. It doesn't help that Jacob is so close with Minako, of course," he shrugged. Then, he ghosted a hand along Ami's back, "I'll make tea."
Nathanial plopped down at Ami's chess set, much nicer than the one in his apartment, and moved a white marble pawn, "What kind of chaos have I come back to?"
"It's containable," Ami stated, sitting down across from him. "We'll need a second rock."
"I'm sure we can come up with something," he responded as she debated her own move. "I can't lead them. I mean, I could but I don't actually want to. Nephrite didn't even actually want to."
True, Nephrite added as Ami made her move.
"You needed time. Give him time," Ami responded.
Nathanial debated his pieces, "Why did I return if everyone still needed time?"
"Why did you?"
Nathanial moved a piece and glanced up, "To see them. And him… And her."
"Well, I can help with him… and her. If you're ready," Ami said simply, not even making eye contact as she moved a piece.
"She is?" Nathanial asked, no longer paying attention to the game.
Ami nodded.
Nephrite positively radiated from his corner.
Zoran, who had just re-entered the room, frowned.
Nathanial was silent for several seconds. He felt equally terrified and relieved. He could worry about Zoran's frown, the protectiveness, later. He could worry about Khaled and the leadership later. Now, he could meet his prince. He could meet her. He took a deep breath, moved a piece, and then nodded, "Okay."