Author's Note: Make sure you've read Chapter 10 before you read this one.

Jadeite

He raises a hand and gently caresses her cheek, and a warm feeling emanates from his fingertips, spreading through his body. His eyes widen minutely and suddenly he no longer sees the girl standing before him.

A wooden door creaks open before him as he steps out onto the tower balcony. There's a single figure standing at the ledge, watching the courtyard below. He walks up behind the figure, sliding arms around her waist as he leans over her shoulder to see what she's looking at. Far down below he recognizes the figure of his prince, with a girl who must be Princess Serenity. Nowadays the two of them are always together, it seems.

"Why are you watching them from up here?" he asks her, turning his head away from the scene below to nudge at her shoulder. She tilts her head to peer at him from the corner of her eyes as she replies.

"It is my duty to watch the Princess."

"Even now, while she's here in the castle?" he presses. "There are two dozen knights stationed at the castle's entrance, and a dozen more throughout the castle itself. She is well protected, especially with my Prince. Take a break."

"I shouldn'tâ€Ĥ" she tries to argue, but Jadeite is persuasive when he wants to be.

He steps back to turn her in his arms so they're facing one another. Sailor Mars looks up at him, biting her lip in her hesitation. He reaches up a hand to smooth it out before she can hurt herself, smiling reassuringly. "You push yourself too hard, Adrestia," he tells her. "The Princess will be fine. Come, take a break with me."

"But –"

"The Prince will watch her, and we are close enough we can be by her side at a moment's notice," he interrupts. "She will be fine, but you shall not if you do not take a break. Have you even eaten today?"

She sheepishly shakes her head no. Jadeite tsks. "Then I will have to rectify that. Care to join me for a light lunch, my lady?" he asks politely, holding out his arm for her. She gives the courtyard below one last look before haltingly taking his arm. Jadeite uses it to draw her closer. "Allow me to escort you."

"Of course," she replies. "I would allow no other."

Her remark makes Jadeite smile. "I am glad," he says, smiling softly down at her. She looks up at him, a gentle smile of her own warming his heart.

He blinks, and the smile is abruptly replaced by a frown. He's not looking at Sailor Mars – Adrestia – whoever that girl was, but Hino, the granddaughter of the shrine head. Jadeite forces the memory and his confusion away, replacing it with a twisted grin as he looks at Hino, grabbing her by the neck. "Now that you know I'm afraid I can't let you stay alive. You can give your energy to the Dark Kingdom along with the rest of the girls," he growls. He throws his hand other hand out and a dark swirling portal opens up beside them. She eyes it nervously and Jadeite doesn't hesitate before throwing her into it.

Regardless of what whatever he just saw was, he can't let it distract him from his mission. Queen Beryl will be most disappointed if another plan of his fails.

Author's Note: I've given the Sailor Guardians from the past different names, so Sailor Mars from the Silver Millennium was named Adrestia, in case you were confused.