Chapter 12

Revelations

"What's going on here?" Lita asked as she stepped into The Sweet Tooth, her new bakery. She had just finished working the lunch shift at her restaurant and had stopped by to check on things. The bakery had only been open a week and business had been slow with so many established competitors down the street. She could hardly believe the sight of a line that wrapped around the corner and disappeared to the next block.

"Mr. Nephrite sent us out with samples during lunch." Annie, her head cashier stated as she rang up a customer. "He sent us all over town and when we got back there was this line waiting!"

Lita walked around the front desk and back into the kitchens. She passed several of her employees that were running from the ovens to the front, filling orders and setting new items to bake at the same time. The look of determination was evident on each of their sweaty faces. She had never seen them this dedicated and working like a well-oiled machine before.

Lita caught sight of Nephrite who was busily jumping from station to station in the kitchen. His dark auburn hair was pulled back into a bun. He wore a black and white button down shirt and black jeans. The sleeves of his shirt were rolled up to his elbows and he had a white apron over his clothes. He barked orders at nearby employees who quickly scrambled to get their tasks done. Lita could only watch in awe. In an effort to keep Nephrite from burning down the temple while unsupervised during the day, she had invited him to help out in her new bakery. Now she was asking herself why she hadn't sent him in earlier.

"Not too shabby." She told him as he stopped when he saw her.

"It's great to be working with my hands and all of this food. Have you ever had caramel before?" Nephrite grabbed a nearby tray. "I had never tasted it before but once I tried it I knew it would go perfect with these pastries— ".

"I'm impressed." Lita stated as she took a bite of the pastry that he held right before her mouth. "We've never been this busy…" she said in between bites. "You've got everyone working like little worker bees. You're a natural."

"Your staff just needed some guidance… and some motivation." Nephrite stated as he put the tray down and popped another into the oven. He wiped his hands on his white apron. Lita couldn't help but chuckle at the sight of him. He had certainly taken to cooking and baking well.

"And how did you motivate them?" Lita asked as she grabbed another pastry. They were so warm and delicious, nearly melting in her mouth. "Because they don't do this well for me and I'm mean…"

"I may or may not have promised an appearance by a Sailor Scout." Nephrite said quickly. "But don't get angry! It worked, they're working harder than ever and we are running out of sweets."

Lita dropped her pastry. "Nephrite! You can't be saying things like that."

His smile disappeared in an instant. "I'm sorry… I've upset you."

"Yes! You've upset me. You can't be telling anyone you know any of the Sailor Scouts." Lita said quickly as she took hold of his wrist and dragged him down past the kitchen and to the back, into her office. She shut the door quickly behind them and collapsed onto her chair. Her office was small but neat as Lita notoriously was. Her desk was polished a deep black with a sleek white computer on it and a three-tier document sorter full of papers. A shiny silver pencil cup sat next to the computer monitor full of pens and perfectly sharpened pencils. On the walls behind her were framed covers of various magazines and newspapers depicting Lita's history in the food industry in Tokyo.

Lita leaned over her desk at Nephrite as her green eyes bore into his. "You will create suspicion about the rest of us and potentially put us all in danger. That is why I'm upset. You can't do things like that Nephrite. We have many enemies and they're very powerful."

"I can protect you." Nephrite stated as he sat down across from her. His tone was sincere though Lita doubted his resolve.

"I don't need your protection. I can take care of myself." Lita stated as she sat back in her chair. She rubbed her temples with a groan. How was she going to handle this situation that Nephrite had caused? She couldn't very well parade Amy and Mina around like show dogs. They'd kill her.

"You're tough Lita, you always have been but I… want to protect you. I always have and I will continue to do so if you will allow it." Nephrite said, almost in a whisper.

Lita sat back up in her chair as she studied him. His expression was hard. His dark eyes were set on hers. For the first time Lita took a long look at him. A slight shadow of scruff was apparent along his strong jawline. His dark eyes regarded her almost affectionately. She was amazed at how attractive she found him even though they had been enemies in this lifetime. She had never really seen him that way. "Why would you want that? You don't know me." She said, distrustful.

"You don't remember." Nephrite stated, more so to himself as he sank back in his chair.

"Remember what?" Lita asked. "What could I have forgotten within the past few weeks that you've been here or the last time you were here when you tried to kill us all— "

Nephrite sighed, breaking off Lita's train of thought. She watched him mentally battling with himself. What could be so hard to say to her?

Finally, after what felt like an age, he reached into his pocket and withdrew something small that he turned over and over in his hand. "When you think about it… I've carried this around for a millennium." He emitted a short chuckle but he wasn't smiling. "After Beryl took me into her service and my memories were taken, I didn't know why I had it but I kept it with me. Somehow I knew it was important." He looked down at his hand which was still closed tightly into a fist. "When I was reborn and my memories came back…I still had it with me." Finally, he opened his palm to Lita. There sat a silver ring with one diamond set in the middle. It was simple but beautiful. The silver was crafted to resemble a vine that circled a yellow diamond. Two small silver leaves sprouted from the edge of the diamond, framing it perfectly.

"Yellow roses were your favorite." He said without looking at her but instead focusing on the ring that laid on his palm. "I had to save for a year to have this made for you. It had to be perfect…" His eyes lifted to hers. Lita was surprised to see a tear swelling in his right eye. He fought to keep it from falling. "I never got to give it to you but I knew one day, maybe I would."

Lita felt her blood ran cold as she looked at the ring. Yellow roses were her favorite and there was no way for Nephrite to know that about her. It had never come up during any discussion they had together. She silently rose from her chair and settled beside him. Her gaze fell on his palm. "May I…. May I see it?"

He nodded and lifted his hand to her. Lita's shaking hands took the ring which was warm against her skin. She slipped it onto her ring finger. It was a perfect fit. She felt tears swelling in her own eyes as image after image popped through her head. A green silk dress. A full ballroom. Nephrite guiding her across the floor in his soldier's uniform. Kisses. Embraces. Tears. Death.

Her head shot up.

Nephrite gave her a sad smile. "We loved each other in our last life Lita. A life that for a time, we both forgot. Now my memories have been restored and I remember everything. I remember every word you've ever said to me, every laugh, every kiss..." He paused as more tears swelled in his eyes. He shut them tightly." It has been painful seeing you every day at that temple and you just walk past me… without so much as a glance."

He stood in frustration, turning from her as he put his hands on the back of his head. "It's so frustrating for me to remember all that we have been through and not be able to just hold you and protect you like I used to." His hands clenched into tight fists as he leaned back against the wall, staring up at the ceiling. "And to make matters worse I see Serena and Darien, throwing away their time together knowing that they belong to each other and always have." His eyes finally met hers. His right cheek was glistening, the trail of a single tear was evident, shimmering underneath the fluorescent lights. "Lita, I don't want that to be us. What I wouldn't give to just have another day with you, to feel the curl of your hair around my finger or to taste your lips…" He turned from her as he trailed off.

"I'm so sorry." She whispered as she grasped his hand. Guilt grasped her insides. She could feel the passion of his words and even the conviction in his tears, but her heart couldn't feel anything yet. She didn't know him. She didn't know their past. "I don't have all of my memories from the Silver Millennium… not yet."

"You will one day." Nephrite stated as he turned back around to face her. "And I'll be here, waiting, when you do."

Lita rose and walked over to him. Her mind was racing endlessly. Did she still have a lifetime to spend with him or was their time together limited as it had been during the Silver Millennium? She felt her body trembling as she drew closer and closer to him. This wasn't the first time her incomplete memories had hindered her. She wasn't about to let that fact hold her back from trying to move on with her life. She untied Nephrite's apron, threw it on the floor and wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him to her lips.

His eyebrows lifted in surprise as she jumped on him, wrapping her legs around his waist. He quickly grabbed her to keep her from falling and deepened the kiss. Lita shivered as she felt his strong arms holding her effortlessly against him. He turned and pressed her against the wall of her office, freeing one of his hands. His fingers slid up her side, over her shoulder and ran up her neck, through her hair.

Lita's hands skimmed down his neck to his shoulders as her lips retreated from his. Only her forehead was pressed against his as the room quieted with only the sound of their deep breaths to break the silence. Nephrite stood for a moment, holding Lita against him still.

"What was that for?" He asked, sounding out of breath.

Lita chuckled as she lifted her head to look into his eyes. "I'm not going to wait around for memories I don't even know I have. We have our time together now Nephrite. The past is our past. We should live our lives as we want to, free from what happened in the past. I know I loved you in the Silver Millennium. I don't remember our life together but I remember the feelings I had for you. I can feel them now, washing over me like a tidal wave."

"You're not making sense." Nephrite stated as his eyes searched hers. "What are you telling me?"

She smiled and held up her left hand, the yellow diamond glittered. "Let's get married."

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Mina giggled as she felt Kunzite's lips on the back of her neck. She shivered and pushed him away. "Stop that! We need to get home, it's late and I'm hungry."

Kunzite put his arm around her shoulders as they walked down the street, on their way back to the Cherry Hill Temple. "I can't stop kissing you… can you blame me?" His lips met hers again. This time she didn't push him away.

Mina had just concluded her interview, a very successful interview at that. She had followed Amy's lead and didn't let her identity as Sailor Venus send her into hiding but rather chose to embrace her identity. Shelly Rose hadn't discovered any new information about the remaining Sailor Scouts despite her numerous attempts, and Mina had emerged with a renewed sense of accomplishment. Now she was on top of the world, as happy as could be on the arm of the man she was falling for. A man that just a few years ago, had been one of her worst enemies.

"Maybe when this is all over… we can go on a proper date. Not just Netflix and takeout." Mina said as she leaned against him as they walked. "Somewhere with really good food. Expensive, really good food."

Kunzite nodded. "Will do. Darien has been talking to us about finding jobs… something to do every day besides train. I think I may look into the military. Fighting is all I know."

"You can do anything." Mina stated as they continued their way down the street. Most of the nearby businesses were already closed for the evening save for the nearby restaurants. There was no moon tonight. The only light visible was from the street lights and the occasional house window. "You can go to college and go into business or become an accountant—"

"An accountant?" Kunzite repeated with a roll of his eye. "Can you see me sitting in a suit tapping away on a calculator and shuffling papers all day?"

She chuckled at the thought of Kunzite going to an office every day. "No, maybe not."

"You can always rejoin Nikko's service—" A voice interrupted.

Mina jumped as her eyes landed on a woman, dressed in a long, skin tight mint green dress slinked onto the sidewalk from behind a light post. Her long white blonde hair was long and flowing around her. She gave Kunzite a coy smile as her heels tapped on the pavement, breaking the silence of the night.

"What do you want Femi?" Kunzite asked as his grip on Mina tightened.

"I think you'll remember what I want Kunzite." Femi grinned as she came to a stop just a few feet from them. "You picked the wrong side… and the wrong girl might I add."

Mina's eyebrows lifted in surprise. Femi and Kunzite had history? He hadn't said anything about that to her before.

"I made my decision." Kunzite said firmly, his voice unwavering. "I made that decision clear a long time ago as you should remember."

Femi rolled her eyes as she stepped closer to them. "Things change Kunzite… we belong together. We always have. We were betrothed since we were babies…"

"A decision that was not ours." Kunzite interrupted as his jaw tightened.

"And you decided that this… " Femi gestured to Mina. "Is better than me?"

"That's what he's telling you." Mina replied before Kunzite could. She stared hard at Femi, her blue eyes flashed dangerously. She had a burning desire to throw a punch at that sneer on Femi's face. Nothing would bring her more pleasure than to leave a mark on her treasured face, but she resisted the urge.

"If you don't need anything Femi, we have somewhere to be." Kunzite said as he and Mina walked around her, continuing down the sidewalk.

"You'll change your mind soon enough Kunzite." Femi said casually as she watched them leave. "Oh, and you may want to hurry home..."

Kunzite turned his head to look at her but Mina's eyes were straight ahead. A bright white light was shining towards the sky, illuminating the dark clouds that had rolled in. It almost looked like a skylight but the light was pulsing and only growing brighter.

"What the hell is that?" Kunzite asked as he whipped his head around.

"It's Serena… she opened the box." All of the color drained from Mina's face as she spoke. She grabbed Kunzite's hand. "Run!"

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Serena fell backwards as the box shook and trembled on the ground. A blinding white light spread from the box, going towards the roof of the temple and expanding out of the windows. She screamed as the floor began to shake, slowly at first then more turbulent and ferocious. Picture frames crumbled to the floor, the floor boards buckled underneath her and behind her she could hear dishes in the kitchen, crashing to the floor, shattering as they hit the ground.

"SERENA!"

It was Raye's voice.

Serena whipped around to see Raye and Jadeite at the doorframe of the fireroom, their eyes wide and fearful. The light was only growing stronger as the temple seemed to crumble around them. Pieces of the ceiling crashed to the floor around them as the windows shook and the glass shattered.

"WHAT DID YOU DO?!" Jadeite screamed to her as he tried to enter the room. A beam fell before him, blocking his path.

Serena turned back to the box, trying to see if it was still within reach for her to close it. The box was five feet before her, not far but just out of reach. As the temple shook more violently, it danced further and further from her grasp.

Behind her, Raye attempted to move the beam with Jadeite but it wouldn't budge. The temple only began to shake harder and harder. The ceiling was cracking, threatening to break and crush all of them. Cracks zigzagged across the walls, jetting up to the ceiling and to the breaking floor boards. The temple wouldn't last much longer under these conditions.

"We have to get out!" Jadeite screamed to Raye as he grabbed her around the middle, keeping her from trying to jump the beam. She attempted to protest but another beam fell, narrowly missing her face. Jadeite hoisted her over his shoulder and sprinted for the door, ignoring her screams to turn around.

Serena watched them leave in disbelief. She had to close the box herself. She fell to her hands and knees, wincing as splintered pieces of the floor boards thrust up towards her flesh, puncturing her skin. She pushed herself forward, crawling to the box, leaving a trail of blood behind her.

"Princess!" Luna screamed as she and Artemis pounced into the room. "Hurry!"

Serene pushed forward, moving closer and closer to the box until finally a deafening boom thundered, throwing her backwards towards the back wall of the fire room. Serena screamed as she felt the impact on her spine and the back of her skull. She crumbled to the floor, fighting for consciousness, just as Luna and Artemis reached her.

Her vision turned hazy as she glanced up. Amazingly, the bright light was fading away but the room was full of dust. She watched as the light receded just as a wave did on the shore, trickling back into the box leaving behind a dark figure. It crouched on the floor but stood slowly just as the last rays of light dissipated, sinking back into the open box.

Serena's vision grew darker as she felt a throbbing pain in the back of her head. The last thing her eyes could grasp was a white, pearlescent gown and long white hair gathered into an odango hairstyle.