I wish I could get more reviews for this story. I am putting a lot of effort and time into the plot and character development. In the end though, I guess it only matters if some of you enjoy this.
Thank you all for your reviews so far.
Chapter 9
"Damn it," muttered Kunzite.
"What's up Kunz?" asked the semi-interested voice of Jedite.
"The progress reports I wanted to share with you guys about Nephrite and Princess Lita's communing points are in the War room."
"Don't worry about it. I'll go get them," Jedite said quickly with a little over-enthusiasm.
"Why so eager to help all of a sudden Jed? You've never shown your benevolent side quite so quickly before," Zoicite commented with a brow.
"He's hoping that the princesses will still be there," Kunzite said perceptively.
"It would be complete coincidence if they are. You happen to have forgotten the progress notes in the War room, if the princesses are there it would be purely circumstantial," Jedite said standing and making his leave.
"Wait. I'll go with you," Zoicite said suddenly.
"Why your sudden benevolence Zoi?" asked Jedite with a grin.
"I am suddenly doubting your ability to read. Who knows," Zoicite said with a shrug and walking past Jedite, "You might bring back a cook book instead of the progress notes."
The two men made their way down the hall towards the War room. Jedite chanced a look at Zoicite and saw his friend with a far off look. Two guesses what he's thinking about, thought Jedite.
"So Zoi…how's it been communing with Princess Ami?" Jedite asked casually.
Zoicite blinked and then gave Jedite a side glance with a raised brow. "Fine…why?"
"Because we both know that the real reason you came with me is because you hope to find a certain reserved blue-haired angel," Jedite said with a grin.
Zoicite made a fist at the compliment aimed at his favorite princess. "I just remembered something I needed to comment with her. That is all."
Jedite laughed and clapped an arm around his friend's shoulders. "Come off it Zoi! You are by far the worst liar of the group. I've noticed the way she's looked at you."
Zoicite remained quiet. Was it really that noticeable, or was it that Jedite was just that perceptible? He had been trying his damndest not to outwardly show in front of others how much he wanted the meek princess. However, he was a man. She was a beautiful intelligent woman. Thus he is weak. There were many times that he just had to hold her hand under the table, or stroke her hair. Someone, like Jedite for example, could have noticed.
"And suddenly," Jedite interjected with his knowing tone, "the library next to the War room has become very popular lately. I mean, you and Princess Ami spend most of your days there. Though I am sure not all of it is spent doing work."
Zoicite let his jaw clench. He was observant too. "It has not passed my notice that there is a lack of sarcasm around you and Princess Rei lately."
That wiped the grin off Jedite's face. He removed his arm from Zoicite and sniffed. "We've spent a lot of time together. It is natural that such juvenile behavior would stop."
"There have also been quite a few scorched areas around the palace," Zoicite said tapping a finger to his chin.
"She has a temper," Jedite explained as if it were obvious.
"Oh I am not denying that, but I wonder how she lost her temper in the coat closet by the library, the back corner of the War room….and there was this house plant outside the foyer that had to be replaced."
It was now Jedite who clenched his jaw. "She just can't seem to control it, and it's so damn frustrating. I merely kiss her and there is threat of death by fire. She won't let me attempt more."
Zoicite grinned. "I knew it! You are not one to stay idle next to a skirt. Or lack of thereof in her case."
Jedite returned the grin. "What about you? Out of all the princesses you pick the most sheltered one. She could be monk. Seems you like the challenge. Never knew you had it in you Zoi."
"She is outwardly reserved and demure, but it is only because she has not been shown the world of emotions or intimacy. She is like a blank canvas."
"And she's using your colors to paint?" Jedite offered mischievously.
"It's not like that. Yes, she is very naive and virginal, but what I feel for her is more than just lust," Zoicite said stopping and looking at Jedite. "In almost every aspect of myself she intrigues me. She meets me challenge for challenge and in that she displays this, well, hidden passion…Then we put that passion to good use," Zoicite ended with a grin.
"Well good Zoi. It's about time you find another love besides science. At least this one can get you off," Jedite joked.
Zoicite laughed. "Well what about you? Why the spitfire?"
"She is one isn't she?" Jedite asked, "Much like you said, in every aspect of myself she challenges me. She doesn't sway like other women do to my charms. I actually have to try for her. But I like that. She makes me surpass myself and doesn't give me and easy way in. When I finally do get in though…oh man…It will more than make up for all the work."
"So it is merely a chase for you?"
"No… It was at first. I mean, a woman who I couldn't bed easily? Perish the thought. As I got to know her though, I saw vulnerability underneath all that fire. She is well encased that one. Metaphorically speaking of course," Jedite said with a bark. His face then cleared and looked off pensive. "She reminds me of a candle flame. You can keep staring at it because it's beautiful and in one place, but if you were to knock it over, it would set everything on fire. That's what she does to me. I knock her over, and she sets me on fire."
"Metaphorically speaking of course," Zoicite reiterated with a knowing grin.
"Not always," quipped Jedite.
A sudden noise stopped their conversation. They walked closer to their destination, which was the Warm room, but found that indeed it was not vacated. The light trill of feminine voices could be heard by the door of the room. Jedite took one side of the door, while Zoicite took another. There were Ami and Rei sitting on the floor next to the fireplace.
"I wonder where the others went?" asked Jedite.
"That's not important. What are they still doing here?" Zoicite queried.
"Rei… Have you ever kissed a guy?" they heard Ami ask shyly.
Jedite raised his brows at Zoicite. "They're having girl talk apparently," he said grinning at Zoicite.
"And what is that?"
"Usually gossip about any interests they have, friends, or lovers. It's their way of sharing their experiences."
"You seem to know an awful lot about this Jed," commented Zoicite warily.
"Because I am around women more Zoi," Jedite said, "Now quiet so we can listen."
"Yes," Rei said calmly, "Why? Have you? Or…is there someone you want to kiss?"
"There might be….and he may already have."
Jedite grinned more widely at Zoicite when Ami said that. Zoicite merely cleared his throat lightly and did not meet Jedite in the eye.
"Oh my stars! You have you tell me everything! Where? When? How long? How intense?"
"Rei..." Ami groaned, "Please don't make this harder than it already is for me."
"I am sorry Ami, but I have to admit that out of all of us, you were the last one I would think to be asking me about kissing guys."
"I am not dead inside you know," Ami huffed.
Rei laughed. "It's not that you silly woman. It's everything. Your father, your demeanor, and the way you speak."
"What's wrong with all that?" Ami asked.
Zoicite could hear the slight pout in her question. Even her friends thought of her as naïve. Did they even think she could feel such passions as they could? If only they knew, thought Zoicite with a fond smile.
"Ami you're so fragile, so unexposed to the world. Much of that has to do with King Calder, but also yourself," Rei said gently. "You are much too innocent in your thinking and your actions. Most of all your inexperienced heart."
"I am the terminal nun aren't I?" Ami asked with a flat tone.
"I would say so," Jedite answered knowing that he couldn't be heard.
"Ow! What the hell was that for?" Jedite asked massaging his head.
Apparently Zoicite had heard his answer.
"Quit commenting on things you know nothing of."
"A simple 'knock it off' would have sufficed Zoi," Jedite said irritated. He then grinned at his friend. "Although I think its sweet how you're defending your girl," he said putting his hands near his heart and batting his eyes at Zoicite sarcastically. Zoicite merely gave him a vulgar gesture and continued listening.
"You are just unacquainted with this area of life. And not knowing, not being able to prepare for it by reading a book, scares you doesn't it?"
"Damn your psychic abilities," Ami said.
"Ah, sorry," Rei said sheepishly.
"Princess Rei has psychic abilities?" Zoicite questioned.
"I am sure they all do actually, but yes. Rei can search through a person's essence by physical contact," Jedite supplied.
"I wonder if Ami can do the same thing."
"I am sure she can, but her strongest power is around water right? Perhaps that is her key to be able to use her abilities," Jedite said.
Zoicite left his musings about their powers and concentrated on what Ami confirmed. She was scared and felt unprepared for a relationship with a man. Being intelligent made you feel savvy when it came to most things. You read and study and learn the theory of many of life's process, however peer-bonding as she would put it, was not something that could be learned from a book. Feeling unprepared when one usually is not can be daunting.
"Wait…what was it that Princess Rei said about a king?" Zoicite asked just realizing that they had mentioned that.
"King Calder? He's the king of Mercury. Surely you know that," Jedite responded.
"I forgot all about him. Why would Princess Rei bring him up? What does he have to do with Ami feeling scared?" Zoicite queried.
Jedite stared at Zoicite incredulously. How to explain this? "You remember when I said earlier that you seem to like a challenge?"
Zoicite nodded.
"Well let's just say that King Calder is part of that challenge," Jedite said, "If you ever intend anything serious with his little girl, you're going to have to be ready for war."
"I hope you're exaggerating. Surely he's not that overprotective. She's of age to be courted!" Zoicite stated with protest.
"Hey it's not me you have to convince. All I know of when I traveled to Mercury in your stead when it comes to Princess Ami and his wife Queen Naida, he protects them with a vice. According to gossip from the courtiers of Mercury, Princess Ami was never even introduced to court."
Zoicite felt his stomach drop. It truly wasn't Ami's fault she was as innocent as she is. Her father kept her that way. Naïve and virginal. He had truly forgotten about the stern king. Jedite was right. Whenever Zoicite visited Mercury on planetary business, the king would always meet him in the outside patios.
Ami sighed. "You are right though. In most things I am well versed and studied, but when it comes to peer-bonding… I know nothing. I have no basis for comparison and that leaves me at a very bad vantage point."
"Hence again the girl talk," Rei said with a smile. "So what were we on before going off on a tangent….Ah yes, you kissed someone?"
"Yes…quite a few times actually."
"May I know who this person is? Though I am sure I can deduce."
"General Zoicite," Ami said.
"Quite a few times huh?" Jedite asked with a wolfish grin. "I hope for your sake she's as she came Zoi."
Zoicite clenched his jaw. "Those are details that you don't need to know," he said tightly, "Just know that I am very eager to help her studies in peer-bonding along."
"Down boy."
"Mm-hm. Just who I thought. How was it? And I don't mean physical details. How do you feel about it?"
Zoicite leaned closer at this question.
"I feel…replete. Integral. Every time he kisses me from the very first one, I feel as though I'm home," Ami said. "When he takes me in his arms and I feel his strong lips touch mine, my mind goes blank. For once I don't think. I feel. I am one with him in that instant. There is no me and him, there is just us. The feeling is so intense that I don't know where mine ends and his begins, because I swear Rei that I can feel him too."
There was a pause where none of the girls were talking. Zoicite felt something lift within him at Ami's touching words. He felt as though he were floating. He leaned back against the wall and let himself slide down it.
"Wow…that's heavy," Jedite commented.
"And reciprocated," Zoicite said suddenly.
Jedite raised a brow at that. "Oh really? You feel all that she just said every time you're with her?" Jedite knew that he sounded like he was picking on his friend, but in truth he just wanted to confirm that someone else on this planet felt how he was feeling with the Princess of Fire.
"Yes," said Zoicite without missing a beat. "Everything she just said…By Elysium….I love her Jed."
Jedite nodded, but kept a skeptical look. Zoicite saw Jedite's face go from incredulous to mournful. "What? Why the look of 'good luck buddy'?" Zoicite asked.
"Because…you're going to have to confront King Calder."
Oh yeah, thought Zoicite.
"I know exactly what you mean," Rei said.
"Oh you do?" Ami asked inquisitively.
"I may have had my own encounters with General Jedite."
Ami clapped. "Rei! I thought he thoroughly annoyed you."
"He does, but in a charming way."
"And you feel with him the way I described I do with Zoicite?"
"To a tee," Rei said. "Only…Ami I am going to sound crazy, but…don't you feel like we know them?"
"Yes!" Ami exclaimed, "I do. Even Zoicite said that he felt like he knew me."
"Jedite said the same thing…well thought the same thing."
Both men looked at each other with a wary eye. This was something they would have to talk about at length when they had a moment. The content of where the conversation was going was truly unnerving. What were the astronomical odds of four individual people from different planets feeling this way?
"I wonder…" Ami trailed off.
"What?"
"Well…who is to say we don't?" Ami postulated.
"…The fact that we just met them 8 days ago?"
"Yes, this time."
"Ok…you're going to have to catch me up on your thoughts, because obviously I am missing something," Rei stated puzzled.
"Serenity used the Silver Crystal to restore us to our natural places. We know that our memories have been tampered with. Who says that in the pre-restoration era we didn't know the generals?" Ami queried with growing awe in her voice.
Both men looked at each other with jaws dropped and wide eyes.
"Holy Ares….you could be right," Rei said. "But how do we find out if that is true? Where do we begin to look?"
"We have that at our disposal already. We are to commune with our generals soon. You know as well as I do that when we commune with them we will be seeing every memory they have had of their life, and they will see ours. I have a feeling that this will dispel whatever doings the Silver Crystal made 3 years ago."
"If you're right and we regain our memories of our past lives…The question is should we know? There is reason why Serenity used the Silver Crystal when she did."
"That is something to consider, but think about it Rei. If we are feeling this intensely now without our memories, how much more would it be with them? Don't you want to find out?" Ami asked with excitement in her voice.
"Yes I do."
And both generals knew that they did too. They waited until the princesses left to gather the reports and go back to Kunzite. Neither really talked on the way back. Both too lost in the possibilities of what their princesses had just revealed.
He couldn't sleep. His mind was keeping him up with thoughts of the green eyed Amazon Princess. He had been taking her all over the Asian continent to the most concentrated areas of martial arts and other forms of discipline. He had seen the way she would walk around to find the most concentrated point. Then she would close her eyes and small sparks of lightning and a light gust of wind would envelop her. Waves of subtle energy would radiate from her being as she hovered over the communing point. He observed how she would let the Earth communicate with her through whatever form they did.
She was incredible.
After she would finish she would insist on wanting to spar with him. He wanted to oppose at first, but then she would call him out by mocking that his ego would not handle getting bested by a woman. That let him rise to the challenge. During their first spar session he was surprised by her focus and discipline. It seemed that when it came to combat, this woman knew what she was doing. And knew it well. She would match him stride for stride never missing a beat. Where he would go to punch next, she was already anticipating and blocking. She had learned most of the Asian martial arts. After she did, she would want to test them out with him.
What had him awake now was the resonating thought that she matched him so well in combat. It was a familiar dance that they were doing. Nephrite had never known of anyone to keep up with him. She did. It was almost as if their sparring was rehearsed. 'Or done before…' He shook his head as he recalled she had a sparring suit that she conjured before starting their sessions. 'It was more of a bathing suit.' Her hair would be up in a pony-tail. Her torso was barely covered. Her breasts were hidden behind a brassiere like top with thin shiny vine like decorations. Her left arm was completely covered with a thin green material that was decorated with vines and leaves in a gold color. The decoration climbed up to her brassiere. Her entire abdomen and lower back were bare. Then there was her bottoms. Her right leg pant went down to her knee, while her left side was left at short length. There were also vine and leaf like decoration on the pants. Her royal Jupiter symbol flashed across her forehead. Her lace-up boots were left as is.
Nephrite wondered what kind of sparring armor that was, but soon found out. Her left arm and right leg were left longer because through her powers, she was able to conjure vine like knives and hold them in respective arms. When she wanted to get really fierce, the vines would grow sharp leaves that could move around the vine in a chainsaw motion. The challenge here, she explained, was getting her to use those weapons. She hardly ever did. She preferred to use only her body or manipulate the elements to gain the advantage.
Seeing her so scantily clad, moving around, sweating, and with tone body and ample breasts so close to him; those were the images that would not leave his mind. He entered the outside training area near the north-east corner of the palace near the War Room. Here he could at least deal with his frustrations with a work out. It would have been a good idea except…
She was already there. Scantily clad. And working out her frustrations it seemed.
Lita had left the girls in the War room earlier to come here. Her mind was full of confused thoughts. Mostly dealing with her growing attraction to Nephrite. They hardly spoke, but they were both warriors. Speaking wasn't really necessary when they were able to read each other's combat movements. She had surprised him during their first sparring session with her skill and strength. He had surprised her by not being lenient as other men usually were. He gave her the ultimate compliment by sparring with her and not holding back. It showed that he respected her as a warrior and equal.
Then came the physical aspect. She had a very specific Jovian sparring outfit. General Nephrite only wore pants and chose to be shirtless. She was privy to see the way every muscle in his body moved. How tense he became when he would see her change. She had fast reflexes and was able to train her eyes to notice details while fighting. What she noticed intrigued her. During their combat sessions, Lita would notice how Nephrite would subtly glance at her breasts, toned abdomen, or legs. There were times where she swore he held on a second longer than necessary. Could this be his form of flirtation? She knew, she just knew that this was a man who didn't do something without there having been thought behind that action. Even if it was a minor one.
So she too began to reciprocate in this type of flirtation. She would hold on longer to his arm or leg. She would be a little more obvious about where her eyes wandered. That task was not especially hard since he always spared shirtless. Always. They sparred quite a few times. Each one more intense than the last. They were filled with more than just physical strength and need to expel energy. There was an underlying tone to their sessions.
And Lita knew what it was.
From the first time she saw the general here in this very room, she had Sensed him then. She had felt his lust for her upon just seeing her. Knowing that a man wanted her like that stirred conflicting emotions within Lita. She knew she was no common woman, but her sperm donor had made it quite clear that she was not unnoticed physically to men. And that would work to his advantage.
"Who was that father?" Lita asked looking at the retreating back of a rather tall and built Jovian.
"That was the son of the governor of the moon Ganymede. We were discussing details of a business transaction," Torquil said not looking at his daughter.
"What business do we have with Ganymede?"
"You are close to the age of courting Lita. I want to save myself the embarrassment of introducing you to court and secure you a marriage discretely," the king said with indifference, to the point, and without tact; not taking into account that his words would wound his daughter.
Lita felt the air leave her lungs. She knew of course that her father did not love her or care for her, so then why go through all this trouble to procure a match? She decided to focus on that instead of the piercing words he had uttered.
"Why go through the hassle of obtaining me a groom? You never had intention of doing so before," she asked with an even tone.
"You were undeservingly blessed with your mother's beauty and my genetics. If I could not have a son, then you will bear a grandson with a match of my choosing and standards," he said finally turning to look at her. He let his gaze wander over her briefly then returned to look her in the eyes.
"I must also take into account that your beauty will not last forever. You are still young and enticing enough to inspire a man to lay with you. When that fades, the qualities that you will be left with are less forgiving," he said with a dismissive tone, "How in the name of Thor would I find you a match then?"
He turned to leave her when a thought occurred to him. "And for your sake you had better be intact. No decent man would want to buy used goods."
The anger and shock of that memory filled Lita to the point where her fist lit up with lightning and she punched the dueling mannequin she had conjured. Her father was right bastard. She was only good for that. To inspire a man to bed her, so she can breed. She then thought back to Nephrite. Was that what he thought of her as well? Is that why he lusted after her so quickly? Even her father had said it; she possessed her mother's beauty. She had seen her photos around the palace of Jupiter. Queen Bremusa was beautiful. Her father had even moved out of their bed chambers and left it as a shrine to her mother. Despite his being the spawn of everything evil, he was still madly in love with her mother.
"I take it you too were having trouble sleeping," came a deep voice from behind her. Lita dropped her combat stance immediately and turned around.
"There may be a thing or two on my mind yes," she stated with a smile that didn't reach her eyes. "Is that what brings you out here as well?"
Nephrite nodded as he began to take off his shirt as he usually did when about to spar. "There are times when even the most disciplined mind is troubled."
Lita nodded. "Well then seeing as we are both in need of working out nervous energy, would you care to duel?"
"Which style would you prefer?"
"How about we freestyle?" proposed Lita with a grin.
"Freestyle?"
"Yes. I choose my style and you may choose your own and thus we react with what we are given accordingly," Lita said with enthusiasm, "Almost like a guessing game."
Nephrite thought about it and then, "Alright. I'm game."
Then commenced their session. Only this one was vastly different than the others. They both read each other's styles and knew what the other was saying. It was like a well-rehearsed dance…Lita was allowing Nephrite to gain the upper hand. Nephrite knew that she was holding back because she was baiting him. 'Is she merely taunting me or..?' He let his foot intersect with hers and then propelled forward to knock her down. Lita knew this was coming, and as she fell she stretched out her arm to catch his heel to cause him to fall as well.
Right on top of her.
They were both breathing hard due to the exercise. Nephrite felt Lita's chest flush against his. His eyes were dark and looking right into hers. Lita's own were bright green and unreadable. This was not what she had expected. Surely she had dreamed about it, but not expected it to actually happen. Nephrite had fallen in a push up position to avoiding throwing his weight on the princess. He allowed his shoulders to relax and let his body rest a little more on Lita's. He could feel her heart thrumming in her chest. And it had nothing to do with their exercise. She felt him relaxing causing her to react. She put her palms on his bare chest, feeling his hard muscles, and pushed him off of her gently. He rolled off her hesitantly and then stood.
"Well that was clumsy of us," Lita said with a smile outstretching her hand to help him up.
"Highly entertaining though," he said taking the proffered hand.
At their contact, Nephrite felt the small tickles of electricity rush up his arm. He gave the princess a closer look and saw her eyes looking anywhere but at his, and her cheeks were flushed.
"Yes it was. You are very agile," Lita said trying to distract herself from their still held hands.
"You counter well with quick reflexes. I fear I may not be able to best that."
Lita smiled feeling the awkwardness dissipate. Fighting tactics was something she could discuss at any time. "You just have to find what distracts me. It's all about finding those moments when your opponent loses focus."
"And how might I make you lose your focus I wonder?" Nephrite said with a steady tone. He was using their clasped hands to pull her to him gently. Lita felt there was a double meaning, and responded to his slight tug at her hand. 'This cannot happen Lita. You know that no man is trustworthy.'
"You can't," she said simply. Nephrite saw something harden within her at that point. However, he would not, could not be deterred. If there was ever going to be a moment when he would be able to act on his frustrations and instincts, it was now.
"I'll be the judge of that," he said swiftly catching her hand again and crashing her against his bare chest. Something inside him had broken. That tentative grasp on his self-control snapped when he saw her resolve just a second ago. Like prey fleeing from a predator. Lita had no time to react as she felt herself spin and then strong arms embrace her. Strong lips were on hers, desperate for the kiss. Lita responded immediately to his provocations, the wind around them began to pick up as their kiss became more vigorous. Nephrite's hands dug into the soft muscular flesh of the Jovian princess, thankful for her lack of coverage at the moment. He began walking them backward a bit until he reached his destination. Lita felt her back hit a tree. She felt Nephrite's lips move away from her mouth and down her neck. Lita opened her eyes and briefly saw the restless rustling of the leaves in the tree above her. Was she causing that…or was it him technically?
Lita felt his hands move from her back to her right shoulder where he began to unhook her sparring brassiere. Her breast threatened to fall out, but did not because of the support from the other clasp. Nephrite kissed greedily at the new flesh following to the top swells of her breasts. As he continued his actions, Lita felt her Senses slip from her control and instead began to reach out for him. Nephrite felt this invasion and instinctively grabbed hold of their bond. Sparks of electricity began to form around them. Their united lust and need poured into one another; the other's undistinguishable. It felt like one uniform feeling.
"Neph," Lita managed breathlessly, "Oh…Neph," she whispered quietly as he began to tongue his way up from her collar bone to her ear. The sharp pleasure from his tongue caused a bolt of lightning to shoot down next to them. Nephrite opened a curious eye and saw a branch hanging from a tree nearby. He knew this was his cue to stop. They were both too involved at the moment. He began to slow down his ministrations until his lips were back to hers giving her soft small pecks. He looked at her face then. Her eyes were bright with power and heavy lidded from their encounter. Her lips were wet and red from their kisses. Her royal symbol showed proudly on her forehead. Her chest was still heaving from his kisses.
"Lita… you must control yourself," came Nephrite's voice. Lita did not want to hear his insanely sexy voice right now. She made this evident by pulling him closer so her mouth was at the crook of his neck.
He laughed lightly at her eagerness. "Lita…it's not that I do not wish to continue, but doing so will quite literally, cause a storm."
Lita finally heard his words as their meaning shook her from her haze. She looked up at the cloud filled night sky. She sighed and closed her eyes as she focused. Her royal symbol gleamed again as Nephrite saw the clouds dissipate and then clear. Lita pulled away entirely from Nephrite not wishing to face him. He somehow felt her embarrassment radiate form her. Was that bond still open? He took a step towards her and with a gentle finger under her chin, made her face him.
"What is wrong?"
Lita kept her eyes downcast. "You should not have done that," she said quietly, "I should not have done that."
"Oh I don't know. It seems I have figured out what distracts you," Nephrite said sounding serious, though Lita knew he was teasing her…and coming closer.
"You are still young and enticing enough to inspire a man to lay with you." Lita heard her father's words in her mind and shook her head away from his light touch. Blasted insecurities. That is all this was and she knew it. She did not know what this general's intentions were with her, but she was not going to give him the chance to explain. Unfair as it was.
"Whatever your interpretation is of was just occurred, whether you wanting to sate your lust or the first step towards courting, be honest with me now," Lita said finally looking at him. Nephrite saw the same resolve fill her eyes as it had before he kissed her.
"I assure you, my Lady, I do not go around kissing princesses without having meditated on it for quite some time."
"Then you should ask before doing so, that way you save yourself and the princess some grief," Lita snapped.
Nephrite furrowed his brows not understanding his folly. "I felt your response to my actions, my Lady. I know you are not indifferent."
"What I am, my Lord, is betrothed."
She didn't know why she had allowed the phrase to slip from her mouth. Because you know that you have duties. And because this way, he can't hurt you.
Nephrite heard the words, saw her seriousness, but did not believe it. It can't be. She cannot belong to another! His jaw clenched as his eyes began to fill with anger. He searched her eyes for signs of deceit, but found none.
"Do not jest with such an issue Lita," Nephrite said with possessiveness, "There is a reason why I have to be disciplined and in control all the time. You do not want to see me lose it."
Lita sighed. "I am sure that is quite the site my Lord, but I do not jest. Just before coming to Earth, King Torquil and I were discussing my betrothal to another Jovian from one of my moons."
Nephrite took two steps to reach her and grabbed her shoulders roughly. "I am a man of few possessions and not one who willingly displays emotion. Surely you must see how you affect me, how distracted Ibecome around you," he said huskily bringing her closer, "I have felt how you tremble in my arms. Just now I have felt your soft lips and through them a desire I know only I can unleash. Your father and you are delirious if you think I will let this go easily."
Lita kissed his lips lightly as unshed tears filled her eyes. "What you do or feel do not matter. I will not divulge everything to you, but all I can tell you is that you will be wasting your time. No one defies the King," she said softly pulling away from his arms, "I am sorry for having inspired something within you that I cannot reciprocate."
"But you do reciprocate it Lita," he argued softly.
Lita shook her head. "This has only occurred once. It has only been one time," she said. She was reaching for an excuse and they both knew it.
"It has been much longer than that and you know it."
"He won't allow this," Lita said quietly shaking her head.
"Who says I am asking permission?" Nephrite quipped huskily.
Lita looked up at him then and let herself melt into him. He made her feel so secure. Her, the princess-general of the armies of Jupiter, felt secure and safe snuggled in the arms of a man. Who knew? I am a woman after all, she thought as those same strong lips found hers again.
Helios looked to the skies of Elysium and felt the winds pick up and the clouds stir. "Ah…Princess Lita," he stated. He knelt to the ground in front of the Golden Crystal and reached out for the princess and her mate. 'There,' he thought as he felt their surge of energy. Helios was beginning to get perturbed at the fact he was intruding on their most intimate moments. Once he found them, he was able to grasp at the almost solidified bond there and give it his sacred touch from the Golden Crystal.
"Odd," Helios stated as he attempted to touch the bond again with the Golden Crystal. It was not solidifying. Nothing was happening. 'She's too damaged. Her own heart is still very guarded.' Helios backed off and thought. They needed more time. It was too soon for the warrior princess to open her heart to her mate. She had been a tough one to crack in the past as well. General Nephrite always did have his work cut out for him.
'Only the most stubborn two left to go. Hopefully with returning Kunzite's memories first this will be easier. As for Lita and Nephrite. It's just a matter of time,' thought Helios as he returned his attentions to the night sky.
Ok so let me know what you guys think so far. I hope I am writing them out well. I want their encounters to be...felt by you guys. Anywho, there will be a couple of rough chapters ahead. Any questions or ideas or whatever just send me a review!
Love you all,
Marina