A/N: I hope everyone had an awesome Christmas! =) I know I did! I got engaged! That's the best Christmas present a girl could ask for!! I'm feeling romantically inspired now so I need to get to work on getting this thing moving! Anubis can be rather stubborn you know, but I hope that I can do a little persuading on his part. LOL.

Anyway, here's the fifth chapter. I hope you enjoy! Please leave me reviews! You know that I love them! ALSO!!! I have an illustrator! A friend of mine is going to be illustrating the story! I'll have the links up to her pictures as soon as I get them uploaded! Yay!

Mucho thanks to my beta AbbyKat for putting up with the delay on my writing and for being a super awesome maid of honor.

Disclaimer: You know that I'm not awesome enough to own any of this. LOL. Except the original concepts of my own…that's mine. =)

Oh, and by the way. I know Anubis' name in the original Japanese anime was Shutendoji. And that that wasn't his real name by any means either. In this, I'm using Shuten as his birthed name. If you don't like it I'm sorry. I don't like Toshitada. LOL. Shuten is better.

Chapter 5: A Soft Place to Fall

Minako watched in stunned silence as Anubis' body crumpled to the ground at the feet of the Ancient. The man's face twisted in pain as he collapsed unconscious. She stared at the Ancient for answers as to what was going on. Why on Earth had he brought him to this temple? Why had Anubis attacked the Ancient in the first place?

As she climbed the top most step to the temple, she had found a very angry and unarmed Warlord of Cruelty charging at the monk that still stood motionless before her. From beneath his wide brimmed hat, he shook his head in apparent disappointment at his captive's reaction before lifting his face up to acknowledge Minako.

"Guardian of Venus, I trust that you are better this morning?" He asked in a light voice.

Minako swallowed before answering. "I am. How do you know that I'm Sailor Venus?" She asked.

He had not seen her outside of her transformation, so she was bewildered that he knew whom she was. The robed man's thin lips formed a small smile before he held out his hand over Anubis' slumped body. Without a word, the younger man's body floated up into his arms. The Ancient turned to Minako slightly before speaking to her.

"Come." He said simply before turning and walking inside the open temple screen.

Minako hesitated before going inside as she was asked. 'This could be a trap.' She thought to herself. She took a deep breath and chided herself. The Ancient was a proven Ronin ally. Why would he be trying to harm her if she was helping the Ronins? Deciding that she simply had no other option but to follow, she gathered her nerve and walked up the steps and through the open screen. The Ancient was seated near an open flame, much like Rei usually was. He wasn't meditating, simply looking into the fire in silence. Minako noticed that Anubis was lying on a straw mat nearby beneath a blanket. She couldn't help but approach him for a closer look. After all, this was her first chance to get a good look at him without having his kusari-gama at her throat. That was a relief in itself.

His youthful face looked exhausted, as though he had been through many years of strife that he had been forced to endure. Even in an unconscious state his brows were furrowed as though he were on his guard. Minako looked to the Ancient whom nodded to her without turning his head. She looked to the unconscious man again before kneeling down beside him. His bangs were a tangled mass on his forehead, and Minako found her hand hovering over them before she realized what she was doing. She paused for a moment before allowing her fingers to gently brush his crimson hair away from his forehead. She winced as she took in the sight of the gash on his forehead.

"Man, Sage doesn't play around does he?" She asked aloud, though she was not expecting a reply.

She was rewarded with a soft chuckle from the Ancient. Fresh bandages lay next to Anubis' seemingly sleeping form and she regarded them with intense scrutiny. She really did have issues. One day the man has her pinned to the ground about to blow her to pieces and the next here she was wondering if she should change his bandages. 'God I am turning into Usagi.' She thought to herself. She resisted the urge to play Nurse Mina and placed her hands in her lap. She studied her fingernails intently as she waited for the Ancient to say something.

"Minako Aino. Sailor Senshi. Princess of Venus. I cannot tell you much about your current situation as of now. All will reveal itself in time. I know I may not have the right to ask you such a favor, but I need your help." The Ancient spoke in a grim voice.

Minako's eyes instantly snapped up when he uttered her full name, and stated that she was the Princess of Venus.

"How did you know all of that?" She asked her voice clearly apprehensive.

The Ancient turned from the fire to face the accusatory stare that he was receiving.

"I am afraid I cannot tell you how I know the things that I do. I can only ask you to trust me." He stated simply.

Minako studied him for a moment. She did not like someone knowing things about her that she had not told to them, nor them giving her the source of their information. Like it or not, she chose to trust him for the time being. She really had no other choice.

"What is this favor you have to ask of me then?" She asked.

The Ancient was silent for a few moments before answering her.

"I need you to aid me with the care and the guarding of Anubis." He said.

Minako burst out into a coughing fit for no apparent reason other than shock. Her blue eyes grew wide as she fought for control of her voice.

"Care? Guarding? Of Anubis?! You've got to be kidding me. Ancient, I don't understand. This guy tried to kill me yesterday!" She exclaimed, shocked that he would ask such a thing.

The Ancient folded his fingers together and placed them in his lap.

"If you are so against this young man, then why did you just keep yourself from bandaging him up?" He asked simply.

All Minako could do was gawk at him. Then, feeling sheepish, she discovered that she did indeed have control of her muscles and closed her mouth. She looked at Anubis and then back at the silent Ancient.

"But why me? Why not one of the Ronins? Shouldn't he be watched by someone who actually has some armor that they can wear? I've got a Senshi transformation but if he turns into a tin can again all I'll be able to do is blast him. I don't think he'll take too kindly to that." She argued.

"I told you before. I cannot explain my reasoning. I can only ask for your assistance. All will…"

"Yeah, yeah all will be revealed in time I get it." Minako interrupted. She was not happy with this turn of events and she wasn't going to hide it.

The Ancient found his way to his feet and walked silently towards her. He knelt beside her and the sleeping Warlord.

"He does not have access to his armor young one. I have stripped him of that right for the time being. He belongs on our side. He is not meant to serve the Dynasty. He is a tortured soul Minako. I can see into this man's heart and I know that it does not do Talpa's bidding. The Dark Emperor may hold onto Anubis' freedom, but he does not own his soul. He needs our patience. He needs our guidance. Please say that you will help me." The Ancient asked in a soft voice.

Minako stared at him for a long moment and then looked back down at Anubis. How could she call herself a champion of justice if she did not try to help someone in need? She groaned and bowed her head.

"I will help you but it is against my better judgment. The Ronins trust you and therefore I will trust you too." She said, her voice heavy with concern.

The Monk placed his hand on her shoulder.

"Thank you my friend. He will not wake for quite some time. Would you please change his bandages for me? Then I suggest going back to the Ronin's headquarters. You would not want them to worry." He said softly.

Minako nodded to him and stared at the floor as he got up and left, sliding the temple door shut behind him. The Ancient stopped just outside of the door. He stared off into space as a smile crept to his lips. He felt the energy flowing from Minako. She did not realize just what was happening to her yet, but she would with time. There was a reason that she felt drawn to Anubis, even though she was scared she had a death wish. It was the same reason why her hands went so effortlessly through his heavy armor. The reason Anubis wouldn't have been able to kill her yesterday no matter what was running through his mind. This they would learn when the time was right.

Minako looked at Anubis with apprehension. What would she do if he woke up and she was bandaging him up? 'I'm sure I'm really the person he'd like to see most right about now.' She joked with herself. Thinking that the Ancient wouldn't allow her to be alone with the man if any harm could come to her, she dipped a washcloth in a wooden bowl beside Anubis' head. She cringed as she lightly pressed the cloth to his forehead. She was just waiting for the man to spring up and knock the object out of her hand.

But he didn't. His breathing was even; he was definitely asleep. Minako was grateful for that. She relaxed a little as she cleansed his wound and then placed the bandages over it. When she had finished she swept his crimson bangs back over his forehead. His hair felt like fine silk beneath her fingertips and she resisted the urge to run her fingers through it more thoroughly. She placed her hands in her lap again but did not move from her spot.

Minako hated to admit to herself that he really was handsome. Evil or not the man was attractive. His mouth was slightly parted in his sleep and she dared to breathe as she heard him begin to mumble something lightly in his sleep.

His eyes fluttered, not opening, only revealing the restless blackness that consumed him. His face became filled with fear as unbidden words from whatever was plaguing him fell from his lips.

"No. Please. I beg of you. Don't! Don't do this! Don't make me do this!" The pained warlord pleaded in his sleep.

Minako's heart instantly went out for him. He was having a nightmare. No doubt a recollection of something that he had done while working for his dark master. Perhaps the Ancient was right. Minako watched as he tossed his head slowly from side to side. No matter what he had done, to her or to anyone, she could not stand watching someone so strong be rendered so helpless. But what could she do to help him? He didn't deserve it from her, nor would he welcome it but she couldn't help herself.

Against her better judgment, Minako hesitated before slipping her hand into the Warlord of Cruelty's palm. She lightly curled her fingers around his calloused hand, hoping she could somehow give him a small sense of comfort from the act. It was odd. They were human hands, much like anyone else's but they were somehow different. These were the hands of a trained warrior; A man who could kill her with a flick of his wrist. She had no doubt that the Warlord's limbs were most likely permanently incased in his sub armor, save for now. Minako thought about this, and somehow felt as though she were entreating upon something very private. He kept murmuring in his sleep and Minako gave his rough hand a gentle squeeze.

She was surprised when the limp hand that she held, returned the pressure. She watched with startled amazement as the sleeping warrior's fingers curled softly around her own. Her lips formed a light smile. Whether he'd ever admit it or not, his spirit longed for some comfort. She could sense that. Being the Senshi of Love had its hidden benefits. His pained face did not change though. His dream was intense. She could see that from his unbidden reaction to it. She knew that he would become enraged if he knew she had seen him like this and that she should probably withdraw her hand and get her butt back to the mansion. That was what she should do.

But she couldn't bring herself to do it. She wanted to comfort him, grant him a reprieve to his nightmare. Without much deliberation, the girl began to sing softly to the exhausted Warlord; a lullaby of sorts.

"Daylight has found me here again. You can ask me anything but where I've been. Things that used to matter seem so small when you're looking for a soft place to fall. "

The melody was light, barely a whisper and she found herself feeling ridiculous for singing to a violent sleeping figure, but it was all she knew to do. She used to sing Chibi-Usa to sleep with this little tune when the girl was frantic about her mother. Old habits die hard.

-*-

Anubis was in a fog. He found himself standing in the middle of broken and bloody battlefield clutching his kusari-gama and wearing his armor of Cruelty. He did not know how he had come to stand where he was but he felt a darkness swirling all around him.

Talpa was mounted on his demon horse nearby and was facing the armed warlord.

"You have done well Shuten. You are most worthy of being my Warlord of Cruelty." His dark voice stated.

Shuten. He could barely remember being called Shuten. It was almost foreign to his ears. He remembered this battle. He had executed a village that has risen against the Dynasty and this had been his rite of passage to becoming the Warlord of Cruelty. It was either this, or die with the rest of these people. His stomach grew sick when he recalled the carnage he had ensued on the burning village.

Anubis shook in his sleep and to his relief he found his horrible memory to have been a nightmare. What had woken him was the sound of a sweet lullaby in his ear. What was that beautiful sound? It gave him comfort and helped ease the pain in his heart from his terrible recollection.

His eyes fluttered open and he sleepily took in the face of a blonde angel with her eyes closed, soft and sweet words coming from her mouth. His head hurt badly, but he shook it slightly to clear the fog from his head. The angel was holding his hand in her own small one, and he realized he had curled his fingers about her own.

A moment later when he had roused himself enough to understand what was going on he realized that the angel singing to him was not whom he thought she was. It was the source of his earlier anger. Sailor Venus. Before he had time to react, the girl faltered in her singing and opened her eyes.

Much to her chagrin, Anubis had woken up. And he was staring at her. His blue eyes wide and questioning. Minako, not knowing what else to do, dropped his hand and bolted from the temple.

She rushed down the steps as fast as her legs would carry her. He had seen her! 'Idiot. Stupid freaking idiot!' Her mind screamed as ran. She should have left when she had the chance earlier. Why had she tried to ease his nightmare? Why did she have such a bleeding heart?

Minako didn't fear for her safety at the moment. She knew that the Ancient wouldn't allow him to harm her in his rage at finding her there beside him. She feared having to face his sneer and hateful words the next time she saw him.

Anubis had found his way clumsily to his feet and he staggered out the door and to the top of the steps just in time to see her disappear around the corner. What in the hell had just happened?

He heard a chuckle from behind him and turned around. The Ancient was standing beside the door that he and Minako had been behind.

" Do not be angry Anubis. She is a young woman. She has a much more gentle spirit than your own." The Ancient said in a serious tone.

For once, Anubis did not have some insult to hurl back at the Monk. He simply stared at him.

"Tell me what you know about Sailor Venus." He asked softly.

- --

TBC! Let me know what you think! Thanks for reading. =)