Another chapter! WooHoo! Thank you if you've reviewed.
He was floating in an endless darkness. As far as he could see, it was darkness.
He stretched out a hand. He existed. He clenched his hand into a fist. Who was he?
He could not remember his own name or even what he looked like.
He touched his face. What did he look like?
No sooner had he thought it than a mirror appeared near him, drifting silently in the dark like he was.
He stared at the smooth glass. His pale hair stood out in the dark.
Had he always seemed so…tired? So worn out?
He turned away. He did not want to know who that man in the mirror was.
There was a flash of light. He flung up a hand to shield his eyes from the dim glow, spinning on the spot to try and keep it in sight…Too late. Only the faintest memory of sunshine and laughter remained. He hadn't known he still had those memories.
It was curious, he mused. He could remember everyone else, names, face, places…but he could remember nothing of himself.
A faint, watery image appeared in the dark. She ran past him, laughing, her long golden hair streaming out behind her. The faintest trace of her scent lingered in the air; the mix of sunshine and a flower he could never name, but knew it meant that she was there. He reached out to touch her, but she vanished.
He let his hand drop. He would never hear her laughter again. Never see her smile again. Not after what he had done.
Another image appeared in the dark; larger and clearer than before.
The girl with the golden hair and ringing laughter was lying on her bed. She was crying.
He felt his heart contract with pain. If he could remember anything about himself, it was that he had loved this girl. That he had hurt her beyond anything she had deserved.
A familiar white cat sat on the bed next to her, a helpless expression on his face. How a cat managed to look helpless was beyond him.
"Artemis, why do I have to remember when no one else does? Why must I bear this alone?"
Her voice was slightly muffled in the cushions and the darkness. Again he reached out to touch it. Again the image vanished.
Another flash of light, brighter that than the last, nearly blinded him. A woman appeared, floating in the dark with him. He squinted to see past the dim silvery glow she emitted.
She was a senshi, that was clear, but none that he had ever seen before. She held a white staff in one ungloved hand. This was the main source of the glowing.
Out of habit, he bowed. All of the senshi he had known before had been royalty. As he straightened, he saw a small, sorrowful smile on her face. Her long silver hair was pulled up into a curious hairstyle.
"I am Cosmos." She said quietly.
"I do not know who I am." He answered honestly. She nodded.
"I know."
She touched the glowing end of the white staff to his forehead. Memories came flooding back.
He was Himself again. He was Kunzite.
When he opened his eyes again, the woman was gone. So was the darkness.
He was standing in a small bedroom, with two shocked faces staring at him. One belonged to a small white cat, the other to…
"Minako." He whispered.
Before she could react, he stepped forward and knelt at her feet, head bowed.
"Minako." He repeated. "Venus. The crimes I have committed are beyond any punishment I know of. I know that you would never allow yourself to love me again, but,"
He looked up into her frozen features. She was still heartbreakingly beautiful.
"But even if you could never bear to look at me, could you ever, in any way, forgive me?"
Slowly, she unfroze. Minako drew herself up with all the regality of the royalty that she was. Her countenance was cool and stern.
"Kunizte." He looks down at him boots, awaiting him punishment.
"The crimes you have committed, both in this life and in past ones, are, as you stated, beyond punishment. You have betrayed your prince, your planet, and me. You have attempted, and succeeded on several occasions, in killing me and my fellows."
Her voice is flat and emotionless. He closes his eyes. He was what she said. A traitor, a murderer…
"However," He does not dare to look up.
"It is extremely rare for Venusians, especially royalty, to find a True Love. Even with being granted several lives to find them." She puts a hand on his head and tips it back until he can see her face.
"I was one of the luckiest of my people. I still am. I forgave you long ago. I never stopped hoping you would find me again, because I never gave up on you. Not really."
He cannot believe his ears. Surly this is just a dream and he will awaken back in the darkness.
"But Kunzite," He focuses on this time and place. "I'm not the one that needs to forgive you. You need to forgive yourself first." He stared at her.
"That will be…difficult." She grinned.
"Don't worry, you've got time. Crystal Tokeo isn't going to be around for a while yet. I'll be waiting."
He cracks a smile. It has been a long time since he smiled last. She blows him a kiss as the room starts to fade away. He catches the kiss and puts it in his pocket. He feels himself beginning to fade away. But he is at peace, or at least more peaceful than he has been in years.
"This is my mercy for you." He hears a soft silver voice whisper.
He sighs contentedly and vanishes in the freshly minted sunlight of a brand new day.
Only one more chapter after this.
Please tell my your thoughts! Don't lurk!
~commontater