Dedicated, in deep gratitude, to Mystic Mermaid.
Check out the wonderful MinaZoi video she made, that fits with this fanfic, on her vidders profile "Sailor Sisters"
Title: PGSM Zoicite + Minako Kiss From a Rose
Act 44
"Don't come back to us until you have awakened your senshi powers. In the meantime, you've got something to do, I believe."
Minako's heart was beating in her throat.
"Rei! That's enough," Jupiter said now, "Even if she has not been able to awaken her senshi powers yet, she's still our comrade."
"Comrades…" Mars replied and looked at Minako meaningfully, "do not lie to each other."
I shouldn't have told her, Minako thought as everything inside her went numb. Mars had managed to discover her weak point. She still hadn't been able to awaken her true senshi power.
Yes, she was strong, maybe the strongest of all the senshi; and she was the leader; but all that didn't matter now. Because her secret, her disease, was weakening her. It didn't permit her to fight with her full potential anymore. Maybe that was the reason her true powers couldn't be awakened.
Rei turned around.
"Let's go," she said determinedly.
"Rei-chan…" Mercury started to say.
"I said, let's go!" Mars repeated and finally the two girls followed her.
Minako clenched her fists, breathing hard. This was more than humiliating. She, who was supposed to be their leader, was left behind now.
"Don't come back to us until you have awakened your senshi powers."
No, Minako thought, pulling herself together, she has no right, absolutely no right to decide this.
"I am the leader," she said to herself. "This was determined in the past life. I'm the only one who's truly able to understand the importance our past life has for us."
She turned around to walk back to her hotel. Artemis was walking beside her in silence. Minako knew that he was blaming himself for not being able to lie to the others. She sighed and crouched to pick him up.
"As long as Mars denies her past life," she said now, "she won't be able to guide the others. Jupiter and Mercury understand that the past life is important and can't be ignored."
"What are you up to?" Artemis asked.
Minako looked at the moon in the sky, suddenly remembering that night, that one night of pleasure and happiness she had had. That night she hadn't been Venus or Minako. When the mission and duty from the past life hadn't existed. She had been a woman who had been loved by… her man. Zoisite. How could it be that, at that moment, in his arms, she had felt more like herself than ever?
"Minako?" Artemis' voice tore her from her thoughts.
"I won't stand for being deposed that way. Mars is the one who denies the past life, so she's the one who has to leave."
Minako started to walk again.
Yes, the mistakes of the past must be atoned for. And she was the one who could guide the senshi to fulfill that mission.
XXXX
Ami hesitated as she was about to ascend the stairs to her building. Quickly, she looked over her shoulder, but this time there was nothing. No shape; nothing was watching her. It didn't really scare her, but, nevertheless…
She sighed and entered the building. This time she decided to take the stairs to her apartment. There were too many things going through her mind, and she needed to think now. Especially about what had just happened. It had hurt Ami to leave Minako behind like that. It didn't feel right. She felt so sorry for her. It had to be hard to be the senshi's leader, but at the same time being the only one who hadn't been able to awaken her senshi powers…
Ami opened the apartment's door and slowly walked down the hallway to her room. She sighed once more when she entered it, closing the door behind her. For a moment she rested with her back against the door. Then, finally, she walked into the room.
"Good evening, Mercury."
Ami jumped in shock when she saw the white-clad Shitennou, who was standing only a few steps away from her.
"Mercury power…!" she called.
"I'm not here as your enemy," Zoisite said quickly and lifted his hands.
Ami hesitated, and when she saw his honest expression, she finally left her hands drop slowly. A long moment of silence followed as Ami tried to evaluate the Shitennou's reason for being here.
"Why?" was all she finally managed to ask.
"Because I made a promise to a close friend, to look after his beloved if anything happened to him."
Ami's heart began to beat stronger and she was completely unable to suppress the trembling of her hands.
"Nephrite?" she whispered.
Zoisite nodded. "Nephrite."
Ami felt her knees give way, and if Zoisite hadn't stepped forward quickly to support her, she certainly would have fallen to the ground. The Shitennou put an arm around her shoulder and helped her to sit down on a chair.
"I'm sorry," he said then, "I didn't want to upset you."
"Why?" Ami asked again, "Why now? Now that I've finally been able to move on somehow."
Zoisite sighed and sat beside her, holding her trembling hands. "Because there are things you must know."
Ami knew that she actually should have withdrawn her hands, but for some reason Zoisite's consolation felt… good. It was as if he had given her a connection to Nephrite and suddenly she had to smile. "I didn't know that Nephrite had a friend in the Dark Kingdom."
Zoisite smiled back and squeezed her hands once more before he let go of her.
"He didn't, either," he answered, "But the day he realized it, he begged me to look after you if anything happened to him."
"Really?"
Zoisite nodded. "He'd been prepared to do anything to break Beryl's curse. There was nothing he wanted more than to be with you."
Ami felt tears start to accumulate in her eyes. "I'm sorry," she said and brushed them away quickly.
"There's no need to be," Zoisite answered kindly, and after he'd given her some time to compose herself again, he said: "And I'm also here to let you know something else."
For a moment he hesitated, and Ami recognized how he was visibly struggling for the right words. He took her hands into his again.
"I… I don't believe that he's dead," he finally said.
Ami started, her fingers digging into Zoisite's. "What… what are you saying?" she whispered. "How…?"
"Because I can still feel a bit of his energy," Zoisite answered, "and… he didn't turn into a stone when Beryl…"
"A stone?" Ami asked.
"We, the Shitennou, are supposed to be guardians of the earth. When we die, we become part of it again, a stone. It's also after which we're named. That way, we can always be reawakened. Only when our spirit really has gone, the stone breaks and turns into dust." He looked at Ami meaningfully. "On the day… Nephrite was killed, he didn't turn into a stone again. And afterwards, when we were taken back to the Dark Kingdom, he disappeared. He… got lost."
Ami started to tremble again, and it was only thanks to Zoisite's grip that she didn't collapse. Nephrite. Nephrite was alive…? But…
"But where is he? Why hasn't he…?"
"I don't know," Zoisite answered, "But he can't be far away, though he's weaker than before and… somehow different." He squeezed Ami's hands again. "And maybe that's the reason why he hasn't come to you yet. Maybe he can't, the way he is now. Or maybe he doesn't feel able to."
Zoisite paused to give Ami some time to process what he'd just told her. She felt how tears started to run down her cheeks again, but she was unable to dry them away. She feared that if she let go of Zoisite's hands now, she would lose her composure completely.
Suddenly she thought of the new employee at the Crown Center. He had been the one who had helped her to… forget her grief about Nephrite for some moments. And now she'd found out…
"What should I do now?" she asked Zoisite, "I've finally started to… move on somehow. But now I don't know…"
"He'll come to you," Zoisite said firmly, "I'm pretty sure of that. He's closer than you think. I can feel it. Just give him some time."
Ami looked at Zoisite. It was hard to believe that this white-clad, friendly-looking man was supposed to be her enemy. The one who had tried to kill Venus when everybody thought that she was the princess.
And now he was sitting beside her, holding her hands and giving her comfort just like a friend would do. Suddenly, despite her tears, Ami had to smile.
"What's going on with you people from the Dark Kingdom? Is it true that, in the end, everybody has something good inside himself? Who will it be next? Kunzite?"
Zoisite smiled back. "Who knows," he answered, "But you'd better not count on that."
"Are you the one who's been watching me recently?" she wanted to know.
"I promised to look after you," Zoisite answered. "And I'm glad to see that, despite that tragic incident, you still have the strength to go on and fulfill your duty."
Ami sighed and finally let go of Zoisite's hands to dry her face, wet with tears.
"I'm sorry," Zoisite said, "I really didn't want to upset you like that."
"It's okay," Ami answered and after a pause she asked: "What… what is he waiting for? Why doesn't he just… come to me?"
"I'd like to know that too," Zoisite said. "All I know is that the energy I feel from him is somehow different. It's him, but at the same time it feels like a new person. Maybe he doesn't feel enough at ease to show himself the way he is now. That would be just like him." He put one hand on Ami's shoulder. "If I manage to find him before I… If I find him, I'll talk some sense into him. I promise."
Ami smiled at him and nodded. Finally Zoisite stood up.
"It's time for me to leave," he explained, but Ami noticed that he seemed to be weighing something out in his mind, as if he wasn't really sure about it.
"Will you answer a… personal question for me? In confidence?" he asked then.
Ami nodded. "Of course."
"Venus… is she… all right?"
"Venus?" Ami looked at Zoisite in surprise. That was a question she hadn't expected at all. And then she saw the unmistakable expression on his face and understood.
"She's all right," she answered with a soft voice. "But it's not easy for her at the moment. She's under a lot of pressure because she's the only one of us who still hasn't been able to awaken her true powers. And since she's supposed to be our leader…"
Zoisite closed his eyes and nodded.
"Is there anything I should… tell her?" Ami asked carefully.
.
Zoisite hesitated for a long time. In his mind he was evaluating the pros and cons of doing this. If there's anyone you can trust in, it's her, his inner voice said; and, finally, he stretched out his hand, and in it appeared the little white music box.
"If you could give her this?" he asked, handing Mercury that precious object. "I'm afraid… that I don't have much time left, and I want to know this is in the right hands… when the time comes."
Mercury carefully took the little box in her hands and stroked its cover once. Then she looked at Zoisite quizzically.
"May I?" she asked and Zoisite nodded. She opened the box and its charming, sweet music resounded, awakening all those memories Zoisite had of Venus and himself in the past. All those wonderful and happy moments they had shared.
"How beautiful," Mercury whispered, enchanted. She looked at Zoisite again, holding back the question anybody would have asked in her situation.
He smiled sadly. "She gave it to me. Long, long ago."
Her eyes widened as she realized the true meaning of his words. "I… had no idea," she said.
"Nobody did," he answered, "Not even back then." Suddenly he smiled. "Quite the opposite to you two."
"Us?" Mercury asked in surprise, "Do you mean Nephrite and I were…?"
Zoisite looked at Mercury affirmatively. "Didn't Nephrite ever tell you about it?"
"No, not a word. He knew?"
"Only because of me. He was never able to remember. He… collapsed when he tried, once."
Zoisite recalled that moment, when Nephrite fell down on his knees, pressing his hands against his forehead; and he still shivered when he remembered that scream of agony before Nephrite had fallen to the ground, unconscious.
"You don't remember anything, either?" Zoisite finally wanted to know.
Mercury shook her head. "But I'm not surprised by what you've just told me. There were some moments, when we looked at each other… It felt so familiar." She paused and finally asked: "Why… wasn't he able to remember?"
So she's still able to feel it, despite what had happened, Zoisite thought. But how much was he allowed to tell her without breaking the oath he and all the others had made back then? "Because of… you," he finally answered. "And the princess and her Ginzuishou. But I'm not allowed to tell you more."
Mercury bit her lip, obviously not really understanding. How could she? This was something she wouldn't be able to remember, ever. But finally she nodded, and closed the little music box slowly.
"I'll take care of it," she asserted. "Rest assured that your secret is safe with me. You can rely on me."
"I know," Zoisite answered honestly. "That's why I confided in you."
"You said you don't have much time… Are you in trouble? Is there anything else I can do for you?"
Zoisite smiled at her words of worry. "Now I understand why Nephrite fell in love with you so deeply. You are indeed a thoroughly good person."
Mercury blushed.
"Take care of yourself," Zoisite said. "I'm sure that soon you'll be reunited with him again."
"But… if he's different, how will I recognize him?"
Zoisite heard the fear and worry in her voice and put his hands on her shoulders encouragingly. "Your heart will recognize him. Just as it did the first time."
He let go of her and stepped back, now ready to leave.
"Zoisite," Mercury said quickly. He stopped, mid-motion, and looked at her. "Thank you," she said then, "for coming here. It was a pleasure to talk to you."
"The pleasure was all mine, Mercury, senshi of water and wisdom." He smiled. "Ami Mizuno."
Then he teleported away.
.
Ami looked at the box Zoisite had given to her and stroked it again. Venus and Zoisite, she thought, smiling. Who would have guessed?
Then she put it carefully on her bedside table. She felt as if a storm was raging inside her. Nephrite, Nephrite was alive! All these days she'd been absolutely sure that he was dead, and now…
But what if Zoisite is wrong? Another voice resounded in her head, making her wince. What if all her hopes would be broken? She knew that she wouldn't have the strength to go through all… this once more. There were still moments where she felt almost unable to stand it.
And if Nephrite really was alive, wouldn't he have come for her, as he'd sworn?
You'd better not rely on what Zoisite said, the voice inside her whispered, or it could break you altogether.
And this time she knew that she wouldn't be able to resurface again.
"Zoisite is wrong," Ami whispered to herself. "Whatever he felt, it can't be Nephrite."
Suddenly she thought of him again. He who had awakened all those strange and confusing feelings inside her. Wasn't it better to move on instead of relying on a hope that could shatter any time, like glass?
Ami sighed and went to the kitchen. It was more than fair to do at least one good thing for him. She wouldn't be able to get any sleep now anyway.
XXXX
Usagi sighed and finally reached for her bag. "So… I'm leaving then," she said to Luna.
She nodded. "See you later, Usagi-chan."
"Hm," Usagi answered and left her room, walking down the stairs. Slowly she sat down to put on her shoes. Though she tried to ignore it, Luna's behavior irritated her. Something was strange. It felt as if the plushie had been relieved that Usagi wasn't going to the Crown center.
"What are you doing?" her brother's voice resounded behind her. Usagi jumped and stood up quickly. "Are you going to visit… Osaka-san?" Shingo asked in a sudden friendly and even compassionate voice.
Usagi nodded. "Would you like to… come with me?"
"I hate hospitals," he answered; but after a short pause he said: "But how about if I walk with you to the building?"
Usagi smiled. "That would be nice, little brother."
Shingo didn't answer. He passed her by and walked through the door to the street.
XXXX
As she had so many times, Ami was standing at the top of the stairs that led to the Crown center. In her hands she carefully carried the little paper-bag with the cookies she'd made last night. Her heart was beating in her throat. Even though it was a really easy recipe - the same she'd made at school together with Osaka-san - this time it took her three times until the cookies came out more or less acceptable.
She tightened her grab around the bag, still feeling unable to walk down the stairs.
"I don't believe that he's dead."
"He'll come to you. I'm pretty sure of that."
And what if Zoisite was right after all? In that case wasn't she… betraying Nephrite with what she was about to do now? When she had made these cookies last night, she'd been thinking of him, not Nephrite. Hoping that they would please him.
What are you doing? she asked herself.
You are weak and selfish, another voice in her head rebuked her.
Yes, that was true. Though she hadn't wanted to admit it till now, one reason why she had been looking for his presence all these days had been because he had made her forget the grief and immense pain of Nephrite's death. With him she felt alive, as if she was able to breathe again at last.
Ami sighed and finally started to walk down the stairs and entered the Crown center.
XXXX
Nephrite looked behind Ami, who had followed Venus. Of course he had recognized her. Zoisite's… beloved.
In his hands he was holding the little paper-bag with the cookies Ami had made. He took out another one and put it into his mouth.
God, they were the most… horrible thing he had ever eaten in his life. They tasted like burnt wood. But nevertheless… Ami had made them. Not especially for him, of course - why should she? - but she had made them.
In his head he could still hear her laughing. Now he finally understood the meaning of somebody's voice sounding like music to one's ears. Ami's laugh had been the most beautiful thing he had ever heard.
Nephrite put the next burnt piece into his mouth.
"Umm, Nefilin," Motoki said now, "She's gone. You can stop pretending."
He walked over to the garbage can to throw away his bitten cookie. Then he reached for the bag Nephrite was still holding in his hands. "You can give it to me."
Nephrite shook his head.
Ami made them, he thought again, she made them.
"Are you going to eat them all up?" Motoki asked in disbelief.
"Yes," Nephrite answered shortly and bit into the next cookie.
Motoki shook his head perplexedly. "You're really a good person," he said and reached for the mop. "I'll clean up the hallway, you greet the customers."
Nephrite only shrugged and ate the next cookie. He would eat them up all of them. Because this was all he had from Ami.
That laugh. He knew that he would never forget it. He would keep it in his heart and it would warm him up from the inside once he was back in the cold Dark Kingdom.
XXXX
"Sink or swim, that's how I like to live," Jadeite heard Kunzite say.
"Is this your revenge?" Zoisite asked.
"That's all I have," Kunzite answered.
Jadeite peeked around the corner and saw how Kunzite was just leaving. Zoisite was watching after him in disappointment.
"To protect the Master," he said to himself then, "I knew I'd have to do it on my own."
Jadeite sighed and finally stepped out from his hiding place. "Zoisite," he said.
Zoisite looked at him, his gaze full of loathing. "What?"
"I… I'm coming to ask you for a favor."
"A favor?" Zoisite repeated, "What makes you believe that I'll do anything for you?"
"You… are the only one I can ask," Jadeite confessed reluctantly.
"Am I? And what could that be?"
Jadeite hesitated, but finally he said: "I need… something to manipulate somebody's feelings."
"To manipulate somebody's feelings," Zoisite repeated, a little surprised, looking at Jadeite with great interest now. "Whose?"
Jadeite clenched his fists, returning Zoisite's penetrating gaze. He really didn't want to answer that question. It felt humiliating enough to ask Zoisite for a favor, like a miserable beggar.
Suddenly Zoisite started to laugh.
"What's so funny?" Jadeite hissed.
Zoisite shook his head. "You really have nerve to ask me for something after what you've done to our Master. I don't know what you're up to, Jadeite, but I can guess, and there's only one thing I can give to you. Here's my advice: You can't force… a woman's feelings."
Jadeite gasped in surprise. How did Zoisite…? "But… that box," he finally managed to say, "That music box you used to erase the princess' memories of Endymion…"
"… doesn't exist anymore," Zoisite ended Jadeite's sentence, "And anyway, it didn't work."
With this he turned around and walked away.
Jadeite bit his lip. As if it wasn't enough that he had to beg Zoisite for a favor… in vain. No, now he had to endure his… ridiculous advice.
"You can't force a woman's feelings."
Oh really? Jadeite suddenly thought, and smiled as he remembered Mars' weakness. Well, Zoisite, it looks like I won't need your help or your advice after all.
Yes, he knew exactly how to make her his. She would be his, whether she wanted it or not.
XXXX
Zoisite slowly walked down the dark corridor back to his room.
"I need… something to manipulate somebody's feelings."
Somehow he understood Jadeite's behavior now. So this was the reason he had decided to obey Queen Beryl so completely. Mars obviously didn't… But, nevertheless, this was no excuse for what Jadeite had done.
Zoisite entered his room and, out of sheer habit, he walked to the opposite side of his piano first. The place where he had hidden… He paused in the middle of his movement. Then he shook his head and walked to the piano bench to sit down.
Right; the box, Venus' sign of love, was no more in its usual hiding place.
"I'll take care of it. Rest assured that your secret is safe with me. You can rely on me."
Zoisite knew that there was no better person he could have entrusted it with. It was in best hands.
He put his right hand on the piano keys and slowly played a scale up and down.
"The princess' life. If you want to make an exchange, consider that."
"The princess' life," Zoisite whispered, "Her life for the Master's… and the existence of the planet."
"I love you." "I love you too."
Zoisite smiled sadly as he hesitantly started to play the piano now.
Venus, he thought, please forgive me.
But he knew that she would never forgive him for this.
XXXX
Rei slowly walked the way that led to her temple.
"You're not needed here."
Venus' words had been more than a kick in the pants. She… had thrown her out. But what could Rei have answered? She was unwilling to fight a battle for a mission from the past. She refused to permit the past life to decide what she had to do now in the present. She would go on ignoring it.
Suddenly she had to think of Jadeite. His passionate and obsessive expression…
"What if I told you that I'll kill that boy if you don't come with me right now?"
Rei quickly put her hands in her pockets to suppress their trembling. The thought that Takai could get dragged into the battle just because of the past life… it scared her to death. How far would Jadeite go?
Rei sighed and lifted her head, noticing too late the person that was sitting at the beginning of the stairs. Her heart started to beat faster and she clenched her fists when Takai stood up slowly. For a long moment nobody said anything. They only looked at each other.
"I called you," Takai finally said, "several times."
"I've been really busy," Rei answered, knowing very well how lame that sounded.
Takai nodded. "You never called back."
"I…"
"… have been really busy," he ended her sentence. "Yeah, I heard. It's pretty interesting, you know? You called the dorm about five minutes after I called you from the campus phone. It's just like you waited for me to be out of the house."
Rei bit her lip. How did he know that?
"Taro-kun always writes down everything, even the time somebody called at," Takai explained.
"If it's about your jacket…" Rei began, subdued.
"I don't give a shit about the jacket!" Takai shouted, and Rei winced in surprise. She'd never expected him to be able to speak like this.
"I'm sorry," he said and ran his hand through his hair. "But you've obviously been avoiding me, so I started to ask myself if, maybe, I've done… something wrong. You know… that night…"
Rei closed her eyes, remembering that deep and passionate kiss Takai had given her, making her feel like she was finally waking up from a deep, numb sleep. Making her want more.
"No," was all she was able to whisper.
"Then why haven't you answered the phone? And please don't tell me that you've been busy. I think we both know that isn't true."
It took all of Rei's willpower to stay where she was. Every cell of her body cried for Takai. Wishing to feel his arms around her, his lips on hers again.
No, you can't think that way, a harsh voice resounded in her head. He's a man, he can't be trusted. You remember what happened the last time you lost control?
That evil laugher…
"What if I told you that I'll kill that boy if you don't come with me right now?"
"It won't work," she finally said.
"What do you mean?" Takai asked.
"This… you and me. It won't work. Sooner or later… It just won't work."
When she saw the hurt expression on his face, everything inside her cried out.
Suddenly he stepped towards her and slowly put his hands on her arms. "What is it, Rei?" he asked with a soft voice.
The laughter echoing inside Rei's head grew louder, and though there was nothing she wanted more than to burrow her face in Takai's chest and feel his arms around her, she knew that she mustn't admit that. So she put her hands on his chest and pushed him away.
He looked at her with wide eyes. "What happened to you?" he asked. "You're trying so hard to control your feelings. What… have they done to you?"
Rei clenched her fists so hard that her knuckles hurt. How could he know…?
"It's more than obvious," Takai answered her unspoken question, "You are hiding something."
"You wanna know?" Rei suddenly shouted, "Do you wanna know why you, why no man, can be trusted? Because you use women as long as you feel like it, and then you throw us away like garbage."
"What are you talking about?" Takai asked in genuine shock.
"My father was married to my mother, but he let her die alone. I was five, and I watched her dying while he was working at his office. And even when she'd died, it still took him more than three hours to finally show up at the hospital."
"Rei…"
"Wait, don't you want to hear the best part of the story? Because if you think that at least he'd have been father enough to comfort me after that, think again. All he did was take me home, make me pack my things and bring me to a temple. Two monks were already waiting for me. You understand? He had everything ready on that same day to get rid of me. He dropped me off and left immediately because he had another meeting he couldn't cancel. All this on the same day my mother died. He left me here so I couldn't hold him back. And all these years, he only gave a damn about me if it helped to improve his political image. That's why he made me change schools and brought me to this temple here after…"
Rei bit her lip to hold back what she had just been about to say. That one thing nobody knew, and must never learn.
"After…?"
"Forget it," Rei said quickly and tried to pass Takai, but he grabbed her arm.
"There's more, isn't there?" he asked now. "This isn't just about your father. There's something else. Maybe the real reason for your… behavior."
Rei started to tremble and tried in desperation to force back the evil laughter echoing in her head.
"Rei, what is it?"
Takai's soft voice brushed away the laugher immediately, but Rei only shrugged and finally withdrew from his grasp. "Nothing. Only the fact that I've learned… that men can't be trusted."
"I would never do anything to hurt you."
"He said that, too," Rei answered before she had really thought about it.
"He? Who? Your father?" Takai asked.
She bit her lip and looked at Takai, horrified. But it was too late to take back what she had just said. Suddenly, Takai's eyes widened, and the expression of comprehension that crossed his face didn't please Rei at all.
"There was somebody… else, am I right?" Takai said, "And he hurt you so deeply, you don't want to get into another relationship again."
"It doesn't matter what happened in the past. I'm over it. But this…" she gestured at him first, then herself, "…won't work. Believe me. It's better to leave it as it is."
"Is that what you really want, Rei?"
Again this evil laughter… "What if I told you that I'll kill that boy if you don't come with me right now?"
She nodded.
Takai sighed. "But… not me, Rei. I… I want to be with you. I've… fallen in love with you."
She smiled at him sadly. "You only say that because I helped cure you of your hiccups."
"That's not the reason!" Takai exclaimed. "I had feelings for you before that."
"It won't work," Rei repeated. "Sooner or later you'll realize that, too; and once you do, you'll leave. Like all the others."
"I'm not your father," Takai said, placing his hands on her shoulders. "And I'm not… him, either."
She shook her head, holding back the tears that pooled in her eyes. "It won't work," was all she was able to whisper.
Takai's expression froze and, slowly, he let his hands slide from her shoulders. He looked at her for a long time, then he nodded and turned around to walk away.
No! a voice screamed inside Rei, What are you doing? Stop him! Don't let him go!
She stayed where she was.
Suddenly Takai paused. "You know," he said, looking back at her, "you're criticizing your friends for being completely ruled by their past life. But aren't you doing the same thing? Maybe not because of the past life, but past is past. Think about it."
With these words, he turned around and finally left.
Rei breathed hard, her heart pounding, while everything swam before her as tears filled eyes.
"You're criticizing your friends for being completely ruled by their past life. But aren't you doing the same thing? Maybe not because of the past life, but past is past. Think about it."
No, she thought, this is completely different.
And then, all of a sudden, it started again. The evil laughter in her head. Rei pressed her fingers against her temples and closed her eyes. It didn't help. The laughter increased until it had filled her whole consciousness. She wasn't even able to cry or scream. All she could do was to sink to the ground, burying her head in her hands while the evil laughter went on and on.
XXXX
Minako pushed the Youma aside and hurried over to join Mercury and Jupiter.
"We have to attack it together!" she called, trying not to show her desperation.
Zoisite. Zoisite was nearby, and he was very close. She could feel him. She had to get rid of that Youma quickly. Whatever the reason for his presence was, Minako had to help him. Metallia's Youma was too strong, even for him.
The three senshi started to shake their tambourines now and finally attacked the Youma before them. It moaned and exploded. Minako's heart was beating in her throat.
"Hurry to the princess," she commanded the others and started to run.
Zoisite, she thought, hold on, I'm coming.
And then a sudden pain overwhelmed her head, and somehow she knew that this time it wasn't just because of the tumor. The pain was different. It caught her mind, her body and went straight into her heart.
Minako sank to her knees, unable to stand up again.
"Venus!" she heard Jupiter call out in shock.
Once more she tried to stand up, but it was in vain. The surrounding became blurred and she knew that she was about to lose conscious.
Zoisite, was all she was able to think as darkness overpowered her, Zoisite, Zoisite.
XXXX
"Zoisite!" Zoisite heard the princess call out, terrified, as he slumped to the ground. She ran to his side.
"What are you doing?" he wheezed. "Beat it, before the Youma comes back!"
"I won't leave you here like this," she said.
"Don't be a fool!" he shouted.
"I'm not leaving!"
"It's not as bad as it looks," he said, trying to stand up; but he only managed to kneel, supporting himself on his hands. His arms started to tremble and a strange feeling of numbness overtook his mind, just as it did when he remembered something from the past. No, that was impossible; he already had gained back all his memories, hadn't he?
His arms gave way and he was just about to collapse to the ground again when he felt somebody supporting him. The princess. She was still here. He looked at her. Her expression was open and full of worry.
"Why?" was all he was able to ask.
"Because nobody deserves to be left behind," she answered calmly.
He smiled a little at her naivety. She, too, hadn't changed at all.
The numbness in his head increased. It felt insistent, as though something was really eager to be finally remembered. And suddenly a sharp certainty came over him. The realization that this time it was over. Absolutely.
"Not here," he gasped then, "Not… here."
"Can you try to stand up?" the princess asked.
Zoisite was only able to nod. She put his arm around her shoulders and helped him to stand up. He tried not to lean too much on her. Then they started to walk. Zoisite didn't look where the princess was guiding him to because now the numbness was overwhelming his mind completely, forcing him to remember this one last memory…
Zoisite was sitting at his piano, playing Venus' song softly. They had been arguing yet again. The reason had been the same as always. Venus wasn't willing to acknowledge the danger the princess posed to all of them, while he wasn't willing to step away from his Master's side.
Zoisite sighed and let the last tone of the song fade out.
"I've never heard that before."
Zoisite stood up immediately and bowed. "Master," he said respectfully. Prince Endymion waved dismissively and stepped inside the room.
"To what do I owe the honor of your visit?" Zoisite asked.
His Master didn't answer immediately. He looked at Zoisite's gloves, which were lying on the piano, and then at him.
"I've just seen Venus walking down the hallway. She seemed to be very upset."
Zoisite winced. Did his Master know… ?
"Yes, I know about you two," the prince affirmed his unspoken question.
"But… how? Does anybody else… ?"
"No," Endymion answered, "Nobody else knows about you two. The only reason I do is because I've seen the two of you looking at each other very… clearly recently."
"We've never neglected our duty because of this," Zoisite asserted. "If you want me to end it…"
"That's the problem, Zoisite, my friend," the prince cut him off. "You are perhaps the most loyal of my Shitennou, and that's what's causing these… bad moments between you two, am I right?"
"It's not just me," Zoisite tried to defend himself. "She doesn't want to admit that her princess…" he broke off immediately, before he could offend his Master's beloved. But Endymion only smiled kindly.
"What if I asked you to end your relationship and to stay by my side as my most loyal Shitennou?"
"I would do as you wish," Zoisite answered honestly.
"Wrong answer," Endymion said immediately.
Zoisite looked at him in surprise. "Master?"
"Don't misunderstand me," the prince said, "I really appreciate your loyalty; but that is no reason for giving up on your true love. It must not push Venus away. That's something I don't want to take responsibility for. I don't want to be the reason for your unhappiness. It's Venus who should come first for you, not me."
Zoisite didn't know what to answer.
"Do you love her?" the prince suddenly asked.
"Yes," Zoisite answered without hesitating, "But…"
"No 'but', Zoisite. There mustn't be a condition when it comes to love. You love her, and I'm glad that you've found her. And as you're not only my Shitennou, but also my friend, I want you to be with her. I mean really be with her. Look at Nephrite and Mercury. Even though we're in the middle of a battle, they've found each other, and now they're even engaged."
"That's being rash," Zoisite said, "We don't know how the battle…"
"That doesn't matter," Endymion cut him again, "There is no right or wrong moment when it's about love. It just happens, and when it does, you should experience it to the full."
He looked outside the window at his world in ruins. "You never know how much time you have left."
Zoisite bit his lip, his mind a jumble. "What… what am I supposed to do?"
Endymion smiled and patted his shoulder. "Listen to your heart, my friend, it will give you the right answer."
The image of the memory became indistinct, but before Zoisite was able to realize where he was, another memory took hold of his mind.
Venus had leaned her head on Zoisite's shoulder as he played a melody on the piano to accompany the wonderful music that came from the little box she had just given to him. Zoisite knew that this was much more than just a present. With this precious object she had revealed all her feelings for him. Now it was up to him to let her know what she meant to him.
He stopped his playing and reached for the box to close it. Venus lifted her head and looked at him questioningly.
"There's something I have to tell you," he said, taking her hands in his. A long pause followed, and Zoisite loved her even more for her patience. Finally he looked at her. "When the battle is over, I won't go back to the earth."
She started and her eyes widened.
"What?" she finally asked, and he could hear the fear and hope in her voice. He smiled at her and lifted one hand to caress her cheek. "All I need to live… is sitting right here beside me. If you accept me… There's nothing I want more than to stay by your side."
Tears started to accumulate in her eyes.
"Zoisite," she whispered, "Are you… serious?"
He nodded and then he kneeled before her.
"Venus," he said, "my beautiful, beloved, Venus, will you let me stay by your side for the rest of your life?"
She sobbed and the tears ran down her cheeks now.
"Of course," she said and wrapped her arms around his neck, "Of course I will, Zoisite."
Zoisite started. That's right. That night, he had decided… Though they both knew that in all likelihood nobody would survive the last battle, that didn't matter at that moment. Just as his Master had said: there was no right or wrong when it came to love. What mattered had been Zoisite's decision. The decision he had made for Venus. How could he had forgotten that?
"Are you okay? Hold on," the princess' voice resounded now. She was still here? Zoisite realized that he was sitting in a green meadow, leaning against a tree. How did he get here? He wasn't able to remember.
"Princess," he said now, "I wish that you would forgive me… for trying to take your life. It was a betrayal to the Master."
"That… but you saved me!" she answered.
Still so good-hearted, Zoisite thought; and though she wasn't the woman he wanted by his side now, to share his last minutes of life, what more could he asked for?
"I can't believe I forgot…" he told her painfully, "My… irreplaceable memories… No matter what happens… my time with the Master…"
And Venus, he thought, grief-stricken, as he lifted his right hand, my beautiful, beloved Venus.
"Kunzite, Nephrite, Jadeite… once more… I want to send my music to the Master."
Venus, he thought, it's not your song - that is only meant for your ears. But this melody is for you, too, my one and only true love.
.
Usagi watched how Zoisite lifted his hand to start playing a piano that wasn't there. And though she knew it wasn't possible, for some reason she was able to hear the wonderful melody he played.
She sat quietly beside him, listening to that magical music he was sending to the other Shitennou and Mamoru, his Master; and she felt more than honored that she was allowed to hear it too.
"Master," Zoisite whispered. The last note faded, and with it, Zoisite's hand fell lifelessly into his lap. His body started to shimmer in a white light and dissolved. All that remained was a stone that hovered in the air.
Usagi stretched out her hands to catch it. She looked at it sadly, and just at that moment the stone broke and turned into dust. She watched the glistening grains the wind took with it, overcome with grief.
"Zoisite," she whispered, "You… were good… after all."
She looked back at the tree Zoisite had been leaning against and put one hand on the trunk.
Another victim, she thought sadly. Another who lost his life in this battle.
She buried her face in her other hand and lingered that way.
"No matter what happens, you should smile. Smile like an idiot, okay?"
How long? How much longer would she be able to cope with all… this?