Beta-reader: Minako-chan4

Part 17: The Last of Him

"That sounded like a whimper to me." Beryl stood watching him, her arms crossed in front of herself. "Are you alright General Kunzite, King of the North?"

His body was still lying on his bead but his mind was fighting with her. He felt dizzy and sick. A sticky smell swept his nostrils, and he could breath it in and it penetrated his innards. He knew he must have been going crazy because the only other smell he could remember was that of the flowers…with…what was it again? Certainly not this stench. Or was it? She was talking to him again. He tired to open his mind's eye to find Beryl but her voice seemed to put all the gravity of Earth on him.

"What do you want Beryl?"

'It's not what I want from you. I'm really concerned about our… your people. You have been ignoring your own people."

"What? How can you say that?"

"They suffer Kunzite. Under the constant watch of the Moon, they suffer day by day. The Moon wants to have what we do, but they never will accept us as one of them."

"But the Prince-"

"The Prince is foolish. You have seen him yourself with that selfish Moonling."

"My Master is not-"

"Kunzite you are supposed to protect him! What are you doing?" She spat at him. "Wasting your time worrying about the simple things in life. Friendships, loitering, parties and love. Ha! Love. That word is used by those weaker than yourself; those who have no other purpose but to live for themselves. Love for you? There is only one you may love, devote yourself to, and follow. You are the chosen and strongest shitennou, Kunzite. The greatest of the four. You have a duty no one else can bear.

"My prince loves the moon princess."

"Yes, he does." Her voice shuttered with an unseen grimace of fury. " As part of your duty you must stop him from loving her. Get her away. She and her whole country will cause problems for your prince."

"You don't know what your saying. He's happy when he's with her."

"Are you saying our laws that have been protecting us for generations are now no longer necessary? Traitor!"

"I know the law Beryl. But perhaps the law is wrong."

"Years of order is coming down around you-"

"Things are not as they once were. We know they are the senshi of the solar system. It's time to stop fighting them."

"You're wrong Kunzite. Look at the damage already caused by that moon creature. Your Prince skips his duties while you waste time trying to find him. What kind of a game is this you play? Every night they hover over us watching our every move and we have no way to stop them? Reason demands that the orbiting planet must be under the command of its Kingdom. That means us. That prosperous kingdom only survives because we allow it! And day-by-day you see the world you knew dissolve around you. It's NOT the same anymore. You are correct-"

"Be quiet you-"

"It's wrong! And the root of the problem comes from that girl harming your ONLY beloved."

"I can't accept-"

"While you waste your time in here working on the dream for tomorrow", she threw her hands around to show the carelessness she saw. "You let the present escape you. You can not let The Moon kingdom rule you."

"It does not-"

"Rule your planet-"

"It is not-"

"-And rule you beloved Prince!"

He was silent. It was a worm was burrowing into his brain. He had no idea where to start digging it out. The pain grew and he wanted to cry. Never before had he been so confused. She was right. Wasn't she? She kept saying the same things over and over and changing the words. If her voice would just stay in one place he could destroy it with a dash of his hand.

But he couldn't find her- only feel the vibrancy of her voice; the idea slowly started to poison his mind.

"Yes Kunzite! You are here to protect him! He plays with his life and your own. You cannot wish for this to continue. You can't let him be taken by them."

"What about (he gasped) the others? They, I know are good and kind. They are noble fighters for justice."

"For whose justice Kunzite? Yours? Your prince's?"

Why would she keep bringing up his own well-being? If she knew him so well she should know that all he cared about was Endymion.

"They do what they think is right."

"For them and their own princess."

"But…"

She waited for him to say the name.

"What about the-" he couldn't get the words out so she finished for him.

"Venus Princess?"

He struggled to nod, the pain growing worse. "She is noble and true. I know she cares for all. She is the- Agh…!" Another pang. He struggled onward: "-Goddess of Love. If she knows not what is right for this system-" He struggled for the breath to finish his sentence. "Then we are truly lost."

Her response seemed practiced and calm. "How do you know, King of the North, that she does know what's best?"

"I don't understand."

" You cannot believe in her Kunzite. I saw what happened that night. You wanted to kiss her, hold her, and be with her just for that moment in the Earthlight. You only wanted one kiss. I saw how you leaned forward. I could see her eyes grow sleepy and her weight sway to you. But in the end she would not."

Kunzite sniffed back tears. Holding back a cry of pain, and trying block out her words simultaneously was too hard to handle. His will was fading.

"You tried to be together but she kept you at a safe distance. She turned away and broke that moment. You can never be together. Oh she'll play with your heart and make you desire her more than your prince. But in the end, she doesn't matter. She doesn't know how wonderful you could have been together in a perfect understanding."

"She really knew me…"

Her voice hissed in his ear.

"She did! But could you really trust her with the fate of your lives? Oh yes, she's strong and brave and wise. But she doesn't know what you know."

He thought about this. Memories of him lying in bed thinking about just touching her. Yes. Silly flirtatious girl. He could never be with her. Not when he had to pick between the two, Endymion and Venus, in the end, Beryl was right. It was pointless to want her. Even if he did.

She would never kiss him.

"She is part of the problem. She fights for that Moon Kingdom too"

"I know that."

"You have only one objective. To protect your prince."

"I know that."

"Then you will see what I see and do what I say."

"I know."

"Kunzite there is only one place for you. And it is with me. Come with me."

The sting was constant but it seemed almost pleasurable now. It was determination that took its place. There would be very few moments when this pang of worry and anger would leave ever again. It just became a part of his life. That worm was just finding a last place to kill before making his home.

Still there was one last part of him that fought.

"What am I supposed to do?"

"Take them Kunzite."

It struck out at the 'lies'.

"I can't!"

"You still think that those people are good and they work for you and the benefit of the universe? They think of themselves and their own protection."

Kunzite could feel himself panting. "My friends are in love with the planetary princess of the Solar System. They will not be easily fooled."

Her voice became silky and smooth. "Ah Kunzite, of course not. Your friends would never leave your side. They know of what you face. And I will be here too."

A new voice entered.

"Kunzite we know what to do. Come with us."

"Nephrite?"

"She's right. We have to take action now or it will forever be too late,"

"Jedite?"

"Listen to her. Or if you will not, listen to us! Please Kunzite. Help our planet. Help our prince. He doesn't know what must be done."

"Zoicite…you've thought about this?

"Of course, and there is no other way."

Kunzite took another moment of silence. He said as calmly as he could:

"You know we will not be just be attacking the Moon. It will be the others too. You will hurt the ones you love."

It was their turn to be silent.

Beryl's cold voice came again like a snake.

"Don't get your love mixed up with your duty…General Kunzite. She wouldn't have you. But your prince needs you now."

All the voices seemed to fade away.

It wasn't as if they had left the room or the space in his head where he supposed he was but that even if they spoke now, it wouldn't have made it through.

She wouldn't have you.

Whether he was laying, standing or sitting he didn't know; but he was there for a very long time.

An old friend spoke to him.

You love her?

I guess I did.

To be honest, I loved Venus. I put that feeling above you at one time. I forgot. But when she betrayed me, I knew the only one for me would be my duty to the Prince.

…She will never love you. Kunzite. You know it.

I do.

You already know what your choice is.

I know…ah...I just…I just don't want to do it.

Come out of here Kunzite…

My face feels so wet…is it blood?

Let go Kunzite.

Let's go?

Give in.

Give…

Give in.

Give in.

Give in.

He was too tired to fight it.

Kunzite awoke upon his bed; the sheets and covers had all been pulled off in a frantic fashion and had been thrown haphazardly to the other side of the room. His bedside tables had fallen and his dresser and been tipped. Pictures were smashed and his window drape had been roughly drawn.

The sheets he laid upon were wet with his own perspiration. ((A/N: beta-babe!)) It felt cold to the touch of his back, for his own shirt had been saturated too.

He sat up and gazed around the room, not really looking for anything or thinking about anything. But simply letting this new world sink in, his new mind, this new force behind his heart. Just to check, he pulled from his forehead the pink Kunzite stone. He held it in his hand. It felt cold and in this faded blackness it looked deeper than a lake. The color had turned a musty red but there were traces of his signature grey and pink. It was as though it had been soaked in blood.

Kunzite thought this was a fitting comparison and but he didn't smile to himself.

He pulled off the top he had on, and threw it to where the other mass of clothes were.

Unsurprisingly, the only thing not upset was his desk. On it was laid neatly, sketching paper, a pencil, and a pack of command orders ready to be filled out and sent in preparation for what ever he was about to do.

He sat and began to write. He hadn't known it, but he had been working on a plan for the past few months through his conversations with the advisor Beryl and while he was sleeping. So the task, now, wasn't really thinking about what he was going to do, but on how to do it.

The Venus Princess drew a sharp breath and her eyes opened. Her hands made a move to drop her hoop and touch her chest.

"Oh."

"Venus?" Questioned Mercury. "Are you alright?"

"Oh yes."

"Are you sure?"

"I'm fine. I just…felt my heart ache for a moment…"

WOOOOOOOOT! First let me give the BIGGEST thanks EVER to Minako-chan. She was my Beta-reader for this chapter and she did a great job. She was very patient and honest with me and really appreciate the help! You're the Best Minako-chan! This chapter is dedicated to you!

OHOH! OK, I know I haven't updated in like, a million years but you guys have been the best to me. Still dropping by every once in a while. I have had my hits erased several times but each time it's been up in the high-hundreds and I'm amazed! I can't believe you people actually READ this crap!

But I'm so thankful to all of you!

This chapter almost beat the high-score for reviews per chapter. WHEE! If only I could get 10… eh, I know this isn't the BEST story ever, but you could do me that little favor can't you? Arigato.

So the personal thanks go to:

Minako-chan4, of course: (BTW she's a great writer too. Look her up .) I love love love you baby girl! I can't wait until you post your own Kunz/Minako story so let me know when you do. Sqwee!

Anonymous: Uh usually, I don't respond to these but in this case, She changed subject and turned away as they were about to kiss. But I'm so happy you like it…who ever you are…You know next version, I think I'll make that more clear. And yes, when I'm finished with this, I'll go back and edit all the boring stuff out and fluff up the good parts. Goodness sake I was only a little girl!

Tema Krempley: Thank you for being so kind ad dropping me a note. I will continue it. It's always on my mind, even if I don't post all the time. ;

My One Hope: One of your favorite stories! YOU…make me blush. I'm SOOO happy to receive your review and that you thought of me when your starting up your account here on You're my piggly wiggly (in the best way ;) Please, always leave me a note to tell me how you are!

guess who: It's killing you huh? Well, I know it's short but here a little medicine. :D please stay with me!

ssj2Lizzie: Heehee. I hope you like the way it ends. With this change in events, you might wonder. But I'm trying to be true to the manga…oh no…does that make it worse? I hope hope hope you like the ending…………….when we get there…..

lija: eh, sorry about that.  luckily, there are no scene changes but it's also a little symbolic so…I hope you get this. Thanks for writing me! Do you like it so far?

Angry Girl: Never worry about being late! As long as I hear from you! I always want to know what YOU think. I wait for it even! And of COURSE I'd dedicated it to you. You deserve it for always sticking with me. :Big V smile:D You think the way I do them is right? and war is scary…I'm so happy that specific words effect you! Whew! I'm glad you like me poor poor writing. And I never ever mind the lateness- write me when ever, as long as you DO! Thanks Sarah. 

OK I think that's it! Whew. I BEG of the rest of you (there are A LOT more than are reviewing) PLEASE drop me the smallest note. I really love this story and I want to know you like it too. Not that you''re making fun of me or something.

When I'm done with this story (someday) I'll go through the whole thing and re-do it. I hope you come back then too.

Hey is anyone reading my other stories? She loved (Ami/Zoi) and We loved (Rei/Jed)? ((Mako/Neph yet to be posted at all. I'm hoping to post fluidly…yeah right…)) geh. I'm already so into this one I may as well finish it before the others because then it would take even LONGER.

Anyway, anything you want to see happen, let me know.

Thanks again for dropping by! I hope I can do justice to these beautiful characters!

Ja ne-

All my lil' love love loven'

Vbabe