Author's Note: The prompt for this chapter was the following quote:

"It is with our passions as it is with fire and water: they are good servants but bad masters." -- Aesop

"Keep your head King."

Nathan gripped his stick, trying to get his anger under control.

"Let the scoreboard do the talking for you."

Easier said than done. When you scored a hat-trick, everyone was gunning for you. Big number 4 in particular, seemed to have it out for him. He was a goon. He was out there more for his right hook than his toe drag. If he could get Nathan to drop the gloves and sit in the box for five minutes, his job was done.

Coach knew it too. So during the second intermission, he pulled Nathan aside.

"Listen to me kiddo, this is the biggest game of your life. We need this win to make it into the playoffs. And I didn't want to tell you this, but there are scouts in the stands tonight. They're looking at you. Can't show 'em anything if your in the box."

Nathan nodded. Coach was right. He was a good man, and he had taken care of him, molding him from a hot tempered kid prone to being thrown out of games into a seasoned young man on the verge of playing Major Junior hockey next season at age 16. From there, anything was possible.

Coach smiled, and gave him a pat on the back.

"I need you here. That means no worrying about their goons, and no worrying about skirts in the stands."

Nathan blushed. He thought no one had noticed him eyeing the mysterious red-head in the stands.

"Plenty of time for that later. Right now, it's game time, right?"

"Right."

"Good. I need you to turn that fire into more goals. Go get 'em King."

Nathan loved coming to the rink early. He could have the ice all to himself. It helped him to keep control as well. If he could have a few moments where he could skate out his aggression, he played much smarter, much faster, much better. Coach had been the one to recommend the practice to him. It had shown. Nathan was taking fewer penalties, getting in fewer fights, and scoring more goals. Off the ice, things were similar. He had buckled down in his studies, and was spending less time in detention for fighting.

It was rare for anyone to be there this early. So he was rather shocked when he found the mysterious red-head from the night before already in the stands. He waved to her, and she waved back as he started his warm-up laps. He continues his routine, skating, shooting, puck-handling, for twenty minutes before taking his first break. He looked up to the stands to see if she was still there. She had moved down so that she was up by the glass at the dasher boards. She beckoned to him and he skated over.

"You had quite a game last night."

Nathan couldn't quite place her accent, but something about her voice made his stomach feel funny.

"Thanks."

"Everyone was talking about you and what a great game you had."

As she spoke more and more, Nathan felt as though he could hear his heartbeat in his ears.

"You were the best player out there. Man among boys. You'll go far."

Nathan felt very hot, and not just from all the skating.

"It's too bad you didn't get a chance to give that goon what he deserved."

As she said that, Nathan felt as though he could feel the pain from where he had been elbowed the night before. Every ache suddenly seemed magnified, and the immediate sense of rage set back in.

"If you let thugs like him walk all over you, you'll never get anywhere. If you want to make it, you have to be tough."

He was having trouble breathing, like he had been skating for hours.

"You must work harder for the things you want."

He didn't know why, but Nathan was panicking.

"Coach tells me to keep it under control. I'm a better player that way."

She smiled at him. The funny feelings in his stomach only intensified.

"Your coach was never the same after that injury ended his career. He's become to cautious. Always playing it safe. He'll try to protect you and coddle you. He doesn't know what I know."

Nathan couldn't breathe.

"You're special Nathan King. If you listen to me, I can help you achieve greatness."

Nathan didn't finish his morning skate.

"You're gone!"

The linesman kept a firm grip on his jersey as he escorted him off the ice.

The other player had yet to get up. Unsurprising as Nathan had boarded him head first while he was unprotected.

He was barely aware of the other team yelling at him about "bush league play" and "cheap hits." They were right, and Nathan knew it. The guy had given him a slash or two. It was part of the game. Nathan's response was out of line. And now, he had been thrown out of the game. His team would be on the penalty kill for five full minutes. And if they lost, the season was over. He could only hang his head in shame as he headed for the showers and hoped his team could gut it out for him.

They did gut it out. And Nathan was grateful that the season wasn't lost because of him. Still, he wasn't looking forward to sitting down with coach. He knew, whatever he had to say, it wouldn't be pleasant.

"Sit down Nate."

Coach let out a heavy sigh and pushed back from his desk.

"Boys played a helluva game last night. Really had to dig deep to gut that one out."

Nathan kept his eyes downcast and merely nodded his assent.

"Hope they've got something left in the tank for tomorrow night's game."

Nathan merely nodded again.

"Got word from the league this morning. You've been suspended for the rest of the playoffs."

Nathan squeezed the arms of the chair. He knew it was no more than he deserved, but it still hurt. It took him a moment to find his voice.

"Well, I'll just have to do better next season then to make up for it, right?"

Coach didn't say anything for a moment.

"There's going to be a hearing next week. They're going to decide whether or not to revoke your eligibility for next season."

Nathan suddenly had trouble breathing.

"Look kiddo, what you did was dumb, reckless, and very dangerous. But you've come a long way. I'm gonna put in a good word for you. We'll sort this out, okay?"

Nathan could hear his heartbeat in his ears.

"Talk to me King."

"I need some time."

Nathan needed more than time. He needed to scream and rage. He needed to be away from everyone. So he set off for the woods where he could yell in peace and isolation. He threw snowballs at trees, trying to take some satisfaction in the wet slap that signaled their destruction. He let his rage consume him.

"You played quite a game last night."

He had no idea how she found him out here, and he didn't care. All he knew was that this woman was evil and she may have cost him everything he loved.

"I didn't play more than five minutes before I got tossed. Still think I had a good game?"

"Certainly. You followed my advice."

Nathan balled his fists. "Biggest mistake I ever made. I'm never listening to you again!"

The woman laughed. "No. You will listen to everything I have to say."

Nephrite continued his morning skate. It was doing some good. Skating every morning over the past few weeks had helped him become calmer and more centered. He was more comfortable being around people.

Still, a large part of his heart still remained just beyond his reach. He wondered if he could ever do enough laps to find it again.

He was ready for a break when he became aware he was not alone.

"So this is why you haven't needed my help."

Hino Rei was a formidable woman no doubt. But that did not explain the sudden sense of panic that had gripped Nephrite. He knew what did, and he chose not to dwell on it.

"I was never one for sitting still for that long."

A faint smile graces her lips. Nephrite recognizes it as a great show of emotion.

"You don't strike me as the meditative type. Has this helped at all?"

Nephrite's own smile falters a bit as he becomes more guarded.

"A little."

Rei looks at him, and Nephrite feels as though she can see to his very soul. Beryl had the same power. He can't decide if it's more or less frightening right now.

"Do you know why you were revived without your hearts intact?"

"Endymion was injured when he called for us. Something went wrong in the summoning."

"That's what we've been telling everyone. It's not the truth. You four left your hearts behind willingly."

"Why would we do that?"

"Because you were afraid."

It is an outright insult, and Nephrite initially takes it as such. Until he realizes she's right.

"Beryl wasn't stronger or smarter than the four of you. But she still attacked your weak spots. So when you came back this time, you left them behind because you were afraid of being turned. It's very sweet and noble of you, if it wasn't also incredibly stupid."

Silence stretches between them as Nephrite considers her words. Finally, she speaks again.

"Mako-chan is a very passionate woman. She needs a partner who can match that passion. If you're going to take her hand, you'd better be able to keep up when she takes off."

"Why do you care so much?"

"Because a thousand years is a very long time to be alone Nephrite. Mako-chan deserves the best. And if you aren't the man she needs, I won't hesitate to make sure you stay dead this time."

She can do it too.

"I know why you're hiding. I know what it's like to be alone and afraid. But you have to come to terms with the fire inside of you, or you'll never be whole again. And she needs you. We all need you."

And with that, she turns away, leaving Nephrite alone to consider whether he has the courage to let his heart come back.