Title: Fear
Author: sailorraspberry
Theme: Masquerade
Genre: Romance
Version: Manga
Rating: PG

Venus stood quietly on the balcony, stone-faced and pale, eyes narrowed on the green and blue planet off in the distance. Behind her, the ball continued, unaware that she had slipped away.

The crowd's voices dropped and then rose dramatically. The princess must have arrived.

One hand anchored up to the mask on the bridge of her nose. It was smooth beneath the tips of her fingers, and with a sudden irk of disgust, she tossed it over the balcony's edge, watching silently as it fluttered to the pale grass below.

She heard him approach before she saw him, and with an audible sigh, she closed her eyes and imagined his face. His presence was overwhelming, an addiction that coiled around her mind and held tight.

His sword pressed to her neck.

"I don't want to kill you."

Venus felt her muscles bunch and stiffen beneath the cool, sharp surface of the blade, but she kept her eyes closed. "I don't want to kill you, either."

She felt or heard him smile, because she tingled beneath her skin, felt blood pulsing wildly in her veins. The music behind them continued to play, but she was too distracted to really appreciate it.

Kunzite wound an arm about her waist. "I have something to tell you."

His voice was thick on the side of her neck, and she was suddenly nervous. The dancing lights of stars reflected off the surface of the sword and into her eyes.

Venus swallowed back the lump in her throat, lifting one gloved hand to sit on his forearm. The muscle there jumped and tightened beneath her fingertips, and she bit back a smile.

"Tonight, there's going to be an attack." His breath smelled sweet, like a fine cup of wine. He had been drinking away his fear. "You have to understand, this is going to be the last battle. We're going to win."

Venus, momentarily forgetting the sword, laughed. "Kunzite, I truly hate your arrogance. You speak as if you stand a chance." She twisted around a bit, and he reluctantly shifted the blade to allow her more room.

His heart fought its way into his throat, and he was reminded just how beautiful she really was. A fist closed around a pile of hair and kept her face next to his. "Venus, you need to hear this. I don't want you to die. I couldn't bear it."

Her tether of patience snapped. "And yet you're willing to kill me without a second thought. How valiant, Kunzite. So bold." She gripped the sharp edge of the blade and pushed away. She felt it cut into her skin. "I respect you, and you know it." Blood seeped over onto her glove. "But, hear me now, if you threaten this kingdom, my family, I will kill you."

Over his shoulder, she saw Serenity dancing with somebody. Instinctively, she knew who it was. It was obvious.

Her jaw worked for something to say, but Kunzite beat her to it. "I love you, Venus."

And yet she felt his sword press to the front of her neck.

His eyes showed an emotion – it was a quick, fleeting look of fear, something she had never seen before – but then it was gone, hidden beneath his stony glare. Venus met it squarely.

Behind them, the great time clock chimed midnight, and she saw his stature shimmer. He was leaving her.

Venus felt her throat tighten, and she closed her eyes again, allowing the throbbing pulse in her bleeding palm to be the only thing she felt.

She feared, if she thought past that pain, something worse would surface.