It was wonderfully quiet as soon as it was only the two of them left. Jadeite had his eyes closed again, and Zoisite kept massaging his head, humming a little song. From minute to minute, Jadeite got better. It was like surfacing from a dark lake to the sunshine. Maybe the day was up to a good start after all.

Only when Zoisite was almost finished, and Jadeite was already well enough to open his eyes to the bright light, there were questions.

"So, Jade, what was it?"

Jadeite groaned. "Mio."

"Oh, fuck."

"Exactly. Me and Mars, we had it going real well, and decided to go another a step. And then I had this nightmare, and a number of flashbacks, messing me up, and now Mars thinks I'm not ready yet for a deeper relationship."

"She might have a point there, Jadeite. You already have a very deep bond. It might not be the time for you yet to go further."

"But why? I don't understand it. I was always waiting for us to trust each other, and it was always Mars who hesitated. Why would I not trust her suddenly? I always did. And now Kunzite makes fun of me for being a senshi's toy, and tells me she's not serious with me, and that I know it deep inside and all that crap. What's gotten into him?"

"You know that he has a problem with you and Nephrite dating senshi."

"I know. But did you have to drive him up the walls like this when he's already grumpy?"

"I don't know what you're talking about," said Zoisite innocently.

"You know exactly what I'm talking about. I'm talking about you being out all night and coming home, smelling of the Master's shower gel, and totally ignoring Kunzite. I told you, see to it that he gets laid. He's unbearable when he's frustrated like that."

Zoisite snickered. "Kunzite is a full-grown warrior of unrivaled excellence and can be supposed to be an example of self-discipline and willpower. One should assume he would be able to restrain himself."

Jadeite sneered. "I just wish he'd make up his mind about what he wants. Left me hanging after getting my hopes up. Said he can't compete with the senshi of passion."

"I heard him. Sounds pretty jealous to me."

Finally, Zoisite had finished rubbing Jadeite's temples and other parts of his head.

"Better?" he asked with a smile.

"Awesome. Thanks Zoi." Jadeite was filled with grattitude towards his fellow guardian. The first five painfree minutes were always pure heaven. He smiled at Zoisite, and Zoisite returned the smile. And held it.

That was all Jadeite needed to see to cast down his eyes and slowly slide further down and kiss his way over Zoisite's chest.

When he was younger, they had had a silly game of making up patterns in which to kiss the jewels on Zoisite's sash, experimenting with the magical disturbances it created. But nowadays, Jadeite always used the routine that got Zoisite the most receptive which basically skipped most stones and went with little digressions down to Zoisite's belly.

Jadeite got down on his knees and reached around Zoisite's waist to open the belt that held the jacket and the sash, and opened it. He didn't remove the clothes, as he rather liked the silvery coat and basically, undressing Zoisite took forever because he fussed no end about his clothes and how they had to be folded.

He just needed the jacket to open so he could nuzzle Zoisite's belly. He never rushed that step. As soon as he had Zoisite's shirt out of the way, it would just be his mouth on Zoisite's wonderful soft skin and the trail of silvery hair that would lure him further down, and Zoisite's soft voiced sighs...

He kissed Zoisite's skin above the waistband of his pants and ran one hand very lightly up Zoisite's thigh and over his groins. Damn, Zoisite was hard.

He stopped for a moment.

"Zoi... what's that?" he sighed. "Did you bother the Master all night and not allow yourself to come? Again?"

"Nonsense. Just happy to spend some time with you, Jadeite."

"Zoi..."

Jadeite knew all of Zoisite's excuses. He would have married the Princess long ago and have babies if he didn't want this. The Princess won't mind if he doesn't touch me there. I mustn't come because I have to suffer for having fun with the others, not inviting him in. I am not worthy for he saved the world where I failed. And so on, and so on...

Seriously, when would Zoisite realize that the old times were over where there were just the Master and his Shitennou slaying demons and banging the nights away. When even he, Jadeite, the youngest, knew that this was teenage shit and even almost immortal guys had to grow out of it one day...

"Are you silently lecturing me, Jadeite?" asked Zoisite with a slight note of impatience.

"Of course not!" Now why would I want to do that, I wonder, thought Jadeite ironically. "But, Zoi..."

"Jadeite..."

That soft spoken, firm way to say his name that gave him goosebumps all over his body. Zoisite's commands were subtle, but between them, no more than looks were needed. If Zoisite had to resort to actually commanding him in words, things were serious. Jadeite hurried to fulfil the unspoken demand.

"Sorry..." he whispered, and opened Zoisite's pants. He worked his way down in hasty, guilty kisses, having one hand cup Zoi's balls, just that tiny bit too tightly to test if Zoisite would hiss. He didn't. An little smile played around Jadeite's lips. Very good. Zoi needed it with a lot of energy and impact, it was so important to get the start right.

He allowed himself a tiny delay before snatching Zoisite's length into a firm grip, just enough to make Zoi very expectant, but not angry. Never angry.

He blew a bit of air on the head in his hand, pretending it was accidently. But he wanted to get the smell of the Master's shower gel out of his nostrils for a moment, it really was irritating. He looked up to Zoisite.

"I guess if you are so determined to have another fight with Kunzite, I better make it worth it."

And there was the grin, the little cruel smile that Zoisite only had for Jadeite, and only when they were alone.

"Yes, you better..."

He was in Jadeite's mouth before Jadeite was ready, and his hands buried themselves in Jadeite's hair. Not painfully, not yet, just reminding him.

Jadeite was unsettled for a moment, making a little noise that almost blew Zoisite's self-control away. But then they had their pace, forceful, fast and steady, and this would be a good one. Jadeite was happy. He knew a hundred ways to give Zoisite's cock a hard time, and it was so much fun to blow away Zoisite's cool.

Zoisite always had silly come noises, but this one, trying to keep the volume down, was cheering up Jadeite even more. Of course ther was no way that Kunzite hadn't already realized what Zoisite was doing right now. Jadeite was tempted to bet against his youmas if Zoi would manage to lay Nephrite as well before Kunzite would get a hold of him. Zoi sure was heading for interesting times. But obviously, he wasn't in a hurry to see them, because after they were finished, he sat down with Jadeite on the bench of their breakfast table to share some coffee with him, his arm around Jadeite. That meant Jadeite had been doing well, and Jadeite was proud and relieved about this, and definitely going to enjoy this morning as much as possible.

"Zoi, why is Kunzite bothering me about the ground floor rooms?"

Zoisite shrugged. "Probably because he doesn't want to be the one to enter a youma breeding cell with a flame thrower?"

Jadeite made a face and passed his coffee cup to Zoisite.

"And how high is the probability that I'm going to do such a thing?"

Zoisite chuckled. "Below zero?"

"Exactly. Shouldn't Kunzite know that? Why the hell is he bugging me about it? Do you have any idea?"

"I don't know, Jadeite, I swear, I have no idea. But my guess is... my guess is there is something he wants from you, or something he wants you to do. If you find out what it is, he'll give in to whatever stupid plan you have for the grubs."

"Hey, who said my plan will be stupid?"

Zoisite ruffled his hair and laughed. "Come on, Jade, you didn't even come and ask me about my opinion about it. That means, you already know it's stupid."

Jadeite grunted, and sulked.

Zoisite grinned and asked himself if cheering him up or making him sulk worse would be more fun.

"Whose breeding cell is it anyway?" he asked.

Jadeite's mouth twitched. "Tethys and Tarqeq's," he said.

Zoisite broke into a deep, hearty laugh. That was such a rare and delicious event that Jadeite even forgot to be mad at him, and just watched him puzzled, the corners of his mouth moving into a smile involuntarily.

"Hey, Zoi, what's so funny?"

Zoisite pulled him closer and planted a kiss on the top of Jadeite's head.

Jadeite sulked.

"He, stop patronizing me. What's so funny? If you know something, you could tell me!"

"Jadeite, sometimes you're just so unbelievable. You know everything about yomas, but you don't see the most obvious things because of your childish jealousy. I think it will be good for you to find out by yourself what the problem is. It's going to be a valuable lesson."

"Yeah, and lots of amusement for you! These so-called valuable lessons are only teaching me what a bunch of bastards you are! What do you mean, childish jealousy? Come on, Zoi, tell me!"

"No."

"Then give me a hint at least. Come on, Zoi! Please!"

"Okay, okay, you can take your hands off my pants, I'll give you a hint. Just for the sake of friendship. My hint is that you should stop focussing so much on Tethys. Do you know Tarqeq at all? Why don't you spend some time with him?"

Jadeite made a skeptical face.

Tarqeq was extremely reluctant and suspicious around him, and he felt about the same for the youma in reverse. But he didn't have any better idea right now.