15.) This River Awakens
Adapt yourself to the things among which your lot has been cast and love sincerely the fellow creatures with whom destiny has ordained that you shall live.
- Marcus Aurelius
REI
All out war was coming, that much had been clear to me for quite some time but to get such graphic evidence of it was still mildly disturbing.
"Finish securing Neptune, then proceed to Mars." A familiar voice echoed around me and even though I couldn't see the speaker I could clearly picture her. Beautiful and menacing all at once, her red hair rivalling any fire I could conjure. A cold gaze that tore into everything around her. Beryl. A wily intelligence with a seductive twist. There was darkness there.
A battle stretched out before me, the details unfolding in the most predictable of ways. It was another Martian war. Blood and fire would reign supreme on the planet of my birth yet again, only this time it would have purpose. It was not a battle over leadership or simple intolerance.
It was a battle to preserve a way of life. Fire and blood would stand against the tide of darkness that was steadily approaching. That much was clear.
Death and destruction was also painfully evident – bodies were scattered across the land in front of me. The stench of decay permeating everything within reach with the sound of battle reaching out towards the heavens. It was the song of my people, desperately seeking the guidance of Ares – their eternal patron. Voices were screaming in agony – feral and inhuman cries shattered what should have been a quiet night.
No gods would come to their aid and they were forsaken by all those who had the ability to help them.
I took a deep breath as I watched the Autokrator fall in battle, the flames began to flicker out. The lines began to crumble under the relentless flood of darkness.
Time accelerated. The death Mars passed in a flash of blood and shadow as I stood by the sidelines. The Martian landscape was torn apart and painted with blood. The fires died, their place was filled with shadow and pain – and with that the darkness began to spread outwards again until it dragged the Moon into the black.
BERYL
I switched off the communicator, unable to stop the feeling of regret that washed over me. I looked through the observatory's windows, my eyes not drawn to the Moon this time but rather to Mars, the red planet. And my thoughts were drawn towards the Martian.
Rei. I knew it was war but the regret and grief I felt over her death had made it hard to order the advance. I knew it shouldn't have been this way. She, they, should have been by my side for this. I shouldn't have had to resort to violence or threats where Rei was concerned.
But perhaps this was for the best, had Rei survived she would have stood between us and the rest of her planet. Despite the pain they had caused her throughout her life.
Perhaps overthrowing the planet and people that had so thoroughly despised her was the only thing I could do for her. Peace was never an option. Even if Rei had joined me they would have fought against us – against her. And there was nothing I could do about it.
All out war was coming. It was just a matter of time.
MINAKO
The fire flickered out, I could feel Rei's whole body relax as the images faded from her mind. There was silence. There was peace.
I sighed, shifting my position for the first time in what felt like hours. The surrounding air had taken on the typical night time chill now that the fire had faded. I'd hardly felt the time pass.
"Are you alright?" I asked quietly, my hand still rested on her shoulder. Rei turned her head slightly to look at me. There was a fresh air of knowledge about her, an appearance of age in her eyes that hadn't been there when we'd started.
"I think so." She replied but her eyes seemed sad despite the small smile on her face.
"What did you see?" I questioned, wanting her to be able to share what had troubled her.
"Mars is going to go to war." She told me distractedly. I removed my hand from her shoulder as she began to get out of her kneeling position. A grimace passed over her face as she adjusted herself, moving to stretch out cramped muscles.
I was so focused on watching her hide her pain I almost missed what she had said, as it was it still took me a few seconds to process everything.
"Go to war?" I repeated, still not entirely sure what she had seen. She seemed a bit too guarded for that to be all she saw.
"Yes. It's what we're good at." She muttered, a hint of irritation in her voice. Her hand raised to her head, brushing hair back from her face. Watching the way her hand shook when she did this spoke to everything she was keeping inside. The tiredness in her eyes only served to emphasize that.
"What happened, Rei?" I asked.
"What always happens in war. There was fire, blood, and darkness. People died for what they used to believe in. And when no help came, they knew that the world they live in is a godless one." She told me. "The end of days."
The casual tone in her voice alarmed me, I reached down and took her hand in mine as I looked into her eyes for some hint of what she wasn't saying. She hadn't shielded her emotions though, I could feel the sadness and the defeat within her.
"It doesn't have to end Rei. We can still fight this. That's what these visions are for, right? They're giving us the chance to fight back." I prompted, giving her hand a squeeze.
"We should go inform the others. Mars going to war is a fairly predictable next step but still..." Rei told me, I shook my head.
"What you should do is go to bed and worry about this in the morning." I told her, knowing everyone else was probably asleep at this hour, especially with the long hours we'd been putting in organizing the refugee camp. "You're tired. You need sleep."
"I don't think I'll be able to. I'd rather be doing something useful with my time."
"Rei." I murmured softly, when it became apparent that she wasn't going to listen to my suggestion. She was going to work herself to death at this rate. "Please. Just do this for me."
And I asked this of her knowing she could not refuse. It was a fact she caught on to.
"Fine." She replied after a moment of hesitation. The look she gave me was a delightful mix of annoyance and acquiesce.
REI
The smile Minako gave me was the light in a dark place. It was like seeing her again for the first time – everything I'd been searching for had been found in her. Only this time the feeling was more profound because I knew that to some degree she had felt the same about me. We completed one another.
Her hand reached out and took mine, winding her fingers with mine like she was never going to let go. I looked over at her, wondering how I could possibly tell her everything I was thinking. She was concerned enough as it was. I could tell she wanted nothing more than to distract me from my thoughts about the future. She thought I was worried about the end. I couldn't bring myself to correct her.
What was bothering me wasn't the fact that I thought we were going to lose. I knew that everything had to end at some point. I wasn't afraid of dying. I was afraid of what it took to get there.
I had watched the Planet of War fall in battle... but I hadn't seen any sign of my own presence in that fight. And that was what was bothering me. As much as I resented Mars and its ways... If Mars fell so would the rest of the Alliance.
I gave a soft sigh, feeling the exhaustion beginning to rise up in me. Perhaps Minako had been right, I did need the rest. I walked with Minako back to her room, her hand never leaving mine.
MINAKO
"Do you trust me?" Rei asked as she sat on the edge of the bed. She reached up to begin unbuttoning her shirt, the movement of her arm sent a flash of pain across her face. I lightly batted her hands away and reached out to do it for her. I didn't meet her eyes as I answered her question, easing the shirt off her shoulders.
"I think so. But it worries me that you don't tell me the whole truth." I responded as candidly as I could. She had always been honest with me even if I didn't always realize that's what she was doing. I could see so much honesty in her.. but it was her secretiveness that could be a cause for concern.
"If I could tell you everything I wouldn't need you to trust me." She told me softly, watching me carefully as she laid back in bed. The action was very deliberately putting distance between us. The next move was mine. Reach out or pull back. I met her eyes resolutely. Well, when she put it like that...
"Then yes. I do trust you... and it's more than that. I believe in you." I admitted.
Rei gave me a small smile, it was one that made me want to kiss her. The openness in her eyes that made her seem both guarded and vulnerable all at once just made me want to wrap her in my arms and tell her everything would be okay.
"Minako, there are always going to be things we can't tell each other. Or things we won't tell each other. Even now I can see in your eyes that there's something you're not telling me." She told me, there was no accusation in her eyes. It was just a simple statement of fact and understanding. I reached out again, wrapping an arm around her waist as I laid down next to her on the bed. "I'm also fairly certain you have a good reason for not doing so... just as I have my reasons."
I thought back to my dilemma – to the one thing I'd kept from Rei when I'd brushed her consciousness with mine. Knowing that I loved Rei but being unsure if we had a viable future together was a secret I kept to myself to spare her pain and hardship. If I let her know that it was possible this relationship wasn't a forever kind of thing... well, I knew that would hurt her. I was only just beginning to understand the vulnerabilities the Martians tried so hard to hide.
We both had reasons for our secrecy and I just had to accept that. We would always lie to spare the other pain. These deceptions were honest ones. I sighed, knowing that I was finally coming to a conclusion.
"Goodnight Rei." I whispered.
I love you.
I had gotten up early to call together all the relevant parties for this... meeting. That being said, it wasn't just the fact I was tired that was making me irritable. It felt like no one was listening to anything we had to say. Or if they were listening, they were far too bound by rules or propriety to do anything useful. Or they just didn't like Rei. I looked over at her, watching as she tried to make our case.
"We must go to war. We cannot sit idly by and let this darkness consume all it comes across." Rei's voice was firm as she said this, not betraying the slightest hint of her internal turmoil. I could sense the regret and guilt in her at even suggesting this as an option. It wasn't something she wanted to do.
"We do not have any solid proof. This Martian warmongering will never..." One of the High Queen's advisers protested, surveying Rei with obvious distaste.
"But Rei's visions..." I interjected. The High Queen waved her hand dismissively, effectively cutting me off.
"And how do you know her interpretations are correct? They say one thing but could mean another." Queen Serenity responded. I gritted my teeth. I knew what Rei had seen, I knew her past actions spoke to the validity of her visions.
I started to rise from my seat but Rei's hand on my arm stopped me.
"I can understand your reluctance about this High Queen, war is never easy or without consequences. For you to believe me...what kind of proof do you require?" Rei asked, I looked over at her. Why was she willing to just sit down and take this... this crap? She had proven herself time and time again to the Lunar Court and still she was treated like a common criminal.
"I need to know if there really is no other option, no last chance for peace. I will send an envoy to Earth to learn what they can. We will decide on a course of action from there."
"And you're just going to abandon Mars to its fate?" Prometheus demanded, a scowl had darkened his features and I could feel his veiled anger coursing through me.
"I'm saying that I do not wish for there to be a battle. If Mars were to withdraw..." The High Queen started to say. There was a scathing laugh from the Autokrater.
"Withdraw? That would be a fitting end to this Alliance," Prometheus stated, leaning back in his chair. Disdain was plastered all over his face.
"You dare...?" Luna started, practically hissing in her anger. Threats to the Lunar Kingdom or implied insults to the High Queen were not to be taken lightly. I watched as Rei got to her feet wearily, she seemed to draw all eyes to her. Even Luna let her sentence trail off.
"What Prometheus is saying is that if he went to Mars and ordered an evacuation to... to where ever, he would no longer be a fit Autokrator. Running away from a battle is... just about the most shameful things you can do. They would turn on him in an instant and with Prometheus' death all of Mars' ties to the Alliance would be dead. This Alliance would be over."
"What about you Rei? Wouldn't you remain loyal to the Alliance?" The High Queen asked gently, there was an edge of steel to her voice though – stiffness or a wariness I had never heard from her before. It was like she expected Rei to turn her back on the Alliance. I started to come to Rei's defence when she replied.
"My loyalty matters little. With Prometheus dead... chances are my days would be numbered. And as I have no legitimate claim to the throne I could do nothing to prevent them from turning on you." Rei replied. "If you forbid us from going to war you will alienate every single Martian. They will hate you with a passion and nothing would stop them in their attempts to destroy everything you have created. They would sooner join forces with the enemy than see the Moon kingdom survive another day. Your next decision will determine Mars' allegiance, I pray for your sake that you make the right choice."
There was a long silence. I felt surprise course through me, she was blatantly threatening the Lunar Kingdom and nobody reprimanded her. No one even batted an eye. The High Queen sighed, glancing away from Rei's steely gaze to meet Prometheus' eyes.
"I will not forbid you from going to war Autokrator, nor you Mars Rei. But your actions are your own, if Earth is behind these attacks and the rest of the Alliance reaches a diplomatic solution with then while you wage your war... there will be nothing we can do for you. I cannot commit any other forces to this ill advised battle. Not while we're still trying to find peace with Earth."
Prometheus shrugged. His eyes flicked over to Rei, who had taken her seat again.
"They'd probably just get in our way." He remarked. Rei glanced upwards slightly before giving a sigh and the smallest shake of her head. I could feel a hint of amusement in her emotions, though it was clouded by a general sense of annoyance. I smiled to myself, it was good to feel something like that from Rei. It was good to feel something normal.
"I think the Uranians could stand to commit some troops to your cause." Haruka stated, looking at Rei and Prometheus. The Autokrator gave her a sceptical look.
"A Uranian offering to assist a Martian in war." He muttered, I could feel the suspicion mounting inside him. Haruka gave a grin that was more of a grimace, she was clearly trying to keep her emotions in check.
"I feel that we owe them a little payback." Haruka told him. The narrowness of her concentration, the fierceness in her eyes; she wanted to cause them as much pain as she could. Prometheus smiled, it was a smile that chilled my blood. It was somewhat similar to the one Rei gave Beryl... except there was approval in his eyes. It was like he was recognizing a kindred spirit.
"When I said that we would not commit any other forces to this endeavour, I was referring to the entire Alliance – not simply the Lunar Kingdom." Queen Serenity interjected, her eyes flashing with danger.
Haruka began to protest but Michiru laid a hand on her arm effectively restraining anything she might have had to say on the matter. Haruka scowled, glaring at Queen Serenity as she leaned back in her chair. Everything about her radiated anger. I bit down on my tongue, doing my best not to express my unease with the way things were turning out.
REI
I leaned back in my chair, watching the room empty out. Prometheus clapped a hand against my shoulder before departing, giving me a significant glance on the way out the door. He wanted to talk when I finished up here.
The first faint stirrings of unease began in the pit of my stomach. He would want to know what I was going to do, was I going to fight alongside him or was I going to leave him to face his fate alone. I gritted my teeth, I still had no idea what I was going to do. I didn't want to be parted from Minako, knowing that as the leader of our group she would have to accompany the Princess to Earth on this foolish diplomatic mission. They were hoping that the 'King' and his infatuation with Serenity would give an excuse for the visit – if all other negotiations failed we were to act like we were there to offer an Alliance through marriage. I shook my head.
Ami and Makoto remained behind with Minako and I – waiting for the chance to speak in private.. I glanced over at Ami, who had been noticeably silent the whole time. Her expression had settled into a small frown sometime during the lengthy meeting.
"Idiots." Minako muttered, scowling at the door. Her emotions were seeping off of her. The annoyance she felt was getting hard to ignore. Ami leaned back in her chair watching the two of us, a flicker of amusement showed in her eyes. She clearly found Minako's reaction to this whole thing funny.
"I tend to agree with you even if the High Queen's course of action is the most logical one. Peace should be our highest priority... It just isn't the course of action I agree with and I can't explain why I feel that way." Ami agreed, returning to her serious disposition rather quickly. We don't have all the information yet.
"So we go to Earth to try and figure out what it is we're missing. I mean, even though Rei's given us something to work with we really don't know what they're after." Makoto added. I looked over at her, surprised that she was just going along with this. I did my best just to take it in stride, it was a good development so I wouldn't question it... but it was still odd.
"The fact that our attackers haven't attempted to negotiate with us indicates that they know the Lunar Kingdom would be unwilling or unable to meet their demands. I don't know how they know this but it's what is making me so damn uncomfortable with this mess. There's too much that we don't know." I replied, catching the look Ami gave Makoto... but just because I saw it didn't mean I understood it. I ignored it. It was none of my business, if it was something important they would tell us.
"So we go to Earth, offer an Alliance... but only so we can covertly collect information to make stabbing them in the back easier?" Minako asked, trying to clarify our plan.
"Pretty much." I replied, allowing myself to feel a moment of dark amusement. When you put it like that it sounded rather despicable.
"What about Princess Serenity?" Makoto asked, frowning.
"What about her?" I asked.
"She won't like the idea of tricking her prince charming." Makoto told me, there was no sign of any opposition to this plan from her. She seemed resigned to the fact we were already at war. I'd been expecting more resistance.
"So we don't tell her." Ami replied. "We let her believe that we're there to start negotiating the terms of her betrothal to Endymion. It gives us a convenient cover story and should foster feelings of goodwill between us. Or at least make it so they'll act accommodating. So long as we don't arouse suspicion it should work well enough."
"Don't forget that they asked us for help in dealing with their own problem with those... things. That would give us an excuse to investigate a bit as well." I put in. Minako nodded.
"We'll keep that in mind while we're there." She responded, not meeting my eyes. Ami and Makoto shared another glance. There was something in her voice I didn't like. It felt like she was excluding me from that 'we'.
"What do you mean by that?" I asked her, surprising myself with how calm I sounded. "You make it sound like I'm not going with you."
"We should probably go talk to Luna about getting in contact with Earth – to offer our assistance and whatnot." Ami announced, getting out of her chair. Makoto was right behind her. Minako looked over at them.
"I'll speak to Artemis about who else we're going to take with us – we're going to some actual diplomats if this ruse is to be believed. And don't let Luna know that this is an investigation rather than a negotiation. The Queen doesn't need to know that we're not following her orders to the letter." Minako told them, ignoring my question.
"Minako, I'm going with you to Earth. There's no reason for me to stay behind." I said sharply, making sure she couldn't ignore me this time. Though when her eyes did finally land on me I almost regretted it. Almost.
There was something in her eyes that I couldn't read. It was almost like anger... but nothing in them said she was angry with me. I couldn't place the emotion, when it came to anything but picking out threats my abilities were some times lacking. There were a lot of emotions I failed to detect unless I knew the person well. I'd had some astonishing insights with Minako but she was still mostly an unknown to me. There were things about her I couldn't even begin to understand.
MINAKO
With my attention squarely on Rei I almost missed it when Ami and Makoto slipped out of the room. Hopefully Ami truly intended to go speak to Luna... and wasn't simply using it as an excuse to escape.
Rei seemed ready for an argument. We were both unwilling to back down, both believing without a doubt that we were right. I launched into my argument before she could question me again.
"I don't talk about it but can you really think I don't notice? You still wince every time you stand. I'm not taking you into a potentially dangerous situation in this condition. It's not happening."
Rei started to protest.
"No, that's a goddamned order Rei. You're not coming with us." I told her sharply, cutting across her as I pulled rank, knowing that it would make her stop. I knew enough about Martian culture and the way she was raised to know that this was part of her – she would listen to her commanding officer.
I wasn't even going to hear her out. I couldn't, if she gave me even one half-decent reason for her coming to Earth I knew my resolve would collapse... and I couldn't put her in danger simply because I couldn't bear to be parted from her.
Rei fell silent, the quiet look in her eyes made me wonder if she thought I was pushing her away – that I was rejecting her. Then I realized she was watching me with the same look she had worn last night. The look that said she knew there was something else going on in my head that I wasn't saying... and she was trying to figure it out.
"You're to stay behind. I can't put you in danger like this. They've already tried to kill you once... and they almost succeeded. I can't let that happen again." I told her, trying to reassure her with my words.
"I cannot sit idly by while you place yourself in danger. Either I go with you or..." Rei's emotions were smouldering in my mind, the protectiveness, the aggression. The love. I still found it hard to believe how the emotions I inspired in her were this intense – this passionate.
"I don't want you to put yourself in harms way. I will not bring you with me, knowing that they wish to kill you." I told her, my voice softening.
"Yet you're bringing Princess Serenity along. They've tried to kill her once already. So why bring her along and not me?" I could hear an almost scathing tone in Rei's voice.
"I don't love her Rei. I can't bear to lose you again." I found myself pleading with her. "Please, Rei, just stay here. Stay behind just this once."
Rei frowned, but there was a softness in her eyes. Her mood had immediately lightened when I'd said that I loved her. Part of me refused to acknowledge that it was the first time I'd said it out loud. There was a sigh from Rei.
"I don't like this plan." She told me, crossing her arms. I recognized this movement from watching her with Michiru, she was stopping herself from reaching out. I moved closer, covering one of her hands with mine.
"I don't either but it's the best we have." I told her, knowing that the only way this would work is if we were honest with one another. I knew leaving her behind was going to be a problem on way or another but... "Rei, if they were the ones who tried to kill you they probably don't know you survived. Catching them off guard is the best way to expose them."
I watched Rei's expression change slowly, a smile was building. I could see she was beginning to approve of this plan. At the very least she approved of my plan to expose the Terran's treachery.
"Fine. We'll do this your way."
REI
There was silence between us, Minako looked like she wanted to thank me. I didn't want to hear her say it... because I knew that she had made my decision for me. I had been so caught up in being with her that I had almost made the wrong choice but in removing my choice in the matter she had shown me what I had to do. I gave her a smile.
"You should probably go get things started." I told her.
"Thank you for understanding." Minako told me, surprising me by kissing me on the cheek before leaving the room. I leaned back against the table, sighing.
"Yeah. You're welcome." I muttered, hoping that she wouldn't hate me for what I was about to do. I guess all I had to do now was go and talk to Prometheus... and tell him what I was going to do.
There was a war to be fought.
MICHIRU
The moment Minako told me that she was leaving Rei behind my mind was made up. I knew that Rei would be almost consumed by worry knowing that Minako was in danger and there was nothing she could do about it. I needed to give Rei some reassurance that Minako would be safe... or at least as safe as she could possibly be.
"What are you doing here?" Rei asked, sparing me only the briefest glance as I entered her and Minako's room. She was fastening on her armour.
"I came here to tell you that I decided to go on the diplomatic mission to keep an eye on Minako for you. More importantly though, what are you doing?" I asked, the sharpness of my question covered the numbness I felt inside. I was fairly sure I knew what was going on. Rei putting on her armour could only mean one thing.
"What does it look like Michiru?" Rei replied shortly, her eyes still focused on the sheathed sword laying on her bed.
"It looks like you're... going to war. I stated. She grunted in response, not looking up from the task of getting her armour on.
"Give me a hand with this would you? Rei asked, gesturing vaguely at one of her bracers. I glared at her as I reached over to help, fastening it for her more roughly than was strictly necessary.
"I'll ask you one more time Rei, what are you doing?" I said, a warning tone slipping into my voice. She was trying to avoid giving me an explanation.
"You didn't see what I saw Michiru. If Mars falls, it's over – it isn't a question of saving one planet anymore, it's about the end of the goddamned Empire."
"And Mars just happens to be the last stand? How incredibly arrogant of you Martians." I hissed at her, allowing the full scale of my disdain seep into my tone. How could Rei do this to us... to Minako? She had been left behind for her own safety so the first things she did was get into even bigger danger. She was a bloody fool.
"You're being childish and you know it." I told her. Rei reached down, catching my hand in hers as she looked into my eyes.
"You know that's not true." She said, her voice was soft and there was a mysterious glint in her eyes.
And then suddenly there were images flashing in front of me. Days were passing in a blur, the flurry of motion making me feel slightly ill. And then it became apparent that the Moon kingdom was crumbling before my eyes, a darkness covering the land until there was nothing else. I closed my eyes, not wanting to see anymore. Through the images that played out before my eyes I was only vaguely aware of the gentle grip on my hand, it tightened for a moment before slackening off.
"You see now?" Rei asked, I opened my eyes looking at Rei for what felt like the first time. I struggled to find my next words.
"That was the future?" I asked, trying not to let my voice break. Was this what she dealt with all the time?
"Not if I can help it." Rei replied, she sighed before amending her answer. "Not if we can help it."
"So you're going to Mars to make sure we have a chance to fight this." I stated, even though it was more of a question.
"Exactly." She told me. I sighed, feeling tears coming to my eyes.
"Why does it always have to be you?" I asked, not expecting her to answer. "Why do you always have to do it alone?"
"I won't be alone." Rei told me. "I have the feeling you and Minako won't let me send Phobos and Deimos to accompany you two... so I'll have them watching my back. And there's Prometheus, I'm fairly certain I can trust him not to stab me in the back."
"Oh good, three people. That makes me feel so much better." I replied sarcastically. "Rei... you shouldn't do this."
"It isn't a question of should or shouldn't. It's question of whether or not I would. Michiru, when I saw Mars fall in my vision... there was no sign that I had even been there to help them. I have to do the right thing. I shouldn't let them die over something so trivial."
"You're not trivial. When are you going to understand that?" I asked her, feeling like I was going to start crying. "But I get what you're trying to say. I just wish..."
I couldn't even finish that sentence. I didn't know how to say everything that I was thinking.
"I know." Rei murmured. "Me too."
MINAKO
The stillness that surrounded me as I watched the Crimson Guard load the shuttle was almost relaxing. For some reason I felt it necessary to be here to watch the Martians leave, they were going to fight for us. Seeing them off was the least I could do. That and now that I'd come to a firm decision about Rei... there was one last thing I needed to talk to Prometheus about.
Prometheus looked over in my direction, giving a small frown as he watched me. I was just about to approach him when a hand came to rest on my arm. I turned around, my breath catching as, once again, I was caught off guard by Rei. My eyes trailed over her attire, she was wearing the same thing that she had been the first time I saw her... and in me the same emotions were stirring only now I recognized them.
My heart ached simply looking at her. How could I have ever thought this was something so simple as lust? Even the word love seemed inadequate when trying to explain what I felt for her. I didn't understand any of it... and that was okay. Maybe I wasn't supposed to understand it.
I reached out, placing my hand on her shoulder gently; beneath the outer layer I could feel the impressions of the fine chain mail shirt she wore. I ran my fingers carefully down her arm, eventually my hand came to rest on top of hers. I didn't meet her eyes just yet, I was too preoccupied with the rest of her.
I was truly admiring the lethal beauty she embodied for the first time since I'd found out who she was. This armour, these weapons, were a part of her. There was nothing savage about her – there was danger... but there was purpose behind it. I let my eyes travel up her body to her face, lingering over the fresh scars there, before meeting her eyes.
"You're going with them?" I asked, already knowing her answer.
"I have to." She told me, her tone was almost apologetic – like she wished she could stay here and simply be safe for me. I nodded. If she said she had to, it was probably true.
It was then I realized that this was what Rei had been keeping from me. She had been trying to decide whether to be with me or to go and fight. She had seen the worlds end after the fight on Mars was lost and she had the chance to change that. There was still hope. Things could still change.
Rei was going to give us that much. But if we succeeded in finding a peaceful resolution... Mars would be left out of that. They would be forced to fend for themselves and Rei would be on her own again. They would be exiled from any future alliances, and all because they took a stand to defend us.
REI
"I should have just taken you with me." Minako told me.
"I would have come to this conclusion anyway." I told her.
"And what conclusion is that?" She asked. There was no fight in her voice. It was like she hadn't expected me to remain behind on the Moon.
"That I need to be standing between you and the real danger whenever and wherever I can."
"We're heading into danger too." She said lightly, but I recognized that there was more she wasn't saying. She had seen this coming but that didn't mean she liked it.
"If this diplomatic mission fails, as we suspect it might, and Mars falls, there might not be an Empire to return to. I need to make sure there's a safe haven for you."
"And if the mission succeeds, we wouldn't be able to help you. You'll be left on your own." Her voice wavered at the end of her last sentence. I got the nagging feeling that was what she was the most afraid of.
"Minako, we both know it's going to fail. There's no question about that." I told her. She looked away from my steady gaze, giving a sigh. The steady press of her emotions nagged at the back of my mind, I let them in. Fear was the most apparent, she knew we were both in danger – we were soldiers and that was life but she didn't want to accept it. We would be headed into far worse situations in the future and we both had a duty to our home and our kin.
"I know." She told me. "I can't help but worry about it though. I don't want to get through this only to lose you."
I didn't know what to say to reassure her, I couldn't offer any promises that we would both make it through the next few days, let alone see each other again. I pushed that thought aside, trying get a sense for what she needed or at least wanted to hear. The emotions surrounding our situation prompted me to take a step closer to her. The look in her eyes was a mix of concern and need.
"Minako." I murmured, her hand still rested on top of mine. I turned it over, taking her hand in mine. I wasn't sure what she needed from me.
"Just promise me I won't lose you." She prompted, her eyes still searching mine. My mind was drawn back to our earlier conversation. We would forever lie to spare the other pain.
"You won't." I told her; the closeness between the two of us was becoming unbearable. It was something I had wanted from the moment I'd first seen her. I'd always known I was hers.
Her lips brushed mine in a light kiss – which only served to spark the flame. I pulled her close to me, wrapping an arm around her waist and pressing my lips more firmly against hers. Her touch was light as she responded. I gave a bit of a laugh at the hesitancy in her kiss. I pulled back slightly.
"You're not going to break me." I whispered, running my thumb along the back of her neck. Something in the back of my mind whispered that this was another lie. I ignored it.
At the reassurance in my voice, the fear in her vanished. The delicate touch disappeared, giving itself over to the urgency and passion in our first kiss... and possibly our last goodbye.
After a small eternity we broke off the kiss, letting our foreheads rest together. Her fingers were still threaded in my hair. Eventually our grip on each other loosened and we increased the distance between us. When her eyes came back mine they were resolute. She gave a nod in the direction of the Martian shuttle.
"Go."
I nodded, ignoring my own apprehension at leaving her and turned to join the rest of the Martians. She caught my hand, pulling me back towards her. Her arms wrapped around my waist as she buried her face in my shoulder.
"Be safe." She whispered. I returned the hug, savouring the smell of safety for a moment longer as I copied her embrace.
"You too." I replied and then we were pushing away from each other, hoping our willpower would last long enough to go through with this. I didn't want to leave her side for anything, much less to go to war.
MINAKO
I watched Rei board the shuttle with Phobos and Deimos, it felt like my heart had abandoned my body. I swallowed, knowing that this was something we had to do. Neither of us could ask the other to stay, we couldn't put each other in that position. We could force them to chose between what was right... and what we wanted. I sighed, looking over to where Prometheus was talking with his guard. He looked over at me the moment my eyes settled on him, almost like he could feel my gaze. He approached me slowly, trying to gauge my emotion.
"We won't lose." He told me. How was it that these reassurances came so easily to him yet were so difficult for Rei? I put that thought from my mind, turning my attention to the emotions that rose with his words. The calm confidence of his delivery served only to rouse my scepticism.
"How can you say that? Three planets have been destroyed by this force, two of them recently. How can you possibly hope to go up against this?"
Prometheus chuckled.
"Easily enough. We'll be ready for them." He told me.
"How can you hope to do that? They've annihilated every force that has opposed them so far!"
"We'll wage war our way." Prometheus replied cryptically. After catching on to the fact I didn't understand what he was talking about he explained. "We'll defend what they cannot attack and attack what they cannot defend. We know how to use our land, so that's what we'll do."
I did my best to find any hint of a lie within him but nothing surfaced. I shook my head, unsure of how this confidence, this ego, made me feel.
Minako, I know that you don't like the fact that Rei's joining me on Mars. I felt the need to tell you that I'm not going to let any harm come to her."
"How can you promise that? I asked, this assurance bothered me more than his other ones. They were going to war and he was promising that nothing was going to touch her. While what he promised before was implausible... this was impossible.
"I'm not going to place her in the thick of the fighting. Especially not when she's still injured. She's coming with me to offer strategic support. I don't plan on letting her any where near the fighting if I can help it."
"You really think she's going to just stay out of it?" I asked him.
"She doesn't enjoy fighting, she'll only step in when she needs too." He replied. "She'll leave the fighting to those who find pleasure in it. And I'll do my best to make sure she doesn't need to get involved."
I nodded, pulling a folded document from my pocket and handing it to him.
"Just keep her safe." I told him before walking away.
PROMETHEUS
I carefully unfolded the document Minako had pressed into my hands. It took me a moment to realize what it was but when I did... I could hardly believe it. With all the chaos recently I couldn't believe they'd found the time to finalize the agreement. My father's death, Rei's assassination and reincarnation... it didn't seem like Minako would have had much time for paperwork. And yet here it was – a marriage agreement holding Minako's signature and promise to marry Rei.
I smiled. This single document did more to ensure Rei's safety on Mars than any army ever could. She just made it impossible for any Martian to touch Rei without bringing down the wrath of the entire Lunar empire.
I looked back to where Minako was waiting on the edge of the landing platform, there was no way to express what this meant to me – to the future of Mars, so I just turned and boarded the shuttle. The engines roared to life as I sat down across from Rei, ignoring the hostility the Crimson Guard directed towards Rei. I'd deal with that for good soon enough.
Rei was leaning back in her seat, doing her best to appear unaffected by the company that surrounded her. Chryses was seated beside me, watching Rei carefully. He seemed dissatisfied by Rei's decision to join us on Mars.
"You could have turned away from this." Chryses commented to Rei. There was faint disapproval in his eyes when he said this. When she didn't reply he shook his head."Your eagerness to bring pain is going to be your ruin..."
"It might be someone else's salvation though so that's a gamble I'm willing to take." Rei replied stiffly. I glanced over at her, following her gaze. She was still practically ignoring the two of us, she only had eyes for Minako even as we rose into the air and she was lost from view.
AN: yay... relationship development... I'm so excited... Shit. I hope you're all moderately pleased with this instalment because holy hell that was a pain in the ass to write. I am so not in the mood for this kind of emotional stuff. Anyway I did the best that I could with the pacing of Minako and Rei's relationship... hopefully it worked well enough. Feedback on that would be great. Originally this chapter was supposed to cover the Martian war and the diplomatic mission to Earth but well, I wanted to have Minako and Rei at a certain spot when they said goodbye and there was too much relationship crap that had to take place between last chapter and now... so instead you got 7000+ words on their fricken relationship. Leave a review and all - it might inspire me to try and tackle the resulting problems sooner rather than later. That being said, I have final papers/projects and exams to complete so it will still take at least a month to complete.