| The scouts finally were forced to leave the next day. Mina swore Alex would kill her if she was gone one more day. Darien admitted that people were probably starting to wonder where he had gone. It would be hard to explain how he had gone from being in the U.S. to Japan and then to Germany so quickly.. Rei had to go back and check on the temple. She hated to leave it unattended for too long. Serena had to go to work but promised to come back afterwards. Luna went with Serena and Artemis stayed with Mina. When they were all gone, Ami felt like it suddenly got quieter in Germany. She had forgotten how much energy and life her friends brought to a room. But she was glad to have some time to herself again. And it looked like she would get a chance to finally talk to Serena alone. Ami began to look for her bag. She needed to study for her Physical Chemistry class, or P-Chem as it was dubbed. As she looked around she remembered Zoicite taking her bag with him. She could just go get it. But...She had other things she could do. * * * * * "Master, we have them." "Wonderful. Follow them for right now. Learn everything you can and report back to me." "Yes Master." * * * * * Serena smiled as she ran out of work. She had just enough time to run home and change before she teleported herself back to Germany. She was running late for meeting Ami, but that was nothing new for her. She skidded to a stop on Ami's front door, millimeters from slamming into it, and knocked once before bouncing on in. "Ami!" she yelled. Two of her roommates were in the kitchen and stuck their heads out at the sound of her voice. They shrugged as they saw who it was, one of the new girls Ami had hung out with over the weekend. Ami had mentioned that they were old friends that she hadn't seen in awhile who had surprised her by visiting. Ami walk out of her room and gave a small smile as she saw Serena. "Lets go for a walk." Ami suggested, grabbing her coat as she nudged Serena out the door. "Sure Ames." Serena was all to happy to be outside. It absolutely gorgeous out. Plus, she knew Ami wanted to talk to her privately. It was part of the reason she was here when she knew none of the other scouts could make it. There was something troubling her blue haired friend. They walked in silence for several minutes. Serena wasn't willing to broach any topic, waiting for Ami instead. Finally the wait paid off. "Serena? May I ask you something?" A hesitant voice asked. "Sure. Anything." Serena replied instantly. "Why...why are you with Darien?" Serena was floored. Of all the things that she had expected, this wasn't even on the list. "Huh?" "I mean, he betrayed you, didn't he? He joined Beryl and fought against us. He tried to kill you. Why are you with him again?" Serena glanced at her friend and thought about it for a second before answering. "I guess because I need him. I tried living without him and it was like there was this huge hole in my life, this void. I mean, I was hurt when he was taken by Beryl but it wasn't like it was his fault. I just...I don't know. I just need him." Serena tried, struggling to put her emotions into words. "But aren't you afraid that it could happen again?" Ami asked. "It is one of my worst nightmares." "Then why risk it? Why did you allow him back into your life if there was a possibility that he could be used against you again?" "Well...I kind of didn't. Not at first. It took me a long time to be willing to be vulnerable like that again. Those were the years that I was fighting alone. But I couldn't do it anymore. Darien came back and I just couldn't be alone anymore, even if it meant I might get hurt. And I realized something. If you lock yourself away, protect yourself from the possibility of being hurt, you also are protecting yourself from the possibility of being happy." Serena said, looking up at the sky, her gaze turned inward as she finally vocalized all the things she had been feeling for years. "Darien probably deserves better than anything I can ever give him but he is willing to be with me and I can't...I won't turn away from that. It means too much to me not to try." Ami listened, nodding as she absorbed her princess's words. After several moments silence, she finally asked the question that had been plaguing her. "And Zoicite?" Serena looked away from the clouds and sighed, "I don't know Ami. But don't let fear be the thing that makes this decision for you. Whatever you do, I will support you. Just don't let it be fear that rules you." Ami nodded, understanding but still struggling. "Have you talked to him at all lately?" Serena asked. "Sort of. I saw him for a while but I didn't talk much. I didn't know what to say or how to act around him any more. I just don't know who he is and if that is really Zoicite of some monster that is still under Beryl's control." "Well, you could always ask." Serena said lightly, trying to make her friend smile. Ami laughed, "Yea, just ask him if he is an evil general who helped destroy the Moon and tried to destroy Earth." "Well, it would make things easier." Serena said, laughing as she tried to imagine the conversation. "If he's not, he'll try and get me committed to an insane asylum. Oh God." Ami said, her eyes suddenly widening, "What if he isn't under Beryl's control?" Serena couldn't help the giggles that erupted at the look on her friend's face. It was like this was the first time she had ever allowed herself to really consider the fact that Zoicite wasn't just using her. "That's what we want." Serena said, grinning. "No, I mean, if he's not under her control then he probably doesn't remember anything else either. Can we give him back his memories? Should we?" Serena frowned, "I don't know if I can reawaken his memories. The memories I awoke in you came from how much I knew about you. It's like the pens I made held all my memories of each of the individual scouts. Since I knew so much about you, all those memories of mine forced your own mind to let down the barrier holding back those memories so that it could make connections. My mother could control what she made people remember or forget but I can't. It was like taking a sledge hammer to do what my mother used to do with a chisel. But I don't know enough about Zoicite to create a sledge hammer for him." "What about Darien? He was Zoicite's Prince? Could he do it?" "Maybe. I don't know. I'll ask him if you want me to." Serena said. Ami stopped and thought for a second. Serena could almost see the thoughts going through her mind. She had finally allowed herself to really consider the fact that Zoicite might not be their enemy. But Serena could tell that her friend still hadn't decided what to do if that happened. Giving him back his memories would probably cause him as much pain as it had Ami. "Will you ask Darien for me? I'm...I don't know what I want but...I want to know if we can awaken his memories." "Sure. I'll talk to him tonight." Serena said. * * * * * The demon bowed low before Rubeus, "My lord, we have followed the people who went through the alley. One, Serena Tsukino, is believed to be Sailor Moon and lives in an apartment in Tokyo. We think that she is currently contacting one of the other scouts in Germany, though we are unsure as of yet who that scout may be. Rei Hino is the priestess at the temple where we finally tracked many of the energy signatures to. She and Mina Aino, currently in London, are believed to be the two scouts currently with Sailor Moon. The man, Darien Shields, is believed to be Tuxedo Mask and seems to be in some sort of relationship with Sailor Moon." "What about family?" "Sailor Moon has yet to be seen with any family though we are still following her. She has returned to Germany alone currently." Rubeus looked at the demon in front of him and a cruel smile crossed his face, "Find their weaknesses, the things they care about, the people they love. I want to know everything about them. Go." The demon rose and began to leave. As it reached the door, its master's voice stopped it, "Oh. And I don't want another scout awoke. If that happens, I will personally flay the skin from your body." * * * * * After Serena left, Ami went home. On her door was a yellow sticky note. 'If you ever want to see your homework again, meet me for dinner tomorrow night' was scrawled across it in Zoicite's handwriting. She stared at the note. She had to face him, had to talk to him eventually and tomorrow was as good a time as any. Besides, he had her books. How was she supposed to study? * * * * * Serena sat on the couch, petting Luna and thinking about her conversation with Ami. She had been forced to say things today that she had never really consciously acknowledged before. She was amazed to realize that Darien's betrayal had been one of the things that had caused her to keep everyone at arms distance for so long. She had always told herself that it was because she was protecting them but she had really been protecting herself. Sure, she knew that Darien hadn't wanted to join Beryl but there was a difference between what she knew logically and what her heart felt. She had felt betrayed and didn't want to risk being betrayed again. But Darien had found her, had forced her to realize that she couldn't be herself and lock herself away from those she loved. She needed him. She needed her friends. And they were worth risking herself for. There was a knock at the door. Serena got up curiously. She couldn't think of anyone who was supposed to be coming over. Mina was swamped with all the work that she had let slide, Rei was determined to keep to temple open and running at normal hours again and Darien was back visiting friends in America. Or he was supposed to be. Instead, he was standing there with a single red rose when she opened the door. "What are you doing here?" she asked, surprised. "I missed you." He said, leaning down and kissing her. Serena pulled back with a smile, "Missed me? It's been less than 24 hours since you last saw me." "Hmm, seemed like longer." Darien said, sliding the rose behind her ear before leaning over to kiss her again. They walked into Serena's apartment and settled themselves down on the couch, Serena sitting between Darien's legs with his arms wrapped around her shoulders, pulling her back against his chest. "As long as you are here, I need to ask you something." Serena said, listening to his heart beat. "As long as I don't have to move." Darien replied and she could hear the grin in his voice even though she could see his face. "Could you awaken Zoicite's memories if you had to?" "What?" Darien asked. "Ami wants to know." "Has she decided what she is going to do then?" Darien asked softly. "I don't think so but she wants to know what her options are." Serena said. "I think I could do it. But I would need to do it personally. I don't think I could manage the pen thing like you did. I would have to try and pull the memories forward. He would also have to be willing. I couldn't force the memories forward if he didn't want to remember." Darien admitted. "Hmm...I'll let Ami know that." Serena said, "Now, why are you here?" "I told you, I missed you." Darien said, chuckling in her ear. "Missed me? Really?" Serena said, trying to wiggle around so she could see his face. "Really." Darien said, tightening his hold so she couldn't move, "You don't believe me?" "No. Not at all." Serena said, valiantly trying to keep from smiling. "Well then I guess I'll just have to prove it to you." Darien said, his voice sending shivers down Serena's spine as he kissed the back of her neck. Serena sighed as his hands began to massage her shoulders as he continued to trail kisses down her neck. His hands moved down her back, working the knots out. "Believe me yet?" Darien whispered in her ear. "Nope." Serena said, smiling slyly. "Well then..." Suddenly the hands that were at her back sneaked around to her ribs and began to tickle her. Serena reacted instantly by trying to wiggle away but Darien's legs wrapped around her, holding her in place while he continued to tickle her mercilessly. "Darien!" she gasped out as she giggled, "Stop!" "Say you believe me." "I...I believe you!" Serena managed to get out, still madly trying to break Darien's hold on her. "Say you love me." "Darien!" Serena wailed pathetically. Darien stopped tickling her and leaned over her, looking at her face upside down, with a single eyebrow raised in question, "Yes?" "Love you." Serena said. "Good." Darien replied, kissing her nose. * * * * * Ami called him that night. She wasn't about to give herself time to think about what she was doing. The more she thought about things, the less she actually did. So, she was going to deal with this now. "Hallo!" he answered his phone after two agonizing rings. "Hey." Ami managed to choke out. "Ames?" "Yea...um..." "Long time, no hear. Finally gave in to the desperate need to hear the sound of my wonderful voice?" "No. I need..." She began. "To actually see my exquisite body in person?" She was cheerfully interrupted. "No! I mean, yes. I need to see you. I need my books back!" Her usual exasperation at his antics once again making her forget her problems momentarily. "Oh, your books. Riigght. What a convenient excuse." "You stole them!" "Didn't put up much of a fight, did you?" "I was sick and half asleep, you moron." "Well, if that's the way you want to pretend it was..." She swore she could hear him grinning, "That was the way it was. Now, are you going to give them back, or do I need to call the cops?" "Hey now, don't worry. You'll get them back. Jeesh. What some girls will do to see a cute guy." Ami knew better than to respond at this point. She had got what she wanted. Previous experience taught her that if she continued talking, things would just go downhill fast. "I'll be there in a half an hour, is that okay?" she asked. "Oh, aren't we anxious?" "I'm hanging up now." She said, before slamming the receiver down on any comeback he might have made. She wanted to be mad. She told herself that she was mad at him. But that didn't keep her from grinning stupidly at his antics. * * * * * A half an hour later, Ami wasn't smiling. She was standing outside Zoicite's door, trying to bring herself to knock. She was actually hoping that he would open the door magically without her knocking. That would have been nice. But unfortunately, Zoicite seemed to have not gotten that particular memo. Taking a deep breath, Ami knocked on the door. And waited. And waited. And knocked again. Where was he? Here she was, using up all her courage to knock on the door and he didn't even have the decency to answer! Damn him! And he knew she was coming. He was supposed to... The door swung open mid-thought to show a sheepishly grinning Zoicite, "Hey Ames. Sorry, you caught me while I was in the bathroom." Oh. The bathroom. Ami followed him into his apartment and stood awkwardly, trying to think of how to begin as Zoicite fetched her bag and books from the bedroom. "Can I talk to you?" Ami asked as he handed her her bag. "Sure. What about?" Zoicite asked, all his earlier teasing gone from his voice. "I was wondering...do you...Do you remember the past? I mean, like, where you came from?" Ami felt like hitting her head against the wall. Even she wasn't sure what she was saying. "My past? What do you mean?" he asked, his brow scrunching up as he tried to figure out what was going on. "Like five years ago? What were you doing? Where you in school? Where were you living? Were you...I don't know! Were you trying to take over the world?" Ami couldn't believe she had just said that. The urge to beat her head against something increased. Or maybe dig a hole, and hide in it for a millennium. Zocite chuckled dryly, "Take over the world. I think that's a little ambitious, even for me. What's this about?" Ami opened her mouth to reply just as a scream echoed through the room from right out side the door. * * * * * The demon cursed viciously. It had been following this girl all day and had just materialized outside the door she had gone in when a woman came down the hall and saw him. He lunged at her, but she managed to give off a scream before he sunk his claws into her, draining her energy so that she dropped to the floor. * * * * * Ami and Zoicite burst through the door together in time to see the woman fall to the floor, a dark grey monster hovering over her, it's long claws dripping blood where they had just been inside her. Red eyes turned towards the pair and Ami cursed as another door opened. A wide eyed man stood staring at the scene. "Call an ambulance!" Ami yelled at him. He quickly snapped out of shock at the sound of her voice and dashed back into his apartment. Meanwhile, Zoicite had charged the monster, knocking it away from the woman. "How dare you?" the thing hissed, a whip of blue crackling energy forming in its hand. The whip snapped out, catching Zoicite in the middle of his chest and leaving a fiery burn deep into his flesh. "No!" Ami cried, seeing the whip pulled back to strike again. "You!" the monster's head whipped around towards her and it features twisted into a smile, "I know who you are. I think the time for watching is over. Now, I think, you will die little scout." Ami stared in horror. It knew she was a scout. How? She hadn't even known up until a few days ago. Before she could react, the whip came slashing down, slicing through her cheek and across the bridge of her nose. The pain sent little shock waves through her body and she shook herself out of her daze. It didn't matter that the monster knew. Right now she had to fight. Zoicite was the only other person in the hall way now, everyone else had fled. That was good enough for her. Within seconds, the Mercury pen was in her hand and she was transformed. The familiar feeling of cool ice filled her, giving her strength and power, soothing away the pain that had blossomed where the whip ha caught her. As the blue faded from her sight, she had only a moment to take in Zoicite's shocked face. "Mercury Bubble Blast!" She yelled, a heavy mist rising up around her, obscuring vision. Her Mercury visor materialized around her, giving her an infrared view of her surroundings. She was madly searching for the monster when she heard something behind her. She whirled around and jumped back as crackling blue blades, like the monster's whip, sliced through the air where she had been standing. She ran towards the monster, trying to get in under its guard to attack it. She managed to land a few blows, her body remembering centuries old fighting lessons. But she was out of practice and an unexpected move by the monster brought whip whirling cracking through the space between them to wrap its self around her throat. As she struggled to free herself, it started to contract. She could feel the tender flesh on her throat beginning to blister as her windpipe was slowly crushed. Then Zoicite was there, once again rushing the monster and distracting it for the few crucial seconds Ami needed to free herself. "Mercury Ice Bubbles Freeze!" She shouted, a huge bubble of ice shooting out towards the monster and trapping it inside. "How did you know who I was?" Ami asked the struggling monster. It looked at her with a glare full of hatred, "We know who you all are. Don't worry, little Mercury. You won't live long enough to see the end of your pathetic little world." The ice prison began to crack under the force of the monsters struggles. "Mercury Ice Storm Splash!" Mercury's attack caught it just as it broke free of the ice. With a shrill scream of rage and pain, the monster dissolved into a thick cloud of dark grey smoke which slowly began to dissipate. Ami sank to the ground breathing heavily. She had gone for over five years without fighting. Now, in less that a half an hour she had used up almost all the energy she had. She hadn't been this tired in a long time. As the transformation faded away, Ami sighed. She knew she had to get out of there. The police would be here soon and they were bound to have questions she didn't want to answer. But right that second, she couldn't get her body to obey her demands. And then there was a pair of strong arms around her, lifting her into off the floor and carrying her into Zoicite's apartment. She was carefully laid out on his bed. She was now struggling just to stay awake. The adrenaline rush from the fight was gone and her abused body was demanding that she sleep. A wet cloth carefully washing her burned neck roused her enough to open her eyes. And she was greeted with the sight of Zoicite's concerned features. His slightly beaten, black and blue features. The monster had apparently not gone down easily the second time he tried to tackle it. "Have to...get out of...here...police..." she muttered sleepily, struggling momentarily to get up. "Shh. Don't worry. I'll take care of it. You can explain everything later, okay?" he tried to smile, and winced slightly as it pulled at his bruised lip. She slowly allowed herself to fall into the welcome arms of sleep. * * * * * "What do you mean Shrekonal is dead?" Rubeus asked, the deadly calm of his voice causing the demon in front of him to shiver. "I'm sorry, my Lord. Apparently he was discovered by the scout he was watching and there was a confrontation." "Damn you!" Rubeus hissed, "How much do the scouts know because of this?" "Nothing my lord." "You had better be right or I shall personally make sure that your death is a long and extremely painful one." * * * * * Zoicite sat on the edge of his bed staring down at the woman that just an hour ago he would have sworn he knew. But now... She had been acting a little strangely the past couple days. Mostly she just hadn't been yelling at him as much. He had blamed it on her being sick. But now... He had seen it happen but he still couldn't quite believe it. There had been ...something...out in the hall and it had known Ami. And Ami had changed. He still wasn't quite sure what had happened there. One moment it had been his Ami and then there had been this flash of blue light and...other things...and then there had been another woman standing there. It had sort of looked like his Ami but there had been something so fundamentally different. It was more than the clothes. It had been the way her body had moved, the look in her eyes. Ami shifted slightly on the bed and Zoicite held his breath for the moment, only letting the air escape his lungs when he saw she wasn't waking up yet. Ami had been acting weirdly when she had called him, and then when she had come over. She had been so serious. She had been trying to tell him something before the fight, something important. There was a knock at the door and sound of voices outside. It was the police, they had finally made it to his door. Zoicite knew that they had been in the building for awhile and he had been trying to figure out how to deal with them. Ami had seemed to think that getting mixed up with the police was a bad thing. So he tried plan A. Not answering the door. He heard more knocking, this time a little louder, but he continued to ignore it. He figured if this didn't work he would just claim to have been sleeping and not heard. There was the sound of footsteps shuffling off and Zoicite sighed in relief. Lets hear it for the simple and stupid plans working. After a half an hour or so the noise in the hallway completely disappeared and he assumed that everyone had left. He sighed and went over to his computer, and connecting to the internet. It was time to do some research. * * * * * Ami woke up slowly. The fight coming back to her as her bruises screamed in protest of any movement. She had to call Serena. That monster had known who she was. And it had said something about watching them. What was the Negaverse up to? The sound of typing brought her out of her thought. Zoicite was at his computer in the living room. She could just see him through the crack where the bedroom door had been left open. She watched him for a moment, taking in his familiar profile. His long blonde hair was pulled back into a ponytail but a few strands had worked their way free to frame his face, softening the harsh lines of his jaw. He had a very feminine face in many ways, his features rather delicate. But it was the strong line of his jaw that saved him from ever being mistaken as a girl. There was something so utterly masculine about it. Ami sighed. She was procrastinating and she knew it. She had to talk to him and there was no way now that she could escape from it. And he deserved an explanation. And she needed to know once and for all which side he was on. She slid off the bed silently and padded across the room. Zoicite never even glanced up from the screen as she came up behind him. She looked over his shoulder at what he was so interested in and gasped. Zoicite jumped and spun around to look at her. "That's me." Ami whispered. There on the screen was a picture of Sailor Mercury. The picture was kind of blurry and it was obvious that it had been cute from a larger picture but it was her. She glanced at the site. It was a popular Tokyo newspaper. The article attached to the picture had to deal with the "mysterious Sailor Scouts" and one of the fights that had occurred a few years ago. "How did you find this?" Ami asked, still staring at the screen. "I did a search on local legends in your home town. Didn't take much more than that." Zoicite said, watching her face. The two sat in silence for several minutes after that, neither willing to be the first to start talking. Finally Ami sighed and began. "A long time ago the solar system was inhabited by more people than just those of Earth." She told his the story of the fall of the planets, one by one until only the earth and the Moon remained free. She told him about the final battle on the Moon where the last defenders, the Scouts, died, one by one at the hands of those who had betrayed them and how the Queen of the Moon had sacrificed herself after the death of her only daughter so that her people would have a second chance. As she spoke, it seemed like she relived those times, the memories that Serena had given her taking deeper root in her mind and she finally accepted them as her own. As she described the fall of Mercury, she felt tears slowly slide down her cheeks as she remembered her home and all the family and friends she had lost there. She felt the old anger building in her as she described Beryl's final attack on the Moon. Zoicite sat silent through this. Every once in a while he would take note of Ami glancing at him uncertainly. Every time that happened, it was like she edited her story slightly. After she finished telling about the past she took a deep breath. "And then we were sent into the future. To earth. But the enemy didn't die. They were just trapped. And when they began to break free, the Scouts were called upon again." Then she began the story of the end of Beryl. And again Zoicite noticed her skipping over things in the story. When she finished talking Zoicite sat for a minute, taking in everything that she had said. "So if Beryl is dead, who's monster was that in the hall?" he finally asked. "I don't know for sure. I...I've only been brought back recently." Ami answered. "What do you mean, brought back?" Zoicite asked. "Our memories were taken from us after the final battle. After we died the second time, in hopes that this time we could live normal lives. My memories were reawakened so that Mercury could fight again." "So that you can fight again? So that you can die again?" Zoicite asked, anger leaking into his voice. "It is my duty to protect my princess." Ami answered quietly. "And what about me? Am I just supposed to watch you die? You think I can do that?" Ami gave him a stricken look before quickly looking away but in that brief glance he saw pain and something else he didn't have time to recognize. "What aren't you telling me Ami? What?" "You've never just 'watched me die' Zoicite." Ami whispered so quietly Zoicite had to strain to hear her. "Ami..."the sound of his voice saying her name was a plea so full of emotion that it was hard to believe it was all contained in one small word. "On the Moon you killed me. Ran your sword through my heart. And on Earth, you were the one who died that time." Zoicite sat staring at her. He heard the words but they had no meaning for him. His brain refused to give them meaning. They were too unreal, too impossible. Suddenly the apartment was too small, too confining. He had to get out. He jumped up out of his chair and grabbed his jacket and walked out the door. Ami never said a word, never asked where he was going, never tried to stop him. In many ways they knew each other too well. He walked down the hall, passing the police tape without even seeing it and left the building. * * * * * Ami sat listening to Zoicite's retreating footsteps. She had seen the pain trying to rip free of his control and she understood his need to deal with it on his own but it still hurt to see him running from her. Eventually she shook herself and reached into her pocket to grab her communicator. She had to tell Serina what was going on and arrange for a scout meeting. They needed to figure out what they were going to do if the enemy really did know who they were and had been watching them. "Hey Ames!" Serena said as her face appeared in the communicator. The second she saw Ami though her expression changed to one of concern, "What's the matter?" "I was attacked by a monster." Ami began. "Are you alright? Do you need help?" Serina looked like she was almost ready to teleport that second. "I'm fine but it knew who I was." Ami hurried to reassure her. "Shit!" Serena spit out and Ami stared in shock. Apparently Serena had changed over the years. "We need to get the scout's together." "I'll take care of it. Tomorrow night okay with you? It's too late now." Serena asked. "Yea. What time?" "Don't know yet. I have to talk to the others first. I'll call you back." "Bye" Ami said before turning off the communicator. She looked around the apartment and felt suddenly lost. She didn't know what to do. Part of her wanted to stay in Zoicite's apartment to wait for him and try to figure things out. But she also needed to give his some time and space. She reached over and grabbed her forgotten bag and books and headed home. * * * * * Zoicite sat staring at the stars, silently cursing them as the weight of a small ring in his pocket tried to drive him to his knees. * * * * * Ami woke up to the sound of something hitting her window. She got up and looked outside to see a hagridden Zoicite standing there. Running to the door she opened it and stared at him. "I'm sorry." he said. Ami ran over and hugged him, feeling the tears beginning to run down her face again. They stood like that in the early morning, with the dawn sun slowly rising over the trees. Finally they both went inside together and curled up on Ami's bed. They fell asleep that way, Zoicite's arms tightly holding Ami to him even in sleep. * * * * * The beeping of the communicator woke Ami. There was a grumbled complaint from behind her as she pulled out of Zoicite's arms and went to grab it. "Ami!" Serena said, her face appearing on the little screen. "Hi Serena" "Is 9 your time going to work for tonight?" Ami thought for a second before nodding, "Yes, that's not a problem for me." "Thank god. Between Mina, Rei and I we've had to change it three times already." Ami smiled at the exasperation in her friend's voice. Just then a pair of warm arms curled around her waist and Zoicite leaned over her shoulder to see what she was doing. "Um...hi?" Serena's eyes flicked back and forth between Ami's and Zoicite's faces. "Zoicite helped to fight the monster that attacked last night." Ami answered the question in her princess's eyes. Serena nodded very slowly, "I think...it would be a good idea to bring Zoicite with you when you come tonight then." "But..." Ami began to protest when Zoicite interrupted her. "I will be there." Serena looked at the two of them before smiling and signing off. The second her face disappeared from the screen Ami spun to glare at the man standing behind her, trying to look innocent. "Rei may just kill you the moment you walk in the door." she said, trying to keep her tone conversational. "Ami." Zoicite looked away from her and ran a hand through his hair, "I have to know. You can't just tell me about this horrible past and then just leave. You and that princess of yours are my only link to who I am. Who I really am." He flopped down on the bed and looked at her, his eyes begging her to understand. "How can I ask forgiveness if I can't even remember by sins?" Ami knelt in front of him and placed her head down in his lap, "I just don't think that I can lose you for a third time." * * * * * Serena sat against a wall while trying to keep an eye on Rei, Mina and Darien and the door all at the same time. Ami hadn't shown up yet and Serena had decided not to tell the others about the "guest" coming. She didn't know the full story yet so it was better to wait and let Ami explain. As she was sitting there Darien came and sat beside her. "What's the matter?" he asked quietly. Damn that man for being so perceptive! Or maybe she was just that transparent? "Just worried about Ami." There, that wasn't a lie. Darien glanced sideways at her. It was almost as if he didn't believe her! Just as he opened his mouth to respond Ami arrived and the fun began. "What the...?!" Rei exclaimed as Zoicite walked slowly in behind Ami. "Ami?" Mina just looked confused, but in her hand was her transformation pen. "Well, I guess that answers that." she heard Darien say as he stood up and faced two new arrivals. Serena stayed sitting and pulled on her best Princess of the Moon face, "Hello Ami, Zoicite. Please sit down." Rei opened her mouth to say something but Mina nudged her and the two of them grudgingly took their places as well. It was Darien who was actually the last to sit down. He remained standing, staring at his old companion until everyone else was seated. And only then did he sit down next to Serena. And Serena understood. Technically this was not a matter for the princess of the Moon. This was one of Earth's generals and therefore Darien's territory as the prince of Earth but things were complicated. Old protocols and divisions had been destroyed with the kingdoms that had first created them and new ones had to be felt out slowly. But that didn't mean Darien was just going to abide by Serena's decisions. "Ami, since you called this meeting, you might as well begin it." Serena said, hoping that what Ami had to say would help things along. Otherwise this could get bad. She loved her Scouts but each one had such a strong and unique personality that tempers often flared over differences in opinion. Even calm and quiet Ami had been known, when she truly believed in something, to defy everyone, including her princess. Zoicite had the potential to be one of those things. "Yesterday there was a monster attack." Ami began to tell her story and the room was quiet. No one interrupted the calm voice of the princess of Mercury as she described the monster attack and the aftermath of the battle. When she stopped talking all eyes turned to the man sitting beside her. "Zoicite, do you have anything to say?" Darien asked, his voice causing the other man to jerk and look up from his contemplation of the floor. "I can't remember. But if what Ami told me is true, I need to know, to have my memories restored. Please." "And how do we know you are telling the truth? That you aren't here to trick us?" Rei asked. "Again." Mina added, her voice just as cold as that of the Rei's. Ami winced at her friends suspicions but could put up no defense. "I can make sure." Darien's voice caused everyone to look at him in surprise. "How?" Serena asked, daring to hope a little. "Zoicite." Darien began, "Long ago, you made some oaths to me. Oaths that would bind you to the protection of Earth and its rulers. If you were to retake those oaths, it would allow me to see into your mind." "Can you give me back my memories?" Zoicite asked. "Possibly. This will link you and I once again and that link is a powerful thing." Zoicite sat staring at Darien for a minute before nodding once, "I will do it." Darien stood and Zoicite knelt before him. "Zoicite, Knight of Earth, do you swear to pledge your life to the service of the Royal Household of Earth, to protect all that is held dear by that house and defend it until your last breath?" "I do." Suddenly Darien's sword was in his hand and he was covered in the black armor that marked him as a Knight of Earth in his own right. He drew the edge of the blade through his palm and passed his sword to the man knelt at his feet. Zoicite did the same and Darien offered his bleeding hand to the him. "Then rise, my brother, for your house is mine and as long as you protect Earth, never kneel to another man again." The moment their hands clasped, a blue fire sprung up around the two and Zoicite's startled gasp could be heard. The two men stayed there, frozen for what seemed like an eternity to Serena. * * * * * Zoicite felt the flames spring up around him and gasped. Then everything dropped away and all he could see was blue. "There you are, my Knight." said a familiar voice. Zoicite spun and bowed instinctively at the man standing before him. His Prince. "My Lord." he said. "Enough. We have been through too much to worry about formality." Zoicite looked up. It was like the memories were there, just on the edge of his grasp. He knew he owed this man everything and yet he didn't know why. He knew that he had betrayed him and yet didn't know how or why. It was confusing. Darien walked towards him and put a hand on his shoulder and smirked, "Lets see what we can do about your memory. Brace yourself." Suddenly it was like the floodgates in his mind had opened up and the memories that mere moments ago had been just out of reach were now threatening to drown him. He heard someone cry out and it took him a second to realize the voice had been his. And just as suddenly he found himself collapsed on the floor of the temple. He opened his eyes to find a pair of crystal blue ones anxiously staring down at him. "Worried?" he asked. "Always." came the soft reply. Images of this same woman flashed in his head, of fighting side by side, standing against her and of loving her. Those memories threatened to overwhelm him again as the pain of his past finally was brought home to him. Slowly, his muscles protesting Zoicite got to his feet and looked at the man he had sworn to die for. Instinctively he called forth his own armor and knelt at the feet of his Prince, drawing his sword and offering it, hilt first to his Prince while bowing his head. "Stand up Zoicite." Darien said, his voice betraying the exhaustion he felt. "My Lord, I betrayed the oaths I took to you. My sword and life are yours to take." "I don't want them. Now, stand up." Zoicite looked up in confusion, "But...?" "Enough." Darien interrupted him, "The past is over. We have all failed at one time or other because of the evils we were facing. But we've all been given second chances. I'm not going to ruin it. Now stand up." Serena walked up and gently put her arms around Darien's waist, showing her support of his words. Behind her, the two others, Rei and Mina, seemed to be dealing with their own demons and Zoicite felt pity for them. He understood all to well the inner conflict they were going through and the scars that had just been ripped open by his return. They all had a lot of healing to do. Feeling a pair of arms wrap around him he looked down to see his own personal angel. Why she stood with him he couldn't understand. She was a Princess and he was just a mere Knight. He had allowed himself to betray her and all her people while she had died protecting them. He was an arrogant jerk who loved to watch her try and get mad at him and she was the responsible one who had always been there to help him when things fell apart. The two couples stood, mirroring each other. Their two stories were surprisingly similar, both having to fight to regain the trust that had once come so easily to them. In the silence there was a battle of wills going on. Three fighting for the future against one fighting for the past. They were all too stubborn and strong willed for their own good but Zoicite eventually finally admitted defeat by putting his own arms around Ami. Not that he had really wanted to win. He may not deserve forgiveness but who was he to turn his back on it when offered. And maybe, this time, they would get things right and make it to that happily ever after he had always heard about. * * * * * Meanwhile, somewhere much darker a man was helping a frail and tired woman to finally leave the magical circle she had been in for so long, a dark, pulsing crystal clutched in her hands. In the shadows, Rubeus watched them and began to feel that time was running out. * * * * * |
| Chapter VIII ~ Conversations and Confrentations |