| Chapter 11: |
| The Scouts stared at the place where Rubeus had disappeared. Serena turned to look at the pair laying on the ground behind her. Sometime during the fight, Lita has quietly passed out, her body laying next to that of some man beside her who was beginning to stir. Darien stepped forward, checking both of the prone figures over for injury. As he rolled the man over carefully, there was a shocked silence as everyone was finally able to see the man. "Didn't we just go through this?" Rei bit out. "Nephrite?" Zoicite said, taking a hesitant step towards his old friend. "We need to get out of here." Mina said, glancing down the hall where the sound of sirens could be heard coming from. "And just where are we going to go? Those two won't be able to stand soon, let alone walk." Rei commented. "Let's all head to my apartment. If Darien and Zoicite will take Nephrite, Venus and Rei can grab Lita. I'm going to go grab Sam. Ami, will you go find Luna and Artemis and bring them?" Serena said, knowing better than to suggest Rei's temple. The fire scout had been sensitive ever since Zoicite had appeared. The others agreed and Serena headed back towards where she had left her brother, pushing any thoughts of the future discussions to the back of her mind with a type of grim determination. If she allowed herself to start thinking about it now, she would only worry. But no matter how hard she forced thoughts of the future meeting away from her, she still knew one thing. It wasn't going to be fun. Sam was waiting in the hall for her, worry clearly plastered on his face. "We have to get out of here." Sailor Moon said before Sam could open his mouth. "Is Lita alright?" he asked. "She'll be alright. Now, I need you to take my hand. This will feel weird." "What are..." Sam's question was cut off as Serena teleported them back to her apartment. The others, including Ami, Luna and Artemis, were already there. Nephrite, fully awake now, was propped up against the couch that Lita was stretched out on, still out of it. Ami was kneeling in front of Nephrite with a small flashlight, checking his pupils while Darien was grabbing some ice packs from Serena's freezer. Everyone still seemed to be powered up and Rei, at least, looked like she still wanted a fight. Serena sighed, knowing that she had to take control of this, be the leader that she was born to be. But she didn't want to. She felt totally out of her depth, with too many problems all hitting her at once. All she wanted to do was go have a truly spectacular fit of crying like she used to as a child and let someone else deal with everything. Almost everyone else in this room was more qualified to lead than her anyways. Ami was so much smarter than she could ever hope to be. Mina and Rei were both better fighters. And this was Darien's realm, technically. She was the Princess of the Moon. Earth was so out of her jurisdiction. "Serena?" Sam said quietly, calling her back from her thoughts. She looked down at her brother and saw there all the reasons why she was going to lead. Other people believed in her. And even though she would never understand that trust and belief, there was a part of her which refused to betray it. She was the Princess on the Moon kingdom, daughter of Queen Serenity and Sailor Moon, defender of love and justice and she would be damned if she was going to let others do things because she was too scared. "How is Lita doing?" she asked, drawing everyone's attention to her. "She's starting to come around. Both of them were pretty beaten up but I've cleaned and bandaged most of the wounds." Ami replied briskly. "Alright. I think the monsters are gone for the night." Serena said, powering down and becoming herself once more. The others followed her example and got comfortable in various positions in her apartment. "I think I'll start with explanations." Serena said, turning towards Lita, Sam and Nephrite. "You are Sam's sister?" a groggy Lita said, struggling to sit up. Ami helped her and propped her up with a few throw pillows before settling back down in her place on the floor. "Yes. I'm not sure how the enemy found out about us or him but they did." Serena started with a sigh. From behind her, she felt Darien's arms come around and hug her waist, silently offering her his support once again. And so Serena told the story of the Silver Millennium and a war that was fought. She talked about the different planets involved in the war and the betrayals of her Scouts lovers. She detailed the last days of the Moon and the deaths of the herself, her lover, her family and her friends. And she explained their rebirth and the renewal of the fighting. She told the three in front of her about the final battle of that war and how it once again claimed the lives of those that she loved. "But...why are you telling us all of this?" Nephrite asked. Serena sighed. She hadn't referred to people by name in her tale, dreading this part. In her hand, she pulled out the last of her pens and held it in front of her. "Sam is my brother and he deserves to know the truth." she said staring at the pen. "Lita had a past that I can give back to her if she wants it. And you," she said, finally looking up to meet Nephrite's eyes, "You have a past too that you may reclaim." "I...was born on the Moon?" Lita asked hesitantly. "No. You were born on Jupiter." Serena said, switching her gaze to her once Scout. "Jupiter? But...the only...I'm a Scout?" Lita asked, puzzled. Serena held out the pen in front of her, offering it to Lita, "This will let you remember. I you want to. But you saw what the Scouts fight. If you open that, you will be a Scout again. And the memories are not going to be all happy ones. You have fought two wars with me and lost people you loved. I will not force you to fight again." From behind her, she heard Darien's deep voice, "Nephrite, I don't have a pen for you. Your past includes broken vows that must be retaken if you want to reclaim your place at my side." "Your side? But that would mean that...I was a traitor." Nephrite's voice faded till the last word was a mere whisper but everyone heard it just the same. "Yes." Serena managed not to flinch at the harshness of that single word. Lita sat, almost entranced by the pen in front of her. Even Nephrite's abrupt rising to his feet didn't seem to pull her out of her trance. "I need to think." Nephrite said. Rei moved slightly to block the door, "Where are you going?" "A walk. If that is allowed?" Nephrite snapped at the woman in front of him. "Don't go too far. You are no longer in Ireland." Darien responded to the question. Rei looked past Nephrite to focus on Serena, who nodded slightly at her Scout. Grudgingly, Rei moved out of Nephrite's way. "Serena?" Sam's quiet voice called Serena's attention away from the door and to her brother. "Yea?" she asked, trying to smile. "Does this mean that you aren't really my sister?" The question made Serena give out a strangled sob, "No! I am your sister. Always." She grabbed her little brother into a hug, "You are my brother. I'm just a little older than you thought." Sam chuckled at her feeble attempt at a joke, squeezing her back, and breaking the seriousness of the previous moment, "Well, age obviously didn't bring maturity." "Hey!" Serena cried, pulling back to glare at him, "You be nice or I won't rescue you anymore." Sam grinned back, "Rescued, not only by a girl but by my sister. You are determined to ruin my reputation aren't you?" "Ungrateful brat." Serena said, lightly shoving him and sticking her tongue out. Sam's reply was more of the same. "Well, there's no doubting you two are related." Mina said cheerily, blinking rapidly to hold back the tears threatening to overcome her. "Now we just need to figure out how to reunite Sam with the parents responsible for those two." Rei chimed in playfully. "You should tell them." Sam said, looking seriously at his sister. "Who?" she asked, stalling. "Mom and Dad." Sam said, his voice clearly indicating that he knew that she knew that. "I think knowing the secret identity on Sailor Moon is dangerous information." Serena said. "They're already in danger." Sam pointed out. "And it'll be worse when they know." "How?" Sam shot back, "Don't they finally deserve to know why you were always sneaking out at night or why you never had time to study?" "I...I don't know." Serena said, hating the indecision in her voice. "Please Serena?" Sam asked. "I'll...try." Serena finally conceded, immediately feeling sick to her stomach at the very thought of seeing her parents again after so long and telling them her secret. A gasp from the couch drew everyone's attention to Lita who was frantically trying to sit up, "Oh my god, Lass! I completely forgot about her." "Who?" Mina asked, looking at the other blank faces around the room. "Lass, my dog. She was hurt when the bar was attacked. Zak was taking her to the vet for me." Lita said. "Here," Serena said, grabbing her phone and giving it to Lita, "You can call and see how she is doing?" "Thanks. I can't believe I forgot..." Lita said, dialing the phone. "Well, being attacked my monsters and rescued by two gorgeous guys tends to have detrimental effects on one's memory." Zoicite said, earning him a swat upside the head from Ami, "A several beautiful women!" * * * * * Lita dialed Zak's cell impatiently, barely registering the people talking around her. She had forgotten about Lass! The ringing on the other side seemed to go on forever until a familiar weary male voice answered. "Hello?" "Zak!" "Lita? Where the bloody blazes are you girl?" Zak demanded. "Never mind. How's Lass?" she asked. "Don't you 'never mind' me. Last time I saw you, you were running from a monster and the news is all a twitter about some explosions down at the University, where, if I'm not mistaken, was in the same direction you were running." "Zak. Please. I'm tired and sore and confused. Just tell me how Lass is." Lita said, allowing some of the weariness she felt into her voice. "Lass is going to be fine. A couple broken ribs and some nasty scratches but nothing she won't recover from. Now, how about you?" Zak said, the frustration disappearing in the wake of his worry. "I'm fine. Got to meet some super heroes who beat up that monster for me." she said, smiling. "You played damsel in distress? I find that hard to believe." "Hey, who was I to argue with super heroes." "So where are ya now? You need a ride home or anything?" Zak asked. "Naw. I'm at a friends." she said, trying her best not to lie to one of her closest friends. "Whose place are you at?" Zak asked, sensing there was something off in her story and fishing for more information. "Do you remember that person that stopped by unexpectedly on me?" "They have something to do with the things that happened tonight?" Zak asked, making Lita wish the man wasn't quite so astute. "I am just staying with him. That's all." Lita said. "Him?" the suspicion was back. "Its not like that. He's a kid." "Fine. Alright." "Look, thanks for looking out for Lass for me. I'll call you tomorrow and we'll figure things out. Okay?" "Sure thing boss-lady." Zak said, allowing her to end the conversation. Lita hung up and sighed. Like life wasn't difficult and complicated enough. Now she was being offered something she could barely even comprehend. She need to think, to get away from everyone else for awhile and just be alone with her own thoughts. Serena seemed to sense her thoughts and walked over, "Hey. Look, if you need to take a walk too, I'm not locking the door tonight, okay?" Lita looked at the blonde in front of her and saw, for the first time, all the kindness in the woman's eyes. There was something about her, a sort of quiet acceptance of those around her that Lita had never seen before but felt like allying herself with. "Thanks." she said, giving a small smile before standing up and heading out the door. No one tried to stop her and she was soon walking streets that she had not walked in years. * * * * * Lita sighed as she walked the old familiar streets. She hadn't been home for a long time. She had been so busy with her bar, madly trying to figure out the business, with all its legal problems and financial messes, that she hadn't even considered it. And now, when she was finally getting comfortable with things, finally able to relax, this lands in her lap. A part of her, the part who was willing to go fight some bully five times her size over a principle was asking why she hadn't already open the stupid little pen and joined the fight. But another part of her, the part that had been forced to live in an adult world with real consequences that affected not only her, but her friends was hesitating. She had almost died tonight. If the blonde was to be believed, she had died before fighting. What would happen to her bar if she were to die now? What would happen to people like Zak who were her friends and relied on their jobs at her job to support themselves and their families. Could she risk herself in a fight knowing that others would be affected? And what if she didn't fight? This wasn't some isolated problem that she could turn her back on. This fight had come right into her bar looking for her. And there were consequences for her friends if she didn't fight, didn't take her place at Sailor Moon's side. What if they lost? Did Lita really think that she could live, watching monsters slowly taking over her planet, knowing that she might have been able to stop it? She looked up and searched the sky. There were still so many things she didn't know, things that Serena had left out of her story. She understood why the blonde had done that, not wanting to give away too much to someone who may never join them, but it was still frustrating. And there was a part of her, a part she didn't understand, that was terrified of the man that had fallen into this with her. Nephlite. She didn't understand it, but for some reason it was important what he chose. But she couldn't say how she wanted him to choose. Lita shivered in the cold night air, tucking her head down closer to her chest, trying to conserve warmth. Up ahead was an old park that she had hung out a lot when in school. Staring at it, she couldn't believe how little it had changed. It was like walking back into the past, making her that confused little teenager once again, seeking comfort from the cool green trees and the calm lake waters. And there, staring up at the stars as if searching for his own answers, was Nephlite. She stood and stared at him for a moment, silently debating with herself whether or not to speak to him and interrupt both of their solitudes. She stood there, staring at the man staring at the stars for what seemed like forever until the decision was taken away from her as Nephlite noticed her. "Hey." he said, sending her a half smile. "Any answers up there?" she asked, feeling foolish but almost hoping he would say yes. Nephlite sighed and shook his head. "I don't know what to do." he said haltingly as Lita sat down beside him, "I need to know what really happened but...if what they said...if I really...And there is more, things that they didn't tell us! How can I decide if I don't know?" Lita listened to the frustrated voice, mirroring her own thoughts and, surprisingly, finally found an answer, "It's about faith. We take the jump and have faith that something will be on the other side to catch us." "And if there isn't anything?" Nephlite asked. "Then we hit the ground and make a pretty stain. Either way, it should be fun." Lita said with a weak grin at the macabre thought. Nephlite chuckled, "So, next question, what if I don't have enough faith?" "How about insanity?" Lita asked. Another one of those deliciously low chuckles, "Well...maybe." "How about we jump together. That way we can catch each other before we hit." "I don't even want to think about the physics of that." Nephlite said, shaking his head. "So is that a yes?" Lita asked impishly, while hiding the fact that she was holding her breathe. For some reason that she wasn't willing to look at too closely yet, this man's answer to her question was important. A small voice whispered viciously that she was letting him make the decision for both of them but she quickly stomped on it. "I'm still not sure." Nephlite admitted. "Could you really live, knowing only what you know now? Not ever learning the answer to all of your questions?" Lita asked, giving voice to her own questions. Nephlite looked at her and asked in a quiet voice, "Promise to catch me?" "Promise." "Then I guess I'm jumping. Gods." Nephlite said, looking like he couldn't quite believe he had said that. The two sat there in the grass, each silently thinking about the enormity of the decision they had both finally, so glibly came to. But it was the only choice they could have made. Neither one was really willing to back down from a challenge, even if the challenge was themselves. "So...all the big decisions are made. Now what?" Lita asked. "How about introductions?" Nephlite suggested. "That actually sounds like a good idea." Lita said, sticking out her had, "Hi, my names Lita." "Hello Lita, my name is Nephlite. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance." Nephlite said, shaking her hand. Lita couldn't help the laughing at the absurdity of the entire situation. Maybe it was all the stress or the lack of sleep, but suddenly everything about everything was absolutely hilarious and she just started laughing. Nephlite looked at her, convulsing in helpless laughter on the ground and eventually found himself laughing as well. And every time one of them would finally start to regain their composure, the other one would just look at them and they would start laughing all over again. Eventually, by resolutely not looking at one another, they both managed to regain their composure. The occasional muffled chuckle still broke out. Lita lay back, wiping the tears from her eyes and stared at the night sky. "So what do you do?" she asked to her new acquaintance. "I'm a grad-student here...I mean in Ireland. I'm studying astronomy." Nephlite said. "Really? What are you going to do with that?" "Well, I was hoping to get involved with some of the space missions, investigate the inner workings of the universe. My area of research is stars and their lives. So, what about you?" Nephlite asked. "Oh, I just run a little pub. Nothing too special." Lita said. "Oh? What one?" Nephlite asked. "The Glas Laoch." she replied. "Really? I have friends that have been trying to get me to go there for years now. They swear by that place. Especially the food." Nephlite said. Lita felt a slow blush creeping across her cheeks, "Well, now you really do have to come." "I defiantly will." Nephlite said. They spent the rest of the night out in the park talking. Nephlite occasionally pointed out different stars or constellations in the sky. Lita told stories about the people that had wandered into her bar over the years. They swapped recipes and jokes and basically ignored all the weirdness of the previous day, choosing to cling to the here and now. And they watched the sun rise over the park's trees. The dawn sun chasing away the darkness of the night and the chill in the air. "New day." Nephlite muttered tiredly. "Yep. New day." Lita agreed, yawning. "Guess this means its time to jump." "Naw." Lita said, standing slowly and stretching. "No?" Nephlite asked, cocking an eyebrow at the woman in front of him. "No. Now its time for breakfast. We'll jump after breakfast." Lita said, turning back towards Serena's apartment. Nephlite chuckled, following in her wake, "Are you cooking or am I?" * * * * * Serena sat in the window, silently watching the sun come up. It always seemed like she was sitting vigil, watching and waiting. And praying. She was praying for the two people out there, somewhere, who were so important to her. Lita was the last of her Scouts, the last of the Inner Court to be found and if she didn't join there would always be this void there. But Serena vowed to respect her Scout's decisions, no matter what. She would not beg if Lita chose not to accept the pen. And Nephlite. It seemed like they had just finished dealing with the pain of the past. But they obviously hadn't. She was beginning to realize that they had to search out the other two generals. They were a part of her Scout's past and they deserved, as much as her Scouts, to know who they really were. She knew Rei didn't want to see Jadeite again. There was so much pain and anger there. But Serena wanted her friends to be happy and that meant they needed to heal up all the old wounds. And Mina, the Goddess of Love. Serena knew that Mina had always been a little unsure about her own love life. She could help everyone else but when it came to herself, Mina lost some of that confidence. And Malachite, with his joining the ranks of their enemy, had shaken that confidence even more. Serena had this feeling that Mina blamed herself for too many events of the past. In a lot of ways, Ami, who had always been the quietest and least obsessed with boys and love in general, turned out to be the one who was the most able to make things work between her and her love. Even Serena had screwed things up between her and Darien so many times, it was amazing that he still stuck by her. But Ami seemed to just accept the past and move on. Serena couldn't help but wonder how she was able to do it. And Lita. Depending on how Lita and Nephlite chose, things could get ugly. She had left out so much in her retelling of the past. Things like the fact that they had once been lovers and Molly. Oh god, there was something that still brought tears to her eyes. The image of Nephlite dying, bleeding to death on the ground while Molly, one of her best friends sobbed over him. It seemed like she always left nothing but tears and heart in her wake. Killing the enemy only to have their loved ones appear to fight her. She wondered if there was ever going to be a time when she would be able to stop fighting. If one day she would be allowed to just die and not be called beck into the world to fight. But what would she do if there was nothing left to fight? It seemed like that was the only thing that she had ever been good at. And to be perfectly honest, she wasn't all that good at fighting. If she had been, Beryl would never have been able to capture the Moon, or kill her Scouts. The Moonlight Knight wouldn't have had to come to her rescue so many times. And if she had been a true fighter, she never would have cried herself to sleep in fits of self pity so many times. The sun was up now and Serena felt herself yawning. Just as she was about to move from her perch, two figures came walking down the street, side by side. Lita and Nephlite were returning. Together. Serena smiled, knowing that whatever decision those to made, they had made it together. Which meant things were probably as good as they could be. A sleepy groan from the couch drew her eyes away from the couple returning to the boy sleeping on her couch. Her smile slipped off of her face as worry returned. Today she would have to bring him home as well. Serena sighed, sent one last desperate prayer out to whoever might be listening, and stood up, ready to face the new day. * * * * * Lita walked in to the apartment and looked around. Next to the window stood Serena, who gave her a tired smile and motioned her to be quiet as she pointed to Sam sleeping on her couch. Others seemed to be sleeping in various places and positions in the girls apartment so Lita decided to make for the kitchen. She could feel the solid presence of Nephlite at her back, following her. "We were going to make breakfast, if that is okay?" Lita asked Serena. "Sure. Good luck. I don't know what is in there thats edible." Serena said, "I'm going to grab a quick shower so if you need anything just let me know." "Thanks." Lita said, begining to dig in the other girl's fridge. After Serena left she turned toward the stove with several differant bowls, pans and ingrediants to see Nephlite staring over her shoulder at the place where Serena had stood. "Hey! Out of the way." Lita said, nudging past him. "She didn't ask." "What?" Lita asked, only half paying attention as she grabbed a carton of eggs and began putting them into one of the bowls. "That woman. Serena. She never asked if we made a decision." Nephlite said, shaking his head. "I don't think she wants to pressure us." Lita commented. "But..." "Hey. I thought you were going to help?" Lita interupted, shoving a bowl of something and a wisk into his hands. Nephlite looked down at the bowl for a second like he didn't know what it was before giving a sheepish grin and started mixing. * * * * * A half an hour later, people began to wake up all around the apartment as their noses informed them that breakfast was to be found near by. It was a rather subdued meal. No one really was willing to talk. All the safe topics seemed too stupid right now and the relevant topics were too uncertain. After breakfast she and Nephlite had announced their mutual decisions. Ami had smiled at her encouragingly while Serena had asked her if she was sure. Mina had given her a huge wink that had strangely comforted her. Lita stood in front of the petite blonde, clutching the innocent looking green pen in her hand. With a deep breath, she removed the cap. * * * * * Nephlite stood and watched anxiously as Lita removed the cap of the pen. He watched in horror as lightning seemed to crackle across her entire body for a brief moment. Her back arched backward, throwing her head back so that her unseeing eyes faced the ceiling. For an eternity she stayed in this position and yet barely a couple seconds passed before her watched her crumple to her knees. As he took a step forward to check on her, a strong arm grabbed him, holding him back. "Your turn." the voice attached to the arm said. Nephlite turned his eyes away from the brunette gasping for air on the floor to the dark haired man in front holding him. He searched Darien's features looking for something other than the blank expression that would tell him what was in store for him. For a second he was tempted to change his mind and walk away from it all. But he had made a promise to that same girl on the floor and it was his turn to show that she wasn't the only one with courage. Nephlite slowly turned to face Darien and, standing slightly behind him, Zoicite. Both had that same identical blank look on their faces, as if they were actually wearing excellently crafted masks. "Do you still wish to make your oaths?" Darien asked. "I do." "Then kneel." Nephlite slowly lowered himself to the ground. The position was a once familiar and completely foreign. "Nephlite, 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." Nephlite forced the words past his lips as he bowed his head. "It is seen and witnessed." Zoicite said. A flash of light drew his eyes back to the pair in front of him, now dressed in black armor. Darien's sword was his in his hand while Zoisite's remained sheathed at his side. With a grimace, Darien drew the blade edge across his palm and Nephlite got a glance at a white scar on his palm before everything was covered in blood. Darien handed him the blade and Nephlite took it gingerly. He looked up hesitantly at the men in front of him before repeating Darien's action, biting back a hiss as he felt the skin part before the blade's edge. Darien then offered him his bloodied hand and Nephlite grasped it. "Then rise, my brother, for your house is mine and as long as you protect Earth, never kneel to another man again." As the words passed Darien's lips, Nephlite felt like his brain exploded. The world around him seemed to melt away into darkness. As he began to be able to focus, he was able to make out tiny pinpricks of light, like distant stars. "One last step old friend." Darien said, appearing at his side. Nephlite nodded. As he did so, those far off stars suddenly came speeding towards him, crashing into him with a force that he never would have thought light could have. And with each star that crashed into him, another image, another feeling, another memory was recovered. Before he could even begin to consider sorting out one, another crashed into him. And just as quickly as it had started, it ended and he opened his eyes to meet another pair of equally tormented eyes. * * * * * Lita felt it the moment Nephlite opened his eyes. It was like the bond between snapped into place as soon as he looked at her. Staring into his eyes seemed to make everything she had just felt slam into her mind real, as if until that moment she hadn't truly believed that any of this was real. But his eyes, mirroring everything she felt, the confusion and pain and fear, confirmed everything for her. She was trying frantically to sort out the things she felt. It was so strange. There were memories now attached to every face around her, memories of happiness as well as sadness. Memories of things that until right this second she never would have thought could exist. Things that she wanted to weep over the loss of. And this man that she had never even seen before yesterday was suddenly causing her to feel more things than she even had words to describe. Confusing her more than any thing else in the room. Anger. Hate. Love. Pain. Joy. Loss. Jealousy. It was amazing how such an old memory was able to affect her. How a girl she barely knew, crying over the body of an old lover she hadn't even recognized at the time made her want to scream. It was a bitter addition counterpart overshadowing both the happy and painful memories of two lifetimes. She wanted to run away from it all. From him. Just get some time to herself so that she could process everything. But her promise to him from the night held her rooted to her place more strongly than anything else in this world could have. She had never broken a promise and she wasn't going to start now. * * * * * Nephlite watched as the emotions flickered through her eyes, too fast for him to recognize. This woman had gone, in the matter of minutes from a new acquaintance to someone that he knew he could not live without. And yet he had nothing to offer her to counteract the past. He had betrayed the very foundations that they had once held sacred, though he had been under the influence of Beryl. But he had managed to break that bond to Beryl for a girl he had never felt a tenth of what he felt for her. For Molly he had turned his back on Beryl and died rather than hurt her. But he had killed Lita in the past on the Moon. He had laughed as she fell on the battlefield, rejoicing in the fall of her blood. The very memory made him want to retch. And now, with her eyes staring into him as if looking at his very soul, he felt like the lowest form of life on this, or any, planet. The pain that pair of emerald eyes was inflicting by merely looking at him was worse than that of any physical wound he had ever had. He had no idea what to do or say and so they sat in silence. * * * * * Serena looked at the pair in front of her and could practically see the tension between the pair. Looking around, she caught Darien's eye and motioned to the door. He nodded and grabbed Zoicite, pushing him unceremoniously out of the room. Ami noticed and followed them at a more decorous pace. Mina look up at Serena from the pair on the floor, and there were tears in her eyes. Rei never looked up, but walked out the door and the cats followed her. Serena knelt down beside the pair on the floor and they turned together to look at her, "We're going to give you some space. If you need me, Lita can reach me on her communicator. I'll be back in a couple hours." Serena stood up before either could reply and put her arm around Mina as they walked out to where Sam was waiting for them. "Hey. Can you give me a second?" Serena asked her brother who nodded and moved farther off without a word. Mina looked up at her and gave a watery smile, "Sorry. Memories. You know?" "Yeah. I know. Are you okay?" Serena asked. "No." Mina said with a forced laugh, "I miss Malachite." "Do you want to look for him?" Serena asked. "No. Yes. Maybe. I don't know." Mina answered, frustration lacing her words. "There's nothing wrong with loving him, Mina." Serena said quietly. "Right. Except that loving him was what gave Beryl the opening she needed to destroy the Moon Kingdom." Mina said bitterly. "No! You loving Malachite had nothing to do with the fall of the Moon. Beryl was the one who did that. If she hadn't used Malachite than she would have found some other way to cause its fall." Serena said sternly. "What if she hadn't. They were our biggest weakness. If I had..." "Mina," Serena interrupted, "Beryl is the only one to blame for what happened. You fought to the end. No one could have asked you to do any more. And it is perfectly normal to want Malachite back now that you know he's probably out there somewhere." Mina grimaced, "Some goddess of love I am. The one guy I ever loved I can't even decide if I want in my life. I feel so stupid looking for him, like I'm chasing after the shadow of something that disappeared long ago." "Hey. Do you remember what I was like when Beryl had Darien? Sanity and logic has nothing to do with love." Serena said. "Well, I guess that explains us. Warriors of Love." Mina smiled. "Sanity and logic are useless in the real world anyway." Serena said, hugging her friend. "Hey, you have to go get your brother home before your parents have a litter of Lunas. We can talk about our love lives after that, okay?" Mina said. "Deal. I'll bring the ice cream." Serena said. "Chocolate peanut butter?" "And cookie dough." "Ice cream invented by women for women." Mina said with a wistful sigh before cracking up, drawing strange looks from the others in the hall as Serena joined her. * * * * * Lita stood up. Serena's words seemed to have released her from the paralysis that her limbs had been in. Almost unconsciously she began clearing up the dishes from breakfast and putting them in the sink. Behind her she heard Nephlite stand. He grabbed some more dishes and added them to the sink as she ran soap and water. Without a single word Lita began to wash the dishes, handing them to Nephlite to dry. The simple, normal chore gave her something other than the conflicting thoughts and emotions in her head to concentrate on. Eventually though the dishes ran out. But she felt calmer now, more stable. The shock of everything was fading. As long as nothing else came at her for a couple hours she would be fine. She watched as Nephlite put away the last dish. He refused to look at her, staring resolutely at the kitchen tiles as if he was trying to memorize the pattern. Memories of the past, of times that they had fought when they were lovers, told her that he would remain like this until she said something. It was odd knowing both so much and so little about this man at the same time. It was like she had three different versions of him in her memories and she was trying to figure out how to deal with this latest version using what she knew about the others. Trying to figure out what rules still applied and what didn't. Lita sighed, "We need to talk." "I know." Nephlite said, still not looking at her. It was like he was afraid that if he did something horrible would happen. Which, Lita admitted ruefully, was not altogether unlikely. "Nephlite, please, look at me?" she pleaded, needing to see his eyes again, know that he was really there with her. Slowly he raised his head and their eyes met. "I don't know what to do." he stated simply. "Neither do I. But we can't just stand here in silence." Lita said. "Then what do we do? How do we deal with this? How do we deal with us? Is there even an us?" Nephlite bit out angrily, the confusion and frustration finally finding an outlet.. "Of course there's an us! If there wasn't, this wouldn't be as hard." Lita yelled back. "Why the hell is there an us? We haven't even been together in a millennia as anything other than enemies!" "So? That was still an us! We were just fighting." "So what? It was all some sort of lovers spat?" Nephlite shot back incredulously. Lita glared at him for a second, wanting to hit him when suddenly the image of them in some millennia long lovers spat hit her and she chuckled. Her laughter grew until she was leaning against the counter for support. Nephlite's look of shock just added to her laughter. Eventually he gave in and joined her in laughter. "I'd forgotten how you always seemed able to end arguments." Nephlite said as he gasped for breath, holding his side. "You and I forgot a lot of things." Lita said, recapturing the solemn mood with her words. Nephlite grimaced, "So, now that we've established that you were right and there's an us, how do you want to deal with it?" "Hey, I answered the last question. This one is yours." Lita said. "Damn." Nephlite said, "I suppose ignoring the past is out of the question?" "I'd do it if I thought either one of us could." Lita said truthfully. "Then I guess we have to do this the hard way." Nephlite said, sighing. "I guess so." * * * * * |