*Sweatdrops* For a few days I thought I had really
lost
this chapter (thanks to a !@#$ computer). Now that, I
think, wouldn't have been very good for my well being.
^^;; Buuuut here it is! Enjoy reading!
Patch:-)(-:

Healer
Chapter 13
Author: Patch
E-mail: patchkhan1@hotmail.com
	kittiekat90@yahoo.com
Editor: Rei Kinneas aka *Katiou Comma*

Insert standard disclaimer here.

	The Generals and Senshi stared at each other in
tense silence, waiting for the Prince and Princess to
return to them. But when neither came, they began to
grow restless. The food had been brought and taken
away, untouched by either side.
	"They've taken far too long," Makoto said,
sharing a look with her friends. "It does not take
this long for two people to talk."
	"Prince Endymion will not harm her in anyway
if that is what you are implying," Kunzite said.
	"That shows how much you know about the
ways between a man and a woman," Minako snapped,
uncrossing and crossing her legs for the twentieth
time.
	"And how much would you know, Lady
Minako?" Kunzite asked, turning his head to look at
her
with those calm silver-gray eyes. They only infuriated

Minako and she stood up, slamming her hands down onto
the table. Never had the girls seen her act like this.
She was always the cheerful and energetic one, next to

Serenity of course.
	Men, apparently, had a habit of changing the
personalities of women.
	"I do not have to take such direct insults to
my character," she hissed and walked back into the
palace. The other Senshi got up and followed her,
clearly perturbed at their leader's loss of control.
	"Minako, wait!" Ami called out. The blonde
stopped and waited for them but before they began
walking again, Endymion had come around a corner and
was now heading in their direction.
	"There is the cause for all of this," Makoto
said. "A Prince who couldn't even stay uninjured in
battle." She said that bit loud enough for him to
hear. His eyes narrowed and he walked up to them, his
posture emanating anger. Makoto looked down her nose
at him, or at least tried to, since the two were
almost the same height, Endymion still taller by a few
inches.
	"You shouldn't be one to talk, Lady Makoto.
After all, how was the Princess taken so easily in the

first place? It must have been a breach of security on
your part."
	"It was not!" Makoto shouted. She stepped
forward, her hands curling into fists. Prince or not,
no one insulted her or her abilities as a Senshi.
	"I beg to differ."
	The Generals, hearing the commotion,
stepped inside and when Ami saw their intent to
approach them, she sighed sadly. This was not how the
trip was to be planned. She felt a pang of sympathy
for
Serenity, who had truly thought they could all be
friends.
	She shook her head and then looked up, only
to catch Zoicite's eyes on her. She stared back,
unable to look away and noted for the first time how
his long, blond hair appeared to look so silky. How
his eyes seemed to reflect wisdom. Someone shouted,
Ami
didn't know who, but it was enough to break the spell
and she pulled back her attention to the argument at
hand.

	Upstairs, the figure looked down at the
limp body with wild, yet unbelieving eyes. It had been
so easy! So incredibly easy! The Princess had walked
straight in, not even realizing that there was an
intruder in her room. No, like the selfish person she
was, she cared only for her troubles and had slid down
to the floor, a perfect target. A perfect victim.
	"Move the body, we must take her away
from here."
	Two accomplices hurried forward to do
the task. They began by stripping away Serenity's
clothes.

	Downstairs, Endymion stood coolly, taking
the brunt of the Lady Makoto's anger. He let her blame

him for everything, it didn't matter to him anymore.
All he knew he was to be guilty of, was of breaking a
young woman's heart. His own twisted as he
remembered the crumpled expression, the tears, the
hopelessnes and sadness he had never expected to see.
	"Where is she?"
	He broke away from his thoughts to look at
the Lady Rei. He had seen the sparks in her eyes and
knew she was one to deal with, but amazingly, she had
kept her anger under control. He had heard of the
brief
kiss between Jaedite and she from Nephrite. He
wondered at what would become of that now that the
two were meeting each other again.
	"The Princess is most likely in her room."
Crying because of his brutish self and stupid words,
he
thought.
	"You two have argued," Ami said quietly,
taking in the Prince's haggard features. If one looked

closely enough, one would think he had just come
straight from a major battle... with his own self.
	"What have you done?" Minako asked
sharply, glaring at him. When he did not answer, she
shared a look with the Senshi and they all nodded
curtly. "We are leaving today. You may inform the
King and Queen that we regret we could not stay the
night as planned, however Queen Serenity is most
anxious to see her daughter."
	The girls walked past the Prince and
unable to resist, Rei threw one last look over her
shoulder to see Endymion's reaction. However, she
met the gaze of Jaedite instead and a faint blush
crept across her cheeks as she quickly turned to look
straight ahead once more. The audacity of that man,
she thought. He had looked exactly the same way he
had on that night she had last seen him. It had been
that same indecisive look before he had kissed her.
She shivered unconsciously and wondered if this
was what Serenity had felt when she had been with
Endymion.

	The two accomplices laid Serenity's
body down flat on the carpet and as they
straightened her limbs, her hair caught some of her
own blood, staining the golden-blond strands
crimson.
	"Hurry, you must go faster! The whole
palace can hear that group fighting but it won't be
long before someone misses her. Hurry!"
	The two worked faster, placing a thin,
black sheet over the length of the Princess. They
had not removed the blade and it looked strange,
jutting out under the sheet. The accomplices each
took positions at her head and feet. Their leader
stood in the middle and together the three began
chanting. Her body began to rise into the air until
it reached the height of the figures' torsos; an
eerie sight for anyone to see. And then, leaving
behind a wisp of curling gray smoke, Serenity's
body and the three people vanished into thin air.

	The Senshi slowly walked up the stairs,
talking quietly amongst themselves.
	"She will be devastated, so we must be
easy on her."
	"Endymion must have been cruel. She
would have rejoined us on the terrace if he hadn't."
	"Poor Serenity..."
	"She thought she had loved him."
	They reached her bedroom and Minako
was the first to enter. Her heeled shoes stepped into
the small pool of blood at the door but she did not
notice, and walked in. The others followed, two
more stepping into the pool, not realizing.
	"She's not here," Makoto said, stating the
obvious. Suddenly, she heard a hiss and she, Minako
and Ami turned to see Rei against the wall, her body
almost glowing.
	"Evil, there is an evil presence here," she
whispered harshly.
	The girls scanned the room wildly with
their eyes and all at once their gazes fell on the
floor.
They saw their own bloodied shoe prints first and
then the blood that had produced them. Time seemed
to halt as their heartbeats resonated in their ears.
	A keening wail broke the stunned silence
and a flash of green was all the other three saw
before realizing Makoto had run out of the room.

	The men started upon hearing the wail and
the furious pounding of footsteps that followed.
Nephrite heard the crackle of electricity before he
even saw it. His back was to the staircase and he
whipped around in time to see the ball of lightening
heading towards them.
	"Shield Activation!" he yelled as the other
three Generals stepped forward. Each clasped his
hands together and then quickly drew them apart, a
force field of sorts appearing between each pair of
hands. The ball hit Zoicite who grunted as he was
pushed back slightly with the force of it.
	Another ball of lightening quickly followed
and this time, Nephrite took it, shutting his eyes and

gritting his teeth as he struggled to keep his
balance.
He opened his eyes to see Lady Makoto, now in full
gear as Sailor Jupiter, ready to blast them with
another of her attacks.
	"Enough!" Kunzite roared, as another ball
hit his shield. He closed his shield and then thrust
his
hands forward, sending his own ball of paralyzing
energy towards the girl. It caught her, and she
screamed when the ball enlarged and enclosed her, the
energy zapping her of her strength.
	The men rushed forward and Endymion
reached through the bubble to grab Jupiter's arm.
	"What happened?" he yelled.
	She opened her eyes slightly, the tears
already falling from the corners. "You killed her,"
she whispered and closed her eyes. Endymion's face
leached itself of all color as he let go of her and
then
ran up the stairs. The other Generals followed
behind except for Nephrite, who caught her as the
bubble dissipated.
	He held her to him with one hand, and
using the other, brushed the chocolate-brown bangs
from her forehead. His heart was beating so rapidly,
he feared it would burst from his chest. He badly
wanted to be upstairs but he could not leave her
down here.
	Makoto reopened her eyes at the feel of
someone touching her hair. She met Nephrite's gaze
and slowly brought her hand up to clutch his
clothing.
	"I hate you all," she whispered.
	Her words should not have affected him,
but they did.

	Endymion came to a halt at the doorway
of the guest chamber when he saw Lady Ami
kneeling in front of it, calmly taking a sample from
the pool of blood on the carpet. He felt the strength
of his legs leave him and nearly fell to his knees at
the sight.
	"Oh god," he breathed.
	Ami looked up at him and he realized
just how wrong he had been in thinking that she was
calm. Her face was wet with tears and her hands
were shaking as she held the small vial. He walked
around her and entered the room, seeing Minako
first, who had her back to him.
	"What happened here?" he asked,
striving to keep the fear out of his voice.
	"It should be obvious. Serenity's been
taken."
	Endymion turned around at the sound
of Rei's voice. She stood against the wall, her
hands together, the fingers facing upwards. Her
eyes were closed but then she snapped them
open and he took a step back, literally seeing
the flames of a fire in her eyes.
	"Your enemy knows her identity. She
was never safe here."
	Her words hit him like a blow and he
tried to swallow the lump at his throat. His head
began to pound as he looked at Ami again. Zoicite
was kneeling beside her, holding her wrists, talking
to her quietly. His eyes fell to the vial and then the
blood, which was slowly seeping into the carpet.
Beads of perspiration formed on his forehead and
trickled down, falling into his eyes.
	He was to blame. Him. Only him. Her
blood was on his hands. Her pain... his fault.
	"What did you say to her?"
	He looked incredulously at Minako.
"That's not important," he protested. "We have to
find her, we may still have time-"
	"She is gone!" Minako cried, finally
turning towards him. "Do you understand? She's
gone from here! There is nothing you can do right
now." She walked up to him and looked into his
eyes. "Tell me what you said to her."
	He would have said nothing. He didn't
have to tell her anything. But looking into those
sky-blue eyes that so closely resembled Serenity's,
something fell away from him like a rose petal that
falls away from the bud. He felt a gap somewhere
inside that began to widen, making it harder to
breathe.
	"I... I told her I could not love her."
	He could feel all eyes on him and closed
his eyes as he continued. "She told me everything.
She knew me before she even met me... and she
loved me even then. But I can't..." he trailed off and

then spoke again, looking straight at Minako. "I am
not worthy of her love because I myself cannot
believe in the emotion. At least, I couldn't and I
told
her that because of reasons beyond our understanding,
I could not be with her."
	Silence ensued after he finished and
Endymion closed his eyes, not feeling any sort of
improvement after exposing such information. For the
first time in his life, he was at a loss of what to do
next.
Years of military training could not help him now as
he wondered at what his next decision would be. He
was a novice in this unknown area and now a fool. A
fool for not seeing what Serenity had offered him. A
fool for not taking a chance that would have lifted
him into the sort of life he had always yearned. He
had wanted her love, god yes, he had ached for it!
	Suddenly, white-hot pain engulfed him and
he screamed in pain, snapping his eyes open to look
down at a hand against his chest, right over his
heart.
Minako stared deep into his eyes, going past the
layers that hid him.
 	Kunzite stepped forward when Endymion
screamed but something stopped him from interrupting
Minako. He watched with astonished and unbelieving
eyes as her hand seemed to enter the Prince's chest.
	"I am the Senshi of Love and Beauty. Let
yourself see the secrets your heart hides. Then show
me."
	Endymion felt an immense pressure and
grabbed Minako's wrist with both hands. But he
was powerless to do anything else.
	And then he saw.
	Waking up for the first time after taking
that stab, he had seen the most beautiful creature.
An angel, he had said. He thought he had died but
there had been intense pain and he had realized the
angel was in fact very real. It was only for an
instant, but he had felt something break inside of
him as he looked at those scared eyes. And then he
had lapsed into unconsciousness once more.
	There was another moment; the night he
had seen her sleeping in her cot, curled on her side,
her face pillowed by her hands. Standing over her,
he realized he could not let her sleep alone. Not
just for protective reasons but also to hold her
slight body against his, and then later on marvel
at how well they fit together. The fingers of sleep
had pressed down on his eyes but even now, he
knew he had fallen asleep with a sense of deep
satisfaction.
	Their kisses. So sweet and fulfilling. He
had shared kisses with other women, but Serenity's
pink lips had affected him differently. He had not
even wanted to give her a peck on the cheek in the
beginning. He did not need to make matters
complicated by involving himself with her. But
after the blasts, everything had changed. He had
thought that because she was naive and
inexperienced, he had reacted in a natural way,
one which would allow him to 'educate' her. But
the Fates had decided differently and to kiss her
became more than just a challenge. It was
something he wanted, needed even.
 	He remembered seeing her on that day
she had spent using her healing powers to help his
soldiers. She had been ready to drop yet she did
not stop and he had been angry. Angry, not at her
but at himself for allowing her to work so hard.
He had told her the Queen would have his head if
she knew what he was letting her daughter do.
True, he had been worried about her. But not
because she was the daughter of a Queen but
because.... because...
	Because he loved her.
	The hands that had held such a strong
grip on a delicate wrist fell limp and along with
them, Endymion's knees gave way and he landed
on them when he fell. Minako stood above him,
slightly shaken but in a much better condition
than the Prince himself.
	"You are worthy enough to help us,"
Minako said quietly.
	"Worthy?" Endymion echoed, seeing
his world slowly spin in circles. He shook his head,
and got up. He ran a hand through his hair and
looked at the Senshi. "I have to disagree.
However, I will find Serenity, with our without
helping you."
	"Oh, you will help us," Rei said,
walking forward. "I cannot feel the link that
bonds the Senshi and I to Serenity. There is too
much of an evil presence at the moment. In the
meantime you will tell us everything about this
Beryl woman we have heard so much about.
Everything."
	He nodded wearily, still trying to
sort through the jumbled mess inside of him; his
heart. He loved her but he had been so blind!
Why, he thought in anguish, was he realizing it
now? Why had he denied it for so long? If he
had just admitted it to himself and told her...
	But it was too late now and he had
to move forward quickly. He walked to the door,
stopping in front of Ami and Zoicite who
silently stared at him. "I assume that you two
will run a complete examination on this
room."
	"Of course, Endymion," Zoicite
answered, Ami nodding her head in agreement.
	"After running a few tests, we will
get back to you, Prince Endymion."
	"Please, no formalities," Endymion
said, raising a hand. He turned around slightly
and looked at everyone. "Serenity had wanted
us all to get along and I do believe we must be
able to cooperate with each other if we want
to get anything done. The damage of the past
has been done. Serenity was brought here
against her will but she chose to remain. But
now she has been kidnapped by a very
dangerous enemy and her very life is at risk.
We must work together, understood?"
	The Senshi and Generals nodded.
They all began to file out of the room, leaving
Zoicite and Ami behind.
	"Where is Nephrite by the way?"
Endymion asked.
	"I believe he is still downstairs
with Lady Makoto."
	"See if Makoto's alright."
	"What do you mean? What's wrong
with her?" Minako asked.
	"She attacked us with her planetary
attacks and we were forced to defend
ourselves," Kunzite informed her.
	"How? What did you do to her?"
Minako's voice rose higher than normal.
	"I had to release one of my own
attacks."
	"You did what?!" She stopped
walking, her whole body shaking with anger.
"How dare you attack my friend, a Senshi?"
	"We had to protect our Prince!"
	"Enough!" Endymion stepped in
between the two leaders. "As I said before, I do
not need to help you," he said, looking at Minako,
"nor do I need any help," he looked at Kunzite,
"in finding Serenity. I will bring her back alone
if I must." He stepped back and turned to walk in
the opposite direction. "I'm going to speak with
my parents. I will meet with you all in the Council
Room."

	Nephrite sat on the stairs, Makoto still
cradled against him. She hadn't awakened but she was
breathing normally. He looked over her uncertainly
and then tilted his head to look upwards at the
upstairs landing. He heard a male scream and
clutched Makoto's body closer to him. It had been
Endymion and the instinctive urge to protect his
Prince surged through him. But it was at that
moment that Makoto moaned and he was snapped
from his sudden adrenaline rush.
	He saw her toss her head as if waking
up from a bad dream. He shook her slightly and
whispered her name. He drew back, feeling slightly
out of place at having spoken her name so
informally. He looked down at her and nearly
started at seeing her eyes open and staring up at
him.
	"Why are you still here?" she croaked,
trying to move away from him. He set her down on
the stairs and helped her sit up. "Leave me," she
protested, trying to swat his hands away.
	"You act liked your Princess did when we
first met her. One must wonder if you find something
about us that is particularly aversive," Nephrite said
with amusement. Too late he realized what he had
said and saw her stiffen beside him. She turned away
from him and her silence just shouted of accusations
he knew he was innocent of. Anger filled him
suddenly and he grabbed her shoulders, turning her
around.
	But looking into her teary and saddened
eyes, he found himself bereft of speech. She was
hurting deeply over something that had happened to
the Princess and he found himself understanding her
pain. The anger drained out of him, but he continued
to hold her shoulders.
	"What has been done is done," he said
quietly.
	"No thanks to you all," she snapped, lifting
her hands to pry his off of her. However a voice
stopped them both.
	"Let go of her."
	The two looked upwards and saw the others
standing above them on the landing. Minako was in
front and she was now coming towards them. Nephrite
let go of Makoto and stood up, holding out his hand to

the girl. Makoto looked at it warily before taking it.
	"What's happened?" Nephrite asked.
	"The Princess has been taken. There was
blood," Kunzite informed him.
	Nephrite couldn't say anything for a
moment. He had known something had happened to
Serenity, he just hadn't expected this.
	"Where's Endymion?" he finally asked.
	"He's gone to find the King and Queen.
We will meet him in the Council Room."
	"Let's go then," Nephrite said and let the
others go ahead of him. He stopped Makoto as she
passed. "Are you alright?"
	She didn't look at him when she
answered, only moved her arm away from his
grasp. "I don't know."

	"Flawless white skin all over. Not a sign
of imperfection anywhere."
	"And do not forget the inside."
	"The Crystal, yes, how can I forget what
will bring us many assets? Tell me more about what
it can do."
	"If I tell you, I must have your word that I
will never have to hear of her or see her face again."
	"She is dead to the world."
	A hand reached out to the imbedded
blade in Serenity's body.

	Endymion was giving the last details on
the fight against Beryl and her rebellion when he
suddenly stopped, his eyes going wide. He grabbed
his chest and staggered back, the chair behind him
toppling over.
	In alarm, the others stood up and Kunzite
rushed to the Prince's side. In horror, everyone
watched as Endymion's eyes rolled upwards and
his body collapsed.

*^*End*^*
To all of those who thought Endymion had acted like a
poopy head in the last chapter, now that was a fitting
ending, wasn't it?
*Hears silence* Well then.... hehe, I'll just be um...

going now. Adios!