Info: A little briefing on what this story is about. Gemstone's Oath, if you can tell from the title, is about the four generals, Kunzite, Zoisite, Nephrite, and Jadeite. This story takes place in Crystal Tokyo with Rini after the Dark Moon Kingdom and is related to the manga. This story focuses on all four Generals, so you would find the narration switching from one general to another quite often. Feel free to e-mail me any comments you may have. E-mail: ml_eclipse@hotmail.com Disclaimers: Sailor Moon and all its characters and likeliness belongs to its creator Naoko Takeuchi and respective companies. << >> = thoughts ========================================================================== >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> GEMSTONE'S OATH <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< ========================= << By Cosmos >> ================================== Chapter 1: Binding Promises A sad sigh escaped between her lush pink lips as he held her in a tight embrace fearing to let her go because he didn't know if he would ever be able to return to her. A battle raged in his kingdom, but a battle also raged deep within his heart. He knew he could not stay though he wished he could. His gray-blue eyes looked down at her with sorrow and with love. Her pale yellow hair flowed around her like the waves of the ocean held together only by a single orange silk bow. He held her longer as long as he could, but his guardian instincts told him that it was time to let her go, duty called and his Prince awaited him. "Must you leave?" she whispered her voice like a lost soul pleading to the heavens. "I have to," he replied, "my prince needs me, I have to protect our kingdom, my home." "I don't want you to go," her tearful tone drifted up to him breaking his heart. "And I do not want to leave you, but my duty calls and I must comply." He lifted her chin up with a gentle hand and looked deep into her pale blue eyes now sparkling with tears. "Do not worry my love," he whispered to her, "after this war is over, I will return to you." "Do you promise?" He looked at her intently, taking in her beauty and her vibrant spirit to lock into his heart. He bent down until his lips were only a breath away from hers and whispered, "I promise." And he sealed his oath with a passionate kiss that she would remember for over two thousand years. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< In another part of the silent garden two other hearts were also suffering. He stood behind her watching in silence as the night wind played with her raven colored hair causing it to float around her like a black silk curtain. He stepped forward quietly and ran his hand gently through it. She started and turned around to find herself imprisoned in his light turquoise gaze. He did not move. He only looked deep into her fiery violet eyes, entranced by its beauty and its mysteries. Suddenly he stepped forward and captured her within his strong arms pulling her close against his body. Her warmth seeped into his torn soul easing the pain deep within his heart. He felt her body shake as tears began to attack her. His arms around her tightened as his soul cried with her. "Sshh," he soothed her, "do not cry my love…my fire. Please don't be sad." "How can you tell me to not be sad," her fiery voice flowed into his ears, "when tonight you shall leave me?" He smiled behind the darkness of night. God, how he loved her! He loved her fiery temper and her spirited violet eyes. But must he lose her? This war, it was all because of this lousy war. Turning strong beautiful eyes down to look at her face, he whispered in a tone filled with passion and pain, "I am not leaving you. I will never leave you, but please, my love, understand that I must go to fight. My prince and my friends need me. You are a soldier. Please understand my situation." She looked up into his pleading eyes seeing the sorrow that now hid the mischievous light that had once shone in them. She could see a great battle between desire and duty raging in his soul, and the floods of emotions slicing his heart in twain "I understand," she sighed sadly, "go then, but promise me one thing." "Anything." "Come back to me." "I promise," he whispered into her ears. "And not even death can tear me away from you." He bent down to kiss her neck lightly before reluctantly releasing her from his tight embrace. He turned and walked away without a glance back, because he feared that if he saw her beautiful eyes once more he would not be able to leave. Yet, later he would regret of having not turned back to see the flames of love shone brightly in her eyes on that mournful night…because only later would he know of the length of time that he would have to endure until he could see those fiery violet gems again. She stood there with her arms wrapped tightly around her attempting to hold back the warmth of his body that was escaping her. She watched his retreating figure through a vision that was blurred both with tears and infinite passion until his tall form dissolved into the night. A tear escaped her eye. Something deep within her, an unknown knowledge told her that this might be the last time she would see him alive. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< "Why must they seek to destroy the peace that we have so long fought for?" she whispered, her beautiful emerald eyes searched deep within his own green ones. "Who would wish to choose such a destructive path where nothing could be gained but pain and tears. Why can't they just leave the world as it is, peaceful and lovely as it is now? I don't understand. Is it so hard to live in harmony with one another? I will never understand where such greed and lust for power could ever exist in a heart." Her questions echoed what was unsaid in so many hearts tonight. So many lives would be destroyed in this battle, and so many loves would be lost. Her body began to shake as uncontainable tears overcame her. He held her close feeling the same hot tears rising into his own eyes. He had no answers for her. His heart was asking the very same questions. <> It was always "why?" He hated those questions because he could never find the answers to them. He wanted to tell her that things would be all right, but he did not. He could not lie to her. Yet, an unknown emotion within the depths of his soul told him that though he would not see her again…in this place…of this time…it also told him that this would not be the last time…someday they will meet once more. His eyes darkened in confusion, but he dismissed this premonition to be only false hope created by his aching heart. From the silver balcony upon which they were standing overlooking the grand garden below, he cast his light emerald gaze darkened with sorrow up toward the heavens. His gaze caught the beautiful blue and white swirls of his home, Earth. He looked at it, almost pleading to it that things would…that things *must* be better than this. It cannot end this way. He didn't want to lose her. He loved her too much. He allowed his gaze to drop down onto her tear stained face again. Even though she was overwhelmed with intense grief, she still looked as beautiful as ever…if not more. He suddenly remembered that he was holding something for her in his hands. The smooth edges of the precious gift rubbed gently against his palms. His hands tightened on it, as if the gift itself was she, and he feared that if he let go he would lose her forever. He had curved these items for the past several days, before he knew of the war that was to forever change his life. He had meant this gift as a love token, pledging his heart to her until the end of time, but now this gift would take on a new meaning. No longer simply a love token, it would later be the symbol of their innocent love…and his memorial. "I have something for you," he whispered to her. Surprised, she looked up with eyes sparkling with unshed tears. "What is it?" she barely whispered. "Open your hand." She held her shaking hand with the palm up to him. He dropped something into her hand, which instinctively folded around the delicate objects. She looked down at her hand desperately clutching the objects he had just given her. Slowly she opened them and her eyes widen with surprise. A pair of lovely earrings lay in her open palm. They were made of the most beautiful gemstone cut in the shape of a pair of soft pink roses. She was breathless with wonder. She looked up to him with her mouth open to thank him, but her tears prevented her from saying anything. Her gratitude was trapped in her tight throat refusing to come out. But she need not say anything because he could see all that she had to say, all that she wanted to say in her lovely emerald eyes. He bent his head down close to hers, his lips only a kiss away. His dark verdant gaze delved deep into her eyes. "I love you," he whispered to her. "No matter what happens, always know that my heart belongs to you…and only you." She looked at him in silence. Her heart pounding with the incredible strength of her love for him. "If you truly love me," she whispered to him, "then give me this one promise." "Just say it and my promise is yours." "Then you will promise to return to me after this war?" "I will return to you even after the world ends," he whispered to her, unaware of the ominous note in the words that he has just spoken. "Promise me then." "I promise," he said as he felt her warm lips caressed his so gently. Her kisses melted in his mouth like a luscious piece of chocolate, but even chocolate could not taste as sweet. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< The motionless reflections of the multitudes of stars in the heavens were quickly disturbed by a crystalline tear that fell upon its shining surface. The face of a lovely young girl with short hair the color of ice appeared on the surface of the quiet lake. Suddenly another face appeared, that of a young man with long blond hair and blue eyes that were now darkened with grief. "You know the odds of winning this war is almost none," she whispered to him, trying to sound calm and serious but her voice felled her. Instead her words came out choked with pain. He wrapped his strong arms gently around her shoulders pulling her close to him as they sat there gazing at the reflections of heaven on that clear blue surface. The cold wind floated around them and blew her soft blue hair against her beautiful pale face. He raised a hand and tucked her silky hair gently behind her ear. The wind was unusually cold on this particular night. Its icy arms wrapped themselves around her and caused her to tremble in its passionless embrace. He noticed her shiver. He tightened his embrace around her and pulled her even closer to him. The love in his heart quickly warmed her and the cold wind released its grip on her. She looked up to him and he saw the tears that now fell uncontrollably down her mournful face. Her lush pink lips were trembling as she felt the blades of sorrow slice her heart in two. He bent down and caressed her lips with his trying to calm her then he looked back into her warm azure eyes once more. "Do not think about the war," he whispered to her through the still night. "How could I not when it is the one thing that is taking you away from me? I dread the thought of what may happen to you in this war." "Then do not think it," he spoke softly, "Just think about you and me, and the now. Whatever may happen, always remember that my love for you will never cease…even when my life blood does." "Oh, please don't say that!" she cried. "I don't want you to go! I don't want you to leave me…please, stay." "You know I can't, love," he replies gently, "I have an obligation as a guardian to protect my Prince and my home." "…as I have an obligation to protect mine," she said, "I know, though I wish I didn't." Quietly, like the silent wind around them she whispered to him the one question he had hoped she would not ask, "Will you come back to me when this war is over?" He fell silent for a moment. What could he say? What *should* he say? He had no answer to that question. He would have loved to answer "Yes! Yes, I will return to you! I will come back and nothing could stop me!" but he knew he could not say it. They both knew that anything could happen in this war…that maybe…maybe…he would not return; and he did not want to hurt her by lying to her. She knew he had feared that question ever since the Earth Kingdom was attacked. He feared it not because he was afraid to die, but because of what he may leave behind…what he may loose with death. But tonight, she was determined to have an answer, if only to have something to hope for, something to hold onto. "Promise me that you will return," she insisted, "please promise me." "But I…" "Just promise…please just let me have this one promise." "I…," he looked at her mournful face as he felt his heart crumbled to dust. "I promise," he finally whispered; and in his mind he added, <> "I promise," he whispered again as he bent down to capture her lips in a passionate kiss that warmed them both despite the cold wind raging around them. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< I believe even the night was warmed by their kiss…by all their love. The bright stars twinkled silently against the dark velvet sky providing the only witnesses to this mournful night. Carried on the invisible arms of the night's wind, the promises they made rose into the heavens to be kept within the secure arms of these stars until one day when destiny will have them fulfill the promises they made on this sad night so long ago. =========================================== <>