All rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or copied in any form by all means. Sailor Moon is a product of Bandai, Toei, and Naoko Takeuchi. All the other character and this story is property of Lady Jupiter and Co. You can take this fic and put it on your page, but please mail me and just tell me you did it. Just as long as I get the credit for my story and this story stays in tact. All other standard fanfic disclaimers apply. ************************************************ * Visit my homepage at: * * http://www.geocities.com/tokyo/temple/9286 * ************************************************ Thanks to: JillMako-you inspired me and showed me at least some people read my fics. Artemis&Luna-for posting my fics up and for their small comments. And reminding me when my mind isn't in the right place. Lord Talon-I know you hate this fic. JayDee Archer-for posting my fic. All the other fanfic authors who inspired me and the fanfic homepage creaters because without them, I would have never found the joy in fanfics. Flames, comments, questions and other things go to Lady Jupiter at Ladyjupiter@sailorjupiter.com Please put the fanfic name as the subject if you do actually mail me. I'm already confused as it is, you don't need to drive me even more off the cliff okay? FYI: FYI means For Your Information FYI: POV stands for Point Of Veiw, sometimes I use it to change perspectives. FYI: I know that I'm spelling Jedite as Jadeite and it's wrong, but I like it that way. Beside, it's my story. Jedite reminds me of Jed from the Beverly Hill Billies. FYI: Yes, Jupiter Knight is in here. AKA: Ken. Translations for those who are confused: Serena...........Serena Tsukino, Moon Princess, Princess Serenity, etc. Amy..............Ami Mizuno, Princess Mercury... Raye.............Rei Hino, Lady Mars, Mars, Princess Mars,... Lita.............Makoto Kino, Jupiter, Lady Jupiter, Princess Jupiter... Mina ............Minako Aino, Princess Venus, Lady Venus.... Darien (Prince Endymion)...........Mamoru Chiba Ken..............Shinosaki Miyake, Jupiter Knight I'll be using the NA version if that's okay... Crap that! I had this story all done, but my crappy computer erased half of it so now I have to start it over. Damn! Let's see, oh yeah, here is part 5 of the story. Crap! I'm so damn mad right now. * * * * * * * * REVOLUTIONS OF THE MOON Part Five Confessions and Promises Darien puzzled over the enigma. How could he break it to Nephryte, who was obviously in his own fantasies right now that Lita had a totally devoted boyfriend already?But which one was truly the one for her? Nephryte of the past or Ken of the future? "Let sleeping dogs lay," the old saying went. Darien asked himself. He hated the way things were. There was no such thing as moderation in his life. First, there were a lot of problems in his life. A whole bunch of them at once. Then, when the problems were solved, it was a flat plain. Nothing happening at all, boring him to death. After that came another bunch of problems, stressing him to death. When THAT was solved, another boring period where he would actually just stare at the wall. Now, here comes another jumble of problems again! He wished that whoever was controlling faith learned moderation one of these days or else he would just have a coronary. "Is something wrong, Darien?" Nephryte asked, noticing how silent the room was. There was some sort of dread looming above his head. He could just feel it. "Do you know that Lita has a boyfriend?" Darien asked, trying to put it lightly. Nephryte grinned, "Was that what you were worrying about? Ofcourse she has a boyfriend. How could such a gorgeous girl like her not have one? I know that. She even told me herself. But she said that they agreed to date other people while they were apart. I think he was on a study trip or something. That's what she told me." Darien let out a sigh of relief, "So you know about Ken?" "Is that his name? Yes, I know about him. But once she remembers that we were destined together in the Silver Millenium, she'll surely forget about all of the other guys." Nephryte said sounding sure of himself. "Oh," Darien's face dropped. Nephryte didn't know that Ken was Jupiter Knight, destined to be with her in the future. The only one who would know where this actually went would be Sailor Pluto, but for obvious reasons, she certainly wouldn't tell. "What's to 'oh' about? You don't think that would happen? Why would Lita go for that guy once she remembers that she loves me and I love her?" Nephryte asked calmly. Darien answered in his mind. He knew it was too cruel to tell that to Nephryte, no matter how much the general use to hate Serena. "It's not going to be easy to..." Darien tried to think of the word, "To win Lita's heart." "Why? Is this Ken guy buff or something? You're afraid that he'll beat me up?!" Nephryte laughed, "I assure you, Darien. I'm not one bit afraid of this Ken beating me up." "No, it's not that. He's not usually that violent," Darien explained, Darien knew that Ken wouldn't beat Nephryte up or anything, but he already knew what Ken would do if Nephryte used physical force to try and make Lita change her heart. "Then what's the problem?" Darien asked softly, "You have to promise me not to repeat this to anyone else. You can tell Jadeite, but no one else. You have to keep this a secret the way you keep our identities a secret, okay?" Nephryte knew this was serious. Darien was swearing him to secrecy. "I promise. Don't worry, I won't betray your trust and I'm sure Jadeite wouldn't think of it either." He was already at the edge of his seat, waiting for what Darien was going to say next. Darien hoped what he was going to say wasn't going to crush Nephryte too much, "Ken, Lita's boyfriend is Jupiter Knight. He is protector of Sailor Jupiter and is destined to her in the future. Don't take it personal Nephryte. I'm sure that Princess Jupiter really liked you. I didn't want to tell you that, but I guess I had to." Nephryte had that feeling again. The whole room was spinning before his eyes. He felt like he was drowning. It was like turning on the shower and faced with jets of icy cold water. You gasp for air, not because you need it, but because of instinct and because of the security. Nephryte felt Darien wave a hand infront of his face. "Nephryte! Are you okay? You don't look so good," Darien's voice called to him from the end of the tunnel. "Yeah, I'm feeling fine." His voice echoed through his own head. He couldn't tell if it was a thought or if he actually said it. "Do you want some water maybe? Don't forget to breathe okay?" Darien went into what he assumed was the kitchen to get Nephryte some water. When he returned, he thankfully saw Nephryte still breathing and with some of the color back in his cheeks. Nephryte accepted the cup of water from Darien and sipped it slowly. He didn't want to choke on that huge lump in the back of his throat. "Are feeling okay? I'm sorry I had to tell you that. I wish I hadn't." Darien said. "No, it's good that you did. I'm glad you told me." Nephryte said. "What are you going to do?" Darien asked. He liked Ken and he liked Nephryte. They seemed like nice guys and he didn't want any of them to get hurt. But Nephryte still had Molly. "I don't know what I'm going to do," Nephryte stated in a flat tone. Darien tried a crack at it, "Do you remember anyone named Maxfield Stanton?" "No. Who is he? The mayor. He sounds like a figure of authority." "Do you remember Molly Baker?" Darien asked. "No. Who are these people you are talking about?" Nephryte asked, confused. Why was Darien changing onto such a strange subject. "So you don't remember anything from the time you worked for the Negaverse?" Darien asked. "No. My body was just an empty shell to serve the Negaverse. It's like they removed my brain and put in another person's brain into my body, I guess." Nephryte said. He wasn't really paying any attention to what he was saying. He was trying to think what to do with Lita. Darien looked down at his watch, "Sorry Nephryte. I'd love to stay longer and talk, but I have a job to go to. And the photographers don't take kindly to people being late." "Oh, you're a model?" Nephryte asked. "Yes. It's part time so I have a chance to study and go to school." Darien said. "Darien, can you keep everything you know about the Silver Millenium a secret for now? I don't think it's a good idea to tell anyone right now. It would confuse everyone, especially the part about Sailor Moon." Nephryte asked. "I will as long as you agree to take off this grudge about the old Sailor Moon and agree to at least try and like her." Darien bargained. "Okay, I'll try." Nephryte promised. "Bye. Thanks for telling me everything." Darien said. "You're welcome," Nephryte said and showed Darien out the door. He closed the door after Darien and sat back on the sofa. After a while of sitting, he walked over to the punching bag and gave it a couple of good punches. "Damn it! Why is every force in the whole universe trying to make my life miserable? I've finally found Princess Jupiter and now I'm going to lose her?" Nephryte kicked the punching bag until he felt calm enough to go on with his everyday tasks. He would be starting the new job at the observatory next week. He couldn't wait. Aside from Princess Jupiter, his second love was watching the stars. He could remember the very few times alone with Princess Jupiter in his arms and staring up in the sky. "Yahooo!" Jadeite yelled as he jumped into the room. His high pitched call jolted Nephryte from his deep thoughts. Jadeite walked over to the dining table where Nephryte was sitting and grinned. "What are you so happy about?" Nephryte asked, rubbing his eyes. Jadeite took a closer look at Nephryte and was shocked. Nephryte had been crying. Jadeite knew how he looked when he had been crying. "Nephryte, what's wrong? Were you crying?" Jadeite asked, sitting across from him on the table. Nephryte turned away, "No." Jadeite thought. "Nephryte, tell me what's wrong? Don't lie to me. I know when you've been crying. C'mon, tell me what's wrong?" Nephryte turned to him, his eyes shimmering with tears, "I've finally found Princess Jupiter. But as usual, all the forces of the universe are trying to tear us apart! Why can't we just live happily ever after?! Why is everything so complicated?" Nephryte blinked away his tears and coughed roughly. "What happened while I was gone? Don't tell me you just sat here and moped all day?" Nephryte told him everything, about agreeing to try to like Sailor Moon, about him and Darien getting into a huge fight and then making up, then finally, about Jupiter Knight. "So he's interested in Lita too?" Jadeite asked after he heard everything. "Not just interested in her. From the sound of it, he's really into her. I think that she loves him. She has pictures of them together hanging on their wall for god sakes. She'll never be able to remember us. Remember me from the Silver Millenium!" Nephryte cried even harder and put his head on his hands. Jadeite didn't know what to do. He knew that Nephryte was sensitive, but he still didn't know what to do whenever Nephryte broke down crying. "Why don't you just tell her?" Jadeite suggested. "I can't! She's so happy right now. If I tell her, remind her of what a rough past we had, it won't be fair! I can't." Nephryte said, determined. "But what about you? What are you going to say?" "What about me? This is my punishment for betraying her, killing her, trying to kill the scouts and working for Metallia. I have to walk this world like this, knowing that she'll never love me again." Nephryte groaned and sniffed. "I'll tell you what," Jadeite suggested, "Rei is coming over with Lita and asked if I would want to go shopping with her. I told her yes and said that you would love to come also. Get yourself together and let's go with them shopping, okay?" Nephryte looked up, "How can I stand to be near Lita when I know that she'll never love me again?" "Nephryte! Don't talk like that. You're only depressing yourself. Get a hold on yourself!" Jadeite insisted. "I don't want to!" Nephryte shouted, tears streaming down his face. Jadeite didn't want to do this, but he knew he had to. He walked over to where Nephryte was and slapped him hard on the face. Nephryte's head snapped back and then, he looked at the ground. He had a red hand shape where Jadeite had hit him. "Nephryte, I'm sorry I had to do that. You were just swimming in self pity. You weren't yourself. I hope I didn't hurt you." Jadeite apologized. Nephryte looked up, "That's okay. I needed that. You're right, I will go out with Lita today. Thanks for doing that." "Anything. I hope I didn't hurt you," Jadeite said again. Nephryte got up and walked to the bathroom, "I'm going to get washed up. I look like a mess. Oh, Jadeite?" "Yes?" "You hit like a girl," Nephryte smiled and closed the bathroom door. A few minutes after that, the intercom rang. Jadeite walked over to the door and decided to open it instead of answering the intercom first. Besides, he didn't know how to use it. Rei was standing there with Lita. He couldn't take his eyes off of Rei, his black haired beauty. He coudn't believe it when she asked if he wanted to come shopping with her. But now, standing before him, he could now believe that something was budding between them. Rei was standing in the doorway with pink overalls over a plain white shirt. Simple, but still looked nice on her. "Hi, Jadeite." Rei greeted. "Hi," Jadeite answered when he realized she had spoken. "You know, it's not safe to just open the door. You should ask who it is first. You'll never know if it's a bomb terrorist at the door or someone dangerous." Rei advised him. "I would if I knew how to work the intercom. It's pretty hard to turn on." Jadeite said, a bit embarassed. He wondered what was taking Nephryte so long to clean up. Lita looked at their intercom system next to the door. "Hey, this is just like mine. All you have to do is flip on the black switch, then when you talk, hold down the green button. Let go when you're done talking to hear the other person outside." "Is that all?" Jadeite asked and laughed nervously. He didn't want the girls think that he was a total idiot. "Well you know how smart people are. It's never anything simple that's the problem, always something more complicated." Lita laughed. Nephryte came out with the sound of Lita's angelic tinkle of a laugh. When he got to the living room, he could barely keep his eyes from popping out of his sockets. There was Lita, standing by the door. She was wearing a short plaid jumper over a silk tanktop. The plaid jumper had a little-girlish look, almost like the kind little girls wore to school. He would say it looked childish, but when Lita was wearing it, she looked wonderful. She even had a plaid bow in her pony tail to accessorize. "Hi Nephryte," Lita greeted. For Nephryte, it was one of those minutes that everything in the world stood still. He just stared at her. She looked just like he remembered, his princess. Then, he realized she was expecting an answer from him. "Hi, Lita," Nephryte answered, hoping he didn't sound too out of it. "Nephryte's coming with us too," Rei said to Lita. "Oh?" Lita asked. It was obvious Lita hadn't known that. Nephryte was kind of dissapointed that Lita wasn't dressed up to impress him. "Let's go," Jadeite said. "Okay. Let's take my car." Nephryte grabbed his keys off the counter and walked out the door. In the car, Lita got sick of watching Rei and Jadeite make goo-goo eyes at each other in the back seat. She constantly felt someone's gaze on her. She wished that Nephryte would take off those dark sunglasses because she couldn't see through them. She was sure it was Nephryte who kept looking at her, since it's obvious the couple in back was too much in their own world right then. At the mall, the guys mostly just followed the girls, who obviously knew their way around. Everytime Lita went to try something on and came out with it for their careful inspection, Nephryte had to keep from saying anything to embarass himself. "How do you like this?" Lita asked, spinning a circle for the three of them to comment on. Rei ever since the beginning was being honest and sometimes a little too crucial, but Nephryte was a different story. "I think the collar is great. Everything from the waist up. But the bottom is just too out. Try something else." Rei said, telling the truth. Nephryte thought Lita looked good in anything. He really didn't have any objections to it. She was wearing a green dress with a velvet collar and fanning velvet sleeves. The dress was poofy and ended about five inches above Lita's knees. "It looks great on you." "Nephryte! You've said that to the last six outfits I tried on. C'mon. Tell me what you really think. I won't get insulted, don't worry." Lita assured him. "Really, it looks great!" Nephryte insisted. Lita turned to Jadeite for an answer. He just shrugged at her, "I don't know fashion if it hit me in the face." Lita turned and stalked back in the dressing room. "Men!" she exclaimed good naturly. "What did I do wrong?" Nephryte asked, "Why is she so mad?" Rei laughed, "She's not mad. When you go shopping with a girl, you can't say the same thing too many times. It get's kind of sappy." Nephryte just shrugged and waited for Lita. "Gee, I didn't know I bought so much." Lita exclaimed, hauling half of her stuff up the stairs. Nephryte was helping her haul the other half and wasn't having too much trouble. "Thanks for offering to help me. I don't know how long it could have took me to bring all these clothes in." Lita thanked him sincerely. "No problem. It's my pleasure." Nephryte said. When they got to Lita's apartment door, she set the bags down and looked for her keys, "You can just set them down here. I'll take it in myself." "No, I'll take it in for you." Nephryte said. He knew that he would be in his apartment alone for a long time. Jadeite went to walk Rei home. Nephryte had offered Jadeite the keys to his car, but they wanted to walk instead. Lita put the bags down on the carpet in the living room and told Nephryte to put them there next to hers. "Thanks Nephryte," Lita said again. "No problem. Everyday job of the boyscouts." Nephryte said and saluted. He walked slowly back to his apartment. When he got there, he slumped down on the couch. Being with Lita that afternoon made him realize that he'll never have her love ever again. A thump by the balcony made him snap back from his self-pitying thoughts. He looked out the window and saw a small cat. He recognized it as Lita's cat and opened the door for it. The cat walked in and sat on the table. Nephryte stared at the cat for a long time. Something in the back of his mind was trying to tell him something, but it was like the road was blocked or something. He couldn't get what his mind was telling him. "Hi Hera. What are you doing here?" Nephryte asked the cat. Nephryte thought, then the road was clear for him, He put it all together. "Hera! You're Princess Jupiter's guardian cat aren't you?!" Nephryte exclaimed. Hera looked taken back, then opened her mouth to speak, "So you remember?" "Hera, I remember you and I guess most of the Silver Millenium. But I'm not sure. It's like I don't even know the missing parts." Nephryte said. He somehow felt familiar, talking to a cat. "We have to talk about Lita; Princess Jupiter; Sailor Jupiter, which ever you want to call her." Hera stated. "What about her?" Nephryte asked blankly. Hera noticed his sullen expression, "I know you remember her. You remember your love for her, her love for you. You have to tell her!" Nephryte could feel the lump in his throat slowly beginning to form, "I can't tell her. She already love someone else. I can't tell her." "So you know about Jupiter Knight?" Hera asked. "Yes, I know that too." "All more to tell her. Tell her of what you two shared in the past. You have to. It was written in the destiny books." Hera insisted. Nephryte shook his head, looking at her through tear filmed eyes, "I can't tell her. She's so happy right now. I can't remind her of the past. Of all the pain she was in. Look, she even made friends with Sailor Moon. None of them remember their pasts. They can live as friends, fight as allies. I don't want to remind her of the terrible past!" Hera sighed, "Nephryte! You have to! What if she never remembers?" "Why do I have to? She's perfectly happy right now. If you want her to remember so bad, why don't you tell her?" "Because she won't believe me. She thinks of me as a talking cat. She would believe you," Hera took a breath for her next sentance, "Because you are human. You have an advantage that I don't." "But she's so happy being who she is right now," Nephryte said. "But what about you? I know you aren't happy. Why are you torturing yourself?" Hera asked, pleading him. "Why? Because if I tell her, then she'll be unhappy. She'll remember all the unhappiness of the past and she'll be unhappy. I want her to be happy. If she's happy, I'm happy." Nephryte said, letting the tears spill out of his eyes. "You are happy even if she's with another man?" Hera asked, "You are willing to give up your true happiness just for her?" Nephryte sighed, "Yes, I am. If she is happy with this Jupiter Knight guy, then so be it. I love her too much to make her anything but happy." "I can't believe you. What if she would be happier with you? Have you thought of that?" "Yes, I have. But in order for that to happen, I would have to tell her of the past, and how I-I...I killed her." Nephryte said sadly. Hera shook her head sadly. She had heared when Sailor Jupiter died looking for him on Earth. She knew that his body was under the possesion of Metallia and that he had no control what so ever and she forgave him for that. "I can't remind her of that. It would break her heart." Nephryte sighed such an Earth shattering sigh Hera thought he would just break. "Nephryte, you have to tell her. What are you going to do then? You were reincarnated for a reason, Nephryte." Hera reminded him. "Yes, I know. I know why I was reincarnated. This is my Hell. Whoever dies and has done something wrong, then they relive their own hell for all of eternity. This is my hell, my punishment. I am to walk the Earth and know that my love, my Princess won't love me ever again." Nephryte said. "No!" Hera exclaimed, "It's not! Don't think that way! You HAVE to tell her you love her. Then everything will come back to her and she'll remember all the love she had for you back then." Nephryte looked at Hera, "She loved me in the Silver Millenium?" "Yes, I thought you knew that?" Hera asked. "I loved her and told her, but she never said anything back to me. I knew that she loved me, but she never said it." Nephryte said, feeling more tears rush out. There was so much left undone in the past. If only he could go back and fix the past. "All the more reason to tell her right now. You have to. Before everything goes wrong again. Then it would be too late." Hera insisted, pressing on furter. Nephryte seemed deep in thought, "No, Hera," he said finally. "I can't do that. She would be too unhappy, remembering the past. I can't make her choose from me and the other guy. It's too much for her." "Sailor Jupiter was never such a frail girl. She can take it! Please, you have to tell her. I don't know where things will turn if she stays with Jupiter Knight." Hera said. "I can't," Nephryte repeated for the fiftieth time. "You love her enough to make her happy by selling your happiness?" Hera asked. "Yes, I love her that much. If you can't understand it, please at least try to. I love her more than life itself. I don't want anything to make her unhappy. If my being happy will mean she will be unhappy, then she wins. I won't be happy." Nephryte said. Hera sighed. Nephryte really loved her. Secretly, Hera wished she could meet someone who would love her as much as Nephryte loved Princess Jupiter. Hera got up to leave. "I see that I can't convince you. But you have to think about it. The right thing is to tell her. How can you deny her of the past?" Hera asked on her way out. She bounded up onto wherever she jumped up from and dissapeared. "Hera, where did you come from?" Lita asked. She had saw Hera just appear from no where. "I was just taking a walk on the roof," Hera lied. Lita didn't need to know that she was over there convince Nephryte of the right thing to do. Hera hoped Nephryte realized what was the right thing. "Well, just don't fall off or anything okay?" Lita warned. "Don't worry. I'll try not to," Hera said sarcastically. Just then, the doorbell rang. Lita went to get it and Hera stayed in the kitchen. She heard a male voice and walked out to investigate. It was Darien and he seemed stressed or something. "Lita, are you busy?" Darien asked. "No, not really. Why? If you're looking for Serena, she's not here." Lita said to him. She didn't know why Darien would want to talk to her. "I'm not looking for her. I was looking for you. Can I talk to you?" Darien asked. "Sure. But why?" Lita asked quizzically. "Well, I heard that you were a really good listener from the other girls." Darien said sheepisly. Lita blushed, "Okay, I guess. Come on in." She told Darien to sit on the couch while she sat on the armchair. "It's about Serena," Darien started. "What's wrong? Is she okay?" Lita was instantly concerned. "Well, physically." Darien said. He couldn't explain it. Lita was quietly looking at him, but not really seeing him. "It's like she's here, but not all there." Darien continued. Lita just nodded. "She's kind of more spacey than usual. She's not acting like herself. It's like a double personality fighting over her body or something. One day, she's regular late Serena, the next day, she's someone completely different." Darien tried to explain the best he could. "So what you're saying is that Serena isn't acting like herself?" Lita asked. She had basically repeated what he said, but Darien felt kind of better. "Yeah, kind of. Have you noticed anything different?" Darien was hoping Lita would notice something and know what was going on. "To tell you the truth, I haven't seen Serena in a long time. Ever since our last meeting. But she was early to class last week and I heard she got a really good grade on her quiz." Lita remarked. "So do you know what's going on?" "No, not more than you do. Might be that the Sailor Moon, Moon Princess thing is too much for her and it's just a phase. Or it might be something we would have to live with." Lita said. Darien didn't know the answer to Serena's weird behavior, but he did feel better after talking to Lita. Something about her just made it so easy to talk about. "Thanks Lita," Darien said sincerely. "Thanks for what? I didn't help much." Lita shrugged. "But I feel much better after talking about it," Darien said. Then he remembered something, "You know Nephryte?" "What about him?" Lita asked. "I think he likes you," Darien watched intently for her reaction, seeing if it struck a nerve or anything. Lita laughed lightly, "Come on Darien. Who are you kidding? He's like totally available and good looking. Why would HE, a twenty one year old guy have any interest in ME, a sixteen year old girl?" "Really," Darien said. "Please Darien. It's just hard to believe. But we're just friends at the most." Lita insisted. Darien stood up, "Thanks for listening anyway. I really appreciate it. I have this job I have to go to in fifteen mintues. Just thought I could drop by and chat. I'm sorry to leave so fast. Kind of rude, actually." Lita shook her head, "Not at all. I know you're busy most of the time. Anytime you need to talk, just come right on over." "Thanks," Darien said and showed himself out the door. Lita laid her head back on the couch. Hera curled up beside her. "Everyone in the whole world is having problems!" Lita exclaimed. "What about you?" Hera asked. "What about poor Lita?" Lita asked, making a puppy face, then smiling. "I'm fine. I miss my Kennie a lot though." Hera tried to hide the huge sweat drop that was about to fall off her head. The last thing she wanted to hear was how much Lita missed the other guy. Hera didn't know why it was so important to her that Lita reunited with Nephryte, but something in her body just told her to do so. Like an instinct. Another doorbell rang and Lita went to go get it. She wondered why no one was using the intercom system today, but let that thought get away. She opened the door without asking who it was. she thought to herself. When she opened it, she saw Nephryte standing there, looking at her so intently she had to turn away. "Nephryte, what are you doing here?" Lita asked, letting him in. "Lita, I have to tell you something." Nephryte said, his voice was barely hiding all his emotion. "-about what?" Lita asked. She was startled at the tone of his voice. It sounded like he was going to break down and cry or something. Nephryte sat on the couch and looked at Hera. Hera obeyed and walked into the kitchen to give them two some privacy. "What do you want to talk about?" Lita asked. Nephryte kept his head bowed down, in deep thought. The silence was making Lita uncomfortable. She had a feeling that whatever Nephryte was going to be really important. "Nephryte, would you like some water?" Lita offered politely. Anything to stop this uncomfortable silence. "No, that's okay," Nephryte said. But the tone he said it in didn't match what he said. His tone was dead serious. "Nephryte, what's wrong?" Lita asked, more concerned this time, "Are you sick? Do you want me to call the hospital?" "No, I'm not sick." Nephryte said, although he felt queasy. "So what are you going to tell me?" Lita asked, for the fourth time. "I have to tell you about the Silver Millenium. About the past." Nephryte finally said. Lita nodded, "Okay, shoot." Nephryte told her everything, from the senshi being taken from their planets to protect the Silver Imperium Crystal, then being changed to protecting the royal brat, Princess Serenity. He told her about how Princess Serenity was like back then, how she treated all of them. He told her about how Metallia took over the four general's bodies, turning them against their sides. He told her everything. Everything except everything that would hint his feelings for her. After hearing everything, Lita asked softly, "I beleive you. I don't know why I would believe you, but I do. I couldn't have ever imagined Serena, no, correction, Princess Serenity like that. But somewhere in the back of my head, something is telling me what you're saying is true. But Nephryte, why are you telling me all of this?" Nephryte got up and paced across the room slowly, debating on wheter he should tell her the reason, or if he shouldn't. He furrowed his brow in deep thought. "General Nephryte?" Lita asked softly. That soft and innocent voice she used brought him back to the days of the Silver Millenium, when she still use to call him that..... "General Nephryte! You're here!" Princess Jupiter cried happily. She ran up to him and hugged him tightly. Then, she immediatly let go. She looked up at his clear eyes, hers dark with shadows, then stepped back. Someone cleared their throat loudly. An icy sound that sent shivers up Jupiter's spine. "Jupiter! Come back over here! When you are in my pressence, you are not to go off in one of your childish delights! You are my servant and do you understand that?!" The cold voice demanded. Princess Jupiter looked down, biting back her lips. Nephryte could see the fury buried beneath the shadows in her eyes. "Do you hear me?!" The voice asked again, more sternly. Princess Jupiter stepped back to her usual spot, three girls behind the yelling voice. "Yes, Princess Serenity. I understand. I'm sorry, please forgive this unworthy soul." Princess Jupiter recited. Nephryte could hear a hint of sarcasm in there, but hoped that Princess Serenity didn't hear it. "Good! Now, let's go. Nephryte, my mother is in the military room." Princess Serenity stated in a flat tone and rolled her eyes. She walked away, four scouts trailing behind her. Jupiter gave a mournful look back at Nephryte then turned and followed the Princess. Nephryte thought up a lot of things he would do to that brat of a princess if he was in charge. He hated to see his Princess Jupiter being treated with such little respect. Everyone knew that Jupiter was more than 50 times the princess that Serenity would ever be. Later that night, Nephryte had spied Princess Jupiter standing by the an open balcony staring up at Earth. He walked up behind her and put an arm around her. She jumped at the contact, but then calmed down. "Princess Serenity will behead us if she sees us like this. She hates you and she hates the idea of my doing anything that will come between protecting her." Lady Jupiter said softly. Nephryte soothed her with his embrace, "Shhh....nothing about Princess Serenity. That girl infuriates me. It's just us for now. They are still on the other wing of the kingdom." Jupiter sank further into his strong embrace, "Why aren't you there?" Nephryte said in his strong and mellow voice, "I came here on an errand. Not to listen to her. I go where I wish. But tell me, how did you get her to let you go tonight?" "I pleaded that I was sick. Finally, she let me go, but I have to make it up to her tomorrow." Lady Jupiter whispered. "Are you ill?" Nephryte asked, instantly concerned. "No, I just wanted some time alone." "Do you want me to leave?" "No, stay." Princess Jupiter said. She looked at Earth, hanging there in the sky. "Earth is beautiful." "Yes, it is. It's much more pretty than the Moon. There are trees and flowers there. I know how much you miss those." Nephryte answered in her ears. Lady Jupiter nodded. All the flowers on the moon were artificial fake flowers. None of them real. She knew that flowers would never grow on the Moon because of the climate. And she missed them dearly. Her planet was full of greenery and flowers. "I would love to go there someday," Jupiter said wishfully. Nephryte squeezed her affectionately, then asked her, "Come back with me. I'll be going back to Earth soon. Come with me. We can live on Earth together." Jupiter had tears in her eyes, but blinked them away, "You know I can't do that. My duty is here. I have to protect the Princess." "But I love you Jupiter. Your duty is to protect the Silver Imperium Crystal, not the Princess. I want you to come back with me so we can spend the rest of eternity together." Nephryte pleaded. Princess Jupiter wanted so bad to return all the love General Nephryte was proposing to her. She loved him and wanted to say it, but knew that the minute she did, word would get out and the both of them would be in trouble with the Princess. She thought about everything she was missing, in taking this duty on the Moon. She couldn't keep the barrage of tears under control anymore. Jupiter broke down crying, her body shaking with soft sobs. Nephryte turned her around and hugged her tighter, trying to give her some comfort. Inside, his heart broke for her, for what a horrible life she had to live, when on the outside, everyone thought it was glamorous. He rubbed her back, trying to get her to feel better. "Shhh....it's alright, Princess." Nephryte repeated over and over, rocking her softly. Princess Jupiter put her head on his shoulder, trying to stop crying. She sobbed softly, "General Nephryte, I hate it here. My whole life here is to be servant to Princess Serenity. I have no life here. You are the only ray of sunshine in my dull gray world." General Nephryte brought her to arms length and looked at her intensely. He had her gently by the shoulders and spoke in a low voice, "Then come to Earth with me. We can go live on a uninhabited island. We can start new lives there together." "No, I can't do that. Your position would be in danger, and I would put the both of us in danger. Doing that would even make Earth in a bad position on the Moon's court." Princess Jupiter shook her head sadly and looked down. General Nephryte could do nothing but kiss the top of her head softly. .....Nephryte looked at Lita sitting there, her wide green eyes looking up at him for an answer. It seemed she could hold the whole world in her eyes if she wanted to. "General Nephryte, why are you telling me this?" Lita asked again. "Because....because," Nephryte decided to tell her the truth, "Because I am in love with you." He finally said it. And he felt better after letting that out. ********************************************************************* Did I leave you hanging again?! Well, this took a long time to get out, since my stupid computer messed up half of it when I was going to release it. But finally, chapter 5 is done. Look out for chapter 6, it's going to be good. (If I do say so myself.) I just want to take this, for a moment of sinlence to Princess Diana. She did so many wonderful things for the people of this world, and I just want to wish her a better life wherever she may be. *********Copyright 1997 Lady Jupiter (Ladyjupiter@sailorjupiter.com)********