Disclaimer: The song and the characters do not belong to me.

A.N: The song in this fic is a translation of 'Route Venus', the image song of Minako.

Heart's Songs - Minako's Song

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Senshi Venus' unusual frown deepened as she searched for the Princess all over the castle. Her orange heels clicked on the marble floor as she rapidly increased her pace, gaining an insight as to where her wayward charge might be. She made her way to the Teleportation Room and immediately began to hack into the system. She certainly wasn't the best at hacking, but one did not have the intelligent Senshi Mercury as a close friend and not learn a few tricks.

"Ah hah!" she crowed as she found the coordinates of the last teleport.

She was sure it was no coincidence that the coordinates happened to be at the fringes of the forest close to the castle where the Prince of Earth, Endymion, lived. She quickly set the coordinates for the teleport, and stepped into the portal that formed.

It took a her moment for her body to adjust itself to the denser gravity of the blue planet, and then she was off. Using all the skills that she had learned as leader of the Senshi, Venus tracked Serenity to a clearing. Her usual easy-going attitude fairly melted away as she witnessed her innocent Princess snuggled in the arms of the dark and handsome Prince. Rumors of the Prince and his many affairs floated through her mind, helping her push down the feelings that welled up when she sensed the love spread out like a warm, pulsing wave from the two.

"Princess! Did you come here again? Come on, we are going home," she scolded, taking a firm but gentle hold of her liege.

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"It must be tough having a princess so full of curiosity," Kunzite couldn't help but say.

Kunzite had known about the continued meetings of the Prince and the Lunarian who had stolen his heart. Being the leader of the Guardians, he insisted on accompanying his Prince on these journeys, even as he continued to discourage Endymion when they had a moment's peace. He was extremely worried about the rumors of the Dark Queen Metallia's escape from the Void. If that was true, then the Prince needed more guarding than ever. And since the Prince would not be swayed into staying away from the Princess Serenity, he had no choice but to follow.

He had been wondering if the Princess Serenity's guardians, the legendary Sailor Senshi, were adequate enough for their job if their Princess managed to evade them so easily when the blonde woman dressed in an extremely short skirt charged out of the bush and took hold of the aforementioned Princess. He couldn't help smiling slightly as he witnessed the petite woman scold her Princess for running off to Earth.

Her toned physique, easily seen and admired because of her revealing attire, and the graceful way she moved was proof that she was indeed one of the legendary Senshi, gifted with powerful Magic. She didn't seem inadequate at all. He had made sure to move the couple carefully away from the point where Princess Serenity had landed, as to lose dangerous people. If this Senshi had managed to track the Princess from there, despite all his attempts to erase the tracks, then she was worthy of her reputation.

He wondered what it would be like to face her in battle.

Those thoughts promptly fled and were replaced by more appealing ones as she blushed prettily and teleported away with the sullen Princess Serenity in a flash of golden light.

Open that door

The time remaining

Is being drawn away

Lift up your eyes

Stare straight ahead

Give me one last kiss

And walk away

"We shouldn't do this," Venus whispered as she and Kunzite met in a fierce embrace. "Especially now when the threat of the Dark Queen is so real and the peace between our kingdoms so strained."

"The marriage of your Princess to our Prince will change that, and then the combined forces of the Earth and Moon Kingdom can surely defeat the Dark Queen," Kunzite assured her, and then stole a gentle kiss.

"But no one but the Queen, the Princess, the Prince, your Generals and my Senshi know of the impending union. This is treason in the eyes of the people," Venus protested as he came in for another butterfly kiss.

Kunzite pulled back slightly and gazed into her eyes, "Then tell me to walk away."

"I can't," she breathed out as tears welled up. "I can't."

Their eyes met again, and their lips soon after. In their minds, there were no threats of war, no Dark Queen. In their minds, there was only each other, and the love they shared.

Truly

So much

That the wind is biting

My spirit is restrained

Our paths divide apart, I know

It's destiny, the stars have decided

The one that you chose

The white route

The future looms ahead

Don't lose your way

Kunzite glared as best as he could in his beaten state at the red-haired witch that imprisoned him and his fellow Generals. They, too, were glowering at the witch. If he wasn't mistaken, it was Lady Beryl, one of the many whom had been enamored with his Prince. Unlike the other women who had thrown hysterics or sought more welcoming company, it seemed that she had turned to the Dark Queen.

"What do you want with us?" he asked in a dangerous tone.

Beryl merely laughed, ignoring the warning in his voice, "I want you to become the Generals."

Nephrite growled, "What are you getting at, witch?"

Slapping the auburn-haired General in the face, Beryl answered smugly, "I want you to become my Generals."

Her expression turned to one of complete rage as Jadeite began to laugh. She backhanded the blond General, and glared at them.

"I am Beryl, Queen of the Negaverse, and you will show me proper respect," she hissed.

"Yeah, as much as you deserve, you ugly toad," Zoisite, ever the sarcastic wit, snorted, disgust plain in his voice and manner.

Shrieking in uncontrollable rage, Beryl shot a wave of Dark energy at them, making them writhe in pain.

"You will become my Generals, willingly or unwillingly!" she declared, and blasted them with more Dark energy.

Kunzite's eyes widened in horror as the energy began to seep into his skin. He could feel the Darkness penetrating his own Magic, and begin to infect his blood. The pain was overwhelming, and as he fell into unconsciousness, he made a silent vow.

*I will never forget you Minako.*

The sea spreads out wide

The wind comes blowing this way

It may be a little cold

But start running forth

Do not forget

About yourself

The one I love the most

Even though it's hard

From here I look out

And see the desert daybreak

Kunzite, leader of the Dark Kingdom Generals, laughed as he saw his army battle with the Lunarian army. Cries of pain came from allies and enemies alike, but he paid both no mind, searching for a worthy opponent.

"Looking for me?"

It was Senshi Venus, if the profiles his minions had gathered on the Senshi were correct, the so-called leader of the Senshi who protected the Princess. She stepped out from behind a cluster of warring soldiers, face hard, eyes cold, wary, and calculating. His eyes fell on her slim form, and he found a smile tugging at the corner of his lips for unknown reasons. He changed it into a smirk, and cockily gestured for her to make the first move.

"I was looking for a worthy opponent," he said, sneering. "I suppose I will have to settle for you."

Her deep blue eyes narrowed in anger, and her stance changed slightly, from defensive to offensive. He smirked again as he braced himself for her attack. It was almost too fast for him to see, her Crescent Beam attack, if she hadn't had to call out the name, he wouldn't have had even that one precious moment to realize what was happening. However, she had called out, and he had that one moment to dodge to the side, rolling back up to his feet. The one hint almost hadn't been enough; the attack was swift and deadly, the nick on his right arm was bleeding proof.

"Maybe I should be the one to say that," she mocked as her eyes took in his wound.

He noted that she didn't seem hateful towards him, not in reality. It was a mask, but for what? She was his enemy, as he was hers, there was no more emotions to be felt other than hate. Snorting mentally at his hesitation, he materialized his Dark Sword and lunged, his mind focused on one thing. Defeating this abnormally bold and brash challenger and conquering the pathetic Moon Kingdom.

Open that window

The time of yours

Is beginning now

Close the lids of your eyes

I wanted to have

One last kiss at night

Remember it

She had tamped down her emotions, and was depending on her Senshi side to pull her through his battle. Her Wink Chain Sword clashed with his, sending sparks flying from the sheer power in the two opposite swords.

"You won't win," she snapped as she parried his blow to her side.

He smirked in the most condescending manner she had ever seen and replied, "Oh? The only way I'll fail is if you kill me."

//Kunzite pulled back slightly and gazed into her eyes, "Then tell me to walk away."

"I can't," she breathed out as tears welled up. "I can't."

Their eyes met again, and their lips soon after. In their minds, there were no threats of war, no Dark Queen. In their minds, there was only each other, and the love they shared.\\

The memory was unexpected, but it showed her what she needed to do. If only she had ordered him to walk away, then this wouldn't hurt her so much now. His betrayal wouldn't cut so deep a wound. She was not one to repeat her mistakes. She learned from what few she made, and eventually became better for it.

"I will take you up on that invitation," she hissed at him. "I don't make the same mistake twice."

Truly

So much

That the sky crumbles down

I am crying in my heart

Our paths are separate from each other

It's destiny, the stars have decided

The one that I chose

The blue route

The future looms ahead

Don't forget about it

The tears she had been repressing all through their fierce battle were now leaking out. She took labored breaths as she tried not to let the sobs jar her body.

Staring up into space, she whispered, "I'm sorry Princess."

It had been a mistake to let the meetings continue. It had been a mistake to let it start in the first place. If she could go back...

A hiss of pain interrupted her thoughts. Her watery eyes turned to her opponent, who was in the same state she was. Minus the tears. No, she could not expect a Dark Kingdom General to cry.

He saw her, and began to laugh, as painful as it was, "Tears? Pathetic."

She continued to gaze at him, sadly, until he stopped laughing and stared at her in a confused way.

The morning is beginning

People are starting to move

It may be a little scary

But start walking forth

The Earth was rising, always a beautiful sight with the swirls of the clouds and the waves, but now that it was to be her last Earthrise, she felt a pang of nostalgia.

Her companion, in life and now in death, turned his lavender eyes to follow her gaze. She could hear his audible gasp, and mentally smiled. Being Earthling, he had never seen an Earthrise. Although it was amazing that this was the Dark General who was gaping at the rising of Earth, it was also very comforting to her dying spirit.

Do not forget

About me

The one I love the most

Even though it hurts

From here I look out

And see the desert daybreak

She tried to smile at him, but she was too tired. Spots were appearing at the corners of her vision, and her senses were dulling.

It wouldn't be long now, and she had one last thing to say.

"I forgive you," she whispered.

She was rewarded with a widening of his eyes. Small though it was, it was enough for her, and she let her soul be taken by Queen Serenity, to be sent to the future.

The sea spreads out wide

The wind comes blowing this way

It may be a little cold

But start running forth

Do not forget

About yourself

The one I love the most

Even though it's hard

From here I look out

And see the desert daybreak

Dark Kingdom General Kunzite frowned as he stared intently into space in his quarters. His Generals were now all dead, and he was left to avenge them.

By killing the Senshi.

His frown deepened as something tugged at the back of his mind at the thought of the irritating yet powerful warriors of Light.

//*I'll never forget you Minako.*\\

He blinked in shock, but the faint memory was quickly pushed aside as he felt Queen Beryl calling him. He rose, and swept out of his chambers, heading down a dark hallway. However, even as he walked up to the throne room, he felt a sort of discontentment, and felt that he was doing something wrong.

//"I forgive you."\\

The voice was not like the last, but it lasted longer, and it lightened his spirits.

And somewhere deep inside, a seal was cracking as the repressed memories pushed to surface.