Until You 12

Nephrite opened his eyes slowly. He didn�t know when he had fallen asleep but he silently cursed himself for doing so. As he tried to adjust his eyes to the darkness of his surrounding, he winced painfully at his bleeding forehead and bruised ribs. He tried to lift his hand to wipe the blood that caked at his forehead and that was when he realized that his hands were shackled to the wall. Nephrite didn�t know when Ian had managed to change his position without even arousing him from the sleep. He must have needed that sleep so much to not be aware of his surrounding. He cursed silently, knowing that he was not be able to sit down. He assumed that he was in cell. Nephrite frowned. He tried to recall what was the last thing he remembered before darkness consumed him.

Ian! One word popped into his head like bursting arrows.

Nephrite gritted his teeth in uncontrollable anger at Ian�s cowardly acts in order to capture him. In last life Ian killed him treacherously, and in this life he still as deceitful as ever. Now his mind was working, he remembered every excruciating moment. The moment where five monsters attacked him and gave him barely time to transform into general. The moment where Ian attacked him when he was not in his general form. The moment where Ian was blackmailing the rest of his friends to give Lita in exchange of him. And the most painful moment was when Jadeite agreed to Ian threats. He thought by now, his friends, especially Jadeite, knew how deep his feeling was towards Lita. He nearly choked, if Ian hadn�t choked him enough, when he heard Jadeite�s words. Then Nephrite laughed aloud at his own thoughts. Didn�t he has gone through this debate before? Why in the world was he thinking about it again?

Nephrite wriggled his wrists against the iron manacles, trying to relieve the aching. The cell was damp and cold. His body had been losing its bloods from previous battles. Nephrite prayed he did not get any pneumonia. In the midst of his anger, the thought of Lita came out. His friends called him from the meeting because Lita had been unconscious from her last attack of brain tumor. Like a whirlwind, he drove through the busy streets of Tokyo and when he nearly arrived, Ian attacked him. Cowardly as he was, he sent five monsters to fight him and waited until he was totally exhausted from those fights to capture him. Now, when everything was over, Nephrite couldn�t help wondering how was Lita.

Nephrite thought was quickly ended, when his ears caught the sound of footsteps coming towards him. Automatically, his body went tense and his eyes turned into shards of piercing ice. Nephrite felt totally vulnerable because he had to face the enemy with his hands shackled to the walls. The figure arrived to the iron door and unlocked it. As he came nearer, Nephrite saw the figure was Ian and his body tensed even more.

Ian walked leisurely and Nephrite suddenly had the urge to punch that smug from his face. As Ian came closer to Nephrite, he saw that his prisoner was more formidable when he was angry. With his hair that was now loosely tied, his saber-sharp jaws clenched angrily and his injured face that was framed with wildly loosed hair, Ian strangely felt a stab of jealously at the dark beauty of Nephrite face. It was as if the cut on his forehead and the bruises tainted on his face did nothing to lessen his feature. No wonder his Jupiter fell so madly in love with him. Even in his most vulnerable and weaken condition, Nephrite still was able to keep his pride show. And that made Ian angry even more.

�Hello Nephrite,� Ian said. Nephrite said nothing but to glared murderously to Ian.

Ian was mightily pleased to see how angry Nephrite was. �I�ve been waiting for this moment for as long as I can remember.� Ian stepped forward. �The moment when you are completely in mercy of my hands.� Ian ran his hand through Nephrite�s thick hair and pulled his face to face him painfully. �Unfortunately, I have no mercy!� Ian abruptly released Nephrite�s hair and punched hard at Nephrite�s face.

Nephrite�s head fell sideway from the blow and felt blood tickled down from the corner of his lips. Great� Nephrite thought as he gingerly licked the opened wound on the corner of his lips with the tip of his tongue. Another nasty bruise to add to my face. Nephrite suspected Ian intended to add more bruises. He lifted his face and spat the blood to Ian�s face in disgust. �All that you did was attacking me when you�re completely sure that I cannot fight you back.� Nephrite managed a painful and sinister smile as his lips cracked. �Since when you become so coward?�

For a moment, Ian�s face twisted in surpassed anger as he wiped away the blood from his face. Then his lips curled up into evil grin. �Coward as I am, Nephrite, you cannot change the fact the I�ve got you in my hands.� Ian let out a laugh. �Your friends may think that once they handed Jupiter, I will deliver you. But they are wrong, Nephrite. My hatred for you ran deeper than my love for Jupiter.� Nephrite�s body ran cold at Ian�s admission. His breath labored harder and he clenched his hands into fist so tightly that his hands ached.

�It is just too bad that Jupiter likes you. She could have a better life if she is off with someone else other than you, Nephrite. You could only bring death and suffering to all the woman who like you,� Ian taunted him, enjoying every painful expression from Nephrite.

Nephrite knew exactly what Ian trying to say to him. Ian would do anything to see him suffered. Nephrite didn�t mind all those torture that he was sure Ian had planned for him. That was why he was reborn. But the thought that Ian would use Lita for vengeance was unthinkable. He knew that aside from his friends and now his prince, Lita was his greatest vulnerability. Suddenly Nephrite reluctantly agreed with Ian; maybe Lita would have a better life if she were with someone else. At least Lita was guaranteed to be unharmed. She had gone through so much already�

Ian watched Nephrite struggled with his fear and anger. A rush of satisfaction and triumph flowed through his body when he saw how his words affected Nephrite. �I think you know what I�m trying to say.� Ian turned back and walked to the iron door that was opened. He stopped at the entrance and deliberately turned around to provoke Nephrite further. �I shall bring Jupiter to see you once they handed me her. What a joy to see her expression when she saw you in pathetic condition like this. Let�s see how will you be holding up after 24 hours standing up!� With that Ian left, not even bother to close the iron door behind him.

Nephrite forced himself to calm down. He should have known his friends better than to think that they will hand Lita to Ian without some plans. Whatever it was, Nephrite hoped that they would do it fast for his legs started to ache.

* * * * * *

�What are we going to do now?� Kunzite ran his hands through his silver hair nervously. Kunzite had called for the meeting with all the guardians together with their prince and princess. It took him a great deal of thinking, whether it was appropriate or not to held this or not. After all, Lita had just been released and from the look of her face, she was determined to attend this meeting.

Kunzite remembered the fury he had felt when he learned that Jadeite had secretly confronted Lita. He had planned to tell Lita about Nephrite�s capture in more subtle way, but Jadeite, lost in his own anger and anxiety, selfishly poured all the sordid information to Lita. Didn�t it occur to his head that Lita was just recovering? And there he was, throwing all his anger to Lita! When they arrived from the hospital, bringing Lita with them, Kunzite watched Lita�s expression. It looked pale and weary; probably from all the medication, worried and upset; confirming him that she had already knew about Nephrite and nothing more. Kunzite breathed a sigh of relief. Lita wasn�t angry. He hated to think what her brain tumor would do to her if too many negative emotions flowed through her. Nephrite would have his balls if anything happened to Lita. If�if he survived this.

Mina walked in first and walked straight towards Kunzite. She knew exactly how he felt. When one by one her teammate was taken by the Nemesis. She felt hopeless and totally irresponsible for her teammate. Now, Nephrite was taken away in front of Kunzite�s eyes and the captive even dared to make demands. On surface, he looked so calm, so control and only God knew how the beneath it boiled. Mina noticed Kunzite clenched and unclenched his hands, impatient to start the meeting to start.

She sat beside him. She slowly slid her left-handed fingers along the muscular lower part of his right arm and ended their journey at his tightly fisted hand. Kunzite looked at her hand that was rested over his strained hand in mild surprised and moved his silver-gray eyes questionably to meet her sapphire-blue. He saw was love and support and he then realized that her support was the only thing he had ever needed to face this task. Mina curved a small of smile and she threaded her fingers through his, trying to ease his tense.

Kunzite nodded his head slightly, understood her intention. With effort, he released his fist on the other hand. Mina let out a soft relief laugh. She knew when he was under too much pressure, he easily get angry. This meeting needed a calm and rational demeanor from everyone especially the leaders themselves. She impulsively closed her other hand onto their tightly clasped hand and leaned up to kiss him on cheek.

�Don�t worry, Kunzite.� Mina whispered softly. �Everything will be just fine. You�ll see.�

Kunzite hoped so. His teammates� fate weren�t as lucky as the Moon guardians. Ever since they had been reincarnated, pain and torment were their best friends. Everything that they had done ended in suffering. Not that Kunzite complained because they did take the wrong side. They were being possessed at that time! Now when they gained their body, power and wealth back, all of them chose to continue their oath to protect the prince. After all that had been said and done, they were back once again in this kind predicament. It was same different no matter which side they were in - they were meant to live in this kind of life.

Kunzite watched his prince and his teammates sat down. Zoisite was sitting close to Ami, so did his prince, who was sitting next to Serena. His gaze reverted to Jadeite; his face was as grim as ever. No matter how angry Kunzite was to Jadeite about earlier incident, he couldn�t blame Jadeite for taking that action. Nephrite was more than just a teammate to Jadeite. For thousands of years, Jadeite and Nephrite always fought side by side and the bond that was created between them was deeper than any deepest sea. Kunzite hid his smile when he saw that Rei was sitting next to Lita instead of Jadeite. That�s what you get Jadeite, if you shut your woman out!

�Would you tell what exactly had happened?� Darien looked directly to Kunzite. Kunzite began the story and sometimes was cut in and added by Zoisite. Jadeite in the other hand was utterly silent all the time.

�So Ian demanded us to give Lita if we want to see Nephrite alive.� Serena said thoughtfully, after Kunzite finished his story. �Either way we will lose one of our teammates! That�s hardly what I call a choice!�

�I will go!� Lita said determinately.

�Absolutely not!� Rei, Mina and Ami shouted in unison, which brought amusement look from Darien.

�But there are no other way!� Lita argued heatedly. �The time that Ian gave us is running out. To make the matter worse, as I recall from what Kunzite told us earlier, Nephrite is wounded even before Ian took him away. Now he was with that maniac, God knows what Ian had done to him!� Lita�s head started to pound but she stubbornly clenched her fists to strain the pain.

Jadeite looked at Lita. He thought he was the only one who thought that way. That was why he agreed to Ian�s demand thoughtlessly. He didn�t think about the later consequences. All he thought was Nephrite was already too weak from previous battle and the wounds he had received were too many for him to bear when he was facing an opponent like Ian. Alone. Imagine you are in Nephrite�s place and Rei was in mine. Would you do the same thing? Lita�s words echoed through his head. Finally, Jadeite�s lips cracked into a small smile. He silently answered Lita�s question. Yes, he would do exactly like Nephrite did if Rei were in Lita�s predicament. How ironic love could make them act so recklessly.

�No!� Again Mina objected stubbornly. �We are not going to sacrifice one of our teammates for another of our teammates. That would not solve our problem.� Not when the both of teammates needed each other so badly. Mina added in her head.

�Yeah. Our purpose was to bring all our friends safe,� Ami agreed. Lita closed her eyes in frustration and pain from her pounding head.

�Okay, if we don�t want to satisfy Ian�s demand, what exactly are we going to do?� Serena asked the question that nobody had the answer yet.

The room went silent for a few second when Zoisite opened his mouth. �Look, um�if we want to ambush his place, which we don�t know where, we have to exact the location first, right?� He saw several uncertainty nods, so he hastened his explanation. �What am I trying to say is, when Ian took Nephrite away, he opened a portal like Beryl used to do in our past life.�

Darien frowned as if he tried to remember his past life, which he couldn�t remember entirely yet. �Um�you mean the time when we got back from Moon because there was an attack on Earth?�

�Exactly.� Zoisite confirmed.

Kunzite let out a small chuckled which brought eight pairs of eyes staring at him. �I remember that day. Remember how we rushed forward without King Endymion�s consent and pushed Beryl back inside the portal?� Even Jadeite had to smile at that memory. �King Endymion was so furious when we got back.�

Jadeite�s smile abruptly vanished and he slowly lifted his head up in realization. �Are you planning to do what I thought you want to do?� He asked Zoisite.

�Yes, I did.�

Mina couldn�t take it anymore. All those talking about the past, which none of the Moon guardians and of course their princess knew what was that all about, made her wanted to scream. �Could you explain what in the world are you guys talking about?� Lita, Rei, Ami and Serena wore exactly the same scowl that made Zoisite wanted to laugh.

Kunzite looked surprised. �Don�t you all remember?� Then he looked apologetically at Serena. �I can�t understand if Serena doesn�t remember. She was after all wasn�t at that place when the incident happened but don�t the rest of you remember?�

It was Ami�s turn to look surprised. �Why should us? Were we at that place when that happened?� Ami looked at Rei questionably and Rei just lifted her shoulders.

�Not exactly. At that time, Beryl somehow managed to capture four of you and she came to Earth and started blackmailing by torturing you. We couldn�t stand it anymore and we-� Kunzite�s words were being cut by Ami.

�That was how you guys got in the dungeon in the middle of nowhere�� Ami said thoughtfully. �Using her own portal to get into her place.� Then she smiled as if she had remembered it at last. �Very clever to come out that plan in such a short period.�

�Ami? You�ve remembered? How? I still cannot capture that memory yet.� Mina asked.

�Never mind, Mina. I�ll tell you later.� Ami promised and Mina accepted that.

�Let me get this straight,� Lita said, silently ignoring the fact she also still couldn�t remember the past life incident. �You want to wait until Ian reappears once again and opens the portal so you can pushed him back to the other side of the portal?�

�Yes,� Zoisite said. �It might work. Since we cannot allocate Ian�s location because he is somewhere out this dimension, we can use the doorway between the two dimension that Ian created himself.�

�But to create his own portal between two dimensions requires a great power. A power as great as Metallia or greater,� Darien said with a reluctant admiration. �I would really like to know how Ian gets that kind of power.�

�Or how he was reborn. I thought Queen Serenity used her power to bring only us back.� Jadeite growled angrily.

�Who knows?� Zoisite shrugged his massive shoulders. �Beryl was reborn�but of course it was Queen Metalia�s work.� Zoisite answered to himself.

Serena frowned slightly as if she was thinking something bad. She glanced at Lita�s face and saw her determination to along with them. Nothing scared her more than the thought of losing one of her friends. �Lita, I forbid you to go,� Serena said.

Lita whirled her head to Serena, looking so angry. She had expected Serena or Mina said something like that. That was another reason why she didn�t want to tell her friends about her illness. Serena would treat her as if she was the fragile porcelain that ready to break anytime if she did too many vigorous movements. �I want to go. Don�t forbid me.� Her lips were tightened into a thin line.

Serena sighed. She knew that Lita could be so stubborn, but Lita was suffering from the deadly illness. What if the headache attacked when she was fighting? �I would not let you.� Serena stood up and walked away. Lita�s murderous glare followed her until Serena vanished behind the door.

Lita stood up and started to walk determinably towards Serena. She would be damned if she let Serena had her way like some snob princess. She would make Serena understood how exactly she thought about her treatment even if she had to strangle her. Then she felt a hand grabbed her wrist and when she turned around, she saw it was Kunzite.

�Don�t worry Lita. We need you to tag along so Ian thinks that we want to give you away. Regardless to what Serena said about you shouldn�t come with us, with your presence I think Ian�s guard wouldn�t be so alert.� Kunzite said. He then looked at Darien and curved up a grin. �I hope you can help me by telling Serena that Lita will come with us?�

Darien frowned slightly. The image of Serena shouting at him wasn�t very pleasant but Kunzite had got a point there. If they were supposed to make Ian thought that they are actually going to give Lita away, Lita had to be there. �I supposed so.�

�Great�� Kunzite started to say something when Darien interrupted him again.

�Give me something that can help me soothe Serena when she started to scream to me, then I�ll tell her on your behalf.� Darien refused to let Kunzite off the hook so easily. Darien grinned when he saw Kunzite was actually stammered.

�Um�tell her that�um�Lita isn�t actually going with us. She�s just coming along as a prove��

�What!� Lita turned her body fully facing Kunzite. �I�m just coming along as a prove? What do I look to you? A living evident?!�

�No! I mean�� Kunzite looked at his prince, silently asking for help but Darien just grinned and gave him a small wave as he walked toward the door where Serena had gone.

* * * * * *

After the meeting had adjourned, Jadeite knew he needed to get out from this luxurious penthouse and got out from all those talking about Nephrite. The guilt deepened as Kunzite recalled what had happened earlier. He couldn�t easily forgive himself for his carelessness. Therefore, Jadeite reached out for his coat and walked out so abruptly as if he would explode if he stayed there any longer.

Rei frowned uneasily. It was that time when Rei realized how deep Jadeite�s guilt ran. She had thought Jadeite was being ridiculous for bearing that kind of guilt. When she tried to reached for him earlier, he had shut himself from the outside, even herself. She felt kind of hurt and rejected. And she unintentionally paid back for all the pain that Jadeite cause for his rejection by not saying a word to him ever since she walked in. Now, she wondered whether her revenge was worth it.

Looking at Jadeite throughout the meeting, watching and feeling the hurt and guilt that he had borne, Rei knew her revenge wasn�t worth it. How selfish she was to think about her own hurt when Jadeite was the one who was hurting the most. Rei didn�t know whether she should follow him, offering all her compassion or left Jadeite alone, sorting his own emotion. Rei wanted to go with Jadeite but when she recalled the hurt she felt when Jadeite rejected her earlier, she didn�t think that she could take another blow of emotion like that.

So, Rei stood up and shrugged into her own coat and walked the opposite way that Jadeite took. This time it wasn�t anger or hurt that drove Rei from Jadeite, it was compassion. Though Rei couldn�t really comprehend the man that she had learnt to love, she knew that once the man rejected you, you should leave him alone in his thought.

Through the busy street of Tokyo, everything looked normal but in truth, their life was in chaos. Ever since, those generals arrived in their life, their life turned upside down, especially the guardians. Rei smiled softly. Look at that way the generals played havoc with the guardians� heart. Look at the way Jadeite played havoc with my heart. No man had ever made her so hurt and angry and a mere look at him, totally transformed her emotion into unbearable love. Rei then arrived at the park, where a small fountain was built in the corner of the deserted park. She took a seat at the wooden bench beside the fountain and was contented by just watching beautifully organized flowers and listening to the soft sound of running water.

Jadeite was walking along the brick road that led to the park where Rei was. He was so deep in his thought that he didn�t really aware where he was going. Suddenly, a glimpse of a woman figure made him abruptly stopped his walking and for a moment he couldn�t breathe when he saw the most captivating moment.

As if the goddess herself had flew down from heaven and intentionally to take a bath in the forbidden pool, Rei took Jadeite�s breath away. With her black knee-length skirt neatly spread around her, she supported her chin with her hand as she watched the fountain. She looked so serene as the wind blew softly her raven-colored hair, teasing her soft cheeks. It was amazing how she could affect him like this after all these months. It was as if watching her for the first time. Like a moth drawn irresistibly to the flame, Jadeite walked towards her silently.

It was when Jadeite sat beside her did Rei acknowledged his presence. The need of vengeance was still live in her heart even it wasn�t burning as hot as before. She turned her head slightly towards the man beside her and turned back at the fountain. They sat there silent for a few moments until Jadeite couldn�t the silent anymore. He slid his fingers around Rei�s wrist and pulled her softly so, she was facing him instead some damn fountain.

�What does the fountain has that I don�t that make you looking at it instead of me?� Jadeite softly demanded, unwilling to be ignored any longer.

�It welcomes people that come near it!� Rei hissed back, despite of what she had told herself about compassion. She tried to pull back her wrist but Jadeite�s grasp was tight and possessive.

Jadeite immediately knew why Rei had become so withdrawn ever since she stepped inside his house. He thought it was because Rei was worried about Lita�s health, judging the way she sat beside her instead of him. He had never thought that Rei was hurting from his rejection earlier. He was so deep in his guilt that he knew he couldn�t see Rei at that time. He didn�t want Rei to see him so vulnerable, not now�not ever�

But he was only being shut away from Rei for a few moments and the loneliness hurt. He had turned away from Rei ever since Nephrite was taken away. He remembered when Rei ceaselessly called for him and how heartless he was not to even answer her! The word sorry hovered on his lips but he had never really apologized before. The awkwardness of doing it was so intense.

Jadeite lowered their hands until they touched the seat of the wooden bench and released his grip on Rei�s wrist and saw Rei�s lavender eyes fell from his eyes to her wrist where his rough fingers had touched. He slowly and suggestively slid his fingers up to her elbow. The texture of her smooth and silky skin, which was completely the opposite of his rough and callous palm, sent jolts of shivers. Jadeite watched Rei�s eyes slowly followed wherever his fingers went. Whether it was intentional or not, Jadeite didn�t know but he thought she was looking so seductive when her eyes went into smoky dark purple as they were looking at his fingers. He thought he was the one who experienced the desire, then he realized Rei was feeling it too because he could hear her shallow breaths.

A single touch wasn�t enough for both of past-life lovers. Jadeite resumed his journey. A fluttery feeling that Rei felt was earth shattering and when it stopped at the soft spot under her ear, Rei felt a wave of disappointment washed her. She wanted him to touch her�to kiss her�to tell her how much he loved her. They had grown apart these days and Rei wanted to know whether the feeling that Jadeite had felt towards her was still burning or not. Rei watched Jadeite�s sapphire blue eyes darkened in desire as he watched intently the spot where his fingers had touched and the weigh of doubt over Jadeite�s feelings vanished suddenly. Rei could feel Jadeite slowly nibbled her red-blood earring and suddenly the urge to have Jadeite kissed her there was so intense that her lips trembled slightly. Suddenly, she felt quite embarrassed by her reaction to Jadeite�s simple touches. Damn him for making her like this! Rei hastily bit her lower lips to stop them from trembling.

Jadeite knew what Rei wanted and he wanted it too. Then, without warning Jadeite lowered his head and Rei instinctively tipped her head away, giving him a greater access to the private spot. As his hot lips touched her hidden neck, Rei could feel a rush of shiver ran up through her whole body. She reached out for Jadeite�s hair and slid both of her hands through the thick golden mane, pressing his head closer to the spot he wanted so much. Encouraged by her response, Jadeite pulled her to his lap and smiled when he heard her gasps. He didn�t whether the gasps were from desire or surprise when he pulled her like that.

With his arms closed possessively around Rei�s small body, Jadeite shifted his lips from her scented neck to her cherry-red lips. He kissed her as if she had never been kissed before. He felt so protective when he felt her soft and small hands touched him. Rei cupped Jadeite�s strong jaws, as Jadeite tried to get closer. The fierce love that they shared was too much for them to bear. Both of them were so deeply affected by the kiss that when they finally parted, Jadeite�s breath was labored and Rei�s lips were swollen.

For a moment they were just staring at each other, couldn�t find the words to describe the fierce emotion that they had just felt before. Then, Jadeite realized Rei�s beautiful lavender eyes were laced with shinning tears. Even she was disheveled from his questing hands and her eyes were drenched with tears, Rei could still make his heart beat fast with her beauty. He lowered her until she sat so closed beside him. Jadeite pushed softly her chin up and smoothed away the strands of her dark hair from her still-flush cheeks.

�Why tears, Rei?� Jadeite asked softly. At this moment, the tenderness he felt for this woman was unbearable and Lita�s words suddenly echoed through his mind. Imagine you are in Nephrite�s place and Rei was in mine. Would you do the same thing?

�I�I don�t know,� Rei looked down. With all kind of intense emotions she had felt whenever Jadeite kissed her, she needed to release them. She wasn�t expecting tears. She loved this man so much that no words exist to express it and when he kissed that way, giving and taking so fiercely, she knew without a doubt that their love was burning hotter than before. Rei slowly lifted her head to meet his. �It�s because�I�It just that�� She lifted her fingers to Jadeite�s temple where his hair softly teased her fingers. She did that because she couldn�t stop touching him, as if she tried to assure herself that the man in front of her was real. The feelings that she was feeling were real. �I�ve never felt this so much before��

Jadeite felt his heart tightened painfully. He know exactly what did she mean by so much. She was feeling it. He was feeling it. Both of them were feeling it. He started to say something when so much choked the words. He just smiled as he drew her closed to his heart to prove how much she affected her.

I knew. Rei thought as she kissed Jadeite�s broad chest where his heart was beating. She knew because his heart was beating so rapid�

* * * * * *