*screeches* What the heck just happened to my Hotmail
account?! I swear only 5 minutes ago it was all normal
looking and now... *faints dead away* It's BLUE!
And... and... funky looking! *faints again* I cannot
adjust to change properly. I was devastated when the
local grocery store changed from A&P to Waldbaums ^^;;

Anyhoo, onto the ficcie!

Healer
Chapter 19
Author: Patch
E-mail: patchkhan1@h...
	kittiekat90@y...
Rated: PG-13


Insert standard disclaimer here.

	"What?!" The angry screech echoed across
the dark cavern of the large cave. Odin stood calmly, 
with an almost bored expression on his face. Flicking
a
piece of non-existing lint off his uniform, he
repeated
what he had already said once.
	"The Prince has found the Moon chit and
they are now happily tucked away at the Earth Palace."
	Beryl flung a flaming ball of fire at the wall 
behind Odin, just barely missing his head by a few
inches. "I'm not hard of hearing, you fool!" she
hissed, 
stalking up to him. Grabbing him by the neck, she 
slammed him against the black rock of the wall with 
superhuman strength. "You promised me that Serenity 
would never be a problem. You swore that I would 
never have to hear of her again. You gave me an oath
that stated Serenity as being dead to the world! So 
how is she alive and well and happily tucked away
with Endymion?!" She slammed the man against the 
wall again.
	Odin coughed slightly before speaking.
"If my Queen would be so gracious as to let me
down, I may be able to formulate a new plan." As 
quickly as her hand had clamped onto his neck,
just as quickly it was gone, leaving Odin to catch his
balance once his feet hit the ground. Tugging at his 
collar and feeling not one bit of discomfort, he 
watched Beryl walk away from him.
	"I curse the day that you joined our 
forces," Beryl spat, her back still turned to the ex-
Lieutenant. "Having you untouchable does nothing
to calm my ire. I can only wait with impatience until 
the day your pact with the great Metalia is broken."
	"And that won't happen as I've assured
you a hundred times," Odin replied in a bored tone.
"When the Princess was taken by her Prince, she
was near dead. She will never be the same again, 
only a shell of her former self."
	Beryl whirled on him, her blood red
eyes flaming with hate. "I wouldn't be so confident
when I speak, Lieutenant," she emphasized the last
word with a sneer, enjoying the way the man
stiffened. "You do not think that there are other 
beings like Metalia? Equal in power? Filled with 
goodness and purity? I assure you, there are and I
know that they will see to it that Serenity lives in
happiness."
	"So why bother then? What is our fight 
for?"
	"You idiot!" Beryl screeched. "Didn't I 
just say that these 'forces' of good are only equal in
strength?" She smiled, a cold and cruel upturning of
her lips. "All things fall to the darkness. In the
end,
it is the side of the darkness that will be
victorious. 
You can easily see it in the days of winter. The
nights
are long and cold, while the light is only allowed to
show itself for a few hours. It is proof that the
blackness of evil is better than the white of good."
	Odin wisely kept his mouth shut in
pointing out that in the season of summer, it was 
exactly the opposite.
*~*

	Serenity watched as the door closed 
quietly after Endymion. When she heard the sound 
of his footsteps faded, she allowed herself to
collapse 
onto the plush carpet, her head in her arms and her
silver hair all about her. Her left hand formed a
fist, 
as she cried, and she hit it against the floor in
complete misery.
	It had been so hard to push him away. 
She had desperately wanted to believe his words but
the nagging doubts in her mind hadn't allowed for 
that. She kept seeing herself on the day he had 
pushed her away, with no explanations whatsoever.
There was that fear that he would do it again. There
was something that kept telling her that his feelings 
for her came out of duty and responsibility. He felt 
sorry for all that she had gone through and to make 
up for it, he was professing his 'love' for her. That 
was all.
	But she didn't want that kind of love! 
And what if Endymion really had meant his words?
The small thought carried crushing guilt and if it
were
true, she hoped he would find some way to come 
back to her… because she had just pushed him
away again. Raising her head, she gazed upon the 
wooden door through a watery world. "Endymion,"
she sobbed, "I love you so much."
	A glow surrounded her, one that she
didn't notice. Slowly lowering her head back to her
arms, she continued to cry. Her tears subsided as 
the glow embraced her, bringing with it a wave of 
peace and calm. A slight wind, from where she 
didn't know, stirred the tendrils of the hair framing
her face, cooling her and soothing her. Slowly her 
eyes shut and she fell asleep, not moving from her
position.  

	Endymion stood leaning against the 
wall, right next to the doors of Serenity's room. He
heard her crying and felt his entire being ache with
anguish. He wanted to hold her, comfort her and
love her. But she didn't want him anywhere near
her. And like the gallant Prince he was, he had 
obeyed her wishes and walked away.
	But here he was again, hearing her 
muffled cries so clearly, that each sob was like a
stab in the heart. And then Endymion heard her
words, the ones that caused his heart to turn over 
and his stomach to drop. They were softly 
spoken and filled with sadness, yet he still felt a 
spurt of joy surge through him. But as soon as she
began to cry again, the short-lived happiness was 
gone and the need to comfort her returned twice-
fold. 
	He turned so that one side of his face 
was against one of the doors. Closing his eyes, he 
placed his hand against the wood and concentrated.
If he couldn't see her, he would reach out to her in 
other ways. He came upon the wall of pain that was
her presence and surrounded it with his own aura. 
He could sense the way her breathing slowed and
knew when she had finally given in to sleep. After 
a few moments of silence he placed his hand on the
crystal doorknob and slowly opened the door.
	Slipping inside, he saw her crumpled form
on the floor and cautiously walked over to her,
crouching down. When he was sure her breathing 
was deep and consistent, a sign that she was fully 
asleep, he turned her over and pulled her into his 
arms.
	Standing up, he smiled grimly as he
realized that he had already been in this sort of 
position once. He felt her nuzzling her face against 
his chest and walked over to her bed quickly before
she got too comfortable in his arms. He wasn't too
sure he would be able to let her go if she did.
	Laying her down on top of the silky 
white sheets, he straightened and stared down
at Serenity. Her face was tearstained but she 
still looked beautiful to him and he knew that 
every time he had to look at her, she would take
his breath away. She had that effect on him. 
Bending down, he cupped her cheek and placed
a kiss on her forehead. "Now I know, love," he 
whispered. "Whatever it is that's keeping you
from me, I'll fight it." His lips drifted to hers and
he kissed them softly. "We will be happy, 
together."
	Straightening again, he carefully
pulled the sheets from underneath her and 
covered her body. Then, squeezing her cold
hand, he lifted it to his lips, then placed it on her 
stomach and left the room.
	  
*^*
	The remaining two days went by as 
Endymion had predicted when Serenity had made 
her announcement. They flew. She avoided 
Endymion as much as she could and she didn't care
if the whole Palace knew it. It was best this way,
she told herself… and her friends. They just couldn't
understand why she kept her distance from someone
she loved. Time and time again Serenity found
herself defending her decision.
	"But Serenity, you never struck me as the
type to hold grudges for so long."
	"Makoto, it's not just a grudge!" Serenity
spun away from her friend in exasperation. They were 
in one of the training rooms of the Palace and the two
had just finished a hand-to-hand combat session. 
Serenity had requested Makoto teach her because 
once she returned to the Moon, she had every intention
of slipping into her old routine of helping her
people. 
She would become Healer once more and she would
be prepared for anything while she worked in the 
villages and that included night thieves.
	"That's exactly what it is, no matter how 
hard you try to deny it. You're still upset over that
time
when he turned you away. But he made a mistake and 
now the poor man is doing everything he can to make
up for it. Why can't you forgive him so that the two
of 
you can get on with your lives?"
	All the while that Makoto was talking, 
Serenity had closed her eyes and slowly formed an
energy ball between her hands. Makoto had no idea 
she had done so, since Serenity was turned away from
her. She whirled around and shot the ball of white
light
at Makoto as she spoke, raising her eyebrows. "Poor
man? I can't agree with that." She smiled slightly
when 
Makoto was thrown onto her back on the matted floor
by the force of the power. 
	Breathing heavily, the brunette stared at the 
high ceiling above her and then grinned. Lifting her
head
to look at her Princess, she raised an eyebrow. "And 
just why can't you agree?" She took the hand that 
Serenity offered and stood up. "I honestly believe
your 
haughtiness is a cover for something else that you're
hiding. I think you're afraid, Serenity."
	That statement had Serenity losing her smile
in an instant, the light twinkling in her eyes to dim.

"You're right, Makoto," she said quietly. She looked
at
her hands and then back at her friend. "Let me ask you
this, Makoto, you've probably shared many kisses with 
Nephrite, have you not?" She didn't wait for an
answer.
"Tell me how you would feel if, after all the kisses
you 
shared, after coming upon the knowledge that you 
cannot live without him and then sharing that
knowledge
with him, he humiliates you by turning away, with no 
reasonable explanation!" Serenity's voice had risen at
the end and by then, tears had gathered at her eyes
and she tried to blink them away. How she hated
falling prey to the weakness that was her heart! But
she had not finished.
	"Give me one good reason why I should 
not be wary of Endymion and his affection for me? 
How easy would it be for you to so readily accept 
Nephrite back after he shattered your heart to 
pieces? A part of my being died on the day Endymion
made his decision. What would you have me do? 
Welcome him with open arms?" She stared at the
silent woman for a moment longer and then left the
room.
	Makoto stared at the place Serenity had 
stood, feeling as though the floor had been swept from
under her feet. She had not known that Serenity was
suffering so much. The pain in her friend's eyes
seemed never ending. And there was nothing she 
could do to help.
	"And what are you doing staring off into
space?"
	Makoto gasped in surprise at the sound 
of the voice and put a smile on her face when she saw
Nephrite walk in. Walking into his arms, she hugged 
him and then tilted her head back to look at him. 
	"What's wrong?" he asked quietly, 
running a hand through her hair. She closed her eyes,
enjoying the pleasurable sensations his fingers
caused.
When he kissed her softly on the lips, she opened her
eyes.
	"I love you," she whispered. He smiled
and kissed her again, lingering this time before 
answering her.
	"And I you. Now tell me what's wrong. It's
Serenity isn't it?"
	She nodded and smiled sadly. "I wish
there was something we could do. But Minako told me
just yesterday that we shouldn't interfere. That
Serenity 
and Endymion have to mend the rift between them 
without our help." She rested her head against his 
shoulder. "But it's so hard," she murmured. "It's so 
hard to just stand aside and see the hurt."
	Nephrite squeezed her waist reassuringly
and turned his head to kiss her forehead. "I know, 
love. The only thing we can do is wait patiently.
Things
will fall back into place and your Princess and my 
Prince will drift back towards each other. All will be
well, something like this just takes time."
	Makoto nodded slowly, fingering the
material of his uniform. She suddenly stilled her hand
and looked at him with desperate eyes. "Promise me,
Nephrite."
	"Anything."
	"Promise me that you'll love me forever."
	Nephrite searched her eyes and saw the
fear she tried to hide. Kissing her softly, he
answered 
her. "I will never betray you."

*^*
	Minako was talking to Ami in the library 
of the Palace when she saw Kunzite walk past. She 
stopped in the middle of her sentence, forgetting
where she was for the moment.
	"Why don't you go talk to him instead of 
wasting your time with me?"
	Ami's gentle voice brought her back with 
a jolt and startled, Minako looked at her friend. 
"Wasting my time? I never waste my time when I talk
to you, Ami!"
	Ami suppressed a smile and pulled her
friend towards the doorway. "Well, right now you are.
We don't have much time here and you'd best clear
the air that hangs between you and Kunzite."
	"Clear the air? I don't know what you're 
talking about!" Minako protested even as she let
herself be dragged out into the hallway.
	"You know very well what I'm talking 
about. Now go find that man and speak to him!"
	Minako sighed dramatically. "Very well."
She then smiled slyly at her friend. "You wouldn't 
happen to have another reason for getting rid of me,
would you?"
	Ami's cheeks reddened in response and
Minako giggled, pushing her friend in the opposite 
direction. "Go on. Now you go find your man and 
speak to him also." She emphasized the word 'speak' 
and laughed outright when Ami closed her eyes in
embarrassment.
	"Only if you promise me that you'll do a 
lot more," Ami coughed a little, a twinkle in her
eyes,
"speaking than I."
	"Ami!"
	The girls looked at each other for a 
moment before laughing. Parting ways, they both 
went off to find in search of 'their' men. Minako's
smiled faded as she walked. Kunzite wasn't exactly
hers per se. It was something to be laughed at,
actually.
Her friends had all gone much further than a platonic 
friendship with their respective Generals but she?
She,
the Senshi of Love and Beauty wasn't even sure if 
Kunzite felt anything more than friendship for her.
She
laughed a little bitterly at herself. She just
couldn't feel 
those sort of vibes from him. They were just friends, 
apparently. But Minako would do anything to make
it more.
	"Minako?"
	She raised her eyes and didn't even
realize she had gasped.	Kunzite stood before her, a 
concerned expression on his face. "Is something the
matter?" He asked.
	She forced a smile to her face and shook 
her head. "I'm fine. Everything's just… fine."
	He raised an eyebrow at her answer. "It 
doesn't appear to be. Would you like to talk about
it?"
	"No, it's alright. It's nothing of importance,
really." She wished he would leave the matter alone. 
How was she supposed to tell him what was troubling
her? Oh Kunzite, I love you but I don't know if you
feel the same way. Would you mind telling me if you 
do? It would make my life so much better!
	She snorted in disgust at herself. Oh yes, 
that would really go over well. He would probably 
turn and run. Or worse, laugh. That would kill her.
	"Come Minako, tell me what's wrong. I
can see it in your face that something's bothering
you. 
We are friends, are we not? You can confide in me."
	Friends. How she hated that word so 
suddenly. "I don't have to tell you everything that is
on
my mind," she snapped. "We're only friends 
up to a certain point, so just leave me alone!"
	 She attempted to brush past him, but he 
took hold of her arm and pulled her back so that she
was standing in front of him again. 
	"What exactly do you mean by that?"
	She swallowed a lump in her throat and 
fought the rising tears that threatened to surely make
her look like a whimpering fool. "You can take it any 
which way you want," she whispered fiercely.
	"No. I want to know from you just what
you meant. Clarify your words for me."
	She made a sound of impatience and 
looked at him with stony eyes. "Fine. You'd like me
to explain? When I said that, I meant, after a certain
point our friendship becomes this," she suddenly
pushed herself up against him, her hands going up to
the back of his head, bringing his face down to hers.
She tilted her head sideways and kissed his firm lips.
She hadn't expected him to respond so quickly. She
hadn't expected to feel his tongue seeking entrance
and she hadn't expected to respond to such an action.
But open her mouth she did and the kiss quickly
stirred the flames between them into a roaring fire of
desire and passion. 
	His arms had crushed her to him and he 
had slowly walked backwards a couple of steps until
he leaned against a wall, never breaking contact with 
her. The kisses between them were hot and open and
would have caused a scandal had anyone been nearby. 
But there was no one to see them and they lost 
themselves in a world of nothing but pleasure. They 
were soon forced to part, however, Minako lowering 
her head so that she could rest her forehead against
Kunzite's chest.
	She turned her head so that her ear was 
against his heart and she was amazed to hear it beat 
so rapidly. Could there be a chance…?
	"I want this, Minako."
	She gasped at the sound of his voice; at 
the way it came out so huskily, sending shivers 
throughout her body. She felt his fingers tangle in
her
hair and then pull her head back so that she could
look 
at him. Her eyes widened when she say the way his
normally calm silver eyes had changed to a smoky 
gray. They were filled with desire… for her. 
	"What do you want?" she breathed, her
mouth suddenly gone dry.
	"You. I want you… need you. I love you."
	Her heart left her. It zoomed upwards into
the heavens on wings made of pure joy. If possible,
her eyes widened even more, her mouth dropping open.
Just as quickly, she closed it. Oh, she had heard
those
three words so many times from many members of the 
male species but coming from Kunzite, it seemed so 
very different. It just felt right. But still, there
were those 
few nagging doubts at the back of her mind. "Are you 
sure?" she whispered, wondering why she just didn't 
grab what he so easily offered. 
	He chuckled in response and teased her 
lips, nipping at her bottom lip. "I've never met a
woman
like you who has been responsible for bringing chaos
into my inner world like you have. Your beauty, your 
personality, your charm, everything about you has
affected me like no other. To let you go would make
me a fool… like Endymion." He mumbled that last bit 
under his breath but Minako still heard him. Giggling,

she snuggled into his warmth as his arms came up 
around her, feeling deliriously happy.
	"Maybe we could end your Prince's
foolishness. I hate to see a love like theirs' end
here
like this. I do believe I have a few ideas that could
be
beneficial to all of us. Would you care to listen?"
She
smiled up at him, dazzling him.
	He bent his head towards hers. "Of 
course. But first, I must put my newfound happiness to

use." And saying so, he captured her lips with his,
not allowing speech for a long while.

*^*
	Endymion walked the quiet halls of the
Palace alone. He was heading for the transport room
because today was the last time he would see his 
Princess. Serenity and her Senshi would be leaving 
Earth and he could only wonder at when he would
ever see any of them again.   
	Seeing the doors up ahead that would 
open up to the room, he felt his heart quicken despite
the heaviness that lay on it. He tried to imagine what

she was thinking. Undoubtedly she would be most 
happy to take her leave of this place. She probably
had enough bad memories from this planet to last 
her a lifetime or two. 
	Two guards stood in front of the doors
and they moved aside, opening them to let him
through. Everyone was already there; his parents, 
his Generals, the Senshi and Serenity. She had
turned quickly when he entered and he wasn't able
to decipher the emotions he saw in her eyes. They 
were gone before he even had a chance to delve 
deeper.
	He nodded his head and walked over 
to his parents. The Queen had her hand placed on
Serenity's arm and he found himself curious as to 
what they had been talking about.
	"I apologize for the delay," he said, 
casting a glance to Serenity, who had averted her 
eyes once his gaze touched her face.
	"It's quite alright," his mother replied. "I 
was just encouraging Serenity to come back for a 
visit. Despite the bad times spent here, the Earth
has so much to offer and I, for one, will miss
Serenity
very much."
	Serenity raised her eyes to the Queen 
and smiled, unable to stop the tears from pooling at
her eyes. She hugged the older woman tightly. "I too
will miss you very much. Please come and visit us 
also. Mother will be so happy to see you." She 
stepped back and looked at the King. "Thank you
for your hospitality, Your Highness."
	The Senshi moved onto the platform 
and Serenity looked back at them before turning 
back around to Endymion. Kunzite had whispered 
something quickly in his ear but now they looked at 
each other. There was a moment of awkwardness 
before Serenity broke it.
	"Goodbye, Endymion." The words 
were whispered but Endymion's ears pricked at
the longing he could hear behind them. She took a 
step back but before she could step onto the 
platform, he quickly came forward and took hold 
of Serenity's hand.
	Ignoring her gasp, he came to stand in
front of her, ideas whirling around in his mind. 
Bending his head towards her ear, he murmured 
words that made Serenity's eyes go wide. Then,
in a louder voice he said, "Goodbye, Princess."
 	He stepped back, unable to stop a 
smile from forming on his face. He felt a tinge of
lightness expand within him. Someone set the 
controls of the transporter and a mist began to 
surround the group of women.
	Rei, who stood to the right behind
Serenity, looked at Jaedite one last time. He 
stared back at her, his expression a bit troubled.
She could see that he was worried and bit her lip 
in uncertainty, knowing that her thoughts were
the same as his. When would they see each other
again?
	The mist rose up around them and she
knew there wasn't much time left. Throwing all
caution to the wind, in a sudden and impulsive 
move, she grabbed the blonde-haired General, 
pulled him to her, and kissed him.
	He was in shock for only a moment
before he kissed her back ardently. She melted
against him as his arms clasped her to him as close
as they could. But she was on the platform and he 
wasn't and in another moment, Jaedite felt nothing
but cool air against his lips.
	They were gone.


*^*End*^*
You like? You like? ^^ E-mail me then and tell
me what you liked! And yes, I am an agent of 
Satan, but my duties are largely ceremonial.
o.O;;
Just for you Redrose!

Lavender
http://www.geocities.com/patch_kana/