This chapter is dedicated to Lazuli 'cause
hehe, she's just a cool kinda chica. Hi Laz!
Did I surprise you? Did I, did I?
As always, a special thank you to everyone
who writes to me.
Enjoy reading!
Patch:-)(-:

Healer
Chapter 7
Author: Patch
E:mail: patchkhan1@hotmail.com
	kittiekat90@yahoo.com
Editor: Rei Kinneas
Rated: PG

Insert Standard Disclaimer Here.

	So this was it. If the Silver Crystal
did not fulfill expectations then all was lost.
Serenity stared down at Endymion, her
breathing shallow and forced. She was alone
in the tent, and she rubbed her damp hands on
the side of her cloak. She realized she had
hardly taken it off in these past few days. Oh
she bathed, changed and went outside many
times but the black cloak had become a part
of who she was. The soldiers knew to keep
their distance when she walked by, hood
covering her face, the cape hiding completely
the finery she wore underneath.
	The Generals had done a very
good job in keeping her identity unknown and
thankfully there had been no recurring
episodes with Beryl. The woman had
disappeared as mysteriously as she had come
and she had even overheard one of the
soldiers say that it had been too quiet. She
didn't mind it at all. It had given her a chance
to see to some of the other injured and most
everyone who had been hurt in the last battle
were either fully recovered or on their way
to good health.
	And now Endymion was left.
Serenity breathed in deeply and placed her
hands on his torso, one of them over his wound.
She hoped the mixture she had fed him
yesterday had completed its course. She stared
a bit longer and then, leaning down, she gently
placed her lips on top of his. They were cold
and unmoving naturally but if this was all she
could have, then so be it. Lifting her head she
placed a kiss on his forehead and then
straightened. She closed her eyes and called
forth the power of the Crystal that rested inside
of her.
	She felt the energy uncurl from
somewhere deep within her and she knew the
moment that it spread from her hands to
Endymion's body. It became warm, hot almost
and she knew that soon she would be weak
with exhaustion, more so because this was a
fully-grown man's body that needed healing.
	She could feel his body resisting
this invasion of light but she pushed on,
pressing her hands more firmly. The thing, the
presence that had affected his body began to
withdraw and she smiled unconsciously at this
victory. The Crystal was winning. She was
winning.
	Just a little bit more, she thought.
She began to tremble and she lifted her head
upwards as the last of whatever energy she
had poured from her into Endymion. Words
tumbled from her lips as she fell forward. "I
love you, Endymion."
	She gasped for breath, her hands
clutching Endymion's arms. They were warm,
she realized. They were warm with life. She
turned her head and looked at his face and
saw the slight movement of his eyelashes.
Goddess of the Moon, he was awakening!
She pulled herself up, a cry of joy bursting
from her lips.
	She hardly noticed the four Generals
rushing in, their apprehensive faces hiding the
hope in their eyes. She leaned over him and
held his face in her hands, the pad of her
thumb brushing across his cheekbone.
	"Prince Endymion, open your eyes.
Please, open your eyes."
	Pure happiness filled her when his
lids lifted, showing the dark blue irises
underneath. He looked at her confusedly and
then his gaze shifted to the Generals' happy faces.
His eyes moved back to her and in the next
moment he was trying to sit up. Serenity sat back,
removing her hands as Kunzite helped him. He
coughed once before looking at all of them
again.
	"Are all of you alright?" He croaked.
"I remember the attack, it was a surprise..."
	"We're all fine, Endymion," Nephrite
answered. "Except for you. You've been laid up
in your tent for more than a week now."
	"Who knew a prince could be so
lazy?" Jaedite said, grinning.
	Everyone chuckled and even Endymion
smiled. "I feel like I've grown mold."
	"Don't worry, we've washed any
trace of it off of you," Zoicite informed him.
	Endymion managed a small laugh and
then lifted a hand to run it through his hair. "It is
good to be back in the land of the living. What
happened to me?" It was then that he noticed
Serenity and any light in his eyes disappeared.
She felt him go stiff and everyone fell silent.
	"You took a sword into your side,"
she answered when no one else did. "Nothing
could be done because the infection that resulted
was caused by something... non-physical. And
that's where I came in," she smiled slightly but
he did not return it.
	"Who are you?"
	"Aren't you hungry?" Zoicite
suddenly asked. "You must be starving because
you ate little and we had to feed you, rather...
Healer fed you."
	"Is that your name? Healer?"
	Serenity glanced at Kunzite before
smiling brightly and getting up. "I should go
make some broth. He still can't eat any solid
foods, I'll go make something he can digest."
	She walked away quickly, and
pulling up her hood, left the tent. Silence fell,
but Nephrite broke it quickly.
	"Many of the soldiers have
recovered and are now waiting their orders
from their Prince. Everyone misses your
usual growling and barking so you better be
up and about soon."
	"I do not bark nor do I growl,"
Endymion said good-naturedly. He looked
down the length of his body and realized he
was quite naked underneath the sheets. "Well,
am I supposed to sit here as bare as the day I
was born or can I get some clothes for
modesty's sake? And get me a bath, I must
smell like mold also."
	Laughing, Zoicite walked away
and came back with undergarments, black
pants and a black tuneic. Jaedite went
out and called for a basin of water to be
brought in. When Endymion had washed and
dressed, he sat back down on his cot and
gripped the edges of it.
	"It's amazing, I don't feel like I've
taken a sword. I feel quite... normal. What
did you give me, Zoicite?"
	"Actually," the General began
nervously, "it was not me, but Healer."
	And as if on cue, she walked in, a
bowl filled with steaming broth in her hands.
The Generals moved aside so she could
stand in front of Endymion.
	"Oh, you're almost ready to stand!
I think maybe you should rest a bit more and-"
	"I'm perfectly fine. How did you
heal me?"
	"Oh, well," she looked over at
Kunzite who nodded his head. "I used the
Silver Crystal," she said and left it at that.
	"The Silver Crystal? I only know
of one person who has such a thing-" he
stopped abruptly, his eyes going wide for
just an instant before narrowing. "Remove
your hood," he ordered.
	Unsure of what he was going to do,
Serenity gave the bowl she was holding to
Jaedite before she dropped it out of sheer
nervousness. She brought up her hands and
pulled back the black hood. She heard
Endymion inhale sharply and felt her heart
pick up speed.
	"You're from the Moon. Queen
Serenity, no, you're not her. Who are you?"
	She closed her eyes before
answering. "I-I am her daughter, Princess
Serenity."
	He released his breath in a rush.
"You brought her here to this place?"
	"We had to, Endymion," Kunzite
said. "Zoicite could do nothing for you and
Nephrite mentioned the Healer but at the
time we did not know it would be her. It
was necessary that she be brought here."
	"By force?"
	The Generals looked at each other
and then at Serenity. She answered hesitantly.
	"Y-Yes, by force. But I did not
mind once I found out how desperately you
needed me," she hastened to add.
	"I did not need you," came the
quick and curt reply.
	Serenity drew back in hurt. He was
so insensitive and unfeeling! She had saved
his life and he had yet to give her any sort of thanks.
	"Leave us alone," Endymion said to
the other Generals and they did so, walking out,
giving her reassuring glances as they left. She
watched them leave and then turned back to sit
on her own cot. Unconsciously she wrung her
hands in her lap, an action that did not go
unnoticed by Endymion.
	"I will not bite you. You can relax."
	"I know. It's just that..."
	"You're afraid of me."
	"Yes! I mean no! I mean, oh never
mind! Is there anything you would like to know?"
she asked finally, frustrated at herself.
	"Of course. I am curious about you,
but first, let's see if I can stand." He pushed
himself off the cot and stood. He took one step
forward and wobbled. Serenity rushed to his
side and placed a hand on his chest to steady
him. He grabbed her hand and turned his head
to her, their gazes locking. They stood that
way for a moment neither realizing where they
were.
	Serenity wanted to avert her gaze
but found that she couldn't. His eyes were just
so intense, she could've sworn they stared into
her soul and then further, picking out all of her
secrets. It was unnerving to think about and she
broke their stare and her eyes moved downward
and rested on his lips. She wondered if he had
felt the kiss she had given him and she hoped
that maybe, just maybe she would get to kiss
him again, while he was awake and well.
	"Thank you," he said quietly and
moved away.
	"You're welcome." She sunk back
down, blushing furiously and waited for his
first question. She did not have to wait long.
	"How did my Generals come to
know about you?"
	"I have two identities on the Moon.
At court I am known as Princess Serenity,
heir to the Moon Kingdom's throne and out in
the villages I am know as Healer, a person
who can help those with serious ailments.
Few know of my double identity, it is not
something I would like known for obvious
reasons."
	"I see. So you are quite famous
then, back home."
	"Yes, in a way."
	He walked up to her and leaned
down, his face so close to hers that she could
feel his breath fan across her skin. "Princess, I
do believe that one of the Crystal's many
abilities is teleportation. Why didn't you
escape when you had the chance?"
	"How could I? I couldn't leave you
here, sick and weak. It would not have been
right and I..." her voice faded. She could not
tell him any more than that. He would have
laughed in her face.
	"And you what?" When she didn't
answer, he straightened and sighed. "So now
you will go back home, will you not?"
	"Well, yes," she answered, her eyes
downcast. But she looked up quickly in the
next moment. "Not just yet though. Kunzite said
that you must be perfectly healthy before I can
leave and I intend to make sure you are... just
so that I don't have to be kidnapped again," she
ended, smiling. He did not return it again and
her own fell away. He was looking at her in
such a strange way, she would have given
anything to know what he was thinking.
	His hand reached down and lifted a
strand of her golden hair, fingering it. She
suppressed the shiver at his touch. "Princess,
do you have another reason for staying here?" he
asked.
	The question took her by surprise and
she spoke unthinkingly. "I wish to help you get
rid of Beryl and the evil within her."
	He stilled and dropped the strand.
"Absolutely not. How did you know about her?"
	"She came to this tent and accused
me of being an assassin. She threatened me but
Kunzite and the others came to my aid."
	Endymion cursed softly and sat
down heavily on his cot. "She's seen you then,
without the hood?" When Serenity nodded, he
shook his head, his lips set in an angry line.
"You're not safe anymore. It will not be long
before she figures out who you are, that
hairstyle of yours is a strong clue to your
identity. The Moon is the next piece of rock
she would like to conquer after Earth. Now
that she knows you're here..."
	"She will try to kill me," Serenity
finished for him. But oddly, she felt no
terrorizing fear. She knew she was not safe
here from the beginning but she also knew
that she was and would be protected.
Looking at Endymion's profile, she knew
that he would not let Beryl win so easily.
He was reliable and trustworthy and she
knew that if he was nearby, her life would
not be cut down so quickly. The knowledge
sent a spurt of emotion surging through her
and she would have proclaimed her love
for him right then and there had common
sense not shut up her baser instincts. But
she had to say something.
	"Endymion, I know I can trust
you, that is why I do not feel afraid of this
woman."
	He looked at her sharply. "Do
not lay your life in my hands so easily. I
am, after all a mere mortal and the scar
on my side will prove that."
	"I know that, but-"
	"I have to talk to my soldiers,"
he interrupted, getting up. "They need to
see for themselves that I am doing well.
Stay here, I will have a few of the
soldiers guard this tent."
	"They are already standing
outside, Endymion," she said, annoyed. He
dismissed her so easily as if she were a
servant and he had yet to say thank you! He
was being rude but she knew he hid a good
side, a side of him that she would see
whether he liked it or not!
	She watched him leave and
then flopped down backward onto her cot
and stared up at the tented ceiling. She
could hear his voice as he greeted the
soldiers and she smiled when she heard
their cheers. He was not only respected by
them, but she was quite sure that he was
also loved by his soldiers. Several times,
when she had walked around outside, she
had been stopped and asked about his
health. His soldiers cared about him, just
as much as she did.
	She only wished that she
could receive the same sort of love and
respect at court. The people there were
polite to her but that was all. She had the
love of her mother, the Senshi, Naru and
maybe Luna and Artemis but nothing from
anyone else.
	Her eyelids began to grow
heavy and she felt the pull of sleep. It had
been a tiring night and the use of the Silver
Crystal was finally taking its toll on her.
She supposed the excitement and
nervousness of finally speaking to
Endymion had kept her up all this time.
	She closed her eyes and turned
onto her side, yawning. She just wanted to
sleep a little bit. She still had her own
questions to ask. It was her last thought
before she drifted off into a deep sleep.
	What must have been hours later,
she awoke, feeling disoriented. Something
was out of place, she realized. Her eyes
sleepily took in her surroundings and then
they widened as she gasped. She was now
lying right next to someone, and that
someone was Endymion, snoring lightly,
and facing her! She was practically lying
up against the front of him. Goddess of the
Moon how had she ended up here?!

*^*End*^*
Is this a bigger cliffie than Chapter 5? Yes?
Good. Muuuuuhahahha.
Next up... well, you guess.

Lavendar
http://www.geocities.com/patch_kana/
^ Visit, por favor? See that funky cool
layout for the stories page? CP did that!