Healer - An Interlude
Author: Patch
E-mail: patchkhan1@hotmail.com
	Kittiekat90@yahoo.com
Editor: Rei Kinneas *aka* Kaitou Comma
Rating: PG

Insert standard disclaimer here.

	Something bright was hitting her closed eyelids and Serenity
frowned, turning her face to avoid it. Her forehead bumped something,
and she opened her eyes slightly, confused as to what she might have hit.
Black cloth filled her view and underneath the cloth she could see was
firmly toned muscle. Her eyes widened and she sat up on one elbow
quickly, wincing when she felt a pain in her head from getting up too
fast.
	"Endymion!"
	The name came out as a whisper and she looked down at
the sleeping Prince who lay next to her. He too was lying on his side,
wearing only a black tunic and pants. His hair fell across his forehead
and his mouth was slightly open as he slept. His armor was nowhere in
sight. In fact, she realized, there was nothing in sight except flowers
and grass and maybe a few trees. Where were they?
	She sat up more fully, leaning her weight against one hand
and looked around. They were in some sort of meadow; greenery all
around broken by large patches of color that she saw were wild
flowers. She looked behind them and saw that they had been resting
beside a large tree, it's leafy branches shading them from the sun.
	Her head spun as her mind swam in confusion. She
brought up her other hand to press it against her forehead. She could
not remember anything. She could not recall how they had gotten
here, wherever here was!
	"You're finally awake, sleepyhead."
	She lifted her head to see Endymion sitting up also. His
eyes squinted as he looked up at the sun. She watched as he shook
his head to clear the last dredges of sleep and then run a hand
through his mussed up hair.
	He looked so comfortable and so… relaxed. She had
never seen him be at such ease before. There was no tension in his
shoulders, something that would indicate the stress he was under.
His jaw wasn't stiff, a sign that he was angry at something. His
dark blue eyes weren't hard or cold. Instead they were calm and
clear and they shined with an emotion she was reluctant to identify.
She stared with wide eyes at this person who would have been a
stranger to her had she not know him so well. He smiled at her
and rubbed the side of his face unconsciously.
	"What?" he asked.
	She shook her head slowly and then stopped. There
was a memory gap in her mind and she could not recall the events
that had led up to this present time. And the only one who could
apparently help her was the Prince Endymion; the man who sat
beside her, his beautiful eyes now looking at her questioningly.
Suddenly she went into his arms and he opened them willingly
and held her.
	"I hadn't realized we had slept that long," she heard
him say, "It's almost late afternoon now. The others must be
wondering where we are."
	"The others?"
	"Yes, yes," he said, chuckling, "my parents, the
Generals, your Senshi… they've probably come to the conclusion
that I've kidnapped you." She tilted her head up as a boyish grin
split his features and he shifted a bit so that he could hold her
closer to him. "But then again, I don't mind letting them think like
that." He bent his head so that his lips nearly touched her ear as
he said his next words. "They'll know that I want you all for
myself."
	She shivered and moved away from him, her lips
slightly parted. Her heart thumped wildly but it was not because
of the one she loved who sat so close to her. It was because of
a word he had used: kidnap. For some reason, it rubbed her
the wrong way and she felt a band of fear wrap itself around
her insides.
	"Endymion…" she breathed. She could feel the
presence of danger but had no idea of its source.
	"Shhh," he placed his finger against her lips and then
removed it. "No fears, love."
	For a wild moment, she thought he had read her
mind, until he spoke again.
	"Don't worry about breaking the protocols of being
a princess. They'll all understand that we need time alone. Away
from everyone and everything."
	Protocols? She never cared about protocols. She
had always known she was different from everyone else. At
Court, the other nobles and ladies talked about her behind their
hands. And as much as it hurt, she always held her head high.
She was a princess! She would never bow under such petty
things. And she was…. she was…
	Who was she?
	She met Endymion's gaze and opened her mouth to
ask. Surely he knew. He could answer her questions. She said
his name again but he interrupted her.
	"Kiss me, Serenity."
	He didn't let her reply, only pressed his mouth
against hers in a soft and undemanding kiss. Her eyes
immediately fell shut and she turned to face him more fully, her
hands coming up to grip his arms. His own hands slid down to
her waist and stayed there as he slowly pushed her back onto
the grass. He never pulled away from her, only continued with
the gentle plundering. His hand slid up her side and into her
hair, tangling in it so that he could push her closer to him.
After a long and sweet moment, he lifted his head and looked
down at her, his fingers stroking her hair in a soothing caress.
	"It has been far too long, hasn't it?" he asked.
	"Too long," she found herself replying. But inside
her thoughts, she was completely lost. Too long since what?
What was he talking about? What had she missed?
	She heard Endymion sigh and then watched as he
moved away so that he could turn over onto his back, one
hand under his head. She followed him turning over onto her
stomach, and resting her chin on his head. He didn't look at
her, only stared up at the sky, his eyes focused on some
imaginary object.
	"Endymion, I…" she trailed off and he turned to
look at her questioningly, waiting for her to continue. "I feel
unsettled. Something is off balance and… and I don't know
what exactly."
	His eyes softened in understanding at seeing her
perplexed expression. His finger traced a path down the side
of her face and she closed her eyes as a slight breeze passed
by, lifting strands of her hair. She knew that she should have
been feeling relaxed but something was tugging at her,
demanding answers to her unspoken questions.
	"Princess, I can only imagine the sorts of pain you
have gone through. The memories that you keep repressed I
can only guess at. Your fears are re-surfacing and I think it
would be best if you see Ami on this one. She may be able
to help you."
	"But what do I fear, Endymion? What is my pain?"
Serenity asked, her eyes still closed. His finger stopped and
she opened them slowly. "Tell me, please."
	He looked at her for a moment before nodding
and then sitting up.
	"I am your pain, Serenity."
	She actually smiled and leaned towards him. "And I
love you."
	With that declaration he got up suddenly and
looked away. She stood up also and placed a hand on his chest,
silently asking him to turn his head towards her. She understood
his words but did not care. In the past he may have been the
cause of her pain, but the future was ahead of them now. They
would look towards the sun, high and glorious in the blue sky.
She would never lose faith in her love for Endymion. And by
the way his heart beat rapidly against her hand, she had an
inkling of an idea that maybe he too felt the same way.
	Her hand slid up to the right side of his face and she
placed her other hand on the left cheek. Standing on her tiptoes,
she brushed her lips across his one way and then the other. "I
love you Endymion," she whispered as she continued to
repeatedly move her lips back and forth across his.
	Finally, he could take the teasing kiss no more.
Serenity smiled when she felt his hands come up and pull her
against him. She arched her back as he bent over her and
claimed her lips in a deep kiss that made her lose all feeling in
her knees. Her hands moved from his face to around his neck
and she clung to him, kissing him back ardently.
	If she could capture a piece of heaven, it would be
this. This moment between them; a moment that shined with the
love between them… it was all she could ask for. But the voice
at the back of her mind told her it was too much to ask.
Happiness was hard to come by and it could not be given to
everyone.
	They broke apart and he moved downwards,
kissing her cheeks, her chin and then her neck. She tilted her
head back as the wind blew again, harder this time than the
last. Her hair flew with it and she opened her eyes to see the
leaves of the tree move, some breaking away, falling towards
the couple and then being carried away by the wind. The sun's
rays broke through the branches in patches and some of that
light fell upon her upturned face, warming her even as she felt
the prick of tears at her eyes. She felt Endymion nip her skin
and her hold on him tightened as her lips parted on a moan.
	"Endymion," she whispered breathlessly. At the
sound of her voice, he stopped and pulled her up so that she
could stand straight. His thumb touched the corner of one of
her eyes and she lowered her gaze.
	"You cry," he said, stating the obvious. "It is
because I am your pain."
	She shook her head, refusing to believe that.
"Not anymore. Not anymore and never again," she replied.
She looked up at him, tears now pooling at the rims of her
eyes, ready to fall. "Can't we forget the past?"
	He did not say anything. Instead, he took hold of
her hand and led her around the tree. It was then that Serenity
realized that they had been atop a high hill. In the distance she
could see the Earth Palace, its white walls gleaming in the
bright sunlight. The flags posted at each of the turrets flapped
lazily in the breeze and from here she could even see tiny dots
that were actually guards who they made their rounds as
required of them.
	The scene should have been beautiful and would
have been had one thing not marred it. The big, black clouds
that lay in the sky completely spoiled the picture. They looked
darker than normal storm clouds and twice as large. They
looked ominous and as Serenity stared at them, she felt a
deep sense of foreboding.
	Moving closer to Endymion, she took hold of his
arm and shivered. "I am cold, Endymion."
	He turned the other way and when he turned back
to her, she saw that he held a black cloak in his arms. She let
him put it on her and watched his fingers tie the strings.
Immediately she felt warmth spread through her body and
smiled at him gratefully. She brought the heavy material closer
to her body and wondered at how much more secure she felt
with this garment on her. Not that Endymion did not make her
feel safe, however the cloak gave her confidence, as strange
as that sounded.
	Endymion wrapped an arm around her shoulders
and brought her to his side once more. He pointed to the
black clouds and leaned his head towards her. "We cannot
escape our past," he told her. "It cannot be forgotten and will
always be with us. The past becomes our future by shaping it.
It tells us of things to come."
	Serenity shook her head in disagreement. "No, no.
We cannot be tied down by our past. What has happened has
happened. What will be will be. You were my pain and-"
	"I will be your pain."
	She shook her head vehemently again, feeling the
frustration rise up within her. Would he always be as stubborn
as this? Would he never open up to all that she offered him? If he
chose to think like this, she feared for him. She feared that he
would never accept any sort of love that was found between a
man and a woman. She knew Endymion had been with many
women but she would be the first to know him. There was a
difference and she would die trying just to show it to him.
"Never, Endymion! Never!" She clutched the cloth of his tunic,
shaking him lightly. "Don't you understand? I love you!"
	"And I-"
	But she never heard his answer because they were
interrupted by the sounds of other voices. The two turned and
saw the Senshi and Generals walking towards them. Serenity
immediately let go of Endymion and took a step forward to
meet the group halfway. But in the blink of an eye they stood
before the couple, all of them smiling warmly.
	"Have you found peace, Serenity?" Rei asked.
	"Have you found strength, Serenity?" Makoto asked.
	"Have you found happiness, Serenity?" Ami asked.
	"Have you found love, Serenity?" Minako asked.
	She looked at all of them and hesitated on her answer.
They stood in front of the Generals, Minako in front of Kunzite,
Rei in front of Jaedite, Ami in front of Zoicite and Makoto in
front of Nephrite. Upon observing this, she then saw each of the
men wrap an arm around the woman who stood in front of him.
She cocked her head sideways in confusion, not understanding
these gestures. But then her lips curved upwards in a smile as
she realized that there would be plenty of time later on for the
girls to explain. After all, she had missed much. In the
meantime, she would answer their questions.
	She turned and pointed to the black clouds. "I have
found all of those things however, that is holding me back."
	Kunzite nodded understandingly. "It is an evilness
that surrounds us."
	"But it will never enter any of us!" Serenity replied
passionately. "I will make sure of it." And she would. These
people were her loved ones and she would never allow any
harm come to them. She felt a hand on her shoulder and
turned to face Zoicite.
	He was smiling at her, yet she found sadness in his
expression. She stepped closer to him, her eyes asking him to
speak and he did.
	"Princess, your innocence is humbling, your
courage is admirable however, I must tell you that true evil will
find a way to enter any being, no matter how strong their
light."
	She shook her head in disagreement. "You are
wrong, my friend. To say such things is a sign of weakness!"
She placed her hand on top of his hand, which still rested on
her shoulder. "I know you all. I know you don't believe what
you said to be true. The darkness may win, but it is never for
an infinite amount of time. Eventually, somehow, someway,
the good side always rebounds and light rules once more. It is
destiny."
	"Then wish us luck, Princess for we must take
leave of you now," Jaedite said, coming forward. He bowed
and then took a step back.
	Serenity nodded and turned her gaze upon her
friends. "You will take care of yourselves, will you not?"
	"We will do whatever we must to ensure your
safety, Serenity," Makoto said, "Even if it means sacrificing
our lives."
	Serenity winced at the girl's words. They
sounded so formal and… unfriendly. In fact, she had yet to
see the usual humor and warmth that her friends usually
shared with each other. It was unnerving and it reminded her
of the days when she and the Senshi hardly knew each other.
The last thing she wanted to do was to revert back to that
sort of relationship with her best friends.
	"We only want to see that you stay happy,
Serenity," Minako said, looking off into the distance.
	"But your happiness…" the Princess whispered.
	"Must come second," Minako finished even as
Serenity shook her head.
	"You shouldn't have to do this. It's not right and
it certainly isn't fair."
	Ami smiled and Serenity saw some of that mirth
she was so used to seeing. Her heart felt light with hope.
"We will always find our way, Serenity," the blue-haired
Senshi said. "Do not worry for us."
	"We have found love and with it will come
happiness," Rei said as she let Jaedite take her hand and
place a kiss on top of it.
	Serenity watched the gesture, yet, instead of
comforting her, it troubled her. She voiced her fears aloud.
"I fear that it will be too late by the time you achieve your
goals."
	"Serenity, love, you worry too much,"
Endymion's arm came around her waist and she turned into
his embrace. His other hand stroked through her hair and
then lifted her face up to his. "Let your friends go. They
make their own destinies with whatever paths they choose."
	She nodded and at that moment there was a
flash of light. The group had disappeared and Serenity had
not had a chance to say goodbye. That troubling feeling
increased and her gut churned with dread. The lightness of
hope in her heart was fast diminishing and was being
replaced by the heaviness of fear. If only there was a way
to make it go way!
	She sighed and closed her eyes, swallowing
down her fears. She would be strong because she was like
no other. She was different. But wait, why and how was
she different?
	Again she found herself pressing a hand to her
forehead as she tried to remember. Her memory loss was
far greater than she had thought and it was becoming
frustrating. But when Endymion spoke, she opened her
eyes and focused her attention on him, forgetting her
amnesia for the moment.
	"Serenity, do you understand that I will always
stand by your side and no one else's?"
	"Yes, I understand that you will always protect
me." She smiled slightly. "My protector, my life, my soul. I
understand all of that."
	He looked at the black clouds and she saw his
eyes harden and his jaw stiffen. No, she thought, not yet.
It was just a short while ago that she had captured a small
piece of heaven. But as she too looked into the distance,
she knew that there was no time to think of moments like
that. Now was the time to fight the darkness.
	"Mamoru…"
	She looked at him confusedly. "What?"
	He turned his head to her and cupped her cheek.
"There is a country on this planet known as Japan. The
people are as unique as their culture. Their language is
different yet poetic. Mamoru is the name they give to the
boys who are destined to become warriors*. They are the
ones that will protect their families when the time arises."
	"Mamoru." Serenity rolled the name around
her tongue, finding it strange and foreign. She looked at the
Prince and repeated the name once more. "It suits you. My
protector, my Mamoru."
	He smiled and his eyes lost some of the hard
edge present before. He kissed her forehead and gazed into
her eyes. "I'm honored. I don't deserve it, you know. You
have gone through so much, more than anyone should ever
have to take… all because of me. If I hadn't-"
	"Stop, Endymion." Serenity placed a finger against
his lips. She wished she knew what he was talking about.
What had she gone through? For Moon's sakes, what had
happened to her? She would find answers somehow.
"Enough," she said, "we've been over this before. Will you
always torture yourself like this? I can't help but think that…"
she looked around for something to say, "that in some future
lifetime you will become bitter and withdrawn all because you
would take the world's burdens upon yourself. Please
Endymion, don't-"
	The sound of an explosion interrupted her. They
both turned to see bursts of fire appear within the black
clouds. Jagged bolts of lightning hit the ground from above,
causing fire to spark whatever objects it touched. Suddenly
there was a huge eruption inside of the large black mass and
the clouds suddenly roiled forward, growing larger and
spreading farther. The lightning became intense very quickly
and several, large bolts hit the Earth Palace.
	In horror, Serenity watched as flames and black
smoke encompassed the magnificent structure. A cry escaped
from her throat and she clutched Endymion's arm. "Oh
goddess!"
	Endymion held her hand tightly, squeezing her
fingers reassuringly. He moved to stand beside her and
together they faced the black clouds that rolled towards them.
The wind blew in gale force, nearly pushing them to their
knees, yet they stood together. Serenity's hair whipped
around them, as did her clothes and Endymion's cape as the
terrifying sound of thunder echoed across the fields.
	"Remember what I told you!" Endymion yelled
over the loud sounds. "Don't ever forget!"
	She nodded, even as the tears welled up in her
eyes. They would win, she told herself. They would always win.
It would get worse before it got any better. This she repeated
over and over. And in her heart she knew that light would
overcome darkness. Always and forever.
	"I love you Endymion!" she shouted just before the
black clouds hit them. The wind increased tremendously and she
saw bursts of bright color before her closed eyes. She
screamed as the pain hit her from all sides and angles. Was her
skin melting off? It surely felt like it. Fire ran in her veins and if
she could, she would have curled into a ball. But there was
no hiding from this, whatever it was.
	And then all was blessedly silent. She could not open
her eyes but that did not matter. She felt numb yet cold all at once.
She felt as though she were floating in some sort of limbo. And it
was then that she realized two things.
	She never heard Endymion declare his love after she
had said it.
	And what was she supposed to have remembered?

*^*End*^*
O.O That was just painful. I think I must've confused most of you a
whole lot. I tried to put some hints of symbolism and
foreshadowing in the above piece, but I'm pretty sure I failed
miserably ^^;; But hey, I got WAFFy, ne? Just a tad bit! And
that's what counts! ^.~

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