Mercury fell to her knees, next to Zoisite. She looked at him, and saw that he was covered with bruises. His hair was loose now, his ponytail long ago disappeared. A deep scratch over his eye was pouring blood over it, making him close it. On his neck and hands were red marks, the memory of the net that had captured him before. His shirt had several pieces off, and so did his pants. His cape was now just a 10 by 15 centimeters piece of cloth hanging around his neck. Smiling, she said: "You look terrible, you know."

He smiled back, and answered: "Me? You haven't looked at yourself at all." Mercury had a big scratch on her face, that ran from the right side of her forehead, passing over her nose and ending on her chin. Her sailor fuku was no longer recognizable, just a mess of blood, dust and dirt. Her left leg had a deep wound, which with the blood it was letting free, was staining her boot with red. They laughed together, weakly. They no longer had the energy to do it louder. Mercury hit her head in mock anger, and said: "I'm a fool. We have our powers back, no? I can heal both of us." She closed her eyes, and called her deeper power. Zoisite saw as her body glowed, and it focused on her hands. He looked intently, and saw as the light transformed into a caduceus. It was arm-length, made of some strange blue wood, and in the top, it had a Mercury symbol.

She opened her eyes, and grabbed the caduceus. Zoisite was awed, and whispered: "So this is the famous Mercury caduceus... are you sure you know how to use it?"

"Of course I do. I was taught a long ago. Now, we have to stand up." She rested her hand on the floor, and stretched up, until she was fully standing. She looked down, looking at the general, saw that he couldn't do it. He was trying, but he was too worn out to.

Mercury smiled, and walking the few steps that separated them, she took his hand, and pulled him up. Zoisite was too weak to even protest, and he just let her do it. However, she pulled too strongly, and he, without any energy on his body, stumbled forwards, and finished with his arms around her, and his head on her shoulder. He just closed his eyes, and mumbled: "Mercury, I... I am sorry, but I ...."

"Sssh, Zoisite. Don't be."

Without anymore words, she focused on the weapon that was lying between them now, and whispered, right in Zoisite's ear: "Mercury ultimate healing... activate." They were both surrounded by a blue glow, which entered them, healing and closing any wounds that they had. It also was giving them their energy back. As his feet felt stronger, Zoisite stood up, and lifted his head off of Mercury's shoulder.

However, he didn't release her, and they were now looking at each other's eyes, their bodies locked in a warm embrace. "Mercury, I... I need to tell you something."

"So do I Zoisite."

"That say it. Ladies first."

She fell quiet, and Zoisite looked at her, watching as the blue glowing was closing the scratch on her face. "Zoisite, I... I don't know how to say it. Since I met you, I felt a strange new sensation I had never felt before. My heart was warm, and I felt whole. You... you're very special to me, and please, don't think I'm rude or anything, but I... I love you." That's it. I said it. Now I hope he doesn't laugh at me. She looked to the floor, and waited.

Zoisite was taken back. She loves me. She really does! A couple of seconds passed, and Mercury felt as tears gathered in her eyes. Then, suddenly, a warm hand was pressed against her chin, and tilted her head up.

She finished looking to Zoisite straight in the eyes. She expected to see irony, fun, or anything like that, but what she saw on them made her feel as if she was melting. Zoisite's eyes were full of love, comprehension, and shining with happiness. "Mercury... I love you too. You are that someone I was waiting for. Ever since I met you, I was empty, but you changed it all. You are the owner of my heart, and always will be."