TETISU
by Lady Jo
lovelyladyjo@hotmail.com
I find myself hurrying through the passageways trying to to find him. It wasn't
always like this...
* * *
I don't remember my mother. I've been told she was a human by some, a nymph by
others but the fact remains that whoever she was I'm here because of her, not
forgetting my father. My father was a rapist but fact doesn't affect me, it's
pretty much common practice here. He was a warrior and one of the male youma but
for some reason I never have found out, instead of killing my mother or
abandoning her after he had his way with her he took her back with him to
this... this squalor. She was kept until I was born and then...
Although I don't remember her I can still feel pain in the knowledge that she
was done away with along with my father in the most brutal of ways. I was raised
as an outcast, a demi-youma in this already isolated society where you are
scared to turn around for fear that someone may stick a poisoned dagger, or
worse, in your back if given half a chance. Trust is non-existent here. Luckily
I showed skill in the handling of water as an offensive power and started
training to be a warrior, just like my father.
It was around this time that I started to notice Jadeite who sometimes looked
over the training sessions. Normally I shied away from any of the male populace
in the Kingdom, of which there wasn't much, but there was something different
about him though. I know this will sound strange but he felt... safe. It
shouldn't have been as he the most dangerous creature there and yet I already
found myself planning how to get closer to him.
I took up my training in earnest. At that time he was out of my reach in means
of rank but I was sure that with a little perseverance I could reach the top. I
manipulated, back-stabbed and charmed my way up the career ladder, all the
things I detested; they say I have my mother's conscience. All the time I looked
for a breach in the mask of stone that Jadeite wore, some small sign that he had
human feelings too. My heart flipped when he asked for my name. By the time I
was summoned before Beryl I had already fallen for his cold violet-blue eyes.
* * *
When I entered the throne room I was surprised to see Jadeite standing at her
side. Nervously, I bowed slightly before the throne and waited to hear what my
leader would say. "Youma Tetis?" It was more of a statement than a question.
"Hai my Queen." "Jadeite tells me that you show much promise as a warrior and I
myself know this to be true." I flushed at the praise, hard work does pay off.
"To further increase your skill you shall now be training directly under Jadeite
and shall only take orders from him or me. Understand?" YES!!! I tried not to
break out into a grin as I replied. "Hai my Queen." "Very well. Jadeite, Tetis
you are dismissed." She teleported from the room.
"Your orders sire?" I don't how I managed to remember the formal way to behave,
one of dreams had come true! I had to fight back the urge to laugh. Jadeite
raised an eyebrow.
"For Kami's sake, laugh if you feel like it and the formality crap ends here." I
broke into a grin at his response. He had a half-smile on his handsome face as
he questioned. "Do you know anything about illusions?"
"Only the very basics si-..." I looked to him for help. "Jadeite will do just
fine." he answered my unspoken question. "The art of illusions is where we shall
begin then."
* * *
I worked well with Jadeite and we had a close in-formal teacher student
relationship. I had fallen hard for the blond king but I was never quite sure
about his feelings. We'd seem to get closer and closer up to a point then
suddenly it was back to square one. I learnt the new skills quickly and even
though I had effectively finished my training he still kept me on and began to
teach things like tactics to me or just having general discussions. He never
gave a reason for keeping me but I sometimes caught a flicker of an indefinable
emotion in his eyes, I envied the rumors about us and wished they were true.
When Queen Beryl officially ended my training I was close to tears although I
could never show it. Human emotions are weak. It was a great honor to serve
directly under the Queen herself but it felt like someone had ripped my heart
out with a jagged knife and was now forcing it down my throat. Jadeite must have
sensed my something of my feelings as he gave me a wistful small smile and
promised me telepathically he would talk later and Jadeite-sama keeps his
promises.
* * *
"It's not fair." I was sulking but I didn't care. "Tetis, you know I've been
assigned to collect energy from the surface and the Queen won't let me train you
at the same time." "But why?" "Who knows? Anyway, we have until the end of the
week and then we both start our new assignments." I gave a small sigh but
realized I couldn't change the circumstances. "Look, I've got to do some
preliminary scouting and set up a youma to get a bit of energy in that time but
at the end of the week I'll take you out to eat somewhere, ok?" My face must
have lit up as he gave a small laugh and assured me he'd give me more
information as he got it. He gave me a smile as he teleported away and I left
the room feeling a whole lot better than I had done.
Just in case he panicked half-way through the meal and tried to leave me, which
had happened on the rare occasions we had been out before, I sought out a little
glass phial filled with a colourless liquid. As I held it up to the light I
smiled, just a little insurance policy.
* * *
The week was over and I was now officially out of Jadeite's training. His first
attempt had not gone well as some kid in a ridiculous outfit and a badly dressed
magician in a top hat had destroyed Jadeite's youma before she had the chance to
collect much energy. I could see it was an unexpected setback but didn't
understand why he was so nervous about this sailor senshi. I discontinued the
line of thought as I matched up the last of the hooks and eyes on my dress. It
was a sleeveless traditional affair of black silk which fastened at the side. I
had been pre-warned by Jadeite to dress up as it was quiet a posh restaurant on
the surface to which we were going so I had ditched my usual mini-dress in favor
of this one which was considerably longer.
I studies my reflection as I twisted my hair up into a bun on either side of my
head and secured them with a couple of bands of black beads. Did this hair style
make me look to much like the moon-mutt that was taking up so much of Jadeite's
time? I smiled as I remembered it wouldn't be a problem and slipped the phial
into my pocket. As long as I could get him to take some of the substance before
he ate the main meal he wouldn't be able to leave me for a few hours. Tonight
he's was all mine, I relished the thought as I slipped into my black high heeled
shoes. He would never take it willingly, of course, so I would just have to add
it to the appetizers.
* * *
"Tetis, you wouldn't mind if we just went straight to the main course, would
you?"
"Hmm?" I answered, waking from my daydream. "No, of course not." I replied with
a smile. My mind was racing, how in the hell was I going to be able to get him
to take the potion now? It had to be taken before the main course or else it
wouldn't work. Then the solution came to me. I would drug his drink. There was
bound to be some side effect from mixing the potion with alcohol. Oh well, that
didn't matter. It would probably just shorten the amount of time it worked for,
I could survive if he only stayed for the meal. Besides, this was my only chance
and I would have to take it.
Now, how could I distract Jadeite? I started to giggle causing Jadeite to raise
an enquiring eyebrow. I stopped abruptly as she remembered a comment he once
made about vamped giggling girls. How could I distract Jadeite without making
him freak out and run away? I leaned over the table as if to pass on a
confidential piece of information. He looks so cute when he's panicking, I
reflected. No, there will be time for that later, if you pull this off.
"Jay, is it just me or does that girl look almost exactly like Sailor Moon?"
"Nani?!" The young king turned round in his chair, his eyes searching for his
nemesis. Quickly I emptied the phial into his drink and gave a polite cough as I
handed him his glass. I lifted mine and proposed "A toast to success." Jadeite
mumbled the same, still looking a little warily around the room and we touched
glasses and drained the contents. We talked about little things until the waiter
came with menus. I started to get a little concerned about Jadeite as he seemed
to be having trouble focusing. I took both menus from the waiter with a smile
and looked intently at Jadeite. The waiter took the hint and left.
"Jadeite? Jadeite-sama? Are you alright?" I questioned, he looked like he was
going to keel over. Could it be an effect of mixing the potion with alcohol?
"H-hai. I'm fine Tetisu." he replied more than a little shakily. He concentrated
on the menu and the fit seemed to pass. We ordered our meals, made polite
conversation until they arrived and I relaxed assuming that the food would
negate any other side effects. A little further into the meal I decided Jadeite
was eating too fast so I gave him a little kick under the table to get his
attention as seemed to busy stuffing his face to listen. Or at least that's what
I tried to do. My foot was frozen in motion and Jadeite looked up with a sly
grin on his face. He slowly lowered his chopsticks as his eyes sparkled.
"That wasn't very clever Tetis." Uh oh, I thought, perhaps binding him to me for
the night wasn't the best idea after all. "Not polite at all." I picked up my
wine glass and tried to appear unconcerned. I stopped in shock as Jadeite...
stuck his tongue out at me?! What?! I took another sip of my drink as he went
back to eating and started to convince myself that I had imagined it when I
realized too late that he had flipped my shoe off. I looked up, "You wouldn't."
"Wouldn't I?" he replied with a devilish grin as he used black magic to tickle
the sole of my foot. I burst into uncontrollable giggles and I kicked him with
my other foot. "This means war." I whispered, trying to sound menacing but
failing miserably. Fits of laughter aren't exactly the most threatening means of
language. He looked up, a boyish expression of glee written on his face. "You're
on."
* * *
We left the restaurant laughing, "Jadeite-sama, you have ice-cream round your
mouth." "Look who's talking." I blushed slightly as I whipped out a small
mirror. "Vain little thing aren't you?" he commented lightly before taking it
out of my hands and cleaning his own face. His eyes started dancing, "Betcha
can't catch me." "Hey!" I ran after him and gave a flying tackle. We collapsed
in a giggling heap. After a while Jadeite gave a short sigh, "We'd better go
back to the humdrum of everyday life." "Just let's take the scenic route ok?" I
liked it here on the surface and didn't want to go back too soon.
We started a slow walk back and on impulse I caught Jadeite's hand as it brushed
past my own. To my surprise he didn't drop it again like he had been burnt,
which he had been known to do previously. Instead he entwined his fingers with
mine. After a while he stopped walking and turned to face me. Curious, I glanced
into his eyes and recognized the same indefinable emotion I had noticed before.
I didn't have time to think about it as Jadeite took my chin in his hand and
lifted my face to meet his. I felt I was going to drown in his eyes. Without
warning he lent down and kissed me, gently yet firmly. I blinked in shock but my
eyes fluttered shut as I melted into his warm embrace.
He broke away with a look of candid surprise that must have mirrored my own. He
started to say something but I silenced him by placing a finger to his lips. I
didn't want anything to spoil this moment. He took my hand with his other and
kissed it gently before entwining his fingers with mine like my other hand. He
now had a predatory look to his eyes, I remembered it from some of the sessions
when he was training to kill. When his eyes blazed with blue fire like that he
always got what he wanted.
He kissed me again with passion, which I hungrily returned, while teleporting us
both back to what I immediately realized to be his chambers. I didn't want to
break away but our need to breathe foiled my plans. I opened my mouth to talk
but Jadeite silenced me with a "Hush, Tetisu." At a silent command from him my
dress unhooked and the bands that were holding my hair in place broke, sending
the black beads flying across the room and my hair cascading down my back.
Unable to wait I lent forward and snaked my arms round Jadeite's neck, drawing
him closer. He got the point and I let out a small gasp as he gently parted my
lips and slipped his tongue into my mouth. He moved my arms so he could ease the
dress off my shoulders, then without a word he broke off, took my by the hand
and led me to the bedchamber.
* * *
I woke the next morning in his arms. So it wasn't a dream after all. Asleep he
looked like a flaxen haired angel, he had an expression of peace and serenity on
his face. I don't think I've seen anything since that has looked so truly
beautiful as he did then. I lay back down, my head on his chest, and asked again
why we would have to be split apart now. I must have been crying without
realizing it for Jadeite woke up and looked concerned.
"Look." he whispered comfortingly, drawing me into a hug. "We'll find a way
around it." He gently kissed the tears off my face before settling his mouth on
mine. After a while we parted and he questioned, "Don't you have to start work
for Beryl today?" I nodded sorrowfully, wishing more than ever before that I
could stay with Jadeite. "You will do well." He assured me. "But now you're mine
whatever they tell you. My Tetisu..." I burst into tears.
* * *
My training under Beryl was hard but I did do well just as Jadeite said. I had
found out since that the potion I slipped him stops working on contact with
alcohol after a bout of nausea so I was never quiet sure how much of that night
was under it's influence. Success was another story for him though. He seemed to
be thwarted at every turn by the sailor senshi. It was taking a toll on him and
his reputation was going down hill. He was losing favour quickly in Beryl's
sight and as a result was wound up so tightly that he looked like he would be
ready to snap at any moment. In what little spare time I had, I started to work
on a plan to try and help him.
* * *
I had almost finished my project when I was interrupted by one of the higher
ranking youma.
"Did you hear the latesssst?" he hissed as his black, forked tongue flicked
against his orangey-yellow teeth. I turned away slightly because I found it
repulsive to watch. Eager to share whatever gossip he had heard he edged closer
and confided, "Queen Beryl-sama plans to do away with Jadeite."
"No!" I let out an involuntary gasp as a thousand horrible images and shattered
day-dreams filled my mind. Pleased with the reaction he was getting he opened
his mouth to continue.
"Of course, it is not for certain yet but if he fails her ag-"
"She can't do this! Not to Jadeite-sama." I cut him off, struggling to keep my
emotions in check. Love is a weakness.
"The bitch..." I regretted the words as soon as they left my lips. The face in
front of me contorted into something that you would have only thought possible
in nightmares.
"Are your loyalties to that king," he spat the words as if he were some kind of
vermin, "greater than your loyalty to your Queen?" He must have seen the answer
in my expression but instead of accusing me outright of treason or attacking me,
which I would have expected, he instead slipped an arm round my shoulders and
breathed into my ear.
"I won't tell the Queen if-"
He was dead before he reached the ground.
I felt sick to the stomach, not due to the oily black liquid that was seeping
across the floor, but rather because of the treachery and deceit that was going
on around me. In any other situation Beryl would probably reward me for this,
even with the untimely death of one the rare male youma. I am still bound to my
Queen but ever since I laid eyes on him I knew that I would have one day have to
choose between her and a certain blond King. My King. It is clear who has won,
and will keep winning, the battle for my heart and mind even if he is not aware
of it himself. If only...
No. There is no time for if only's now. Not if I want him to have a chance to
survive.
* * *
"Those cursed wenches."
"Of all people, Jadeite-sama is having his hands full with such a little girl?"
"Tetis?"
"I'm quite honored that you remembered me."
"What are you doing here? After all, you're under direct command of Queen
Beryl."
"You have not changed at all. No matter how hard I devote myself to you, you
still treat me coldly."
"I have no time for your idiocy. Get out of here."
"Now, now. I have came upon the most efficient way to extract energy."
"What?"
"Finally, I have your attention."
END
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