"Saturn Magma Destruction!" From Auri's hands were launched steaming masses that were a combination of molten lava and volcanic rock. The youma screamed in agony and shock as the attack engulfed it. Nephlite grunted when he rose to his feet, wincing at the sharp pain the movement sent through the injured shoulder. A rose struck the ground mere inches from the feet of one of several youma surrounding Serena. "About time you got here, Cape Boy," Zoycite's crotchety voice rose above the bedlam. Darien Shields, Aka Tuxedo Mask, gave her an aggreived look. "I was at Andy's okay? In the middle of lunch. I had to convince his mother to let me leave."
Another cry sounded on Serena's right. Jadeite was hemmed in by youma on all sides. A hurricane-force blast of wind knocked the youma away. The last one standing instantly found Diane's hands wrapped around her neck. "Listen here, Bitch, I love that man you're trying to hurt. If so much as one strand of his hair has been mussed, I will personally rip your head off with my bare hands." The frightened creature teleported away, signalling the others to do the same. Jadeite lay in the center of the circle of footprints the youma had left. He appeared bloodied and battered, but most of the blood belonged to the youma that had died all around him. "I'm going to kick Beryl's *ass*," Diane knelt next to him, blue eyes full of dark rage. Let's get him inside," Malachite took his legs, motioning for the others to help. A low groan awakened Diane, who had fallen asleep in the chair next to Jadeite's bed, several hours later. "That lying, back-stabbing, faithless *bitch*!" Jade's words rang with loathing, "Gods, how could I have been so fucking *stupid*?" Diane didn't ask him what had caused this anger, just waited for him to continue. "I gave her my *life*, Dammit! She promised she'd never let Beryl force her to hurt me, no matter what. And there she was, leading the charge against me." She instantly understood. The youma she'd nearly throttled had been his girlfriend. "I left Beryl's service out of desperation. I'm not the loner everyone seems to think I am. I *need* female companionship as much as any other man. Nephlite had Molly, as much as his relationship was frowned on. Malachite and Zoycite had each other. I had no one but a lowly youma to see me through. She's betrayed me, and now there's no one at all." His jaw worked convulsivly as he tried to fight back the hot tears that threatened. "You said you loved me back there. How could I ever be worthy of that?" Diane smiled gently and laid her hand on his cheek. "Jadeite, I've cared very deeply for you since the day you stepped out of that cell with that disgruntled look on that otherwise innocent-looking face. It's like we were somehow meant to *be*." "But I've-" "What you did, you did to survive, and doesn't matter now. You want to change, and that's what matters." He collapsed into her arms, the tears overcoming the resistance at last.Harsh, wracking sobs of a life gone terribly wrong through no fault at all of the owner of said life. They were also tears of relief. Relief that no matter what wrong turns the path of his life had taken, he was loved. Diane placed a gentle kiss on his lips. It was meant to comfort, but that light brush ignited a flame in her soul. It seemed Jadeite had felt it, too, from the way his breath quickened at her touch. "You are so beautiful," she whispered, running her fingers through his silky hair, the light turning random strands gold. How long had it been since someone called him beautiful? Ten years? Twenty? He wasn't sure, but he knew it had been too long. "Make love to me, Aino." My love! The startlement of a full-human woman speaking those words to him shook Jadeite to his very core. So much so that he wept for the wonder of it. "Are you allright, Love?" she asked. "H-hai," he answered. Diane pulled him down to kiss him once again. "Di, I . . ." "Sh, Aino. No worries. Tommorow will take care of itself. For now, let my love sweep all the darkness from you." She could hear his amazed gasp inside her mind when she touched him intimately for the first time.
* * * Di, My chibi-Aino. * * *
Her lips moved to replace her hands, sending another shudder coursing through the lean frame. Jadeite threw his head back, muscles taut, as she impaled herself fully on him. *I love you!* *the thought rang in both their minds, neither sure who'd sent it. He cried out as his climax overtook him, flowing like liquid fire through his veins. At that very moment, Nephlite was awakened by a knock at his door. "It's me, Aurelia. Can I come in for a minute?" He nodded sleepily, rubbing his eyes in a boyish way that was so incongruous with that manly face. "I needed to talk to you. God, how do I say this? There's so many things I wanted to tell you, but the words just get all jumbled up inside." Suddenly, their eyes met, and he could read everything she felt. He lowered his mouth to hers, lips meeting in a soul-searing kiss. Serena and Darien took everyone to breakfast the next morning. "I think some changes have happened," Mina whispered to Serena. "Why do you say that?" "I can see the ties that bind people, remember? Malachite and Zoycite always had shades of purple and yellow in their bond. Longing and love.
Yesterday, Jadeite and Diane shared a bond that was mostly blue and white for friendship and loyalty. Today, there's a pale pink and creamy yellow, tentative love and passion. Same with Nephlite and Aurelia. They're in love, I'm sure of it."
"Will it affect their performance in the battle to come?" Lita asked her. "I think it will make them stronger," Ami commented, "After all, they now have something to fight for." Mina looked up to see the three couples in question had left their seats. Diane and Jadeite stood in front of the jukebox, the other couples looking on expectantly. A sudden smile lit her face as she whispered something in his ear and he nodded. Music filled the resteraunt, and the three men bent and took the hands of their respective ladies.
Auri rested her head on Nephlite's shoulder. His breath brushed a curl back from her ear as he sang along in a surprisingly sweet voice. When she looked up, she could see the moist sheen in the sapphire depths of those beautiful eyes.
"I do love you, My Prince, more than you will ever know. I know I may lose you in the upcoming battle, but I don't care. My love will always hold you in my heart."
Malachite stood on Aurelia's balcony peering up at the stars. The door slid open and Zoycite's arms went around him. "You look pensive tonight, Love." she whispered. His eyes, silvered by the moonlight, took on a wistful expression. "I was watching them all today, Nephlite and Auri, Jadeite and Diane. They remind of when our love was new." He turned to the woman he loved more than life itself. "How far have we really come, Zoey? I want more for us. I want to see us permantly settled, perhaps even married with a family of our own. What do *you* want for us?" For the first time in his memory, Zoycite completely let down her guard. "I want us to be together forever, but a family. . ." and tears came to her leaf-green eyes as she lowered her head. Though it had been five years, the pain of losing Calcite and Azurite, their twins, shortly after birth was still entirely too fresh for her. "I don't know if I can bear losing another child." "You won't, Love," Malachite embraced her fiercly, "I promise." Their lips met in a kiss as fierce as the embrace that preceded it. The door opened behind them. "Go away, you idiotic Youma-spawn,"Zoycite muttered irritably. "I came out here to tell Mal some good news," Neph's face positively glowed, "I've asked Auri to marry me, and she's said yes." Malachite clapped him on the back. "Congratulations!" Zoycite growled, "I can't believe this! Is our darling Sailor Saturn out of her mind?" Mal gently set a hand on her shoulder, "Calm down, Zoey. I know you don't like Nephlite, but you should be happy. The 'youma-spawn', as you call him, did something right for a change." "I sense a private moment coming here," Neph's blue eyes teased, "I think I'll be going." "He knows me too well," Malachite chuckled.
Meanwhile, Diane lay in her bed, enfolded in Jadeite's arms. "You awake, Jae?" "Mmm," he mumbled, "What is it, Di?"
"I heard Nephlite and Aurelia got engaged. It got me thinking." Jadeite rolled over and propped himself up on one elbow. "About what?" "'Bout, you know, us. Now, before you say anything, hear me out. I know this is kinda sudden and it's too soon and all that, but I love you. Lucia adores you, God only knows why. I want us to have something good. You know, like Nephlite and Auri. Or Malachite and Zoycite. Nephlite and Aurelia are gonna get married, and I have a feeling Mal and Zoey won't be far behind them. I just want us to be a family." Those turquoise eyes peered into the deep blue ones of his beloved. But he couldn't meet that intense gaze for long. "I want that, too, Diane. But I'm a little scared. I don't want to make that kind of commitment in a situation like this. I mean, what if I do
make that promise and something bad happens? You and Lucia would be devestated. I don't want to hurt you like that." Diane took his face in her hands. "I don't care what happens later. I have you, now. The future can't hurt me. The only thing that can hurt me now is if you tell me you don't love me." "Gods, Di," Jade threw his hands up in frustration after sitting up, "You know I'd never do that. You also know how very much I love you and Luce. It's just, you know, not a good time for this discussion. We're going to end up in a war with Beryl pretty soon. I want to be sure we're both going to come back from it intact before I make promises I may not be able to keep." Diane ducked her head. "I understand. But I know we'll make it. We have to. God wouldn't seperate us now when we've just found each other. He doesn't work that way." "I wish I had your faith." She bent down and placed a gentle kiss on his cheek. All there is to faith, my sweet Jade, is knowing that love will find a way."
Morning came all too quickly. Zoycite wiped her eyes clean of sand and got out of bed, tenderly caressing her lover's cheek. "Good morning, Lady Zoycite," Aurelia greeted her. "What's so great about it? I'm thousands of miles from the only home I've ever known, one I am no longer welcome in, I'm going into a near hopeless war with my former Queen, and my best friend is getting married to my worst enemy. All in all, I'd say it adds up to the worst day of my life." back to my fanfiction page"> back to the main page>