(Untitled)

[mooncrises]

It had been shaping up to be a normal day. Valentine's Day had been the night before, but it hadn't really affected the young blonde. Mamoru was off busy in college, of course. She swallowed down the lump that appeared suddenly in her throat, reminding herself that he was building a better future for himself overseas ; living up to his dream

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[windunchained]

When he sees Usagi, Zoisite's head lowers slightly and his expression shifts to what might be confusion. Nevertheless, he does not lose his composure, instead greeting her politely, if somewhat formally.

"Princess. This is a dangerous place."

[mooncrises]

It was a greeting that she was used to, that 'Princess' stuff. Usagi even frowned slightly at the mention, but tried not to make her discomfort noticeable. Or so; she hoped.

"Dangerous?" Usagi questioned, knowing the form of Zoisite, but unable to sense his intent. "Why do you say so?"

[windunchained]

"There are those who seek your life."

[mooncrises]

Somehow, that didn't come as a surprise. "Who... are you talking about?"

[windunchained]

"All of Master's enemies. In that distant past, it was for his sake that you destroyed the planet." It's hard to say precisely what he thinks of the girl in front of him, aside from an obvious surface dislike of her emotional nature. Zoisite's demeanor remains calm and unperturbed.

[mooncrises]

Distant past... did he mean the Silver Millennium!? So many things had happened since then, but everything always seemed to lead back to it. "That's not true!" And for her, it certainly wasn't. "For me, it was when Mamo-chan -- That I -- " she trailed off, not yet ready to share her story.

"Tell me! Tell me what else has happened in your world!"

[windunchained]

"When we awoke, we were already within the Dark Kingdom. And once more, no one was able to separate Master and Princess." He gives her a somewhat unpleasant look; no matter how far he's willing to tolerate her for Endymion's sake, she may be getting the impression by now that she isn't one of his favorite personages.

[mooncrises]

"Z-Zoisite..." Usagi whispered, her usually spirited expression melting away as she lowered her eyes to the ground. "I don't... know about all that you're saying. Some of it makes sense to me and some of it I don't understand... But if there's a way to save everyone, then... I want to help."

She had a bad habit of running her mouth sometimes, even to those that probably didn't want to hear it.

[windunchained]

"Because of you, Master was-" Frustration forbids Zoisite from finishing the sentence as he finally does lash out. He even takes a rapid step closer to Usagi, as if he's ready to seize her or do her some injury. He stops before he's close enough to in fact harm her.

[mooncrises]

In the past, Usagi probably would have cowered in light of that small outburst. But she refused to give in, and instead stood her ground, only flinching slightly as Zoisite took that half step towards her. "Mamo-chan? Because of... me?"

[windunchained]

"Master's enemies are all for your sake!"

[mooncrises]

She winced at the words, but still convinced herself to stand there, listening to him. "Enemies... Mamo-chan's..." Usagi shook her head; unable to wrap her mind completely around the situation. "Why?" she cried, "Why do we all have to be enemies!?"

[windunchained]

"That is the fate of the distant past," Zoisite says, as if Usagi had asked the question looking for an answer rather than rhetorically. "Once we, as well as you, protected this planet. But we were unable to separate Princess and Master. The planet headed to destruction. War came."

[mooncrises]

"Well then... we can't change the past!" she cried, her emotions surfacing in her voice. "But that doesn't mean that we can't change the future!" she swallowed the lump in her throat, looking directly towards Zoisite. "If we all work hard together, if we all help eachother, we can build a future full of hope!"

[windunchained]

A long, long silence follows that pronouncement. He shakes his head, but there is definite regret to the gesture.

"Master and Princess have already lost their lives for the planet's sake once more," he says. There's a visible wince as he's finally forced to consciously think of it and say it plainly.

"Princess," he ventures, "I wish for you to forgive me for seeking your life in the past. It was a betrayal to the master."

[mooncrises]

Usagi shook her head. She didn't like thinking of all the sacrifices she and her friends had made over the years; it all hurt too much.

"That's not important so... I don't want to accept your apology!" she announced with renewed vigor. "Let's just be friends!"