Peace

[kingoftruth]

There is an empty clearing, far away from the hurried training grounds frequented by most of the golden army, where a man is moving slowly, surely through different katas. This is his private training space, set in land he owns himself; a place he may go where no one will disturb him. There are few who know even of its existence, and fewer its

Comments

[1/2]

[waterfell]

When it catches her off-guard, the sight can still make her blush even as welcome as it secretly is, and she does. Mercury's face colors as she notices the bare chest and most of all, that she's so obviously interrupted what no one was meant to. They all have the places they go to be away, the private homes (Mariner Castle, for her) and she realizes without much effort that this is Kunzite's.

[2/2]

[waterfell]

Mercury quickly focuses on the weapon in Kunzite's hand, the forest setting for his training. That's right; this is just training. She makes a little movement with her wrist, a flick to bring her sword to his attention.

"I'll be your opponent, if you want." It'll be nice, to fall into the rhythms and patterns of swordwork with him.

[kingoftruth]

Seeing that blush on her features, as her presence comes to his notice, causes the corner of his lips to quirk up into an amused smirk; it pleases him to no end that such a simple thing as the sight of him bare chested can affect her so. Then he drops out of the kata and turns to face her, smirking still, and arches an eyebrow.

"Oh? Such a challenge cannot be taken lightly."

[waterfell]

"I don't want to be taken lightly." The words are firm and Mercury smirks as her grip on the hilt on her sword tightens. She brings it up in a challenge position, and draws it back, ready.

"If you aren't ready, I'll defeat you." She can't resist this sudden impromptu playacting. Of course, not even drills are truly playacting; he's taught her that. Every combat must be treated as a potentially deadly encounter, or the serious battles will be lost.

[aroyal_pain]

Great. The nexus again. And Endymion is no more cheered when he spots the man whose privacy he's intruded upon. He draws himself up to his full height (a few inches taller than Kunzite, and he makes the most of it) and tries to look appropriately officious. It ends up looking a bit sulky instead.

"I didn't interrupt you on purpose," he says peevishly, forestalling any complaint about it. But as he gives Kunzite a second look, he notices it, the long pale scar.

"What happened there?"

[kingoftruth]

If he hadn't been fairly certain by the sulking appearance, the question is enough to make certain Kunzite knows it is not his own master he faces. After all, the Endymion of this world knows well about that scar, and knows as much about its origins as anyone in this world. The shitennou still faintly remembers the panic he faced, when the prince had seen the eldest shitennou so compromised, and the anger when Kunzite was reticent about the one who had managed to harm him so. It was a truth he had not shared for the reason that it would do his master no good, to know whom it had been inflicted by.

Since then, however, things have changed.

He halts his movements only to give the shortest of bows to the prince, before speaking.

"It is a gift from my own counterpart."

[aroyal_pain]

If the idea that a shitennou could attack a shitennou had been horrifying, the idea that someone could attack their own alternate is incomprehensible.

"Kunzite! You were in a fight with your alternate?" Obviously. But Endymion's chosen his words carefully to acknowledge it as a fight between two men, accusing neither immediately.

[kingoftruth]

"He appeared in this kingdom, a known threat who targets the prince of the Golden Kingdom." The answer is short, perhaps shorter than it would have been weeks ago. Of course, perhaps weeks ago, he would not have burdened the prince with such knowledge. Things have changed, yes. Not necessarily for the better. "Should I have ignored his attack?"

[windunchained]

He does not get in the way. Instead, Zoisite wanders around various trees, almost at random, always stepping so that he'll stay well out of the way of Kunzite's movements and not interfere with the training. He does not greet Kunzite, avoiding interruption, but waits for the other man to break and acknowledge him.

[kingoftruth]

It's not until he finishes a kata that the elder man relaxes his form, turning only his head to cast his gaze toward the other. After a moment, he decides to fully acknowledge him.

"Zoisite."

[windunchained]

It's hard to tell whether Kunzite is angry, or whether he'd only been immersed in the training and hadn't want to break his state of concentration. Zoisite knows, of course, that Kunzite had likely been aware of him from the second he arrived.

"Kunzite." He returns name for name as he steps around another tree, making a tight circle.

"You have come here to be alone?" It might be an offer to leave quietly, or a prompt to tell the white-haired man the thoughts that have brought him here.

[kingoftruth]

"I have come for peace," he answers, his eyes sliding closed once more, although his head continues to follow the pale musician. "It seems to be a rare thing to find, in these times."

[illuminedshield]

Endymion watches the man at training, and recognizes him in short order: another world's, but Kunzite. He waits for awhile so that the interruption won't be quite as abrupt or shocking, before he steps forward, the black armor and sword strapped to his side signals of his own military heritage and prowess.

"Kunzite," he acknowledges the man in front of him.

[kingoftruth]

Perhaps days ago, weeks ago, there would have been a more immediate response. Before his own unshakable faith in his master had been all but broken. As it is, it's several long moments before the shitennou halts the exercise and lowers his weapon to give the shortest of bows to this new alternate of his prince.

"Master."

[illuminedshield]

He doesn't know what to make of this Kunzite, being ignored now that they're face to face but acknowledged as his lord. Endymion decides to treat the greeting at face value, and nods.

"I am pleased to find you acknowledge me," he admits.

[kingoftruth]

"I would never fail to do so." The words are calm, if short; wary of his master's alternates now. He will never admit it, but it is, perhaps, a cold facade, to protect himself. "I am not the dishonorable cowards you may have met from other worlds."

[kingoftruth]

The presence of an outsider in his space is noticed immediately, but as no move is made to disturb him, no move is made yet to acknowledge him. Instead, Kunzite completes the kata fully before turning to face the newcomer, sword lowering and eyes still closed.

"Jadeite."

[kingoftruth]

If the younger man holds no ill will towards the prince, he has nothing to fear from the eldest shitennou. But that wariness- it is enough to tell him what he needs to know. This is not his Jadeite. Only with that knowledge does Kunzite open his eyes, looking to the young blond.

"Welcome to my private land."