The witch is dead but so is he

[akai_pride]

He really doesn't know how he ended up here. This is not the nexus' fault. Somehow Nephrite (not Nefukichi-kun!) is working at Crown Karaoke on the half-charity of some crazy human boy who doesn't seem to mind if Nephrite shouts or threatens him or breaks the dishes (again). It's like nothing he could do could make that guy really mad, and it's

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[akai_pride]

The nexus is out to get him. Would it like him trussed up with an apple in his mouth?

"None of your business!" Senshi. He still kind of hates them. But that's Beryl talking, isn't it?

[akai_pride]

"Leave it alone!" This may be pathetic as hell, but he's not so pathetic he needs help to do these ridiculous menial tasks!

[kin_memory]

He'd come to visit Motoki, since his friend was supposed to be on shift at the moment, so that sight the greets his eyes when the glass doors slide open is enough to make him stop in his tracks, giving a shocked look to the man he finds mopping.

"Nephrite?"

[akai_pride]

Not for the first time, in fact for far from the first time, Nephrite curses the nexus. His first instinct is to hide, but of course it's already too late. Chiba Mamoru, whoever that's supposed to be to him, has already seen him.

"You!" He doesn't even know what to call him. Nephrite's eyes bulge from simple surprise. Why did he have to come here?

[kin_memory]

Even from what that Mercury had said, he hadn't been expecting to find the lost shitennou so quickly. Perhaps he should have. As it is though, he looks around, as if to be sure that no one is within hearing range, before stepping completely into the building and allowing the doors to slide closed behind him.

"Then you really are okay."

[akai_pride]

Ok? If he hadn't known how to meet Mamoru's eyes at first, he does now. Nephrite knocks something (a pile of papers from a clipboard, it'll turn out when he finally looks and notices) off the counter.

"What part of this looks like ok?!"

[ginnezu_notes]

The music begins softly, unheard, unheeded, in its quiet, compared to the loud growls and cries that mark the passage of the lost shitennou. It has no more touch than the air that surrounds and fills at first, no more calling upon the conscious that the natural feeling of breathing in, out, in, out, as it drifts past the ear, soaking gently into the mind. And there... there, unnoticed, devious, it works, to deliver its message, to touch the senses...

And Zoisite appears, a pale and shimmering form, ethereal against the commonplace background of Crown Karaoke.

"Nephrite..."

[akai_pride]

He knows what's about to appear as soon as he hears the music. Sure enough, Zoisite appears on the power of that music. At first, Nephrite pretends not to hear him. He continues mopping, suddenly a diligent employee. But Zoisite doesn't vanish.

"What do you want?" he finally asks.

[ginnezu_notes]

He watches quietly, patience born through many years of being the musician that he is, of working quietly with his music, for hours, days, weeks at a time, with hardly a thought for all else. He can wait as long as it takes, to complete this piece as well, to restore Nephrite's memories, and to be sure that none of the shitennou are truly lost.

"I came to see that you were well."

[akai_pride]

Pity words. Pity looks. Pity visit. If there's one thing they could at least spare him from, it's pity.

"Does it look like I'm well?" he retorts. He throws up his hands, a look at me that's helpless and showing off at once. The mop, absolutely forgotten in the gesture, clatters to the floor and he lunges to pick it up.