Alone again

[inverted_moon]

It's still hard to believe, she ponders about it as she stares at her right hand for the millionth time in the last week. It's the hand with which she used to call her transformation powers. It's also the hand that hold a certain Mercury's hand for a good while... Before Usagi ruined everything again and had to start again from zero

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[soft_shitennou]

"You are troubled?" The mild voice and its question belong to a white-haired Zoisite. Pale eyes seek out Usagi's, but he does not intrude by pressing the issue any further than the simple inquiry. He will listen if she speaks.

[soft_shitennou]

It is only for the princess. There are rumors of other senshi with other roles, but the inner senshi, the ones that surround the princess, give their lives in her service. Even in the next life, fighting the Dark Kingdom was something they originally did while seeking her. Even Luna will give them that as their only mission: protect the ginzuishou and the princess. It'll be Ami, Mercury, who suggests they should handle the strange incidents in Tokyo in the meantime.

"That is their duty," he says simply. It's that obvious, that unalterable. "Where are they?"

[inverted_moon]

"Oh? So if the Solar System was to be attacked and the Earth and other planets were ruined, millions of people killed... So long as the prince and the princess are alive and protected it's all fine, is that what you are saying?" By some miracle she manages to keep the question just as that, a question. A question from someone who can't understand why two people are more important than a whole planet.

She takes a sip from her tea; "I told you where they are. In Japan, fulfilling the duties they have in this world." It's despicable, the 'this world is different' talk. She doesn't like it, but right now there's no other way around it. Not that it matters, he won't believe her, she won't care and whatever he may want to do he has no right to do so in this world. Neither would the others listen. He would certainly be in for a surprise if he were to talk with the senshi regarding their 'lack of honor' and 'breaking oaths'.

[soft_shitennou]

If she were the master, he'd do it. He'd hound them until they finally came back to her side, or until they finally lost their patience and silenced him.

"That is not their duty," he says. "They cannot forget their duty to their princess."

[inverted_moon]

Right on the mark, he doesn't listen. He uses his world as a blueprint for hers.

And to think that she had almost been glad about having some company for a while. "Fine then;" if he's not going to listen. If he's not going to understand, there's no point in continuing that conversation.

She has to be understanding with him and understand that in some worlds... Many worlds. The Moon princess is more important than the whole universe. But he can't understand that's not how things are in this world. Lovely double standards.

[soft_shitennou]

Everyone starts from the base of their own experience. But this, this is also simply what the senshi are. They are the princess' guardians, just as he is the master's. That is their role.

"You are angry?" he asks mildly, perhaps off-put by her sudden tone, though his face suggests nothing.

[inverted_moon]

Not in this world.

Never in this world.

At least not the inner senshi, though Usagi doesn't know that yet.

Yes, I'm angry at you not listening or accepting that things are different here. Or that you are trying to give lessons on what senshi are when you are not even one to begin with, no matter how close you may be to them in your world. But that would be rash... And pointless. She doesn't want to be angry and she's not angry at him really, just at his world. At all the worlds were the Moon princess is the center of everything... Without having done nothing to earn it, just be born. It's not fair, it's not right. That everyone has to sacrifice everything for her, while she sacrifices nothing, even if it leads everyone else to their demise

[soft_shitennou]

It's his turn to be troubled. Zoisite takes a few heavy steps away. But he says nothing more for now.

[inverted_moon]

"Are you angry?" Have they ever have a meeting that didn't involve him getting troubled like that at some moment? He should have already learned, she's not a princess to deal with. She can only hurt.

She hurts even herself, letting herself care for things that she shouldn't care about.

[soft_shitennou]

"No, princess," Zoisite says formally. He bows his head slightly.

"In their absence, on behalf of the master, I will serve you as much as I am able."

[inverted_moon]

That manages to make her smile again, though it's a resigned one. Really, she just got rid of one Zoisite and she already has another? And one that isn't even from this world.

"I suppose it would be silly on my part to tell you there's no need to?"

[soft_shitennou]

What else can he do? The princess is without her protectors. He must keep her safe.

"There is need," he says. If he resents her for it a little, he keeps it showing too much.

[inverted_moon]

"There is no danger here;" she doesn't mind being resented for something. Even for something she has no control over. And she didn't ask him to do it, did she? On the contrary. "And I'm not really defenseless, either."

[soft_shitennou]

"You are in the nexus," Zoisite informs Usagi solemnly. That means there is always danger. He does not argue any further than that, but he also doesn't leave. Zoisite turns back towards the princess and stays protectively nearby.

Especially if she no longer has the power of the Moon Kingdom to defend herself. Zoisite has no wish to explain to the master why his beloved was allowed to be hurt.

[inverted_moon]

"That's... Well, you do have a point there;" she admits. This is her house, not the nexus. But if the nexus has brought him here it could also throw in a monster or something. So he does have a point.

And she doesn't want to argue with him anymore. She holds up the teapot from the tray; "Another cup of tea?"

[soft_shitennou]

Therein lies the seed of mistrust of other worlds. Misfortune and trouble can leap from one to the next easily in the nexus.

"This was enough," Zoisite tells Usagi. "You should not serve me, princess."