Levana Ceri (Moon Love)

*Author Note: Yeah, I know everyone thought I died but here I am with another chapter. Enjoy!

Chapter 12

Darien threw open the doors leading to the library and nearly screamed in frustration.
Kunzite made a quick survey of the room before he closed the door and locked it. Darien
sat at his fathers old desk and squinted his eyes, all ready feeling the impending headache forming there.

"The council cannot be trusted." Kunzite said into the silence.

Darien glared at Kunzite under his eyes. "No shit. I got that memo when I was a kid."

"And did you also get the memo that the council is not to be underestimated either? You
forget yourself Master. Though the prince you may be, the council still has quite a bit of power under their fingertips."

"And all that power was given to them by my father." Darien stared at his parent's portrait that hung just above the fireplace. His mother had been a beauty...luscious red lips and hair to match. Slim figure and amethyst eyes with a ready smile. His father never smiled or laughed to his recollection. A very reserved man with his beard always properly trimmed and his long hair pulled back into a ponytail. To his knowledge the only one who could ever claim the King had been a good man was his mother. But she could find fault with no one. And she had had no knowledge of the Kings numerous affairs and resulting string of bastards. The council had taken swift care of those problems. Any mistress of his father usually dissapeared and the children would always have some sort of accident. Any woman foolish enough to entangle herself with her father could literally count the days of her life numbered. But that never stopped his father or the idiotic women. While murders were being commited before his very eyes, the King did nothing...and left his wife alone to care for his heir.

"Master." Kunzite said, not liking the menacing look entering his Master's eyes.

"The man was an utter fool. My mother was the best thing that could have happened to anyone and he didn't value her."

"Mother is God unto the eyes of a child." Kunzite quoted softly. "Master, you were young. You may not have understood everything you remember."

"Maybe, but I am an adult now and can fully understand all the reports I have and the Kings journals to confirm every suspicion I've ever had about his character."

"The Shitenou and I had just started developing our powers and begun to strike fear into the hearts of our people. We surely would have been killed if the King himself had not decided to recruit us into his service."

"Are you grateful to him?"

"I am. He saved the lives of I and my brothers. If not for him we would be dead or on the run as we speak."

"Did you know him well?" Darien asked the question he had never dared ask before.

Kunzite was quiet for some time before he answered carefully. "I knew him as well as any
bodyguard is ever allowed to. I was wise enough to turn a blind eye if the King ever did
something I did not approve of."

"Did that happen often?"

Kunzite sighed. "Every night I was in his service. And every morning when I had to explain to the Queen, your mother, why he had not returned home the previous evening."

Darien looked at Kunzite and smiled at his pained expression. "You don't have to protect
me from everything Kunzite. I know, full well, my father's indiscretions."

"But you've never known of my complicity in them."

"I suspected. But if you hadn't covered for him he would've found someone else. How was it that you went from being his bodyguard to mine?"

Kunzite's expression softened considerably at the memory. "Your mother was the finest woman I've ever had the priviledge to know. She spoke to me as an equal and asked my
advice many times. She would often travel into the city to help feed the poor and pass out gifts to the children around the holidays. Despite his faithlessness the King did love his Queen. He feared something would happen to her so he would often send me to guard her in his stead."

"While he ran off to fuck his mistress." Darien said bitterly.

"Slowly your mother won my loyalty. To the point where I could no longer lie for the King. I could no longer help him betray such a fine lady and he knew exactly how I felt. In the end my honor and sheer audacity seemed to impress him. He placed me to guard you and your reign...hoping that you would learn from me instead of from him. He did not want his own failings to fall upon you."

"Good of him." Darien said sacastically.

"The King feared the assasination attempts and asked me to bring in three other men I trusted implicitly."

"The Shitenou." Darien said with a smile.

"Yes...unfortunately even we could do nothing to stop fate. The King and Queen were murdered by his mistress. She herself then commited suicide and no one knows who she was working for to date. I failed your mother and father by not protecting them. I will not fail them again by losing you as well Master."

"So you guard me in memory of my parents."

"No. I guard you out of respect for your parents. This is how I honor their memory. In the ensuing years you proved yourself to be worthy of not only friendship but of the crown itself. Outside the Shitenou I would trust no one else but you behind my back."

Darien lowered his head with a grin, knowing the honor Kunzite's gained trust afforded him. "I want a close eye kept on Marcus, Kunzite. If he wasn't planning to try and overthrow me before I know he is now. My parent's death was not due to the mere jealousy of a woman scorned...there was much more behind it and I'm almost positive that Marcus had something to do with it."

Kunzite's eyes widened slightly, the only indication of his surprise. "The prince is truly wise to have noticed."

Darien snorted. "I'm not an idiot Kunzite. And I don't keep my head burried in the sand. I know who my enemies are."

"Then may I ask why have you not allowed the Shitenou to deal with said enemies?"

"Because I will not lower myself to their level."

"You have the power to have them all executed for even the suspicion of treason. As the prince you don't even need evidence against them...your word is enough."

"I realize that but I will not allow my kingdom to fall by such intrigue. The council has yet to do anything against me yet. And I have no evidence to show that they had something to do with my parents death minus my gut feelings. I need proof before I condemn them. But I will not sit with my fingers crossed waiting for them to strike. When they do, I want to be ready."

"The people love you Master. They would never question you."

"They don't need to. I question myself enough. And the people's love is fickle. All they need is for me to do something they don't approve of before they turn against me and forget all the things I've won for them."

Kunzite lowered his head and thought in silence before Darien's voice brought him back. "Penny for your thoughts Kunzite."

Kunzite very carefully chose his words. "Master, knowing full well that it is truly the people's will and love that keeps you well seated in your power...do you think it wise to initiate this relationship with Serena."

Darien started in surprise. "I thought you liked her."

"I do, Master. She's a very loveable if somewhat odd young thing. But we know nothing of her background or whom she's running from. And we all know she's running from something."

"I know." Darien said glumly.

"My point is, without this basic knowledge, do you think its wise to fall for her?"

Darien was quiet for a long time before he finally looked up and spoke very clearly. "It's a little late for that. I've all ready fallen for her."

Kunzite sighed. "Then I pray your love is longlasting and brings forth your happiness."

Darien laughed. "I don't know why you're so worried. I am allowed to marry whomever I chose. Forced marriages are a thing of the past. My parents' marriage was the last forced betrothal enforced in over a century."

"But you are not honoring your own betrothal with Adamina."

"Because I will not marry a whore and turn her into Earth's Queen."

"Her loose morals did not sway you from indulging her charms a time or two." Kunzite said knowingly.

"Trust me, the novelty of her charms as you call them wear off rather quickly."

"I wonder if the same will be said of fair Serena."

Darien quickly hid his little smile. "Oh I doubt I would ever tire of Serena."

At that precise moment the lock was turned in the door and Adamina burst quickly pocketing the key she had used. Kunzite rolled his eyes and stood to the side of Darien but a little further back, knowing full well the prince could handle himself with the hellion.

Darien rolled his eyes and groaned in agony. "What do you want Adamina?"

"Oh Darien!" Adamina cried as she threw herself at Darien's feet and buried her face against his knees, nearly trying to insinuate herself between them. Disgusted, Darien pushed at her shoulders and made her face him. "Stop with the hysterics!"

"Oh Darien I can't! I was told that our betrothal has been cancelled! How can you do this to me? I was virgin!"

Kunzite could barely controlled himself and only a very small laugh of disbelief was released. Adamina glared at him and said loftily, "Darien, tell your dog to wait outside. I need to speak with you privately."

Darien pushed her away and walked to the window. Speaking to Adamina through clenched teeth he told her without even looking at her. "Believe me when I say no one has more right to be here then Kunzite. You will show him respect."

Kunzite allowed himself a smirk at her and she seethed. "Of course. As you wish it. But you can't just get rid of me as if what happened between us was nothing. I was an innocent. You were my first lo-"

"Shut up Adamina. No one believes you. Don't you dare say I was your first lover. You taught me a thing or two in bed."

"I was swept away by passion! My womanly instincts-"

"You were no more a virgin then I was."

"You can't prove it, and once I let it be known what happened between us-"

"You will ruin your reputation, shame your father and probably be sent to the furthest corner of the planet to die in banishment for being a shameful slut." Darien ended for her coldly.

"How could you do this? I thought we were to be married. I was to be queen!"

"True, there was a time I considered it. But your selfishness and total unconcern for my people placed the last nail in the coffin. It's over Adamina."

"No it is not." Adamina said firmly, sniffing back tears as she stood resolutely in the middle of the room.

"And why is that?" Darien asked, not truly caring as he turned back to her.

"Because....I carry your heir."