Metalia-sama

A/N: I'd really like to thank my first and only reviewer for this story, psyco_too. Thank you for pointing out the errors I made. I went back and fixed both the vile/vial and past/passed mistakes. Obviously English was not my major.

---

Their first dinner together had been wonderful. Oh, sure, the food was basic and prepared poorly, something Jadeite planned to work on in the future, but they had been together, and it had been peaceful. They were happy.

“Can we go out on the balcony?” Jadeite asked. He loved the balcony with the view of the lake. During the day it was almost blinding the way the sun shone off the water, but it was beautiful none-the-less.

Zoisite nodded and Jadeite hurried to the sliding doors. He was outside quickly, but Zoisite moved slowly as Jadeite eagerly waited for him to catch up. The sun had set now, and the moon was almost full tonight. The view was sure to be absolutely...

Jadeite's breath caught in his throat when he finally looked out over the water. What he saw also gave Zoisite some pause as well before Jadeite felt his arm wrap around his back. It had been impossible to see during the day time because of the sun, but now it shone brightly on the other side of the lake. The Golden Palace with it's usual night time glow. Jadeite felt a shiver travel up his back.

“I didn't realize we would be able to see it from across the lake,” Zoisite commented. “Do you want to go back inside?”

Nodding, Jadeite had already started to turn away from the sight. Once they were both back inside, Jadeite closed the doors, blocking out the offending structure. It was beginning to cool outside, so they had build a fire earlier. Zoisite sat on the end of the sofa facing the fireplace and motioned for Jadeite to join him.

Zoisite leaned back against one end, throwing one leg up on the seats and pulled Jadeite into an embrace against him. Jadeite snuggled happily, laying his head on Zoisite's chest as he looked at the fire and listened to the rhythmic thump of Zoisite's heart. “Are you happy here?”

Jadeite smiled a bit wider and nodded. “Besides the view at night, I love it.”

Zoisite kissed the top of Jadeite's head and then proceeded to play with his hair. Jadeite continued to look at the fire, but his mind started to wander elsewhere. They were away from the palace, the Master, now. Safe. He would never again have to worry about the monster that might be lurking around the corner, even if the 'monster' was no longer present. The Master didn't know where they were, for all he knew, and probably suspected, they were going far far away. Jadeite would never have to see him again, and even though it pained him somewhat, he was glad. He had Zoisite, and just Zoisite in his life now. That was all he wanted.

Jadeite pushed himself up a bit and looked down at Zoisite, who had since turned away from the fire as well when Jadeite had moved. He leaned down and kissed his lover. Zoisite responded immediately, kissing him back and cupping the side of his face with his hand.

The kiss deepened, and Jadeite moaned contently as their tongues began to mingle. Zoisite's hand travelled to the back of his head while his other rested on Jadeite's back. It was heavenly to be able to do something as simple as this. He ran his hand down Zoisite's side, able to feel him through his shirt much better than with those thick uniforms they used to wear. Once he reached Zoisite's waist, he slipped his hand under the hem of the shirt and began a journey back up, pulling the shirt with him as he felt the muscles and smooth skin, marred by the occasional scar.

They broke the kiss and Zoisite pulled the shirt off. Jadeite loved being able to touch him like this. The scars that both their bodies bore could be ignored now, no longer the reminder that there were more where those came from. They were a part of the past that no longer effected them.

Instead of returning to Zoisite's lips, Jadeite slide down a bit to kiss his neck, chest, and collarbone. Slowly, Jadeite inched his way down Zoisite's body, knowing that sooner or later...

“Jade...”

And by that he meant, I don't want you to go any further. Jadeite raised his eyes up and used them to plead with Zoisite to let him continue. All of that was in the past, and it was just the two of them now. All the bad things that had happened where gone, history. 'Please let me do this,' he begged silently.

Zoisite bit his lip in thought. Surely he understood how Jadeite felt, that he was safe now and wanted to just have a normal relationship with Zoisite. Eventually Zoisite gave in, slowly nodding his head that it was fine for Jadeite to continue.

Jadeite lifted his head and smiled, so excited that he would be able to do this for Zoisite. He tackled the laces on his pants quickly and then got off the sofa to allow Zoisite to get out of them. Jadeite crawled back on the couch, back between Zoisite's legs. He started by touching and stroking him, running his hand along Zoisite's shaft, bringing him to his full length. Zoisite moaned as Jadeite held him in his hand and began kiss up and down the side of his manhood, finally leaning back, closing his eyes and relaxing a bit more.

Jadeite licked his lips and he stoked Zoisite up and down a few more times before slowly taking him into his mouth. Zoisite sucked in a breath as Jadeite began working him in and out, taking a bit more of him each time. Zoisite's voice was delightful as he moaned and gasped because of what Jadeite was doing. It felt wonderful to be able to give him this kind of pleasure.

---

Zoisite dug his fingers into the cushions of the sofa. If he didn't he was afraid he would reach down and touch Jadeite. The last thing he wanted to do was to make any move that would be interpreted as control. He had to let Jadeite move at his own pace and comfort.

There was certainly nothing to complain about however, it felt incredible. Briefly, the thought of where Jadeite had learned to do this so well popped into Zoisite's head, but he refused to entertain the thought. That was then, this is now, and they had left 'then' on the other side of the lake.

Zoisite opened his eyes and glanced down at Jadeite. He was staring back up at him, watching Zoisite as he pleasured him. Zoisite had to moan as Jadeite picked up the pace, by this point taking all of him into his mouth each time. He closed his eyes again, feeling the sensations of Jadeite's warm mouth and tongue on him, bringing him closer to his peak.

“Jade...” Zoisite moaned, his hands and long fingers crushing the sofa cushions now. He had to give Jadeite warning. “It will be soon.”

Zoisite tried looking down at him again. Those blue eyes still fixed on him as he sucked him into his mouth. That was it, Zoisite's eyes were closed again and his head thrown back as the imminent pleasure almost made him forget. “I'm coming...” His hips bucked, as he was unable to control himself completely, and he thought he said Jadeite's name, but he couldn't be certain. Pure bliss overtook him, and for a few seconds, nothing else existed in the world.

He lay on the sofa panting, finally releasing his death grip on the poor piece of furniture. Jadeite sat up and smiled happily, and his expression caused a smile to appear on Zoisite's face as well. “Good?” he asked, obviously knowing the answer, but wanting to hear it anyway.

“Very,” Zoisite replied. He pushed himself up and the gathered Jadeite into his arms, holding him close. “Thank you,” he whispered.

Jadeite shook his head. “I really wanted to. I want us to be a normal couple from now on. Do things that normal couples do.”

Zoisite let his fingers tangle themselves in Jadeite's hair. Maybe it was possible for them to be normal now, to be intimate with each other and not have to worry about causing the other one pain. “I'd really like that,” Zoisite replied.

---

Nephrite stood back while he watched Kunzite practice alone. It was dark already, but the lights from the palace provided more than enough illumination.

He appeared as strong as he always did with a sword, raising it over his head and swinging it at the imaginary enemies. His body was in the same shape it always had been, it was just his eye that worried Nephrite.

Nephrite closed his own right eye and looked around the area, getting a feel for what Kunzite would be seeing. Not only was vision reduced by half, but he wouldn't have any depth perception either, something that would put him at an extreme disadvantage in a real fight. Nephrite felt truly concerned for Kunzite. His Leader may not want to admit that it would effect him, but it would considerably. If Kunzite is physically incapable of performing his job...

Nephrite shook his head. If Kunzite stepped down, he would be the only one left. He knew he wasn't ready for that kind of responsibility.

“How long do you plan to stand there and watch?”

Kunzite had his back to Nephrite, and the red head wasn't even sure if Kunzite had been aware of his presence until now. “I thought I would wait until you are ready,” he offered.

Kunzite turned and held his hand on his hip while he waited. Sighing, Nephrite drew his own weapon and took his spot. He really didn't want to do this. Kunzite would know if he was going easy on him, and he would call him on it, but if he didn't, he was going to kick Kunzite's ass and that wasn't exactly a pleasant option either, no matter what he would have said in the past about it.

Motioning with his hand that Nephrite should attack, Kunzite readied himself and Nephrite charged forward. He attacked from the front first, and was initially surprised that Kunzite was able to block each sword swing as accurately as he did before, even without depth. Maybe Nephrite had underestimated him.

Next he jumped to his right, which would keep him in Kunzite's peripheral vision. Again, the same reaction that he had come to expect from Kunzite. He turned and blocked quickly.

It was Kunzite's turn to attack. Swinging, trusting, Nephrite was having trouble blocking each move, as he normally did with his leader. Finally deciding to test the blind spot, Nephrite rolled to his left.

Of course, Kunzite knew where he was, but he had to turn and almost face Nephrite before he could see him. Instinctively, Kunzite blocked his upper body with his sword without seeing where Nephrite was aiming, but Nephrite trust his forward. Had it been a real fight, Nephrite would have run him through.

It took Kunzite a moment to realize this, and when he did, he was first shocked, then angry, then controlling his emotions once again. Nephrite caught all of that within a few seconds, and it didn't surprise him.

“Again,” Kunzite ordered, walking away from Nephrite a few paces.

Nephrite didn't respond, but got up and took his place once again. It wasn't good. Nephrite succeeded in beating Kunzite each time they fought, and each time it was when he took advantage of Kunzite's right side. His leader was getting frustrated, calling for another round again and again. Finally Nephrite had to call an end to it. “That's enough,” he said, lowering his sword and shaking his head. “Kunzite...”

“Don't patronize me!”

“I'm not!” Nephrite argued back, “but the fact of the matter is that you can't see on your right side. Any enemy you fight will see that instantly and take advantage.”

“Don't think I don't know that...” Kunzite growled, but at least his voice was lower in volume.

“So we should figure out a way to counter for it,” Nephrite continued. Honestly, why was he the one who realized this first? He raised his sword so that it pointed straight up and held it in front of him. “Stay where you are and look straight ahead,” he instructed. “Tell me when you can't see the blade any more.”

When it seemed that Kunzite would entertain the idea, Nephrite began to slowly inch his way to Kunzite's side, stopping when Kunzite told him too. He marked the ground and then did the same on Kunzite's good side. “There, that is your visual range.”

Kunzite looked to the ground and then turned his body at an angle so that Nephrite appeared in his new centre of vision. “The problem with fighting like this is that it puts my sword arm behind my body,” he said.

“I've seen you fight left handed before. We've all been trained to do so.”

Kunzite took a breath and then switched sword arms. He nodded and Nephrite took his position once again. What would work out better for him, fighting left handed, or with a more considerable visual impairment? Nephrite attacked centre first, and then ducked from side to side. Kunzite was considerably better at blocking Nephrite's attacks, though he did have trouble getting out of a defensive position. Still, it was an improvement that they could build on.

“Better?” Nephrite asked.

Kunzite agreed, albeit grudgingly. “Thank you,” he managed, sheathing his sword. “I think that's it for the night.”

Nephrite nodded and put away his own weapon. He wanted to say something to Kunzite as the Tennou leader walked back to the palace, but the words just wouldn't form. He knew that Kunzite's attention was off because of Zoisite and Jadeite, but Nephrite didn't really know what to do about that. He didn't even know how Kunzite felt about either of them.