Metalia-sama

When Zoisite awoke the next morning, it was a bit later than what he was used to. The sun was already rising and when he turned to look beside him, Jadeite was already up. Coincidentally, there was also something burning in the kitchen.

“Jade?” Zoisite called, wrapping himself in a robe and stepping out of the bedroom. Jadeite was busy in the small kitchenette, and the pan on the stove was smoking. Zoisite quickly removed it from the heat and inspected the contents. He wasn't even sure what they were supposed to be any more.

“I'm sorry!” Jadeite apologized. “I wanted to have breakfast ready for you when you got up.”

“Maybe I should be the one cooking,” Zoisite teased, though he knew that he probably wouldn't be any better at it.

“I'm sorry I wasted the food. I know we have limited supplies,” Jadeite said, holding out a basket. “Fruit?”

Zoisite took one of the apples and smiled. “We have plenty of money for now, but I do plan to go into town today to look for work. You don't know him, but my old piano instructor lives in the town. I'm hoping he would be able to help.”

Jadeite quickly went about straightening up the kitchen as he spoke. “Can I go with you? I should probably find work as well, although I have no idea what I could do...”

Seeing that Jadeite was somewhat troubled, Zoisite walked up behind him and wrapped his arms around Jadeite's waist. “I'm sure we'll be able to find you something, but it won't be necessary for both of us to work.”

“I don't think I'm very good at house chores...” Jadeite said quietly, holding up the pan with burnt-on... something for Zoisite to see.

Zoisite smiled, “we can share those,” he replied, not quite ready to let Jadeite go. “I'll help you with the dishes, then we can head into town. Have you feed Kaze yet?”

Jadeite freed himself enough to turn around in Zoisite's arms. “I did,” he nodded, smiling up at Zoisite. “She seems to be doing well.”

Zoisite leaned down and pressed a light kiss to Jadeite's lips. “And what about you?” he asked, his voice light, but concerned as always for Jadeite's well being.

“Will you stop worrying about me, Zoi? I'm fine now, really.”

Zoisite let go of his lover and ruffled Jadeite's hair playfully. “I worry about you because I care about you, and that isn't going to change any time soon.”

Jadeite batted Zoisite's hand away, “I'm fine,” he said, running a hand through his own hair. “I just want you to stop treating me like a china doll. I'm not going to break if you touch me.” He returned to cleaning up the kitchen.

After last night, Zoisite was beginning to come around. Maybe he should just listen and trust Jadeite's judgement about himself. And of course, there is always more than one way to do things. “I know, and I'm sorry. I'll make it up to you tonight.”

Zoisite couldn't help but smile when his words made Jadeite stop in his tracks. “Make it up to me?” he asked.

“If that's what you want.”

Jadeite's eyes brightened as he spun around, “you mean that we can...?”

Zoisite smiled and nodded, and Jadeite subsequently threw himself into Zoisite's embrace, kissing him again. Zoisite had to struggle with both Jadeite and himself to separate the two of them. “After, we go into town,” he said, teasingly.

With new-found energy, Jadeite returned to the kitchen, and Zoisite followed, offering to start scrubbing the pan.

---

Endymion hesitated outside Beryl's chambers. He hadn't really spoken to the woman who had freed him from Metalia's power, and he felt bad that it had taken him this long to get around to it. At the same time, however, he didn't really know anything about her, and so he was nervous about dealing with the 'witch'.

There were plenty of people who could use magic, this was nothing new for Endymion. His Shitennou were all apt at the skill, but there was a difference between them and the so called 'witches'. Witches were known for using magic for their own personal gain, and could rarely be trusted. If his Shitennou had agreed to put their trust in her, he must have been doing some awful things.

Metalia must have been doing some awful things.

Taking a breath, the Earth's Prince knocked on the door, and shortly after a soft voice asked him to enter. The room was surprisingly dimly lit, only a few candles burned and the blinds were drawn. Beryl had her back to him initially, but she turned around as she heard the door close and immediately bowed. “Endymion-sama, I was not expecting you.”

“I'm sorry to barge in. You're obviously busy.”

She righted herself and shook her head. “It's nothing that can't wait. Let me get a few of the lights.” Beryl waved her hand, and suddenly several of the lamps in the room were lit, the trick catching Endymion off guard. “Please, have a seat,” she offered, gesturing to one of the chairs. She returned to the table where she had several objects, candles, vials of liquid, bowls, stones, and lit some incense before taking her own seat.

“Thank you, for everything you've done,” the Prince began, “I don't want to know what would have happened if you hadn't.” Beryl smiled, but didn't say anything in reply, so the Prince continued. “Are you comfortable in your rooms? If there is anything you need, don't be afraid to ask.”

“I'm quite satisfied with my rooms, and the servants have been quite helpful as well, thank you. How have you been adjusting?”

It would be strange to talk to this woman he had barely even met about such personal matters, but something was drawing the words out of him. “It's difficult, I'll admit. I don't remember anything and no one will tell me what I did.”

“They were trying times, I'm sure. The people who do remember probably wish they could forget.”

Endymion was shocked by her words. Kunzite and Nephrite both danced around the points, carefully choosing their words so that Endymion wouldn't assume any guilt. It never worked, and the way they spoke only made him feel worse at times. Beryl was different, he could see already they she would say exactly what she meant to. If she knew what happened, she might even tell him. “How much do you know about what happened?” he asked.

She shook her head, “Not much, I'm afraid. The only contact I had with you while you were in that state were the two times I attempted to remove Metalia.

Endymion's eyes widened. “Two times?” he asked. “You had to make two attempts?”

“Yes,” Beryl confirmed. “I wasn't properly prepared, I didn't realize how deeply rooted Metalia was the first time. What happened to Zoisite and Kunzite was my fault.”

“What do you mean?” Endymion was sitting on the edge of his seat. She did know things after all.

The woman paused for a moment, as if considering if she should continue. Thankfully she did. “Well, Kunzite lost his eye after I was forced to leave the first time, and Zoisite was imprisoned.”

Endymion jumped out of his seat, “imprisoned?” he asked. He knew that he had thrown his father in the dungeons, but not Zoisite! “What do you mean?”

“Endymion-sama, has anyone told you about your emotions?”

The Prince quickly put a reign on himself, taking a deep breath and then sitting down again. “Yes, I'm sorry, it's just... no one told me about Zoisite.”

Beryl nodded slowly. “The incense I have burning is something that I created. It should help in keeping Metalia dormant, at least a bit.”

Endymion looked back over at the table. “You made it?”

“Take some with you if it does help.”

“Thank you,” he said, turning back. “Can you tell me more about what happened? About Zoisite?”

“If you wish, when I returned for the second attempt, Kunzite told me that Zoisite had been charged with treason. He said that we only had one more chance to remove Metalia, as Zoisite's execution was scheduled to happen quickly.”

Endymion's breath froze. How could he have ordered Zoisite's execution? His hand flew to his mouth as he tried to keep himself calm. Kunzite had told him that he hadn't killed anyone, was that a lie or had he just come very close? Endymion's heart pounded in his chest, and his breathing had resumed, only very quickly. “No wonder he hates me...” the Prince whispered.

He wasn't aware that Beryl had left her seat until a reassuring hand was on his shoulder. “Calm yourself, Endymion-sama.”

Closing his eyes, Endymion concentrated on controlling his breathing, forcing it to slow down. Eventually his heart seemed to follow suit, and he couldn't be sure, but he felt that Beryl's presence was helping, or maybe it was just the incense. “You don't happen to know what happened to Jadeite, do you?”

“No, I don't. Only that he seemed very frightened.”

“They left yesterday, neither of them could stand to be around me any more.”

“If you want to talk about it, I'm always here to listen,” Beryl offered, caressing his shoulder softly.

Endymion had to admit, even though he barely knew her, he felt that this was someone he could open up to. And if she was going to tell him the blunt truth as he wanted, he knew he would be coming back to see her frequently.

---

If Zoisite took any kind of notice to the stares and whispers coming from the people in town, he didn't give any indication. It made Jadeite a little nervous, being unsure of what they were whispering about. It could be a number of things, really. How they had abandoned their prince, the things that had been going on in the palace while Endymion was possessed, or perhaps they even knew about him and Zoisite?

Jadeite followed close, trying not to look anyone in the eye. They had tethered Kaze a few blocks back and walked through the narrower streets. Eventually Zoisite stopped at a small house and knocked at the door. Jadeite looked up nervously, but Zoisite gave him a reassuring smile.

A woman who might have been in her forties answered the door. “May I help you?” she asked.

“I'm looking for Shirane Kazuma-sensei, is he in?”

“Just one moment, please come in.”

The two former Tennou were shown inside and seating in the living room. Jadeite immediately noticed that Zoisite's gaze was directed to the next room where a grand piano stood. Jadeite knew how much Zoisite loved to play, and realized that he hadn't been permitted to in many months. The blond haired man let his hand rest on top of Zoisite's for a moment, gaining his attention.

“It's been so long since I played...” he commented, looking over at Jadeite for a moment before looking back at the instrument.

Jadeite gave his hand a squeeze. “You're so talented, I'm sure it won't be a problem.”

As Jadeite heard footsteps coming down the hall, he discreetly removed his hand, not certain that Zoisite wanted his old teacher to know, if he didn't already that is.

“Zoisite!”

Seeing that Zoisite was standing, Jadeite got to his feet as well.

“Shirane-sensei, it has been a while.”

Shirane was about the same age as the woman who had let them in, who at this point Jadeite had concluded must be his wife. As Zoisite and Shirane conversed, Jadeite couldn't help but feel his eyes drawn to Zoisite's shoulders, which was where Shirane had placed his hands. He felt something strange inside of him, and couldn't place the emotion, he only knew that he didn't like this person touching Zoisite.

“Now, I don't want to hear any of this 'sensei' talk. You surpassed me in skill when you were only eight years old.”

“That's not true,” Zoisite argued.

Jadeite was beginning to feel a little out of place. These two had known each other for so long, since before he had even been born. They even seemed to be good friends, close.

“You must be Jadeite, then,” the man said suddenly.

Jadeite looked up when he heard his name. “I am, how do you know?”

The man gestured that they should sit, and so Zoisite and Jadeite returned to the sofa, and the man sat across from them. “Well, everyone in town has been talking about you two. They say you both resigned.”

“That's true,” Zoisite replied, and Jadeite was happy to let him do the talking. “Which is why we're here. I was hoping that you might know where we could find some work.”

The old man nodded. “I might, actually. There is a restaurant in town, they tend to have live music performed around dinner, but they haven't had anyone in several weeks. I can introduce you to the owner, however...”

“Is there a problem?” Zoisite asked.

“It's just that... to be honest, there are a lot of rumours flying around about you two. I'm sure most of them aren't true, but that doesn't mean that they aren't believed.”

Zoisite nodded, “I understand, and I can answer any questions that he might have.”

Shirane nodded, seemingly satisfied. “I assume you've been keeping up with your playing?” he asked.

Zoisite sighed lightly, barely audible to Jadeite, and then looked at the piano. “It's been several months since I last played,” he admitted.

There was a silence that followed, and Jadeite could feel the tension in the room thicken. There was no one within miles of the palace who didn't know what had been happening with the Prince. “May I ask?” the man pressed.

“I simply was not permitted,” Zoisite replied, but Jadeite could hear an edge to Zoisite's words. “And if you don't mind, I'd rather not dwell on those times.”

“Of course, I'm sorry I asked. Would you like to stay for dinner? I'm sure there are plenty of other things we could discuss. It's been a few years since we last saw each other.”

Zoisite turned and looked at Jadeite then, and Jadeite could see that Zoisite did want to stay. He had to admit, it would be nice to have a decent meal for once.