The Past Life

We hadn't even made it to the bedroom. My back was pressed up against one of the walls of the outer room, my arms were wrapped around him, and he pressed his body against mine. I don't think it was possible for us to get out of our clothing as quickly as we wanted to.

It had been a few days since the ball. Many of the families had left the palace that morning, but some stayed. The extra guests over the past few days had kept my Master busy, as well as myself and the rest of the Tennou. We had not had any time alone, and that extra built-up desire was showing now.

“You don't mind... if we don't...” Master breathed, as he fumbled with my jacket.

I removed the article and tossed it on the closest piece of furniture, the sofa I believe. “Not at all,” I replied before pressing my lips back against his. I had never wanted him more than I did at that moment, exactly where and how wasn't really an issue. He seemed to share my sentiments.

I broke the kiss and tilted my head back when his hand started stroking me through the fabric of my pants. With his free hand he struggled with his own clothing. I wanted to help, but was too distracted to be of any real use. Gods, it felt good.

Master had just managed to remove the most of the decorative armour from his uniform when there was a knock at his door. “Damnit. Go away,” he said, under his breath. It was too early yet for the night watch of Kunzite and Nephrite to be arriving, so it was probably one of the guests. “Who is it?” he called out.

“It's Kusaka Hina,” came the response from the other side of the door.

Master let out a breath he must have been holding. “Could be worse... Zoi, this won't be long. I'm sorry.” He backed away from me, leaving my body begging for his touch, but it would have to wait.

“No, it's fine, Master. Take all the time you need.” I gathered the pieces of my uniform and hid in his bedroom while he asked her to wait a few moments. I sat on the bed, trying my best to ignore the throb in my loins. I also tried to ignore the conversation taking place on the other side of the thin sliding door, but as there was nothing else to take my mind off certain things, I ended up listening.

Kusaka-san began by apologizing for coming directly to Master's room. “I know it's not really appropriate,” she had said.

“I don't mind, please.” He must have been offering her a seat, for there was a short pause in the conversation.

“We both know what are families are expecting of us,” she began.

“Us and most of the residents of this palace,” he added.

I heard her chuckle softly. “That's what I came here to talk to you about. I do wish to respect my father's wishes, I'm sure you feel the same way, but...”

There was a pause and my Master urged her to continued. “But?”

“I haven't told my family yet, but there is another man that I have been seeing for some time now.”

Master was silent, he probably found this new information as shocking as I did, if not more so. As guilty as I felt about it, I couldn't tune out the conversation now.

“He's a very kind man, not that you aren't... but...”

“You love him.”

“I do.”

Silence again. I could understand her situation. She wanted to be with the one she loves, but is being pressured in another direction. Except in her case, she could choose to go against the wishes of others and be with him.

“I don't want to disappoint my family, but I don't want to lose what I could have with him. Someone told me once that there is only one true love for everyone. If this is it, I don't want to lose it. I'm sorry, I shouldn't be speaking so informally with you.”

“No, it's alright. I...” Master lowered his voice, “I can understand your situation.”

His voice had been very quiet, but I could still hear his words. Understand her situation? He didn't mean...

“You do? So... there is someone you...”

Master didn't reply, but guessing from Kusaka-san's reaction, he had nodded in the affirmative. Someone Master loved? I would have known if he was seeing anyone else. So then...

“Can you tell me who it is?” she asked.

“It's... complicated,” he replied.

“Love shouldn't have to be complicated. I would suggest you try to make it work out with her. You don't want to miss something that might never come again.”

“You might be right,” he agreed.

I raised a hand to my lips. This is not what I wanted to happen. I could deal with my own emotions, but I didn't want my Master to have to feel that same pain when this did end. It would have to end eventually, despite what Kusaka-san said. Master and I could not be together forever, and never publicly. It would never work out.

He loved me? Even though I knew it was wrong, and would only cause us both pain later, I couldn't help but feel some joy in knowing that.

I could hear Kusaka-san getting ready to leave, and that meant that Master would be coming in here in a few moments. I couldn't let him know what I had heard. I knew that he had kept his voice low for a reason.

He did not come to me immediately after she left as I thought he would. Perhaps he wanted a chance to think about everything first. I couldn't blame him for that. He took a few minutes before opening the bedroom door. I stood up from my seat on the bed when he did.

“Did you hear any of that?” he asked.

I shook my head, “I could hear your voices, but I didn't pay any attention. Is everything alright, Master?” Luckily, he didn't see through my lie.

“Everything is fine. I'll tell you about it later.” He smiled as he took a few steps to stand in front of me, placing a hand on the back of my neck. “I think this is where we left off,” he said before kissing me. His lips ignited the fire in me that had been temporarily put out. I returned the kiss hungrily and pulled him down to the bed on top of me.

He quickly sat up again to remove his shirt and then immediately got to work on removing my pants. Apparently I was not the only one feeling a little impatient.

We rose early the next morning, as there were still many guests in the palace who would require entertaining. Master confirmed that the hall was clear and I made my get-a-way quickly. With a few more sets of eyes in the palace now, we had no room to waste time.

I was about to turn a corner, on my way to my own room when someone stepped out in front of me, blocking my path. “Kuroki-san?”

“You would be Zoisite, correct?” she asked. The way she spoke and the look on her face made me nervous. Her mere presence set me on edge.

“That's right.”

“One of Prince Endymion's Shitennou?” She was smirking and tilted her head to one side.

“You know who I am, what do you want?”

“Well, that's not a very nice way to speak with one of the Prince's guests.” She had a mischievous look in her eye. “Of course, I can understand why you would be cold towards one of us...”

“What are you talking about?”

“I saw you enter Prince Endymion's chambers last night. Nothing surprising in that, I'm sure you often wish to discuss things in private. When you did not emerge until just now, however...”

Had she been watching his room the entire night? I should have been more careful, especially with her. I had known something wasn't right.

“He's good, isn't he? I always imagined him to be a tiger in bed.”

“What do you want?” I asked again slowly. She must have wanted something, she wouldn't be throwing this at me otherwise.

“It's nothing you couldn't arrange, I'm sure. I just want some private time with the Prince. You can't have him all to yourself.”

I narrowed my eyes at her. I was ready to draw my dagger and slice right through her throat, but knew I had to hold myself back. I had no way to explain myself, and she had yet to actually do anything to make me think she was a threat to my Master's life.

“You will arrange a meeting between us, or I will expose your little secret. I'm sure the other Shitennou would love to hear about your off-duty activities.”

I had to give into her, she had me cornered. It was not only my reputation at stake, but also my Master's. I was about to agree with her demands when a voice behind me stopped me cold.

“What's to expose? We already know.”