Metalia-sama

Jadeite was scared. While he was no stranger to this emotion, considering the events of the last few months, it did nothing to dull what he was feeling.

They were huddled close together, speaking in hushed voices. The piano sat silent and cold on the other side of the room. It had been quiet for some time now, ever since its owner had been told that if it ever made another sound, he would not.

The youngest of the Shitennou was trying to keep his sobs as quiet as possible, lest their Master would hear. 'No,' Jadeite told himself. 'That thing is not my Master.'

He was trembling, but didn't notice until a stable arm wrapped itself around his shoulders in an attempt to comfort him. He did not want to appear weak, having to rely on others, but at the same time he couldn't help but allow himself to be wrapped in his lover's warm embrace.

“How is he?” Kunzite asked, referring to their king.

“The same. I managed to get him some bread and water earlier today,” was Nephrite's reply.

“Good.”

They were discussing things that would get any of them in a lot of trouble, this was the reason Jadeite was scared. He did want to help his Master, but at the same time that help could be met with serious repercussions. Usually felt by him or the one that held him.

A sound outside the door made Jadeite jump. He was pulled closer and a gentle “shh” was whispered in his ear. “It's OK.”

Whatever had made the sound, probably one of the servants, it moved on and Jadeite let out a breath he had been holding. He didn't want to think about what would happen if he had heard their words.

---

Kunzite watched the display that two of the Tennou were putting on. He knew that they had grown especially close over the past six months, but had chosen to turn a blind eye to it. In any other scenario, he would not have allowed their relationship to continue. It was disruptive to their mission as Shitennou to protect their Master, but Kunzite doubted that it was the Master who needed protection these days.

He and Nephrite had been spared most of Metalia's wrath, Nephrite especially. Once, Nephrite accidentally told the Master that the four of them had been discussing his well being, and that they were worried about him. It was luck that Endymion had interpreted Nephrite's comment as him ratting out his fellow guardians. Zoisite had received a lashing as a result, but even he agreed that it was worth it to make Nephrite appear to be Metalia's watchdog. He was close to the Master now, seeming to agree with anything he decided on, and then secretly informing the others. Endymion trusted him completely, and as a result, Nephrite was able to sneak around more than the others, and that included down to the dungeons to see the King.

Metalia apparently considered Kunzite important as well to the plans that were in place. He was the most advanced in fighting skills and strategy. This resulted in his punishments to be less severe and frequent.

Even if they did their best to be careful, to keep meeting such as this top secret, some thing did manage to make it to Endymion's ears. It angered Kunzite that such abuse, regardless of who committed the offence, fell on Zoisite or Jadeite. “Something has to be done.”

Jadeite visibly stiffened and huddled closer to Zoisite. The latter whispered something inaudible to the one in his arms before replying, “Our real Master is still in there somewhere.”

“I don't mean to harm our Master,” Kunzite explained. “I only wish to return him to the way he used to be. Get that thing out of him.” The Shitennou leader gave his second-in-command a meaningful gaze. Kunzite knew Zoisite quite possibly held the key to that.

Zoisite looked down at Jadeite and then closed his eyes. “I don't like it.”

Kunzite knew that neither Jadeite nor Nephrite knew what they did. That Zoisite had what was needed to return their old Master to them. Kunzite knew that it would work, Zoisite had said that he was not so sure, and that there had to be another way. Neither had said anything to the other two, for their protection.

“What the hell is going on in here?” a voice boomed from the doorway.

Jadeite froze, fear claiming his body. Kunzite watched as Zoisite let his hold slacken and stepped forward, purposefully keeping himself between Jadeite and Endymion. “Master, is there something we can do for you?”

Endymion's response was to cross the room to where Zoisite stood in a few strides and backhand the Tennou across the face. The force of the blow was enough to knock the man to the floor.

The other three guardians stood rooted to their spots until their Master spoke. “Leave us.”

Kunzite knew that orders these days were to be followed, and followed quickly. He hated leaving Zoisite to his fate, but staying to try and defend him would only make matters worse.

Nephrite was already moving for the door, but Jadeite seemed frozen, staring down at Zoisite. Kunzite grabbed his wrist and had to drag him from the room.

Once all three were clear of the music room, Kunzite closed the doors behind them and waited. He closed his eyes and prayed to any God that would listen.

---

Zoisite remained where he had fallen, knowing better than to stand up or even look at the man who only appeared to be his Master.

“Plotting against me?” Endymion asked, standing over his guardian.

“No, Master.”

“You lie.”

Zoisite did his best not to vocalize his pain as he was roughly pulled up by his hair and struck again. He fought to keep his footing this time, coming to a stop after stumbling backwards a few paces. “Master, please, we only want what's best for you.”

“Metalia is what's best for me!” Endymion sneered.

This type of exchange happened frequently, Zoisite received a beating for whatever excuse the Prince felt like coming up with. Any frustrations were usually taken out on Zoisite. His injuries would manage to only partially heal before a new set was given to him. He would gladly take many times more what he normally received, however, if it saved Jadeite from the pain he was forced to endure almost every night.

He couldn't contain a pained cry as he was thrown against the nearest wall and his arm was wrenched behind his back.

“You just want Metalia's power for yourself, isn't that right?”

“N... no,” Zoisite replied with some difficulty. He felt relief for a brief moment when his arm was released, but it was followed soon after by his prince throwing him to the floor once more.

“I keep beating you, but you just don't seem to listen. Jadeite learned quickly.”

At the mention of Jadeite's name, Zoisite's breath caught in his throat. Endymion had never used Jadeite against him until now. 'He knows...' It had only been a matter of time before the Prince figured them out.

Endymion smiled when he saw that Zoisite was actually showing fear. “So that's it...”

---

Every thud, cry, and blow could be heard on the other side of the door. Nephrite clenched his fists at his sides. He could do nothing to help Zoisite and he hated it. He also hated that thing his Master had become. He was no longer human, Metalia had turned him into nothing less than a demon.

Looking over at Jadeite, Nephrite watched him cringe with every new sound that managed to make it passed the doors. Nephrite was fully aware of what had developed between Jadeite and Zoisite. Kunzite choose to ignore it, but Nephrite couldn't. Even with everything that was happening now, he had seen them manage to smile when in each other's company. It had started out as a need for compassion, and had grown from there. Physically, their relationship was nothing more than a desire to be close to someone. Someone who was not going to hurt you, and someone you could talk to.

Nephrite noted the eerie silence that had taken over the music room. He wondered if Zoisite had been knocked unconscious, it had happened once before. Or it could be worse.

He shuddered at the thought. It was certainly conceivable that Metalia could kill them one day, and Zoisite would be first on the list.

Unexpectedly, the door shook and groaned under the force of having a body thrown against it. Kunzite jumped away from it and gave it a disdainful look as the voice of their Master was heard on the other side. “Remember my words,” it warned.

The doors swung open as Endymion stepped through and gave each of his other three guardians a glare. Their eyes immediately found the floor and remained there until their Prince had left.

As soon as Endymion was out of sight, Jadeite ran forward into the music room, and found Zoisite not far from the entrance. He was on his knees and holding his right shoulder gingerly, his hair dishevelled. His left eye was beginning to darken and a small trickle of blood escaped his lip. Jadeite knelt beside him, and gently reach a hand to brush some clumps of white hair from Zoisite's face. “Zoi...”

Nephrite took a tentative step into the room. Zoisite looked like hell, but there was something else. For the first time that Nephrite could remember, Zoisite looked shaken. Something had happened to scare the normally calm man, and Nephrite wasn't sure he wanted to know what it was.

“Jade... don't,” Zoisite whispered, appearing to protest the attention the younger man was giving him.

Jadeite appeared to notice the change in Zoisite's countenance as well. “What's wrong?”

Before Zoisite could respond, Endymion was back in the room. Nephrite had barely enough time to register the angry footsteps before Jadeite was yanked to his feet. He could do nothing but watch as Jadeite was pushed roughly back into the hall. “And what is it exactly that you are doing?”

“I...” Jadeite had paled considerably.

“If I don't find you in my chambers in five minutes, you will regret it,” Endymion growled.

“Y... yes, Master.”

---

If Endymion had been hoping to instil the fear of God into Zoisite, he had been successful. He didn't care what happened to him, but Jadeite...

Zoisite didn't dare raise his head when the Prince had pulled Jadeite away from him. He didn't need to hear the words that were spoken to know exactly where Jadeite was expected to be, and what he was expected to do.

Once both were out of earshot, Zoisite slammed a fist into the floor and winced from the pain that resulted. “Jade...” he whispered.

“It's your choice,” Kunzite said to him before turning and leaving the room. His words were cold, and that was exactly the way he intended them.

Nephrite was still in the room, and made his presence known then. “Do you need anything?” he asked.

Zoisite shook his head. He only wanted to be alone for now, and Nephrite seemed to sense that. He turned and left as well.

The second of the Shitennou remained on the floor for a while longer. Silent tears fell from his eyes onto the wooden floor beneath him. Tears for the pain he knew Jadeite was feeling, for the man his Master used to be, and for the frustration he was feeling at not being able to do a damned thing.

It's your choice.

If things remained as they were, it would only be a matter of time before they all broke, and Jadeite would be the first to go. Doing nothing would not help the Master either.

Zoisite pushed himself off the floor and headed for his chambers, a new determination taking hold of him. Once he had the door closed safely behind him, he went straight for his desk and pulled the top drawer out completely. Secured underneath the drawer was a letter from a woman who had offered help.

The letter had arrived over three months ago, when it became fully known to the Earth Kingdom that something was very wrong with the Prince. Inside the letter was an offer that until now Zoisite had refused. He had refused it because he new full well he would be making a deal with the devil, but he could take it no longer. He would agree to meet with Beryl.