Metalia-sama

Jadeite opened his eyes, the bright sunlight shining in through the window had awoken him. It had been three days since he and Zoisite had first become a bit more intimate, although Zoisite had restricted just how far they would go. Too much, in Jadeite's opinion. He had only been permitted to use his hands up until this point. However, last night, for the first time, Zoisite has used his mouth.

He smiled to himself, remembering how wonderful it had felt when Zoisite had first kissed him there. And then the warmth he had felt as Zoisite began to lick and eventually take him in completely, always being slow and careful, hardly even once taking his eyes of Jadeite's expression.

It was different. Very different from what the Master had him do. He had told Zoisite that to try and reassure him yet again that he was fine with this. After their first night, his lover had become even more concerned for him, if that was even possible, after he returned from the Master's bedroom.

Jadeite wished that there was something he could do to stop Zoisite from worrying. He rolled over, intent on waking his love if he wasn't already up, but was shocked to see that the other side of the bed was already empty.

“Zoi?” Jadeite asked the empty room as he sat up in bed, the sheets falling down into his lap. It was unusual for Zoisite to get up without waking him as well. Perhaps he had had trouble sleeping, it wouldn't be the first time.

When Jadeite grabbed his uniform, he was not surprised at this point to find that Zoisite's was already missing. If he wasn't in their room, then he would most likely be in the library. It was there that Jadeite intended to head first.

As soon as he left their chambers, Jadeite could feel something different in the atmosphere of the palace. The halls were empty, and he felt a chill as soon as he walked through the door. For reasons that he couldn't explain, he suddenly felt very nervous. He was very out of practice when it came to using magic, but if felt as though the flow of energy in the palace had been reversed in some way.

He needed to find Zoisite.

The library was empty, like the halls. Jadeite tried to walk quietly, but his boots clicked off the stone floors, echoing loudly around him. He continued going straight, looking down each corridor he got to for anyone before moving on. His heart raced as he picked up his pace. Where was Zoisite? Where where Kunzite and Nephrite and the Master? Anyone?

Finally, he heard another set of footsteps coming from around the corner, and felt a huge amount of relief at seeing a red uniform reveal itself. “Nephrite,” he said, jogging to meet up with the other Tennou.

“Jadeite, what's going on here?” he asked, obviously out of the loop as well.

Jadeite shook his head. “I don't know. I just got up, and you're the first person I've seen.” He looked around nervously, “you feel that, right?”

“Yeah...”

“Have you seen Zoisite? Or anyone else?”

It was Nephrite's turn to shake his head. “No, but there were raised voices coming from the conference room, the Master is in there. Kunzite as well, I think.”

In silent agreement, both turned and started towards the mentioned room, but they moved slowly. The meeting room was not far, and they didn't want to alert anyone inside the room, as they would likely be eavesdropping. As they travelled, Nephrite asked quietly, “I know that Kunzite and Zoisite are up to something, you wouldn't happen to know...”

“Something, yes, but he wouldn't say a word to me,” Jadeite replied, dropping his voice as well. “He left the palace three nights ago.”

“Left? And went where?”

“He wouldn't say. He wouldn't tell me anything.”

Nephrite was quiet for a brief moment. “They are planning something, and they're keeping it from us for our own protection. And this,” he added, referring to the eerie atmosphere, “this is part of it.”

Jadeite looked up at his friend, “and what is this?”

Nephrite shook his head. “I'm not sure, but the energy is weird...”

They reached the end of the hall, and the conference room lay just around the corner to the left. The two Tennou exchanged glances before Nephrite snuck up and peered around the corner carefully. Voices could be heard, and Jadeite recognized one of them immediately. Zoisite. The other belonged to a woman that he didn't recognize. Nephrite motioned for him to look as well.

Zoisite had his back to them, and he spoke in hushed tones to a woman just outside the conference room. “Are you ready?” Jadeite heard him ask, and the woman replied that she was. She stepped to the side, and Zoisite rapped twice on the large oak doors. If Kunzite and the Master were indeed in the room, Zoisite was taking a huge risk in simply interrupting their meeting.

Nephrite and Jadeite looked to each other and then back at the doors.

---

Zoisite took three deep breathes before knocking on the door. Kunzite was in there with the Master as planned, discussing their plans to invade the Silver Millennium. Beryl stood just out of the way of the doors, clutching a dark crystal in one hand and a string of beads in the other. Everything up to this point had gone by the book, but this next part would decide everything.

He hadn't slept at all the night before, although Jadeite had thankfully drifted off quickly. Zoisite had watched him for hours last night, unable to plan any more than he already had. It was the longest five hours in his life while he waited for Beryl to arrive.

Kunzite got her into the palace without much trouble, and the three of them had met in the music room. The Tennou wished to avoid involving any of the other residents of the palace, and so with Beryl's help, Zoisite had invoked a light sleeping spell. It was the first time in several month that he had played the piano, but it had worked as expected. The Master would likely be unaffected due to Metalia's presence, and they doubted that Jadeite or Nephrite would experience it's full effects either. The other residents of the palace however would continue to sleep for an extra few hours.

Kunzite would then meet with the Master early in the morning, before he became suspicious. The Tennou leader expected that he could keep the Master busy long enough for Beryl to prepare, and then they would knock twice on the door as a signal.

Everything had fallen into place, now Zoisite waited for the Master to open the doors. For interrupting a meeting like this, he could expect another one of his regular beatings, but Kunzite would make sure that the Master never got the chance. The thought of using any kind of force against the prince went against everything Zoisite lived for, and yet at the same time, would be necessary in order to save him.

The door flew open, and a very angry Endymion stood in the doorway. Zoisite could swear that his eyes were glowing. “Just who do you think you are, disturbing me?” he asked. Zoisite could see Kunzite moving slowing into position behind the Master, but did nothing to alert the prince to this. “I've told you before that you are not to intrude, why do I have to tell you a second time?” The Master's voice beginning to grow in volume. Kunzite edged closer.

“Please, accept my apologies, Master, but it is something urg...”

“I don't care what it is! This is the last time I will tolerate your insolence!” Endymion reached for his sword, to the surprise of even Zoisite. Had he truly been corrupted to this point? Zoisite raised his hands in defence, Kunzite was almost there.

“Please, Master. Let me explain.”

“I'm tired of your excuses! You've proven yourself useless to me, and this ti-” The Master was cut off as Kunzite grabbed him from behind. One hand gripping the Prince's right wrist, forcing him to drop the weapon, the other around his chest. Zoisite moved now as well, grabbing holding his Master's left arm. The two Tennou worked together with record speed to hold the Prince still as the witch Beryl entered the room after them, closing the door behind her.

A series of curses flew from the prince's mouth, directed at both the Tennou and Beryl. Zoisite did his best to not listen and concentrated on holding the Master still. He had become much stronger since Metalia, and it required everything that he and Kunzite could give to hold him. Any waiver in his focus could end up with not only a failed mission, but Zoisite knew for a fact that the Master, as he was now, would not let him live.

The witch, Beryl, wasted no time in beginning her incantations. Even Zoisite did not recognize the ancient language that she used, and he had been researching such things since he had gained the ability to read.

She held both the crystal and rosary together in her hands. After she began to repeat the incantation, the crystal began to glow with a purple light. Dimly at first, but it gradually grew in brightness.

The Master struggled again, fully aware that they were trying to separate Metalia from his body. Beryl had told them that Metalia would not give up easily, and that it might be a long and hard fight.

The crystal grew brighter yet as she went into her fifth repetition. The Master's struggles began to wane, but Zoisite knew better than to relax his hold now. The Prince was staring into the crystal, apparently transfixed by it's light, and then he closed his eyes, looking almost at peace once more. It was working, Zoisite thought, until the Master choose to speak again.

“I will kill both of you for this,” he said quietly, “and you will die slowly.”

“Stay focused,” Kunzite instructed, and Zoisite knew it was important as well. They had to succeed for their Master, and Zoisite knew that Jadeite's well being was at stake as well. “Don't listen to anything that he says.”

“Slowly, and painfully,” he continued in a voice that was eerily tranquil. “You will be begging for death long before I give it to you.”

Zoisite maintained his hold. He had no fears in regards to pain or his own death, and he knew that Kunzite felt the same.

“And while I watch you writhing in agony, I'll have a glass of wine in my hand, and Jadeite sitting at my feet.”

“Pay no attention to him,” Kunzite's reminder came again.

“He'll be forced to watch.”

Zoisite clenched his teeth together, doing his best to ignore these new threats. The Master knew his weakness now and was trying to exploit it, regardless, Zoisite was now having a difficult time concentrating on his task.

“And when you finally do die, he will become my personal servant. In fact, I'll have him move into my chambers that night. He'll be there to pleasure me whenever I demand it, and however I demand it. Have you ever heard him scream in pain when he's fucked? It's quite delightful.”

Zoisite could feel himself trembling, both anger and fear beginning to build inside him. His hold on his Master was faltering.

“Zoisite!” Kunzite voice came again with another warning. “Do not lose sight of what's important right now.”

What was important right now, at least as far as Zoisite was concerned, was Jadeite's safety, and this demon was not going to lay one finger on him. Never again. Zoisite looked up into the face of the man that had once been his Master, his eyes blazed with his anger.

Endymion just laughed. “I'll have him again and again. I could never grow tired of it. Perhaps, as a favour to you, since I knew you've never touched him, while you are waiting for death to claim you, I'll take him right in front of you. I'll let you hear his screams.”

“You god-damned bastard...”

The Master struck then. He had been building up his energy to use in a double blast. He shook Zoisite off his arm first, and then let the first blast it him squarely in the chest. Zoisite flew backwards, striking the wall several meters away. Zoisite struggled to remain conscious as he heard a similar fate befall Kunzite. Beryl stopped her incantations at the realization that the two Tennou had failed.

“Run!” Zoisite heard himself yell at her, and she quickly flew for the doors. The Master didn't seem to be particularly concerned with the woman, and Zoisite was not sure if that was a good thing or not.

---

Kunzite groaned as he tried to sit up. Zoisite had let his emotions get to him in the end, and it would cost them both. Still, he could hardly blame the man. The words that had come out of their Master's mouth had been vile and, Kunzite feared as well, probably very true.

He reached a hand to his head, which was pounding after being slammed into a wall. His chest ached as well where the energy had hit him. Neither he nor Zoisite had known that Metalia had granted him such powers. An oversight he now regretted.

“Don't move.” The Master's voice ordered. When Kunzite looked up, he saw the tip of the Prince's blade pointed squarely between his eyes. When the Master seemed satisfied that he would remain in the floor, he withdrew his sword and walked slowly to the other side of the room.

Zoisite seemed to have regained most of his bearings, but was in no shape for putting up a fight. Kunzite remembered his orders from the King, but was also in no shape to be executing them. It wouldn't do anyone any good if he got himself killed now, but he also couldn't just sit here while the Master obviously planned to kill Zoisite.

The Master came to a halt at Zoisite's side, staring down at the man for what seemed to be several minutes. The look on Zoisite's face as he looked defiantly back up at the man was so foreign on his face. He looked like a different person now. Could love really change a person that much? If so, then Kunzite blamed himself for letting the two of them get close in the first place. He needed Zoisite as a level-headed Tennou, not as an emotionally driven, weak willed man.

In a flash, Endymion's sword moved, coming to a sudden stop at Zoisite's throat. He applied just enough pressure to draw a thin trickle of blood, which Kunzite could see from across the room. Still, Zoisite's expression did not change.

“Master! Stop! Please.”

Kunzite turned his head quickly, surprised to see Jadeite running into the room. The youngest of them stopped in the middle of the room, facing the Master and Zoisite. Nephrite had entered the room as well, but he kept himself back near the doors.

Zoisite's expression changed then, the moment Jadeite made his presence known. Fear. He was wide-eyed and Kunzite could swear that he trembled as well. Oh, how weak Zoisite had become.

Jadeite dropped to his knees as he continued to beg. “Please, Master, have mercy. I will do anything, please.” While Kunzite could not see his face, he knew tears where falling from Jadeite's eyes. Jadeite had come to be completely dependant on Zoisite. If he died, Kunzite knew not what Jadeite would do to himself.

The Master retracted his blade for a moment to point it to the blond man on the floor. “You will do 'anything' regardless. You are not going to escape punishment for this either, you support one who would try and take this power for himself?”

“No! Zoisite only meant to...”

“Silence!” The Master's sword swung back to Zoisite's throat, causing to Jadeite to gasp, but he spoke no words.

Kunzite waited, looking from one man to the other. His head was beginning to clear. Another few minutes and he might be able to mount an attack, but he would be at a sever disadvantage when he did so. Ever so slowly, his right hand moved towards the hilt of his sword.

“I don't believe this,” Nephrite finally said, moving into the room.

Kunzite looked up at him, and immediately saw was he was doing. Nephrite looked first at Zoisite, then at Kunzite, faking a look of disgust. 'That's right, Nephrite, play your role...'

“I can't believe the two of you would even think about turning on the Master,” the red-head continued. “Zoisite, perhaps your emotions confused you, but you, Kunzite, you I don't understand. Maybe that witch had you under some kind of spell.”

The Master smiled at this. “Nephrite, supportive as always, even when your comrades are not.”

“Of course I am, Master,” he said, bowing briefly before continuing. “I have not forgotten my oaths.”

The Master moved the tip of his sword to just underneath Zoisite chin, and used the weapon to tilt his head up. Kunzite could see where the blood had begun to stain his white uniform. “Then tell me, Nephrite,” the Master asked, “what should be done with them?”

Kunzite prayed that Nephrite would make the right move here. They needed him where he was, supposedly completely loyal to the Master. 'Think, Nephrite. Say what he wants to hear...'

Nephrite had paused in thought for a few moments before answering. “They should both be charged with high treason,” he finally said, managing to keep his voice steady, “and given a traitor's death.”

“No!” Jadeite screamed from the floor. His emotions were probably blinding him to the fact that Nephrite was acting. “How can you say that?!”

Nephrite shot a glare down at the youngest of them. “And you should learn your place.”

Kunzite closed his eyes for a moment. He could only imagine how difficult this was for Nephrite.

---

He had never felt so sick in all his life, forcing himself to say the things he was saying now. Kunzite and Zoisite would understand, but he suspected that Jadeite didn't realize that it was an act, and the pain he was causing the young man hurt him so.

The Master chuckled, pleased with his act thus far. “And would you carry out that order, Nephrite? Would you kill your fellow Tennou?”

“No comrades of mine would act as these two have,” he said, looking from one to the other, then back up at the Master. “If that is your order, then I will obey.”

“Good,” was the prince's reply. “However, I may decide to take that pleasure for myself. Also, I think that it may only be necessary to charge one of them. What do you think of that?”

“Your decisions are always wise, my Master.”

Endymion pulled his sword back and sheathed it. Then he grabbed Zoisite roughly by the arm and hauled him up. “I suspect that he was the mastermind behind this. Take him down to the dungeons for now, we will discuss the day for his execution later tonight.”

“Yes Master. May I asked what you plan for Kunzite?”

“I will take care of that.” the Prince replied, pushing Zoisite in Nephrite's direction. “Get that one out of my sight.”

“Yes, Master.” Nephrite grabbed Zoisite's arms and pushed him roughly towards the doors, grateful to be leaving that room, even though he had several difficult things to do now as well.

Once they were passed the door, and Nephrite had them securely closed, he released Zoisite, turning the man to face him. “Hit me,” he instructed.

“What?”

“Hit me. I'll let you escape.”

“Are you insane?” Zoisite asked, “the Master would never believe it considering my state.”

“I can't take you to the dungeons! He will kill you.”

“I know, but you will. Kunzite will need you where you are, Nephrite. You can't risk it.” Zoisite reached behind his back and retrieved his curved silver blade. “You should be following proper procedures. You can't leave me armed.”

Nephrite closed his eyes and shook his head, but took the weapon regardless. “I can't do this to you. It isn't right!”

“Nephrite, keep your voice down. Stop thinking about it and just do it. That's...” Zoisite paused and actually gave a light chuckle. “That's an order.”

Nephrite couldn't believe that Zoisite would be able to joke at a time like this. He hooked the dagger on his belt and grabbed Zoisite's arm again. “Yes sir,” he replied.

They started down the hall, but paused after only a few steps. A scream from the conference room had stopped them. Both Tennou whipped their heads back around to look at the closed door behind them. That scream had most definitely come from Kunzite, though what had caused it, Nephrite couldn't even guess. He wasn't sure he would want to either.

“Let's go,” Zoisite said quietly.

---

Jadeite clenched his eyes shut, afraid to open them. Kunzite's scream had since died, but Jadeite was afraid of what he would see, as he knew what the Master had just done.

“I told you what would happen the next time you angered me.”

Jadeite opened his eyes, but kept them focused on the floor. Slowly he began to look up. Kunzite continued to sit against the wall while the Master stood over him. Kunzite held a hand to his right eye, his white glove already mostly crimson. Jadeite had to clasp both his hands over his mouth in order to keep himself quiet.

“You should probably get that wound treated,” the Master said lightly, “I'd hate to see it get infected.”

Kunzite managed to stand then, but Jadeite thought that he looked rather shaky on his feet. After all, he had been thrown, with great force, into a wall, and then lost an eye. Jadeite had always admired Kunzite's strength in any situation.

The Shitennou leader did cast a sad glance his way before leaving the room, as if to say “I'm sorry.”

Jadeite hung his head, the events of the last few minutes finally catching up with him. The plan had failed, and Nephrite was siding with the Prince. Why? Why had Nephrite turned on them? And then there was Zoisite. Jadeite felt numb at the realization that he would never see the man again. He might as well be dead now.

A shiver went up his spine as he felt Endymion's presence behind him, and then he froze as the tip of the Prince's sword pressed into his lower back, just enough for him to feel it. The blade travelled up his back and came to rest on his shoulder, the silvery steel just within his range of vision. “Now, what am I going to do with you...” his voice said as he tapped the sword lightly on his shoulder. “How dare you show more loyalty to Zoisite than you do to your own master. Perhaps...” he trailed off, leaving Jadeite nervous. “Stand up,” he ordered.

Jadeite stood, but slowly, keeping his back turned to the Prince as his sword still remained dangerously close to his neck. “I have no reason to think that you might do something stupid and try to fight me, do I?”

“No, Master,” Jadeite responded by habit. His voice came out quiet, defeated.

“Good,” Endymion replied, finally putting the weapon away. “We are going for a little walk then.”