Was Once a Friend

A/N: Thank you to Laienzoi for the beta!

Prince Endymion was running as fast as he could, but he was still being pulled along by one of his guardians, now his only guardian. The other three had been taken, presumably held prisoner by this new Dark Kingdom. It had all happened so fast, faster than he had expected.

“Come on,” Kunzite encouraged him. “Hurry up!”

Endymion was gasping for breath. Kunzite was leading him to somewhere specific in the palace, but did it have to be so far away? The youma armies had already taken the ground floor and were working their way up. The palace was surrounded, so even if there was some way to get out from the top floors, it wouldn't do them any good.

Suddenly Kunzite stopped and pulled the prince into the closest room. Endymion didn't know why at first until he heard the youma voices. He gasped in surprise, and immediately Kunzite had his hand over the prince's mouth and held him close. Endymion could hear his own heavy breathing and did his best to bring it under control before the youma passed by.

“The prince and guardian are to be taken alive,” a female voice said outside the door. “Anyone else who resists however is to be taken out.”

The Prince tensed, and Kunzite tightened his grip. Endymion had his back to Kunzite, while Kunzite was backed against the wall beside the barely open door. His eyes were glued to the crack as he watched the youma pass.

“Stay quiet,” Kunzite instructed in a whisper as he released his hand, “and move quickly. Let's go.”

Kunzite seized his wrist once more and quickly, albeit slower than before, they continued down the hall several more metres before coming to a stop.

“In here,” Kunzite ordered. From what Endymion could see, it was just an unused study.

“They'll find us, we'd be better off drawing our swords and-.”

“Get in,” his guardian's voice said again, this time leaving no room for argument. He opened the door and pushed the prince inside, closing the door behind him.

Endymion looked around as soon as Kunzite released his wrist. There was nothing special about this room. A fireplace, a desk, shelves full of books. “Kunzite...” Endymion said, uncomfortable trying to hide in this room.

Kunzite ignored him and made a beeline for the fireplace. He knelt in front of it and fiddled with something inside. To Endymion's surprise, it pulled away from the surrounding wall and revealed a passage behind it. “Come on,” Kunzite urged him.

Deciding at this point that he wasn't going to question Kunzite any further on his decisions, Endymion stepped into the passage first. He caught sight of stairs leading downward in a spiral before the entrance closed behind him and shut out all the light. “Kunzite?” the prince whispered, making sure he still had his guardian with him.

“I'm here.”

“I can't see anything.”

Kunzite's hands found themselves placed lightly on the prince's arms. “Just move slowly. There are stairs, take them one at a time all the way to the bottom.”

It was a slow journey, but Kunzite's presence behind him did help calm him He held one hand out on the wall for support and another clasped around Kunzite's. Endymion was doing everything in his power to concentrate on the stairs and not on the other people in the palace, or his other three missing guardians.

Finally he set foot on the floor at the end of the stairs. Kunzite kept his hands where Endymion could feel them and lead him into the room, seemingly familiar with the layout already. “You can sit here,” he said, and sure enough there was some kind of soft seating available. Upon further exploration with his hands, the prince determined it to be some kind of bed perhaps.

“I'm going to make some light,” Kunzite informed him. “I won't be far.”

“Where are we?” Endymion asked. “How loud can we speak?” he kept his voice in a whisper just in case.

“We're just below the first floor, not far from the North-East corner of a palace,” Kunzite replied, and Endymion could see sparks as Kunzite worked to light a torch. “We can speak normally, but take care as our voices can echo.”

Endymion nodded, and then realized the futility in the gesture. “What happened?” he asked next. “I knew there would be a war, but how did it happen so fast?” He had seen this coming, he knew Beryl was gaining support, but the prince had been expecting to have at least another few weeks. Thankfully Kunzite had seemed a bit more prepared than Endymion had been.

“I'm not sure,” the older man replied just as the torch caught fire and began to light the room. “The armies were much larger than we thought they would be. To have surrounded us so quickly...”

A second torch was lit and both found holders on the wall. Endymion could finally see the small room they occupied. Not more than three metres square with a second tunnel leading off besides the one they had entered from. The air was cool and damp, and a shiver ran up the prince's spine as he wrapped his arms around himself. “Do you think they're...” he couldn't finish the question in regard to the other Shitennou.

Kunzite looked briefly pained by what the prince had said. “I don't know,” he said, and his voice gave way to the emotion Endymion knew he was trying to repress.

Endymion had always considered himself closest to Kunzite, but the other three were just as much his friends. As their leader, Endymion could imagine the guilt Kunzite must be feeling. He couldn't have saved them and his prince, and Kunzite had to choose.

The bed in the room was the only place available to sit, and Endymion made room for Kunzite when he decided to sit at the prince's side. “Are you cold?” his guardian asked, wrapping an arm around the younger man.

“A little,” Endymion allowed, and was happy with more than just the heat from Kunzite's arm. His oldest guardian had always been a pillar of strength, and Endymion needed some of that now. As much as he wanted to fight the armies that had invaded his home, he was also scared and confused. Uncertain about his future, his friends, his planet. For the first time in a long time the Moon was not at the forefront of his thoughts.

He was trying to be strong, be 'a man', but right now, hiding within the walls of his own home, he couldn't. His emotions finally caught up with him and as much as he tried not to, he began to sob.

Kunzite turned towards him, offering to let the prince cry into him.

“It's nothing,” Endymion said. “I just have dust in my eye.”

“Of course,” Kunzite replied, but kept his arms around Endymion regardless.

Endymion did his best to change the subject away from his current emotional state. “What are we going to do?”

“We'll stay here for a while. They won't find us. We look for a way out and I'm going to get you as far away from here as I can.”

“What about Nephrite and the others? If they're alive, we should try to save them.”

Endymion could feel Kunzite tense against him. “You are my priority,” the Tennou leader stated. “If an opportunity presented itself... I'd have to make sure that you are safe first.”

“I could help y-”

“No.”

Endymion was too tired to argue anymore. He wanted to save his friends, and he knew Kunzite did as well, but Kunzite was right. There was nothing they could do at the moment. Exhausted, and his tears spent, Endymion slowly began placing more and more of his weight against his guardian.

Gently, Kunzite eased him down on the straw filled bed. “Rest,” he said softly and then stood to make room.

Endymion instantly grabbed Kunzite's wrist and silently begged him not to leave him alone. The bed was small, but Endymion was determined to make enough room. Eventually, but it was not without some obvious hesitation, Kunzite lay down beside him. They didn't have any blankets, and so the bodily contact was very welcome. Kunzite let his arm drape over the prince as well. Eventually, the prince was able to grab a bit of sleep.

---

Kunzite couldn't sleep, but he was happy to see his prince managing somewhat. He seemed to be having a fit of dreams, but he was asleep, and sleep was something he would be needing.

Only once he was sure Endymion was asleep did Kunzite carefully ease himself off the bed. He needed to explore the palace, and figure out a strategy. This would be best accomplished if he was alone.

He carefully retrieved one of the torches and was about to start down the second tunnel when the prince's frightened voice reach him.

“Where are you going?”

The fear in Endymion's voice tore at Kunzite. He was much more than just a prince and a job to Kunzite. He was a close friend, not unlike a younger brother, and Kunzite loved him as such. “I just need to check around the palace to assess the situation.”

“I'll go with you.” Already the prince was getting up from his bed.

“This will be a lot easier and faster if I am alone. You need your rest.”

Endymion nodded and bit his lower lip. “I know, but... I don't want you to disappear.”

Another reminder of the other three. No one had seen them leave, they were just gone right before the attack happened. Zoisite was gone. Once again, Kunzite blocked out his emotions. It was difficult, but he needed to be strong for his prince. “OK,” he relented, “but you need to stay close and to stay quiet, no matter what.”

“I will,” Endymion replied confidently.

Kunzite nodded and then lead the way. He didn't rush through the passages, but he couldn't afford to move slowly either. As fast as he could without alerting the youma to sounds within the palace walls. They were safe for now, so long as no one knew about the passages.

Along the tunnels where small holes, hidden between the stones of the walls. Unseen to most unless you knew they were there. He paused, checked the halls quickly and moved on. The first floor halls were well guarded, which was unfortunate, but expected. Kunzite was beginning to think that his last resort for getting the prince to safety might be his only option.

Thankfully, Endymion wasn't asking questions and was doing as he was told. They came to a set of stairs and Kunzite pointed up. He wanted to get to the throne room, since he had a hunch that that would be where he would find the woman, Beryl. Before now he hadn't paid her much attention. A courtier who like many women had expressed interest in the prince's hand in marriage. And like most, had been rejected. To think that she had managed something like this...

Kunzite came to a pause and handed the torch to Endymion and then pointed to a holder beside him. For obvious reasons, the tunnels had an entrance behind the thrones, which was where they now stood. The torch would draw unneeded attention.

He gave a reminder for Endymion to be quiet as he began to feel for the right bricks. It had been a long time since he had been shown all these secrets and it took a few tries to get just the right combination. Thankfully the wall began to slide without much trouble and quietly enough.

The entrance to the tunnels came out behind large draping curtains that hung behind the thrones. There was some commotion going on passed them. Kunzite turned back to the prince and held his hand out. He was not going to be coming out here with Kunzite.

The prince nodded and hung back in the tunnel.

Slowly, Kunzite crept forward, staying to the shadows and low to the floor. There was an opening in the curtain and Kunzite knew that unless he stood right beside the opening, he would not be seen.

“Silence!” A woman's voice commanded. “Are there any more?”

A group of youma dragged forward three of the palace servants. Two women and a man. “They were found in one of the kitchens,” one youma explained.

“I'm willing to give everyone one chance,” the woman said, who Kunzite now knew to be Beryl. Her bright red hair a dead giveaway. “Join the Dark Kingdom and you may live.”

One of the women stepped forward and spit on the floor, much to the shock of the other two. “I would rather die with a clean conscience.”

Kunzite understood her position quite well, but this situation made his heart fall. Zoisite and the others must have been given the same choice, and like him, they would not have willingly turned to Beryl. An energy blast from the staff Beryl carried knocked the woman back on the ground. She did not rise, and Kunzite closed his eyes in respect for her.

The remaining two bowed down to the woman in fear. While Kunzite could not really sympathize with them, he understood what fear of death could do to some people.

“That's what I like to see,” Beryl commented, and raised her staff again. At first, Kunzite thought that she was going to kill them as well, but much to his surprise, the energy from the staff did something he was not expecting. The man and woman became youma, just like those in the army that surrounded the palace. The youma were humans originally? It would explain how such an army could have been amassed, but how had this woman come across such power?

Kunzite was contemplating what this could mean when a familiar voice spoke. “My Queen, we've finished searching the palace. Neither Kunzite nor Endymion-sama have been found.”

It was Jadeite, and at first Kunzite felt some hope that Nephrite and Zoisite would also be alive, but then the realization of what he had said set in. Jadeite couldn't have sold himself to this woman, but sure enough, there he was bowing before her, wearing a new uniform of grey.

Kunzite checked behind him, and Endymion was aware of this as well. His eyes were wide with confusion and perhaps anger. Kunzite reminded him to stay put and stay quiet.

“Nephrite, Zoisite, have you also found nothing?”

“Correct, Beryl-sama,” Nephrite replied. “However, this palace has a maze of tunnels and secret passages within its walls, and Kunzite knows them better than anyone. He could not have left the palace, we know this. He must be hiding within them.”

Traitors... Kunzite took a deep breath to keep himself controlled.

“Zoisite, your thoughts?”

Kunzite shifted his position until he could see Zoisite. He was also wearing the new Dark Kingdom grey and held his right hand at his chest in a salute. “Kunzite-sama is not going to leave Endymion-sama's side, and I agree with Nephrite, they are within the walls, but it would be pointless to search through them. They are more complicated than the palace itself and Kunzite knows them well.”

“Then what do you suggest.”

“They will have to come out at some point for food or water. They can't hide forever. We place guards at every exit and wait.”

To see Zoisite, Zoisite betray him as well, after everything they had shared hurt more than Kunzite could outwardly express. His teeth clenched together and he eyed the man through the curtain.

“We'll have both of them soon, Beryl-sama.”

---

When Kunzite returned to the tunnel and shut the door, both he and Endymion stood in silence. Jadeite, Nephrite, and Zoisite. All three had turned traitor? Endymion didn't buy it. “They're probably just pretending to server her, in order to help us.”

Kunzite turned without a word and started back towards their room, grabbing the torch from the wall. “No, they wouldn't have revealed the secret passages to Beryl.”

“I can't believe that, and I know you don't either. There is something else happening here.”

Kunzite didn't reply, and so Endymion shut his own mouth for the rest of the journey back. Regardless of whether they were truly traitors or not, they were right. He and Kunzite couldn't survive back here forever. They would die of thirst first, and it would be better to try and run or fight while they still had strength.

As they entered the room once more, Kunzite returned the torch to the wall. The tension was thick in the room and Endymion hung back at the entrance as he cautiously observed Kunzite. His grey eyes were like ice as he thought on the current situation, his hands balled at his sides.

“They wouldn't have given in like the other people did,” Endymion said, trying to reassure his friend with what he knew to be the truth. “Beryl must have forced them in some way.”

Kunzite turned his head away from the prince and focused his stare on the wall.

“What happened to the people that did agree to serve her?” the prince asked, determined to find some way to convince Kunzite.

“Turned into youma,” Kunzite replied coldly.

“But how?”

“Beryl somehow has large amounts of magic. I don't know how, but she does.”

“Magic?” Cautiously, Endymion stepped into the room and sat on the bed, keeping an eye on Kunzite. Sick of wearing his armour, he set about removing the pieces of it along with his cape. “Couldn't she have done something to them then? With this magic?”

Much to Endymion's relief, this gave Kunzite some pause and he seemed to be thinking on the possibility.

“It is possible.”

“It might be,” Kunzite allowed, but his body did not relax any.

Endymion knew that this was causing him a great deal of pain, it hurt him as well, but probably not as much as it was tearing at Kunzite. The other man was known for his icy exterior, and while Endymion knew that that wasn't all there was to Kunzite, it was often a difficult barrier to break. Endymion did want to comfort his friend. “If it is magic, then it can probably be reversed. The spell could be removed.” The prince knew his knowledge of such things was limited, but from the little he did know, it made sense.

Kunzite didn't reply, at least, not to Endymion's suggestion. “I need to be alone,” he said, his voice marginally softer than before, as he turned towards the tunnel again.

The exact meaning of Kunzite's words didn't initially register with the younger man. All he heard was that he was being left alone. Immediately he jumped to his feet and rushed to stop Kunzite, grabbing his arm before he could leave. “Don't leave m...” he stopped himself when he caught sight of Kunzite's face. It wasn't the frozen anger he had seen earlier but something more akin to sadness and despair. The man's expressions could be hard to read at times, but over the years, Endymion had learned the subtle changes. “Kunzite...”

“I won't be far, I just need a few minutes.”

Endymion backed away. He wanted to do something to comfort Kunzite, like Kunzite had done for him, but he didn't know how. It was obvious that this was hurting him more than Endymion first thought.

Sighing in defeat, the prince returned to the bed, grabbing his cape along the way to use as a blanket and then lay down to rest once more.

As promised, Kunzite did return after a few minutes, and much to Endymion's relief, lay down beside him again.

---

Kunzite's dreams were filled with Zoisite. Zoisite as a traitor, Zoisite as a lover, and both at once. “You can still have me,” the beauty whispered to him, “you only have to change your uniform.”

Taking the invitation, Kunzite pulled Zoisite in and pressed their lips together in a needful kiss. The grey and green Dark Kingdom uniform was on the floor quickly, and joined by the white and gold of the Golden Kingdom. “I want you,” Kunzite said in reply before kissing the other man once more.

Both were in a hurry to join their bodies. Zoisite broke the kiss to turn his back on Kunzite and hold his hands up against the wall. Kunzite lavished kisses down his neck and across his shoulders while his hand found and began to stroke Zoisite's arousal. He moaned and pressed his backside back against Kunzite's own growing need.

It was only a dream, but it was a dream that Kunzite was slowly waking from. He was still half asleep, so he didn't initially realize that the body pressed against him, the body he was kissing and caressing, did not belong to his old lover.

It was his prince that was moaning desperately.

Realization came slowly for him, and when reality did set in fully, Kunzite did not jump or pull away instantly. Prince Endymion certainly had not.

“I'm sorry,” he said softly, gently releasing his hand, “I was dreaming, I didn't mean to...”

Endymion seized his hand quickly, stopping him from pulling away. “Don't...”

“Endymion-sama?” He actually wanted this? Kunzite was speechless. He eased himself up on his elbow in order to get a better look at his prince. He already knew he was hard, but his face expressed the lust his body was feeling.

The prince's breathing was heavy. Slowly, he turned around to face Kunzite. “This is... weird,” he stated, “but for some reason, I want this.”

Kunzite was being pulled in several directions. The least of which was not his old lover. He felt as though he was betraying Zoisite, but Zoisite had already betrayed him. Endymion was also his charge, his responsibility to protect. Kunzite could not break that trust, especially not when he knew that Endymion's desire for intimacy probably stemmed from his fear of the situation and the safety and security Kunzite provided.

On the other hand however, Kunzite's body was most definitely still interested, even if this was not the man in his dream, and Endymion was telling him the same thing. He wanted this, he wanted Kunzite to touch him. Endymion had clasped the front Kunzite's jacket in his hand and pulled their bodies together, and it was becoming more difficult to resist. “We shouldn't...” he said, but he couldn't make his words sound convincing to either of them.

“I know,” Endymion agreed, “but I've never felt like this before. With this kind of need, and...” the prince trailed off, but Kunzite understood what he wasn't saying. This might be his last chance.

Gently, Kunzite placed one hand on the back of Endymion's head, his fingers weaving in the short, black locks that felt akin to silk. His other hand went to Endymion's lower back and he pressed his lips softly to the prince's own.

Endymion reacted more than willingly. He lay himself back on the bed and wrapped his own arms around Kunzite's muscled frame tightly.

Kunzite pressed his leg between the prince's own, giving light pressure over the other man's hardness. There were no games or tricks, he would give Endymion anything he wanted tonight.

Endymion moaned into Kunzite's mouth and his body arched into the contact. Kunzite's hands began to wander, and he was suddenly thankful that Endymion had chosen to remove his armour before now. He only wore his dark blue shirt and pants, which would be much easier to rid him of. His hand slipped under the shirt and explored the muscles developed from years of sword training.

Understanding the need to be short a few more layers, Endymion's hands began to work at Kunzite's uniform as well.

Kunzite shrugged his way out of his jacket and helped the prince pull his shirt up and over his head. The prince was certainly more built than Zoisite, and while Kunzite was trying not to think of his old lover, he couldn't help but compare the two.

The Shitennou leader began to slowly kiss his way down Endymion's body, pausing to suckle on a nipple part of the way down. The prince continued to moan, but it was obvious that he want that attention elsewhere on his body. “Kunzite...” he whispered.

Kunzite's hand returned to gently caress him through his pants, and that got more of a reaction. Endymion bucked his hips up, grinding himself against Kunzite's hand. He whimpered in delight, but was much quieter than Zoisite would have been, which was a blessing. Zoisite's screams could alert the whole palace.

“What do you want?” Kunzite asked, needing specifics before going further.

Endymion swallowed as he looked down his body at Kunzite. “I... I want you to make love to me.”

It was more than Kunzite had been expecting. “Are you sure?”

The prince nodded. “I am, it's just... I am a virgin.”

Not a surprise to Kunzite, it was his job to know what the prince was doing at any point in time. “I'll be as gentle as I can.”

“I trust you.”

Kunzite gave a small smile before he began to unbutton Endymion's trousers. He pulled off the rest of his clothing in one swipe, and Endymion was left on the bed nude and shivering. “Cold?” Kunzite asked, moving up his body once more to provide some heat.

“Yes... a bit.”

“You'll warm up soon, I promise.”

Endymion gave a nervous chuckle at this, and as Kunzite began to move down his body once more, he rubbed the younger man's leg reassuringly. “Can you spread your legs?” he asked softly, and then moved between them when Endymion complied.

Kunzite did his best to move in gradual steps, letting his charge know exactly what he was going to do before he did it. He placed soft kisses on the man's shaft before taking him into his mouth. Endymion's eyes were initially wide with desire, and then closed in pleasure as he gave a stuttered sigh. If he had been Zoisite, Kunzite would have been planning ten moves ahead, ready to surprise his old lover, but not this time. This was not Zoisite. He was beginning to relax, but this was his first time.

Freeing his mouth, Kunzite brought a finger to his lips and coated it with saliva, unfortunately the only thing he had at the moment to aid in comfort.

The prince opened his eyes to see what was happening, and Kunzite held up his finger in explanation. Endymion nodded and helped by lifting his hips a bit as Kunzite began to touch him. “Try to relax,” Kunzite instructed, feeling the taunt muscles. He knew his request was not an easy one, but he knew from experience that this was going to be a lot easier if he did.

Endymion leaned his head back and exhaled a long breath before nodding. As Kunzite began to press his one digit inside, Endymion's body tightened on reflex and he moaned. Kunzite assumed it was discomfort.

“I can stop.”

“No, it's fine.”

There was one thing Endymion could be, and that was stubborn once he had made up his mind about something. Kunzite had known the prince for most of his life, and apparently that had not changed, even in bed.

The white haired man did his best to keep the man well lubricated, but even so, when he began to insert a second finger, Endymion tensed and groaned once more.

“I'm fine,” he said, before Kunzite could even comment.

He did his best to prepare the prince, but still felt uncertain. He knew he was causing the man pain, but Endymion was refusing to admit it. “Endymion-sama.”

“I told you, I feel fine.”

Kunzite could do little more than chuckle to himself at the assumption Endymion had made. “I need your help before I can continue.”

Endymion looked up with curiosity.

“Saliva is all we've got to make this comfortable for you,” Kunzite explained, undoing his pants in the process.

Endymion pushed himself up on his knees as Kunzite stepped off the bed to rid himself of the rest of his clothing. When Kunzite turned back to the prince, his eyes were focused on Kunzite's full manhood, and there was uncertainty within those orbs. “We can stop,” the older man restated.

“No.” Endymion gave a forced look of determination and placed his hand at the base of Kunzite's length. Slowly he leaned forward and took the head of his shaft into his mouth, testing the waters.

Kunzite watched the man slowly become more comfortable with what he was doing. He took as much of Kunzite as he comfortably could, making sure his organ was well coated. Kunzite's hand gently brushed over the neatly clipped black hair of his prince.

When Endymion pulled away and looked up at Kunzite for an appraisal, Kunzite nodded that that would do well enough.

“How should I...” Endymion moved to let Kunzite back on the bed, but was unclear about how he should orient himself.

“It would be easiest for you to lie on your back,” Kunzite offered, and Endymion readily accepted the advice.

Kunzite eased himself between Endymion's legs and slipped his arms under them, pushing his legs back to open the prince up to him. Endymion eyes were once again fixed Kunzite's arousal about to enter him, nervousness and a hint of fear in his eyes.

“Lay back and relax,” Kunzite instructed.

Endymion complied and closed his eyes. “Just do it,” he said, trying to voice his readiness.

Kunzite positioned himself and then pressed in slowly, groaning as he was enveloped by a tight warmth, but trying to focus on his partner's comfort as well. Endymion's hands had begun to cling tightly to the straw mattress, and his eyes were closed tightly in obvious discomfort. In a gesture of reassurance, Kunzite lay his hand atop Endymion's. “The pain will pass.”

Endymion nodded, finally admitting that there was in fact pain. Kunzite gave pause once he was fully sheathed, hoping the Endymion could adjust with a bit more time. “Don't stop,” the younger man tried to say with a steady voice.

“I'm giving you some time to adjust. Take it.”

Giving in, Endymion agreed to wait and then gripped Kunzite's hand in his. Kunzite realized when his hand was held tightly that it was Endymion's way of telling him if he was in pain, and how much. He gave a small smile, but did not comment on it.

When his hand relaxed, Kunzite began to slowly shift his hips, gently sliding himself out and in. The hand tightened marginally, but not enough to stop. Little by little, Kunzite moved further out, but kept the same slow, predictable rhythm.

Endymion moaned, but it had changed from before. Hoping that he was finally taking some pleasure in the act, Kunzite used his other hand to stroke his prince back to a proper erection.

“Ah...” Endymion whispered, opening his eyes once more to look up at Kunzite. Much to Kunzite's relief, they were no longer clouded with uncertainty or pain, but rather with desire and lust. He gave the dark haired man a smile.

“Better?”

“Much.”

Kunzite took the invitation to pick up the pace a bit, and when Endymion only reacted with pleasant sounds, Kunzite's earlier fears were dissolved. He continued to keep his thrusts controlled, his rhythm steady, no surprises.

So when Endymion suddenly held a hand up to stop, it caught Kunzite off guard. “What's wrong?” he asked.

“Nothing,” Endymion said with an odd smile, “but couldn't we try doing this another way?”

Kunzite let out a breath in a sort of half sigh half laugh. “And what do you have in mind?” he asked, pulling back from his partner.

Endymion gave a shrug. “I don't know, you're more experienced in these sorts of things.” Kunzite raised an eyebrow, to which Endymion added, “Or so I'm guessing.”

“Here.” Kunzite began to lay back and gestured for Endymion to crawl on top.

“Gods...” Endymion whispered as he lowered himself on Kunzite. He couldn't tell if the prince spoke out of pleasure or pain, but he certainly didn't hesitate in moving his body. He slid up and down with ease, supporting himself with on hand on the stone wall beside them.

Kunzite wrapped his hand around Endymion's member and stroked him in time to the prince's movements. That wasn't what he wanted.

“Faster,” he panted.

Kunzite couldn't help but smirk as he obeyed Endymion's wishes, but at the same time his other hand come to rest on Endymion's hip, gently suggesting that the darker haired man do the same. He made a sound somewhere between a gasp and a moan as Kunzite bucked his hips up in a calculated move as Endymion lowered himself.

“Good?” Kunzite asked through clenched teeth. He was moving a lot faster now, and he was so damn tight. Kunzite knew that he could hold out as long as he needed to, but his charge was not making this easy on him.

“Ah... y... yes...”

Soon Endymion's movements were becoming faster and more erratic. Kunzite tightened his grip a bit and sped up his hand, watching the prince's face as his eye lids fluttered, revealing hints of his deep blue eyes.

He knew the other man would be coming soon, and as he began to moan desperately to that effect, Kunzite stopped holding back. His hand gripped Endymion's hip tightly as his own thrust upwards repeatedly, filling the young man that rode him.

Endymion gave two short cries as he came, thankfully not too loud in volume. Kunzite felt his seed splash across his chest as his own orgasm gripped him. Waves of bliss crashed through him and left him physically drained for a few moments. Above him, Endymion moaned lightly, gently resting his hands on Kunzite's chest.

Not a word was said between the two men as Endymion slowly pulled himself off Kunzite and grabbed their capes from the floor. He draped the garments over their bodies as blankets and lay down beside Kunzite.

---

Endymion had mixed feelings when he awoke several hours later. Kunzite's arm was around him protectively, and despite the situation, he felt safe here, but at the same time, he was beginning to have second thoughts about what had happened, not that it really mattered at this point.

“You're troubled.”

Endymion turned and looked into the eyes of the man he just slept with. His normally cool, grey eyes did show genuine concern for him. “No, it's nothing,” he said, brushing off the comment and sitting up in bed. He was a bit sore, but it was nothing life threatening.

He stood and began to collect his things and dress himself, his back to Kunzite.

“Do you regret it?”

Endymion gave a slight pause as he pulled on his pants. “No. Well, not really. I don't know.”

He heard Kunzite get up behind him and begin dressing himself as well. “Serenity?” the man asked.

Endymion sighed. “Yeah, I feel as though I betrayed her, even though I'll never see her again.”

“What happened doesn't mean anything,” Kunzite tried to reassure him, “and you will be seeing her again.”

“I won't. Kunzite, we're not getting out of this, surely you see that?”

“Endymion-sama, you'll be with her in a matter of hours. Going to the Moon is the only escape from this. We're going to the passage exit closest to the courtyard and you will signal the moon from there.”

The prince shook his head and he knelt down to do up the armour on his legs. “Kunzite, they're guarding each exit, you heard them.”

“I'll distract them long enough for you to get away.”

Kunzite had his back to Endymion as he did up his jacket. The younger man could only stare at his friend in shock. “Kunzite, you can't, they'll...”

“It's either one of us or both of us, Endymion-sama. Better to choose the lesser of two evils.”

Endymion stood and then spun Kunzite around by grabbing his shoulders. “I won't let you do this. I won't let you sacrifice yourself for me!”

“Quiet yourself,” Kunzite whispered when Endymion's voice crept too loud. “Make your suggestions then, because from what I see, we are either both captured, or you escape, or we both die here.”

“I won't leave you,” Endymion argued, but was having a difficult time sounding convincing to himself. “I've lost the other three, I won't lose you too.” He could feel tears springing to his eyes, but he didn't care anymore. He knew what was going to happen to Kunzite if they went through with this, and he didn't want Kunzite to end up like the others, bowing to that woman unwillingly.

Kunzite stepped around him to retrieve his cape and attached it to his jacket. “Last night you said that I was 'more experienced'. You were right, I had a lover once.”

“You what?” Endymion was stunned. Obviously he was talking about a male lover, and it must have been a hell of a secret if Endymion hadn't known. “Who?”

“I understand how you feel as though you betrayed Serenity,” Kunzite continued, grabbing Endymion's cape. “But remember that this doesn't mean anything.” Kunzite stepped behind the prince and attached the cape to his armour for him. “Go to Serenity, protect her. Let me do this for you.”

Endymion's gaze fell to the floor. He was going to give in, he knew it, but he didn't want to. He didn't want Kunzite to just hand himself to the wolves. “Don't do this. Your love might still be here somewhere, you could find him and...”

“I know where he is,” Kunzite replied, his voice beginning to lose the calm touch it had. “And I'll be with him soon.”

Endymion's eyes widened. Kunzite's lover was one of the Shitennou? Was that possible? Endymion thought back, it had only been a few days ago that everything had started changing. Jadeite... Nephrite... Endymion couldn't see anything between them. Zoisite however... Zoisite and Kunzite could be seen almost everywhere together. Endymion had always chalked Zoisite's adoring gazes up to hero worship, or affection for a surrogate older brother. Had they actually been in love with each other? “Kunzite...”

Kunzite shook his head a bit, as if in shock that he had told Endymion this much. “I don't know why I'm telling you this. Perhaps I'm looking for forgiveness.”

Forgiveness? “Kunzite, I am the last person who should be judgemental over forbidden love.”

The white haired guardian gave a funny sort of smile. “I suppose you’re right,” he agreed. He took a breath, and his tone changed. “Are you ready?”

The conversation was over, Endymion understood. “I am,” he said quietly, “but...” He stepped up to Kunzite and wrapped his arms around the other man. Kunzite embraced him as well. “Promise me you won't give in easily. When Beryl does... whatever she does, fight it.”

Kunzite's arms tightened a fraction before releasing the prince. “You have my word.”

Endymion made the first move to grab a torch and handed it to Kunzite, letting the man who knew his way to lead.

As they neared the location, Kunzite took to checking the peep holes once more. “There's fewer youma then before,” he commented, “and... well, how's that for irony.”

“What's wrong?” Endymion asked. Fewer youma meant a better change for Kunzite to escape didn't it?

“It's nothing, now, this wall is going to open. The entrance to the courtyard will be to your left, about ten metres. After I leave, wait a half minute, then move quietly for the courtyard unless someone sees you.”

“I understand,” Endymion answered, but was keeping an open mind. Kunzite was going to come with him if possible, in fact, if there were only a few youma, it shouldn't be difficult.

“Good luck,” Kunzite said as he began to press the right sequence of bricks.

“Same to you.”

The wall slide open quietly, and Kunzite stepped out into the hall. Endymion listened carefully to what was being said.

“Zoisite,” Kunzite's voice said immediately.

The sound of footsteps running, but then stopping as if on order.

“Kunzite-sama, I've been waiting for you.” It was Zoisite's voice, but his tone was different. Darker than Endymion cared for.

“I've missed you.”

Endymion realized then what Kunzite was doing. He was distracting Zoisite, playing on their romance. 'Irony,” as Kunzite had said. There were probably a hundred places all over the palace they could have exited from. Zoisite was here.

Slowly, Endymion crawled out of the wall opening, first looking down the hall to his destination and then to his right. Kunzite had Zoisite turned so that his back faced Endymion. They were kissing, confirming Endymion's suspicions.

Kunzite glanced over Zoisite's shoulder and then looked from Endymion to the door he needed to go through with a glare. Move now, his eyes said.

“You can still have me,” Zoisite said, “you only have to change your uniform.”

“I want you,” Kunzite replied with a small delay.

Endymion was half way to the courtyard when he was spotted. He heard running steps and was ready to draw his sword when he saw that it was Nephrite that had spotted him.

“Run!” Kunzite's voice shouted.

“Don't take another step,” Nephrite warned. He stood with Zoisite, the two of them held Kunzite, and Nephrite had some form of crystalline sword held at his throat.

Endymion froze. He couldn't move, not if they were going to...

“Endymion-sama, run!”

“I can't!”

“You know they want me alive, run! Jadeite's behi-” Zoisite's hand covered his mouth, but Endymion had heard enough.

He turned and sure enough Jadeite was behind him. He had to move quickly, just barely ducking out of Jadeite's way in time. Nephrite stepped away from Kunzite, leaving him bound by some kind of black energy and in Zoisite's care. Both men now approached him. He ran.

He made it to the courtyard and then straight towards the pedestal in the centre. On it stood a shallow basin of water that would reflect the moon's light at night. In the water were several moonstones. He only needed to grab one from the basin.

Nephrite and Jadeite were close, he could almost feel their breath on his neck. He ran faster, passed the basin, reaching his hand into the puddle. Stones littered the bottom, and his fingers grazed over them as he was grabbed from behind and tackled to the ground. He felt the weight of the two men on top of him, but it didn't matter, he had the stone, and the moon would have his signal momentarily.

“Check his hands,” Nephrite commanded, and Endymion held his fist closed tight under him. Just a few more seconds. As he fought off Nephrite and Jadeite, he caught sight of Kunzite through the window. He was watching him, worried, but then his expression relaxed and Endymion felt the teleport taking effect. “Damn it!” Nephrite cursed. The last thing Endymion saw of his planet was Kunzite's face turning from him and to Zoisite.

---

“Do you have them both?”

“No, Beryl-sama. Endymion-sama escaped to the Moon. We have Kunzite.”

Jadeite and Zoisite dragged him forward, and Kunzite made sure to make the task difficult for them. They were stronger than they had been before, a result of the magic? The two men forced him to his knees before Beryl.

“You're making this difficult for me, Kunzite,” the woman said, her tone threatening.

Kunzite remained silent, but glared up at the woman. He would keep his promise and fight this woman as long as he could.

“Lucky for you, you're going to make it up to me,” she continued. “You are going to lead my armies on an attack of the Silver Millennium.”

“What?” Kunzite finally opened his mouth. Was this woman truly that stupid? “The people on the moon are not going to just let an army attack. They have the Ginzuishou to protect them.”

“And we have Metalia-sama.”

“Metalia?” The source of her magic? Was it a person?

“You'll understand shortly.” Beryl raised her staff and Kunzite tensed in preparation for the strike. “It will be easier on you if you don't fight me.”

There was no initial pain when the energy beam struck his chest, but there was a sudden dark cloud blocking his vision. 'What is this?' he thought to himself.

The people of the Silver Millennium are your enemy.

A voice, almost feminine.

They have turned your Prince against you.

“No.” As soon as he realized what was happening, Kunzite tried to block the voice from his mind, and then the pain came. He clenched his teeth in order to fight it.

Endymion belongs with Beryl.

More pain as Kunzite fought the presence.

The two kingdoms belong to her.

Kunzite screamed. The pounding in his head became louder, his body felt as though it was being torn apart.

“The result will be the same regardless if you fight or not,” Beryl's voice said, but it was distant, muffled, the words barely understood.

“Kunzite-sama...”

Zoisite's voice and a gentle hand on his cheek. No, Zoisite was with them.

Listen to your lover.

“Kunzite-sama, look at me.”

Kunzite turned his head with great difficulty, and somewhere through the dark haze that clouded his vision, he saw beauty. “Zoisite...”

“Don't fight it. We can be together, I don't want to see you in pain.”

Zoisite's voice was soothing, and Kunzite was finding that the pain he felt was beginning to subside.

'Promise me you won't give in easily... Fight it,' Endymion's voice echoed in his mind, and for a brief moment, Kunzite did, but then he saw Zoisite again.

“Kunzite-sama...”

Kunzite felt Zoisite's arms around him, his soft hair brushing against Kunzite's cheek. “Let the past go,” he whispered, “be with me.”

The Shitennou leader felt his energy draining, he couldn't fight anymore, and Zoisite's small body was pressed against his. He wanted to be able to touch Zoisite again, kiss him, hold him.

The people of the Silver Millennium are your enemy.

“The enemy...”

They have turned your Prince against you. Endymion belongs with Beryl.

“Yes...”

How could he have not seen it before? Serenity had a spell on his prince, and he had sent him right into her clutches. He needed to right his mistake, bring Endymion back to Beryl where he belonged.

The two kingdoms belong to her.

She and Endymion would rule Earth together, and the Silver Millennium as well.

Serenity and the Sailor Senshi will fight you, you must defeat them.

For the sake of his prince, his queen, and his home, Kunzite knew that he could kill them if he needed to. The cloudiness of his vision began to clear. He brought his hand to Zoisite's face, oblivious to anyone else in the room besides his lover.

“Kunzite.”

It was Beryl's voice, and Kunzite looked up at his queen with a new understanding of his world and his role in it. He struggled to his feet and then bowed to her respectfully. “My Queen.”

“I'm glad that we could convince you of our position.”

“I apologize for being so blind, my queen. The Silver Millennium must have had me under a similar spell.”

“You will lead the armies?”

“You will have my plans by the end of the day.”