A snippet from the life of Kunzite. ghost_inthe_threads@hotmail.com

August Moon
Part 16: Kunzite
©MMII T h r e a d s

The leaf was an odd shade. Not quite the color of death, and not a vibrant, lively green like all other leaves would be in the spring. It jutted out from the bush; it's strange color catching the fascinated eye of Kunzite. He leaned over and examined it, chunks of his gray bangs falling into his eyes.

"Kunzaito-sama?" A voice called.

Kunzite looked up, startled from his daze.

"Yes."

"Is there something in the bush?" The young steward asked; his face washed with innocent curiosity.

"No." Kunzite snapped in response.

"I was just…" The steward started, then gave up and retreated back down the path.

Kunzite frowned, and ripped the leaf from the branch.

He walked down a gravel path behind the castle towards the training yard. It had been years since he had ever trained a group of young recruits, but he still enjoyed showing up for surprise inspection ever few weeks. It kept them on their toes. It kept Kunzite on his.

The sky was clear in the early morning hour. The sun was already shining with such intensity that it bleached his hair white in the light. He wore a loose tunic, brown breeches and black boots wrapped with heavy tweed. He yanked out the tie in his hair and gathered up the short at the base of his neck. Pieces already began to fall out around his face, and were promptly tucked behind his ear.

He walked the winding path until it opened up into the massive training grounds next to the Palace Barracks.

He stopped suddenly as the empty sight startled him. The troops were not there. The grounds were empty.

"Hoping to surprise us, Kunzaito-sama?" A voice spoke from his left. Kunzite turned to see Danyel, the Captain of the guard lounging under a wide oak tree.

"Have your troops grown so fed up with you that they ran off?" Kunzite joked as he approached him.

"No," The man replied as he bit at his finger nail, "I sent them into the bush with Edward for some hands-on tactical training. They'll likely weed out all the thieves and strays in there as well. Two birds with one stone."

"This isn't like you, Danyel. You love to run wild in the forest."

Danyel snorted as he rose to his feet. "No, I've got bigger plans now. I don't have time to spend on trainees anymore. I much rather spend today thinking and planning, than anything else."

"Planning?" Kunzite repeated.

"Yes- Have you not heard?"

"What?"

Danyel's face became awash with genuine surprise.

"What?" Kunzite repeated, becoming more annoyed with each passing second.

"I've received a transfer, Kunzite. I don't believe that could have slipped by your sharp ears."

Kunzite was silent for a moment.

"Oh that." He finally mumbled, lying.

"That?" I'm to be promoted four ranks below yours and that's all you can say?"

Kunzite only nodded. He was too taken aback to say anything. How could this have slipped by him?

"In a short matter of time we'll be training the personal guard together. The King's advisor thinks so. My troops are always more than adequately trained for field combat… at least that's what I've been told." Danyel continued, rising.

"Perhaps we will one day, Danyel." Kunzite smiled. "I still remember when you first arrived here."

"I didn't know a thing, did I?" He replied. "But you trained me well. Look where I am today."

Kunzite nodded slowly as a wash of nostalgia befell his memory.

"I'm glad you grew your hair out." Kunzite spoke slowly as he ran a hand through a small portion of chestnut hair thrown over Danyel's shoulder. "I never did like it short."

"You reminded me of that every day, Kunzite." Danyel replied.

"Yes, I did, didn't I?"

The two stood silently looking at each other for a moment.

"I truly must be leaving now, Kunzite." Danyel said apologetically. "I have important things to do now, as you know. Though I'm sure we'll be working together again soon enough, we really should get together sometime and talk like we used to."

"Why did we stop talking Danyel?" Kunzite asked, crossing his arms.

"There were many reasons. I think that I grew up was the main one."

The two nodded in farewell, and Danyel went back into the barracks.

Kunzite clenched his jaw in frustration. How could that information have slipped past him? He never wanted to believe that it could ever happen, but his fear of being replaced was nearly validated. Nobody had informed him that there was going to be a major promotion at the end of the week. Severely so, it would be one of his ex-students… and lover.

He was glad Danyel was becoming successful in the military, but not at the expense of Kunzite's rank. He had suspected this for a long time now- that someday soon he would be replaced. Discarded to a lesser position, or to head troops in the farthest reaches of the King's borders.

Kunzite breathed slowly in an attempt to regain his composure. He headed back to the path that had led him here, hoping to find someone to release his frustration upon.

Anyone would do.

End Part 16

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