Hello!  Another eventful chapter here.  You might find the ending of this
chapter a bit interesting. ^_^

I hope you'll enjoy this chapter!

PLEASE EMAIL!!!! ^_^ me and tell me what you think of this story or chapter.

My email address:  ml_eclipse@hotmail.com

Usual disclaimers:  Sailor Moon and all its characters and likeliness 
belongs to Naoko Takeuchi, Kodansha/Toei.  English translation is made 
possible by DiC and now Cloverway/Bandai (?).

<< >> = thoughts
[ ] = author's note

Rated: PG

Please enjoy!

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>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>    A Shepherd's Kiss    <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
========================= << By Cosmos >> ==================================


Chapter 13:  Blood of Mine



Aurora found Endymion resting at the edge of a meadow the next day, some 
distance from a small stream.  Beams of early dawn rained down on him 
through the canopy of leaves.  The slender figure of a young woman stepped 
into the scene holding a wet cloth.  She sat down beside the wounded man 
and began to tear the rest of his shirt away.  Taking the cool cloth in her 
hand she gently wiped away the dark blood.  He grimaced with pain in 
response to her tender care.

She remained silent as she continued on with her work.  Once the wounds 
were fully cleaned, Serenity bent down and ripped the lower part of her 
pants into wide strips, which she used to bandage his wounded chest.  Her 
hands worked carefully in order to avoid causing him greater pain.  Once 
his chest was done, she stripped more pieces of cloth from her coat to work 
on his arms and legs.

Prussian blue spheres gradually appeared beneath closed lids as he slowly 
opened his eyes to gaze at her.  Initially, all he saw was a hazy silver 
form working close to his head.  He blinked his eyes several times before 
the vision cleared up and he saw her wrapping the green cloth around his 
arm.  She tied a tight knot upon completion that caused him to groan in 
pain.  Her eyes flickered over to his where it remained for the breath of a 
second before she turned and gathered up more strips of cloth and began 
bandaging his lower leg.

He observed her silently.  He noticed the many bruises on her legs, as her 
short pants could no longer hide them.  A red sore was visible on her side 
as the torn coat revealed her wounds.  Yet, despite her injuries, she 
continued bandaging him, working diligently without a care of the pain 
she was evidently feeling.

"You should stop," he said quietly then added with humor, "before you run 
out of clothing."

She continued with her work ignoring his comment.

"So how long have I been unconscious?" he asked calmly, undeterred by her 
cold silence.

"Twelve hours," she replied curtly.

He fell silent again with his soft gaze on her.  He could no longer endure 
this heartache.  He could no longer keep his feelings a secret.  He must 
know.  Whether the consequence be good or bad, he must have the answer in 
order to silence the cry in his soul or give it greater strength to sing.  
He asked in a low whisper, "Will nothing more be between us except silence?"

Her hands stopped.  She did not turn to look at him but kept her gaze on 
his wounded leg.  Her hands clenched into tight fists as she struggled 
with her soul.  All this he noticed.

Refusing to meet his questioning eyes, Serenity abruptly stood up and headed 
toward the stream leaving his question unanswered…or was that the answer? 
Endymion closed his eyes as he let out a soft sigh of sorrow.  At the 
moment, he could hear his heart crack under the weight of his grief.

On her way to the stream, Serenity encountered a beautiful bush where a 
strange flower grew.  Its color was a lively crimson red that glittered 
magnificently in the dawning sun.  She reached her hand out to caress its 
soft petals that were decorated with dew.  <<Magnificent floral,>> she 
thought, <<I wish the moon has such a magnificent flower.>>  Upon the 
mentioning of the moon, she frowned with concern.  Glancing away, she 
continued on.

After traveling some distance in silence, Serenity finally reached the 
small stream located at the forest edge.  She kneeled down by the shore 
with eyes blank of emotions.  Close to the shore the water was still and 
incredibly clear.  The image of a lovely young woman stared back at her 
with a passionless expression.  The icy eyes of her image reflected a gaze 
completely devoid of any emotions of pity or love.

"Is this what I have become?" Serenity asked her reflection in a voice 
filled with anguish.  "Have I forgotten how to love?"  Her reflection 
returned her questions.

She observed the dark face reflecting from the clear surface.  Serenity 
frowned with concern and frustration at the difficulty she has recently 
found to live with her soul.  "But I must be this way," she said.  "In 
order to fulfill my promise I must be this way."

She closed her eyes in sorrow.  Deep within, she could hear her heart cry 
but her eyes knew not how to do so.  <<Why?>> she questioned herself.  
<<Why have I chosen this path?>> Opening her eyes slowly, she glanced back 
toward Endymion's direction and thought, <<Perhaps it is better this way.>> 
Returning her gaze back to the cold face regarding her with calm 
insensitivity, she thought, <<For him…it is better this way.>>

Unexpected, a single tear formed in her eye.  Capturing all her emotions 
in a single drop of clear liquid, the tear drifted down her cheek.  Her 
eyes widened in amazement as she saw the droplet glide down the face of 
her reflection.  Raising a hand, she touched the tear with her finger.  
Gazing in astonishment at the foreign liquid on her fingertip, she said 
aloud, "My tear…?"

"So you *can* feel grief," a vengeful voice spoke behind her.

She spun immediately around to face the owner of the voice.  Her eyes 
widened with surprise before narrowing to blue slits of pure hatred.  
"Silica," she whispered the name venomously.

"We meet again, Serenity," Silica spoke with equal coldness in her tone, 
"but this will be the last encounter we shall have."

"I have been waiting for this moment, Silica," Serenity said.  "Now my 
mother's death shall be avenged."

Silica smiled amusingly, although a subtle expression of sorrow was 
observable in that smile.  "It appears that you and I are not much 
different."

"What do you mean?" Serenity asked suspiciously.

"Both of our hands have been stained with the blood of the other.  I 
have killed your mother," and here she paused before continuing in a 
low voice, "and you have murdered my young sister."

Serenity's eyes immediately widened at that unexpected revelation.  
"Snafu was…?" she asked in surprise.

"…my sister," Silica finished for her.

Silence settled between them, but Serenity soon broke the barrier.

"Your sister or not," Serenity said coldly, "she deserved to be punished 
for the cruelty she exerted on so many others."

Silica remained quiet for a moment observing the dark expression on 
Serenity's face before she responded, "But for what she had done did 
she deserve death? Does anyone deserve death?"

Serenity responded with rage, "You would dare to ask that question when 
you have murdered my mother?!"

Snafu replied calmly, albeit mournfully, "I have never agreed with my 
sister's actions, but I must obey them.  It was not my will to kill your 
mother, but the will of my sister's order."

"Why?" Serenity asked slightly confused by the unexpected manifestation of 
Silica's true nature.  "No one can force another to obey anything."

"True, but one can force one's self to obey."  Silica looked deep into 
Serenity's eyes as she continued, "It is the strength of a promise that 
binds me to her will.  A promise I gave on my mother's deathbed that now 
imprisoned me to this fate.  I have only wanted to protect her from the 
harms of this world.  I just wanted to see her happy, but soon I realized 
that I have created a monster instead of a loving young sister.  For what 
she had become, it is my entire fault.  However, I cannot change that now.  
She is dead.  I can't make amends for what she did…and for what I have 
done.  Nor can I make any payments except a meek apology, which I will not 
give because it would have no cause anyway."

Silica paused for a moment before continuing, "Although if given a choice, 
I would not be doing this, but seeing that I have none, I must carry out 
this promise till the end.  So this will be my final act to fulfill that 
promise.  I will avenge my sister's death."

The two opponents remained silent for a moment as they eyed each other, 
and as they try to understand the turmoil erupting in their souls.

"So be it," Serenity finally spoke, "we are both seeking vengeance, then 
let this battle be here."

Silica nodded in agreement with her solemn eyes placed on Serenity.  "This 
isn't how I expect our encounter to be, you know."  She continued with 
concern, "Something is different…a strange feeling, can you feel it, too?"

Returning the solemn gaze, Serenity replied, "I can sense it as well."

Glancing out toward the stream continuously flowing unaware of the red 
liquid that would be spilled on its shore at any moment, Silica said 
thoughtfully, "I believe if we had met in a different place, a different 
time," turning to Serenity she continued, "with untainted pasts…we could 
be friends.  You and I…we are not truly enemies are we?"

Serenity did not respond, although her gaze slightly softened.

"Alas, it is too late," Silica said solemnly.  "My hands are stained with 
your mother's innocent blood," she observed her pale hands sadly, "and 
not all the rains of heaven can wash it clean."

Suddenly she clenched her hands in a tight fist and whispered bitterly, 
"So let the wheels of fate turn.  What shall be, shall be."  Her eyes 
suddenly glowed a dull gray light as be attacked Serenity.  "For my 
sister," she whispered.  "For the course of destiny."

Serenity was taken by surprise at the suddenness of the attack that she 
was barely able to dodge the gray lightning bolt zooming toward her.  It 
whizzed by her like the wind, singeing the tips of her hair.  Serenity 
glared at Silica with cold eyes, yet the hatred she once gave Snafu could 
not be found in her eyes at the moment.  As it was also with Silica.  It 
appeared that these two women are fighting because it was destined for 
them to fight, not because they hated each other.  As Silica once told a 
young soldier, they all have a role to play in this war.  Each person 
must play the part they were given before birth.  It was never their 
choice what parts they were to act out, or which sides they were to take.  
It was simply their destiny they must fulfill.

Silica was a greatly skilled fighter as Serenity soon realized.  None of 
her attacks were able to hit their targets.  Serenity struggled hard to 
defend herself against the incredible strength Silica was displaying.

Nonetheless, deep within her soul Silica knew what the outcome would be.  
"This battle will not be long," she whispered to herself.

Holding her hands above her head, Silica shouted, "Mortal Elements…Besiege!"

A beam of pale yellow light shot from her upheld hands toward Serenity.  
Too fast to be evaded, Serenity jumped away only to have the energy capture 
half of her body.  Immediately the energy solidified into a pale yellow 
silicon crystal trapping her right arms and legs within its hard core.  
Bolts of energy zapped through her body as the crystal's power was 
activated.  Serenity screamed out in pain.

Quite a distance away, Endymion's eyes snapped open as he heard her painful 
scream.  <<Serenity!>> he thought.  With muscles taut, Endymion struggled 
to stand up.  With his unique ability to heal, Endymion had just enough 
time to recover a little of his strength that enabled him to run slowly 
toward Serenity's location.

Feeling her strength quickly seeping out of her, Serenity struggled to 
remain conscious.  Eyeing her opponent though a vision that was soon 
becoming hazy, she struggled to raise her free hand toward Silica and 
attempted a final attack.  With fair brows knitted deep in concentration, 
Serenity whispered, "Moon Solace…Farewell..."

A bright beam of light emitted from her hand and shot toward Silica.  
Silica stood and watched the attack soaring toward her.  She knew she 
could not escape.  The beam of energy was too wide and traveled too 
quickly to avoid.  Her gray eyes looked at Serenity.  She opened her 
mouth and whispered something, but she was too far for Serenity to hear.  
Yet from the movement of her lips, Serenity thought she could read her 
words as "I am free…my promise binds me no more."

In an incredible flash of light, the energy beam exploded into Silica 
sending her into oblivion.  Serenity closed her eyes in order to avoid 
being blinded by the light.  Beneath her closed lids, a single tear 
escaped.

Endymion reached the river just as the light began to fade away.  His 
eyes widened in shock as he saw the crumbled body of Silica lying 
motionless a distance away.  He turned to see Serenity with her eyes 
closed, as she stood slumped over the side with half her body encased in
yellow crystal.

"Serenity!" he called to her, but she did not respond.  He ran up to her 
and supported her body with his.  Placing his hand on the crystal, he 
demolished the structure with a thin beam of blue energy emitted from his 
hand.  Free from the rigid structure, Serenity's unconscious form fell 
toward the ground.  His arms grabbed her before she fell completely to 
the hard surface below.  Slowly, he gathered her body into his arms as he 
walked away leaving Silica's bloodied form to lie alone on that crimson 
shore.

He turned to her pale face resting on his shoulder and whispered, "You 
always fight alone, Serenity."  A tear slipped from his eye and fell onto 
her closed lid as it made its way down her soft face, giving the illusion 
that it was her tear as well.  "Why won't you let me fight with you?" he 
asked her.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>             <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Translucent ashen-white shadows stepped out from within the darkness of her 
mind to haunt her.  The thin fingers of guilt choked her as well as the 
pains of grief.  "No, go away!" she cried out to the invisible shadows 
surrounding her.

Screams of anguish and words of accusation reached her ears.  With eyes 
squinted shut and hands covering her ears, Faith desperately attempted to 
block out the cries of those restless souls she has betrayed.  However, the 
howling voices were created from the depths of her tumultuous mind that 
escape from them was impossible.

"No!" her screams rang throughout the emptiness of the forest, "Leave me 
alone! Just leave me alone! Please…," tears drifted down her pale face, 
"please…just leave me in peace."

But her cries went unnoticed by the phantoms of her conscience's creation.  
Their unearthly cries and moans of sorrow plagued her since the day she 
knowingly led Endymion into Snafu's trap.  Her guilt would not leave her 
mind no matter how hard she tried to tell herself that it was not her 
fault.  In truth, she did not want to betray them.  She had no intentions 
of ever betraying them, but...

Stinging tears continually flow down her cheeks, as her soul was haunted 
by the invisible ghosts that exist due to her guilt.  "Please," her plea 
echoed into the lonely dark forest, "I didn't want to do it! They forced me 
to.  I didn't want to betray my friends but…," Faith dropped to her knees 
and cried out to the heavens…alone…trapped within her dark conscience, 
"Have mercy on me.  I did it to protect my dear father.  Please 
understand…please…"

She dropped onto her hands in grief, mentally exhausted from the turmoil 
that raged within her guilty conscience.  Pity was something the stolid 
forest could not give her.  The cold evening wind could only wail in its 
usual haunting voice as it cried for her.  But all that it could truly 
bestowed on her was greater loneliness and sorrow.

This was the suffering a kind heart must endure when it played the role 
of a villain.  Her name now marred by her treacherous action, her 
friendships destroyed by the mask of her betrayal, and her soul torn 
between her guilt and her love for her father.

What was there left for her to do? She could not continue on in this state.  
She could not endure the guilt every minute of the hour.  The manifestation 
of her ghosts became more realistic with each passing moment.  She must 
come to term with herself or else die doing so.

Faith grabbed onto the rough trunk of a nearby tree and pulled herself up.  
Standing on shaky legs, she staggered toward Snafu's mansion with a soul on 
the brink of self-destruction and a mind on the edge of insanity.  There 
was only one thing she could do now to free herself of this guilt.  
Clenching her hands with fierce determination, Faith walked into the 
darkness of twilight to seek one soul she knew she must gain forgiveness 
from if she was to survive this nightmare.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>             <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

A soft groan was uttered from her pale lips as Serenity felt a strange 
power course through her body.  It was warm and soothing unlike the 
electric shock she received before from Silica.  Slowly, her eyes opened 
to capture a picture that she did not expect to see.

He was sitting beside her with eyes closed, deep in concentration.  A 
strange pale blue aura surrounded him as his energy coursed through his 
hands into hers, of which he held tightly.  His powers seeped into her 
body healing the wounds that were caused by the recent battle.  Her eyes 
softened to a light blue as she watched him struggle to maintain the high 
power level in order to heal her.  Beads of perspiration covered his 
tightly knitted brows while his lips were set in a determined line.

She glanced down at her wounded arm and watched with alarming surprise as 
the deep cut slowly sealed itself and disappear.  <<Such power!>> she 
thought in awe.  Her pale eyes fell upon his face again.  She noticed that 
it has become a greater endeavor for him to maintain this healing process.  
She frowned with concern.  <<I cannot let you do this,>> Serenity thought.  
Reaching up with her free hand, she grabbed his wrist and yanked her other 
hand away from his grip.

Feeling the connection lost, Endymion's eyes snapped open in surprise to 
see two skies watching him intently with disapproval clearly written in 
them.  "What are you doing?" he asked her slightly irritated.

"I should be asking you that," she responded coldly.

"Look," he said, "you have not fully recovered.  I need a bit more time to 
heal you."

"That won't be necessary," she replied in a calm tone.  "I can heal myself."
She struggled to get up but found that her strength has not fully recovered 
yet.  She grabbed onto the trunk of a nearby tree to support herself.  Her 
vision began to blur but she refused to give into her weakness.

"Why must you be so stubborn?" he yelled at her.  "I can heal you."

"No," she said softly, "no one can truly heal my wounds."  She turned 
her face away as she felt tears threatening to reveal itself in her eyes.  
With greater difficulty, she pushed them back into the depths of her soul.  
Behind her, she could hear him sigh in exhaustion and sorrow.

"Can you travel?" she asked him suddenly.

"Yes," came the reply, "but you can't."

"I am fine," she said in annoyance.  "Don't worry about me."

Silence momentarily fell between them.  But soon her voice reached his 
ears, "Your friends are safe."

"What?" he asked her in surprise.

"Haruka had managed to free them a week ago," she replied, intentionally 
leaving her involvement out.

"So where are they now?"

"I don't know," Serenity replied in an emotionless tone.  "I thought you 
might know."

"And why would you think that?" he asked slightly amused, "I wasn't 
exactly with them you know."

Serenity frowned at him in annoyance.  "I had assumed that you'd be smart 
enough to arrange an emergency meeting place in case an event such as this 
might occur."

Endymion gave her a boyish grin as he replied in a playfully heroic voice, 
"I see you have such confidence in me, m'lady.  I am deeply honored."  He 
gave her a deep bow.

Serenity huffed in irritation, although a smile faintly reached her lips.  
Endymion's sharp observation quickly picked that up.  This brought an even 
greater grin to his handsome face.

"Yes," he continued in a more serious tone, "we do have another place.  It 
is located at the West Post."

"Then it is best you go there," Serenity said, her tone failed her by 
conveying the deep sorrow within.

With an arched eyebrow, Endymion asked in confusion, "What do you mean by 
that?" then quickly added more as a statement than a question, "You are 
coming with me."

Serenity turned around to look up grievously at the moon that was rising 
to the heavens.  "No," she replied softly, "not this time.

To her surprise, she felt a strong hand grab her arms and swung her around 
to face its owner.  She glanced away from his beautiful eyes, refusing to 
meet a gaze she knew she could not withstand to see.

"Tell me," he demanded, "where are you intending to go? What are you 
planning to do in the weak state you are in?"

She did not respond.

He shook her slightly to awaken her from the pitiful state she now fell 
into, "Tell me, Serenity!  I swear, I will not let you go from this spot 
if you do not tell me what is going on in your mind."

Serenity gazed into his eyes sadly and whispered, "Let me go."

"I will not.  Not until I know what is going on," Endymion continued in a 
softer voice, "Please, Serenity.  Tell me what is bothering you? I have 
noticed since the beginning.  In your eyes, there is always a hidden sorrow 
in your eyes."  He paused for a moment before continuing, "I have not 
wanted to asked you this, but…I sense that I must know now.  What…what 
happened to you back on the moon? Is there someone…someone waiting for you 
there?"

Tears rose into her dark blue eyes as the memories flooded her mind once 
again.  She broke away from his grip and turned to face the moon.  For a 
moment, he feared he had angered her.  He feared she would not answer him,
but her soft voice reaching his ears soon ceased his anxieties.

"There *is* someone waiting on the moon for me," she replied in an 
emotionless tone and he felt his heart lurched in fear of what she may say 
next.  "I have vowed to return to face him one day...to avenge the murder 
of my parents, slain by his fowl hands."

Endymion could feel the pain of her loss as if he was linked to her soul 
somehow.  Such intensities of grief and anger flowed into him by the 
coldness of her voice.

She continued, "I have witnessed their gruesome murder with my own eyes, 
but I was too much of a coward to defend them.  I simply hid and watched it 
all."  Clenching her fists tight by her side she said in a deadly tone, 
all the hatred and anger returning to her, "But I will hide no more.  I 
have promised to avenge my parents death and, by god, I will carry out that 
promise till the very end."

Turning to him, her eyes blazing with icy flames, she said, "I have paid 
my debt to you and your friends for freeing me from Snafu.  And that is 
all I shall do.  I have my own mission to fulfill, as you have yours.  It 
is best, Endymion, that we take our leavings now."

Endymion opened his mouth to say something, but she silenced him by placing 
a slender finger on his lips.  Gazing deeply into his eyes she whispered in 
a saddened tone, "Do not say anything.  I know full well what lies in your 
good heart.  Now I want you to know what is in mine."

Tears slowly appeared in her eyes as she spoke, "For most of my life, all I 
have known is betrayal and deception.  I have seen only insincerity and 
greed.  These days I've spent with you and your friends have opened my eyes 
to things I thought I would never live to witness.  You have something great 
in your kingdom, Endymion.  Treasure it and protect it with all your 
strength.  Never let it slip through your grasp or else you will live to 
regret it."

She turned and began to stroll away.

"Wait!" his voice stopped her in mid-stride.  "You have not told me what is 
in your heart."

She remained silent for a moment before replying in a whisper as soft as 
the night wind, "There is nothing to tell.  That story has ended before it 
begun."

Before he could respond, however, a sudden blinding ivory-colored light 
erupted from her being.  He shielded his eyes with his hands as he 
screamed for her, "Serenity!"

The hand of a minute passed before the light died down to allow him to 
look.  Where she stood only a moment before lay a crimson red flower.  
The warm breeze ruffled its silky petals.  He went over and picked up the 
rose as his eyes glanced up toward the sky.  He noticed a streak of pale 
light shining in the heavens as its creator traveled toward her 
destination, the moon.

"Serenity," the name escaped his lips, "you are right, I did have 
something great in my kingdom, but I have failed to treasure it.  Now 
I have lost it…I have lost you."  And regret was not the only pain he 
felt.

<<Take care of Hotaru for me,>> she thought to him as she flew toward 
her home.  <<Goodbye Endymion,>> her heart cried,  <<It is best to 
protect your heart from mine.>>

Gazing with renewed determination at the streak of light vastly 
disappearing into the dark fabric of the night sky, he whispered to her, 
"Do not believe this is a goodbye, Serenity.  For it is simply a farewell."

=========================================================================

[Yikes! Serenity left Endymion behind?! What is the author trying to do
here?  Has she gone bonkers? ^_~ You'll see...

What was going on in Serenity's mine when she said that last line? And what
did Endymion mean by his last line? Ooohhhh! Wish I could read minds ^_~;

Next Chapter 14! "Secret Memoirs" ]

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Copyright (c) 2000, Cosmos.