Part X

        Two months later, Diana is taking a walk through the gardens, gazing at the Earth and stars.
        She comes across the bench that she and Jae would often sit on.
        She sighs softly as she settles down onto it.
        "Oh, Jae," she whispers, unaware that he's watching her from the trees not two feet away, "I miss you so much. No matter how hard I try, though, something blocks me from even talking to you."
        She bows her head and looks down at her folded hands as tears flow down her face.
        "Diana," Jae whispers as he sits next to her and wraps his arms around her.
        "J...Jae?" she whispers softly, looking up into the eyes she's been longing to see.
        "Hai..."
        "Is it really you?! Not just another dream?"
        "Hai...it's me. Oh Diana, how I've missed you!"
        He pulls her close and they share a fierce, hungry kiss.
        After they pull back, Diana looks into his eyes again, her arms wrapped around his shoulders, his about her waist.
        "I've missed you too, koibito. Are you ok?? I'm so sorry you had to be caught in that horrible place!"
        She hugs him tight as he does her.
        "I'm fine, beloved," he says quietly, "they didn't hurt me. And all four of us are back. For good," he hates lying to her, though he knows there's no other choice.
        "I'm so happy!"
        She kisses him fiercely again.
        "Do Serenity and the others know?" she asks quietly.
        "Kunzite and Zoisite are talking to Queen Serenity and her court. Nephrite is looking for M-chan," he answers softly.
        Diana bites her lip.
        "What is it?" he asks softly, caressing her cheek with the back of his hand.
        "M-chan has hardly left her rooms during daylight hours at all since our encounter with Beryl two months ago," Diana answers tilting her head into his touch.
        "Oh...is she sick?"
        "Well...when she teleported us back, she was so drained, she collapsed into my arms and didn't wake up for three days," Jae looks concerned as Diana continues, "but the last time I saw her, about two nights ago, she looked healthy enough physically."
        "What's wrong with her, then?"
        "I'm...not an expert...but I think her heart is broken."

        Meanwhile, Neph knocks on HLM's door.
        HLM opens the door, wrapped in a robe.
        Upon seeing him, she stands as if frozen in shock.
        "M-chan," Neph says softly before sweeping her into a hug.
        "N...Nephrite..." HLM whispers, clinging to him as they step into her rooms, the door swinging closed behind them.
        "It's me," he tells her softly.
        "I've missed you," she whispers, her green on black eyes looking up into his cobalt blue eyes.
        "And I you.."
        She places a hand on his chest, over his heart and triggers a spot in her brain, sending a warm feeling of romantic love and affection
through his body.
        He shivers and stands breathless for a moment before catching his breath.
        "What...was that?" he asks softly.
        "That is how my people show each other love to those we care for," she answers, just as softly. "I hope I didn't hurt you..."
        He gently places a fingertip over her lips, shaking his head.
        He traces her lips with his fingertip and asks softly, "Would you like to see how my people show affection toward each other?"
        She nods softly, shivering very slightly at his touch.
        He leans close to her, going slow, his fingers curled gently under her chin.
        Their lips meet in a gentle kiss.
        He pulls back and gazes gently at her.
        "You have no idea how long I've been wanting to do that," he says softly.
        She smiles softly, and gently, almost timidly runs her fingers through his long hair.
        "You're right," she says with a grin, "wanna do it again?"
        He chuckles softly and wraps his arms around her, pulling her close and presses his lips to hers harder than before.
        Once they end the kiss, he looks down at her, brow arched.
        She blinks, looking back up at him.
        "What is it? Did I do something wrong?"
        "Iie, iie M-chan, just a question."
        "Uh...hai?"
        "Are you wearing anything under that robe?"
        "Well," she blushes slightly, "no. I was about to take  bath  when you came."
        Neph grins. "That's what I thought."
        "Hmm?"
        "Do you know about my species way of mating?" he asks her with a wicked grin, looking her up and down.
        She grins, "It was required study," she winks, "and yes, your practices are very similar to yours."
        Neph looks at her a little uncertainly, "And...would you like to..." he gets cut off as HLM suddenly leans up, and kisses him passionately, undoing her robe belt, letting her robe fall open to reveal her strong body.
        He takes that as a "yes".

        The next morning, Jae jerks awake, unintentionally jostling Diana.
        "Wha'? I'm late f'r algebra...?" Diana asks, still mostly asleep.
        She shakes her head and sits up a little and looks at Jae. He's lying there in a cold sweat, eyes wide and white rimmed with fear.
        "Beloved...?" she asks, genuinely worried.
        She gently brushes a few sweat soaked strands of blonde hair from his forehead.
        "I uh.." he whispers, "just...had a bad dream, is all."
        She gently takes him into her arms, timid at first, but when he presses himself into her arms, she holds him more firmly. Like she used to when they were just friends and she was comforting him after another suicide attempt.
        "Do you want to talk about it?" she whispers softly.
        "N...no," he whispers in a broken voice, "j...just hold me."
        He rests his head on her chest as he starts sobbing, clinging hard to her.
        She bites her lip, and holds him, gently stroking his blonde hair.
        There's suddenly  a knock at the door.
        Jae's sobbing to hard to notice, and even as Diana feels her heart breaking a little more as she feels each sob wrack his body, she telepaths, "Who is it?"
        "Zoisite," comes the telepathic reply, "is Jae in there?"
        "Uh...hai...he is...uhm you sound...different."
        "Hai, I know I do, can I come in?"
        "Let me ask Jae.."
        "Jae, love, is it ok if Zoisite comes in?" Diana asks her crying lover.
        He nods slightly, trying to get his tears under control.
       "Come on in, Zoi, the door's unlocked," Diana telepaths.
        Zoi pushes the door open and silently steps in.
        Diana looks up, Jae still huddled against her chest.
        "Oh god, Jae...what happened to him?" Zoi asks upon seeing him.
        Diana bites her lip. "He just had a bad dream," she answers, and her eyes widen, noticing something about Zoi.
        "My friend...what happened to you?! You've got..."
        "Breasts...? Yes, I know," Zoi grins wryly, "frightening part is, I think we're about the same size."
        Jae sits up so suddenly, Diana's chest is left exposed for anyone to see.
        "Ack," Diana blushes and covers herself with the sheet.
        "What do you want? If you want to borrow some bras, you'll have to ask Diana," Jae says, pulling Diana into his arms.
        Zoi rolls her eyes, "Yeah, none of YOURS would fit."
        Diana gives Jae and Zoi confused looks.
        "I don't think I'll ask," is all that she says.
        "Good idea. Anyway, Serenity wants to see the both of you."
        They both nod.
        "Anything else, SISTER-dear?"
        Zoi sends Jae the look of death before looking to Diana and saying, "Hai, actually, I don't suppose you have any spare bras I can have, do
you?"

Part IX
Part XI
Beginnings and Endings Index