Hi again! :-) Thanks for all the help with Part 1! I'm in the 
process of re-writing it! You guys were so nice to me that I 
actually don't feel *that* shy anymore! 

Please flood me with C&C at lord_jadeite@geocities.com! Thanks!
Anyway! On with the show!

-------------------------------
    

      Whispered Dreams 
  ======================
	  Obsessions
       by Lord Jadeite


DISCLAIMER:
"Sailor Moon", all characters and situations, are owned by Naoko
Takeuchi and her minions. :-) This story is written as a tribute
to the series and not meant to infringe on Ms. Takeuchi's ownership
in any way.

WARNING!!!! LEMON AHEAD!

"Obsession" is the second part of the series "Whispered Dreams". 
It doesn't contain any lemon, just profanity. For major lemon, keep 
an eye out for Part Three, "Another Road". ;-)

-----------------------------

	Jadeite rubbed his eyes as he stepped onto the wasteland that 
once was the Dark Kingdom. Kicking a small piece of rubble out of
his path, he continued along, digesting the enormous quantity of
information he had learned this night.
	"I can't believe he had the balls to actually marry her," 
Jadeite chuckled, the sound coarse and vulgar. He had been watching
the girl for several years, and it amazed him to see how much trouble
she got into even though the Sailor Senshi had disbanded a couple 
of years before.
	"How many times have I helped that brat," he muttered as he
entered the remnants of the Dark Palace, "how many times have I 
saved her life because her friends were just not fast enough, or
Mamoru-darling was too busy lecturing everyone to step in." 
	With a grunt of frustration, he surveyed the progress the
workers had made in his absence.
	"King Jadeite!" the steward called as she briskly caught up
with him. 
	"What is it, Saeri?" Jadeite barked at the youma, frustration
making his already short temper explosive.
	Saeri winced, her attractive white face turning green in the 
equivelent of a blush. "Welcome home, your highness." Her face did
nothing to hide the worship in her eyes.
	I don't have time for this bullshit, he thought as he started
in on the hapless female.
	"Report." 
	"Um, yes, your majesty," she stumbled as she recognized that 
dangerous tone of voice. "Crew One and Three have finished 
reconstructing the Throne Room..."
	"As they should have. They've only had five years to do it,"
Jadeite grumbled as he began to walk in the direction of the heart
of his palace.
	"Uh, yes, sire. Crew Two ran out of quite a few of the
materials necessary to finish your chambers," Saeri spoke quickly,
obviously fearing her king's reaction.
	"And..."
	Saeri, heartened by the fact that she still possessed her 
head on her narrow shoulders, continued on. "And I approved their
request for new materials."
	Jadeite nodded, his face impassive.
	"What materials were these?" he queried, pausing from time
to time to check the quality of the repairs.
	"Marble, silver," Saeri hesitated as she unknowingly took a
step back, "and kunzite..."
	"What?" Jadeite demanded as he cornered the catlike steward.
	Saeri took a deep breath as she faced Jadeite completely. 
"Kunzite," she whispered, the fear nearly overwhelming her as 
she witnessed the fleeting look of madness in his eyes.
	"Where are these workers?" Jadeite turned to his throne and
sat, wrinkling the fabric of the trenchcoat he still wore, ignoring
the bright glow of the dull green stone hanging around his neck. 
	"Attempting to locate..." she started, only to grimace as she 
noticed the supreme displeasure in those startling blue eyes, 
"Retreiving the materials."
	Jadeite gave a short nod as he scrutinized the rebuilt Throne
Room. 	"You had better hope they are successful, Saeri," he said
almost conversationally.
	"Yes, sire," Saeri bowed low, her deep pink hair brushing
the green marble floor. "I shall oversee it myself," she promised 
as she began her backwards retreat from the sole ruler's presence.
	Damn, he cursed silently, hardly noticing his steward's 
departure. Damn, damn, damn! He knew the Royal quarries were low on
the Dark Kingdom's most powerful stone, but to run out of it? Things
had to be in an even worse condition than he expected.
	The Dark Kingdom was an incredible place, Jadeite reflected as
he watched his myriads of subjects working steadily to reclaim the
grandeur of this world. It was almost unbearable to consider the
destruction wrought upon this paradise, and that pain was compounded
by the knowledged that the Dark Kingdom was brought down by the 
efforts of five, scantily-clad children.
	I'll get them, Jadeite grumbled as he remembered all the chaos
those girls had caused him and his beloved world. He grimaced as he
remembered that main brat, Sailor Moon, consistently thwarting his
efforts to regain the energy that was rightfully the Dark Kingdom's.
The other two senshi he remembered, the firebrand and the 
bubble-blower, were natural warriors although their techniques 
varied greatly from one another. Moon, on the other hand, really had
no talents, other than being able to throw her nearly worthless 
tiara. And yet, this tyke brought down a tyrannical queen with only 
the strength and persistence of her heart. A part of him, Jadeite 
acknowledged almost embarrassedly, a part of him admired how much
Moon had accomplished especially considering how little she had to
offer physically. Had it not been for the personal injuries he had
suffered at her hands, Jadeite may have been inclined to let the 
young woman live her life, for in retrospect, the Dark Kingdom only
gained from the loss of her previous queen. But this girl, Jadeite
gritted his teeth, had caused his incarceration in an ice crystal
for two long years. Two years of attempting to entertain his mind
while he watched the ice melt slowly, two years of not being able
to move or speak, but only think. Loosening his collar, Jadeite 
fidgeted in the throne, trying to forget the torture. But one thing
he knew, Moon had to pay.
	Jadeite, nearly letting a sigh escape, pushed the obtrusive 
memories out of his head. It just wouldn't due to let his subjects 
witness any weakness, for a people who had doubts about their 
ruler's ability to lead would eventually replace him with one they
did have faith in.
	Silently, he departed from the room, ignoring all the surprised 
looks his subjects directed his way. I know it's been several 
months since I've been here, he apologized silently to his people. I
am aware that my place should be here during reconstruction, I know 
I have much to do, but this I must have my revenge before I return.
	
	
				* * *


	Rei thrust her bottom lip out in a pout as she looked at her
friend. "Usa-chan! Jadeite is dead, remember? There was no way he 
could have been in your room last night. And even if he was, Mamoru
would have heard him, right?"
	Mamo-chan was just so out of it, he wouldn't have noticed if
she had broke out singing "Sukiyaki" in his ear, Usagi whimpered 
deciding to convince them with her physical proof. She handed the 
small, white card to Mako. "Look! He sent me this!"
	Mako looked carefully at the card for a few moments. "It
looks harmless enough...What about the candy that came with it?"
	"Oh, dingbat," Rei snorted as she regarded Usagi's guilty
expression, "you *didn't* eat it..."
	"No, of course not... it's in my bag," Usagi nodded as she
went to fetch the red, foil box. Triumphantly, she held it out 
for Rei, Mako, and Luna to see.
	"Oh, shit!" Usagi cursed as the brown contents smeared all
over her hands. "It melted!"
	Giggling, Mako took the box away. "It's ok, Odango," she 
winked comfortingly, "it's still enough for us to send Ami so she 
analyze it."
	Usagi frowned as she thought about her old friend who 
was currently studying so hard at University that she had met
with her former Senshi maybe four times in the last year. She
didn't even have the time to come to my wedding, Usagi thought
sadly, feeling incredibly hurt although a part of her understood.
	"You don't think it was poisoned, do you?" Rei asked,
her violet eyes openly doubtful. "It was probably just a really
cheap wedding present."
	Mako shrugged. "Never hurts to show a little caution," 
she smiled sweetly as she set the box down. "So!"
	"So?" Usagi answered.
	Grinning, Mako put her arm around her princess. "Come on..."
	"Come on what?" Usagi asked, her innocent eyes wide.
	"You goof! Tell us what it was like!" Mako grinned, her
eyes full of romantic dreams. 
	Usagi blanched as she debated what to say. "Uh. I gotta go,"
she made a run from the door, her soft, blonde hair whirling with 
the movement.
	"Escape is not going to be that easy, bwahaha!" Mako cackled
as she tackled Usagi to the ground. "Ya think you are going to 
avoid telling us, your best friends, what the most important night
of your life was like?" she giggled as she began to tickle the 
blushing wife.
	Rei, her eyes sparkling with amusement, jumped down and began 
to assist Mako in torturing the poor bunny-girl into 'fessing up. 
	Rolling around the floor, sending assorted expensive vases
and glass figurines crashing to the floor, the three girls 
wrestled playfully.
	"Hey, hey, hey," Mako grinned as she grabbed a throw-pillow
from her couch, "we'll let you up, Usagi, once you just recount
the sordid details..."
	"On behalf of the Moon," Usagi shouted, tears of laughter
flowing down her cheeks as she made a grab for a pillow, "I'm 
gonna tickle you nosey jerks!"
	Grinning as well as a cat can, Luna watched the chaos
currently unfolding in Mako's living room. It had been way too
long since she had seen her girls this relaxed, this friendly
with one another. True enough, some uneasiness between Usa-chan
and Rei-chan still existed, but with the disbandment of the
Senshi two years before had erased a lot of the open hostility.
No one was more loyal to Usagi than Rei, although Rei did have
the unfortunate tendency to really be too harsh on the rather
sensitive young woman. Of course, Luna huffed as she watched Usagi
belt both Mako and Rei with the pillow, Usa-chan could be very
annoying. Give credit where it's due, Luna chastised herself, Usagi
has really matured a lot since we first met.
	Collapsing on the floor, Usagi was pinned down by Rei. "So,
Odango, what happened?" Rei giggled as she signalled for Mako to
help. "Come on, come on. I have to get back to the Temple soon,"
she lamented.
	"Yeah, Usagi, you know you want to tell us," Mako grinned
as she folded her arms across her rather developed chest.
	Nodding, Usagi sat up slowly, her face still bright red
from laughter. "Ok, just don't tell..."

			* * *

	Jadeite rolled his eyes as he watched the young 'ladies' 
romp around the floor of the apartment. Not very dignified of
a new bride, he thought in amusement as the energy ball focused
on Usagi's lovely face.
	Exhaling slowly, he forced himself to look away from her
breathtaking features. Cursing the talent she had for arousing
him, Jadeite winced as the fire consumed his loins. 
	"Of all the immature, untimely, idiotic..." he started,
berating his rebelling body. This wasn't the first time something
like this had happened with regard to the brat, but this definitely
was the strongest instance. He grunted as he fough to get his
hormones under control, and just as he thought he was going to 
succeed, the chit had to lean conspiringly over to her friends,
innocently baring much of her cleavage.
	"Jesus," Jadeite growled as he watched the shy, but incredibly
erotic grin creep up on her face. That putz, he thought of her 
handsome husband who was currently boring Motoki's ears off with 
another of his 'I don't know why I married Odango, but I guess 
she's ok' speechs, had no idea what an incredibly sexy little 
thing he had. 
	"It's such a shame, Usagi," Jadeite mummured as he watched
her flush with embarrassment, "that your husband messed up your
first experience so badly...Of course, since I hate you," he 
clarified, knowing full well that there was no way she could hear 
him, but feeling compelled to explain. "So it really doesn't matter 
to me..."
	Deciding there was nothing more to learn, he let the ball
of energy disappate. Staring off into space, Jadeite attempted to
banish the memories of the girl from his mind.
	For three years he had followed the girl, watching her every
movement, listening to her every word. For god's sake, he grunted as
he brushed idly at the sleeves of his wool jacket, Jadeite had saved
the girl's life several times. 
	"No one," his lips curled in distaste, "no one but me will get
to harm you, Moon. And that time will come when I'm ready," Jadeite
promised as he let himself fall into the worn armchair. It had taken 
three years to for the opportunity to present itself, but now that it
had, he found that it was more than worth it. It just wasn't enough
for Moon to be killed, she had to be destroyed, Jadeite nodded as he
clutched tightly at the pendent of nephrite around his neck. *She* 
had done this to him. Moon had made him the wreck he now was, 
therefore, she had to pay.
	Closing his eyes, he forced himself to relax. Sometimes he 
found himself to be too damn scary, Jadeite admitted as he ran a
gloved hand through his blond hair. Just too damn scary. 
	When Beryl had imprisoned him in the crystal after that 
incident at the airport, she had purposely tortured him the worst
way imaginable: letting him remain totally conscious and alert, 
although unable to do anything about it. Standing there, watching 
as the world went by was unbearable, but one thing was worse: 
standing there, absolutely alone in the darkness. 
	At first, the daydreams had kept his intelligent mind 
occupied, be it dreams of ambition, of revenge, of sex, it had
been enough. But so soon, he lost his interest in that. So empty...
Jadeite shivered as he curled up in a fetal ball, so incredibly
empty. After the novelty of daydreaming wore off, Jadeite was left
to stand alone in the darkness. It was enough to make one go mad, 
he chuckled unpleasantly to himself as a chill crawled up his back.
To keep from losing his mind, Jadeite spent countless hours thinking
about that Sailormoon. It wasn't enough to kill her, any fool could
do that, he huffed. True vengence would only be achieved when he
destroyed her, but it couldn't be just a measly knife in the back,
or a blast to her pretty head. That was only murder, what Jadeite
had in mind was far worse: annihilation of the girl's spirit. But
it had to be fair, if the imprisonment Beryl imposed on him taught 
him anything, it was that. Anything else would be beneath him now. 
	Closing his eyes, Jadeite clutched his knees close to his
body. With all the memories rushing his mind, this was doomed to 
be a long night.
	
	
			* * *


	Usagi gasped at her throat as she sat up in bed. Blinking,
she slowed her breathing down as she closed her eyes. Tears...she
noted in shock as she brushed a hand down her face. Closing her
eyes, Usagi summoned her dream to return, a part of her instinctively
knowing it was important.

	A diamond amid the moonbeams, the crystal stood alone in the
darkness. Had it not been for the tight, squeezing feeling around her
throat, Usagi would have been swept away by the beauty of the scene.
Exhaling forcefully, she tried to clear her trachea, but it just 
wouldn't work.
	"Princess..." a voice had called, its manly tones sinister
in the night. "Princess..."
	A hand instinctively protecting her throat, she floated closer
to the mysterious object. "Please... I want to help..." she 
whispered, hoping the being would understand.
	"Princess!" it screamed in her ears as the crystal shattered.
Shards flew, slicing her arms and legs with a myriad of long, thin 
cuts. "I shall see you dead," it promised, the voice wavering in her
mind.
	For some reason, the threat just seemed to bounce off of her,
but the pain behind the voice broke her heart. 
	"Please...where are you? Let me help you," she begged as she 
felt a million tears roll down her cheeks. 
	"I would rather die first," the voice answered angrily. And
suddenly it was all over.

	Usagi shivered as she remembered the creature's pain. Thank 
god it was only a dream, she whispered to herself as she continued
to shiver. She turned to her left, to look down at her beautiful 
husband.
	"Mamoru? Where are you?" Usagi blinked as she noticed that
he was nowhere to be found. Laying a hand on his side of the bed,
Usagi frowned. Cold. No one has slept here, she realised. Standing
up, she barely remembered to throw her robe on.
	"Oh, god!" Usagi whispered as she checked the empty bathroom.
"What if Jadeite got him?" Running down the stairs, she glanced all
around, intent on finding her Mamo-chan. 
	"Please, God, please let him be ok. Please." she pleaded as
she jingled car keys in her hand. She darted into the cold night,
dressed in just silk pajamas and bunny slippers, not caring that 
the dew of the late sky ruined both articles of clothing.
	Opening the grey car door, she screamed as a heavy body fell 
out on her, pinning her on the wet concrete.
	"Usa!" Mamoru grumbled as he slowly came to his feet. His 
white oxford shirt was stained with some stinky liquid, the same 
odor that reeked from his breath. "God damnit. Why did you do that?"
	Taking a step back, Usagi sniffled, pushing the tears out of
her eyes. "I was only worried..."
	Mamoru rolled his eyes as he started walking unsteadily to 
the apartment building, leaving his stunned bride on the cold 
ground. Ignore her calls, he angrily slammed the door.
	Too overwhelmed to really cry, Usagi stood up. "Mamoru?" 
she asked as she began the short walk back to her shelter. Damn!
Usagi groaned as she felt the pain shoot up her leg. Glaring at
the ankle she twisted when Mamoru fell on her, she clenched her 
teeth as she continued walking.
	"Are you ok?" a rather comforting voice whispered in her ear.
	"Eeeeek!" Usagi jumped as she clutched a hand to her heart.
Wincing at the pain, she turned to the owner of the voice and 
smiled wearily. "Yes, thank you, sir."
	The man laid a slender, well-kept hand on her shoulder. "Allow
me to help you, miss." he smiled warmly, his vivid blue eyes dancing
with some emotion or another.
	Finding the idea of walking up the two flights of stairs to her 
apartment daunting at best, Usagi nodded slowly. "I'm afraid I hurt
myself...if you would?"
	He seemed to tense up as she leaned on him. "Don't you mean that
husband of yours hurt you?" he growled as they made their way to the
apartment entrance.
	"No! No!" Usagi insisted as she waved her hands, dismissing the
thought.  "I've always been such a klutz...hey, how did you know I
was married?" she asked, her look merely curious.
	The man almost seemed to grimace with the question. No, I'm
imagining it, Usagi informed herself as she looked up into the 
beautiful, masculine face of her rescuer. Lord, he was gorgeous, she
thought as she watched him attempt to run his free hand through the
mass of dark-blond hair. He must usually keep it loose, Usagi
thought idly as she noted the uncertain look in his eyes as his
hand met the barrier of the braid. But as pretty as the hair was, it
was nothing compared to the ruggedly handsome lines of his face.
	"The ring on your hand," he shrugged. Without warning, he
swept her up into his arms. "It will make it easier to go up the
steps like this..." he mumbled as he pushed the entrance open with
his backside.
	Usagi nodded dumbly as she tried to ignore that awkward,
tingling feeling in her stomach. The unknown man seemed vaguely
familiar...
	"Thank you for helping me," she started, even before she
realised she was speaking. "I'm Usagi. And you are...?"
	His left eye was suddenly victimized by a small twitch. With
her curiousity, Usagi made the man uncomfortable, she noted with
some guilt. It didn't dawn on her to wonder why.
	"I'm..." the man grunted as he began walking up the first 
flight of stairs. "I'm Akuron," he rushed over the word, as though
it was a curse.
	"Unusual name," Usagi blurted as Akuron continued slowly up
the long staircase. 
	"Yes, it is."
	Even Usagi couldn't miss the fact that the conversation was 
at an end. Sighing, she let her head fall to his shoulder. Can't
believe I was that stupid to alienate him, she grimaced internally
as she regarded the kind man carrying her to her apartment.
	"Tired?" he asked, his voice seeming to shake off a little
of the coldness it had picked up.
	Nodding weakly, she yawned. "A little..."
	"A little nothing," Akuron laughed as he set her down in front
of the door. "You are exhausted." His blue eyes met her slightly
shadowed ones. 
	Unable to break the stare, Usagi blindly fumbled with the door.
"Maybe a little..." she mummured absently as her hand fiddled with the
hard brass of the knob.
	"Why?" 
	Usagi shrugged as she finally turned to face the door. "Had a 
bad dream before I... it's locked!" she groaned as she knocked gently 
on the door. "Mamoru! Are you awake?" she whispered as she leaned 
into the brown wood.
	"You won't wake him up that way," Akuron noted, a blond 
eyebrow raised high with what could only be identified as amusement.
He raised his fist to beat on the door.
	Catching his hand, Usagi shook her head violently. "No, please
don't wake him. He's even more tired than I am."
	Akuron tilted his head as he looked at her, a question in his
eyes. "But he's drunk..."
	"He is not!" she growled, her eyes instantly contrite as she
remembered Akuron's extreme kindness. "Well, I guess he is." Usagi
spoke softly, her voice full of uncertainity. "But I'd still prefer
not to wake him."
	Nodding, Akuron picked her up again, seeming to be unfazed by
her weight.
	"Hmm?" Usagi looked at the blond man, absolute trust written
in her eyes. Akuron's face turned a slight pink as he regarded her
face.
	"I can't leave you here all night," he explained as he began
the long trip down the stairs. "I have a spare bedroom..."
	Usagi smiled, her expressive eyes touched and gentle. "I really
appreciate that, Akuron. Very much so." Letting herself relax against
his strong chest, Usagi felt that strange sensation in her tummy 
return with a vengence. 
	It's not pain, exactly...Usagi considered, her full lips pursed
in thought. Her pretty face reddened with embarrassment as she 
dismissed sexual arousal, for as handsome as he was, she really 
wasn't...er...attracted to the man like that. No one for her but
Mamo-chan, she smiled sweetly, as she remembered the man whom the
Fates had destined for her to love. Who had currently, she groaned
as she thought back to his drunken demeanor, locked her out of their
apartment.
	"Is something wrong?" Akuron asked, his breathing a tad uneasy.
	Usagi smiled as she banished every thought other than the
events currently taking place from her blonde head. "No, just...
thinking."	
	Akuron nodded as he pushed the door to the freedom that lay 
just outside the apartment building.
	"Oh, do you have a car or something?" Usagi asked as she looked
at her own, grey one sitting idly by the curb.
	Akuron smiled, a secret look filling his eyes. "Nope. Never 
needed one," he grinned as he started walking quickly down the 
street. "It's ok, Usagi-chan. I live only a block away."
	Usagi nodded as she looked back to the apartment building 
which held the apartments which her and Mamoru had shared since
she moved in years before. Shaking her head slowly, Usagi returned
her attention to the street ahead of her.

Laying silently on the wet ground, the apartment key, hidden in the
ring of keys Usagi dropped, lay forgotten by everyone but a lone
ant who had decided to explore the cold, hard surface. 


			* * *

	Jadeite cursed fluently as he regarded the girl currently
sleeping in his bed. He had panicked, Jadeite winced as he remembered
the scene in that godforsaken apartment building. 
	"Damn her," he grimaced as he listened to Usagi's light snores.
	It was unfortunate that she had decided to go search for her
bum of a husband right then, right as he took his nightly walk. Just
as was the Dark King's habit, he walked by the building which had
shielded her from his vengence. 
	Growling as he tried to get comfortable in the lumpy armchair,
he attempted to pull the light blanket up to his chin...only to 
leave his freezing toes uncovered to the night.
	I couldn't have left her there, Jadeite thought as he gave up
on any semblence of comfort while remaining in that chair, the stupid
chit would have gotten herself even more hurt than she already is. 
Even he wouldn't mess with those street gangs which roamed through 
Tokyo at this time of night, abandoning her there would only leave 
her vunerable, therefore denying him his rightful vengence.
	He hadn't wanted to drag her back to the house which he had
bought two years before, which he had considered his own sanctuary.
He was lying through his teeth when he mentioned that spare room,
but he knew the reincarnated princess would have never accepted had 
she known she would be putting him out so. Strange girl, he thought 
as a chuckle invaded his throat, so full of contradictions...
	Wincing as he remembered his reaction to the girl's 
predicament, he had known he had no choice but to approach her as
she sat stunned on the ground. When she was but a girl, Usagi would
have burst out into uncontrollable tears had Mamoru treated her so
roughly then, but now, she carried a demeanor of silent hurt. 
	Instantly, he assumed the appearance of the person he had just
been thinking about, only to assume that person's name minutes later.
He shivered as he remembered the last time Akuron and him met...
	"Please. Let me help you," Usagi moaned in her sleep, tossing
the thin covers off.
	He shot up out of the chair and leaned over the young woman
as she lay helpless in his bed. It would be so easy to destroy her 
now, Jadeite thought as he watched her twist with discomfort. But,
he couldn't...not yet. 
	"So easy," he whispered as he brushed a strand of soft, blonde
hair away from Usagi's full lips. "I wonder..." 
	"Please...please let me help you," she begged in her sleep, 
hot tears pouring from her tightly closed eyes.
	It was so tempting, Jadeite frowned as he felt some of his
resolve disappear. It would be so easy to let everything go, let
his quest for vengence die, and just go back home and start putting
the pieces back together. 
	As he began stroking her silky hair, Jadeite began to wonder
why he didn't do exactly that. "But I can't," he muttered as he 
lifted his hand away, "I just can't let go of it..." Growling, his 
mind immediately recalled his imprisonment in the crystal. He 
didn't even need to look down to identify what was causing the 
sharp pain to seize his chest. He gritted his teeth as he held the 
large pendant of nephrite close to his heart. The glowing gem 
warmed his hands with an intense heat, but fear made it 
impossible for Jadeite to release the stone.
	"Damn," he muttered, his hands trembling, as he watched Usagi 
stir. Rubbing her eyes with the back of her tiny hands, Usagi slowly
started to sit up.
	Jadeite jumped back away from the bed as she looked around,
those piercing blue eyes clouded over with confusion.
	"It's ok, Usagi," Jadeite smiled as he attempted to regain 
control of his wavering voice. "It's ok. Mamoru locked you out
last night, so you slept here. I just heard you groaning, so I
came to check on you..." he explained quickly as possible.
	Usagi nodded. "Oh, yeah...thanks, Akuron." Her face suddenly
flushed. "Um... I hope I didn't wake you up?"
	Jadeite smiled, one of the first genuine, non-sarcastic smiles 
to come to his handsome face in years. "No, Usagi-chan, you 
didn't." Realising the girl held no fear of him, he took the 
opportunity to sit on the side of the bed.
	Even on the bed, it was obvious that he was much taller than
the girl. She certainly was beautiful, he grudgingly admitted, as 
his eyes traced over the gentle, but firm lines of her face. Her 
blonde hair, mussed and slightly knotted, tumbled over her 
shoulders, now just barely long enough to cover the impressive 
curves of her breasts. The shabby, green blanket had fallen to 
her slender waist, giving the young woman in the pink, silk 
pajamas an insanely sexy, albeit innocent look. 
	"You're beautiful," he groaned, lost in the moment. At her
surprised look, he nearly slapped himself in the forehead. Damn!
he berated himself as he edged away from her. How could I let that
slip? She's my enemy, for god's sake, Jadeite cursed himself.
	Usagi smiled sweetly, seeming to sense his embarrassment.
"Thank you, Akuron. That's very nice of you." Blushing, she
touched her blonde hair.  "I recently cut it, but I didn't know..."
	Jadeite shook his head. "You are beautiful," he assured her,
not knowing what got into him. Angry thoughts flooded his head, but
Jadeite quickly shut them out. "I've seen you around, Usagi. And I
like your hair like this..." he answered honestly as he tentatively
touched a long strand, "much better."
	Her face lit up. "Really?"
	"Really." Jadeite returned her charming smile with one of his
own. It's amazing what a compliment can do, he grinned as he saw the
difference in her attitude. 
	"That's a pretty stone," Usagi said as she reached out to 
touch the mineral dangling around his neck. "But I've never seen
a material like it..."
	Jadeite looked down at the silver chain carrying the 
oddly formed, spinach-green lump. "It's called nephrite," he 
mentioned, watching her eyes blink in surprise.
	"Nephrite?" Usagi blurted as she kept her fingers about an 
inch away from the necklace.
	Jadeite chuckled as he recognized the look of utter confusion.
"It's a kind of jade..."
	"That doesn't look like jade," Usagi muttered as she remembered
the bright green ring she had in her treasure box.	
	"You are thinking of the other jade, jadeite," he answered 
with a grin. "It's of no worry, most people do. There are two types 
of gems called jade," Jadeite held the nephrite out for her to 
inspect. "And this is one."
	"And what's the other one called?" Usagi asked as she touched
the stone.
	"Jadeite."
	"Oh, yeah. D'oh." Usagi smiled up at the amused man. "So, how 
do you know all this, Akuron?"
	Shrugging, he let the stone fall, only to dangle on his chest.
"I like geology."
	Usagi giggled at that. "Geesh! Didn't think *anyone* liked
geology, except for stuffy old professors and Umino..."
	"It's an interesting subject," Jadeite smiled as he leaned
against the dark oak bedpost. And then, it hit him. 
	"What's wrong?" Usagi asked, leaning forward in concern.
	Jadeite just shook his head dumbly, wondering what the hell
possessed him to not just shelter his worst enemy for a night, but
to share a rather amiable conversation with her. I'm a fool, he
growled as he stood up.
	Usagi jumped out of the bed, the green blanket falling to
her feet. "Did I offend you, Akuron? If I did, I'm really sorry..."
	Ignoring her, he walked swiftly to the door.
	Wincing at the pain in her leg, she just picked up the bunny
slippers waiting at the side of the bed. "Thank you very much for
helping me, Akuron," Usagi smiled sadly as she gave a deep bow. 
Slowly, she started limping to the door. She bit off a scream as
her unsteady ankle gave way, leaving her clutching a dresser for
support.
	"Don't be silly, Usagi," Jadeite growled, rather inhospitably.
Picking her up roughly, he deposited her on the springy mattress. 
"It's still the middle of the night."
	Usagi nodded, fear finally dawning in her eyes. Pulling herself
to the far side of the creaky bed, she watched him carefully, as if
she were a hunted animal and he: the predator.
	With surprise, Jadeite found he didn't appreciate that look 
very much. Damnit, he grumbled to himself, I've never given her any
reason to fear me. Sighing, he sat down next to her.
	"I'm sorry, Usagi. I didn't mean it," he apologized, 
reluctantly admitting to himself that he really didn't. Jadeite was
disappointed to see that she only gave him a blank stare, when he
had been expecting to see her easy smile.
	"Usagi! I'm sorry!" he muttered grumpily as he ran his hand
through his hair. Oh, yeah... a braid, he remembered as he looked
away from her wide eyes. "I guess I'm just a little tired..."
	"A little tired?" Usagi whispered, her voice faint. "Is that
why?"
	Jadeite nodded, relieved to finally get a response from the 
girl.
	"You treat me like *that*," Usagi spoke a little louder, her
voice trembling with anger. "You yell at me, you literally toss me
around...and your excuse is because you are tired?"
	"I already said I was sorry!" Jadeite stood up, astonished
to see her eyes flashing and nostrils flare. Anger pulsed through
his veins as he looked at the small girl glaring up at him from 
his own bed.
	"God, I am just so stupid," she muttered as she rolled to 
the edge of the bed. "What was I *thinking* when I actually 
came home with you..."
	"Now, excuse me," Jadeite found himself yelling at the
stubborn brat. "Have I done *anything* that gave you reason to
think I'd be anything less than a gentleman?"
	Usagi chuckled harshly. "Uh, earth to Akuron. I thought 
tossing a girl on a bed would be one thing a gentleman does 
not normally do!" Standing on her uninjured foot, she hopped 
around the bed.
	Blocking her exit, he towered over her, idly noting the
lack of fear written on her beautiful, although a tad flushed
face. 
	"Well?" she grumbled, her nose wrinkling in a rather
unflattering way.
	And then, he kissed her.

	Usagi closed her eyes as she pressed her lips against
his, her arms pulling his blond head down to meet her. Ignoring
her own protests, she threw everything she had in the relatively
chaste kiss. Mamoru, she remembered, her heart falling, I can't
do this. Mamoru.
	Breaking away from the kiss, she smiled weakly up at Akuron.
"I... um..." Sighing at the horrible timing, she blushed as her
eyes filled with tears.
	With more tenderness Usagi ever dreamt of a man possessing,
Akuron brushed a fingertip down her cheek. "It's ok, Usagi. I'll
leave now." 
	Blinking, Usagi's hands suddenly clutched at her stomach. 
That weird ache was back to haunt her, bringing another, more 
familiar emotion with it. Lust. And this time, she wanted to sate
that desire more than anything.
	"Uh, Akuron?" Usagi asked as she extended a slender arm
towards him.
	He cocked his head, his chiseled features powdered over with
a blush. "Yes, Usagi?"
	Go for it, the most wicked part of her soul urged her. What
about Mamoru? she asked herself sadly, having the worst time 
resisting temptation. What about disease? What, she winced at the
thought, what if I get pregnant? Selenity wouldn't do this...
	Screw Selenity, she cursed, sick and tired of living up to
Selenity's standards. What if I go the rest of my life being as 
alone as I am now? Selenity would never understand.
	Summoning all of her courage, her hands trembling and cold,
she smiled up at him. Usagi pushed any thought of rejection aside
as she spoke. "Don't leave me."
	Akuron blinked.
	Usagi's heart fell as he remained transfixed, just out of 
reach. Oh, hell, she groaned.
	"Usagi?" 
	Forcing herself to smile, she shrugged. "Oh, um.. nice weather,
isn't it?"
	He nodded slowly, looking at her carefully. "I would love to
stay, Usa-chan. But I can't..."
	Wincing, she turned away. I can't take this, she thought as 
her heart began to tear in two. "That's ok. I mean, I just wanted 
you to stay in case I had any more nightmares..."
	Akuron smiled as he moved towards the door. "I noticed that 
last one. Seemed pretty intense."
	But not as intense as standing in here with you, she smiled 
wryly to herself. "It was. See you in the morning! Thanks!" she
jumped to the bed, and waved as if the arguing, or the kiss never
took place.
	"Sleep well, Usagi," Akuron whispered as he turned off the 
lights.
	"You too!" she called out cheerfully as she pulled the 
blanket over her head.
	The moment the door was closed, Usagi sat back up. "I don't
believe... Oh, Usagi! How *could* you?" she whimpered as a torrent
of tears flooded her eyes. Stuffing the pillow hard onto her face,
she started to cry.

	Jadeite stood outside the door, listening to his enemy's sobs.
He would have never guessed it would have been painful to listen
to her go on so, but it was. Damn, he cursed as he stalked away,
How will I ever destroy an enemy that I no longer hate?


------End Part Two------


Send all C&C to lord_jadeite@geocities.com

Anyway! I hope you liked this piece. Please, if you did, send
me a short e-mail or something. Makes me feel special. ;-)

Thanks to all of you who went out of your way to help me
by sending me C&C! Not to mention, a special thanks to 
Ramune for not harrassing me as much as he could have!

While writing this story, I've been slowly falling in love
with this universe. As a result, I have tons of ideas in my 
head, demanding to be written! If you have interest in seeing
more, WRITE ME, please? :-)


Thanks!

Jadeite
ICQ 7160208
http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Bay/6220