Total Eclipse - Minako's story 
	Chapter 6

	By: Zellie



	"I loose my way, no one cares, the words I say, no
one hears, my life it seems is a world of dreams..." -Dreams to Dream by 
James Horner





	"Open wide." Ami hovered over me. I hadn't slept 
much since I had came back. I wasn't really that tired. Despite
all the excitement I hadn't become very tired. Although, the
palace was silent for quite a few hours. I spent this time in 
the library finding my favortie book. It was an epic story 
about all kinds of imaginary creatures. Ami on the other
hand, seemed rested and now, was her perky, normal self.
I had opened my mouth wide so that she could complete
her check up. To my dismay she took a throat culture. 
	"Eakh..." I said as she deftly rubbed the swab
against the back of my throat. She giggled. I gaged.
	"So...you don't like those, huh?" I shook my 
head, nursing my poor throat. "Oh...you baby." She said, 
smiling. Ami had finished her examination on me and was 
now teasing me. "But I know what you'd hate more..."
	"What?" I asked. She was starting to put her
stuff away. She was such a talented practitioner, for being
such a young age.
	"Shots." She said simply. I shivered and rubbed
my arm at the thought of it. 
	"Yeah, you're right. " I said as I began to smile.
She gently shoved me off the table she had sat me on. I stood
up and streched a little, adjusting the the newness of standing. 
	"Alright. you're free to go, just don't get hurt again for 
the next few hours, okay?" I nodded. "Alright, get out of here." 
She pointed towards the door. I exited and walked towards the 
gardens, I wanted to spend as much time out of doors as possible. 
The sun was shinging and the warm, gentle breeze called me.
I decided to put on a skirt that I altered so that it was short
and a nice, and a light blouse. I put my hair up again and let a few
pieces fall out. I didn't care what I looked like that time. I just 
wanted to be outside. With my book in tow I found my favorite
tree and was up it in a minute. High up in the branches it was
nice to watch the ground, plus there even more of a breeze. 
I wasn't high enough to be out of reach of hearing of the people
on the ground, but they couldn't see me so it was the perfect
spot. I sighed and opened my book.
	"Mamo-chan...you can't mean that!" Usagi sounded
miserable. Out of curiosty I glanced down. The royal couple 
were standing under the tree, they had to have been walking 
through the garden and stopped here.
	"I'm sorry my little dove. It's true...but what do you 
want me to do?" The prince leanded against the tree causing
it to shake a little. I clung to my branch trying to not fall.
	"Just don't leave me! I don't care what my 
mother says....I need you!" Usagi clung to his arm and stared
up into his eyes. He turned his head. 
	"I told you....there's nothing I can do...don't make 
this worse for me." This was getting interesting. I wondered
just what had happened, though. "I have to take my men and
leave this planet, that's what I was told. My men are too much 
of a distraction to your...guardians. Especially Miss Aino...I 
shouldn't  have let Kunzite see her like that." He puched the 
tree. It shook again. I clung again. 'Kunzite? A distraction...I'm
the problem?' The thoughts raced through my mind. 
	"No! Please! I'm begging...don't leave me like 
this!" Usagi was in tears. I could feel her pain. The peace
treaty must have fallen through...it was my fault...I messed 
up and found that horrible place on that planet. It was my fault 
that Usagi had to be in this pain. I hugged the book to my 
chest. 'Damn that witch!' 
	"Don't make this harder. Usa-ko..." I could hear
the tears in the prince's voice. He was just as hurt as Usagi
was. I glanced down again.  Usagi had embraced him with
what looked like all the strength she had. She sniffed.
	"Let me guess....it's that place, right? That place
where Minako was taken...Mother's afraid of it, isn't she?
She's afraid that the evil will spread...after that first wave..."
I swallowed, horrified. We were just little then. But then
again...it was only three years later, but seemed like 
an eternity. I was so naieve. 
	"No, it's not that." Endymion looked away
from Usagi. She was now leaning against the tree
hugging herself, as if to cope with the fact that they 
would have to be seperated. She looked in to his eyes. 
	"You're lying. I can always tell when you're
lying. Tell me the truth." Her voice had become cold 
and bitter. I think that she was having a hard time dealing
with her emotions. But then, I would too in that position. 
Endymion sighed. 
	"Look, there isn't going to be a war..." I sighed
a sigh of relief for that remark. "But, I do have to leave soon.
I have to take my men and go. We are no longer welcome-on
this visit. But, your mother also said that she would like to have
regular meetings, to see how that evil is progressing...things are
still at a stand still at this time." He seemed freed, and lightened
at this statement. I smiled. Things weren't over yet. 
	"Ahh....I get it. Mother must have found out about
our relationship." Usagi said, half relieved, half bitter. "Which
one was the snitch I wonder?" I was shocked. Usagi didn't trust
us? No...it didn't seem right. She couldn't have been talking about
us. "Oh well." She smiled. I wondered how she could go through
her moods so fast. "Let's make the best of the time we have left,
shall we?" She took Endymion's arm an started walking.
	"Alright." He said a little too happily. I hoped that those
two would be okay. When the garden was once again quiet, I began
my book again. I was nearly finished when my tree began to shake
again. I grasped my branch and looked down. A person was climbing
straight towards me. The silverish hair shined in the sunlight. Kunzite. 
But how had he found me? Soon he was right below my brach and
grasped the only spot where I wasn't on. He looked up to see if he 
could get up farther.
	"Mi-Minako?!" He let go of the tree in surprise.
He began to fall and I grabbed his arm.
	"Grasp something! You're really heavy!" I said,
straining to hold him up. He grabbed the tree in a half bear
hug. The book fell out of my lap in the process. 
	"OW! What the-?"
	"Sorry!" Kunzite and I said in unison. "Will you do something?"
I asked quietly. He climbed up a little more and balanced on my
branch with what little room there was left. "I hope this doesn't 
break." I said nervously. 
	"Mia, I didn't know you were up here." I gave
him an exasperated look. "I looked everywhere! You 
weren't by the Sea, you weren't in your room..I checked
the training hall, the cafeteria, Ami..Rei...nobody knew
where you were!" I shook my head. "I didn't have a clue where
you would have disapeared to, so I thought I'd climb the tree to
see if I could find you from the top."
	He brushed some hair fom his face. We had been
talking quietly since the people below us protested. "I'm gald I found
you though." I smiled. The people below us began to express
their personal lives a little too much. I stifled a giggle.
Kunzite's eyes sparkled. We looked down.
	"Can you tell who it is?" I whispered. He
shook his head. "Well, what do you see?" He shaded his eyes.
	"No way..." 
	"What?"
	"Jadeite?" I jumped over to look where
Kunzite was looking landing half in his lap. I saw the 
shining black hair of my dear friend. I glanced back at 
Kunzite my face redening. He looked back at me. 
We knew what to do.
	"Where ever there is Jadeite, my dear, soon to
follow would be a Martian." He looked at me strangely. 
"Rei." I put it simply. Kunzite looked surprised. 
	"Really?" He looked down again. 
	"Hey!" I yelled down. "Get a room, you two!"
The scenes that followed were hillarious. Jadeite jumped up, 
starring in the tree as he did so. Rei took off as fast as
she could run and stoped at the edge of the garden to see
what was going on. Kunzite looked at me slightly embarassed.
He clamped his hand over my mouth and the tree was silent. 
	"Who...Who said that?" Jadeite asked timidly, 
glancing around. This was too good to pass up. I yanked 
Kunzite's hand from my mouth and yelled down to him again.
	"The Goddess of Love!" He aquired a quizzical
look on his face and looked around again. 
	"Funny. Now really. Who said that?" I was pinning
Kunzite's hands under me. He started to move them again 
so I sat on them to keep them down.  
	"Mi!" He whispered loudly. I gently put a hand
to his lips. He was suddenly quiet. 
	"Bow to me peasant!" Jadeite still didn't 
realize it was the tree. I think he was a little confused from
the blood rushing to his head so fast. He flicked off the
vacinity. That made me angry.
	"I shall forever forsake your love life if you
don't do as I say, you worthless mortal!" Jadeite looked
temporarily scared then quickly recovered his smug look. 
	"Too bad I'm not mortal!" He said. 
	"It is no different to me." I said. 
	"I'll get you as soon as I figure out who
this is!" He stormed off and joined Rei at the end of the
garden. They went back into the palace. As soon as he
was out of ear range I started laughing. It was funny to 
see Jadeite that pissed off. Kunzite shook his head, than 
began to laugh a little, too. Soon we were laughing so hard 
that the leaves began to fall off the tree, only a few though. 
	"You have a sick sense of humor." Kunzite said,
calming down a little. I sniffled and whiped the tears from 
my eyes. 
	"I couldn't help it...he was too funny." I said, trying
to stop laughing. Kunzite leaned forward and kissed me. 
Surprised, I blinked and kissed him back. 
	"Thanks for being you, Minako." He said as he
brushed a few pieces of hair from my face. I blushed slightly.
He placed his hands on my waist and gently pulled me closer 
to him. I was suddenly feeling a tad bit uneasy. Kunzite wasn't
normally so rash..but he had been before. I guess it could bounce
from occation to occation. "Minako. I love you. As soon as this 
time is over..." He stopped suddenly. He looked away from me
and let his hands drop a little. I gently took his face in my hands
and turned him to look at me. 
	"Kunzite...what is it?" I took a deep breath to 
calm my heart. It was pounding faster, and faster the more the
minuites wizzed by. He looked at me sadened. 
	"It's nothing." He placed a hand on my cheek. "You're
nevous. I can tell. " I closed my eyes and decided to just let things 
happen as they may. "Mia, you've never been around other guys 
the way you have me, and you don't really trust them because
of your father." I looked at him fear showing in my eyes. "Ugh."
He turned away from me and clenched his fist. "I hate him for it. 
That man makes me so sick." I bit my lip and watched. "He should
never have done that to you!" Kunzite grabbed my arms. "Mina...I'm
sorry I couldn't do anything that day...If I had gotten there in time I
would have killed him or something...I'm so sorry." For the first time
in years, I saw the Kunzite I used to know as a child. He began to
cry. I pulled him up against me, and stroked his hair. I let him cry.
I think he needed it. As a toughened battle worn solider, even big, 
strong boys are sensitive and tender inside.  Sometimes even 
the strongest warrior needs to cry.
	"Kunzite." I said softly. I held him for what seemed
like hours as he regained his composure and gathered his emotions
back to where he wanted them to be. "It's okay." I gently rubbed
his back. He leaned his head against my shoulder and hugged me.
"We'll make it out of this okay." I said to reassure myself more than him.
Slowly, I kissed him. Whatever was to come in the future, would start
this day. Whenever I needed Kunzite by my side, I could close my eyes
and remember this moment. It was one of the most perfect times of my
life. He tasted sweet and salty, but that had to have come from his
tears. Gently, he pulled away. 
	"Mia?" He looked at me questioning. I put a finger
to his lips. 
	"Hush. Just let things happen. Trust me." I pulled
him to me again and kissed him. Those were the innocent years.
I doubt Kunzite knew at the time what had happened. At least they
had a few more days to be with us. These next few days would
become more trying on my heart the more they went on. A gentle
breeze came up and blew some of my hair into Kunzite's face. He
wrinkled his nose and smiled. I shivered a little. I looked over
towards the palace. "We should be getting back." I said quietly.
Kunzite nodded and swung over the branch, landing on the
next one down. He held his hands up towards me. 
	"Come on." I swung my leg over the branch
and he nimbly caught me. "Step down." I grinned at him.
	"Hey big bro...I got myself up here, I should be 
able to get myself down, don't you think?" He smirked and
batted at me. I went from branch to branch and was finally out
of the tree. The sun was begining to set. I grabbed my book 
and waited for Kunzite to get down.  I glanced back towards
the palace. It shone the colors of the sun in the crystalline
walls and tiers. It was so beautiful. 
	With the grace of a cat, Kunzite landed on the 
ground next to me. I smiled, and grabbed his hand.  "Follow me."
I said, and I began to run. I made Kunzite run the entire way
down to the shore. We made it just as the sun was level 
with the sea. In the last few fading moments of sun light, 
the water sparkled with the sunset's famous colors. There
were pinks and salmons and oranges,  even a few shades
of purple rolling along with the waves of the sea. I stood there
a moment in quiet rapture. It was times like these that left me
feeling free and happy. In the closing of the daytime, I had 
acomplished another day of living, another day without my 
memories of my father. I was free. 
	I turned and looked at Kunzite. He stood the
same as I had, watching, waiting. It was perfect. I smiled.
Sometimes I think things went through his mind much like 
they did mine. But, soon it was moments like these that 
would become no more.  Soon, there would be no more
time to walk along the beaches with no cares.  It would all 
end. I only hoped it wouldn't come crashing down on me like
a topled bookshelf. That it wouldn't end my dreams and wishes, 
only to replace them with fears and hatred. I only hoped it 
wouldn't be the same for the people I loved most, either. 
	The sun had set, and twilight had begun. To 
the east, the stars were already begining to shine through
the sparsely scattered clouds. I turned and began walking 
to the castle. Someday, my nighty ritual would be to leave 
my probelms at the shore like I have done every day since
I came to this new world of peace and happiness. Someday
it would all make sense, how I should have my childhood
demolished by abuse, and swerve into a world of harmony 
and a strange sense of knowledge after comming out of the
muddle.  I sighed. This was my home, no matter how I should
want to change my direction, or go on my own way...this is 
where I would always feel at home. 
	The white, marble stairs shone as I walked up
them. At night, this palace seemed to generate light.
It was glamorus, yet plain all at once. Kunzite had followed
me and grabbed my waist before I reached the top. I turned
slightly to see who it was. He smiled sheepishly and walked
up to the stair I was standing on. I turned to him, wondering 
what he was up to.  "What?" I asked quietly. He smiled again
and kissed me passionately. He was certianly becoming
more open with his urges, which was highly unusual for him.
I knew there had to be someone watching us. There was always
someone on the stairs. They were a natural place for escape. 
Sure enough I heard footsteps on the stairs aproaching us. 
I pulled aways quickly, but it was too late. 
	"Kunzite!" I looked down and fumbled with
my hair. I knew that voice all to well. He straightened 
a little and looked up respectfully. My face had become
bright red. I made sure my hair blocked it though. "Minako
...oh, I mean...Faith..." It was my father. I knew I would have
to face him sometime. He might have been clueless, but 
he wasn't unintelligent. He came down and grabbed my 
wrist. I cringed. 
	"Daddy," I said swallowing hard. His eyes 
were cold and angry. My face had lost most of it's color by
now. "How are you?" I was mumbling. I find it hard to
believe that  I could stand up to the most powerful enemy
with not problem, yet I could barely look my own father in
the eyes. He tightened his grip on my wrist while he sneered
at me. I swallowed again. My wrist was begining to hurt. 
	"Let go of her, sir." Kunzite said with a sort
of vicious tone to his voice. I felt very helpless, but silently
wished he wouldn't push it with my father. My father only
shifted that awful glare from me to him. "Can't you see
you're hurting her?!" Kunzite said desperately. It seems
that my father was one of his weeknesses, also. Finally
my father released me. I stepped back a little preparing
to go in and get help, any kind of help. Kunzite stood in
front of me a little. 
	"Don't you dare move, Minako. I'm gonna
take you home." 
	"What?" I cried. Kunzite looked at me then
back at my father.
	"I told you. You're going home."  
	"You can't do that." I steped back another
step, my hand to my face. "I'm not going to do this 
anymore. I won't run from you anymore! You don't exist!" 
Shaking I inhaled deeply. "Venus Star Power! Make- Up!"
In a split second, I stood before him, transformed. He
wouldn't dare try anything, now. "You don't comand
me anymore, father!"
	"Minako, I wouldn't move any closer."
My father had pulled out a knife and grabbed Kunzite
by the shoulder. I stared at him wide-eyed. He raised
the hand that held the knife above his head. I froze.
"Heh. Good girl." I didn't trust him. For some reason
he paralized me with fear. As I stood in horror watching,
I heard people run out of the palace. In a daze, I turned
slightly to see who was there. "You know, Kunzite, I
warned you to keep your hands off my daughter."
Daddy whispered in Kunzite's ear. He prepared
to stab Kunzite, from what I guessed. 
	"No!" I screamed. Suddenly, I was pulled
back. The strong arms held me fast. I couldn't do anything.
"No..." I started crying hard. My vision was blurred. I heard
something of a struggle as I tried to break free of the 
restraining arms. I tried to whipe the tears from my eyes
and saw Kunzite fall over as My father was dragged off.
Finally I broke free from the arms that held me. I ran over 
to Kunzite, scared he was severely hurt. "Kunzite?" He 
blinked and looked up at me as if trying to focus. "Are you 
badly hurt?" Stupid question. 
	"Mia..." He then got up and walked off, leaving 
me clueless on the stairs. I watched him leave, hurt and 
confused. I felt a hand on my shoulder. Usagi knelt down
next to me. I turned to look at her. She seemed sad. 
	"What happened?" I turned away, too 
scared, too confused. I shook my head and sood up. 
	"Nothing." A small crowd had gathered. 
"It was nothing." I walked into the palace. Usagi followed
me, asking questions I wasn't answering. I just kept walking.
I went to my room and stayed there for the rest of the night.
I curled up on my bed and cried. Too much had just hapened
at once and it side swiped me. I felt as if I had been run
through and left to die, not even knowing what had
happened to me. I was lost in confusion and hatred
for my father. Finally, after a long while, I drifted off to sleep. 
	The next morning I awoke early and headed 
in for some extra training. When I arrived the boys in 
Edymion's guard were there. I quietly set my water down
and tried to think of where to start practicing. As I was 
aproaching the mats, Jadeite cut in front of me. "I know it 
was you." I gave him a weird look and tried to walk around
him. "You're going down Minako." I put my hand on my hip
and waited for him to continue. Kunzite stood behind 
Jadeite, smirking. 
	"Really?" I said. Kunzite continued to looked
content as Jadeite tried to hassle me. "Just what are you
going to do to me? Mess me up, tough boy?" Jadeite began
to look angry. Nephlite stood next to me and Jadeite.    
	"Let's go." Nephlite looked at me as I thought
Jadeite was insaine. 
	"You're outta your mind, Jadeite." Kunzite 
sneered at me as I looked past Jadeite. "You told him!"
I exclaimed. I pushed Jadeite over and walked towards 
Kunzite. "Why'd you do that?" I asked, sounding hurt. 
	"You didn't stand up for me, so when 
Jadeite questioned me, I didn't stand up for you."
He looked as hurt as I felt. "So, this just goes to show
you how the "golden rule" works, Minako." He shruged
and walked away. "If you want her, Jadeite, go ahead."
Then he walked out. I clentched my fist and watched him
go. What was he talking about? I didn't understand it, any
of it. Jadeite backed off as I fiercely walked out of the room
in persuit of Kunzite. 
	"Mental Note: Never piss off a fifteen year 
old royal venusian." Nephlite noted as Jadeite rubbed 
has backside. 
	"Kunzite!" I walked towards his room. Kunzite
had sauntered out, so he couldn't have gone very far by the
time I was there. His door was ajar and I opened it a tad. 
He wasn't in there. So I turned around and walked back towards
the main rooms of the palace. I turned the corner and found him
trying to get into my room. I snuck up behind him and pinned him
to the door with one arm, while placing the other on my door. 
"Just what do you think your doing?" I asked. He turned around
slowly and I pinned him again. 
	"I was going to take back that locket I gave you." 
He answered truthfully. I let go of him and backed up a little.
"You don't need it anymore. You proved to me you don't love
me. No matter how much you deny it it's true." 
	"You'd actually stoop that low for revenge?"
I asked horrified. What had I done? "What could I have 
possibly done to you?"  I grasped the chain that was
constantly around my neck. That locket did not come
off me ever. 
	"Your father was going to kill me Minako. What 
did you do? You just stood there and stared. You could have
done something, Minako." He stared at me coldly. "You didn't 
even try." 
	"You don't understand." I said, trying to keep from 
crying. "The moment I tried to do something I was stopped.
Some guy held me back, and he was strong too. He told me 
I was only getting in the way. By the time I managed to get out
of his grip, you were just there, on the stairs. I didn't know what
had happened to you...I thought he had actually stabbed you. 
And by the time I got to you...you just looked up at me and ran off!"
I backed up against the opposite wall and desperately tried to 
change his mind. 
	"You're lying." He said quietly. I could see 
the other girls peeking out of their doors to watch this
scene in the hall. I opened my mouth to speak again,
but thought better of it and slowly brought my hands
to the back of my neck. With one swift move, I took
off the locket, and relatched it. I held it out arms length
and handed it to Kunzite. He looked at me questioningly. 
	"If you're going to walk out of my life, don't walk
away without everything  you want." I said. Then I opened
my door and went inside my room.  I shut the door then
leaned against it. "And don't leave angry." I whispered to
myeslf. "That's how you'll get hurt the worst." 

	~Notes From Zellie~ 

	Sorry this took so long to get out. I've had a busy
summer.  Hope you enjoyed this next addition! To all my fellow 
writers: keep up the good work!  Abiento! ~Zellie