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Kunzite tensed up when Nephrite hugged him. He did not want Nephrite to see him like this, so for the most part he was stiff and unresponsive. He saw Nephrite's own tears briefly before he looked away from him. It didn't really register with Kunzite that Nephrite had said anything about giving up on Ami, or that he was leaving. He just stood then like a statue until Nephrite released him and picked up his bag.

Kunzite did open his mouth to say something to Nephrite as he walked toward the gate, but no words ever came forth, and then he was gone.

He just stood there for a minute staring at the old wooden property gate, then he took a step back and leaned back against the tree again. In times like this, when Kunzite needed advice, he would always turn to...

It hit him then. Zoisite was gone. Kunzite himself had kicked him out, and now Nephrite had left as well. Jadeite would come home and see what a mess Kunzite had made of things and leave as well. The Master would lose all faith in him and cast him aside. He was a failure.

A failure. Slowly, Kunzite detached the sword and sheath from his belt. He removed the blade and watched as what sun could get through the trees gleamed off of the steel. It was his most prized possession, given to him by the Master's father when he had been named leader of the Shitennou. The hilt and scabbard were beautifully constructed, or so he had thought at one point. Now the sight of the weapon sickened him.

He returned the blade to its home, and in a lightning fast motion, he threw the weapon as hard as he could. It landed somewhere at the back of the property, lost in the overgrown bushes.

Kunzite slid down the tree to the ground and retook his civilian form. He was a failure, a disgrace. He didn't deserve his title or rank. The Shitennou were supposed to be an inseparable force of four, and now they were scattered.

He vowed then that he would never take on his Shitennou form again. He wasn't worthy of it. From now on he would live simply as the human Kuromori Daitaro.

Mamoru let Usagi go and walked towards the broken window. He saw Nephrite leave with a bag in his hand. He knew that he was running away. Running away from his problems, his fears like before. Mamoru stood there silent and beagon to worry about Kunzite. "I'm going to look for Kunzite. I'm worried about him" He told Usagi as he left the house.

Mamrou didn't knew that Kunzite owned property. Then again he was living under the name of Shin. That day when he witness him transforming into a man he didn't recognize. Mamrou began to walk the same direct he saw Nephrite coming from. Soon enough he saw his leader sitting up against a tree. "Kunzite, we all make mistakes in this world. No one is perfect, neither am I. We have our ups and downs in life, but we forget those and carry on, its the way of life. I know you are upset and seems the world is crashing down, but I need you. Nephrite is upset cause he doesn't remember his past. Please don't be upset with him. I'm sure he will regain his memories soon enough, and besides Nephrite is Nephrite. He did this many times in the past if you don't recall. He will be back. As for Zoisite, you did what you have to do to to protect me, and yes I unapproved the fact you kicked him out, but soon Jadeite brings him back we all can sit and talk this over." Mamrou quietly spoke to Kunzite, "We have doubts in life, but you are a good man, friend, and brother that I never had. I need you Kunzite more then ever. Now that Mio is alive, we don't know what her intentions are. I lost you guys once and I'm not loosing you again. It was my fault that our kingdom fell, but you know. Something good came out of it. We became strong and more close then ever. I think father would agree with me on this one. So what do you say Kunzite, its been awhile since we cross swords."

Mamoru transformed into his prince attire and drew out his sword. "It has been awhile and I'm a a bit rusty. So what do you say huh brother, I sure could use some practice. Ah! Yes! I remember how I envy your swordsmanship. You where the best in the Kingdom. Now I know why father recruited you to teach me swordsmanship. No matter how hard I practice. You still kicked my a**" Mamoru grined.

Usagi nodded supportively as her boyfriend stepped out to find Kunzite. She felt rather down about the whole thing. She felt more responsible than she probably should - or so Mamoru would most likely tell her. But if she had not started in on the nosey questions about whether or not the two men had feelings for Ami, maybe things would have turned out differently. Zoisite would still be gone, but at the very least Nephrite nad Kunzite would still be co-existing the way they had done up to that point.

She sighed and went into another room to sit. She had to talk to the Senshi about the situation. Their strongest allies had just disbanded, more or less. They would have to step up to the next level if they would be able to survive without the help of the Shitennou. They were the ones who knew their current enemy, Danburite, the best. And now that they were seperated, the Senshi would be left blind in this battle.

"This is definitely not good," she said to herself. Everything was falling apart right before her eyes. And with that realization at the front of her mind, it was easy for Usagi to see that they were starting to lose the battle before it had even begun.

However, she could not allow their defeat. It would be unacceptable.

That was when she finally grasped that it was time to let herself grow up and accept the responsibility that had been hers since the past life. She knew they could turn things around if they worked hard enough, if they wanted it enough. Shitennou or not, the Sailor Senshi would step up as Earth's guardians. They all belonged to the Earth in this life and that made it theirs to protect as well.

She stood once more and pulled out her cell phone. She would get a hold of her comrades if it took her all day. She, for once, knew more than they did. She had to pass on what she had learnt from Kunzite as well as what had just happened to the Shitennou. Possibly, though, she would have to edit out the fact that love for Ami had put a rift between Nephrite and Kunzite. She could not bring herself to burden her friend in such a way, especially before battle.

With a determined look set on her face, she quickly got to work calling the other girls. She had to get them to meet her private but open so they could work on their new powers. She would take them to the place where Beryl had confronted them last time, when she had "killed" Nephrite. It was open and she doubted that anyone would bother them there as it was well out of the way. Having picked a place, she waited for her friends to answer her call.

((I felt left out of the long a** posts, so I made my own.))

Nephrite didn't walk even a block when the pain of guilt and sorrow washed over him. He stopped and look towards a bunch of kids sitting at the picnic table arm wrestling. Then something familiar overtook him. The days at the Golden Kingdom. Nephrite flashed back when him and Jadeite sat at a small table in the Palace gardens. Every afternoon after practice, him and Jadeite always compete in arm wrestling even if Jadeite looses and pouts for the rest of day. Nephrite then saw Master at the table laughing like he had a good time, and he too got defeated by Nephrite, and then Zoisite's turn to get defeated by him. Kunzite called him the arm wrestling champ, but he never arm wrestled Kunzite. He stands there with his back against the tree laughing at those who got defeated. Nephrite stood there in shock of he just seen. "Is my memories coming back to me?" He whispered confusingly.

He shook his head and looked across the street where two boys clashing plastic swords. Then something struck Nephrite and he turned around and bolted towards the Kunzite's house. Nephrite could fee l the sharp pain in his side from running, but he didn't stop till he got the the old wooden gate. Nephrite noticed Mamrou was in his prince attire with his sword drawn and Kunzite in his human form sitting down with his back against the tree. He knew something was up and it was up to him to fix it. Nephrite bolted across the yard towards them not knowing he changed into his Tennou form. When he got there he collapsed out of exhaustion. He waited to catch his breath before he tells Kunzite the good news "Kunzite I came back. I'm sorry for running off. I just needed some time to think things over. I'm sorry for what I said to you earlier. I never meant no harm. I'm such an idiot sometimes and I say stupid things that hurt others. Anyways, you would be proud of me of what I have to say." Nephrite paused.

He wiggled his way where Kunzite was sitting and said "Do you remember the time after practice me and Jadeite use to go to the gardens and have our daily ritual arm wrestling. Jadeite gets pissed cause I beat him and pouts for the rest of the day. I even challenged Zoisite and Master and I defeated them both. You use to stand with your back against the tree by the small table and chair set where we do our arm wrestling, and laugh at Master and the other Tennous for getting pissed cause I beat them. You use to call me the arm wrestling champ back then, but you never ever challenged me."
Nephrite smiled at Kunzite and he continued rambling on about the returned memories "I remember when I was a kid and well you where like in your early teens then. I use to sneak out of bed at night just to watch you practice with your sword. I sit there hidden in the bushes in the garden watching you. You where my idol when I was kid. I wanted to be just like my big brother. When I turned sixteen and got my very first sword by Master's father. I was so happy. I sneak outside at night just to play with it so I wont get teased. You eventually caught me and stared to laugh at the way I was swinging it. Every night we meet in the garden and you taught me how to use my sword. And till this day your are still my idol and I still want to be like you. You where strong and fearless. Nothing scared you, unlike me. I know I said terrible things to you to make you feel like crap, and I don't mean any of them, and I'm not begging you to forgive me. I just wanted us all be together again like a happy family and good friends. Kunzite, I know you will decline, but I'm asking you anyways. Will you challenge me to an arm wrestling match?"

Mamoru temper begin to boil. He never knew Kunzite was a quitter, not after bunch of words exchanged. "Kunzite! Listen to me and listen to me good. I'm not letting you step down, nor will I have Zoisite take your place. I'm in charge and I have the right to say what I have to say. Zoisite is unpredictable right now to hand him over any big responsibility, it would be a foolish thing to do and you know it. Jadeite is young and easily confused and Nephrite. Well Nephrite's temper doesn't help much either. I'm not calling you by your civilian name. I refuse to. Now stop acting like this and get your act to together. Right now as we speak, the Dark Kingdom is probably growing stronger and having you stepping down as leader is not going to help. I can't do this alone Kunzite. I need you and your strength. I need your guidance. Nephrite, I'm happy that you are slowly regaining your memories back. I'm sure Zoisite will be happy to hear that when he comes back. Now I want you two to forgive each other and promise this will never ever happened again. As for you Kunzite, I want you to remain leader of the Tennous. I don't care you protest. I have say and I say that you remain as one. Stop this pouting at once. We have serious things to worry about then your guilt trip. You think I don't follow the same path as you. I have more guilt trips then you imagine, but I don't let people down, or say foolish things. You are not Daitaro or Shin. You are Kunzite, leader of the Shitennou. Now smarten the hell up and get your head into gear. We need to figure out how to deal with Mio and Danburite before something tragic happens." Mamoru pant as he let it all out.

He prays this would wake Kunzite up, if not then he will force him. Something Mamoru wish that it wouldn't come to that.

Ami opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out. At that moment her watch went off. "Ah! I'm late! I need to go to the library, I have some books overdue."

She stood up, giving Rei an "I'm sorry, but.." type look. Honestly, she needed to just have a walk outside to think, she had no idea what the senshi can do right now.

((I'm staying out of this long-post thing o3o))

Mamoru hesitated as he transformed into his civilian form, and meet up with Nephrite at the wooden gate. He respected Kunzite wishes. Even if he is a Prince, he can't force people to do things they don't want to do. "Yeah. I'm getting worried about him too. Let's leave Kunzite alone and go look for Jadeite and Zoisite together. I just hope Kunzite will come back to us. If not, he will always be our big brother and be part of the Tennous." Mamoru smiled.