Cradling his head, Mamoru wearily sat down onto his sofa. Looking over to his bookshelf he saw three guardian stones in a neat pile. Under normal circumstances he would have had four, but clearly one was missing. Today had been the day that Mamoru found out that the stone was gone. Not only was one stone gone but apparently Zoisite had been missing for a week.
It wasn't unusual for his Shitennou to go out and explore the world; unfortunately Zoisite's absence went far longer than the usual one nighter being bound to the stone allowed. Feeling a light tingle on his shoulder Mamoru snapped out of his thoughts and turned to find Kunzite.
"I'm sorry we didn't tell you earlier Prince, but we wanted to perform our own search before we called any attention to you. Unfortunately we did not foresee the trouble of being bound to our stones."
With a 'woosh' Jadeite emerged from his stone. "Argh! We could have been able to find him on our own if we had bodies, but instead because of that handicap we had to ask for your help Endymion."
"It's alright."
Turning to the window, Mamoru saw Nephrite looking out at the stars. He wondered what his brown-haired guardian was thinking. Turning back into the room Nephrite answered Mamoru's unasked question.
"I have a feeling that Zoisite will be found soon. Also he seems to be in no danger as of now."
"Where did that come from?" Jadeite continued shouting. "How do you know all that?"
Nephrite shrugged "It's just a feeling, but from that feeling I know that he is well and being taken care of."
"But who is taking care of him. Not everyone in the world cares that much for a rock."
Kunzite delivered a stare towards the blond king that immediately shut him up. Jadeite muttered to the room an apology.
Mamoru stood up suddenly causing the three guardians to focus on their Prince.
"I believe you Nephrite, I also have that feeling that he's being cared for. For now we'll just have to keep searching for him."
The four men then spent the rest of the night figuring out where Zoisite could have possible gone and coming up with places for Mamoru to look.
Ami Mizuno was on the top of the world. Ever since she found the dark green stone in her bag her life from that point on had been surprisingly pleasant.
When first finding the stone she just wondered where it could have come from and how it landed in the bottom of her bag. Reaching down to take it out warmth spread through her body when her hand grasped it. Ever since that first touch it went everywhere with her.
Ami was never one for good luck charms or protection trinkets but this felt different, it was every good thing rolled into a beautiful, warm stone.
Coming home that evening after going to the library (she found out what the stone was called … zoisite) Ami took the zoisite out of her pocket and placed it on her bed table.
Changing into her pajamas Ami returned to her bed and started to read. Soon after beginning the book she was completely involved in it. Normally Ami wasn't one for romance but for the past few days she found herself craving all the sappy love stories.
Putting down the completed book Ami turned to the clock.
'Oh my, it's late.'
Reaching for her lamp she turned off the light. Upon returning her arm to bed her hand brushed the stone. An invisible embrace of warmth was felt around her shoulders. Grabbing the stone Ami proceeded to fall asleep with it still in her hand.
'This aura is familiar.'
For the past few days that's all Zoisite had been saying. Partly it was to reassure himself that the person who took his rock wasn't going to harm him in his defenseless state. But mostly it was because the warm that he felt through the cold stone gave him a sense of déjà vu.
Sensing the person entering a deep sleep his curiosity got the better of him. Taking a mental breath Zoisite reached out his sprit and joined as one with the being.
Upon entering the unexplored terrain Zoisite found he had little chance of finding anything in this place. The light blue fog seemed to prevent him from even seeing his own hands let alone anything in the distance.
Going against all training in survival he decided to move. A yearning grew from inside him to find out the truth about the person who hand by chance picked up his stone.
There was a presence with her. In a rush Ami produced a shield to protect against any harm that could occur from this intruder.
'Who is powerful enough to enter another's mind let alone have the knowledge and magic to do so?'
Closing her eyes she searched through the fields of her mind seeking out this strong sprit. Finding the person Ami jumped to where they were located.
"Who are you?"
After hearing a strong voice, the fog around Zoisite lifted. Slightly dazed he spun around himself in search of the owner of the voice.
"I repeat, who are you?"
Turning to his left his eyes locked with a pair of ice blue. Zoisite watched as a gasp escaped from the lips of girl whose mind he had entered. Before he could say anything a sharp pain stabbed through his mind. As he was succumbing to the locked box of his memories he saw the blue eyed girl also grasp her head in pain.
The next thing he saw was a slide show of memories spin before his eyes. What was stored away in his mind came to him in images of a grand place, swirling lights, an Earthrise, gardens, faraway voices, and finally a pair of ice blue eyes. Everything slowed down as a particular memory played out.
Standing in a garden filled with blue roses Zoisite looked down to his lover. Happiness and pure love sparkled in her eyes as she looked at him. Before they knew it the emotions caused the two to embrace and proceed to kiss with all their might.
Blinking his way out of the memory he found himself in a similar position in Ami's mind. Breaking apart Zoisite stared at the young woman before him and she likewise. Finally the silence was broken by one word.
"Zoisite?"
He noticed his name was spoken in more of a question with hints of hope, love, and sadness combined in her voice. Before he could respond a harsh tugging at his navel caused him to leave her mind faster than lighting.
A loud cracking noise filled his ears and he squirmed a bit in reaction. Suddenly a bright light blinded Zoisite.
'Great, I'm going to be blind and deaf.'
Promptly after thinking that Zoisite passed out.
Snapping her eyes open Ami was a little more than freaked out after her 'dream'. Present day memories clashed with those of the Silver Millennium as she tried to sort out what was really the truth.
Laying still Ami started to put the pieces together and blushed a fine shade of red.
'Oh my, it seems that Zoisite and I were more than just enemies.'
Frowning Ami tried to figure out what was causing the feeling from her chest. A warm flowing feeling that ran through the course of her entire body, it happened to be triggered whenever her thoughts roamed towards the young man that had first been her lover then in this life an enemy. Gasping she realized what was wrong.
'I still love him.'
This realization not only confused the blue haired genius it also excited her.
'But how can I still love a man who had helped bring down the Silver Millennium and also tried to take over the present day world?'
Her heart however, had already forgiven any actions the man had performed as well as reassure her that he had always been good, kind, if not the silly guard of Endymion.
As nice as knowing she had forgiven him she sadly came to the realization her was no longer among the living. Clenching her hand in frustration a sharp prick stopped her thoughts as she looked down and opened her fist.
The Zoisite stone had been split down the middle. The warmth that normally accompanied it was also gone. In a panic Ami sprang to her feet in a rush to see if she could repair it. Just as she was about to land on the carpeted floor of her room Ami found that she was still tangled in her bed sheets causing her to fall off the edge onto something soft, warm, and breathing.
The collision caused both of them to squirm as Ami tried to get off him and Zoisite tried to understand why he was woken up in such a way. They where forced to stop as the bed sheet made them both immobile. The position they were left in allowed Zoisite to stare directly into Ami's eyes and vise versa.
"You" Ami breathed softly
"Nice to see you too" Zoisite smirked "Bubble"
Before Ami knew what was happening her lips were connected with the man in front of her. Once they parted she smiled softly.
"How many times have I told you not to call me that?"
"Not enough."
With nimble fingers Zoisite untangled the sheet around them.
"Don't you find it funny that my stone happened to fall into your bag?" He chuckled. "I could have just fallen onto the Prince's apartment floor but I guess fate allowed me to find you and life again."
A question rose in Ami's throat and she took the sheet from Zoisite.
"Why were you a stone in the first place?"
A serious look fell over his face.
"For our sins of betraying the Prince" Zoisite's head drooped a little. "And you."
"I'll tell you right now Zoisite, if Mamoru has allowed you to stay with him all this time that is more than enough proof to me that you are trust worthy. Even with the sins of the past I forgive you."
Zoisite immediately regained his confidence and ran over gave Ami a hug.
"Besides, I still love you."
Zoisite hadn't felt this good since his time with the Mercurian princess in the Silver Millennium.
"That's more than I deserve for what I have done, but I can't help loving you as well Ami."
He gave her another peck on the lips causing her to blush, he laughed after seeing her face.
"It seems I still get the same reaction."
"Stop it." She playfully batted him on the chest.
"Oh!"
"What is it love?"
"Zoisite you said that the others are in stones as well, right?"
"Yes they are. As far as I know they are stuck in there."
"How is it that you were able to get out of yours then?"
A blank look spread over Zoisite. He touched his face, and then proceeded to pinch his arm.
"I'm … real!"
He picked up his split stone that Ami accidentally tossed half way across the room after she fell.
"I can't believe it."
He rubbed the stone that was once his physical form in the world.
"My only guess is Ami that after gaining forgiveness from our Prince the next step was to get forgiveness from the ones we loved. Somehow that combination was able to release me."
Ami tapped her finger to her chin.
"That does make sense, after all the love that Usagi and Mamoru share allow the two of them to come back time and time again."
"Ah! Ami dear, as much fun as I'm having reconnecting with you I should probably go back to the Prince and explain why all of the sudden I have a body."
"Do you mind if I come? It might be easier to explain what happened if we go together."
"Excellent idea, love"
Firmly grasping his broken stone Zoisite wrapped his arm around Ami's shoulder.
"Do you mind if we teleport? It will be much easier."
Giving a quick nod in agreement Zoisite and Ami disappeared off to Mamoru's apartment.
Glancing at the clock Mamoru was surprised to see it was so late.
'Those guys sure know how to chat the night away.'
At the current moment Jadeite and Nephrite were having an argument which had gone on long enough for Kunzite to walk over and break it up.
"Will you two stop it! Can't you see that it's late? Our Prince doesn't want to deal with your bickering and frankly neither do I."
"But Kunzite, Nephrite doesn't understand that …"
Kunzite flew out a hand signaling Jadeite to be quiet.
"Hush, someone's here."
There was a knock at the door.
Getting up Mamoru went to answer it.
About to return to the stones Mamoru stopped the Shitennou.
"Stay out, this aura is familiar."
The Shitennou shared a few curious glances with each other before they continued to watch their Prince answer the door.
Mamoru wasn't exactly ready for what was on the other side of the door. The first person he saw was Ami. It was not unusual for her to come over with the Usagi once in a while but those visits were usually during the day. What was really unusual was the person who was standing next to her.
"Mamoru, may we come in?" Ami asked
Unable to find words he moved out of the way of the door and allowed them in. It was then that the others in the room saw the two guests.
"NO WAY."
Jadeite had immediately come over after his shout. Following him with a look of awe and wonder were Nephrite and Kunzite.
The three transparent kings circled their youngest member, examining every part of him. Mamoru finally asked the question which all the men had wondered.
"How did this happen Zoisite?"
Turning to meet the eyes of his Prince, Zoisite proceeded to tell him what he and Ami discussed.
"Basically Prince after my stone fell in Ami's bag my sprit entered her mind and we remembered our past from the Silver Millennium, after that I blacked out."
Ami picked up where Zoisite left off.
"After we regained those memories I forgave him mentally and his stone split. When I woke up I found him on my floor asleep." Ami blushed slightly remembering what exactly happened.
"Are you saying that you were the key to allowing Zoisite to regain a body?" Mamoru asked
Ami nodded "Yes, I was"
"How is that?"
"Prince you have to remember you were not the only one with a lover back then."
Ami felt the blush on her cheeks.
"Ah, love don't be ashamed of it! It's part of the reason why I'm back."
Confusion passed through Mamoru. "Part?"
Zoisite redirected his attention back to his Prince.
"Yes part, you were the other half. We came to the conclusion that the reason I regained a body was because of Ami and your forgiveness of our past deeds."
Mamoru nodded in understanding. Walking over to the king he clapped a hand on his shoulder.
"Good to have you back."
During the conversation between Mamoru and Zoisite the Shitennou had remained quiet, until now.
"Ami"
Turning towards the voice she noticed that it was Jadeite who called her. He had a very concerned look on his face. She probably should have known it wasn't something too serious.
"Since our return depends on forgiveness from our loves can you do me a favor and put in a good word to Rei?"
Zoisite smirked at the other blond king while Ami giggled. As the moment died down Zoisite redirected his attention back to Ami by taking her in his arms.
"May I have one more kiss before we part for the night?"
Zoisite didn't have to wait long for an answer as Ami's lips met his.