When Zoisite awoke the next morning, he was rather disappointed to see Nephrite was not next to him. Jadeite was just getting up, seemingly oblivious. But then, he was always seemingly oblivious. Fleetingly, Zoisite wondered if Nephrite would be ashamed of what had happened between them. Zoisite himself was relieved. It felt good to finally have someone to love. Finally. Even if it isn't who I want it to be.

Nephrite got out of the shower and favored Zoisite with a seductive smile. Zoisite grinned and walked past him to his own shower, ignoring the questioning looks of Jadeite. He was happy, finally happy. Almost...

But when they reached the training room, his happiness vanished.

Kunzite wasn't there.

Instead, a youma greeted them. "General Kunzite will be a bit late today. He's has had some...trouble... with a certain youma and had to get rid of him."

Zoisite glanced at the others and sat down next to them, completely confused. Did this mean that youmas could be eliminated? As in... executed? The others didn't seem to care about this, but it hung in Zoisite's mind. What if one day Kunzite has 'trouble' with one of us?

When Kunzite finally arrived, he seemed the same, cold General he always was. Hadn't the death affected him at all? Zoisite felt a surge of anger, and of fear.

Kunzite crossed his arms and stood in front of them, his gaze lingering a moment on Zoisite until he blushed. The General, rather than chastising him or sneering, looked down at the floor. "Nephrite, you're with me," he said, and it had an air of impending doom.

Zoisite went with Jadeite, eyeing the General strangely. He wanted to ask him about the youma, but thought better of it. You killed your father, Zoisite, who are you to talk?

He and Jadeite started to spar, Zoisite rather impressed by his friend's ability. Next to them, he couldn't help but flinch as Nephrite fell to the ground. Perhaps Nephrite was distracted, for Zoisite hadn't done so badly against Kunzite.

But, as the match progressed, Zoisite saw pain marring Nephrite's features. He was distracted himself, and Jadeite knocked him to the floor. As Jadeite helped him up, he saw Kunzite start to hit Nephrite with energy blasts, brighter and harsher than they should have been. Zoisite and Jadeite both stopped to stare at him.

Kunzite ceased when he saw the others watching him, pausing in mid strike. Nephrite was on the floor below him, forehead bleeding, eyes wide... he really thought Kunzite was going to kill him, which he probably was.

Zoisite rushed forward to help Nephrite, and Kunzite glared at them. For a moment, anger flashed in his eyes and then it was replaced by annoyance. "Nephrite, you lack the most skill of any recruit in this establishment. Please drag yourself to the healing wing and get yourself fixed up."

Zoisite glared up at Kunzite, standing in front of the injured Nephrite. "What did you do to him?"

"I taught him a lesson; he won't be so careless again."

"Taught him a lesson? You practically killed him!"

"Zoisite, shut up," he snapped, and motioned for a youma to take Nephrite away. The youma did so with a bored expression on his face, and Kunzite glared at Jadeite.

"Leave us." He ordered, and Jadeite did so, obviously worried. Zoisite, however, was not afraid, not in the slightest.

"Zoisite," Kunzite said in a much gentler tone, "Emotion has no place in the Dark Kingdom. It is... a weakness. A hindrance against what must be done. You saw the affect your anger against me had on your energy level. However, when Nephrite was unsure of his aim he faltered. Doubt, fear, love, these things will only be a burden." Kunzite was speaking in a low voice to him, more gentle than he had ever spoken. Zoisite felt angry suddenly. Love was a hindrance? That was a direct cut at his relationship with Nephrite, he knew it, but it also had a deeper meaning....

"Then how are we any better than the enemy, if all we can do is hate?" Zoisite hissed.

Kunzite stared at him, and Zoisite's scowl faded.

"Zoisite..." Kunzite shook his head. "This is not the time to get into a debate about the nature of good and evil. We are soldiers. We do what we are told, and that is all."

"Were you told to lie to me? To seduce me into a life I didn't want?"

Kunzite stared at him, eyes hard. "You don't want it? Leave."

Zoisite stared back at him. Leave? He... couldn't. "I have nowhere else to go."

"And whose fault is that?" Kunzite's words cut him, and he flinched.

"Yours. You and your stupid test..."

"Is that what you think it was, Zoisite?" Kunzite took his shoulders and looked into his eyes.

Zoisite forced his gaze away. "Wasn't it?" he asked bitterly.

"Zoisite... what happened between you and your father would have happened whether I knew about your powers or not. We don't change people here, we just bring out what is hidden."

"But... the ice crystal... how did I do that by myself?"

"Try it; I'm sure you could do it again." The coldness had returned to Kunzite's voice as he let go of Zoisite and stood back. Zoisite glared at him. It was almost as if the General was enjoying Zoisite's torment, his confusion. He wanted to kill him-

And, looking down, Zoisite saw a foot long ice crystal formed in his hand. "Oh..." he murmured, looking at it. "I don't understand. How could I do that?"

Kunzite didn't answer, but turned on his heel and walked away. Zoisite felt a surge of anger. "Kunzite!"

Kunzite turned, not noticing the lack of honorific. "Yes?"

"Tell me why," Zoisite demanded.

Kunzite just gave him a light tipped smile. "You'll find out." He turned and continued his departure. "Eventually."

When Zoisite returned to the dormitory, Nephrite was already in bed and bandaged. His eyes lit up when Zoisite came in.

"What did he say to you?" Jadeite asked quietly. He didn't look up at Zoisite, and Zoisite stared at Jadeite in confusion. What was wrong with him?

After a moment, Zoisite shrugged. "Nothing of importance."

Jadeite was working furiously at something which Zoisite couldn't see. He was angry.

"Jadeite, what's wrong?"

"What's wrong?" Jadeite dropped his half-polished boots and stood up, his eyes raging. "I'm sick of that bastard Kunzite! He thinks he can just treat us like garbage because we're his students! Because he's our superior officer and we're not worthy of his compassion. He could have killed Nephrite today!"

"That's not it," Zoisite found himself defending the General despite himself. "He's just... been here too long. This place sucks away kindness and empathy like it does light." He sat down, burying his face in his hands.

"I can't believe you're defending that monster. You, who have the most reason to hate him!"

"Why?" Zoisite cried out angrily, standing up to face Jadeite. "Why should I hate him? Why should I not hate you, or Nephrite? It's all the same, isn't it. Who we love and hate, it's just two sides of the same coin, and it can change like the tides!"

Jadeite stared at him, then spoke coldly. "There's something going on here, and I'm being left in the dark, but I'll find out what it is... I promise you that." He stalked out of the room, and Zoisite slumped against the doorframe.

He turned back to Nephrite, whose face was stricken, hurt. He immediately regretted his words but... he couldn't take them back. He had meant every one.

"How- how could you say that, Zoi-chan?" Nephrite spoke, his voice strangely empty.

Zoisite sighed, then approached him. "I don't know... we have to get out of here, Nephrite, before we become like him. Before we lose ourselves like he did." He felt used up, tired, and Nephrite stared at him in silence before turning away from him. "I'll see you later Nephrite, I have to go to class," he said apologetically, moving backwards from the bed. Nephrite didn't look at him, and Zoisite felt suddenly fearful. Had he said something wrong?

"Nephrite?"

The auburn haired recruit turned and stared at him. "You love him?" he said. More of an accusation than a question.

Zoisite snorted. "I hate him."

"But you- you said it yourself..." Nephrite looked away. "Forget it. See you later, Zoi-chan."