"Are you nervous?" Nephrite asked Zoisite, brushing out his hair absently.

Zoisite rolled his eyes. "About Beryl? Of course not. Why should I be?"

Nephrite shrugged. "I dunno, maybe because she is the ruler of the Dark Kingdom and is known for frying recruits she doesn't like?"

"She'll like me." Zoisite murmured. "Everyone likes me."

Nephrite pulled him back into his arms, turning his head to kiss him possessively. "They can like you, they just can't touch you."

Zoisite gave a low chuckle, one which he knew Nephrite couldn't resist. He stood up elusively, tying back his hair in the ponytail he had taken to wearing recently. The braid, he decided, just wasn't him. "Oh? And what would you say if I told you that I was having a secret affair with Amethyst?"

"What, that pretty violet haired girl? Not your taste, I'm afraid."

"What about Topaz?"

"Quite the looker, but too docile for you."

"Okay, then how about Kunzite?"

Zoisite flinched as Nephrite's eyes darkened, his lips pressing together. Zoisite stared at Nephrite for half a second, and then smiled. "Do you want me to do something with your hair, Nephrite?" He chirped, changing the subject.

Nephrite shook his head. "No, that's all right. I like to wear it down... you're hair is much more fun to play with." Zoisite giggled as Nephrite picked him up effortlessly and kissed him.

"Later, we have to go. Wouldn't want to keep Beryl waiting, now would we?"

They followed the path to the throne room, walking down the neglected hallway bravely. They caught up with Jadeite eventually, who gave them a cold, fleeting smile. Zoisite felt his heart sink, longing for the days when they had been a merry threesome. Even he and Nephrite just weren't the same anymore. There was always something lingering behind Nephrite's eyes, some sort of detached sorrow. He almost acted like Kunzite at times... only more bitter.

The hallway opened up to an elaborate room, all black and red, with a twisted throne at the head of it. It was like Kunzite's throne room, only much more opulant. A universe of youma hung back in the shadows, causing an almost grim atmosphere, moaning now and then and causing Zoisite to shiver.

But the woman on the throne, she was the most terrifying thing of all. Her hair was long, red, and so were her eyes. A vicious set of fangs hung over her lower lip, and her skin was slightly yellow. She glared at them, a slightly malicious smile curling the corners of her lips. She was simply... sinister; her every movement seemed the embodiment of it.

Despite himself, Zoisite was fascinated. Nephrite was disgusted.

Next to the throne stood Kunzite, who was as usual avoiding Zoisite's eyes. He kept his own gaze focused on the Queen, his face grim. Zoisite couldn't tear his eyes away until Nephrite nudged him angrily. He flushed and returned his attention to the Queen.

In front of Beryl was a crystal ball, and she moved her hands over it as if caressing it. Swirls of color danced from within it, mesmerizing him, making it impossible to look away. Zoisite stared at it, but looked away quickly when the Queen's harsh, brassy voice rang out over the darkened chamber, overpowering the moans of the youma.

"Zoisite, Jadeite, Nephrite. Welcome."

Zoisite flinched at that voice... so grating it cut through him like a hot knife through butter. "The time has finally come for you to become Generals of the Army of the Dark Kingdom. There is much to do.... Something... has been reawakened from the Moon Kingdom, and I feel a great need to revive my master, the Goddess Metallia. I will need your help to accomplish this.

"As I call your name, step forward, and receive the blessings of the Goddess. "Jadeite," she snapped, voice suddenly louder than it had been before. Zoisite jumped, his heart pounding in his chest, but Jadeite stepped forward with determination, eyes guarded as usual, and knelt before her. She snatched his hand almost violently, bringing it up to touch the crystal.

As his skin touched the surface, Jadeite's eyes widened as though he had been shocked. His gaze remained fixed on it, his mouth slack, and Zoisite's stomach lurched. What if it killed him? What if this was just some tricky way to be rid of them for good? Beryl hadn't hesitated to kill the others...

A thought came unbidden into his head. She is stealing our souls!

Jadeite pulled his hand away, touching his face slightly, and moved back to where he had been before. His eyes met Zoisite's for less than a second, and there was a flash of hatred from Jadeite's eyes so fierce it was almost physically painful. Zoisite quickly looked away.

"Nephrite." Nephrite stepped forward almost hesitantly, and Zoisite felt a surge of panic... would the same thing happen to him? He was almost tempted to rush forward and pull Nephrite back, but the auburn haired youth was fascinated, moving forward as though compelled, hypnotized.

The same thing happened when Nephrite touched the crystal, his eyes widening. Beryl seemed to enjoy his discomfort, leaning back to close her eyes. Zoisite could almost see the energy being absorbed into the crystal, being drained away from Nephrite. And then, he pulled his hand away, and it was over.

Nephrite walked back to Zoisite's side, but didn't look at him. Instead, his eyes focused on Kunzite, glittering dangerously.

"Zoisite."

Zoisite felt his heart flutter, his knees stiffen. He didn't think he could do it. The same will happen to me. I don't think I can bear to live without... whatever it is that crystal is taking from us.

He wanted to run away, but his legs remained glued to the spot, unmoving. His lungs seized up, making it practically impossible to breathe. A dark, cloudy pressure came over him as he gasped for air, and it only ceased as he took a hesitant step forward.

Zoisite continued, not failing to notice that he was more being pulled than going of his own free will. He approached slowly, the Queen's gaze a caress, Kunzite's own face reflecting a slight twinge of worry. He knelt before Beryl, gazing up at her defiantly, and she held out one clawed finger to touch his chin.

"Beautiful Zoisite... your beauty is a gift to the Goddess. Metallia wants to give you her blessing."

Zoisite stared at her, ready to refuse. Ready to accept whatever punishment he might receive from this witch who now leered above him, ready to... die. He opened his mouth to speak, to refuse, to deny her the one thing he had left...

But then, he made the mistake of glancing at Kunzite.

Kunzite's face was an enigma. There seemed to be a jumble of emotions present behind his eyes, some violent struggle that remained almost hidden. Kunzite met his eyes reluctantly, and flinched as he looked away. Kunzite didn't want him to do it!

Zoisite made his decision quickly. Bracing himself, he reached out in one defiant gesture and touched the crystal.

Immediately, he felt a jolt like electricity travel up his arms, down his spine, and into his legs and feet. A million thoughts traveled through his head, his father, the murder, his mother's death, his sister Olivia, Nephrite... he felt hatred surge in him. So much had been taken away, and in a desperate attempt to save himself from solitude he had latched onto the closest thing.

And then, the specter of Kunzite drifted into his thoughts, blocking out the rest. How he had held Zoisite that night on the lake, how he had comforted him, not caring about what had occurred, how he had almost seemed to care when Zoisite had tumbled desperately into Nephrite's arms...

Zoisite stood up, and walked back stiffly to where he had stood before. The presence of Nephrite beside him suddenly annoyed him beyond measure. The other man stared at him and he just wanted to shove his face away, maybe tear his eyes out...

What am I thinking? Get a grip on yourself!

Looking around, the entire room seemed different. Darker somehow, more hostile. The very walls seemed to whisper at him, laughing, taunting, echoing the cries of his classmates, his father. He wanted to put his hands over his ears, to shut out the memory, but they penetrated his very skull, digging into his brain. He winced, his breath quickening slightly.

Nephrite, still watching him, reached out to touch his arm and the voices faded. They dimmed, but didn't disappear... and the look on Nephrite's face was anything but congenial... more like hunger.

The dark energy of the crystal permeated him, made him feel almost dizzy, like a drug, and Zoisite felt his head spinning. He waited patiently until she had again repeated their names, this time with the honorific 'General', then teleported out with the rest of them.

But before he left, he focused one direct glance at Kunzite... and this time it was the white-haired General who forced his weary gaze away.

When he and Nephrite returned to his room, Nephrite sat down on the bed and held his head in agony, groaning, his fists clutching clumps of hair as if he wanted to rip it out. Zoisite giggled, wincing at the sound. It was almost... maniacal, high pitched and inane.

"Shut up, Zoisite, I have a headache." Nephrite growled, not looking up.

Zoisite approached him mischievously, grinning. "What's the matter, Nephrite? You have no head for dark energy?" he taunted, collapsing down behind him on the bed.

Nephrite groaned. "I said shut up."

"Oh, I will. Eventually. When I think you've suffered enough." He giggled again.

Suddenly, Nephrite turned around and pinned his arms to the bed, kissing him roughly on the mouth. He almost bruised Zoisite with the force of his lips, pushing Zoisite's face against his own. He then let up, and glared down at the fetching blonde creature beneath him.

"What was that for?" Zoisite muttered, brows furrowing.

"To make you shut up," he replied gruffly, and then did it again, almost hurting him with the violence in it, nicking Zoisite's lower lip with his teeth. Zoisite groaned, liking this mixture of pleasure and pain. He was slightly intoxicated from the energy, and it was making him foolish.

He imagined it was Kunzite kissing him, Kunzite's lips covering his own, and his groin stirred under Nephrite.

Nephrite was applying that same violent kiss to his chin, his collarbone, moving down Zoisite's body roughly, and Zoisite giggled again.

"Didn't I tell you to shut up, you little bastard?" Nephrite growled, and Zoisite grinned sweetly at him.

"I'm sorry... why don't you punish me?"

Nephrite stared at him, eyes narrowed, and then shrugged. "Have it your way."

In one swift movement, he picked Zoisite up and tossed him onto his stomach, ripping his uniform open angrily. Zoisite tried to scramble away from him, but Nephrite grabbed his wrists with one hand, pinning him again with both the strength in his arms and the weight of his body. He pressed Zoisite's head into the pillow with the palm of his other hand, and Zoisite panicked, unable to breath. Nephrite settled over him, entering him without the slightest gentleness, causing him the most searing pain. Zoisite cried out, tears squeezing from the corners of his eyes as Nephrite's nails bit into his wrists, but the pillow muffled his protests. Nephrite gave a guttural growl as he came inside of Zoisite, and then shoved him aside like a discarded handkerchief.

"I didn't mean it Nephrite! Damn it!" Zoisite snapped, sitting up, wiping hot tears from his face as he glared at Nephrite.

Nephrite shrugged. "You asked for it."

Zoisite could only stare at him, anger heating his face and making him blush scarlet. "You bastard," he muttered shakily, still trying to stop the tears as the throbbing pain inside his body subsided.

Nephrite glanced at him warily. "Shut up. You're mine, Zoi-chan. I can do what I want with you." He turned his back to Zoisite, and it was only a matter of moments before he heard a gentle snoring beside him. Asleep already.

Zoisite snorted angrily and stood up, finding something else to wear.

He stalked out into the hallway, glaring one more time at Nephrite before slamming the door behind him.

At first, he was simply astonished by the sights that met his eyes. This was not the place he had just left! The walls seemed blacker, as if they weren't solid, just gaping wounds in the fabric of the Dark Kingdom. It seemed there was no end to the darkness, to the inky blackness surrounding him. It was almost suffocating.

Perhaps it isn't the Dark Kingdom which is different, but my eyes which are different? He mused, his brows furrowing slightly. The anger at being taken like that was still hot inside of him, making his heart pound and his fists clench.

Slowly, almost imperceptibly, the whispers started again. They were unrecognizable at first, merely soft mutterings with no real purpose, but they soon became louder, harsher. 'Don't you dare talk to me that way, you ungrateful little bastard!'

"Ah!" He cried out as he heard it. His father's voice! It pierced into his skull, causing him physical pain as the words seared through him. He covered his ears, shutting his eyes tightly and muttering protests, but the voice was clear as ever. Over a mingled chorus of schoolchildren chanting he heard it again.

'Couldn't even fight back, could you? You're a disgrace!'

Zoisite fell back against the door of Nephrite's chamber, moaning to himself, trying to block out the voices, but they never ceased, never grew any dimmer.

'Stupid faggot!'

'Pansy ass loser!'

No! No please stop it! Leave me alone! Leave me alone!

And then, miraculously, the voices stopped.

Zoisite looked up, startled, to see Jadeite standing before him with his eyes narrowed.

"Well well. What happened to you?" Jadeite asked, voice gruff.

Zoisite scowled. "Nothing. Leave me alone, Jadeite." He stood up shakily and shook his head to clear it, not oblivious to the fact that Jadeite was staring at him. He glared at the other blonde General, eyes flashing with anger. "What do you want?"

The other man's eyes widened innocently, but his smile was anything but innocent. "Why, nothing, Zoi-chan."

Zoisite regarded him warily, eyes narrowed. "Is that so?"

Jadeite nodded. His grin faded... a little.

"Then... why are you here?"

Jadeite seemed confused for a moment, blinking in surprise, then turned away. "Sorry Zoisite, I... I'm not feeling very well."

Zoisite stared after him, completely dumbfounded. Something was happening to them, he could feel it. Something bad.

He looked around searchingly, but the voices were gone, dissipated. Just to be sure they wouldn't come back, Zoisite slid back into Nephrite's room and set his jaw, sliding in the blankets next to him. Nephrite reached out languidly, pulling Zoisite into his arms.

Zoisite's eyes widened in confusion, but Nephrite was fast asleep. After a long moment of irrational fear, fierce longing won over and Zoisite let his eyes close and let the darkness of sleep take him.