End of the Millennium
A Xian Shade Production

Author's Notes: and back to the courtship of Mercury, a mere month
later! What surprises are in store for you readers? Any progress in
their relationship? C'mon people, if there was, I'd have written about
that first, right? XD Enjoy, folks!

Disclaimer: I do not own any aspects of Sailor Moon or Phantasy Star.
If I did, this would be an anime, or manga, or both. Thanatos, Ares,
Chronos, Aljus, King Marcus, and the worthless one are © Xian Shade
and may not be used without my permission. People failing to follow
this rule have broken Xian's Law #849, paragraph 3, line 2: Don't fuck
with my shit.


The Path of Finding Destiny, Chapter 17:

Samuru and Amilia were on one of their walks a month after his initial
transformation, arm in arm, discussing like the intellectuals they
were. Despite his offer of courtship, they still spoke and acted as
friends.

He probably wouldn't have it any other way.

Their current discussion stemmed from the lessons he wished to teach
her regarding the use of her body's energies. He seemed very animated
and happy teaching her, for once.

"...so you see, once this energy is properly harnessed and
concentrated, it can be used for anything, from creation to
destruction, from preservation to naturalization. With your people's
natural ice abilities, you could instantly deep-freeze your opponent
or almost any liquid, set a room for preservation of supplies, or even
do something as simple as cool your drink."

"Could you show me something like it, Sam?"

"Well, let's see..." he said, outstretching his hand. "First, you
concentrate the energy to a focal point somewhere in your body, a
place where you can concentrate upon it easily, and it won't flutter
off to the rest of your body again. Then, picture a shape in your hand
if the energy you're going to use requires form. Most of the time it
does, and the most common form is the sphere. Once you picture the
outline of the shape, shunt the energy you focused into the shape."

A yellow sphere the size of a ball sprouted and grew, floating over
Samuru's outstretched hand, and Amilia stared at it in fascination.

"Now that you have the energy, you can convert it to what you need.
You simply need to think of the chemical equation for each type. Ice
is simple, in that all you need to do is concentrate on the decreased
temperature of water molecules." The ball became blue and crystalline
in appearance, and he held it out for her. "Don't touch it, just try
to hold it with your own energies, like I showed you before."

She took the ball carefully, and she could feel the sensation of cold
floating inches above her palms, the crystalline blue sphere glowing
ethereally. "So, what is done with it now?"

"Depending on the concentration, and what you have in mind for your
attack or use, you can launch it any number of ways. If deep-freezing
a liquid, you would simply drop the sphere into the liquid." he said,
looking back in the direction of their 'observer'. One of the
conditions of their courtship was observation, but the one watching
was being far too nosy. They weren't supposed to notice the observer,
but being an immortal, Thanatos was far more aware of his surroundings
than most. He had a devious idea to put distance between them and the
observer. "In the case of freezing a room for preservation, I suggest
a spread attack. This would work in combat as well, as something to
both confuse and disorient your enemies."

"All right... so if I strike it with the back of my hand, then it will
cause the spread in whatever direction I face?"

"Essentially, but with only one hand it will be more focused. To
spread it, smack it with both forearms in a cross-section strike,
palms outward. Let's say... your opponent was chasing you, and you
wanted to lose them."

Amilia looked around in thought, and continued for him. "Since there's
no shelter or area to lose them around here, you can make some until
you can reach it?"

"Very good. You could also use it to make sure your enemy does not see
the killing blow coming. Now then, launch it behind us."

"What, right now?"

"Of course. The people of the planet won't mind a little cold mist,
and it will dissipate eventually. It's not like I can get rid of the
energy once summoned."

She seemed a little apprehensive at trying, but she concentrated to
hold the ball in place as she crossed her arms in front of her face.
She gulped and swung out with both arms, striking the ball, which
exploded out from her direction in a shower of bubbles filled with
freezing mist that popped and caused a particularly dense fog.

"I... I did it!" she exclaimed, but Samuru grabbed her hand.

"What are you waiting for? Your enemy's confused! Run!" he said with
a smile, pulling her along into a dash. She giggled as they dashed to
a nearby hilled area, and Samuru could hear the angry chattering
curses of their cold observer now far behind them, unsure of their
direction. They ducked behind the hills and trees, breathing heavily
not so much from running, but from laughing and the excitement.

She hugged him and they swirled around in a circle for a moment, and
her cheeks flushed at the realization of how she was acting, and the
feel of warm hands around the small of her back. She gulped, looking
up at Samuru, who only held the warmest of smiles. Creating the fog
was easy compared to this moment, her heartbeat accelerating once
more, faster than when they'd made a run for it. Her lips parted, and
her head tilted upward as his head came down to meet her, a brushing
of his lips against hers before they met more insistently. Her eyes
drifted closed and she sighed internally. 'Is this what princess
Serenity felt when with prince Endymion? No wonder she seems so happy
lately...' She could feel her whole body heating up from the kiss,
which ended far too soon at the snap of a nearby twig, where both
looked up.

"Naughty, naughty, Lord Sotanaht." there stood Zoicite, gray  general
uniform rumpled up slightly from leaning against a nearby oak, a
distinct scowl on his sharp, pretty-boy features. "Such activities
aren't proper during your courtship, you know. And princess, I would
think you'd know better."

Amilia appeared to back away from the accusation, her face still
flushed. But instead of being so from love, it shifted to shame.
Samuru's hand clasped at her own, hoping to give her strength, and she
looked up at him, puzzled. He would have liked nothing more than to be
himself and simply force death upon this man, even if it DID break one
of the rules he'd set for himself, but he decided to follow Ares'
rules of competition. After all, that's what Zoicite was, as a fellow
courtier: competition. "You of all people should know, Zoicite, that
if princess Amilia does something, it is well thought-out and
intended. You insult both her honor and her intelligence with such a
comment."

Zoicite seemed slightly taken aback by that statement. He'd figured
this lord from Saturn would be flaky and soft, since their trust here
balanced on the edge of a knife. An arrogant, feminine chuckle came
forth from the general. "Do you intend to harm me, Lord Sotanaht? Not
particularly bright."

"I have no such intentions. But even if I did, you have no protection
from the rest of the alliance 'yet'. A war between your world and mine
would be filled with speculations of dread by your warriors, and would
be settled by the kingdom of Mars anyway. You and I both know that.
But I know that it would eventually come to a duel between you and I
though, because I'm only assuming you care for the princess as much as
I do."

Zoicite grit his teeth. This lord was very confident... perhaps
rightly-so. It wasn't so much the fact that his skills were a mystery
since few ever went to Saturn, but as a general of Earth, attacking a
future member of the alliance would ruin any possible alliance for
themselves. This lord had somehow gained the positive favor of king
Marcus the first day he arrived; something Zoicite was STILL trying
to achieve.

"Do you accept my challenge, Zoicite? A duel, for the honor of
Princess Amilia. If you win, you may tell the king of my actions, and
I will receive any punishment he chooses. When I win, you will no
longer court the princess."

"IF I win? WHEN you win? You sound very confident. I am a skilled
tactician and swordsman."

"I hear that General Jadeite believed the very same thing. He was your
teacher, was he not? Yet he was bested on Mars by Lord Ares. I'd say
no finer swordsman exists, and he taught me."

"HAH! I call your bluff! Saturn could not have had interaction with
other worlds. This was the first sanctioned allowance of such a
thing!"

"There were no rules about others visiting our planet. Lord Ares was
kind enough to trade supplies after a brief squabble on our world
since we are only two planets apart, and both Jupiter and Neptune
refuse to trade. In exchange for some of my own... talents, he taught
me the mastery of swordplay." he lied. While Ares HAD taught him long
ago, he couldn't let on about his true lineage.

"Very well!  We shall duel here!"

"With no witness aside from the princess herself? Please Zoicite, do
you take me for a fool? This duel will take place at the palace."

"Then let her decide when the battle is won! I WILL duel you here!"
Zoicite said, pulling forth a rapier.

"I was mistaken. It is I who should be taking you for the fool." Lord
Sotanaht muttered, turning the head of his cane with a click, and
drawing out a similar long thin blade. The handle snapped down to be
held safely. No hand-guard was there, and none was needed. "Please
stay back, princess. It's time I taught this rogue a lesson."

Amilia meant to protest the fight, but she could see the anger in both
men's eyes. She couldn't very well stop them even if she wanted to. It
seemed a bit exciting to her to see men fighting over her, but
observing a fight was not something she enjoyed.

------------------------------------------------------------

Uh oh!  Jealousy sparks between rival courtiers!  It's already been
determined that Amilia doesn't like Zoicite all that much, but what if
he wins? Thanatos may have all the time of his existence to practice
sword-fighting, but who says he isn't bluffing? What is Zoicite up to,
insisting on holding the duel in the forest they stood in? What was he
even doing watching them in the first place? All this and more, coming
soon!