Author's Notes: This story is actually just my way of passing the time and putting off doing my homework. It's not that wonderful, but if you're in the mood for mush... It's a Zoisite/Ami pairing, so you can't go wrong!

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Ami -- my dear, sweet Ami. For many long and torturous years, my heart has cried out for you from the deep, dark depths of a prison of my own making. You have haunted my every thought, my every dream, and on more than one occasion I have found myself reaching out for you so that I might drink of your lips, much as a parched desert wanderer who has suddenly happened upon a life-saving oasis might reach toward a sparkling pool of water, only to find that you are little more than a memory -- a mirage...

And now, there you are, perched elegantly on the edge of one of the many intricately designed fountains scattered throughout the palace gardens, and I wonder at the possibility that this time you might actually be real¼ Oh! -- what wouldn't I give to touch you once more? To replace the pale moonlight currently bathing your soft skin with my own protective embrace? And yet, I keep my distance, fear limiting this unworthy vessel to the position of a simple observer.

Now that I have been freed from my stone prison, there is no way I can deny myself the sight of you, but I am loath to make my presence known. I am loath to force memories of our final encounters to the surface of your mind. King Endymion tells me that the senshi have few recollections of the Silver Millennium and none regarding past loves; I imagine you are better off that way.

I would spare you the agony of remembering your final hours, if I can.

I only wish I could forget them... Or perhaps my too vivid memories of that fateful night might serve as starting point down the road to atoning for my sins; God knows how I've suffered knowing that it was my by my own had that the life of the one most precious to me was snuffed out. If only I had placed more faith in my prince, and in our love! If only had had been stronger! If I had been the kind of man you deserved, I would have committed seppuku before allowing that vile witch who dared call herself queen use my doubts and uncertainties to turn me into a slave to violence and villainy...

As much as my heart yearns for you, I will not deign to dirty you with my bloodstained hands... So I tell myself, at any rate, but temptation is a cruel mistress.

I should go...

As I turn to leave, I am rudely awakened to the fact that the duration spent inside a rock caused a good deal of deterioration in my stealth abilities. I end up knocking over a small statue, which had been resting on a pedestal on the edge of the stone path.

Oops.

I prepare to flee the scene, but the sound of her voice, so melodious and fair, stops me in my tracks: "Hello? Is someone there?" Should I respond? Do I dare? My heart is pounding relentlessly against my ribcage, and I am reminded of the night I first declared my love for you; like now, my palms were sweaty, my knees were shaking, and even as I attempted to pep-talk myself into facing her the desire to turn tail and run was practically overpowering.

Zoisite, I ask myself, how is it that a powerful warrior-king like yourself can be so utterly prospect of facing a mere slip of a girl?

"Hello?" Her voice is closer. She'll be upon me soon. I suppose it's too late to make an easy getaway.

I brace myself, and open my mouth to call out a response I hope won't draw any suspicion. "I am here, my Lady," I say, turning back around just as my beloved turns the corner. She is mere feet away from me, and the urge to take her in my arms and make her mine once more is difficult to ignore. It appears keeping a proverbial "wall" between the two of us will be more challenging for me than anticipated... "My apologies if I frightened you with my clumsiness. I am not always the most graceful of men."

Her gaze is curious, but unsuspicious, and her lips have turned up in the corners in an amused little smile. Absently, I wonder if those pink petals are as sweet and yielding as they once were... No! Naughty thoughts! Naughty thoughts!

"I understand how that goes. I have a friend who was once a terrible klutz; she has long since grown out of the habit of tripping over her own feet, but (much to her chagrin) she still ‘klutz's out' on occasion," my princess murmurs, laughter evident in her tone.

"I think I should like to meet this friend of yours," I reply. "Perhaps we could compare notes on our more mortifying experiences."

"I think you have already met her...Zoisite-sama."

I am stunned. She remembers me? But how can that be? Endymion assured us that the senshi would not recognize us, for they had nearly as few clear memories of the time before the "Big Freeze" (as Jadeite jokingly put it). Their memories are supposedly little more than barely comprehendible dreams with names but no faces...

"You didn't think I wouldn't recognize you if I saw you, did you? You didn't think I would recognize my own murderer? "

Murderer. The word echoes through my mind, fueling my guilt and despair. Yes; I am a murderer. A monster. I deserve her everlasting hatred. If she were to ask it of me, I would cast myself into the flames of hell for an eternity of torment...

"Ami-ch-- " I cut myself off, and hastily correct myself; the privilege to address my love with familiarity is no longer my right. "Ami-sama, you have every right to hate me as you do-- "

"I don't hate you."

I blink. Did I hear that right?

"Wh-what?" I stammer.

"You heard me," she replies, her gaze capturing mine. What was that familiar emotion shimmering in her eyes? "I could never hate you. You are an integral part of me. You are the other half of my soul, and without you I am incomplete."

"B-but you said it yourself: I am your murderer! How could you possibly feel anything but disgust and abhorrence for a traitor like myself? I am unworthy of you!"

There was fury in her eyes now; absolute, undiluted fury. "Who are you to decide who is worthy of me, and who is not? I gave my heart to you long ago, and my heart has remained true, even as you ran me through with your sword. I knew then, as I know now, that you would never have harmed me of your own free will. I forgave you the moment I realized your betrayal, laying in a pool of my own blood, and I told you so. Do you not remember?"

I remember. As possessed by malice and evil as I was, it had still disturbed me to hear her gurgling breaths as blood filled her lungs. Reluctant to leave, I had remained beside her 'til death stole her away, and heard those four words uttered with her last breathe: "I still love you." The words had meant little to me in my brainwashed state, but they had been the cause of much anguish during the past few centuries of my seclusion. I would have found her death more bearable, I think, if she had hated me (as I hate myself) in the end...

"You said you still loved me."

"I meant it. I loved you then, I love you now, and I will always love you," she said. "And you know what bothers me the most, Zoisite-sama? The fact that you won't let me love you. I doubt they told you, but Endymion-sama and Serenity-sama have been keeping us senshi up to date on their progress in releasing you from those stones as well as your voiced intentions regarding what you would do once you were free. They told me that you wished to put as much distance between us as possible. Tell me, my love, why would you want to do something so foolish, when we could be together as we were meant to be? Your fellow Shitennou aren‘t behaving like idiots!"

Funny, I don't recall my Ami-chan ever behaving so...passionately. Or perhaps not so very funny. She was already chipping at my walls, and something in the way she was looking at me told me she wasn‘t even trying...yet.

"If you recall," I ground out, "my fellow Shitennou didn't kill the ones they love."

Her expression was hard and unmoving. "No, they didn't. But they did kill people they knew and respected. It troubles them, I'm sure, but they do have the good sense to stop living in the past, and take advantage of this opportunity to start anew. Won't you do the same? If not for yourself, then for me?"

"I'm unworthy of you," I said weakly. I was loosing the battle. There was no denying that I wanted ¾ no, needed her...

"Like I said, I'll be the judge of that," she said with a triumphant smile. It seemed she knew the battle was nearing the end, and unless I beat a hasty retreat I would not be coming out on top. Come to think of it, the number of times I had managed to win against the lovely senshi of Mercury could be counted on one hand with fingers to spare...

Suddenly, before I could convince myself to slip away before it was too late, Ami's arms were around me, pulling me toward her.

When her lips met mine, I knew only bliss. How long had I fantasized about kissing her like this once more? Too long... Her kiss was sweet and chaste, but it held a promise of forever. A promise I returned -- along with an additional promise: never again would I allow myself to be manipulated. I would make any sacrifice to see that my dearest Ami was safe and well and, above all, happy.

Ami had deemed me worthy. I would try live up to that expectation; may I know an eternitiy of aungish if I didn't.