wash away those years
Title: Wash Away Those Years
Author: fireflypenance /ashe
Theme: betrayal
Genre: drama
Version: animanga
Rating: PG
Notes: It's my first attempt at a Zoicite fic in a very long time. I hope I did him even a little justice. Also, Michiru is made of win.
Zoicite felt strange as he stood in line. Ami’s call several hours earlier had put a damper on the evening. She was held up at the hospital and would not be able to make it to the concert. He understood her career was important to her, that she had fought many years through her duties as a senshi to even be able to make it this far. He loved her for her dedication, among other things, but he couldn’t help the melancholy that had settled over him despite knowing all of those things.
”Go without me, Zoi. I don’t want to ruin your evening entirely. Don’t wait up for me, though, I’ll definitely be late.”
He wore a long jacket over his suit. He had entertained thoughts of what it would be like to have a pretty girl on his arm tonight, but eventually shook his head at himself. He was pouting like a child, and it wasn’t like him.
He stepped up to the box office, where his tickets were already waiting for him, and gave the name ‘Mizuno’. He had arranged for the tickets, but put them under Ami’s name.
“Ah yes, Mr. Mizuno,” He didn’t physically wince at the incorrect use of his name, but he felt it inside. He wanted Ami to be his wife, if only she could spare a moment to marry him. He was being unfair, and he knew it. “your tickets have been upgraded, at no charge.”
He furrowed his brow. “Why?”
“Courtesty of Miss Kaioh.”
Who? He attempted to keep the question off of his face, and accepted the tickets before stepping back. Ami’s was of no use to him, and he presented only one to the usher as he made his way to his new seats, trying not to think too hard about who this Miss Kaioh was, and why she would care about where he… or more importantly, Ami was going to sit.
His musings were lost, however, in the music, as they always were. His passion for music far surpassed even Ami’s, and she knew that about him. No doubt it was why she’d insisted that he still come tonight, though he would come alone. She had even suggested he call one of her friends to go with him, so he wouldn’t be alone, but he had declined. Of them, he suspected only Rei would be able to sit still that long, and he was still uncomfortable being alone with any of them.
The music ended long before he was ready for it to end. He floated down from the high the music always offered, and found himself calmer, if no less burdened by the absence of his girlfriend. As he rose and turned to leave, he found himself nearly running into an usher, a young man who was obviously working here straight out of high school.
“Excuse me, sir, but are you with the Mizuno party?” he looked nervous.
He was, despite the lack of Miss Mizuno herself. “I am.”
“Come with me, please, sir.”
What could he do but follow? The usher didn’t leave much room for complaint or denial. So he followed the boy backstage, wondering why he was here. The usher stopped before a door and knocked politely, only opening the door when a quiet call of “come in” drifted to their ears. The usher opened the door and stepped aside, motioning Zoicite inside.
He complied. He stepped in, and saw immediately a beautiful woman waiting for him. She turned to look at him, and seemed surprised at something. He recognized her, then, as Sailor Neptune. He hadn’t spoken much to her since his return, but he faintly remembered her name as Michiru. She and Ami were good friends, despite how busy both were.
“Zoicite, it is good to see you, again.” She said simply. She rose to shake his hand, and smiled softly. He was struck by how lovely she actually was. “I admit, I thought Ami would be with you.” She said as she gestured him to sit. She turned to a mini-fridge. “I have cold water, but that’s about it.”
“No thank you.” He replied as he sat. She took a bottle of water out and cracked the top off, taking a sip. She took the seat opposite him and smiled.
“Did you enjoy the show?” she asked politely.
“I did. It was lovely.” He replied. She smiled at his response, so prompt and yet somehow sincere. She took another sip.
“So where is Ami?” she asked.
He glanced away, and realized rather rapidly that he was giving himself away. “She had to work late at the hospital.”
“Ah yes.” Michiru replied. “Ever the dutiful worker, Ami.” She replied. “I’m glad to see you came anyway, though. It’s nice to step away from your loved one sometimes and have a night out by oneself, isn’t it?” That she was referring to Sailor Uranus did slide by Zoicite entirely. The nature of this lovely woman’s relationship was something Zoicite did not entirely understand, but he had no right to speak one way or another about it. Besides, he was too busy being grumpy and pouting—again.
“I wouldn’t know. It seems to be all I experience of late.” He replied, snappish and childish. Michiru looked surprised for a moment before she nodded to herself. “I’m sorry, that was uncalled for,” he said quickly.
She shook her head. “Somehow I suspect not. I also suspect you haven’t spoken to Ami about this, have you?”
He would have squirmed. “No.” he replied simply.
“I thought not.” She took a sip of her water, and a long silence descended around them. “Then perhaps you two are overdue for a conversation.” She spoke up. “Or perhaps not. It isn’t my place to say.”
He bowed his head, with nothing to say. His hand strayed to his pocket, stroking the velvet jewelry box as he often did when his mind wandered these days. Her sea-blue eyes followed the motion, and must have guessed at the contents, but she said nothing.
A knock at the door saved them both from saying anything. Without waiting for so much as a ‘by your leave’, Haruka entered, dressed to the nines in a suit nicer than the one Zoicite was wearing. She produced a dozen white lilies before she noticed Zoicite. Her expression darkened slight, out of mistrust more than anything. Michiru pretended not to notice as she accepted the flowers and brushed a kiss across her lover’s cheek.
“Zoicite,” Haruka greeted in a very neutral voice.
“Haruka.” Came the reply. Zoicite rose, feeling slightly off-put.
“Zoicite came to see tonight’s show as well.” Michiru explained. “I had expected Ami to be with him.”
Haruka looked nearly ready to ask exactly where Ami was, but Michiru cut her off before she could speak. “It was lovely talking to you Zoicite, but I must cut things short.” She smiled. He nodded and turned to leave, but she caught his arm. “Remember what I said, Zoicite. Ami is a reasonable person. She would rather know what you’re feeling than not.”
He paused, nodded, but said nothing before he left. Just before the door closed, he heard Haruka’s indignant voice saying: “I don’t like any of them,” and then Michiru’s hushed reply: “Their betrayal was a long time ago, Haruka. They deserve a second chance, like any other.”
The door closed with a click.
That was what it came down to, wasn’t it? The betrayal of another life, something he wasn’t even entirely responsible for… it colored his entire life, now. Haruka was only the one who spoke aloud of it. He had seen the fear in Ami’s eyes, sometimes. He wondered if that was why she worked late so often. Was she afraid to get attached, afraid he was going to turn coat at any time?
What could he do to prove otherwise? It seemed all he did was repaid with fear and suspicion. Only Mamoru showed the shintennou utter trust.
It was a long time before he found his way home. Hours, in fact. He wasn’t sure where he went, or what he did, just that he spent a great deal of time wondering what he could do to prove himself to everyone… to Ami. It took a long time for him to decide that he had nothing to prove; he was far from the only one to ever be fooled by the enemy, why was he still struggling to erase the same sins?
When he finally used his key to unlock the front door of their home he found Ami waiting in the living room, concerned tattooed across every inch of her. When he appeared, she threw her arms around him, so glad he was alright that all of her fears faded away. No, not all of them.
“Ami,” he caught her by the upper arms, stilling her. “I think we need to talk.”
She wouldn’t be happy to hear what he had to say, but he needed to say it all. If she couldn’t move past what he had done, then as much as it would hurt, he would have to leave her. It wasn’t healthy for him, or for her, to live like this.
Author: fireflypenance /ashe
Theme: betrayal
Genre: drama
Version: animanga
Rating: PG
Notes: It's my first attempt at a Zoicite fic in a very long time. I hope I did him even a little justice. Also, Michiru is made of win.
Zoicite felt strange as he stood in line. Ami’s call several hours earlier had put a damper on the evening. She was held up at the hospital and would not be able to make it to the concert. He understood her career was important to her, that she had fought many years through her duties as a senshi to even be able to make it this far. He loved her for her dedication, among other things, but he couldn’t help the melancholy that had settled over him despite knowing all of those things.
”Go without me, Zoi. I don’t want to ruin your evening entirely. Don’t wait up for me, though, I’ll definitely be late.”
He wore a long jacket over his suit. He had entertained thoughts of what it would be like to have a pretty girl on his arm tonight, but eventually shook his head at himself. He was pouting like a child, and it wasn’t like him.
He stepped up to the box office, where his tickets were already waiting for him, and gave the name ‘Mizuno’. He had arranged for the tickets, but put them under Ami’s name.
“Ah yes, Mr. Mizuno,” He didn’t physically wince at the incorrect use of his name, but he felt it inside. He wanted Ami to be his wife, if only she could spare a moment to marry him. He was being unfair, and he knew it. “your tickets have been upgraded, at no charge.”
He furrowed his brow. “Why?”
“Courtesty of Miss Kaioh.”
Who? He attempted to keep the question off of his face, and accepted the tickets before stepping back. Ami’s was of no use to him, and he presented only one to the usher as he made his way to his new seats, trying not to think too hard about who this Miss Kaioh was, and why she would care about where he… or more importantly, Ami was going to sit.
His musings were lost, however, in the music, as they always were. His passion for music far surpassed even Ami’s, and she knew that about him. No doubt it was why she’d insisted that he still come tonight, though he would come alone. She had even suggested he call one of her friends to go with him, so he wouldn’t be alone, but he had declined. Of them, he suspected only Rei would be able to sit still that long, and he was still uncomfortable being alone with any of them.
The music ended long before he was ready for it to end. He floated down from the high the music always offered, and found himself calmer, if no less burdened by the absence of his girlfriend. As he rose and turned to leave, he found himself nearly running into an usher, a young man who was obviously working here straight out of high school.
“Excuse me, sir, but are you with the Mizuno party?” he looked nervous.
He was, despite the lack of Miss Mizuno herself. “I am.”
“Come with me, please, sir.”
What could he do but follow? The usher didn’t leave much room for complaint or denial. So he followed the boy backstage, wondering why he was here. The usher stopped before a door and knocked politely, only opening the door when a quiet call of “come in” drifted to their ears. The usher opened the door and stepped aside, motioning Zoicite inside.
He complied. He stepped in, and saw immediately a beautiful woman waiting for him. She turned to look at him, and seemed surprised at something. He recognized her, then, as Sailor Neptune. He hadn’t spoken much to her since his return, but he faintly remembered her name as Michiru. She and Ami were good friends, despite how busy both were.
“Zoicite, it is good to see you, again.” She said simply. She rose to shake his hand, and smiled softly. He was struck by how lovely she actually was. “I admit, I thought Ami would be with you.” She said as she gestured him to sit. She turned to a mini-fridge. “I have cold water, but that’s about it.”
“No thank you.” He replied as he sat. She took a bottle of water out and cracked the top off, taking a sip. She took the seat opposite him and smiled.
“Did you enjoy the show?” she asked politely.
“I did. It was lovely.” He replied. She smiled at his response, so prompt and yet somehow sincere. She took another sip.
“So where is Ami?” she asked.
He glanced away, and realized rather rapidly that he was giving himself away. “She had to work late at the hospital.”
“Ah yes.” Michiru replied. “Ever the dutiful worker, Ami.” She replied. “I’m glad to see you came anyway, though. It’s nice to step away from your loved one sometimes and have a night out by oneself, isn’t it?” That she was referring to Sailor Uranus did slide by Zoicite entirely. The nature of this lovely woman’s relationship was something Zoicite did not entirely understand, but he had no right to speak one way or another about it. Besides, he was too busy being grumpy and pouting—again.
“I wouldn’t know. It seems to be all I experience of late.” He replied, snappish and childish. Michiru looked surprised for a moment before she nodded to herself. “I’m sorry, that was uncalled for,” he said quickly.
She shook her head. “Somehow I suspect not. I also suspect you haven’t spoken to Ami about this, have you?”
He would have squirmed. “No.” he replied simply.
“I thought not.” She took a sip of her water, and a long silence descended around them. “Then perhaps you two are overdue for a conversation.” She spoke up. “Or perhaps not. It isn’t my place to say.”
He bowed his head, with nothing to say. His hand strayed to his pocket, stroking the velvet jewelry box as he often did when his mind wandered these days. Her sea-blue eyes followed the motion, and must have guessed at the contents, but she said nothing.
A knock at the door saved them both from saying anything. Without waiting for so much as a ‘by your leave’, Haruka entered, dressed to the nines in a suit nicer than the one Zoicite was wearing. She produced a dozen white lilies before she noticed Zoicite. Her expression darkened slight, out of mistrust more than anything. Michiru pretended not to notice as she accepted the flowers and brushed a kiss across her lover’s cheek.
“Zoicite,” Haruka greeted in a very neutral voice.
“Haruka.” Came the reply. Zoicite rose, feeling slightly off-put.
“Zoicite came to see tonight’s show as well.” Michiru explained. “I had expected Ami to be with him.”
Haruka looked nearly ready to ask exactly where Ami was, but Michiru cut her off before she could speak. “It was lovely talking to you Zoicite, but I must cut things short.” She smiled. He nodded and turned to leave, but she caught his arm. “Remember what I said, Zoicite. Ami is a reasonable person. She would rather know what you’re feeling than not.”
He paused, nodded, but said nothing before he left. Just before the door closed, he heard Haruka’s indignant voice saying: “I don’t like any of them,” and then Michiru’s hushed reply: “Their betrayal was a long time ago, Haruka. They deserve a second chance, like any other.”
The door closed with a click.
That was what it came down to, wasn’t it? The betrayal of another life, something he wasn’t even entirely responsible for… it colored his entire life, now. Haruka was only the one who spoke aloud of it. He had seen the fear in Ami’s eyes, sometimes. He wondered if that was why she worked late so often. Was she afraid to get attached, afraid he was going to turn coat at any time?
What could he do to prove otherwise? It seemed all he did was repaid with fear and suspicion. Only Mamoru showed the shintennou utter trust.
It was a long time before he found his way home. Hours, in fact. He wasn’t sure where he went, or what he did, just that he spent a great deal of time wondering what he could do to prove himself to everyone… to Ami. It took a long time for him to decide that he had nothing to prove; he was far from the only one to ever be fooled by the enemy, why was he still struggling to erase the same sins?
When he finally used his key to unlock the front door of their home he found Ami waiting in the living room, concerned tattooed across every inch of her. When he appeared, she threw her arms around him, so glad he was alright that all of her fears faded away. No, not all of them.
“Ami,” he caught her by the upper arms, stilling her. “I think we need to talk.”
She wouldn’t be happy to hear what he had to say, but he needed to say it all. If she couldn’t move past what he had done, then as much as it would hurt, he would have to leave her. It wasn’t healthy for him, or for her, to live like this.