Shadow Hound

by Serenade

Part 2: SWORDS

Zoisite wondered if he was going to survive the week.

In the three days since Queen Beryl had assigned him to Kunzite - or the other way around - he had been trailing the senior general like a shadow as he made his rounds of the Dark Kingdom. They had drilled the troops, inspected the defences, and made other preparations for war. And in all that time, Kunzite had never ceased to act like he'd rather be somewhere else. He'd rebuffed all attempts at conversation, only speaking to give curt orders or explanations.

Which was a shame. Kunzite was an intriguing character, and Zoisite wanted to get to know him better. But Beryl's first general seemed to have no time for camaraderie or friendship. As far as he could tell, Kunzite was totally devoted to his job. And to his queen. Idly, Zoisite wondered if the scandalous rumours about Kunzite and Beryl were true.

For some reason, he didn't like the idea.

He passed beneath the archway into the training grounds. Kunzite was already there, his lean form pacing back and forth. Zoisite couldn't help but admire the striking image he cast. Handsome as sin, and twice as arrogant, with a face like a marble angel and a heart of stone to match. He wore his dark uniform with style, as though it had been fitted to every line of his body. Well, he was the first of the generals; it probably had been.

"You took your time getting here." Kunzite raked his eyes over Zoisite. "It shouldn't take you that long to get dressed."

Zoisite flushed. "I'm sorry, Lord Kunzite." He was aware that he had spent extra minutes brushing his hair this morning. He'd been taking greater care with his appearance lately, in order to... to do what? Impress Kunzite? Kunzite didn't look too impressed.

"Don't let it happen again. Have you been practising your swordsmanship as I instructed?"

"Yes, I have." He didn't want a repeat of last time, when 'I want to see how good you are with a blade' Kunzite had demolished him without much effort.

"Well, let's see if you've improved at all." He gathered up the two crystal blades leaning against the wall and passed one to Zoisite. Then they stood facing each other, weapons ready. "Defend yourself!"

And that was all Zoisite had the chance to do, as the other man launched his attack. Kunzite was like a whirlwind, his blade moving so rapidly that Zoisite could barely parry in time. I'm sure glad he's on our side. I wouldn't want to have to face him in battle.

Aware of Kunzite's superiority, Zoisite had set out to learn a few tricks of his own. In addition to combing the fencing texts, he'd managed to persuade Jadeite, the most approachable of the generals, to show him a couple of new moves.

A feint here, a little manoeuvring there, and suddenly Kunzite's blade was in a bind, pinned to one side by Zoisite's own. As Kunzite attempted to slide his blade free, Zoisite grinned in satisfaction. "Better than you thought I'd be?"

Kunzite regarded him placidly. "Not bad. But not quite good enough. Who do you think taught Jadeite that trick?" And he twisted his blade so that Zoisite's weapon was torn loose from his grip, landing in the dust several feet away. Zoisite fell back as Kunzite lunged towards him, knocking him down. He ended up flat on the ground, with Kunzite kneeling on top of him, the edge of his blade pressed against Zoisite's throat.

Zoisite lay gasping for breath, trying to absorb what had happened. Kunzite was also breathing heavily, but he was actually smiling, a rare genuine smile. His face was alight with pleasure, and it made him seem younger. He looked like some warrior god out of myth, with the sheen of battle on his skin. Zoisite found himself smiling back, his heart beginning to pound in an unexpected way.

The moment held for a brief, wordless space. Then a disquieted expression flitted across Kunzite's face, too rapid to be properly deciphered. He moved the blade aside and abruptly stood. "I think that's enough practice for today." The smile was gone, replaced by the dispassionate mask.

Zoisite could only nod as he gathered himself up. For some reason he didn't trust himself to speak. That one instant - that moment of rapport - but Kunzite was already walking away, and Zoisite had no idea what he wanted to say anyway.

Except - well, except -

I want to see you smile again, Kunzite.

continued in Part 3: WEBS