Until You

Tonight celebration wasn�ft going as well as the princess�fs guardians had planned because of the absent of Lita and Nephrite. Lita had told them that she wasn�ft feeling very well and Nephrite had vanished without and trace, which had troubled the prince and his guardians. They could feel the tense that was building in the enormous room.

�gWhere do you think Neph had gone to?�h Jadeite frowned as he looked at Kunzite that he had dragged from the living room to the kitchen. He was so worried of Nephrite that he knew something was very wrong when he saw Lita went out from their penthouse with an expression that he couldn�ft described. He thought that Nephrite and Lita was fighting and when he learned of Nephrite�fs sudden disappearance and Lita�fs declination to come to the party, he realized there was more than that.

�gI don�ft know but why would you be so worried? He�fs one the greatest generals Earth Kingdom had ever had and he can take care of himself.�h Kunzite reasoned.

�gI don�ft give a damn about the back street bandits but our enemy now is Ian!�h Jadeite said in frustrated voice at his leader ignorance. �gYou know how hatred Ian felt for Nephrite in our past life and now he was more powerful than ever, I doubt that Nephrite can win against Ian alone.�h

Kunzite looked at Jadeite thoughtfully. Ian hated every guardian of Prince Endymion but Kunzite was well aware of Ian hatred for Nephrite and he had an uneasy feeling that Ian�fs extra hatred for Nephrite was because of Lady Jupiter, who obviously had two men fighting for her but in absolutely different side of belief. Slowly his ignorance turned into quiet alarm. He knew if something happened to Nephrite, he couldn�ft forgive Lita and especially Ian.

�gWhat will we do?�h Jadeite said crossing his powerful muscular hands over his broad chest.

�gThere�fs nothing we can do now,�h Kunzite looked out the window. �gBut if Nephrite didn�ft come home by tomorrow afternoon, we�fll start the search.�h

* * * * * *

Lita walked blindly down the street of her neighborhood. Her mind wasn�ft at what she was doing right now, but at the memories of she and Nephrite that made her ache in longing for him. Suddenly, when her mind came back to her body, Lita realized that she had been walking towards the nearby cliff. The wind blew strong and she impulsively untied the loose knot of her hair. Her luxurious wavy hair caught in the wind and flew wildly across her sad face and curvy shoulders.

Not far from her, a shiny black Porsche parked and a man lay on its bonnet, looking and worshiped the stars above him. Lita had not been aware of the man but the man was alertly aware of her. Nephrite was surprised to see her there and at the sight of thick mass of her hair waved, untamed did something crazy to his heart and to his desire. She was so exquisite, so fragile and so unbearably desirable. All his anger vanished in the mere sight of her. Sometimes he wondered how could a woman have this much effect to him?

He watched Lita took a step closer to the brink of the cliff. On a split second he thought that Lita was going to commit suicide and at the thought of that made him moved closer to her but still unwilling to acknowledge his appearance. Her head bowed, uncaring about her blown hair, the eerie surrounding, how dangerously her feet were standing and the possessive gaze that was devouring her.

Unexpectedly, the wind caught Lita by surprise when the shawl that was laid around her shoulders flew. Lita tried to catch it back and by doing that, she lost her balance and started to fall down the cliff. Nephrite saw this.

�gBy stars! Lita!�h He lurched forwards and caught her slim waist before the darkness of abyss consumed her. Then he rolled them on the ground to take them further from the cliff.

Lita�fs breath was fast and her eyes were widened in fear, realizing the close call. When she looked above to her saver that protectively held her in his powerful arms, she saw no one else except Nephrite. His eyes met hers and Lita could see the emotion that was playing in his freezing blue eyes. She saw anger, relief, desire and yes, love.

�gWhat�fs the hell are you trying to do? Kill yourself?�h he enraged and Lita could feel his embrace tightened.

�gI was trying to catch my shawl back,�h she whispered, unable to match his manly power. He was everything that a woman would carve for and she loved him exactly the way he was, strong physically and mentally, loving and caring and full of pride and ego that she couldn�ft match.

�gNever ever do that again!�h He hissed. �gYou lost one shawl, I�fll buy ten shawls for you, got that?�h

�gAnd a bungalow too?�h she teased him softly, referring to their earlier conversation when he gave an emerald pendant.

Nephrite looked deeply into her brilliant eyes and his freezing ones softened. �gI�fll even buy you a palace, if that will make you happy.�h They still in each other arms, lying on the ground and whispering words like long time lovers.

�gI don�ft need that,�h Lita whispered back. �gJust being with you make very happy.�h

Nephrite couldn�ft help himself. After the long rides and hours being angry and regret, just hearing her saying that made him lost all the anger to flame to her. He just wanted to kiss her and thanked her for being in his life.

Lita knew what he wanted to do, so she tipped up her lips, offering hers to him. His lips touched hers. The spark of his touches shot through her body and alerted all her senses and suddenly, Lita felt she was home. She was home. Nephrite was all she ever wanted, love, security and happiness. She smelled the familiar flavor of his fresh breath, she savored the touch of his smooth and soft lips and she experience the feel of his possessive touch. Suddenly, a lump formed in Lita�fs throat. She loved him so much that she wanted so badly to make him happy. There was no way for her to reveal her secrets.

As Nephrite lost himself in their kiss, he could feel her need to please him but she needn�ft to do that because by merely being in his arms, she had made her happy beyond he could imagine. Slowly, he lifted his mouth from hers and waited for their breath to become normal once again. There was so much he wanted to ask and he would demand for answers. No matter how reluctant she was to trust him, he would insist. As a successful businessman, Nephrite hadn�ft took no as an answer and he wouldn�ft want to start now.

Lita sat up and hastily trying to tame her wild hair. After a few second of silent, Nephrite his mouth to break the stillness. �gLita, I want to know what�fs you been hiding.�h

Lita squirmed uneasily.

Nephrite bit his lips to strain his frustration. Tentatively, he put his index finger under her chin and pushed her face to meet his. �gTell me.�h Lita heard the two domination words and suddenly she realized that she didn�ft need to protect him. He was all the power and strength and it was she who needed to be protected. Lita knew she couldn�ft hold it back any longer. She needed his strength to face this illness.

She looked deeply into his eyes and her hands slid up and curled around his neck, burying her face into his neck. �gThat day when you asked me about the medical check up result, I�cI told you that I was tired.�h

Lita could feel the tense in his body and she tightened her embrace as she continued to speak. �gI�cI lied,�h Lita whispered guiltily. Nephrite took a deep breath and closed his eyes in quiet anger. It hurt very much to know that Lita lied to him. However, he pulled her closer into his arms.

Lita could feel his strength flew into her and it encouraged her to resume. �gThe doctor said that I�cI have�c�h Lita swallowed hard. How could she told him when she still couldn�ft accept the awful fact?

�gTell me,�h he commanded softly but firmly.

�gBrain tumor.�h The words were hardly a whisper but to Nephrite it felt like shouting. He felt that fate was mocking at him and then threatened to take the only reason he had to live away. He tightened his hug, daring the fate to take her away. He would fight for everything it took to defend her and he would be damn if fate take her away from him.

Lita was crushing against his solid chest but she care less of the pressure he put her into. All she felt was his pain and hers, his anger and his regret. He was hurting and it hurt Lita too. �gPlease�c�h his word poured into her like poison. �gPlease don�ft tell me this�c�h

Tears fell, drenching her cheeks and his neck. She couldn�ft bear this anymore. �gShush�cdarling,�h Lita pulled away from his arms and started to shower her soft kisses to his temple, down to his cheek and finally his lips. �gPlease stop this�cI can�ft take it.�h

Nephrite groaned and he pulled her close to his heart as if wanting to show her his broken heart. The night was so still as the two of them offering each other comfort and power. He had never expected her to have the deadly illness. If somebody should suffer, it was he. He was the one who betrayed his prince and his kingdom. He was the one who compromised with their enemies. He was the one who made Lita cried. Fate had punished the sins that he had committed to Lita. It wasn�ft fair. Nephrite held her so close as if wanted to absorb her into his body and shared her pains.

�gAre you hurting?�h he asked concernedly. Lita curved up a small smile that had brightened her dark face as she shook her head slowly. �gNow I�fm not. But sometimes the pain shoot my head so suddenly that it hurts so much.�h

�gHave you seen the doctor for any further treatment?�h Nephrite brushed the soft tendrils of her hair that framed her pale face, his heart bursting with love and admired for her courage. No matter how much money that it took or no matter where he had to bring her, he would try to save her.

�gRight now I have pills to reduce my headache. I don�ft take them often but lately the pains attack so repeatedly that now even the pills didn�ft help much.�h Lita transferred all her problems to his powerful shoulder. She felt lighter and more confident to face her illness. She looked up to watch his face and saw Nephrite closed his and his jaw tensed until she could see the muscle moving.

Gently, Lita placed her hand onto his rigid jaw, silently impressed by the feel of his hard muscle. �gOpen your eyes, Nephrite.�h When the pair of sapphire eyes appeared, Lita gave him a smile to assure him. �gIf you hold me when I�fm in pain, I know you have taken some of the pain away.�h

Her words scalded his heart and Nephrite buried his tormented face into her curvy shoulder. �gHow I love you�c�h

* * * * * *

Author�fs Note

Finally! Lita had told Nephrite her illness. What do you think about it?