To no A-Veil

Author: vipaka

Rated: PG13

Lifting the viel off her face, she opened the door when the soft knock came.

"I wasn't expecting you!" She smiled, radient the way only a bride can be. Her hair was bound by a net of rubies and string, red and gold painted across her skin. Eyes thick with charcoal and lips red with paint, she looked every bit the Martian bride in her wedding dress.

"I came to give you your wedding gift," Kunzite held out a small sachel, tied with a thin silver ribbon.

She scoffed, taking it from him nevertheless. "You didn't have to..." unwinding the ribbon she pulled a small bird from within, her eyes misting at the sight. "How did you know?" It hopped up her arm as she marvelled at the tiny creature.

"We Shittenou were never bound to earth prince like you senshi were to the moon princess. We were allowed to travel to many worlds...and Mars happened to be one of those worlds for me. I heard about the loss of your other ravens, I thought this might cheer you up."

"Its perfect," she wrapped her arms around him, smiling through her tears. The bird flew to her dresser at the sudden movement "I can't wait til he is old enough to commune."

"I'm glad you like it." Hearing the sound of music from the next room over, Kunzite shifted his weight. "Congratulations." He turned to leave.

Alone again, Rei turned back to the bird. To her surprise what she found was no longer a small chick but the dead corpse of Deimos. Holding a hand to her mouth to quell her immediate urge to vomit, she turned from the sight, only to notice the movement in her vanity mirror a moment too late.

Kunzite lunged from the shadows, bludgeoning Rei over the head with the hilt of his sword. Caught off gaurd by the sheer force of his blow, she fell like a wilting flower to the floor, her skirts a haphazard mess of lace and blood. With a satisfied smirk, Kunzite turned to leave.

He only made it one step before excruciating pain bit into his abdomen and he lost his grip on his sword. Looking down he found the end of a shining sword protroding, drenched in his blood. His pain distracted him a moment before he recognized the scent of perfume from behind him.

"You," he gurgled, unflinching despite the fatal wound. "I thought it might be you who killed me." He spat a mouthful of blood onto Rei's prone form.

"How could you?" Minako whispered, her grip on the sword trembling. "She was going to marry your brother in arms, this was suppose to be a union between our kingdoms." Ripping the blade from his back she raised it to the back of his head. Her emotions were raw in her voice. "You told me you loved me," she choked, her blade perfectly steady again as she levelled it with his neck.

His smile was cruel, and she saw it in his reflection on the mirror. "I lied."

With a vicious scream she swung the sword, cleaving his head from his torso.