"Friends, and maybe more"
	A fanfic by Sara Jaye

Here's something I came up with early this morning. It's from 
Nephrite's point of view, about his relationship with Jadeite. This 
contains a bit of shounen ai, so if that kind of stuff bothers or 
offends you, don't read on. Otherwise, enjoy! ^_^

[Disclaimers: Sailor Moon is the property of Naoko Takeuchi and Toei 
animation. None of the characters belong to me. This fanfic is shounen 
ai, so if that kind of thing bothers you or isn't your speed, you may 
want to close the window. :P But if not, enjoy! ^^]

				~

	I lay on my bed, gazing out at the night sky. The stars sure 
are pretty. It's strange...even when I'm not using them as part of my 
plan against the Sailor Senshi, I enjoy looking at them. Maybe I should 
have had a career in astronomy, or astrology. I laughed a little, then 
sighed. I thought about my conversation with Beryl-sama earlier. And 
for some reason, Jadeite. The guy who took the blame for my failure. 
"Why?" I ask myself aloud. "Why would he get himself punished for 
something I did?" Was he a masochist who simply enjoyed punishment? Or 
was there a more emotional reason? "Who knows," I mumbled. Just then, I 
heard a knock. "Come in," I said, almost expecting it to be Zoisite. 
Just as I was preparing a nasty remark, the door opened. "Can I ask you 
something?" It wasn't Zoisite.
	"Jadeite." I looked at him. He seemed almost troubled. "Sure," 
I said, "come sit down." I sat up on the edge of my bed as he sat down 
in a chair next to me. "What is it?" I asked. "Have you ever thought 
you knew someone, then all of a sudden...they did something you never 
expected, and you wonder if you've been wrong about them the whole 
time?" I blinked. How did he know what I was thinking? "Well, yes...
actually, I have." "Oh?" He looked at me. "Yes. I remember, one time I 
had this important task to complete, and failed miserably. A comerade 
of mine was there at the time, and just as I was about to be punished 
for the failure, he took the blame. Even though he had no part in it to 
begin with. I always thought this comerade of mine to be...well, 
thick-headed, almost selfish about these things," I told him. He 
nodded, then looked somewhat troubled. I began to wonder if that 
question was the real reason he came here. "I see," he said quietly. 
The next few minutes were filled with an awkward silence. Then he got 
up, crossed the room, and did something even more unexpected.
	"I'm sorry," he choked, flinging his arms around my chest and 
burying his face in my shoulder. I nearly jumped back. "Wh-why?" I 
could barely get out. "Well...the thing is...I-I'm the reason you 
failed. I set you up...I-I'm so sorry, Nephrite-sama," he mumbled, his 
shoulders shaking. I was shocked. I couldn't do anything except wrap my 
arms around him and stroke his hair. He framed me? I didn't know 
whether to be angry at him or feel sorry for him. So that's why he took 
the blame. "Why?" I asked again. He looked up at me with teary 
cadet-blue eyes. "Well...to be honest, I've always envied you. You're 
so intelligent, so competent...I always wished I was more like you, yet 
I-I'm just...dumb," he answered, his arms still wrapped tightly around 
my chest. "I-I always looked up to you, like an older brother..." I 
looked at him for a moment, a bit angry. He was almost like Zoisite in 
a way-very devious. But unlike Zoi, he didn't do it out of rivalry. I 
was right...this was an emotional reason all right. He looked down 
again, his eyes filled with shame. "I'm sorry," he cried once more. I 
suddenly felt a warm compassion for him, an affinity. I smiled a 
little.
	"I forgive you," I told him. He looked up, still avoiding my 
gaze, his grip on me loosening. "Y-you do?" he asked. I simply nodded. 
"Why?" Now it was his turn to ask. I sighed. "Well...I am annoyed with 
you, for being so underhanded, but...I admire your honesty. And I'm a 
bit flattered that you envy me," I said. "Really?" He looked at me, 
smiling a bit. "Yeah..." He embraced me again. "Thank you," he 
whispered. I smiled. "Any time, Jadeite-kun," I answered. He then let 
go of me and stood up, straightening his uniform. "Well...I better head 
off to bed now," he said. I nodded. "Yeah." He walked to the door, then 
whispered, "Goodnight, Nephrite-sama." Then he did something that was 
the biggest shock to me yet tonight.
	He blew me a kiss. I didn't know what to think for a moment, 
then shrugged and blew one back. Then we both laughed.
	"This'll be our secret," he said. I nodded. "Yeah. But even so, 
it's not like Zoisite and Kunzite will think less of us," I laughed. We 
shook hands, then he walked down the hall to his room. I smiled, then 
lay back down in my bed. Jade wasn't such an idiot after all, I 
thought. He was a damn good friend...and maybe more.

				~End~