Chapter 1
The night was pleasant and refreshing for a summer evening. The breeze was bringing into the main ball room the smell of wild flowers from the gardens. Through the large open windows one could contemplate the silhouettes of exotic trees onto the star filled sky. Inside, the moon was casting mysterious shadows fighting with the light of hundreds of candles that adorned the art-nouveau hall.
The stage was set but the performers were missing. That was the night the Star Lights were making their comeback and through some twisted desire of fate, the party was hosted by the outer senshi at their mansion. Actually fate was not exactly what determined the outers to throw this press invading party that drew in public figures and socialites like a flock of moths to a burning light, it was a lot less complicated, and it was called Usaghi.
Three days earlier
Haruka was enjoying her new house. The gardens were beautiful and the garage spacious enough to house all of her motorized toys. They had moved there a month ago in a desperate attempt to get away from the crazy life of the city. Hotaru was attending a private school nearby, Michiru had enough space to practice her music and Setsuna was in and out of the mansion always checking on the time gate. As for Haruka, she didn't care much where the house was located: she had her ways to get around great distances in record time -and not always the most legal ones-.
The morning didn't seem any different than many others, that is until Haruka entered the house after her morning run through the gardens and heard Michiru talking on the phone. She looked agitated and excited at the same time, and though Haruka could hear parts of the conversation the main idea eluded her.
"Oh really ?... Are you serious? … When do they arrive? ...
Today… I see … That's great … I can't…"
Michiru continued her conversation and Haruka walked passed her, towards her rooms in need of a good shower. She smiled at Michiru and left her captivated by the mysterious call.
When she came back downstairs, rushing into the kitchen to get her beloved espresso she found Hotaru, Setsuna and Michiru talking loudly around the kitchen table. Haruka didn't pay any attention to the conversation and could only see the espresso machine: she could worry about anything else later now was the time for coffee. As Haruka poured espresso into a cup and brought it to her lips Miciru decided it was time to fill her in:
"Hey I have great news!"
"Good morning to you to! joked the blonde senshi",
"Good morning Haruka-chan Michiru answered still glowing with joy and excitement",
"Now what's the amassing news you have?"
"The Star Lights are coming back to Earth ! "
Haruka choked on her espresso. Now all the scattered fragments of phrases started to make sense in her head and she did not like the big picture at all.
"WHAT? WHY? It's been barely over 4 years since they left … it's way too soon to visit!"
Michiru chuckled and looked at her cousin amused. Haruka was not over her dislike of the Star lights even after the war was over and more than 4 years had gone by. The aqua senshi had a feeling it was all about a certain dark haired man that really liked to push the blonde's buttons … in all the wrong ways.
"Usaghi said it's a diplomatic mission: their princess sent them to strengthen the alliance between Kinmoku and our Solar System - Michiru answered - but my guess is they were seriously bored…"
"The restoration of their planet must be completed, Setsuna intervened, so there isn't much left to do…"
"But there ARE lots of things left to do…, Haruka complained,… like throwing themselves off some cliff or maybe read a book… even though for some of them those two actions might be similar… - the wind senshi was getting more irritated by the second – Anyway when do they leave?"
"Oh Haruka-chan, Michiru laughed, they aren't here yet and you already want them gone!"
The blonde was not amused and was searing at her cousin in demand of a serious answer. Half amused and desperately trying to concentrate the aqua senshi answered:
" I don't know. Usaghi said they wanted to experience the life on our planet again and enjoy all the things they didn't get to experience the last time they were here…so it's anybody's guess… "
Haruka froze with her espresso cup millimeters away from her lips.
"That might be a long time…They may never leave…"
"Don't be silly Haruka-chan! I'm sure they'll stay for a few months at most…visit a few places, relax a bit…"
"Stress out of her mind a certain short haired senshi", continued Setrsuna in a lower voice, and Michiru gave her a look that fully expressed she wasn't helping at all, and continued:
"They'll be gone before you know it!"
"I seriously doubt that…" Haruka decided to return her attention to the espresso and salvage at least the rest of the morning, the first part being ruined by three invading aliens.
The blonde started to chat to Hotaru, at least the teenager was not that excited about the Starlights, and tried to avert her attention to the problems the girl had in her teenager life. It wasn't difficult for Haruka to be captivated by the conversation with her adoptive daughter and it almost always had a calming effect on her, but the phone ringing and Michiru's first words after picking it up made her change her focus again.
"Hy Usaghi-chan!... You already told me that…, Michiru chuckled amused …Yeah I know…
They want to go on a tour as a band or something?… I see…"
Haruka did not like what she was hearing… but things were about to get worse:
"They want to get in contact with the press again… ,the aqua senshi continued,…They need publicity… Yeah that's right…A big comeback party or something is the best way to go… Oh you thought of a party too… - at that point Michiru's eyes locked with Haruka's – So not just any kind of party… I see… A party at our house ?"
Haruka froze but quickly recovered and started to signal to Michiru all the types of "NO" she could think of without actually screaming the word out loud. The aqua senshi continued to talk to Usaghi while clearly understanding her cousin's signals:
"Usaghi but we just moved here, and the house isn't completely furnished
… and we didn't finish unpacking yet …
… Yes, we have a ball room…
… Yes, it was already furnished when we got here…
… I know you want to help them Usaghi-chan…
… Usaghi don't start crying please…
… Usaghi I don't… Alright please just stop crying Usaghi-chan we'll do it…
… ok… don't worry it'll be fine…ok now… bye"
Michiru hung up the phone, and was still looking into Haruka's eyes.
"I couldn't say no… you heard… she blackmailed me…"
Haruka was angry but also a little amused: Usaghi really liked to get what she wanted and was using any method she could think of.
"Don't worry… I know…"
The blonde smiled: after all they were making their princess happy.
Friday
The last days had been chaotic for the senshi: invitations sent to every big producer, celebrity or press representative they could think of. Rumors of the Star Lights big comeback made the headlines and everybody was making assumptions to the reason they had left the spotlight so long ago; but what was really lighting up the media's imagination was the reason behind their decision to go public again after such a long time of total absence.
It was a battle of the most odd and highly improbable theories and the senshi were amused at how far from the truth they all were.
Seya was walking in the busy streets of Tokyo and enjoying the feeling of being back. He had arrived three days before, and even if their comeback had been announced, the media didn't spot him, so there wasn't a crowd of camera-happy paparazzi following his every move… at least not yet. Maybe it had something to do with the fact that he was staying at a very small and not high-class hotel under a false name, and nobody thought to look for him there, but maybe it was because he looked a little different than he did 4 years earlier. He wasn't a teenager anymore and that was obvious to anyone who looked at him: he was a few centimeters taller, his chest a little wider, his arms and legs a little more muscular, the lines defining his face harsher. He felt different too: the endless amount of energy he used to have was tamed and not so visible anymore, but it was still there and one could guess it's presence in his deep blue eyes like a steady underground river of emotion flowing secretly and fueling his actions.
He looked like he used to and at the same time he didn't: he was the man the teenager grew up to be; and that was why people on the streets labeled him as someone who really looked like Seiya Kou but surely didn't recognize the teenager idol in him.
He liked the anonymous and voyeur feeling of not being recognized, he could see how normal people lived their lives without interfering with them and he could be seen as just another ordinary man taking a walk, a damn attractive, sexy and somehow mysterious man but not an idol or a hero.
When he talked with his brothers about coming to Earth the idea was extremely appealing to him. Seiya wanted it because he was curious about something… and bored to death too…
The curiosity part was about Usaghi: back then during the war, he thought he was in love with her and left for his home planet convinced that he had lost the love of his life. When he returned on Kinmoku he got busy with the reconstructions, then he was busy with the diplomacy, he was busy with the administration of the kingdom and he was busy with what minor threats came their way.
He wasn't in pain and thought he didn't have time to think about Usaghi he pushed the love he felt to the back of his mind; but slowly things calmed down and he realized he was missing them all not just Usaghi; he felt that what was supposed to be the love of his life wasn't consuming him any differently than the feelings of friendship he had for the other senshi and realized that his desperate love was actually a desperate need of affection and friendship that he felt during those difficult days of war. Now, back on Earth, he had to convince himself, he had to know for sure if he could ever fall for Usaghi or it had been just a game of his imagination.
The second reason he wanted to come to Earth was very different from any of the reasons his brothers had: he was sick of playing the hero game. Back home all three of them were loved by everybody and at the same time worshiped and feared. The attention they were receiving was very similar to that of living gods: every single soul on their planet was trying to make them happy and satisfy all of their needs: they could have anything and even anyone, not a single person had the courage to challenge them. Seiya felt that the love of the people was transforming into a deep and uncontrollable fear.
While his brothers were enjoying the continuous and intense attention he was starting to feel uncomfortable: of course it was nice to be appreciated and loved and cherished but it was becoming a burden. Seiya couldn't have a normal conversation with anybody outside the castle: people froze at seeing him and barely dared to answer the questions they were asked; the women that came to the castle with diplomatic interests or just visiting were either completely unattractive or plainly throwing themselves into his or his brothers arms.
His life wasn't fun anymore and he was missing a good challenge… he loved to fight for what he wanted and lately that just wasn't happening anymore, so the idea to come visit the other senshi was very appealing.
His brooders wanted to have their star status again and loved the spotlight and the camera too much to just come and live a simple life. Seya didn't care that much if they wanted to pick up from where they had left the music industry years ago, things could never be as bad as they were back on Kinmoku, so he halfheartedly agreed to the big comeback party.
He stopped his steps on the sidewalk in front of a flower shop, and looked at the sky: it was getting late and he had a party to attend to. A sided smile formed on his lips and his eyes lit up with the pleasure of not knowing exactly how the night will progress: he enjoyed the feeling of mystery that was making it's way back into his life.
"This night's gonna be fun…" he whispered in a low voice still smiling, and the wind carried his words high above the streets of the city and melted them into the darkness of the summer night.
…
Haruka was seriously not enjoying the party and most certainly not having any fun. She was stuck near the main entrance to the ball room greeting the people that were arriving and engaging into small meaningless polite conversations just for the sake of being a good host. She hated it … deeply and sincerely…and it was all because of Michiru who couldn't resist Usaghi's request… wait … it wasn't Michiru's fault or Usaghi's… it was all because of three aliens that couldn't resist invading her planet… and her, up to that point, pleasant life.
The short haired blonde senshi wanted to show the Starlights how she really felt about them…but they weren't there yet… so her anger had to wait which meant it was getting greater by the minute.
The only thing she liked was the feeling of power she had in the dress she was wearing. She knew she looked provocative and the desire she ignited in man's eyes made her feel like a master with her slaves. She enjoyed seeing them almost in a trance when passing her by, the women that sometimes accompanied them looking at her with the deepest hate they could muster in their gaze.
She was smiling cocky and distant and the somewhat despising look in her eyes was contradicting her attempts at being a good host. Haruka knew that her attitude would get her into a heated conversation with the other senshi after the party – one aquamarine haired girl in particular - , but right now she did not care: that was her very particular way of protesting against the party.
Suddenly the crowd moved towards the main entrance to the ball room, the paparazzi were going mad, young girls were whispering fiercely and Haruka could hear a general mumble:
…" The Starlights are here!"…
…" It must be them!"…
…" They arrived!"…
The blonde shorthaired senshi walked towards the right side of the grand doors, leaned against the hardwood frame and crossed her arms. She was ready to welcome the reasons behind her annoying night.
A black limo pulled in front of the stairs that lead to the main entrance into the ballroom. A crowd of paparazzi and reporters quickly formed around the car and those inside moved towards the entrance to catch a glimpse at the awaited main guests of the party.
Without making everybody wait too long, the three Star lights got out of the limo smiling, posing and waving at the cameras. Actually two of them more than one: Haruka noticed Taiki and Yaten were making a show and loving it: they were loud and eager to receive the attention while Seya looked like he was almost trying to get away from it.
…"That's strange"… she thought to herself and continued observing them. Seya looked different to her and she couldn't put her finger on what it was, but without realizing it her eyes were captivated by the dark tall man that was rushing up the stairs. Haruka was curious and she always satisfied her curiosity.
As he entered the ballroom Seiya had the feeling of being watched but then again everybody in there was studying his every move. He thought that what he had felt didn't suite any of the excited famous or almost famous people he could see.
"I'm getting paranoid" he told himself and pushed the feeling aside.
"Hy Seya!" came a very excited voice from behind him and as he turned he saw all the inner senshi with big wide smiles on their faces so they all started chatting and laughing like they had just parted 30 minutes ago.
While the dark haired alien was trying to spot something different in the crowd, Haruka was making her way towards the bar. She was in desperate need of a drink: the night was getting even more unpleasant, she thought.
From near the bar she watched as the other two Star lights approached the group formed around Seya. All the senshi were there, except her of course, and were laughing loudly. Mina was concentrating all her attention on Yaten and seemed to be caught in a world of her own; Taiki was having an apparently serious conversation with Ami and Seya was flirting openly with all the other girls.
To Haruka the instant the dark haired alien dared to get closer to Usaghi than he did with the other girls, was like a declaration of war: she thought he was there to attack the love her princess felt for Mamoru. Haruka had to let him have a piece of her mind:
" he was not welcomed, he did not have a chance to win Usaghi over and Haruka hated the three of them, Seiya being the main focus of her dislike" - those were the simple messages the tall blonde decided to deliver the Star lights. So she approached Seya from behind and as she got closer started noticing all sort of details that puzzled her: he was taller than her and his entire body looked stronger than she remembered, his movements were fluid and confident; she could see through the fabric of his tux his lean muscles contracting and relaxing as he leaned forward to listen to what the girls were saying, one hand rested in the pocket of his trousers and he had a glass of Champaign in the other, he was gesticulating and his subtle moves emphasized his words, his voice was deep, sometimes husky and sometimes playful.
Haruka had to admit to herself: this man was hot! That's when she realized her body was responding to his: she was a little tense and her breathing accelerated and she was moving her hips more sensually as she was getting closer to him. Haruka was attracted to him and the realization of that fact only infuriated her so she got close enough to whisper in his ear:
"You should give up on the things that aren't made for you, Kou. Being rejected before doesn't mean it's gonna be less painful the second time it happens."
He opened his eyes a little wider in surprise at the acid line but recognized the voice immediately.
"And here it goes" he thought to himself amused and ready to fight a battle of wits and turned to face his long faithful enemy. But instead of seeing a woman dressed in a man's tux, when he turned he saw an incredibly feminine Haruka in a dress that showed her every curve and she sure had some.
He was surprised and couldn't stop himself from analyzing her: she was playing with a glass of Champaign in her left hand right above her full breasts, the dark blue dress she was wearing was simple and tight on her breasts and waist and it flowed away from her body from the mid thy down. The only decorative element it had was a 5 centimeter black band filled with crystals that decorated the cleavage of the dress and then transformed into two straps that ran over her shoulders and then went down and connected right above her toned ass. Seya could guess through the material of the dress her slightly hardened nipples and felt unconsciously the need to lick his lips.
Because the answer to her attack was nor reaching her, Haruka placed a defiant smile on her lips
"What's the matter Kou? Cat got your tongue?"
At the sound of her voice he realized he was studying her body a little too attentively and turned his gaze to meet hers. She was looking at him with one blonde eyebrow arched higher than the other and her cocky smile still on her lips.
He recognized that smile, those burning teal eyes and her ruffled sandy hair but the overall look startled him: she inspired sex! Her hair was ruffled in contrast to the rest of her outfit and looked like she had just got out of bad after a whole night of having sex, her lips were slightly parted inviting to be ravished, and her eyes half closed but still burning with passion. Seiya knew it was the passion of loving to fight him and the Star lights at the same time, but couldn't help but wonder if physical desire would transform her features in similar ways.
He grinned inwardly but only a playful smile reached his lips: "This was going to be interesting and fun" he thought and finally answered her attack:
"Nice to see you too Ten'ou, and as I know politeness isn't your strongest trait, I'm gonna be nice and ask first: How are you doing?"
She wasn't backing down that easily and her voice had an ironic feel to it:
"Oh, I'm just great! Except this silly party I have to throw for some pumped-ass aliens. They think they are the center of the entire freaking Universe and everything has to be laid at their feet. How childish and superficial is that?"
"Haruka!" Michiru intervened "Don't be rude!"
"Don't worry Michiru" Seiya turned his attention to the blue haired senshi " she's not rude, it's just her nature" and the sided smile widened on his face. Haruka was furious: the damned man just kept on pushing the wrong buttons and she was going to make him pay.
Michiru saw the fire in the tall blonde's eyes and knew things were about to get bad and physical very quickly, so she decided to act before Haruka did and stepped between them.
"Haruka-chan maybe we should get another drink! Let's go check out the bar." The blond senshi was a little confused but realized there was no arguing with Michiru so she barely nodded her approval and kept her killer look eyes on Seya. The aquamarine haired senshi pulled on her cousin's right arm and dragged her to the bar.
Seiya watched amused the two young women make their way through the crowd. Haruka was sensually but unwillingly walking towards the bar area, her ruffled short hair was showing of her long and slender neck, her pearl white skin was contrasting with the fabric of her dress and her bare back made him focus on her round tempting ass.
The man superficially asked himself when did Haruka transform from a tomboy into a damn hot woman but he didn't actually care what was the answer, he was much more preoccupied with the new opportunities the change brought to their confrontations.
Now, with her gone, he allowed a mischievous grin to form on his lips.
…
It was around two in the morning and the night looked like a total success. The big party satisfied the media and made the celebrities a little dizzy, but one particular blond tall woman was not feeling at all happy. Haruka was standing besides the bar: she needed her glass filled but Champaign wasn't her favorite choice, so she asked the bartender to make her a gin tonic. The last few hours had been difficult for her: she was watching Seiya's every move making sure he wasn't going to do something cheerless and stupid. Surprisingly he was behaving pretty well except his continuous flirting. Haruka was sure that by now not one of the young and attractive women at the party had escaped him: they all had a lost and intoxicated look on their faces and the tall blond asked herself how they could lose any sense of logic and personality so quickly when faced with him.
She got her gin tonic and fixed her eyes on him in the opposite side of the ballroom: she still couldn't figure out why he seemed so different than 4 years before, he was still flirting with any girl or woman he laid his eyes on, he was still acting like a pain and his cocky personality was still getting on her nerves. The part that dazzled her was the strong physical attraction she could feel towards him, she was drawn to him and it was so raw and violent she could almost feel his body with her eyes.
She took a sip from her drink and continued the surveillance. Something had to happen.
From the opposite side of the ballroom Seiya felt her observing him. He knew she did that without hiding and continuously since their little conflict earlier, but never gave her the satisfaction of looking her way.
He was stubborn and decided to purposely ignore her, but he did notice with the corner of his eyes, that many men were approaching her one by one and then turning away with an embarrassed and humiliated look on their faces. He guessed they only asked her to dance but her harsh answers made them flee defeated and humiliated.
Slowly a challenging idea was forming in his head and a downright mischievous smile was forming on his lips. He knew it was risky, but if it worked he could have some fun, so he suddenly turned her way catching her gaze from across the dance floor. He started walking towards her without breaking the eye contact and with a mysterious smile on his lips.
Haruka saw him coming her way but she couldn't move or break the eye contact: he was making his way through the crowd towards her and he looked like a predator stalking his pray. She felt hypnotized by his burning eyes getting closer and closer to hers, her pulse accelerated and her breathing almost stopped. The time compressed and she couldn't see anything beyond the moment he would reach her.
And soon enough he stopped right in front of her. Still looking into her eyes he reached behind her and picked up a glass of Champaign. He knew he didn't have too much time to act before she would come to her senses, so he whispered to her in a mocking low voice:
"It must be really sad to spend the entire night just watching others have fun and dance"
She was puzzled and blinked a few times before she answered a little shaken by the unexpected mocking line:
"I assure you I'm having lots of fun, only it's my kind of fun!"
"I'm sure you're trying to, but not knowing how to dance must make you feel terribly left out" he told her in a false compassionate tone and turned his gaze towards the dance floor, breaking the eye contact.
She was surprised at his assumption and asked him genuinely curious:
"You think I don't know how to dance?"
"Well no… I'm quite sure of it" he answered confident and not turning her way. She was getting irritated and aggressive very fast:
"What the hell made you believe that?"
His answer came in a calm and distant voice; he seemed preoccupied with the movement on the dance floor and not too interested in their conversation:
"The fact that you turned so many men down tonight. You never danced with one. It must be embarrassing to try to come up with all kind of excuses…"
"If you must know I refused to dance because I found them repulsive and couldn't stand to be anywhere near them !" her voice was getting louder she was starting to lose control. Seya knew that was the moment for his move if he wanted her to act on impulse, so he turned her way, looked into her eyes again but this time distant and said to her:
"I don't believe you! "
His answer only aggravated her so she reacted instinctively and almost like a child:
"But I DO KNOW how to dance" she answered furiously with fire burning in her eyes.
"I still don't believe you" came his calm answer, and Seya could feel it: that was the breaking point: she was completely surrendering herself to her emotions.
"I'll prove it to you!" she said in a demanding tone "Dance with me!"
Seya thought she looked beautiful like that: completely lost in her emotion and passionately defending herself, but he was not about to fill her in on that and instead warned her in an annoyed voice:
"Alright… but don't ruin my shoes…"
Haruka garbed his right arm and started dragging him towards the dance floor. Seya was sure she was silently cursing him but he was smiling satisfied: Haruka really never backed down from a challenge and that made his little plan work like a charm.