Touching Eden
Black Beyond
Rating: PG13
Chapter One: Lovers They May Be
--
This is just something I've been writing for fun, because I hate Mamoru Chiba and I've always loved this pairing. I can't promise it'll be the best fic in the world, nor can I promise you'll like the ending. This is the first chapter and I'll have the others out to you as soon as they're done. Don't expect this to be very long, but you never know.
:/
I'm still debating on whether to finish my old fics. If you really want to see them finished, drop me a line.
And now, with the first chapter. ^^ Baibai!!
--
http://www.geocities.com/lablackbeyond
black_beyond@hotmail.com
YIM: lovelyfairyqueen
AIM: bbchansama
--
His pants were strewn across the arms of the chair. She looked at them, a detached glaze covering her eyes. He watched her, confused as she hugged herself and turned away from him.
He was struck with a heavy sense of guilt and wrong. She looked about twelve years old at that moment, her closed eyes making him feel distinctly uneasy. He reached out to lay one supposedly comforting arm on her shoulder, but she shook it off like his touch burned her.
His brow furrowed.
"I-- I have to go now." She muttered, scooping up her shirt on the floor and tugging it over her head. The cotton fabric stretched, and he opened his mouth to object, sitting up quickly as she pulled on her underwear and her pants.
He closed his mouth again when he saw that she was shivering, hard. Confusion flooded his brain completely.
"Usagi--"
She tensed and swiftly picked up her shoes. "I have to go." She repeated, and fled his apartment, slamming the door behind her. He frowned.
"What did I do wrong?" He asked, as he yanked on a pair of boxers. His brother stuck his head around the frame of his bedroom door.
"Why did she leave so suddenly? What did you do, you idiot?" He asked scathingly, but worry lurked in his eyes.
Seiya shook his head, his hair, loose from the ponytail that usually confined it, shook with it. "I have no idea. I really have no idea. We... and then she... I don't know what happened." He gestured wildly as he spoke, putting on his pants as he did.
Yaten quirked his eyebrow. "You don't know what you did." He repeated, disbelievingly, watching his brother get dressed faster than he had ever seen the man dress before.
"Shut up, Yaten." Seiya exploded. "I'm going after her."
"If you hurt her, we're all dead." Yaten remembered very clearly the evil glares Seiya had received from Usagi's friends.
"Shut UP, Yaten!" He blew past his brother and was out the door, running in the direction Usagi must have taken. He heard footsteps behind him and cursed Yaten very loudly for being a nosy son of a bitch.
After a couple minutes of frustrated running, he caught a glimpse of gold down a side street. He turned automatically and almost ran over Usagi, who was crouched down in the darkness, silent sobs wracking her petite frame.
Seiya froze, and then quickly dropped down beside Usagi, gathering her close to him. She clung to him hard, and began crying in earnest. Confused even more than before, he held her as Yaten came up to them, breathing as hard as Seiya was from the exertion of running so fast.
"Usagi, Usa-chan, what's wrong?" Seiya breathed into her hair. She shook her head and let out a long, shuddering sigh and wept more quietly.
Shooting a look at his brother, who was staring at them in bewilderment, Seiya collected Usagi into his arms and stood up, noting with concern how light she was.
"What's wrong?" Yaten whispered.
Seiya shrugged and began the walk back to their apartment, hoping against God that he met none of Usagi's protective friends before he found out what was bothering his lover. She had never done this before. He had had to wake her up from a few nightmares before, but nothing like this...
Halfway back, she returned to some measure of coherence. "You can put me down, you know, I can walk." She choked out, snuggling deeper into his arms. He smiled uncertainly at her.
"I know, but I like carrying you."
She laughed, a harsh sound that Yaten started to hear from her delicate lips. "Because it makes you feel more manly." She taunted, rubbing at her cheeks, trying to erase the tearstains there.
"Usagi, why were you crying?" Yaten asked, after Seiya did not. Usagi closed her eyes and put her face against the warm fabric of Seiya's shirt.
"Anniversary. Of something you don't want to know about." He managed to make out from her muffled words.
"Of what?" He insisted.
She lifted her head to glare at him. "Of the day I met the talking cat."
His eyes widened. "Oh." He said inadequately.
Her secret had not remained a secret long with them. The first time she had been beeped by the senshi while she and Seiya were busy, she had cursed at a face Seiya had recognized as Sailor Mars that she did not want to fight a youma, she was in the middle of-- a Sailor V game.
Seiya had laughed, almost hysterical, when she turned the watch off and turned back to him, face red. "You're a Sailor senshi?" He had asked, shaken.
She had turned even more red as she ran her hand nervously over his arm. "Yes... does it matter?"
She soon saw the point of his initial laughter.
"How can you be a girl and a boy at the same time?" It had sparked the curiosity inside Usagi, resulting in a blush from Seiya as he explained.
Usagi remembered that now, and stifled a giggle. "I'm sorry." She sobbed again. "I'm just... I don't like to be reminded... and... I'm just emotional. Bad time for me. After you die so many times, you start associating bad memories with it."
Seiya hugged her tightly before letting her down to walk up the stairs. "I understand, Usagi... just don't scare me like that again. I thought maybe... I don't know."
She smiled through unshed tears at him. "I'm sorry. I'll make it up to you." She added, wickedly. He grinned at her and Yaten made a retching noise.
"It's bad enough as it is..." He complained loudly, as they walked up to the apartment.
"The house is soundproofed, Yaten, what the hell are you complaining about?" Seiya demanded, shoving his brother, almost making him fly down a flight of stairs. Usagi laughed.
A pair of angry eyes followed them as they rounded out of sight, Usagi clinging onto Seiya's arm contentedly.
The owner of these eyes turned to her companion.
"I didn't believe it. I didn't believe it." She said incredulously to the small cat beside her. "What are we going to do?"
Artemis sniffed. "What is there to do, Rei? It's her life."
The priestess's face scrunched up. "It's only Seiya, right? You don't think... ew. No, it's gotta be just Seiya. Should we tell the others?"
Artemis stared at her. "Usagi must have good reasons for keeping this from you all. It was wrong of you to come here, Rei."
Rei scowled at him. "I sensed her distress. You didn't expect me to not come, did you? It's your fault I didn't call the rest of the senshi."
"And it's a good thing, too!" Artemis matched her expression. "This is none of our business, Rei. Usagi's just as good as an adult. If she wants to have a relationship with this man, then that's her business."
Rei frowned. "But there's something not right about the three of them, Artemis. I have to keep her safety in mind. Did you see her? She'd been crying."
"And she was being consoled. They evidently care about her."
"I don't trust them."
"Rei, this is Usagi's mistake to make."
Rei turned to smirk evilly at him. "She wasn't wearing a bra, did you notice?"
Artemis turned a strange color under his fur. "Rei!"
---
Usagi was late to the next senshi meeting, and when she finally arrived, it was with damp hair and no makeup. The other girls gave her strange looks as Rei smirked.
Usagi flushed. "I just got out of the shower." She murmured.
"Any company with it?" Rei inquired, and grinned as color crept up into the pale girl's face.
"Of course not." Usagi glowered. "We could ask Yuichiro about his showers and what company he has with them, if you'd like, Rei." She added, and it was Rei's turn to blush.
"No, that's alright." Rei stammered. Artemis shot her a look, and the other three senshi looked at one another, bemused.
Minako leaned over to Usagi, grinning. "Ah, is there someone we should know about, Usagi?" She winked. Usagi swallowed.
"No, Minako." She lied, smiling. "Now, what did I miss?"
Luna jumped onto the table and glared at her mistress reproachfully. "If you were at home more, I could tell you what was going on. Disappearing at all hours of the day and night... your mother is very worried!"
Usagi fixed Luna with a defiant stare. "So it's wrong of me to lead a life outside the usual senshi business?" She demanded.
"So there IS someone!" Makoto crowed. "Tell us about him, Usagi! What does he look like? Ohhh, what is Mamoru going to think!"
Usagi paled. "I don't care what Mamoru thinks." She said stiffly. "if this is all this meeting's going to be about, I have other places to be."
Luna narrowed her eyes. "So you've been out all this time with a boy?"
Usagi laughed. "Not exactly." She sat down beside Ami, who had been watching silently. Ami gave Usagi a searching look, and knew almost instantly where Usagi had been. She would recognize that cologne anywhere.
She diligently kept her mouth shut as the other four girls got into an argument. Usagi refused to tell them the name of her mysterious new attachment, while Rei lorded it over her that she suspected who but also wouldn't tell, as Minako and Makoto tried to pry it out of them.
The two Lunar cats regrouped in the window sill.
Luna shot a glare at Artemis. "I suppose you knew about this?"
Artemis went red. "It wasn't my business to tell, Luna."
"Something comes between the most faithful couple in known history and you don't see fit to inform me!" Luna was raging.
"Luna, Usagi hasn't been happy in that relationship ever since Chibi-usa came around." Artemis replied gently. "Haven't you seen that?"
Luna glared. "You're seeing things. She was perfectly happy until he left to go to America. This is just a cry for attention. she's just lonely."
Artemis sighed and turned back to the conversation at hand.
"Usagi, just tell us, we won't make fun if it's like Umino or someone..." Minako wheedled. Usagi shook her head.
"What's going on?" A deep voice boomed from the doorway. They looked up to see Haruka and Michiru standing in the doorway. All the blood drained out of Usagi's face.
This was not lost on Makoto. She blinked, and then hissed in Usagi's ear,
"Are you sleeping with Haruka?!"
Usagi snorted. "Yeah, right, Mako-chan." She laughed. "I have to go, everyone, as this meeting has been nothing except gossip. It was good to see you, goodbye..."
She attempted to brush past the tall blonde, but Haruka's hand shot out and caught Usagi's arm.
"Is that a man's cologne?" She asked, disbelievingly.
Usagi blinked and said nothing, only stared at the floor.
Michiru paused. "Haruka, let go." She said finally. Haruka's eyes narrowed, but complied.
"We'll talk about this, Koneko." She told Usagi, who darted out of the shrine like the hounds of hell were on her heels.
Haruka surveyed the room. "Someone had better tell me something."
Ami snapped her computer shut and smiled. "She won't say if she's seeing someone or not." She explained, before Rei could say anything. "I'm sure it's just a passing fling. Why don't we talk business for a few moments? I got some interesting readings on the last youma we fought..."
----
This youma did not like Sailormoon in particular. Even after the other senshi repeatedly attacked it, it kept turning for the blonde soldier. The Starlights watched worriedly from a nearby hiding place, following the battle silently.
The youma had been random and without command, terrorizing people all over the city. The Starlights had been spotted only momentarily a few times before by the other senshi, and the senshi were generally mistrustful of them. They did not understand Usagi's vehement defense of the unknown soldiers.
"Maybe we should go help." Sailor Star Fighter hissed to her sisters. Sailor Star Maker sent him a funny look.
"And get fried by the senshi?" Sailor Star Healer asked. "They can take care of themselves. They'll protect your precious Usagi."
Fighter shot her the dirtiest glare she could muster. "Bitch."
Their attention was drawn back to the battlefield, a not extremely busy section of street in uptown Tokyo, by a loud, pain-filled scream.
The youma had managed to imbed one of the large, sharp spikes it had been throwing in Sailor Jupiter's shoulder, as the larger senshi had thrown herself in front of her leader. Sailormoon's eyes narrowed and she sent her tiara flying at the youma, only to miss. She grabbed Jupiter and half dragged the injured warrior from the danger area.
Momentarily, her back was turned to the youma and the other senshi were occupied in trying to distract it. It saw its chance.
It leapt through a hole in the senshi defense and raced for the small girl's back.
"Star Serious Laser!" Fighter screamed, cutting the youma across his face as she dove to Sailormoon's defense, startling the senshi who had turned, too late to help.
"Fighter!" Sailormoon whispered thankfully. She drew out her scepter while the youma was busy inspecting his wounds.
"Rainbow Moon Heart Ache!" The youma called out, and vanished into a pile of gray, fading dust. Sailormoon squealed in happiness and turned to her savior, throwing herself at the tall soldier in a hard hug.
"Thank you!"
Watching the senshi, who drew nearer suspiciously, Fighter tentatively hugged the smaller girl back. "You're welcome, Sailormoon."
"Why did you do that?" Sailor Mars demanded.
"Get away from her." Jupiter snarled, leaning painfully against a lamppost. Electricity crackled in the air around her.
Sailormoon sighed and for a moment, her body went a little slack in defeat. "I'm sorry about them." She whispered in Fighter's ear, who took the apology without comment or signal she had heard.
Fighter stepped away from Sailormoon, hands open to the four angry senshi. "As you weren't doing such a bang up job of watching your leader's back, I decided to save her from possible death. Forgive me for my sins." She spat the words at them.
Mercury looked a bit shocked, and Venus looked away. Mars all but growled.
"We can protect her just fine!" She snapped.
Fighter's face twisted into a sarcastic mockery of disbelief. "Of course you can."
"Fighter!" Sailormoon hissed. "Don't make it worse, please?"
Jupiter was close enough to hear this plea, and she was confused for a very short second.
"Maybe you should leave." She threatened, putting her hands together in a gesture Fighter recognized as the beginning of one of her attacks.
Sailor Star Fighter nodded to Sailormoon and darted out of sight, to where her two sisters were waiting, exasperated with their sister's antics.
"Moron!" Healer muttered.
"Are you okay, Sailormoon?" Mercury asked, stepping forward. Sailormoon waved her away.
"It's Jupiter that needs help." Blood was streaming from the Jovian's shoulder.
"Come on, Jupiter, we'll get you to the hospital." Venus took Jupiter's good arm and Mercury followed them as they walked from the street, which had become very empty at the first sighting of the youma, who had been extremely tall and covered in the spines that it had sent flying every which way.
Mars hesitated. "Why do you trust them, Sailormoon?" She asked, as they watched the three senshi turn the corner.
"Trust the Starlights?" Sailormoon asked. "Because they have done nothing to betray my trust."
Mars shook her head. "We know nothing about them."
Sailormoon said suddenly, with savagery that surprised the red senshi, "That's what you said about Tuxedo Kamen, too, and look what he turned out to be."
Mars blinked. The rage in Sailormoon's voice was completely uncalled for. "What does that mean, Odango Atama?"
Sailormoon turned her back on her friend. "Nothing. Just leave me alone, Rei-chan."
Mars started to object, but sighed. "Fine, Usagi." She walked away, opposite the direction Usagi was facing.
Had she not turned around, just before she turned the corner, she would have seen nothing. Ignorance would have surrounded her for a few more minutes, a few more days, maybe forever.
She turned around to see the three Starlights advance out of their hiding place and approach Sailormoon, who must have smiled at them. Mars turned around completely, reading to yell a warning, when Sailormoon rushed into Sailor Star Fighter's arms, who picked her up and embraced her tightly for the second time that day.
Mars faltered. Sailormoon didn't know them that well.
She felt her stomach and jaw drop to her ankles when Sailormoon reached up and caught Fighter's lips in a kiss, a kiss that was a lot more friendly than it should have been. She watched as Healer shoved Fighter slightly, the sound of her voice carrying to let Mars know she had said something biting and sarcastic.
Mars gaped. Usagi didn't like other girls like that... or... she had never shown those feelings around her friends... certainly not to Haruka, who they all knew had a rather serious crush on the small blonde...
Sailormoon walked off with the three mysterious senshi, and left Mars to blink and be extremely confused with what she had just seen.
"I wish Artemis were here..." She muttered, powering down and running in the direction of the temple, where she could consult the fire and calm her frazzled nerves.
She passed by the Arcade and glance inside, and took a double take to see Haruka. Making a split second decision, she stepped inside and walked up to the blonde, who was alone, playing a racing game.
"Has Usagi ever liked you back?" She demanded suddenly, making Haruka jump and spin around.
"What?" She asked, and winced as she heard her car wreck behind her. "What did you say?" She snapped irritably.
Rei paused. "Has Usagi ever liked you back?" She repeated.
Haruka blinked. "... huh?" She cringed to feel a blush creeping up the back of her neck.
"Has Usagi ever kissed you, or flirted back with you, or anything?"
Haruka stared at her. "Why are you asking?"
Rei made a sound of frustration. "Just answer the question, Haruka-kun!"
Haruka shook her head. "She flirted with me a couple of times, but I think that was before she knew about me. She's never kissed me... why are you asking? Did something happen?"
Rei's face was very peculiar. "I just saw her kissing another girl."
Interest lit up Haruka's face. "Who?"
Rei shook her head. "I've never seen her act like that, Haruka... first she's sleeping with another man, and now she's kissing a woman..."
Haruka's eyebrows shot up and her eyes narrowed. "A man has been sleeping with her? Who?" Her voice suggested he was in a great deal of danger.
Rei shook her head again. "No one," she said hastily. "I'm just worried, Haruka... she's never acted like this before. What about Mamoru?"
Haruka snorted. "This is beautiful. Simply beautiful. I never thought the princess... this is beautiful." She was laughing, tears of pure mirth running down her face. "It's a good thing that cat of hers doesn't know..."
Haruka trailed off, her eyes fixed on the sliding glass doors of the Arcade. Usagi was walking past, in the middle of the three Starlights. Her eyes widened.
"Rei." She said dangerously. "Please tell me Usagi is not sleeping with that arrogant little son of a bitch."
"I would if I could."
"He's dead." Haruka was up and out of the Arcade. Rei blinked and then chased after her.
Rei wasn't as fast as the senshi of wind, but she had almost caught her when Haruka grabbed Seiya by the collar and shoved him up against the stucco wall of the Arcade.
"Haruka!" Usagi exclaimed, as Seiya's brothers fell into automatic defensive stances. Her yell shook them out of it and gave Seiya time to hide the headset that had immediately appear on his head at the first feeling of danger.
"Go away, Usagi." Haruka's eyes never left Seiya's face.
"No, you're not going to fight him."
Haruka didn't reply, she was too busy staring Seiya down. Seiya tensed, ready for the blow that was going to come.
"Haruka, you leave him alone this instant. He hasn't done anything to you." Usagi demanded. "That's a fucking order."
Haruka was so shocked she loosened her grip. "A what?"
Usagi's voice was cold. "An order. I am not going to let you beat up on him just because you're jealous!" She latched onto Haruka's arm, the one that wasn't holding onto a very nervous Starlight. "Please, Haruka. I love him."
This was as surprising news to Haruka as it was to Seiya. They both stared at her, jaws slightly slack.
"You what?" Seiya whispered, very pale. Yaten and Taiki were staring at Usagi as well, out of sheer disbelief.
"What on earth do you find attractive about the baka that much?" Yaten asked Haruka's question for her.
"Because he cares for me without having any reason to." Usagi said quietly. "I don't even ask him to love me back. I just appreciate it. And I would appreciate it if you left him alone, Haruka."
Rei was angered. She had not given Mamoru up to Usagi only to have Usagi throw it away. "You love him so much that you're off kissing women when he's not around?"
Usagi let go of Haruka and turned to Rei, completely taken aback. "I what?"
Yaten lost it and began laughing so hard he had to hold on to Taiki to keep from falling over, and Taiki looked distinctly amused. Seiya hid a smirk as Usagi turned bright red.
"I saw you, a few moments ago!" Rei yelled.
"Rei... you don't understand..." Usagi sputtered, trying to save herself. Haruka let go of Seiya.
"Make us understand." She accused Usagi, who looked away. Seiya put his arms around Usagi, and flinched when Haruka started towards him.
"I... can't." Usagi looked very sad, and she sighed. "I can't make you understand."
Haruka glared at her, speaking untold volumes with that glare, feeling betrayed and hurt. "Why not?"
Seiya looked at Haruka. "She would if she could, Haruka-kun."
Haruka turned on him. "Aren't you angry? Your girlfriend was kissing someone else."
Seiya shook his head calmly. "I'm not angry."
This seemed to pacify Haruka as she stared at him curiously. "Why not?" She asked. Rei glared at her.
"She wasn't kissing someone else." He retorted.
"Let's go," Taiki said quietly, touching Seiya's shoulder.
And they went, leaving a confused Haruka and a spitting-mad Rei.
Black Beyond
Rating: PG13
Chapter One: Lovers They May Be
--
This is just something I've been writing for fun, because I hate Mamoru Chiba and I've always loved this pairing. I can't promise it'll be the best fic in the world, nor can I promise you'll like the ending. This is the first chapter and I'll have the others out to you as soon as they're done. Don't expect this to be very long, but you never know.
:/
I'm still debating on whether to finish my old fics. If you really want to see them finished, drop me a line.
And now, with the first chapter. ^^ Baibai!!
--
http://www.geocities.com/lablackbeyond
black_beyond@hotmail.com
YIM: lovelyfairyqueen
AIM: bbchansama
--
His pants were strewn across the arms of the chair. She looked at them, a detached glaze covering her eyes. He watched her, confused as she hugged herself and turned away from him.
He was struck with a heavy sense of guilt and wrong. She looked about twelve years old at that moment, her closed eyes making him feel distinctly uneasy. He reached out to lay one supposedly comforting arm on her shoulder, but she shook it off like his touch burned her.
His brow furrowed.
"I-- I have to go now." She muttered, scooping up her shirt on the floor and tugging it over her head. The cotton fabric stretched, and he opened his mouth to object, sitting up quickly as she pulled on her underwear and her pants.
He closed his mouth again when he saw that she was shivering, hard. Confusion flooded his brain completely.
"Usagi--"
She tensed and swiftly picked up her shoes. "I have to go." She repeated, and fled his apartment, slamming the door behind her. He frowned.
"What did I do wrong?" He asked, as he yanked on a pair of boxers. His brother stuck his head around the frame of his bedroom door.
"Why did she leave so suddenly? What did you do, you idiot?" He asked scathingly, but worry lurked in his eyes.
Seiya shook his head, his hair, loose from the ponytail that usually confined it, shook with it. "I have no idea. I really have no idea. We... and then she... I don't know what happened." He gestured wildly as he spoke, putting on his pants as he did.
Yaten quirked his eyebrow. "You don't know what you did." He repeated, disbelievingly, watching his brother get dressed faster than he had ever seen the man dress before.
"Shut up, Yaten." Seiya exploded. "I'm going after her."
"If you hurt her, we're all dead." Yaten remembered very clearly the evil glares Seiya had received from Usagi's friends.
"Shut UP, Yaten!" He blew past his brother and was out the door, running in the direction Usagi must have taken. He heard footsteps behind him and cursed Yaten very loudly for being a nosy son of a bitch.
After a couple minutes of frustrated running, he caught a glimpse of gold down a side street. He turned automatically and almost ran over Usagi, who was crouched down in the darkness, silent sobs wracking her petite frame.
Seiya froze, and then quickly dropped down beside Usagi, gathering her close to him. She clung to him hard, and began crying in earnest. Confused even more than before, he held her as Yaten came up to them, breathing as hard as Seiya was from the exertion of running so fast.
"Usagi, Usa-chan, what's wrong?" Seiya breathed into her hair. She shook her head and let out a long, shuddering sigh and wept more quietly.
Shooting a look at his brother, who was staring at them in bewilderment, Seiya collected Usagi into his arms and stood up, noting with concern how light she was.
"What's wrong?" Yaten whispered.
Seiya shrugged and began the walk back to their apartment, hoping against God that he met none of Usagi's protective friends before he found out what was bothering his lover. She had never done this before. He had had to wake her up from a few nightmares before, but nothing like this...
Halfway back, she returned to some measure of coherence. "You can put me down, you know, I can walk." She choked out, snuggling deeper into his arms. He smiled uncertainly at her.
"I know, but I like carrying you."
She laughed, a harsh sound that Yaten started to hear from her delicate lips. "Because it makes you feel more manly." She taunted, rubbing at her cheeks, trying to erase the tearstains there.
"Usagi, why were you crying?" Yaten asked, after Seiya did not. Usagi closed her eyes and put her face against the warm fabric of Seiya's shirt.
"Anniversary. Of something you don't want to know about." He managed to make out from her muffled words.
"Of what?" He insisted.
She lifted her head to glare at him. "Of the day I met the talking cat."
His eyes widened. "Oh." He said inadequately.
Her secret had not remained a secret long with them. The first time she had been beeped by the senshi while she and Seiya were busy, she had cursed at a face Seiya had recognized as Sailor Mars that she did not want to fight a youma, she was in the middle of-- a Sailor V game.
Seiya had laughed, almost hysterical, when she turned the watch off and turned back to him, face red. "You're a Sailor senshi?" He had asked, shaken.
She had turned even more red as she ran her hand nervously over his arm. "Yes... does it matter?"
She soon saw the point of his initial laughter.
"How can you be a girl and a boy at the same time?" It had sparked the curiosity inside Usagi, resulting in a blush from Seiya as he explained.
Usagi remembered that now, and stifled a giggle. "I'm sorry." She sobbed again. "I'm just... I don't like to be reminded... and... I'm just emotional. Bad time for me. After you die so many times, you start associating bad memories with it."
Seiya hugged her tightly before letting her down to walk up the stairs. "I understand, Usagi... just don't scare me like that again. I thought maybe... I don't know."
She smiled through unshed tears at him. "I'm sorry. I'll make it up to you." She added, wickedly. He grinned at her and Yaten made a retching noise.
"It's bad enough as it is..." He complained loudly, as they walked up to the apartment.
"The house is soundproofed, Yaten, what the hell are you complaining about?" Seiya demanded, shoving his brother, almost making him fly down a flight of stairs. Usagi laughed.
A pair of angry eyes followed them as they rounded out of sight, Usagi clinging onto Seiya's arm contentedly.
The owner of these eyes turned to her companion.
"I didn't believe it. I didn't believe it." She said incredulously to the small cat beside her. "What are we going to do?"
Artemis sniffed. "What is there to do, Rei? It's her life."
The priestess's face scrunched up. "It's only Seiya, right? You don't think... ew. No, it's gotta be just Seiya. Should we tell the others?"
Artemis stared at her. "Usagi must have good reasons for keeping this from you all. It was wrong of you to come here, Rei."
Rei scowled at him. "I sensed her distress. You didn't expect me to not come, did you? It's your fault I didn't call the rest of the senshi."
"And it's a good thing, too!" Artemis matched her expression. "This is none of our business, Rei. Usagi's just as good as an adult. If she wants to have a relationship with this man, then that's her business."
Rei frowned. "But there's something not right about the three of them, Artemis. I have to keep her safety in mind. Did you see her? She'd been crying."
"And she was being consoled. They evidently care about her."
"I don't trust them."
"Rei, this is Usagi's mistake to make."
Rei turned to smirk evilly at him. "She wasn't wearing a bra, did you notice?"
Artemis turned a strange color under his fur. "Rei!"
---
Usagi was late to the next senshi meeting, and when she finally arrived, it was with damp hair and no makeup. The other girls gave her strange looks as Rei smirked.
Usagi flushed. "I just got out of the shower." She murmured.
"Any company with it?" Rei inquired, and grinned as color crept up into the pale girl's face.
"Of course not." Usagi glowered. "We could ask Yuichiro about his showers and what company he has with them, if you'd like, Rei." She added, and it was Rei's turn to blush.
"No, that's alright." Rei stammered. Artemis shot her a look, and the other three senshi looked at one another, bemused.
Minako leaned over to Usagi, grinning. "Ah, is there someone we should know about, Usagi?" She winked. Usagi swallowed.
"No, Minako." She lied, smiling. "Now, what did I miss?"
Luna jumped onto the table and glared at her mistress reproachfully. "If you were at home more, I could tell you what was going on. Disappearing at all hours of the day and night... your mother is very worried!"
Usagi fixed Luna with a defiant stare. "So it's wrong of me to lead a life outside the usual senshi business?" She demanded.
"So there IS someone!" Makoto crowed. "Tell us about him, Usagi! What does he look like? Ohhh, what is Mamoru going to think!"
Usagi paled. "I don't care what Mamoru thinks." She said stiffly. "if this is all this meeting's going to be about, I have other places to be."
Luna narrowed her eyes. "So you've been out all this time with a boy?"
Usagi laughed. "Not exactly." She sat down beside Ami, who had been watching silently. Ami gave Usagi a searching look, and knew almost instantly where Usagi had been. She would recognize that cologne anywhere.
She diligently kept her mouth shut as the other four girls got into an argument. Usagi refused to tell them the name of her mysterious new attachment, while Rei lorded it over her that she suspected who but also wouldn't tell, as Minako and Makoto tried to pry it out of them.
The two Lunar cats regrouped in the window sill.
Luna shot a glare at Artemis. "I suppose you knew about this?"
Artemis went red. "It wasn't my business to tell, Luna."
"Something comes between the most faithful couple in known history and you don't see fit to inform me!" Luna was raging.
"Luna, Usagi hasn't been happy in that relationship ever since Chibi-usa came around." Artemis replied gently. "Haven't you seen that?"
Luna glared. "You're seeing things. She was perfectly happy until he left to go to America. This is just a cry for attention. she's just lonely."
Artemis sighed and turned back to the conversation at hand.
"Usagi, just tell us, we won't make fun if it's like Umino or someone..." Minako wheedled. Usagi shook her head.
"What's going on?" A deep voice boomed from the doorway. They looked up to see Haruka and Michiru standing in the doorway. All the blood drained out of Usagi's face.
This was not lost on Makoto. She blinked, and then hissed in Usagi's ear,
"Are you sleeping with Haruka?!"
Usagi snorted. "Yeah, right, Mako-chan." She laughed. "I have to go, everyone, as this meeting has been nothing except gossip. It was good to see you, goodbye..."
She attempted to brush past the tall blonde, but Haruka's hand shot out and caught Usagi's arm.
"Is that a man's cologne?" She asked, disbelievingly.
Usagi blinked and said nothing, only stared at the floor.
Michiru paused. "Haruka, let go." She said finally. Haruka's eyes narrowed, but complied.
"We'll talk about this, Koneko." She told Usagi, who darted out of the shrine like the hounds of hell were on her heels.
Haruka surveyed the room. "Someone had better tell me something."
Ami snapped her computer shut and smiled. "She won't say if she's seeing someone or not." She explained, before Rei could say anything. "I'm sure it's just a passing fling. Why don't we talk business for a few moments? I got some interesting readings on the last youma we fought..."
----
This youma did not like Sailormoon in particular. Even after the other senshi repeatedly attacked it, it kept turning for the blonde soldier. The Starlights watched worriedly from a nearby hiding place, following the battle silently.
The youma had been random and without command, terrorizing people all over the city. The Starlights had been spotted only momentarily a few times before by the other senshi, and the senshi were generally mistrustful of them. They did not understand Usagi's vehement defense of the unknown soldiers.
"Maybe we should go help." Sailor Star Fighter hissed to her sisters. Sailor Star Maker sent him a funny look.
"And get fried by the senshi?" Sailor Star Healer asked. "They can take care of themselves. They'll protect your precious Usagi."
Fighter shot her the dirtiest glare she could muster. "Bitch."
Their attention was drawn back to the battlefield, a not extremely busy section of street in uptown Tokyo, by a loud, pain-filled scream.
The youma had managed to imbed one of the large, sharp spikes it had been throwing in Sailor Jupiter's shoulder, as the larger senshi had thrown herself in front of her leader. Sailormoon's eyes narrowed and she sent her tiara flying at the youma, only to miss. She grabbed Jupiter and half dragged the injured warrior from the danger area.
Momentarily, her back was turned to the youma and the other senshi were occupied in trying to distract it. It saw its chance.
It leapt through a hole in the senshi defense and raced for the small girl's back.
"Star Serious Laser!" Fighter screamed, cutting the youma across his face as she dove to Sailormoon's defense, startling the senshi who had turned, too late to help.
"Fighter!" Sailormoon whispered thankfully. She drew out her scepter while the youma was busy inspecting his wounds.
"Rainbow Moon Heart Ache!" The youma called out, and vanished into a pile of gray, fading dust. Sailormoon squealed in happiness and turned to her savior, throwing herself at the tall soldier in a hard hug.
"Thank you!"
Watching the senshi, who drew nearer suspiciously, Fighter tentatively hugged the smaller girl back. "You're welcome, Sailormoon."
"Why did you do that?" Sailor Mars demanded.
"Get away from her." Jupiter snarled, leaning painfully against a lamppost. Electricity crackled in the air around her.
Sailormoon sighed and for a moment, her body went a little slack in defeat. "I'm sorry about them." She whispered in Fighter's ear, who took the apology without comment or signal she had heard.
Fighter stepped away from Sailormoon, hands open to the four angry senshi. "As you weren't doing such a bang up job of watching your leader's back, I decided to save her from possible death. Forgive me for my sins." She spat the words at them.
Mercury looked a bit shocked, and Venus looked away. Mars all but growled.
"We can protect her just fine!" She snapped.
Fighter's face twisted into a sarcastic mockery of disbelief. "Of course you can."
"Fighter!" Sailormoon hissed. "Don't make it worse, please?"
Jupiter was close enough to hear this plea, and she was confused for a very short second.
"Maybe you should leave." She threatened, putting her hands together in a gesture Fighter recognized as the beginning of one of her attacks.
Sailor Star Fighter nodded to Sailormoon and darted out of sight, to where her two sisters were waiting, exasperated with their sister's antics.
"Moron!" Healer muttered.
"Are you okay, Sailormoon?" Mercury asked, stepping forward. Sailormoon waved her away.
"It's Jupiter that needs help." Blood was streaming from the Jovian's shoulder.
"Come on, Jupiter, we'll get you to the hospital." Venus took Jupiter's good arm and Mercury followed them as they walked from the street, which had become very empty at the first sighting of the youma, who had been extremely tall and covered in the spines that it had sent flying every which way.
Mars hesitated. "Why do you trust them, Sailormoon?" She asked, as they watched the three senshi turn the corner.
"Trust the Starlights?" Sailormoon asked. "Because they have done nothing to betray my trust."
Mars shook her head. "We know nothing about them."
Sailormoon said suddenly, with savagery that surprised the red senshi, "That's what you said about Tuxedo Kamen, too, and look what he turned out to be."
Mars blinked. The rage in Sailormoon's voice was completely uncalled for. "What does that mean, Odango Atama?"
Sailormoon turned her back on her friend. "Nothing. Just leave me alone, Rei-chan."
Mars started to object, but sighed. "Fine, Usagi." She walked away, opposite the direction Usagi was facing.
Had she not turned around, just before she turned the corner, she would have seen nothing. Ignorance would have surrounded her for a few more minutes, a few more days, maybe forever.
She turned around to see the three Starlights advance out of their hiding place and approach Sailormoon, who must have smiled at them. Mars turned around completely, reading to yell a warning, when Sailormoon rushed into Sailor Star Fighter's arms, who picked her up and embraced her tightly for the second time that day.
Mars faltered. Sailormoon didn't know them that well.
She felt her stomach and jaw drop to her ankles when Sailormoon reached up and caught Fighter's lips in a kiss, a kiss that was a lot more friendly than it should have been. She watched as Healer shoved Fighter slightly, the sound of her voice carrying to let Mars know she had said something biting and sarcastic.
Mars gaped. Usagi didn't like other girls like that... or... she had never shown those feelings around her friends... certainly not to Haruka, who they all knew had a rather serious crush on the small blonde...
Sailormoon walked off with the three mysterious senshi, and left Mars to blink and be extremely confused with what she had just seen.
"I wish Artemis were here..." She muttered, powering down and running in the direction of the temple, where she could consult the fire and calm her frazzled nerves.
She passed by the Arcade and glance inside, and took a double take to see Haruka. Making a split second decision, she stepped inside and walked up to the blonde, who was alone, playing a racing game.
"Has Usagi ever liked you back?" She demanded suddenly, making Haruka jump and spin around.
"What?" She asked, and winced as she heard her car wreck behind her. "What did you say?" She snapped irritably.
Rei paused. "Has Usagi ever liked you back?" She repeated.
Haruka blinked. "... huh?" She cringed to feel a blush creeping up the back of her neck.
"Has Usagi ever kissed you, or flirted back with you, or anything?"
Haruka stared at her. "Why are you asking?"
Rei made a sound of frustration. "Just answer the question, Haruka-kun!"
Haruka shook her head. "She flirted with me a couple of times, but I think that was before she knew about me. She's never kissed me... why are you asking? Did something happen?"
Rei's face was very peculiar. "I just saw her kissing another girl."
Interest lit up Haruka's face. "Who?"
Rei shook her head. "I've never seen her act like that, Haruka... first she's sleeping with another man, and now she's kissing a woman..."
Haruka's eyebrows shot up and her eyes narrowed. "A man has been sleeping with her? Who?" Her voice suggested he was in a great deal of danger.
Rei shook her head again. "No one," she said hastily. "I'm just worried, Haruka... she's never acted like this before. What about Mamoru?"
Haruka snorted. "This is beautiful. Simply beautiful. I never thought the princess... this is beautiful." She was laughing, tears of pure mirth running down her face. "It's a good thing that cat of hers doesn't know..."
Haruka trailed off, her eyes fixed on the sliding glass doors of the Arcade. Usagi was walking past, in the middle of the three Starlights. Her eyes widened.
"Rei." She said dangerously. "Please tell me Usagi is not sleeping with that arrogant little son of a bitch."
"I would if I could."
"He's dead." Haruka was up and out of the Arcade. Rei blinked and then chased after her.
Rei wasn't as fast as the senshi of wind, but she had almost caught her when Haruka grabbed Seiya by the collar and shoved him up against the stucco wall of the Arcade.
"Haruka!" Usagi exclaimed, as Seiya's brothers fell into automatic defensive stances. Her yell shook them out of it and gave Seiya time to hide the headset that had immediately appear on his head at the first feeling of danger.
"Go away, Usagi." Haruka's eyes never left Seiya's face.
"No, you're not going to fight him."
Haruka didn't reply, she was too busy staring Seiya down. Seiya tensed, ready for the blow that was going to come.
"Haruka, you leave him alone this instant. He hasn't done anything to you." Usagi demanded. "That's a fucking order."
Haruka was so shocked she loosened her grip. "A what?"
Usagi's voice was cold. "An order. I am not going to let you beat up on him just because you're jealous!" She latched onto Haruka's arm, the one that wasn't holding onto a very nervous Starlight. "Please, Haruka. I love him."
This was as surprising news to Haruka as it was to Seiya. They both stared at her, jaws slightly slack.
"You what?" Seiya whispered, very pale. Yaten and Taiki were staring at Usagi as well, out of sheer disbelief.
"What on earth do you find attractive about the baka that much?" Yaten asked Haruka's question for her.
"Because he cares for me without having any reason to." Usagi said quietly. "I don't even ask him to love me back. I just appreciate it. And I would appreciate it if you left him alone, Haruka."
Rei was angered. She had not given Mamoru up to Usagi only to have Usagi throw it away. "You love him so much that you're off kissing women when he's not around?"
Usagi let go of Haruka and turned to Rei, completely taken aback. "I what?"
Yaten lost it and began laughing so hard he had to hold on to Taiki to keep from falling over, and Taiki looked distinctly amused. Seiya hid a smirk as Usagi turned bright red.
"I saw you, a few moments ago!" Rei yelled.
"Rei... you don't understand..." Usagi sputtered, trying to save herself. Haruka let go of Seiya.
"Make us understand." She accused Usagi, who looked away. Seiya put his arms around Usagi, and flinched when Haruka started towards him.
"I... can't." Usagi looked very sad, and she sighed. "I can't make you understand."
Haruka glared at her, speaking untold volumes with that glare, feeling betrayed and hurt. "Why not?"
Seiya looked at Haruka. "She would if she could, Haruka-kun."
Haruka turned on him. "Aren't you angry? Your girlfriend was kissing someone else."
Seiya shook his head calmly. "I'm not angry."
This seemed to pacify Haruka as she stared at him curiously. "Why not?" She asked. Rei glared at her.
"She wasn't kissing someone else." He retorted.
"Let's go," Taiki said quietly, touching Seiya's shoulder.
And they went, leaving a confused Haruka and a spitting-mad Rei.