'Oh man it's you again?' LIR hears some people sigh and moan to her
presence and just gets a twisted face. Yeah it's me again, you got a
problem? LOL I'm just kidding. Well since inspiration has struck me in
the form of a beautiful hime with lots of problems I figured I'd write a
fic. This fic is for all of you people who didn't like how Yaten got
shafted in the last one, but of course she isn't the main character in this
fic… ::bats eyes with big hearts in them:: … the beautiful Seiya is!
Well read on… if you liked the triangle in the last fic, you'll simply love this one!
[::Akuen::]
by Lady in Red
(The New Moon Flickers)
Have you ever met some one whose personality was so addicting that their essence will never leave you?
She stood there wrapped in the bed sheet that I had left her sleeping in. We had been meeting this way every night since I can remember, but there was something different about tonight. Her eyes were closed and the sheet twined itself around just so, leaving barely anything to the imagination. In a true crucifixion manner she stood there with her arms out stretched and her feet firmly together. Her head did not hang but instead faced me… her head could never hang, there was too much for it to stay up for.
I felt the breeze pick up to my back and felt the hair on my body stand on end. Normally when I was around her my entire body would be filled with the warmth from the light that she emitted, but this time I felt cold. There was a feeling stirring inside of my body, one that I could not place. I stood naked and vulnerable to this feeling and did not like it. I wanted to reach out and touch her, to feel her warmth, but I couldn't.
My vision went red, everywhere I looked around myself was tinted with the cool shade of red that I had now become accustom to. I looked back to the tenshi in front of me and noticed that she had not moved. "Please open your eyes…" I whispered to her. My breath caught in the wind and she did not respond. "Please look at me…" I pleaded in the same whisper but she stood still as stone.
The silence was becoming over whelming and I didn't know if I could take it any more. I was scared for the first time since I could remember I was actually scared. What kind of fighter could I be if I was frightened? No, I wasn't scared for my own well being, but instead for the beautiful vision in front of me. I loved her, I loved her more than life itself. I had heard that phrase so many times over in my short existence but never truly knew what it meant until I had met her. I had never known love before I had met her. I could hear her breaths as I watched the sheet on her breasts shift ever so slightly with every rise and fall of her chest.
She was not supposed to be here with me, I was in no position to be with this woman but still I was. By some slight miracle fate had brought us together here and now if even for this brief moment and I didn't waste a second of it. Today was different though, this did not normally happen… Why was she just standing there? Her eyes began to open and my breath caught in my throat. Slowly those lids rose to reveal the cerulean pools that lie beneath them. Her sight was right on me. Large black wings spread from her back to span wider than her out stretched arms.
I stared in wonder at the marvelous sight before me. She was looking at me with that expressionless face, I had never seen such absence in her eyes before. She was not supposed to be this way.
'With your wings spread out wide, you are there.
But those wings are so black and heavy on you.
That you look like you're being crushed by your destiny'
She moved setting her right foot out in front of her letting her arms drop to the side. In this single graceful motion the sheet fell from her form.
'I want to help you, I want to rescue you, if I can do it
I would even throw away my life, all for you...'
Heavy chains appeared on her wrists but her gaze never left my eyes. Her hands came back up to show her eyes the chains that had been bestowed upon her delicate wrists. The setting of my room was all but gone and two moons hung behind her. One drenched in the same blood red as my vision and the other smaller moon flickered in and out of existence.
'When you're uneasy, when it's painful, I am there with you
Always keep showing to me your smiling face.'
I reached my hand out to her and the second smaller moon disappeared. I could feel the puzzled look pass across my features and I saw her hands drop to her sides, freed of the chains and a smile graced her lips. The wings on her back folded and as she looked from one to the other they glistened with a new brightness and became the most brilliant shade of white I had ever seen. My hand slipped into hers and she brought my body close to hers. I kissed the tenshi and my vision cleared. Those clear eyes, so deep that my heart couldn't fathom their bottom. I stared helplessly into them, I couldn't tear myself away. "Don't leave…" I whispered to her, but she only smiled in response. She backed way to the ledge of the pillar we were now standing on. I could feel the cool marble beneath my bare feet and looked around at the endless sky that surrounded us. Without further warning she was lifted into the air by those shimmering wings and was gone.
I was left alone. I was standing on a pillar of strength without a sole to turn to. How desperate one could become. I looked over at the sky and saw the new moon drowning in the ocean below setting for the last time… I could just feel it.
Seiya sat up in her bed. "What was that dream?" She asked her vacant room. Every night she was haunted by the same dream but tonight it had been way different. Usually her dream was of her Odango, but tonight her love was different. No, not a different person but Usagi was different. She glanced over at the clock that sat on her nightstand, it read 5:00am. "Seiya…" The wind whispered in her room and in an instant Seiya had thrown the covers from her and was out of bed. Something was wrong.
Seiya made a mad dash down the hallway towards the Princess' chambers. On her way she passed Maker just coming out of her room but did not stop to explain. Maker merely stared at her apparently lost in a thought and didn't speak a word either. There were no maids or guards mulling around the hallway since it was the butt-ass-crack of dawn after all, so Seiya's path was clear. In moments she was upon Kakyuu's door pounding furiously on it desperate for an answer. "Princess!" She called from outside the door. "Princess please!" She continued to pound on the door until it was opened from the other side and allowed her form to enter the room.
"Seiya!" Kakyuu gasped when she saw the heaving breathless woman standing before her. She was so worked up and it wasn't in a good way. For Seiya to up and out of bed at any time before ten in the morning or without Yaten's pestering was truly an indication that something was wrong. "Calm down!" She walked over to the chair near her vanity and grabbed a robe. In Seiya's haste she had forgotten her physical state but didn't blush at the realization, there were more important things on her mind.
"Princess, there's something wrong…" Seiya was trying to remember the dream, trying to find the words to say what she needed to.
"What's wrong? Are you alright?" Kakyuu was becoming beyond scared by now, to see her Starlight in such a state was taking its toll on her.
"Odango…" Seiya caught her breath. "Something is wrong with Odango on Earth."
"How do you know this?" Kakyuu calmed down a little bit, she knew that the littlest thing that had to do with Usagi would have the greatest effect on Seiya. It had been just about three years since she had last seen her, but everyday since they left she was sure her image haunted her Starlight's mind.
"I had a dream…" Seiya went on to explain her dream to Kakyuu realizing just how insane she sounded.
The look on her face was that of desperation and Kakyuu knew she only had one choice, to send Seiya back to Earth to check on her Odango. "Why do I have the feeling that I'm never going to see you again?" Kakyuu laughed a bit as a single tear slipped down her face.
"Princess?"
Kakyuu smiled and looked her Starlight, her Sailor Star Fighter in the eye. "You may go back to Earth to check on Usagi and her senshi." Before she knew what had happened Seiya had thrown her arms around Kakyuu's neck and was holding her very tightly.
"Arigato Princess." Seiya beamed while still holding on to Kakyuu. "You don't know how much this means to me." Kakyuu hugged her back for fear that this would be the last time she would be able to do so.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Maker stode casually into Yaten's room as she slept. They had training this morning and Yaten had slept in as usual. Normally Maker wouldn't bother her and wake her up but after seeing Seiya run by stark naked this morning she knew something important was going to happen today. "Yaten." Maker whispered. The room was dark and the only light being let in was from the door that Maker had left open a crack. The light fell perfectly onto Yaten's face and reflected off of the pale jade of her open curious eye. Yaten was lazy at times but the moment that some one stepped into her room she knew it. "Yaten wake up."
"I'm awake and this had better be good." She mumbled turning over so that the light wouldn't shine in her eye. The thought of train came to her mind but dismissed it, she knew that Maker would have known better than to wake her up for a nonsense cause. She was after all supposed to be a genius!
Maker came over and sat on Yaten's bed. "When I got up, ON TIME this morning for training I saw Seiya streak past me on her way to Kakyuu's room."
"Big freakin whoop!" Yaten mocked her. "Seiya's a baby, she probably had a big scary nightmare and went running to Kakyuu to make it all better." Yaten laughed a bit at herself and noticed that Maker had joined her.
"Maybe so, but I have a feeling that this nightmare of hers is going to involve us somehow."
Yaten sat up with her hair disheveled and her eyes filled with determination. "If I even have to do work because she's a puss I'm going to shoot her!"
"Look whose calling who a puss!" Seiya stood in the doorway casually wearing a long royal robe.
"Shut up baka!" Yaten threw her pillow towards the subject of her displeasurment and huffed. "Did some one have a bad dream?" She asked as if she was asking it of a child, using her best baby tone.
Seiya ran in the room and jumped on Yaten to sit on her and pin her down. "Yup and guess what? I'm going to Earth!"
"Earth?" Maker questioned from beside her. She only received a beaming smile from Seiya and a confused look from Yaten beneath her.
"That's right my Starlights, Seiya is to go to Earth and check on Usagi and her senshi." Kakyuu came up from the doorway. Seiya turned around and smiled at the Princess.
"So I guess this is so long for now, I had to torment you one more time before I left." She grinned evilly down at Yaten who wasn't appreciating her compromising position too much.
"Not so fast." Kakyuu cut her off from saying any more of her goodbyes. "Maker and Yaten will be accompanying you on your mission."
"NANI?!" Maker and Yaten said at the same time.
"Demo Princess, I can do this myself." Seiya protested removing herself from atop Yaten.
"If there truly is trouble on Earth then they will most likely need all the help that they can get." Kakyuu flexed her power through her eyes as she gave Seiya that knowing stare.
"Hai Princess." Seiya bowed and left the room.
"This is not how I wanted to be woken up today!" Yaten cursed trying to tuck herself back under the covers and sanctity of her bed.
Kakyuu giggled lightly at her actions and brought a hand up to cover her mouth. "Don't bother going back to bed, you are to leave immediately."
"Nani!" Yaten sprung up in bed. "I can't freakin believe this!" She cursed and threw the covers off of her, thank Kamisama that she, unlike Seiya, was wearing bed clothing. "I'm going to kill Seiya!" She got up and stormed into her bathroom leaving Maker and Kakyuu laughing behind her.
"Should I inform the Moon Princess and her court of your trip?" Kakyuu questioned Maker.
"No, let Seiya have her little surprise." Maker grinned and thought of how happy her friend was going to be.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
It was a peaceful day in the park. The wind seemed to blow any problems away and the sun shown brightly down upon them. The birds could be heard singing high in the treetops while the joyous sounds of children's laughter echoed throughout the winding paths of the park. Suddenly the sereness was broken by the shouts of a certain Odango-atama. "SHE'S WHAT?" Usagi screamed while nearly choking on a rice ball she had been eating.
"Usagi!" Rei scolded her and reprimanded her with a swift slap to the back of the head. She could be so loud sometimes and she was only proving it now! "Are you trying to scare everyone out of the park?"
Minako and Makoto just sweat dropped while watching the two Makoto had been telling the story but didn't see the point of continuing until Usagi was calmed down. "Usagi, she's still our friend, this doesn't change anything." Makoto tried to calm her down and bring her back to her senses.
"Yeah, it's not like you can't tell me that you didn't suspect it before." Minako casually took a sip of her soda and lamped out a bit more on the soft grass in the shade.
"Gomen, you just… surprised me that's all… I'll be quiet." Usagi looked down with a slight blush and talked trough her rice ball.
"As I was saying, I met Ami's new girlfriend the other day. She's a tennis player from Rei's school."
Minako snickered a bit. "And I thought they were supposed to be all pure and righteous with their holier than thou attitudes." She wasn't looking at the rest of the group but instead allowing her eyes to scan over the park around them.
"Minako!" Rei warned. "Don't encourage any more half baked ideas to pop out of Usagi's head!" This only made Minako laugh a bit more and left Usagi with a somewhat confused look on her face.
"Her name is Kureko. Do you know her Rei?" Makoto continued unphased by Minako's comment.
Rei nodded her head. "Yes, she's quite good and very highly admired." Rei blushed a bit. "I'm not saying that I… well… I don't look… Oh Kamisama, you know what I mean!" She let out an exasperated cry.
Usagi got up onto her knees and held her hands clasped in prayer form in front of her with huge hearts in her eyes. "Besides Rei, we all know you have Jedite." Makoto and Minako just laughed at Usagi's pathetic performance but laughed harder when Usagi received a shove from Rei.
"Shut up!"
"Yeah, Rei, how are things with Jed?" Minako raised her eyebrows up and down in a true perverted fashion. The generals had been reincarnated after the battle with Galaxia. Much the same way Endymion and Serenity had been reunited on Earth so were the senshi and the generals. With memories of their past lives, it wasn't too long before old flames were rekindled.
Rei's face turned bright red and her mouth clamped shut. "Why don't you ask Makoto? I saw Nephrite in the drug store the other day buying a huge box of condoms!" Rei tried hard to get the focus off of herself, it was true that she had seen him there, but that really wasn't anyone else's business.
Makoto remained calm and didn't give into the accusations against her. She shrugged her shoulders. "What? We were making pinatas and they were out of balloons." She knew the excuse wasn't going to fly, but she still looked at Usagi as the innocent little bunny that she was. True they were all the same age, but this was her princess sitting beside her, she didn't think it was right to discuss such a matter in her presence. But you just told her about Ami. That was different, that wasn't about me!
"Shimatta!" Minako jumped up and looked at her watch, eyes ablaze. "I'm going to be late getting back, and I still have three more interviews today!"
"Well standing there crying about it isn't going to get you there any quicker." Rei said snidely from the ground below and within seconds Minako was gone leaving a mini dust squall behind her. "I should really be going too." Rei commented collecting her things. "I'll see you guys tomorrow?" She asked already knowing the answer.
Everyday at lunchtime the girls would get together in the park for lunch. Makoto was doing an internship at the restaurant just around the corner under one of the most highly famed chefs in Japan. The University that Rei was attending wasn't too far away either. Her grandfather had wanted her to stay and take care of the shrine, pass it on to her and all, but Rei had other ideas. She was studying business and doing quite well.
Minako had won many idol auditions but decided that wasn't what she was meant to do. She didn't want to simply follow fashion trends, she wanted to help create them. With the winnings from the competitions and a few grants here and there she started her own fashion magazine. She was of course in charge of everything that was put into it and over saw all production, even occasionally writing a few articles herself. She named it 'Kaji' which meant faith-healing, in a sense creating this magazine was her faith-healing.
Ami was attending the most highly regarded medical schools in Japan, but couldn't make it to their little lunch ins since she was all of the way across town. Mamoru studied at the same university as she, but was in the more advanced classes already. He spent most of his time either studying, with Usagi or his friends Motoki, Fiore Kunzite and Zoicite.
And Usagi, well she was an entirely different matter all together. She was attending school, but her major was not set, well at least no one really considered the liberal arts to be a major. Even doing this simple task she often needed the help of Mamoru a lot. She often skipped class, giving excuses such as 'What do I need to learn this for anyway?' or 'I'm small, no one will notice I'm gone!'. She was a handful, but Mamoru kept her in line.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
It was true that they could have just contacted the senshi on their communicators or sent them a message concerning the matter but Kakyuu had insisted that this be taken care of in person. So, once again Seiya, Yaten and Taiki found themselves on Earth. "Quit your whining, I know you wanted to come whether you want to admit it or not!" Seiya smiled at Yaten who just smoothed out her skirt not paying any attention at all to her.
"What are we going to do to survive here on this kami-foresaken planet?" Yaten asked with her head just now coming up from her handy work on her skirt. "It's not like we can just prance around as the Three Lights like this!" She said making clear note of her breasts.
"Well a little duct tape and some…" The wheels in Seiya's head started turning furiously.
"NO!" Taiki said cutting her train of thought short. "I am not going to deal with that again!" She said concerning their crazed fans but then calmed a bit. "Besides, we have no reason to hide this time around. We will simply check on Usagi and make sure everything is fine and then we will leave."
"But…"
"No buts Seiya, we're going to check on your little nightmare and then leave." Taiki wasn't in the mood to listen to Seiya's excuses and idiotic plans concerning this mission.
"We're going to have to get REAL jobs?" Yaten whined and looked at Taiki for any signs that she may be joking.
"Yup, I'm afraid so!" Taiki said. "I suggest that we find the inners and then proceed with our job hunt. By now I'm sure the outers are well aware of our presence here and that means the inners will be soon as well."
"Taiki, it's been YEARS, how the hell are we supposed to find them?" Yaten protested throwing her arms up in the air.
Seiya walked over to the public pay phone nearby and held up their savior. "Ever think of using this?" She asked motioning to the phone book. She silently prayed to Kamisama that Usagi wasn't listed under Chiba. She flipped through the pages and came across Aino Minako first, she looked over her shoulder to see if Yaten and Taiki were paying attention to what she was doing but all she saw were the two bickering behind her. A smirk passed her lips and she made her way to the T's. Tsukino Usagi. "Hey, look what page I just happened to open up on!" Seiya turned around showing the listing to the other two proudly.
"Riiiiigghhhtt…" Yaten rolled her eyes in distaste. "And you really expect us to believe that?" She asked incredulously but saw that she was getting nowhere fast by the smile on Seiya's face. Seiya's eyes scanned for the address and saw that it wasn't too far away.
"It's only three blocks from here!" She exclaimed happily. "Shall we ladies?" There was no containing her bubbliness and excitement now. Yaten just sighed while she and Taiki followed their leader down the street.
On the way there a sign hung in the window of a business caught Yaten's eye. "Wait a minute you guys." She called as she read the sign more closely. It was a help wanted sign offering a position to a qualified photographer. Yaten's eyes lit up with excitement. Well, if I have to get a job here then I might as well do something I like! "I'll catch up with you guys later." Yaten waved them off and started to walk in.
"Wait, how will we find you?" Seiya asked puzzled.
"I'll just look for the biggest disaster area in Tokyo and some how know that your Odango-atama is at the center… and lord knows that you'll be right there with her!" Yaten smirked at Seiya's grin and proceeded into the building.
The rest of the walk was longer than life itself! Or so Seiya thought when they finally arrived at the address listed in the phone book. It was a tall apartment building on the upper side of Tokyo. "It's amazing…" Taiki murmered looking in Seiya's direction.
Seiya was completely and utterly elated and looked like a little kid high on sugar. Any hopes of keeping a cool face about the situation had long since been thrown out the window, but when she heard Taiki's comment she snapped out of it and looked back in confusion. "What's amazing?"
"How many years has it been?"
"What are you talking about?" Seiya pushed her way into the main doors of the building.
"You know exactly what I'm talking about!" Taiki looked annoyed at her shorter companion as they headed for the elevators.
Seiya did know exactly what she was talking about. It had been all of those years yet her feelings for Usagi had not dissipated and if anything they grew stronger. Distance makes the heart grow fonder, ne? "Oh you must be talking about my good looks!" Seiya tossed her ponytail behind her to smack Taiki in the face. Taiki just sighed and pressed their floor.
Taiki doubted that Seiya had truly thought of the situation the way it was. How was it? Well, she wasn't sure whether or not Seiya would be able to handle that type of rejection again. She was just setting herself up for the fall again. Taiki saw it clearly, why couldn't Seiya? She still had that air of confidence around her, sure it cracked a bit just before and a little while after they had left Earth the last time, but it seemed back in full force. Taiki knew that some doubt lay dormant beneath it, but wasn't about to be the one to stir it up to awaken it. "Could your smile get any wider?" Taiki asked shaking her head as Seiya just turned around to face her with a full tooth grin.
They stopped in front of a door that had a little white bunny plaque on it and a door mat that read 'Come in if you have cookies.' Yup this was the right place alright and it didn't look like Usagi had changed one bit. Seiya let out a slight laugh and knocked on the door. "Coming." A masculine voice said from inside. Taiki watched as Seiya's brow furrowed.
The door opened to reveal a tall man with black hair, blue eyes and a finely etched body minus a shirt. "Can I help you?" He asked the two women at his girlfriend's door.
Seiya opened her mouth to speak but nothing would come out. This wasn't her Odango, nope, this was her Odango's 'Mamo-chan'. Even the voice in her head said it with annoyance. Taiki noting Seiya's falter and spoke for the both of them. "Is Usagi home?" She asked moving her eyes from Seiya to Mamoru.
"No, but she'll be home any minute now. Would you like to come in and wait?" He offered moving aside.
Taiki smiled and accepted nudging Seiya with her elbow. "We'd love to." She stepped past Mamoru once he moved aside and drug Seiya behind her. Once inside the two sat on the couch while Mamoru looked around for a shirt to put on. He was a handsome man, but he was Usagi's man which made him pure evil in Seiya's mind. A weird sort of smirk came to her face and Taiki could only imagine what she was thinking of up there.
"I'm Mamoru." He introduced himself as he sat down in a plush chair near the couch.
They had forgotten that he didn't know them in this form and immediately felt rude for not introducing themselves, well Taiki did anyway. "Gomen, but you know us, I'm Taiki and this is Seiya." Taiki pointed from herself to Seiya.
Mamoru nearly spit his tea out across the room and this in turn earned him another smirk from Seiya. "Seiya?" Is all he could manage to choke out.
"Nice to see you too Mamoru." She chuckled. She liked the effect they were having on him, perhaps this would be fun after all.
Mamoru could still feel his eyes as wide as saucers while looking at the two women on the couch. It had been a long time since that name had been brought up in conversation. Usagi talked about him, or rather her now and the other two lights obsessively after they left. Mamoru had first suspected that Usagi had feelings for Seiya, especially after the little display when they had left. Those suspicions were falsified later when he spoke to the inners concerning the matter and they assured him that he was just imagining things and that Usagi had no idea of Seiya's thoughts towards her.
Mamoru had to try hard not to stare. They were beautiful, well more so Seiya than Taiki. Mamoru found his eyes straying to her and lingering on her form for more than a few moments. Seiya and Taiki seemed oblivious to his actions. Taiki was too busy trying to analyze Seiya's next move and Seiya was doing the same. "So where is Yaten?" Mamoru spoke again once he regained his composure.
"Oh she stopped at some fashion magazine to look for a job." Taiki answered the question before Seiya had the chance to make some smart-ass comment.
"Whose looking for a job?" A new voice entered the room and set down a heavy set of keys on the table near the door. "Oh hello!"
There she was… Seiya's eyes were locked on her form as she rose up from the couch. It was her Odango and she was just as beautiful as ever. Her hair was still held up in those two ridiculous buns that Seiya loved so much, her eyes were shining bright as ever, but there was something different about her. As her eyes traveled down further she realized what it was. Usagi had grown and fit the frame of a woman to a T. She wasn't wearing anything provocative or special but still made Seiya's mind race at the sight of her t-shirt clinging to her curves. "Uh…"
"Way to go!" Taiki said pinching Seiya in the leg, bringing her out of her dream. She had noticed the look Mamoru had given her while she just stood and stared at his girlfriend. He had smiled? What was that all about?
"Usako, some old friends decided to drop by for a visit." Mamoru stood and walked to Usagi. Usagi looked from Taiki to Seiya still not identifying them yet and turned to give Mamoru a kiss.
Yup, Seiya felt that one. A pained expression briefly surfaced in her features but she quickly hid it, not before Taiki noticed. "Uh, Mamo-chan, I don't know these people." Usagi whispered none too quietly to Mamoru.
Seiya laughed and got up. "You forgot us already Odango?" She said as she came up closer to Usagi.
"Seiya?"
Well read on… if you liked the triangle in the last fic, you'll simply love this one!
[::Akuen::]
by Lady in Red
(The New Moon Flickers)
Have you ever met some one whose personality was so addicting that their essence will never leave you?
She stood there wrapped in the bed sheet that I had left her sleeping in. We had been meeting this way every night since I can remember, but there was something different about tonight. Her eyes were closed and the sheet twined itself around just so, leaving barely anything to the imagination. In a true crucifixion manner she stood there with her arms out stretched and her feet firmly together. Her head did not hang but instead faced me… her head could never hang, there was too much for it to stay up for.
I felt the breeze pick up to my back and felt the hair on my body stand on end. Normally when I was around her my entire body would be filled with the warmth from the light that she emitted, but this time I felt cold. There was a feeling stirring inside of my body, one that I could not place. I stood naked and vulnerable to this feeling and did not like it. I wanted to reach out and touch her, to feel her warmth, but I couldn't.
My vision went red, everywhere I looked around myself was tinted with the cool shade of red that I had now become accustom to. I looked back to the tenshi in front of me and noticed that she had not moved. "Please open your eyes…" I whispered to her. My breath caught in the wind and she did not respond. "Please look at me…" I pleaded in the same whisper but she stood still as stone.
The silence was becoming over whelming and I didn't know if I could take it any more. I was scared for the first time since I could remember I was actually scared. What kind of fighter could I be if I was frightened? No, I wasn't scared for my own well being, but instead for the beautiful vision in front of me. I loved her, I loved her more than life itself. I had heard that phrase so many times over in my short existence but never truly knew what it meant until I had met her. I had never known love before I had met her. I could hear her breaths as I watched the sheet on her breasts shift ever so slightly with every rise and fall of her chest.
She was not supposed to be here with me, I was in no position to be with this woman but still I was. By some slight miracle fate had brought us together here and now if even for this brief moment and I didn't waste a second of it. Today was different though, this did not normally happen… Why was she just standing there? Her eyes began to open and my breath caught in my throat. Slowly those lids rose to reveal the cerulean pools that lie beneath them. Her sight was right on me. Large black wings spread from her back to span wider than her out stretched arms.
I stared in wonder at the marvelous sight before me. She was looking at me with that expressionless face, I had never seen such absence in her eyes before. She was not supposed to be this way.
'With your wings spread out wide, you are there.
But those wings are so black and heavy on you.
That you look like you're being crushed by your destiny'
She moved setting her right foot out in front of her letting her arms drop to the side. In this single graceful motion the sheet fell from her form.
'I want to help you, I want to rescue you, if I can do it
I would even throw away my life, all for you...'
Heavy chains appeared on her wrists but her gaze never left my eyes. Her hands came back up to show her eyes the chains that had been bestowed upon her delicate wrists. The setting of my room was all but gone and two moons hung behind her. One drenched in the same blood red as my vision and the other smaller moon flickered in and out of existence.
'When you're uneasy, when it's painful, I am there with you
Always keep showing to me your smiling face.'
I reached my hand out to her and the second smaller moon disappeared. I could feel the puzzled look pass across my features and I saw her hands drop to her sides, freed of the chains and a smile graced her lips. The wings on her back folded and as she looked from one to the other they glistened with a new brightness and became the most brilliant shade of white I had ever seen. My hand slipped into hers and she brought my body close to hers. I kissed the tenshi and my vision cleared. Those clear eyes, so deep that my heart couldn't fathom their bottom. I stared helplessly into them, I couldn't tear myself away. "Don't leave…" I whispered to her, but she only smiled in response. She backed way to the ledge of the pillar we were now standing on. I could feel the cool marble beneath my bare feet and looked around at the endless sky that surrounded us. Without further warning she was lifted into the air by those shimmering wings and was gone.
I was left alone. I was standing on a pillar of strength without a sole to turn to. How desperate one could become. I looked over at the sky and saw the new moon drowning in the ocean below setting for the last time… I could just feel it.
Seiya sat up in her bed. "What was that dream?" She asked her vacant room. Every night she was haunted by the same dream but tonight it had been way different. Usually her dream was of her Odango, but tonight her love was different. No, not a different person but Usagi was different. She glanced over at the clock that sat on her nightstand, it read 5:00am. "Seiya…" The wind whispered in her room and in an instant Seiya had thrown the covers from her and was out of bed. Something was wrong.
Seiya made a mad dash down the hallway towards the Princess' chambers. On her way she passed Maker just coming out of her room but did not stop to explain. Maker merely stared at her apparently lost in a thought and didn't speak a word either. There were no maids or guards mulling around the hallway since it was the butt-ass-crack of dawn after all, so Seiya's path was clear. In moments she was upon Kakyuu's door pounding furiously on it desperate for an answer. "Princess!" She called from outside the door. "Princess please!" She continued to pound on the door until it was opened from the other side and allowed her form to enter the room.
"Seiya!" Kakyuu gasped when she saw the heaving breathless woman standing before her. She was so worked up and it wasn't in a good way. For Seiya to up and out of bed at any time before ten in the morning or without Yaten's pestering was truly an indication that something was wrong. "Calm down!" She walked over to the chair near her vanity and grabbed a robe. In Seiya's haste she had forgotten her physical state but didn't blush at the realization, there were more important things on her mind.
"Princess, there's something wrong…" Seiya was trying to remember the dream, trying to find the words to say what she needed to.
"What's wrong? Are you alright?" Kakyuu was becoming beyond scared by now, to see her Starlight in such a state was taking its toll on her.
"Odango…" Seiya caught her breath. "Something is wrong with Odango on Earth."
"How do you know this?" Kakyuu calmed down a little bit, she knew that the littlest thing that had to do with Usagi would have the greatest effect on Seiya. It had been just about three years since she had last seen her, but everyday since they left she was sure her image haunted her Starlight's mind.
"I had a dream…" Seiya went on to explain her dream to Kakyuu realizing just how insane she sounded.
The look on her face was that of desperation and Kakyuu knew she only had one choice, to send Seiya back to Earth to check on her Odango. "Why do I have the feeling that I'm never going to see you again?" Kakyuu laughed a bit as a single tear slipped down her face.
"Princess?"
Kakyuu smiled and looked her Starlight, her Sailor Star Fighter in the eye. "You may go back to Earth to check on Usagi and her senshi." Before she knew what had happened Seiya had thrown her arms around Kakyuu's neck and was holding her very tightly.
"Arigato Princess." Seiya beamed while still holding on to Kakyuu. "You don't know how much this means to me." Kakyuu hugged her back for fear that this would be the last time she would be able to do so.
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Maker stode casually into Yaten's room as she slept. They had training this morning and Yaten had slept in as usual. Normally Maker wouldn't bother her and wake her up but after seeing Seiya run by stark naked this morning she knew something important was going to happen today. "Yaten." Maker whispered. The room was dark and the only light being let in was from the door that Maker had left open a crack. The light fell perfectly onto Yaten's face and reflected off of the pale jade of her open curious eye. Yaten was lazy at times but the moment that some one stepped into her room she knew it. "Yaten wake up."
"I'm awake and this had better be good." She mumbled turning over so that the light wouldn't shine in her eye. The thought of train came to her mind but dismissed it, she knew that Maker would have known better than to wake her up for a nonsense cause. She was after all supposed to be a genius!
Maker came over and sat on Yaten's bed. "When I got up, ON TIME this morning for training I saw Seiya streak past me on her way to Kakyuu's room."
"Big freakin whoop!" Yaten mocked her. "Seiya's a baby, she probably had a big scary nightmare and went running to Kakyuu to make it all better." Yaten laughed a bit at herself and noticed that Maker had joined her.
"Maybe so, but I have a feeling that this nightmare of hers is going to involve us somehow."
Yaten sat up with her hair disheveled and her eyes filled with determination. "If I even have to do work because she's a puss I'm going to shoot her!"
"Look whose calling who a puss!" Seiya stood in the doorway casually wearing a long royal robe.
"Shut up baka!" Yaten threw her pillow towards the subject of her displeasurment and huffed. "Did some one have a bad dream?" She asked as if she was asking it of a child, using her best baby tone.
Seiya ran in the room and jumped on Yaten to sit on her and pin her down. "Yup and guess what? I'm going to Earth!"
"Earth?" Maker questioned from beside her. She only received a beaming smile from Seiya and a confused look from Yaten beneath her.
"That's right my Starlights, Seiya is to go to Earth and check on Usagi and her senshi." Kakyuu came up from the doorway. Seiya turned around and smiled at the Princess.
"So I guess this is so long for now, I had to torment you one more time before I left." She grinned evilly down at Yaten who wasn't appreciating her compromising position too much.
"Not so fast." Kakyuu cut her off from saying any more of her goodbyes. "Maker and Yaten will be accompanying you on your mission."
"NANI?!" Maker and Yaten said at the same time.
"Demo Princess, I can do this myself." Seiya protested removing herself from atop Yaten.
"If there truly is trouble on Earth then they will most likely need all the help that they can get." Kakyuu flexed her power through her eyes as she gave Seiya that knowing stare.
"Hai Princess." Seiya bowed and left the room.
"This is not how I wanted to be woken up today!" Yaten cursed trying to tuck herself back under the covers and sanctity of her bed.
Kakyuu giggled lightly at her actions and brought a hand up to cover her mouth. "Don't bother going back to bed, you are to leave immediately."
"Nani!" Yaten sprung up in bed. "I can't freakin believe this!" She cursed and threw the covers off of her, thank Kamisama that she, unlike Seiya, was wearing bed clothing. "I'm going to kill Seiya!" She got up and stormed into her bathroom leaving Maker and Kakyuu laughing behind her.
"Should I inform the Moon Princess and her court of your trip?" Kakyuu questioned Maker.
"No, let Seiya have her little surprise." Maker grinned and thought of how happy her friend was going to be.
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It was a peaceful day in the park. The wind seemed to blow any problems away and the sun shown brightly down upon them. The birds could be heard singing high in the treetops while the joyous sounds of children's laughter echoed throughout the winding paths of the park. Suddenly the sereness was broken by the shouts of a certain Odango-atama. "SHE'S WHAT?" Usagi screamed while nearly choking on a rice ball she had been eating.
"Usagi!" Rei scolded her and reprimanded her with a swift slap to the back of the head. She could be so loud sometimes and she was only proving it now! "Are you trying to scare everyone out of the park?"
Minako and Makoto just sweat dropped while watching the two Makoto had been telling the story but didn't see the point of continuing until Usagi was calmed down. "Usagi, she's still our friend, this doesn't change anything." Makoto tried to calm her down and bring her back to her senses.
"Yeah, it's not like you can't tell me that you didn't suspect it before." Minako casually took a sip of her soda and lamped out a bit more on the soft grass in the shade.
"Gomen, you just… surprised me that's all… I'll be quiet." Usagi looked down with a slight blush and talked trough her rice ball.
"As I was saying, I met Ami's new girlfriend the other day. She's a tennis player from Rei's school."
Minako snickered a bit. "And I thought they were supposed to be all pure and righteous with their holier than thou attitudes." She wasn't looking at the rest of the group but instead allowing her eyes to scan over the park around them.
"Minako!" Rei warned. "Don't encourage any more half baked ideas to pop out of Usagi's head!" This only made Minako laugh a bit more and left Usagi with a somewhat confused look on her face.
"Her name is Kureko. Do you know her Rei?" Makoto continued unphased by Minako's comment.
Rei nodded her head. "Yes, she's quite good and very highly admired." Rei blushed a bit. "I'm not saying that I… well… I don't look… Oh Kamisama, you know what I mean!" She let out an exasperated cry.
Usagi got up onto her knees and held her hands clasped in prayer form in front of her with huge hearts in her eyes. "Besides Rei, we all know you have Jedite." Makoto and Minako just laughed at Usagi's pathetic performance but laughed harder when Usagi received a shove from Rei.
"Shut up!"
"Yeah, Rei, how are things with Jed?" Minako raised her eyebrows up and down in a true perverted fashion. The generals had been reincarnated after the battle with Galaxia. Much the same way Endymion and Serenity had been reunited on Earth so were the senshi and the generals. With memories of their past lives, it wasn't too long before old flames were rekindled.
Rei's face turned bright red and her mouth clamped shut. "Why don't you ask Makoto? I saw Nephrite in the drug store the other day buying a huge box of condoms!" Rei tried hard to get the focus off of herself, it was true that she had seen him there, but that really wasn't anyone else's business.
Makoto remained calm and didn't give into the accusations against her. She shrugged her shoulders. "What? We were making pinatas and they were out of balloons." She knew the excuse wasn't going to fly, but she still looked at Usagi as the innocent little bunny that she was. True they were all the same age, but this was her princess sitting beside her, she didn't think it was right to discuss such a matter in her presence. But you just told her about Ami. That was different, that wasn't about me!
"Shimatta!" Minako jumped up and looked at her watch, eyes ablaze. "I'm going to be late getting back, and I still have three more interviews today!"
"Well standing there crying about it isn't going to get you there any quicker." Rei said snidely from the ground below and within seconds Minako was gone leaving a mini dust squall behind her. "I should really be going too." Rei commented collecting her things. "I'll see you guys tomorrow?" She asked already knowing the answer.
Everyday at lunchtime the girls would get together in the park for lunch. Makoto was doing an internship at the restaurant just around the corner under one of the most highly famed chefs in Japan. The University that Rei was attending wasn't too far away either. Her grandfather had wanted her to stay and take care of the shrine, pass it on to her and all, but Rei had other ideas. She was studying business and doing quite well.
Minako had won many idol auditions but decided that wasn't what she was meant to do. She didn't want to simply follow fashion trends, she wanted to help create them. With the winnings from the competitions and a few grants here and there she started her own fashion magazine. She was of course in charge of everything that was put into it and over saw all production, even occasionally writing a few articles herself. She named it 'Kaji' which meant faith-healing, in a sense creating this magazine was her faith-healing.
Ami was attending the most highly regarded medical schools in Japan, but couldn't make it to their little lunch ins since she was all of the way across town. Mamoru studied at the same university as she, but was in the more advanced classes already. He spent most of his time either studying, with Usagi or his friends Motoki, Fiore Kunzite and Zoicite.
And Usagi, well she was an entirely different matter all together. She was attending school, but her major was not set, well at least no one really considered the liberal arts to be a major. Even doing this simple task she often needed the help of Mamoru a lot. She often skipped class, giving excuses such as 'What do I need to learn this for anyway?' or 'I'm small, no one will notice I'm gone!'. She was a handful, but Mamoru kept her in line.
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It was true that they could have just contacted the senshi on their communicators or sent them a message concerning the matter but Kakyuu had insisted that this be taken care of in person. So, once again Seiya, Yaten and Taiki found themselves on Earth. "Quit your whining, I know you wanted to come whether you want to admit it or not!" Seiya smiled at Yaten who just smoothed out her skirt not paying any attention at all to her.
"What are we going to do to survive here on this kami-foresaken planet?" Yaten asked with her head just now coming up from her handy work on her skirt. "It's not like we can just prance around as the Three Lights like this!" She said making clear note of her breasts.
"Well a little duct tape and some…" The wheels in Seiya's head started turning furiously.
"NO!" Taiki said cutting her train of thought short. "I am not going to deal with that again!" She said concerning their crazed fans but then calmed a bit. "Besides, we have no reason to hide this time around. We will simply check on Usagi and make sure everything is fine and then we will leave."
"But…"
"No buts Seiya, we're going to check on your little nightmare and then leave." Taiki wasn't in the mood to listen to Seiya's excuses and idiotic plans concerning this mission.
"We're going to have to get REAL jobs?" Yaten whined and looked at Taiki for any signs that she may be joking.
"Yup, I'm afraid so!" Taiki said. "I suggest that we find the inners and then proceed with our job hunt. By now I'm sure the outers are well aware of our presence here and that means the inners will be soon as well."
"Taiki, it's been YEARS, how the hell are we supposed to find them?" Yaten protested throwing her arms up in the air.
Seiya walked over to the public pay phone nearby and held up their savior. "Ever think of using this?" She asked motioning to the phone book. She silently prayed to Kamisama that Usagi wasn't listed under Chiba. She flipped through the pages and came across Aino Minako first, she looked over her shoulder to see if Yaten and Taiki were paying attention to what she was doing but all she saw were the two bickering behind her. A smirk passed her lips and she made her way to the T's. Tsukino Usagi. "Hey, look what page I just happened to open up on!" Seiya turned around showing the listing to the other two proudly.
"Riiiiigghhhtt…" Yaten rolled her eyes in distaste. "And you really expect us to believe that?" She asked incredulously but saw that she was getting nowhere fast by the smile on Seiya's face. Seiya's eyes scanned for the address and saw that it wasn't too far away.
"It's only three blocks from here!" She exclaimed happily. "Shall we ladies?" There was no containing her bubbliness and excitement now. Yaten just sighed while she and Taiki followed their leader down the street.
On the way there a sign hung in the window of a business caught Yaten's eye. "Wait a minute you guys." She called as she read the sign more closely. It was a help wanted sign offering a position to a qualified photographer. Yaten's eyes lit up with excitement. Well, if I have to get a job here then I might as well do something I like! "I'll catch up with you guys later." Yaten waved them off and started to walk in.
"Wait, how will we find you?" Seiya asked puzzled.
"I'll just look for the biggest disaster area in Tokyo and some how know that your Odango-atama is at the center… and lord knows that you'll be right there with her!" Yaten smirked at Seiya's grin and proceeded into the building.
The rest of the walk was longer than life itself! Or so Seiya thought when they finally arrived at the address listed in the phone book. It was a tall apartment building on the upper side of Tokyo. "It's amazing…" Taiki murmered looking in Seiya's direction.
Seiya was completely and utterly elated and looked like a little kid high on sugar. Any hopes of keeping a cool face about the situation had long since been thrown out the window, but when she heard Taiki's comment she snapped out of it and looked back in confusion. "What's amazing?"
"How many years has it been?"
"What are you talking about?" Seiya pushed her way into the main doors of the building.
"You know exactly what I'm talking about!" Taiki looked annoyed at her shorter companion as they headed for the elevators.
Seiya did know exactly what she was talking about. It had been all of those years yet her feelings for Usagi had not dissipated and if anything they grew stronger. Distance makes the heart grow fonder, ne? "Oh you must be talking about my good looks!" Seiya tossed her ponytail behind her to smack Taiki in the face. Taiki just sighed and pressed their floor.
Taiki doubted that Seiya had truly thought of the situation the way it was. How was it? Well, she wasn't sure whether or not Seiya would be able to handle that type of rejection again. She was just setting herself up for the fall again. Taiki saw it clearly, why couldn't Seiya? She still had that air of confidence around her, sure it cracked a bit just before and a little while after they had left Earth the last time, but it seemed back in full force. Taiki knew that some doubt lay dormant beneath it, but wasn't about to be the one to stir it up to awaken it. "Could your smile get any wider?" Taiki asked shaking her head as Seiya just turned around to face her with a full tooth grin.
They stopped in front of a door that had a little white bunny plaque on it and a door mat that read 'Come in if you have cookies.' Yup this was the right place alright and it didn't look like Usagi had changed one bit. Seiya let out a slight laugh and knocked on the door. "Coming." A masculine voice said from inside. Taiki watched as Seiya's brow furrowed.
The door opened to reveal a tall man with black hair, blue eyes and a finely etched body minus a shirt. "Can I help you?" He asked the two women at his girlfriend's door.
Seiya opened her mouth to speak but nothing would come out. This wasn't her Odango, nope, this was her Odango's 'Mamo-chan'. Even the voice in her head said it with annoyance. Taiki noting Seiya's falter and spoke for the both of them. "Is Usagi home?" She asked moving her eyes from Seiya to Mamoru.
"No, but she'll be home any minute now. Would you like to come in and wait?" He offered moving aside.
Taiki smiled and accepted nudging Seiya with her elbow. "We'd love to." She stepped past Mamoru once he moved aside and drug Seiya behind her. Once inside the two sat on the couch while Mamoru looked around for a shirt to put on. He was a handsome man, but he was Usagi's man which made him pure evil in Seiya's mind. A weird sort of smirk came to her face and Taiki could only imagine what she was thinking of up there.
"I'm Mamoru." He introduced himself as he sat down in a plush chair near the couch.
They had forgotten that he didn't know them in this form and immediately felt rude for not introducing themselves, well Taiki did anyway. "Gomen, but you know us, I'm Taiki and this is Seiya." Taiki pointed from herself to Seiya.
Mamoru nearly spit his tea out across the room and this in turn earned him another smirk from Seiya. "Seiya?" Is all he could manage to choke out.
"Nice to see you too Mamoru." She chuckled. She liked the effect they were having on him, perhaps this would be fun after all.
Mamoru could still feel his eyes as wide as saucers while looking at the two women on the couch. It had been a long time since that name had been brought up in conversation. Usagi talked about him, or rather her now and the other two lights obsessively after they left. Mamoru had first suspected that Usagi had feelings for Seiya, especially after the little display when they had left. Those suspicions were falsified later when he spoke to the inners concerning the matter and they assured him that he was just imagining things and that Usagi had no idea of Seiya's thoughts towards her.
Mamoru had to try hard not to stare. They were beautiful, well more so Seiya than Taiki. Mamoru found his eyes straying to her and lingering on her form for more than a few moments. Seiya and Taiki seemed oblivious to his actions. Taiki was too busy trying to analyze Seiya's next move and Seiya was doing the same. "So where is Yaten?" Mamoru spoke again once he regained his composure.
"Oh she stopped at some fashion magazine to look for a job." Taiki answered the question before Seiya had the chance to make some smart-ass comment.
"Whose looking for a job?" A new voice entered the room and set down a heavy set of keys on the table near the door. "Oh hello!"
There she was… Seiya's eyes were locked on her form as she rose up from the couch. It was her Odango and she was just as beautiful as ever. Her hair was still held up in those two ridiculous buns that Seiya loved so much, her eyes were shining bright as ever, but there was something different about her. As her eyes traveled down further she realized what it was. Usagi had grown and fit the frame of a woman to a T. She wasn't wearing anything provocative or special but still made Seiya's mind race at the sight of her t-shirt clinging to her curves. "Uh…"
"Way to go!" Taiki said pinching Seiya in the leg, bringing her out of her dream. She had noticed the look Mamoru had given her while she just stood and stared at his girlfriend. He had smiled? What was that all about?
"Usako, some old friends decided to drop by for a visit." Mamoru stood and walked to Usagi. Usagi looked from Taiki to Seiya still not identifying them yet and turned to give Mamoru a kiss.
Yup, Seiya felt that one. A pained expression briefly surfaced in her features but she quickly hid it, not before Taiki noticed. "Uh, Mamo-chan, I don't know these people." Usagi whispered none too quietly to Mamoru.
Seiya laughed and got up. "You forgot us already Odango?" She said as she came up closer to Usagi.
"Seiya?"