A/N: Here it is, another SeiyaxUsagi! Enjoy, and let me know what you think!
Chapter One: Wherever You Will Go
Fighter, with her comrades and princess at her side, took off to Kinmoku-sei. The trip, usually long and arduous, seemed nonexistant. Her mind was reeling.
-Flashback-
"Odango..I'll never forget you." Like a fool, she blushed at this. As if Usagi would even take it the way it was meant.
"Of course! We'll be friends forever!" she could hear her comrades and princess giggling. How frustrating. It loosened the air, at least.
"Mamoru-san..protect her.. the words from some guy.."
-End Flashback-
Because I can't. I have to go home. She has to stay here. Even if I could stay..she has you..so...here I am. I'm losing gracefully, I am stepping down. Not because I can't fight, not because I'm too weak to fight. But because Odango doesn't want me to fight.
They arrived on Kinmoku. Everything was, in a sense of the word, utter crap. Ashes were strewn everywhere, a few skeletons of buildings reached their spindly frames to the blackened sky. Fighter could still smell the death that lingered in the air.
-Flashback-
"Fighter, fall back!" Maker commanded.
"No! We can't give up!" Fighter argued, throwing her laser around some more, damaging an anima-mate.
She heard Maker sigh and stand next to her. Soon, Maker's attack was called out. They fought like this for hours.
-End Flashback-
All that fighting had been for absolutely nothing. In the end, Kinmoku was destroyed. In the end, they had failed.
In the end, their princess had fled, signaling the long painful search for her. The search that led Fighter to Usagi Tsukino.
"Hey..." Healer said gently placing a hand on Fighter's shoulder.
"Hm?" Fighter replied, still dazed. Healer sighed and shook her head.
In the months that followed, most of Kinmoku was rebuilt. Maker and Healer quickly overcame their infatuations with Ami and Minako, and moved onwards with their lives.
But Fighter was still stuck in the past.
"Fighter!" Maker yelled, raising her voice for the second time during the conference to get her leader's attention.
"I'm sorry, what'd you say?" Fighter asked distractedly. Maker cursed under her breath, slamming a book down on the table and walking off in a huff. Healer shook her head sadly, following after her. Kakyuu reached across the table and clasped Fighter's hand within her own.
"Fighter, what is bothering you?"
"I can't seem to put the past where it belongs, in the past..." Fighter whispered sadly, tears filling her midnight blue eyes as they met the deep red ones of her princess, full of worry and concern.
"Do you..wish to forget?"
"Never. I want to move on..but never forget.."
"Why not?" Kakyuu asked, tilting her head to the side slightly in confusion. Surely, forgetting a painful memory made it easier to go on as if nothing happened..
"Because that was my last promise to her...one I intend to keep." Figther said, standing up. She didn't want any more pity.
Kakyuu merely nodded, unmoving from her position as Fighter walked out, heels tap tapping on the ground the entire way.
When the starlight leader was gone, Kakyuu's hands rose to her face as hot tears spilled out. Fighter's love was tearing her apart. Fighter's love was driving a wedge between the starlights. Fighter's love was killing her. Fighter was so strong...she was the leader..and yet, this simple unrequited love was going to be the end of her.
An end Kakyuu swore to herself would never happen. Not ever.
On Earth:
"Mamo-chan, why is it that you love me?" Usagi asked, twirling a pigtail around her fingers playfully. It was nearing the end of their long phone conversation, and she wanted something that would maker her fall into a blissful sleep full of dreams and his face.
"Because..you're Serenity. I loved you then, I love you now." Was his answer. Usagi gasped and hung up the phone.
He had given her that answer before, and she thought it was cute. Eternal love.
Only now did she truly get what it meant.
He loved her, because he had to.
Suddenly, her thoughts drifted to a certain starlight..
-Flashback-
"I love your shine, you got that? I don't ever want to see it go out!"
-End Flashback-
Seiya..had loved her. She understood that. It had taken her a while to realize just how much Seiya loved her though..
Seiya loved her enough..to let her be with the man she loved, free of protest.
Did..Mamoru love her enough to do the same?
To let her go..if it meant her true happiness?
She wished she hadn't hung up the phone. She wanted to know, now.
Ring..ring..
Mamoru was calling back. She picked up.
"Usako? What's wrong?"
"Oh nothing, I thought my mom was coming into my room, sorry!" She lied. She wasn't sure why, but she did.
"Oh. Okay. I just wanted to say go-" he started but she cut him off.
"Mamo-chan, how much do you love me?"
"Alot! Didn't you just ask this?"
"No, that was why." She clarified. He laughed.
"Ah, alright Usako. Goo-"
Once again she interrupted him.
"Do you love me enough..to let me go?" She asked.
"Let you go? Why on Earth would I do that? I love you! We're supposed to be together in the future! I'll never let you go, Usako."
"Okay! Goodnight, Mamo-chan!"
"Oyasumi."
Click
Usagi fell backwards upon her bed. She didn't feel like sleeping tonight. Pain struck in her heart. Mamoru didn't truly love her, at least, not the way he should. Not the way Seiya could.
"Seiya, have you moved on already?" Usagi asked out loud. She didn't want to think of that answer. It had been some months...and probably even longer on Kinmoku.
So lately, been wondering
Who will be there to take my place
"Seiya, whoever she is...I hope she can make you happy..and love you the way you deserve to be loved..." Usagi said again, out loud. She was beginning to question her sanity.
The way I've only just realized I've loved you all along..
Usagi stood up, and picked up her communicator. She would be getting no sleep tonight, anyways.
"Pluto?" she asked timidly.
"Hai, princess?" was the almost instant response. Pluto had probably already known Usagi would contact her. How creepy...
"May I speak with you, please?"
"Of course."
A few seconds later, in a flash of light, Pluto appeared in Usagi's room. Usagi sat down, patting the bed next to her. Pluto sat down as well. In the last few months, Pluto became a mentor to Usagi, teaching her the lessons she'd need to learn to rule Crystal Tokyo.
"If I don't marry Mamo-chan, what'll happen to the future."
Pluto's expression darkened.
"Why will you not marry him?
Usagi sighed heavily. Here goes nothing..
"He only loves me because he has to! As Neo-Queen Serenity, I'll live for thousands of years! With someone who doesn't love me for any reason other than he has to? That's like a nightmare you'll never wake from!" Usagi said, trying to hold back her emotions. Pluto regarded her for a long moment before speaking.
"So it is, princess. However, if you do not marry someone to rule by your side, and help you, Crystal Tokyo will never happen." Pluto said severely.
Usagi nodded determinedly.
"However, the events that lead to Crystal Tokyo have been set in motion. Usagi..you need to be married to someone by this time next year. Otherwise..the future will never happen. Nothing of it will. I know the alternate future, but I am not permitted to reveal it. I may reveal however, that it is not satisfactory."
Usagi's shoulders slumped. One year? That's all the time she had?
"The decision is yours to make. Despite their protests, I will see to it that the others support you on whichever decision that you make, princess." Pluto said, "I must go now. Feel free to call upon me whenever needed..."
And in a flash, Pluto was gone once more.
When I'm gone you'll need love
To light the shadows on your face
Oh Seiya..are you alone, like me? Mamo-chan..I'll break it off with him in the morning. I can't keep this up, not anymore. I can't be with someone who doesn't truly love me for me. I never noticed it, until you showed me your love. Your unconditional, boundless love...and I was entranced...
-Flashback-
"Odango!"
His voice reached out to me. I turned, and saw him, running, a panicked expression on his face. What was going on? He leaped up, right in front of me..and I saw a blast of light connect with him. He continued on, and I grabbed him, trying to slow his fall. We both crashed backwards. He had blood dripping down his face. Was he dead? No, he couldn't be dead! I called out his name..Seiya! Seiya! He couldn't be gone. He had become my prince, my knight in shining armor. I knew he was really a girl, a Sailor Senshi like myself...but somehow, that didnt' register. Or maybe it never really mattered at all...
-End Flashback-
What mattered was that he, Seiya, was in love with me. Not because he had to. Not because he was supposed to. Hell, not even because he wanted to. He was in love with me, because he couldn't stop it.
And I suppose, I loved him too. I think I still do, after all, I am thinking about him, laying in bed awake.
And so, that night, Usagi decided three things. She was breaking up with Mamoru, she loved Seiya, and she would stop at nothing.
Kinmoku:
Fighter stepped out onto her balcony, looking at the stars. As usual, her thoughts were on Usagi...
Then between the sand and stone
Could you make it on your own?
"Odango, are you alright?" Fighter whispered, closing her eyes against the tears threatening to fall. She couldn't help but wonder if some enemy had shown up, and her useless boyfriend wasn't there to protect her, to stand by her... Fighter shook her head.
These thoughts will make me crazy. She's a stronger girl now. Actually, she's a woman.
Fighter smiled. She had seen it, the transformation of Usagi from a girl into a woman. Usagi hadn't been oblivious at their farewell, she had merely made her choice, maturely. She had done her best not to upset any of the parties involved.
-Flashback-
"I'll never forget you..."
"Yes! We'll be friends forever!"
-End Flashback-
If I could, then I would
I'll go wherever you will go
"Odango..I want to protect you still..." Fighter choked out as the tears flowed freely. It had been months, possibly longer. Why couldn't she just let this go already? It was almost as if..she wasn't supposed to let it go..
Fighter thought back to the Galaxia battle, how she had taken countless hits to protect Usagi.. and so she had...
Way up high, or down low
I'll go wherever you will go
Fighter had survived her princess...survived all of the sol senshi. It was just her, her comrades, Usagi, and Galaxia. Their odds were hopeless at best. Yet they persevered..they had won..even when Usagi herself had wanted to quit. Not that Fighter would have ever allowed her to just accept defeat..
An idea suddenly struck Fighter, she wouldn't be a guardian senshi to the princess forever. Despite her powers..she would someday age. Yes, it would be a long, long ways off..but someday, she wouldn't be fit to fight anymore..someday, she could return to her..as a normal being. She wouldn't be able to be male..and she wouldn't be able to transform into Star Fighter..but she could just be.
And Maybe, I'll find out
A way to make it back someday
Fighter sighed. If she lost her senshi powers, could she even be able to return to Earth? In the end, it was pointless, after all. She returned to her room, and set heavily upon her couch. It was late, she should be asleep. Her body ached from the strain of heavy training. There was no need, but she felt she had to keep doing something, to give her heart a chance to pump without feeling the stabbing pain of being apart from the one she loved so dearly.
Fighter picked up a small white pill from her table. Maker had given it to her, to help with her growing insomnia. She gulped it down, and spread out on her bed, waiting for sleep to claim her mind. Two hours passed, and nothing... she half dreamed, of protecting Usagi. There was nothing she wished more. She felt guilty, but she wished she could be a Sol senshi, so she'd always be near her brilliant shine..
To watch you, to guide you
Through the darkest of your days..
She wanted to bring light to the darkness, like stars in the night sky. She wanted to illuminate the sadness that she saw in Usagi's heart. She wanted to see Usagi's true shine.
Not that Kakyuu didn't shine, but it was just different.
Usagi was a princess, yes, but she was always herself to the very core...
Fighter groaned and sat up. She wanted to go to sleep, damnit! Her stupid mind wouldn't stop spinning long enough for her to rest. She grumbled some choice words as she rose to her feet, wobbling as she still had her boots on. Why hadn't she thought to de-henshin? In a flash she was in her undergarments. She made her way to the table and sat down in a chair.
If a great wave shall fall
and fall upon us all
Fighter saw the bottle of liquor on the table, a small amount missing. She had started the bottle this morning. She poured herself some, and drank it quickly, wincing slightly as it burned the whole way down. She waited for it to sedate her, to slow her thoughts, but unfortunately for her, no luck.
Well then I hope there's someone out there
That can bring me back to you..
I just want to see you again...Fighter thought sadly as she downed another shot. She didn't particularly notice the burning this time.
If I could, then I would
I'll go wherever you will go
Fighter knew she was becoming drunk. She just didn't particularly care. She suddenly felt warm..this warm, wondrous light. Usagi! Then it started to fade...and she realized she was alone...
Way up high, or down low,
I'll go wherever you will go
Fighter quickly downed another shot, and the subtle feeling of warmth filled her again. She smirked slightly, as the thoughts in her head dulled to a quiet buzz. She fumbled with the bottle, pouring herself yet another. She shakily brought the glass to her lips, and dunked it. She sat still for a moment, shot glass in hand, in pure bliss. Pure nothingness...
All Fighter saw was a bright smiling face, framed by hair of sunshine, a hand reaching out for her..and she accepted it.
Thump
A/N: song in this chapter is "Wherever you will go"