Disclaimer/Author's Note: Still own nothing. Sorry for the whole...not updating thing. Haven't had time to write, but with classes starting next week, I now time to write while I wait for the bus and in between classes. So yay. Anyway, two chapters today.
Three years as the Princess' guard, and things were at a calm. The greatest threat had been an uprising the year previous, something easily stilled. As such, the Starlights mostly did peace keeping within the main capital.
Seiya scowled impatiently. It was nearly time for the solstice celebration and Yaten still wasn't ready.
"Oi, shrimp, hurry up!" Hearing no response, Seiya knocked again, "What in the name of the stars is taking you so long?!"
Opening the door, a glare was sent towards her leader,
"Well, unlike you, I happen to care about how I look."
When Yaten had opened the door, Seiya could only stare in shock. Sure she had seen the empath dressed up for the festivals, but for some reason she looked pretty, and these were not the type of thoughts a leader should have about one of her teammates. Realizing that Yaten was looking at her expectantly, Seiya had to come up with a likely response since she hadn't heard a word her short companion had said.
"Yeah, well…let's s just go." Weak? Very much so, but it would have to do. Before Yaten could question her, Seiya grasped the fey's hand and dragged her to the main hall, too distracted by her own thoughts to realize that Kakyuu and Taiki were putting themselves back together.
While annoyed that one of her few private moments with Kakyuu had been interrupted, Taiki couldn't help but quirk a brow at Yaten, smirking slightly. Even though the empath shook her head, the tallest of the Starlights could tell that something was going on between her friends, even if her leader didn't see it. Well, it's about time…
The hours passed and Yaten had remained on edge the entire time. This was different from other gatherings, something was wrong. She couldn't place it so no one listened and instead just said that it was the amount of people in the area. Having escaped for a bit, the empath was hiding at a fountain in the gardens, watching the stars worriedly.
"Something on your mind, pipsqueak?"
Hearing the familiar nickname, Yaten just shook her head some.
"Trying to place energies."
"Right, you're just being anti-social."
Rolling her eyes, Yaten looked to her leader.
"Perhaps I just don't like the people in there."
"Yaten, you don't like people in general."
"That's a lie! I like Ouhi and Taiki!"
"Oi, what about me?!" Smirking, Yaten eyed Seiya's form as she came up with a response to that.
"Mmm…well, sometimes I like you…" Grinning, Seiya closed the distance between the two, not realizing that they were flirting, voice lower than usual, gaze smoldering into Yaten's.
"And what about now?"
"Now…? Well, right now…" Before the sentence could be finished, screams came from the ball room, startling the two Starlights from their current position. With a nod, the two henshined and raced towards the chaos.
The fighting lasted a week in which buildings collapsed, citizens turned and nothing could be done, people dying and the Starlights were powerless to stop it. Despite the three being in different locations, all of the Starlights felt the same feeling coursing through their veins. They had failed.
Sifting through the debris, Fighter looked to Maker worriedly. Neither Kakyuu nor Healer could be found, but they couldn't give up on the two. As night fell, Fighter could tell both she and Maker were exhausted. He knew they should call it a night, but she couldn't. C'mon, Pipsqueak…give us a sign…
"Leader!" Hearing Maker's cry, Fighter raced over to a pile of rubble where a familiar glove was. Healer had to be close by. Digging through it all, a flash of silver was seen. Knowing she was in the right location. As such, the leader of the Starlights continued digging until she could pull Healer out.
"Healer?!"
Gasping, the empath started to cough, lungs filled with dust and debris.
"Calm down, you're okay…"
Seeing her best friend conscious, Maker rushed over and helped Fighter.
"Ouhi?"
"Isn't here…"
"What?!" That was not the answer either Starlight expected. Wincing, Healer sat up, gasping in pain.
"Her energy….it left…but she's still alive…"
That one sentence was enough to fill each of the Starlights with hope. If she was alive, they could find her.
"Than we focus on her and find her."
Nodding to her comrades, Fighter closed her eyes, focusing on the connection the Starlights shared with their princess, knowing Healer and Maker were doing the same.
Opening her eyes, Fighter de-henshined and looked around. As her gaze landed on Taiki and Yaten, Seiya's eyes blazed with determination.
"No matter what happens, we will find her."
