Disclaimer: Still a poor college student who is trying to make herself a Yaten costume and being hated on by her wig. Don't sue me for using the characters or song title, please?

Inspirational Lyric: "How do you know when it's time to let go?"


Fighter stood in her spot, shocked. The Senshi of Earth were to come to Kinmoku for the festival to commemorate the fact that Kinmoku had been rebuilt after the Galactic Wars. She was happy to se the girls again, but she was also nervous. She could have sworn he had moved on from the one sided love she held for Odango. She was happy in her relationship (albeit, new) with Healer. Why were those feelings suddenly popping up again?

"Oi, Fighter, come in, Fighter." Snapping out of her thoughts, Fighter looked down to see Healer, who was looking at her oddly.

"Sorry, I missed what you said."

"Are you feeling okay? You look like you've seen a ghost…" and before protest could be offered, Healer placed the back of her hand against Fighter's forehead, only to pull away sharply, her entire demeanor changing drastically as her eyes narrowed.

"Healer, I…"

"Save it, Fighter." Unable to plead her case, Fighter could only watch as Healer stormed off, confusing Maker who was just on her way to see her leader.

"What did you say this time?"

"I didn't get a chance to say anything." Quirking a brow, Maker decided to let it drop. After all, she knew that Healer would end up ranting to her about whatever Fighter had done later.

"Well, I just heard back from Ami, the girls seem to be…Fighter, what is going on?!" A moment passed before Maker seemed to put two and two together, "I'm not getting in the middle of this."

And Maker did just that. The week leading up to the festival, as well as the week of the festival, she avoided any comment in regards to Fighter's indecision or Healer's stubbornness, although she knew that it was all going to come to head sooner or later.

"Maker, do you think I made a mistake in inviting Earth's Senshi to the festival?" Looking up from her reading, Maker just sighed.

"Perhaps just Usagi."

"But, I couldn't invite the senshi without inviting her, it would--"

"I know, Ouhi. She's always been a touchy subject for the two, that's all." Unfortunately, Kakyuu was unable to respond because arguing could be heard from the hallway, which caused both Maker and Kakyuu to rush to the doorway to see what was going on.

"Healer, just let me explain!" That was not in the cards though as Healer slapped her leader, which seemed to shock everyone that was paying attention to the confrontation.

"Screw you, Fighter! Until you can make up your mind, just leave me alone!" With that, Healer stalked off, leaving the hallway in complete silence, no one knowing what to do or say. After the shock wore off, Fighter seemed to notice that she wasn't alone and grinned wryly.

"That went well."

"Yes, she didn't kill you."

"What should I do, Maker?" Despite her claims of not involving herself, Maker hated to see her two closest friends upset, and it was becoming obvious to her that serious damage was taking place the longer they let the misunderstanding go on.

"What she said. Make up your mind. If you truly do plan to let go of Tsukino, do it before you ruin what you and Healer have."

"But--"

"Fighter! The happiest I have seen you two was when you were together, you balance each other out. Don't try to tell me otherwise." And while she hated to admit it, Fighter knew that Maker was right. But how was she supposed to choose?

"Listen to your heart, Fighter, it will not lead you astray." Looking to Kakyuu, seeming to just realize that she was there, Fighter could only nod before excusing herself. She had a lot of thinking to do.

The next few days were tense to anyone paying attention. Around people, Fighter still laughed and smiled, she was still charismatic, but it was forced. In the privacy of her rooms, she was thoughtful, truly considering her feelings for bother Healer and Usagi. Healer, while never a people person, spent even less time in the company of others. When she wasn't training or out patrolling, she was drawing, and when she was forced to be social, the empath was quicker to anger, so most people stayed away from her. All Maker and Kakyuu could do was hope for the situation to fix itself.

It was the last evening of the festival, and Fighter had finally come to her conclusion. She didn't want to spend an undetermined amount of time regaining Healer's trust, which was why she had to fix things before they got any worse. Her own insecurities about their relationship, fears that Healer would leave her for someone else, had caused old feelings to resurface, in effect doing what she had been scared about.

"May I have this dance?" Normally, Fighter would be confidant in asking such a thing, but knowing that this could be the only time she would get Healer to talk with her, Fighter was nervous that she would be rejected, and rightfully so.

"You should ask Ouhi, you are the leader of the Starlights after all."

"Maker stopped being a coward and did so. C'mon, it's the opening dance, it would be bad form not to."

"Fine." Well it was better than getting her head chewed off. Leading Healer to where all of the officials and foreign dignitaries were dancing, Fighter placed her hands on the empath's waist and took a breath.

"I didn't mean to hurt you; I was just trying to protect myself."

"That makes no sense."

"I know. I guess I was scared that you would find someone else, that you would realize I wasn't good enough for you, so when I head Odango was coming, those feelings came back so it wouldn't hurt so much when you left…" Noticing that Healer had her head bowed and that she was shaking, guilt coursed through her, Fighter stopped and resisted the urge to hug the girl in her arms. It wouldn't do any good, after all. "Healer…"

"Moron, don't you think I have those same fears?"

"Please believe me, I am so sorry…" Looking up, Healer shook her head and wiped at her eyes to get rid of the damning evidence of her tears.

"You can't just think that apologizing will make things go back to how they were. That you can just make it all disappear."

"I don't. I just…I don't want to lose you." The ending of the song coincided with that last sentiment, Healer taking her leave after sending a look to her leader. This left Fighter alone on the dance floor, yet for the first time in two weeks, she was actually smiling. It would take time, that she knew, but the look Healer had given her told Fighter that it wasn't over. She would make things right again. While not one for patience, this time it was okay. Healer was worth the effort.