Chapter Three: The Surprise
That morning she got up groggily. She didn't sleep at all since the dream. There were light bags under her eyes, not matching with the rest of her beautiful face.
The morning went by fast; everything was a blur to her. Then, at lunch Kakyuu Hime decided to go on a picnic.
"Let's go to the lake, the cherry blossom trees are so beautiful today! It will be a wonderful place to picnic!"
Healer and Maker went right away to prepare while Fighter walked around sleepily, just waiting for the call to go. She didn't really listen to the princess… but if she did she would actually realize where they were going.
She wandered the many halls of the palace, passing sculptures, paintings, antiques… Many, many beautiful decorations but none of these could capture her admirable gaze; they were rejected as beautiful to her. Nothing was as beautiful as Usagi… her lovely face and features carved into her brain… Like they were chiseled on stone right in her mind. She'll never forget her… She sleepily stumbles out into the garden and walks out into the middle.
Fighter took in a deep breath of the sweet scent of flowers. "It smells like her…" she whispers. She shakes her head frantically. "It can't smell like her… I'm just thinking things… Of course… she smells much nicer than this…" she thinks… she shakes her head again.
Then she looked to the sky… Their sky wasn't as blue as Earth's. Of course, their sky was a different colour. It was kind of… blue… and purple… Hai… She never really noticed before, how the sky really looked in the day. A purplish blue sky with fluffy lavender clouds like purple cotton candy…
She searched the skies with her deep blue eyes. Iie… No stars out in the day, no moon either… When they were on Earth and if the skies were clear enough… one could see a side of the Moon. The Moon looked… different then. It's side blending into the light blue of the sky; it'd look white, like a cloud…
Healer runs into the garden. "Fighter! What's wrong with you today? Stop acting so sulky and let's go!" called she.
"Hai!" she calls back. She sighs and finds her way to the others. The princess walked up to her as Fighter came; her sweet scent of olives was almost like a smack in the face. The scent changed the image in her mind… Their graceful princess suddenly replaced Usagi. "Oh… Kakyuu Hime…" says Fighter, waking up all of a sudden.
"Fighter… didn't get enough sleep last night?" she inquired kindly. "Maybe you should stay here then… get some rest," she gently gestures back into the palace.
"Kakyuu Hime is so kind and gentle…' Fighter thinks to herself… She shakes her head, "Iie princess. I want to go with you. Let's go!" She straightens up to her full height, tries to look full of energy, puts a smile on her face and walks past Kakyuu.
When they got there Fighter stared at the scene in front of her. So much like her dream… except there wasn't the night sky… and there wasn't only one cherry blossom tree, there were many around the big sparkling lake. She thought back to her dream, how wonderful it was… standing with her Odango there… her angel… utsukushi… She blushes and smiles in spite of herself.
Maker looks at her strangely, "What are you thinking of Fighter?"
"Eh?" she snaps back to reality and realized she was blushing and got even redder.
"Oh… um… nothing…" she answers quietly and looks at the ground.
A soft summer breeze blows from the direction of the lake and all of them could smell olives… the scent of their princess. Fighter's head snaps back up as, once again, she was brainwashed from Usagi to Kakyuu Hime.
"Let's picnic right under that cherry blossom tree," says Kakyuu. Healer and Maker ran with the basket all the way to the side of the lake, making a race of it, leaving Fighter and Kakyuu behind.
"Fighter… Do you feel all right?" she asks.
"Hai! I'm fine," she says this with a smile and noticed Kakyuu's concerned gaze. Their princess has beautiful eyes too… not only eyes… she IS beautiful. For a few seconds Fighter was drawn into Kakyuu's red eyes. The warm breeze brought her back to reality; she looked away instantly. Kakyuu nodded and they keep walking towards the picnic that's already been set up by the other two StarLights.
After they ate, they all sat there on the ground and looked out at the lake and the trees; watching the clear calm waters and the swaying leaves and flowers. Petals were slowly descending from the branches, blown off gently by the breeze. They were scattered everywhere; some landed in the lake, rippling the water, shattering the reflections of the trees, clouds and the lush green grass on the banks.
Healer stretches lazily yawns quietly and plops down to take a nap under the warm light of the Sun. Maker peers at her. "Lazy girl," she mutters and smiles, lying down too, after stretching lazily like Healer.
Kakyuu and Fighter were sitting beside each other, the princess nearer the tree, they were both under the shade of the pink blossoms, watching the scenery around them; Fighter thinking about her dream, and Kakyuu… Kakyuu thinking about her loneliness…
Sailor StarFighter sat looking at the sky, still thinking about Usagi and watching some petals fall off the tree, with both knees drawn up and hands on either side of her to support herself.
The princess sat with legs bent to her left side, left arm resting on top of her thighs. She kept her right hand close beside her. She slowly turned to look at the person sitting with her. Fighter, who was sleepy and daydreaming, didn't notice. Kakyuu looks down at her right hand; it's so close to Fighter's… She hesitantly places hers on Fighter's left hand.
Suddenly awakened by Kakyuu's touch, Fighter looks down at her hand, realizing that it was the princess's hand that was on top of hers. Fighter looks up at her and looks surprised and confused at the same time, with eyes wide and questioning. "Kakyuu Hime," she began.
Kakyuu puts a finger from her left hand up to her small red lips and silences Fighter. She then puts her left hand down in between herself and Fighter, supporting herself so she can lean over… she closed her eyes.
A wave of surprise and shyness washed over Fighter as she bent her right elbow and leaned a bit over to try and avoid this sudden and astonishing situation. She looked at her princess with big round eyes. She thought fast, 'What's she trying to do?' It took her a second until she figured it out… 'She's going to kiss me!'
She blushed a bright shade of red and closed her eyes a split second before Kakyuu leaned close enough to place a soft, light kiss on Fighter's lips, the olive scent filled her mind and wrapped around her. Fighter held her breath, afraid that she would make a sound if she breathed. It seemed like Kakyuu kissed her for hours before she pulled slowly away, lifting her hands away with her.
Fighter's heartbeat thumped in her ears, as she looked away and at her knees, her cheeks ablaze a brilliant red like a rose. Kakyuu looked at her with concerned eyes and sat back in her original position looking out to the middle of the lake before she thought of what to say to the shocked and nervous Fighter.
"Sailor StarFighter… I…" she stammers.
Fighter raises her gaze to their princess's troubled face, her cheeks fading to a light shade of pink. "I'm sorry Fighter," Kakyuu continues, "I just wanted to know what it will feel like to kiss you… It's because… I know your heart is on someone else…"
She looks away with teary eyes. Kakyuu tried desperately to keep her tears in, knowing that even if she confessed to Fighter she would still have her heart on Usagi… She can't compare… She knew that, she knew ever since they left Earth… That day on the roof of Juuban High… how Fighter… Seiya rather… looked at her… talked to her lover destined to be, telling him to take good care of her.
"Princess…" Fighter whispers. All of a sudden Fighter feels like the most horrible person in the Universe. She does love her princess… but not the way she does Usagi…
Kakyuu decides that she wouldn't get in the way if Fighter really loves someone else that much. Fighter has her own life… if she chooses someone else then… she'll still have Maker and Healer… she hopes… She plasters a fake and convincible smile on her face and says, "I'm fine. Let's wake up Maker and Healer. It's time to go back."
Fighter takes a deep breath, smiles slightly and nods. She knew that Kakyuu was hurt but… she can't help whom she loves… she just can't… She knew that loving Usagi was wrong… and Odango was destined to be with someone else but she can't help it…
"It's okay Kakyuu Hime, I didn't mind…" she whispers softly in Kakyuu's ear as she got up.
Kakyuu smiles at the little message and stood up as well, but she knew that what Fighter said was just telling her it was all right… not that she felt the same way… She smiled sadly to herself, pitying herself, knowing that Fighter would give her life for her… but it's only because of duty, loyalty and friendship… not love like she would for Usagi. Kakyuu slowly relaxed and tried to think optimistically.
Healer and Maker were awakened by sudden yanks on their ponytails. They knew exactly who it was and sprang up to run after Fighter who was sprinting at full speed towards the palace… with only one thing on her mind… What it would've been like if the one who kissed her wasn't their princess, but Usagi…
*End of Chapter Three
That morning she got up groggily. She didn't sleep at all since the dream. There were light bags under her eyes, not matching with the rest of her beautiful face.
The morning went by fast; everything was a blur to her. Then, at lunch Kakyuu Hime decided to go on a picnic.
"Let's go to the lake, the cherry blossom trees are so beautiful today! It will be a wonderful place to picnic!"
Healer and Maker went right away to prepare while Fighter walked around sleepily, just waiting for the call to go. She didn't really listen to the princess… but if she did she would actually realize where they were going.
She wandered the many halls of the palace, passing sculptures, paintings, antiques… Many, many beautiful decorations but none of these could capture her admirable gaze; they were rejected as beautiful to her. Nothing was as beautiful as Usagi… her lovely face and features carved into her brain… Like they were chiseled on stone right in her mind. She'll never forget her… She sleepily stumbles out into the garden and walks out into the middle.
Fighter took in a deep breath of the sweet scent of flowers. "It smells like her…" she whispers. She shakes her head frantically. "It can't smell like her… I'm just thinking things… Of course… she smells much nicer than this…" she thinks… she shakes her head again.
Then she looked to the sky… Their sky wasn't as blue as Earth's. Of course, their sky was a different colour. It was kind of… blue… and purple… Hai… She never really noticed before, how the sky really looked in the day. A purplish blue sky with fluffy lavender clouds like purple cotton candy…
She searched the skies with her deep blue eyes. Iie… No stars out in the day, no moon either… When they were on Earth and if the skies were clear enough… one could see a side of the Moon. The Moon looked… different then. It's side blending into the light blue of the sky; it'd look white, like a cloud…
Healer runs into the garden. "Fighter! What's wrong with you today? Stop acting so sulky and let's go!" called she.
"Hai!" she calls back. She sighs and finds her way to the others. The princess walked up to her as Fighter came; her sweet scent of olives was almost like a smack in the face. The scent changed the image in her mind… Their graceful princess suddenly replaced Usagi. "Oh… Kakyuu Hime…" says Fighter, waking up all of a sudden.
"Fighter… didn't get enough sleep last night?" she inquired kindly. "Maybe you should stay here then… get some rest," she gently gestures back into the palace.
"Kakyuu Hime is so kind and gentle…' Fighter thinks to herself… She shakes her head, "Iie princess. I want to go with you. Let's go!" She straightens up to her full height, tries to look full of energy, puts a smile on her face and walks past Kakyuu.
When they got there Fighter stared at the scene in front of her. So much like her dream… except there wasn't the night sky… and there wasn't only one cherry blossom tree, there were many around the big sparkling lake. She thought back to her dream, how wonderful it was… standing with her Odango there… her angel… utsukushi… She blushes and smiles in spite of herself.
Maker looks at her strangely, "What are you thinking of Fighter?"
"Eh?" she snaps back to reality and realized she was blushing and got even redder.
"Oh… um… nothing…" she answers quietly and looks at the ground.
A soft summer breeze blows from the direction of the lake and all of them could smell olives… the scent of their princess. Fighter's head snaps back up as, once again, she was brainwashed from Usagi to Kakyuu Hime.
"Let's picnic right under that cherry blossom tree," says Kakyuu. Healer and Maker ran with the basket all the way to the side of the lake, making a race of it, leaving Fighter and Kakyuu behind.
"Fighter… Do you feel all right?" she asks.
"Hai! I'm fine," she says this with a smile and noticed Kakyuu's concerned gaze. Their princess has beautiful eyes too… not only eyes… she IS beautiful. For a few seconds Fighter was drawn into Kakyuu's red eyes. The warm breeze brought her back to reality; she looked away instantly. Kakyuu nodded and they keep walking towards the picnic that's already been set up by the other two StarLights.
After they ate, they all sat there on the ground and looked out at the lake and the trees; watching the clear calm waters and the swaying leaves and flowers. Petals were slowly descending from the branches, blown off gently by the breeze. They were scattered everywhere; some landed in the lake, rippling the water, shattering the reflections of the trees, clouds and the lush green grass on the banks.
Healer stretches lazily yawns quietly and plops down to take a nap under the warm light of the Sun. Maker peers at her. "Lazy girl," she mutters and smiles, lying down too, after stretching lazily like Healer.
Kakyuu and Fighter were sitting beside each other, the princess nearer the tree, they were both under the shade of the pink blossoms, watching the scenery around them; Fighter thinking about her dream, and Kakyuu… Kakyuu thinking about her loneliness…
Sailor StarFighter sat looking at the sky, still thinking about Usagi and watching some petals fall off the tree, with both knees drawn up and hands on either side of her to support herself.
The princess sat with legs bent to her left side, left arm resting on top of her thighs. She kept her right hand close beside her. She slowly turned to look at the person sitting with her. Fighter, who was sleepy and daydreaming, didn't notice. Kakyuu looks down at her right hand; it's so close to Fighter's… She hesitantly places hers on Fighter's left hand.
Suddenly awakened by Kakyuu's touch, Fighter looks down at her hand, realizing that it was the princess's hand that was on top of hers. Fighter looks up at her and looks surprised and confused at the same time, with eyes wide and questioning. "Kakyuu Hime," she began.
Kakyuu puts a finger from her left hand up to her small red lips and silences Fighter. She then puts her left hand down in between herself and Fighter, supporting herself so she can lean over… she closed her eyes.
A wave of surprise and shyness washed over Fighter as she bent her right elbow and leaned a bit over to try and avoid this sudden and astonishing situation. She looked at her princess with big round eyes. She thought fast, 'What's she trying to do?' It took her a second until she figured it out… 'She's going to kiss me!'
She blushed a bright shade of red and closed her eyes a split second before Kakyuu leaned close enough to place a soft, light kiss on Fighter's lips, the olive scent filled her mind and wrapped around her. Fighter held her breath, afraid that she would make a sound if she breathed. It seemed like Kakyuu kissed her for hours before she pulled slowly away, lifting her hands away with her.
Fighter's heartbeat thumped in her ears, as she looked away and at her knees, her cheeks ablaze a brilliant red like a rose. Kakyuu looked at her with concerned eyes and sat back in her original position looking out to the middle of the lake before she thought of what to say to the shocked and nervous Fighter.
"Sailor StarFighter… I…" she stammers.
Fighter raises her gaze to their princess's troubled face, her cheeks fading to a light shade of pink. "I'm sorry Fighter," Kakyuu continues, "I just wanted to know what it will feel like to kiss you… It's because… I know your heart is on someone else…"
She looks away with teary eyes. Kakyuu tried desperately to keep her tears in, knowing that even if she confessed to Fighter she would still have her heart on Usagi… She can't compare… She knew that, she knew ever since they left Earth… That day on the roof of Juuban High… how Fighter… Seiya rather… looked at her… talked to her lover destined to be, telling him to take good care of her.
"Princess…" Fighter whispers. All of a sudden Fighter feels like the most horrible person in the Universe. She does love her princess… but not the way she does Usagi…
Kakyuu decides that she wouldn't get in the way if Fighter really loves someone else that much. Fighter has her own life… if she chooses someone else then… she'll still have Maker and Healer… she hopes… She plasters a fake and convincible smile on her face and says, "I'm fine. Let's wake up Maker and Healer. It's time to go back."
Fighter takes a deep breath, smiles slightly and nods. She knew that Kakyuu was hurt but… she can't help whom she loves… she just can't… She knew that loving Usagi was wrong… and Odango was destined to be with someone else but she can't help it…
"It's okay Kakyuu Hime, I didn't mind…" she whispers softly in Kakyuu's ear as she got up.
Kakyuu smiles at the little message and stood up as well, but she knew that what Fighter said was just telling her it was all right… not that she felt the same way… She smiled sadly to herself, pitying herself, knowing that Fighter would give her life for her… but it's only because of duty, loyalty and friendship… not love like she would for Usagi. Kakyuu slowly relaxed and tried to think optimistically.
Healer and Maker were awakened by sudden yanks on their ponytails. They knew exactly who it was and sprang up to run after Fighter who was sprinting at full speed towards the palace… with only one thing on her mind… What it would've been like if the one who kissed her wasn't their princess, but Usagi…
*End of Chapter Three