Chapter 4: And so it begins….
Standing next to Seishin felt odd to Kiyoko, but her feet wouldn't move. She looked at him and spoke, "Stories of the "great Silver Millennium line"? I cannot imagine what tales have reached as far as Shibo."
Taking a step closer, Seishin moved his hand from her shoulder to the small of her back, almost whispering in her ear, "It's said that you have such power that you healed this planet when it was dying." Kiyoko could feel his breath on her ear.
She moved her head slightly away but couldn't move anything else. Kiyoko replied, "These people needed help, so I helped. In the process this place became my home."
From behind there was the sound of someone clearing their throat. Kiyoko and Seishin both turned their heads to see Seiya standing there. She looked squarely at Seishin, "Kiyoko drove out a great darkness, bonding with this planet and its people. Estara protects her Queen just as she protects us young prince."
Fortunately unlike earlier, Seiya's voice, her presence unfroze Kiyoko. She moved to her fiancée's side and smiled, "Seiya is right. I am indebted to Estara and her people."
Seiya took Kiyoko's hand, not moving her gaze from Seishin. Her stare was not a frozen one, but a suspicious one. She spoke, "I'm afraid that I must steal my fiancée back. She has many duties." And with that she led Kiyoko away, not wanting to waste a moment.
Once they were inside the castle Seiya stopped and blocked Kiyoko's path, "What in the hell is going on with you?" She crossed her arms and looked at Kiyoko expectantly.
Even though she knew Seiya had every right to be upset, Kiyoko couldn't give her an explanation. That seemed to make her angry and so she snapped, "That was my overly jealous fiancée making a very poor impression on one of our honored guests! You do NOT behave that way around royalty. You have a lot to learn…" A part of Kiyoko's brain knew she was being unreasonable, but she couldn't stop herself. With a heavy heart Kiyoko literally ran to her chambers, passing Ami and Zoicite on the way. Ami called after her, but she didn't hear… Kiyoko couldn't hear anything but the sound of her heart pounding in her ears… She couldn't feel anything but the need to retreat.
She slammed the door behind her and ran to her bed, collapsing onto it, lost in thought. What was going on with her? Why did that prince have this effect on her? She just didn't understand. Kiyoko actually began crying. She cried so much she cried herself to sleep.
While asleep Kiyoko had the most vivid dream…. But was it a dream… Or a memory… Or both….? She dreamed about her father. About when he was sick… The images in her mind were so sharp…..
"Father?" Kiyoko sat next to his bed as she did each time he collapsed. He didn't answer her and so she tried to probe his body with her magic again, looking for any clue as to what was wrong. But again, as she felt like she was about to reach something Kiyoko was shut out. She sat there, holding his hand. Kiyoko closed her eyes for a minute and when she opened them it was Seiya lying there instead of Endymion.
Kiyoko woke with a shrill scream. She found Seiya lying next to her, but as soon as Kiyoko screamed Seiya scooped her into her arms. Kiyoko spoke through muffled tears, "Is that really you?"
Seiya spoke softly and held Kiyoko tightly, "Of course it's me Kiyo-chan. I'm sorry about earlier." Kiyoko put two fingers on Seiya's lips before she could say more and just curled into her chest and cried until she fell asleep again, with nothing to torment her, not when she was in Seiya's arms.
*Seishin*
Seishin walked back into the suite that he'd been given here on Estara. He threw himself down on the couch and pounded his fist, "Damnit!"
Sitting in an adjacent chair was his youngest sister, Sikana. She leaned forward and snickered, "Back from your date so soon? What happened?" She ruffled Seishin's hair.
Seishin glared at his little sister, "Her damned fiancée happened Sikana. They're psychically bonded." He sat up and sighed, "This may be hopeless!"
Then he heard it, the voice that called itself Bugendai, "Do not be discouraged so easily my Prince. You will sway her, but it will take time and strategy. She is surrounded by guardians. You didn't expect this to be simple? If it were simple Hina wouldn't have failed."
Sikana nodded, "Bugendai is right. Don't give up. Her defenses are strong, but you're stronger. You're just going to have to attack from more than one angle." Seishin knew Sikana was right and so he folded his legs into a meditative position and set to work…. He needed all of the angles he could manage. He would have her and the golden crystal!
*Seishin*
When Kiyoko woke again she saw that it was still the middle of the night. Looking over she saw that Seiya was sleeping. Kiyoko felt terrible for the way she'd behaved earlier. Feeling restless she slipped from the bed silently, realizing that she was still wearing the same dress from the day and that it was very rumpled. As quietly as possible she slipped into a gold colored nightgown and then out of her chambers, not entirely certain where she was going. Thinking that she should eat something, Kiyoko started making her way toward the kitchen.
Luckily the kitchen was always empty at this time of night. Kiyoko spent a little while rummaging through the cabinets. At last she found something that appealed to her, little cookies that that a chocolatey taste and were just the right softness for her. Kiyoko grabbed a plate and piled it high, feeling drained and hungry.
As Kiyoko sat at one of the islands eating some cookies she felt her before she appeared in the doorway. Hesitantly Kiyoko looked up at Haruka, "Evening. What has you up at this hour Haruka?" Looking at Haruka made her feel guilty about how she'd treated her before. Kiyoko seemed to be lashing out at the two people she loved most and didn't know why.
Haruka leaned on the doorway, uncertain of whether she should come closer, "You do my Queen. You had a nightmare earlier, but Seiya was with you. So when I felt you up again I decided to come look in on you."
This made Kiyoko feel terrible. She was causing Seiya and Haruka so much grief. This was not the bride she'd wanted to be. Kiyoko replied, "I am sorry that I'm interfering with your sleep again." She looked down and started crumbling a cookie.
Slowly Haruka came to stand next to her and leaned down, "What did you dream about?" She tugged on Kiyoko's chin, forcing Kiyoko to look at her.
The sting of tears threatened Kiyoko's eyes and she whispered, "I dreamed of my father, of when he was dying. It was so vibrant that it felt real." She couldn't bring herself to even speak of the part with Seiya.
Haruka kissed the tear that had started to make its escape and pulled Kiyoko close, her voice a whisper as well, "It was only a dream….. And I am going to worry about you no matter what you say. I love you Kiyo-chan." Kiyoko felt warm and comforted again, so she didn't move and let Haruka hold her. However, she couldn't help but question how blurred their boundaries had become since the bond. She had two gallant knights to love and protect her though, maybe that was what mattered…
Unknown to the two of them, Kiyoko and Haruka were being watched, and their voyeur was all too delighted with the scene before them. So the queen's heart could be divided after all…