Disclaimer: I don't own Sailor Moon or any of its characters. I don't own either the songs of this story.
Chapter Six: Reactions
Seiya got out from his bed very early, when all the family was having breakfast in the living room. He went downstairs and sat next to his father.
- Good morning, sleepy head! – said a woman with large raven hair and big black eyes – I thought I had to go up and to throw you a cold water cube to wake you up!
- Good morning, mom – he said, softly.
Her mother handed him a glass of milk. She didn't suspect anything, but he suddenly felt the sight of Taiki and Yaten on him. He sighed. He knew he couldn't hide anything from them; they could saw through him and realize that something was wrong only by placing their eyes on him.
- You got home quite late last night – his father looked at him above the newspaper he was reading, smiling widely – Where were you?
Seiya felt the sight of his two cousins more hardly, because he was nervous and that was because he hadn't thought any excuse for him arriving late.
- I ran into a school mate – he said – And he wanted me to help him with his chemistry thing and…we started to talk and…well, I was late, sorry.
- No problem, son – he said, reading again – But call us next time, ok?
- Sure, I won't happen again anyway
- You won't help him again with chemistry?
- No, I mean… it doesn't matter, he understood the assignment very quickly.
He ignored Taiki and Yaten, who were sharing a look. He was lying.
Seiya got into his room after taking a shower, and as soon as he opened the door, he found his cousins sitting on his bed.
- What's up, guys? – he asked, opening his closet and taking some clothes. But he knew why they were there.
- Spit it out, Seiya – said Yaten.
- Spit what? – he was trying to lie, but it was impossible for him to lie to them
- That thing you said to your dad was the lamest excuse I've ever heard – said Taiki – I can't even believe they bought it.
- It was true! I ran into Hiko and he wanted me to help him with the chem thing!
- Seiya – continued Yaten – Hiko is a member of the Science Club. I DOUBT the he couldn't understand something about chemistry.
- He is…? – Seiya looked at them in shock.
- There it is! – exclaimed Taiki – You were actually lying! Now, tell us the truth.
- I can't tell you – he admitted – Because I even don't know what happened.
- Spit it out!
- I ran into Usagi's little sister, ok! She is about five and she was lost, so I took her home, Usagi was freaked out, I talked to her and I lost sense of time! She drove me home, that's it!
He turned around and dressed up, remembering the events of the last night.
- Ok, but that's not everything – continued Taiki
- What? – he turned around. How could this be?
- You can't be so upset only for that!- exclaimed Yaten
- Oh, c'mon you guys, give me a break!
- There it is again! You're lying!
- That's everything! What do you want me to tell you?!
- The truth!
- I'm telling you the truth, that's it, she took me home and I told her I was sorry for always making her mad, that's all!
- That's a reason to be happy because you've her as a friend now! – said Yaten – But that's not everything, I can't smell it!
- You're nose is bad then, but don't take it out on me because I had surely a harder day yesterday than you guys!
- Why are you lying to us?!- Taiki was angry now
- There's nothing more to tell you!
- Stop it, Seiya! – yelled Yaten
- WE KISSED, OK?!
Taiki and Yaten looked at him in shock, while Seiya kicked to door of the closet to shut it.
- I kissed her when she was about to go and now I can't stop thinking about all this crap and my head is about to blow up cuz I have a headache because of it! – he sat on the floor of his room and scratched his head – DAMN!!
- Oh my… - was all that Taiki could said.
- I thought you hated this girl… - said Yaten
- I thought that too, damn it; don't tell me what I already know!
The three of them remained in silence, while Seiya had his eyes fixed on the ceiling.
Minako sat down on the couch of the music room, a bit tired; she looked at her watch: nine thirty. She sighed: Yaten was supposed to arrive at their essay at ten, so for another half an hour, she could relax. That Saturday, she had a quite hard practice with the volleyball team, at seven, until nine. Then, she took a shower to wash off the sweat and she put a pair of blue jeans with little sparkles on the hips part and a tight red shirt. While the time passed, she tried not to remember the image of Yaten singing, cause it confused her. Oh, yeah sure he was very handsome, but not THAT much. Plus, she thought he was a jerk. And now that he showed he wasn't as bad as she wanted, it made her think about that it was uncomfortable for her, because unknown was part of the things she couldn't control. But, what the hell, what was the worst that would happen? That they would become friends. Not very close, of course, but at least they would tolerate each other's presence. Yes, it wasn't that bad! But, she made her uncomfortable, and she didn't know why. It was weird the feeling she had when she saw him smiling. It made his face completely different. And different things didn't like her at all either.
She was submerged in this thoughts when, slowly, her eyes began to close. In a moment, she fell asleep, lying on the couch that it was in the center of the room.
Yaten was still in shock because of the conversation with Seiya when he entered the room, after the practice and the meeting with the couch. He also took a shower after and no he was wearing a pair of black pants and a dark green shirt. He walked, looking around for the girl with his eyes, thinking that maybe she returned to her house after getting tired of the waiting. He was turning around to do the same when he saw some blonde curls pending from a side of the couch of the room. He walked closer and saw the girl lied, sleeping peacefully. He was about to place a hand on her shoulder to wake her up, but he stopped after taking a good look of her. He didn't realize that in that moment he was quite taken by the image of her beauty while she was asleep. She looked so calmly stunning that he couldn't help but leaned a little in the front of her, only to contemplate her for a while. Her breathing was softly, her face seemed so peaceful, her slim body beautifully resting and her shining hair decorating her expression with golden strands. He thought that maybe he thought evil of her without knowing her fully. Not that now he did, but after figuring out that she actually could have a decent talk without insults to him, smile and being nice to him, he was beginning to think that maybe he unfairly mistreated this girl with his way to be. He knew he was arrogant, selfish and egocentric, but he never thought that he was that pissing off, because even when the other girls liked him because of this crapy attitude, she was different. And now, even when he dated in Europe plenty of girls that were more than beautiful, none of them had this special shine, this thing that made him forget everything by the only desire of watch her.
And he did something he had never done before: Following an impulse, he traced a line on her cheek with his index finger, very softly, to not wake her up, feeling how soft was her skin. Then, he moved his face closer, and closed his eyes to feel the nice scent that her hair was spreading. It was a mix of citric fruits and fresh flowers. It was the nicest scent he had ever smelled. He barely had time to pull away and stand a few steps away when she moved a little and opened her blue eyes. She took a look around and placed her sight on Yaten.
- Hey…- she said, still sleepy – Sorry, I fell asleep. You waited too long for me to wake up?
- Don't worry, I just arrived – thank God the room was a bit dark, so she couldn't see his blushing – Too tired?
- Hell yeah… - she muttered, getting up and straighten her hair – My coach tore us apart with the training. We have the National Championship next week.
- We have it too next week – he said, smiling a little – The meeting with my coach was for the strategy to beat every team in the country.
- You're the captain, right?
- Yes…
- You must be a great player…it's quite unusual that a boy in first year is captain of any team.
- Well, I'm not that great I think…it's just that in my school in Europe the training of the soccer's team was tougher…you're not captain?
- Well, I'm one of the good ones, but my captain, who's totally a sucker, has the grace of the coach…and I don't.
- He doesn't like you?
- Hell no! – she suddenly laughed – I called him a jerk in my first practice. He wasn't supposed to hear me, but he did…
Yaten laughed at loud, what caught the girl's attention. It was quite strange seeing him laugh like that, actually amused, and it made her smile too.
- Hey, don't you laugh, it was quite terrible! He made me run during the rest of the practice and I forced me to wash my teammates' uniform in the laundry of the school! And in the team are 15 girls of all shapes and sizes!
He laughed even more loudly. And he felt something strange: Without counting the times with his cousins, he never found someone who could make him laugh like that. And what was more impressive: he wasn't laughing at her; he was laughing with her and because of her. He even wiped some tears on his eyes and took a deep breath, looking at the girl.
- I never thought you were this funny, Aino – he said
- I never thought you could actually laugh, Kou – she answered
- Hey, I'm not a serious person! It just that I…
- Yes? – she encouraged him
- I just don't get along with people I don't know…you see, with Taiki and Seiya it's different, cause we've grown up together and we're family and we have the same age, etc, etc, etc…but with other people, I'm always like-
- Like the jerk you're with me?
- I was going to say "indifferent and cold", but I think that fits too…
She giggled and shook her head. Yes, this boy was different from what she thought. And it felt great.
- Well, none can blame you, but you should think that there people, like me, who doesn't like that bad boy image…It rather bothers…
- Hey, you're quite similar too!
- Me?
- Yeah, at the first impression, you just…blow up in insults and mistreatment!
- Hey, I don't- she cut herself – Really?
- Hell, yeah…!
- Nobody ever told me that!
- It's just because you're not always like that, only with people like me…as I'm not always like what you thought…
- Well…I rather think I enjoyed this conversation! It was quite educating about me, Kou!
- Yaten
- Huh?
- Just "Yaten", Aino
- Just "Minako", Yaten
- Well, then…should we practice so you could go home and sleep the rest of the day?
- Sounds like a great plan to me!
They both walked to the stage and he put the CD with the first song.
- I liked this one when I read the lyrics – said Minako, smiling to him
- Well, I don't, but if you insist…
- Hey, it's not that bad!
- Yeah, that's because you don't have to sing it ALONE
- Anyway, PMS…
He sent her a death glare, which made her laugh, so he couldn't help but smile. Now, it was like a reflex to him.
I know when he's been on your mind
That distant look is in your eye
I thought with time you'd realize
It's over over
It's not the way I choose to live
And something somewhere's got to give
As sharing this relationship gets older older
You know I'd fight for you
But how I can fight someone who isn't even there
I've had the rest of you now I want the best of you
I dont care if that's not fair
She was now submerged again in the flow of his voice. Even if he said he didn't like the song, it was like the most beautiful performance he ever watched. Now that he was being nice to her, something felt strange inside of her. It was like he filled her up with some kind of charm she didn't know. But she didn't want to think about it, she just wanted to enjoy it.
Cause I want it all
Or nothing at all
There's no where left to fall
When you reach the bottom it's now or never
Is it all
Or are we just friends
Is this how it ends
With a simple telephone call
You leave me here with nothing at all
He thought he would regret about working with her in this musical play. But now, a light was turned on inside of him. It was like when he saw her smiling and heard her laughing, he wanted to know her more deeply. But he was also scared, because none had ever made him feel like this. He never thought that a girl like this, who seemed so ordinary, could be that special. But, he thought that maybe was worth the trying to be friends with her. As he watched once on a movie "The juice was worth the squeeze"
There are times it seems to me
I'm sharing you with memories
I feel it in my heart
But I dont show it show it
And then there's times you look at me
As though I'm all that you can see
Those times I don't believe it's right
I know know it Don't me make me promises
Baby you never did know how to keep them well
I've had the rest of you
Now I want the best of you
It's time for show and tell
Cause you and I
Could lose it all if you've got no more room
No room inside for me in your life
Cause I want it all
Or nothing at all
There's no where left to fall
It's now or never
He ended the song and suddenly heard the sound of claps. He looked next him and saw Minako smiling.
- You're a REALLY good singer, Yaten…
- Nah, I' not that great. Anyway, you're a good one too. I mean it.
- Nah, you're just being modest.
- I'm not being modest! I'm NOT modest!
She just laughed. Suddenly, her cell phone rang.
- Hello? Oh, hi, Ami! Yeah? At Usagi's? Why? Yeah, sure what Usagi wants to say is always SO important!
Yaten felt his stomach bumped. He knew perfectly well what that girl wanted to tell her friends.
- Ok, I'll be there later, I'm just finishing the essay with Yaten…Ok, bye!
She shut her phone and looked at him.
- Gotta' go, Usagi is with some kind of emotional crisis and wants to share it with us. She's always SO dramatic about everything…gotta' love her though…See you on Monday at school, then?
- Yeah sure…
She smiled at him once more and turned around to exit the room. But she was stopped by Yaten's voice.
- Hey, you wanna a ride?
She looked at him a bit surprised and blinked a few times.
- Really? Isn't a problem?
- No, of course not…I think and you're quite tired to walk and I really don't mind to take you to her place…
- Geez, thanks…
- Anytime, blondie.
She merely rolled her eyes at the pet name that she hated so much. But, somehow, pronounced by his lips, it was quite adorable.
Usagi was squeezing her hands, with the sight of Ami placed on her. Her friend knew that something was upsetting her friend, but she thought that she would tell her as soon as Minako's arriving. When the door bell rang, she heard the little steps of Chibi Chibi and the little jumps to grab the doorknob.
- Hi there, Chibi Chibi! – it was Minako's cheerfully voice - How are you today?
- Today!
- Yeah, sure, I take that as a "fine".
She walked into the living room and found her two friends: Ami was with the expression of a concerned person and Usagi, an extremely nervous.
- Geez, who died? – she asked, taking a sit
- I don't know, we were expecting you. Usagi has something to tell us – said Ami, looking at the blonde
- Are you ok? – she asked, concerned
- I don't know…it's so weird…
- Well then, spit it out.
Usagi took a deep breath. How she could tell anyone this? It was quite embarrassing and confusing. She was awake since the last night, and with something blocking her throat, which always happened when she needed to tell her friends to hear their opinion and take their advice. Well, Ami's advice, because she was the only actually wise. Minako was always the one who cheered her up, but she was as impulsive as Usagi, so her advices were almost always too…harsh. She thought about Seiya and she blushed. Surely, something inside her was remembering the encounter of the last night with joy and excitement, but on the other, hand were the feelings that were absolutely mixed. God, what a bother! Like she had nothing in her life, there he came, screwing everything up. Now, there were a billion of thoughts, nervous and confusing.
- C'mon, Usagi, if you tell us this week it would be great! – exclaimed Minako, eager
- Minako, don't you push her! She will tell us but she needs maybe little time to be re-
- Seiya and I kissed last night.
The both girls looked at her with wide eyes and jaws dropped.
- YOU WHAT?!
Usagi didn't need to look up to realize that Minako was the one that had that reaction.
Last night, Chibi Chibi got lost. I was freaked out looking for her, when, suddenly, Seiya appeared at my door, carrying her. I invited him to come in, we talked, he apologized for being an ass with me since he joined the class, for all his mistreatment and the jokes, etc. The time passed, it got really late, so I drove him home. Then, after we said goodbye, the next thing I know it's me kissing him and him kissing me.
- Holly crap…- said Ami, sighing.
- But…you said you hated him! – said Minako
- I know, but…but I don't know! He was so nice to me last night, so gentlemen, he rescued my sister, he was polite and absolutely different from everything I thought! And now…now everything is so screwed up!
- I can imagine it… - said Ami – And what did he say afterwards?
- After we broke apart, I got scared and ran away…
- He didn't say anything?! – yelled Minako
- Well…I told him I wanted to go, he tried to stop me…and he called me at my cell to get sure that I arrived home safe and sound.
- Oh, that's so sweet! – Ami smiled
- Yeah, it was quite nice from him… - muttered Minako.
Usagi looked away, trying to clear her mind, while their friends looked to each other, trying to find the right words, and repressing the questions.
- And…? – tried Minako – What do you think?
- I don't know! I think it was an impulse from him, maybe he saw me so vulnerable and the situation was so weird that he just…did it without thinking…
- You're saying that he just used you…?
Minako received a death glare and a light punch on the shoulder from Ami.
- What? – she said – I'm just putting in words what Usagi doesn't want to tell! Anyway, it's quite normal to feel like that, it's just that everything was too fast
- What do you mean? – the other blonde asked.
- Think, Usagi…Yesterday morning, you hated this guy, and in the evening, you're kissing him…don't you think it's too fast?
- Minako has a point – continued Ami – The normal thing it's that maybe you guys should've got along first, started a friendship, and maybe had a crush and then, the kissing part…
Minako thought about Ami's words. Was she in the first part of the steps with Yaten? Or this feeling that she had every time she saw him after their conversation during the first essay and now after the second one…did it mean that she had a crush on him? No, of course not. Sure thing no!
- Anyway – Minako continued, pulling away her thoughts – I don't think that Seiya it's what you're thinking now…
- What? But…I don't know…not that I've been expecting this, but…why he hasn't called me?
- Because he might be as surprised and confused as you are! – said Ami, matter-of-factly.
- And I don't know him really, but…he doesn't seem a ladykiller to me – said Minako
Usagi looked at them. Maybe they were right. Maybe they weren't. But in that moment, she didn't know anything, everything was blurry.
- Anyway, are we going to the Neo Music tonight? – said Minako
- To the what? – asked Usagi
- The Neo Music! It's a teenagers club. I told you guys last Monday, geez, you never listen to me, do you? Anyway, this club is for people of our age, maybe older, but the great thing is that groups played live! And then, it's a disco. We're going, right?
- I don't know – said Ami – There's a Biology exam on Monday…
- Oh, c'mon, "Braimi"! We have to cheer Usagi up! There's no harm in going, sing a little and dance a bit too. Anyway, you've been study for this exam since last month; I doubt that you can actually learn anything else that you don't already know…
- I don't know…what do you say, Usagi?
- But, what about Chibi Chibi? I can't leave her alone all night long!
- My mom loves her and you know that Chibi Chibi loves to play with my little brother! She can take care of her. You can drive us home and took her home after the club.
- Mmmmm
- C'mon, you've no excuse for not going!
- Well, ok the…nobody can defeat you on this subject
- Damn right!
Tbc…