WARNINGS: Graphic violence, profanity and sex. These are adult people doing adult things. When I write, I don't hold back. You have been warned.
Agapé
Written by: Mikami
Chapter Seven
The Exchange of Roles
The observer silently flipped his cell phone closed after hearing the news of failure. It seemed the rumors were true—Kou Seiya wasn't a mediocre soldier with a prestigious title. The four man unit sent to assassinate the Templar were unsuccessful despite Pellamas' insistence on the task. He foresaw a torrent of displeasure from the ambassador considering it was Pellamas himself that isolated the wretched Templar through corrupting the warp sphere. The observer had a gnawing feeling that his colleague's report of the botched mission would be met with perilous disappointment on Beryl's behalf.
With practiced stealth, he peered sharply through the rustling tree branches. He kept a trained vision on the ground-ridden figures sprawled amongst dead leaves and weeds in the distance. His black sniper rifle was held out of sight and firmly in one hand, while his other silently commanded his own four-bodied unit to remain stationary until the given signal.
Through the scope mounted atop his weapon, the observer watched the Templars, the Moon Princess and her one maidservant in the hooded green cloak. During the initial brief, Pellamas had informed their unit to be prepared to extinguish the remaining two Templars once he had usurped the control of the warp sphere. But from the present head count, the observer only saw four bodies instead of five. The Princess' other maidservant was missing, therefore confirming his colleague's earlier report that Kou Seiya had with him a single Moon civilian.
"Steady," he said lowly to his unit through his earpiece. He could tell they were restless below him, filled with Beryl's promise that the mission would be a step forward to acquiring the utmost desires of the brotherhood.
Further beyond a cluster of trees, Taiki and Yaten were recovering from the unforgiving, branch-laden arrival to Earth along with two of the Moon Empire's citizens.
Yaten groaned and winced tightly from the sore crick in his upper back. He imagined a thickly gnarled branch obstructing his fierce decline to the ground. There couldn't have been any other object in his way that caused such an ailment.
He turned his head to the side, seeing Taiki push himself to his knees and heaving from the reckless impact through the trees. The tallest Templar was holding his shoulder and then running his fingers gingerly over his upper arm. To his right, the maidservant was tending to the Princess. Her elegant azure cloak was torn in several places by the branches that streaked past them during their rapid descent.
"Are you alright?" Taiki asked Yaten.
"I'm never fucking doing that again," the silver-haired Templar declared.
Taiki was able to expel a dry laugh and staggered to his feet. He walked with cautious steps toward his companion who sat grudgingly amongst a patch of long grass. He held out a hand to Yaten.
"I don't care if it's bad form or offends the entire Moon Empire—the only way I'm making the journey from now on is by drop ship," said Yaten, taking his comrade's offer.
While he was hauled up, Taiki couldn't resist stretching his smile despite the soreness inflicted in his bones.
"I don't know what happened up there," Taiki uttered, the light in his face fading quickly into the next moment. "But I have a feeling it's never happened before. The Princess and her escorts were equally dismayed."
Yaten's forehead drew together. "We've lost Seiya, but I know he's alive somewhere. The bastard proves to be more resilient the closer he gets to death."
"Where he might have landed is another story. The Princess' other escort is missing as well."
Reaching into his blazer's inside pocket, Taiki pulled out his cell phone but was disturbed to find it dead. Yaten had also followed suit and discovered the same daunting occurrence with his own device.
"The unstable power is what probably fried communication," Yaten observed. "There's no way of reaching Seiya."
Taiki shook his head at his friend's dry tone. "Wherever he is, I'm sure he'll be fine. We have to rely on the dispatch units upon failure to receive our party. They'll find him one way or another."
A few short feet away, Makoto helped Minako to her feet. There was little injury, save for a few bruises and scrapes. However, the disappearance of the real Moon Princess dealt them a blow that neither of them expected and both were now fighting back terrible apprehension. Minako grasped Makoto's arm, the hood of her cloak hung around her shoulders but the veil still obscured her head.
"Were you able to see her before the sphere exploded?" Minako asked, her voice filled with concern.
Makoto bit her lip and risked a glance at the two Templars just over her friend's shoulder.
"It happened too fast," the brunette said, lowering her voice. "But I remember the sphere's restlessness. Every time a beam shot out, I thought there was a chance that any of us could be hit but the one that seemed to absorb it all was Kou Seiya."
Minako nodded, trying desperately to recall the last moments before they were sent hurling in opposite directions.
"I was blinded," she said. "Usagi was right there beside me. I should have held onto her. We should have sensed the disruption sooner."
"There's no point going down that road," Makoto told her. "She was also sent in his direction and if we survived the landing, there's a chance they did and both ended up in the same place."
The blonde had no choice but to nod again as her fingers tightened on Makoto's arm. Her longtime friend and ally was the pillar of strength amongst the Moon Princess' personal guard and was the one that always possessed a clear head in the most difficult times. Minako's trust never wavered in Princess Jupiter's words even though in her gut surged anxiety for Usagi's safety.
"We should tell them about the switch," said Minako, turning her head slightly to eye their escorts. The Templars were already closing the distance between them. In Makoto's urgent emerald eyes was a firm agreement.
"Your Majesty," Taiki spoke when he and Yaten arrived at their side. "Are there any injuries?"
"No," answered Makoto. "It's nothing to hamper our continuing journey."
Yaten appeared skeptical as he looked toward the blonde and recalled seeing her grasping Makoto's arm just before they walked over.
"Are you sure about that? It's a good thing Lady Luck didn't spit in our faces and let us have the woods to break our fall," he said, forgetting formality and stepping toward Minako.
Her reaction was to immediately step back and the silver-haired Templar sensed that he might have encroached on propriety.
Minako remained still behind the veil, unused to Yaten's blunt manner.
"I assure you, I'm quite fine," she replied.
Taiki looked to Makoto. "Surprisingly our position isn't as dire as I initially thought. All means of communication on hand are cut but we've landed at the edge of Laral Forest. The town of Laral is in Crystal Tokyo's jurisdiction and isn't too far away by foot. Getting there would insure a direct transfer to the city."
"The fact that they haven't received us has automatically sent out a search unit," Yaten added, with the Chairman in mind. "We have the easy way out. The only problem is locating Seiya and your other maidservant."
Makoto and Minako exchanged sideways glances, which both Templars were quick to pick up.
Makoto hesitated with the truth, as old prejudices were swift to resurface. The circumstances seemed surreal, as if she were thrust in an alternate world she couldn't understand. Being raised during the war had ingrained in her beliefs and attitudes that had been apart of her for so long. It was hard to accept the sudden alliance, especially for the warrior royal of Jupiter, who had stood with Aristaeus' army on more occasions than her other three counterparts of the Moon Princess' guard.
Deep inside, Princess Jupiter knew it was necessary to trust the Templars despite her opposing nature, not only because the Moon Empire commanded it, but Usagi's safety as well.
Taiki saw the brunette's lips purse at Yaten's present evaluation. However, he had been long suspicious about the tense air around the two Moon citizens the moment they landed. Makoto's scrutinizing stare on both of them was broken shortly just as Taiki was about to address the overhanging issue. He saw her gaze flicker toward the Princess' shoulder.
Yaten's eyes widened at the glowing, red dot that danced along her azure cloak.
Suddenly, Minako felt herself collide harshly with Yaten as he grabbed her wrist and roughly propelled her forward. A sharp whizzing sound, accompanied by a swift pulse of air penetrated the folds of her hood along her shoulder. In that moment she couldn't understand why she was staring into the severe face of the Templar, who had firmly planted her behind a thick tree trunk.
"Take cover!" she heard Taiki shout at Makoto, who sprinted rapidly behind the nearest tree.
Amongst the branches, more than ten feet away, the observer put a quick finger to his earpiece.
"Primary shot unsuccessful," he said. "Move to engage."
As he leapt from his perch to another branch, four black-clad units below on ground level scattered about and unloaded an instant torrent of rifle fire.
Rapid bursts destroyed the forest realm as every searing round of bullets decimated anything in its path. The terrible explosions sent wildlife retreating from the vicinity at breakneck speed as the trees were blistered by the scatter of Metalia's artillery.
Taiki's back was pressed against an ailing tree trunk, his arms held close to his body to avoid the bombardment. He knew that Yaten was on his far right with the Princess' safety in his hands and somewhere forward, closer to where the enemy shot, was the brunette maidservant huddled behind an overturned tree.
Reaching into the harness beneath his blazer, Taiki's grip closed comfortably around his Glock 18. One hand pulled out his pistol while the other grabbed an extended magazine round from his hidden arsenal. After hearing the satisfying reload click, Taiki whirled around and aimed through the trees. Full auto fire rained in lethal spurts, while the menacing hiss from the Glock's suppressor reduced the weapon's roar. He heard an outraged cry in the distance and there was instantly one less enemy to grapple with.
"Are you hurt?" Yaten demanded urgently, grabbing at Minako's cloak.
"Yes, I'm fine! Will you stop—" Minako attempted to push him away in the midst of being attacked.
The silver-haired Templar glared at her through her veil, ignoring her protests while he quickly checked her shoulder. There was no blood but the sniper's bullet had left a clean hole through the side of her hood. Relief washed over Yaten but it was short-lived as soon as the full blitz descended upon them.
He wasted no time in reaching for his own pistol, which was tucked securely under his trench coat. Catching Taiki's eye, he nodded once and gave cover fire while his comrade fled forward to the next tree.
Minako couldn't help but turn her head away from the viciously loud bursts of Yaten's weapon. She was no stranger to the explosive noises; it was the sound of death—especially for the numerous Lunar soldiers that got caught in the crossfire during the war with Earth. Even if she had been in battle, Minako fought the urge to cover her ears with her hands, since the tremor of bullets coincided with screams of horror.
Up ahead, Taiki was able make his way between the trees while Yaten had their attention with his much more explicit rounds from his black Desert Eagle Mark. The taller Templar could only conclude quickly there were now three assailants in front of him but he couldn't tell which one was the sniper—if at all the sniper was even on the ground. Immediately, Taiki raised his eyes to the branches, watching carefully for any movement.
Makoto was close nearby, seeing Taiki make his crouching journey from where Yaten and Minako were situated. He passed her while she kept clear of the cutting attack. The enemy was too close and their reaction too fast. She feared that if she set a foot beyond her tree trunk, she would feel the battering pierce of lead.
The thought of being rendered helpless angered Princess Jupiter and she decided that moment to throw aside all pretenses as a maidservant. Just then, Makoto spotted movement in the branches right above Taiki.
The chestnut-haired Templar was unaware of the looming threat overhead when he was suddenly struck by a dagger at close range. Taiki hastily evaded an unforgiving swipe from his assailant—one of the three men had left the long-range battle with Yaten. He lifted his pistol quickly and shot but the barrel was misdirected by the short blade. Bringing the heel of his hand swiftly upward, Taiki dislocated the man's jaw and then moved to twist the dagger out of his fingers in his haze of pain. The Glock's suppressor once again masked its kill to a whisper after Taiki had taken brutal aim at his attacker's chest. But he didn't see the sniper rifle pointed at him from the branches above.
A wealth of emerald energy weaved around Makoto's fingertips as her eyes flashed the unruly potency of the gods of thunder. Through the forest canopy, the sky gathered in a maelstrom of flashes. The snaking arms of lightning pierced through the branches, enveloping the Templar's tree-born assailant.
A wretched scream shot through the air and Taiki looked up immediately to see a body consumed in an outburst of writhing lightning. After his form hit the ground in a sickening manner, Taiki followed the source of inexplicable power toward Makoto. His lips parted a fraction in astonishment. Even though he knew every Moon citizen was blessed with magia, he knew the brunette maidservant wasn't who she claimed to be.
Ten feet away, Minako was instantly privy to Princess Jupiter's use of magia. She had managed to peer around the tree despite the ongoing fire surrounding Yaten and herself. However, the voltaic display of Makoto's power was cut short before her eyes when she felt vicious hands grab her. Encased in black leather, they were strong and merciless, drawing her away from the tree and from Yaten's side. She didn't hear when pistol fire ceased but saw Yaten's frantic olive eyes turning toward her.
Yaten's attention slipped only a moment to see the veiled royal encompassed in the assassin's arms. His pistol was knocked from his hand as the second assassin had taken the opportunity to catch him off guard. The butt of his empty rifle hammered Yaten's shoulder and a fist pummeled his cheek. Yaten wavered in dizzy pain as he fell to one knee—half his vision on his attacker and the other half on the Princess.
"The Silver Crystal," a menacing voice hissed in Minako's ear. "Give it to me."
Those ruthless hands tightened painfully around the back of her neck. They wrenched off her veil and she was left staring into the man's pale, scarred face. One moment Minako read triumph on his brutish features, but in the blink of an eye she saw absolute confusion.
He didn't relinquish his cruel grip on her but uttered, "You're…you're not…"
Yaten suddenly shared the assassin's bewilderment when he saw the long tumble of blonde hair cascading around her shoulders. The crimson ribbon in her hair gave her away as memory slammed into the Templar's brain—he had seen her before, first talking with Gauvain at the tournament's formal reception and then on the third tier balcony with the Moon royals. This woman was not the Moon Princess.
Comprehension of the bizarre revelation was fleeting when Yaten's own attacker moved to strike him again. Ducking rapidly under another fist, Yaten mauled him in the stomach, sending a dismantling shockwave through every one of his limbs. While he was distracted by pain, Yaten's hand clawed the ground and reached for a large stone. Shooting to his feet, he smashed it roughly against the assassin's head to hear the bloody crack resonate through the air. As his body fell limp to the ground, Yaten whirled to face the last remaining enemy.
The Templar stopped in his tracks, unable to move. All thoughts of rescue were pushed aside as he beheld the astounding sight of glimmering beams rapidly materializing around the blonde's hands. They formed a beaming, golden chain that she brandished like a whip. It yielded to her every command; it even seemed alive as it coiled around the assassin behind her.
Stepping away from her attacker, Minako held the chain with both hands and pulled. At once the assassin was thrown off his feet and slammed against the ground. Another harsh snap sent him into the base of a tree, and yet another into a cluster of rocks, fracturing a limb or two.
Minako felt someone grab her arm and she whipped her head around to face Yaten's severe expression.
"Don't kill him," the Templar said.
He watched her grip tighten on the chain as she cast a hardened look at their wretched enemy and then swept her eyes back to him. There was a stone-cold pause that lasted a few seconds before she finally let go. The magia weapon dissolved into slivers of gold and vanished.
They were soon joined by Taiki and Makoto, who were stepping around the subdued remains of their attackers. They both looked relieved that the other half of their party was still in one piece.
Yaten immediately crouched beside the battered assassin and grabbed his neck.
"Who sent you?" he demanded.
The man wouldn't look at him while poorly attempting to keep his face stoic. In his eyes, the world was reeling and the Templar's furious entreaty came out like a wavering pang in his ears. His pupils rolled up toward the three other figures beside Yaten. For a long moment, he focused on Minako, once again reliving his bewilderment and confusion that she wasn't their unit's intended target.
Yaten shook him ruthlessly after noticing the assassin's attention on the blonde woman.
"Answer me!" he repeated coldly. "Who sent you? Was it Beryl?"
He pursed his lips defiantly, regardless of his fractured limbs. His indignant response earned him a fist to the side of the head, sending him sprawling on the ground and moaning in further pain.
Standing up, Yaten addressed Taiki, "It couldn't have been anyone else even though this bastard refuses to say a word."
"That would make sense except for the fact that he just tried to attack the very contract that Metalia themselves wanted so badly," Taiki responded.
On the ground, the sound of their voices passed over the ailing assassin. His good wrist was trembling from the pain he suffered at the hands of the woman that wasn't the Moon Princess. The mission was destined to fail—there was no indication, not even from Pellamas, that there would be a decoy. The assassin reached into the inner pocket of his jacket and pulled out a small oval capsule made of rubber. He was suddenly seized by both Templars.
"Get it away from him!" urged Taiki, grabbing the assassin's broken wrist. "We can't lose him!"
Though he howled in agony, he fought with his remaining strength to put the capsule into his mouth. Before Yaten yanked his arm, he was able to fit it recklessly between his molars. He bit down hard, releasing the capsule's deadly substance.
"No!" Yaten shouted in frustration, throttling the assassin's stiffening body as if he could prevent it from happening.
Above them, Makoto and Minako watched with ill demeanor as the assassin's widened eyes were rendered vacant and his hitched breathing was instantly slowed. His pale, scarred face became expressionless and hauntingly cold as all traces of life left his broken body.
The two Templars stood slowly as blazing irritation passed visibly through their postures. Yaten's jaw was hardened as he looked away from their dead chance at finding answers.
"What was that?" Minako asked.
"An L-pill," Taiki replied. "A concentrated solution of potassium cyanide that causes death upon ingestion."
"Perfect to avoid interrogation," Yaten muttered darkly.
The Templars regarded the two Moon citizens with prudence, seeking explanation not only for their display of power but for insight into the situation.
At their strict but silent demand for answers, Minako stepped forward.
"There's no need to be wary," she said, gesturing carefully with a hand. "I am Minako, Princess of Venus. Beside me stands Princess Makoto of Jupiter. We are both in the service of the Moon Princess as her personal guard. It's not unusual for either one of us to decoy as Her Majesty since her wellbeing is always of utmost priority."
The realization came hard and fast as Taiki and Yaten looked on both women and fully remembered seeing glimpses of them during the tournament. But those thoughts were overshadowed by the harsher issue at hand.
"The other maidservant in the purple cloak…" Taiki discerned stiffly. "The Moon Princess is with Seiya."
Yaten's eyes were narrowed. "Why the deception?"
Makoto and Minako exchanged swift glances.
"Her Majesty's trust in you was lacking," Princess Jupiter answered bluntly.
"That doesn't excuse the fact that it was foolishly unnecessary," said the silver-haired Templar.
"Yaten—" Taiki started.
"The journey was through a damn flash of light. We've obeyed all the rules and conditions that you people put forth and Crystal Tokyo still acquired the contract fairly. I thought we earned the right to honesty but apparently not."
"There's no need for such words. It was regular protocol," Minako said with a slight edge to her voice. "The corruption of the warp sphere was something none of us anticipated, neither was this attack. Decoying as Her Majesty has already served its purpose."
Minako's gaze fell to the dead assassin who had held her captive. She could still hear his cutting voice in her ears. "He demanded the Silver Crystal."
"The Moon's lifeblood?" Taiki said, alarmed.
Yaten appeared even more indignant as he stared at the blonde royal and her companion, bewildered by the fast unraveling of obscured detail.
"Another one of your secrets?" he derided, fully absorbing Makoto's glare from across him.
"Nobody was supposed to know," Makoto asserted. "Not until we reached Crystal Tokyo, where we would be assured safety. Queen Serenity had sanctioned the division of the Crystal in order to extend the Moon Empire's protection to your city-state. There was great risk involved, especially since the Crystal cannot be transported outside the Moon's atmosphere by any other means except through a royal vessel."
Minako's tone softened as her gaze shifted imploringly to the two Templars for them to understand.
She continued, "One half stays with the Moon, while the Princess carries the other within her core."
Minako's eyes darted once again to the immobile assassin at their feet. "If he had known that Princess was carrying it, somebody must have been privy to the Queen's intentions to split the Silver Crystal."
Taiki's expression had moved to a more passive one as his hand habitually held his chin in thought. He glanced at Yaten, who had quieted down, but still retained an irritated air about him. Once more he considered Yaten's theory about Metalia being responsible for the attack. Although he had strong suspicions about the enigmatic relationship between Beryl and Pellamas, the situation lacked hard proof. Taiki was also not about to elaborate on such contorted details when their position still wasn't safe.
"Then we'd better hurry," Yaten said, his posture taking on a rigid sense of urgency. "Especially if Seiya and your Princess were given the same greeting as us when they hit ground."
The shorter Templar whirled around and began a brisk pace to the west in the direction of Laral, while the other three hurried beside him.
"Perhaps they weren't," Minako suggested, but her solemn voice betrayed her hopeful expression. "No one knew about decoy and they went after us believing that the real Moon Princess was in your care. We may have bought her and Seiya some time."
"You assumed nobody knew about concealing the Crystal inside your Princess either, but you were wrong about that," Yaten replied matter-of-factly. "The assassin that found out you weren't Serenity II might be gone to hell but it doesn't mean it'll stay quiet for long. Considering that shitty circumstance, we'd better get ourselves to Laral."
Taiki turned to Makoto and Minako, whose worries were seeping through the cracks of their demeanor. The way they reacted to the absence of their Princess gave away the fact that their relationship with her may not have been all business and protocol.
"There's no need to worry as much," he tried to reassure them. "She'll be fine with Seiya."
Ahead of them, Yaten couldn't help but snort.
Makoto's eyes narrowed at the silver-haired Templar's back. "Are you not confident in your Chairman's ability out here?"
Yaten halted his rapid steps so suddenly, the three behind practically collided with him. He turned to face the brunette.
"Wait, what?" he asked, completely confounded.
"The Chairman," Makoto said, impatience stinging her voice. "Your dark-haired companion that competed in the tournament."
There was a gnawing voice repeating in Yaten's head that he should have found her ignorance blatantly comical but the urge of laughter was buried amongst the swirling sensation of more dire matters. Instead, he continued to stare at her with a strange mixture of bewilderment, slight amusement and something vaguely resembling distaste—more so at the thought of his reckless comrade holding any sort of political rule over a large body, rather than at Princess Jupiter herself.
Taiki exhaled slowly through his nostrils, interrupting Yaten's seemingly frozen state by gesturing at the two Moon citizens.
"Kardeiz Gamma, the Chairman of Crystal Tokyo, had sent Seiya as his representative to the tournament. He shares with us the Templar rank of First Class, nothing more."
Makoto had to resist the urge to roll her eyes at Minako's earlier conclusion about Seiya's position. Minako's eyes on the other hand, widened in surprise at the revelation and was greeted by a slight smile from Taiki.
"I see," Makoto could only utter.
Yaten turned back around and continued with his brisk pace.
"Mindfuck…" he muttered incoherently under his breath.
The chestnut-haired Templar shook his head at Yaten's back and trudged alongside their female companions.
"Seiya doesn't know of her identity," Taiki said, more to himself than to the rest of them.
But Minako replied, "He'll know who she is when she tells him."
In the ruined vicinity of the forest, among the scattered bodies the Templars abandoned, the bloodied hand of the observer trembled. His charred fingers could barely hold the cell phone that once belonged to one of his companions—who was now sprawled in a battered heap beside him. He was unable to move and was devoid of feeling as death crept up his body. Even though the task delegated to him was a failure, he was accomplished in another way.
The cell phone had lain open in his hand before the Templars and the two Moon citizens departed. On the other end, Beryl's ear had been thoroughly acquainted with the enemy's exchange of words.
It was tantamount to being swallowed by a gaping void of darkness. Usagi thought if it weren't for the ground—no matter how treacherous it seemed under her feet—she would be frightened of tumbling into the abyss. Out of unconscious reflex her fingers were rigid, hands slightly forward and ready to grab onto anything in the event she lost her footing. Her own breath was louder in her ears than any other sound in the inky and cavernous vicinity.
She walked in silence behind him, her gaze constantly on the silhouette of his back to make sure she didn't lose sight of the fiery glow in his hands. The torch he held punctured the blackness but in the end proved futile in seeing further ahead.
The Moon Princess lost track of time quite a while ago after they entered the chasm on the side of the desert cliff. Although she ultimately resented Seiya's decision to press on in this direction, she realized there was no other way. Climbing the rock face was out of the question—they were too far down and the precarious angle was a plummeting ninety degrees with no rope. When she had stood at the mouth of the cave, she peered apprehensively at the daylight that was eaten away by the obscure, dark throat. Just then, out of the corner of her eye, Usagi spied Seiya hovering over the rocks that sat at the cave's entrance. From the craggy arrangement he pulled a large piece of wooden debris that had served earlier as their safety net. The scatter of branches was rendered bone-dry from the elements and had made a decent source of light once Seiya had revealed a matchbox from his inner pocket.
So they had descended into the darkness with nothing but a makeshift torch and a hope that they would find a way to the surface.
Now, as she walked on through the deafening silence, Usagi's thoughts were louder than ever. Her worries were focused on the two members of her personal guard. Makoto and Minako, while perfectly capable of fending for themselves, were likely filled with dread at her disappearance. She wished there was some way of letting them know she was fine but she could only pray that Seiya was right that the group of four already found themselves in a more fortunate place.
Usagi gasped as her feet stumbled between the tracks. Her voice echoed loudly against the rock walls and Seiya turned abruptly. He trekked back to her a few steps and cast the torch's light upon her fraught expression.
"Watch the tracks," he said, seeing her pull at her knee in attempt to free her foot.
"A little difficult considering the lack of light," Usagi replied dryly. She thought she heard an exasperated sigh come from his direction.
"Hold this," said Seiya, handing her the torch.
Usagi accepted it and watched him bend down toward her foot. As she tried her best to give him ample light, she felt the warm leather of his gloves encircle her bare ankle. His fingers tightened their grip and rocked her foot back and forth to wrench it from the gap in the tracks. Usagi bit her lip in slight pain until she was freed.
Rising up, Seiya looked down at her and relinquished the light. "Did you twist your ankle?"
"No, I'll be fine."
"Good," he replied. "Because we're not stopping for another couple of hours."
Protest bubbled up Usagi's throat. "We've already been walking a considerable amount of time. Can't we rest a while?"
The look on Seiya's face was stoic.
"Not here. We have to cover as much ground as possible for us to shorten the trip to Anfortas."
"But there's nobody behind us," she said, gesturing over her shoulder.
Seiya pursed his lips for moment, whether or not it was in irritation Usagi didn't know. He moved closer, locking her attention with the same strict gaze that she'd seen when they were attacked.
"Those men that we encountered at the cliff were sent there for only one reason," he spoke lowly. "To kill us. They didn't finish the job so they're going to come after us sooner or later. Believe me, if the situation was reversed, I wouldn't stop either."
There was pregnant pause as she stared into his cobalt irises, which were darkened by the atmosphere. Half of her knew he was speaking the truth but the other half was irked that her request was being refused. A Princess was accustomed to having her every will fulfilled but a simple handmaiden did not.
After a long moment she said, "How are you even finding your way through this?"
Seiya moved the torch around to better survey their surroundings.
"I've been following the tracks north," he said, peering down at the rusted rails. "Anfortas is an old, industrial town that still employs obsolete methods of living. This is just a long abandoned part of the mines that belong to them."
The new information didn't make her feel any better. "If only there was a way to know we were close."
She saw the corner of his mouth quirk up just as he turned back around.
"A part of the mines connects with the Anfortas sewers. When it starts to reek, then you'll know," he said simply.
A look of distaste flashed on Usagi's face but Seiya didn't see it as he continued walking.
The Templar considered their progress fortunate at this point since they came across two forks that clearly marked their separate directions. Although it was hard to keep checking his compass under the wavering firelight, Seiya was sure the pathway he was leading them would eventually end up near their destination.
He also thought about the likelihood of their assailants leaving them alone, which he concluded were slim to none. They were sent specifically to deal with him as a squad—a noted fact that they knew exactly who he was and what he was capable of. As for who was responsible for the failed attempt, Seiya had theories that involved flame-red hair and wasp yellow eyes. The Templar's last conversation with the Moon's ambassador to Earth also echoed in the recesses of his suspicions.
Craning his head to the side, Seiya glanced at Usagi. Her head was down, no doubt eyeing the ground suspiciously for any hazardous steps. The golden tendrils along her forehead were a little frayed but the strands seemed to catch the firelight in a strange glow.
Seiya wished for a moment that he was making the trek alone, as it would have been easier to watch his own back instead of looking out for another body. He would also be moving faster. After all, she was a handmaiden of the Moon Princess and not likely acquainted with efforts too extraneous. Her request to rest—and impede progress—were denied by his instinct to keep moving.
As they both settled back into grave silence, a frown formed on Seiya's expression as his mind was brought back to Crystal Tokyo. It was enough that he wondered about Taiki and Yaten's whereabouts but the issues that were still waiting there since he left for the Moon, weighed heavy on his thoughts.
Seiya did as he was ordered—he had won Kardeiz an alliance and Endymion a powerful figure for a bride. Yet, all he was able to do was stand there and take the latter's contempt for Kardeiz's final decision. Endymion knew it wasn't his fault but it bothered him that the Prince had no one else to heap his anger and helplessness on. What's worse, Kakyuu, the real woman of Endymion's choosing, was quick to pick up on the same angered streak even if she'd known Seiya since childhood. The only thing he could do to keep from saying something careless was to keep reminding himself that Endymion and Kakyuu were reacting under fear.
Within the days after Kardeiz's decision was made, Seiya had offhandedly suggested to Endymion to go through with the marriage but keep Kakyuu. The Moon Princess would simply serve the title as his wife while the courtier would be his real one. Liaisons were common enough amongst nobility circles since marriage was more for political or monetary gain. Back then Seiya was only half-serious but was met with the Prince's disdain. Endymion was suddenly riled up and berated Seiya for trying to make light of an ailing concern, as well as condemning the Moon royal to a complete existence of a pawn. The Templar remembered being shocked that Endymion still had time to feel pity for his bride-to-be even if his future with Kakyuu was at stake. For as long as Seiya had known him, the Prince always considered everyone that was affected. The ever-virtuous Prince Endymion.
Seiya's afflicted thoughts continued to follow him through the cave's darkness. He didn't bother checking his watch because the effort to do so was tedious in the dim firelight. Time passed unheeded like a silent phantom as Seiya and Usagi endured the seemingly unending rail tunnel. Few words were exchanged between them, as both were too mired in their own private troubles to care for the other's presence.
It was a few hours later when the pair came across a jagged pile of rubble. Large rocks were strewn over the railway from a collapse of the tunnel. Usagi felt her stomach sink at the thought of turning back after journeying through the horribly linear pathway.
"It's a dead end," she said, perturbed.
Seiya cast her a short look but said nothing as he walked to the leftmost tunnel wall and began examining the stone debris.
She watched him run his fingers along the rocks, lifting and lowering the torch to shed light into the nooks and crannies. The Moon Princess sighed heavily and spotted a boulder that beckoned invitingly for her to sit. Her feet were aching like never before and she imagined having a blister or two from the plain leather slippers she was wearing. She was dirty, sweaty and most uncomfortable, thinking about how she could never have fathomed herself in a situation like this.
Usagi's silent aggravation was put to an abrupt halt when the dancing torchlight dimmed and disappeared. Panic rose in her throat as she shot to her feet, wide-eyed.
"Seiya?" she called, darting her head from side to side.
When there was no answer except her own ragged breathing, she called louder.
"Seiya!"
The note of fright in her voice brought him back, albeit with an irritating smirk on his face. Seiya emerged from behind one of the giant boulders that blocked their path. After passing tightly between it and the tunnel wall, he returned to her with the torch.
"Don't ever do that again!" she bit out.
"No need to worry yourself into a fit," he replied. "The tunnel may have collapsed but we could still squeeze through a hole."
"A hole?"
"Don't give me that look. I'm sure it's big enough for you."
Even in the gloom Seiya could still make out the angered parting of her lips. Without giving her a chance to speak, he maneuvered behind her and pushed her toward the stony rubble.
After Usagi was able to slip past the large boulder, Seiya held the firelight over the tight space that she was wedged between.
"Down there," he said pointedly.
After giving him another unpleasant gaze, Usagi sank to her hands and knees. The scattered rocks underneath her hands felt sharp as she pawed the ground, feeling for an opening. A slight draft led her forward and she was able to discern the hole. The Moon Princess grimaced a little at the spiteful rocks that raked her belly as she was forced to crawl through the opening.
Seiya watched her body disappear under the boulder wall and as soon as she cleared it, he quickly followed suit. After passing her the light, he was through to the other side without a hitch.
"I've had quite enough," Usagi said, refusing to give back the torch when he gestured for it. "I'm thoroughly exhausted for the day and not taking another step forward until we rest. It's already disheartening that we may very well be stuck down here but I don't want to collapse while trying to find out otherwise."
Her expression was haggard but her sapphire eyes remained urgent just like her tone of voice. Seiya regarded Usagi with an unaffected gaze and shrugged.
"Well, that's what I was about to suggest before your tirade," he replied, nonchalant.
Usagi scoffed, "A simple 'yes' would have sufficed but your apparent need to indulge in haughty remarks doesn't cease."
"Thanks for the clever observation," Seiya said dryly. "I'll remember that the next time we're enjoying ourselves in a mine shaft."
He tried to survey their new surroundings, looking back at the hole in which they crawled through. In between the scattered rock on this end was evidence of a man-made archway. The wooden support beams were broken and lying in various pieces with the ruins. Not far from the piles was a pair of derailed mine carts, overturned and rusted.
"You're going to have to give me a hand," he said. Seiya bent down and started to collect shards of the broken beams.
Usagi wedged the burning torch between two boulders and picked up the smaller pieces to help gather them into a nearby pile for a proper fire.
Lifting a heavy wooden piece, Seiya hauled it onto their growing collection.
"So..." he started. "Is she hiding some kind of disfigurement under that veil?"
Usagi stopped. "Excuse me?"
His question was out of the blue and impetuous; it took her a moment to process before she became appalled.
Seiya didn't sense her reaction and kept throwing more wood onto the pile. "The Princess isn't giving me much to work with so naturally my imagination fills in the rest."
Warmth seeped into Usagi's cheeks but not from embarrassment or pleasure. She tried keeping the brunt of her annoyance in check but it spilled into her tone.
"How could you even…" she said. "It's no surprise that someone of your…STATUS has an imagination grotesque enough to conclude such things."
Seiya looked up at her and expelled a surprised laugh. "It's a perfectly innocent question. You Moon people take everything too bloody seriously. Besides, I think I have the right to know considering I won the tournament."
"You're just like every superficial suitor that's only concerned about a dowry while worried on the side if her appearance is up to your ridiculous standards," Usagi shot, the wood forgotten at her feet.
The next sentence on Seiya's tongue was suspended as his mind folded over her last biting comment. The realization dawned on him and a barrage of laughter exploded from deep within his belly. Throwing his head back, Seiya wasn't aware of Usagi's mouth dropping open in alarm.
"What are you finding so funny about all this?" she snapped. "The moment the Princess saw you, she found you repulsive."
To her vexation, he still appeared highly amused and the echoing of his guffaws along the cavern walls shortened her patience.
"Sorry to disappoint but the Moon Princess isn't going to marry me even if she wanted to," said Seiya, grinning impishly. The instant rush of confusion on Usagi's face brought him another round of laughter.
"What are you saying?" she asked, bewildered.
"I'm SAYING," Seiya drawled. "Whoever fed her those facts should get their ass fired. I'm not the Chairman OR his son."
Usagi was stunned and staggered of every other emotion as her eyes widened at him.
His aggravating smile remained as he explained, "I'm a representative of Kardeiz Gamma. I won your Princess for his son, Prince Endymion."
She appeared so surprised, Seiya almost pitied her ignorance.
"Besides," he added with a smirk. "I wouldn't want that kind of responsibility."
While Minako's earlier but incorrect assumptions flew through Usagi's head, the fact that she had to put up with an errand boy didn't sit well with her at all. He was rude, uncouth and blunt to a fault. A few minutes ago when she still believed he was the Chairman, she had been trying her best to reign in her anger, mostly to keep up the appearance of a maidservant. Usagi had the urge rise within her to tell him who she really was and to demand the respect and reverence due to a Princess. But a nagging voice in her head told her such a move would probably backfire. Firstly, he wouldn't believe her, given her state of attire and disheveled appearance. Demonstrating it was out of the question since being bonded with the Silver Crystal severely restricted her use of magia.
Usagi took a deep breath and willed the spike of emotion to a simmer. There was still a way to use the guise of a maidservant until they reached Crystal Tokyo, where she couldn't wait to arrive because she vowed inwardly to have him punished for his insolence. For now she had to calm down and use what she could to gain information regarding her future home and husband—details perhaps not available to her as a Princess.
Seiya threw the last of the wood and took the torch to feed it into the pile. The glow of the fire spread through the dry beams and brightened the cavern considerably. The stone ceiling was a lot higher in this area and jagged spikes descended down in sporadic clusters.
"You must be pretty close to her if you were taking what I said about her so personally," said Seiya, choosing a seat against a reclined slab of rock.
The blonde sat down. "Yes, I'm the closest of her personal attendants," she told him awkwardly.
"Then if you're the closest, you have to be privy to what's going on under that veil."
Rolling her eyes, Usagi was exasperated to hear him return to that ridiculous question and had an inkling that he wouldn't leave her alone about it. She already felt bizarre referring to herself in third person and talking as if she wasn't present.
"She's…" Usagi kept her eyes on the burning wood. "…very beautiful."
"Sounds like you're bound by royal decree to say that whenever somebody asks," Seiya replied, sensing her hesitation.
"You wanted an answer," said Usagi sharply, trying to forget how conceited she must have sounded to her own ears.
He gave a simple shrug. "The answer and the truth don't always coincide."
"What do you want me to say? Yes, you're assumptions are correct but not only that, there's a huge boil that dominates two-thirds of her face," Usagi said flatly. "What will your Prince say to that?"
Seiya chuckled, resting his head against the slab. "He'll be thrilled."
"I'm sure…"
"But even if that was the truth," Seiya spoke. "He'd make sure she was comfortable and would assure her safety regardless."
Usagi peered at the Templar through the flickering flames. The orange and yellow danced off his features as they softened slightly. His eyes became lost in the fire as she studied his unreadable expression. She wrapped her cloak tighter around herself.
"What's he like?" she asked tentatively.
Seiya paused before meeting her gaze. "He has a good soul."
"As opposed to you?"
"I guess you could say that," he grinned, somewhat eerily.
"How does he feel about marrying her only for the alliance?" she asked in a quieter voice.
"He's accepted it."
Seiya heard the lie escape his mouth but there wasn't any need to delve into the complexities with a simple maidservant. Even if she were to tell her Princess, it wouldn't matter. The marriage would still proceed to seal the union of the Moon and Earth.
"She doesn't have anything to be afraid of," said Seiya, throwing another large splinter into the fire.
The traces of laughter and amusement were no longer on his face and was replaced by a solemn disposition. Usagi found it a curious thing. Her original inquiry about Endymion was cut short by the change in his manner.
She started to say something but thought better of it and lay down on her side. Turning her back toward him, Usagi rested her head on her arm. The earlier exhaustion devoured her body and she was soon lulled into a fitful sleep.