Disclaimer: Neither the show nor the song it mine. But it would be sooooooo awesome if they were.
Notes: And finally it comes! In this chapter! Well actually I changed my mind, next chapter it comes. There just wasn't enough room, I want to have something to put in the next chapter! Anyway, I told you I'd get this out fast! Well, for me. So there's some new stuff, which is awesome, but then there's some stuff that gets found out... it's gonna be bad! Hmm... what should I do with Mamoru? Should he get someone, try to reach Usagi again and bring in some drama, or both? Or should I not mention him at all? Hmm, I don't know... help me out, tell me what you think. Long chapter!
You know what my favorite word is? I'll give you a hint. It starts with an "r" and rhymes with "eview!"
And one last thing. So far I've been using the "chan" suffix for the outers, because I thought that after a while they'd be close enough to be that informal with each other, disregarding Japanese culture (which I'm ignorant about anyway). So, just asking, do you think I should revert to the "san" suffix like in the original series? It's like a mini-vote thing. Tell me what you want, and I'll do it!
Posted 2/26/06
Dirty Little Secret
Summary: Alternate ending and continuation of the Stars season. Before the lights leave, Usagi confesses to Seiya that she returns his love, and he leaves with a promise to someday return. Soon after the departure, Usagi suddenly and strangely moves to an unknown university, very far away. Only Pluto knows her secret, and promises to help her until the day Seiya will return-and when he does, he will make a great discovery. A Seiya and Usagi love story.
Last chapter:
Usagi grabbed the phone on the bedside table right beside her and dialed Haruka's cell phone number. She didn't really want Setsuna to pick up the phone and have to bother her friend more than she already had, so she wouldn't call the house phone. The phone rang on the other end.
Once.
Twice.
Oh please pick up!
Three times. Usagi bit her lip, anxious.
Four... and then there was a click...
"Hello, Haruka speaking."
Chapter 6: Assistance
They're telling secrets that should never be revealed
As the months passed on Earth with Usagi's pregnancy, they passed just the same for Seiya-slowly and full of stress.At least once a week, Bella would come to the palace to visit Seiya. He was becoming increasingly annoyed with her, and though he tried no to show it, some of his irritation seeped through. Bella either didn't notice or pretended she didn't, because she continued to pursue him.
He had been forced to go on three more picnics with that woman, two dinners, numerous walks, and to a few fencing matches-he hated those. Needless to say, Seiya was bored out of his mind. It had gotten to the point that one day she had without warning burst into his room while he was napping on his bed, and plopped down next to him. Her sudden boldness and actions repulsed him and he all but yelled at her to get out. Bella became clingy, and often tried to hang onto his arm. Usually he could shrug her off, but sometimes it was impossible without doing serious physical damage. Seiya was a gentleman, however, and would never strike a woman-even if he did want to strangle her.
Luck had deserted Usagi for the time being, and decided to turn itself to Seiya instead. One day, Bella told him that she was going on vacation to visit her Aunt. She actually tried to invite him to come with her, but he firmly refused, though he gave no reason why. It was a miracle! Bella was going away for two whole months with no way to contact him-except letters...which he surely would not read. The leech was gone... and he was free again!
The day Bella left found Seiya sitting at his window, gazing at the sky. He was feeling rather lost, mostly because of the reconstruction on Kinmoku.
Seiya had thought about the past few months, and realized that he had done almost nothing to help his planet. He had sat around brooding over Usagi and being dragged places with Bella. He was feeling very unproductive, and guilty that so many people were trying so hard to get the planet back on track while he, the princess' official guardian (or one of three), hadn't lifted a finger. How long had it been? Eight months? Nine months? Ten months? Seiya didn't really know anymore, the year was divided differently on Kinmoku anyway. He decided he would check his log, the equivalent to the calendar on Earth. It was basically a notebook-like record of the days, a simplified version of Earth's day tracker that hung on walls instead of sitting on desks.
Both planets' years were the same length, but divided differently. Earth had twelve divisions-months, while Kinmoku had only five-which they called stages-each exactly 73 days long. Sure, it was unoriginal, but so was the weather there. There were no seasons, it was constantly spring-like weather. It was always pleasant, though after the various climates on Earth Seiya found the unchanging outdoors less interesting. Sometimes it rained, but there were never thunderstorms-only water. Every day of the year had equal sunlight and night time, the large sun rising around seven and setting twelve hours later every night. Technically, it could be called paradise. But it was beginning to bore the young man with such an active persona.
Seiya walked the short distance to his night stand and opened the thin, brown, leather-bound book resting there. Flipping to the marked page of the current day, Seiya found it to be the 133rd day of the year; the 60th day of the second stage on Kinmoku. He sighed, the time he would return to Earth was so far away! Seiya closed the book and tried to put the thought out of his mind for now. He would find something to do, something to occupy his mind instead of a cheery blonde miles and miles away. Though at the moment, the said blonde was far from the cheery edge of the spectrum, and much closer to the anxious one.
"Hello, Haruka speaking."
"Haruka-chan!" Usagi grinned and bounced on the bed happily at the friendly voice, before remembering how anxious she was-which she was reminded of because of her inability to... bounce, like she used too. Oopmh... not trying that again. Ugh, I feel so FAT, she thought.
"...Koneko-chan?"
"It's me!" There was a stiff silence on the other end.
"Sorry, it's just you've never called us before since you left, we've always called you..."
"Well, I'm calling now."
"IT'S ABOUT TIME!" Usagi jumped a bit. "You know, I was about to just randomly come over and visit you, since you've never let any of us come..." Usagi let out a nervous laugh.
"Yeah... about that..." She bit her lip. Well I have to tell her eventually, might as well get it over with. "I'm sorry I haven't asked you all over, but I've been very busy-"
"So it would seem." Usagi could hear the playfulness return to the older woman's voice.
"Anyway, I was just thinking, you know, and... uh, so I thought that I could use some company, I suppose. Er, well, not really company... you see, I..." am about to become a single mother of a baby whose father lives across the galaxy and I'm scared and I just want help because I'm all alone! "... have been having a hard time recently on my own, right? And I was wondering if, well, you know, you might want to take a month or so off from... whatever it is that you do, and visit me?" The rest was said very quickly instead of hesitantly. "But I mean of course if you don't want to that's okay but I was just thinking you know it would be nice and it's a little lonely and I'm only struggling a bit but I've run into a little problem anddon't really know what to do and you see Setsuna was helping me for a bit but she couldn't stay with me any longer so she left but I was okay for a while but now I'm kind of spazzing out and I don't know what to do and could you maybe help me for just a little bit like a month or so because I'm kind of freaking out." Usagi desperately hopedher friend would not ask her to repeat anything as she tried to catch her breath. There was more silence, as Haruka was slowly processing the recent jabbering. After a moment though, she understood.
"Trouble! What happened! Are you okay! I swear if somebody messed with you, I'll-"
"No, no, it's nothing like that!" Usagi quickly countered. Well it kind of is... in a way.
"Don't you worry, I'll be over there right away! Let me just get my stuff together... wait... does this relate to that 'secret' of yours you had right before you left?"
"Uh..." Damn, she's good. No use hiding it now. "Actually, it does."
"Aha! I knew it! Now, will you please tell me what's going on?"
"Um..." Whoa, I hadn't thought about that... "Maybe... later? Like... how about in person. It might be easier that way..." Oh God this is going to be so terrible. She's going to go bonkers! But after that, I think it'll be okay. She'll help me out... I think? "It's... kind of a big thing." Huge is more like it!
"Okay now you're starting to freak me out. Just tell me what it is!"
"I really don't think I can right now," Usagi said honestly. "I'm sorry... look, what I'm asking is really a LOT of trouble for you," she hesitated, rethinking her decision to call for help, "so I wouldn't be mad if you didn't come. I'd totally understand. I mean, asking you to come halfway across the country for a month? It's just a bit much. So maybe it's not such a good idea anyway."
"Ohhhh no you don't, Koneko-chan. You're not getting away this time. I know when my princess needs help, so don't even try! I said I'd be there for you if you needed me, don't go trying to take it back now."
Maybe it wasn't such a good idea after all.
"Um... right. Well... aaaah." Too late now!
"Don't worry, everything will be okay! What kind of guardian would I be if I deserted you in you moment of need?"
"But you don't even know what-"
"Ok I've just about got my stuff!" Usagi was surprised at how fast her friend was, even outside of the race track. "I'm gonna make myself a sandwich and pop on over! Haha, but really. Just recently I found out that we can teleport to and from the time gates all on our own! Isn't that nifty?"
Usagi laughed nervously. "It sure is! Imagine, teleporting all over the place! Who would've thought?"
"Seriously!" Haruka's voice became less clear as she talked while chewing, which was rather funny. "You know, I kind off haff to know whur you are... to get... to you plafe." Usagi chuckled at Haruka's in-between-bites speaking. "Fo, desrife it to meh. Or if that part of your fecret?"
God, what is she, psychic? "Yeah, actually... it is."
"Aha! I knew it! Okay, done with that. Who knew tuna could be so good? Well, tell me about your place now."
Here goes. Might as well tell her everything now except for the biggest part. "Well, there's a lot. I feel really bad... I'll start off by saying that practically everything I told everyone was a big fat lie." There, that wasn't so hard.
"What!"
I'm on a roll... "Well, let's see... there is no Korimoto academy, it's totally made up. I haven't been attending any type of school since I came here, and didn't even come here for that."
"Wow, you actually got us that time!" Haruka seemed surprisingly calm about the entire situation, regardless of how big of a deal it was. "So what have you been doing this whole time?"
"Just... hanging around..."
"And you need help doing that?"
"Well not just hanging around, it's... complicated."
"Explain it to me then. Wait, just do it later. I'm tired of sitting around. Tell me your address and I'll try and pull a magic trick and just appear."
"Are you sure you can do that?"
"No, but I'll find out. It'll be an adventure... or something like that. Come on already, address?"
"Okay..."
Usagi proceeded to give Haruka her location and directions, making
sure Haruka had a phone to call Usagi with if something happened or
she got lost. After a few minutes of that, the two said goodbye and
Usagi nervously waited. Oh God oh God oh God what am I gonna do?
She's gonna FREAK! Okay, just calm down Usagi. If she's willing
to come this far for a long time just for you, without knowing why,
she'll understand. Right? Ugh, why did I let Setsuna use her days
off earlier instead of now? And I had intended to keep this a
complete secret too... now two people know. I guess it's
better though, I have more help. God knows I need it.
"Taiki!"
The tall brunette glanced up from his book to see his brother approaching him. "Seiya."
"I was thinking just a few minutes ago-"
"Did you hear that, Taiki! He thinks!" Seiya glared at his oldest brother who was standing in a corner in the library.
"...Didn't see you there, Yaten."
"Well you won't for long, I was just leaving. See ya later!" Yaten smirked and waved cockily before walking out of the room.
"So, Seiya, you were thinking, were you?" Taiki asked with subtle sarcasm.
"Oh shut up. Anyway, I was thinking, and I realized that the whole time I've been here since we got back from Earth, I haven't done a thing. I feel so bad! Here I am, a supposed role model and position of authority, and I haven't helped the reconstruction at all!"
"You're not supposed to," Taiki replied, as if it was obvious to the whole world.
"...What?"
Taiki put down his book and leaned back in his chair. "We're guardians, fighters, not workers.That may sound arrogant, but it's true. Our top priority and only job is make sure our planet is safe. It's an important job and a large burden, we don't have time to go out and patch up buildings and such."
"But there isn't exactly any present danger, don't you feel unproductive? Shouldn't we be doing something? I feel so useless."
"I do too. But you know, we deserve a break. We've done more then anyone on this planet ever has, and thus, this is our time to relax. Compensate for the lack of free time recently."
"I still feel guilty..."
"I feel that way as well, to a certain extent. But our princess told me, when I raised the issue to her and told her how I felt about the situation, that she wants us to relax, enjoy the peace. We created it, with help of course, and we've earned the right for some quiet time."
I never thought about it that way... wait... does that mean that I don't have to be here? I'm not doing anything... couldn't I take a little trip back to Earth? "Hey, Taiki, do you think that since I'm not really required here for work I could... take a vacation?"
Taiki eyes him skeptically. "I'm not sure, actually. I thought of that myself a while ago, but decided against it." He smiled. "Don't go telling Yaten this, he'd throw a fit, but I'll let you in on a little secret. I thought that it would be nice to go and visit our friends back on Earth... especially a very intelligent one."
Seiya was surprised that his brother would say something like that. "Well, what do you know, Taiki's admitted he has feelings for someone!"
"Oh, stop it. You know you want to go back too."
You have no idea... "Yeah, I do. But why can't we? You said it yourself, it would be great to go back." Taiki smiled sadly.
"It's our duty to stay here. We have responsibilities, positions we cannot abandon. Trust me, I want more than anything towell, you know, but it's just not possible. Especially because of the recent battles. People are still disoriented. It will be a while until Kinmoku is back on its feet and its people content again. Until then, we must remain."
Ugh! It's just not fair... after all we've done! I just want to see her again... "Taiki, how long do you think it will take for this planet to be back to normal?"
"I don't think it will ever completely go back to the way it was before. But I know what you mean. And... I really don't know. Not soon enough, that I can tell you."
"No, definitely not soon enough. Tell me... do you think that in... say, in a little more than two years from now, uh, give or take a bit of course, Kinmoku will be stable enough for us to go on a... um, visit?"
"I'm not sure. Why do you ask? That's a very... specific amount of time. Is there something you want to tell me?"
Seiya turned to the side as a frown crossed his face. "No, there's nothing."
Where is she? Did she get lost? It's already been... oh. Seven minutes isn't that bad. I could call her if I needed to. But wouldn't she get here fast if she just poofed? Oh, no... what if it didn't work! What if she got lost in some weird dimension in time! What if she messed up and got dissolved or something! OH MY GOD! I KILLED HER!
Knock knock knock
The noise startled Usagi so much that she fell from the bed rather ungracefully and let out a squeak. Not that she was graceful in the first place. She scrambled up and shuffled over to the door as best as she could. Looking through the peep hole, Usagi saw the familiar face of her friend looking down at a piece of paper, which most likely had her address written on it. The woman outside frowned and knocked again.
"Uh... hello?" she asked loudly, then murmured, "am I at the right place?"
Usagi cleared her throat from the other side. "Haruka-chan, I'm here!"
"Oh good, I was beginning to second-guess your directions... can I come in now?"
Here it is, the moment of truth... "Um, actually, no." Well there goes that. How did I know I would chicken out?
"...What!"
"Uh, you see, I think I should say something first."
"Oh come on Koneko-chan! Just open the door! I want to put my stuff inside already!"
"No, you really need to hear this first."
"Okay okay, shoot. But hurry up! This is weird..."
"Okay, I just want to say that as of right now, everything's okay with me. I'm fine. There's no reason to freak out. I've been going through some changes, and, well, this may be a little bit of a shock to you... so, I'm just telling you now, don't freak out."
"What on Earth is going on!"
"And... please please please don't be mad at me!"
"Koneko-chan, open the door."
"Promise you won't freak out!"
"Well I don't know about that anymore with the way you're talking! Now open up the damn door!"
"Promise you won't be mad at me!"
"Open the God damn door!"
"Promise!"
"I PROMISE!"
Usagi took a deep breath, placed one hand on the doorknob and the other on the lock, and turned them both at the same time. For a split second she saw the irritation on Haruka's face that lingered from just a few moments ago. It was soon wiped from the older woman's face with a look of pure and total shock. Haruka dropped both of her bags simultaneously, her mouth slightly open and her eyes wide.
Usagi looked at the ground, biting her lip (which she seemed to be doing a lot lately) and fidgeting with her hands. "Please, say something. I... please don't hate me! Don't be angry with me!"
Haruka blinked a few times and slowly came to her senses, allowing her emotions to take over again.
"Angry, no. I'm... INFURIATED!" Usagi cringed, feeling terribly guilty and ashamed of her carelessness. Now her one new hope would desert her and hate her forever! "I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS! I'LL... I'LL KILL HIM! WHO WAS IT! WHO! WAS IT THAT STUPID ASS MAMORU OR SOMEONE ELSE!" Usagi immediately pulled her friend and the bags inside and shut the door to dilute the outbursts as much as she could for the neighbors. She felt a huge wave of relief wash over her, her friend wasn't angry with her! All Haruka wanted to do was (supposedly) avenge Usagi, not condemn her!
Oh thank God! But... but what do I tell her now? Will she be mad when she finds out who it was, and that I did it willingly? Will she hate me then? Will she tell the others and reject me as a queen, abandon me as not longer their princess? Oh, no... Usagi's relief was short lived with these thoughts, and though she tried not to, she started to cry. Usagi's tears quickly dissolved Haruka's ferocious anger and she instead began to console the girl, bending over a little and placing a supportive hand on her shoulder. Concern completely replaced and hostile feelings within the guardian, she hated to see Usagi cry. "I-I-I'm s-so sorry.. b-but.. just don't hate me, please... I'm so confused..."
"Oh, no no no, Koneko-chan, please don't cry... I'm so sorry, I was just so mad... please, forgive me. It was wrong to blow up in you face like that..." Usagi only cried more, despite the even larger feeling of relief she had, the fact that she would soon have a baby was more real than ever. She was scared. Haruka was a little confused about what to do with the sobbing teen in front of her, and settled for a hug. "Oh, come here... it's okay, just like you said. Everything's going to be alright, you will-we-will get through this."
"I'm... so... afraid..." Usagi said muffled between sobs.
"Don't be... everything will turn out alright, you'll see. Everything will be okay, trust me. We can work this out."
Those words... Usagi calmed down a little, her cries subsiding for the time being. Haruka led her to the nearby living room and to the couch where she sat them both down. Finally taking the consoling hand from Usagi's shoulder, Haruka slowly stood. "We don't have to talk about this right now, it can wait until tomorrow. I think what you need is a nice big bowl of ice cream, no? And I'm almost certain you have at least three flavors here." Usagi's hiccuping turned into a small chuckle. Haruka found the kitchen easily enough, and the freezer. "Ah, I was wrong! You only have two? Now that's strange! Oh, wait, this one's Neopolitan. Technically, you have four. Well, that won't stop us from eating some, will it?" Haruka always knew how to make Usagi smile.
"No way!" Thank God for this woman. After her venting, she was even more accepting and patient than Setsuna-chan! And that's really saying something. The shock wore off FAST. I'm really surprised... Oh, how I do love my friends... and this ice cream one of them has just brought me.
"So," Haruka said, sitting down again next to Usagi with two large bowls filled with 4 flavors of ice cream, "details and technicalities aside, let's talk about this." There were so many questions Haruka had, but knew she had to wait to ask them.
"Okay... but talk about what, exactly?"
"Hmm... well, do you know what gender it is?"
Usagi beamed, suddenly very proud of her unborn child. "It's a girl."
"Have you thought of any names?"
"...Wow, I hadn't thought about that..."
"Good thing I'm here then! Are there any girl names you like in particular?"
"I'd have to think about it for a while, but I'm sure I could pick a few I really like."
"Well then, we'll do that later." She took a huge spoonful of ice cream and shoved it into her mouth, hardly chewing (or whatever it is one does to ice cream) at all, and swallowing. Her eating speed and mouth size rivaled Usagi's, not to mention her stomach! "What do you say to a funny movie to lighten the mood and make the evening more pleasant?"
"I say that's a great idea."
"Do you have any popcorn?"
"Seiya."
The young man jumped at the new presence. His room had been very quiet and he had been absorbed in his book, and the sudden noise had startled him, no matter how soft it was. The speaker entered the room and approached him.
"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare you."
"No, no, it's okay, Princess. I was at a stopping point anyway." Or not, but whatever. "Is something wrong?"
"No, not at all. I just wanted to check up on you. You see, recently I've noticed that you demeanor has changed, is changing, and not in a good way. I understand that you are sad about leaving your... friends, but you seem to be getting worse every day."
"It's nothing to worry about really, I think it's just a phase-"
"I don't think so, Seiya. I do feel terrible, keeping you and your fellow guardians here away from your new companions. I wish there was something I could do... I wish I could let you go. For a while, at least. But I'm afraid that this planet's people are still afraid, unstable. They need you here. Eventually, they are bound to recover enough to feel safe without you, but I don't know how long it will take." Seiya was forlorn and it showed. "However, I am carefully observing our people, trying to estimate how close they are to reaching that point of security. And as soon as I believe they are ready, I want to let you three go back."
"But Princess-"
"Of course it is up to you, and I would like you to come back here frequently to ensure the people they are safe. But all in all, I want you to be happy. I love you all dearly, and want only the best for you." She smiled at him, a slightly sad smile. "So I hope you will think about it, though I already have an idea as to what you want. And that's all I have to say, really. So I must go, I have things to do. Have a good day, Seiya." And she gracefully exited the room.
Seiya sat on his bed, still thinking about what she said, not quite understanding all of it, how his Princess had just given him permission to do what he wanted to do more than anything. Granted it wouldn't be soon, but he could go back! Seiya felt happier, then, knowing that one day he would get back to his love.
But that time was far away. So, Seiya went back to his comfortable position on his bed, and resumed his reading.
Tada! Review, suggest, and go eat some unhealthy food!
