Chapter 7: Nothing is Clear
*Serenity*
Having taken the children inside, Serenity, Rei, and Usagi sat alone in the parlor of Usagi's suite. Rei's silence made the air thick and hard to breath. Serenity couldn't take it anymore, "Please Mars, tell me what you needed to speak with us about." She saw Rei's fists clenched at her sides and her heart started racing, thinking what could be so grave that she would act this way….
"I was searching for answers in the flames. This situation has hurt everyone so much…. I could see something, something ominous, but I couldn't get a clear reading ," Rei said through gritted teeth, her nails digging into her fists.
It was Usagi who responded, "What do you mean, something ominous? Outside you mention Kiyoko and her baby. Are they in danger?" Her voice trembled with fear for both of them.
Rei clenched her fists harder, a trickle of blood running from where her nails dug in, "I am afraid I don't know. The vision was too cloudy."
Serenity looked from her mother to Rei and then back again, "Mother, should we alert the others?" She was so anxious that she felt like she needed guidance here, no matter the fact she was the one currently holding the throne.
Usagi was quiet for almost five minutes before finally answering, "I think that we should wait. Rei, can you please keep watch? I don't think we should cause everyone MORE stress until we have a better idea of what we're dealing with."
Serenity and Rei both nodded and Rei stood, "Of course. Excuse me." She left the two of them, presumably to return to the fire.
With a tight lipped expression, Serenity asked her mother, "Are you sure about this mama?"
Usagi's shoulders slumped as she said, "Not at all Serenity…. Not at all…."
*Kiyoko*
Kiyoko was able to sleep eventually, but still woke before Haruka which shocked her honestly. She reminded herself that it shouldn't logically. She's spent so much time taking care of Kiyoko these last two weeks, poor Haruka was probably just as exhausted as the baby made her. Haruka was just good at hiding it most of the time. Kiyoko silently climbed out of bed and grabbed a simple dress and such along with her hairbrush, heading for the shower.
Once she'd finished showering she sat out in the common area brushing out her long dark locks. It was so difficult to get a handle on her hair without a mirror. But she kept brushing. Finally, frustration won and the word, "Damnit," slipped from her lips. As she started running the brush again Kiyoko felt a hand on her wrist.
As Seiya saw Kiyoko look up at her the stunned expression she wore was beautiful and torturous at the same time. She took the brush from her hand and said, "You know you can't do this without a mirror. Where's…" She let the obvious question drop, biting her tongue, and simply began brushing Kiyoko's hair.
At a loss of how to react, Kiyoko didn't say anything. She loved the feeling of Seiya brushing her hair. She always had. It was one of the ways in which she'd always been spoiled, growing up as royalty. Particularly since she'd always had such long hair. Kiyoko closed her eyes and for a moment she allowed herself to pretend that everything was alright. Only a little while later Kiyoko could feel that her hair was perfect, but Seiya hadn't stopped brushing it and Kiyoko wasn't going to say anything to spoil this moment. As far as she was concerned Seiya could spend forever simply brushing her hair.
Seiya could feel how content Kiyoko felt. It was unexpected to say the least. This was the only thing that Kiyoko had allowed her to feel psychically since that night… The night she told her that she was pregnant. That was the worst night of Seiya's life, and considering everything she'd been through as a Senshi as well as the times Kiyoko'd almost died on her…. That was saying something! Seiya didn't want to ruin this contentment. But she couldn't keep from speaking, even though she hadn't stopped brushing, "Kiyoko…. I…. I mean… Well…."
Letting the wall, the one she'd placed between them slip just the tiniest bit, Kiyoko saw what Seiya was trying to ask her. But Kiyoko didn't know how to answer her question without hurting her more… So she spoke as close to the truth as she could, "I didn't come looking for you because I didn't want to interfere with the timeline any more than I had to."
Listening to the words you said confused Seiya and she snapped before she could stop herself, "Sleeping with Haruka and conceiving her love child was a NECESSARY interference?" She'd stopped brushing Kiyoko's hair and just gripped the brush tightly, incensed!
Kiyoko supposed she'd walked into that response. She sighed and spoke coldly, hating herself for it, "It wouldn't have mattered if I had found you. You were in love with my mother then. Nothing would've changed that."
"You don't really believe that! I know you don't! I just don't understand," Seiya's voice cracked as she said it, nearly shouting. She dropped the brush and headed back to the cockpit like a bolt of lightning.
Looking after her with wet eyes Kiyoko thought to herself how right Seiya was…. She didn't believe that, that's why she had tried so hard to stay away. It was like her heart was cracking all over.
*Michiru*
It was early morning and Michiru hadn't slept much. The bed felt so empty, so much more so than when Haruka was merely somewhere else in the castle. She sat on the edge of her bed wearing a turquoise nightgown made of pure silk. Absentmindedly she picked up her mirror, her talisman. It was something she often did without thought. However, when she looked into this morning she saw… well, she couldn't describe what she saw… It was so blurred, so unclear…. But it was NOT good. There was an ominous feel to it. The one thing she could make out in it were bright lights, one she knew very well and one that was odd and perplexing, flickering and then both lights were simply gone.
Without even changing out of her nightgown Michiru took the mirror and ran straight for Setsuna's chambers. Stopping just outside the door, Michiru composed herself and knocked on the door. Setsuna called her in and Michiru slipped through, closing the doors softly behind her. Setsuna looked incredibly confused. When Michiru realized how she looked it made sense. She made it a habit never to wander the castle or anywhere like this. But this was urgent. She spoke, "I've seen something…. But it is so unclear. I am afraid that it may mean danger for Kiyoko or the child."
Setsuna invited her to sit down and then listened as Michiru recounted what she saw in the mirror. It definitely pointed to danger, but it sounded as foggy as her view of the future. How could they act without more information? To do so would be rash. This situation had already been wrought with rash thinking and actions. Eventually she looked at Michiru and told her, "I think you are right Michiru. However, I don't think we can act until we know more. And I don't think that we should tell the others. Everyone is already on edge."
Michiru nodded in agreement, "Any waft of danger could spark the powder keg of emotion that plagues the Crystal Palace." And so they made a pact to keep watching, ready to move as soon as their path was clear.
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