Writer's Notes: Thank you and hugs to all those who have read, reviewed, added this story to their favourites and/or alerts or C2s. You guys just make my day, -hugs- and -cookies-
Please remember that you can check out my blogsite (moirae333-dot-wordpress-dot-com), where there is a section dedicated to Sailor Moon fanfiction, and therein a section dedicated to this story. There will be some information posted there, as well as artwork from some very talented artists. You can also check out a longer summary, complete with spoilers.
sichi: wherein there are beautiful flowers
The disbanded idol group walked the streets of the Azabu-Juuban district in Tokyo toward Sendai Hill. The mid-morning sun hung high in the cold blue sky and did not seem to offer the same warmth to the aliens as the suns of their home world. Around them, young girls stopped and whispered in each other's ears as they stared at the pop idols that were forgotten three months after their departure from Earth-sei. Whispers of a reunion passed from one idol chaser to another as they quickly found another craze to fill their attentions.
"Earth-sei women are still horrible," Yaten Kou commented, exhaling sharply.
Taiki and Seiya ignored him and continued their journey toward the Hikawa Shrine. When they passed a flower shop, they briefly stopped in and purchased three flowers for the woman they travelled to Earth-sei to visit, and then continued on their way.
As they were slowing climbing the many steps that led to the Shinto shrine, the Lights suddenly heard a commotion up ahead. They raced forward, their ponytails waving behind them and their hands poised over their Sailor Star Change. But when they reached the top, all they saw were four girls clamouring around another girl with an odango hairstyle. The three companions sweat-dropped.
"Incredible!"
"How much did he spend?"
"You said yes?"
"Of course she did!"
"Really, how much?"
"It's beautiful, Usagi-chan!"
"Congratulations!"
"No really, how much?!"
The aliens stood there, staring blankly forward for several minutes before they realised that this could last a while (as aliens, they had no comprehension of the effects of an engagement on Earth-sei women). They gathered their courage and cleared their throats, playing with the petals of the exquisite flowers in their hands. The guardian senshi stopped their commotion and slowly turned toward the newcomers, puzzled looks crossing their faces.
"I think we've been forgotten," Yaten chuckled. "These Earth-sei women are truly fickle."
"Yaten-kun!"
"Taiki-kun!"
"Seiya-kun!"
The senshi rushed forward to surround the Lights in attention, leaving Usagi alone with her new (and very expensive) engagement ring. She spun the ring around on her finger as she watched the noisy reunion with delighted eyes that hid only a shadow of sorrow. The sunlight caught the pink diamond and reflected a bright light as Usagi walked toward the senshi.
The girls stepped away from the Three Lights (and Minako finally let Yaten breath for the first time since she wrapped her arms around his neck) as Seiya stepped forward to meet Usagi.
"Odango-hime. . . ." Seiya whispered in reverence as he presented her with the orchid he purchased with her in mind. The three tepals were a silvery-white colour, while the larger medial petal and filaments were ebony in colour and drew in the brilliance around them. Soft golden speckles appeared in the centre of the flower and danced around as though they possessed the power to move within their confinement.
"It's beautiful." Usagi took the flower gently in her hands, afraid she might damage it.
Seiya stared at Usagi and flushed, his eyes warming and heart leaping into his throat. It seemed as though everything stopped around him and became silent as he watched Usagi examine the flower, and he never noticed the four girls peering over his shoulder. Aino Minako's voice jolted him back into a harsh reality.
"Usagi-chan, those would be beautiful in your bridal bouquet!"
Seiya felt his heart fall into his shoes, and he noticed the ring on Usagi's finger for the first time. The sunlight caught the diamonds again, and for a moment, Seiya thought that the ring was taunting him. He wanted nothing more than to wipe that smug little smirk off the ring's face. He turned when he felt Yaten's and Taiki's hands fall upon his shoulders, and he realised that he had taken another step forward.
"Congratulations, Odango," Seiya said with a wounded voice as he fought the tears brimming in his azure eyes. His face twisted in anguish as his bottom lip visibly trembled. "I'm glad you got your boyfriend back."
Usagi smiled, her crystal blue eyes brightening only because she didn't understand Seiya's hurt, or his love for her. "Hai. I couldn't have done it without you, Seiya-kun," she beamed.
Seiya shrugged off the comforting hands of his cousins as he turned around and walked back down the stairs, feeling the burrowing eyes of Usagi with each step. The guardian senshi watched him leave with sorrow etched in their eyes and on their faces, (and blamed Minako for saying the wrong thing at the wrong time), but Usagi's face only held confusion at his sudden departure.
"Oh Yaten!" Minako wrapped her hands around his neck, forgetting anything but him when she gazed into his emerald eyes. "I knew you couldn't stay away from me!"
Yaten stuck up his nose at her, but he smirked and assumed a posture of superiority. "I missed Luna. I thought that I would take her back to Kinmoku-sei with me," he said as a warm feeling stirred in his stomach with Minako's irritation (and he suddenly got the impression he had said those words before).
"Can we expect your attendance for Usagi-chan's wedding?" Ami asked Taiki, slightly blushing apple in the cheeks when he gave her his full attention and connected his violet eyes with her deep blue ones.
"We cannot guarantee anything," Taiki replied calmly. He gazed at her quiet beauty for several long seconds before he turned away, a blush creeping into his cheeks. Ami giggled, but her expression turned into one of astonishment when Taiki held his hands up to her, an orchid cupped in his palms.
The orchid resembled the silver and golden one Seiya had given to Usagi, but it was a silvery-blue and dark lilac colour. The speckles of colour danced around the tips of the petals, lapping against the edges like waters along a shoreline.
Ami raised her hands to take the flower, but Taiki positioned it into her cerulean hair.
"Thank you, Taiki-kun." Ami's blush deepened, her fingers lightly brushing against the silken petals. She felt the hot breaths of Rei, Makoto and Minako on her neck as they clamoured around her, admiring the orchid ("Beautiful!", "You're so lucky!", and "Why haven't we received any?").
Yaten stretched his arms behind his head and forced a yawn, feigning disinterest. "Oi, Minako-chan!" he called, casually tossing her the orchid he bought.
Minako caught the golden-orange and black flower and marvelled at its beauty. The orange specks were heart shaped and sparkled with a golden brilliance against the black petals. "Oh Yaten-kun," Minako squealed, "it's breathtaking! Arigato."
"Would you give that to Luna for me?" Yaten smirked as Minako stuck her tongue out.
Makoto and Rei stared at Taiki and Yaten with an expectant, widened gaze, but knew that the young idols did not have flowers for them. Nonetheless, Taiki muttered an apology, and the senshi turned back toward Usagi, who sat on the wooden step into the shrine, watching them with glowing eyes. Yaten and Taiki expressed their goodbyes and promised to return, before leaving to find Seiya and Princess Kakyuu.
As they left, Rei thought she heard them say, "They don't remember, Taiki!", and "Let us seek counsel with the princess."
/end sichi
in the next instalment:
hachi: wherein seiya wishes to return to kinmoku-sei
