TENOH AND KAIOH RESIENCE
As the group excited the elevator, Michiru stopped at pale green door, digging through her purse to find her keys, cursing as she pulled her things out one by one only to find they were indeed missing. She rapped at the door loudly and a few moments later Haruka opened it, pulling Michiru in by the shoulders to kiss her cheek.
"You left them at the school again", Haruka laughed.
Michiru nodded, frowning.
"I'll walk over there with you tomorrow. Since we'd be alone at the school maybe we could-"
Michiru quickly covered her partner's mouth, avoiding her mischievous comments from being heard by their guests.
"Why don't you all come in", Michiru laughed, her cheeks flushing pink.
"How wicked of you", Seiya chortled, Taiki and Yaten following suit. Mina and Kousagi stared at each other innocently, both naïve about Haruka's slip up.
"Don't be a hypocrite, Kou", said Haruka with a smirk.
"Umm…" Kousagi interjected. "I'm hungry and I smell food. Can we please eat", Kousagi blinked, breaking the tension.
"You're right little kitten, let's go eat", Haruka mused, placing an arm around the princess as they walked toward the kitchen.
"Aren't you jealous Michiru", Seiya joked, winking at the wavy haired violinist.
"No, they're like sisters", Michiru said with a grin. "Why, are you jealous?"
Seiya opened his mouth to speak but didn't answer, cut off by Kousagi who was shrieking from the kitchen.
"Oh my God this is so good!"
After dinner, the group made their way into a large living room where a balcony overlooked the beautiful city. Haruka turned on the television, flipping through the channels as Mina and Kousagi helped Michiru clean up in the kitchen. After a small crashing noise, Kousagi emerged from the room with a colorful tray of color macaroons, mumbling something about how it was really Mina's fault this time. She set the tray on the table and plunked herself lazily into a cozy arm chair.
"It a miracle, not one stain", Seiya said coyly as he eyeballed his shirt on Kousagi from across the room.
"Not yet", she joked, yawning. "Oh I'm so full I could fall asleep right here", she muttered as she curled herself in a ball, her head resting on the arm of the chair, her long hair flowing off the seat.
"Me too", Mina grinned as she entered the room, plopping on the couch opposite Yaten. He blushed as she did so, instinctively looking away from the blonde.
"No sleeping yet, it's only 10:30.. You girls better enjoy your time off.", beamed Michiru, who entered the room with a tea set in her hands, glasses clinking to steady on the tray. Haruka stood up to help her, gently placing the heavy tray on the coffee table.
Mina was interrupted by her ringing mobile. She pulled it out of her shirt and giddily answered.
"Hi Mama! Yes, I'm doing fine, how's LA?"
Yaten stared, pale in the face, as the pretty blonde laughed heavily into the receiver at her mother on the other line.
"But you got his autograph right? Eek you're so lucky! I wish I could have come with you and Papa… no fair!" she whined.
"Oh already? Okaaaaay, love you too… bye bye"
Kousagi perked up at the sweet aroma of the warm tea, walking a few paces across the room to plop herself next to Mina who began to pour some in everyone's glasses. Haruka took Kousagi's place in the armchair, idly sipping the tea Mina handed to her.
"So when will your mom… er – parents be back in town?" Yaten found himself asking.
"Oh, if everything pans out right on set, they should be home in a week. Next Sunday night", she said with a smile to Yaten who remained expressionless.
"And your dad? He's some big shot?"
"I… um..." said a puzzled Mina who took some offense to his question. "I don't think big shot is the proper term but..."
Taiki, who was sitting on the floor, right below Yaten, elbowed him in the shins.
Yaten flinched, giving Taiki a smug face.
"Sorry Mina, I didn't mean to sound so-"
"Rude?" Mina filled in.
Yaten laughed, nodding.
'I'm glad your happy Minako. And still chasing idols'
Haruka finally settled on a channel that was playing a movie so she picked up another remote which dimmed the lights. Michiru plopped into the armchair with Haruka, curling closely to her.
Seiya sat himself at the end of the long couch where Yaten, Mina, and Kousagi where sitting, brushing Kousagis leg with his as he positioned himself in the corner.
"There's plenty of room on the floor next to Taiki", Kousagi said as she clumsily scooted herself away from Seiya and closer to Mina.
"Do I scare you", Seiya asked with a playful pout. "Anyone else would be happy to sit next to me."
"I have tea in my hand Seiya Kou, and it's still hot." Kousagi retorted, trying to keep a serious face.
Haruka and Michiru both chuckled as everyone on the couch turned their way, unaware they were being watched by the two.
"Behave over there", Seiya snickered as the movie began to play opening credits.
"Shhhhhhhh"
"Shhhhhhhhhhh!"
"Mina hand me a purple macaroon. Oh and a pink one mm!"
"SHHHH!"
Around midnight, about halfway through the movie, the room was silent aside of the television screen that continued to play the romantic comedy. Everyone had fallen asleep. Mina, uncomfortable in her cramped seating was the first to awake, grabbing the throw pillow beside Yaten and throwing it on the floor. She positioned herself on her stomach hugging the pillow tightly beneath her head. Yaten, who was disturbed by Mina's movement, awoke next. He pulled his mobile out of his pocket and looked at the time. He quickly tapped Taiki who was on the floor beneath him with his foot and Taiki stirred, slowly opening his eyes.
"What" he whispered sleepily, though in quick realization, he recognized where he was.
"We better go", Yaten whispered.
Taiki nodded in agreement and they both turned to wake up Seiya.
"He looks so peaceful" Yaten whispered.
"I feel guilty waking him. He barely sleeps."
Taiki walked over to Michiru and Haruka who too, were both fast asleep, cuddled closely in the arm chair.
"Sorry to wake you but we're gonna head out. We have an early morning. Idol business", he snickered quietly. "Do you mind if he stays? I don't think he sleeps much at our place."
Michiru peered over to a sleeping Seiya who was now somehow oddly positioned back to back with a fast asleep Kousagi.
"Oh it's fine. Just give us a ring and we'll send him on his way tomorrow", she said sweetly, stretching her arms gracefully above her head.
"Thank you. And thank you for working with us today", Yaten said quietly as she walked them out.
"Anytime!" Michiru called out as they got into the elevator. She quickly turned on her heels back into the apartment.
"Ruka, come on let's go to bed."
Haruka grunted awake. She pulled herself off the chair, took a stretch, and fiddled with the remote to turn off the television.
"Should I break them up" Haruka asked protectively as she eyeballed Kousagi and Seiya.
"No, it's innocent. Besides, they're fast asleep."
Haruka then looked to Mina who was sprawled out on the floor and shook her head as she walked over to her to pick her up. Tossing her light body over her shoulders, she flicked the light on in the guest bedroom down the hall and propped Mina inside the sheets, tucking her in gently.
"Good night little Venus" she whispered as she left the room, shutting off the light, leaving the door a crack open.
"Goodnight Kou-Kou", Michiru giggled to herself as she walked hand in hand with her partner to their bedroom, shutting the door behind them.
Hours later, Kousagi stirred, still half asleep, feeling a rush of warmth around her. She inhaled an enticing woodsy scent. 'Seiya? Am I dreaming?' Now wrapped around in his arms, she gently turned herself around, burying her face in his chest. Too tired to protest or even be aware of position she was in, it only took a few seconds for her to fall fully asleep once more as she listened to Seiya's steady deep breathing.
Kousagi found herself in one of the gardens of the crystal palace. She lifted the skirt of her long purple polka dot sundress as she climbed short rocky steps to a small golden gate. She unlocked it and found herself in a small reservoir, a stream twinkling before her in the middle of the grassy area, and a rainbow of rabbits hopped around her feet.
"Huh? You were all white the other day? Did somebody paint you?" she asked, picking up a mint colored rabbit and nuzzling it on her cheek.
"You're cute anyway." She giggled.
When she looked in her hands again, the rabbit was gone, and she found herself in a lush meadow surrounded by trees that seemed to never end.
"Hello?!" she cried, looking around her, only to find nothing.
"Mama? Papa? Usagi?"
She was barefoot, but found herself running.
"Hello?!"
A teary eyed Kousagi cursed loudly when she slipped on something soft, landing in a wet goopy mass.
"Olives?" she sniffed, lifting the round pile to her face.
Her dress was soaked as she stood, brushing herself off. She decided to pace herself now, walking quickly, being careful to avoid the olives that seemed be to be scattered all over the meadow, having fallen from the trees.
"The trees are dying..." She looked up, and found the trees slowly shriveling.
"What's going on here? Where am I?"
She gasped as she turned around. She was no longer in the tree filled meadow, but in a field of weeds that overlooked an ocean. She looked down to find that she was dressed in her pale pink bridesmaids gown for her sister's wedding.
"Usagi!?" she called but there was no answer.
As she walked on, she swore she heard a woman crying.
"Usagi please answer me! I'm so confused. Where are we?" she said desperately, with tears streaming down her face.
She now seemed to be climbing a hill, still overlooking the ocean. There, she spotted a red haired woman sitting at the edge of the cliff, her back turned to Kousagi. She was sobbing heavily and Kousagi could see the back of her elegant gown had been slashed, singed, and tattered.
"They betrayed me, they betrayed me!" was all Kousagi could make out from behind her sobs.
"Please don't cry. It'll be okay", Kousagi said as she sat behind the woman.
"Who betrayed you? Please let me help you", Kousagi said in a kind tone.
"You can't help me. Who are you?" the woman asked as she buried her face in her hands.
"I'm Kousagi, Princess of the Earth and Moon. Please, can you tell me where I am?"
"It doesn't matter where you are. This place will cease to exist soon, look around you!"
Kousagi felt chills rush down her spine as she turned her head. It seemed as though the world was on set on fire and a charred chaos was all that was left. Even the ground was covered in ashes that still felt warm to the touch.
"What the…"
A bright beam of blue light nearly hit Kousagi who dodged it and Kousagi shrieked as the beam caused a small explosion just where she had been standing.
Kousagi looked up to see three feminine figures before her though the blinding light of the beam made it difficult to see their faces.
"Who is that intruder? Let me handle her" the woman who stood in the middle said fiercely.
"Your majesty we need to get out of here now!" the shortest of the women said.
"Please your highness, WE HAVE TO LEAVE!" the tallest one said.
"NO!" the red hair woman screamed. "You have to go back with her to Earth. Please!
"We aren't leaving you Queen Kakyuu", the fierce, dark hair woman cried. "We will never leave you, even if this is the end. Then we will die here with you."
The red haired woman who was being referred to as royalty turned around and took Kousag'is hand. Her beautiful face was bruised and covered in gashes. Her hands were dirty and battered. "Princess Kousagi please take them back with you. Please keep them safe and make sure they are happy." the woman pleaded as she looked up at the three women.
"But I don't know how to get back myself", Kousagi cried.
The ground began to rumble and the ground before them seemed to be dissolving. The red haired queen pushed Kousagi towards the other three women as the cliff began to dissolve around her and a beam of warm, white sparkling light flashed around them. Kousagi found herself in-between the three women as the light moved quickly through what seemed to be space, the stars twinkling past as the zoomed forward. The shaking began again and Kousagi found herself clinging tightly to the fierce dark haired woman, burying her face below her chest, feeling her warmth. And the shaking continued… and continued... and continued.
"KOUSAGI! KOU! GET UP! WAKE UP!" Haruka barked.
Seiya buried his head top Kousagi's, holding her tightly as he hid his face amongst the lavender curls. He grunted, annoyed, and proceeded to blink awake.
"Mmm?" he groaned.
Kousagi shot up out Seiya's grip, causing Seiya awaken fully. He was stunned, blushing as he saw Kousagi so close to him, but became concerned as she breathed heavily, nearly hyperventilating as she sat up, her eyes half open.
"The Queen! We can't leave her. We have to go back" she cried.
"Forgive me, Princess", Michiru said softly as she slapped Kousagi across the face.
"OUCH! What the … what happened? Oh my God I had such a bad dream… Poor Kakyuu", she whispered to herself. "It felt so real."
"That's what you get for falling asleep with him", Haruka joked, however her face was stern as Haruka gave Seiya menacing look for being so close to her.
Seiya gasped at the sound of Queen Kakyuu's name. He was about to ask her more when Haruka cut in.
"Kou! Taiki and Yaten called a few minutes ago. Your manager is stopping by in 30 minutes with some other important executives. Something to do with your single."
Seiya swore loudly causing everyone to wince at the vile words. "Shoot I completely forgot. I've got to go." He pulled himself off the couch and ran out the door, still swearing, though his eyes wandered back to Kousagi.
'She's mysterious. And she smells like strawberries', he said smiling to himself as he paced in front of the elevator, relieved when it opened right away.
Kousagi glanced at the clock and was dismayed to see that it was only 6:45 in the morning. She found her way to the guest room, having fallen asleep at Haruka and Michiru's place many times before; she squeezed in with Mina who took up almost half of the bed. She closed her eyes to fall asleep once again, hoping to not have another nightmare. One the verge of sleep she heard a ringing coming from within the apartment.
"Hello", Haruka answered.
"Oh hi, Queen Serenity! Good morning." She continued.
"Really? That's odd… her phone is probably in her bag... but don't worry, they're fine of course."
"Yes, they're still in bed and I'm surprised you're not." Haruka laughed.
"Oh just Michiru and me. Yes, I fed them. Would your daughter ever go to bed on an empty stomach" the short haired blonde joked.
"Uh huh.."
"Yes I'll tell them."
"Hah, go back to sleep! They're fine"
"Give Endymion my regards… Okay bye."
After Haruka hung up, she felt a set of arms wrap around her.
Haruka sighed, turning around to kiss Michiru, but Michiru broke the kiss.
"What's wrong Haruka", she asked with concerned eyes.
"It is wrong that I didn't mention they were here too?" Haruka said, feeling guilty.
Michiru paused thoughtfully.
"Well Endymion would only worry. Besides, that was cute earlier wasn't it?"
"I don't think the little kitten will find it cute when she finds out." Haruka winked.
Michiru smiled. "Sometimes I think we all underestimate her."
"It doesn't matter. I won't let it happen anyway." Haruka said stubbornly. "It wouldn't be right. But in general, they're not so bad, are they?"
"No, but we can be bad… come on Ruka… while they're still sleeping."
Michiru led Haruka back to their bedroom and the two spend the early morning in splendid bliss.
A/N: Thanks for the kind reviews.. you guys are great! Sorry for any typos. I wanted to post this before I head out for the rest of the weekend. Team KouKou forever! ^_-
