Chapter 8
Stormy Waters
Seiya was staring at Kiyoko now, waiting for her answer. She mulled it over in her head as she paced. This had never happened. Her psychic abilities were usually like her father's. Visions, premonitions, the reading of emotions, but nothing like what happened with Seiya. She had telepathic power, but rarely used it. Her parents taught her at a young age that it was wrong to see inside someone's mind without their permission. She'd only really experienced it with her father or in small flashes. Endymion had given her permission and they'd had many conversations this way when she was a child. However, she hadn't truly read anyone's mind since he died.
Realizing that she'd gotten lost in her thoughts and that Seiya was still waiting for an answer, Kiyoko stopped, unable to actually look at her, "I don't know." Her voice was so soft she wondered if Seiya heard her. She did. "What do you mean you don't know? You're supposed to be this incredibly powerful priestess," she responded. Kiyoko chewed on her lip briefly, "I have not used my telepathy much. My parents taught me not to invade other people's minds without their permission. I honestly don't know what happened. It's as if my magic acted on its own."
Finally Kiyoko turned to face Seiya, who still looked very confused. This made Kiyoko want to scream. She WAS supposed to be a powerful priestess. She was supposed to have answers. She'd taken on this mission, just now comprehending how much she didn't know. Tears clouded her vision and she didn't realize Seiya had come closer. Before she knew what was happening Seiya had her arms around Kiyoko, soothing her, "It's alright. You don't have to know everything. I don't know everything… but don't tell anyone I said that." The world seemed to be disappearing around Kiyoko, nothing except the two of them existed for a fraction of a moment.
With perfect timing, the doors slid open and Haruka was standing there, her mouth agape. If it weren't so frightening, it would've been the funniest thing Kiyoko had ever seen.
Seiya let her hands drop from Kiyoko and left the room quickly. Kiyoko didn't stop her. After the doors slid shut Haruka wasted no time recovering herself, "I cannot believe her! She is such a damn snake!" Kiyoko was looking at the floor, wrapping her arms around herself. She felt so cold without that tender embrace. But reality seeped back in and she processed what Haruka had said. The anger that boiled in her spilled out," She's nothing of the sort! Get the hell out! Now!" She knew she'd yelled. Still, the change in expression on Haruka startled her. If it were anyone else, Kiyoko would've called it fear... It was fear, but what scared the tough Haruka? Slowly Haruka approached her, "Calm down Kiyoko, please."
Looking about herself, Kiyoko saw a faint golden glow blanketed her from head to toe. Breathing deeply, Kiyoko attempted to keep her voice steady, "Please get Michiru for me. Whatever else can wait." Haruka hesitated briefly and then left. As the doors opened and closed Kiyoko could hear conversation among the Starlights, it didn't sound good, but Kiyoko had to concentrate and keep herself together.
A few minutes later Kiyoko's door opened again. This time it was Michiru. She held her mirror, her talisman, in her hands. So whatever Haruka told her must've made her seek truth and guidance before coming to Kiyoko. Michiru stepped lightly as she came closer. Gently she guided Kiyoko to sit with her on the bed, "What's going on Kiyoko? Papa is worried." She pulled Kiyoko close with a giggle. Papa, it made Kiyoko giggle too, but that's how it often felt with Haruka… like they walked a thin line between friends and parent and child. "What did your mirror show you Michiru?" Kiyoko whispered. Michiru sighed, "That something happened to you. Your magic is restless like an ocean during a storm. That magic is whipping between you and Seiya." Was that it? Was her magic being drawn to Seiya? But why? Kiyoko didn't voice these things, but leaned comfortably against Michiru. If Haruka were her papa, then that made Michiru mamma. They sat there in silence for a while. In space it was hard to gauge the passing of time, darkness surrounding them. At last Michiru broke the silence, "We've been sitting here a long time Kiyoko. Let's go make everyone something to eat, make Makoto proud." Kiyoko nodded and they grinned. Tentatively Kiyoko looked down at herself before standing, the glow was gone. She felt relieved.
Michiru and Kiyoko worked quickly in the ship's tiny little galley. The Starlights had disappeared into the other sleeping quarters. The ship had been stocked with much more food than they needed. The made a simple chicken salad and baked some bread.
When things were prepared, Kiyoko set the table and Michiru fetched the others. The ship had autopilot, but Haruka insisted one of them pilot most of the time. They all sat down around what served as both a conference table and the ship's dining area.
The strain between Haruka and Seiya was nearly tangible. Why did it have to be this way? Ironically there seemed to be some unconscious agreement among the other Starlight and Uranus and Neptune. Haruka sat on one side of Kiyoko and Michiru on the other. At the same time Starhealer and Starmaker surrounded Seiya. Everyone seemed to want distance between them. They ate in silence until Kiyoko couldn't take it anymore, attempting to break the tension, she looked at Michiru, "We should've made a cake." It was Haruka who laughed first, "Always with the cake. You're hopeless!" Kiyoko and Michiru laughed. Looking across the table Kiyoko saw Seiya grinning, even the other two were smiling. It was Starmaker who spoke though, "Just like Sailor Moon." There was little conversation for the rest of the meal, but at least the mood wasn't as tense.
After everyone finished, Michiru and Kiyoko started clearing the table. On occasion it was nice to do simple things like this, feeling regular, not like a princess or a priestess but a normal woman. "Go see Haruka and tell her I'm sorry about earlier." "Are you sure? I can help you," Michiru responded with a hesitant tone. Kiyoko smiled at Michiru's concern, "I'm okay now. Go." So Michiru left and Kiyoko continued cleaning.
She felt the presence before she spoke, "A princess and a priestess, but still cleaning up after others?" Without turning and revealing the smile on her face, "Of course, it needed to be done." Without a word Seiya stepped up beside her and started helping Kyoko, it felt very comfortable and when their arms touched she felt warm.
As they were finishing up they heard someone clearing their throat. Kyoko usually sensed anyone approaching her. Her magic certainly was off. It was Michiru. She looked skeptically at the two and then strictly at Kiyoko, "It's time to rest for a while Kiyoko. Haruka and I will take shifts piloting. You and I should retire and get some sleep. Kiyoko nodded, though she didn't want to leave the spot she stood on. She looked at Seiya, "Goodnight. Thank you for your help." Seiya put on one the cocky grins she liked to wear, "Anytime Princess." And with that Kiyoko and Michiru went into the sleeping quarters. As she got into the bed she heard Michiru laugh, "If you were anyone else Haruka wouldn't like this, except maybe your mother." It took a moment to register what she was talking about. But then it hit Kiyoko, there was only one bed. This made her laugh too, "She loves me too much." "That is so true," Michiru chuckled as she crawled into bed with Kiyoko. Weariness slammed into Kiyoko and she drifted off to sleep quickly, snuggled against Michiru, a calmness in the churning seas.
