Chapter 21: Life is Complicated
A week had passed since the Shibons had been beaten. The moon was high in the sky and Kiyoko found herself in the kitchen once again, looking for something to eat. She smiled when she found what looked like chocolate cake. There was no denying that Makoto had spent the quite a bit of time in this kitchen recently. Kiyoko was cutting a piece when she heard a voice behind her, "Cut me a piece too please."
Kiyoko responded quietly, "Of course Haruka." And so she called over a second plate and fork using her telekinesis. She neatly cut two pieces and placed them on the square plates. Then she turned and set them down on the same counter she'd been sitting at when Haruka had found her in the kitchen before. That seemed like so long ago now. She took a bite and then something occurred to her and she looked at Haruka, "You don't like chocolate cake."
Haruka was poking at the cake with her fork and looked up at Kiyoko's statement, "You're right. But you'll want a second piece." She smiled at Kiyoko briefly and then her face became serious again, "So, should I ask you what the nightmares are about now… or why you're shielding Seiya from them?"
Kiyoko made a sound that wasn't quite a breath and not quite a laugh, but a bit of both before responding to Haruka, "I suppose both are valid questions." She took another bite, buying herself time before continuing. Haruka just waited. Finally Kiyoko did speak, "The nightmares are a strange mix of fear about my father, fear for you and Seiya, and strange flash backs to things with Seishin." Her eyes filled with tears, "I'm so sorry about… everything."
Dropping her fork, Haruka took Kiyoko's hand, "You have nothing to apologize for! That dark magic…. It did that to you." She peered straight into Kiyoko's eyes, wanting her to understand the sincerity of her words.
Squeezing Haruka's hand, Kiyoko attempted a smile, "I know that you're being sincere Haruka." Then she went back to eating her cake, finishing her piece in a few bites, enjoying that she didn't need to be elegant in front of Haruka. Haruka slid her plate toward Kiyoko and they both laughed softly, "Trying to make it so that I won't fit into my wedding dress?"
"I can't help it that you're just like your mother when it comes to chocolate," Haruka winked as she replied to Kiyoko's accusation. And so Kiyoko ate that piece too, unable to help herself. When both plates were clean and neatly stacked in the sink thanks to Kiyoko's powers, Haruka broke the silence again, "So why are you keeping them from Seiya? You've lay awake every night. I'm also curious as to why you got out of bed tonight."
Thinking to herself that she'd have to do a better job of shielding in the future, Kiyoko tried to reply as honestly as she could, "I know how much it would hurt her to know that I was still having nightmares. She was so happy… to win the battle… to see me healed… to see Endo and Ruka transform, their powers grow… I can't take that from her. Besides, she'd postpone the wedding, afraid there was still some danger. And there isn't."
Eyeing her, Haruka prompted, still holding Kiyoko's hand, "So why did you get out of bed tonight? You're not getting out of this my Queen."
Pursing her lips, remembering that even without the bond Haruka knew her too well, "I was too restless tonight. I just couldn't lay there. It was my hope that a snack would help me get back to sleep."
Haruka put her other hand on the one she originally held. She spoke softly, "And do you think it did the trick?" Her eyes and Kiyoko's sense told her that Haruka already knew the answer to her own question.
"Why do you ask questions to which you already know the answers Haruka?" Kiyoko tried to pull her hand away, her mind going back to Seishin's question in the cabin… "Could you be putting her in that position because you're in love with her?"….. She still knew the answer wasn't yes… But at times like this she couldn't entirely say the answer was no either. She wondered to herself why life had to be so complicated.
It was as if Haruka had heard the thoughts in her head, but wasn't going to comment on them directly. She stood up and smiled, "There are several incredibly comfortable sofas in this place. Come along my queen. I live to serve." As Haruka tugged at Kiyoko's hand she stood and Haruka kissed it, leading her to one of the nearby sitting rooms and its gorgeous and cushy crimson sofa. Haruka smiled and sat down, pulling Kiyoko down into her embrace, "Now sleep Kiyo-chan… No bags under the eyes of a blushing bride." Kiyoko laid her head on Haruka's chest and let a tear escape as Haruka kissed the top of her head softly. As she drifted off, Kiyoko thought about how complicated her life was, but that sometimes those complications are what kept her strong.
When morning's first light broke into the room Kiyoko woke to the feeling of Seiya's approach, but her power hadn't given her enough warning to prevent Seiya from finding her in the compromising position she was in with Haruka. As Kiyoko sat up Haruka stirred, having fallen asleep with her arms wrapped around Kiyoko. Looking up, Kiyoko saw her beloved and felt terrible. She whispered, "Good morning Seiya." Haruka looked at Kiyoko questioningly and Kiyoko nodded. So she got up and left, not saying anything.
Seiya sat down where Haruka had been and looked at Kiyoko, who was looking at the floor, "So, part of me wants to be very angry with you. Part of me wants to interrogate you. But I am going to do neither of those. I'm just going to say that I love you and whatever it is, I know you'll tell me when you're ready. Two weeks before our wedding is no time to stop trusting the amazing creature I have the privilege of calling my bride."
Turning and burying her head in Seiya's chest, Kiyoko began crying. She sniffled as she spoke, "I love you so much and I am the one who is privileged!" The two of them sat there for a long time. Seiya holding Kiyoko as she cried, so many things running through her mind.
Eventually Seiya broke the proverbial silence, "We are expected at breakfast Kiyoko. And the final fittings for you, Haruka, and Usagi are today. I had mine yesterday so that I could accompany Taiki, Yaten, the Shitenou, and Ruka on their hiking trip today."
Kiyoko nodded and looked up, "You're the one who listened to Yaten when she said that geography would be easier once they'd spent some time exploring the land they're supposed to learn about."
Seiya nodded, "I know, not one of my best decisions." Seeing the tears start to well up in Kiyoko's eyes again Seiya hugged her very tightly, "Don't cry my love. You are the best decision I have ever made, no matter what goes with it." She was trying to have that faith and trust in Kiyoko that she'd promised herself to work on when pursuing Sikana.
Kiyoko wished she knew if the scars on her heart from this whole ordeal would ever heal… The fact that it'd been more than a century since father died and those scares still felt fresh a lot of the time didn't bode well. She looked up at Seiya again and smiled, "Why don't you go one to breakfast. I promise I will be there soon." Seiya bent her head down and kissed Kiyoko deeply, nodding and heading down to breakfast.
A few minutes later Kiyoko had gathered herself and stood up to go to breakfast. When she turned she saw her mother standing there. Kiyoko was surprised because she hadn't sensed her at all. Usagi smiled, "It's not often anyone surprises you Kiyo-chan. Still not sleeping well?"
What in the world was going on here, she was the psychic? Kiyoko looked at her mother, "How did you know mother?"
Usagi laughed, not her typical high pitched one but a soft one, and replied, "Kiyoko, I'm your mother, I know. You should understand. But I am going to guess you don't want to talk about it?"
Shaking her head, Kiyoko sighed, "No, not really! But I appreciate your concern mother. Let's go to breakfast. And don't overdo it mom, our last fitting is today after all." This caused Usagi to laugh in her high pitched manner now. She held out her hand and led Kiyoko to breakfast.
When they reached the dining hall, Kiyoko saw Seiya waiting patiently for her at their table. Looking about the room, everyone looked like they were preparing for a royal wedding. There were no signs of the recent battle except the transformation items Ruka now wore at all times. Kiyoko's eyes locked with Haruka's and it seemed as though Haruka were still worried, but she smiled at Kiyoko and Kiyoko returned the gesture before going to sit with her beloved fiancée. Complicated as her life was, Kiyoko had not changed her mind. She still loved and wanted to marry Seiya.