A/N: Please check out my chibi-light fic, Ryuusei Densetsu!! Wow, I've got up to 100 reviews now! That makes me so happy! Thank you all so much! From now on, I'm going to try harder to add detail, as I've noticed I'm somewhat lacking in that department, mostly from trying to just get the chapters up as quickly as possible. Please tell me what you think! Constructive criticism is ALWAYS gladly appreciated. So love it, hate it, let me know!

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Chapter Twenty Nine: Threads of sunlight

"Oh, Taiki, look here!" Yaten called, standing in the doorway of Seiya's room.

Taiki strolled in, still wearing his pajamas and examined the sleeping couple with little interest.

"Think we should embarrass 'em?" Yaten asked, smiling evilly. Taiki swore there was an evil glint in her eyes.

"No." Taiki said firmly, turning to walk out. It was too early for this, he decided, much much too early. He needed coffee before he had to deal with Yaten and Seiya bickering like small children.

"Why?" Yaten asked, surprised and blinking repeatedly. She thought for certain Taiki would get a sick pleasure out of annoying Seiya.

"They need each other's light right now," he said serenely, his amethyst eyes showing rare compassion.

Yaten was surprised. Taiki was usually last to pick up on vibes like that.. but now that she tuned herself in, she couldn't agree more. For whatever reason, Usagi was greatly distressed about something. Seiya was unreadable.

"God, your such a mother." Yaten joked, punching Taiki's arm. Yaten strode down the hall, flipping her silver hair.

"If I'm a mother, you're the disobedient child. Come here so I can spank you!" Taiki yelled, chasing Yaten around the house.

Yaten fled for her life. Taiki was a strange character. Usually so calm and detached, but had his moments of utter silliness, comparable to Seiya's. Eventually, Yaten became too exhausted to run, and plopped on the couch. Being the least physically inclined of the lights, she became tired quickly. She swore she saw Taiki smirking as he made his way to the coffee pot. Bleh, foul garbage, Yaten thought.

Before long Seiya woke up and stared at Usagi as she slept. So beautiful, she thought as she stroked Usagi's silky hair, which she swore was like threads of sunlight itself. She lay there like that, her delicate princess in her arms before Usagi woke up with a groan.

"Good morning sleeping beauty." Seiya said, offering Usagi a delicate kiss. Seiya's heart skipped a beat every time their lips met. She loved Usagi so deeply, and was hopeful Usagi felt the same. No, she told herself, Usagi had to feel the same.

"Morning..." Usagi mumbled, rolling over. She would've rolled off the bed had it not been for Seiya's protective arm around her. Seiya pulled her closer in a tight embrace.

"Mmm, Seiya... your warm.."

Seiya smirked at her, her dark blue eyes soft and shimmering with just a hint of purple. Usagi inhaled Seiya's scent deeply. Seiya smelled sweet and delicious, but also somewhat flowery. What flower, Usagi couldn't place, but it was rich and exotic. Possibly something from Kinmoku? Usagi's eyes slid shut as she got comfy, head resting comfortably on Seiya's shoulder and chest.

"Let's get up." Seiya said softly, her smooth voice turning every word into a song.

"Mm." Usagi grunted, making no move to get up, instead burying her face deep into Seiya's chest. Seiya sighed and got up, having gently slid Usagi off of her and made her way somewhat clumsily to the door.

Thump

Seiya's eyebrow shot up, the other twitching as she felt a pillow clock her square in the back of the head. She turned slowly on her heel to see Usagi giggling childishly. Seiya bent down slowly, eyes never leaving her opponent, who was in a fit of giggles. Seizing the sizable pillow, in a flash she was straddling the blond, bludgeoning her with the soft sleeping accessory.

"Ehh, you want more?" Seiya taunted as Usagi erupted in a fit of melodic giggles. In an instant Usagi had grasped Seiya's arms and pinned her backwards on the bed, flipping their position. Usagi moved in close to Seiya, their lips meeting for a fleeting moment. A moment in which Seiya felt drowning in her love and passion for Usagi.

"Nah, what I want is you." Usagi whispered. Usagi let Seiya up and leaned back against the wall.

Seiya smiled genuinely at Usagi as she stood up. It wasn't a smirk, meaning that she was planning something, or had recently gotten sweet revenge. It wasn't her over-confident, ear to ear Cheshire cat grin, either. This one was of genuine happiness.

"Come on, I'm hungry." Seiya whined. As if on cue, Seiya's stomach rumbled. Seiya gave an embarrassed grin and giggled as she began to walk towards the door.

Thump

Usagi pushed past Seiya, sending the unsuspecting light to the ground on her behind as Usagi dashed down the hall and into the kitchen, pausing long enough to stick her tongue out. Seiya growled and leapt to her feet, sprinting down the hall, nearly flying past the kitchen when she tried to stop on a dime while wearing socks. Taiki had recently waxed the hard wood floor. She would get him for that.

"Oi! Odango!" Seiya yelled, running after her. Panting and looking disheveled, she stood in the arch to the kitchen, glaring at Usagi.

"What?" Usagi asked innocently.

"I'm..going...to get you.." Seiya muttered between breaths. It was way too early for this.

"Seiya! No threats at the breakfast table!" Taiki scolded, having not even looked up from his newspaper.

Seiya scowled, eyebrows ticking in annoyance as she sat next to Yaten, across the table from Usagi, who was sitting in front of a bowl of cereal. How she had gotten her food so quickly, Seiya had no idea, but she suspected Taiki had something to do with it. When Usagi thought Taiki wasn't looking she stuck her tongue out at Seiya.

"Miss Usagi, that's not very ladylike, is it?" Taiki said calmly, still not looking up from his newspaper. Usagi looked surprised, and Yaten stifled a laugh. Seiya mouthed "haha she yelled at you!" and blew a raspberry in Usagi's direction.

"Seiya! Leaders should show more respect to their princess!" Taiki scolded, having moved from the newspaper to a book that Seiya observed was nearly finished. This time, Yaten, Seiya and Usagi looked surprised.

"Man, being with our Leader and Princess is like baby sitting." Yaten complained, flicking her hair. Now it was Taiki's turn to chuckle. And he did so, paired with a snide comment of "Yaten looks prissy when she flicks her hair like that,"

"Why you!" Yaten yelled, standing up. Taiki looked unphased, eyes still averted to his book.

"Taiki, you remind me of Ikuko-mama. She says she has eyes in the back of her head, like all mothers." Usagi said innocently. Taiki closed his book with a snap, this time it was his turn to have an annoyed glare, and a general twitch to his face.

"It's okay, Taiki-mama, your not an old maid yet." Seiya snickered.

Thwack

Taiki's aim was impeccable. He nailed Seiya square in the face with the book.

"Oww," was all Seiya said as the book bounced off her face and hit the floor with a dull thud.

Yaten exchanged horrified glances with Usagi, and Yaten whispered "Scary..." to Usagi, who nodded her head vigorously. Seiya was silent, and the two light haired senshi suspected Taiki had smacked her silly.

After breakfast, Usagi approached Taiki, who was solving a rubix cube.

"Umm, Taiki?"

"Yes?" he said, looking up, fingers still rotating the cube. Usagi noted that it was nearly solved.

"I was thinking.. I want to see my mom," Usagi said.

"Sure, Seiya will be glad to go with you,"

"No, umm.. I wanted you to go,"

"Why me?" Taiki said, placing the solved cube down, and looking Usagi in the eyes. Usagi felt her self become slightly nervous under Taiki's intense scrutiny. Taiki noticed this, and softened his expression. Usagi was a person, not a math problem, he reminded himself.

"You seem dependable and caring. I think it'd help her worry about me less if she knew I was under your care."

Those words struck a chord deep within Taiki's heart as she smiled gently. For so long, Taiki had been considered cold and uncaring. Hearing those words from the most loving entity in the universe meant more than anything. The fact Usagi picked him to reassure her mother made Taiki feel important..for the first time in quite a while. Almost as if.. Usagi felt like she herself could entrust Taiki to take care of her. After the failure of defending Kinmoku, completing a task successfully would redeem Taiki's self image, he knew this much.

Although Taiki pretended to hate being called motherly, he secretly loved it. Mothers were wise, loving and dedicated. Taiki was certain that only selfless people could become mothers. People who could put their children before them. Taiki admired that kind of a person. Taiki wouldn't mind being associated with those sort of adjectives. Once the pair were dressed, they began walking to Usagi's house, although it was not really her's anymore. Taiki was now female, having decided it'd be easier for Usagi's mother to accept it this way. Who wouldn't worry about their teenage daughter living in a house of males?

"So, Usagi what is your mother like?" Taiki asked.

"She can be pretty ruthless when it comes to grades," Usagi said with a nervous laugh. "But deep down, she's really understanding. I wouldn't trade her for the world. That's why I wanted to leave; these enemies know who I am. I don't want mom or Shingo getting attacked because of me."

Taiki, who had been eyeballing her carefully, smiled as she looked at the one affectionately named 'Odango' by Seiya. Initially, Taiki had disliked Usagi. Okay, Taiki loathed the girl, who distracted Seiya from the mission, who was the cause of the disrupt between the starlights and the outers, who caused Seiya to become so injured..but that opinion had been changing ever since Kakyuu had appeared to save Usagi. Their princess was the best judge of character of them all. And if Kakyuu trusted Usagi, thought she was worth saving, then Taiki would think no different.

It was now that Taiki really saw Usagi for what she was worth, the selfless princess of the moon...her princess. Who she would protect, no matter what.

"I see. Until the enemy is defeated, I hope I can be a suitable stand in for your care taker," Taiki said gently, placing a hand on Usagi's shoulder, pulling her in for a loose, awkward and impromptu hug. Taiki struggled to hide her blush from Usagi.

"Thank you, Taiki."

"Don't worry about it. Just don't say anything to Yaten or Seiya, they'd never let it go." Taiki added, her voice grave. She softened the statement with an uncharacteristic wink. Taiki gave Usagi one last stern glance, to assure her point, like a mother scolding a toddler. Usagi giggled quietly.

"Don't worry, I won't tattle," Usagi said happily.

How can someone always be so happy? Taiki wondered briefly. So much is uncertain, yet she manages to be so lighthearted...this must be why Seiya adores her so. Just being near her, it lifts my spirits, too. Taiki realized, suddenly wishing to confess how she felt to Usagi. Usagi's cheery voice shot down her chance at that, however.

"We're here!" She called. Taiki nodded solemnly and followed her through the door.

"Mom! I'm here to visit!" Usagi called, slipping her shoes off.

"Usagi!" Ikuko rushed out and hugged her daughter. Taiki felt a twinge of jealousy at this maternal contact. Taiki had never truly experienced parents like that.

"Hi mom," Usagi said shyly. Taiki took note that her gaze was directed to the ground, where Usagi was pretending to squash bugs with her toe.

"I'm so glad you're okay. Are you going to stay?" Ikuko asked hopefully.

"No, not yet..sorry," Usagi said, still not looking up. Taiki took note of the way Ikuko's face fell, and felt sympathy for her. Usagi was loved very much.

"I just hope you'll be okay without your mother. Are you eating well?" Ikuko asked. Usagi didn't seem to notice, but Taiki picked up on the worry in Ikuko's voice.

"Mrs. Tsukino, you have nothing to worry about. I'll make sure Usagi's well kept." Taiki said, giving Ikuko a handshake. In that brief moment of contact, Taiki sent Ikuko a strong, gentle and protective wave of assurance.

"You're one of the Kou's, are you not?" Ikuko asked.

"Yes. Yaten, Seiya and I..form your daughter's elite guard. She's safer with us than anywhere in the galaxy. We are all prepared to give our lives to defend her..It's our sworn duty, as well as our dream."

"I see..it was nice seeing you both," Ikuko said with a sad, yet relieved smile.

"Usagi, we should get going," Taiki said gently, taking Usagi's diminutive hand within her own. The blond bobbed her head in agreement and they left without saying another word. Usagi glanced back once, and was certain she saw tears within her mother's eyes.

"Gomen." Usagi whispered under her breath.

"What was that?" Taiki asked, unsure if Usagi had spoken or not.

"Nothing!" Usagi said, closing the door behind them.

A/N: Please let me know what you think! I really tried hard with this chapter! Thank you for reading, and I hope you all enjoyed!