Warning: This chapter has some seriously off-color, suggestive humour. If this sort of thing bothers you, I highly suggest you stop reading after Yaten takes a shower. You won't miss much ;)

Chapter Thirty Eight: Settling in

Following their performance, the newly dubbed Three Lights sat at a table, with a bit of satisfaction. The loud applause could only mean one thing- they had a shot at this. Seiya nearly leaped out of his seat as a man approached him, placing his hand on his shoulder.

"Excuse me, sir, but I didn't catch your name."

"Seiya Kou."

"I see. Well, I was watching the three of you, and you have some amazing talent. Not to mention good looks. Would you be interested in a record deal? I'll have to bring you three to the studio of course to try things out."

Seiya's eyes lit up. This was it! He glanced frantically to Taiki and Yaten to make sure they were all on the same page. He saw the same hopefulness in their eyes that he knew was in his.

"Sure! When?" Seiya asked.

The man seemed taken back a bit. "Well, anytime you like, I suppose."

"Right now is good for us.." Seiya said with the slightest of smiles.

"Great!" The man cheered, "I'll call us a limo."

Seiya was about to ask what a limo was, but the stern glance from Taiki told him not to. Probably something obvious that all Earthlings knew of. A few minutes later the man returned, waving them outside. The three followed, and quickly learned what a limo was. It was an elegant method of transportation. One that Yaten Kou decided he liked very much.

Seiya busied himself by looking out the glass window at all the people on the streets. He thought..maybe he would see his princess. Taiki and the man were droning off in the background, going over some of the finer details.

Purincesu, doko iru no?

"Seiya!" Taiki scolded, earning the attention of his leader.

"Hm?"

Taiki glared hotly, his lilac eyes piercing.

"You have to sign this too." Taiki said icily, shoving a clipboard at his teammate.

Seiya stared stupidly at it for a minute, looking at the letters on the page, at his friends signatures, trying to figure out how to write his name correctly in this language. Least he'd get "Kou" right. He made sure to scribble his name quickly, making it difficult to read. That way no one would notice he didn't have a clue how to write on this planet.

The limo stopped, and the four of them got out, quickly being ushered into the tall building that was both headquarters and a recording studio. Once inside they were asked to sing a few simple tunes, to test the quality of their voices more closely.

"Seiya, you'll be the lead voice. Yaten, Taiki, you will be back up and instrumentals. We can make this work." The man said with satisfaction.

Seiya's attention was hardly on the singing. He couldn't help but worry about his princess..that he was supposed to be protecting! Where was she now?...was she safe?

"And stop!" The man ordered, claiming Seiya's attention.

"Seiya, that was magnificent! So much feeling! So much emotion! That's enough for today. I have an apartment across the street reserved for you three, which will become yours if you choose to continue to work for me."

Seiya and Taiki nodded, and Yaten was lost in his own thoughts.

A few hours later, and the three of them were in a place they would now have to call 'home'.

"We should really get to work on our new song. Our manager says that "Chasin' After You" is too upbeat to carry the message we like. We need something sadder, more mellow." Taiki reminded, pulling out a notepad and pen. Seiya nodded slowly, his mind already at work.

"It needs to be for her..."

Yaten sat across from his two comrades who were on the couch. He was trying to put words together, but not much would form. Everytime he thought of his princess...biting pain struck his heart. The guilt...the inability to protect her..it was all too much.

"I need to take a shower." Yaten said suddenly, standing up and going to the bathroom.

"Another time then." Taiki said quietly, knowing that Yaten was having a hard time coping with the situation.

Taiki and Seiya were lounging in the living room, doing not much of anything. It felt strange, being in this odd place. The water running in the bathroom let them know yaten was still in the shower. Suddenly, a loud scream echoed from the bathroom, followed by a few thuds. In alarm, they exchanged a glance and quickly ran to aid their comrade.

Bursting through the door, their eyes widened as they saw their comrade sprawled out- half on the edge of the tub, half on the floor.

"Yaten..what happened?" Taiki asked with concern..

"I..I got startled is all! And then I..slipped..." with a groan Yaten slowly pulled himself off, giving Seiya and Taiki a rather clear view, causing the both of them to gasp and turn away in disgust.

"OH STOP IT! ITS NOT LIKE YOU TWO DONT HAVE ONE TOO!" Yaten fumed, his face reddening in annoyance.

"Right...What startled you so?" Taiki asked, still refusing to look at his comrade.

"...I keep forgetting how different this body is.."

Taiki sighed, shaking his head slowly, leaving the room. Seiya remained for a moment longer, staring off into space.

"Seiya? Hellloooo?" Yaten asked, waving his hand in his leaders face.

"Huh?" Seiya asked suddenly, returning to reality.

"You were being a space cadet, you know..."

"Hh, nothing." Seiya replied nonchalantly, heading for the door. "Seiya! don't you tell me it's nothing! it's something and you better tell me or ill look into your thoughts myself!"

"..Why is yours bigger than mine...?" Seiya asked quietly. Yaten stared in shock, disbelief and remained silent, unable to come up with a response whatsoever as Seiya left the room.

Looks like the midget had a one up on his leader, after all.

Seiya laid down on his bed wearily. No matter how hard he tried to put words together to explain the anguish he felt at the loss of his home and princess, nothing would come to him.

"Princess...we miss you...we can't go on like this forever.." he said quietly, as he was slowly claimed by the realm of dreams.

"Princess...where are you?" He asked pitifully, looking around. She was close..he could feel it. A slight giggle behind him.

"I am right here."

He turned around. There she was, an image of flawless elegance, grace, perfection. Her crimson hair spilled about her loosely. Suddenly she changed into a girl he had never seen before. Her hair was of sunshine gold, and eyes of clear cerulean.

"Princess..." he whispered, unsure what to think of this sudden change. The girl with hair of sunshine tied into pigtails smiled coyly, approaching him. Before he could think she was upon him, kissing him passionately, her arms wrapping around him tightly.

Seiya bolted upright in bed. What the hell kind of dream was that? He began to stand up..and became aware of yet another problem.

"IYAA! TAIKIII! YATEEEN!" he screamed, racing across the house in alarm. That definitely wasn't normal.

"Nani...seiya?" Taiki asked sleepily, slowly plodding out of his room. Seiya was too frantic to speak, and maniacally gestured to the offending body part. Taiki's eyes widened slowly as he realized just what Seiya was so hysterical about.

"Well what do you want me to do about that, Seiya?" Taiki teased, snickering lightly.

Seiya growled. "Somethings wrong! You're the genius!"

Taiki smirked. "I see you had a nice dream. go back to bed, Seiya."

"Nani!" Seiya fumed. Taiki turned back around slightly, uncharacteristically winking. "You've told me before you have dreams of me, ne?"

Seiya watched dumbfound as his comrade returned to his room, closing the door behind him.

"And they say I'm arrogant...hmph!" Seiya muttered, finally realizing just what was wrong with him. He shuffled back to his room, closing his door behind him.

As if cursed, he dreamed about her.

"Fighter.."

Her voice was soft and teasing in her ear, tickling her slightly. She turned her head to meet her lilac gaze.

"Hai..Maker?" She asked, swallowing hard.

Maker cupped her cheek gently, pressing her lips firmly against hers.

This was everything Fighter had ever wished for, and more..

"Maker, what are you-" Fighter started.

"Sh..." Maker said gently, silencing her leader with another kiss. "I love you, isn't it enough?"

Fighter nodded slightly, her gaze fixed on Maker's tempting lips. "Hai..."

"Then love me back..." Maker pleaded.

"I already do...I always have..." Fighter whispered quietly.

When Seiya woke up, there were tears sliding down his face. Light shone in through the window, it was morning. Another day on this strange planet of cold conrete. Another day he'd have to continue on. He couldn't love Maker like this anymore. It was tearing him apart from the inside.

He heard footsteps near his door. He looked up.

"Yes, Yaten?"

"Breakfast is ready." Yaten said casually, although when he looked at his leader he saw the sadness and loneliness on his face.

"Take your time.." he said quietly, walking out and closing the door.

Princess...please come to us soon. I can't take this any longer. I need to give up on this love...on caring for someone so cold and harsh. This emptiness that I feel inside, I can't continue with it. I need to move on.