For the One I Love
Chapter Six
"School Days"
"Isn't there any medicine downstairs we can give her?" Minako asked Chibi-Usa as she sat on the edge of the bed, reaching out to feel Usagi's forehead.
"It wouldn't help anyway." Setsuna said, beckoning Chibi-Usa to come back into the room, as she had started to run out the door to go check. "This isn't happening because she's sick."
"We could open her window though right, will cooling her down help?" Rei asked, pointing her index finger over her shoulder.
"It may help her more comfortable at least."
Mamoru leaned over the end of her bed to open it. A cool breeze ran past them, fluttering the bedding for a brief second. Usagi moaned restlessly before turning over on her side.
"Unbelievable fool." Luna said suddenly.
"I've never seen Seiya act like this before." Taiki said looking at Usagi lying in bed, not bothering to hide his concerned face.
"I've been wondering." Haruka asked. "Why are you even here? You just rebuilt your kingdom didn't you? So don't you have your own princess to be with?" Taiki and Yaten quickly exchanged glances.
"Honestly, she told us to come back with Seiya." Yaten told them.
"Seiya went to see her, and before we knew it he said he was coming back to Earth, and that Princess Kakyuu told us come with him." Taiki sighed. "We didn't want to. Rather, we didn't want to leave her there without one of us, but she insisted we come with. So we figured we might as well give Earth another try as well."
"Then it was a sudden thing?" Ami asked.
"Yeah, it was. Our Princess and Seiya both suddenly had this idea of Earth in their minds." Yaten also looked down at Usagi concerned. "Actually, Seiya had been acting odd a few days before we came. We're not sure what's going on. When we got here we enrolled back into the high school," Yaten glared over in Taiki's direction. "Seiya set out to find Usagi right away and later that day we told everyone we were here over the phone, and told Minako about Seiya."
Minako and Michiru who were both at the receiving ends of the message they had returned to Earth, nodded.
"Usagi never mentioned anything had happened before just today." Mamoru said quietly.
"You understand why she didn't thought, right Mamoru-san?" Makoto asked him.
"No, I understand." He reassured. "That's just the way she is, she didn't want to worry me." Everyone fell silent as Usagi tossed around in her bed again.
"We have to find some way to bring Seiya back, but the problem is how without disturbing the timeline anymore." Ami leaned back against the doorframe, thoughtfully. "The only thing I can think of is to send someone back to retrieve him."
"It's dangerous, but doable with certain conditions." Setsuna replied. "And you're right, I don't see much more of an option at the moment."
"What conditions, Setsuna?" Rei inquired.
"Whoever goes back couldn't be anyone who was actually present during the time period he's in."
"So that almost definitely rules out Mamoru, Minako, Makoto, Ami and myself." Rei said. "Well, Mamoru might be able to if he's somewhere where they aren't together yet."
"That's right; we don't even know where in time he is!" Minako groaned in frustration.
"I have an idea in regards to that issue, but it might take me a while." Setsuna stood from Usagi's desk chair. "I need to use the King and Queen's computers in Crystal Tokyo."
"Wouldn't that complicate things more?" Haruka felt uneasy at the suggestion. "Involving the King and Queen in this matter?" In the corner of the room, Taiki and Yaten exchanged disconcerting looks.
"They won't be involved." Setsuna reassured her.
"Alright then." Artemis stretched his back. "Setsuna will go back to Crystal Tokyo to see if she can find where Seiya went. We'll go from there."
"Um, wait a minute." Yaten called out as Setsuna was about to leave. "Don't you think you should be filling Taiki and I in on something right about now? Like… what exactly you're talking about?" She paused, looking down at them in serious contemplation.
"When I return; possibly." Setsuna bowed slightly to everyone before walking out the room.
Yaten bumped against the bed frame. "Well that's nice." He said annoyed.
"Is there anything we can do Luna?" Chibi-Usa took Setsuna's place on Usagi's chair.
The cat frowned. "We can't do anything, but wait for Setsuna and pray Seiya may come to his senses."
Haruka scoffed at the cat. "It's a good thing we have Setsuna then."
OoOoOoOoOoOoOoO
"Class, we have a new student with us today." Murmuring voices could be heard all around the room as Miss. Huruna addressed her class. A young man walked in the room causing most of the girls to blush and start giggling. He had midnight black hair, which was pulled back into a ponytail, and his dark blue eyes sparkled as he smiled at the class. "Everyone," came Miss. Huruna's voice. "please welcome Kou Seiya." There was a loud outbreak of clapping and cheering from all the girls in the classroom.
"Hey, it's that guy…" Usagi had been staring at him for a while, trying to wrack her brains as to where she had seen him before. Naru turned to Usagi excitedly, her face overpowered by stars.
"Ne, ne, you know him Usagi-chan?" She asked elbowing her in the arm. The two whispered as the shouting had finally calmed down, and Seiya began to introduce himself to the class.
"There's nothing that special about him." Umino, sitting behind Naru, crossed his arms and glared at the newcomer.
"Oh stop acting jealous. So do you Usagi?"
"Hmm, oh. No." Her voice trailed off. Naru gave her a skeptical look and sat back down in her seat, unconvinced.
Usagi continued to stare at him while the girls gave another scream as he finished his introduction and bowed. "If he's a new student…he doesn't know me from school…then how…" Her mind snapped back when there were a bunch of disappointed "Ohhh's..." from the class and a thud behind her. She turned around to see him sitting right behind her. She jumped a little in her seat, as he smiled at her. "Good afternoon, Dumpling."
"Alright class, now back to the lesson. This number-"
"What did you call me?" Usagi asked.
"Miss. Tsukino, please turn around!" She swiveled around in her chair, forcing her attention back to the lesson. Miss. Huruna frowned at her for a brief second before continuing. "Now, like I was saying, this number-"
"I called you Dumpling." Seiya leaned forward in his desk and spoke quietly near her ear.
"My name's Tsukino Usagi! Don't call me that!" Usagi spoke in an angry whisper, as she turned slightly to peer over her shoulder. Seiya chuckled lightly.
"Tsukimi Dumpling?" He was highly amused.
"Look you-"
"Hey, show me around for a bit?" He asked.
Usagi's mouth dropped open, just who was this guy? "You're joking right?" She asked.
"Of course I'm not. So how about it… Dumpling?" He poked her on the nose causing her to go bright pink.
"I- t-told you not to call me that!" She turned her whole body in her desk chair and spoke louder than she meant too.
"TSUKINO!" Miss. Huruna shouted across the room so loud dust seemed to fall from the ceiling. Usagi sank behind her desk as the bell signaling the end of the lesson rang. "Oh, I give up! Everyone! Don't forget you have Physical Education next, and Miss. Tsukino…" Usagi froze as she tried to grab her bag and sneak away from class. "A word before you go!"
Naru waved goodbye to her as she turned around and walked towards the teacher's desk. "See you later, Dumpling." Seiya winked, closing the classroom door behind him as Usagi growled.
OoOoOoOoOoOoOoO
"Detention!" Usagi shouted angrily through pants. She had joined everyone in Phys Ed after Miss. Huruna had assigned Usagi detention after school tomorrow for disrupting the class. She ran alongside Naru as they did laps around the track. "I didn't even do anything…except shout in the middle of class… but he started it anyway! What a jerk." She grumbled.
Naru gazed dreamily across the track field to the football field where the guys' class was tackling each other. Seiya had just thrown down a guy twice his size. "But he's so dreamy Usagi. Everyone in class thinks so, don't tell me you don't think so?"
Usagi scowled, "Hmph!"
"Oh come on…"
"He singled me out from everyone else!" She said.
"But the seat behind you was the only one left." Naru pointed out. "Why would he single you out? He doesn't even know you right?"
"Right…"
"Usagi!" Usagi looked at the man who had called her name, trying to remember his face, but nothing came. "You know me?" He didn't answer, but instead stuck out his hand and ran his fingers along her cheek. His other, wiping away at her tears. She remembered, for a split second she felt the urge to fall into his arms and cry, but stopped herself.
Usagi paused in the middle of the track to look over at him lost in her daydream. Smiling, Seiya ran over to the benches and grabbed a water bottle. He paused as well, and looked up at her. He raised his hand and waved at her across the field, winking as he did so. With a great jump, feeling her face burning red, she ignored him and started to run again.
OoOoOoOoOoOoOoO
When Seiya awoke still weak and exhausted at the cosmetic shop a couple days prior, it had been completely empty. He was sure Sailor Moon had been gone for some time. With no where else to go, and still feeling unwell, Seiya left the shop and spent the night at the nearest motel. The next day, he set out to find an apartment, and upon securing one quickly enrolled himself at Juuban Municipal Junior High School.
It was weird being in Junior High after already enrolling in High School for a while, but it was worth it when he saw her sitting in class. The thing he loved most about this timeline was that he could go anywhere he wanted and no one knew him to be famous. Mind you there were still girls swooning, but not nearly as bad as before. He also liked the fact, much to this Usagi's annoyance, that he could follow her wherever he wanted without being bothered by her friends. Usagi didn't seem to know the Outer Senshi yet, as was made clear when he had asked about Haruka, and looking at him like he was mental, she replied, "Who?" Seiya tried as hard as possible to not involve himself with the Sailor Senshi. He knew something was going on, but he wanted to focus on Usagi as Usagi, and not Sailor Moon.
Before he realized it, he had survived through an entire week of Junior High. After another day of irritating Usagi at school, he took off for his apartment, but not before kissing her on the cheek in front of most of the school during lunch. This caused a massive wave of girls shrieking in either jealousy or excitement, and causing Usagi to actually come running after him in a shrill of anger.
Seiya opened the door and walked into his small staying place. There was only one bathroom, one bedroom, and a small living area combined with a tiny kitchen, but it suited him fine. He flicked on an old half broken T.V that was left behind from the previous tenant, set his school bag on the floor and plopped onto a cushion.
He tried to watch television, but his mind was elsewhere. For some reason he felt antsy, and couldn't stay still. He wondered what was happening back in the present at this very moment. Were the Senshi trying to find some way to bring him back? "Of course they are…" He thought. "There's no way they would just let me go." He wondered if Usagi was okay. Her crying face swam into view, as he lifted up into the air and she became nothing more than a speck among the ground, calling out his name…
Seiya sprang from his seat and walked over to the kitchen, trying to shake it out of his mind. He opened the fridge and looked inside. "Crap." He said. Sitting in the fridge, was well… nothing. He walked over to the small table where he had put his wallet. He flicked it open and looked inside, sighing." This should hold me for a couple weeks, but after that, what am I supposed to do? I don't think they offer jobs to Junior High students here."
Quickly changing out of his uniform into a pair of shorts and a plain red T-shirt he had bought himself the other day, he grabbed his wallet and set out for a convenience store. He found one not too far away, grabbed a basket, and filled it with ramen and vegetables along with some cold drinks. The heat was driving him crazy at his place, but air conditioning was a luxury he couldn't afford at the moment. He paid the lady and stepped outside the store with his bags. He turned left to head back home when he suddenly stopped and smiled.
"This must be my lucky day." He said. Usagi, who had been leaning over to look at the magazine rack outside, looked up at the familiar voice and frowned.
"Oh, it's you." She stood up straightening her light blue mini skirt out, and walked past him carrying a magazine, which read: "Nakayoshi." He followed her inside as she placed the magazine onto the counter and said, "This one please."
"That's not very nice of you Dumpling."
"Look!" Usagi rounded on him. "For the thousandth time, my name is not Dumpling!" She thanked the clerk, grabbed her magazine, and walked back outside. "What are you, following me?" Usagi stopped as Seiya ran to catch up with her.
"No, I just happen to be going this way too."
"Right…well than find another way, cause I'm going this way." Seiya ran to catch up with her again, as she stomped off. After a few seconds of him following her she turned around again. "Which way are you going?" She barked. Seiya pointed right. "Fine then I'll go this way." Usagi made a sharp turn left, but Seiya continued to follow.
"You're still as stubborn as ever." Usagi stopped mid-walk, causing Seiya to bump into her and drop his groceries. He bent down to pick them up, hastily grabbing around to shove them back into his bag before Usagi could leave him behind. His eyes widened as he saw her bend down, and begin to help. She grabbed the last bit of ramen, but didn't hand it over to his outstretched hand. Instead, she held it against her stomach and stared peculiarly at him.
"Do we know each other?" She asked.
"Wh-what gives you that idea?" Seiya panicked, a little taken aback.
"When we first met, you called me by name and acted like you were shocked to see me. You also- never mind." She trailed off.
"Damn it Seiya…" "Y-you remember that huh? Er yeah… actually I do know you…"
"I knew it!" Usagi said happily as Seiya stared at her in confusment. "She was happy about this?" "Oh it's just, I thought I was going crazy, haha. So how do you know me? Forgive me but I don't remember."
"Oh it's nothing; it's just, I've seen you around a lot ever since I got here." He tried quickly to think of a lie. "Around the arcade and stuff, heard your name a lot."
She eyed him suspiciously. "Are you sure you're not a stalker or something?"
"N-no of course not!" Usagi handed him the last thing of ramen and they both stood up. She smiled warmly at him, causing Seiya's heart to skip a beat.
"You're a strange one." She said.
"I wouldn't be talking if I were you." He smiled scratching his forehead. "So Dumpling…"
"Geeeeeh… you're never going to stop calling me that are you?"
"Did...I mean, does it really annoy you that much?"
A few seconds of silence passed where the only sound between them was the clacking of Usagi's white-heeled shoes. "It's just, only one person calls me that, unless they try to annoy me…" Her expression changed to something sad.
"Dumpling, you don't have a boyfriend do you?"
"Yes!" She shouted. "I mean, I think, I-" Usagi stopped. Seiya could tell they were nearing her house, as he looked at the surrounding neighborhood. He stopped as well, and looked at her seriously.
"You think?" He asked. "You either do or you don't." The sunlight started to disappear as dark grey clouds filled the sky from nowhere. There was a rush of harsh cold wind, blowing everything in its path. Usagi and Seiya tried hiding themselves from the wind, but it didn't matter as it began to pour rain. "Where the heck did this come from?"
Usagi gripped her magazine tightly to her body to try and stop it from getting wet. "I better run home." She said.
"But-"
"Don't worry, I only live a couple blocks from here, I'll be fine. See you at school, Seiya!" He didn't protest. Getting this close to her today was enough. But she had nearly confirmed the question he still wanted to know. If Mamoru had truly broken up with her and why? Or if they were even dating yet. He watched Usagi run down the path screaming, "Oh, why did it suddenly have to start raining? EIYYAAHHH!" She flew into the air at the sound of thunder and a flash of lightning, before running even faster home around the corner.
Seiya looked up into the sudden rain storm. Gulping, he took out his wallet from his pocket and snapped it open. "Better get a jacket and something other than shorts…" He groaned. Putting the wallet back into his pocket he turned back to head into the shopping district. "I'm dead…"
Authors Note:
I wonder where that sudden lightning storm came from? *winks*