~Wavering Destiny~
by Strawberry Moon Rose
Enjoy :3
Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon or any of the characters. They belong to Naoko Takeuchi.
Chapter 6: A Song For You
As they approached her two friends, Usagi started to feel self-conscious that she and Seiya were holding hands. She didn't want to give them the wrong idea, so she unclasped her fingers and took a step away.
Usagi said in a low voice, "I don't want them to get any ideas or anything."
"You know, most girls would have killed to hold hands with me in public when I was part of the Three Lights."
"Well I'm not most girls," Usagi whispered back.
"I know. That's why I like you."
Usagi blushed. "What's that supposed to mean? And there's nothing going on between us!"
"If you say so, Bun Head." Seiya felt her flirty side coming through, just like old times.
Usagi ignored her. On some level, she was asking herself the same question. She'd been asking it since before Seiya left last year.
They emerged from the maze to find Rei waiting with her hands on her hips, and Mako studying a nearby climbing rose bush.
"It's about time!" Rei complained.
Usagi frowned. "Rei! If you hadn't taken off without me, this wouldn't have happened!"
"Me? What's that supposed to mean? If you had just followed me like I told you to...!"
"You just left me there, Rei! You're such a meanie!" Usagi stuck out her tongue.
"You are so immature!"
Seiya gave Makoto a look. "Do they do this often?" she asked.
Makoto sweat dropped. "Unfortunately."
"Let's head in and see what Taiki and Yaten are up to," Seiya suggested, interrupting their squabble.
Usagi turned away from Rei childishly. "Sounds good."
"Yeah. Just don't get lost again," Rei instigated with a sly smile.
"Why you-" Usagi started, but she felt Makoto put a hand on her shoulder.
"Come on, Usagi, let's see what Ami and Taiki doing," she offered.
Usagi followed her taller friend. Seiya led everyone back inside.
Two maids, clad in classic black and white frills, passed by them, arms full of linens. "Good morning, Fighter," one said politely.
"Good morning, ladies," Seiya replied.
"Will we see Princess Kakyuu again soon?" asked Makoto.
"Most likely not. She's working on preparations for the party next week," Seiya answered. "A lot of work is going into it, especially these last few days. You might see more workers than usual in the halls."
"A party? What kind of party?" Usagi asked with interest.
"We're celebrating one year of our return to Kinmoku after the war with Chaos," Seiya explained. "While we were lucky here at the palace as far as desctruction went, I can't same the same for the rest of our planet, especially here in Olivian, the capital."
"I see," said Rei.
"Is there going to be lots of yummy food?" Usagi asked. Her mouth watered as she imagined different kinds of foreign dishes.
Seiya chuckled. "Yes, of course there will be. Our chefs are working hard on that. You guys should stay for the party, it's going to be a lot of fun. The midnight fireworks are my favorite."
"Fireworks?" Usagi repeated excitedly. I love fireworks!
"It does sounds like fun," Makoto agreed.
"I'm sure we can stay for it, right guys?" Usagi clasped her hands together in a pretty please gesture.
"We'll have to double check with Ami and Minako," Rei told her.
Speaking of the blue-haired guardian, she and the tallest Starlight appeared in the hall ahead.
"As I would expect from you," they heard Taiki saying.
"Oh you really surprised me there at the end. I had no idea what I was getting myself into."
"That was really something. I enjoyed it. We should play again soon."
"Most definitely," said Ami. She hugged a stack of ancient-looking books to her chest. With her other hand, she removed her reading glasses and hooked them on the front of her blouse.
"Ami!" Usagi called, catching up to her friend. "What was the library like?"
"Oh, Usagi! Sorry, I didn't see you there." She smiled coyly. "Why, it was just wonderful! So many interesting literary authors to learn about. In fact, Taiki is letting me borrow some Kinmokian history books."
"Sounds fun," Makoto teased with a touch of sarcasm.
"Very!" Ami beamed without missing a beat.
Taiki cleared her throat. "Ami and I enjoyed a competitive match of chess."
Seiya raised a brow. "Who won?"
"It was a draw." Taiki smiled knowingly at Ami.
Ami blushed and looked at the floor.
Taiki adjusted her chestnut ponytail absentmindedly. "I'll admit I haven't had an equally skilled opponent like her in a long time. I have missed having a friend on a similar level, and I enjoyed our chat..."
Usagi wiggled her eyebrows at Ami, but the shy guardian was still facing Taiki like they were still the only two there.
"Well, I was just going to my room to write poetry since we have the day off. I'll see you around, Ms. Mizuno," Taiki said with a smile. She spun on her heels and disappeared.
"I think I'm going to check up on Minako and Yaten," Rei said suddenly and started off towards the music room.
Makoto yawned. "I'd like to take a nice, long nap in my room if that's okay. I think I'm still on Tokyo time."
"I'll join you," Ami said and hurried after her.
Seiya and Usagi were alone once more. It made Usagi anxious. How come it always ends up just the two of us? It's like my friends are doing this to me on purpose, like some kind of test.
"Well then," Usagi said nervously. "I think I'm gonna have to agree with Mako. I'm always down for a nap. A snack too. I'll be in my guest room. See you later, Seiya!"
"Bun Head, wait-" But she was already gone.
"Wow, this place sure is amazing! I would die for a studio like this of my own!" Minako breathed. She stood in the middle of the music room, admiring all of the instruments and equipment. It was a small, intimate studio with a records on one wall. A large glass window gave view to the recording room which held three microphones. Rows of dials and buttons lined the desk on the outside.
Yaten sprawled on the red velvet sofa with her feet on the coffee table in front of her. "Yeah, Seiya wanted it built here after we returned from Earth and we all use it to write songs from time to time. Who would've known that we'd come to like music so much?"
"That's really amazing, Yaten," Minako told her.
Yaten shrugged.
"Do you miss being a part of the Three Lights?" Minako asked. She leaned against the side of the couch.
"No, not really. All of those crazy girls were really annoying. It's nice to be treated normal here. Though with our relation to the Princess, I can't say we don't some sort of status."
Minako grinned. "Aw come, I'm sure you liked the attention, just a little bit."
Yaten shook her head vehemently. "They were just interested in our looks anyways. They didn't understand the message in our music." Yaten shifted her weight. "What about you? How's your music career coming?"
"Me? Haha, well it's coming along. Slowly..." Minako answered. She stared off at the wall, deep in thought. Without the demanding schedule of being a sailor guardian, for the first time in her life, Minako had the opportunity to focus on other areas: her friends, her hobbies, volleyball, and the path to becoming an idol. But as it turned out, the path was filled with hurdles and the competition was more fierce than Minako had ever imagined.
"Hey, don't give up," Yaten assured her. "After all, isn't it your dream? You shouldn't give up on your dream. Well, that's what you told me anyway." The memory of talking to Minako at the idol competition a year ago made her smile. She pretended like it was the first time she'd recalled that memory. It wasn't.
Minako's features settled into a smile too. "Thank you, Yaten."
"No problem." She stretched her arms behind her head lazily and closed her lime-green eyes. "I like to come here from time to time, but honestly Seiya spends the most time in here. Becoming idols on Earth was her idea after all."
"Oh, I never knew that." Minako wrapped a strand of blonde hair around her finger. "Hey, could you sing me one of your songs?" she asked.
"What?"
"You know, one of the new songs that you've written here," Minako said motioning to the studio they were in.
"I...I don't know." Yaten hesitated. She'd never shown anyone her personal music before besides her Princess. Not even Seiya or Taiki. It was too close to her, and being vulnerable was her greatest fear.
"Please..?" She gave Yaten her best puppy dog eyes.
Yaten frowned. There was something about this girl. Yaten had felt it before, how she truly shined from the inside and out. And if there was one person she wanted to sing for besides her Princess, it was Minako. She couldn't explain it, but she knew she was safe around the Venusian guardian. It's her light, Yaten thought. I like her light.
"Fine," she said at last.
"Yay!"
"Go bring me that guitar over there, I'm not getting up," Yaten said and pointed across the room.
Minako fetched the instrument without complaint.
Yaten sighed and sat up. She slipped the guitar strap over her head and held it properly. She twisted the dials at the top, bringing it into tune.
Minako sat on the sofa beside her, trying to hold in her excitement. I can't believe I get to hear one of her songs! Eek! I'm so lucky! While she waited, she admired Yaten's side profile. Oh gosh, she's so pretty. Why can't I be that beautiful? Such delicate features...
Yaten took a deep breath. She could feel Minako's gaze on her. Her palms felt moist. Maybe this isn't such a good idea after all.
"What's wrong?" Minako asked. She leaned closer to the pretty girl.
"Nothing," Yaten mumbled quickly. "Just...just don't let Seiya or Taiki know that I'm showing this to you, or they'll make fun of me."
Minako held out her pinkie. "I promise."
Yaten stared. "What're you doing?"
"Eh?" Minako blinked. "You're supposed to lock pinkies with me. You know, for when you make promises?"
Yaten had never heard of such a thing. "You people are so strange." She shrugged and wrapped her pinkie around Minako's. When their skin touched, Yaten felt a strange feeling settle over her. There it is again... She brought her emerald eyes to the girl sitting close to her. What's going on? There's butterflies dancing in my stomach... Nervousness? Yeah that has to be it, I'm afraid she won't like my song. Or...you'd almost think that I... No, that can't be it.
"What?"
Yaten's cheeks burned a soft pink. She quickly pulled her hand back to herself. "It's nothing," she muttered, gaze swiftly falling away. She turned back to her guitar and focused on her song. Get a grip! she told herself. I'm almost as bad as Seiya, for crying out loud.
She began to strum the guitar, playing a sad, beautiful, tragic tune. Her fingers danced across the strings in perfection. Yaten parted her lips and words began to pour out. Her voice was husky, and warm, yet sweet like honey. The lyrics told feelings of being unable to express herself to others. She sang of hoping to find something or someone that would make her more likable. Her voice was strong and full of passion. She did not falter once.
Minako listened in silence, letting the music enter her ears and direct to her heart. It seemed as if Yaten had entered her own world. The song was different from the Three Light's music, but contained the same amount of stinging emotion.
Yaten shrugged when she finished the song abrubtly. "That's all I've written so far. Seiya and Taiki are usually the one who writes lyrics, so they may not be that good."
Minako's eyes were wide. "Are you kidding? That was amazing. I can't believe you wrote that! It really suits your voice. You really pour your heart into your music, don't you?"
"I guess." Her silver bangs hid her eyes.
"That song would be really popular back home!"
"You think so?" Yaten asked, looking up.
Minako nodded. "When you finish it, I want to hear it again, 'kay?"
"Sure." She continued to look at Minako with a strange smile on her face. "You know, you're the first person I've showed this song to," she admitted.
"Really?"
"Yeah."
"That makes me really happy." Minako leaned in. Perhaps it was Yaten opening up a bit, but something gave her courage."Yaten...there's something that I've been meaning to tell you for a while now..." she said in a low voice.
"Yeah?" Yaten asked.
"Well...I've always felt this...I don't know...'thing' between us," Minako started shyly. Oh, God, what am I saying! Too late to stop now!
Yaten leaned in too. "What do you mean?" She could feel the girl's warm breath as she spoke. Is she going to confess feelings for me? Sheesh, why am I leaning in too!
"And I know it's kind of silly to think this...since I know that you aren't really a boy, but..." Minako's voice broke off.
Yaten felt her face grow hot. This is a confession.
"But...I guess that doesn't change the way I feel anyway..." Minako stumbled over her words. She twirled a finger around her hair again. "I guess what I'm trying to say is that...I really like you and-"
Just then, the door of the music room swung open, making them both jump in surprise. Rei stood in the doorway. Her violet eyes widened when they fell on Minako and Yaten, looking like they were about to kiss. Rei's heart faltered.
Yaten quickly pulled away. "Y-you could knock, you know," she snapped.
"I'm sorry" Rei apologized, surprised at Yaten's tone. "We just got back from visiting the garden and I came to see what you two were up to."
"We're not up to anything. Anyway, I have...things to do," Yaten mumbled. She stood and exited the room, avoiding eye contact.
Rei lowered herself on the couch next to the blonde. "What was that about?"
Minako sighed. "Nothing apparently..."
Seiya stopped outside of Usagi's door. She's probably asleep by now. I'm sure she's really worn out. I'd better let her rest.
Seiya replayed the morning's events over in her head. She was still in somewhat of a shock, and half expected that it all was a dream. Seiya remembered the scent of her hair when she hugged her, overjoyed that she really was here. She recalled how soft Usagi's hand felt inside her own when they walked through the garden. Seiya smiled when she recalled the look on Usagi's face as she fell on top of her.
I really missed you, Bun Head.
Seiya sighed and continued to her own room. She was just about to enter when Yaten stormed past her. "Hey, what's up?"
"Nothing," Yaten replied shortly.
"Whoa!" Seiya grabbed Yaten's arm and pulled her close to her.
"Hey! What do you think you're doing?" Yaten snapped.
Seiya placed her other hand on Yaten's forehead. "I think you might have a fever," she said worriedly.
"What are you talking about?"
"Your face is all red," Seiya observed. "Do you feel alright?"
Yaten blushed even more and knocked Seiya's hand away. "Mind your own business," she grumbled.
"Geez! What happened to you?" Seiya asked surprised. Yaten was moody, but she hadn't seen her so flustered before.
"Nothing," Yaten muttered and continued to her bedroom. She slammed the door.
Seiya stood in the hallway confused. Well that was weird, even for her. She shrugged it off. She didn't have time to worry about her comrade. She had plenty on her own plate.
Tonight I'm going to have a talk with Bun Head. I have so much I want to ask her about. I've already decided that it's too late to hold back to protect myself. Instead, I'm going to enjoy every second that I have with her, because when the time comes for her to leave again, I'm going to have to find a way to live without her, no matter how painful it'll be.