~Wavering Destiny~
by Strawberry Moon Rose

As far as characters go, I'm basically going off of the anime. I've only read the manga once, and that was years ago. I really like the relationship between Minako & Rei in PGSM (the live action) so I sort of incorporated that into here as well.

This chapter was inspired by the song "Fearless" by Taylor Swift. I listened to it the entire time I wrote this chapter.

Okay, on to the story! :D

Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon or any of the characters. They belong to Naoko Takeuchi.

Chapter 10: Fearless

Crackle! Kaboom!

The brewing storm was relentless.

Usagi inhaled, filling her lungs with Seiya's rosy scent. I wish it would stop! It's so dark, I can't see a thing!

"How are you doing?" Seiya's voice was smooth.

"Better," she admitted. She settled down now, despite the thunder. Could it be because of Seiya? I'm really glad she's here with me. I feel so relaxed right now...

The lights flickered, then illuminated the store. Seiya blinked, allowing her eyes adjust.

"The power has returned. We apologize for the inconvenience," a saleswoman announced over the intercom. Sighs of relief and joy whispered throughout the boutique.

Usagi lifted her head from Seiya's chest. Four blue eyes met.

"See? I told you it was going to be okay."

Usagi nodded and pulled away. "Thank you, Seiya."

"No problem, Bun Head." Seiya patted one her hair buns playfully.

Boom. Boom. Boom. Minako's heart was racing 100 miles per hour in her chest. She was holding Yaten's hand when the lights came back on.

"Oh hey, they're back!" Minako didn't know if she could take it any longer. Being so close to Yaten in the dark... Anything could happen.

"Yeah, they are," Yaten stated obviously. They met each others gaze and both looked away.

Minako kept playing their kiss over in her head. It made her so nervous she couldn't think of anything to say. She wondered if Yaten was just as flustered, despite her collected attitude.

"Um, well I guess I'd better finish trying these on," Minako blabbed uneasily. "I've gotta find something to wear to that party, don't I? Ahaha..."

Yaten turned to the heap of clothes and pulled out a strapless orange dress. It was glittery and ruffled out at the bottom. She held it up in front of Minako. "Here, wear this one. I think it'll look...er, good on you."

Minako accepted the dress from her. "Okay...thanks." She felt her face warm.

Yaten shrugged coolly.

Minako tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "What are you gonna wear to the party?" She was used to seeing Yaten in a light blue tux back when she was in the Three Lights.

"Hmm, you'll have to wait and see." Yaten gave her a knowing smile.

Minako felt her stomach flip flop. Ah! Does she realize every little thing she does drives me crazy?

"Minako?" Rei called from outside.

Minako and Yaten froze. Their eyes met in alarm. If Rei knew Yaten was in there with her...

"Um, yeah Rei? I'm still in here," Minako called nervously.

Yaten made a face, causing her to giggle. The Starlight pressed her finger up against Minako's lips, silencing her. Her touch was soft, but firm.

"Are you okay? I was worried about you back here all by yourself in the dark. You almost done?" Rei's feet were visible under the curtain.

"Yes!" she replied quickly. Too quickly.

"Do you need help? Rei asked, unconvinced.

"No! Don't come in, I'm changing!" Minako blurted.

Rei took a step back. "Okay then. It looks like we'll have to wait for the storm to pass before we head back anyways, so no rush."

"I wasn't planning on it," Minako whispered, looking directly into Yaten's lime-green eyes.

Yaten smiled shyly and looked away. Her cheeks were bubblegum pink.

"Well, I'll be back with everyone."

Minako held her breath and listened to Rei's fading footsteps. When she figured she was out of hearing distance, Minako breathed a sigh of relief and said, "That was close!"

Yaten nodded. Too close. We can't let anybody know about us," she urged.

"Why not?"

Yaten ran her fingers through her silver bangs, a habit of frustration. "Because...everyone would disagree. They just wouldn't understand..." she grumbled to the floor.

Minako understood. She could imagine everyone saying things like, 'It'll never work out!' or 'Minako, Yaten's not really a guy' or 'You can find someone back home!' She didn't care what her friends would think. It wouldn't change the way she felt. But she knew one thing for sure; if Yaten was going to try anything to make a relationship work, whatever this was, she would too.

"We'll keep it a secret. I promise." Minako held out her free hand and raised her pinkie.

Yaten felt herself smiling and wrapping her finger around Minako's. She understood what the gesture meant this time around.

"Hey look, it stopped storming!" Makoto said.

"You're right, Mako," Ami agreed. The thunder had stopped, making the skies calm. But the clouds still looked an untrustworthy gray.

"Here you go." The salesgirl handed Ami their bag of clothes. She accepted it with a polite nod.

"Do you think we can make it back to the palace before it starts to rain again? I can call for a car," Taiki suggested.

Rei walked to the front door and pushed it open, clinking the chimes. The cool air blew softly into her face. She held her hand out. "I think we can make it back. It's just sprinkling," Rei declared.

Taiki stood behind her. "Are you sure? Our driver wouldn't mind."

Seiya joined them with their bag in one hand, umbrella in the other. "What do you think, Bun Head? Should we head back now or wait a little bit longer and see what it does?"

"I think it'll be okay if we walk quick," she said. On foot the palace was a mere fifteen minute stroll.

Taiki looked over her shoulder at the cashier ringing up Minako. Taiki brought her hand to her forehead. "Good grief, how many days does that girl think she's staying for?" she whispered to Yaten. Minako decided to be polite and put most of the clothes she'd picked out back, but she was still ringing up twice as many garments as the rest of them.

Yaten shrugged indifferently. "Who knows..." She stole a glance at the blonde beauty when Taiki wasn't looking. "I'll go pay for her," she mumbled.

"Okay, everyone, let's go before it starts to rain again!" Seiya declared, holding the door open as everyone exited the boutique.

"Come again!" the salesgirl called after them.

Usagi stepped outside into the chilly drizzle. She pushed open the umbrella and held it over her head, shielding herself from the sleet. Seiya joined her underneath it. Their shoes sloshed over the damp sidewalk as everybody walked back to the palace. Taiki and Ami were ahead, leading everyone.

"I can't believe you talked me into wearing this thing," Seiya said, breaking the silence. She held up the shopping bag that their dresses were in.

"I can't wait until the party. How many days away is it, again?"

"Four," Seiya answered. "Everybody is preparing for it back at the palace. It's going to be getting pretty busy around there."

Usagi was eager to eat more of the palace's extravagant food and meet new people. It was going to be so much fun! Then after that, she knew their inevitable return would await, but she tried to push that fact from her mind.

The sky growled in the distance. Usagi's knuckles turned white around the umbrella handle.

Seiya peered at the darkening clouds above. This doesn't look promising. They were halfway between the boutique and the palace.

"Hey, Taiki!" Seiya yelled ahead. "Should we turn around?"

Taiki looked over her shoulder as she spoke, "We will reach the palace before it starts to..." Her voice was drowned out by the gradual pitter-pattering of rain.

Usagi cringed under the umbrella. Seiya pulled the bags closer to the center so their dresses wouldn't get ruined. They had been folded pristinely into boxes, but she didn't want to take their chances and tied the handle in a knot so water couldn't get in.

Everyone picked up the pace. The umbrellas protected them from the downpour, but as the wind sped up, cutting through them at an unavoidable angle.

"Come on!" Seiya grabbed Usagi's free hand and they started to jog. They dashed through puddles, splashing icy water at their heels.

"This is ridiculous! We should stop somewhere and let it pass!" Yaten complained.

"I second that!" said Makoto.

Kaboom! The ear-splitting roar shook the ground. It was so deafening, it made their insides echo as if they were hollow.

"Ah!" Usagi's hands instinctively flew to her ears. The umbrella fell to her feet, hitting the sidewalk with a clank. A gust of wind blasted through, whipping her pigtails all around her.

"Bun Head!" Seiya cried and reached back for her. Usagi squeezed her eyes shut and continued to press her hands to her ears, trying to block out the thunder.

"Seiya!" Usagi dropped to her knees. The wind carried their umbrella off behind them.

"I'm right here! Come on, let's go! If we hurry we can make it before it gets worse!" Seiya knelt down beside her. The pouring rain drowned out her voice. Water trickled into her eyes, making it hard to see.

"The umbrella!" Usagi turned around, but it was already gone. Her hair was dripping wet, and she could feel her mascara running.

"Forget it! We've got to go now or-"

A flash of lightning, too close for comfort, made Seiya stop mid-sentence.

"Usagi, are you guys okay?" Makoto yelled from in front of them.

"We'll be right there, go on ahead!" Seiya turned and helped Usagi up.

Usagi nodded and continued on through the rain beside Seiya, this time with no umbrella. The shower drenched them both. Their heavy clothes made it feel like they were walking through a pool.

Seiya paused and shrugged off her red jacket.

"What are you doing?" Usagi cried.

Seiya spread out the jacket and held it over Usagi's head. It acted as an umbrella, shielding her from the rain.

Usagi stared. Seiya as wearing a tight, black tank-top underneath. Her shoulders were broad and her arms toned. Water droplets slid between her full cleavage. She turned away and said, "Are you stupid? You're going to catch a cold!"

"You're the one shivering," was her response.

Usagi had been trying to ignore her chattering teeth. She glared up at the dark clouds. Why can't rain be warm like a nice shower?

"Seiya, put your jacket back on right now. I'm fine!" Usagi argued. As nice as it felt to not have water dripping in her eyes, she didn't want Seiya to freeze in just a mere tank top.

Seiya shook her head, sending an array of droplets from her glossy black hair. "You're the only one I care about."

A light bulb lit up above Usagi's head. "I have an idea! C'mere," she motioned for Seiya to get under the jacket with her. Usagi grabbed one side of it and Seiya grabbed the other.

"Hey, nice thinking, Bun Head!" Seiya grinned.

Usagi opened her lips to reply, but when she looked up she realized how close they were now. Their faces were only inches apart. She hadn't considered that before she offered the idea.

"What's wrong?" Seiya asked.

"N-nothing! Geez, back up, would you?" Usagi whispered. Heat rose to cheeks.

Seiya frowned. "But this was your idea! Why are you yelling at me now? Besides, it's warmer this way now."

Usagi noticed that huddling so close made her goosebumps go away. She could feel Seiya's body heat off her bare arms. "I guess, but..." Usagi looked back up and noticed how the rain had slicked Seiya's bangs into her eyelashes. They were so long and beautiful. A teardrop of rain slipped off her bangs, down her high cheekbones, and dripped from her lips. We're so close under here, Usagi thought.

Suddenly the world slowed. It was as if the rain and cold, and everyone with it vanished.

Seiya noticed Usagi's eyes on her. An untouchable, wordless moment passed. Seiya moved in instinctually at he invitation, hesitating for a brief second, and when Usagi didn't object, she kissed her tenderly on the cheek.

Usagi's eyes widened. She felt her, so close, so warm, so sudden...

Seiya tasted raindrops on her skin. She pulled back, making brief eye contact that sent her stomach into somersaults.

"What... what was that for?" said Usagi softly. Her fingers touched her cheek mindlessly.

Seiya didn't reply. She just pursed her lips as if suppressing a small smile. "Oh, the rain's let up a little," she said.

Usagi bit her lip. Her heart was pounding so hard, it almost hurt. It choked her up, devouring any response she would have come up with. Usagi focused on the sidewalk the rest of the way. She stole a glimpse at the Starlight once and noticed her face was notably flushed too.

This feeling... Why can't I breathe whenever I'm with her? My head's spinning... What is happening between us?