~Wavering Destiny~
by Strawberry Moon Rose
Enjoy :)
Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon or any of the characters. They belong to Naoko Takeuchi.
Chapter 14: Here We Go
Usagi's eyelids slowly opened. She blinked a couple times before remembering where she was. Bright sunlight streamed in through the window on the other side of the bedroom. Usagi looked over and saw that Seiya was still asleep beside her. She watched her chest rise and fall peacefully and could hear her faint breathing in the quiet room.
Seiya looked innocent like a kitten. Her bluish hair glistened in the sunlight. Usagi brought her hand to Seiya's face and gently traced her fingers down her cheek, lingering by her lips. Usagi smiled coyly at the memory. Those lips were soft, delicious, and enchanting. She couldn't believe she hadn't found that out until now. And she couldn't believe she was still thinking about it.
Usagi sighed. The answer to the confusing situation had not come to her like she hoped it would. Was it too late to turn back?
Seiya rustled, her eyes fluttering as she she woke. 'Morning, Bun Head." Her voice was thick with sleep.
Usagi returned the smile. "Good morning..."
Seiya sat up and stretched. She yawned and ran her fingers though her undone hair.
Usagi sat up beside the Starlight and pulled her knees to her chest. Usagi watched a few birds fly around outside the window, basking in the warm sunlight. "It looks like the storm is over," she said.
"Yeah, you're right."
Usagi took in her surroundings. Last night it was too dark to see anything. Seiya's bedroom was spacious. It had thick, white carpet and neutral-colored walls. A huge L-shaped couch was positioned in the corner in front of a flat screen TV. A football poster was plastered on one wall. There was a door on the other side of the room, which she assumed led to a bathroom.
"How'd you sleep?"
Usagi played with the edge of her pajama shirt. "Good..." She ran her fingers through her hair and pulled it to one side of her shoulder. "What about you?"
"I slept great."
"I didn't snore did I? Or kick you accidentally?" When she slept with Chibi-Usa she had the tendency of sleeping like a frog and taking up the entire bed.
"No, you were okay. Slept like a baby in my arms," she teased.
Usagi smiled and looked away. "Whatever." She couldn't remember what she dreamed about, but she knew it was something good. Or perhaps she hadn't been dreaming.
"Actually, you did sleep talk."
"I did?"
"Just once or twice though, quietly."
"What did I say?" According to Luna, she mumbled things from time to time. Usually something about food or Mamo. But she was sort afraid to hear what she'd spilled to Seiya last night. It could have been anything with where her thoughts were lately.
Seiya brought her finger to her chin thoughtfully. "Well...you mentioned something about chocolate chip cookies."
"Is that it?"
Seiya narrowed her eyes. "Oh, and at one time I heard you mumble, 'Ah, Seiya...you're the coolest!'"
Usagi grabbed a nearby pillow and chucked it at her. Seiya raised her arm to shield herself, knocking the harmless object away.
"Liar. What did I really say?"
"I'm telling you, that's what you said." She raised her hands innocently.
Usagi tossed another pillow, determined not to miss Seiya's big, arrogant head. But the Starlight easily dodged it.
"Hey, watch it!" Seiya laughed. "Is this what I get to wake up to?"
"Tell me what I really said!"
"Oh? Or what?" She grabbed a pillow from behind her and gently brought it against Usagi's side.
"Hey! That's not fair!" Usagi giggled and smacked it back at Seiya. "If you don't tell me, I'll...I'll..."
"You'll what? Hit me upside the head with that again?" Her blue eyes danced.
"That's it!" Usagi declared with a mischievous grin. "You asked for it!" She took aim and chucked the pillow at her. It hit right in the face and fell into her lap.
Seiya gave her exasperated look. "Hey! That hurt!"
"Good!" Usagi cracked up at her expression.
Seiya picked it up and lightly whipped it against her. "Payback time!"
Usagi struck back again, hitting her twice.
"Hey, watch it, Bun Head! Those things are dangerous."
"You can't call me Bun Head now, can you?" She motioned to her undone hair, loose around her shoulders.
"Says who?" Seiya's leaned in and ruffled her hair until it stood up in static electricity. "You'll always be Bun Head to me."
Usagi whacked her. "You let your guard down. Big mistake."
"Fine. If that's the way you're going to play..."
Usagi yanked the blanket up in front of her as a shield.
Seiya laughed and swatted it away.
Usagi giggled. "Ah! Don't touch me there! I'm ticklish!"
"Oh? Is that so?"
"Ah! S-stop!" Usagi laughed uncontrollably, meanwhile her feeble attempts to push her away failed.
Seiya danced her fingers on Usagi's stomach. "You should never reveal your weakness to the enemy," she whispered.
"Ah...ahaha!" Usagi giggled and squirmed. "Seiya!"
"What's wrong, Bun Head? Ready to give up?"
Usagi wiggled away and rolled to her side.
Seiya grabbed her hands and playfully pinned them down. Laying on her back, Usagi was trying hard not to grin. Seiya sat on top of her and brought her face down to her level. "Gotcha."
"Okay fine, you win." She turned her head trying to get her bangs out of her eyes. "Can you get off me now?"
"I suppose...but don't you want to hear what else you said last night?"
'Tell me."
Seiya inched closer. The closeness reminded Usagi of last night. She tried to push the distraction of her mind. But it was impossible to do when Seiya's lips were so close to her own again.
The Starlight lowered her voice. "You said, 'Seiya...don't leave'."
Usagi's studied her expression. "That's it? Well that's not so bad. You had me worried I said something really stupid."
"Oh? Like what?"
Usagi blushed. "I don't know what I don't know!"
"You're a funny girl, you know that?"
"Coming from you!"
Seiya said smiled. Her expression then shifted. "Bun Head, I think...we should talk about something."
Usagi stared up at her. The look in her eyes said it all. The nervous sensation came over her again. "About...what?" Her heart jumped. Thump. Thump.
Seiya looked uncomfortable. "I know it's kind of obvious, but I'll say it anyways..."
"S-say what?"
Knock. Knock. Knock.
Usagi and Seiya both froze.
"Seiya! Are you awake?" a muffled voice called.
Usagi strained to make out whose voice it was. It's Yaten, she realized.
Seiya didn't say anything. She brought her gaze back down to Usagi. Her big blue eyes were looking up at her in panic.
"Hey, are you listening? We've got stuff to do today! Geez..." the door handle jangled.
Usagi panicked. If anyone came in right now and saw them, especially in this position, they'd get the wrong idea for sure! She squirmed out of Seiya's hold. Seiyalet her up and Usagi rolled off the bed and ducked down on the floor, out of sight.
"What are you doing?" Seiya asked, looking over the edge of the bed.
"Shh!" Usagi shushed her. "I'm not here!" Nobody knew she had slept in Seiya's room and she wanted it to stay that way.
The door swung open. "Who are you talking to?" Yaten demanded. She stood in the doorway with her hands on her hips.
Seiya whipped around. "Nobody...why?"
Yaten shook her head. "Whatever." She strolled across the room. Seiya casually pushed a blanket onto the floor behind the bed. It fell on top of Usagi covering her just in case the shortest Starlight came any closer.
"Really, Yaten, it's rude of you to barge into my room without permission." Seiya sighed. Sometimes her friend's manners really worried her.
"Whatever." Yaten brushed her bangs back like she always did when she was annoyed. "Anyways, we don't have the day off so get up already," she snapped.
"Relax, I'm up. I think someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning."
Yaten gave a frustrated sigh. "Well you'd be cranky too if someone came into your room and woke you up in the middle of the night! Then I couldn't fall asleep because of the stupid storm. Did you hear how loud that thunder was? I don't think I slept more than three hours. Ugh..."
Seiya gave her a questioning look. "Someone came into your room last night? Who?" She couldn't imagine who would be dumb enough to disturb Yaten when she was asleep.
Yaten shrugged and threw her silver ponytail over her shoulder. "How would I know? I was half awake. But if I find out who it was..."
"Huh. Well, that's weird. Are you sure it wasn't Minako? I think she's got a thing for you. I could see her doing something like that, couldn't you?"
Yaten's mouth slightly opened and her lime-green eyes widened. She turned away. "Just shut up, Seiya. You're an idiot. Hurry up." She stormed out of the room.
Seiya watch her leave, perplexed. "Huh..." That girl always seemed to baffle her.
Usagi held her breath and peeked her head up from the side of the bed. "Is she...gone?"
Seiya pushed the door shut and turned back to Usagi. "Yeah."
Usagi exhaled and crawled out on her hands and knees. "Thank god! I hope she never finds out..."
"What do you mean?"
Usagi brought her hand behind her head and laughed nervously. "Ahaha! Well, you see...it's sort of like this..."
Seiya crossed the room. "It was you, wasn't it?"
"Uh yeah, about that... It was a mistake, I swear! I didn't think it was her room..."
Seiya chuckled.
Usagi pulled herself up. "Well, you heard her! You'd better get moving before she comes back again."
Seiya nodded reluctantly. But she didn't want Usagi to go just yet. It felt like if she left, it would somehow erase last night.
"I should probably go back to my room so the others don't wonder where I'm at." Usagi took a step towards Seiya and gave her a warm smile. "And thank you, Seiya..."
Seiya felt her insides tingle. "Anytime, Bun Head."
Usagi stared at the carpet. "Um..." There was so much she wanted to say, but she couldn't find the words. She was certain she liked Seiya. Now what?
Seiya closed the distance between them. "About before... What I was trying to say was... I just want you to know how I feel about you. If it wasn't obvious and all..."
Usagi's felt warmth rush to her face. She managed to bring her gaze up and their eyes met before Seiya pulled her into a hug.
"I care about you. Just know that I'm always here, okay?" she whispered.
Usagi nodded.
Seiya pulled away and they looked each other in the eyes for what seemed like a long time. Seiya slowly leaned in.
Usagi instinctively closed her eyes. She knew Seiya was going to kiss her, but she didn't mind. She had already let her do it before, so what was another time going to hurt? Her lips waited patiently. It's coming. Seiya softly pressed her lips against her forehead instead.
Usagi smiled, slightly disappointed as Seiya pulled away. She couldn't help but notice that Seiya's cheeks were tinted pink. She recalled the time last year when she'd shown up to Seiya's radio concert and their eyes met during their song. She noticed it was the same kind of blush back then too.
"Um, I guess I'll see you later then," Usagi said, breaking the silence.
"Hey, you should come help me set up decorations in the ballroom today. If you want."
"Really?" Usagi tried to imagine what the palace's ballroom would look like. She was sure it would be enormous with high ceilings and fancy everything. It sounded fun, especially if she'd get to be with Seiya all day.
"Sure!"
"Taiki and Yaten have other work to prepare for, and I bet they could use your friends' help. Although, I'm not too sure if I'd want to hang around with Yaten all day, considering how grouchy she is..." Seiya winked.
Usagi scratched the top of her head. "Do you think I should apologize and tell her it was me?"
"She'll get over it."
Usagi nodded and turned towards the door to leave.
Seiya took a step after her. "Um, Bun Head?"
"Yes?"
"You know...even though the storm is passed, you can sleep in here anytime if you want." She held her breath, waiting for her response.
Usagi tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. She knew it wouldn't be right when she had a boyfriend. She wasn't the type of girl to deceive people, no matter the circumstances. But if she said no, wouldn't she be deceiving herself?
And wouldn't it be better than sleeping all alone in her guest room? They wouldn't be on Kinmoku that much longer and she wanted to spend as much time with Seiya as she could. Her arms were warm and protective, and she smelled heavenly. What Mamoru didn't know wouldn't hurt him, right?
The idea of them sharing another one of those sublime kisses made her lips tingle and insides rattle in fear for even thinking of such a thing. Even though her mind debated the idea, her body knew exactly what it wanted.
"Okay," Usagi said.