~Wavering Destiny~
by Strawberry Moon Rose

Enjoy :D

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

Chapter 15: Trapped

"What do you mean 'rehearse'?" Minako asked. She trailed behind the three Starlights that morning after breakfast.

"For the party," Taiki explained over her shoulder. "We are going to perform a few songs."

"Perform? You mean...as the Three Lights?"

"I guess you could put it that way," said Seiya.

"That's amazing! I love your music," Minako gushed. Her eyes turned to stars as she imagined Yaten stepping onto a stage, wrapping her fingers around a sleek microphone. Her harmonic, sweet-sounding voice would make her melt like honey. The three of them in a pitch-perfect harmony. She had forgotten how lucky she was to be dating such a superstar.

"Are you guys, like, famous here too?" Minako asked.

The Starlights exchanged glances before Seiya chuckled. "Not exactly. Our music is a bit of a personal hobby here, so it'll be a surprise for everybody. We have our duties here to protect the Princess, so we can't be idols again like we were on your planet."

"Oh, I see."

Taiki smiled at Yaten out of the corner of her amethyst eyes. "Unless you count Yaten's little fanclub as fans..."

Yaten brought her hand to her forehead. "Ugh, don't remind me," she grumbled.

"Fanclub? What do you mean?" She hurriedly caught up to them and walked beside her girlfriend.

Seiya laughed. "Yaten, tell her about them."

"It's nothing, just this group of girls that don't leave me alone at things like this. They're super annoying."

"And men," Seiya added, snickering.

Yaten reached over and gently shoved her. "Shuddup."

Taiki tried hard not to grin. "Yaten's certainly popular with both sides..."

"Whatever..." Yaten was as tired of their teasing as she was of being swarmed with admirers at events. Being the Princess's guardians made them recognizable, almost famous. It had always been that way, ever since they became sailor guardians a few years ago.

"Maybe if you weren't so hot, they'd leave you alone," Minako teased.

Yaten blushed faintly. She turned her head away.

"Aw, we're just kidding, Yaten." Seiya laughed and put her hand on her shoulder.

"Hehe, sorry," Minako whispered.

"Let's go already," Yaten said, changing the subject and knocking Seiya's hand away. "We've got a lot of work to do and shouldn't be wasting time like this!"

Taiki nodded in agreement. "Rehearsal might take a few hours. You and your friends can do as you wish until then," she told the blonde.

"Sorry for just leaving you guys, but we do have work to do," Seiya said.

"No problem! I totally understand. Is there anything we can do to help? I don't want us to feel like a bother..."

Taiki brought her hand to her chin. "Well...I'm sure they could use help down in the ballroom."

Seiya shook her head. "I already promised Bun Head that we'd help set up down there this afternoon."

"Alright. I know that they are setting the lights up out back by the gazebo. Hmm, maybe they could even use Makoto's help in the kitchen..." Taiki suggested.

"Just don't mess anything up," Yaten told her. She winked at Minako subtly so the others didn't see.

Minako's insides fluttered. "Okay. I'm going to talk to the others and see what they wanna do." She headed in the other direction towards the guest rooms. "Have fun at rehearsal!"

"We will," Yaten said after her.

"So, what do you say?" Minako asked the girls. Everyone met in Usagi's room.

"I think it'd be fun to set up outside," Makoto said, thinking back to the beautiful garden.

"Me too," Rei agreed.

Ami nodded. "I didn't get to see the garden before, and I think it would be neat."

"What about you, Usagi?" Minako turned to her. Usagi sat her bed, unusually quiet.

"Usagi?" Minako repeated. She waved her hand in front of her friend's face.

Usagi blinked. "Huh? Oh sorry, Minako, what did you say?"

Rei face palmed. "What's up with you today? You've been spacing off all morning! Get a grip!"

"Sorry. I'm just kinda...tired," she lied.

"Did the storm keep you up all night?" Ami asked, concerned.

Usagi felt her face heat. "Uh huh, something like that..." She was too preoccupied with her puzzling feelings about Seiya to pay attention. She hadn't said much to anyone at breakfast.

"I'm going to go ask Princess Kakyuu what I can do," Minako declared.

"I'll come too," Usagi offered, standing up from the bed. Anything to get her mind off of a certain someone.

"Okay, let's go!"

The two blondes made their way through the palace's corridors. Click. Click. Their shoes echoed off the glossy, marble floor.

"Where do you think she's at?" Usagi asked.

Minako shrugged. "No idea. We should probably - Oh!" She stopped short.

Usagi kept walking and ran right into the back of her. "Ow!" She rubbed her nose. "Minako, what're you doing?"

"Look!" Minako stood on her toes and pressed her face up against the door in the hallway, peering through the tiny glass window at the top.

"What is it?"

"It's the music room! Eek! I can see them! Ah...Yaten's sitting on the couch playing the guitar. She's so cool..."

Usagi smiled. "Come on, Minako, we've gotta go see the Princess..."

"Oh! And Seiya's next to her."

Usagi pushed Minako aside. "Let me see!" She stretched up trying to steal a glance through the window, but she was too short.

"Here, get on my back," Minako instructed her, lowering herself.

Usagi climbed gingerly onto her and Minako stood up. Usagi peered through the window. "Whoa, neat!" She could see the three of them huddled near the table. Yaten was sitting on the couch playing a sleek, bass guitar, Seiya sat casually next to her singing, and then Taiki who stood, strumming a guitar as well. Straining her ears, Usagi could hear them faintly singing an unfamiliar song.

"I can't wait until the party!" Minako said giddily.

"I know!" Usagi watched Seiya bobbing her head to the beat, mouthing the lyrics to the new song. She really looked like a star. Usagi's heart somersaulted.

"Why hello, girls."

Usagi looked over her shoulder and saw Kakyuu standing behind them. She scrambled off Minako's back. "Hello, Princess Kakyuu," she said, slightly embarrassed.

"Can I help you with something?" Kakyuu smiled kindly. She acted as if she hadn't seen Minako and Usagi trying to sneak a peep at the Starlights practicing.

"Um, we were just on our way to find you," Minako explained. "We got distracted."

Usagi nodded. "We were wondering if there's anything we can do to help you prepare for the party. Rei and the others are decorating outside."

"Please do not worry about it. You girls are our guests, and we have plenty of staff."

Usagi shook her head. "No, it's okay! We want to help. After all, you guys have done so much for us." She motioned to her cute mini dress she was wearing. They bought it yesterday.

Kakyuu smiled sweetly. "If you insist..." She pointed down the long hallway. "At the end of the hall there is a flight of spiral stairs. On the next floor, the first room to the left is a storage closet. The workers in the ballroom will be needing some more materials soon and there's boxes full of decorations up there. Just bring them down to the ballroom and you can help them set things up."

"You can count on us!" said Usagi.

"You girls are so sweet. If only I could get Healer to be as cooperative and willing to work as you two."

Minako laughed at her comment. "I'm sure she'll come around."

Kakyuu waved to them and disappeared.

Usagi and Minako passed several rooms before they reached the stairs.

"I bet the ballroom is where the Three Lights will perform," Minako said as they ascended.

Usagi nodded. "I'm really getting excited for this. We sure picked a great time to visit Kinmoku!"

They continued up the stairs until they reached the next level. It had the same floor, so shiny they could see their reflections in, and high ceilings that stretched towards the heavens. They had never seen such a large and extravagant place in their entire lives.

"Okay, the first door on the left..." Usagi said to herself. She took a few steps and spotted the closet. She grabbed the crystal door handle and pulled it open.

Minako stepped in and began searching. "Hmm, where is the box of decorations? I can't see a thing..."

With one hand, Usagi ran her fingers across the cool wall in search of the switch. "I can't find it," she said, walking in. "I think...it's probably way over...here..." She stretched while trying to hold the door open at the same time. Just a little further... "Got it." Her hand let go of the door and it swung shut at the same time the lights came on.

"That's better. Thanks."

"No problem." Usagi glanced around. It was no bigger than her bathroom back home. There were shelves lining the back wall, full of items.

"I think this is it." Minako held up a large box labeled 'Ballroom Decorations'.

"Great! Now let's go decorate!" Usagi cheered. She turned and reached for the doorknob. She twisted it, but it didn't turn. She tried again, but it was like it was glued in place.

"It's...locked," Usagi stated.

"What? Let me try." Minako set the box down and Usagi let her aside.

Minako pushed and pulled, but Usagi was right - it was locked from the outside.

"Oh no! We're trapped in here!" Usagi cried, starting to panic.

"Usagi, calm down!" Minako tried to keep her voice steady. "It's not a problem. We'll just knock and somebody will be bound to hear us. They have a million workers and maids."

They both started banging on the inside of the door and yelling at the top of their lungs. "Hey! Is anybody out there? Help us! We're locked in here! Hello?!"

After a few minutes of calling for help, their throats started to feel sore and dry. Their voices became raspy and their knuckles hurt.

"What if we're trapped in here all day?" Usagi asked.

"They'll notice we're missing sooner or later."

"Hopefully sooner."

Minako plopped down. "Until then, I guess we'll just have to wait."

Usagi joined her. "Hey, at least we found the decorations."

"I guess that's true."

They sat quietly for a few minutes before the empty room became too loud.

"I wonder what Rei and the others are doing right now," Usagi said.

"We should've gone with them."

"But then we wouldn't have gotten to see the Three Lights rehearsing," Usagi pointed out with a giddy smile.

Minako grinned. "I suppose you're right." She recalled Yaten strumming that guitar. The way her eyes looked so focused, so passionate.

"I don't ever want to leave Kinmoku," Minako said quietly.

Usagi looked over at her, surprised. "Yeah, it would be nice if we could stay here for a while longer."

Minako let out a long, loud sigh. She wanted so badly to tell Usagi about her and Yaten, but she had promised to keep it a secret. She wasn't exactly sure why Yaten didn't want everybody to know. She could understand why she may not want to tell Seiya and Taiki, but Minako saw no harm in telling innocent Usagi. She opened her mouth, but didn't say anything. She bit her lip nervously, debating. Minako hated keeping secrets.

"Hey, Minako..."

"Yeah?"

"Do you...think that you can change destiny?"

Minako bit her lip even harder. "Um, what do you mean by that?" Her heart started hammering in her chest. Yaten had mentioned something about that too.

Usagi scratched her head. "Ahaha, no reason. Just...wondering, that's all."

Could you change destiny? "I guess...that just depends on your definition of fate."

"Fate?" Usagi picked at her nails nervously. "Hmm..."

"Like for example, do you think we were destined to end up locked in this closet? Or do you think we made it happen ourselves?" Minako pondered.

Usagi cracked a smile. "Well, I suppose it was my fault for letting the door go. But how as I supposed to know it'd automatically lock behind us?"

"True. So we made that happen ourselves, right? And fate had nothing to do with it?"

"I think so..."

"Well then, there's the answer."

"But...what about bigger things? Like changing your entire future... Can you do that?"

Minako examined her face, trying to read her expression. What was she trying to get at? "I don't see why not. I believe that you can pick your own destiny," Minako said firmly.

Usagi sucked in a quick breath. That's the same thing Seiya told me a few nights ago.

Minako didn't let her gaze falter. Yaten had told her that she couldn't change fate, but she was determined to prove her wrong. They would make their relationship work. She couldn't give up on a love like that so easily.

"I think you may be right. But still... I don't know if it's right to throw everything away when it's all laid out for you..."

It was eerie seeing Usagi so serious. Minako frowned. "Usagi, what's wrong? You've been acting strange today. Did something happen between you and Seiya?"

Usagi's cheeks flushed pink. "Sorta..."

Minako waited patiently for her to go on.

Usagi finger-combed her hair. "Minako...please don't laugh, okay?"

"Of course not."

Usagi's fidgeted. "I um... I slept with Seiya last night."

Minako's jaw dropped and her eyes popped open. "What?!"

Usagi realized how that sounded and waved her hands in front of her face. "No, not like that!"

Minako just gaped at her. "B-but...Usagi! I...I...knew it! Oh my god! How was it? You...you..."

"Minako!" Usagi looked desperate. "I meant that I slept with her. Literally. As in sleeping next to her in her bed. It was only because I was scared of the thunderstorm!" Usagi didn't mention that she had actually slept in Seiya's arms rather than beside her.

Minako exhaled. "Oh. Ahaha... Okay, well that makes sense. Phew, you had me worried, Usagi!" She laughed nervously. She really had believed they did it for a second. It wouldn't surprise her.

Usagi smiled despite the situation. "Yeah, sorry."

Minako waved it away. "Okay, well that's not bad, is it? I mean, we all know you're terrified of storms."

Usagi twirled her hair around her finger even faster. "Yeah, but that's not really the problem..."

"What do you mean?"

"Well... I...I'm not sure if I should tell you this or not, but I feel a little guilty keeping it all inside... Well, we sorta...kissed."

Minako bit her lip this time to abstain from gaping. "Kissed?" she repeated.

"Kissed."

"Like...on the lips?"

"On the lips..."

"You and Seiya?"

"Yeah."

"Like...a quick peck?"

Usagi shook her head, blushing even harder. "Not exactly..."

"Wow..." was all Minako could say.

"It was Seiya of course, you know how she is! So that part wasn't my fault. But what I feel bad about is that I kissed her back. And liked it... A lot."

"Oh boy..." Minako couldn't believe what she was hearing. Usagi kissed Seiya? No way! I guess there's always been a little something between them, huh?

"Minako, I'm horrible, aren't I?"

"Of course not! It was just a kiss! No harm done."

Usagi balled her fist and pressed it against her forehead. "It gets worse. I think...I'm in love with her."

Minako couldn't conceal her shock this time. She was absolutely speechless. She wouldn't be surprised if Usagi had a mild crush on her - Seiya just carried that cloud of attraction. But to be in love with someone is a completely different story.

Hot tears streamed down Usagi's cheeks. She tried to wipe them away before Minako noticed, but it was too late.

"Usagi..." Minako hugged her. "It's okay, you can't help the way you feel."

Usagi nodded into her chest. "I just feel so bad! I'm cheating on Mamo, aren't I? He doesn't deserve somebody like me!" she wailed.

"Everything's going to be okay."

"You...really think so?"

"Yes."

"I just don't know what to do... I don't want to hurt anyone."

"I know. You're a good person, Usagi."

"Thanks, Minako." Usagi pulled away from her embrace and hugged her knees to her chest. The floor of the closet was chilly. As much as she wanted somebody to come rescue them, she hoped nobody would walk in now.

Minako smiled shyly. "And if it makes you feel any better... Well, Yaten and I are kinda...um..."

Usagi's mouth popped open. "No way!"

Blushing, Minako nodded.

"Minako, that's great! I'm so happy for you!"

"Thanks, I really like her. Turns out she must like me too."

"I think you two have a lot in common with your music."

"Yeah... But you don't think it's weird that we're both girls do you?"

"Of course not. I think it's what's on the inside that matters."

Minako sighed in relief. It was like the heavy weight she had been carrying around on her shoulders had been lifted now that someone knew. She was so glad Usagi hadn't judged her.

Usagi chuckled. "I guess I'm sorta in the same situation too," she admitted.

Minako smacked her lightly on the shoulder. "But we all knew you were that type of girl, Usagi."

"Hey! What's that supposed to mean?"

"Oh, nothing!" Minako snickered.

"Uh huh..."

"It doesn't really surprise me too much though. I see the way you two look at each other. Even last year everybody knew that you two had a special relationship."

Usagi shrugged, letting her shoulders fall. Minako was right; she and Seiya had been happening all along. Why didn't she realize it until now?

"So now what? You're the Goddess of Love and Beauty, Minako! Help me out here!"

"That's a good one considering I've got enough love problems myself!"

Usagi leaned her head back against the wall. "I should break it off, shouldn't I? It'd be the right thing to do. Besides, Seiya and I can't be together anyways. Once we leave Kinmoku, I have to go back to Mamo. He's my destiny."

Minako frowned. "That again? Usagi! Regardless of our sailor guardian history, or our past lives, I think we make the future now with our choices."

"But Minako-"

"No buts! That's the truth. Destiny shmestiny. Live your life how you want. Don't let what you think you should do stop you from what you want to do." Minako looked at the ground and mumbled, "After everything, I've learned that much at least."

"Are you saying that I should give up Mamo and choose Seiya?" She found it hard to believe that she'd tell her princess to dispose of her prince. Not after everything they've gone though.

"I'm not telling you what to do. I can't. But I do know that you and Mamo haven't been the same since before he left for America, am I wrong?"

Usagi pursed her lips. She spent the last year trying to figure out what changed between them, but only recently had she realized it was her who changed. Mamo had not come back to the same girl he left. So much happened while he was gone, he would never understand, and he never even tried to.

"Sure it would really mess things up if you picked Seiya, but I just want you to be happy, no matter who you're with. And I don't want you to feel like I did the past year after the Starlights left..."

Usagi let the words sink it. Aino Minako, the guardian of the planet Venus, the Goddess of Love and Beauty, was telling her nothing but the truth. If she chose an unfulfilled path, she was living somebody else's life. Usagi wasn't sure what to do, but she realized now that the answer was inside of her and nowhere else. She knew she loved Seiya, but did she love her enough to give up her promised future to be with her? Too give up Mamo and all he came with?

"Thank you, Minako. I feel better getting that all off my chest," Usagi said.

"Of course! Come to me whenever you want to talk, okay? Also promise not to tell anyone about me and Yaten either."

"I promise. And the same goes for Seiya." She knew the others may not be as open to her tug-of-war feelings as Minako was. Especially Rei.

Minako stood and stretched. "Well, looks like we're going to be in here for a while longer. When do you think the Three Lights will be done practicing?"

"Hopefully soon. I'm starving!" As if on cue, Usagi's stomach growled.

Minako laughed with her friend. Usagi, I just want you to be happy whether you choose to act on this or not. If you and Seiya have something special, don't let it slip out of your fingers before it's too late.

Listen to your heart.