YATEN

I look at Minako with surprise. For once in my life, I'm speechless. The real Sailor V had died when the movies and Mangas began. And a little bit of Minako died with her. "Stop crying, people are staring!" I say angrily, and hand her my handkerchief. My comment is rather harsh, but that's the way I am. I can't afford to act any other way. I can't afford to give in to the sudden urge I have to comfort her.

My mission is what's important now. Emotions just get in the way! Unfortunately, this little fact has been lost on my brother, Seiya, who has allowed himself to fall in love with Sailor Moon, aka Usagi the odango atama. I've often confronted him about this little 'problem'.. and all he can say is, "You don't know what it's like to be in love! You have NO idea how it feels!"

I look back at Minako and clench my hands into fists, trying to ignore my OWN emotions. These feeling have plagued me for a few months now -- the feelings that I have for her. I've been fighting them. I have refused to end up as hopeless as Seiya... but unfortunately it's too late. This is a battle I've already lost. Emotions! All they cause is pain!!

"I feel a bit better now… you know what they say about a good cry!" Minako tells me.

How wrong you were, Seiya! I think to myself, I DO know how it feels! "Come on…. get up!" I say impatiently, staring down at her. She looks up at me, and smiles. Even through tears, she still smiles! I really wish she would stop doing that!

"Thank you," She says.

"For what…?" I ask.

She smiles wider, "For not laughing in my face when I was crying…" She dabs at her eyes, and blows her nose with my handkerchief.

I'm somewhat stung by this comment, though I know that wasn't her intention. I guess I've come off as a jerk many times, but I have to keep my shields up... and I have to focus on my mission. I shrug, and hold my hand out to her. She takes it and I pull her up off the ground… a little too strongly. She doesn't catch herself on time, and the momentum sends her crashing into me - not that I mind.

"Oh!" she gasps as she pushes away and steady's herself, "Sorry!!"

"Sometimes I wonder who's clumsier…. you or Usagi!" I reply... again harshly.

Still, Minako smiles anyway, "I guess me and her are a lot alike, huh?"

I just shrug. "I guess," I say, "Anyway, I have to get home. Seiya, Taiki, and I have stuff to do – practicing for our next concert… finding our Princess…"

Minako laughs, "Finding a Princess isn't a hard thing to do! Sometimes, she's right there… right under your nose!"

I don't ask her to explain her comment. I'm sure it makes sense to her, if not to me. "Well… I'll see you in class tomorrow…" I say, and walk away.

"Oh… Yaten!" Minako calls behind me.

I turn to her, "What is it?" I ask

She holds up the handkerchief, "Don't you want this back,"

The thought of putting a dirty handkerchief back in my pocket doesn't please me, "No… you can keep it!" I reply.

"Oh wow! Thanks!" She says happily. I shake my head, but don't let her see my smile. She's a ditz... but… maybe that's why I care for her. Maybe it's her naieve innocence…Who knows? Who cares! It doesn't matter anyway.

* * *

Back at home, I am with my siblings. Taiki is talking about school. Seiya is talking about something funny Usagi said. I am simply sitting there, being bored with all of it.

I sigh. Three triplets could not be MORE different! Not only our hair and eye colouring… but our personalities as well, "Enough talking.. it's time to practice!" I say. Reluctantly, they agree.

During our practice, Seiya begins making mistakes. "What's wrong with you?!" I ask impatiently. "It's FOUR beats before the drum solo, not three!" I know why he's making mistakes. He's thinking of her again. "Snap out of it!" I shout. He turns to me, angry.

"Don't tell me to snap out of it!" He says, "I'm in love with a woman I can't have!! I can't help how I feel… and I CAN'T snap out of it!"

"Baka!" I yell back, "Heartbreak is a fact of life! You have to accept it! Sometimes you can't have the people-- the things-- you want!!" I have to watch what I say. The last thing I need is for Seiya to find out about my OWN little problem.

"What would you know about it anyway?!" Seiya asks angrily. "You don't KNOW how I feel!!"

"Yes, I do!!" I snap at him. Mistake. I've really got to learn when to shut-up!

Seiya brushes my comment off, to involved in his own problems, and stares out the window. But Taiki, however, is the observant one. "Yaten…" he begins softly, "What do you mean?"

I quickly lie, "Nothing… but at least it got him to shut-up, now didn't it?!" I say this only to Taiki, not that Seiya would have been paying attention if I had said it to HIM.

Taiki looks at me for a moment, always the perceptive one. "If you say so, Yaten," he replies. But I know that he knows I'm lying. "If practice is over, I have to get back to my reading. I found out that Ami is on chapter 10 in our English Literature book… and probably reading more as we speak,"

"Why do you feel you have to compete with her?" I ask, "It's not like we're going to be here much longer anyway!"

Taiki looks at me, "Because… I've never met anyone like her! She gives me a challenge!" He looks at me and smiles, "You know.. no one has ever done that!" But I know now what Taiki hasn't yet realized. For such a brilliant guy, he can be somewhat dense when it comes to his own feelings. Taiki has always been nervous around girls… but with Ami he's different! He's comfortable! He's a little TOO comfortable!

I sigh quietly to myself. Triplets are supposed to have some things in common, so I've read. But I don't think falling in love with women we could never have is supposed to be one of them!

I shake my head. All three of us are doomed! After all, once our mission is over, we'll leave our hearts behind on this planet. But, as I said before, the mission is all that matters now. Emotions just get in the way.

NEXT: Taiki