Part X

The blanket of souls that covered the dead soldiers began to glow and grow brighter. Fighter shielded her eyes from the light, it was too bright for her to adjust to after being down in this pit of hell for so long. Usagi, on the other hand, stood and admired its brilliance and smiled approvingly. Without any other warning the souls shot up through the hole in the ceiling that Isai had made.

Fighter and Usagi ran over to stand under the hole to watch them leave. They gazed up as they saw the souls shoot off in all directions and seem to become part of the night sky. "What will happen to them?" Fighter asked still looking upwards.

Usagi turned her gaze from the sky to Fighter. "They will be forever at peace."

This statement shocked Fighter and she turned quickly to catch Usagi's sight. Why was she talking like they were dead and that they couldn't bring them back to life? "Forever at peace?"

"Yes. They are no longer of this world and have been released from their torture and human form to live in the world of the dead." Usagi could see the concern growing on Fighter's face but couldn't do anything to comfort her in this form.

Having been through so much and being exhausted, Fighter's emotions began to get the better of her as her eyes began to well up with tears. "Does that mean that I've lost you all? Am I responsible for everyone and this is my punishment? To be alone?" Fighter's tone was shaky as she hoped that what she had just asked wasn't true. She trembled as she turned to Usagi for the answers.

Usagi smiled warmly at Fighter and brought her hand up to touch her face. Her transparent hand passed through Fighter's cheek and jawbone as she closed her eyes. "It is true that the people of Kinkomu can not be resurrected but all have the senshi and Princess Kakyuu can." There was a noticeable change in Fighter's expression.

"But how? I mean, why can we resurrect the senshi and not the people of this planet." She was confused and didn't want to seem like she was complaining about getting all of them back, she just wanted to understand.

"The souls of the senshi were taken in one shot. The souls of the people of this planet were eaten away slowly and drained. We can only resurrect those whose souls are still complete. The other's will be here shortly."

Fighter's face turned from that of concern to complete bliss, but then faded a bit when she thought about what Usagi had just said. "Why do you keep saying 'WE' when you talk about resurrecting them?" Fighter knew that none of the other senshi had any powers to do this and the only other person that she could think of that Usagi could be talking about was Princess Kakyuu.

"I say 'WE' because I mean you and I." Usagi pointed her finger first at Fighter and then turned it back on herself. "I'm still only a spirit. I can't do anything without my body. I need your help to get home and to bring my soul and the souls of the Earth senshi home. Will you help me?"

Usagi needed her once again and she would of course do anything for her Odango. "Absolutely, when do we leave?" Fighter said jokingly trying to express her enthusiasm.

Usagi smiled before replying. "Whenever you are ready."

"Thank you for everything you did even though this was my fault for not warning you in time. I was so foolish and I can only hope that foolishness doesn't blind me in the future to cause such a catastrophe again." Fighter's head was hung low as she apologized to Usagi.

"You don't need to say sorry. Just promise me one thing. Promise me that you'll never lose hope again. Everyone believes in you, especially me." The last part was added in almost a whisper but a touching tone.

Fighter looked up and her eyes met Usagi's. She was ready to tell her everything that she had always wanted to but never could. As always though, the moment was ruined by the voice of Healer sounding through the room. "What a freaken head ache!" She bellowed as she held her hand to her head. Healer was followed closely by Maker and Princess Kakyuu.

"Minna!!" Fighter yelled as she ran to them. Her arms were soon wrapped around the small group of senshi and the princess. "I'm so happy you're alright." Sniff, sniff.

"Are you crying?" Healer snorted as she pushed Fighter away a bit. "We leave you alone for a little while and you go soft and turn into an emotional little baby?" Healer teased as Maker and Kakyuu sweat dropped.

"Why you little. I'm not crying, who the hell would cry over you!? You should be thanking me for bringing back your pathetic ass!" Fighter stood with her arms crossed and her back slightly to Healer.

"I love you too Fighter." Healer said as she wrapped her arms around her taller companion. Fighter smiled and did the same.

A slight cough came from behind Fighter. "Hello everyone." Usagi's voice was still soft but the others heard her, their heads whipped up to see her ghost-like form before them. "What?" Usagi noticed their staring.

"What happened to your body?" Maker asked having already figured out what was going on.

"Her body is on Earth with the other Earth senshi. We have to bring their souls back to them." Fighter began to explain the whole situation about the senshi and the people of this planet.

"Usagi?" Kakyuu stepped forward to present herself the way that a princess would. "May I ask something of you?" Usagi nodded in response. "The Starlights and I have no reason to stay here on Kinkomu any longer, we have nothing to protect. May we call Earth our home, and become your protectors?"

The Starlights looked at Kakyuu like she was crazy or like she had just grown a tail or like she had just drove a pizza truck into a marshmallow factory or like she had. well you get the idea.

"No." Usagi said as she looked directly at Kakyuu. "You may not become my protectors. You are free to call Earth your home without any strings attached." Usagi gave Kakyuu a hug which surprised Kakyuu since no one ever did that to her. "Ready?"





"No, we're all alright now. no, you're right, I wouldn't have been able to call you if I was dead, good point genius!. I know, it sucks, I just died, saved an entire planet and invited aliens to live on our planet and they are still making me go to school tomorrow! The nerve of these people!. Sure I'd love to come and see you at school sometime!. Alright, ja ne Mamo! Aishiteru too!" Usagi hung up the phone to turn and see her guests waiting for her.

"How is Mamoru doing in America?" Ami asked as she picked Usagi's coat up from the sofa nearby. The girls all met at Usagi's house to get together and hang out.

"He's doing fine. He actually seems to have more of a life over there then he did here. He actually goes out!! I know, I don't even have to drag him places, he's going out on his own!" Usagi saw how surprised the girls were and to tell the truth she was completely surprised too when she found out. Maybe this time when he came back they would actually fall back into love again!

Rei walked over to Usagi to get her away from the fridge. "Does that worry you?" She realized that Usagi might not have understood. "I mean the fact that Mamoru all of the sudden got off his but and found a life other than you?"

The question hadn't really come to her before and she didn't quite know how to answer Rei. Sure she was happy that he was going to come back and be more of the kind of man she wanted him to be and not a stick in the mud but if he was going out then maybe he'd see the things that he was missing by being with her. Wait a minute, how could she get jealous of that, she did the same thing! "No, it doesn't bother me, why would it?" The answer sounded sincere but Usagi knew that it was forced.





The Starlights began to make Earth their home, it wasn't too hard of a task for the boys, and yes they remained guys when they came back to Earth. Kakyuu was a different story. It was hard for her to adjust to the cultural changes not to mention the physical changes of the landscape. She had decided to go to school with the Lights and become just a normal girl, that she had no qualms about.

"I never thought I'd be back here again!" Yaten sighed as he plopped down on the couch. "I'm not complaining though."

Taiki had been sitting on the other end of the couch reading a book. "I hate to admit it, but I did miss this place."

"I think it's better this time now that we don't have a mission, and we know that Kakyuu is safe." He looked up at the ceiling. "It's just a load off your mind, some how being a teen idol doesn't seem that bad now."

Taiki looked over at the closed door across the room. "I just feel bad for Seiya that's all. That seems to be the only down side to all of this."

"What are you talking about? Mamoru is in America and he gets to see Usagi everyday at school, what the hell does he have to complain about?" Yaten couldn't see any flaws in the life that his comrade was living.

"You'll never understand will you." Taiki shook his head as he put his book down. "Now he has to see her everyday and be reminded of how much he loves her and can't be with her."

Taiki's point was true and Yaten realized that this alone had been the source of Seiya's depression since they had returned to Earth. He didn't show it in front of any one and played it off as though he was just fine, but the Lights knew better. Yaten suddenly got an evil grin across his face. "Well we'll just have to take his mind off of her then!"

Taiki moved away a bit as he saw the facial expression that Yaten was making. "Don't tell me that you had an idea. Oh god, it's the end of the world! The apocalypse is here!" He threw his arms up over his head for a touch of drama.

While Taiki was distracted and mocking praying to god Yaten threw the big decorative pillow in his face. "Shut up!"

Taiki was stunned that the little runt had the guts to do that, but then he remembered that Yaten always seemed to grow a little braver when Seiya wasn't around. "Hey, why do we have girly decorative pillows here?" Taiki asked while holding the thing out like it was a dirty pair of gym socks.

"It's Kakyuu's, she said this place needed a woman's touch." He waved his hand in front of him seeming to clear the conversation and returning back to his marvelous plan. "So, do you want to hear about my idea or not?" He folded his arms in anticipation.

"Sure why not?" Taiki shrugged.

"Well, we should try to hook Seiya up with some one else. Maybe he'll find some one to take his mind of his 'Odango'." Yaten makes dreamy eyes and tilts his head while holding his cheeks. "I've had it up to here with him and his 'Odango'!"

Taiki shakes his head. "That's the best you could come up with? I don't think Seiya would go along with that."

"Oh yes he will, especially if we get Kakyuu to suggest it!" Yaten began to map out his evil plan in his head then suddenly bolted up out of his seat towards the door.

"Where are you going?" Taiki asks throwing an arm over the back of the couch to turn himself around.

"To find Kakyuu!" The door shut behind him and he was gone.





"Where's Usagi?" Rei asked as she approached the booth at Crown. Minako, Ami, Makoto, Taiki and Yaten were all sitting there enjoying their drinks and conversation.

Minako began to giggle. Ami rolled her eyes at her then answered Rei. "Where do you think she is? She got detention with Seiya."

"You're right, I should have known." Rei sat shook her head and sat down on the edge of the seat.

"Good they're not going to be here for a while, I can finally tell you guys about my plan." Yaten spoke up and leaned across the table.

"What plan?" Minako became interested. If it was something sneaky like spying or playing cupid she was into it.

"Ewe, Minako where did you get that shirt?" Yaten looked at her hideous T- shirt.

"My pen exploded just before I left school and I took this shirt out of your locker to wear!" She stuck her tongue out and pulled down her lower eyelid.

"Anyway." Yaten waved her off. "We were wondering."

Taiki cut Yaten off. "No, we weren't wondering anything, YATEN was wondering. continue."

Yaten just waved Taiki off in the same manner that he had Minako. ". I . was wondering if you guys knew anyone we could hook Seiya up with? He won't go out and look for anyone so we figured that we'd help him out. What do you think?"

Their faces were shocked. None of them could imagine Seiya going after anyone except Usagi, but Yaten was right, they all knew nothing would ever come of that situation. "I know some one!" Minako raised her hand as a person came to mind.

"Who?" Yaten asked with his eyebrow raised. This suggestion was going to come from Minako so he had to prepare himself for anything.

Everyone looked at Minako waiting for an answer. "ME!!" She pointed to herself. Everyone face faulted on to the tabletop. "What?" Minako looked around.

"You know, it's not a bad idea." Taiki said after he had thought about it for a minute. "Now that it has sunk in, if Seiya goes out with Minako that would take the pressure off of him to meet some one new and that way he can work in gradually to dating other people."

"Good idea, that way he'll build his confidence and be able to approach strangers." Ami agreed with Taiki's analytical interpretation.

"WHAT!! What makes you think he's going to have to look for anyone else after he dates me?" Minako was hurt. Yaten just laughed at her. Minako turned to give him the death glare and held her fist up in front of his face.

"So how are you guys going to set this whole thing up?" Makoto asked, she kind of wished that she had thought of Minako's idea first, she thought that Seiya kind of looked like her ex-boyfriend.

Everyone sat around scratching their heads. Yes even Taiki and Ami. "God you're dumb, just ask him!" Rei said as she smacked Minako in the back of the head.

"Ow!" Minako rubbed the now sore spot on the back of her head. "Do you think Usagi will get mad at me?"

"Why would Usagi get mad at you? It's not like her and Seiya are going out, if they were we wouldn't be having this problem." Yaten scolded her.

"You are so mean to me some times, no wait all of the time! I may be your future Starlight-in-law so watch out!" She threatened him again.

"What are you talking about? What the hell is a Starlight-in-law? I think Rei might have hit you a little too hard in the head!" Everyone laughed and Minako was just about to counter his insult when she saw Seiya and Usagi approaching.

"Hi sweet heart!" Minako stood up and waved at Seiya. Usagi and Seiya stopped dead in their tracks when they saw and heard Minako.

"How was detention?" Ami asked the two.

"It sucked. Sensei made me write an essay on how it isn't polite to flirt with girls in his class and made Usagi write one on how it isn't polite to eat while in class." Seiya sat down next to Taiki who was on one end and Usagi sat down next to Rei who was on the other.

"Well I've got to get going, I have a lot of homework to do!" Minako jumped up out of her seat. "Seiya will you walk me home?" She batted her eyes.

Seiya looked a little scared because of how she greeted him earlier but saw no way out of it as Taiki began to push him out of the booth. "I guess." He said a little reluctantly and followed Minako.

When the two were out of sight and hearing range Usagi questioned the group. "What was that all about?" She pointed her thumb over her shoulder.

"Minako is going to ask Seiya out on a date." Makoto spoke up first. "Short guy over here thought that it would be a good idea if we got him to start dating." Makoto pointed at Yaten who was becoming red in the face because Makoto had called him short.

Usagi saw this and started talking to him. "Well that's good news for you Yaten. If Seiya and Minako hook up she won't be hanging all over you!"





"Well this is my house. Thank you for walking me home." Minako stepped up onto her doorstep.

"Sure, but why did you ask me to walk with you?" The question had been on his mind the entire time.

"Well, the truth is that I wanted to ask you something, and I wanted to ask you when we were alone." Minako began to fidget with her fingers.

Seiya sighed. "I've already told you Minako, Yaten wears boxers not briefs." Minako had come to him not too long ago asking this question.

A smirk came to her face as she remembered but then shook it out of her head. "No, that's not what I wanted to ask you. I wanted to know if you would go out with me tomorrow night."

Seiya was thrown off guard by her question and his immediate response was to say no, but he knew he couldn't do that, it would hurt her feelings. "Why didn't you ask Yaten?"

"I didn't ask Yaten because I wanted to go out with you."

Seiya thought about that one for a second but then shrugged it off. "I guess so."

Before he could finish his sentence Minako kissed him on the cheek. "Thanks Seiya!" She said quickly before going into her front door.

Seiya stood outside with a bewildered look on his face but then began to walk home. What was he doing?