Alright, this is a short chapter, and the only reason it is so short is
because I was trying to finish it today so that I could maybe try to make
up for not posting the last chapter too quickly. So this is too all of
you, especially you my little cheerleader, (Almost Your Angel) who I made
wait TOO long last time. Enjoy and thank you for all of the great
reviews!! ::Sends extra huggles back to Michi Hatabaki for glomping her::
[::Akuen::]
by Lady in Red
(Take That Miss Priss!/Polite Conversation)
The car ride to the restaurant seemed to take forever in Seiya's mind. There was only small talk in the car and it was usually drowned out by Usagi fiddling with the radio ever five seconds changing the station. Finally Mamoru just popped in a CD and ended the dilemma. "So Seiya, how long are you guys going to be staying on Earth?" Mamoru asked glancing back at her in his rearview mirror.
Seiya took her eyes off of the passing scenery outside to look up front at him. "I don't know, it's not up to me."
"Right because if it were up to you you'd stay forever, ne?" Usagi turned around and struggled against her seatbelt to smile at Seiya and shoot her a wink.
"Only if you wanted me to." Seiya replied with a seductive tone giving Usagi her famous grin.
"What was that?" Mamoru asked pretending not to have heard what she said.
Seiya sat up a little straighter in the back seat. "Nothing, nothing at all." She said and turned her eyes back to the landscape speeding by once again. She failed to notice the lopsided grin that Mamoru shot her in the mirror.
When they finally arrived at the restaurant the parking lot was full and it would turn out to be quite a walk to the doors so Mamoru dropped the two women off at the entrance and proceeded to park the car. "It would be nice if you really could stay forever." Usagi smiled at Seiya when they were alone.
Seiya felt like getting down on the ground and break dancing right then and there. Usagi had just made her happier than mere words could express at the moment. She tried to keep her excitement under control and only displayed a smile. "Arigato Odango."
Soon Mamoru came at a little more than leisure pace to the spot they were waiting. Usagi led the way the massive, heavy doors but before she could put her hand on it to open it Seiya had beaten her to it. "After you." She said holding the door open for Usagi while she just smiled in return. Seiya followed after Usagi and didn't bother holding the door for Mamoru. He must have been expecting her to do so because it appeared to shock him when he ran head first into it. Seiya noticed and began to chuckle slightly.
Mamoru did have it in mind that she had done that on purpose, this task didn't look like it was going to be as easy as he had thought. "Can I get you two a drink from the bar?" He asked after the two were seated.
Usagi shook her head and waved her hands. "Nope, no way, no how! Mamoru don't you remember what happened last time I had something to drink?"
Mamoru chuckled at the memory of Usagi wasted at the party. He had been so embarrassed to be seen with her that night. Seiya noticed Mamoru's apparent amusement and became a little curious. "Come on Odango, it's only one drink." Seiya wanted to see the specticle of Usagi drunk. "I'll have a Tom Collins." Seiya told Mamoru as he headed off to the bar not even waiting to see if Usagi changed her mind.
"Wow, this place is pretty dead for a Saturday night, it's usually pretty crowded." Usagi noticed while looking around.
"Do you come here often?" Seiya asked leaning back in her chair to cross her legs.
Usagi stopped looking around and paid more attention to her company beside her. Seiya didn't look at all like the bratty schoolboy that used to tease her all of the time. She looked sleek and sophisticated. Usagi knew it wouldn't last long, she knew some smart ass comment would come out of her mouth soon, but at the moment she was just about perfect. "Yes, Mamoru takes me out to dinner a lot." Usagi looked off in the direction that Mamoru had headed to see if he was returning. "I usually only get to spend time with him in the evenings since he is so busy with school and what not during the day. Then on the weekends he usually ends up getting together with Jed, Fiore and Motoki. So my days are pretty much free." She looked back to Seiya and smiled. "But that just means that you and I get to hang out more while you're here."
"Sounds good to me." Seiya said leaning over the table a bit towards her. "I want to spend as much time with you as possible." She grinned but then a hand came down between her and Usagi as her Tom Collins was placed down on the table by Mamoru.
"Gomen for the wait." Mamoru said while taking a seat next to Usagi, since they were at a round table no one was left on a side alone. He had a beer and set it down casually as he picked up the menu. He quickly decided what he wanted since he had been here just about a million times and set it back down again. "So Seiya, how's your Princess?" Mamoru brought her up to remind Seiya of the fact that she already belonged to another Princess. Belonged… she was just a senshi, she was meant to protect a princess, not love one.
"She's fine." Seiya glared at Mamoru over the top of her menu. If he had been anyone else she probably would have kicked him under the table. Seiya took a sip of her drink but noticed it being quickly ripped from her hand.
"Let me try this." Usagi said taking a sip of her drink. "Mmm… tastes like lemon-aide." Seiya just smiled at her, she looked so cute sipping on her drink that she forgot not to stare.
"Usako has told me a lot about you, I guess I should be thanking you for taking care of her while I was gone." Mamoru tried to distract her from what she was looking at by bluntly reminding her that all she had been to her once was a substitute, a replacement in a way for him. He finished his sentence with a grin. This woman was smart, she would pick up on his subtle conversation even though Usagi wouldn't.
"Yeah, Seiya was great!" Usagi said taking another sip of Seiya's drink. "We did everything together. I must say, if I ever need a body guard again I know who to call."
A smile tugged on Seiya's lips while Usagi nudged her elbow. The memories of the times that she had been able to spend with her last time she was here came back to her. There was one constant thing that was missing in all of those scenes though, Mamoru. The waitress came and took their orders and then disappeared back into the recesses of the kitchen. Usagi got up to excuse herself saying that she had to go to the ladies room leaving Mamoru and Seiya alone at the table.
"You look very nice as a woman." Mamoru complimented as he finished off his beer.
"So would you." Seiya said with a smirk and took Mamoru off guard.
Mamoru smirked when he finally came around from her comment. "You know, I feel bad. It seems that everyone else knows you pretty well and I'm left in the dark. Would you consider spending some time with me before you leave? I must say, from what I've heard you intregue me."
Seiya didn't know how to take that comment. It could be taken anyway you liked. It wasn't as if he had directly come out and said anything or even implied it, but if you looked hard enough you could see some underlying tone to the statement. Was he trying to pick up on her? "It seems that we have a mutual friend, I'm sure we'll be seeing each other." Seiya said calmly as not to rile up any suspicions. Friend? More like interest…
Mamoru displayed a simple smirk again, he had hoped to draw Seiya away from Usagi but it seemed as though Usagi was going to have to be the key to getting to her. "Few! Boy do I feel better now." Usagi said coming back to the table.
"Usako, do you really think that was appropriate to say?" Mamoru asked shaking his head. Usagi glared at Mamoru but then noticed Seiya laughing besides her and it made her smile.
The rest of dinner went on pretty much uneventful and Mamoru's plans were temporarily stalled for the moment. After their meal they remeniced about the times when the Starlights had been on Earth previously and Usagi asked a slew of questions about Seiya's planet. Before she knew it Mamoru's car had pulled up in front of Minako's apartment and she was going to have to leave Usagi.
"Thank you for dinner." Seiya said politely. "Call me tomorrow Odango." She winked at her and Usagi just nodded.
Before Usagi shut the door Seiya distinctly heard Mamoru ask Usagi if he could stay at her place tonight. The thought made Seiya cringed and the door shut before she could hear her answer. Just great, the perfect end to the day… being left with the thought of Usagi with Mamoru tonight.
"Where were you all day long?" Taiki asked as Seiya walked in slouched over.
"I went shopping with Odango and then Mamoru took us to dinner."
"So you spent all day with the woman of your dreams and you're in a pissy mood? What the hell is wrong with you?" She laughed at her statement but noticed that Seiya was less than thrilled with it.
"Let me guess, Mamoru is staying at Usagi's house tonight, ne?" Minako said coming out of the bathroom. "Gomen, I didn't mean to eaves drop, you can hear just about everything in this apartment." She passed Seiya with a wink and headed for the kitchenette. "I wouldn't be too upset about it though, it's not like he's going to get what he wants."
Seiya and Taiki both looked over at Minako who was now drinking some orange juice straight from the container. "Nani?"
Minako put the container down and wiped her mouth with the sleeve of the sweatshirt. "Nice." Yaten commented getting up off of the couch, referring to Minako's lady like gesture.
"As I was saying." Minako stuck her tongue out at Yaten. "Where did you find Usagi today?"
"Jogging." Seiya replied simply.
"And did she tell you why she was jogging?" Seiya looked strange for a moment and then numbly nodded her head. "Do you realize how often she goes jogging?"
"God Minako, stop with all of the questions, just tell her what you're going to tell her already!" Yaten said and threw a couch pillow at her over the counter.
Minako dodged the flying pillow and huffed. "Fine. Usagi has been screwing up her birth control so that she has her period pretty much all of the time."
"Why would she do that?" Seiya asked.
"She probably isn't doing it on purpose, she probably screwed that up just like everything else." Yaten commented from the couch.
"I thought you weren't involved in this conversation?" Minako asked throwing the pillow back at her and messing up her hair. Yaten nearly had a panic attack and bolted into the kitchen after Minako. Seiya came up to defend Minako so that she could finish her explanation. "Mamoru has been pushing her to have sex with him and she doesn't want to… soooo…"
"So she makes herself get her period all of the time so that she doesn't have to confront him with the issue." Taiki finished.
"They've been together this long and she's still hasn't put out?" Yaten stopped struggling against Seiya and stood there in shock. "What the hell is wrong with her?"
"Are you knocking my Princess?" Minako asked with her eye twitching.
"What are you gonna do about it?" Yaten stood with her hands on her hips. Seiya was too wrapped up in thinking about Usagi's situation that she wasn't going to be a good shield to anyone.
"Uh oh." Taiki stepped back a bit and pulled Seiya out of the way.
"Why you short assed little shrimp!" Minako growled.
That was it, no one called Yaten short and got away with it. "Who are you calling short? I'm taller than you! Besides, you're weak, I'm not even going to waste my time with fighting you."
"Weak?" Minako's blood was boiling, she was the leader of the inner senshi, she was not weak and she would prove it. In a split second Minako sped across the kitchen and jumped on top of Yaten.
"Ahhhh!!" Yaten's eyes got wide, she wasn't expecting her to actually do something about it. "Get off you cow!"
Minako was on top of her trying to pin her down. When she had succeeded somewhat, since she had the element of surprise she had somewhat of an advantage, she proceeded to mess up Yaten's hair. "Take that Miss Priss!"
"What the hell do you think you're doing!" Yaten tried to counter and soon they were rolling across the entire apartment.
Taiki shook her head and clued Seiya into the argument. "Their like little third graders." Taiki commented while still watching the mini dust squall sweep across the apartment. "Who do you think will admit it first?"
"Admit what? That they act like third graders?" Seiya wasn't following her here.
"No, which one do you think will admit that they like each other first?" Taiki grinned and saw Seiya smile too. "My money's on Minako." Taiki said pulling out a bill.
"I don't have any money yet, but when I get it, I'll put my money on Yaten no problem."
"You're gonna lose!" Taiki teased waving the bill in front of Seiya.
"We'll see." Seiya crossed her arms as they continued to watch the show.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"I can see why you like her so much, she seems interesting." Mamoru commented as they walked into Usagi's dark apartment. Usagi fumbled around to switch on the lamp, she used to have the clapper but everyone made fun of her for it so she ditched it. Minako would always sing that blasted commercial whenever she came in to her apartment.
She finally located the switch, the room was illuminated with the soft white light of the lamp. "Yeah, she's great."
"It must have been hard to keep your mind off of her when she was a guy." Mamoru walked down the hallway following Usagi to her bedroom.
"Nani?" Usagi asked as she picked up her pajamas from the foot of the bed where she had precariously thrown them this morning.
"She shines very brightly, I was just saying that I was surprised that you weren't interested in her when she was a man, especially since she was here when I wasn't." Mamoru took off his shirt not really caring where he tossed it and proceeded to undo his belt buckle.
Usagi had turned her back to Mamoru and slipped off her dress and quickly replaced it with her nightgown. "I told you before, we weren't like that."
"Ooo, past tense!"
"Shut up! We AREN'T like that, for Kami's sake Mamo-chan, she's a woman now!" Usagi crawled into bed and under the covers.
Mamoru soon followed her. "Whatever you say Usako." The way he said it so nonchalantly got the wheels churning in her head. "I was just saying that I'm sure she had tried every trick in the book to charm you the last time she was here."
"Nani?" Usagi came to full alert. "What the hell are you talking about? I think you've been hanging out with Jed too much."
"Oh come on Usako, like you didn't notice it." Mamoru sat up and rested the weight of his body on one arm. "Seiya is completely in love with you and was the last time she was here too! What are you blind?"
Usagi didn't respond just sat there and stared numbly at Mamoru. "No she's not." She said quietly.
"Usako, YES she is. Ask anyone."
"Seiya and I are just friends." Usagi said more to convince herself than Mamoru as he just laid back down and rested his head on the pillow.
"Whatever you say Usako." Mamoru muttered the line he said all too often lately. Usagi had her period again which meant there was really no reason for him to stay awake and he soon drifted off to slumber leaving Usagi alone in the dark pondering this new information.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The air was crisp and I could see more mountains in the distance. As I spun around to take in all that was around me I saw fresh virgin snow capping the tops of the majestic mountains including the one I stood upon. The peek of a mountain, I felt the power of being so high above everything else with nothing coming close to being where I was.
What good was this power when there was nothing to prove it to? What good were any feelings when there wasn't some one to share them with? What good were our actions when there was no one to feel the repercussions? I felt the sadness enter my body and depression sink in. The cool wind whipped around me stinging my skin by beating my own hair against it. I had never been so cold and alone before. I needed some one there with me.
'My longing is for only one person, my precious princess'
In the distant blue sky I saw a light grow from at first a small seed to an orb flying in the sky. I narrowed and squinted my eyes to get a clearer look at the object while shading my sight from the blinding sun with my other hand. Without warning the great mountain beneath my feet began to rumble and shake. I was losing my footing but it didn't phase me as I kept my eyes on the glowing sphere heading in my direction.
Almost as if it was a physical object, the loneliness that was present in my being was being pushed and forced out of me. I winced at the sheer pain as though it was tearing my soul out along with it. The closer the orb got the more pain it created. I slipped further down the mountain and fell hard against the cold, wet snow. No, I couldn't fall yet, I had to find out what was doing this, what was causing all of this pain.
The orb came to an abrupt halt before me and hovered in the air. I reached my hand out to touch it. At first it appeared to just be a hallow clear, glass ball but the close my hand came near it the darker it became. Just before the tips of my fingers touched the glass it transformed completely in to a replica of the moon. "What is this…" Eyes appeared on the moon both were closed. Long, lush black lashes encased both of them. "Who are you…"
My fingers stopped all movement, I could just sense it in the air that something bad would happen if I touched this moon. When my voice stopped echoing off the cliffs in the distance the eyes of the moon slowly began to open to reveal one red and one blue eye. "Princess…"
I staggered backwards at what I had seen and that was all it had taken to send me plummeting down the side of the snow capped mountain. As I fell I saw flakes of snow falling along with me. I was passing each and every one at a tremendous speed but as each came into my sights they became as sort of a suspended animation. I could feel myself slowing down and I eventually stopped hovering in the air with the flakes falling all around me. The mountains were gone, but the snow remained.
I looked around and all that I saw was black. Beneath me, however was a pile of rubble with the same moon orb sitting in the middle. "What are you…" The moon began to float above the pile of ashes and come to rest in front of me. I felt an energy behind me also and turned around to see my beautiful tenshi standing behind me. I moved aside and ignored the orb giving my full attention to the woman behind me. "I didn't think you would come…"
She smiled at me and I felt my heart swell. I moved closer to her to close the gap between us but something sped past me and beat me to it.
'Even destruction must occur for peace day after day...'
There was blood everywhere… it drenched the ground that I stood on… it stained her wings and my hands as I knelt beside her fallen form. That orb had done this, that damn moon had taken her life. "Odango… no…" I picked the tenshi, my Odango, up in my arms and held her close to my body. Why had this happened? Why would Odango be destroyed by the moon?
"Faitaa…"
That voice, my princess. I looked down at my Odango bleeding and dying in my arms.
"Come home Faitaa…"
I looked from Kakyuu to Odango. I couldn't leave her here to die like this, it wasn't right.
'I came flowing here to the solar system, and you too are a princess
One day I was bewitched by your smiling face'
"Odango… wake up…" I held her close to my chest and didn't look Kakyuu in the eye. The blood just continued and there was a large pool forming beneath us. I felt myself begin to cry, something I hadn't done in the longest time. I felt the hot steam of my tear flow down my face. My eyes were situated on the tenshi in my arms and I watched as a single drop fell on her bloody wing.
In an instance her wings were cleansed and brought back to their former luster. The sparkle of magic spread smoothly and quietly over her form as she too was presented in her former glory. Her eyes opened and she looked at me briefly before she disappeared. A smile broke out onto my face and I turned to show Kakyuu what had happened but found only empty space. When I came back around my tenshi was gone too.
I sat alone in the darkness, I had let my tenshi slip though my fingers one more time.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
[::Akuen::]
by Lady in Red
(Take That Miss Priss!/Polite Conversation)
The car ride to the restaurant seemed to take forever in Seiya's mind. There was only small talk in the car and it was usually drowned out by Usagi fiddling with the radio ever five seconds changing the station. Finally Mamoru just popped in a CD and ended the dilemma. "So Seiya, how long are you guys going to be staying on Earth?" Mamoru asked glancing back at her in his rearview mirror.
Seiya took her eyes off of the passing scenery outside to look up front at him. "I don't know, it's not up to me."
"Right because if it were up to you you'd stay forever, ne?" Usagi turned around and struggled against her seatbelt to smile at Seiya and shoot her a wink.
"Only if you wanted me to." Seiya replied with a seductive tone giving Usagi her famous grin.
"What was that?" Mamoru asked pretending not to have heard what she said.
Seiya sat up a little straighter in the back seat. "Nothing, nothing at all." She said and turned her eyes back to the landscape speeding by once again. She failed to notice the lopsided grin that Mamoru shot her in the mirror.
When they finally arrived at the restaurant the parking lot was full and it would turn out to be quite a walk to the doors so Mamoru dropped the two women off at the entrance and proceeded to park the car. "It would be nice if you really could stay forever." Usagi smiled at Seiya when they were alone.
Seiya felt like getting down on the ground and break dancing right then and there. Usagi had just made her happier than mere words could express at the moment. She tried to keep her excitement under control and only displayed a smile. "Arigato Odango."
Soon Mamoru came at a little more than leisure pace to the spot they were waiting. Usagi led the way the massive, heavy doors but before she could put her hand on it to open it Seiya had beaten her to it. "After you." She said holding the door open for Usagi while she just smiled in return. Seiya followed after Usagi and didn't bother holding the door for Mamoru. He must have been expecting her to do so because it appeared to shock him when he ran head first into it. Seiya noticed and began to chuckle slightly.
Mamoru did have it in mind that she had done that on purpose, this task didn't look like it was going to be as easy as he had thought. "Can I get you two a drink from the bar?" He asked after the two were seated.
Usagi shook her head and waved her hands. "Nope, no way, no how! Mamoru don't you remember what happened last time I had something to drink?"
Mamoru chuckled at the memory of Usagi wasted at the party. He had been so embarrassed to be seen with her that night. Seiya noticed Mamoru's apparent amusement and became a little curious. "Come on Odango, it's only one drink." Seiya wanted to see the specticle of Usagi drunk. "I'll have a Tom Collins." Seiya told Mamoru as he headed off to the bar not even waiting to see if Usagi changed her mind.
"Wow, this place is pretty dead for a Saturday night, it's usually pretty crowded." Usagi noticed while looking around.
"Do you come here often?" Seiya asked leaning back in her chair to cross her legs.
Usagi stopped looking around and paid more attention to her company beside her. Seiya didn't look at all like the bratty schoolboy that used to tease her all of the time. She looked sleek and sophisticated. Usagi knew it wouldn't last long, she knew some smart ass comment would come out of her mouth soon, but at the moment she was just about perfect. "Yes, Mamoru takes me out to dinner a lot." Usagi looked off in the direction that Mamoru had headed to see if he was returning. "I usually only get to spend time with him in the evenings since he is so busy with school and what not during the day. Then on the weekends he usually ends up getting together with Jed, Fiore and Motoki. So my days are pretty much free." She looked back to Seiya and smiled. "But that just means that you and I get to hang out more while you're here."
"Sounds good to me." Seiya said leaning over the table a bit towards her. "I want to spend as much time with you as possible." She grinned but then a hand came down between her and Usagi as her Tom Collins was placed down on the table by Mamoru.
"Gomen for the wait." Mamoru said while taking a seat next to Usagi, since they were at a round table no one was left on a side alone. He had a beer and set it down casually as he picked up the menu. He quickly decided what he wanted since he had been here just about a million times and set it back down again. "So Seiya, how's your Princess?" Mamoru brought her up to remind Seiya of the fact that she already belonged to another Princess. Belonged… she was just a senshi, she was meant to protect a princess, not love one.
"She's fine." Seiya glared at Mamoru over the top of her menu. If he had been anyone else she probably would have kicked him under the table. Seiya took a sip of her drink but noticed it being quickly ripped from her hand.
"Let me try this." Usagi said taking a sip of her drink. "Mmm… tastes like lemon-aide." Seiya just smiled at her, she looked so cute sipping on her drink that she forgot not to stare.
"Usako has told me a lot about you, I guess I should be thanking you for taking care of her while I was gone." Mamoru tried to distract her from what she was looking at by bluntly reminding her that all she had been to her once was a substitute, a replacement in a way for him. He finished his sentence with a grin. This woman was smart, she would pick up on his subtle conversation even though Usagi wouldn't.
"Yeah, Seiya was great!" Usagi said taking another sip of Seiya's drink. "We did everything together. I must say, if I ever need a body guard again I know who to call."
A smile tugged on Seiya's lips while Usagi nudged her elbow. The memories of the times that she had been able to spend with her last time she was here came back to her. There was one constant thing that was missing in all of those scenes though, Mamoru. The waitress came and took their orders and then disappeared back into the recesses of the kitchen. Usagi got up to excuse herself saying that she had to go to the ladies room leaving Mamoru and Seiya alone at the table.
"You look very nice as a woman." Mamoru complimented as he finished off his beer.
"So would you." Seiya said with a smirk and took Mamoru off guard.
Mamoru smirked when he finally came around from her comment. "You know, I feel bad. It seems that everyone else knows you pretty well and I'm left in the dark. Would you consider spending some time with me before you leave? I must say, from what I've heard you intregue me."
Seiya didn't know how to take that comment. It could be taken anyway you liked. It wasn't as if he had directly come out and said anything or even implied it, but if you looked hard enough you could see some underlying tone to the statement. Was he trying to pick up on her? "It seems that we have a mutual friend, I'm sure we'll be seeing each other." Seiya said calmly as not to rile up any suspicions. Friend? More like interest…
Mamoru displayed a simple smirk again, he had hoped to draw Seiya away from Usagi but it seemed as though Usagi was going to have to be the key to getting to her. "Few! Boy do I feel better now." Usagi said coming back to the table.
"Usako, do you really think that was appropriate to say?" Mamoru asked shaking his head. Usagi glared at Mamoru but then noticed Seiya laughing besides her and it made her smile.
The rest of dinner went on pretty much uneventful and Mamoru's plans were temporarily stalled for the moment. After their meal they remeniced about the times when the Starlights had been on Earth previously and Usagi asked a slew of questions about Seiya's planet. Before she knew it Mamoru's car had pulled up in front of Minako's apartment and she was going to have to leave Usagi.
"Thank you for dinner." Seiya said politely. "Call me tomorrow Odango." She winked at her and Usagi just nodded.
Before Usagi shut the door Seiya distinctly heard Mamoru ask Usagi if he could stay at her place tonight. The thought made Seiya cringed and the door shut before she could hear her answer. Just great, the perfect end to the day… being left with the thought of Usagi with Mamoru tonight.
"Where were you all day long?" Taiki asked as Seiya walked in slouched over.
"I went shopping with Odango and then Mamoru took us to dinner."
"So you spent all day with the woman of your dreams and you're in a pissy mood? What the hell is wrong with you?" She laughed at her statement but noticed that Seiya was less than thrilled with it.
"Let me guess, Mamoru is staying at Usagi's house tonight, ne?" Minako said coming out of the bathroom. "Gomen, I didn't mean to eaves drop, you can hear just about everything in this apartment." She passed Seiya with a wink and headed for the kitchenette. "I wouldn't be too upset about it though, it's not like he's going to get what he wants."
Seiya and Taiki both looked over at Minako who was now drinking some orange juice straight from the container. "Nani?"
Minako put the container down and wiped her mouth with the sleeve of the sweatshirt. "Nice." Yaten commented getting up off of the couch, referring to Minako's lady like gesture.
"As I was saying." Minako stuck her tongue out at Yaten. "Where did you find Usagi today?"
"Jogging." Seiya replied simply.
"And did she tell you why she was jogging?" Seiya looked strange for a moment and then numbly nodded her head. "Do you realize how often she goes jogging?"
"God Minako, stop with all of the questions, just tell her what you're going to tell her already!" Yaten said and threw a couch pillow at her over the counter.
Minako dodged the flying pillow and huffed. "Fine. Usagi has been screwing up her birth control so that she has her period pretty much all of the time."
"Why would she do that?" Seiya asked.
"She probably isn't doing it on purpose, she probably screwed that up just like everything else." Yaten commented from the couch.
"I thought you weren't involved in this conversation?" Minako asked throwing the pillow back at her and messing up her hair. Yaten nearly had a panic attack and bolted into the kitchen after Minako. Seiya came up to defend Minako so that she could finish her explanation. "Mamoru has been pushing her to have sex with him and she doesn't want to… soooo…"
"So she makes herself get her period all of the time so that she doesn't have to confront him with the issue." Taiki finished.
"They've been together this long and she's still hasn't put out?" Yaten stopped struggling against Seiya and stood there in shock. "What the hell is wrong with her?"
"Are you knocking my Princess?" Minako asked with her eye twitching.
"What are you gonna do about it?" Yaten stood with her hands on her hips. Seiya was too wrapped up in thinking about Usagi's situation that she wasn't going to be a good shield to anyone.
"Uh oh." Taiki stepped back a bit and pulled Seiya out of the way.
"Why you short assed little shrimp!" Minako growled.
That was it, no one called Yaten short and got away with it. "Who are you calling short? I'm taller than you! Besides, you're weak, I'm not even going to waste my time with fighting you."
"Weak?" Minako's blood was boiling, she was the leader of the inner senshi, she was not weak and she would prove it. In a split second Minako sped across the kitchen and jumped on top of Yaten.
"Ahhhh!!" Yaten's eyes got wide, she wasn't expecting her to actually do something about it. "Get off you cow!"
Minako was on top of her trying to pin her down. When she had succeeded somewhat, since she had the element of surprise she had somewhat of an advantage, she proceeded to mess up Yaten's hair. "Take that Miss Priss!"
"What the hell do you think you're doing!" Yaten tried to counter and soon they were rolling across the entire apartment.
Taiki shook her head and clued Seiya into the argument. "Their like little third graders." Taiki commented while still watching the mini dust squall sweep across the apartment. "Who do you think will admit it first?"
"Admit what? That they act like third graders?" Seiya wasn't following her here.
"No, which one do you think will admit that they like each other first?" Taiki grinned and saw Seiya smile too. "My money's on Minako." Taiki said pulling out a bill.
"I don't have any money yet, but when I get it, I'll put my money on Yaten no problem."
"You're gonna lose!" Taiki teased waving the bill in front of Seiya.
"We'll see." Seiya crossed her arms as they continued to watch the show.
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"I can see why you like her so much, she seems interesting." Mamoru commented as they walked into Usagi's dark apartment. Usagi fumbled around to switch on the lamp, she used to have the clapper but everyone made fun of her for it so she ditched it. Minako would always sing that blasted commercial whenever she came in to her apartment.
She finally located the switch, the room was illuminated with the soft white light of the lamp. "Yeah, she's great."
"It must have been hard to keep your mind off of her when she was a guy." Mamoru walked down the hallway following Usagi to her bedroom.
"Nani?" Usagi asked as she picked up her pajamas from the foot of the bed where she had precariously thrown them this morning.
"She shines very brightly, I was just saying that I was surprised that you weren't interested in her when she was a man, especially since she was here when I wasn't." Mamoru took off his shirt not really caring where he tossed it and proceeded to undo his belt buckle.
Usagi had turned her back to Mamoru and slipped off her dress and quickly replaced it with her nightgown. "I told you before, we weren't like that."
"Ooo, past tense!"
"Shut up! We AREN'T like that, for Kami's sake Mamo-chan, she's a woman now!" Usagi crawled into bed and under the covers.
Mamoru soon followed her. "Whatever you say Usako." The way he said it so nonchalantly got the wheels churning in her head. "I was just saying that I'm sure she had tried every trick in the book to charm you the last time she was here."
"Nani?" Usagi came to full alert. "What the hell are you talking about? I think you've been hanging out with Jed too much."
"Oh come on Usako, like you didn't notice it." Mamoru sat up and rested the weight of his body on one arm. "Seiya is completely in love with you and was the last time she was here too! What are you blind?"
Usagi didn't respond just sat there and stared numbly at Mamoru. "No she's not." She said quietly.
"Usako, YES she is. Ask anyone."
"Seiya and I are just friends." Usagi said more to convince herself than Mamoru as he just laid back down and rested his head on the pillow.
"Whatever you say Usako." Mamoru muttered the line he said all too often lately. Usagi had her period again which meant there was really no reason for him to stay awake and he soon drifted off to slumber leaving Usagi alone in the dark pondering this new information.
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The air was crisp and I could see more mountains in the distance. As I spun around to take in all that was around me I saw fresh virgin snow capping the tops of the majestic mountains including the one I stood upon. The peek of a mountain, I felt the power of being so high above everything else with nothing coming close to being where I was.
What good was this power when there was nothing to prove it to? What good were any feelings when there wasn't some one to share them with? What good were our actions when there was no one to feel the repercussions? I felt the sadness enter my body and depression sink in. The cool wind whipped around me stinging my skin by beating my own hair against it. I had never been so cold and alone before. I needed some one there with me.
'My longing is for only one person, my precious princess'
In the distant blue sky I saw a light grow from at first a small seed to an orb flying in the sky. I narrowed and squinted my eyes to get a clearer look at the object while shading my sight from the blinding sun with my other hand. Without warning the great mountain beneath my feet began to rumble and shake. I was losing my footing but it didn't phase me as I kept my eyes on the glowing sphere heading in my direction.
Almost as if it was a physical object, the loneliness that was present in my being was being pushed and forced out of me. I winced at the sheer pain as though it was tearing my soul out along with it. The closer the orb got the more pain it created. I slipped further down the mountain and fell hard against the cold, wet snow. No, I couldn't fall yet, I had to find out what was doing this, what was causing all of this pain.
The orb came to an abrupt halt before me and hovered in the air. I reached my hand out to touch it. At first it appeared to just be a hallow clear, glass ball but the close my hand came near it the darker it became. Just before the tips of my fingers touched the glass it transformed completely in to a replica of the moon. "What is this…" Eyes appeared on the moon both were closed. Long, lush black lashes encased both of them. "Who are you…"
My fingers stopped all movement, I could just sense it in the air that something bad would happen if I touched this moon. When my voice stopped echoing off the cliffs in the distance the eyes of the moon slowly began to open to reveal one red and one blue eye. "Princess…"
I staggered backwards at what I had seen and that was all it had taken to send me plummeting down the side of the snow capped mountain. As I fell I saw flakes of snow falling along with me. I was passing each and every one at a tremendous speed but as each came into my sights they became as sort of a suspended animation. I could feel myself slowing down and I eventually stopped hovering in the air with the flakes falling all around me. The mountains were gone, but the snow remained.
I looked around and all that I saw was black. Beneath me, however was a pile of rubble with the same moon orb sitting in the middle. "What are you…" The moon began to float above the pile of ashes and come to rest in front of me. I felt an energy behind me also and turned around to see my beautiful tenshi standing behind me. I moved aside and ignored the orb giving my full attention to the woman behind me. "I didn't think you would come…"
She smiled at me and I felt my heart swell. I moved closer to her to close the gap between us but something sped past me and beat me to it.
'Even destruction must occur for peace day after day...'
There was blood everywhere… it drenched the ground that I stood on… it stained her wings and my hands as I knelt beside her fallen form. That orb had done this, that damn moon had taken her life. "Odango… no…" I picked the tenshi, my Odango, up in my arms and held her close to my body. Why had this happened? Why would Odango be destroyed by the moon?
"Faitaa…"
That voice, my princess. I looked down at my Odango bleeding and dying in my arms.
"Come home Faitaa…"
I looked from Kakyuu to Odango. I couldn't leave her here to die like this, it wasn't right.
'I came flowing here to the solar system, and you too are a princess
One day I was bewitched by your smiling face'
"Odango… wake up…" I held her close to my chest and didn't look Kakyuu in the eye. The blood just continued and there was a large pool forming beneath us. I felt myself begin to cry, something I hadn't done in the longest time. I felt the hot steam of my tear flow down my face. My eyes were situated on the tenshi in my arms and I watched as a single drop fell on her bloody wing.
In an instance her wings were cleansed and brought back to their former luster. The sparkle of magic spread smoothly and quietly over her form as she too was presented in her former glory. Her eyes opened and she looked at me briefly before she disappeared. A smile broke out onto my face and I turned to show Kakyuu what had happened but found only empty space. When I came back around my tenshi was gone too.
I sat alone in the darkness, I had let my tenshi slip though my fingers one more time.
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