LOL! I had to make the title of this chapter so long, it was cute. It was
something my hime had asked me and it just stuck in my head. ::gives giant
hug to her lil groupie:: Thanks for all the encouragement!! ::throws her
personal cheerleader a new pom-pom:: Enjoy! ^_~ Hey Cookie Monster did I
ruffle your feathers? LOL, bring it on, I can SO take you! ::giant grin::
[::Akuen::]
by Lady in Red
(When you said Wednesday was hump day, I thought you only meant the middle of the week!)
Rei walked along keeping an eye out for Seiya as people passed her on the street. Minako had informed her of Seiya's bizarre behavior when she called her loft this morning. Rei had taken it upon herself to keep an eye on the poor girl since it seemed no one else would. She spotted her walking with a phone book on her head balancing herself and it on a curb. "What the hell is she doing?" Rei sweat dropped and walked up to her. "Seiya!" She yelled out and waved.
Seiya didn't lose her balance and seemed unphased by Rei's shouting, but did look up to give her a wide smile. "What brings you to this part of town?" She asked taking the phone book off her head.
"I should be asking you the same thing." Rei smiled over and proceeded to walk with Seiya towards her original destination. "May I ask why you're carrying a phone book on your head?"
Now with the phone book tucked away under her arm Seiya shrugged. "I don't know, I guess I just wanted to see if I could."
"Don't you care if you look like a fool?" Rei asked snickering a bit.
"Hey, I didn't drop it! Besides, I don't care what other people think about me, as long as I fulfill my duties no one should have any qualms with me." She stared straight ahead, her eyes seemed unaffected by the tone she was using or by the people who walked by them casually.
Rei looked up with amazement. Seiya didn't seem to notice her stare. So this was her escape, she was just going to run away from the problem by busying herself with her duties. Well she couldn't blame the poor girl, it's not like there was anything she could do about it. "So where are you heading to?"
Seiya smiled over at the inquisitive girl and pulled the phone book out from under her arm. "I'm going to look at a couple of places for the reception."
Rei wasn't as shocked as perhaps she should have been because she already had Minako's forewarning. "Do you mind if I help?" Seiya shook her head and they were once again on their way. "Don't you think that Usagi and Kakyuu should pick the place out themselves?"
Seiya looked warily at Rei who was by her side. "Do you honestly think either of them want to do any of this?"
Rei knew she was right, neither of them really wanted anything to do with this whole thing. "But this is the biggest moment in a woman's life! I'm sure they would want to have some input on it."
"I suppose." Seiya said and shrugged yet again. "They should be ready to go by now, that is if Odango put the spatula down."
"Nani?" Rei asked curiously, what the hell was she talking about a spatula for?
"Nothing, let's just go and get them." Seiya huffed and walked a little faster. Rei followed and also picked up her pace. Seiya was awfully moody today and she didn't know how well all of this was going to work out.
"About this morning…" Kakyuu started as Seiya and Rei walked past her into the apartment.
Seiya smiled at her and set the phone book down on the couch. "Don't worry about it, you didn't do anything wrong."
"But…"
"Princess, let it pass."
Rei looked on at the two and couldn't help but wonder what had happened this morning, so far all she had gathered was something about a spatula and Kakyuu doing something to Seiya. It was beyond her to figure out the situation. "Where's Usagi?" She asked bringing herself into the conversation.
Kakyuu shrugged. "I have no idea, probably in her room. She hasn't talked to me since yesterday."
"Really?" Rei raised an eyebrow to the red haired woman. "That's not like her." She started down the hallway towards the room she knew to be Usagi's. Kakyuu and Seiya stayed behind and began a conversation of their own.
Usagi was lying on her bed still facing the ceiling. Thoughts of her previous encounter with Seiya were drifting through her mind. She couldn't erase the feeling that she had felt when Seiya pressed her body up against her back to lean over her shoulder. Usagi had been so nervous she felt the walls of her stomach doing the cha-cha and she almost dropped everything she was doing completely. The fact that Seiya could still tease her and be that close to her after all that has and was going to happen only reinforced Usagi's main thought that she was truly in a one sided love.
"Usagi?" Rei called from out side the bedroom door. "It's me, Rei. Can I come in?"
"Do what ever you want." Usagi's muffled reply came from the other side of the door.
"That's quite an attitude to have." Rei stood with her hands on her hips looking at Usagi sprawled out on the bed. "What the hell's wrong with you?" Rei saw that Usagi was about to answer her but cut her off. "BESIDES the obvious?"
"Isn't that enough?" Usagi sat up and looked towards Rei who made her way over to sit on the bed with her. She had purposely left the door open so that Kakyuu and Seiya could hear that she was alright.
"You know, I'm sure Kakyuu is just as 'not-pleased' as you are about this whole thing. Don't be an ass to her because of it." Rei looked sternly at Usagi who just returned a pissy face. "At least talk to the woman, at least you didn't have to travel stars away from your home to marry some one you didn't want you."
"Did you come here to lecture me?" Usagi started to get up but found that her hair was pulling her back down towards the bed.
Rei sat with a clump of Usagi's hair in her hand and a maternally stern look on her face. "Be nice to her, it's not her fault!"
"Damn it Rei, let go of my hair!" Usagi screeched as she fought with Rei to free herself. Rei sat calm cool and collected. "Alright, alright I'll try to be a little nicer." Rei released her hair while Usagi was still tugging which only sent her flying across the room. Usagi landed soundly in a pile of stuffed animals that were lined up in front of her window.
"I have something that may cheer you up?" Rei smiled at her and began to search threw her bag. Usagi got up, rubbed her butt and looked on eagerly waiting for Rei to unveil her surprise. "Damn it, where the hell did they go?" She searched through the bag that wasn't even really that big. When her hand finally reemerged from the bottomless-pit-bag, it held snap shots.
Usagi quickly took them from Rei's hand and examined them. They were pictures of Mamoru in a dress and getting ready to go over to Minako's apartment. "Jed always was quite the photographer." Usagi chuckled. She assumed that he was the one who took them since he was the only general not present in them.
"Yes, he is." Rei got a far off dreamy look in her eyes once again. She soon snapped out of it however when she remembered her true objective here. "Get up and get ready."
"Why?" Usagi asked putting the pictures down and lying back on her bed.
"We're going to go look at reception halls today!" Rei winked and looked cheerfully towards her blond princess.
"Yipee!" Usagi said sarcastically and unenthusiastically. She could only think of one thing she truly wanted to do today and that wasn't about to happen. Usagi's thoughts started to drift off to what she had been picturing in her head since she laid down. Her and Seiya just here, together. Was that so much to ask for?
"Hurry up! Kakyuu and Seiya are waiting for us."
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Everything that he passed by reminded him of her. His conscious would never again be free, Usagi was to be forever a part of him. Mamoru passed by her apartment building thinking of all the mistakes he had made. What a fool he was to have lost her.
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Usagi walked out from her room to join Rei, Kakyuu and Seiya in the living room. When they came in to sight she allowed her eyes to dwell on Seiya for a brief moment before taking them away. Why the hell is she smiling? Seiya-baka!
Seiya beamed a huge smile at Usagi, so large in fact that it forced her eyes closed. "Gomen about earlier. Are you still mad at me?" She had done so many things lately to irritate Usagi and this morning's incident had only added a cherry to that sundae.
"No."
Seiya's face relaxed a bit. When she felt as though she would break down and cry she smiled this way to close her eyes and prevent any tears from escaping. "Good then let's get going." Seiya hadn't been planning on seeing Usagi this morning and was completely emotionally unprepared for this encounter. She had to keep her mind off of the situation.
"Where are we going first?" Usagi asked grabbing her keys and other necessities.
"Seiya had an idea of going to the VillaValenti first, you know, that place near the lake." Rei said and smiled over at Seiya because she too thought that it was a good idea.
Keep your mind off the situation. Seiya was trying so hard. "Yeah Odango, I don't think they allow receptions at McDonald's!" Seiya smirked, this was how she was going to keep her mind off of things, teasing her beyond belief! She congratulated herself inwardly as she watched Usagi's face twist into indescribable positions. Behind her she heard Rei and Kakyuu snickering too.
"You're incoragable you know that?" Usagi said stomping past Seiya, her face was about as red as it could get and it looked as though her head was about to explode.
"I'll take that as a compliment!" Seiya called after her as she turned to follow her.
"Who do you think will kill who first?" Kakyuu looked over at Rei who was smiling.
"My money is definitely on Usagi flipping out first."
"Yup, mine too…" They followed the bickering Seiya and Usagi down the sidewalk. Their conversation sounded like a string of horrible bumper stickers.
"Odango, gomen, I was just kidding!" Seiya laughed as she followed Usagi closely. She was actually smiling!
"Seiya, go practice safe sex, go screw yourself!" Usagi turned around and shouted at her.
Seiya paused momentarily to take in what she had just said. Was she actually trying to fight back? Seiya wasn't about to lose this battle and closed the gap between her and Usagi once again. "Who lit the fuse on your tampon?"
Usagi stared at her applauded and couldn't speak. Had she really just said that to her? "What did you say?"
"I think you heard me." Seiya walked ahead with a cocky grin. There it was that same confidence that she had the last time she was here, marked by her signature cocky grin.
"I refuse to have a battle of wits with an unarmed person!" Usagi stuck her nose up in the air and strolled past Seiya whose smile was fading fast.
"I think that one hurt." Rei giggled to Kakyuu as they trailed behind still able to hear the conversation ahead.
"I don't know, maybe Usagi will win." Kakyuu commented bringing her hand to her chin thoughtfully. "Did they always act like this?"
Rei nodded her head. "Seiya always picked on her, it was just her way of flirting with her although Usagi never caught on."
"Do you think that's what she's doing now?" Kakyuu asked trying to figure them out. Now Usagi was standing with her tongue out staring at Seiya who was facing her with her eye twitching and hands clenched.
"Beats me, though I wouldn't put it past her." Rei turned to look at Kakyuu staring at the two. "Does it bother you?" Kakyuu shook her head and said no.
"What? No snappy come backs?" Usagi was proud of herself for seemingly out smarting Seiya for once in her life. She reminded herself to mark it on her calendar when she got home. The more she stared at her waiting for her reaction of some sorts she couldn't help but feel this over whelming urge to throw herself into her arms. Seiya noticed Usagi's tongue retreat back into her mouth and a strange sparkle come to her eye. "Say something damn it!" Usagi was getting frustrated and didn't know how much longer she could take this moment between the two of them.
Seiya didn't have anything to say, actually she just didn't feel like having it out with Usagi right then so she simply walked away. This single act proved to be more effective than any insult she had thrown at her. "It looks as though they have some issues." Kakyuu said to Rei as they were nearing Usagi's form still standing still about to blow a gausget.
"I'll say." Rei snorted and watched as Seiya continued to walk away from Usagi and down the street. Rei didn't see what Kakyuu had, she couldn't see the tension that was there between the two of them. Kakyuu knew that Seiya still loved Usagi, she saw the pain clearly in her eyes whenever she looked at her.
They neared the VillaValenti, a beautiful boathouse by the lake. Seiya was walking ahead with Usagi not too far behind. Neither of them really felt like talking to anyone so they were more than content with walking at their own pace. There were white shafon curtains hung from rods above the windows. They seemed to dance and sway with the breeze that was coming in off of the lake. The wisps of pollen were brought in through the windows to give the room a magical feel. Usagi walked around not saying anything and took all that she could in. Seiya noticed the look on her face as she marveled at her surroundings and smiled, pleased with herself. "What do you think Odango?"
Usagi gave start at the surprisingly soft tone Seiya had used. Had their disagreement from before already have been forgotten? "It's beautiful."
"I knew you 'd like it." Seiya smiled at her. "We had a after concert formal here last time we were on Earth and I knew then that if I ever got married I'd want to come back here for it." Seiya continued to smile and look at the intricate paintings on the ceiling. The room was simply amazing with wide windows that over looked the lake and it's rocky shores.
Kakyuu watched silently as Seiya explained this to Usagi. She didn't bother to take in the surroundings but concentrated solely on the two ahead of her. She felt so bad for Seiya, now seeing for the first time the true torment that she had to face. Rei came up beside her and placed a hand on her shoulder. "This place is marvelous! I definitely think this is the one."
Usagi felt a pang in her stomach just hearing Seiya mention the word marriage. It wasn't the thought of her own forced marriage that disturbed her this time, however it was the thought of Seiya having thoughts of actually marrying some one. "You don't seem like the type who would think about marrying some one." Usagi mused as she walked closer to the balcony.
Seiya's eyes watched her walk away and wished that she had even the slightest clue of how she felt. "Odango, you'll never know…" She whispered and walked off to follow Usagi out onto the balcony, unaware of Kakyuu's presence behind her.
"Rei, would you come with me to make the arrangements?" Kakyuu asked loud enough so that Seiya knew where they were going. Rei nodded and followed her to the office.
Seiya walked out and spotted Usagi leaning against the railing over looking the lake. "Are you scared Odango?" Seiya asked concerned, forgetting to keep up her front of the perfect senshi for five minutes.
Usagi continued to stare out over the lake. "Yes, I am." The wind picked up and stung her eyes a bit, causing some moisture to gather in them. "I'm sorry for not believing you before… about Mamoru." She didn't bother to look over at her but kept her gaze over the water.
Seiya smiled a bit finally getting to hear those words telling her that she was sorry and that she didn't hate her. "It's alright Odango, just as long as you know that I would never do anything like that to hurt you."
Oh the irony of it all. Usagi smiled a bit to herself as she thought about how Seiya was the only one that she loved and yet she was the only one who was hurting her despite her promise not to. "Don't make promises you can't keep." Usagi mumbled with a smirk.
Seiya hadn't quite heard what she had said, it was spoken in the faintest of voices, but she made out the general gist of it. "What was that?"
Turning away from the rail, Usagi spun to face Seiya. "Do you think that some one in a one sided love is to be tortured for the rest of their existence?" She asked, the question seemingly coming out of nowhere.
Seiya fought herself physically to keep her eyes from going wide. Why was she asking her a question like this? Did she know and understand finally how she felt about her? Was this her way of reminding her that she was going to be alone forever? "Unfortunately, yes, I do." To her it was the truth.
Usagi turned away and looked into the reception hall. "That's what I thought." She pushed herself off the rail and began to walk into the room. Seiya was soon behind her. "But what if that one side of the love is so deep and well defined that the person doubts any other person could love them that way?"
Seiya smiled, this was just what she thought and how she felt. Her smile was short lived however when she began to contemplate why Usagi would be asking her this. "Odango, I wish I could tell you what you wanted to hear, but I don't think that love would ever be recognized and it will start to torment the bearer of it." She stopped walking and waited for Usagi to turn around. "Do you miss him?"
Usagi's mind hadn't been on Mamoru at all, but here he was in their conversation, invading something beautiful as always. "No, why did you ask me that?"
"I thought you were talking about him…" Seiya came up to Usagi. "Who were you talking about?"
"It's not important." She said. "I'm just scared that's all." Some of the moisture that had gathered in her eyes spilt over the side of her cheek in a single teardrop. Seiya immediately felt bad for her and took her into her arms and held her close.
"It's going to be alright Odango. You'll be fine." Seiya tried her best to comfort her although it was tearing her apart inside. She wanted to tell her that everything wasn't going to be fine and that she should just come with her where no one could find them. Oh sweet illusions.
Usagi felt warm and safe in Seiya's arms, her arms instinctively encircled the taller girl's waist as she pulled her in tight. She never wanted to let go. Her head rested just above Seiya's breasts and she could smell her perfume. "Everything is all set." Rei called from behind them, coming up behind Kakyuu who had apparently been standing there watching the two.
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Usagi sat in her same position on the couch. She became fully aware that she hadn't moved in a long time. Looking to the side, she allowed her book to fall to the floor, she tried to catch a glimpse of Kakyuu. She did feel bad for not talking to her this entire time. Rei was right, just as she was most of the time. It would be a mystery where Usagi would have ended up or some of the stupid things she might have done had not been for Rei's guidance.
Kakyuu wasn't in the living room any more and this peek Usagi's curiosity. She got up and ventured into the kitchen in search for her but found no signs of her. A noise from down the hall reached her ears as she followed it to its source. Kakyuu's bedroom door was closed but she heard the rustling that was coming from the other side. Usagi knocked on the door, obviously if Kakyuu was making all of that noise then she must have been awake. "Kakyuu?" She asked of the piece of wood before her.
There was no answer and the sound kept coming. For the life of her she couldn't figure out what she could be doing to be making that kind of noise. It almost sounded as though she was doing excersizes on the bed. Usagi was brought from her questioning back to reality when she realized the noise had stopped and there was silence. "Is she asleep?" She heard a voice say from the other side of the door and she heard Kakyuu answer with a most likely.
Usagi rushed in a smooth motion back to her position on the couch and pretended she was asleep. When she heard Kakyuu's door open she peeled open one eye to try and catch a glimpse of the person emerging. "Eh?" Usagi was shocked when she saw the man come out of her room wearing only a pair of boxer shorts. Her eyes shut tightly when she realized she had just said that out loud. Seemingly unphased by the noise the man made his way into the bathroom. Who the hell was that guy?
He soon reappeared outside the bathroom door and headed back into Kakyuu's room. In the blink of an eye Usagi was right back up against the door with her ear pressed to it tightly. "She was asleep on the couch." She heard the man say. "Kakyuu, I've missed you so much." There was a sound of him climbing back onto the bed, probably to join her. Usagi heard Kakyuu respond with an 'I missed you too.' "Do you think she'll ever find out about us?" He asked. Kakyuu replied with an 'I don't think she cares.'
Usagi's eyes were tearing up and she did all she could to continue to stand. Slowly and quietly she made her way back to her own bedroom and shut the door. Even Kakyuu, the woman she was supposed to marry had taken another for a lover. How could she? Usagi started to cry and soon found her face buried in her pillows for a second time today. After some time had passed and she calmed down she realized that the man she had seen must have been Kakyuu's lover from Kinmoku. What right did she have to make her stop seeing him? She was going to be her wife damn it, that's what right she had. But they were happy together and she wasn't about to take that away from them. She was already destined to live with a broken heart, there was no sense in taking Kakyuu down with her.
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The days seemed to fly by all too quickly these days. Usagi hadn't been to school in ages and she began receiving warning letters in the mail threatening to withhold her student aide. She brushed them aside with the rest of the unwanted mail. As usual Seiya was here making Kakyuu and Usagi breakfast. She had gotten considerably better at the task and didn't even need Usagi's help any more even though she would still ask for it from time to time.
"I'm going for the final fitting on my dress." Kakyuu waved passing up breakfast. "I'm not going to put on a few extra pounds now. Ja ne!" She walked out the door with a smile on her face.
"She seems to be in a better mood lately." Seiya said as she put some of the dirty dishes into the sink. Usagi just answered with a humph. "Get up on the wrong side of the bed today?" She asked with a smile and dried her hands on the dishtowel.
The past few weeks had consisted nothing of wedding plans and arrangements. Usagi found that she couldn't have a conversation with anyone about anything but it. Everyone that is except Seiya. Seiya seemed just as reluctant to talk about it as she was. It gave her a piece of comfort and mind knowing that she always had Seiya to talk to. It was agony in a sense, the person she thought she couldn't love any more than she already did and each day she found herself falling even more in love with her. She didn't know what was going to happen when her and Kakyuu did finally wed, she would have to say good-bye to all of this precious time she was getting to spend with Seiya.
"Odango? Are you alright?" Seiya sat down next to her when she realized that she had been sitting still and not talking for quite a while.
"Ne, Seiya?" She turned her head to look at her, putting down her fork that she had barely used. "What did Kakyuu's boyfriend from Kinmoku look like?"
Seiya was puzzled as to why Usagi would question about him, but assumed that it was only natural to be curious as to her future wife's previous partners. "He was…"
"Taller than you, short red hair, kinda spikey?" Usagi finished.
"Yeah, that's him. How did you know?" Seiya was definitely interested in hearing the answer to this one.
"His name is Kounetsu, ne?"
"Yeah, did Kakyuu tell you?"
"No, it's just kind of hard to ignore her calling his name out in the middle of the night while they're having sex." Usagi stood up with the last part of her statement and placed her mug in the sink.
"Nani?" Seiya was shocked. "You mean he's been here?" She looked over at Usagi who just looked out the window over the kitchen sink.
"He's here every night." She turned to look Seiya in the face. "Kakyuu doesn't know that I know… and she doesn't have to."
Seiya couldn't believe that her princess would be doing this to Usagi. It was happening all over again. How could these people be so heartless and treat such a beautiful tenshi this way. "Gomen…" Was all she could reply.
"It's alright, I understand why they're doing it. I'm not mad any more." Usagi walked out of the room and down the hall towards the bathroom.
Seiya wasn't finished talking to her yet and followed her down the hall and watched her brush her teeth over the sink. "Odango, you can't live like this. I'll talk to her and tell her to stop, it's not right."
With the toothbrush still hanging out of her mouth Usagi smiled at Seiya. "I told you it's fine, actually I don't even know why I brought it up."
"You brought it up because it obviously bothers you." Seiya said watching her finish up.
Usagi looked at herself in the mirror, this was her life and she had to live with it. "Actually I was thinking about whether or not Kakyuu would even accept me after being with him."
"What do you mean, of course she will, you're her wife." Seiya didn't see any logic in her statement. She began to feel uncomfortable talking to Usagi about her relationship with Kakyuu, they had always steered clear of this topic in the past.
"Just because she's my wife doesn't mean she has to love me or find me attractive." Usagi looked over at Seiya. "Do you know if she's ever been with a woman before?" She was being completely serious, one of the rare moods Seiya ever found her in.
Seiya let out a breath and shook her head. "No, none that I know of." She looked at Usagi who was just looking at the tile on the floor. "Why does it matter?"
"I was just wondering." She said bringing her head up to face Seiya once again. "I've never even kissed another woman, I was just afraid that she had done all of these things that I hadn't and that she'd find me inadequit." Normally Usagi would have been blushing like crazy after saying such a statement but she was genuinely concerned and scared about the whole situation.
Seiya smiled. "I don't see how it would be too much different than kissing a man."
"You think?"
"I don't know. If it makes you feel better, I've never kissed anyone before." Seiya shrugged. She had grown used to the fact that she was way past maturity, almost died a few times and saved the world but yet she had never been kissed. It was just a fact in her life.
Usagi's eyes went wide. "Really? You've never kissed anyone?"
"Well I've kissed my parents and things like that but I've never REALLY kissed anyone before."
Usagi came a little closer and looked straight up at Seiya. "Do you mind if I kiss you?"
"Nani?" Seiya was beyond shocked but recovered quickly. "Odango, you're going to be married next week." Seiya mentally kicked herself for reminding Usagi of the fact that she was engaged, she wanted more than anything else in the world to kiss her right now.
"I know, I was just wondering what it was like to kiss a girl." Usagi looked a little down hearted. "And besides, it's not as bad as what my fiancés doing, ne? I understand if you don't want to."
"No, it's not that I…" Seiya was cut off.
Usagi began to walk away. "Don't worry about it. After all, it is your first kiss we're talking about here, if you've waited this long, you should definitely save that for some one you really love."
Seiya wanted to scream at that very moment. She wanted to yell across the room that she loved her, that there was no one else in the universe that she could love any more than her, but she didn't, and in the process she had hurt Usagi some how. When Usagi turned to walk away Seiya saw that she had what looked like the beginning of tears in her eyes. Wait for some one she loved? It was strange hearing it come from Usagi's mouth, the only person she had ever loved.
Usagi walked down the hall a bit more and into her bedroom. She just wanted to throw herself in her usual manner on the bed but something stopped her, a hand on her shoulder. "Odango, you didn't let me finish." Before she could think any more about what she had said Seiya's lips were firmly pressed against hers. Their lips parted and were soon delicately dancing against one another in a very intimate kiss.
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What no music in this chapter? Oh don't look so disappointed. ^_^ I wrote this chapter really fast because I wanted to read a first draft of my hime's new story. You guys are going to love it!!! I told her to hurry up and post it already but does she listen? Noooo…
[::Akuen::]
by Lady in Red
(When you said Wednesday was hump day, I thought you only meant the middle of the week!)
Rei walked along keeping an eye out for Seiya as people passed her on the street. Minako had informed her of Seiya's bizarre behavior when she called her loft this morning. Rei had taken it upon herself to keep an eye on the poor girl since it seemed no one else would. She spotted her walking with a phone book on her head balancing herself and it on a curb. "What the hell is she doing?" Rei sweat dropped and walked up to her. "Seiya!" She yelled out and waved.
Seiya didn't lose her balance and seemed unphased by Rei's shouting, but did look up to give her a wide smile. "What brings you to this part of town?" She asked taking the phone book off her head.
"I should be asking you the same thing." Rei smiled over and proceeded to walk with Seiya towards her original destination. "May I ask why you're carrying a phone book on your head?"
Now with the phone book tucked away under her arm Seiya shrugged. "I don't know, I guess I just wanted to see if I could."
"Don't you care if you look like a fool?" Rei asked snickering a bit.
"Hey, I didn't drop it! Besides, I don't care what other people think about me, as long as I fulfill my duties no one should have any qualms with me." She stared straight ahead, her eyes seemed unaffected by the tone she was using or by the people who walked by them casually.
Rei looked up with amazement. Seiya didn't seem to notice her stare. So this was her escape, she was just going to run away from the problem by busying herself with her duties. Well she couldn't blame the poor girl, it's not like there was anything she could do about it. "So where are you heading to?"
Seiya smiled over at the inquisitive girl and pulled the phone book out from under her arm. "I'm going to look at a couple of places for the reception."
Rei wasn't as shocked as perhaps she should have been because she already had Minako's forewarning. "Do you mind if I help?" Seiya shook her head and they were once again on their way. "Don't you think that Usagi and Kakyuu should pick the place out themselves?"
Seiya looked warily at Rei who was by her side. "Do you honestly think either of them want to do any of this?"
Rei knew she was right, neither of them really wanted anything to do with this whole thing. "But this is the biggest moment in a woman's life! I'm sure they would want to have some input on it."
"I suppose." Seiya said and shrugged yet again. "They should be ready to go by now, that is if Odango put the spatula down."
"Nani?" Rei asked curiously, what the hell was she talking about a spatula for?
"Nothing, let's just go and get them." Seiya huffed and walked a little faster. Rei followed and also picked up her pace. Seiya was awfully moody today and she didn't know how well all of this was going to work out.
"About this morning…" Kakyuu started as Seiya and Rei walked past her into the apartment.
Seiya smiled at her and set the phone book down on the couch. "Don't worry about it, you didn't do anything wrong."
"But…"
"Princess, let it pass."
Rei looked on at the two and couldn't help but wonder what had happened this morning, so far all she had gathered was something about a spatula and Kakyuu doing something to Seiya. It was beyond her to figure out the situation. "Where's Usagi?" She asked bringing herself into the conversation.
Kakyuu shrugged. "I have no idea, probably in her room. She hasn't talked to me since yesterday."
"Really?" Rei raised an eyebrow to the red haired woman. "That's not like her." She started down the hallway towards the room she knew to be Usagi's. Kakyuu and Seiya stayed behind and began a conversation of their own.
Usagi was lying on her bed still facing the ceiling. Thoughts of her previous encounter with Seiya were drifting through her mind. She couldn't erase the feeling that she had felt when Seiya pressed her body up against her back to lean over her shoulder. Usagi had been so nervous she felt the walls of her stomach doing the cha-cha and she almost dropped everything she was doing completely. The fact that Seiya could still tease her and be that close to her after all that has and was going to happen only reinforced Usagi's main thought that she was truly in a one sided love.
"Usagi?" Rei called from out side the bedroom door. "It's me, Rei. Can I come in?"
"Do what ever you want." Usagi's muffled reply came from the other side of the door.
"That's quite an attitude to have." Rei stood with her hands on her hips looking at Usagi sprawled out on the bed. "What the hell's wrong with you?" Rei saw that Usagi was about to answer her but cut her off. "BESIDES the obvious?"
"Isn't that enough?" Usagi sat up and looked towards Rei who made her way over to sit on the bed with her. She had purposely left the door open so that Kakyuu and Seiya could hear that she was alright.
"You know, I'm sure Kakyuu is just as 'not-pleased' as you are about this whole thing. Don't be an ass to her because of it." Rei looked sternly at Usagi who just returned a pissy face. "At least talk to the woman, at least you didn't have to travel stars away from your home to marry some one you didn't want you."
"Did you come here to lecture me?" Usagi started to get up but found that her hair was pulling her back down towards the bed.
Rei sat with a clump of Usagi's hair in her hand and a maternally stern look on her face. "Be nice to her, it's not her fault!"
"Damn it Rei, let go of my hair!" Usagi screeched as she fought with Rei to free herself. Rei sat calm cool and collected. "Alright, alright I'll try to be a little nicer." Rei released her hair while Usagi was still tugging which only sent her flying across the room. Usagi landed soundly in a pile of stuffed animals that were lined up in front of her window.
"I have something that may cheer you up?" Rei smiled at her and began to search threw her bag. Usagi got up, rubbed her butt and looked on eagerly waiting for Rei to unveil her surprise. "Damn it, where the hell did they go?" She searched through the bag that wasn't even really that big. When her hand finally reemerged from the bottomless-pit-bag, it held snap shots.
Usagi quickly took them from Rei's hand and examined them. They were pictures of Mamoru in a dress and getting ready to go over to Minako's apartment. "Jed always was quite the photographer." Usagi chuckled. She assumed that he was the one who took them since he was the only general not present in them.
"Yes, he is." Rei got a far off dreamy look in her eyes once again. She soon snapped out of it however when she remembered her true objective here. "Get up and get ready."
"Why?" Usagi asked putting the pictures down and lying back on her bed.
"We're going to go look at reception halls today!" Rei winked and looked cheerfully towards her blond princess.
"Yipee!" Usagi said sarcastically and unenthusiastically. She could only think of one thing she truly wanted to do today and that wasn't about to happen. Usagi's thoughts started to drift off to what she had been picturing in her head since she laid down. Her and Seiya just here, together. Was that so much to ask for?
"Hurry up! Kakyuu and Seiya are waiting for us."
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Everything that he passed by reminded him of her. His conscious would never again be free, Usagi was to be forever a part of him. Mamoru passed by her apartment building thinking of all the mistakes he had made. What a fool he was to have lost her.
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Usagi walked out from her room to join Rei, Kakyuu and Seiya in the living room. When they came in to sight she allowed her eyes to dwell on Seiya for a brief moment before taking them away. Why the hell is she smiling? Seiya-baka!
Seiya beamed a huge smile at Usagi, so large in fact that it forced her eyes closed. "Gomen about earlier. Are you still mad at me?" She had done so many things lately to irritate Usagi and this morning's incident had only added a cherry to that sundae.
"No."
Seiya's face relaxed a bit. When she felt as though she would break down and cry she smiled this way to close her eyes and prevent any tears from escaping. "Good then let's get going." Seiya hadn't been planning on seeing Usagi this morning and was completely emotionally unprepared for this encounter. She had to keep her mind off of the situation.
"Where are we going first?" Usagi asked grabbing her keys and other necessities.
"Seiya had an idea of going to the VillaValenti first, you know, that place near the lake." Rei said and smiled over at Seiya because she too thought that it was a good idea.
Keep your mind off the situation. Seiya was trying so hard. "Yeah Odango, I don't think they allow receptions at McDonald's!" Seiya smirked, this was how she was going to keep her mind off of things, teasing her beyond belief! She congratulated herself inwardly as she watched Usagi's face twist into indescribable positions. Behind her she heard Rei and Kakyuu snickering too.
"You're incoragable you know that?" Usagi said stomping past Seiya, her face was about as red as it could get and it looked as though her head was about to explode.
"I'll take that as a compliment!" Seiya called after her as she turned to follow her.
"Who do you think will kill who first?" Kakyuu looked over at Rei who was smiling.
"My money is definitely on Usagi flipping out first."
"Yup, mine too…" They followed the bickering Seiya and Usagi down the sidewalk. Their conversation sounded like a string of horrible bumper stickers.
"Odango, gomen, I was just kidding!" Seiya laughed as she followed Usagi closely. She was actually smiling!
"Seiya, go practice safe sex, go screw yourself!" Usagi turned around and shouted at her.
Seiya paused momentarily to take in what she had just said. Was she actually trying to fight back? Seiya wasn't about to lose this battle and closed the gap between her and Usagi once again. "Who lit the fuse on your tampon?"
Usagi stared at her applauded and couldn't speak. Had she really just said that to her? "What did you say?"
"I think you heard me." Seiya walked ahead with a cocky grin. There it was that same confidence that she had the last time she was here, marked by her signature cocky grin.
"I refuse to have a battle of wits with an unarmed person!" Usagi stuck her nose up in the air and strolled past Seiya whose smile was fading fast.
"I think that one hurt." Rei giggled to Kakyuu as they trailed behind still able to hear the conversation ahead.
"I don't know, maybe Usagi will win." Kakyuu commented bringing her hand to her chin thoughtfully. "Did they always act like this?"
Rei nodded her head. "Seiya always picked on her, it was just her way of flirting with her although Usagi never caught on."
"Do you think that's what she's doing now?" Kakyuu asked trying to figure them out. Now Usagi was standing with her tongue out staring at Seiya who was facing her with her eye twitching and hands clenched.
"Beats me, though I wouldn't put it past her." Rei turned to look at Kakyuu staring at the two. "Does it bother you?" Kakyuu shook her head and said no.
"What? No snappy come backs?" Usagi was proud of herself for seemingly out smarting Seiya for once in her life. She reminded herself to mark it on her calendar when she got home. The more she stared at her waiting for her reaction of some sorts she couldn't help but feel this over whelming urge to throw herself into her arms. Seiya noticed Usagi's tongue retreat back into her mouth and a strange sparkle come to her eye. "Say something damn it!" Usagi was getting frustrated and didn't know how much longer she could take this moment between the two of them.
Seiya didn't have anything to say, actually she just didn't feel like having it out with Usagi right then so she simply walked away. This single act proved to be more effective than any insult she had thrown at her. "It looks as though they have some issues." Kakyuu said to Rei as they were nearing Usagi's form still standing still about to blow a gausget.
"I'll say." Rei snorted and watched as Seiya continued to walk away from Usagi and down the street. Rei didn't see what Kakyuu had, she couldn't see the tension that was there between the two of them. Kakyuu knew that Seiya still loved Usagi, she saw the pain clearly in her eyes whenever she looked at her.
They neared the VillaValenti, a beautiful boathouse by the lake. Seiya was walking ahead with Usagi not too far behind. Neither of them really felt like talking to anyone so they were more than content with walking at their own pace. There were white shafon curtains hung from rods above the windows. They seemed to dance and sway with the breeze that was coming in off of the lake. The wisps of pollen were brought in through the windows to give the room a magical feel. Usagi walked around not saying anything and took all that she could in. Seiya noticed the look on her face as she marveled at her surroundings and smiled, pleased with herself. "What do you think Odango?"
Usagi gave start at the surprisingly soft tone Seiya had used. Had their disagreement from before already have been forgotten? "It's beautiful."
"I knew you 'd like it." Seiya smiled at her. "We had a after concert formal here last time we were on Earth and I knew then that if I ever got married I'd want to come back here for it." Seiya continued to smile and look at the intricate paintings on the ceiling. The room was simply amazing with wide windows that over looked the lake and it's rocky shores.
Kakyuu watched silently as Seiya explained this to Usagi. She didn't bother to take in the surroundings but concentrated solely on the two ahead of her. She felt so bad for Seiya, now seeing for the first time the true torment that she had to face. Rei came up beside her and placed a hand on her shoulder. "This place is marvelous! I definitely think this is the one."
Usagi felt a pang in her stomach just hearing Seiya mention the word marriage. It wasn't the thought of her own forced marriage that disturbed her this time, however it was the thought of Seiya having thoughts of actually marrying some one. "You don't seem like the type who would think about marrying some one." Usagi mused as she walked closer to the balcony.
Seiya's eyes watched her walk away and wished that she had even the slightest clue of how she felt. "Odango, you'll never know…" She whispered and walked off to follow Usagi out onto the balcony, unaware of Kakyuu's presence behind her.
"Rei, would you come with me to make the arrangements?" Kakyuu asked loud enough so that Seiya knew where they were going. Rei nodded and followed her to the office.
Seiya walked out and spotted Usagi leaning against the railing over looking the lake. "Are you scared Odango?" Seiya asked concerned, forgetting to keep up her front of the perfect senshi for five minutes.
Usagi continued to stare out over the lake. "Yes, I am." The wind picked up and stung her eyes a bit, causing some moisture to gather in them. "I'm sorry for not believing you before… about Mamoru." She didn't bother to look over at her but kept her gaze over the water.
Seiya smiled a bit finally getting to hear those words telling her that she was sorry and that she didn't hate her. "It's alright Odango, just as long as you know that I would never do anything like that to hurt you."
Oh the irony of it all. Usagi smiled a bit to herself as she thought about how Seiya was the only one that she loved and yet she was the only one who was hurting her despite her promise not to. "Don't make promises you can't keep." Usagi mumbled with a smirk.
Seiya hadn't quite heard what she had said, it was spoken in the faintest of voices, but she made out the general gist of it. "What was that?"
Turning away from the rail, Usagi spun to face Seiya. "Do you think that some one in a one sided love is to be tortured for the rest of their existence?" She asked, the question seemingly coming out of nowhere.
Seiya fought herself physically to keep her eyes from going wide. Why was she asking her a question like this? Did she know and understand finally how she felt about her? Was this her way of reminding her that she was going to be alone forever? "Unfortunately, yes, I do." To her it was the truth.
Usagi turned away and looked into the reception hall. "That's what I thought." She pushed herself off the rail and began to walk into the room. Seiya was soon behind her. "But what if that one side of the love is so deep and well defined that the person doubts any other person could love them that way?"
Seiya smiled, this was just what she thought and how she felt. Her smile was short lived however when she began to contemplate why Usagi would be asking her this. "Odango, I wish I could tell you what you wanted to hear, but I don't think that love would ever be recognized and it will start to torment the bearer of it." She stopped walking and waited for Usagi to turn around. "Do you miss him?"
Usagi's mind hadn't been on Mamoru at all, but here he was in their conversation, invading something beautiful as always. "No, why did you ask me that?"
"I thought you were talking about him…" Seiya came up to Usagi. "Who were you talking about?"
"It's not important." She said. "I'm just scared that's all." Some of the moisture that had gathered in her eyes spilt over the side of her cheek in a single teardrop. Seiya immediately felt bad for her and took her into her arms and held her close.
"It's going to be alright Odango. You'll be fine." Seiya tried her best to comfort her although it was tearing her apart inside. She wanted to tell her that everything wasn't going to be fine and that she should just come with her where no one could find them. Oh sweet illusions.
Usagi felt warm and safe in Seiya's arms, her arms instinctively encircled the taller girl's waist as she pulled her in tight. She never wanted to let go. Her head rested just above Seiya's breasts and she could smell her perfume. "Everything is all set." Rei called from behind them, coming up behind Kakyuu who had apparently been standing there watching the two.
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Usagi sat in her same position on the couch. She became fully aware that she hadn't moved in a long time. Looking to the side, she allowed her book to fall to the floor, she tried to catch a glimpse of Kakyuu. She did feel bad for not talking to her this entire time. Rei was right, just as she was most of the time. It would be a mystery where Usagi would have ended up or some of the stupid things she might have done had not been for Rei's guidance.
Kakyuu wasn't in the living room any more and this peek Usagi's curiosity. She got up and ventured into the kitchen in search for her but found no signs of her. A noise from down the hall reached her ears as she followed it to its source. Kakyuu's bedroom door was closed but she heard the rustling that was coming from the other side. Usagi knocked on the door, obviously if Kakyuu was making all of that noise then she must have been awake. "Kakyuu?" She asked of the piece of wood before her.
There was no answer and the sound kept coming. For the life of her she couldn't figure out what she could be doing to be making that kind of noise. It almost sounded as though she was doing excersizes on the bed. Usagi was brought from her questioning back to reality when she realized the noise had stopped and there was silence. "Is she asleep?" She heard a voice say from the other side of the door and she heard Kakyuu answer with a most likely.
Usagi rushed in a smooth motion back to her position on the couch and pretended she was asleep. When she heard Kakyuu's door open she peeled open one eye to try and catch a glimpse of the person emerging. "Eh?" Usagi was shocked when she saw the man come out of her room wearing only a pair of boxer shorts. Her eyes shut tightly when she realized she had just said that out loud. Seemingly unphased by the noise the man made his way into the bathroom. Who the hell was that guy?
He soon reappeared outside the bathroom door and headed back into Kakyuu's room. In the blink of an eye Usagi was right back up against the door with her ear pressed to it tightly. "She was asleep on the couch." She heard the man say. "Kakyuu, I've missed you so much." There was a sound of him climbing back onto the bed, probably to join her. Usagi heard Kakyuu respond with an 'I missed you too.' "Do you think she'll ever find out about us?" He asked. Kakyuu replied with an 'I don't think she cares.'
Usagi's eyes were tearing up and she did all she could to continue to stand. Slowly and quietly she made her way back to her own bedroom and shut the door. Even Kakyuu, the woman she was supposed to marry had taken another for a lover. How could she? Usagi started to cry and soon found her face buried in her pillows for a second time today. After some time had passed and she calmed down she realized that the man she had seen must have been Kakyuu's lover from Kinmoku. What right did she have to make her stop seeing him? She was going to be her wife damn it, that's what right she had. But they were happy together and she wasn't about to take that away from them. She was already destined to live with a broken heart, there was no sense in taking Kakyuu down with her.
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The days seemed to fly by all too quickly these days. Usagi hadn't been to school in ages and she began receiving warning letters in the mail threatening to withhold her student aide. She brushed them aside with the rest of the unwanted mail. As usual Seiya was here making Kakyuu and Usagi breakfast. She had gotten considerably better at the task and didn't even need Usagi's help any more even though she would still ask for it from time to time.
"I'm going for the final fitting on my dress." Kakyuu waved passing up breakfast. "I'm not going to put on a few extra pounds now. Ja ne!" She walked out the door with a smile on her face.
"She seems to be in a better mood lately." Seiya said as she put some of the dirty dishes into the sink. Usagi just answered with a humph. "Get up on the wrong side of the bed today?" She asked with a smile and dried her hands on the dishtowel.
The past few weeks had consisted nothing of wedding plans and arrangements. Usagi found that she couldn't have a conversation with anyone about anything but it. Everyone that is except Seiya. Seiya seemed just as reluctant to talk about it as she was. It gave her a piece of comfort and mind knowing that she always had Seiya to talk to. It was agony in a sense, the person she thought she couldn't love any more than she already did and each day she found herself falling even more in love with her. She didn't know what was going to happen when her and Kakyuu did finally wed, she would have to say good-bye to all of this precious time she was getting to spend with Seiya.
"Odango? Are you alright?" Seiya sat down next to her when she realized that she had been sitting still and not talking for quite a while.
"Ne, Seiya?" She turned her head to look at her, putting down her fork that she had barely used. "What did Kakyuu's boyfriend from Kinmoku look like?"
Seiya was puzzled as to why Usagi would question about him, but assumed that it was only natural to be curious as to her future wife's previous partners. "He was…"
"Taller than you, short red hair, kinda spikey?" Usagi finished.
"Yeah, that's him. How did you know?" Seiya was definitely interested in hearing the answer to this one.
"His name is Kounetsu, ne?"
"Yeah, did Kakyuu tell you?"
"No, it's just kind of hard to ignore her calling his name out in the middle of the night while they're having sex." Usagi stood up with the last part of her statement and placed her mug in the sink.
"Nani?" Seiya was shocked. "You mean he's been here?" She looked over at Usagi who just looked out the window over the kitchen sink.
"He's here every night." She turned to look Seiya in the face. "Kakyuu doesn't know that I know… and she doesn't have to."
Seiya couldn't believe that her princess would be doing this to Usagi. It was happening all over again. How could these people be so heartless and treat such a beautiful tenshi this way. "Gomen…" Was all she could reply.
"It's alright, I understand why they're doing it. I'm not mad any more." Usagi walked out of the room and down the hall towards the bathroom.
Seiya wasn't finished talking to her yet and followed her down the hall and watched her brush her teeth over the sink. "Odango, you can't live like this. I'll talk to her and tell her to stop, it's not right."
With the toothbrush still hanging out of her mouth Usagi smiled at Seiya. "I told you it's fine, actually I don't even know why I brought it up."
"You brought it up because it obviously bothers you." Seiya said watching her finish up.
Usagi looked at herself in the mirror, this was her life and she had to live with it. "Actually I was thinking about whether or not Kakyuu would even accept me after being with him."
"What do you mean, of course she will, you're her wife." Seiya didn't see any logic in her statement. She began to feel uncomfortable talking to Usagi about her relationship with Kakyuu, they had always steered clear of this topic in the past.
"Just because she's my wife doesn't mean she has to love me or find me attractive." Usagi looked over at Seiya. "Do you know if she's ever been with a woman before?" She was being completely serious, one of the rare moods Seiya ever found her in.
Seiya let out a breath and shook her head. "No, none that I know of." She looked at Usagi who was just looking at the tile on the floor. "Why does it matter?"
"I was just wondering." She said bringing her head up to face Seiya once again. "I've never even kissed another woman, I was just afraid that she had done all of these things that I hadn't and that she'd find me inadequit." Normally Usagi would have been blushing like crazy after saying such a statement but she was genuinely concerned and scared about the whole situation.
Seiya smiled. "I don't see how it would be too much different than kissing a man."
"You think?"
"I don't know. If it makes you feel better, I've never kissed anyone before." Seiya shrugged. She had grown used to the fact that she was way past maturity, almost died a few times and saved the world but yet she had never been kissed. It was just a fact in her life.
Usagi's eyes went wide. "Really? You've never kissed anyone?"
"Well I've kissed my parents and things like that but I've never REALLY kissed anyone before."
Usagi came a little closer and looked straight up at Seiya. "Do you mind if I kiss you?"
"Nani?" Seiya was beyond shocked but recovered quickly. "Odango, you're going to be married next week." Seiya mentally kicked herself for reminding Usagi of the fact that she was engaged, she wanted more than anything else in the world to kiss her right now.
"I know, I was just wondering what it was like to kiss a girl." Usagi looked a little down hearted. "And besides, it's not as bad as what my fiancés doing, ne? I understand if you don't want to."
"No, it's not that I…" Seiya was cut off.
Usagi began to walk away. "Don't worry about it. After all, it is your first kiss we're talking about here, if you've waited this long, you should definitely save that for some one you really love."
Seiya wanted to scream at that very moment. She wanted to yell across the room that she loved her, that there was no one else in the universe that she could love any more than her, but she didn't, and in the process she had hurt Usagi some how. When Usagi turned to walk away Seiya saw that she had what looked like the beginning of tears in her eyes. Wait for some one she loved? It was strange hearing it come from Usagi's mouth, the only person she had ever loved.
Usagi walked down the hall a bit more and into her bedroom. She just wanted to throw herself in her usual manner on the bed but something stopped her, a hand on her shoulder. "Odango, you didn't let me finish." Before she could think any more about what she had said Seiya's lips were firmly pressed against hers. Their lips parted and were soon delicately dancing against one another in a very intimate kiss.
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What no music in this chapter? Oh don't look so disappointed. ^_^ I wrote this chapter really fast because I wanted to read a first draft of my hime's new story. You guys are going to love it!!! I told her to hurry up and post it already but does she listen? Noooo…