Disclaimer: The Reality Benders own nothing of Sailormoon, only this unusual storyline.



Chapter Two:

Emotions Obstructing the Fury

"What in the name of this star system have you been thinking?" the Queen exclaimed, pacing around the Lights and Kakyuu who were standing firing- squad style in the chambers as she rebuked them.

"It was bad enough that you have not had enough courtesy to at least attempt talking to the esteemed guests, but to start an argument and a fight with them in front of a hundred other nobles is inexcusable! I never want this to happen ever again! Do you understand?!"

The Lights recoiled under the Queen's wrath, which just rarely descends upon their heads, but when it does it is quite harsh. They nodded meekly. Kakyuu was only in little disgrace, for she had nothing to do with it and had in fact become good friends with Usagi. But she knew she had a fault of not being able to prevent this.

The queen paused then continued, "As we speak, Princess Serenity is already heading to their Planetary System. She will obviously tell her mother about this outrageous and scandalous incident. Never, in our history, has such a degradation taken place between two councils and you, my dear children, have succeeded in destroying that record! Heaven knows if our royalty will be saved from such disgrace!"

Yaten almost rolled his eyes. He knew that for all of Usagi's pure goodness in her heart, she'd never breathe a word of what happened.

"Kakyuu!" said the queen, and the supreme princess jumped.

"Y-yes, m-mother?" stammered Kakyuu.

"How is Princess Hotaru doing now?" she asked.

"She—she is in her room, mother," Kakyuu replied. "Usagi and I tried to get in, but she wouldn't open the door until Princess Haruka and the others arrived." And she told the queen what happened.

The queen gave a moan and shook her head. "They are obviously in a fury now, and I could scarcely blame them!"

"Very well," Kakyoku responded to the princess. "You may go, Kakyuu."

"Yes, mother," she bowed and left, with a glance at Seiya.

When she left, the queen turned to the boys, looking quite grave. "Now you three. Why did you do such a thing?! How could you even think of fighting them?!"

"She was accusing Yaten of something he wouldn't do!" Taiki said angrily. "I mean, they've always hated us and they'd want to pin Yaten down for something that was Hotaru's fault—"

"Nonsense!" the queen snapped and Taiki silenced. "Why, if they had anything to hate about you, then it would still be your fault, wouldn't it? The point is that you, young man, have attempted to battle a planetary princess right under our own roof! And a guest, no less!"

She looked at him sternly, "I am very disappointed in you, Taiki. I have thought that you of the three would enough sense not to. Fighting is usually Seiya's department."

Seiya went very red, but not as much as Taiki who clearly looked disgraced. Yaten felt anger rise up within him again. "But—but that's not fair, Kakyoku-mama! Taiki was just defending me!"

"And you, Yaten!" the queen exclaimed. "I am even more disappointed in you! Why in the world did you listen to the Saturn princess' thoughts?"

"I didn't mean to!" Yaten cried. "I just heard it! She must've just not been careful!"

"Have you gone so clouded in your power that you cannot distinguish when you hear something from another person's mind?" the Queen stared at him stonily. "Wouldn't you have sensed what it was and blocked it out like you can most undoubtedly do?"

Yaten bit his lip and went red. She was right. He could, but he didn't. He looked away, unable to meet any of their eyes.

Seiya spoke up, "I—I'm sorry, Kakyoku-mama. I—I tried to stop their f- fighting but—"

"That is all right, Seiya," said Queen Kakyoku. "I saw what happened, and I know that when they start that they wouldn't be able to stop. You may go now, but just be sure that you know what to do next time."

Seiya nodded. He hesitated upon leaving his 'brothers', but he left, most undoubtedly to go to Kakyuu, who Yaten knew was sobbing outside the doorway, listening to what was happening.

Yaten felt quite infuriated. This was all Hotaru's fault. She was the one who let her thoughts run around for someone psychic (like him) to pick up! And now it was them who got in trouble! He felt the anger heat up inside him, just waiting for a pathway out once it got hot enough, and it would be vented on the Saturn princess.

"As punishment for the both of you," said the queen grimly, "you are both restricted to the confines of the palace for the next month. You will not stray from the palace or anywhere at all unless you want your powers stripped of you. Such conduct deserves that."

"But—" they began in indignance.

"Argue about it, boys, and you will find yourselves confined in your rooms for two months!"

They could do nothing about it. They hung their heads. Finally, the queen decided that they have been scolded enough and her voice took a softer tone.

"Boys, I know that you and the Stars do not get along well, but please do not let that be an excuse to behave in such a manner that would disgrace both yourselves and the royalty of Kinmoku. You have acted rashly tonight, and I hope this will teach you a lesson. You may return to your rooms."

The boys nodded, and left.

~~*~~

Hotaru was finally left alone in her room to wonder about what had happened after she left the ballroom. The Outers scarcely said anything about it, but Usagi told her that there'd been quite the beginning of a horrible fight when she and Kakyuu left to see to her.

She tired to sleep, but couldn't. It was impossible. Not when there something that weighed twenty tons in her guilty conscience. So she rose from her bed and decided to ask one of the chambermaids for a glass of water. But as she did, she heard two of them chatting animatedly to each other.

Hotaru's brath caught in her throat when she heard what had happened in the ballroom, how close the Outers and Lights had come to fighting, and the Queen had to most undoubtedly intervene. But she was even more shocked when she heard the castigation delivered to Prince Taiki and Prince Yaten, and all for something that she knew that she had the fault for!

Oh no! she thought in horror. What've I done? I just can't remain here doing nothing!

And so she did the only sensible thing she could. She flew out her door, and headed for the Queen's chambers.

~~*~~

"I can't believe that we've been grounded for a month!" Taiki snarled.

"We're not grounded," said Yaten bitterly. "Were restricted in the confines of the palace."

"What's the difference?" Taiki asked.

Yaten just shrugged. He felt to miserable and angry to do anything except plot for revenge. Seiya and a swollen-eyed Kakyuu met them as soon as they came out, and they had heard everything down to the punishment. They could do nothing more agree to it now, and force themselves to stay on at least silent terms with the Stars for the next week in the hopes that the punishment be lifted.

Yaten sullenly said goodnight to them and entered his room. He shut the doors, locked them, and began changing into his nightclothes. He looked at the clock, and it was nearing midnight.

Why do I get all the trouble for something that was her fault?! I didn't do anything! She was the scared little girl hiding by the fountains thinking about…things…

In all this confusion, he'd forgotten about what he'd heard on Hotaru's mind. What was it again?

Yaten sat down in front of the mirror and thought. Then it came to him. Now I remember, he thought in surprise that he had not realized before. She was…she was upset…and confused about… He looked up, surprised ni remembering. She was confused about having to hate us. But—why?

Suddenly he felt very strange. He didn't know if he was angry or upset anymore, but he was surprised that she, a Star and an Outer no less, did not hate them (the Lights) the least bit, and had conflicts in herself about it. She was torn between not hating them and having to hate them. The other Outers didn't like them, and she must have been being forced to do so as well.

Yaten then remembered how Saturn was. She was always quiet, staying behind everyone else, and going along with what they say. However, she was very powerful. She was frail and very shy. And very protected by the Outers. So she was being forced to hate the Lights as following the Outers' example. But she was also close to the Inners, who tell her not to hate them. So she was stuck.

He then realized that she reminded him somewhat of himself. He was also quiet, usually went along with some things and also telepathic to boot. He realized that Hotaru didn't hate them, she was just scared. She was very scared of what the Outers would say if they found out that she didn't. They were very strong not in power, but in spirit, whereas hers was weak.

Without knowing it, Yaten was becoming to pity her, for he knew that he had become like this once. Alone, confused, and frightened. He realized that…of them all…he was the only one who could help her. Why he wanted to, though, was only in little more mystery.

Then he sensed someone outside his door. He jumped up and ran to the door, flinging it open. Then his heart skipped at beat.

It was Hotaru, and she was all alone, her face pale, and very startled when he unexpectedly opened the door. She began to look very scared again, and she said, "Oh! Y-you're—" She choked on her words.

Yaten's heart melted, and in an instant, all his anger vanished like mist in the morning sun. She was just so pitiful, the way she was, so confused and scared all the time, and there was a time when he himself had been, so it was therefore not right to find fault in it.

But he took care not to show this, and forced his face to look grave. "What do you want?"

Hotaru bowed to him respectfully again. She was silent for a moment, and she choked, "I—I—I'm so sorry, Prince Yaten!"

Yaten was surprised because of two things: one, she was so sincerely and truly sorry that she was already crying, and two, the fact the the first time she had ever called him by name, she had added 'prince' to it. So she really must be frightened, not to mention sorry, he thought. I—I don't know what to say…

At any rate, Hotaru seemed to want to spill out everything first. "I'm so sorry, Prince Yaten. Please believe me, I truly am… I—I lost my head because I was just so scared and confused about what's happening to me lately and…I—I burst just when you were talking to me! And now I have gotten you into such horrible trouble…and I—I just couldn't bear it. I just had to come here tonight and aplogize to you…" She began crying again, her teas hitting the marble floor silently between them.

Yaten unstuck his throat. "H-how did you know I was in trouble?"

"I—I heard it from some of the chambermaids," she replied. "They were—they were talking about how you were…arguing with Haruka and Michiru…and how you and Prince Taiki had been confined to the palace for a month. And it was all my fault!!"

She looked up and wept, "You had no fault at all, Your Highness. It was I who'd gotten so dazed by everything that I became careless and let my thoughts run. It was all my fault."

Yaten couldn't say anything anymore. He didn't know what to say or how to say it, but he just felt so bad again for her. And for the first time, he didn't feel angry about being guilty. He decided that he'd better do something or else this girl would never be able to find herself again.

"P-Princess Hotaru…I…" he began, but couldn't find the proper words.

Hotaru sobbed on, and after a moment, she collected herself (as much as she could, though). "And…and there is one other thing. I—I have gone to see Queen Kakyoku."

"Wh-what?" Yaten's eyes widened, and his jaw dropped.

"Yes," Hotaru replied, nodding and wiping her eyes with the sleeve of her nightgown. "I—I have gone to the queen and…and I have told here everything and…have managed to persuade her to lift the sentence from you and Prince Taiki."

That truly startled Yaten. "You did?!"

Hotaru nodded, tears running down her cheeks again. "I told her everything, and she agreed to lift the punishment." She paused before adding, "I—I knew that this entire trip was a mistake…that I should've never come…and so, to avoid causing you and your royalty any more trouble, Your Highness, I have…I have…"

She choked, and Yaten bit his lip, waiting. Then she said, "I—I have decided to return to Saturn. I will be gone tomorrow. The Queen allowed me to."

"What?" Yaten gasped. No! he thought. Don't go! I— Wait a minute…why don't I want her to leave? What's the matter with me?

Then he realized that it had something to do with what he'd been thinking over moments before she came to his door, and what she had just told him. Then he could honestly say that he didn't want her to go drastic and leave. It would make him feel awful. And when he felt awful he's gonna get into a bad mood, and when he gets into a bad mood…oh boy…and so on.

Hotaru was still sobbing, and Yaten handed her his handkerchief. She stared from it and back to him. Yaten gave her a small tight smile. "You needn't have been so drastic. Here. Wipe your eyes."

Hotaru reluctantly took it, her hands shaking, and wiped her eyes. Yaten considered her and said, "Are you… are you really going back?"

"Yes," said she. "The queen and I talked it over, and we both agreed that it was to be for the best. I leave tomorrow morning. The other Stars needn't know."

Yaten held her shoulder, and it surprised her so much that she looked up and stared at him with wide eyes. He tried to smile at her, but only managed to look little softer than before. "You needn't be so scared. It wasn't really your fault. You were just scared. You just didn't know what to do. Perhaps it was mine, that I didn't understand before, and I got angry."

Hotaru looked away. "No…it's my fault. It's always my fault, and you needn't bother yourself about me anymore." She quickly bowed her head again and said, "I'm sorry, Your Highness!" then she ran.

"Princess!" Yaten called. But she was already a way off and went into the room next to his. Though it was just next to his own bedchamber, both rooms were rather large so the doors were quite far from each other. The door slammed shut and he heard the bolt clack loudly in the silence of the hall.

He stared at his hands. "She's leaving…when she was only so scared…"

Then a thought struck him. He did the only thing he thought he ought to do at that moment. He started running to the direction of the queen's chambers.

She's wrong…it's not for the best…

~~*~~

"Kakyoku-mama! Kakyoku-mama! Please open the door! Kakyoku-mama! Please open the door and let me in! This is important!"

A bright light flickered on from inside, and the door on which Yaten was pounding on opened quickly. Queen Kakyoku was blinking in the light, wearing a robe, and she stared at her 'son' who was standing in the dark. "Yaten!" she exclaimed. "What are you doing here at this hour?"

"Kakyoku-mama, please! Don't let her leave! Tell me that she won't leave! Please!" Yaten barreled into Queen Kakyoku, talking very fast and looking very desperate as they were in the queen's bedroom. "You can't let her leave—why did you agree?—please don't let her! I know I can help her!"

"Yaten, please calm down!" exclaimed Queen Kakyoku. "I won't be able to understand and help you if you don't settle your nerves. What is the matter and you are acting quite hysterically?"

"Hotaru! She's leaving?" Yaten gasped, staring at her.

"Well…yes, I'm afraid so," said the Queen, folding her hands on her lap. "She came to me a little after I dismissed you boys and told me everything. You're not grounded anymore, by the way, do you know? She must've obviously told you, since you're here."

"Yes, yes, I know," said Yaten impatiently, "but is she leaving or not?"

"Yes she is," said Kakyoku. "She wanted to. She says she couldn't bear being any more trouble. So I let her."

Yaten was appalled. "Why?"

"Why?" Queen Kakyoku repeated in surprise. "I was looking out for her best interest and she wants to leave. I daresay I can't just say no. Yaten, what is the matter with you? I've never seen you act in such manner!"

"It's just that—oh never mind," he flopped down on a chair across her. He buried his head in his hands. "I just think I understood it all. And…and I know that I can help her. She has a problem, Kakyoku-mama, and I want to help her because…because…" he glanced at her and said, "because I was like her once."

Queen Kakyoku sighed. "Well, what is it that you want me to do, my dear? Stop her?"

"No," said Yaten, looking up. "I just need you to tell me that you want her to stay and that you agree with me that she will stay and work things out."

The queen was surprised at the look on Yaten's face. "All right then, dear, if it means that much to you. I daresay that Princess Hotaru would not be so serious about leaving."

Heh, Yaten thought grimly. You've no idea what a person in her state would be serious on doing. But he smiled at her. "Thank you so much, Kakyoku- mama."

The Queen considered him for a moment as he stood up to leave. His hand was at the door when she called to him again. "Yaten?"

"Yes, Kakyoku-mama?" he looked back.

"I'm proud of you."

"Whaaaat?"

The queen chuckled. "I'm just proud of you tonight. Now go to bed. You need your sleep."

Yaten stared at her quizzically for a moment then grinned. He gave her a goodnight-kiss and left. His mind was quite blank all the time he travelled across the palace and into the chambers. He entered his room, locked the door, then threw himself upon his bed.

What a night! he thought. It seemed like it was never going to end. Then he thought about Hotaru and that she would not leave. She's too different. She needs a defninite attitude adjustment. I just hope she doesn't end up like me. Sometimes even I don't like me!

Then he realized what the Queen meant about her being proud of him. He'd stood up for Hotaru, an Outer, someone who he was so angry with before. So angry that his blood boiled at the mention of her name just this evening, and what nearly got him in a terrible fight with the Outers earning a severe punishment from the queen. But now, he'd raced across the palace at midnight just to stop her from leaving the palace, and announcing that he, Yaten Kou, was going to get her through her problem.

He rolled over and shook his head. What is the matter with me? I've never acted like this before! I oughto get things cleared up as quickly as possible or I'll go nuts…