~Chapter 2: The Gateway to the soul.~
Three young women stood impassively behind the
revered Princess Kakyuu. The Princess had felt the need
to escape the palace for a day. To see part of the
population of Kinmokusei herself. They were in a market
place, and Kakyuu Princess was buying some cakes. Handing
the dazed shop keeper the money, she turned around holding
the bag of goodies out to the Starlights.
"Healer, plain bun. Maker, salad sandwich… Fighter,
hamburger." The Starlights smiled thankfully at her, taking
their lunch.
_Urgh…_
Kakyuu glanced at Fighter out of the corner of her eye
with some surprise; didn't she like hamburgers?
"Is there something wrong, Fighter?" she asked. Both
her comrades looked at her, and she blushed slightly.
"Eh… I'm just worried…" Healer raised an eyebrow at that.
"At what, Fighter?" Maker did not say a word.
"My weight." The raven-haired young woman blushed.
They stared. Stared. And stared some more.
"What's wrong?" Maker and Healer sweat-dropped at the
ridiculousness of the question.
"You've never been worried about your weight, Fighter,"
said Maker carefully. A strange look flickered in Fighter's eyes,
disappearing a second later.
"Well, things change." They wondered if they had imagined
that look.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Fighter cursed herself inwardly- stupid, stupid! Who cares
about weight?! *I* never did!!
"Daijoubu Fighter?" Healer appeared by her side, chewing
slowly on a piece of bread as she glanced at her curiously.
"Daijoubu…" Fighter smiled at her. Healer smirked, and
poked an arm.
"So. Since when are you so worried about your weight?"
Fighter wished that Healer wouldn't limit her touches to just
that; a poke.
"Since never." She took a bite out of her burger, chewed
and swallowed. "Just wanted to see your reactions."
"Heh." A moment later, an arm slipped itself around hers.
"You can tell me, Fighter- it's quite alright. You know I'd be
happy to help." The amusement was evident in her voice.
"If you consider laughing helpful. And again- nothing serious.
Did it… just, for the fun of it." Fighter resisted the urge to pick
Healer up, and book into the nearest hotel with…
Think un-hentai thoughts! Think un-hentai thoughts!
A flush covered her cheeks at her failed attempt.
"Hm. You're a strange one Fighter." Healer left her side
a moment later.
Great. Just fucking great.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"So… you just found her," repeated Guren. Ru rolled his
eyes at the old driver.
"Yes, Guren, that's what happened!"
"And she can't remember anything?"
"Apparently not…" Guren shook his head sympathetically.
"Be careful with her, Ru." The young man scowled.
"There's nothing wrong with her!" the old man sighed.
"Maybe not with her, but what about the one that tried
to kill her?" Ru frowned. "He might come back, and if he does,
he'll be sure to bring trouble with him to you as well. Take
care…" Ru nodded at that.
"I can't believe that someone would harm that stoater," he
murmured. He colored when he realized what he had said, just as
Guren collapsed into laughter.
~*~
Groaning slightly, Una lifted the box and walked outside to
where the carriage was. The laughter coming from the old driver
promptly stopped.
"Okay there, Una?" Ru lifted an eyebrow at her, and she shook
her head grinning.
"No problemo. I've handled worse." She didn't have the memories,
but she had the arms to prove it.
"… Problemo?" asked Ru, confused. "I haven't heard that term
before." Una blinked, wondering where that had come out from. Deciding
to let it pass, she handed the box to the driver and stepped back.
"Thanks, Miss." To Ru, he lifted his hat, grinning. "She's a
stoater alright- just like you said." For some reason Ru blushed, and
chuckling, the driver climbed into his seat, flicked the reins and left.
Una wondered at what just happened.
Stoater… stoater… stoater… She raised an eyebrow at him and
walked inside.
~*~
~1. The Journal of Inochi Una: Ginga~
Dated: From two years ago…
~Today: Went to school. Saw Her again.
S pecial
A ttractive
I ncredible
L eader
O mnipotent
R adient
S eductive
T hrilling
A dmirable
R omantic
F antastic
I rresistible
G orgeous
H onorable
T alented
E xalted
R emarkable
She talked to me today. She walked up to me, and said 'Hi.'
And then she invited me out for a coffee. She was in her civilian form
when she walked up and so I didn't recognize her. She leaned over and
whispered 'Sailor Star Fighter,' and I knew. The girls were so surprised
to see this 'bishounen' talking to me- though were quite jealous. I
would've been surprised too; Sailor Star Fighter/Seiya Kou talking to
Little Miss Nobody. So we went out to a café, and ordered some drinks- I
ordered coffee- she told me that she didn't drink it- didn't like it
or need it, and ordered a 'soft drink.' Then we began talking. I asked
her a lot of questions and she answered them.
~So do you have a boyfriend?
~What is this? Twenty questions?
~Gomen…
~Hehe, it's quite alright. No, I don't.
~Nani? Why?
~I like girls.
That quite surprised me, and evidently she noticed because she
told me that she wasn't interested in me in *that* way. I was almost…
disappointed, I suppose. But I was happy that she wanted to be friends,
as well.
I… didn't want Seiya (Her name is wonderful ne?!?!?!) to ask me
anything. Otherwise she'd find out what a hopeless case I was. But she
somehow did. I stopped, and I took a drink, and then she started on her
own.
~So, Una, let me ask *you* a few things. It's only fair.
~… Uh-
~I've noticed you before- you don't seem to have many friends.
She was very forward, and at first that hurt me, that question.
~What are you talking about?! How dare you say that! I just
choose to *not* have any friends! Don't pity me!
~Calm down Una! I just wondered- why doesn't a nice girl like
you have any girl friends?
She called me nice! She was just being friendly. Well, after a
while, I told her everything.
~I… just don't really… have any interest for them. They are so
superficial, and they go on about nothing but make up and what's in
fashion. Don't they have something important to talk about, like the
structure of a youma, or the examinations, or- or- poetry! Something
worth talking about!
~I think you, Taiki and Yaten would get along very well.
I didn't know who she was talking about. She just said that they
were two of her very good friends. They have nice names too.
~Is that all?
~… I have never been very good at making friends.
It just all came out. I told her that ever since I was a little
kid, I had been very shy. I couldn't stand talking to anybody else, and
every time someone other then Okaasan and Otousan came near me I'd run
away. I couldn't even look at them. I have just never been a people person,
for some odd reason. My looks don't help either- I am just so masculine! Girls
on the street have occasionally approached me, but they always left with a
disgusted look. After I told them I was female. And boys would never approach
me at all; I'm too 'butch' for them.
She listened to me, and when she was done, she said to me:
~You need to get out more. Get over that fear of yours, get out, and
meet more people. I promise you, once the first 'hi' is over with everything
else will just come. You need to open up more- you seem so cold to others.
You need to be more confident. And looks aren't the most important thing in
the world. It's what's inside that counts.
~But it's true! I am so horrible looking, and I can't talk to anyone
with out giving myself a heart attack…!!
~I think you're very pretty. You never give yourself enough credit.
Nobody has every called me 'pretty.' Not with that much sincerity.
I think I knew *for sure* that I was in love with her, then.
Thankfully, two people approached just before I could say anything.
I didn't know *what* to say. The shorter one with the lime green eyes and
silver hair was beautiful as well- very feminine- but that's what she is,
obviously. Female. The taller one with brown hair and mauve hair was just
as good-looking. They looked quite good together, and I felt so useless
and left out.
~Taiki, Yaten, Inochi Una. Una, Taiki Kou and Yaten Kou.
~Hi.
~Hello. Nice to meet you.
~H- hi…
Yaten immediately turned to Seiya and glared at her, then hit
her for doing something or rather to her something or rather- I didn't
quite catch it, she was just too breath taking to watch. Even when angry.
Seiya merely smirked, and something else that seemed to make her even
angrier. My attention switched between the two, and Taiki- TAIKI!!- said
something to me.
~You'd never know that they were friends now, would you?
~… They're friends?! Certainly don't seem like it…!!
Taiki just smiled. A moment later, Seiya called Yaten a 'midget'-
she is quite small after all- and Yaten scowled and flounced off. Gracefully.
Taiki looked at me apologetically, rolled her eyes and shook her head at Seiya
(who grinned and shrugged) and followed Yaten.
~If you are so good friends, why do you argue so?
The concept of friends was confusing, especially after being told by
Seiya that friends were the best thing to happen to you, and then seeing her
insult one of her 'friends.'
~… Hard to explain. Yaten and I have known each other so long.
We've never really gotten along as well as Taiki and I or Taiki and Yaten-
~So Taiki-san is like the moderator between the two of you?
~That would be correct. But when you're in deep trouble, Yaten
is always there for you. Underneath that- uh- harsh exterior- she's quite
nice. But only to those close to her.
~…Are you one of those people?
~Surprisingly, yes.
~So if you two are so close, why do you do that?
~I guess it's just a way of showing affection. Weird as that may
sound. Teasing each other for the fun of it.
That does sound strange, but it makes sense if you think about. You
normally wouldn't tease a stranger would you? But it is a strange way of
showing affection.
But did you see how she looked at Yaten? Her eyes just sort of
sparkled as she called Yaten a number of things. It was quite beautiful…
and I wish she'd look at me like that.
Oh, I'm not sure! They are all so… graceful! You'd expect that from
Seiya at least- she's a Sailor Soldier.
… She may have her occasional bouts of clumsiness I suppose- she
knocked over the pot of tea and tripped over someone- how that happened I
have no idea. But she's graceful when she's not going through her clumsiness-
from what I have seen that is.
Yaten-san and Taiki-san are wonderful too though! I've seen them
around before too… Taiki does very well in all her studies, I have heard-
she's been known to hold two hour long debates over something a fellow student
or a professor has said. And when that happens, it's supposed to be very
exciting- even to the known debating type of people. Yaten is a wonderful at
anything to do with art- I saw a landscape painting by her. Wonderful, and in
the distance, there was a figure with long red hair.
All three are very popular at the university.
So have I told you how wonderul Seiya's eyse are? A deep blue- Yaten
would think up a better word/description, from what I have heard of her- and
they are so mysterious... When we were talking, I kept staring into them. Usually,
I can tell what other people are thinking by what I see in their eyes. But she's
different. It's harder to understand what she feels. When she asked me what I was
doing...
~... Is there something on my face?
~Ah! I'm sorry... I was just looking at your eyes.
~Huh? Why them?
~They're so beautiful, and so mysterious...
~The eyes are supposedly the most important physical feature of someone.
You can find out someone's secrets just by looking into someones' eyes.
~...
~Eh, that's what Taiki says. 'The gateway to the soul.'
That sounds so right. 'The Gateway to the soul.'
This book is the first thing I have ever confided in (besides Seiya-
and I've only known her for a few days!). I have never kept a journal before.
But I must- I want to confide in someone that cannot laugh- I have to tell
somebody about Starfighter…
~*~
Una shut her journal, and set it down. She walked to her mirror, and
stared at herself. So, she wasn't as pretty as some other ladies, but... she
did make a pretty handsome man...
Fingers touching her face, she studied her eyes. Foggy grey...
They don't plan on revealing any secrets soon though, thought Una.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Stoater: means a 'very good looking woman.' XD Don't mind me. I'm just flaunting my knowledge of the Scottish language-
Yaten: That being one word.
-.-;;
Ladies and Gents, the Procrastinator of the year.
I realize that a lot of you are probably pissed of at me since it's been ages since I last updated any of my 'major' fictions- them being Waterfall and the Starlight Chronicles (temporary name for Memories etc).
Yoko-sensei was unable to help me think up a new name for Li, and I'm still waiting. Hopefully the next chapter of Starlights will be coming out sometime next week. Goddess bless if it does.
Second of all; I am thinking of starting 'MIB' and 'Alias' soon- the sequels to my songfics Secret Agent Man and Thank You respectively.
Third thing: You'll be happy to know that the Perfect Victim will *probably* be about as long as Love Me Tender (maybe a bit longer). And *hopefully* will not take as long to completed. Ain't life shweet?
~Seishi Kou
Three young women stood impassively behind the
revered Princess Kakyuu. The Princess had felt the need
to escape the palace for a day. To see part of the
population of Kinmokusei herself. They were in a market
place, and Kakyuu Princess was buying some cakes. Handing
the dazed shop keeper the money, she turned around holding
the bag of goodies out to the Starlights.
"Healer, plain bun. Maker, salad sandwich… Fighter,
hamburger." The Starlights smiled thankfully at her, taking
their lunch.
_Urgh…_
Kakyuu glanced at Fighter out of the corner of her eye
with some surprise; didn't she like hamburgers?
"Is there something wrong, Fighter?" she asked. Both
her comrades looked at her, and she blushed slightly.
"Eh… I'm just worried…" Healer raised an eyebrow at that.
"At what, Fighter?" Maker did not say a word.
"My weight." The raven-haired young woman blushed.
They stared. Stared. And stared some more.
"What's wrong?" Maker and Healer sweat-dropped at the
ridiculousness of the question.
"You've never been worried about your weight, Fighter,"
said Maker carefully. A strange look flickered in Fighter's eyes,
disappearing a second later.
"Well, things change." They wondered if they had imagined
that look.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Fighter cursed herself inwardly- stupid, stupid! Who cares
about weight?! *I* never did!!
"Daijoubu Fighter?" Healer appeared by her side, chewing
slowly on a piece of bread as she glanced at her curiously.
"Daijoubu…" Fighter smiled at her. Healer smirked, and
poked an arm.
"So. Since when are you so worried about your weight?"
Fighter wished that Healer wouldn't limit her touches to just
that; a poke.
"Since never." She took a bite out of her burger, chewed
and swallowed. "Just wanted to see your reactions."
"Heh." A moment later, an arm slipped itself around hers.
"You can tell me, Fighter- it's quite alright. You know I'd be
happy to help." The amusement was evident in her voice.
"If you consider laughing helpful. And again- nothing serious.
Did it… just, for the fun of it." Fighter resisted the urge to pick
Healer up, and book into the nearest hotel with…
Think un-hentai thoughts! Think un-hentai thoughts!
A flush covered her cheeks at her failed attempt.
"Hm. You're a strange one Fighter." Healer left her side
a moment later.
Great. Just fucking great.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"So… you just found her," repeated Guren. Ru rolled his
eyes at the old driver.
"Yes, Guren, that's what happened!"
"And she can't remember anything?"
"Apparently not…" Guren shook his head sympathetically.
"Be careful with her, Ru." The young man scowled.
"There's nothing wrong with her!" the old man sighed.
"Maybe not with her, but what about the one that tried
to kill her?" Ru frowned. "He might come back, and if he does,
he'll be sure to bring trouble with him to you as well. Take
care…" Ru nodded at that.
"I can't believe that someone would harm that stoater," he
murmured. He colored when he realized what he had said, just as
Guren collapsed into laughter.
~*~
Groaning slightly, Una lifted the box and walked outside to
where the carriage was. The laughter coming from the old driver
promptly stopped.
"Okay there, Una?" Ru lifted an eyebrow at her, and she shook
her head grinning.
"No problemo. I've handled worse." She didn't have the memories,
but she had the arms to prove it.
"… Problemo?" asked Ru, confused. "I haven't heard that term
before." Una blinked, wondering where that had come out from. Deciding
to let it pass, she handed the box to the driver and stepped back.
"Thanks, Miss." To Ru, he lifted his hat, grinning. "She's a
stoater alright- just like you said." For some reason Ru blushed, and
chuckling, the driver climbed into his seat, flicked the reins and left.
Una wondered at what just happened.
Stoater… stoater… stoater… She raised an eyebrow at him and
walked inside.
~*~
~1. The Journal of Inochi Una: Ginga~
Dated: From two years ago…
~Today: Went to school. Saw Her again.
S pecial
A ttractive
I ncredible
L eader
O mnipotent
R adient
S eductive
T hrilling
A dmirable
R omantic
F antastic
I rresistible
G orgeous
H onorable
T alented
E xalted
R emarkable
She talked to me today. She walked up to me, and said 'Hi.'
And then she invited me out for a coffee. She was in her civilian form
when she walked up and so I didn't recognize her. She leaned over and
whispered 'Sailor Star Fighter,' and I knew. The girls were so surprised
to see this 'bishounen' talking to me- though were quite jealous. I
would've been surprised too; Sailor Star Fighter/Seiya Kou talking to
Little Miss Nobody. So we went out to a café, and ordered some drinks- I
ordered coffee- she told me that she didn't drink it- didn't like it
or need it, and ordered a 'soft drink.' Then we began talking. I asked
her a lot of questions and she answered them.
~So do you have a boyfriend?
~What is this? Twenty questions?
~Gomen…
~Hehe, it's quite alright. No, I don't.
~Nani? Why?
~I like girls.
That quite surprised me, and evidently she noticed because she
told me that she wasn't interested in me in *that* way. I was almost…
disappointed, I suppose. But I was happy that she wanted to be friends,
as well.
I… didn't want Seiya (Her name is wonderful ne?!?!?!) to ask me
anything. Otherwise she'd find out what a hopeless case I was. But she
somehow did. I stopped, and I took a drink, and then she started on her
own.
~So, Una, let me ask *you* a few things. It's only fair.
~… Uh-
~I've noticed you before- you don't seem to have many friends.
She was very forward, and at first that hurt me, that question.
~What are you talking about?! How dare you say that! I just
choose to *not* have any friends! Don't pity me!
~Calm down Una! I just wondered- why doesn't a nice girl like
you have any girl friends?
She called me nice! She was just being friendly. Well, after a
while, I told her everything.
~I… just don't really… have any interest for them. They are so
superficial, and they go on about nothing but make up and what's in
fashion. Don't they have something important to talk about, like the
structure of a youma, or the examinations, or- or- poetry! Something
worth talking about!
~I think you, Taiki and Yaten would get along very well.
I didn't know who she was talking about. She just said that they
were two of her very good friends. They have nice names too.
~Is that all?
~… I have never been very good at making friends.
It just all came out. I told her that ever since I was a little
kid, I had been very shy. I couldn't stand talking to anybody else, and
every time someone other then Okaasan and Otousan came near me I'd run
away. I couldn't even look at them. I have just never been a people person,
for some odd reason. My looks don't help either- I am just so masculine! Girls
on the street have occasionally approached me, but they always left with a
disgusted look. After I told them I was female. And boys would never approach
me at all; I'm too 'butch' for them.
She listened to me, and when she was done, she said to me:
~You need to get out more. Get over that fear of yours, get out, and
meet more people. I promise you, once the first 'hi' is over with everything
else will just come. You need to open up more- you seem so cold to others.
You need to be more confident. And looks aren't the most important thing in
the world. It's what's inside that counts.
~But it's true! I am so horrible looking, and I can't talk to anyone
with out giving myself a heart attack…!!
~I think you're very pretty. You never give yourself enough credit.
Nobody has every called me 'pretty.' Not with that much sincerity.
I think I knew *for sure* that I was in love with her, then.
Thankfully, two people approached just before I could say anything.
I didn't know *what* to say. The shorter one with the lime green eyes and
silver hair was beautiful as well- very feminine- but that's what she is,
obviously. Female. The taller one with brown hair and mauve hair was just
as good-looking. They looked quite good together, and I felt so useless
and left out.
~Taiki, Yaten, Inochi Una. Una, Taiki Kou and Yaten Kou.
~Hi.
~Hello. Nice to meet you.
~H- hi…
Yaten immediately turned to Seiya and glared at her, then hit
her for doing something or rather to her something or rather- I didn't
quite catch it, she was just too breath taking to watch. Even when angry.
Seiya merely smirked, and something else that seemed to make her even
angrier. My attention switched between the two, and Taiki- TAIKI!!- said
something to me.
~You'd never know that they were friends now, would you?
~… They're friends?! Certainly don't seem like it…!!
Taiki just smiled. A moment later, Seiya called Yaten a 'midget'-
she is quite small after all- and Yaten scowled and flounced off. Gracefully.
Taiki looked at me apologetically, rolled her eyes and shook her head at Seiya
(who grinned and shrugged) and followed Yaten.
~If you are so good friends, why do you argue so?
The concept of friends was confusing, especially after being told by
Seiya that friends were the best thing to happen to you, and then seeing her
insult one of her 'friends.'
~… Hard to explain. Yaten and I have known each other so long.
We've never really gotten along as well as Taiki and I or Taiki and Yaten-
~So Taiki-san is like the moderator between the two of you?
~That would be correct. But when you're in deep trouble, Yaten
is always there for you. Underneath that- uh- harsh exterior- she's quite
nice. But only to those close to her.
~…Are you one of those people?
~Surprisingly, yes.
~So if you two are so close, why do you do that?
~I guess it's just a way of showing affection. Weird as that may
sound. Teasing each other for the fun of it.
That does sound strange, but it makes sense if you think about. You
normally wouldn't tease a stranger would you? But it is a strange way of
showing affection.
But did you see how she looked at Yaten? Her eyes just sort of
sparkled as she called Yaten a number of things. It was quite beautiful…
and I wish she'd look at me like that.
Oh, I'm not sure! They are all so… graceful! You'd expect that from
Seiya at least- she's a Sailor Soldier.
… She may have her occasional bouts of clumsiness I suppose- she
knocked over the pot of tea and tripped over someone- how that happened I
have no idea. But she's graceful when she's not going through her clumsiness-
from what I have seen that is.
Yaten-san and Taiki-san are wonderful too though! I've seen them
around before too… Taiki does very well in all her studies, I have heard-
she's been known to hold two hour long debates over something a fellow student
or a professor has said. And when that happens, it's supposed to be very
exciting- even to the known debating type of people. Yaten is a wonderful at
anything to do with art- I saw a landscape painting by her. Wonderful, and in
the distance, there was a figure with long red hair.
All three are very popular at the university.
So have I told you how wonderul Seiya's eyse are? A deep blue- Yaten
would think up a better word/description, from what I have heard of her- and
they are so mysterious... When we were talking, I kept staring into them. Usually,
I can tell what other people are thinking by what I see in their eyes. But she's
different. It's harder to understand what she feels. When she asked me what I was
doing...
~... Is there something on my face?
~Ah! I'm sorry... I was just looking at your eyes.
~Huh? Why them?
~They're so beautiful, and so mysterious...
~The eyes are supposedly the most important physical feature of someone.
You can find out someone's secrets just by looking into someones' eyes.
~...
~Eh, that's what Taiki says. 'The gateway to the soul.'
That sounds so right. 'The Gateway to the soul.'
This book is the first thing I have ever confided in (besides Seiya-
and I've only known her for a few days!). I have never kept a journal before.
But I must- I want to confide in someone that cannot laugh- I have to tell
somebody about Starfighter…
~*~
Una shut her journal, and set it down. She walked to her mirror, and
stared at herself. So, she wasn't as pretty as some other ladies, but... she
did make a pretty handsome man...
Fingers touching her face, she studied her eyes. Foggy grey...
They don't plan on revealing any secrets soon though, thought Una.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Stoater: means a 'very good looking woman.' XD Don't mind me. I'm just flaunting my knowledge of the Scottish language-
Yaten: That being one word.
-.-;;
Ladies and Gents, the Procrastinator of the year.
I realize that a lot of you are probably pissed of at me since it's been ages since I last updated any of my 'major' fictions- them being Waterfall and the Starlight Chronicles (temporary name for Memories etc).
Yoko-sensei was unable to help me think up a new name for Li, and I'm still waiting. Hopefully the next chapter of Starlights will be coming out sometime next week. Goddess bless if it does.
Second of all; I am thinking of starting 'MIB' and 'Alias' soon- the sequels to my songfics Secret Agent Man and Thank You respectively.
Third thing: You'll be happy to know that the Perfect Victim will *probably* be about as long as Love Me Tender (maybe a bit longer). And *hopefully* will not take as long to completed. Ain't life shweet?
~Seishi Kou