Disclaimer: I don't own Sailor Moon, I don't own Sailor Moon, I don't own Sailor Moon....
Arigato everyone, for reviewing! I'm glad you all like my story so far! ^_^ My last few stories have done better than I expected, though. "Company" did relatively well and I was jazzed, but then I posted "Angel Wings" and "Umbroso Estrella" and they're totally blowing "Company" away. I guess they're just good concepts? Sure. I can have a good idea once in a while! I reserve that right. *grin*
Oh, I'm still trying to decide if I should up the rating. If anyone has thoughts on that,
please let me know! Ja!
It was surprising what he saw when he stepped through the door. The secondary room was much larger than he had expected; there was a hotplate and refrigerator (it was extremely doubtful that either of them worked), as well as a kitchen-type table in one corner, a long couch ran down the left side near the door and there were a handful of chairs scattered about the room.
From the look of it, the place had been a living room of some kind far before the remaining Earth Senshi had begun using it as a safe house, though the fact that it WAS a safe house was relatively obvious; extra blankets and pillows covered most of the couch, and there were boxes of supplies taking up any floor space where they could fit.
"Haruka-san says this place used to be where the subway conductors came on their breaks."
Seiya looked across to where Usagi was sitting in an armchair near the end of the couch, her knees pulled up to her chest. "Odango...."
A pained smile. "I really am glad to see you, you know."
"I know. It's good to see you, too." He closed the door behind himself with a soft click and walked over to stand near the girl. She hugged her legs, resting her chin on her knees. "Ne...." he sat down on the couch, perching on the edge. "Odango....are you alright?"
"....I think so."
Not very convincing at all. Seiya frowned worriedly, "Usagi," he began, refraining from using the 'Odango' nickname he had taken to calling her by so long ago. "Is it....about Mamoru? Is that what's-"
"No!" Her head came up abruptly.
"Okay, okay. Sorry."
"....."
The devastated look on her face, the complete absence of emotion in her eyes....her sparkle had faded. Seiya's heart was breaking, seeing her that way; it hurt him more to see her that depressed than it did to see her with Mamoru....and, it seemed, Mamoru was the one who had made her shine become dull. He had sworn to defend her, to protect her no matter what. Seiya already knew that those promises had been broken, whether it was Mamoru's fault or not, but there was something else....
"Odango, what did he do to you?"
"Nothing."
He reached out to touch her arm lightly; "I know that's not true."
"I don't want to talk about it."
"Please?"
"W-what?" Usagi blinked at him, surprised by the simple word. "You-"
"Usagi, please." A pause and Seiya met her gaze, "you know that I care about you....please tell me what happened. I can't stand to see you like this, it hurts me to see you cry. I want to help you, but...." he trailed off, keeping his eyes locked on hers; "I can't if you won't tell me what-"
"Seiya...."
There was a long silence and after a moment Seiya looked away again, turning to inspect the arm of the couch. I can't believe I.... his throat tightened as the silence continued. She doesn't want to tell me and I just-
"Seiya?"
Her voice was soft and barely audible.
"Ne-" Seiya glanced up, "y-es?"
"Here." Reaching up, Usagi undid the laces at the top of her sweater and tugged the material back.
"Odango-!"
"No, look," she shook her head when he quickly averted his eyes. "Seiya-"
"Odango, I don't think-"
Usagi gave a pained half-laugh and tipped his head toward her with her fingers, chuckling again at the bright red in his cheeks. "It's okay, I just....wanted you to see...." and when he finally gulped and flicked his eyes in her direction, she held the material back again to show a good expanse of skin. "This....is what he did. And it's not the only thing...."
"Oh my God-" Seiya stared in shock at the deep gash she was revealing; "U-Usagi-"
"Ami-chan stitched it for me," Usagi offered, her free hand hovering over the stitches, "it was deep. If she hadn't sewed it up I could have bled to death, or so she says....this is part of what he did to me."
His eyes were wide as he reached out a tentative hand, fingers brushing the wound. Usagi winced and hissed from the contact and he immediately snatched his hand back, "gomen nasai! I'm sorry, are you alright?"
"Yes," she gave him a reassuring smile, retying the laces of her sweater. "Don't worry about me."
A whisper. "But I do."
Usagi blinked, tears springing to her eyes. Her throat closed off. "I know. Seiya, I almost hate to ask but- can I-"
Seiya's heart clenched painfully, but when she hugged him, burying her face in his neck, he held her tightly. It was what he had always wanted, to be close to her. But holding her while she cried into his shirt wasn't something he had ever wished for. Her tears hurt him, and as he held her he, too, felt tears begin to creep from his eyes. He attempted to blink them back but was largely unsuccessful.
"He hurt me," she mumbled into his jacket, clutching him desperately. "He...."
"Odango, you don't have to tell me if-"
Usagi shook her head. "No I want....I know that you only want to help and-" she took a shuddering breath and turned her head, resting it on his shoulder, but didn't release him. "....I don't know where to start, though. There's so much...."
A moment's pause and Seiya attempted to get past the fact that Usagi was finally in HIS arms.
"The cut, maybe?" He managed, "how did that happen?"
"He stabbed me...." Usagi swallowed, "we had separated from the others and gone down to the park to look for survivors....I never thought that....I mean, it never occurred to me that he might try to HURT me. But he attacked me and when I tried to defend myself he....Tuxedo Mask used his staff....I knew it was hard, sharp, but I didn't know it could...." she sighed, her breath blowing against his neck. "I'm lucky, I guess. He wasn't trying to kill me right then....if he had wanted to he could have, but instead....instead...."
"-instead-?"
He wasn't sure he actually wanted to know.
Her arms unconsciously tightened around him as she continued; "the others showed up before he could....before he could....but it was close. He had managed to....my senshi fuku was practically gone....he had....he was going to...."
Kami-sama, no! He couldn't have-
"Odango, he didn't-"
"No. Thanks to Rei-chan's intuition, no."
The relief at her words was unbelievable and the tears began anew. Not caring anymore, he clutched her to himself, thanking the higher power that she was safe. Usagi didn't complain about the closeness, though, and turned her head back to his neck again. The silence between them, though sad, wasn't uncomfortable; the comforting was something both of them- but especially Usagi- had needed.
"Seiya, can I ask you something?"
Her voice brought him back to the present. "Hm?"
"How....did you convince Haruka-san to let you come in here?"
"I didn't. She told me to."
"What?"
"She told me to, she and Hotaru."
"Why-?"
He chuckled softly, "because you needed someone to do just this," he tilted his head, glancing at her from the corner of his eye. "And without- Mamoru...."
Abruptly. "Seiya, you love me, ne?"
"I-" Seiya's voice caught in his throat. Of course he loved her. He had ever since....but she was asking now? Why? "Odango, I-"
"I loved you too, you know."
"W-what-?!"
The shock was almost too much and he had to stop himself from pushing her back to look into her eyes. Usagi's grip on him tightened as if she'd read his thoughts. "I did." She whispered, then repeated; "I did. I DO."
"B-but Mamoru and-"
"I can love more than one person and in more than one way." Her voice faded; "I loved you....you asked me once if you weren't good enough. Of course you were. Of course. But....I had to consider the future....you were going back to Kinmoku and I....was supposed to be the Neo-Queen....I did love Mamo-chan, too, and we had the future of Earth resting on our shoulders...."
"Odango...."
"I loved you, too, but I knew I had a destiny." A soft laugh. "You never knew, did you? That I felt the same?"
Seiya found himself unable to speak. She can't be-
"Mamoru is gone now, Chibiusa is gone....Crystal Tokyo won't happen....but-" again she turned her head and rested her cheek against his shoulder. "But I'm not all that sad....I'll miss Chibiusa and....in some ways I'll miss Mamoru but....Seiya, I'm glad you're here."
Silence.
"....Seiya?"
"I- Usagi, I-"
To be truthful, he was beyond shocked. They were friends, yes, she herself had said that in the past. They would be friends forever, but he had long ago given up any hope that she had returned his feelings. Now she was holding him....hugging him....and confessing that she loved him just as he loved her. But he couldn't help but wonder if she was using him as a replacement for Mamoru....
Despite the fact that he was enjoying the feeling of her in his arms, he untangled himself from her and held her at arm's length.
"Odango, do you know what you're saying?"
Her eyes met his, still bright with tears. "Yes."
"But with Mamoru gone....are you sure you mean what I think you mean?"
Instead of responding, Usagi leaned forward and kissed his cheek, then wrapped her arms around him once more. Who was he to complain? Though he was still hesitant, the warmth of her against himself....the euphoria that followed her admission....he couldn't bring himself to question it again.
Another long silence and her breathing evened out as her tears stopped. Seiya listened as the others continued to talk in the other room, their voices muffled by the door; Hotaru and Ami seemed to be explaining the essence of being a Tsumetai.
He would have to ask Taiki about it later. But first he had something to tell the girl in his arms.
"Usagi?"
No answer.
"Usagi...?"
Nothing.
Glancing down at her, he had to chuckle.
She had fallen asleep.
She's gone through so much....
Reaching up with one hand, he brushed his fingertips against her skin.
"Hmm...." Usagi mumbled in her sleep and cuddled closer to him.
He smiled, the first real smile since returning to Earth.
"I love you, too, Odango."
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Me: A short and sappy chapter. I ended up leaving Mamoru's 'attack' still only half-explained. Gomen, but it's better if I leave the details to your imagination, ne? Also, Tsumetai and Seno are explained more in the next chapter. I know I said this one, but it didn't work out that way. Sorry....and what about Seiya? Is he just setting himself up for heartbreak? *bows* I'll try to get another chapter out soon, and hopefully it'll be better than this one. (I didn't mean for this one to be as sucky as it turned out. Gomen!) Ja.