Treason
3
(Venus and Mars)
I watched as Yaten's stunned green eyes searched Kakyuu's face for any sign that she may not be serious. I must admit that I wasn't completely shocked by this turn of events. Taiki and Yaten truly couldn't have expected that they would have been left out of the proceedings, it was just the question of why they had waited so long into the formalities of the whole ordeal to present them as witnesses.
Without knocking, since Taiki had left the door ajar, Judge 13 walked casually into the room. "This is quite the scandal we have on our hands." He smiled at Kakyuu and allowed his eyes to scan over the rest of us.
His comment provoked and uneasy feeling in my stomach, one that I immediately passed off as rage, but came to settle that it was only added fret. When I looked up at him I found his eyes searching my face. What was he thinking? "Please Judge, this isn't such a matter." Kakyuu sighed as she brought her hand up to her forehead. Immediately I was at her side, always fearing the worst.
My actions provoked a smile from Judge 13 that I caught as he turned to leave. "Princess, please take your time, we will continue when you return." His tone was so gentle when it was directed towards Kakyuu, but I had seen him degrade and tear down the moral fibers of criminals, leaving them to crumble before him as shells of their former selves. An unique way to manipulate his power, these were the only type of people that I feared. Kintra was the same, and in truth the only other person I knew to possess the suave power of camouflaged force. I'm glad he's on our side.
"Fighter?" Kakyuu asked as she looked up into my face. I was unconsciously holding her while I delved into my thoughts. A blush swept over my face as I released her and stepped back. "I'm scared Fighter."
"Oh Princess, don't be." I said trying to comfort her, taking a step closer to her, regaining the ground that I had just lost moments ago.
"I know it's wrong for me to be scared, I can only imagine how you feel right now." I saw the tears welling up in her eyes and it pained me deeply to see such a sight. "He's twisting everything they say around."
"Princess, I believe in the justice system that you have set up here on Kinmoku." Taiki stepped forward placing a reassuring hand on my shoulder as he addressed our saddened princess. "The truth will be brought forward and there will be no doubting Seiya's innocence or loyalty."
I watched as Kakyuu nodded, her mood somehow becoming a bit more energized as she gracefully wiped away the lone tear that had spilt from its ruby prison. Without saying another word she turned and walked out of the room, not motioning for us to follow her.
"He's killing you out there!" Yaten turned to me with narrow eyes. "I didn't want to say anything in front of the Princess to upset her, but –"
"Yaten!" Taiki scolded him and then looked into my eyes, perhaps to try and read my expression.
"No, Taiki, he's right." I sighed as my head hung low. "I know I should have faith in the system, I know that all the facts and truth will be presented… and THAT is what scares me."
"Nani?" Taiki questioned in an uncommonly confused manner. "Seiya what are you saying?"
"What if I AM guilty?"
"You're not!" Taiki fought back against my own accusation while Yaten remained silent. I knew this was what my silver-haired companion was thinking about, and it only reinforced my own doubts of the situation.
"I'm not going to deny it, I didn't want to return to Kinmoku." I didn't dare look Taiki in the eye after saying this, I knew well enough his reaction and didn't need to torture myself with his scornful eyes.
"We're waiting for you." Zankou spoke as he surveyed the room. Taiki, as well as Yaten, and I knew better than to continue our current conversation in front of him and walked purposely out into the main room.
"Piss off." Yaten hissed at him as he walked by, though all of this was happening, I had to try and contain myself from allowing a chuckle to escape my lips. A low growl emanated from Zankou's throat and a new, deeper scowl set in upon his face.
I resumed my seat in solitude near Kakyuu. My heart knowing that it wasn't going to suffer as much in the suspense of each called witness. I had two days to wait until my Odango took the platform. I had two days left to imagine that this wasn't happening, two days to pretend that everything was all right.
"Sailor Venus, Minako Aino please take the platform." If there was ever a time that I wished Minako could keep her mouth shut, it was now. The usually bubbly blond strode down to the platform as she was asked. Her form that usually radiated like sunshine itself was a little duller at the moment and I had the unfortunate displeasure of knowing it was because of me. Without paying mind to the proceedings around her she shot me a wink and I swear it looked like she was fighting a battle in her mind not to flip Zankou the bird.
I looked to Yaten sitting not too far away from me. I knew next to Haruka, Minako's testimony was the one that worried him the most. His silver hair swayed around him as he shook his head. He too knew what Minako was thinking, and this alone gave me subtle amusement. There was no stopping her now.
"Aino-san, you were a friend and classmate to the defendant correct?" Zankou started with the same monotonous question once again.
Minako smiled and nodded her head as though she was brought into a bout of reverie. "Yes." Her response was cheerful, surprisingly cheerful… Oh god, don't tell me she thinks she has a plan?! "To tell the truth-" Oh sweet lord what is she doing? My fingers found their way back into the strands of my hair as I bowed my head in instant frustration. "I once tried to date him, well actually all three of them."
Zankou smiled, obviously pleased with his new target, fresh meat. "How did that turn out? Did you date often?"
"Are you kidding me? They wouldn't give me the time of day? I know what you're thinking too, 'How could anyone turn down a beautiful goddess such as myself?' I'm telling you, it's beyond me!" Minako smiled, she must have been very proud of herself and whatever idea she had formulating in her head.
"My dear woman, I have no idea how they resisted your charms." Zankou smiled at her as the crowd let a small amount of laughter rise in the room. "You never went on a date with Seiya then, ne?"
"Nope." Minako shook her head and crossed her arms over her chest, she was definitely not pleased with the audience's reaction to her statement.
"Please forgive me for asking this, I do not mean to insult your beauty or charms, but do you believe that it was possible for Seiya to by gay, and therefore not interested in women? Did he ever pursue any male counterparts?" Zankou shot me a look. The bastard knew I wasn't interested in the male sex, all I could think of was what my poor Odango could be thinking of me know. NOT to my surprise I caught a rough snicker escape Kintra's lips but it ended quickly when I faced him with my glare.
"Seiya? Gay?" Minako giggled a bit. "No he wasn't gay, I'm sure."
"How can you be so sure, you never saw him pursue anyone, correct?" Zankou had a mischievous glint in his eyes.
"No, I said I never saw him going after any guys. It was always only Usagi."
The crowd broke out into loud whispers and gossip. Through my own narrowed eyes I saw Minako wince as she realized her mistake. Yaten continued to shake his head and Taiki continued to look on, his face unphased by the news. My Odango had no idea of my feelings for her, I was sure of that, and to have her find out in such a way. Not even in my wildest dreams could I have imagined this scenario, nor would I have wanted to. I wanted desperately to see her reaction to this, but stealing a glance at her now would confirm Minako's statement.
It scared me. I knew she would be sitting there with wide eyes in astonishment, with her Mamo-chan beside her. His reaction was not what I feared, before we had left Earth I made my longing for his girlfriend clear enough… well clear enough to everyone but her.
Zankou again turned to face the crowd that was whispering and pointing in both mine and Odango's direction. With a smile perched upon his lips he put a hand to his hip, standing in a truly arrogant fashion. "It's amazing how Seiya still found time to chase after girls during his relentless search for his Princess, ne?"
"She was an ally!" Minako retorted but a bit too late. My noose had been tightened and valuable ground had been lost with the audience.
"Do all allies have romantic interests on Earth? Were Seiya's intentions purely 'professional' in your opinion?" Zankou spoke above the continuing gossip of the crowd. He was being too damn cocky for his own good. I felt his eyes on me and I forced myself to straighten up. I wouldn't let him see how much my mind was reflecting on this.
Minako's answer never came and it was apparent what she would have said. "Thank you Aino-san." Judge 13 excused her, he could tell by the look on her face that she was disappointed in herself and ready to break down. She did not need to be on that platform right now. Judge 13 knew the same way I did, that Zankou had already proven his point with this girl anyway.
"Without further ado, Sailor Mars, Rei Hino please take the platform." Zankou's body swayed and preformed like that of a game show host's as he called for the senshi or Mars to come down. This was really beginning to make my stomach turn. My life was being portrayed as nothing more than a mere game of chance in front of a studio audience. Did any of them stop to think of me?
Before I knew what I was doing, temporarily lost in my moment of self-pity, I chanced another glance at my Odango. She wasn't there… I looked around her senshi and saw that they were all present. Odango was missing and there was no one around to protect her? My heart began to race and pound in my throat. For Odango to be wandering around the palace with all of the citizens of Kinmoku-sei in it, not to mention the fact that she was now a key element in the trial of treason against the crown of Kinmoku-sei, these were not good circumstances.
Zankou was asking Rei the same questions that he had always started out with, but I found it very hard to pay attention to his questions, let alone her responses. Where was she? My eyes searched the audience to see if she was returning through them, but there were no signs of her golden odangos. This wasn't happening! I couldn't fight the feeling that was growing in my body any longer. Pure adrenaline pumped through my veins, replacing my blood. The fury swelled as each one of my gruesome thoughts as to the possibilities of her situation feed it. Mounting and surpassing all of what I could normally bear, my fears and doubts peeked in my body and mind. I sprung to my feet. My eyes continued to dart around the room wandering from face to face, occasionally returning to Odango's seat to see if she had indeed returned safely.
In my furious search, so diligent in its purpose, I didn't even notice Yaten rush before me. "Seiya!" His voice cut through me and brought my gaze down level with his. "Sit down… she's fine…" He knew just what was going through my head, hell I suppose it would have been obvious to him, Taiki or the Sol Senshi. My eyes moved from his to Odango's vacant seat and then back again asking my question without words. "Kintra went after her."
An enormous feeling of relief swept through my body as Yaten coaxed me back down to my seat. Slowly he returned to his seat, keeping constant vigilance on me and never once turning his back. I looked up at Kakyuu to see if I had completely sealed my fate and she just smiled weakly down at me. This was not good, I couldn't keep myself in check.
"After Princess Kakyuu was murdered by Chaos, the Starlights went to avenge her death, in a sense walking into their own suicide." Rei's statement had gone on all throughout my nervous breakdown. "The whole reason they kept fighting was for her honor. Even after there was nothing to be loyal to, they were still loyal to her."
"Thank you Hino-san." Judge 13 spoke calmly to her from above.
"But this isn't about THEM, this is about Seiya!" Zankou cut in before Judge 13 could dismiss Rei. My eyes burrowed into him. He wasn't going to let me have ONE solid testimony?
"I don't see your point." Rei answered, her eyes cool, sensing all. If I didn't believe it impossibly far fetched, I would have said she was trying to read his mind.
"That's enough Zankou." Judge 13 warned.
"Fighter's loyalty and guard didn't transfer over to a certain Moon Princess when hope of saving Princess Kakyuu was lost?" Zankou shot back and caused a reaction to rise from not only me but Yaten as well.
Rei's lips formed into a confident smile as she held her hand out opened before her as though her point was simple. "Hope of saving Kakyuu was NEVER lost, as long as we did all we could to protect Sailor Moon, we knew she could save us all."
A smile broke out on my face and I watched as Zankou turned away fuming in frustration. "Thank you Hino-san, you may return to your seat." Judge 13 cut in before Zankou could continue with any more of his misdirected questions, much to my relief.
Rei found her way back to her seat and as my eyes followed her I spotted Kintra and Odango coming up behind where the Sol Senshi were seated. "The trial of Sailor Star Fighter, Seiya Kou will commence tomorrow at the quarter of the day." Judge 13 stood before the audience and signaled the end of today's session. Zankou was off in the sides downing a glass of water with a positively pissed expression on his face.
A force flew into my body that I wasn't prepared for. It was Chaser at my side, her long pleather gloves wrapped around my arm forcefully and pulled me aside. "Let go!" I commanded her as I ripped my arm away.
"Seiya." She spoke looking me dead in the eye. "I just wanted you to know that I have nothing to do with this and I'm sorry that it's my face that you're going to have to associate with this horrible trial."
I was taken aback by her words. I had suspected she had come to escort me back to my room forcefully. "Chaser…" I was unsure of what to say to her. Sure there was a certain level of animosity that still remained in my mind towards her for the previous events, but I knew those feelings were wrong and I tried to push them back with all the strength I had. "… we will always be friends."
My reaction must have been more than what she had been hoping for, because a smile sprang to her face and her entire demeanor was elated. "I'm supposed to bring you back to your room now."
"That's ok, I'll walk with Kintra, I have something to discuss with him anyway." I gestured my head in Kintra's direction who I had noticed was coming this way. Chaser seemed satisfied with this and threw her arms around me before taking her leave.
"I've never seen her so dramatic before." Kintra commented when he approached me still watching Chaser's departing form.
"You know those Sailor Senshi, always the drama queens."
"And here I was thinking it was only Healer." Kintra laughed as I turned to face him with a smirk of my own. "Have fun today?" He asked as he motioned with his hand towards the doors.
"Oh a blast!" I replied sarcastically. Right, right, all of this was certainly my cup of tea!
"Her stomach was uneasy." He said directly and I had to admire how he cut to the chase.
"I just kept imagining all of the worst case scenarios in her absence."
"When the hell did you become a pessimist?"
"It's not funny!" I retorted, letting him know I didn't appreciate his attempt at humor. "I swear my heart stopped." A realization hit me and I suddenly found myself questioning my own motives. Why was I revealing all of this to Kintra now? This could do nothing but harm my situation.
"Gomen." He said bluntly, I was well aware that he had only spoken what he had to test the boundaries of my current state, and was now aware of how to cross them. "She asked me what I thought was going to happen. She really is a sweet girl." This was Kintra I was talking to, why did I feel that surge of jealousy just now? "I told her that everything was going to be fine and not to worry about it." A small smile played on his features as he tucked his hands behind his back. "I really don't think her friends give her enough credit. She saw through my ruse quite easily, though I didn't attempt to completely seal my doubts away. She told me not to lie to her."
They truly didn't give her enough credit for the wonderful and caring person she was, but then again, I had fallen victim to the same actions and thought to myself that she could never suspect my feelings though I did nothing to conceal them. "You are doubting me? Did you tell her that?"
Kintra stopped in the middle of the hallway, we weren't near my room yet. "Seiya, I will never doubt you."
"Not even now when I'm doubting myself?" I felt my head drop again. When did I become accustom to such a low self-image and statement? I had expressed my worries to Kintra, but perhaps it was better off. He probably would have accused me of keeping them from him anyway when he figured it out.
"Even now." His voice was unwavering and seemed to carry to me some of his confidence. "And that is what I told her."
By now my room was in sight and I was almost thankful to be surrounded by its walls again. Now they didn't seem so much as to keep me in as they did to keep others out. "Thank you Kintra." I spoke with genuine sincerity.
His head nodded as he turned away. Before he got too far however, he turned and caught me before I was all of the way through my door. "She believes in you too Seiya. Above all else take comfort in that."