Treason
5
(Maker and Healer)
The crowd was in an uproar over Haruka's testimony. Questions began to arise as to what Zankou was truly hoping to accomplish here. Deeper queries ignited the suspicions that he had it in for me and was using this trial as a means to dispose of me with sufficient reason. I didn't care. As long as I lived, I never thought I would have had Haruka on my side defending me.
"You're not going to ask me any more question?" Haruka asked still on the platform. "Maybe I should describe Fighter's reaction when I insulted her ability to protect her princess? The agonizing turmoil that flashed in her features and caused the rage and fury inside her to burn so hot that she came at me with every ounce of her being, would that help you to degrade Seiya some more? No, it probably wouldn't would it. How about-"
"Thank you Ten'ou-san." Judge 13 interrupted her, sensing that Zankou had nearly, if not already reached his breaking point.
Haruka didn't bother to turn and acknowledge Judge 13, but kept her eyes focused on Zankou. She was pleased with herself and I thought I had lived to see the apocalypse and survived. From now on, no matter what speculations Zankou threw at the people of Kinmoku-sei concerning my innocence, they would always think to question them and his motives.
"Zankou would you like to take a break before calling the next witness?" Judge 13 asked politely. He had to keep his tone even and I could tell he was fighting to hold back the delight that tried to work its way to his face.
"No, I've had quite enough of this stalling and delay. I would like to proceed without break." Kakyuu told Judge 13 before Zankou had a chance to respond. Zankou's mind was not where it should be right now and that could prove to be my benefit. I silently thanked Kakyuu for pushing the trial on, though I wouldn't have minded a break myself.
By now Haruka had made her way back to her seat and was facing the smiles and kind words of the inner senshi while she remained silent. Like always, my eyes flew to my Odango like a magnet and I caught her smiling over in my direction. My heart melted. A goofy grin smeared itself across my face but I doubt I would have even noticed it hadn't have been for Kintra coming up and snapping me back to reality. "Here you were, thinking you were going to be skinned alive and now you're sitting with that stupid love-struck look on your face. Oh the irony of it all."
I couldn't reach him from my seat or else I would have given his neck a good ringing. "I've just been saved by some small miracle and you're still at it?"
"Would you have it any other way?" He joked with me and my mood lightened.
"No, I suppose not." I grinned lopsidedly back at him to show I wasn't totally impervious to humor right now. Looking over Kintra's shoulder I saw Yaten in his seat trying to contain his excitement. I'm sure he was hoping to be next so that he could further Zankou's torment, but I also knew the old fart wasn't that stupid.
My taller companions shoulder swiftly came to block my view of Taiki and Yaten bringing my attention back to him. Zankou was stalking up to him, every movement he made was a telltale sign of his aggravation. "I suppose you thought that was very funny, ne?" He came right up before Kintra and me. I could feel his breath heavily upon my face. "Do you think it's right for the inhabitants of this planet to see me made a mockery of?"
"They've seen it every day before this, why should a statement made by an irate alien change any of that now?" Kintra asked shooting back at Zankou, and thankfully taking his adverse eyes off of me.
"Take your seat!" Zankou growled at Kintra. To any normal person his tone off voice and posture would have intimidated them severely, but to Kintra, he just brushed it off and somehow found simple pleasure in the fact that he could provoke him to that point. Zankou's eyes turned sharply back to me and I in turn stared him down. I had confidence when I knew Kintra was backing me and now was no exception.
Something stopped him however. He didn't say the harsh words that I knew were there waiting to spill forth from his accursed lips. His facial features softened as he straightened his body out a little more. With him no longer leaning ominously towards me, this new space between us gave me a little more breathing room. "Congratulations, it seems that you are doing quite well today." He prematurely congratulated me. His eyes flicked above me momentarily before he turned to resume his position on the platform.
I looked up to see just what had caught his attention and found the ruby eyes of my princess smiling back at me. My entire soul began to fill with joy and confidence. It didn't matter any more. My disbelief in myself was far from my mind as I took comfort in the fact that I had so many people, even ones I thought to be my adversaries, here to support me and believing in me.
"Sailor Star Maker, Taiki Kou please take the platform." Zankou's breaking voice crackled through the air signifying Taiki's turn.
The mood that hovered over the crowd in this room had lightened up considerably and it showed as Kintra smacked Taiki on the ass as he passed by on his way to the platform. Taiki gave start and swiftly turned around to face Kintra with an overwhelming blush. Kintra just waved politely and smiled a closed eye smile. This confrontation between stuffy-Taiki and all-too-easy-going-Kintra was a commonplace thing, which on more than one occasion drove Taiki to plead to Kakyuu to disown Kintra.
Today wasn't shaping up so badly after all. Taiki sat down, the most intellectual of the six of us, I wasn't worried about what he had to say on my behalf. "Kou-san, do you believe Seiya is innocent?" Zankou's questioning started off differently, most likely because he didn't have to establish connections between the witness and myself.
"Yes, I truthfully believe that Seiya is innocent." Taiki stated bluntly. Nice way to flower it up there genius, 'truthfully', like they thought you were lying in the first place. I grinned inwardly and listened on. The room was absolutely silent as everyone waited for the next spectacle to begin.
"Was there ever a time when you questioned Seiya's loyalty to your mission while on Earth?" Zankou shot him a smile and I watched as Taiki's eyes narrowed on him while contemplating his next move.
"I would be lying if I said I didn't." Taiki said and it felt as though he had just punched me in the stomach. My hope and confidence deflated instantly as one of my best friends ripped down my case before me.
"Why did you doubt his actions?" The question came quickly and it seemed as though the confidence I had lost, Zankou had gained. The power struggle was on once more and I was loosing yet again.
Taiki took in a deep breath. "On Earth it seemed as though he was becoming distracted. Even though he appeared distracted, his search for Princess Kakyuu remained in tact."
"What was he becoming distracted by?" Zankou questioned, already knowing the answer to this question.
"The Princess of that Solar System. She portrayed everything that we had lost, and I don't blame him now for being drawn towards her, her shine is very similar to Kakyuu-hime's." I had to continuously remind myself that he was my friend and not my enemy. What was he doing? The only conclusion I could come to, besides the fact he wanted to see me take early retirement from life, was that he was trying to show that he wasn't hiding anything and still prove my innocence. I shook my head from my doubts. I had faith in Taiki, although at the moment it seemed as though it was going to be blind faith.
"Seiya was drawn to Princess Serenity because of her power, was that all?"
"I believe that there were feelings there that surpassed those of gaining her as an ally. A sixteen year old by can hardly be held accountable for the workings of his heart. If Seiya's mind had anything to do with the whole situation, he wouldn't have fallen in love with her, but who can really control their heart?"
A blush flashed on my face at his words. Why did this seem like one of those dreams you had where you went to a crowded public place wearing nothing but what god gave you? I felt so exposed and vulnerable right then and I didn't like it, I wasn't used to this feeling of being absolutely out of control of the situation.
Zankou nodded his head, having heard enough of what he wanted to. "Did you suspect Princess Serenity to be manipulating Seiya's heart so that you would fail in your mission?"
"Nani?!" A voice yelled down from the crowd above. It was Haruka, she was standing with her arms flexed and hands clenched. She was just as outraged at this question as I was. What right did he have to question the virtue of a foreign princess in this trial, more importantly questioning my Odango's?
Taiki continued with his statement, perhaps trying to come between Haruka disrupting the trial further. Anger was already swelling in my veins and pumping pure hatred to my mind, but nothing compared to the feeling I had when I heard what Taiki said next. "Yes, I did believe she was manipulating him."
I was to my feet in a matter of seconds, friend, ally or not, I was going to take him down. How dare he presume to say such things! "I was wrong though." His eyes fell on me, they were disappointed in the fact that I had been ready to take up arms against him, that I hadn't believed in him enough to trust him. "Princess Serenity by no means manipulated Seiya's judgment purposely, she remained true to her destiny and her prince, and never strayed from that purity."
I sunk back down to my seat realizing what I had just done. My body reacted before my mind could think the situation through, now I had just given Zankou and the audience more reason to believe in my bond with Odango. I watched as Michiru and Setsuna also coaxed Haruka back down to her place. Odango… she was staring passively at Taiki while Mamoru connected with my gaze instead. I tore my eyes away, feeling the threat that Mamoru's held.
"Seiya went to Earth, fell in love while looking for Princess Kakyuu, and nearly compromised the mission? That seems to me that his loyalty shifted. What are your thoughts on it Taiki?" Zankou thought he had the case finished, I could see it in his stance. I thought he had the case finished, it was over.
"Seiya never compromised our mission, and his loyalty never shifted. The single fact that he came home, back here to Kinmoku-sei with us and Kakyuu is proof enough of his innocence and his unwavering loyalty to our crowned princess." Taiki sat straight with hand placed thoughtfully to his chin in dignity. He was right. So what if he had left out the part about my not wanting to come back, I still did!
"Thank you Kou-san." Judge 13 nodded in his direction. The look on his face a little more solemn than it had been before. I know Taiki's statement disturbed him a bit and I had a hard time facing him from that moment on.
"Fighter?" Kakyuu looked down at me. My eyes flew desperately up to meet her's. There was understanding in them and a comfort that I needed. I felt as though my entire body was going to break down on the spot. "It's going to be alright."
I nodded numbly at her statement though I had a hard time trying to swallow it. How could everything be alright now? My guilt was placed before the crowd and my heart displayed plainly for Odango to see. There was nothing left in my mind to give me support.
Taiki walked away from the platform and I refused to allow his eyes to meet with my own. I didn't want to face him right now… even if it wasn't his fault. I knew it wasn't his fault, I just wanted someone to place my anger on and he was my determined target.
"Sailor Star Healer, Yaten Kou please take the platform." Zankou called a little reluctantly. I knew he was trying to move it along before we all had a chance to regroup our thoughts and fully digest all that had just happened. He had something in mind, I could tell.
I watched Yaten go and the livid look he shot in Taiki's direction. It looked as though he too was taking his disappointment out on Taiki, but we both knew Taiki understood and could handle being in this kind of situation.
"How are you today Kou-san?" Zankou asked politely. I couldn't believe he was even trying to pull this one off. If he had made himself appear nice and proper to Yaten, any snide remark my silver-haired friend made would only work against himself.
"Just peachy, and you?" Yaten asked as though his voice had been laced with sugar. My head picked up slightly and became more interested, if at all possible, in the going ons.
"Fine, thanks for asking." Zankou smiled and walked to the far side of the room, it looked as though he was fetching something. When he returned he held in his hand a personal stereo. "I listened to the songs you three sang while you were on Earth searching for Princess Kakyuu and I found them quite interesting."
"I'll take that as a compliment coming from you." Once again Yaten's overly sweet attitude played out in his voice.
"Nagareboshi He, was clear enough in its message, but what about another one of your top 10 hits? Todokanu Omoi? What was the message you were trying to convey through that song?" My body stiffened a bit at this, but I had faith that Yaten could handle it. "Allow me to play the song for the people of Kinmoku-sei that are unfamiliar with its content."
I sat and listened as the familiar music filled the air and our voices soon joined it. It was a nice break to regain my composure, but it ended too soon and the silence filled the air once again.
"Our success in finding Princess Kakyuu through these means depended on our popularity in the public's eye on Earth. We had to produce songs that we knew the people would like and buy. That song is merely a product for marketing purposes. We couldn't send our message if no one was listening, ne?" Yaten had kept his composure and was now looking at Zankou trying to figure out his next move. I was impressed to say the least and wanted to launch from my seat and wrap him in a hug. I had written that song when I was trying to sort through my feelings for Odango, but Yaten had covered it up brilliantly.
"Well put." Zankou was not about to test the fine line of Yaten's anger just yet, he was not as incompetent as I could have hoped for. "You each had a single too, am I correct. This is Seiya's single that he sang on Earth. Please pay close attention to the lyrics." He pressed play on the personal stereo once again and 'Ginga Ichi Mibun na Kataomoi' played through the air.
What a way to seal my fate, by my own voice selling me out. The confession of my inner turmoil and doubt played out through a song and some well-chosen music. The same pain I felt when I was writing this song came back to me now as I sat listening to it. My entire being felt surreal and the people around me didn't matter any longer. When I realized that I was in love for the first time, and for the first time I realized that there were things out there that no matter how much you strived for, they could never be obtained. My personal defeat conquered my hope but that didn't stop me from professing my feelings to her. As Seiya and as Fighter I had sealed my own fate.
"There's the proof you wanted right there." Yaten stated as the song ended. "I quote 'My longing is for only one person, my precious princess.'"
"How do we know which princess he was referring to with those words."
"You know he was referring to our princess because I'M telling you he was!" Yaten shot back, his pissy attitude wearing through his calm visad.
I was referring to Kakyuu when I wrote that part, but I could easily see how he could turn it around on me. This trial was going down hill fast, and with Yaten stirred up now, it was going to come to a quick end. "Yaten…" Kakyuu whispered from her seat, but only I could hear.
"You would say anything in his defense."
"Are you accusing me of misplacing MY loyalties now?" Yaten stood and faced Zankou as though they were having a heated debate by themselves. No one had ever dared to question Yaten when it came to matters of our princess, he was the devil in disguise and cared for no one but our princess.
"No." Zankou said and bowed to Yaten, in a sense dismissing him.
"I'm not through with you yet buddy!" Yaten stood and faced Zankou's retreating form.
"Yaten." Judge 13 spoke curtly to him trying to nip this problem in the bud. Zankou hadn't stopped to acknowledge Yaten's statement and this only sent him on more of a warpath.
"You prance around here like your shit don't stink. Where the hell were you when we were protecting our Princess with our lives? Where were you when she needed us the most? I protected my princess along with Seiya. If we hadn't done that you wouldn't be here, you couldn't be making these accusations! I can't believe this is the way you repay him for his efforts, for almost sacrificing his life so that you could continue your days being an asshole." His form was heaving as he sought for more breath to spit more hateful statements at Zankou, everyone listened while Zankou seemed to turn a deaf ear to the hysterical Light.
"YATEN!" Judge 13 shouted, preventing him from saying any more. "Get off the platform!" He ordered Yaten. His gentle nature was all but gone as he bellowed his orders at my defender. A shiver ran down my spine as his words traveled through me. Even Yaten, the guy who backed down to no one, began to slink off the platform and back to his seat. "This trial is done for the day, I bid you all good day." Judge 13 stated abruptly before taking his leave after Princess Kakyuu.
"Don't let him talk to the others." Judge 13 ordered Developer and Chaser as they came to escort me to my room. They both nodded in return and nodded their heads in the direction I was to leave in.
"Seiya!" Yaten called as he came storming up to me.
"You're not permitted to speak with one another." Developer stated coming between Yaten and I.
"Like hell I'm not!" Yaten said trying to push her to the side. Developer didn't budge and Yaten became even more hotheaded. "Whose side are you on?!" He accused Developer as she stood firm.
"Yaten, come one." Kintra came up behind him and placed a hand on his shoulder. In an instance, Yaten shrugged it off and turned to leave. "Developer, Chaser." Kintra nodded before turning and following the enraged man.
~@~@~@~
I could see that it was raining out from my window. The moisture came down in buckets, trying in vain to wash away the blanket of snow that still covered the ground. It was getting warmer out, but it was still cold. Today's proceedings ran through my mind and the entire situation seemed utterly hopeless. There were only two more people that the crowd had to hear from. They were both taking the platform tomorrow. Odango and myself.
The tears came to my eyes and stung their already bloodshot surfaces. This pain in my chest wouldn't go away. When had my life gone so wrong? This wondrous feeling of love that I felt flowing through my body every time I thought of or saw my Odango, how could it have been the cause of my misery now? Wasn't it punishment enough that I knew I could never be with her? Did it have to destroy every other aspect of my life as well? All of these questions and no answers.
My own life was on the line here and all I could think of was how my Odango perceived me now. Did she hate me for all of this? How I wished I could just speak with her for a moment, to tell her all the things I needed to say about what was going on here. Or even to say just how much I missed her and needed her in my life.
"I was informed by Princess Kakyuu to make sure you at least attempted to finish this meal." A new sound had joined the patter of the rain against my window. A servant girl stood in my doorway carrying a food tray in her hands. I stood to go and relieve her of her load.
Her face was so determined that I found it almost amusing. "What are you going to do if I refuse?" I asked in a playful manner, this was a different girl than the one that had been bringing my meals to me before.
She winked at me. First off this threw me off guard, servants didn't wink at us. "Pray you don't have to find out." She warned and followed me over to my table. There was something peculiar about her.
I lifted the cover on the plate to glance at what Kakyuu found to be SO important for me to consume that she was threatening me with help. "Beans?" I questioned with disgust. "She knows I don't like beans." I moaned and complained, trying to find reason to get out of eating.
"She also knows they're good for you!" The servant retorted looking at me with an odd stare.
"Well I'm not eating them." There was no way in hell she was going to force feed me beans.
"Fine! I will!" She said and took my fork from me and started shoveling the red beans into her mouth with delight. I watched curiously. "Mmmm… these are great! You don't know what you're missing! Here, eat this!" She said as she roughly shoved a biscuit into my mouth before I could complain. She was certainly on drugs of some sort. "You have to keep your strength for the trial you know!" She cheered and smiled at me with a mess on her face.
I sat staring at her trying to place her strange mood while I chewed on my biscuit. "Can I ask you something?" I questioned her and she immediately froze. "What do you think of it so far? Do you think I'm innocent?" I asked. This girl wasn't involved in the proceedings at all and had a completely open mind to the whole dilemma.
"Of course! I know you're innocent." She answered me with a smile and seemed so sure of herself. "Oh I forgot the drink!" She reached over the table and grabbed for the bottle of wine to pour herself a glass, completely forgetting about me. "Like Taiki said, you came back home with Princess Kakyuu, there should be no question."
"Thanks." I muttered watching her consume my food, not that I really cared but it was still odd. "I just wish I was allowed to talk to them."
She stopped eating and looked at me. "Who?"
"The Sol Senshi, well actually pretty much just Princess Serenity." It didn't feel so bad admitting this to a perfect stranger, in fact it seemed easier if that was possible, to let myself go. Maybe if this person knew all about my doubts in myself they could give me an honest assessment of the situation. "I just can't even begin to fathom the image of me she has in her head right now."
"I'm sure you're over reacting." The girl shoved some more miscellaneous food in my face like it was no big deal.
"You don't understand!" I choked out through the food in my mouth, man there was a lot in there. "I love her so much and I DIDN'T want to come home."
She shoved even more food into my mouth and I got the impression she was trying to silence me. "You have to eat up." She smiled a bit wearily.
"She had no idea until this stupid trial. I would have been happier if she could have lived her life blissfully unaware of my feelings towards her. Now she knows all about the agony I went through from day to day seeing her and knowing that I could never be with her." I blocked the last bit of something she was trying to force feed me and watched her as she looked down. "Do you still think I'm innocent?"
"I'm sorry." She said slightly before standing up and heading towards the door.
I got up and followed her, I hadn't meant to offend her and I felt bad for doing so. "You don't have to apologize." I said catching her by the arm. The moment my fingertips touched her skin I felt the electricity in my body. I retracted my hand from her and stared in simple amazement.
I watched as she reached the door and opened it without saying a word. Like a deer in headlights, I couldn't move or react to the situation at all. She was slipping away and I had so much more I needed to find out. "Wait!" I called as she set foot out in the hallway. Moving as fast as I could, I snatched her back from the hallway, in the process I caught a quick glimpse of Kintra just standing and watching my door. What was he doing there? I had no time to think about it before I had pulled her back in the room and close the door.
She looked up into my eyes with tears in her own. "Odango?" She looked down and pulled a pen from her pocket. As though she was detransforming from her senshi form, her henshin melted away and left the beautiful sight of my Odango standing before me. "Why didn't you tell me?"
Besides the fact that I immediately felt the stupidity and the humility wash over me from my previous conversation with her, I was hurt. She had come in here to see me in disguise and wasn't even planning to tell me she had done so?
"I asked Kintra if there was any way I could see you and this was all we could come up with." She sobbed out before she threw her arms around my neck and I drew her into me. "I didn't want you to know it was me, I know now how much pain I've caused you and I didn't want to create any more for you. Besides, you couldn't be accused of consorting with the 'enemy' if you never knew it was me, ne?"
She backed away from the embrace and wiped her tears away. "I'm glad you came to see me." I stated quickly, I had caused these tears in her eyes and it hurt me more than anything that had gone on during this trial. I was responsible for causing her pain. I took a step closer and wiped away her tear. "I'm sorry that you have to go through all of this and I'm sorry that you had to find out my feelings for you in this way."
"I don't want to get up there tomorrow." She whined as her stare bored deeply into my eyes. "No matter what I say he's going to turn it around on me, and I'm not smart enough to avoid that."
"Odango, I know how he works, I know you would never say anything to intentionally go against me. We're friends, ne?" As much as it pained me to say so it was what she needed to hear. "Don't doubt yourself, I have faith in you."
A knock sounded at the door to my room and startled the both of us. With a single phrase and mixture of colored lights the plain servant girl stood before me once more drying her eyes. As Odango finished her transformation Kintra's head popped in. "Usagi, they're going to become suspicious soon." He warned as he watched Odango nod her head.
Before I knew what was happening her arms were around me and her head was buried in my chest. "Seiya…"
"Shhh… It's alright Odango." I whispered to her holding her tightly for fear it would be the last time that I could. Breaking away she looked up at me with a sad smile and turned to follow Kintra from my room.
"Thank you Kintra." She and I said in unison and caused a smile to come to his face.