Chapter Four: New Love

The next day found Usagi up early and with energy. I should do this more often, she thought as she had a leisurely breakfast. For once, I'm not breaking my neck to get out the door.

"Usagi-chan, ohayo."

"Hm? Oh, good morning, Luna. Sleep well?"

"Hai. Why are you so up early?"

Usagi smiled. Luna was going to freak when she heard. "The StarLights are back."

Luna immediately jumped on her shoulders. "Well, what are we waiting for? Let's go, Usagi-chan, let's go."

In the school yard, Usagi and Luna found Makoto, Ami, and Minako standing together with Katsuko watching something, Katsuko looking rather amused, the other three laughing loudly.

"Min'na, what's going on?"

"Oh, konnichiwa, Usagi-chan," said Ami giggling and pointing. "We were just watching the Three Lights back in action."

Usagi turned to see an impossibly large crowd of females surrounding Seiya, Taiki and Yaten with shouts of glee. All three of them looked ready to bolt.but to where? Yaten looked annoyed, but Usagi was surprised that he wasn't shouting out for people to get out of his way. Despite that, Usagi couldn't help herself.

"Poor Seiya," she giggled.

"Poor Seiya? Poor Seiya?!," exclaimed Luna without noticing Katsuko turn her head. "Yaten kou is in the middle of those.those vultures and all you can say is 'Poor Seiya'?"

"Yes. Yaten kou does seem perturbed, doesn't he?" Katsuko leaned over to watch Luna's reaction.

Luna went still in the middle of her tirade, then cleared her throat primly. "Mewr?"

"Oh, Luna, it's ok," said Minako. "Katsuko is a Sailor warrior too. She's already met Artemis."

"Hai, your husband is quite the charmer."

Luna blushed. Too bad Diana didn't mention when we would be getting married, she thought. With a last glance at Yaten and realizing she would have to wait much later to speak to him, she leaped to the ground.

"Well, I think I'll go find Artemis. Katsuko-chan, I will speak with you later?"

"Of course."

The bell rang then for class and the crowd of girls departed. The Three Lights looked exhausted and the day had barely started. Minako walked towards Yaten with a smile.

"Oh, Yaten kou, you poor thing. Those girls just don't know when to quit, don't they?" She reached out for him, but was virtually ignored as Yaten sailed right past her in favor of Katsuko who was talking with Ami and Taiki.

"Suko-chan, I'm exhausted," he whined, head on her shoulder, one arm around her waist.

"Aw, Yaten kou," Katsuko cooed, patting his silvery head.

Minako watched, but said nothing. Yaten had his eyes closed, enjoying the feel of Katsuko's fingers in his hair. Her heart constricted. What's the deal? She silently followed everyone into the building, mind reeling. That was the second time Katsuko was being intimately close with Yaten. Minako remembered the meeting they planned for later that day. Maybe she would get the whole story then.

Minako became aware that she was watching Katsuko closely all day. The new warrior/student ended up not in Usagi's and Minako's class, but instead was placed with Ami meaning quite a few things. One, she was as intelligent as the solider of wisdom if not more, two, Minako wouldn't have to see her constantly and three, Yaten wouldn't be distracted. Unfortunately Yaten went back to being his usual moody self as soon as Katsuko was out of proximity, but it suited Minako just fine. Yaten was back. He was here, leaning back in his chair, hands behind his head, ignoring the stairs of love and flirtation from the girls in the class. With Yaten there, next to her like in the old days, everything was right.

Everything went wrong at lunch. The other girls met up with Ami and Katsuko in the yard. Minako spied Yaten going off by himself again with his bottle of water and book and quickly devised a plan. She'd sneak off to share her lunch with Yaten when the others weren't paying attention. Taiki and Seiya joined the small group on the grass, Taiki in between Ami and Makoto and Seiya beside Usagi and soon all of them were laughing and joking again. For a while, Minako laughed with them, then casually announced she was going to the washroom. Picking up the remnants of her lunch, she hurried away before anyone could say a word. Whistling a happy tune, she sauntered off to Yaten's usual spot.

"Yaten kou! I thought you might want something more than just that plain old water," she chirped merrily, stepping out from behind the tree, " so I brought you some_"

The words caught in her throat as her eyes lay upon Yaten sprawled out on the grass, his head in Katsuko's lap, eyes closed as she read quietly. They made a pretty picture, the sun beaming down through the leaves dappling them in shadow and light, Yaten's legs crossed at the ankles, Katsuko's fingers in his hair. Only she looked up at the sound of Minako's voice and smiled.

"Oh, princess Venus, forgive me. I didn't hear you almost. Are you joining us?"

"I.no." Minako attempted to smile. "I, uh..um..is he sleeping?"

Katsuko gazed softly at the prone StarLight. "I believe so. Gin Ke always slept so peacefully when his mind wasn't worried."

Gin Ke? How cute. She calls him Silver Hair. Minako cleared her throat. "Well, I, uh, I wasn't that hungry and I thought.I thought Yaten might want what's left."

"Oh, how kind of you. Yaten? Yaten kou? Yaten kou, wake up a moment."

Yaten snorted awake. "Nani?," he asked sleepily, not opening his beautiful green eyes yet. "What is it, Suko wa?"

Minako blushed at such intimacy. My Suko, he called her. Katsuko looked away shyly, but kept talking. "The princess Venus is here. She has bought you something."

Yaten finally opened his eyes and turned his head towards Minako. "Mina- chan? Something wrong?"

"Iie..I just thought you might want something to eat." Minako just felt silly now.

"Oh, is that all?" Yaten almost rolled his eyes, but caught himself. "Well.arigato, Mina-chan, but Suko-chan has already taken care of me." With that, he closed his eyes and drifted back to sleep.

"Would you like to stay with us, princess?," asked Katsuko. "I wouldn't mind the company."

Minako smiled genuinely this time. Katsuko was a kind person. One didn't hate her easily. "Iie," she said again. "I didn't mean to disturb you. I'll just talk with you later. Catch you on the flapjack!"

Katsuko looked confused for a moment, but then just smiled. "Of course, princess, and thank you for coming over. May Mother Goddess keep you."

Minako dashed away as she waved goodbye and trotted off, heart heavy. What to do now?