KONNICHIWA MINNA-SAN! Heheheheheheeeeee! I'm back from my great and GLORIOUS vacation to England! So that's why this chapter was a little slow to come out, but I think it's worth the wait! Okay…. To each his own…. -_-;;
ANYWHO! I'm out and about and enjoying the nice weather I've seen insuch a LONG time. I did a little switching with the characters on who was to be awakened next so… just a little note. Well I hope you all have a great summer! Love ya lots:
Xaph-chan!
PS: I don't own Sailor Moon! ^^
Seiya tossed his keys onto the table and looked out at the dark sky. It threatened to fall with rain again. He glanced over at the red-blinking light on his telephone. He pressed the play button and went to the window.
"Mr. Seiya Kou, this is Mr. Hayashibara, your landlord. I just called to let you know that your apartment has been repaired, and your furniture shall be replaced within the week. You are free to move back any time. Thank you, Mr. Kou." The answering machine gave a beep and the light stopped blinking.
This brightened Seiya's day slightly, at least now he wouldn't have to be so close to Mamoru-san, and he wouldn't have to deal with the endless feuding and stupid fights. He hated being around him more then anything. What gave him the right to claim Usagi as his! Then again… what gave Seiya that right also?
"Damnit…" he ran his fingers through his hair angrily. This was so stupid! He was toiling over this day in and day out! He needed to clear his mind of this… he needed to be with Usagi… she would always make him feel better.
'Usagi… I miss you…'
Usagi's eyes jolted open and she stared up at the ceiling with a strange sensation flowing over her. Her fever had diminished and she was feeling a little better then yesterday.
"Usagi?" A man with silver hair and blue robes walked in. Usagi sat up, choking down pain.
"Xavier?" She questioned. He smiled and sat next to her on the bed.
"How are you feeling today, my little flower?" He called her that often now, saying that Usagi was a young bud on the edge of being a blossoming flower. It made no sense to her what so ever, but she went along with it anyway.
"I feel better…"
"That's good. Do you feel well enough to join me for a walk around the grounds?" He questioned.
Usagi shook her head, "No… thank you."
"Well, is there anything I can do for you?" He questioned.
"Actually… Xavier?"
"Hm?"
"Are there any books about the Silver Millennium?"
Xavier was shocked by her question. He shook his head, "No. But I can answer any questions you might have."
"Did I have… guardians? Like those Sailor Senshi…?" she had seen Sailor Senshi-like figures in her fevered dreams, and she wondered exactly who they were…
"Actually, Usagi… you did," Xavier said, surprised, "But they weren't reborn. When they died… they died."
Xavier didn't care that he was lying to her, she didn't need to know anything like that… she deserved to be kept from the truth. After what he had to go through to find her, he'd be damned if he let her flee from his grasp again.
"Now you lie down, Usagi… I want you getting better," He kissed her forehead and pulled the covers up around her. "Sleep well."
"Mmm-hmmm…" Usagi drifted into sleep, the thoughts of the beautiful protectors dancing in her mind.
"Damnit…" Xavier hissed, storming out of Usagi's room. A woman stood there in the hall, waiting for him. He barely acknowledged her presence as she nearly jogged to keep up with his tempered pace.
"What seems to be the problem, Sir?" She questioned between breaths.
"Usagi! Damnit! She's beginning to remember her senshi!" he whipped around and glared at his assistant, "General, if you don't stop them soon, we're going to have ten very angry senshi on our hands."
"Yes, Sir! I know, Sir! I'll attack with one of my better phages, sir. I won't let them get away," She stated, drawing herself to attention.
"Hm…" He looked her up and down speculatively, "You had better not, General." With that he turned and brushed her off in a huff of anger.
Kaoraan watched him leave, as she bit her lip. She decided it best not to tell him that another senshi had been woken. Otherwise it would be her neck…
"Blast that man," She growled, heading back to her quarters, "I do everything he says! Why can't he do these things himself…" Kaoraan looked at the portrait of him over her fireplace.
'Still…' she thought. 'Damnit, Xavier! Don't you understand why I put up with your shit? Don't you even realize why I do everything for you…?' Kaoraan breathed deeply, letting one tear fall from her eye, 'I love you…'
"So you're leaving, Seiya?" Taiki questioned as he watched Seiya shove numerous items into a large red bag. Seiya nodded calmly.
For some reason it bothered Taiki that he was going to be alone in the apartment again. Even though Seiya could get on his nerves sometimes… it wasn't quite the same without him.
"It won't be the same with out you," Taiki said, stating his thoughts.
Seiya smiled over his shoulder at his tall friend, "It won't be the same without you either, Tai. But I can't put up with Mamoru any more… it's getting worse. Every time I turn around it's a snide remark or a fight or something. It's just not worth it anymore…"
"I know it's been rough for the both of you… without Usagi to talk to, you've both become scared and irritated… it's odd how you two can be so alike sometimes," Taiki covered his mouth slightly, hoping he hadn't said the wrong thing.
"Yeah… sometimes we are a lot alike…" Seiya sighed slightly and tossed a shirt into the bag.
"Seiya, I wonder…" Taiki began.
"You wonder what?" Seiya questioned.
"I wonder… who's going to be awoken next…" he thought for a while. Seiya smiled.
"Venus… that should make Yaten happy enough to keep his mouth shut for a while," Seiya tossed several more items into the bag.
Taiki laughed, but secretly, inside he was jealous. Venus? What about Mercury? He needed some one to hold too! He needed to feel Mercury in his arms again, and to kiss her like he once had. It wasn't fair!
"Taiki?" Seiya questioned. Taiki had blanked out on Seiya a while back and was now worrying him slightly.
"Huh?" Taiki snapped out of his trance.
"Taiki are you okay? What's the matter?"
Taiki blushed, but quickly made up a lie, "I was just thinking about how much I'm going to miss you, Seiya."
Seiya smiled, "I'll miss you too." Seiya hoisted the bag onto his shoulder and grabbed the keys to his car and apartment. "Good-bye, Taiki. I'll see you in a few days."
"Ja ne, Seiya…" Taiki said, as he led Seiya to the door.
"Take care, Okay?" Seiya smiled at him before walking down the hall and into the elevator.
Taiki smiled at his friend then closed the door. Seiya was off again. It felt a little odd to watch him go. It was like Seiya would be leaving his life forever. Then again… Seiya had become so obsessive over Usagi, so obsessive over getting her back, that he had become withdrawn. It had been a slow process, but Taiki knew that everyone must have noticed his change in character.
"Seiya… take care… there's going to be many trials for you ahead…" Taiki sighed.
"Is that what she said?" Yaten's green eyes glimmered like stars at the young woman's word.
"Hai," Rei had been filing her nails as she waited for Taiki. She looked up at him and watched the largest grin she had ever seen spread across his face.
"YES!" Yaten yelled and jumped around, "I LOVE YOU SETSUNA!" Yaten ran out of the apartment, laughing and screaming at the top of his lungs.
"Oh my…" Rei watched him strangely as he giggled like a girl and ran back and forth through the halls.
"Hey, Rei…" Seiya walked through the door that Yaten had carelessly left open. Rei looked up and blushed lightly.
"Hi, Seiya…" she said to him, "How's the apartment?"
"Lonely… It's not the same without a roommate," Seiya laughed as he got himself a glass of water. "I take it you broke the news to Yaten."
"I did… I didn't think he'd react like that though…" She put the file back into her purse and looked over at Seiya.
"Have you seen Taiki?" She questioned, "Setsuna wants to talk to him."
Seiya thought for a moment then shook his head, "No… come to think of it… I haven't seen much of him period." He thought some more, "Ya know… he seemed kind of upset when I told him we're going to waken Venus next… I wonder if he was jealous."
"Lonely seems more of the case," Rei stated, "I think he just wants to have some one to love." (AN: Like the cheezy American SM song! I WANT SOME ONE TO LOVE TO GIVE MY EVERYTHING! I JUST WANT TO BE WITH YOU BE WITH YOU BABY!)
Seiya cracked a smile, "And what about you, Rei? On that same boat?"
Rei blushed, "Who me! No way!" She quickly covered her face with her hands.
"Sure ya aren't," He chuckled and gave her a nudge. "So think we should take Hotaru on a training session before we wake Venus?" He had quickly changed the subject to avoid confrontation, he knew how girls could be.
"Eh… I don't know… it's more up to Setsuna then anything else…"
"Yeah… I know-"
"YOU GUYS!" Taiki burst through the room, gasping for breath, "Attack on twenty second street! Uranus and Saturn are holding them off! Where's Yaten!?"
"I don't know!" Seiya and Rei quickly exchanged glances then transformed without any other words. Within moments, Sailor Star Maker and Fighter, and Sailor Mars, were rushing down the street in high-heeled shoes.
"WORLD SHAKING!"
BOOM!
"You're going to have to do better then that," Said a spiny voice from the resulting dirt cloud of Uranus' attack. The cloud fell and there stood a tall, thin woman with glowing golden skin and fire-red eyes and hair. Golden strips of fabric flowed around her and covered her in the places that needed to be covered, for modesty's sake.
"Damnit! Hotaru! Attack!"
Hotaru raised her staff, "Silence Wall!"
BOOM!
"Ah!" The phage was knocked off her feet. "Damn you!" She quickly got to her feet, "BURNING SPEAR!" A flaming spear appeared suddenly in her hand, and was thrown at the two Senshi.
"AH! Hotaru!" Uranus jumped into Hotaru and they rolled out of the blast.
"Are You guys all right?" Fighter had appeared at their side, helping them to their feet.
"Yeah, we're fine, but that phage is hard to beat, Fighter! Be careful!" Uranus said. Hotaru nodded in agreement.
Fighter stepped forward and raised her arm over her head, "STAR SERIOUS LASER!" She could feel the energy collecting in her hand, and then feel it being released in a shower of stars at the phage.
"Ahhh!" There were burns on the skin of the golden woman. She glared at them from under her fire hair. "You have made me angry…"
"Not angry enough! STAR SENSITIVE INFERNO!" Healer ran forward, her hands releasing the energy that lead to the phage's demise.
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh…." She was gone.
"Thank god! That one was tougher then usual," Fighter said.
Hotaru looked at all of them, she looked both scared and exhausted, "So that's what I do?"
Uranus gave her a hug, "Sorry to say, it is."
"Oh." She looked solemnly at her hands.
"It's okay…" Uranus gave her another hug.
"YOU DAMNED SENSHI!" A voice cried from in front of them. Their heads shot up to stare at the General who had introduced herself before.
"You!" Maker, Fighter, and Healer jumped in front of Uranus, Mars, and Saturn.
"Yes me! Damnit! You've beaten all my phages, and you've made me very angry…" She glared at them, "Believe me… I am not a pleasant person when I am angry…"
"Neither are we! You've taken our princess, now give her back!" Fighter yelled, waving a fist at the woman.
BOOM! She was struck with a powerful energy force from Kaoraan. Fighter was thrown several feet in the air and then bounced several times across the pavement, before coming to a halt. She glared at the brunette in front of her.
Uranus gasped before her temper got the better hold of her. "Fighter! OKAY! That is ENOUGH! WORLD SHAKING!" Uranus attack with great force, and Kaoraan barely escaped the blast.
"Damn you!" She threw her own energy at the other pesky senshi, sending Haruka skidding backward on her butt across the cement. Kaoraan laughed heartily, watching the scene with amusement.
"You senshi are very funny people, Ha!" She chuckled some more.
"… INFERNO!" Healer attacked quickly with her own powers, catching the woman off guard.
Kaoraan was thrown to the ground, a small stream of blood coming from her newly split lip. She growled up at the senshi, then rose to her feet.
"You haven't seen the last of me, Senshi!" She spat, "I'll come back for all of you!" Then, with a flash of bright red light, she had vanished.
"Oh my god…" Hotaru whispered.
Everyone looked at her frightened face, and suddenly felt terrible about having to put her through this. She was too young… but Serenity needed to be retrieved.
Mamoru looked up as Yaten entered the apartment. He seemed to be torn between utter joy, and utter despair.
"Yaten? You alright?" He questioned, setting down his coffee. Yaten looked up and forced a small smile.
"Kinda…" He went to the window and looked out, dark clouds had gathered and it appeared as though rain would be a definite addition to the weather.
"What is it?" Mamoru questioned him again.
"Well…" Yaten thought for a moment, "I'm so excited about Venus being next… but… oh I don't know. Something doesn't feel quite right…" Yaten shrugged, "Like I'm betraying some one… but I can't be, can I?"
Mamoru shrugged, "I don't know. You want Venus back, correct?"
"More then anything in the universe."
"Then that's all that matters."
Yaten appeared to be thinking for a long time, "You're right." He said finally, a small smile breaking on his face.
Taiki sighed as he poured himself a little tea. Raindrops thundered on his windows, pounding out any other sound. His heart felt heavy, he felt lost almost. In any aspect, he felt mirrored to the weather outside. Dreary, Cold, Sad.
He knew what was troubling him. But he wouldn't admit it to any one. No one would understand, no matter how much they said they did. No body would be able to feel what he felt right now.
Loneliness. Depression. Betrayal. Loss.
This seemed to sum up most of what he felt. True there was a little joy and happiness in his thoughts, but it was a miniscule particle compared to his other feelings. He was glad for Yaten, he was happy Yaten finally got to see his Venus. But, he was rueful… he wanted to see his Mercury. His beloved. His own goddess in disguise.
Taiki closed his eyes slowly, letting two warm tears roll from his eyes, down his cheeks, then off his chin and splatter on the table. He felt so lost without Mercury beside him… she would always know what to say to him, how to smile at him… the right way to kiss him. He missed all of that, and he would do anything to get it back.
** Her beautiful aqua eyes glimmered from beneath her shimmering blue hair. The orb of earth above them reflected light onto her angelic, pale skin. All-in-all she was the most magnificent creation of god that Taiki had ever seen.
"Tai-chan?" She questioned, rubbing his upper-arm. Taiki gave a start and pulled out of his trance, he smiled softly upon her, and took her into his arms.
"Hai?" He questioned, a smile dancing across his face.
"Do you love me?" She smiled up at him, knowing the answer before she even began her sentence.
"More then life it's self," Taiki stated boldly, brushing his lips across her forehead. He felt Mercury giggle in delight, then raise her face to his, whereupon, Taiki kissed her full, pink lips. **
"I love you, Mercury… I'll do anything to get you back." Taiki was certain that he would not have to brave this world much longer, without his mercury.
"So, Are you ready?" Seiya questioned Yaten. He could tell that Yaten was just itching to get out of the house. Oddly enough, Yaten had been the first one ready today. He just wanted to see his beloved.
"More then anything… Setsuna-san, what is Venus' name again?" Yaten questioned.
"Aino Minako," Came the reply.
THUNK
Seiya stared at the ceiling from the floor. It was who? Yaten stood over him and looked down.
"Seiya?" He questioned.
Seiya closed his eyes… He couldn't believe it… one of Usagi's best friends was… Venus? Was it a coincidence?
"Seiya, get off the floor," Yaten said sternly, giving him a firm kick in the side, "We're leaving."
Seiya shook off his shock and followed the others out of the apartment building. Maybe this was good…
Or maybe not…
Yaten swallowed hard and rose his fist to knock softly at the white door. He heard nothing but silence behind him. Would she remember? Would she still feel the same way towards him?
The door slowly opened and a pair of sparkling sapphire eyes locked with his own jade ones. His breath was caught as he stared at the beautiful blonde… he wanted to take her into his arms and kiss her like there was no tomorrow. This was Venus… this was his Venus!!
Acting on his thoughts, Yaten stepped forward, grabbed her waist and pulled her close to him, and then kissed her like he'd never kissed before. Oh … it felt good to feel her lips against his again… he'd waited a millennium for this, he'd be damned if he had to wait any longer.
"Ack! Ecchi! Get off!!" Before Yaten knew it, his Aphrodite had brushed him off her and was now glaring at him from under her golden bangs. "Exactly what do you thing you're doing!?" She hissed, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand.
Yaten looked hurt for the first time in his life. She didn't remember him? He'd been reborn to find her and she didn't remember!? Damn the spell!
"Venus… I-"
"VENUS!? Who in hell are you!? All of you!?" Minako struck a karate pose in a signal that she was ready to fight. Seiya's face popped up from behind the several people in front of him. "Minako-san? It's me, Seiya!" He stepped forward.
Minako's mood quickly did an about-face. Well, if Seiya was here then there was nothing to worry about! ^^
"Seiya-san! It's good to see you!," Minako chimed and proceeded gave him a hug. At this Yaten blew a gasket.
"WHAT! Don't you dare hug her, Seiya! She's mine!" Yaten, for the first time in his life, resulted in using his fist.
He pulled his arm back and smacked Seiya one good, right under his left eye. Seiya reeled backwards, grasping at the air. Yaten sure packed one hell of a punch when he wanted too.
In several seconds, Seiya had fallen to the floor at Minako's feet, however, due to his… 'unique' position, this resulted in him accidentally looking up Minako's skirt. Yaten knew immediately what had happened by Seiya's bright red face. All hell was about to break loose. Hold on to your hats kiddies, cause it's gonna be a bumpy ride…
"HENTAI! HOW DARE YOU!!! BASTARD!" Yaten's voice seemed to shake the walls with his anger. He jumped forward, lodging his knee in Seiya's stomach, then proceeded to wrestle the hell out of him.
"Eh! Ya-ten-kun… it eh was an AHHHHHHHH-cident!" Yaten was now rubbing Seiya's face into the yellow shag carpet as Minako let out an ear-piercing shriek and backed away from the brawling couple.
"What are you doing!?" She yelled, as she noticed that Seiya's nose was bleeding and several bumps and bruises were appearing on his body. She reached forward and grabbed Yaten's hair, then proceeded to yank him off her friend.
Yaten yelled in pain and she drew him to his feet, then glared right into his jade eyes. "Who are you and WHY are you hurting my friend!?"
Yaten had never been afraid of anything before… but Minako scared the hell out of him right now. He swallowed hard, "Minako-san… I'm Y-Ya-Yaten…"
Minako watched as Rei stepped forward and helped Seiya to his feet. She brushed back his hair and shook her head. "Are you okay?"
Seiya rubbed a growing bump on his head, "Yeah… I'm fine."
"Minako," Rei questioned, "Do you have any ice?"
Minako nodded, "Yeah, come here. I'll get some ice while all of you can explain exactly what's going on."
BAM! BAM! BAM! Minako continuously smacked Yaten with an orange couch pillow.
"OFF!" She yelled as her battle cry.
"I didn't touch you!" Yaten protested, shielding his face with his arms.
"No! But you were thinking about it!" Minako continued to beat him mercilessly with her pillow.
"Hey! How do you know what I was thinking!?" He grabbed the pillow from her and sat on it, then crossed his arms over his chest and glared at her.
"I just do!" She smacked his upper arm relentlessly.
Rei laughed at the scene as she held an ice pack to Seiya's head. It was really the first time she laughed in front of the group, but everyone found the display of Yaten and Minako too funny to notice. Seiya didn't though. He turned and looked over at her, then smiled that glittering, sexy smile.
"That's the first time I've heard you laugh," he said. Rei blushed, and stopped her chiming giggles promptly. She said nothing and continued to press the ice-pack to his head.
"You have a very pretty laugh, just the same," he whispered to her.
Rei's face burned with embarrassment and she avoided his gaze.
"Ah! Minako-san!"
Rei let a small smile pass over her face, "You know, they almost fight as much as you and Mamoru-san."
Seiya chuckled, "Yeah… but Minako's a little more violent."
Rei smiled knowingly at him, then watched the display again.
"OW! MINAKO! LET GO!" Yaten whined, trying to free his hair from Minako's stern grasp.
"OFF!"
"I WAS NEVER ON!" Yaten whined again.
Seiya stood up and looked at the brawling couple, then around at the living room filled with people.
"I'm gonna go home now… I'll see you guys later, and Minako… try not to kill Yaten okay?"
Minako looked up at him, the sign of Venus glowing brightly on her forehead. She just grinned maliciously, bearing her teeth in an almost animal–like way.
"Is it okay if I tag along?" Rei questioned. Seiya nodded and they said good-bye to group, then left.
Mamoru and Setsuna had left a while back, Setsuna nearly falling asleep as she walked, and Taiki wasn't going to stick around with the endless flirting. Although… it was kind of fun to see Minako beat Yaten with household objects…
He bid farewell and Minako sighed as the door closed behind them.
"Jeez! I thought they'd never leave!" She breathed out deeply as Yaten stared at her in confusion.
"Huh?"
"I couldn't get them to leave… so I figured if I flirted with you enough…" She batted her eyes.
"Your flirting is painful," Yaten stated simply.
"Ah… that it is…" She stood up, "Do you want some tea?"
"Nope," He grabbed her hand and pulled her back to where she was sitting next to him. Minako giggled.
"I have a question," Yaten asked.
"Alright," Minako shrugged, "Question away."
"Do you remember?"
"Remember…?" Minako fiend confusion, she had something up her sleeve.
"Remember… what happened… you know, back in the Silver Millennium?"
"Hmmm… maybe… I see a bit of fuzz… if I could just refresh my memory…"
With that, Yaten nearly pounced forward and kissed her. Minako grinned under his lips, then began to giggle as he pulled away.
"What?" Yaten questioned.
"Of course I remember," Minako giggled, batting her eyelashes at him, "How could I forget some one like you?"
Yaten grinned, then grabbed her waist and kissed her again. This time he deepened the kiss my parting her lips with his tongue. He felt her heartbeat quicken and her breath grow deeper.
'Venus… my Aphrodite…' he thought as she buried her fingers in his silver hair. He wrapped his arms even tighter around her waist as she moaned lightly into his mouth. She slowly pulled from the kiss, breathing deeply from the passion. Yaten grinned at her.
"Hoshiko…" She giggled, nuzzling her nose against his. Yaten's face burned a bright red as she giggled again.
Yaten cleared his throat, trying to stop his blushing, "You haven't called me that for a long while… Minako-chan…"
Minako laughed heartily, "That's because I didn't remember you for a long while." She nipped at his lips with hers and smiled.
Yaten took her into his arms as she sighed in contentment.
"Yaten?"
"Hm?"
"How come I remember the past better then the others… I mean, besides you and the other Starlights?"
Yaten hadn't really thought about it… How come Minako remembered more? True, her memory wasn't perfect, but she remembered loads more then Haruka, or Hotaru… Yaten traced her sign as it slowly began to fade from her forehead.
"I don't know…" He said slowly.
Minako smiled and kissed his cheeks. "I'm glad you found me, Yaten… I missed you more then I realized…"
"Me too, Minako…" Yaten buried his face into her hair, "Me too…"