The Voice of an Angel – The Twenty Fourth Chapter

(Date: October 31st, 2002)

Konnichiwa Minna-san! Xaphrin desu! What's going on? Are ya doing good? Well finally after months of horrid torment (Of both me and you) I finally got out the 24th chapter. It's actually pretty good in my opinion, but I wrote it so what in hell do I know?

Anyway, Here ya go. I hope to get the 25th chapter out, then wrap it up soon (Within the next 3-4 chapters… where exactly did Mamoru go?)! If you're looking for a Halloween Seiya and Usagi story, be sure to read: Happy Halloween! Under my profile page! DOMO-ARIGATOU! THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR YOUR SUPPORT!!

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"A drunken bet gone horribly, horribly wrong…"

            Seiya swallowed hard as he pushed the tapestry away. What if there was- His thoughts were cut off as he looked around the room.

            Usagi had told him how to get to her room, because he had asked with the pure intention of coming to see her while he was not under the watchful eye of Xavier.  Now, standing here, he saw how Usagi was really treated… like the princess she was.

            Gold and silver mingled with shades of pale and deep blue. To his right was a large, white marble fireplace, surrounded by couches and chairs adorned in blue and silver. The walls were hung with blue tapestries and her bed was made of ebony inlaid with gold and sapphire, then surrounded by pale blue, silk curtains.

            His attention was quickly drawn from the bed, to the person lying in the bed. Her golden hair was spread out over the pillows. He was seemingly entranced to her form by some unknown force, and his heart pounded in his chest as he leaned over her.

            She stirred, jolting him from his state of ecstasy. Her eyes drifted open and she smiled at him. "Ohayo…"

            He swallowed hard, his cheeks burning a bright red.  "Ohayo…"

            She forced herself to sit up on her forearms and she smiled again, looking into his indigo eyes.

            "Ah…" He stuttered with his words as she pushed herself into a full sitting position, resulting in her being face to face with him.

            "How'd you sleep?" She asked calmly.

             "Well…" He responded, his gaze fell, noticing the way her silk bed dress clung to her. He felt his stomach go tight and he swallowed hard, forcing his gaze back into her face.

             "What's wrong?" Usagi questioned, her eyes filled with concern.

            Seiya looked at her again, clean, pristine, beautiful. And then at him self, dirty, blood-covered, exhausted. He hated comparing himself to others, but it was so hard not to while he was in his present state.

            Usagi smiled, suddenly knowing what he was thinking. "Do you want a shower?"

            Seiya's cheeks flared, but he nodded, "Hai."

            Usagi showed him where the bathroom was then found some clothes that she had smuggled for him, and let him relax in peace.

            Minako sat in Yaten's arms. They lay on his bed in silence as they waited for the others to get to the apartment.

            "It's not fair." Tears streamed down Minako's face. "Makoto shouldn't have to deal with this… Makoto has nothing to do with this."

            "I know, Minako-chan, but sometimes it's not always how this goes." Yaten stroked her hair and rocked her gently.

            "I wish none of this happened."

            "It's no use, wishing for things that can't be…"

             "Ohayo! Minna-san? Haruka desu!" a masculine voice called out.

            Yaten helped Minako to her feet, and they walked out into the living room.

            "Hey, Haruka. What's up?" Yaten asked.

            "Not much," She replied, shrugging.

            "Is Rei here yet?" Michiru questioned.

            "No," Said a soft voice from the couch. Everyone turned to see Luna stretched out, bathing in the early morning sun. "She should be here soon."

             "Ohayo! Rei desu!" Rei called out as soon as she walked into the apartment. Everyone turned to look at the door as she slipped off her shoes. "Sorry I'm late. The summer festival is coming up and I've been busy all week!"

            Luna nodded as she stretched herself out and stood up. "Daijoubu. Is everyone ready to head to Makoto's?"

            "Hai," Everyone said as they nodded.

            "Good luck," Yaten said as they walked out the door.

            "Hai… Good luck." Minako whispered, her eyes sad.

             "Minako-chan…" Yaten wrapped his arms around her slender shoulders and brought her close to himself. "Daijoubu… Daijoubu… Mina-chan… suki da… zutto suki da…"

            Tears fell down Minako's pale face and she forced a smiled, "Me too…" 

            Seiya couldn't believe how much better he felt after he stepped out of the bathroom, cleaned, and in real clothing. His hair hung loosely down his back and he smiled brightly as Usagi stood up.

            She was wearing a lavender gown with powder-blue lace. She looked… like a princess… like she was supposed to.

             "Ohayo," She said, "Daijoubu?"

            "Hai!" Seiya smiled, "I feel a lot better then I have the past week." He approached her. "That dress looks lovely on you, Usagi-chan."

            "Do you think so? It was just made. Oh! I'm having breakfast brought up here, if you want some."

            Seiya's stomach growled in response. "Gomen-ne…" He blushed.

            "Are you hungry?" She giggled.

            Seiya nodded. He felt stupid, being pampered like this. He was the one who was supposed to be comforting her, not the other way around. Why did she always have to go and make things more difficult?

             "Seiya?" Her voice was tender now, as if she were afraid to ask him something.

            "Nani desu ka?" He questioned, his eyebrows knitting together in confusion and worry.

            "Can I… talk… with you?"

            Seiya started. "Of course… what do you want to talk about?"

             "Seiya… I… I'm wondering…" She looked up at him, worry and confusion shining brightly in her cool, cerulean eyes, "Why are you here?"

            He opened his mouth in shock. He couldn't tell her… he couldn't lie to her though. But now wasn't the time to tell her! If she knew, then she would reject him, and Seiya would never get her out of Xavier's grasp.

            "I… I don't know… why are you here, Usagi?" He asked, sitting next to her on the sofa.

            "Xavier said…. Xavier said it was because I was a princess of the moon… the one's that the Sailor Senshi were looking for… but it doesn't make sense… Seiya…" there was a pause as she fought to sort her feelings, "I don't understand, Seiya…"

            This wasn't anything new to Seiya, that he knew. However, he still felt a pain in his heart every time he thought about it. Every time he thought about the burden that was bestowed on this young, innocent woman.

            "It's okay, Usagi-chan," he said, cupping her cheeks. "I'm here with you…" He felt water run over his fingers and he wanted to cry himself. But he didn't, he had to be strong for her sake.

            "Suki da, Seiya!" She threw herself into his arms, holding him tightly.

            "Suka da… Usa-chan… Suki da…." He whispered into her hair.

            The door slowly opened to reveal dark, chestnut hair, and deep green eyes that appeared to be red and puffy… from something suck as crying.

              "Konnichiwa?" She questioned, softly, "How may I help you?"

            "Kino Makoto-san?" Rei questioned.

            "Hai?"

            Michiru stepped forward and hugged Makoto tightly. She gasped in response to the sudden, unannounced, affectionate comfort. "Usagi will be back soon. We will retrieve her, Makoto. Yakusoku."

            Makoto swallowed hard as the green-haired woman pulled away. Her tears had stopped and were now replaced with utter shock.

            "Who are all of you?" She questioned.

            "We," Said a voice from her feet. She looked down, only to be in even more shock when she saw the cat talking, "Are the Sailor Senshi. And we have something very important to tell you, Makoto-san."

            The four people and one cat walked into the apartment. Makoto offered them a seat and tea, which they humbly accepted.

            "I don't understand. Why are you here?" She questioned.

            "Usagi, is the princess of the moon," The cat spoke. Makoto dropped her tea-cup as he hands began to shake.

            "Nani?"

            The raven-haired woman spoke up, "Usagi-san is the princess of the moon, and you are her guardian, Sailor Jupiter." She drank her tea calmly, as if she had just said nothing special to Makoto.

            "I'm… I'm…"

            "Rei is right, Makoto, You are Sailor Jupiter, and we need you to get Usagi back." Haruka said calmly.

            "But… how can I be…?" Her face was white and filled with nothing but confusion and utter shock.

            "You are … reincarnated. We must save Usagi from Xavier. I know you don't remember anything, but that was a partially a side-effect, partially a protection method," The cat said, jumping onto Makoto's lap. "When the princess is re-awoken, then all of your memories from you previous life will be returned to you."

            "Wait a second here… Usagi is the moon princess… and… she's still alive?" Makoto questioned, "And I'm supposed to save her from… from…"

             "Xavier? Well… yes. He has been jealous of Seiya and Usagi's love. He was betrothed to Usagi, but she loved another and her mother allowed the love, breaking off the marriage. Now he wants Usagi as his own, without any interference."

            "Wait a second! Seiya… Kou Seiya! As in… Usagi's old boyfriend?"

            "Hai," Michiru said, "They were married in the past… they had two children… Xavier killed both the children and Seiya… and Usagi."

            "So… that's why Usagi was so attracted to Seiya the first time she met him?"

             "Possibly," Rei spoke up, "Or it could be that she just found him very attractive." She shrugged, "Whichever."

            Makoto looked at her, raising an eyebrow at the young woman's nonchalant tone. "Ah."

             "Makoto-san, you have to believe us… Minako is even counting on you," Luna pleaded.

             Makoto's eyes went wide and she stared in disbelief at the cat. "A…are you telling me that… that MINAKO is a… a sailor senshi!?" Makoto seemed appalled by this new information.

            "Well… yes… it's odd, but Usagi's closest friends are her guardians. You, Minako… Mizuno-san." Haruka said, her eyes drifting out the window, then back towards Makoto, her mouth now falling through the floor.

            "Ami-chan… she's one too!?"

            "Hai. Mizuno-san will be awakened soon, within the next few days, however, she has no inkling of her past," Luna spoke articulately and firmly.

             "Damnit… and we're all set to retrieve Usagi-chan from … what's-his-face?" Makoto sat there in silence for a long while before speaking again. "I promised to my self a long time ago that I would do anything for anyone of my best friends, and I have to do this for Usagi. She's like the sister I never had…."

            Luna smiled brightly at Makoto, "You have chosen the right path, Makoto-san. Come here… and place you hand on my head. You may feel a slight burning sensation on your forehead…."

            Makoto did as she was instructed and placed her hand on Luna's head. And as she was told, there came a burning sensation in the middle of her own forehead. As thought it was being touched with a very hot light bulb. She yearned to itch it furiously.

            Then came a slight pain at the back of her cerebellum, and memories were returning as though some invisible blockade of the psyche had finally been overrun.

            She opened her eyes and smiled, "I understand now."

             Everyone around the room smiled back happily at the new sailor senshi. Sailor Jupiter.            

            Seiya held her tightly and kissed her forehead, "You are beautiful, Usagi…" he whispered after a while. She looked up at him.

             "Seiya…" She whispered, nuzzling her face into his neck. "Seiya… I just don't want you to leave me… stay with me tonight… please?"

            Seiya knew that he couldn't say no to her, but he also knew it wasn't right. "I can't, Usagi…"

            "But you can't go back there, don't leave me!" She threw herself into his arms. She knew he would be close, but not close enough.

             "Usagi…"

            "Please stay!"

             "Alright…" he whispered, "I'll stay… I'll stay…" He kissed her softly as she snuggled deep within his embrace.

            He knew that she would soon fall asleep, then he would place her in her bed, and he would sneak off. If he got caught, it would be the death of him… and if Xavier found out… well, he didn't even want to think about what he would do to poor Usagi.
            He soon found his predictions true, and there she slept, breathing deeply in his arms. He picked her up and tucked her into her bed, pulling the covers tightly around her.

             "Usagi… I wish you were never meant to carry this burden," he whispered, brushing bangs away from her closed eyes. She sighed in response.

            "Usagi is special to you is she not?" said a cold voice from behind him. Seiya whipped around to find a brunette woman with flowing red, orange, and yellow garments.

             "Kaoraan!" He growled.

            "Hush," She said, circling around his form, "You wouldn't want to wake your sleeping beauty." She turned to glare at the blonde.

            "What do you want… you conniving wench?" Seiya's eyes narrowed at her.

            "I'm honestly hurt by your insults. Really… I am," She said in a nonchalant, sarcastic way. "However… I have a business proposition for you."

            "I don't make deals with serpents!"

            "Keep your voice down, or I'll yank your ponytail right off your high head!" She hissed. Kaoraan glared him into silence. "You love her, don't you?"

            "I wouldn't be here if I didn't," Seiya said sourly.

            "You'd like to get her out of here… wouldn't you?"

            Seiya's heart tightened, and he lowered his eyes to her level, "What is it you are about to propose."

            "I get you and her out. You don't kill Xavier. It's a simple enough deal that even you can understand it," She was sharp with her tongue.

             "What?"

             Kaoraan rolled her eyes, "I will get both of you out of here, you do not kill Xavier."

            "Why?" He was suspicious of her intentions.

            Her eyes burned with fire and she stared at him, "Why I wish what I wish is none of your concern."

            Seiya smiled slyly, "You love him, don't you? You know that he's in love with Usagi… and you want him all for yourself… you are a conniving wench."

            "I'm well aware of your power, Seiya. I know that you could overrun me easily, especially with the source of your power at your side," She paused to nod toward Usagi's sleeping form, "And you are right about my intentions. I don't want your little… mistress… screwing with my plans."

            "She's my love… not my mistress."

            "She's your lover. Your bed maiden. Your fuck buddy for all I care," She was angry and sarcastic as her anger rose, "Will you agree to the proposition or not!"

            Seiya looked at Usagi, then at Kaoraan. "I don't know."

            She glared angrily, "I'll give you a day. And if you don't answer me, then I'll foil any plan you wish to start, and I may just kill the one thing you love most." Then in a huff of anger, and warmly colored fabrics, she exited the room.

             'Usagi… what should I do?'