Orion Saga

Part 2

Celestial Battle

Chapter 9: Private matters

"You seem to be in a better mood than usual." Bright green eyes look up at Zentora as she sits on her bed.

"Maybe I am. I mean...well."

'What is it?'

Zentora looks at Pup. "Nothing much." She is supposed to be meeting with Samaru later that morning. Yet, despite her new found excitement, she is still confused about her position. Moreover, she is unsure of whether to tell her guardians of her new memories. Especially since they'd already been keeping things form her.

"I'm just glad this whole thing is finally over and I can get on with my life."

'Yes, of course.' Pup glances at Sirius to see her looking at the floor.

Zentora looks at them. "This is over isn't it?"

Sirius looks up at her charge. "Zentora, we-"

"Zentora! Telephone!"

The fuchsia head turns at the sound of her mother's voice. "I have to go."

Pup watches her leave the room.

"What are we supposed to tell her, Pup? Now that she's found the orbs...this may just be the beginning."

'You're right, Sirius. But I don't know. She finally seems happy.'

Zentora looks at her mother as she takes the phone. "Who is it?"

Jalise smiles at her daughter. "Samaru."

Taking the phone from her mother, she lifts her hand from the receiver. "Hello?"

"Ori?"

Zentora smiles a little at the mention of her nickname. "Hi. How are you?"

"Great. About yesterday. I said I had something for you."

"Um, could you hold on a second?" Zentora interrupts him.

A puzzled Samaru waits on the other end of the line. "Sure."

Placing a hand over the phone, the quiet girl looks at her mother sitting on the chair next to her. "Uh...mom? So you think you could-?"

Jalis looks at her daughter with an innocent expression. "Oh, you go ahead. I'm just reading."

The translucent eyes glance at the magazine. "You've been looking at the same shoe ad since I've been on the phone."

The woman notices the page and smiles. "Well, I'll just be in the bedroom."

Zentora watches her mother as she walks into the room at the end of the hall. Shaking her head, she places the phone next to her ear. "I'm back."

"What was that about?"

"My mom. It's frustrating because I think she's only learning Japanese so she can listen in on the phone."

A gentle laugh is her response.

"You were saying?"

"Yes. Do you think you could meet me in the park?"

Zentora nods to herself. "Yes."

"Good. Be there in about fifteen minutes."

*~*~*~*~*

As she enters the park, her soft eyes begin scanning around. She walks over to her favorite tree thinking that he would be there, yet she can't find him. She keeps going until she sees him standing alone on the bridge.

The hazel eyes turn away from the water at the sound of her voice.

"Hi...you said you had something..."

Samaru smiles warmly. "Yes." His hand goes into his pocket and he fumbles with the small box.

Zentora watches him as he looks at the floor of the bridge. "are you okay?"

Glancing away, he answers. "Hmmm...yes. It's just that...well, this was hard enough the first time. But I think, under the circumstances, I should do it again." Samaru takes Zentora's hand and kneels.

Zentora stares at him as he places the ring on her finger. "I uh..."

Samaru looks up at her. "Are you all right, Ori?"

"I'm fine. It's just-" She looks at him. "Thank-you."

Samaru wraps his arms around her when he stands. "What's wrong?"

The young woman shakes her head, overwhelmed. "I don't know. Nothing I guess."

Samaru looks down at her. "I'm sorry."

Looking up at him, she tries her best to explain. "It's not you. I just... This is still hard."

The young man nods.

*~*~*~*~*

As the two of them walk through the park, they pass two woman sitting on a bench. The short haired woman with the blank charcoal eyes raises her head.

"It's her."

Alcyone's fiery eyes shift over in Zentora's direction. "That was easy enough."

Tygeta nods. "Let us get back to the others."

Alcyone stands and takes her blind sister's hand to leave the park.

*~*~*~*~*

A happy Usagi is getting dressed for a lunch date with Mamoru when the phone rings.

"Hello?"

"Usagi-chan?"

"Rei-chan. Hi."

The priestess on the other end of the phone is silent when she hears the jovial voice. 'Should I even tell her? She's so happy.'

"Rei?"

She is yanked from her thoughts when she hears her name. "Is anything wrong?"

"Usagi, I have to tell you something."

"Well, will it take long? Mamo-chan and I are going to have a late lunch."

"Oh..." Rei tries to sound cheerful in spite of the visions that have been running through her mind. "I'll call you when you get back."

Usagi's blue eyes are pensive. "Okay." After telling Rei good bye, she hands up the phone and places her head on her hands to think.

"Usagi?"

The woman turns to see the sleek black cat on her bed. "What was that phone call?"

"I think Rei has something important to tell me. She's going to call again later."

Both of them turn their heads at the sound of the doorbell. Usagi looks at the door to her bedroom. "I'm not so sure that I want to go out now."

Luna looks at her thoughtfully. "Go ahead. You can think about it when you get back."

Reluctantly, the young woman goes downstairs.