Here's chapter…what is this? Chapter four? Okay well, read, review and enjoy!
Disclaimer: Stupid things -_- I do not own Sailor Moon
Chapter Four: Promises
"Usa?" A stunned voice choked out from across the room.
Usagi was frozen in place, unable to believe who was staring at her, his face pale, his eyes wide with shock.
"Seiya?" She whispered, placing a steadying hand on the door jam beside her.
In a flash Seiya had jumped up from the table and wrapped his arms around Usagi in an overwhelming hug. In a daze Usagi realized that this man was the little boy she had proclaimed love to so long ago, and now he was here, his arms holding her to his strong chest, his masculine scent so familiar and yet different at the same time.
"Oh, Dumpling. You won't believe how much I've missed you." He murmured against her hair, his voice hoarse with emotion.
He hadn't been able to believe it at first. He, Yaten and Taiki had arrived for brunch only to be told they were waiting on one most resident. He had been hungry and fiddling with his fork, flicking water at Yaten when the tapping of her heels walking on the marble had drawn his attention.
She had been pausing in the doorway, her long blonde hair flowing smoothly down her back, one long leg turned out as she had prepared to step down into the room. Her azure gaze had drifted across her surroundings until her eyes had met with his and she had frozen in place, a shocked look crossing her beautiful, calm face. He hadn't realized at first who she was until those amazing eyes had touched his, and the memories of her had come rushing back.
He had been unable to say anything except for her name, which had caused her to pale and grasp at the door frame.
Then he had been across the room and taking her into his arms. It had been so long…what had kept him away from her?
Now she was pushing on his chest with her hands, and he reluctantly loosened his hold on her.
She stared up at him, her face still bewildered. "How did you know me?" Her voice was soft and sweet, running over his tense nerves like a cool balm and warming the core of his stomach at the same time.
"Dumpling, you'd think I'd forget you?" He whispered back, drinking in her changed features hungrily. "You were my best friend. I told you I wouldn't ever forget you. Did you forget?"
She shook her head, causing a strand of hair to fall over her bare shoulder. "I just didn't think you would…I mean…" Her sentence trailed off as she glanced over his shoulder at the two other men he had been sitting with, realizing that they were the other two Starlights, puzzlement written clearly across their handsome faces.
He turned and followed her gaze. "Usa, will you eat with me?" He held out his hand to her.
Usagi hesitated, confusion and shock still fogging her mind. She briefly thought of Mamoru and what he would do to her if he found out she had been hugging this man as if she knew him but she pushed aside her concerns, firmly telling herself that Mamoru wasn't there and that he wouldn't know about it.
She smiled up at Seiya, her eyes shining. "Of course."
Seiya felt his heart leap at the warmth of her smile and he smiled back, taking her hand in his and leading her over to where his friends were sitting, silently waiting for an explanation.
"Taiki, Yaten, this is Usagi." Seiya said, gesturing to Taiki first and then Yaten. "Usagi—Taiki and Yaten. They're in the group with me."
Usagi felt slightly star-struck, as she was introduced quite calmly to the other two Starlights. Mina is going to have a fit when I tell her about this, she thought, grinning impishly, before offering her hand to the two men who were still sitting. "Nice to meet both of you."
"Like wise." Taiki said quietly, wondering what the relationship was between Seiya and this beautiful girl. He had never mentioned anyone before…
Yaten nodded in agreement, a frown of concentration creasing his brow. She was familiar…he just couldn't place her. He scanned his mind a moment more before he sighed and decided to just let it come to him, like it eventually would.
Usagi sat down gracefully in the chair offered by Seiya, aware that the other two men were regarding her with unreadable expressions.
Food came a moment later, and although Usagi didn't have an appetite for any food, she tried to eat at least some of her waffles. Seiya was animatedly talking next to her, telling Taiki and Yaten anecdotes from their shared childhood, occasionally stopping to shovel some food into his mouth.
Usagi found herself grinning like a child at Christmas, unable to stop herself from breaking out in a smile whenever he flashed a white grin at her, or nearly choked on his waffles when he was telling a story and eating at the same time.
He was just like he was when they were kids, excited about life, daring, and unafraid, only now he was tall, with black hair that was getting longer and falling in his midnight blue eyes and his body was all hard angles and well-toned muscle.
Usagi found herself just watching him, taking him all in, unable to believe that he still remembered her after so long. Her Seiya…she smiled softly and took a sip of tea, unaware that a pair of green eyes was watching her intently.
"Usa?" Seiya asked, pulling her to a stop on the stairwell. The two other Starlights had left for their apartment, saying something about practicing, and Seiya and Usagi had stood up to follow minutes later.
"Hai?" She turned, looking down at him, a smile splitting her features as she told herself again that her best friend was back.
His face was turned up towards hers, an imploring look in his eyes. "Do you want to go do something today?"
Usagi hesitated, wanting to with all of her heart and yet she knew she had to try to finish her painting. "I can't," She watched as his face fell and she hurried to explain. "I have to work on something today and it really can't be put off, otherwise I would."
Seiya quickly hid his disappointment and smiled brightly. "Of course. Well, maybe we can do something another day."
Usagi smiled. "I'd like that."
Seiya closed the door to the apartment, flopping down onto the couch, and throwing an arm across his face, intent on taking a nap.
"You know who she is, don't you?" A voice asked softly.
Seiya uncovered his eyes and glanced over to see Yaten sitting on arm of the other couch, his eyes somber.
"What do you mean?" Knowing that his friend could only be talking about Usagi. He had been unable to get her off of his mind since he'd seen her earlier. It had been such a shock, thinking she had moved away and then seeing her again, all grown up and beautiful.
"You don't know?" Yaten asked.
"Don't know what?"
"You didn't recognize her?"
"Yaten!" Seiya exclaimed, not knowing what his friend was trying to get at. "What are you talking about?"
"Look at that painting." Yaten snapped, aggravated with Seiya's tone of voice.
Seiya turned his head and looked at the painting, his stomach dropping when he saw the blue eyes staring over the soft, curved shoulder, and the soft, peach lips parted in a wistful sigh. The golden blonde hair was smooth and soft and he knew how it would smell, like rose petals, spring and femininity. He had smelt it just that morning on Usagi as he hugged her. The eyes were the same, so deep and full of longing…how had he not recognized the woman in the painting for Usagi.
"Usagi is…The T.U…"He murmured, amazed. The T.U. was a multimillionaire, with thousands upon thousands in the art world marveling at how she could paint emotions onto canvas, and thousands wondering who the mysterious T.U. was. Now he knew and it was his childhood friend. "I had no idea…"
Yaten shook his head. "Neither did I, until I saw her this morning, and even then I wasn't sure if I was remembering the painting right but when I got back I saw that they are one in the same." He shrugged, standing up. "Regardless, she has talent, beauty and class, a perfect combination…I wonder why she doesn't want the world to know who she is."
Seiya was still staring at the painting, his mind wandering over all the possibilities. "I don't know." He stood up abruptly, walking out the door. "I've got to talk to her."
Usagi heard the doorbell ring and was tempted to let the person wait and then leave but when it rang a second and third time, she reluctantly put her paintbrush and walked out of the art studio, and wiping her hands on her oversized white t-shirt before she pulled open the door.
There was Mamoru, arms crossed against his chest, his eyes glinting with a cold anger.
"Mamoru!" Usagi exclaimed, taking a step forward to hug him but he pushed her backwards into the apartment.
"You little, lying bitch." He hissed, his eyes black with rage as he advanced on her. She stumbled backwards, blindly feeling for something to grab onto before she tripped and fell.
"Mamoru, what's the matter?" She asked, her voice quavering a little.
"You thought I wouldn't know and you thought you could just get away with it." He pushed her again and she lurched against the bookshelf in the living room, grabbing hold of the corner.
"Mamoru, what are you talking about?" Usagi asked, eyes darting back and forth, looking for a way out. But he was in front of her, tall and impassive, seething with rage.
"You tramp." He spit out, and his fist lashed out and connected solidly with her eye.
She cried out and hit the back of her head on the bookcase, brilliant colors bursting in her vision.
Then he was all over, his fists reining hard blows to her face, and she tasted blood and felt her nose crunch.
She raised her arms to shield her face but then his fist connected with her stomach and she dropped to the floor, trying to curl up into a ball before he kicked out at her ribs. His foot landed in her ribs hard and she heard one of them crack and cried out, the wind suddenly gone from her lungs.
Suddenly the blows stopped and she was dimly aware of the sounds of fists connected with flesh.
Then Seiya was kneeling next to her, his eyes full of rage and concern as he gathered her into his arms protectively.
"Usa…" He whispered and carried her down the hall to her bedroom, and into the bathroom, turning on the tap to the bathtub with one hand while he held her in his arms.
"Seiya? Where's Mamoru?" She asked one eye already swelling shut.
Seiya held her closer, rocking her small body back and forth. "Is that his name?" When she nodded slightly he pushed his anger aside. "He's gone. I swear I won't let that bastard hurt you again, Usa."
She nodded, finding it hard to breathe, maybe because of the cracked rib but maybe it was because of Seiya's smooth, hard chest and his strong arms. "What's the water for?"
"You have blood everywhere, plus it will ease the tension and some of the pain in your muscles."
Usagi flushed bright red and scrambled as quickly as she could from his lap. "You have to leave then. I'm not getting into the bath with you right there."
Seiya nodded. "I'll wait outside the door for you. We have to talk when you're done."
Usagi averted her eyes and nodded. "Hai."
Seiya stood up, and went out the door, his heart pounding painfully in his chest. He sat down on the edge of the bed, cradling his head in his hands.
He hadn't expected to see some guy beating the shit out of Usagi when he opened the slightly opened door but the sight had enraged him in a way no other thing ever had. Without thinking or hesitating, he had flown at the guy and pounded his fists into any available area, not feeling the blows that glanced off his shoulders and face. Then the guy had sworn at him and stumbled from the room, leaving Usagi in a bloody heap on the floor.
Now that the rage was gone he was left with a strange shaky feeling, something he had never before felt after a fight. Usagi had been so close to being beat to death…what if he hadn't decided to go and talk to her when he had…would she even be alive now? Seiya shook his head, trying to get rid of the horrible sick feeling in the pit of his stomach. He cared for her, of course, after all, she had been his best friend for so long…but was it something more than that? God, he hardly knew her…she might have changed in all the years he'd been away…obviously she had a boyfriend and friends he had never met…what else had changed?
The door of the bathroom opened a little and Usagi peeked out. Seiya looked up, his heart jumping in his chest, as it did whenever he saw her.
She came out, wearing only a terrycloth bathrobe, her hair hanging in wet tresses down her back. She sat down beside him, her gaze on her hands folded in her lap.
"Usagi." Seiya said her name softly, willing her to turn and look at him. When she didn't he put a gentle hand under her chin and turned her face until her eyes met his.
Her left eye was swollen shut and there was a cut above her eyebrow and her bottom lip was swollen and split. There was a bruise across her delicate cheekbone, and one on her collar bone.
"How many other bruises like that do you have on your body?" He whispered harshly, anger again building inside of him at the pain that that bastard, Mamoru had caused his Usa.
Usagi looked away. "A few."
Seiya reached for the edge of her robe, intent on seeing the damage done. "Let me see."
Usagi was on her feet again, jerking the robe tightly around her body. "No. I'm fine."
"Usagi, you're hurt. You just got the shit beat out of you by a man three times your size. If you have any cracked ribs, I have to see because there could be more extensive damage."
Usagi backed away. "I'm fine, really. My ribs hurt a little but other than that, I feel fine."
Seiya shook his head, deciding not to press the matter. He stood up and pulled Usagi into a comforting embrace. "Usa…why did he do this to you?"
Usagi stiffened within his embrace, unwilling to tell him that Mamoru did that often, but she was hurt and tired and Seiya was so warm and comforting. "He gets angry."
"A lot?"
Usagi nodded, her head resting against Seiya's chest, listening to his heartbeat, a steady, soothing sound. "Normally he won't hurt me too bad but today…I don't know…" She paused, tears coming to her eyes. "He wasn't like that when I first met him, he was so sweet and we had a good time but then…I don't know…he just changed. He hit me for the first time about a year after we were together. He apologized and begged for me to forgive him…I did…I always did." She whispered the tears pouring down her face silently.
"Oh, Dumpling…" He murmured, holding her closer, showering little kisses on the top of her head and around her small, delicate ears. "Do you love him?"
Usagi closed her eyes and then shook her head. "I thought I did but love shouldn't hurt like that." She opened her eyes again and looked up at him, feeling something for him deep in her stomach and deep in her heart that she couldn't explain.
"Love never hurts like that." He said, and kissed her forehead softly. "Come on, I'll get you in bed."
He pulled back the covers for her as she crawled in, and then pulled them up to her chin, kissing her forehead again. He was just closing the door behind himself when he heard her murmur his name sleepily.
"Hai." He whispered, looking back at her supple figure cushioned with pillows and covered with silky sheets.
"Will you stay until I wake up?" She asked, her eyes drifting shut, and her long, dark lashes fluttering on her cheeks as she fought to stay awake.
"Hai, I will stay." He murmured and closed the door softly behind himself, trying to ignore the emotions that were racing through his body.
So? How do you like it? I think I did an okay job introducing Seiya into the story and getting Usagi and Seiya's relationship on a roll. I'll try to have the next chapter up soon…that is if you actually want to read it.
