Reunion
It was a moment of breathless delight for Seiya. The petite blonde-haired young woman stood before him, her sapphire eyes narrowed somewhat under the bright lights. The light didn't merely wash over her; it caressed her lovingly and accentuated her own natural inner beauty. She shines so much, he thought. So much love from this one girl. She is my true princess. Seiya felt a stab of guilt as that last thought went through his head, but it was fleeting. He took her in slowly, drinking her from head to toe with his eyes. The same smooth, peachy skin. The same small hands. The same golden hair twisted into two buns with long pigtails streaming down her back. In her light pink shirt and white skirt she looked so lovely his heart ached at the sight of her. If only I could reach towards her and take her in my arms, he thought. If I could just kiss the tip of that adorable nose - I would be on cloud nine for the rest of my life. Seiya's arms, however, remained motionless at his sides. As much as he longed to do these things, he knew if he held her he would never want to let her go, not for anyone or anything.
Usagi stood stock-still for what seemed like an entire lifetime. She could scarcely believe her eyes. That low voice...those silver crescent earrings...that shining black hair pulled into a long ponytail...she didn't dare hope it was him. How could it be? He was back on Kinmoku with his princess, rebuilding the world for their people. She hesitated, afraid that if she looked into his eyes they would confirm the worst.
"Odango...ooi...Earth to Odango...you with me?"
Usagi could hardly breathe as she raised her head to look into his eyes. Those same deep, ultramarine eyes that could always pull her in were gazing down at her. His expression is filled with so much love. I wish...I wish I could reach up and touch his face, trace my finger along those beautiful lips just once. Usagi's hands trembled and she made a movement as if she was going to do exactly that. She even got as far as slightly raising her hand up towards his face before she stopped herself. What am I doing? I have Mamochan, my one true love. Snap out of it Usagi! Blushing a bit, she placed both hands behind her back and regarded Seiya shyly.
"Is it...is it really you?"
"Hai, Odango." Seiya's smile stretched from ear to ear. His heart felt as though it would burst from so much happiness.
"I don't know...I can scarcely believe my eyes..." Usagi reached out to him hesitantly, afraid that he would be an illusion, that her hand would go straight through him as if he were made from smoke. Instead, her fingertips brushed against the fine cashmere of his red suit jacket. He's really here in front of me...
"Odango...I have missed you greatly. May I come in so that we can catch up?" Seiya suddenly felt shy, as if this were his first date. She's so lovely, he thought. I just want to cuddle with her and stare into those gorgeous eyes.
"Oh my goodness, what's wrong with me?" Usagi laughed nervously. "Of course you can come in, hee hee hee. I didn't mean to make you think we were going to stand here in the doorway all day gawking at one another." Blushing furiously she stood to one side so that Seiya could enter.
Seiya walked into the small apartment, inhaling the sweet scent of lilies as he stepped into the living room. Ah...her scent. So sweet and fresh, much like she is. He gazed about the room curiously, taking in where his beloved dwelled. The furniture was simple, but comfortable looking. The gauzy curtains gave the room an ethereal quality, making Seiya feel as though he were walking about in a hazy dream world where only he and Usagi existed. Seating himself on the sofa, he smiled and nodded at Usagi when she told him she would prepare some tea. While she was in the kitchen, Seiya took the opportunity to examine the photographs that were placed on the end tables on either side of the sofa. On the one table, there were various pictures of the other girls and Usagi, all of them smiling and looking very happy. He saw several pictures of Usagi and Mamoru as well, but he refused to let his eyes linger on them, afraid of the emotion that swelled in his chest whenever he saw her with Mamoru. It should be me, he thought.
On the other table, there was a lone picture of Usagi surrounded by her family. Seiya picked it up, studying it with great interest. Usagi was in the center with her younger brother Shingo, a small, brown-haired boy with mischievous eyes and a friendly smile. Directly behind their children were Usagi's parents, her mother Ikuko and her father Kenji. Usagi's mother was lovely, with a friendly face and shimmering blue hair that reached her waist. Her father looked like he was a likeable man, dependable and respectable.
"They were very dear to me." Seiya jumped slightly, placing the picture back down on the table gently. Usagi came in with a sort of melancholy smile on her face, a tray of tea in her hands. Setting it down on the table, she sat beside Seiya instead of across from him and placed her hands in her lap without meeting his gaze.
"Were? What do you mean by that, Odango?" His heart skipped a few beats, afraid of what the reason might be as to why she was referring to her family in the past tense. Seiya kept his gaze fixed on the small blonde beside him, taking in her trembling hands that she held clenched tightly together in her lap. When she spoke, her voice was hoarse.
"They...they died in a terrible car crash about a year ago...they were on their way home from a movie when someone slammed into them head-on. It was raining out really hard and...well...the other driver just lost control of the car. I was...I was over at Makoto-chan's, having dinner with the rest of the girls when we saw it on the news..." Her voice trailed off into nothingness as she clenched her hands together even tighter to keep her tears from flowing. Not now, not when Seiya is here to see me after all this time...I must be strong, she thought. Usagi's eyes clouded over with tears that threatened to fall.
"Oh my god...Odango...I am so sorry..." Seiya was horrified. Had he only known...some how, some way that Usagi had been alone like this he would have come to her much sooner...he would have fought anything that stood in his way, just to make sure he could be at her side in her time of need. Not knowing exactly to say, he gently placed his hand over her clenched ones. "Odango...you had your friends though, right? They were here to support you at least. And of course you had Mamoru-san by your side, so-" Seiya broke off in mid-sentence when he saw Usagi just barely shake her head no. "No? Odango, I don't understand. No one was with you through this time? Nobody at all?" Seiya felt a burning sensation in his chest as the pressure built up behind his eyes. No one was here with her...she was completely alone...how could...how could they DO such a horrible thing to her?
"Don't...misunderstand, Seiya." Usagi's voice was so low that Seiya had to bend down very close in order to hear every word she was saying. "Mamochan was in Africa at the time and he didn't hear about it until a week after the funeral...and of course he rushed back here once he heard the news. And the girls...they wanted to be with me night and day, but I held them off, insisting that I was fine...I know now I wasn't, but I wanted to show everyone that I could handle this, that I was strong..." Her voice cracked. "I wish I wasn't so foolish."
"Odango, listen to me. You aren't foolish at all. I think I understand why you tried to deal with it all by yourself and...While that may not be the smartest thing to do, it is certainly understandable. I know because I have done similar things myself. So please, don't think you've done anything wrong, okay?" Seiya gently tilted her face up to his with his free hand, smiling softly. "It's going to be all right. I will stay by your side no matter what." Usagi gazed back into his ultramarine eyes with watery sapphire ones before pointing her face back down at her lap. What seemed like hours (but was actually a few minutes) passed by, the two of them frozen together on the sofa, their hands locked. Usagi took a few deep breaths before speaking again.
"I was told...by the police that...those involved in the crash were instantly killed...so I took comfort in that...knowing that they hadn't suffered at their time of death..." Usagi's voice was so low Seiya had to bend his head closer to hers in order to catch what she was saying. Taking in a deep breath, she closed her eyes for a few moments, drawing strength from Seiya's warm, gentle hand over her own. Forcing herself to smile, she turned to face him fully. "But Seiya, as much as I appreciate your concern, I don't want to put a damper on our visit together. It's such a wonderful opportunity, so let's enjoy it while we can!" The prospect of spending the afternoon with Seiya brightened Usagi's mood considerably and she set about preparing the tea for the both of them.
Seiya studied her thoughtfully. What incredible strength she has, he thought. She is so very brave...much like our princess, but not. I've always known they weren't the same person. Sighing inwardly, he thought back to when he, Taiki and Yaten had a disagreement about Seiya's relationship with Usagi...
"Seiya! You don't have time to be dull when our princess is near!" Yaten grabs Seiya's shoulder roughly and shakes him a bit. Taiki looks down at Yaten and shakes his head silently. The two young men sit on the couch opposite Seiya.
Taiki looks thoughtful and rests his hands underneath his chin. "I hope...I hope the battle between Sailor Moon and Galaxia gets fierce."
"The more they fight, the further her eyes will stray from us, right?" Yaten's smile is smug. Seiya resists the urge to punch him and rises up angrily instead.
"How can you say that! They are fighting to protect this planet! Don't you feel ashamed to be taking advantage of that?" Seiya rises up so violently he knocks over the chair he is sitting in. Yaten looks up at him with disdain.
"Oh?"
"What is that supposed to mean?" Seiya grabs Yaten by the collar.
"Seiya! You are confusing the image of our princess with that girl!" Yaten's accusatory tone rings in Seiya's ears.
"You know our princess is one of a kind, don't you?" Taiki's violet eyes are scared and uncertainty can be heard in his voice...
Seiya shook his head, trying to clear the cobwebs of those all but forgotten memories. Maybe it was true that at first he felt a similarity between Usagi and his princess but, after a while, he saw them clearly for who they truly were...and it was then that he realized he genuinely loved Usagi for who she was, not because she filled some ridiculous void left by his princess. "Oh no! I forgot the cake! I will be right back." Turning slightly pink, Usagi rushed into the kitchen. Seiya smiled fondly after her, thinking about how much she appeared to have grown in the last two years. She was much more composed and mature, even her awareness of what was going on around her seemed to be much better from the Odango he knew. The changes didn't bother him however. On the contrary they made her shine even more, bringing out her true character closer to the surface. Gone was the carefree absent-minded girl of days gone by. In her place was a beautiful, graceful, mature young woman who understood her responsibilities in life.
Usagi came back into the living room with two plates of shortcake balanced in her hands. She noticed Seiya's eyes following her every move and felt her cheeks grow hot under his relentless gaze.
"Nani o?" Usagi colored one hundred shades of crimson when he didn't answer right away. Straightening herself up, she placed her hands on her hips and glared playfully down at him. "Well?"
Seiya's musical laughter sent a warm shiver down her spine. "Gomen, gomen Odango. I was just thinking about how much you've matured since we last met. You shine even more than before." Usagi felt her mouth opening and closing, but nothing was coming out. Snapping her jaw shut, she sat down again, this time opposite Seiya. Noticing the pinched look around her mouth, Seiya wondered if he had said something wrong. "My apologies Odango...did I offend you or make you feel uncomfortable?" Usagi just sat there, blushing for what felt like an eternity to the both of them. Seiya was about to try and change the subject when she mumbled something. "I'm sorry, what was that Odango?"
"I was just thinking the same thing about you, Seiya."
***
"So, how have things been here on Earth since we last spoke?" Taiki crossed his legs casually, his arms folded lightly across his chest. The four girls and the two remaining men were gathered around the girls' usual table at Crown's, having just finished their desserts.
"It's been pretty peaceful here, actually. This is the longest span of peace we've ever been able to experience since awakening as Sailor Senshi." The other three nodded at Ami's observation. Ever since they were fourteen, it had been non-stop battles for the Earth and their kingdom. "I am almost afraid to say it out of fear of jinxing everything, but it truly feels as though this peace was meant to last forever." Taiki nodded silently, his violet eyes fixed on Ami. Her eyes are so gentle, he thought. They shine with such intelligence. I've missed that shine. Taiki's eyes widened at the realization of just how much he missed Ami since leaving Earth to return to Kinmoku. He quickly hid his expression behind his tea cup in hopes that no one else had seen the way she affected him.
Yaten raised an eyebrow in Taiki's general direction but did not comment. Instead, he directed himself to Minako. "Hey Minako. How are the auditions to be an idol going? Have you received any calls from any producers or anything since the last time?" Minako's eyes lit up so brightly that Yaten couldn't help but grin as she started to speak excitedly.
"Yes! As a matter of fact Yaten-kun I am giving a small concert at the park next week. I'm doing it for free since it's a charity fund-raiser, but I am so excited about it because I heard from the festival manager that some top producers are coming specifically to listen to me! I can't wait - it's going to be my shining moment!" Yaten had to bite down hard on the inside of his cheek to keep from saying that she already shone more than anyone else. Meanwhile, Makoto and Rei were still discussing what to do for Mamoru's homecoming while they flipped through a magazine. Yaten leaned over to take a peek at what they were looking at.
"Ooi, what're you two talking about over here in the corner?" Yaten winked at the two girls as they flushed a deep pink.
Rei was the first to regain her composure. "Gomen. We didn't mean to appear rude, Yaten-kun, Taiki-san. We are trying to figure out what to do for Mamoru-san's homecoming as quickly as possible. We only have, how many days until he arrives again, Ami-chan?"
Ami consulted her organizer before replying. "His flight is supposed to arrive at 12:30pm on Wednesday afternoon. That gives us about five days to make preparations." Taiki and Yaten exchanged a nervous glance. Five days before Mamoru arrived? This would not bode well for Seiya. Taiki raised an eyebrow questioningly at Yaten who nodded ever so slightly in return.
"We really ought to -"Taiki was cut off by Makoto.
"Oh yes, and I think we need to fill in Yaten-kun and Taiki-san on Usagi, don't you agree girls?" The other three nodded. Taiki and Yaten were surprised at the sudden departure of their happy expressions. Makoto continued in a subdued voice. "Taiki, Yaten, just so you are aware and so there aren't any questions later, you ought to know that Usagi-chan's entire family was killed about a year ago in a terrible car crash. That is why we were reluctant to give you directions to her new apartment. We didn't want Usagi to have to relive it again, should Seiya have asked any questions." Makoto's voice trembled slightly as she spoke. "She lives alone now, on the inheritance her father left her. We just...we just wanted you to know." She looked down at the magazine, not seeing the page before her. Taiki and Yaten were silent. Yaten's mouth was open in a horrified expression while Taiki's mouth was set in a grim line, his hand partially covering it. It was Taiki who spoke first.
"That is tragic. I will have to pay Usagi my respects once we see her, and the time is right of course." Yaten nodded in agreement. "However, tell me something; this car crash, was it induced by a drunken, irresponsible driver or...?" The question hung in the air between the six young people like an unpleasant omen. It was Minako who gained the strength to answer.
"Iie. They were caught in a rain storm on their way home from a movie. The other car lost control and..." Minako gestured widely with her arm. "Both parties were said to have died instantly, so at least no one suffered any pain." The six of them looked down at their hands silently, each wondering how they would handle it if they were in a situation like Usagi's. Rei cleared her throat.
"Well, now that we've prepared you, this is no time to be glum! Let's make the most of this reunion everyone!" She turned toward Yaten, a puzzled look on her face. "Hey, Yaten...um, forgive me for sounding like a flake, but where did Seiya-kun run off to? One moment he was here with you two and the next thing I knew, he was gone. Did you even realize he'd left?" Taiki and Yaten exchanged nervous glances before answering cautiously. Taiki spoke cautiously.
"Well, you see, Seiya wanted to, uh, get Usagi so she could...be with the rest of us and-" Yaten brushed his silver hair out of his eyes impatiently with his left hand before interrupting Taiki hurriedly.
"Oh, come on Taiki. Let's not beat around the bush. These girls aren't stupid," he added, glancing around the table. "They probably already have a good idea of where Seiya rushed off to, so we might as well be forward with them, as they were with us." Taiki silently nodded his consent, but his violet eyes looked troubled. "Seiya was the main reason we three decided to come back at all. Not that we didn't want to see you," he added hastily, seeing a slightly hurt look cross each one of their faces, "But it was Seiya who first presented the idea to Kakyuu back on Kinmoku. Frankly, I think it was selfish of him to even think of asking our princess for such a thing but-"Makoto interrupted him.
"What was a selfish thing to ask of your princess?" The girls wore expressions of curiosity, making it clear that they had thought the purpose of this trip was solely to come and visit their old friends, to catch up and such. Taiki and Yaten exchanged glances again, this time of consent.
"Seiya asked our princess if he could come back to Earth in order to live here permanently, as a human. A human male, to be exact." Taiki paused, uncertain of whether he should say more or not. Yaten nudged him under the table in the ribs to urge him to go on, but it was Ami who broke the silence.
"As a male? Wait a minute; I am not sure I understand. If I remember correctly, you three were physically male when you were Three Lights, correct?" Taiki and Yaten confirmed this with a curt nod. "And then, whenever you transformed into Starlights, you went back to your true forms, as female warriors." Taiki nodded again while Yaten looked out the window, suddenly seeming as though he was a million miles away. "So, what do you mean as a 'human male'? You three will still be males in your ordinary life forms, but when you transform..." Ami cut off when she noticed Taiki shaking his head "no". It was Yaten who then took up the slack.
"You see, Ami, our princess wants nothing more than our happiness, as we have always wanted nothing more than her happiness. We loved and protected each other, much the same way you scouts interact with Sailor Moon. However, when we left Kinmoku for our personal desires, we were forced to give up our powers." Not a sound was heard as the girls pondered the sacrifice the Starlights' made in order to be on Earth. Yaten continued softly. "They aren't gone, per say, but they are locked within us, forever, according to our princess. No scout has ever left Kinmoku willingly, so she wasn't certain of exactly how it worked, but she did say that we would not be able to call upon our powers as Starlights ever again until the day we choose to return to Kinmoku as her guardians." Yaten looked down at his hands, deciding not to say anything more. Taiki felt it was necessary to tell them everything however, so he continued in Yaten's place.
"I can see that you are still confused, so let me elaborate on what Yaten has already told you. You are probably thinking why didn't we let Seiya come on his own if we did not wish to give up our duties as Sailor Senshi, correct? However, with the three of us, one cannot leave the other two behind. We go together as a group or we don't go at all. Even if we had stayed behind, we would have been infinitely weaker without the presence of Fighter among us, almost to the point of uselessness. And besides," Taiki added, seeing Ami's mouth open in a question, "We, that is Yaten and me, wanted to come here anyway. We each have our personal reasons for wanting to come, the same as Seiya." Taiki and Yaten exchanged a knowing look, before regarding the girls again.
"And that is it in a nutshell my lovelies." Yaten grinned a bit and winked. Minako felt her heart flutter a bit, her cheeks flushing pink. Oh my God, was he just looking at me? He's so cute... Minako shook her head slightly, reminding herself to get a grip.
"Okay, so basically Seiya ran off as soon as possible to see Usagi because he's still in love with her then." Rei's matter-of-fact tone startled everyone, causing them to stare at her with wide eyes. "Oh come on you guys, as if it isn't obvious enough already. We all saw how gaga he was over Usagi when he left here last time." Rei shrugged, clearly not overly concerned with the matter. Taiki coughed and spluttered into his tea cup.
"Well, since it's so obvious, then I suppose all I have to say is yes." Taiki half-smiled, making a what-can-you-do face. "We realize this is going to present a problem, but as long as Seiya can control his mouth and not run off with it, everything should be fine as far as Usagi and Mamoru- san are concerned. He just wanted to be near to her, you see. He's missed her terribly ever since our return to Kinmoku." Yaten laughed merrily, his green eyes twinkling with some sort of mischief.
"I remember one day Seiya made us all sit and listen while he recounted his date with Usagi, you know, the one where he took her to the zoo and then to the club where we used to hang out." Yaten shook his head, laughing freely. "He was like a little kid recounting his first time in a candy store. Seriously, I'd never seen Seiya so sold on anyone before. Not to mention he told everyone we met about the incredible Sailor Moon and her wonderful Sailor friends!" Taiki groaned at the recollection. "It got so bad that every time we walked around town people used to ask Seiya how his dumpling head was." Yaten snickered. "I don't think I'd ever seen someone turn so many different shades of red."
A young girl of about fifteen years came up to their table shyly, a piece of paper and a pen clutched in her hands. Her eyes were wide and her voice shook as she addressed Yaten. "Gomen ne, but I was wondering...are you Kou Yaten of Three Lights?" No one else was watching and the girl was obviously trying to be as discrete as possible so Yaten confirmed his identity with a curt nod. The girl's eyes lit up and a broad smile stretched across her face. "Yaten-kun! Please, I have missed listening to you ever since Three Lights disbanded. I-I always meant to try for your signature when you were still performing, but I never got the chance. Yaten-kun, please grace me with your signature!" The young girl bowed her had, offering the pen and paper to Yaten. It was a tense moment - everyone knew how much Yaten despised fans that came up to him at random times, on his personal time as he always put it. For a split second he looked annoyed. Taiki held his breath, readying himself to step in should Yaten say anything harsh...
"Yes, of course I will sign for you! What is your name?" Yaten gave Taiki an I-told-you-so look. With a wry smile, he took up the pen and looked up expectantly at the trembling girl.
"H-hai! Watashi wa Ayana desu!'" Once Yaten handed over the paper and pen, Ayana bowed her head several times, walking backwards as she went. In her flustered state she bumped into a waiter who was carrying several drinks and sundaes. As the puddle of soda and ice cream grew and people rushed about trying to clean it up, Taiki and Yaten turned back to their female counterparts with the same wry expressions.
"Some things never change, ne?" Taiki shrugged as Yaten groaned.
It was a moment of breathless delight for Seiya. The petite blonde-haired young woman stood before him, her sapphire eyes narrowed somewhat under the bright lights. The light didn't merely wash over her; it caressed her lovingly and accentuated her own natural inner beauty. She shines so much, he thought. So much love from this one girl. She is my true princess. Seiya felt a stab of guilt as that last thought went through his head, but it was fleeting. He took her in slowly, drinking her from head to toe with his eyes. The same smooth, peachy skin. The same small hands. The same golden hair twisted into two buns with long pigtails streaming down her back. In her light pink shirt and white skirt she looked so lovely his heart ached at the sight of her. If only I could reach towards her and take her in my arms, he thought. If I could just kiss the tip of that adorable nose - I would be on cloud nine for the rest of my life. Seiya's arms, however, remained motionless at his sides. As much as he longed to do these things, he knew if he held her he would never want to let her go, not for anyone or anything.
Usagi stood stock-still for what seemed like an entire lifetime. She could scarcely believe her eyes. That low voice...those silver crescent earrings...that shining black hair pulled into a long ponytail...she didn't dare hope it was him. How could it be? He was back on Kinmoku with his princess, rebuilding the world for their people. She hesitated, afraid that if she looked into his eyes they would confirm the worst.
"Odango...ooi...Earth to Odango...you with me?"
Usagi could hardly breathe as she raised her head to look into his eyes. Those same deep, ultramarine eyes that could always pull her in were gazing down at her. His expression is filled with so much love. I wish...I wish I could reach up and touch his face, trace my finger along those beautiful lips just once. Usagi's hands trembled and she made a movement as if she was going to do exactly that. She even got as far as slightly raising her hand up towards his face before she stopped herself. What am I doing? I have Mamochan, my one true love. Snap out of it Usagi! Blushing a bit, she placed both hands behind her back and regarded Seiya shyly.
"Is it...is it really you?"
"Hai, Odango." Seiya's smile stretched from ear to ear. His heart felt as though it would burst from so much happiness.
"I don't know...I can scarcely believe my eyes..." Usagi reached out to him hesitantly, afraid that he would be an illusion, that her hand would go straight through him as if he were made from smoke. Instead, her fingertips brushed against the fine cashmere of his red suit jacket. He's really here in front of me...
"Odango...I have missed you greatly. May I come in so that we can catch up?" Seiya suddenly felt shy, as if this were his first date. She's so lovely, he thought. I just want to cuddle with her and stare into those gorgeous eyes.
"Oh my goodness, what's wrong with me?" Usagi laughed nervously. "Of course you can come in, hee hee hee. I didn't mean to make you think we were going to stand here in the doorway all day gawking at one another." Blushing furiously she stood to one side so that Seiya could enter.
Seiya walked into the small apartment, inhaling the sweet scent of lilies as he stepped into the living room. Ah...her scent. So sweet and fresh, much like she is. He gazed about the room curiously, taking in where his beloved dwelled. The furniture was simple, but comfortable looking. The gauzy curtains gave the room an ethereal quality, making Seiya feel as though he were walking about in a hazy dream world where only he and Usagi existed. Seating himself on the sofa, he smiled and nodded at Usagi when she told him she would prepare some tea. While she was in the kitchen, Seiya took the opportunity to examine the photographs that were placed on the end tables on either side of the sofa. On the one table, there were various pictures of the other girls and Usagi, all of them smiling and looking very happy. He saw several pictures of Usagi and Mamoru as well, but he refused to let his eyes linger on them, afraid of the emotion that swelled in his chest whenever he saw her with Mamoru. It should be me, he thought.
On the other table, there was a lone picture of Usagi surrounded by her family. Seiya picked it up, studying it with great interest. Usagi was in the center with her younger brother Shingo, a small, brown-haired boy with mischievous eyes and a friendly smile. Directly behind their children were Usagi's parents, her mother Ikuko and her father Kenji. Usagi's mother was lovely, with a friendly face and shimmering blue hair that reached her waist. Her father looked like he was a likeable man, dependable and respectable.
"They were very dear to me." Seiya jumped slightly, placing the picture back down on the table gently. Usagi came in with a sort of melancholy smile on her face, a tray of tea in her hands. Setting it down on the table, she sat beside Seiya instead of across from him and placed her hands in her lap without meeting his gaze.
"Were? What do you mean by that, Odango?" His heart skipped a few beats, afraid of what the reason might be as to why she was referring to her family in the past tense. Seiya kept his gaze fixed on the small blonde beside him, taking in her trembling hands that she held clenched tightly together in her lap. When she spoke, her voice was hoarse.
"They...they died in a terrible car crash about a year ago...they were on their way home from a movie when someone slammed into them head-on. It was raining out really hard and...well...the other driver just lost control of the car. I was...I was over at Makoto-chan's, having dinner with the rest of the girls when we saw it on the news..." Her voice trailed off into nothingness as she clenched her hands together even tighter to keep her tears from flowing. Not now, not when Seiya is here to see me after all this time...I must be strong, she thought. Usagi's eyes clouded over with tears that threatened to fall.
"Oh my god...Odango...I am so sorry..." Seiya was horrified. Had he only known...some how, some way that Usagi had been alone like this he would have come to her much sooner...he would have fought anything that stood in his way, just to make sure he could be at her side in her time of need. Not knowing exactly to say, he gently placed his hand over her clenched ones. "Odango...you had your friends though, right? They were here to support you at least. And of course you had Mamoru-san by your side, so-" Seiya broke off in mid-sentence when he saw Usagi just barely shake her head no. "No? Odango, I don't understand. No one was with you through this time? Nobody at all?" Seiya felt a burning sensation in his chest as the pressure built up behind his eyes. No one was here with her...she was completely alone...how could...how could they DO such a horrible thing to her?
"Don't...misunderstand, Seiya." Usagi's voice was so low that Seiya had to bend down very close in order to hear every word she was saying. "Mamochan was in Africa at the time and he didn't hear about it until a week after the funeral...and of course he rushed back here once he heard the news. And the girls...they wanted to be with me night and day, but I held them off, insisting that I was fine...I know now I wasn't, but I wanted to show everyone that I could handle this, that I was strong..." Her voice cracked. "I wish I wasn't so foolish."
"Odango, listen to me. You aren't foolish at all. I think I understand why you tried to deal with it all by yourself and...While that may not be the smartest thing to do, it is certainly understandable. I know because I have done similar things myself. So please, don't think you've done anything wrong, okay?" Seiya gently tilted her face up to his with his free hand, smiling softly. "It's going to be all right. I will stay by your side no matter what." Usagi gazed back into his ultramarine eyes with watery sapphire ones before pointing her face back down at her lap. What seemed like hours (but was actually a few minutes) passed by, the two of them frozen together on the sofa, their hands locked. Usagi took a few deep breaths before speaking again.
"I was told...by the police that...those involved in the crash were instantly killed...so I took comfort in that...knowing that they hadn't suffered at their time of death..." Usagi's voice was so low Seiya had to bend his head closer to hers in order to catch what she was saying. Taking in a deep breath, she closed her eyes for a few moments, drawing strength from Seiya's warm, gentle hand over her own. Forcing herself to smile, she turned to face him fully. "But Seiya, as much as I appreciate your concern, I don't want to put a damper on our visit together. It's such a wonderful opportunity, so let's enjoy it while we can!" The prospect of spending the afternoon with Seiya brightened Usagi's mood considerably and she set about preparing the tea for the both of them.
Seiya studied her thoughtfully. What incredible strength she has, he thought. She is so very brave...much like our princess, but not. I've always known they weren't the same person. Sighing inwardly, he thought back to when he, Taiki and Yaten had a disagreement about Seiya's relationship with Usagi...
"Seiya! You don't have time to be dull when our princess is near!" Yaten grabs Seiya's shoulder roughly and shakes him a bit. Taiki looks down at Yaten and shakes his head silently. The two young men sit on the couch opposite Seiya.
Taiki looks thoughtful and rests his hands underneath his chin. "I hope...I hope the battle between Sailor Moon and Galaxia gets fierce."
"The more they fight, the further her eyes will stray from us, right?" Yaten's smile is smug. Seiya resists the urge to punch him and rises up angrily instead.
"How can you say that! They are fighting to protect this planet! Don't you feel ashamed to be taking advantage of that?" Seiya rises up so violently he knocks over the chair he is sitting in. Yaten looks up at him with disdain.
"Oh?"
"What is that supposed to mean?" Seiya grabs Yaten by the collar.
"Seiya! You are confusing the image of our princess with that girl!" Yaten's accusatory tone rings in Seiya's ears.
"You know our princess is one of a kind, don't you?" Taiki's violet eyes are scared and uncertainty can be heard in his voice...
Seiya shook his head, trying to clear the cobwebs of those all but forgotten memories. Maybe it was true that at first he felt a similarity between Usagi and his princess but, after a while, he saw them clearly for who they truly were...and it was then that he realized he genuinely loved Usagi for who she was, not because she filled some ridiculous void left by his princess. "Oh no! I forgot the cake! I will be right back." Turning slightly pink, Usagi rushed into the kitchen. Seiya smiled fondly after her, thinking about how much she appeared to have grown in the last two years. She was much more composed and mature, even her awareness of what was going on around her seemed to be much better from the Odango he knew. The changes didn't bother him however. On the contrary they made her shine even more, bringing out her true character closer to the surface. Gone was the carefree absent-minded girl of days gone by. In her place was a beautiful, graceful, mature young woman who understood her responsibilities in life.
Usagi came back into the living room with two plates of shortcake balanced in her hands. She noticed Seiya's eyes following her every move and felt her cheeks grow hot under his relentless gaze.
"Nani o?" Usagi colored one hundred shades of crimson when he didn't answer right away. Straightening herself up, she placed her hands on her hips and glared playfully down at him. "Well?"
Seiya's musical laughter sent a warm shiver down her spine. "Gomen, gomen Odango. I was just thinking about how much you've matured since we last met. You shine even more than before." Usagi felt her mouth opening and closing, but nothing was coming out. Snapping her jaw shut, she sat down again, this time opposite Seiya. Noticing the pinched look around her mouth, Seiya wondered if he had said something wrong. "My apologies Odango...did I offend you or make you feel uncomfortable?" Usagi just sat there, blushing for what felt like an eternity to the both of them. Seiya was about to try and change the subject when she mumbled something. "I'm sorry, what was that Odango?"
"I was just thinking the same thing about you, Seiya."
***
"So, how have things been here on Earth since we last spoke?" Taiki crossed his legs casually, his arms folded lightly across his chest. The four girls and the two remaining men were gathered around the girls' usual table at Crown's, having just finished their desserts.
"It's been pretty peaceful here, actually. This is the longest span of peace we've ever been able to experience since awakening as Sailor Senshi." The other three nodded at Ami's observation. Ever since they were fourteen, it had been non-stop battles for the Earth and their kingdom. "I am almost afraid to say it out of fear of jinxing everything, but it truly feels as though this peace was meant to last forever." Taiki nodded silently, his violet eyes fixed on Ami. Her eyes are so gentle, he thought. They shine with such intelligence. I've missed that shine. Taiki's eyes widened at the realization of just how much he missed Ami since leaving Earth to return to Kinmoku. He quickly hid his expression behind his tea cup in hopes that no one else had seen the way she affected him.
Yaten raised an eyebrow in Taiki's general direction but did not comment. Instead, he directed himself to Minako. "Hey Minako. How are the auditions to be an idol going? Have you received any calls from any producers or anything since the last time?" Minako's eyes lit up so brightly that Yaten couldn't help but grin as she started to speak excitedly.
"Yes! As a matter of fact Yaten-kun I am giving a small concert at the park next week. I'm doing it for free since it's a charity fund-raiser, but I am so excited about it because I heard from the festival manager that some top producers are coming specifically to listen to me! I can't wait - it's going to be my shining moment!" Yaten had to bite down hard on the inside of his cheek to keep from saying that she already shone more than anyone else. Meanwhile, Makoto and Rei were still discussing what to do for Mamoru's homecoming while they flipped through a magazine. Yaten leaned over to take a peek at what they were looking at.
"Ooi, what're you two talking about over here in the corner?" Yaten winked at the two girls as they flushed a deep pink.
Rei was the first to regain her composure. "Gomen. We didn't mean to appear rude, Yaten-kun, Taiki-san. We are trying to figure out what to do for Mamoru-san's homecoming as quickly as possible. We only have, how many days until he arrives again, Ami-chan?"
Ami consulted her organizer before replying. "His flight is supposed to arrive at 12:30pm on Wednesday afternoon. That gives us about five days to make preparations." Taiki and Yaten exchanged a nervous glance. Five days before Mamoru arrived? This would not bode well for Seiya. Taiki raised an eyebrow questioningly at Yaten who nodded ever so slightly in return.
"We really ought to -"Taiki was cut off by Makoto.
"Oh yes, and I think we need to fill in Yaten-kun and Taiki-san on Usagi, don't you agree girls?" The other three nodded. Taiki and Yaten were surprised at the sudden departure of their happy expressions. Makoto continued in a subdued voice. "Taiki, Yaten, just so you are aware and so there aren't any questions later, you ought to know that Usagi-chan's entire family was killed about a year ago in a terrible car crash. That is why we were reluctant to give you directions to her new apartment. We didn't want Usagi to have to relive it again, should Seiya have asked any questions." Makoto's voice trembled slightly as she spoke. "She lives alone now, on the inheritance her father left her. We just...we just wanted you to know." She looked down at the magazine, not seeing the page before her. Taiki and Yaten were silent. Yaten's mouth was open in a horrified expression while Taiki's mouth was set in a grim line, his hand partially covering it. It was Taiki who spoke first.
"That is tragic. I will have to pay Usagi my respects once we see her, and the time is right of course." Yaten nodded in agreement. "However, tell me something; this car crash, was it induced by a drunken, irresponsible driver or...?" The question hung in the air between the six young people like an unpleasant omen. It was Minako who gained the strength to answer.
"Iie. They were caught in a rain storm on their way home from a movie. The other car lost control and..." Minako gestured widely with her arm. "Both parties were said to have died instantly, so at least no one suffered any pain." The six of them looked down at their hands silently, each wondering how they would handle it if they were in a situation like Usagi's. Rei cleared her throat.
"Well, now that we've prepared you, this is no time to be glum! Let's make the most of this reunion everyone!" She turned toward Yaten, a puzzled look on her face. "Hey, Yaten...um, forgive me for sounding like a flake, but where did Seiya-kun run off to? One moment he was here with you two and the next thing I knew, he was gone. Did you even realize he'd left?" Taiki and Yaten exchanged nervous glances before answering cautiously. Taiki spoke cautiously.
"Well, you see, Seiya wanted to, uh, get Usagi so she could...be with the rest of us and-" Yaten brushed his silver hair out of his eyes impatiently with his left hand before interrupting Taiki hurriedly.
"Oh, come on Taiki. Let's not beat around the bush. These girls aren't stupid," he added, glancing around the table. "They probably already have a good idea of where Seiya rushed off to, so we might as well be forward with them, as they were with us." Taiki silently nodded his consent, but his violet eyes looked troubled. "Seiya was the main reason we three decided to come back at all. Not that we didn't want to see you," he added hastily, seeing a slightly hurt look cross each one of their faces, "But it was Seiya who first presented the idea to Kakyuu back on Kinmoku. Frankly, I think it was selfish of him to even think of asking our princess for such a thing but-"Makoto interrupted him.
"What was a selfish thing to ask of your princess?" The girls wore expressions of curiosity, making it clear that they had thought the purpose of this trip was solely to come and visit their old friends, to catch up and such. Taiki and Yaten exchanged glances again, this time of consent.
"Seiya asked our princess if he could come back to Earth in order to live here permanently, as a human. A human male, to be exact." Taiki paused, uncertain of whether he should say more or not. Yaten nudged him under the table in the ribs to urge him to go on, but it was Ami who broke the silence.
"As a male? Wait a minute; I am not sure I understand. If I remember correctly, you three were physically male when you were Three Lights, correct?" Taiki and Yaten confirmed this with a curt nod. "And then, whenever you transformed into Starlights, you went back to your true forms, as female warriors." Taiki nodded again while Yaten looked out the window, suddenly seeming as though he was a million miles away. "So, what do you mean as a 'human male'? You three will still be males in your ordinary life forms, but when you transform..." Ami cut off when she noticed Taiki shaking his head "no". It was Yaten who then took up the slack.
"You see, Ami, our princess wants nothing more than our happiness, as we have always wanted nothing more than her happiness. We loved and protected each other, much the same way you scouts interact with Sailor Moon. However, when we left Kinmoku for our personal desires, we were forced to give up our powers." Not a sound was heard as the girls pondered the sacrifice the Starlights' made in order to be on Earth. Yaten continued softly. "They aren't gone, per say, but they are locked within us, forever, according to our princess. No scout has ever left Kinmoku willingly, so she wasn't certain of exactly how it worked, but she did say that we would not be able to call upon our powers as Starlights ever again until the day we choose to return to Kinmoku as her guardians." Yaten looked down at his hands, deciding not to say anything more. Taiki felt it was necessary to tell them everything however, so he continued in Yaten's place.
"I can see that you are still confused, so let me elaborate on what Yaten has already told you. You are probably thinking why didn't we let Seiya come on his own if we did not wish to give up our duties as Sailor Senshi, correct? However, with the three of us, one cannot leave the other two behind. We go together as a group or we don't go at all. Even if we had stayed behind, we would have been infinitely weaker without the presence of Fighter among us, almost to the point of uselessness. And besides," Taiki added, seeing Ami's mouth open in a question, "We, that is Yaten and me, wanted to come here anyway. We each have our personal reasons for wanting to come, the same as Seiya." Taiki and Yaten exchanged a knowing look, before regarding the girls again.
"And that is it in a nutshell my lovelies." Yaten grinned a bit and winked. Minako felt her heart flutter a bit, her cheeks flushing pink. Oh my God, was he just looking at me? He's so cute... Minako shook her head slightly, reminding herself to get a grip.
"Okay, so basically Seiya ran off as soon as possible to see Usagi because he's still in love with her then." Rei's matter-of-fact tone startled everyone, causing them to stare at her with wide eyes. "Oh come on you guys, as if it isn't obvious enough already. We all saw how gaga he was over Usagi when he left here last time." Rei shrugged, clearly not overly concerned with the matter. Taiki coughed and spluttered into his tea cup.
"Well, since it's so obvious, then I suppose all I have to say is yes." Taiki half-smiled, making a what-can-you-do face. "We realize this is going to present a problem, but as long as Seiya can control his mouth and not run off with it, everything should be fine as far as Usagi and Mamoru- san are concerned. He just wanted to be near to her, you see. He's missed her terribly ever since our return to Kinmoku." Yaten laughed merrily, his green eyes twinkling with some sort of mischief.
"I remember one day Seiya made us all sit and listen while he recounted his date with Usagi, you know, the one where he took her to the zoo and then to the club where we used to hang out." Yaten shook his head, laughing freely. "He was like a little kid recounting his first time in a candy store. Seriously, I'd never seen Seiya so sold on anyone before. Not to mention he told everyone we met about the incredible Sailor Moon and her wonderful Sailor friends!" Taiki groaned at the recollection. "It got so bad that every time we walked around town people used to ask Seiya how his dumpling head was." Yaten snickered. "I don't think I'd ever seen someone turn so many different shades of red."
A young girl of about fifteen years came up to their table shyly, a piece of paper and a pen clutched in her hands. Her eyes were wide and her voice shook as she addressed Yaten. "Gomen ne, but I was wondering...are you Kou Yaten of Three Lights?" No one else was watching and the girl was obviously trying to be as discrete as possible so Yaten confirmed his identity with a curt nod. The girl's eyes lit up and a broad smile stretched across her face. "Yaten-kun! Please, I have missed listening to you ever since Three Lights disbanded. I-I always meant to try for your signature when you were still performing, but I never got the chance. Yaten-kun, please grace me with your signature!" The young girl bowed her had, offering the pen and paper to Yaten. It was a tense moment - everyone knew how much Yaten despised fans that came up to him at random times, on his personal time as he always put it. For a split second he looked annoyed. Taiki held his breath, readying himself to step in should Yaten say anything harsh...
"Yes, of course I will sign for you! What is your name?" Yaten gave Taiki an I-told-you-so look. With a wry smile, he took up the pen and looked up expectantly at the trembling girl.
"H-hai! Watashi wa Ayana desu!'" Once Yaten handed over the paper and pen, Ayana bowed her head several times, walking backwards as she went. In her flustered state she bumped into a waiter who was carrying several drinks and sundaes. As the puddle of soda and ice cream grew and people rushed about trying to clean it up, Taiki and Yaten turned back to their female counterparts with the same wry expressions.
"Some things never change, ne?" Taiki shrugged as Yaten groaned.