SORRY! I am so sorry this took so long to get out, and I regret to inform you that this version of the story may not also be finished before Christmas… such seems my lot in life. -_-;;
Anyway, I will still continue to write after Christmas, in case you want to see how it really ends. Thanks so much for your support everyone!!
PS: This chapter is dedicated to my new kitten: Luna
PSS: I don't own Sailor Moon! ^^
Chapter Four:
It's Cold in Here as Well
The clock chimed softly through the door, ringing seven times. The door then opened and a stream of light poured across the mahogany-like wood on the floor. Soft footsteps walked within this path of light and went to the bed, centered in the room.
"Seiya-sama…" A small, violet haired maiden called into his ear. "Seiya-sama, Kakyuu-hime wishes to have a council with you."
Indigo eyes turned and narrowed at the young girl, then at the clock. Finally, the handsome man pulled himself from his slumber and sat up. The linens shifted from his body to reveal his perfectly sculpted muscles. The violet-haired maiden blushed and bowed, backing out of the room.
"She said to meet with her in her study, immediately, Seiya-sama."
Seiya ran his fingers through his thick, tousled curls and stared angrily at her. He was sleeping, he just hated it when people woke him up… and it was such a nice dream as well…
Seiya rolled his shoulders and threw off his covers to walk to his wardrobe. As he opened the doors he blushed as he saw the barrage of dresses, ribbons, and lace peering back at him from the dark corners. He wasn't usually in his male form and hadn't realized that he would need more gender appropriate clothing. He sighed and stared down at the jeans and red shirt he'd worn the day before. Shrugging, he pulled them back on his body, making a mental note to go out and buy some new clothes.
Seiya quickly combed his curls and pulled his hair into its trademark ponytail, then he slipped on a pair of shoes and started down the hall, toward Kakyuu-hime's office. On the way he passed the door to a certain blonde female that he'd love to see…
Sighing deeply he paused outside of the pained wood and stared at its intricate designs. He wished he could see her, if only for a second… but Kakyuu-hime and called him immediately.
'I promise to see you later, Odango-chan…' Seiya thought, smiling. He stepped brightly past her door, and continued on down the hall.
Seiya smiled a little more as he thought of their conversation last night… Usagi's smile, it had brought so much back to him and to her as well. Her shine had brightened significantly, and that idea made Seiya's heart flutter. She was going to be all right… and maybe he had a part in making her that way.
Seiya knocked on the door softly before opening it. Kakyuu-hime was sitting at her desk, her hand writing furiously against a piece of parchment. That was strange, Kakyuu always believed that writing was physical expression of the mind and that it should be expressed carefully, not scrawled out like chicken-scratch.
"Kakyuu-hime?" Seiya asked tentatively.
She looked up and her eyes locked with his, they seemed to be more troubled today, as if new burdens had risen to her shoulders and now rested there with heavy indifference.
"Ohayo, Seiya." She smiled quaintly at him, then turned back to her paper. After a few moments the door opened again to allow Yaten and Taiki entrance into the room.
They bowed to their princess and smiled at Seiya. "Ohayo, Seiya."
"Ohayo," Seiya replied. The air in the room was beginning to feel as though all the smiles and pleasant greetings were nothing more than a farce. Seiya couldn't stand the sound of silence anymore.
"Kakyuu-hime something must be the matter!" Seiya said sharply. Taiki and Yaten stared at him, eyes wide.
"There is a problem," Kakyuu said without looking up from her papers. She finished writing as the three young men were held within a silent trance. "But in order for me to explain why it is a problem, I have to explain a few more problems to you."
"Problems on top of problems, Kakyuu-hime?" Taiki questioned.
"That seems to be our path in life…" Kakyuu put her pen down and looked up at them, folding her hands across her desk. "To be forever dealing with problems that originate from even more problems."
She cleared her throat and motioned for her three most trusted senshi to take a seat. They all sat down, neither of them speaking, blinking, or barely breathing. Kakyuu rolled her shoulders and straightened her posture. "I'm sure all of you are wondering why Usagi has come to visit us, have you not?"
Each man nodded slowly and carefully, as if unsure of what Kakyuu-hime was going to say next. By the tone of her voice, it was most likely not good news.
"Usagi is undergoing changes in her body as she becomes Neo-Queen Serenity, however, in order for her to undergo these changes, the Silver Crystal must feed of Usagi's very life-source. This would normally go very smoothly…"
"But…?" Seiya whispered, his breath short and shallow. What was wrong with his beloved Usagi? Was this why her shine was stripped? Deteriorating beyond repair?
"But Mamoru has been… postponing his and Usagi's wedding, this means that the crystal can only feed of Usagi without the support of Mamoru, or a spouse. In response to this, her body cannot take the loss of energy… and so she gets cases of amnesia, sicknesses… the worst is when Usagi's personage recedes into pre-teenage years. Those of a child…
"Usagi came to Kinmoku to take a holiday from the crystal, however… the senshi informed me that Mamoru is looking for Usagi, and has become suspicious…" Kakyuu sight deeply. "We are to keep her visit under complete wraps. No one is to know that she is Sailor Moon and that she is from Earth, if someone finds out… the information could leak-"
"DAMNIT!" Seiya jumped up, and slammed his fist on the desk in front of him. His eyes burned with a sudden rage, rage at a certain ebony-haired man who didn't seem to realize what he had. "GOD DAMNIT!"
"I beg your pardon, Seiya!" Kakyuu said angrily, standing up and staring her senshi in his eyes. He had no right to burst out like that!
"Don't you feel it Kakyuu-hime!? Don't you feel Usagi's shine being stripped!? And it's all because of that god-forsaken Mamo-baka!" Seiya snapped, staring angrily at his princess in defiance. "He strips Usagi of her shine and then cries when she doesn't bend to his every whim! The bastard!
"Seiya," Kakyuu spoke warningly. "Don't do or say anything rash, you don't know abou-"
"The hell I don't!" he seethed, turning away and staring at the wall with deep and utter hatred. "I know you feel it Kakyuu-hime… I know you feel her shine deteriorating…"
Kakyuu looked away, eyes suddenly sad. "I won't deny I haven't…"
"Then why! Why are we letting this happen!?" Seiya turned back to his companions and looked them all in the eyes, as if accusing them of this heinous crime.
"Because…" Taiki spoke softly, eyes glued to the floor in sadness. "It's her decision to do what she wishes…"
Seiya then turned away from his friends and glared at the floor, a cold realization dawning upon him. Mamoru was doing this to Usagi, but perhaps she was letting him do it to her. "I know that… but…"
"We can't do anything about it…" Yaten whispered, eyes cold and void of emotion. "All we can do is hope that she comes to her senses and gives up on him…"
Seiya snorted. "Hm! Then it's a lost cause… I hope you haven't become too attached to Usagi, because with our luck she'll die the day after she returns to Earth." With that, Seiya turned on his heel and stormed out of the room.
'I can't… I can't accept that everything will be all right! She's dying and she doesn't know it!' He stomped down the long hallways, and out of the palace to the grounds. 'She's letting this happen! Damn Mamo-baka! I hope hell swallows him up and he's forced to watch every episode of Pokémon until his brain explodes!!' He seethed angrily, walking to the garden.
'But…' he calmed down and his pace slowed as he saw the soothing fountain ahead. 'I cannot let her die… I love her too much… I love her.' He sat down in front of the fountain and hung his head, silent tears flowing over his face. His beloved, dying because of some fool of a human not showing Usagi was she needed most: love.
'Odango-chan…' he whispered, more tears falling over his cheeks. 'I wish it never had to be like this…'
"Seiya!"
The raven-haired man looked up as he heard dainty footsteps coming towards him. He turned and looked into bright blue eyes, set in ivory, and framed by golden tresses. Usagi smiled brightly and approached him, outstretching her arms in need of personal contact with her companion.
"Ohayo!" She sat down next to him, fling her arms around his shoulders. Seiya's cheeks blushed, since when did she show such open displays of affection? Especially towards someone who wasn't her 'Mamo-chan'.
"Yaten told me to come and find you." She pulled away and looked innocently into his eyes. There she saw the remainder of liquid sorrow, highlighting a pale blush on his cheeks. She blinked and her smile faded instantly. "Anou… were you… crying?"
Seiya blushed and wiped at his cheeks and eyes in vain. She had seen the tracks of his sorrows, and she knew something was wrong. He turned away, ashamed of showing his softer side toward her. "Gomen… I think I got something in my eyes…"
Usagi watched him carefully, as if inspecting his every move. He looked more than just 'sad' he looked… he looked like he was falling and there would be no end to his fall. She snuggled up close to him, wrapping her dainty arms around his waist and burying her face deeply into his strong and pleasing chest.
"What's the matter, Seiya?" She asked, innocence and sorrow lining her voice.
Seiya felt his breath catch in his lungs and he seemed unable to exchange it with the rest of the air, once it had turned to carbon dioxide. He choked for a moment, relishing her contact with him so innocent, so passionate… so intimate.
"Nothing… nothing, I'm alright, Odango." He whispered softly, more to reassure his self than her. She was wedged tightly up against his body, and it stirred more than 'comfort' in his body.
"Are you sure? Is there anything I can do?" Usagi questioned, looking innocently up into his eyes.
Seiya held her tighter for a moment. Yes, there were a great many things she could do for him, but asking them would have been impudent and disrespectful. Even thinking them was sure to get him in trouble later on… if not now. He shifted a little uncomfortable, them slimed down at his naïve companion.
Seiya smoothed her hair for a moment and sighed deeply. She'd never grant his wishes anyway…
"No, I'm fine…" He kissed the top of her head sweetly, smelling her sweet scent for a few long moments. "But thank you for caring…"
She sat up, and looking into his eyes for a few long moments. Seiya turned away, feeling as though she could see every secret emotion of his, buried deep within his soul. Usagi just snuggled even closer to her companion. "I hate to see you upset, Seiya… there is so much sadness in this universe, and you… you're my shining light of hope." She whispered softly to him.
Seiya tensed immediately, surprise and shock coursing through his veins. That was what he called his blonde princess. His shining light of hope… was it possible for there to be more behind Usagi's snuggling than she let on?
Usagi stood up and took his hand, smiling brightly.
"Seiya, Yaten said you would take me into town today!" She cheered, her eyes brightening.
The raven-haired man furrowed his brow as he stared at his personal goddess in confusion. She'd done a 180 with her mood in less than a few seconds, not to mention that what she had said was all new news to him.
"I- He did?" He stuttered.
"Mm-hm!" Usagi smiled, brightly. "Please take me, I promise to be good…" She begged, giving her best 'pouty face'. That face and those few choice words had brought more than sympathy from him.
And in the end, Seiya couldn't say 'no' to her sparkling eyes and innocent nature.
"Alright…" He stood up and offered her his arm. "I'll take you into town…"
"Arigato!"
Yaten, from his balcony, watched the two unknown lovers walk out of the garden, and back into the palace. He sighed deeply and turned to the tall man next to him.
"So? What do you think?" Yaten questioned his companion.
Taiki sat down on a stone bench and sighed just as deep as the silver-haired man. "What do I think? I think that Seiya is probably the only one who can save her… but how to get them together…"
A blonde woman, who sat on the railing of the balcony, looked at the two handsome men in her presence, then out at the retreating forms of two people in love "Well, if I know Usagi she'll cling forever to the thought of her and Mamoru. So bringing Seiya and Usagi together will be hard."
Minako had brought the message of Mamoru's sudden devotion for Usagi to Kinmoku. Her and the other earth senshi had decided to have her stick around and be a correspondence between here and Earth. It was part of their new plan to keep Usagi's trip under wraps, as well as bring her and Seiya together… Not to mention that Minako now got to be with Yaten again, although they hadn't much time for a proper reunion.
"I know…" Taiki sighed deeply, looking at the blonde "But… we've got to get them together, for Usagi's sake."
Yaten paced for a moment, her eyes narrowed on the ground in thought. "I wish… I wish there was an obvious way to get them together…"
Minako snorted and shook her head. "There will never be an obvious way, Yaten-kun. Especially with one as hard headed as Usagi."
Yaten glared for a moment and sighed. "I know…"
More silence.
"All we can do is start to point out the ways they're so compatible…" Taiki supplied. Minako shrugged and jumped off the railing, then proceeded to pace its length.
"Well yes… but it seems so flimsy, like it could go either way. Mm…"
"Uh-oh," Yaten chided. "I know that look…" he commented on the furrowed brow and focused eyes of his blonde companion.
Minako laughed a little, her expression easing softly into a small smile. "I'm sure you do, Yaten." She teased.
Taiki rolled his eyes and crossed his arms ruefully, a little jealous that they got to exchange teasing words with each other. "Listen, you two can flirt all you want, but lets try and help Usagi out for a moment."
"You're just jealous because Ami-chan isn't here," Minako jeered at the taller man.
Taiki's face flushed a sudden red, and he turned away quickly to hide it. "Anou…"
"I'll let you in on a secret," Minako whispered, inching toward him and cupping her hand around her mouth. "Ami-chan misses you too…"
His face turned a darker shade of red as he excused himself from Yaten and Minako's presence. Off in the distance a loud 'Ya-hooooo!' could be heard.
Minako and Yaten laughed for a moment, then smiled at each other. The silence grew awkward after several moments had passed. Finally, Yaten blushed and looked away. "Anou… Minako? I just wanted to say how much I missed you… it hasn't quite been the same without you…"
Minako inched closer to him, blushing as well. "I feel the same way."
Yaten looked up, eyes wide with surprise. Minako blushed a little more, then smiled at him. "I'm glad to see you, Yaten-kun…"
Seiya held Usagi's hand as they walked down the path worn with furrows from the carts that passed there day after day. She seemed content to stare at the lush green of the plants that surrounded them, and hadn't said a word since they left. Seiya was content just to be in her presence, but there was still that ever nagging feeling of doubt and dread; would Usagi be living tomorrow? Would she be dead? Would her condition worsen? All because of Mamo-baka? There were so many problems and so many things to go wrong.
"Seiya?"
He gave a start and looked down at his blonde companion, suddenly realizing that he had been spacing out for quite some time. "Hai?"
"You seem sad today…" She grasped his hand tighter, blue eyes still sparkling with worry for him. "What's wrong, Seiya?"
He tried to smile, but it came out as a frown. "Usagi… I…" He had to ask her about her problems with the crystal. Why she never told him, why she was dying? Why wouldn't she let him love her… even just to save her…?
"A lot of things are wrong, Usagi… but maybe now isn't the time to talk about them." He said, smiling hopefully in her eyes. His smile was sad and forced, and Usagi could see right through it, she may have been a ditz, but she wasn't stupid.
Usagi's face fell instantly and she knew she couldn't do anything but feel helpless. He was hiding something from her, and she knew it, but what could she do about it? Seiya was as firm minded as a rock and would not be swayed once he had made a decision.
"Why not now?" She questioned, a small amount of pressure building up in her throat. What was he hiding from her…?
Seiya felt uncomfortable under her harsh gaze and shifted his weight nervously. "Because…"
Silence.
"Perhaps we'll talk about it tonight."
Usagi clung to his arm and turned her blue-eyed gaze up to him. "I don't want you to be sad, Seiya…"
He laughed a little and brought her into a deep embrace. "I can never be sad when I'm around you, Odango-chan." Smiling, he pulled away and winked at her.
"I promised I'd take you into town, so let's hurry." He took her hand again and they began to walk into town again.
The walk there was still filled with silence, and it seemed a little tense after Usagi had realized that Seiya was hiding something from her. She wanted to know what it was and why it distracted him so much, she didn't want to be a burden on his life. She hadn't intended to ever be one, and so seeing him in a state of such apprehension made her feel uneasy and guilty.
"Usagi…" Seiya said.
The blonde looked up at him as she was startled from her thoughts. "Hai?"
"Look…" Seiya pointed in front of the pair, and there stood the quaint little buildings of the town that he called home.
Usagi was startled by the humble size of it whole town. She expected it to be large and expand very far, but it was instead small and charming and seemed content to stay in its twenty square-kilometer space.
"Oh… my… it's so beautiful!" Usagi whispered in delight. Seiya smiled at her happily.
"It's my home."
Usagi looked up at him, her eyes glittering with wonder and awe at this strange town, world, and man before her. "Thank you… for sharing it with me."