Hey again! Chapter 3's up! I know it's going slow, but I swear there'll be lots more Seiya/Serenity moments in this chapter. Don't forget to Review!
Chapter 3
Dinner was a more pleasant affair than usual tonight as Serenity finished her grilled chicken. Minako, Rei, and Makoto were all busy bothering the Yaten, Ken, and Seiya all during dinner while Taiki and Ami talked about astronomy, books, and things only they would be interest in. Serenity looked on, a little envious of the girls that she couldn't show much interest in the new warriors, especially Seiya, since Endymion was sitting right beside her at the dinner table. However, she did stare at him whenever she thought he wasn't looking.
"So do you guys have a girlfriend?" Makoto asked. All the girls looked at the guys in interest. Serenity could hear her heart beating. 'Please say no… wait a minute, I'm getting married in less than 2 months. How can I say that?' But Serenity really knew that she didn't want to know that Seiya had another girl in his life, even though she realized she was being unfair.
"Actually, training had all of us really busy. None of us really had time for girls and a social life," Ken said in a pleasant tone.
"But now we certainly do have time. Do you guys know any ladies that would be interested?" Yaten said as he flashed his smile. The senshis all squealed in excitement. Seiya kicked him under the chair. "Ouch!" Everyone laughed.
"I apologize for Yaten's comments, ladies. The princess's safety is first to us and I'm afraid that Yaten's very mistaken about having time. Do not take offense of that,"
"Oh, Seiya always have time for girls." Yaten joked while receiving a glare from Seiya
The table laughed and chattered pleasantly through dinner.
"NO!!!!!!" Serenity screamed as she jumped up from her nightmare.
"Are you okay, Princess?" Taiki rushed into Serenity's room. One guard would be sleeping outside her room during her sleep, usually either Taiki or Ken.
"I'm fine. I just had a nightmare," Serenity said as she breathed harshly from the dream.
"Would you like to talk about it?" Taiki said. Serenity gave him a look he couldn't read. "I apologize, I shouldn't have asked." Taiki said as he bowed his head.
"No, it's not that," Serenity said. "I just can't really remember it, except there was this pair of deep-blue eyes looking at me."
"Do you think it's of something that would harm your safety?"
"No, I don't think so. Thank you Taiki, that'll be all."
The sun had barely risen above the horizon when Serenity got up and step out of her room. She just couldn't very well after her unknown nightmare. She stepped out into the garden for a morning walk when she saw a bare-chested figure in the courtyard, training.
"Hi Seiya," Serenity blushed as she walked toward Seiya. Serenity could clearly see his shapely defined muscle of his chest and abs. She blushed and looked down to hide her crimson cheeks.
"Oh, hey Odango, what are you doing out here so early?" Seiya said as he put down his sword and picked up a towel to wipe of his sweat.
"Oh, I just couldn't sleep anymore," Serenity lied. "Do you always train this early in the morning?" Serenity asked so she could avoid the conversation about her.
"Umm…" Seiya didn't really have a good answer. He couldn't tell her that he couldn't sleep because he spent the whole night dreaming about her, or having nightmares about her wedding to Prince Endymion. "Not really. Like you, I couldn't sleep anymore," he said. The two stared into each other's eyes for minutes before Serenity broke the contact and the silence.
"Oh, don't make me stop you from training. Please continue, I just want to watch you," Serenity and Seiya blushed at her words. Seiya picked up his sword again and started to train.
"Odango, are you still as defenseless as before?" Seiya asked smugly as he tried to make small talk as he was wielding the sword.
"I don't know how to fight if that's what you mean," Serenity huffed. "And don't call me by that name!" Serenity stuck out her tongue like a little girl. Seiya laughed.
"Do you want to learn?"
"Martial Arts? From You?"
"Sure, so you can defend yourself."
"But aren't you suppose to be protecting me?" Serenity said as she raised her eyebrow.
"Just in case we loose you, like what yours senshis did six years ago," Seiya said as he pointed out.
"Actually, I'm glad they lost me, or else I would have never met you," Serenity said under her breath.
"What did you say?" Seiya asked.
"Nothing!" Serenity blushed as she realized what Seiya almost heard. "So let's start!" Serenity said as she walked closer to Seiya.
"Umm, you have to have a good stance first," Seiya said. "Like this," he said as he put up stance. Serenity followed the suit. "Actually, not quite," Seiya said as he walked around her. "Pull your hand higher, spread your feet a little bit more, tighten up your muscle more, don't look down, always keep your eyes on your opponent, keep..."
"STOP IT!" Serenity screamed, surprising Seiya. "I can't get all that at the same time." Serenity was very frustrated. 'He must think I'm the biggest idiot in the world.'
"Don't worry about, here," Seiya walked behind her and held her arms from behind, pressing his bare chest on Serenity's back. Serenity blushed at his close proximity. She could feel his breathing and her heart beating quicker. "Step out a little, that's right, okay now look out in front, good," Seiya said as he stood behind her to correct all her mistakes. They were so close that they could feel the heat from each other's cheek. Serenity's blood boiled by Seiya's touches, she could barely stop herself from trembling from excitement.
"Am I interrupting?" a deep voice said from behind.
"Endymion!" Serenity gasped as both of them turned around and saw a very angry prince. Seiya slowly let go of Serenity, deliberately.
"Is there something I need to know?" Endymion said in a cold voice.
"Oh, I was just showing the princess a proper fighting stance. She had shown me interest that she wants to learn how to defend herself," Seiya said in a strong voice. An awkward silence followed.
"Let's go to breakfast my Usako," Endymion said as he offered his arm.
To much of the prince's dismay, Serenity looked at Seiya and asked "Seiya, do you want to come?"
"Actually, I have to go back to clean up," Seiya said as he bowed to the prince and the princess. "I will see you at the table." Seiya walked inside, leaving Serenity staring at her back.
"Usako?" Endymion asked at her unmoving body staring at this guard, Seiya's, back.
"Oh, sorry," Serenity said as she took his arm and walked to the dinning room with him.
"Hey Seiya!" the senshis greeted him cheerfully as he joined the senshis, Serenity, and Endymion for breakfast. He was wearing what the other three guards are wearing, a navy blue suit set.
"Good to see you in decent clothing again," Endymion said in an icy tone as Seiya took a seat across from him, in between Makoto and Yaten. The entire table stared at Endymion and Seiya.
"Whoa! What's this about?" Minako said as she's eager for some gossip. Ami kicked her from under the table. "Ouch!" Serenity stared down on her plates while Seiya just glared at Endymion. The tension at the table was beyond high.
"Well, as I was talking my morning stroll in the garden. I just suddenly hear there voices and sees Seiya half-naked holding my fiancée in a very, very close position," Endymion said in a deadly voice.
"Your majesty, I was just trying to correct the princess's fighting stance. She told me that she was interested in trying to defend herself and as her head of security, it would be very irresponsible of me not to teacher her how to do that," Seiya explained in a same deadly voice. His eyes are shooting daggers straight out. "And I apologize of I just happen to be "half-naked" when I was training this morning. It's more of a routine for me," Seiya continued in a sarcastic tone.
"Well, why don't you invite me and the rest of the group along next time when you teach Usako how to defend herself? Maybe we can all get a lesson or two," Endymion said as he lean forward toward Seiya.
"I'll go!" Yaten said as he raised his hand. Makoto, Minako, Ken all followed the suit, receiving a death glare from Taiki and Ami. Rei looked extremely worried about the situation at hand.
"Well then, I suggest you all be at the garden when the sun rises tomorrow. That's when I plan to be at the garden. Training," Seiya said as he stared straight into Endymion's eyes.
"OKAY!" Rei talked loudly to break the two up. "What are all of you guys doing today?"
"I'll be with the royal court." Endymion said as he sat back down into his seat. "Aren't you guys suppose to be doing wedding planning?"
"Well actually, we've done all we could do till the dresses come in," Ami said.
"We should go out into the town," Minako suggested.
"I don't think so. It's too dangerous. Too many people we don't know," Taiki said in a matter of fact voice.
"Well, how about a picnic in the mountains? That'll be fun, and we'll be alone and be with the princess at all times so no one suspicious can snatch her," Rei suggested. Rei always loved the mountains and had been trying to get groups to go up there since they came to earth.
"I think it'll be great. We can take the carriage," Serenity said as she tried to end the conversation quickly and get out of this uncomfortable situation.
"Then, it's set," Minako scream in excitement. "YEAH!" The senshis haven't been out of the castle since they got here, busy with the wedding plans. Everyone left the table to get ready while Endymion pulled her aside to talk.
"Listen, are you okay with going out?"
"Yea, of course, why wouldn't I?" Serenity shifted uncomfortably under him.
"Well, I really don't want to be hanging around that creep," Endymion confessed.
"Seiya's my head of security, Endy! He has to hang around me. It's his job!"
"Still, can't you get someone else? I don't want someone trying to steal my love's heart." Endymion cooed. Serenity smiled a little.
"Sorry, I can't disobey my mother's wishes. You're late for the court, and I need to get ready to leave," Serenity said as she left for her room. She half-hoped that Seiya was trying to steal her heart.
"Whoa, I didn't know you guys knew each other from before," Makoto commented as Seiya and Serenity shared their encounter at the market 6 years ago. Serenity, the senshis, Seiya, the rest of the guys, and Chad were enjoying a picnic at the mountains. (Chad was sent by Endymion to keep an eye on Serenity.) The guys played games and just hang out around the grassy land on the mountains. Then, when they finally decided to eat around 4 o'clock, Seiya and Serenity shared their story of encounter.
"That's actually really cool!" Minako said. "Why didn't you tell me that you met such a handsome guy before?" Minako asked Serenity jokingly, causing some laughter around the picnic. There was some more small talk when the group just seemed to broke up into different conversations.
Ami was talking to Taiki about how different elements on earth worked. Minako, Makoto, Yaten, Ken, and Chad were talking about their most memorable childhood memory while Rei deliberately stayed in the conversation with Serenity and Seiya, talking about what they've done over the past years.
"I've been learning about how to rule most of the times. Every year, I had to came to earth for a month so Endymion can court me," Serenity said as the three were sitting under a Sakura tree.
"Why?" Seiya said with a pang of jealousy in his voice. Rei shot him a sharp look.
"Oh, ever since I was 10, my mom signed this contract with the King Darius for Endymion and I to marry so we can form an alliance between Earth and the Moon Kingdom," Serenity explained.
"So you're not marrying for love?" Seiya asked, receiving a sharper look from Rei.
"Well, I don't know. I mean I like Endymion. He's always nice to me…"
"But do you love him?" Seiya pried.
"It's really none of your business," Serenity snapped suddenly.
"I apologize, your highness, I didn't mean to pry," Seiya said with hurt in his voice. Serenity was about to apologize for her snappish ways but was interrupted by Makoto, calling her out to play a game.
The sky darkened and thunder crashed as a thunderstorm rolled around to where the group was playing chase.
"Let's go! It's going to rain real hard real soon!" Makoto screamed over the sudden hard rain. Everyone began to run toward the two carriages. Serenity suddenly tripped over a basket and Seiya stopped to help her up, lagging behind the group. As the rest of the group out onto the carriage, lightning struck near the carriages and lighted their surroundings on fire.
"We have to go!" Ken yelled above the rain. "Or we'll be burnt to death!"
"What about Serenity!" Makoto screamed.
"I'm sure she's in the other carriage!" Chad screamed as he hit the horses full on to get out of the storm. The other carriage had the same assumption as they left the field, leaving Seiya and Serenity behind.
"My ankles sprained. I don't think I can move!" Serenity screamed as Seiya tried to help her up.
"I'll carry you then," he said as he brought Serenity up in her arms. As he ran toward the direction of the carriages, they couldn't seem to find them.
"I think they left without us!" Seiya screamed while Serenity shivered from cold in his arms. As Seiya kept on running, he saw a small wood cabin and barged right in. It seemed to be deserted. Seiya put Serenity onto the loft in the middle of the room while he started fire in the fireplace next to the bed, trying to help Serenity warm up.
"I…I'm….m…c..c…c..co..co..cold," Serenity shivered as she sat on the loft.
"Here," Seiya said as he took off his jacket and hugged Serenity, transferring his body heat to her.
"N…n..no, th…then you'd…d b..be c..c…co…cold," Serenity shivered. She already felt warm and comfortable in his arm and didn't really want him to let go.
"Don't worry about it, Odango. It's my job," Seiya said as he kept on hugging her, keeping her warm. 'It feels so right holding her/him. I wish this moment would last forever." Seiya and Serenity thought together.
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN SHE'S NOT HERE?" Endymion screamed as the rest of the group walked into the palace.
"We all thought she was in the other carriage," Taiki explained about this little misunderstanding.
"WE HAVE TO FIND HER!" Minako screamed as she ready to bolt out of the room. Yaten caught her in his arms.
"Are you crazy? In these conditions?" Yaten yelled as he pointed to the storm outside in the dark night.
"Yaten's right. We'd never find her in these conditions. We have to wait till morning when the storm's past," Ami reasoned.
"But we got to try!" Makoto whined.
"This is all your faults! You all are suppose to protect her!" Endymion reprimanded the 3 leftover guards harshly.
"I think the princess would be alright tonight," Ken said as he tried to calm everyone down. "Seiya is a very able warrior and he'll be able to protect the princess. You don't have to worry about her safety." Endymion glared at him. 'That's exactly what I'm worried about.' Endymion thought silently.
"Do you mind if I take off my dress?" Serenity asked as she recovered a bit from the cold. Seiya had just found some blankets in one of the drawers.
"Umm…I don't know if that's appropriate…" Seiya hesitated.
"I'm just really cold with this wet thing on me," Serenity explained. "But if that's too uncomfortable for you…"
"Oh, no, that's not it. I don't want you to be cold. Here, just kept yourself under this." Seiya said as he handed her a blanket.
"Thanks," Serenity said as she took off her dress and snuggled under the blankets. "Are you going to sleep now?" Serenity asked as she's comfortable in the loft under the blankets and out of the cold clothes.
"Yea, I'll just sleep on the floor here," Seiya said.
"But the floor is so cold. I can't sleep knowing that you'll be lying on that cold floor."
"Odango, I can't let you sleep on the floor. You're the princess."
"That doesn't help me feel less guilty."
"Don't worry about it…"
"How about we'll both sleep on loft? There's enough room for the both of us," Both blushed brightly at her words.
"Well…"
"It's not like we're doing anything," Serenity said. "Besides, we're in the wild here. We can't pick and choose." Serenity smiled a little. Seiya hesitated for a moment before Serenity dragged him down beside her. "See? It's not that bad," Serenity said as she snuggled beside Seiya's bared chest. Seiya took off his shirt because it was wet and cold. He could feel her warmth under him. The sleepy Serenity put her arms around his neck and rested her head on his chest for comfort, causing Seiya to blush brightly. He didn't know what to do but to put his arm around her waist, pulling her close for warmth.
'I feel so warm and at ease in his arms. It feels so right,' Serenity thought as she began to drift to sleep. 'I want to stay here forever.'
'I wish I can hold her like this forever," Seiya thought as he breathed in her intoxicating scent. 'I hope we'll stay here forever.' He brushed a gold lock away from her beauty face.
"Don't leave me, Seiya. Don't leave me," Serenity murmured from her sleep.
End of another chapter, Read and Review!!! PLEASE REVIEW! Stay tune for the next chapter.