Celestial DreamBlaze- *she* is Usagi ^^;; gomen for not revealing that, I thought the last line would have given it away ^^;;
BayDen- Hai, the other girl is Usagi…I'm glad you like the story ^__^
Black Aura-Sama *runs away and starts typing, meanwhile muttering and turning back every once in a while to look at Aura-Sama*
Kaoru- You'll just have to wait for the couples…but I'll let you know right now, Ruka is with Michi…
Bunny-Butler- I'm glad you think the story is promising ^^V Whether or not Usa has an active role in this one is up to you to decide…^^;;
Domo arigatou minna!
Disclaimer- Don't own either show
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Chapter One
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"Gomen I'm late, minna!" The door jingled as Omi entered the flower shop, though he could barely be heard over the horde of girls present. "I couldn't get through the guys…"
"I didn't know we had male fans…hm…maybe they think you're cute, Omi." Youji mused as Omi blushed, eyes wide.
"Iie! They're surrounding the new flower shop across the street. Um…For Her, I think it's called."
"Hm…" Youji scowled. "That flower shop might take away some of our business—"
"Work." The two turned around to see the always-cold Aya.
"Aww, Aya! We're just talking…it's not like any of the girls are going to actually buy anything!" Youji defended, winking at a girl at the same time, who swooned.
"IF YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BUY ANYTHING, GET OUT!" Aya's yell could be heard throughout the whole store. And as usual, the same thing greeted his reply.
"I'll buy everything in the store." A muffled voice could be heard.
"I hear Ouka…I just can't see her." Ken muttered, looking around for the female.
"I think I found her…" Youji drawled, motioning towards the arm and leg struggling against the crowd of girls.
"Ouka!" Omi grabbed her arm pulled her gasping and disoriented form out of the crowd.
"What happened?! Why is there so many more people…It's madness out there!" She exclaimed, frantically looking around.
"It's that new flower shop," Youji scowled. Ken shook his head and went back to retrieving Ouka's orders.
"What new flower shop?"
"It opened just recently…a couple of weeks ago I think…it's called For Her—"Omi was cut off by Ouka's squeal.
"Did you say For Her? I heard that place is fantastic—erm, that is…I mean.." Ouka smiled sheepishly at the four males. Aya grunted his disapproval.
"Um…Youji, you'd be interested to know that the boys are attracted there by the beautiful women." Ouka turned to Youji, eyes glittering.
"Really now…you know..that flower shop looks like it needs help with getting rid of the males…." Youji glanced over to the new shop, surrounded by a horde of males and….females?
"Hai! And there is this REALLY cute guy there too! And they're famous!" Ouka's eyes had stars in them.
"GET THE HELL OUT OF HERE UNLESS YOU'RE GOING TO BUY SOMETHING!" The roar could be heard clearly from across the street. Instantly, only a few girls remained, the rest of the crowd fleeing.
"Whoa…Aya, looks like you got competition." Aya grunted at Youji's comment.
"Oh! I want their autographs!" Ouka squealed and ran out the door. "I'll come back to pick up my orders!"
Without a word, Youji followed her.
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The bell jingled, and Haruka stifled a sigh, instead sending a glance towards Setsuna and motion towards the sound.
Setsuna made her way towards the potential customer.
"May I help you?" she asked, and Youji and Ouka both turned around.
"It's you! It's you!" Ouka squealed in delight.
"Gorgeous…" Youji breathed. "Can I have a name to place on the face?"
"You're Meioh Setsuna, the famous fashion designer!" Ouka had stars in her eyes.
"I am she. May I help you?"
"Yes, yes you can. You can have dinner with me Saturday night." Youji smiled charmingly at Setsuna. She stared back at him, and he found himself slightly stepping back when he saw her ageless eyes that saw right through him.
"I've already made plans." She stated evenly.
"Sets, is everything all right?" A melodic voice called out from behind the register. Youji looked towards the direction of the voice and felt his jaw drop.
"Stunning…" He whispered, making his way towards the aqua-haired female. "Did you make yourself up just for me?"
"Leave her alone." The cold voice came from behind him. He spun around to find himself looking at a tall blonde man, his azure eyes glittering with rage and…was that jealousy?
"You'll have to wait your turn with this goddess, sir. Why don't you try the other goddess, she's right there." And he gestured towards the tall fashion designer.
All present save Youji blanched. Was this guy for real?
"Ano…can I have all of your autographs?" Ouka asked shyly.
"Of course, anything for a fan." Michiru made her way towards the young girl. "Who shall we address it to."
"Takatori Ouka." Setsuna stated simply. "Youji, you should head back to your shop. I believe your coworkers are waiting."
"Well, can I have a personalized autograph too? And feel free to include your numbers when you write it."
"Out!" Haruka pointed towards the door.
"Gomen for Haruka's lack of manners. Ruka-koi, there is no need to be so rude." Michiru quietly admonished. Haruka huffed, crossing her arms.
"The sooner they leave, the fast we may." Haruka stated simply.
"You two are together?" Youji asked Haruka. "Well, I'm sure you learned to share in school…so share—" Youji just dodged the punch coming from Haruka. "What?! What did I do?" He mindlessly asked Ouka, as she pushed him out the door.
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"What did I do? All I said was for him to share! What's wrong with that?" Youji was still questioning Ouka as they entered Koneko's.
"Baka…" Ouka muttered.
"Hey guys, you would not believe the two babes that work in that place." Youji smirked.
"THEY'RE FAMOUS!" Ouka squealed, delighted. "And I got their autograph—" She stopped, searching for the signed papers.
The jingling of the door drew everyone's attention to the new arrivals.
"Babes! Those are the babes!"
"Miss. Ouka, you forgot this." Setsuna held the paper up. Ouka squealed.
"You're Ten'ou Haruka!" Ken exclaimed. "The famous race car driver!"
"Just call me Haruka. You are…"
"Hidaka Ken!" Ken eagerly shook the blonde's hand. "It's an honor to finally meet you. You guys, it's Ten'ou Haruka!"
"Hidaka Ken…I sponsored you before, didn't I?" Haruka questioned.
"Hai! I've always wanted to meet you! Can I have your autograph?" Ken grinned sheepishly, holding a pen in one hand and paper in the other. Haruka signed the paper, amused at the young brunette's antics.
"Ruka-koi, you can apologize to him now." Michiru nudged Haruka.
"Nani?" Haruka followed Michiru's gaze to the brooding red head.
"It's you." She grumbled. "Gomen," she apologized, and then turned to Michiru, sulking. "All done."
"If you're not going to buy anything, leave." Aya growled.
"How can we buy something when Miss. Ouka already bought everything?" Setsuna challenged. "Besides, I wouldn't buy from the competition unless I must."
"Haruka-papa, Michiru-mama, Setsuna-mama, can we go now? I have the flowers for her." A pale girl with shoulder-length violet streaked black hair and violet eyes held up a beautiful bouquet of ivory roses.
"Hai, Hime-chan." Haruka ruffled the girl's hair, before leaving the shop without a farewell. Michiru sighed.
"Gomen for her rudeness. She's upset because she wanted to name our shop, Koneko, but the name was already taken. It was nice meeting you all." She left.
Setsuna turned to Ouka. "Would you like a ride?" She asked the girl, who excitedly nodded her head.
"Hai!"
"The car is out front, it's the yellow convertible. Tell them I offered you a ride." She waited until Ouka left.
"It was nice to meet you all." Her gaze saw through the souls of all present. "Would you like a ride, as well?" She asked Aya. He stared at her impassively.
"We're on our way there as soon as we drop off Miss. Ouka." She stated. Youji whistled.
"You are one lucky bastard, Aya. In a car full of babes."
"Kudou Youji." She turned her attention to him. "We would all appreciate it if you would keep your comments to yourself."
"Feisty…I like that." He stopped as her gaze penetrated him.
"I do not date men who still feel the need to write their name on their underwear." She stated evenly, and Ken snickered. Omi bit his lip in attempt to stop his laughter.
"Hey, how did you know about that?" he paused, thinking. " Wait, we never gave you our names, how do you know who we are." He demanded.
"Perhaps you do not feel it necessary to research the flower shop across the street, but I do. It would be nice to know the competition. The internet can be quite an informative source." That said, Setsuna spun around, and gracefully walked out the door. Before leaving, however, she sent one last remark over her shoulder.
"We'll see you later, Fujimiya-san. It was nice to meet you all, Hidaka-san, Tsukiyono-san, and even you, Kudou-san." And she was gone..
Silence.
"I don't trust them." Aya spoke.
"It's Ten'ou Haruka! How can you not trust him?!" Ken exclaimed.
"They seemed nice." Omi observed. "Strange, but nice."
"SINCE WHEN COULD YOU FIND OUT ABOUT SOMEONE'S UNDERWEAR ON THE INTERNET?!"
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"Sayonara, Miss. Ouka."
"Sayonara! Domo arigatou for everything, mina-sama." Ouka waved until the car was out of sight.
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"Ouka-san seems nice." Hotaru observed.
"Hai." Setsuna agreed. Silently she took out four roses from the bouquet that Hotaru had brought. She handed one to each person in the car.
Hotaru's flower turned a pale violet; so pale you could barely tell.
Setsuna's flower was a deep maroon at the end, though it faded into a pale pink at the tip.
Michiru's flower changed from a deep aqua to a pale silvery teal.
Haruka's flower changed into a pale blue.
Setsuna returned the four roses into the bouquet. "Serenity-hime would be pleased to know that the flower shop is a success."
"Hai," Hotaru agreed, eyes somber. "She would love the flowers."
"Whose watch is it tonight?" Haruka asked.
"It is mine." Setsuna quietly answered.
"I wonder what she would think of the shop's name?" Michiru mused.
"For Her…I think she will understand." Haruka smiled sadly. "It is fitting. For Her…the flower shop is for her." A pause. "Though I still think Koneko's would have made a better name for our shop. Who do those boys think they are, taking that name? They don't even know Koneko!" She ranted.
Michiru sighed. "Easy, koishii."
The car began to slow down as the Magic Bus Hospital came into view. Setsuna gripped the bouquet tighter, seeing the hospital.
"Today will not be the last time we shall meet those boys." She spoke silently, though the graveness of her voice captured everyone's attention. "I think Usagi-hime would be happy to hear about them." She paused, looking at the hospital, through the hospital and into the room housing their blonde-haired princess.
"When the time comes, I believe Usagi-hime should meet the boys." She gazed straight into the eyes of everyone in the car.
"I don't understand…" Michiru furrowed her eyebrows.
"For a bit over a year now, we have watched as Usagi-hime's health slowly, but surely deteriorate. It is time to admit that she will not get better here."
"That's not true!" Michiru gasped. "We don't know that for certain!"
"We must face reality." Trista stated. "This place," she gestured towards the hospital, "can do no more for her. It is time we take home with us. She loves the flowers, but they can only do so much." Setsuna's eyes glazed over slightly, as she remembered the flowers.
------Flashback----------
"Setsuna?" Usagi weakly croaked, her eyes barely open.
"Hai, Usagi-hime?" Setsuna stood by her hime's side, holding her hands.
"How many times," Usagi took a breath, "must I tell you,"
"Don't call me hime." Setsuna finished for Usagi. "You will always be a hime to me, Usagi-hime."
"I suppose you won't break that habit." Usagi smiled weakly, turning to look at the flowers.
Ten bouquets of a dozen flowers decorated the room, each different in color.
The first was a bouquet of black and blood red roses, with forest green leaves and the only source of brightness, the pallid baby's breaths.
"Mamo-chan." Usagi weakly whispered.
"Hai, Usagi-hime."
"Setsu-chan, when will Mamo-chan come to see me?"
Setsuna felt her heart break at the innocent question. How was she to tell her hime, her light, that Mamoru could not, would not, come anymore to see her? That the flowers would be the last thing that her hime would ever receive from Mamoru himself.
"Soon, hime-chan, soon." Setsuna smiled sorrowfully at her princess. When the princess offered her a large smile in return, she felt as if she had just committed one of the greatest sins possible, and perhaps, she had.
The next bouquet was of icy blue and royal blue freesias. Around the glass vase was a ribbon of blue ice, a sapphire shaped into the symbol of Mercury at its center.
"And Ami-chan, when will she come?"
"Later, Usagi-hime, later." Again, she felt as if she had committed the greatest sin ever.
Next, there was the bouquet of casablancas, in shades of a flame and purity. The symbol of Mars, made of rubies, decorated the ebony vase.
"And Rei-chan? What about Rei-chan?"
"She shall come later, Hime-sama." She wanted to burn in Hell.
The next bouquet was of gentians, with its emerald green stalks and warm yellow to pale green flowers. The vase was of ivory, and an emerald, shaped into the symbol of Jupiter, held the pale pea green ribbon in place around the vase.
"Mako-chan, will she come later, too?"
"Hai, Hime-sama." Forgive me, hime, for lying to you so.
The next bouquet was bright oranges and yellows, all cattleyas. The warm yellow vase with swirls of cold orange had a deep orange ribbon tied around it, an amber shaped into the symbol of Venus clasped into the middle.
"And Mina-chan, she will come as well?"
"Of course, Hime-sama." But she can't come…she won't…
The next bouquet was a mix of lilies, roses, and 'moonshadow' carnations, in hues of pinks, whites, and violets. The deep plum vase contrasted to the simple silver chain that wrapped around the vase several times, a heart at the end.
"And my family? When will they come."
"Soon, hime, soon." Never, they will never come again. Gomen nasai, hime-same, but your family, your prince, and the inners, they will never visit you again…because they were weak…
The next bouquet were of a dozen carnations, ranging from the royal majesty of purple to the pale mauve of dawn.
"And Hota-chan? When will she come?"
"She will come soon, school is almost ending for her." Setsuna smiled briefly at her princess. Yes, Hotaru will come…Hotaru still cared.
The next bouquet were of snapdragons, in hues from a royal blue to a deep indigo. Several were spotted with whites, and the crystal vase, streaked with a pale baby blue shone with the sunlight, creating a feeling of freedom.
"Ruka-chan, she—"
"Will come back. She just left the room for a moment, hime." Yes, Haruka was strong too. She would be back.
The next bouquet held a dozen pompom mums, in shades of pale teal to a deep swirling aqua. The jade vase was enlaced with streaks of aqua blue, making for a nice effect.
"Michi-chan, she'll come back too, ne?"
"Hai princess, she is with Haruka." Yes, Michiru would come back. She wouldn't hurt the princess so. Not like them, those selfish bastards.
The last bouquet was of deep burgundy and the dark forest, the dark petals of the 'stargazer' lilies mixed with ashen delphinium contrasted to the pale tan of the simple yet elegant vase.
"Setsu-chan?"
"Hai, hime?"
"You'll never leave me, ne?"
"Never, hime-sama. Not even if I could." And the two shared a quiet somber laugh at Setsuna's rare attempt to lighten the mood.
"I love the flowers, Setsu-chan. When I see them, I can almost convince myself I'm outside, in the sun…that these flowers are in fact freely grown…and I…" Usagi trailed off, her fists clenched. Slowly, her fists unclenched as the pain went away. "And I…am free…and…happy…"
"The day will come, hime-sama. That day will come, and when it does, we, the Outers, shall be by your side, supporting you."
"Hai…and everyone else shall be there, too, Setsu-chan. And we will all be happy…together."
Setsuna said nothing for a long while. "When the day come, Hime-sama, know that the Outers will never leave you. Ever."
But Usagi did not hear this, as she had already drifted off into a deep slumber.
Yes, hime-sama, we, the Outers, are not like the others. We are stronger, more loyal, and hime-sama, we would never ever leave you.
----End Flashback-----
"What would you do for the hime?" Setsuna broke out of her daze, asking the question.
"Nani?!" Haruka gasped, the steering wheel gripped tightly in her hands. "You know we would do anything!"
"They can make our hime-sama happy."" Setsuna's eyes darkened.
"We can make Koneko happy!" Haruka snapped.
"They can give her something we cannot—a new memory." Setsuna answered.
Silence reigned for only a moment.
"Then it is for the hime's sake." Hotaru's eyes were serious.
"What will happen if we don't let her meet them." Haruka asked.
"Usagi-hime dies."
The tires squealed as the car came to a screeching halt.
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End of the First Chapter. Whew. That did not turn out at all as I had believed it would. O.O…and it was longer too..o.O.. hehe^^;; Well, minna, review! Reviews are a great source inspiration ^~…and it helps my ego ^~
