Hey kiddos! Sorry about the short chapter last time. Never fear for this chapter has lots of stuff in it! And a lot of angst. So enjoy!

Disclaimer: I don't own Sailor Moon.

Warnings: Angst. So much angst.

Close Your Eyes

Chapter Seventeen

Hotaru brushed her hair. She wanted to look nice. She wanted to apologize to Yaten for disappearing yesterday. She thought for sure he'd call her or something to ask where she had gone but he didn't.

I can't believe what happened yesterday…

Seiya was just upset.

I can't tell Yaten about it though…

It felt wrong somehow to tell the silver-haired boy the real reason. She would say she forgot something that she had to do with her aunt. Yeah, that sounded like a good and believable reason. Hotaru hated lying but she had to do it.

It didn't take long to get to the house where Yaten lived. She knocked on the door and Taiki answered. He let her in, not questioning her presence at all. Hotaru went through to Yaten's room, happy that she had not run into Seiya.

I don't know what I would say…

It would be awkward…

She knocked on Yaten's door even though he always told her she didn't have to.

"Come in." The words were cold and Hotaru came in, closing the door. It was night time and the room was completely dark. There was no one in there at all. At least, she couldn't see anyone.

"Yaten?" Hotaru's voice was small. Someone had to be here. Someone told her to come in hadn't they?

A lamp clicked on. Yaten was sitting in a chair, his hand still on the light switch for the lamp. Hotaru saw the look on his face, a strange mixed expression and didn't know how to react.

"Why are you sitting in the dark?" Hotaru felt uneasy but she faked a smile anyways. Yaten got up and Hotaru thought he was about to say something but instead he walked right up to her, grabbing her and pressed his mouth roughly against hers. The roughness and abruptness of the kiss did not lessen. Hotaru was frozen.

Why…Yaten, why are you…?

Finally his hands took hold of her wrists and he pulled away from her.

"Why him?" A simple question and gods did she wish she had an answer.

"I-I…" Hotaru stammered.

"Why him?" Firmer this time, he had to know.

Gomen…gomen…what are you talking about Yaten?

"What?" Hotaru tried before bursting into tears at the hard look he was giving her. Tears streamed down and tried to wipe them away but Yaten had a firm grip on her wrists.

"A girl's tears are so ugly…"

"Don't…don't you dare pretend you have no idea what I'm talking about." Yaten was angry. But it was different than usual. Usually it seemed he got more frustrated and annoyed rather then actually angry. His tone bit like it never had before. She tried not to cry.

Do something…

Oh gods…he saw me and Seiya.

"You really got me, didn't you?" Yaten laughed bitterly. "I thought you were…so beautiful…but you," His face hardened even more. "You are the ugliest thing I've ever seen. Was it fun? Two boys at once, or maybe you even had Taiki as fooled as you had me? Girls are all the same—" Yaten's words were cut short as a hand had freed itself and struck his cheek. Physically the pain wasn't very much, just a tinge. He felt like someone had crushed his heart in their hands.

Why did I say that…those awful things?

Forget them, forget everything, and just let me take you somewhere and keep you all to myself.

I don't want anyone else to touch you…

Hotaru had hit him though. Hit him. Sometimes when she was lost in thought, her eyes glittered and the look in her eyes was one of somebody who knew too much. Hotaru was staring at him with a shocked look as though he had slapped her.

"You!" She cried at him. "You don't understand."

"Oh really? I don't understand how you girl's satisfy your whims? I don't understand how they go around, not paying attention to who they're hurting?" Yaten wished he could have gone back in time and stopped himself from saying that.

"You wouldn't understand. I don't know you and you," Hotaru paused for emphasis. "Don't know me. I'm must your stupid model. You hate all your models, don't you? Why don't you go ahead and tell me how much you hate me? I…I…" Hotaru looked determined. "I don't want you to hold back like you always do!" Hotaru went to go leave the room, not being able to bear it any longer. How could Setsuna always do her job with a closed face?

Fingers closed around her wrist and pulled her back, she went tumbling backwards onto the bed, Yaten suddenly bent over her in a compromising position. His green eyes were flashing.

"You don't want me to hold back? Well here, here's exactly how I feel!" Yaten's face amazingly began to relax. "Every day I wake up and make up an excuse to see you if it isn't Wednesday. Every morning I wake up and make up excuses for you to stay longer when it's not Wednesday. Every morning I wake up and think whether I can make you smile at me. And every morning I wake up and know that you'll never love me the way that I want you to."

Why aren't you angry?

You can't love me…don't tease Yaten…

"I'm not teasing you, I'm trying to say…"

"I want something to hold onto, so let me hold onto you."

"I'll remember you."

"I hope you're happy." Yaten snapped her back into reality. Hotaru felt her hands slip out from under his and go up, gods she loved those bright eyes, so lively, unlike her dead ones. She couldn't stop herself as she pulled his head down and brought up her lips to catch hold of his.

She held onto him tightly, scared of what would happen if she let go.

I want him…

Finally she did let go. She released him and he pulled away from her, looking stricken by her actions and even…scared. Why did he seem scared?

He moved so he was no longer on top of her but sitting next to her. She was about to sit up but his words made her freeze.

"Just go." He told her. "I don't want your pity."

"Yaten…I…" Hotaru tried to say the words that were hanging in her mind but she couldn't get them out.

"Just GO!" He yelled at her and Hotaru hurriedly got up and ran towards the door. She turned to look at him but he wasn't facing her and she burst through the door and out, out of this house.

Why…why can't I just once get out what I meant to say?

Why does everything have to be like this?

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Seiya kicked a rock as he walked down the sidewalk. He wasn't sure what had happened the previous night with Yaten so continued to ponder this as he went down the sidewalk.

Unless…

It has something to do with Hotaru…

And then, a strange scent filled the air. He knew this scent more than any other in the whole universe. He whirled around and caught someone just disappearing around a corner. He ran around that corner, grabbing their wrist and whirling them around.

No…it can't be…

You…you're getting married…you…let us leave…

"Kakyuu…" Seiya breathed. The dark red eyes looked at him and tears began to form in them. "Kakyuu-hime…"

"Seiya…I…" Kakyuu started to say. "I can't…I can't do it anymore!" And she threw herself into his arms. He caught her easily, forgetting how small and fragile their princess was.

He stroked her hair with a hand and realized that Kakyuu was wearing normal civilian clothes. How had she gotten them? How long had Kakyuu been here? Without protection no less…

"Shhh, Kakyuu-hime, what can't you do?" Seiya felt a lump beginning to form in his throat. He had been away from his princess too long. He forgot what it was like to be there with her.

"I couldn't marry him…" Kakyuu told him, looking at his blue eyes. "I couldn't marry that man. I missed you all so much…I want to be with you all."

"Wait, the advisors don't know you're here?" Seiya's eyes widened. "You just…left?"

"I know…I know I shouldn't have but…" Kakyuu clutched at his shirt. "I had to be with you all again. You've been gone so long…"

"It's alright Kakyuu, it's alright now. You're with us." Seiya comforted her. How beautiful she was right then, tears falling from her cheeks. His carefully brushed away her tears. "I'll take you to the others."

"I was afraid…I was afraid you'd hate me." Kakyuu confessed.

"No…I can't…I'll never hate you Kakyuu…" Seiya took her hand and began to walk towards the house where he lived with the other two. "I'll never hate you."

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"Oh, Seiya, are you home?" Taiki called out from the kitchen where he was stirring spaghetti sauce. "Hotaru was here earlier and she rushed out in tears before I could stop her. I guess Yaten's in a really good mood again today so try to stay out of his way."

"Taiki?" The soft female voice made Taiki drop the wooden spoon he had. Seiya entered the room holding the hand of someone Taiki knew the instant he laid eyes on her.

"Kakyuu-hime?!" His eyes were wide.

"It's so good to see you again." Kakyuu went over and hugged him briefly. "What are you doing? Cooking? Is Yaten here?"

"Yes, he is." Taiki smiled warmly at her. "I'm making spaghetti, something we didn't discover until we came here."

"It smells wonderful." Kakyuu sniffed at the air. "May I have some?"

"Of course you can! Like we would let you starve." Taiki shook his head in wonder. "Oh, Kakyuu-hime, sit down." He led her to a stool so she could watch the cooking. Seiya quickly sat beside her.

"Is this your home?" Kakyuu looked around curiously. "It's pretty."

"I have a quick question for you Kakyuu-hime." Taiki adjusted the glasses he was wearing. "Were you following us?"

"Yes…" Kakyuu confessed. "I didn't know…what to say…you had all been away so long and I didn't want to barge into your lives…"

"You are our lives…" Taiki told her and Seiya's eyes narrowed slightly at the look Taiki was giving Kakyuu.

"Is dinner ready yet?" Yaten had come out of his room looking like he was in a very dark mood. His eyes went from Taiki and his cooking to Seiya, which caused him to glare. And then his eyes went to Kakyuu. "What?! What are you doing here?"

"I've come to visit you." Kakyuu gave the green-eyed boy a tentative smile.

Kakyuu-hime…

Who never even noticed Seiya when he was pining after her.

Who never even noticed how much she hurt him by announcing her engagement.

Because girls…they're all the same…

"Shirking responsibility again?" Yaten asked her in an accusatory tone. "You're good at that, not taking responsibility for anything! You're such a child Kakyuu!"

"Yaten…" Kakyuu looked sad but didn't protest.

"Yaten, shut the hell up!" Seiya yelled at him. "Don't talk to her that way!"

"It really is uncalled for." Taiki was looking at him sternly as well.

"Whatever, I don't care." Yaten gave Kakyuu one last look before leaving the kitchen. "As long as you're here Kakyuu-hime, maybe you'll keep Seiya's mind off that idiot Usagi." He had called it out over his shoulder and Kakyuu blinked several times.

"Who's Usagi?" Kakyuu asked the other two. Taiki and Seiya both looked uncomfortable.

"She's just a girl. It doesn't matter." Seiya answered quickly.

"Don't listen to Yaten." Taiki went and put a hand on Kakyuu's shoulder. "Something is really bothering him. I don't know what exactly…He…you know Yaten."

"I certainly do." Kakyuu smiled sadly. "I'm so glad to see you all again. Even when Yaten is like that I know…it is because Yaten is Yaten and he will be truthful to me…even if it hurts my feelings…"

I wonder…Yaten, if there is something else.

Someone else who you are mad at…

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Wow, that was angst filled. Of course I had "Denial Revisited" by the Offspring on repeat during the whole chapter so that probably helped a little. Funny fact, I wrote that Yaten/Hotaru scene a year ago. Yeah. When I first got the idea for this story in fact. Pretty weird to think that it's finally in the story. You'll wanna stay tuned for the next chapter, believe me. Please review!