SEVENTEEN
(c) rikki-chan (lady bundtcake) 2004
CHAPTER SIX - AMUSEMENT
===
Seiya thought he might pass out.
They were squeezing into the limo and, as Minako had foreseen, it was proving to be a rather complicated affair. Michiru, Haruka, and Setsuna managed to procure seats for themselves, but as the younger girls piled in the outer planetary senshi became suddenly aware of how long their legs were. Haruka obligingly let Hotaru sit in her lap to make room, while Taiki's lap housed half of Ami's leg (the owner of that leg was blushing profusely, but didn't seem to mind too much). Yaten and Minako were tangled up in a seat, laughing and trying to reach past each other to grab little cans of soda out of Minako's minibar, and Rei and Makoto squeezed in between Michiru and Setsuna.
Which left Seiya sitting along the back wall with Ami, Taiki, Minako, Yaten, and…
Usagi and Seiya were the last getting in, having dawdled some on the way over to allow enough time for exchanging jokes and playful slaps on the arm. Now Seiya had managed to slide over onto the back seat, but there wasn't any room left for another person.
"Looks like you'll just have to sit on his lap, Usagi-chan!" Minako called merrily from her perch on Yaten.
Rei looked as though she were about to comment on the situation, but thought better of it. "Come on, Usagi," she said, adopting her typical impatient demeanor. "Let's go!"
Usagi's face was flushed bright pink as she crawled into Seiya's lap and shut the door behind her.
And Seiya seriously thought he would pass out on the spot.
The car started moving swiftly along the neighborhood streets, and Seiya realized he had no idea what to do. Which was ironic, he felt; he had always had a reputation as something of a lady-killer, even when he was a lady himself. And suddenly, confronted in what should have been his element, he found himself getting cold feet and not knowing what to do or say.
So he didn't do anything, and just let his arms stay tensely at his sides with his fists clenched, as the car bumped and swerved down the road. Usagi didn't seem to notice his awkwardness; she was laughing loudly and giggling with the other younger girls and not really paying any attention at all to the person whose lap she was currently occupying.
Seiya tried to relax, too, and finally started up a conversation with Ami and Taiki, as they were closest. They were droning on about metaphysics and other stuff Seiya didn't really care about when the car hit a sudden jarring bump.
The girls squealed and Seiya's arms reflexively wrapped around Usagi's waist to keep her from toppling to the floor. Usagi gave a little start, but then she craned her head around to give him a smile.
"Thanks," she said.
"No problem."
She didn't seem to shrug him off, so Seiya didn't bother to remove his arms from her waist. He figured the road was fairly bumpy along this stretch, so hey, might as well be prepared.
Usagi continued to talk and giggle as the car sped along towards the amusement park. Presently, Seiya felt her body relax beneath his touch and she settled back against him.
"Is this okay?" she asked quietly. "It's hard to sit up so straight like this, and my head keeps hitting the roof of the car."
Seiya's mouth went dry. "No, you're fine," he finally managed to croak, hoping it didn't sound too pathetic.
She didn't seem to notice, and favored him with a sideways smile before jumping in on a conversation Rei and Makoto were having.
Seiya wasn't paying attention to anything around him. All he was aware of was the warmth of Usagi's body pressed against his chest, relaxing against him, her golden head fitting securely against his shoulder. He felt decidedly protective of the treasure in his arms, and instinctively his arms tightened around her body, holding her snugly against him. Her arms were folded above his, and her hands rested lightly on his forearms; he could feel the soft pads of her fingertips. Seiya allowed his eyes to close as he took in her lovely scent.
He wanted nothing but to remain like this for hours, forever if possible. Just holding her and having her know that he would protect her from anything. Even if they were in a crowded, plush limousine, Seiya would protect her; he had already kept her from banging her shin on the floorboard, hadn't he?
He hadn't even noticed the car had stopped and everyone was crawling over each other to the doors until Usagi elbowed him in the ribs. "Um, Seiya?" she said. "We're here."
Seiya blinked and looked outside at the park looming over them. "So we are," he said, and reluctantly released his hold on her to allow her to bounce out of the car.
He sighed and unbuckled his seat belt. Come on, Seiya, you're losing your nerve! He couldn't help but laugh a little at how clammy he got around her.
As he began to crawl out of the limo, he felt a gentle tap on his shoulder. He turned slightly to come almost nose to nose with a grinning Aino Minako.
"You think you're so smooth," she crowed, poking him in the ribs.
"I don't have the slightest idea what you're talking about."
"Seiya, come on. If you'd been any closer, the windows would have steamed up. All that heat would have been really bad on the upholstery, too," Minako chuckled. She lowered her voice, bringing her lips to Seiya's ear. "Just between us, she really HAS missed you, Seiya-kun. I think more than she even knows."
"I keep hearing that," Seiya said agitatedly. "But what the hell can I DO about that? She has…well, she has HIM already."
Minako shrugged slightly. "I know. And everyone told me, long before I got in contact with you guys about this whole party thing, that I was probably making a mistake and just opening the door for a past that should remain closed. That's what Rei-chan said, anyway," she furrowed her brow, and Seiya thought he'd never seen Minako look so serious and earnest.
"In all honesty, Seiya-kun…I think you and Usagi-chan really had something between you. I would hate to see that go to waste."
Seiya smiled weakly. "I would, too, but I never saw any alternative. We all know how she feels about me. 'We'll always be friends,' right?"
"Maybe, but Usagi-chan has never been one for ultimatums," Minako grinned. "Besides…just give it a chance. You may be surprised at how much she's changed in a year."
===
"Rei-chan, we need to talk," Usagi said, gripping her dark-haired friend by the arm and steering her to a place in line for a rollercoaster.
Rei linked her arm in Usagi's and allowed herself to be dragged away from the rest of their talkative group. Once they were a safe distance away, near the front of the line and surrounded by a crowd of people, Rei lowered her head and met Usagi's clear blue eyes. "What is it?"
Usagi bit her lip. "I didn't know you had invited the Three Lights to come visit me." She glanced anxiously over Rei's shoulder to look at their friends, who had joined the end of the line and were chatting happily. The Three Lights and Minako had donned dark sunglasses, so they could enjoy their day without being pestered by fans.
"I didn't invite them," Rei said. "It was Minako-chan's idea. All of this."
"Oh. Why did…"
"Usagi, I want you to know something," Rei said fiercely. "I was against this whole idea when Minako-chan first brought it up. I really was. But she won me over because she convinced me that this would be good for you, and you know what? I think she's right."
"Good for me?"
"Because you haven't been the same, Usagi. Ever since they left last year, you've changed. And I don't know if that's because of what the battle with Galaxia did to you, or if you're just getting older, but you've never been the same since the day Seiya and his friends left for Kinmoku."
Usagi looked at the ground. "Things have been…difficult, Rei-chan."
"Difficult?" Rei's dark eyes widened in confusion. "Difficult? If anything, I would have expected you to be on cloud nine this past year. You don't have to fight anymore, you have friends who care about you, you saved the entire galaxy, and on top of that you have true love. And yet you haven't been happy, you've been moping."
"I know that," Usagi said, her frustration creeping onto her face.
Rei gave her friend a startled look, as a few tears leaked out of Usagi's eyes. "I know, Rei-chan," she whispered. "I should be happy. I should be the happiest girl in the world. I have everything, don't I?"
Rei swallowed. She hadn't meant to upset Usagi, but she always seemed to do just that, even when she was only trying to be honest with her. "Usagi…"
"Rei-chan," Usagi gave her friend a desperate look. "How would you feel if you knew exactly how your life was going to be? If you knew every step and turn along the way, if you knew what it would ultimately become, and the only surprise left would be whether or not you were having ham or turkey on your sandwich that day?"
Rei said nothing. Usagi clung tighter to her arm and leaned shakily against her, beginning to sob.
"I don't mean to sound ungrateful," she said, her voice cracking. "Not after everything you've done for me. But Rei-chan…I feel like there's nothing left for me. Even though I love you, and this world, and Mamo-chan…I can't be happy. And I don't know why."
Rei sighed and wrapped her other arm around her friend in a tight hug. "Because you aren't free," she said.
Usagi sniffled and looked at her. "What?"
"You aren't free, Usagi. You don't make your own choices. It's like you just said, you know exactly how your life is going to be, and instead of that being comforting, it's horrible," Rei sighed again. "You know, all my life I've tried as hard as I could to be able to read the messages in the fire. To know the future, so I could be prepared for whatever would happen. I studied for years to perfect my ability to perceive the unknown, so I would know what was coming next."
Usagi nodded. "I remember. You used to get premonitions all the time."
"Yeah, well. You know what I found out?"
"What?"
"It was awful!" Rei made a face. "Remember when the silence was approaching, and we were living in fear over it? Remember how I was the only one who had seen the inevitable end of the world, before Setsuna-san revealed it to the rest of you?"
"Yes."
"I felt like sometimes I couldn't live from day-to-day, because I was too caught up in what was happening in the future. I was scared, Usagi. I felt trapped. It was awful," Rei shook her head. "I know that comparing the end of the world to YOUR future isn't exactly the same, but I think I know how you feel. I know what it's like to feel like destiny is suffocating you."
Usagi nodded slowly, gripping Rei's arm.
"But you know what else, Usagi?"
"What?"
"That vision…the future I believed in so strongly that I couldn't see any other alternative…it never came to pass, remember?"
"No, it didn't."
"And do you know why that is?"
Usagi shook her head, confused. "No."
"It was because of you, Usagi," Rei said, smiling. "You believed things could be different. It was because you believed in that so strongly that we were able to escape fate. You weren't about to let it hold you down. And you changed everything, Usagi. You had that power. You still do."
"Rei-chan, what are you saying?"
"I'm saying if you're feeling too trapped to live your life, then do something about it!" Rei said, shaking Usagi roughly. "That's how you've always lived. Usagi, you may be a crybaby and a bit silly at times, but you're also the strongest person I've ever known and I KNOW you have the power to live your life however you want, destiny and fate be damned."
Usagi looked at her hands, twisting her ring on her finger. She looked sadly up at Rei, her eyes slightly misty from tears. "I do love him, Rei-chan," she whispered.
"Do you?"
"I…" Usagi trailed off, brushing her bangs out of her eyes as she gazed at the sky. She shifted a few steps in the line. "Sometimes, Mamo-chan acts like he doesn't really want to be with me. Like he's only waiting for the future to happen, but right now we're just going through the motions."
Rei said nothing. She followed Usagi as the line shifted forward, tossing a lock of raven hair over one shoulder and staring intently at the ground.
"Sometimes, I wonder if that's all we'll ever do. Just go through the motions," Usagi laughed hoarsely. "I mean, I've always been in love with him, but there was never a choice in the matter. It was just meant to be. And sometimes I wonder what it would be like if Mamo-chan and I didn't have over a thousand years of relationship history that only existed in our past lives."
"Usagi…" Rei started.
"Oy, Odango!"
The two girls whirled around to see a pair of dark sunglasses peering curiously at them—Seiya. He was perspiring slightly; it was clear he had jogged up to join them from the back of the line.
He grinned as he pushed his hair off his forehead, sticking out his tongue in a pant. "You ran off and left us all stranded back there. Some guest of honor you are!"
Usagi stuck her tongue out at him in return. "I thought YOU were the guest of honor, and I was just your excuse to make a visit back here."
"Ah, Odango, I couldn't think of a better excuse than you," Seiya grinned, pushing her lightly on the shoulder. She shoved him back. "Anyway, are we riding this thing? Looks awfully scary, are you sure you're up to this?"
"Please, Seiya. I've ridden rollercoasters with you before. You're much more scared on them than I am, AND you scream like a girl!" Usagi retorted.
"I come by that honestly, seeing as I AM a girl," Seiya laughed. "Well, not at the moment. But it's out of necessity; otherwise my boxers wouldn't fit."
"Seiya, the last thing any of us want to hear about is your boxers!" Usagi said, making a face.
"Admit it, you've lain awake nights wondering about my underwear. What DOES Seiya-sama wear under those pants of his? Oh, I'll never know," Seiya said, mimicking her high-pitched voice.
"You are so gross!" Usagi said, shoving him hard. Seiya lost his balance and bumped into a lady in line.
"Sorry," Seiya said, nodding his head at the woman as he readjusted his sunglasses.
"That's all—oh my god! Are you Seiya Kou of the Three Lights?" the woman gasped.
Rei and Usagi tried to jump in and steer Seiya away from the woman before a scene happened, but Seiya decided to milk the opportunity for all it was worth. He pushed his glasses up on his head, revealing his sparkling eyes, and winked. "Back for a little reunion," he said.
"Oh my god!" the woman shrieked. "It's Seiya Kou!"
"Seiya Kou??"
A small swarm of bouncy girls had suddenly pounced on an all-too-proud Seiya. He flashed a taunting grin over their heads at Usagi, who was beginning to feel a little annoyed by the interest all the women were taking in her friend.
"Odango, why don't you ever do this to me?" he laughed.
"Those…girls!" Usagi spat viciously, but only Rei heard her. "They don't even KNOW him!"
"So? He's still pretty popular, after all," Rei said.
"But look at them! They just jump all over him, like they've known him for years, and they haven't! How rude can you get?"
"Sounds like you're a little jealous," Rei teased.
Usagi's jaw dropped open. "I am not JEALOUS!" she said loudly, stamping her foot. "I just don't want Seiya to be attacked by fans on his day out with his OLD FRIENDS."
"Well," Rei said mildly, "It doesn't look like he minds too much."
Usagi's head snapped around to see a very smug-looking Seiya, signing a girl's stomach with a black marker.
"Okay, that's it," Usagi grumbled, shoving her way through the crowd and attaching herself to Seiya's arm.
Seiya glanced down at her, giving her a catlike grin. "Decided I'm worth claiming after all?"
"You are all so rude to attack Seiya on his day off!" Usagi yelled at the girls, ignoring Seiya. "Don't you know that even idols occasionally want to spend time with their friends?"
"Who are you?" one girl asked contemptuously.
"You probably don't even know him. You're just another idol-chaser!"
"I am not!" Usagi snapped.
"No, she's not. She's my date," Seiya boasted.
Usagi threw Seiya a wild look. "What??"
"Seiya-kun, you have a girlfriend?"
"No fair!"
"She has her hair all up in that silly odango!"
"I think they're cute," Seiya said, patting one of Usagi's hair buns.
Usagi thwacked at his hand. "Tell them I'm not your girlfriend!" she hissed.
"Seiya-kun! You and your girlfriend can sit right here in front," a booming voice said. Usagi glanced up and realized they had reached the front of the line, and the ride operator was addressing them. He gave her a grin, and she noticed he was missing a couple of teeth. "We give the best seats to popular idols and their true loves!"
"But I'm not…" Usagi started to contradict him, but he was already boosting her into the rollercoaster's front seat. Seiya joined her, moving with a casual and relaxed gait, almost lazily.
"Enjoy your ride, kids," the operator said, lowering the seat bar against their laps.
Seiya stretched and put his arm around Usagi's shoulders. "Make it look good, Odango," he said, barely able to contain his laughter.
Usagi blushed furiously. "Seiya, if this winds up printed in some magazine, I swear I will kill you!"
"You won't have to. Haruka-san will get me first."
Usagi opened her mouth to say something, but the ride had begun to creak and creep slowly forward, rising up the first hill.
"Want me to hold on to you?" Seiya asked.
Usagi glared at him. "I think we've been in each other's personal space enough for one day, don't you?"
"How could I ever get enough of you?" Seiya laughed. "Especially when you're so eager to be near me!"
Usagi made a snorting sound and started to open her mouth to contradict him, but the rollercoaster car had reached its summit. It lingered there for a millisecond before plummeting rapidly down the first large hill.
Usagi screamed and flung her arms around Seiya's neck, clinging to him for dear life. Not to be outdone, Seiya screamed even louder than Usagi, putting his hands up in the air. "Put your arms up!" he shouted.
"NO. WAY," Usagi gasped, her fingers clenching his shirt collar.
Seiya hurriedly pried his shirt out of her grasp and jerked her arms into the air. Usagi shrieked, causing Seiya to go into fits of laughter, as the rollercoaster swooped along the lowest part of the track and began to climb the next hill.
Usagi yanked her arms out of Seiya's iron hold and hit him on the shoulder. "You are so mean!" she yelled.
"You are such a chicken!"
"I am NOT!"
"So put your arms in the air on this next hill. Here we go!"
The rollercoaster zoomed into a downward spiral, and Seiya flung his hands up, laughing and yelling. Usagi gritted her teeth and felt suddenly determined not to be outdone. She shakily lifted her own arms into the air, gasping as the wind caught them and bounced her around on the plastic seat. She screamed, her blue eyes growing as huge as two plates.
They hit bottom again and began yet another climb, this one significantly smaller in height, and Seiya gave her a wide grin. "Isn't this great?"
Usagi giggled and shouted back, "It's all right!"
The pair waved their arms and screamed for the remainder of their ride, until the rollercoaster cars finally reached the loading platform and screeched to a halt. A mechanical hiss raised the metal seat bar from their laps, and Seiya took Usagi's hand, helping her out of the car. Hand in hand, they ran swiftly off the platform and back into the park, Seiya adjusting his sunglasses once more so they could avoid the inevitable swarm of fans.
They ran around behind a small lemonade stand and took several panting, laughing breaths. Usagi bent forward slightly, letting her hands rest on her thighs as she took a few deep breaths, and said, "You're impossible to go anywhere with. Even after you've been gone for a year, everyone still chases after you."
Seiya was peering around the corner of the lemonade stand, keeping an eye out for wandering idol chasers. "Yeah, well, that's the breaks of stardom. It's tough to be both popular and as attractive as I am," he smirked.
Usagi rolled her eyes. "You're so full of yourself."
"Well, don't you think I can afford to be? Don't you think…" Seiya turned around to face her, and stopped short. His eyes widened and there was a moment of silence before he burst into laughter.
"What?" Usagi asked.
"O-odango…your hair!"
"What's wrong with my hair?" Usagi lifted her hands to touch her hair and came into contact with a knotted, windblown mass. Her two long ponytails had unwound from their odango and were now tangled up together in a long, golden mess. "Oh NO," Usagi moaned, trying to run her fingers through it and only succeeding in snagging it further.
"The rabbit of the moon has mange," Seiya joked.
"Shut up!" Usagi snapped. "This isn't funny! It will take ages to pull all this out of these knots!"
"Here, let me," Seiya said, grabbing one of Usagi's elbows and pulling her to him. She reluctantly dropped her hands as Seiya looked down calmly at the top of her head, his fingers working themselves into her long hair. Usagi blinked and noticed she was staring directly at his chest, just about eye level with the neckline of his shirt. Her eyes ran across the hollow of his throat and the strong line of his collarbone before she forced herself to look straight at the ground.
Seiya's fingers were still tangled up in her hair, working their way across her scalp and patiently undoing all the windblown knots and kinks. Usagi swallowed as she felt her skin tingle beneath his gentle massaging, and she willed herself to think of something else, anything else, anything other than how pleasant and relaxing it felt to have Seiya stroking her hair like that.
"Mmm," Seiya murmured, his fingers traveling behind her head and down the back of her neck, still unwinding her streaming hair.
"What's the verdict?" Usagi gulped.
"Well, looks fairly salvageable. Though we could always cut it and try to make a blanket out of it."
"You're terrible!" Usagi yelped, jerking her head up. She hadn't realized this motion would place her in a fairly compromising position, with her face inches from Seiya's and his fingers still softly rubbing the back of her neck.
Seiya's expression was unreadable. His deep blue eyes were fixed on hers, and Usagi felt herself growing decidedly warm under his steady gaze and gentle touch. She opened her mouth slightly, tempted to say something, anything, but words were failing her.
Seiya's eyes glazed over momentarily, his head tilting slightly to one side, before he gave himself a slight shake and smiled vaguely at her. His eyes still held that dreamy look as he slowly twisted a lock of hair around his fingers and arranged it in a little bun on the side of her head.
"Think I should do my hair in odango? We would make such a charming matched set. The fans would love it."
Usagi closed her mouth, coming back down to earth. She felt herself relax abruptly, and hadn't realized she had been holding her breath.
"I don't think you can handle odango," she said, smirking. She raised her hand to touch his, extracting her long hair from his fingers. She met him with a steady, teasing gaze before turning slowly and walking away from him, flipping a golden lock over her shoulders as she went.
Seiya exhaled slowly, counting to ten. Then he smirked at her retreating form, his blue eyes glinting.
"Oh, I think I can," he whispered to himself, before hurrying to catch up with her.
(c) rikki-chan (lady bundtcake) 2004
CHAPTER SIX - AMUSEMENT
===
Seiya thought he might pass out.
They were squeezing into the limo and, as Minako had foreseen, it was proving to be a rather complicated affair. Michiru, Haruka, and Setsuna managed to procure seats for themselves, but as the younger girls piled in the outer planetary senshi became suddenly aware of how long their legs were. Haruka obligingly let Hotaru sit in her lap to make room, while Taiki's lap housed half of Ami's leg (the owner of that leg was blushing profusely, but didn't seem to mind too much). Yaten and Minako were tangled up in a seat, laughing and trying to reach past each other to grab little cans of soda out of Minako's minibar, and Rei and Makoto squeezed in between Michiru and Setsuna.
Which left Seiya sitting along the back wall with Ami, Taiki, Minako, Yaten, and…
Usagi and Seiya were the last getting in, having dawdled some on the way over to allow enough time for exchanging jokes and playful slaps on the arm. Now Seiya had managed to slide over onto the back seat, but there wasn't any room left for another person.
"Looks like you'll just have to sit on his lap, Usagi-chan!" Minako called merrily from her perch on Yaten.
Rei looked as though she were about to comment on the situation, but thought better of it. "Come on, Usagi," she said, adopting her typical impatient demeanor. "Let's go!"
Usagi's face was flushed bright pink as she crawled into Seiya's lap and shut the door behind her.
And Seiya seriously thought he would pass out on the spot.
The car started moving swiftly along the neighborhood streets, and Seiya realized he had no idea what to do. Which was ironic, he felt; he had always had a reputation as something of a lady-killer, even when he was a lady himself. And suddenly, confronted in what should have been his element, he found himself getting cold feet and not knowing what to do or say.
So he didn't do anything, and just let his arms stay tensely at his sides with his fists clenched, as the car bumped and swerved down the road. Usagi didn't seem to notice his awkwardness; she was laughing loudly and giggling with the other younger girls and not really paying any attention at all to the person whose lap she was currently occupying.
Seiya tried to relax, too, and finally started up a conversation with Ami and Taiki, as they were closest. They were droning on about metaphysics and other stuff Seiya didn't really care about when the car hit a sudden jarring bump.
The girls squealed and Seiya's arms reflexively wrapped around Usagi's waist to keep her from toppling to the floor. Usagi gave a little start, but then she craned her head around to give him a smile.
"Thanks," she said.
"No problem."
She didn't seem to shrug him off, so Seiya didn't bother to remove his arms from her waist. He figured the road was fairly bumpy along this stretch, so hey, might as well be prepared.
Usagi continued to talk and giggle as the car sped along towards the amusement park. Presently, Seiya felt her body relax beneath his touch and she settled back against him.
"Is this okay?" she asked quietly. "It's hard to sit up so straight like this, and my head keeps hitting the roof of the car."
Seiya's mouth went dry. "No, you're fine," he finally managed to croak, hoping it didn't sound too pathetic.
She didn't seem to notice, and favored him with a sideways smile before jumping in on a conversation Rei and Makoto were having.
Seiya wasn't paying attention to anything around him. All he was aware of was the warmth of Usagi's body pressed against his chest, relaxing against him, her golden head fitting securely against his shoulder. He felt decidedly protective of the treasure in his arms, and instinctively his arms tightened around her body, holding her snugly against him. Her arms were folded above his, and her hands rested lightly on his forearms; he could feel the soft pads of her fingertips. Seiya allowed his eyes to close as he took in her lovely scent.
He wanted nothing but to remain like this for hours, forever if possible. Just holding her and having her know that he would protect her from anything. Even if they were in a crowded, plush limousine, Seiya would protect her; he had already kept her from banging her shin on the floorboard, hadn't he?
He hadn't even noticed the car had stopped and everyone was crawling over each other to the doors until Usagi elbowed him in the ribs. "Um, Seiya?" she said. "We're here."
Seiya blinked and looked outside at the park looming over them. "So we are," he said, and reluctantly released his hold on her to allow her to bounce out of the car.
He sighed and unbuckled his seat belt. Come on, Seiya, you're losing your nerve! He couldn't help but laugh a little at how clammy he got around her.
As he began to crawl out of the limo, he felt a gentle tap on his shoulder. He turned slightly to come almost nose to nose with a grinning Aino Minako.
"You think you're so smooth," she crowed, poking him in the ribs.
"I don't have the slightest idea what you're talking about."
"Seiya, come on. If you'd been any closer, the windows would have steamed up. All that heat would have been really bad on the upholstery, too," Minako chuckled. She lowered her voice, bringing her lips to Seiya's ear. "Just between us, she really HAS missed you, Seiya-kun. I think more than she even knows."
"I keep hearing that," Seiya said agitatedly. "But what the hell can I DO about that? She has…well, she has HIM already."
Minako shrugged slightly. "I know. And everyone told me, long before I got in contact with you guys about this whole party thing, that I was probably making a mistake and just opening the door for a past that should remain closed. That's what Rei-chan said, anyway," she furrowed her brow, and Seiya thought he'd never seen Minako look so serious and earnest.
"In all honesty, Seiya-kun…I think you and Usagi-chan really had something between you. I would hate to see that go to waste."
Seiya smiled weakly. "I would, too, but I never saw any alternative. We all know how she feels about me. 'We'll always be friends,' right?"
"Maybe, but Usagi-chan has never been one for ultimatums," Minako grinned. "Besides…just give it a chance. You may be surprised at how much she's changed in a year."
===
"Rei-chan, we need to talk," Usagi said, gripping her dark-haired friend by the arm and steering her to a place in line for a rollercoaster.
Rei linked her arm in Usagi's and allowed herself to be dragged away from the rest of their talkative group. Once they were a safe distance away, near the front of the line and surrounded by a crowd of people, Rei lowered her head and met Usagi's clear blue eyes. "What is it?"
Usagi bit her lip. "I didn't know you had invited the Three Lights to come visit me." She glanced anxiously over Rei's shoulder to look at their friends, who had joined the end of the line and were chatting happily. The Three Lights and Minako had donned dark sunglasses, so they could enjoy their day without being pestered by fans.
"I didn't invite them," Rei said. "It was Minako-chan's idea. All of this."
"Oh. Why did…"
"Usagi, I want you to know something," Rei said fiercely. "I was against this whole idea when Minako-chan first brought it up. I really was. But she won me over because she convinced me that this would be good for you, and you know what? I think she's right."
"Good for me?"
"Because you haven't been the same, Usagi. Ever since they left last year, you've changed. And I don't know if that's because of what the battle with Galaxia did to you, or if you're just getting older, but you've never been the same since the day Seiya and his friends left for Kinmoku."
Usagi looked at the ground. "Things have been…difficult, Rei-chan."
"Difficult?" Rei's dark eyes widened in confusion. "Difficult? If anything, I would have expected you to be on cloud nine this past year. You don't have to fight anymore, you have friends who care about you, you saved the entire galaxy, and on top of that you have true love. And yet you haven't been happy, you've been moping."
"I know that," Usagi said, her frustration creeping onto her face.
Rei gave her friend a startled look, as a few tears leaked out of Usagi's eyes. "I know, Rei-chan," she whispered. "I should be happy. I should be the happiest girl in the world. I have everything, don't I?"
Rei swallowed. She hadn't meant to upset Usagi, but she always seemed to do just that, even when she was only trying to be honest with her. "Usagi…"
"Rei-chan," Usagi gave her friend a desperate look. "How would you feel if you knew exactly how your life was going to be? If you knew every step and turn along the way, if you knew what it would ultimately become, and the only surprise left would be whether or not you were having ham or turkey on your sandwich that day?"
Rei said nothing. Usagi clung tighter to her arm and leaned shakily against her, beginning to sob.
"I don't mean to sound ungrateful," she said, her voice cracking. "Not after everything you've done for me. But Rei-chan…I feel like there's nothing left for me. Even though I love you, and this world, and Mamo-chan…I can't be happy. And I don't know why."
Rei sighed and wrapped her other arm around her friend in a tight hug. "Because you aren't free," she said.
Usagi sniffled and looked at her. "What?"
"You aren't free, Usagi. You don't make your own choices. It's like you just said, you know exactly how your life is going to be, and instead of that being comforting, it's horrible," Rei sighed again. "You know, all my life I've tried as hard as I could to be able to read the messages in the fire. To know the future, so I could be prepared for whatever would happen. I studied for years to perfect my ability to perceive the unknown, so I would know what was coming next."
Usagi nodded. "I remember. You used to get premonitions all the time."
"Yeah, well. You know what I found out?"
"What?"
"It was awful!" Rei made a face. "Remember when the silence was approaching, and we were living in fear over it? Remember how I was the only one who had seen the inevitable end of the world, before Setsuna-san revealed it to the rest of you?"
"Yes."
"I felt like sometimes I couldn't live from day-to-day, because I was too caught up in what was happening in the future. I was scared, Usagi. I felt trapped. It was awful," Rei shook her head. "I know that comparing the end of the world to YOUR future isn't exactly the same, but I think I know how you feel. I know what it's like to feel like destiny is suffocating you."
Usagi nodded slowly, gripping Rei's arm.
"But you know what else, Usagi?"
"What?"
"That vision…the future I believed in so strongly that I couldn't see any other alternative…it never came to pass, remember?"
"No, it didn't."
"And do you know why that is?"
Usagi shook her head, confused. "No."
"It was because of you, Usagi," Rei said, smiling. "You believed things could be different. It was because you believed in that so strongly that we were able to escape fate. You weren't about to let it hold you down. And you changed everything, Usagi. You had that power. You still do."
"Rei-chan, what are you saying?"
"I'm saying if you're feeling too trapped to live your life, then do something about it!" Rei said, shaking Usagi roughly. "That's how you've always lived. Usagi, you may be a crybaby and a bit silly at times, but you're also the strongest person I've ever known and I KNOW you have the power to live your life however you want, destiny and fate be damned."
Usagi looked at her hands, twisting her ring on her finger. She looked sadly up at Rei, her eyes slightly misty from tears. "I do love him, Rei-chan," she whispered.
"Do you?"
"I…" Usagi trailed off, brushing her bangs out of her eyes as she gazed at the sky. She shifted a few steps in the line. "Sometimes, Mamo-chan acts like he doesn't really want to be with me. Like he's only waiting for the future to happen, but right now we're just going through the motions."
Rei said nothing. She followed Usagi as the line shifted forward, tossing a lock of raven hair over one shoulder and staring intently at the ground.
"Sometimes, I wonder if that's all we'll ever do. Just go through the motions," Usagi laughed hoarsely. "I mean, I've always been in love with him, but there was never a choice in the matter. It was just meant to be. And sometimes I wonder what it would be like if Mamo-chan and I didn't have over a thousand years of relationship history that only existed in our past lives."
"Usagi…" Rei started.
"Oy, Odango!"
The two girls whirled around to see a pair of dark sunglasses peering curiously at them—Seiya. He was perspiring slightly; it was clear he had jogged up to join them from the back of the line.
He grinned as he pushed his hair off his forehead, sticking out his tongue in a pant. "You ran off and left us all stranded back there. Some guest of honor you are!"
Usagi stuck her tongue out at him in return. "I thought YOU were the guest of honor, and I was just your excuse to make a visit back here."
"Ah, Odango, I couldn't think of a better excuse than you," Seiya grinned, pushing her lightly on the shoulder. She shoved him back. "Anyway, are we riding this thing? Looks awfully scary, are you sure you're up to this?"
"Please, Seiya. I've ridden rollercoasters with you before. You're much more scared on them than I am, AND you scream like a girl!" Usagi retorted.
"I come by that honestly, seeing as I AM a girl," Seiya laughed. "Well, not at the moment. But it's out of necessity; otherwise my boxers wouldn't fit."
"Seiya, the last thing any of us want to hear about is your boxers!" Usagi said, making a face.
"Admit it, you've lain awake nights wondering about my underwear. What DOES Seiya-sama wear under those pants of his? Oh, I'll never know," Seiya said, mimicking her high-pitched voice.
"You are so gross!" Usagi said, shoving him hard. Seiya lost his balance and bumped into a lady in line.
"Sorry," Seiya said, nodding his head at the woman as he readjusted his sunglasses.
"That's all—oh my god! Are you Seiya Kou of the Three Lights?" the woman gasped.
Rei and Usagi tried to jump in and steer Seiya away from the woman before a scene happened, but Seiya decided to milk the opportunity for all it was worth. He pushed his glasses up on his head, revealing his sparkling eyes, and winked. "Back for a little reunion," he said.
"Oh my god!" the woman shrieked. "It's Seiya Kou!"
"Seiya Kou??"
A small swarm of bouncy girls had suddenly pounced on an all-too-proud Seiya. He flashed a taunting grin over their heads at Usagi, who was beginning to feel a little annoyed by the interest all the women were taking in her friend.
"Odango, why don't you ever do this to me?" he laughed.
"Those…girls!" Usagi spat viciously, but only Rei heard her. "They don't even KNOW him!"
"So? He's still pretty popular, after all," Rei said.
"But look at them! They just jump all over him, like they've known him for years, and they haven't! How rude can you get?"
"Sounds like you're a little jealous," Rei teased.
Usagi's jaw dropped open. "I am not JEALOUS!" she said loudly, stamping her foot. "I just don't want Seiya to be attacked by fans on his day out with his OLD FRIENDS."
"Well," Rei said mildly, "It doesn't look like he minds too much."
Usagi's head snapped around to see a very smug-looking Seiya, signing a girl's stomach with a black marker.
"Okay, that's it," Usagi grumbled, shoving her way through the crowd and attaching herself to Seiya's arm.
Seiya glanced down at her, giving her a catlike grin. "Decided I'm worth claiming after all?"
"You are all so rude to attack Seiya on his day off!" Usagi yelled at the girls, ignoring Seiya. "Don't you know that even idols occasionally want to spend time with their friends?"
"Who are you?" one girl asked contemptuously.
"You probably don't even know him. You're just another idol-chaser!"
"I am not!" Usagi snapped.
"No, she's not. She's my date," Seiya boasted.
Usagi threw Seiya a wild look. "What??"
"Seiya-kun, you have a girlfriend?"
"No fair!"
"She has her hair all up in that silly odango!"
"I think they're cute," Seiya said, patting one of Usagi's hair buns.
Usagi thwacked at his hand. "Tell them I'm not your girlfriend!" she hissed.
"Seiya-kun! You and your girlfriend can sit right here in front," a booming voice said. Usagi glanced up and realized they had reached the front of the line, and the ride operator was addressing them. He gave her a grin, and she noticed he was missing a couple of teeth. "We give the best seats to popular idols and their true loves!"
"But I'm not…" Usagi started to contradict him, but he was already boosting her into the rollercoaster's front seat. Seiya joined her, moving with a casual and relaxed gait, almost lazily.
"Enjoy your ride, kids," the operator said, lowering the seat bar against their laps.
Seiya stretched and put his arm around Usagi's shoulders. "Make it look good, Odango," he said, barely able to contain his laughter.
Usagi blushed furiously. "Seiya, if this winds up printed in some magazine, I swear I will kill you!"
"You won't have to. Haruka-san will get me first."
Usagi opened her mouth to say something, but the ride had begun to creak and creep slowly forward, rising up the first hill.
"Want me to hold on to you?" Seiya asked.
Usagi glared at him. "I think we've been in each other's personal space enough for one day, don't you?"
"How could I ever get enough of you?" Seiya laughed. "Especially when you're so eager to be near me!"
Usagi made a snorting sound and started to open her mouth to contradict him, but the rollercoaster car had reached its summit. It lingered there for a millisecond before plummeting rapidly down the first large hill.
Usagi screamed and flung her arms around Seiya's neck, clinging to him for dear life. Not to be outdone, Seiya screamed even louder than Usagi, putting his hands up in the air. "Put your arms up!" he shouted.
"NO. WAY," Usagi gasped, her fingers clenching his shirt collar.
Seiya hurriedly pried his shirt out of her grasp and jerked her arms into the air. Usagi shrieked, causing Seiya to go into fits of laughter, as the rollercoaster swooped along the lowest part of the track and began to climb the next hill.
Usagi yanked her arms out of Seiya's iron hold and hit him on the shoulder. "You are so mean!" she yelled.
"You are such a chicken!"
"I am NOT!"
"So put your arms in the air on this next hill. Here we go!"
The rollercoaster zoomed into a downward spiral, and Seiya flung his hands up, laughing and yelling. Usagi gritted her teeth and felt suddenly determined not to be outdone. She shakily lifted her own arms into the air, gasping as the wind caught them and bounced her around on the plastic seat. She screamed, her blue eyes growing as huge as two plates.
They hit bottom again and began yet another climb, this one significantly smaller in height, and Seiya gave her a wide grin. "Isn't this great?"
Usagi giggled and shouted back, "It's all right!"
The pair waved their arms and screamed for the remainder of their ride, until the rollercoaster cars finally reached the loading platform and screeched to a halt. A mechanical hiss raised the metal seat bar from their laps, and Seiya took Usagi's hand, helping her out of the car. Hand in hand, they ran swiftly off the platform and back into the park, Seiya adjusting his sunglasses once more so they could avoid the inevitable swarm of fans.
They ran around behind a small lemonade stand and took several panting, laughing breaths. Usagi bent forward slightly, letting her hands rest on her thighs as she took a few deep breaths, and said, "You're impossible to go anywhere with. Even after you've been gone for a year, everyone still chases after you."
Seiya was peering around the corner of the lemonade stand, keeping an eye out for wandering idol chasers. "Yeah, well, that's the breaks of stardom. It's tough to be both popular and as attractive as I am," he smirked.
Usagi rolled her eyes. "You're so full of yourself."
"Well, don't you think I can afford to be? Don't you think…" Seiya turned around to face her, and stopped short. His eyes widened and there was a moment of silence before he burst into laughter.
"What?" Usagi asked.
"O-odango…your hair!"
"What's wrong with my hair?" Usagi lifted her hands to touch her hair and came into contact with a knotted, windblown mass. Her two long ponytails had unwound from their odango and were now tangled up together in a long, golden mess. "Oh NO," Usagi moaned, trying to run her fingers through it and only succeeding in snagging it further.
"The rabbit of the moon has mange," Seiya joked.
"Shut up!" Usagi snapped. "This isn't funny! It will take ages to pull all this out of these knots!"
"Here, let me," Seiya said, grabbing one of Usagi's elbows and pulling her to him. She reluctantly dropped her hands as Seiya looked down calmly at the top of her head, his fingers working themselves into her long hair. Usagi blinked and noticed she was staring directly at his chest, just about eye level with the neckline of his shirt. Her eyes ran across the hollow of his throat and the strong line of his collarbone before she forced herself to look straight at the ground.
Seiya's fingers were still tangled up in her hair, working their way across her scalp and patiently undoing all the windblown knots and kinks. Usagi swallowed as she felt her skin tingle beneath his gentle massaging, and she willed herself to think of something else, anything else, anything other than how pleasant and relaxing it felt to have Seiya stroking her hair like that.
"Mmm," Seiya murmured, his fingers traveling behind her head and down the back of her neck, still unwinding her streaming hair.
"What's the verdict?" Usagi gulped.
"Well, looks fairly salvageable. Though we could always cut it and try to make a blanket out of it."
"You're terrible!" Usagi yelped, jerking her head up. She hadn't realized this motion would place her in a fairly compromising position, with her face inches from Seiya's and his fingers still softly rubbing the back of her neck.
Seiya's expression was unreadable. His deep blue eyes were fixed on hers, and Usagi felt herself growing decidedly warm under his steady gaze and gentle touch. She opened her mouth slightly, tempted to say something, anything, but words were failing her.
Seiya's eyes glazed over momentarily, his head tilting slightly to one side, before he gave himself a slight shake and smiled vaguely at her. His eyes still held that dreamy look as he slowly twisted a lock of hair around his fingers and arranged it in a little bun on the side of her head.
"Think I should do my hair in odango? We would make such a charming matched set. The fans would love it."
Usagi closed her mouth, coming back down to earth. She felt herself relax abruptly, and hadn't realized she had been holding her breath.
"I don't think you can handle odango," she said, smirking. She raised her hand to touch his, extracting her long hair from his fingers. She met him with a steady, teasing gaze before turning slowly and walking away from him, flipping a golden lock over her shoulders as she went.
Seiya exhaled slowly, counting to ten. Then he smirked at her retreating form, his blue eyes glinting.
"Oh, I think I can," he whispered to himself, before hurrying to catch up with her.