Minna here is Chapter 8 of Makenai, I hope you enjoy it. Please R & R and let me know what you think?

Author's Notes - 'Denotes People's Thoughts'

I'd like to take a moment to thank my reviewers.

Lord of the PEEPS - Thank You...This one is just for you!

Silver Moonlight-81 Thank You, PriestessTaisho - Thanks for sticking with it, peach-fan14 - Thanks, Cardcaptoreternity - Thanks, Odango Forever - Thank you, Sera Sutaa Meikaa - Thank you very much.

For anyone that does not know "itai" is a Japanese word that translates to painful, I thought that fit the moment quite well...Anyway on to the fun...


Makenai

Chapter 8 - Fear Factor

Seiya glanced at the four girls and noticed their hesitation in leaving. Something Yaten said earlier clicked in his mind; giving him an idea.

"Why don't you guys come over to our place and hang out. Usagi might want you there when she wakes up and I know Taiki and Yaten could use some company." He watched as Minako and Ami perked up, and even Makoto looked interested. Rei he noticed just simply looked curious.

The four girls huddled for a moment discussing the idea. Seiya glanced at them incredulously.

"Okay well I am out of here." When they realized that he still carried a sleeping Usagi, they all chuckled nervously.

Minako caught up to him and walked quietly lost in thought. 'Wow can I handle seeing him again so soon?' Thinking about Yaten and all the mixed feelings he stirred in her gave her hope.

Rei and Ami wandered behind Seiya and Minako and they quietly discussed the movie they had seen.

Ami brought up the back quietly pondering seeing Taiki again. 'Maybe we can watch a movie or something. I can do this.'

Seiya led the way into their building and waited for the elevator. When it finally slid open, he strolled in and the four girls followed. No one said a word as the elevator lifted the group up. When it landed on the right floor, the doors slid open again and the girls bowled out. They all shuffled out of the way and let Seiya lead the way to his door.

He grabbed the doorknob and walked in yelling. "We have company." Turning towards the girls, he lowered his voice to a normal octave before continuing. "Make yourselves comfortable and I will be right back." He strolled over to a hallway and disappeared.

The girls took the time alone to study the place. A nice couch sat across from a chair and they both faced a TV. On the other side of the room, a bar helped separate the kitchen from the living room with two comfortable looking barstools. A sliding glass door led out on to the balcony and next to that a hallway disappeared.

The place seemed neat and clean for a bachelor pad with three people living in it. The girls were still glancing around when Seiya strolled back out followed by Taiki.

"She is resting comfortably now." Seiya walked over and threw himself in a barstool.

'Ami is here in my house. Kami, I do not know how to act. Stay cool I can do this.' "You guys want to watch a movie or something?" The girls nodded at Taiki's question and sat comfortably on the floor. Ami delicately sat on the couch hoping that Taiki would sit next to her.

Minako sat quietly pondering where Yaten might be. Trying to play it cool, she kept quiet and calm quite unlike her usual self.

"Where is Yaten?" Minako's question came out light and breezy and she prayed no one noticed the slight tremor in her voice.

"I'll go find him." Seiya jumped up and disappeared through the hallway. Striding quickly down the hall he knocked on Yaten's door.

"The girls are all here and we're waiting on you to start a movie." Seiya stood listening for a reply. 'Shimatta he is acting real strange. I wonder what is up.'

"I'll be there in a moment." Came floating out of Yaten's room. With a strange look at Yaten's door, he headed back out to the girls.


Yaten was pacing his floor trying to gather his courage. 'What do I do? What do I do? I am not ready for seeing her again so soon.' Running his hand haphazardly through his hair he pondered. Deciding on the worst possible option he thought pretending it had never happened would help.

Throwing on his usual haughty demeanor Yaten finally grabbed the doorknob and headed out to the waiting group. Strolling out of the hallway, he calmly walked out and threw himself in the lone chair. Glancing at everyone, he was surprised when no one started teasing him.

He glanced surreptitiously at Minako to find her calmly watching the proceedings. Seiya and Taiki were arguing about something rather silly but it was proving amusing to the girls.

Minako had her head cocked to the side and she was smiling softly. He shook his head in frustration as he realized he was watching her again.

Minako felt someone watching her and glanced up just in time to see Yaten glance away angrily. Her eyes widened with confusion. Ducking her head to hide it she stood slowly and spoke softly.

"It's a little warm in here. May I step out on your balcony?" Directing her question towards Seiya, she waited for an answer. His eyes widened with surprise as he noticed the hurt and confusion she was trying to hide. He nodded and watched her slowly walk over and slip out through the sliding door.

Seiya glanced at Yaten with a puzzled look. 'He is sure acting strange.' Taiki telling the girls a story about life on Kinmokusei distracted everyone else from noticing Minako's unusually quiet behavior.

Yaten watched Minako slip quietly from the room and he noticed when Seiya threw him a puzzled look. He sat quietly lost in thought pondering the situation.

'I feel bad for hurting her but I am so scared of all that she stirs in me. I watched Seiya suffer heartbreak when we returned to Kinmokusei because Usagi could not see how he felt. Knowing Minako would not do that does not stop the fear from scaring me. What do I do?'

Seeing Seiya now happy was a good thing of course but he did not know if he was strong enough to take the chance. 'Is it worth the risk?' Glancing at Taiki, he saw the same look in Taiki's eyes as his friend glanced at Ami. 'Maybe it is worth it? Am I strong enough for this? I'll never know if I don't try.'

Recent remembered words floated through his mind. "Yaten go take care of those two and find happiness." His eyes widened in surprise as he thought about Princess Kakyuu's words. 'Maybe that is what she meant?' His world changed and shifted in that moment. Suddenly it seemed maybe the risk was worth taking. 'Hm maybe I can do this, maybe I should at least try.'

He stood noncholantly, hoping nobody noticed, and wandered over to the sliding glass door. Slipping out he slid it shut behind him and stepped up behind Minako. Setting his arms on her shoulders and resting his chin on her head, he stood quietly behind her not wanting to interrupt her musings.


Minako knew it was Yaten behind her the moment the door slid closed. His light cologne wafted out alerting her to his presence. When his arms settled on her shoulders, she smiled softly leaning back into the warmth.

He did not say anything right away and she knew he was thinking. She waited patiently while he chose his words; taking the time to ponder her own words.

"I am sorry." He took a deep breath before continuing. "I am...erm...was scared of loving you and losing you. I watched Seiya when we returned to Kinmokusei. He suffered horribly having to leave Usagi. Fear made me act stupid and I hope you can give me a second chance." Yaten cringed at how lame the words sounded but knowing they came from his heart helped.

She turned remaining within the circle of his arms. Choosing her words carefully she pondered the best way to express her thoughts.

"You may have a second chance and a third if necessary. This may sound silly but I have known since you three left that you are the only one for me." She smiled tenderly up at him as a tear slipped down her cheek. Surprised by the look of shock on his features she ducked her head in embarrassment.

"You...have?" His words came out on a sigh sounding unsure. Yaten gently lifted her chin and glanced down at her, and with the moonlight lighting her eyes, he could see the ultimate truth there. "How did you know I would come back?"

"I didn't. I expected to remain alone forever." The words tripped out around a small sob as her tears flowed freely.

His hand wandered up to allow his thumb to softly wipe the tears away, not wanting to see her sad. Suddenly the worry and fear left him; like a shooting star one minute, it was there and the next, it was gone. Replaced with hope and assurance, his heart filled with possibility he smiled down at her.

The look in Yaten's eyes stole her breath, filled with heat and possessiveness it sent chills chasing up her spine. She forgot how to breathe as the world around them slipped away. There was nothing except the two of them existing only for each other in that moment.

Leaning down he caught her lips in a gentle kiss. Running his hands easily from her shoulders, he allowed them to wander to her side. Her lips were warm and soft, tasting of chocolate; he gave himself up to the feelings assaulting his senses. Her arms slipped up around his neck as she stood on tiptoe to reach him.

He let his hand wander up to the back of her neck to feather through her hair. Its silkiness amazed him as it pooled through his fingers. He tipped her head back gently deepening the kiss as she melted against him. He pulled her closer and the flames between them burned even brighter.

Yaten fighting his urgent desire slowly broke the kiss off. His heart was thundering in his ears and he could not believe how easily she affected him. Glancing at her, he could see the same was true for her. Her eyes burned with desire and her ragged breathing echoed his.

He turned her once more and pulled her back against him clasping his hands around her tiny waist. They both remained silent for the moment until their hearts had slowed back to a normal pace.

"I don't know about you but I am not quite ready to face everyone and answer questions." Yaten's breath tickled against her ear as he spoke softly from behind her; it raised gooseflesh on her arms a slight tremor passed through her.

Relaxing back into the warmth she sighed in contentment as they stared out over the beauty of Tokyo lit up at night. They both enjoyed the silence broken only by the occasional city noise and the occasional sound from inside his apartment.


Seiya smiled at the couple on the deck; so wrapped up in the passionate kiss they shared neither had seen him standing at the sliding door. He had watched as Yaten nonchalantly left the room heading for the slider, and after a short time decided he had better see if they were all right. When they broke apart he stepped back and wandered back to the group; a small sad smile playing across his features.

'I am happy for you my friends, but when is it my turn? Can Usagi ever let Mamoru die and move on?' He knew rationally that he might never have her love; it was a sad fact that he had to face. Glancing at the remaining group, he saw that Ami was leaned against Taiki engrossed in the movie. Spread out on the floor Makoto and Rei were also watching it.

He decided to check on Usagi before joining them. He wandered down the hall and quietly opened his bedroom door. She laid the same way he had left her, on her side with her cheek pillowed on her hand. Walking over to the bed, he could not resist leaning over and brushing a kiss across her forehead. Sighing in her sleep, he was tortured to hear a name cross her lips.

"Mamo-chan", It slipped from her lips as a quiet whisper. Standing quickly he walked over to the wall wanting to hit something; anything to ease the pain of his tortured heart. Before he even thought about what he was doing, his fist had connected with the wall.

"Shimatta...itai...itai.", He flexed his hand to make sure nothing was broken. Standing there suffering from his own idiocy he was shocked to hear a sleep laden voice.

"Are you all right?"

He turned around to find sleepy blue eyes blinking blearily at him. 'Think fast what do I say?' "I am all right go back to sleep, Odango." He watched as her blue eyes drifted closed slowly. When she sighed again and tried to tell him one last thing his heart filled with hope.

"Seiya-kun", He was not worried about what she was saying just the fact that his name passed her lips made him happy for the moment. Glancing at the clock, he was surprised to find that it was already nearing two in the morning. Walking back out to the front room, he was not surprised to see Makoto and Rei both asleep on the floor and Ami already dozing in Taiki's arms.

"I'll get the girls some blankets." Seiya smiled at Taiki who was watching Ami sleep. He walked down the hall and opened the closet to pull out some spare blankets and a couple of pillows. Lugging the whole mess back out to the front room, he gently covered Rei and Makoto and slipped a pillow under each of their heads.

"Do you need anything, because if not I am heading to bed. It is nearly 2 in the morning." Seiya glanced at Taiki waiting to see what he decided. Taiki shook his head and scooped up Ami heading for his room.


Here is an end to Chapter 8 of Makenai. Please R & R and let me know what you think?