Earth--Early Morning
Seiya sets down the large speaker, straightens up and wipes some sweat from his brow. "It'd be better if we had our crew to help set up," he remarks to Taiki and Yaten, also burdened with several performance items of theirs.
"It wouldn't be fair to make them work at a school, during what will end up being a free concert," Taiki responds. Seiya shrugs.
"I'm just glad that the two of you agreed to help," he remarks. Yaten grunts.
"This isn't a freebie, Seiya," the shorter man grumbles. "You owe us big for this."
"Like when Yaten throws a concert for Minako-chan," Taiki teases lightly.
"Or when Taiki sings just for Ami-chan," Yaten snaps back. Seiya laughs nervously.
"Guys, guys, if we don't finish this now we'll be here all day!" Grudgingly the three return to their labors.
Earth--Later in the Morning
Usagi was already downstairs when Ikuko had come down to prepare breakfast. Her daughter looked exhausted, so Ikuko had asked no questions, just given Usagi a cup of hot tea. Kenji had not seemed too surprised at finding his daughter, usually a slugabed, at the table, eyes half-closed. He simply lay a reassuring hand on her shoulder, then sat across the table from her and read his paper.
Now Shingo bounds downstairs and stops when he sees the fair-haired Usagi awake--somewhat. "Usagi onee-san?" he asks in disbelief. His mother turns from the stove, his father from the paper, and both give him a warning look. Feeling chastised, he bows his head and sits at the table. When Ikuko serves breakfast, Usagi barely touches it.
"Usagi-chan," her mother says softly, beckoning her out of the kitchen. Slowly Usagi complies.
"Yes, mama?"
"Didn't you sleep well last night, Usagi?" Usagi shakes her head. "Do you need to stay home from school today?" Again Usagi shakes her head. Ikuko sighs, one hand balled on her hip. "You need to be fully awake at school, Usagi-chan. If you can't manage that then you might as well stay home."
"I'll be fine, mama," Usagi promises quietly. "I'll buy a soda on the way to school." So saying, Usagi grabs her things and heads out the door.
The soda didn't help. Usagi nearly fell asleep in class several times. Seiya had noticed, but was unable to speak to Usagi when the teacher kept shushing him. In the school hallways he confronts her.
"Hey, Odango, are you okay?" he asks, both in concern about the previous night's revelations and her apparent exhaustion. She nods.
"I'm fine, Seiya, how are you?" she mumbles.
"You should sit and rest." The auditorium! he thinks. It would be a good place, and then I'll know for sure she's at the concert. He clears his throat, suddenly feeling foolish about the situation and more than a little nervous. Mustering up his courage, he says, "Odango, how about we go to the auditorium? It should be nice and quiet, and we can talk." She simply nods, and he leads her toward the rebuilt auditorium.
She doesn't seem to notice the sound equipment, which worries him further. They find a seat on the front row, in the middle. He sits beside her and carefully wraps an arm around her seat.
"Odango, what's wrong?" he asks after a moment.
"Tired," she mumbles, yawning.
"You didn't sleep last night, did you? Why?" Silence. "Was it because of what Setsuna said?" More silence. "Odango--"
"Seiya, I can't take it," she says finally, seemingly more awake now. "Every night I have these dreams--the same horrible dreams--it's like she's back. And every night I lose my friends all over again--Minako-chan, Rei-chan, Ami-chan, Mako-chan, Hotaru-chan, Setsuna-san, Haruka-san, Michiru-san...and then, in my dreams, I lose the Starlights again." Her eyes tear up. "I know the three of you survived the battle, but...dreams aren't always based on reality. And I thought I had lost you forever when you left after the battle. It all happened so fast, I...I was in shock after I'd gotten all my friends back. Everyone was alive...Mamo-chan was back..." The tears fall down her face now. "But he's gone again, back to America. And now you're here. It's like it's all starting over again. Even Chibi Chibi..." She trails off, biting back a sob that inevitably comes anyway.
"Seiya, I can't lose everyone again! Galaxia's good now, but her evil self still haunts me! I never sleep anymore. Last night was one of the worst. I...I can't..." She turns to him, burying her face in his shoulder and losing herself in the tears. Seiya's arms instinctively wrap around her, running over her back to soothe her. Despite the horrible reason for the situation, it all felt right to Seiya--Usagi, in his arms, a perfect fit.
"Shh, Odango, it's all right. I won't ever leave you again," he promises her, lightly kissing the top of her head. Usagi doesn't notice, but Taiki and Yaten, hidden behind a stage curtain, do. They turn to each other.
"How will this ever work out?" Yaten whispers. Taiki shakes his head.
"If it does, we'll know. Destiny is a mysterious thing," he whispers back. "I myself believe Seiya and Usagi are meant to be together, but I don't control destiny." He looks out at the two embracing each other like lifelines. "If I did, they wouldn't be so miserable right now." Yaten nods in agreement, and the two walk backstage.
Author's Notes: Okay, another chapter done. I actually wrote this chapter before the other, and oddly enough both were written in the same night. Oh, well. Kind of a short chapter--but aren't they all? I'll be writing more tomorrow. Right now it's late and I'm almost as tired as Usagi. Please review, good night, and a (belated) Merry Christmas to you all!