And here's what you've all been waiting for!
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Chapter 4
As soon as the doors closed, Fighter started to jump up and down while clapping her hands together and alternating between giggling with girly glee, and squeeing like an eight year old instead of the twenty one year old she actually was. Healer and Maker looked at each other and hung their heads and sighed at their friend's obvious happiness. It was infectious and soon they were joining in with their own laughter and giggles of delight. They calmed down enough to make plans to meet in the garden in five hours time. To give them time to rest before the long journey across the galaxy.
'I'm coming back to you. Just like I promised, watashi no Odango!' Fighter thought happily to herself, skipping merrily towards her room, knowing full well that she won't be getting any rest.
Five hours later, the three Starlights met in the garden. Soon afterwards they were joined by Princess Kakyuu with her three newest senshi behind her. "I've sent a message to Minako-san. Her and Ami-san will be meeting you in Ichi-no-Hashi Park when you arrive." Maker's and Healer's hearts leapt for joy.
"What about Usagi?" Fighter asked.
"You must be patient, Fighter. The girls will explain it to you," Kakyuu said, placing a had on her shoulder, silently asking her to understand. "Come. It's time for you three to get going.
"Domō arigatō gozaimasu, Princess-sama," the three women in front of her said in unison while bowing deeply. Around each Starlight, a glow had started to form around them. Suddenly they disappeared in a flash of lights. One red, one yellow and one blue.
"Ganbatte, watashi no Starlights," Kakyuu whispered, staring up at the evening sky.
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It was almost midnight in Ichi-no-Hashi Park on the outskirts of the Jūban District. Two women were sitting on a park bench, talking to each other while waiting for their friends to arrive. One had long, flowing blonde hair that went down past her knees. It was partially tied up with a red ribbon. She was wearing a brown, knee length skirt with an orange tank top and sandals. The other woman on the bench had short, blue hair that fell down and framed her face. She was wearing black gaucho pants and a pale blue tank top and heeled sandals. They both had blue eyes. Neither one were wearing a sweater or jacket since it was unseasonably warm this night.
"Do you think they'll recognize us? I mean after all it's been over five years since we've seen them last. I know we've changed some, but I wonder if they have too," the blonde said.
"I don't know, Minako-chan," the blue haired woman responded. She sighed. 'I wonder if Taiki-san even remembers me?' she thought to herself. She never admitted to anyone how she missed the tall, violet eyed man.
"Daijōbu, Ami-chan. I'm sure he remembers you," Minako said, winking, as if reading Ami's mind. Ami just blushed a deep red and looked down at the ground, thankful that it was dark.
Minako leaned back and looked up into the sky and smiled a little self satisfied smile. They were just a couple of blocks away from Usagi's house, but she knew nothing of this meeting. They've all gone through great lengths to keep this surprise a surprise. Just then, she saw three shooting stars streak across the midnight sky. One red, one yellow and one blue, shining brightly as they headed towards Earth.
"Here they come!" Minako said, jumping up from her place on the bench. Ami stood up with her and watched as the three lights raced towards Earth.
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She was in the middle of a field full of flowers that she could smell but could not see. It was pitch black, but she knew it was field that she was in. She was barefoot and could feel the earth beneath her feet. The air smelled of carnations, daisies and chrysanthemums. Her favorite flowers.
She heard a voice and stiffened. She grabbed a lock of her long golden hair and twisted it around her fingers. "Who's there?"
Nothing. And then she hears the voice again. It sounds distant, but it also sounds like its getting closer. She heard it again. It sounded familiar. She just stood in place, concentrating on the voice until, one by one, each word became crystal clear and the meaning understood.
"Odango! I'm coming back to you!"
Usagi bolted straight up in bed. "Seiya!" She cried. "Masaka!"
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The two women threw their hands over their eyes, shielding them from the intense light that was the Starlights landing. The light slowly faded away after a minute, leaving three scantily clad women in its place.
The Starlights blinked a couple of times to adjust their sight to the darkness when they realized that they were not alone. Maker turned and saw two women standing a short distance away, watching them. She was instantly on her guard.
"Dare?" She demanded, catching the attention of the other two Starlights.
"Maker? Healer? Fighter?" A familiar voice said.
"Minako-san?"
"Hai. Ami-chan is with me too."
With that, the Starlights de-transformed into their male forms and looked at the two women standing before them. The blonde suddenly came running full force and crashed into Yaten, giving the surprised silver haired man a giant crushing hug.
"Yaten-kun! Taiki-san! Seiya-kun!' Minako said, hugging each in turn. "We've missed you!"
"Welcome back, Taiki-san, Seiya-kun and Yaten-kun," Ami said, smiling at her friends, keeping at a respectful distance. Taiki walked over to her in three long strides and swept her up into a fierce hug that lifted the petite blue haired woman off the ground.
"It's good to be back," he said as he set her down. Deep violet eyes met ocean blue eyes and Ami started to blush fiercely and looked at the ground.
"Oi, where's Odango?" Seiya asked no one in particular.
"She's at home," Minako told him. Seiya got a worried look on his face. Minako giggled. "Don't worry Seiya. It's not what you think. She just doesn't know that you're coming."
"Nani?"
"Come. We've already made arrangements for you three to have your old apartment. Let's get you guys home and we'll explain everything," Minako said, tugging on Yaten's arm like they were in high school again. He looked down where she had a hold of his arm and a slight blush colored his cheeks at her touch.
The group of five walked in a comfortable silence to the apartment that had been the Starlight's home over five years ago when they were on Earth looking for their Princess. Once they were inside, they all sat down and Minako started to fill them in on the goings on of all the senshi these past years. They were talking for over two hours when Seiya suddenly noticed that the girls were avoiding talking about someone.
"Oi, what about Odango?" He interrupted. "What has she been up to? Are her and Mamoru-san married yet?" It pained him to ask that last question.
Minako and Ami looked at each other. Minako gave Ami a small nod as if to say 'You tell him.' Ami took a breath. "Mo……Usagi-chan is doing….alright. She's a well known artist now. We'll have to take you to one of her galleries." There were shocked looks on all three faces as Ami continued. "She's really good at what she does. She does such exquisite work. But she has been melancholy for a long while now and it's only getting worse. We thought you three might be able to help." She looked directly at Seiya when she said this last line.
"Matte…..I don't get it," Yaten said. "We were asked to come here to……cheer up Usagi?"
"Doesn't she have Mamoru for that?" Seiya asked bitterly.
"Iie, Seiya." Ami looked down at her lap, trying to find the words to tell him. Seiya got up from his spot on the couch where he was sitting and walked over to the nervous blue haired woman and knelt before her.
"Nani?" He asked softly. "What are you trying to tell me, Ami-chan?" Ami looked up at him. Ocean blue eyes met midnight blue ones. She saw concern, caring, worry and above all, love in those eyes. All for her beloved friend. She took another breath.
"Mamoru is dead."
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Aw...Seiya knows now...what's he gonna do? You're just gonna have to review to find out! Muwahahahaha!...ahem...um...cough... --' And now for everysones favorite part...translations! Yea!
Watashi no - My/ mine
Ganbatte- Good luck
Oi- Hey
Daijobu- Its okay
Masaka- Not possible/ no way
Dare- Who
Thats all for now! Lots of Hugs to the ones who reviewed my last three chapters and thanks for sticking with me!
Ja ne!
Luna