Yaten stared up at the brilliant canopy of stars that hung overhead.

It was an illusion, of course, but a convincing one. Far more splendid than anything she had ever imagined she would see at school. Yaten stood alone at the back of the class, her head tipped up toward the ceiling. The room was gigantic, each section of wall displaying its own drama. Stars disappeared into constellations and then into galaxies as the instructor zoomed out. She witnessed their birth and death, time accelerating to reveal the glorious process of nature. Yaten was intrigued--on so many levels. It was a shame that she did not have the ability to command the projections, but that was a privelage reserved for the teachers.

Now the teacher was leading her class away, on to a different lesson in the great Sphere. Yaten threw a sideglance and saw them move on but did not follow. She shoved her hands deep into her pockets, looking up at the magnificence of the universe in a rare moment of peace.

A hand on her arm jolted her back into reality. She whirled and stepped back in the same motion. Her heart was beating rapidly but she resisted the urge to put her hand over it. Realizing who it was that snuck up on her, she said angrily, "You!"

The dark haired girl held up her hands in defense and Yaten noticed the dark object between her long, thin fingers. "My book..." she said absently, falling temporarily into a cold memory. Then the girl extended it toward her. She regarded it with suspicion, as if the very thing might bite her. Yet her hand reached for it of its own accord, pale digits brushing the fine velvet cover.

"You dropped it yesterday," the girl offered, interrupting the silence. Yaten's gaze rose to meet the stranger's eyes, open and unguarded and shining like cobalt. So unlike her own, she thought with a tinge of bitterness. She realized she still hadn't spoken.

"I didn't mean to scare you yesterday," the girl continued. "I was only curious. Here, take it."

Yaten snatched the book away, her words returning to her. "I don't need to be told to take my own book," she scowled. Snubbing her, she turned away to face the stars again.

"Oy, so easily offended..." she heard the girl say behind her.

"I heard that," she quipped. How deaf did that girl think she was? A spurt of nervous giggles followed, and then the girl was at her side. Yaten looked at her as though she were crazy.

"I'm Kou Seiya!" the girl exclaimed, holding up her hand for Yaten to grasp in the typical gesture of greeting. The smaller girl, however, did not reciprocate.

"Shita Yaten," she answered in a dull tone, hoping to discourage the woman from further conversation. Somehow it only served to fuel her.

"Shita!?! Where is that?" Yaten felt her eye begin to twitch. How could someone be so enthusiastic over nothing at all? Yet the girl was anxiously awaiting her answer. Yaten adopted a grim expression.

"Far away," she said simply, wishing mightily that the conversation would end.

"But in this system right?"

"Go buy a map," Yaten said rudely and began to walk away.

"Hang on! What did I say? I'm--sorry...again."

Yaten sighed. This girl made her feel like she was being so mean. If only she knew...perhaps then she would not think ill of Yaten's attitude toward the topic. But what did it matter anyway? She was only some stranger, no one important. No one at all to her. She turned again to leave.

"I saw you looking at them."

Yaten did not know why it stopped her. She did not understand why her muscles froze and her legs betrayed her by staying put. Most certainly she did not understand why she said what she said next.

"They call to me."

"Hm?" Yaten sighed, knowing the girl was waiting for more. She didn't want to say it; she really didn't.

"The stars. They... I feel them drawing me to them. I feel like..." So many things, and no way to describe them. It was impossible to convey their allure in such a way that would measure up to it. But it was more than that, more than their beauty or mystery. It was something that went unnamed, deep within her.

And against her nature, against all logic and thought that spoke to warn her, she wanted to share it with the girl, with this woman who had done naught but annoy her since she first asked to sit at her table. She feared her, this Seiya, she feared her directness and the way that she seemed to confront her constantly. With her eyes, her touch...reaching out to Yaten perhaps without knowing it. And it made Yaten want to hide, for all the obvious reasons but even more than that because a part of her wanted it.

"Nevermind," she said with a toss of her hand. "See you later," she added dismissively but Seiya responded,

"I'll hold you to it."

Then at once she was lost in the crowd of inquiring students who had gathered close to the entrance. When she was sure Seiya was not watching her, she looked down at the book she was holding and traced the fine lettering of the cover. 'The Path of Stars', it read in Kavaaran, her native language. She opened the book and read,

'No planet can orbit two stars. For such a force to be exerted on it by two seperate stars, the stars themselves would be drawn to eachother and ultimately collide.' What a lonely life, thought Yaten, that one could not be close to another for fear of destroying them both. She sighed heavily, feeling the weight of sorrow on her slight form. The book closed with a thud of finality. She truly knew what it was to be a star.