Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon or any of its characters.
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A Strange Boy
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--Flashback--
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"Seiya?" she asked softly.
He looked at her uneasily, unsure of what insult she'd throw at him now.
"Yes Dumpling?"
"Thanks," she said, and at his stunned look, threw her arms around him in a warm hug, whispering quietly in his ear, "I'll never hurt you again."
Oh Dumpling, you have no idea, he thought hopelessly. The knowledge that she'd never be with him hurting him more than her words ever could.
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--End Flashback--
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When they pulled apart, Usagi blushed and turned to leave, both of their bodies immediately objecting to the sudden lack of warmth.
"I should go home now, I'll see you tom--"
Seiya grabbed her wrist. He couldn't take it anymore. He was in love with this girl, and he wanted to be completely honest with her.
"Dumpling, wait."
"What is it?" she asked, looking concerned.
"We're good friends right?"
"The best," Usagi smiled.
"Right, and so we should be honest with each other, don't you think?" he asked, shifting his weight uncomfortably.
"Of course…" she nodded, a feeling of unease creeping up at the direction this was going.
"So no secrets," he said resolutely.
Her eyes grew wide.
"Secret?! What? Who? Where?! … No!! I don't have any secrets… no big secrets, don't worry…" she trailed of at the amusement on his face.
"So you're hiding something from me, are you, Dumpling?" he grinned, pinning her with his laughing gaze.
"Nope, no secrets," she repeated nervously.
"Whatever it is, you'll tell me sooner or later," he waved it off confidently. Silly girl, as if her secret could be as big as mine. "But now there's something I have to tell you first. It's important so listen carefully, and don't stop me," he said, slowly reaching for his transformation wand.
He looked so serious, it was making her anxious.
"Okay," she said hesitantly. "You're not going to tell me you're married or something are you?" she giggled, trying to lighten the mood.
Seiya chuckled.
"No, but why? Are you interested?" he raised an eyebrow, only really half joking.
"I told you, I have a boyfriend," she said in a flustered voice, unable to hide the tinge of pink slowly sneaking up her neck.
His lips quirked up in a laughing smirk, and he leaned in close so his lips lightly tickled her ear.
"I knew you wanted me," he said in his silkiest singer's voice.
"Seiya, stop it. I've told you before, and I'll say it again. I'm going to marry Mamo-chan and--"
"--he's proposed to you?" he asked disbelievingly, the fact that he was about to reveal his alter ego to her completely forgotten.
"No, but he will," was her calm reply.
"How do you know that?" he asked, clearly skeptical.
"I just do, okay? It's my destiny."
He gave her a pained look but nodded.
"You and your destiny again," he sighed in defeat. He realized long ago that it was impossible to come between this girl and her idea of destiny. Then he got that obviously-miserable-but-trying-to-appear-tough-and-indifferent look in his face, which made her feel even sadder for him.
"I'm sorry, Seiya. I… I didn't mean to break my promise."
"It's not your fault Dumpling. You didn't try to hurt me… It just happened, so don't feel bad," he said dejectedly.
She touched his cheek, aggrieved at having hurt him again.
"Oh Seiya, if only I could give you what you wanted," she whispered, gazing intently into his deep blue eyes. They told her so many things. They told her of his misery, his heartbreak, fear, and loneliness. And they told her of his love. His love for me, she inhaled sharply.
"Just tell me one thing Dumpling," he pleaded, begging her with his gaze.
"Anything" Her voice was soft, and barely audible, and she could not, for the life of her, tear her eyes away from his.
"If you weren't tied to this destiny of yours – with your Mamo-chan and your future cute, but annoying little girl – could… would I have a chance?" his voice cracked.
"Seiya… I--" she looked away.
He reached forward and tilted her chin so he could see her face. Her beautiful, caring face.
"Look at me Dumpling, just tell me the truth. Would I be good enough?" His voice, his eyes, his whole being radiated emotion.
"I can't betray him Seiya." Her voice trembled, and she looked torn.
"I'm not asking you to." And then he smiled, his comforting smile, a smile that told her he would be okay no matter what her answer.
She closed her eyes. I need to be honest. I owe it to him, and I owe it to myself…
Oh Seiya, she sighed to herself. I'm always happy when I'm with you, always laughing… We can talk about anything together, and you've never let me down. You love me, Usagi, for who I am, and I have no idea why. And you've become my best friend. But… you're not my destiny. It would be so easy to lie to you, so easy to lie to myself… But I can't do it. You deserve to know the truth. That my answer is yes, you are good enough. You're more than enough, and maybe, in a different life, we could--
Suddenly, a beam of blue light appeared between them and a small boy with light gray eyes and long cobalt hair pulled back into a ponytail fell into Seiya's arms, abruptly dissipating the tense atmosphere.
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The three of them blinked.
Seiya spoke first.
"That's my hairstyle," he said accusingly.
"It's my daddy's hairstyle," the boy huffed.
"Then he stole it from me. I'm a famous idol you know, and your dad probably wants to be cool like me," was his humble response.
The boy stuck his tongue out.
"My dad is a famous idol; you're probably trying to be cool like him."
"Nope. Trust me kid, I'm more famous." He tossed his head in superiority.
"Are not"
"Are too"
"Are NOT"
"Are too"
"Are not, are not, are NOT," the kid spat.
"Are too, are too, are too," Seiya sang.
"ARE NO--"
Now where have I heard this before? Thought Usagi in amusement. The two were so childish, neither was backing down, it was uncanny how alike they seemed. Not that I'm not a little immature myself, she giggled.
She studied the pair, looking back and forth between them, slowly taking in the similarities between the two – in both looks and personality – then a light bulb flashed in her mind, and then she burst out laughing.
"You're a daddy," she snickered, pointing a shaking finger at Seiya.
She figured – and rightly so – that this boy was from the future, just like Chibi-usa, what with the flashy light beam and the dropping out of the sky and all. Seiya, however, had no idea what she was talking about.
"Dumpling, did you injure your head in those two minutes I wasn't looking?" he asked dryly.
Usagi knew, of course, that Seiya probably had no experience with kids from the future popping in for a visit. She, however, was an expert on the matter, and she assumed that this boy had come along to cheer Seiya up, and to reassure him that he'd eventually find love and get over her.
So he found someone else, she mused. She was happy for him, but at the same time got a strange feeling in her stomach, one that she refused to name because every time she tried, she almost wanted to call it regret.
"Dumpling?"
Oh yeah, he was talking to her.
She couldn't very well say, Seiya, I think this is your future kid. Believe me because my future kid appeared to me the same way not too long ago, but she decided that even though she couldn't tell him about Chibi-usa, she could still have a little fun, so she allowed herself a conspiratorial smile.
"So that's your big secret! You had a son!" She shook her head at him disapprovingly, "have you no self discipline?" she asked gravely, madly trying to stifle her laughter.
"Dumpling, I really think you should answer my question… did you hit your head or what? I'm concerned for your mental health," he was starting to look worried, while the kid just stared at her with a funny look on his face, as if he were trying to place her.
Darn, he refuses to take the bait. Oh well, she thought mischievously, I'm not done yet.
"But he looks so much like you, and your only brothers are Yaten and Taiki." she pouted.
The boy's eyes suddenly widened, and he looked at Seiya in a new light. Seiya was completely ignorant of this of course, and he continued his tirade, fully intent on winning the argument.
"I'm sixteen years old if you remember. And this boy looks about four or five--"
"--I'm eight" the boy interjected dazedly.
"Okay eight, which means I would have had a son when I was eight. And that, Dumpling, is absurd." He grinned at her triumphantly.
"Whatever you say, Seiya," she grinned when the child stiffened at the mention of his name. "Just let me ask – sorry, what was your name?" she asked, indicating the boy.
"Kougi" he replied, still in his state of trance.
"Right, Kougi. Let's settle this once and for all. What is your father's name?" she asked, barely restraining her excitement.
"My father is Sailor Star Fighter."
Usagi was already smiling triumphantly, until she registered what the boy had said.
"WHAT?!" was Seiya and Usagi's shocked responses.
"Impossible," declared Seiya.
"Have to agree with him there kid… you do realize that Fighter is a girl right?"
The boy shook his head.
"Only some--"
"Wait," Seiya held up a hand to stop him. "I happen to know that Fighter does not have any children."
Usagi looked at him curiously but stayed silent.
"Well, in your time, you're right," agreed the boy.
"What exactly do you mean by that?" asked Seiya dubiously.
"I mean, I'm from the future. A traveler of time," he announced dramatically.
Seiya looked at him skeptically.
"Prove it."
"That's easy," Kougi's lips curved into a wicked smile and he leaned in close so only Seiya could hear, "daddy."
Seiya gasped.
"Wh… what? How? No one knows that I'm… the only one I was going to tell was Dumpling."
"What are you talking about Seiya? Tell me what? And Kougi, I could've sworn that Seiya was your father."
It was Seiya's turn to look at her curiously. She's taking this boy from the future thing suspiciously well. The mystery about her just keeps growing.
"You're right, he is," Kougi shrugged.
"Then why did you say--"
"--Wait Dumpling. I need to tell you something first." Seiya put the boy down and reached for his wand.
"Fighter star power! Make up!"
Usagi stared in astonishment as her friend transformed into a Sailor Senshi.
"You're Fighter?" was all she could utter.
The Senshi nodded.
"It's what I've been trying to tell you." She grinned at Usagi's amazement.
"S-Seiya… I also need to tell--"
"--Yup, might as well transform too," interjected the boy. "Don't worry, he was going to find out eventually, Sailor Moon."
"H-how do you?"
"Dumpling?" Fighter whispered, more than a little taken aback.
"Just do it. I came here for a reason you know, and we all need to be transformed to do it," Kougi said in a don't-mess-with-me tone.
Usagi gaped at him. The kid just looked so cute with that stern look on his face, but she knew he meant business. She realized she was wrong about Kougi's reasons for coming, and she had to be serious now.
"Right," agreed Usagi determinedly. "… wait a second, we?"
"Just do it," he demanded, and she nodded.
"Moon eternal! Make up!"
Fighter watched in awe as the love of her life – yes, even as a female, she loved Usagi. Not as much physically as she did when she was Seiya, but with the same emotional intensity as him – transformed into one of the most powerful warriors she's ever seen, but both she and Sailor Moon were about to be even more surprised.
"Shooter star power! Make up!"
Sailor Moon and Fighter snapped their heads just in time to see the boy transform into Sailor Star Shooter, donning the same femme fatale outfit as Fighter, except in mini form.
Fighter, having surrendered to the idea that this child was hers, clicked her tongue.
"I'm not so sure this is appropriate attire for a child your age. What is the future me thinking, letting you waltz around like that?" she said in a mock serious tone, all the while waving her finger at the child's face.
Sailor Moon smothered her laughter.
"Oh my, looks like you're not a very responsible father, are you? You're way too immature to be a dad." she said gravely.
Shooter rolled her eyes.
"We have more important things to do than discuss the maturity of my parents," said the child dryly. "We'd be here all day."
"Parent's? Oh yeah! Who's your mother? Do I know her?" inquired Sailor Moon.
"Sort of, but there's time for that later, right now – if I remember correctly – we have to save your," she pointed at Sailor Moon, "boyfriend, and your," she indicated Fighter, "princess."
"Mamo-chan," she gasped.
"Princess Ka… Kakyuu?" Fighter asked faintly.
"YES, now hurry up and call the other Senshi. We're running out of time."
"Right," they nodded.
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note: yep, it's definitely rushed, and could probably be a lot smoother. Sorry about that. I'll come back and fix it another time.. probably when I'm finished the story. Thanks for reviews :)