Hey people! Sorry this took me so long. You'll be glad to know my boyfriend chained me to the laptop again lol. Gomen ne minna, I don't know why I've started struggling lately, but here's hoping it's only a temporary thing yeah! *smiles*
Well here it is! I hope you enjoy it. Many thanks to my reviewers! Too all those who asked for suspense I hope I managed to deliver, and there are some cute bits to this one as well. I'm trying to show how other characters have matured a little, so just tell me what you think k?
So what is Serena going to do now that Seiya's back? How is Seiya going to hold up being so close and yet so far? Will Yaten and Taiki manage to heal their own hearts? What is Blaze/Kakyuu planning for our favourite Senshi? Will I be quicker with the next update? (LOL gomen). It's all right here in everyone's favourite story; Ethereal Destiny!
On with the show! STAGE ON!!! ~Eb~
Darien walked into the apartment with a sigh and closed the door behind him with a foot. He placed the groceries in his arms down on the small table in the hall and slipped off his shoes before picking the bags up and moving into his kitchen.
He spent five minutes putting them away, much to the amusement of the red-eyed woman sitting on his sofa.
"I hope you are not ignoring me, Prince Darien." Trista said calmly as Darien backed out of the kitchen with a tray.
The once-Prince of Earth jumped and spun, sending the tray crashing to the floor. Trista rolled her eyes and snapped her fingers; the tray and china and cake reassembled itself and jumped back into Darien's hands.
Darien stared from the tray to Trista, who was now inspecting the Garnet Staff idly. He narrowed his eyes slightly, his tone wary. "So the Inner Senshi aren't the only ones whose powers have developed over the last few years."
Trista smiled brusquely. "No. Ours have evolved as well. But if what you are getting at is that I can control time completely you are wrong; we all have our limits you know. On my own I can merely manage 24 hours." she picked a piece of fluff off the trousers of her black business suit and stood up.
"I am here to discuss Serena."
Darien filed the fact of her limits away for future reference and snorted and put the tray on the table, pouring tea from the pot and bringing the cup to his lips. "And why would you do that?"
Trista fixed him with a long hard look. "The future is changing."
Darien shrugged. "I know. But I only said we were on a break, just until she sorts herself out." he sipped his tea, all the while looking at the Time Guardian over the rim of his mug. "Besides, it can be fixed, am I right?"
Trista dropped her gaze. "Not if actions are not taken soon."
Darien nearly choked on his tea. Trista watched him splutter with mild satisfaction. Finally, she was getting through to him.
"The future we are working for is in danger of vanishing completely." She continued, ignoring him. "If it continues at this rate, it will disappear and never return. Small Lady is in danger of vanishing. I will not let that happen."
Darien raised an eyebrow at her. This was unusual; Trista never interfered with the timelines unless she had no other choice.
As if to confirm his thoughts, Trista added "I fear our Princess is losing the path she was set to follow."
"And you want me to . . . Do what? Exactly?" he asked dryly. "I got a phone call off Lita; it went something along the lines of 'back off buddy or else.'"
Trista sighed. Just as she'd feared; the Inner Senshi, not knowing the correct course that should be taken, were encouraging Princess Serenity instead of correcting her.
"You never listened to the Inner Senshi before." Trista mused, remembering various scenes from the Silver Millennium that proved as such.
Darien said nothing.
Trista sighed. "I will leave you to consider my warnings and my plea. I shall return to the Time Gateway, to watch over the future as it is now. I suggest you take heed, or you shall find yourself without the future you look to."
She took several steps towards the front door and paused, turning to look over her shoulder so he could not mistake her final words. "Our Princess spent the evening with Seiya Kou." with that Trista faded into the evening gloom of Darien's apartment.
Darien scowled after her, and continued to do so long into the night.
Serena was up bright and early the next morning and getting ready for work. Her mother watched her silently, happy but at the same time sad about recent events.
Darien had broken her daughter's heart. Serena had been in a deep depression. That neither she nor any of the other members of their family could lift that depression had hurt. When Serena had gone out for that walk she had been genuinely worried that she would do something silly. It had been a relief when she had been brought home by a young man who had informed them that their daughter had spent the day with his sister and himself.
Ikuko smiled. What was that young man's name again? He had said he was an artist. Seiya, yes that was it. Seiya Kou. Now where had she heard that name?
A quick glance around her daughter's bedroom gave her the answer; the Three Lights CD explained it all. He was an artist alright. A wordsmith. A singer. Ikuko smiled again. For someone so famous he was amazingly polite.
"Mom! I'm heading over to the café! I'll be back at 3!"
"Alright Serena!" Ikuko replied. She smiled as she heard the front door close and watched from Serena's window as the blonde walked a bike up the garden path and pedalled it to work. She was proud of her daughter; she'd really turned her life around.
The phone rang and she hastened to answer it. "Hello?"
"Mrs Tsukino?" asked a girl's voice. "It's me, Mina."
"Ah, Mina, it's nice to hear from you. How're things at work?" she recalled Serena telling her that Mina worked at a fashion company part-time as well as singing at the same café Serena worked at on evenings.
"It's good, thanks for asking. My boss has a new line coming in for the fall and everything's all over trying to organise the shoots and shows to debut it." Mina sounded happy about her work. Then the girl paused. "I was wondering if Serena was home. I know she's supposed to be working today but we weren't sure if she would go in."
"You just missed her Mina. She just left for work on her bike." Ikuko twirled the phone cord around her middle finger.
"Oh, ok. Thanks. Did she say when her shift ends?"
"It ends at 3." Ikuko told her.
"Ah. Ok, thank you Mrs Tsukino."
"Just a minute please." Ikuko said quickly, sensing the girl was about to hang up. "Could you help me with something?"
"Of course." Mina sounded curious.
"I was wondering if you knew a Seiya Kou? He walked Serena home from the park yesterday." Ikuko waited for the response.
"Oh Seiya." Mina laughed lightly on the other end of the line. "He's great. He helped Serena a few years ago, you know, when Darien first went to America? Anyway, he has two brothers and a sister, Taiki is eldest, Yaten youngest, and Blaze is really nice. You'd like her."
Ikuko did not miss the dreamy tone in Mina's voice when Yaten was mentioned and smiled.
"Anyway, they left three years ago because of a family emergency. They've come back to continue their careers and to get Blaze away from home life and gain some real independence. I'm not surprised that Seiya is looking after Serena now, he really loves her. Even if she doesn't quite see it." At that last sentence Mina couldn't help a giggle.
Ikuko laughed. Now that didn't surprise her. Serena always failed to see the effect she had on others simply by being herself.
"The thing is, I think she loves him to. No, not think, I'm actually pretty sure she does. But we all know that now isn't the time, so Seiya's just trying to be there for her. It really hurt him to leave her last time."
"I thought as much." Ikuko said quietly. "Thank you Mina, I appreciate it."
"No problem. Bye!"
"Bye."
Ikuko hung up the phone and stared at it thoughtfully. Finally she shook herself and went to wash the breakfast dishes that were left.
'I'm glad my daughter has someone to watch over her.' she thought as she dipped her hands into the bubbles.
*
Mina put the phone down and grinned at Amy. "She's at work. Want to go see her?"
Serena stood behind the counter, chin resting in her hand. She was at work and bored, even her habit of people watching wasn't saving her this time.
3 hours to go.
3 hours!
Serena sighed. It was a slow day at the café.
The little bell tinkled merrily and she opened her eyes in time to see a familiar blonde and bluenette walking towards her.
"Two of your best milkshakes kind lady, one strawberry and one chocolate." laughed Mina.
"But of course. Would there be anything else?" Serena replied with a grin. That was the standard way Mina ordered from here when Serena was serving. A little inside joke between them.
"Perhaps some of your city-famous strawberry-banana cheesecake." Mina grinned.
Serena laughed as she rang up the items on the till. "Certainly miss." she walked over to the display case and removed the two slices of cheesecake, placing them on china plates with cake forks.
"I shall bring you milkshakes to you in a second." Serena smiled brightly, placing the plates on a tray. Mina nodded and she and Amy walked over to a table nearby while Serena began on their milkshakes.
"So Serena," Mina started as Serena joined them at the table, "How was your walk with Seiya?"
Amy watched Serena intently over the rim of the tall glass. The Moon Princess blushed.
"He was just being a friend." she said.
Mina nodded and Amy answered. "Well I think it's really sweet of him to make sure you're ok. He didn't have to do it, and he was already heading over to your parents' house to check on you when Mina called to say you were out."
Mina nodded. Seiya had phoned her after walking their best friend home to inform them that Serena was upset but fine and not about to do something incredibly stupid. He had sounded genuinely relieved.
Serena stared at her cup of coffee. Was Seiya really that concerned for her?
"He was really worried when he found out you'd just walked out." Mina added, smiling secretively. Serena had the sudden thought that maybe Mina could read minds, and then realised in part that this was true in the sense that she could skim the surface thoughts of almost anyone she pleased via their emotions.
Instead of replying she got up to tend to the counter as a customer walked up to order. The two girls watched her carefully as she rang up the orders and sent a ticket back into the kitchen of the café and poured hot water into a teapot for the stranger.
When Serena returned she turned the tables slightly. "Have either of you spoken to Yaten and Taiki yet?"
Amy and Mina looked at each other, Mina blushing faintly as she had, Amy wondering silently when she would.
"I have." Mina said finally. Serena looked at her and she continued. "I suppose I wanted to see if it was true or not."
"And you?" Serena asked Amy curiously. The girl shook her head while smiling apologetically.
Serena sighed quietly. "I guess I was wondering whether they'd said anything to you. Seiya mentioned some trouble on Kinmoku. He said it was personal." she stared at Mina's now empty plate with a small frown. "I can't help but feel worried that it was something terrible."
Mina barely concealed her grimace; 'if she only knew.'
"Still, I'm glad they're back." Serena said, sounding cheerful again. "Earth was a little boring after they left, no?"
Amy smiled and Mina managed a chuckle. The bell over the door tinkled again, a signal for Serena to return to her post at the till, which she did.
Mina and Amy both had their backs to the counter, so they didn't realise who was there until they heard the people speak.
"How are you today Serena?" asked Taiki's smooth voice. Amy stiffened and didn't turn around.
"I'm fine, thank you." Serena added, a little shortly.
"That's good. Our idiot brother has been worried about you." added another, slightly lighter voice which Mina instantly recognised. Yaten. "And, honestly, so have we."
"Why Yaten, you're admitting your feelings? That's so sweet, thanks guys." Serena's voice sounded cheerful, but the girls at the table recognised the false tone. "Where is Seiya anyway?"
"The recording studio, talking with our manager. Apparently we left some loose ends behind when we vanished off the face of the Earth and now we have to sort them." Yaten explained, sounding a cross between irritated and bored.
"What will you be having?"
"Blaze mentioned something about cake the last time she came here." Taiki said. Amy could hear the smile in his voice; polite and gentle.
"Of course." Serena said. The girls heard her ring up the order and then the blonde whispering something they couldn't catch.
"Yes, of course we will. It'd be our pleasure." Taiki replied, and Serena giggled.
Amy was just starting to wonder what that had been about when a shadow fell across her half-eaten cheesecake.
"Mind if we sit here?" Taiki asked politely, smiling that smile of his. Amy finally looked up and nodded almost shyly, though her expression had more to do with shock than shyness. Taiki sat beside her, in the seat Serena had occupied previously, while Yaten dropped into the chair opposite Mina with a sigh.
"Hey Amy, Mina. What's happening?" Yaten said, smiling a little.
Mina was unsure of how to react. "Uh, nothing really." An expression flashed across Yaten's face, too quick even for her to read.
"How about you Amy?" asked Taiki conversationally, pretending not to notice the pink flush that had yet to fade from her cheeks. "How have the last three years been to you?"
"Oh," Amy's tone was surprised as well as uncertain, "You know. School, college, my apprenticeship, the usual." She laughed awkwardly. 'Did I imagine that, or did Taiki's eyes just narrow slightly?'
Serena was watching the proceedings from her post at the counter with a frown. Why were they being so awkward?
The bell tinkled again and she sighed and straightened herself and her top. She closed her eyes and announced with a smile; "Good afternoon and welcome to Midnight Café, what will you be having?"
"Nothing I can't have." said an all too familiar voice with what sounded like an all too familiar smirk.
"Eh?" she blinked her eyes open and stared at the raven-haired young man before her. "Seiya?! What are you doing here?"
"Yeah baka, you're supposed to be with the manager." Yaten announced from the table. Mina and Amy both spun in their seats.
"I got him out." said a feminine voice from the doorway. Blaze walked towards the counter gracefully and inclined her head to Serena. "It is good to see you again, Serena. I hope you're feeling better today."
Serena recovered her composure quickly and smiled softly at the Fireball Princess. "Of course I am. I have some terrific friends." Amy and Mina winked at each other. Seiya blushed. "What will you be having this afternoon?"
"Perhaps some more of that cake from before and a coffee? I really did enjoy it." Blaze told her.
"Of course." Serena entered it into the till and then glanced briefly at Seiya. "Will that be a double order?"
Seiya pouted. Ignoring the giggles from Blaze, Yaten and the two girls at the table and Taiki's raised eyebrow at the expression he sighed. "Yeah, sure. Why not?"
Serena nodded and entered it before walking over to the coffee machine and pouring two cups and placing them on a tray with sugar and milk. Then she got the cake as requested. She pushed the tray towards Seiya with a smile, which he slightly returned before he sat down at a table next to the others.
"Having trouble?" Taiki's amused deep voice asked him. Seiya shot him a glare.
"None of your business."
"Now now boys, no fighting." smiled Blaze. "We wouldn't want to upset Miss Tsukino now, would we?"
Serena heard this and looked up, confused, to see both Taiki and Seiya looking ashamed and Yaten, Mina and Amy giggling.
"What'd I miss?" she asked, walking over with two more milkshakes for Mina and Amy.
"Seiya got told." Yaten barely hid a snort of laughter.
"So did Taiki." Mina laughed.
"Told what?" Serena's puzzled question only made everyone else laugh. Seiya and Taiki sighed in exasperation, "What did I say?" Serena felt even more confused.
"Never mind Odango." Seiya sighed. He looked up and smiled, taking a sip of his coffee. Blaze politely ate small piece of coffee and walnut cake with her fork.
Serena muttered something about them not playing fair as she went to clear a table.
Yaten laughed as they all watched her. "She hasn't changed all that much." he observed.
"You'd be surprised." Mina said quietly. Yaten looked at her, puzzled, and she continued. "Maybe not so much on the outside, though her hair is now even longer and her eyes a lot bluer. But on the inside . . ."
"She has changed a lot." Amy finished for Mina. The two girls seemed sad about that. "She's still bubbly and bright when she wants to be, but she's become prone to long silences too, and she's much more mature." Amy considered that and then added, "Sometimes." Mina giggled, though it seemed half-hearted.
"Also, she's worried about you." Mina told Seiya, looking at him with serious blue eyes over her tall glass. Taiki and Yaten nodded; Serena was easy for them to read. The girl wore her heart on her sleeve.
"Me?" Seiya sounded shocked. Yaten rolled his eyes and Taiki placed his head in a hand as if to say you've got to be kidding me. Seiya shot them both a glare which they returned with smiles.
"Yes, you." Amy replied simply. "Don't tell me you haven't noticed it. She's worried about what happened to you, because you won't tell her."
Seiya looked at his cake miserably. If she knew what had happened, and what he had almost done, he dreaded to think how she'd react. Yaten, who was nearer, put a hand on his shoulder in support.
Mina read this on Seiya's face and interrupted him angrily. "You don't give Serena enough credit." she snapped. "She's a lot stronger than you think. Yes, she'll be upset. Yes, she'll be a little angry. Maybe even feel a little guilty. But she won't let it stop her from being your friend. She's better than that."
"They're right," Taiki spoke quietly, and Yaten nodded his agreement, "This is the same girl who defeated Galaxia with her own heart, and she taught us how to love."
"She was one of those people, at least." Yaten added, giving Taiki a slightly stern glance that had the more serious StarLight nodding. "And that's not an easy thing to do."
Seiya now looked suitably ashamed of himself and this pacified Mina a little.
"You've got to tell her." Amy said. Seiya looked at her pleadingly. "No buts." She told him sternly. "You've got to. You owe it to her to do that at least. And you said yourself that your Princess brought you here to heal. Let Serena help you with that."
Mina nodded, looking to Blaze for approval. Blaze smiled secretively and her eyes twinkled in fiery mischief. That was exactly what she wanted. Mina smirked, knowing that Blaze, or Kakyuu, was also aiming towards something else.
Perhaps she and Amy may be inclined to help the Fireball Princess with her plans.
Mina nodded, letting Blaze know that she at least would do just that, and Blaze's smile grew a little.
"Besides," Mina added, albeit a little slyly, "It will give her something to take her mind off recent problems."
Seiya's look of misery was replaced by determination and he nodded. It wouldn't be easy, but he'd try.
Another time.
"Seiya," Serena had finished her chore and now sat down next to him. He looked at her curiosly. "What did you mean when you said nothing you couldn't have?"
He laughed. "Maybe you'll find out some day."
"Seiya." She whined. They all laughed and she laughed with them.
*
Outside the café Darien stood across the street. He saw the group deep in conversation and then saw Serena join Seiya and the girl that had been at the restaurant with the Kou brothers. She was smiling and laughing with them.
He scowled. This wasn't how it was supposed to go.
With an ominous expression on his face, Darien Shields headed for home. Trista had been right. It was going wrong. He had to do something.
Fast.