I still don't own Sailor Moon. *pout*
(As promised here's a light-hearted chapter. Well, for the most part it is light-hearted. I will warn that things will begin to turn for the worse in the next chapter. I am thinking the next chapter will be either entirely or at least partially in Princess Serenity's POV. I feel its about time she had some spotlight. I know I took longer to update this time, but I am needing more time to work since I am also working on my own story which I do own. ^_^ If you want to read that I have the URL on my profile. I will warn that I have the page set up for those 18 and older though since it is violent. I also got manga pens to work on my manga version properly. On to the story at hand, its the day of the dinner at Usagi's and her dad finds out she is dating Seiya. I'd like to say thanks to everyone who has read, reviewed, and subscribed to my story. I am inspired by your enthusiasm and want you all to know how much you are appreciated. Rhinoa)
Sometimes You Just Need to Believe Chapter 15
Usagi and Seiya removed their shoes and headed for the kitchen. Ikoku had been baking cookies. The smell of fresh chocolate chip Heaven filled the whole house. Though she was quite nervous at the sight of one Kou Seiya, Ikoku was trying with all her will to remain calm.
"So, mom," Usagi began. "Seiya and the others can come to dinner tonight. Sorry for the short notice."
"Oh, ok," Ikoku said dreamily as she looked at Seiya.
"I was hoping I could help actually," Seiya said as he took hold of one of Ikoku's hands. "You see, I'd love to know how to cook something for myself. Usagi said you make delicious food."
"Well I…" Ikoku was blushing brightly. She turned to her daughter. "I had been thinking. Usagi, do you remember when I made that Italian dinner? It was a few weeks ago. Everyone ate it up so quickly it must have been good."
"You mean that tomato chicken thing with the cheesy salad and pasta with vegetables…" Usagi seemed to remember it clearly.
"Yes, dear," Ikoku said taking some money out of her purse. Quickly she made a grocery list and handed it to Usagi along with the money. "This is what we need. I'll start cleaning up while you two go to the store and get those groceries."
"We'll be back soon. I trust we'll have fun cooking together," Seiya said flashing his trademark smirk at a still blushing Ikoku. Seiya then took Usagi's hand and led her to the foyer so they could put their shoes on and head for the store.
Once outside, Usagi turned her head to Seiya. "You know, its hard for her not to be starstruck when you act like that, Seiya-chan."
"But she's so genuine its adorable. I can't resist."
"What will Taiki and Yaten think though? They wouldn't like a dinner filled with that kind of thing."
Seiya put on his best pout and shot Usagi a set of puppy dog eyes. "Don't scold me so, Odango. I'll stop when we get back."
"You promise?"
"I'll be a perfect cooking student I swear."
"Ok then."
It seemed natural when Seiya slipped his arm around Usagi as they approached the store. Nothing about he and Odango felt out of place. Well, almost nothing. 'Will she treat me the same if I need to transform?' Seiya did not want to think about his Odango treating him different. 'The point is that she knows I am a girl when I transform and she has not seemed bothered by it so far.' Seiya smiled to himself. 'Maybe its not as big a deal as I'm making it. She's close to Haruka and Michiru after all. Maybe it just doesn't phase her.' The scary truth was that Seiya identified with Haruka more than he cared to think about. Haruka was fierce about defending her princess. Haruka would do anything if Usagi asked her. Haruka even had her own pet name for his Odango. No matter how much he identified with the sky senshi, Seiya would never admit it.
"Seiya-chan," Usagi questioned.
"Yes, Odango?"
"Does it bother you to be in this form?"
'She's more intuitive than she lets on.' "As long as I can be with you, I'd be anything you needed."
"I just want you to be yourself regardless." Usagi smiled up at him.
"When I'm with you this form feels right, Odango." Seiya leaned down to kiss Usagi on her cheek.
"Oh, we're here already," Usagi said glancing over at the supermarket.
"Ok." Seiya looked at the building. He had never been inside a grocery store. The Three Lights had a personal shopper who stocked the refrigerator at their apartment since between school and work they never had the time to go themselves.
Usagi got a shopping cart and pulled the grocery list out. Seiya noted that it looked almost like she was mapping out a plan of attack.
"Ok, Seiya-chan. Let's get the vegetables first. Then we'll get the spices, salad dressing, pasta, croutons and bread. We'll get the chicken last."
"Whatever you think is best. I've never been grocery shopping before so I'll follow your lead, Odango."
"It must be nice."
"What?"
"Not having to do boring things like this,"
"I don't know about that."
"What do you mean, Seiya-chan?"
"Well, the things most people take for granted, let's say grocery shopping for example, we don't get to do them. It can be very isolating."
"I guess I never thought about it like that." Usagi looked at Seiya with sympathy filling her blue eyes. SAhe knew how much she hated feeling alone and it hurt her to think of any of her friends feeling that way.
Wandering through the produce, they gathered the tomatoes, onions, broccoli, lettuce, and garlic. The store seemed to be overwhelming Seiya. UIsagi reached for his hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze. Seiya smiled at her gesture. Usagi always seemed to know just how to make him feel at ease.
They gathered the remaining ingredients except the bread. Usagi headed toward the bakery. Seiya took in the wonderful aromas. This looked like Heaven to him. Usagi grabbed a loaf of freshly baked bread and something that looked exquisitely decedant…The round cake was shorter than the cakes Seiya has eaten. It was covered with chocolate shavings and a raspberry sauce. The cake was even trimmed in fresh raspberries along the edge.
Usagi sensed Seiya's awe and smiled. "It's a chocolate raspberry cheesecake. You'll love it, trust me."
"Uh huh…" Seiya's jaw seemed to have dislodged it's self.
Usagi giggled softly. She loved watching Seiya take in the store. Usagi and Seiya moved toward the checkout. The clerk began scanning the items not paying attention to the customers in her lane. When she looked up to state the total her eyes locked on Seiya. Usagi paid the bill and collected her receipt. Seiya could not resist smiling and winking at the cashier. He then helped Usagi gather up the shopping bags and they left the store.
'That girl looked familiar,' the cashier thought. 'Was she the mystery woman from the concert who's been all over television? No, she's far too young. Perhaps she's related to that woman though.'
Ikoku heard the door open and set the oven to preheat for the chicken. She pulled out the dishes they would need to fix the meal.
Usagi and Seiya came to the kitchen and unloaded the bags. Usagi carefully slid the cheesecake into the fridge. The trio quickly got to work chopping vegetables. Seiya was true to his word and was the perfect model of a cooking student. He took to tending the sauce while Usagi got to work on the broccoli and pasta. Ikoku prepared the chicken, salad, and garlic bread. All-in-all the dinner preparations went rather well. It was quiet despite Shingo asking every fifteen minutes when dinner would be ready.
Around five-thirty Kenji returned home from work in a very good mood. The scents greeting him from the kitchen greeted him warmly and led him to greet his wife. "Good evening, love," he said as he kissed Ikoku. It took him a few moments, but Kenji soon realized there was a strange man in the kitchen cooking with his wife and daughter. "Hello, I'm Tsukino Kenji, Usagi's FATHER. He made sure to place emphasis on that last word. Much to his surprise, this did not seem to phase the young man.
Ikoku noticed the look on her husband's face and quickly went about setting things right. "Darling, this is Kou Seiya. He's in that musical group the Three Lights. He and his brothers are going to be joining us for dinner." Ikoku smiled wide at Kenji in hopes that he would not make a fuss over things.
"I see," Kenji pondered aloud.
"Nice to meet you, Mr. Tsukino,"Seiya said with his famous grin. "Your lovely wife has been teaching me how to cook this afternoon. She said we're having an all Italian feast. She is quite the chef. You're a lucky man." Seiya extended his hand to Kenji.
Kenji took Seiya's hand in a firm handshake. "That I am. So, sweetheart, when is dinner?"
"It shouldn't be too much longer dad," Usagi said. "Right, mom?"
"No. Oh, Usagi, its time to toss that pasta in the olive oil sauce. Wait to sprinkle the cheese until our other guests arrive though, ok?" It seemed that Ikoku had returned her attention to the cooking.
It wasn't long until the doorbell rang. Shingo was the first to answer. Taiki and Yaten introduced themselves and entered the house. Usagi put some tea on and greeted them. Kenji seemed to be at ease until he saw Seiya holding Usagi's hand as they sat chatting over tea. Ikoku acted quickly though and placed her hand on her husband's shoulder. "He's such a nice boy," she whispered. "They're in the same class and he's so polite. Don't ruin this for her, please. She's sixteen after all. Its healthy for her to have a boyfriend." Ikoku then turned her attention to everyone. "Dinner is ready." She was met with a round of smiles.
Everyone sat at the table and the food was passed around. Dinner was quite an enjoyable experience for everyone. The Starlights were treated just like family much to Taiki and Yaten's relief. Though Yaten did catch Ikoku gazing at him a few times which only made him smile. After dinner came the salad followed by the cheesecake which was a universal success. Seiya and Usagi wolfed down the cheesecake. Ikoku could not help but smile and laugh at the similar eating styles Seiya and Usagi had.
When the food was finally cleared, Taiki and even Yaten offered to take care of the dishes insisting that Ikoku had done enough work for the evening. Kenji could only smile. It seemed his daughter had not only found someone her own age (finally), but that he and his family were good people even if they were a tad vain.
When it was time to call it a night, everyone gathered at the door to bid the idols a good night, even Shingo. With some, but little, protest Kenji agreed to remain inside as Usagi walked them out and down the walk.
"Thank you, Usagi-chan. That was very refreshing," Taiki said.
"Your mom really knows how to cook, and foreign cuisine no less," Yaten exclaimed with a smile.
"Hey we helped," Seiya chimed in.
"Well then I suppose you'll have to start cooking at home once in a while," Taiki teased.
Yaten scoffed at the idea. "He'll probably burn it without supervision."
Taiki and Yaten laughed a bit much to Seiya's displeasure.
"I had a great time, Odango," Seiya said looking his love in her eyes.
"So did I. I'm so glad mom didn't embarrass me tonight," Usagi said relieved and only half joking.
Seiya leaned down and kissed Usagi on her lips. Instinctively Usagi wrapped her arms around Seiya. Neither wanted to let go, but there was school tomorrow. Reluctantly they parted.
"I'll see you at school tomorrow," Seiya said with a grin. "I have to leave an hour early for voice training. You're welcome to come by after class though if you like."
"I'll see what I can manage," Usagi teased.
The two met for one final kiss before the Starlights headed off into the night.
Usagi felt like she was floating in mid air as she returned inside her home. Nothing could bring her down. Usagi smiled as her mother passed her that all-knowing grin. She practically skipped up the stairs and drew herself a warm bath. When Usagi had finished her bath and dressed for bed the telephone rang. It was nearly ten o'clock at night.
"Tsukino residence, Usagi speaking."
Usagi-chan." It was Makoto. "How did your dinner go? I notice you never called me for help."
"It went great. We all had a blast. Even my dad seemed to like them."
"That's great." Makoto had a heavy tone to her voice tonight.
"You seem down, Mako-chan, Is something wrong?"
"Usagi-chan, I ran into Mamoru-san today at Crown. He said he wanted you to stop by his place tomorrow after school. It sounded important."
"I guess I can do that. I'll call Seiya and tell him I can't make it to see him at his voice training. I'll call Mamo-chan and see what he wants."
"You can tell Mamoru-san about you and Seiya-kun."
"I guess there's no avoiding that. I had to tell him eventually."
'Wow, Usagi-chan is facing this rather well. Maybe she's grown up a little right under our noses.' "Ok, I'll let you call Seiya-kun and Mamoru-san then. Good night."
"Good night Mako-chan."
Usagi decided to call Mamoru first. Seiya and the others were walking home and might not be there yet. Usagi clumsily dialed that number she knew by heart. She was not looking forward to tomorrow afternoon.
Mamoru picked up after two short rings. "Hello."
"Hi, Mamo-chan."
"Usako."
"Mako-chan just called me. She said you wanted to see me tomorrow?"
"Yes, that's right. I have something important to talk to you about."
"I do too, Mamo-chan," Usagi managed to choke out as the tears welled in her eyes. Regardless of outward appearances to the contrary this really was tearing her apart.
Mamoru could tell that Usagi was upset but something within told him not to press the issue tonight. "I'll see you tomorrow then?"
"Yeah."
"Good night, Usako."
Usagi started to say good night but Mamoru had already hung up. 'Oh no! Does he already know about me and Seiya? This is terrible. To hear it from me would be hard enough for him, but if he heard it from someone else…He must be crushed and its all my fault.' Usagi had to force herself to stop crying. She still had to call Seiya. She could cry later.
Usagi dialed the Starlights apartment. Yaten answered it after six rings. "Hello?" Yaten sounded rather annoyed.
"Hi, Yaten-kun. Is Seiya there?"
"Usagi-chan? Yeah, let me get him."
Usagi knew that Yaten didn't mean to be rude. She knew it just came to him easily.
"Hello, Odango?"
Usagi's mood brightened instantly when she heard Seiya's voice. "Hi, Seiya-chan. I wanted to make sure you guys got home ok."
"Yeah, we're good."
"I'm glad." Usagi smiled. "Seiya, I wanted to tell you that I can't make it to your vocal practice."
"Why not," Seiya asked with obvious disappointment in his voice.
"I have to go talk to Mamo-chan."
Seiya's heart sank. 'She's going to see him instead of me.'
"Its not what you think. I'm going to tell him that its over between us and that you and I want to be together."
"Oh." Seiya tried unsuccessfully to contain the pleasure in his voice.
"Well, I should get going. I've been on the phone a while between Mako-chan, Mamo-chan, and of course you, Seiya-chan."
"Odango…I love you."
"I love you too, Seiya-chan."
Usagi hung up the phone. 'That's funny. I just realized that Mamo-chan didn't say that when he hung up. Oh well. Perhaps that's for the best.' Usagi set her alarm and curled into bed. Luna had already fallen asleep in her usual spot. 'I should set aside some time with her as soon as possible. I've been ignoring her too much lately.'
Sleep did not come that easily for Chiba Mamoru that night. Serenity was once again filling his dreams. This time she did not seem to mind that thoughts of breaking off his relationship with Usagi filled his head. She almost seemed happy about it. In the dreams he could clearly see her, but she never spoke. She merely stood by him and it made him feel surprisingly at ease.
Mamoru often surrendered to Endymion on his dreams. He would take a back seat and allow himself to be with his princess or remember little things Endymion would reveal. On this night though, his comfort within the dream was disturbingly disrupted. He saw as his once loyal Shitennu Kunzite swung his sword at Serenity. Endymion jumped into the blade and was struck down. Kunzite fled in apparent shame and horror at what he had done. Then Serenity did the unthinkable. She released energy from her crystal and in an instant everything he could see had been destroyed. The blast rung through the entire solar system and onward. How far it stretched he could not tell. The last scene that his dream presented him was the image of Serenity and Endymion laying dead in what was left of the Moon Palace clasping hands. When everything went black he heard Serenity's voice. 'It was all for you, my love.'
Mamoru sat up in his bed. A cold sweat had consumed his brow. 'It was only a dream. A very twisted, dark dream.' However, something in the far recesses of his mind Mamoru had the nagging feeling that this had been no dream.
(Notes : Sorry that there are a few OOC moments for Seiya and Yaten. I just wanted to show a different side of them that was more vulnerable (Seiya) and sweeter (Yaten). I had Ikoku cook the Italian dinner as a way to show off to the Three Lights. Yes, the salad comes after the meal. Eating salad comes after the meal in a truly traditional Italian dinner. The green vegetables aid in digestion and help prevent heartburn and other forms of indigestion. The Italians recognized this and since family life is focused on the kitchen traditionally they began eating in that pattern regularly. No, I'm not Italian I've just dated two who had traditional grandmothers. ^_^)