Author's Note:

This chapter is a bit self-indulgent, and there's a good chunk of it that is not strictly necessary to the main plot. Consider it an interlude if you will, in which we get to learn a bit more about Seiya and Yaten. Some of what's explored here has been hinted at in earlier parts of the fic; some of it relates to an as yet unpublished and unfinished stand-alone fic about them that I've been working on, which I will hopefully finish eventually.

We'll end the detour and get back into the story proper next chapter. I'm very sorry for the excess of angst and lesbians.

Chapter Sixteen

Yaten was already up and dressed when Taiki emerged from the bathroom and went into the apartment's rather cramped lounge.

"Hey Taiki, you doing okay?" As she asked, there was an unusually gentle look in Yaten's expressive green eyes that would have surprised anyone who didn't know her.

Selecting an armchair, Taiki gave a faint half-smile and nodded, hoping that Yaten's question wasn't related to hearing some stray sound from her breakdown in the bathroom.

"I'm doing okay," she confirmed. "What about you?"

Even though it was now the fourth day since the battle, Yaten still hadn't fully recovered from healing Haruka's wounds.

"I have enough energy to go out with you and Seiya," Yaten replied promptly, which wasn't really what Taiki had been asking.

Taiki frowned and would have said something else but just then Seiya came over from the kitchen, carrying a tray of hot drinks. She handed one each to Taiki and Yaten before taking the last mug for herself.

Yaten took a sip of her drink and grimaced. "Why have you given me coffee, Seiya? I hate coffee."

"Oh shit, sorry. The one I have must be yours. Let's switch."

Unlike Yaten and Taiki, Seiya was still in her pyjamas, and probably hadn't even run a cursory comb through her hair by the looks of things. She nearly spilled the coffee as she and Yaten switched mugs and gave another flustered apology. Taiki inwardly raised an eyebrow.

After a few quiet moments, which were either to allow them to enjoy their drinks or, more likely, so Seiya could collect herself, Seiya stood up, a familiar stubborn expression on her face as she said decisively,

"All right. We know why we're here. We need to talk about the Crystal. Regardless of what Setsuna said, we're not giving up. We know it is here somewhere, and the fact that we didn't find a way to fix it in that other reality doesn't mean it has to be the same in this one."

"Of course we're not giving up," said Yaten, as it stating an obvious truth that Seiya should have already realised. "But aren't you forgetting something? Those two. Uranus and Neptune."

Seiya wrinkled her brow. "Well, maybe, but we still don't really know if—"

A look of frustration flashed across Yaten's face. "Don't play dumb, Seiya. You told me that at the Doors, Pluto said she didn't know whether restoring Kinmoku was what caused the Earth to go into chaos. Therefore, us finding and restoring the Crystal could potentially pose a threat to the future of this planet. Uranus and Neptune will have thought of that too, and they'll be preparing to do something about it."

"Yes, that's true," said Seiya, acknowledging Yaten's point with a nod, "but all of us just worked together to save the Earth. I don't want to go back to being enemies with them. It would be nice to think that…We were finally starting to move into new territory."

"They might feel the same," said Yaten. "But it won't change anything. This is the future of our planet we're talking about, and from Uranus's and Neptune's perspective, it's the future of theirs. This has the potential to get ugly."

"There might be another way," said Taiki, breaking the rising tension that was obviously about more than their search for the Crystal.

Seiya turned to her. "What do you mean?"

Taiki was silent for a short time, loathe to talk about her dream of Setsuna, wishing she could keep the experience all to herself though she knew she couldn't.

"I had a dream before I woke up this morning. Only…I don't think it was a dream. I saw Setsuna."

She saw the look Yaten and Seiya exchanged.

"Taiki," said Yaten cautiously, "it's perfectly understandable you'd dream about Setsuna, but—"

"Like I said," Taiki repeated firmly, "It was more than a dream. I spoke to her. She told me that…When she was fighting to save the Earth, she realised that what had happened had nothing to do with Kinmoku. Both planets can survive. She was very clear about that."

"Even if that's true," said Yaten, "Haruka and Michiru aren't going to believe it. Even if they want to. It's a chance they can't afford to take."

"I know. Setsuna told me something – a story from the past about the three of them I couldn't know any other way—"

"Unless she told you when she was alive," Yaten put in. "I'm not saying I don't believe you," she added quickly as Taiki gave her a sharp look. "I'm just saying if I was Haruka or Michiru I wouldn't be convinced by that. Not when the stakes are this high."

It actually hadn't occurred to Taiki before then, but Yaten was right. Technically, Setsuna could easily have told her that story about the birthday party when she was alive, and yet for reasons she couldn't exactly put into words, Taiki knew it wasn't something the old Setsuna would have ever shared with her, and she got the feeling Haruka and Michiru would recognise that too.

But she still had to concede Yaten's point, and with a sigh, she nodded. "You're right. We do need a contingency plan, in case it doesn't work."

"Yes," Yaten agreed. "And you can leave it to me. I've already thought of something."

Taiki noticed Seiya's eyes darken with anxiety for a moment, but all she said was, "what have you come up with?"

"You're not going to like it, Seiya."

"Okaay," said Seiya slowly, "but what is it?"

After Yaten explained her plan to them, Taiki understood why she thought Seiya wouldn't like it, and the reasons had nothing to do with worries over her still-weakened state. Indeed, Yaten's proposition gave Taiki herself an unpleasant taste in her mouth, for all it was a highly effective strategy.

"You're right," said Seiya shortly. "I don't like it. It's…"

"I know," said Yaten. "I already know everything you're going to say, and I agree with you. But it's for Kinmoku, Seiya. If I have to tarnish myself to save it, then I'll do it with no regrets." She gave a slightly bitter smile. "It's not like I had much honour to begin with."

Seiya frowned. "Don't say that about yourself."

The quiet sincerity of the words seemed to get to Yaten, and for a moment it was evident to all of them how little she really wanted to embark upon the course of action she'd proposed, but she quickly swept her reluctance aside.

"It's okay, Seiya. I can do this. We can't go home and tell the Princess we've failed."

After a searching examination of Yaten's face, Seiya grudgingly gave her agreement. "All right. As long as Taiki is okay with it too."

"I don't feel good about it," said Taiki, "but I don't think we have much choice right now. If Haruka and Michiru don't believe me about Setsuna, Yaten's idea is probably the one thing that's going to work."

She didn't say the other thought that crossed her mind: That if they did successfully pull off Yaten's plan, there was almost no chance they wouldn't be hunted down and killed for it. But that, Taiki supposed, would have to be an acceptable sacrifice, as long as they saved Kinmoku in the process.

Taiki hoped Setsuna would understand, if she was watching from somewhere. Not half an hour ago, Taiki had been determined not to waste Setsuna's gift of a future, but perhaps this was the best she could do. To use her life to ensure the life of her planet. Perhaps that was all a soldier could ask.

The feelings were so different to what Taiki had become used to that she was taken aback for a moment. For so long, she'd been doing her duty for duty's sake, never fully giving herself over, holding on to old resentments; believing in herself perhaps, but not in anything around her. Always keeping her distance for fear of what would happen if she placed her trust once more in the world that had let her down.

She saw now that it had been a mean and fearful way to live, and even if these proved to be her last days, Taiki decided she was going to leave that old attitude behind her; to live perhaps as Setsuna might have, full of love for those she served.

A sombre mood settled over the room, not helped by the rain still falling outside. No doubt Seiya and Yaten understood the likely price here as well as Taiki did. Seiya had placed her coffee down and joined Yaten on the couch, and there was something anguished in her look as she reached out to caress Yaten's knee in a gesture of comfort.

As slight as the touch was, Yaten immediately jerked away, annoyance flickering into her eyes as she turned towards Seiya. "Seiya, this isn't the time for that."

Taiki looked with great attention at a spot on the floor and tried to pretend she was invisible. Seiya's show of affection hadn't bothered her at all, but it was distinctly uncomfortable having to witness her hurt and embarrassment at being rejected.

"Well," said Seiya, standing up, her cheeks flushed and her eyes not quite meeting anyone else's, "Guess I'll go have a shower."

Yaten crossed her arms and ensconced herself deeper in the couch. Her expression was impossible to read.

Only once Taiki heard the sound of the shower going did she look up and ask, "What's going on with you and Seiya? Why are you so mad at her?"

A strange spasm passed across Yaten's face that might have been pain. "I can't, Taiki. I can't explain." She almost leapt to her feet and was halfway to the room she shared with Seiya before she stopped and turned back. "I'm sorry. The timing of this…And with everything you've just been through with losing Setsuna…You must think I'm the biggest jerk."

"Yaten, I don't even understand what's going on."

"I know." Yaten was only half-focused on Taiki, her eyes growing stormy as they were drawn towards the closed door of the bathroom.

"Yaten!"

The sharpness of Taiki's tone cut through Yaten's distraction, and the wary look she gave to Taiki suggested she fully expected a scolding. And truthfully, Taiki was half-inclined to give it to her – surely even Yaten had to realise this was the worst possible time for her dramatics. But as ridiculous and infuriating as this was in some ways, it was also obvious to Taiki that Yaten's disturbance wasn't feigned – it was genuine, whatever the cause.

So as calmly as possible Taiki drew in a breath, got out of her chair and said in her best voice of reason, "I'm going out for a walk. When I get back, this…thing with you and Seiya had better be resolved, at least for now. We can't afford this. We have to find the Crystal soon – for all we know, Haruka and Michiru might have decided to start looking for it too, to keep it out of our hands."

"Don't worry about me and Seiya," said Yaten. "That's…" She shrugged, and quickly changed the subject. "Anyway, I agree about the Crystal, but we still don't know where it is."

"Well, that was the other thing I wanted to tell you. I do know. Setsuna all but told me at the Doors. And I'm pretty sure I know how to fix it too."

Yaten's eyes grew wide. "Taiki…Why didn't you say something sooner?"

"Because I had to think it all out. I didn't want to be wrong. Tell Seiya when she comes out. We'll talk about it more when I get back."

Taiki made her way over to the flat's front door but stopped short of opening it as Yaten called her name.

"What is it Yaten?" she asked, with as much patience as she could muster.

Yaten was chewing her lip. "Make sure to take an umbrella with you. It's still raining out there."

A soaking in Tokyo's rain hardly posed any kind of hazard to one of Kinmoku's elite warriors, but Taiki appreciated the gesture of care all the same and grabbed an umbrella from the hall stand, giving Yaten a half-smile.

"Thanks. I'll get some food for us while we're out. Might as well do something useful."

She quickly finished making her escape as the shower ceased, and left hoping she wouldn't come back to an even bigger mess than the ill-understood one she was leaving behind.

As Yaten turned away from the closing door, her eyes latched onto the sight of Seiya, who was coming out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around her, her fine dark hair undone from its ponytail and splayed over her shoulders.

A concerned look grew on her face as she put together the empty lounge and the just-closed door. "Have we driven Taiki out?"

"Kind of," said Yaten guiltily. "She said she was going to get food."

Seiya swore and walked into their bedroom, leaving the door ajar. Hesitantly Yaten followed her and watched as she selected a striped navy suit from the wardrobe.

"You always wear suits when we come to Earth."

"Well, they're not exactly a thing on Kinmoku, so I have to make the most of the opportunities when I get them. Plus they make me look hot."

Ignoring the morning's events, Seiya flashed Yaten and grin and dropped the towel around her body a little too deliberately. Yaten flicked her gaze away but continued to watch Seiya from the corner of her eye as she dressed.

"I'm sorry about before," Yaten said, still not fully looking at Seiya. "For snapping at you. For pushing you away."

"You've been pushing me away for days," said Seiya, hurt evident in her voice though she didn't sound angry. "Ever since you healed Uranus. I guess I shouldn't have forced you to do it."

"You didn't force me," said Yaten, her surprise at Seiya's misconception finally making her turn her head and look at Seiya properly. "That's not…"

Seiya paused in the act of pulling her jacket on, holding Yaten's gaze. Yaten could tell she was struggling to keep herself from saying something, perhaps from asking what the hell Yaten was so upset about if not that. But then her eyes lost some of their intensity and she finished getting into her jacket with a shrug, obviously winning the battle to stay silent on the subject.

"Okay," said Seiya, her tone gentler than Yaten deserved. "But we shouldn't…I mean, now isn't the time, is it? And what about Taiki? We shouldn't be exposing her to this stuff. We need to be there for her. That dream she mentioned about Setsuna…"

"It was pretty obvious she didn't want to talk about that, though. Not more than she had to."

"Well yeah I know, but—"

"Seiya—"

At the almost-catch in Yaten's voice, Seiya fell silent.

Yaten's heart was beating uncomfortably fast and her mouth was dry. She was reminded, not for the first time in her life, that she wasn't good at being honest about her feelings.

"It's not the time," Yaten said before she could change her mind, "but if we end up having to fight Uranus and Neptune – I hope we won't, but if we do – they'll be tough opponents. In light of that, now might be a better time than never."

For a moment Seiya looked like she might try to give a leader's pep-talk and jolly Yaten out of her caution, but she obviously thought better of it and nodded her agreement instead.

"That's probably depressingly accurate. So, what did you want to say? Because I'm not going to lie, Yaten. I don't get what's going on with you. With this, even. We've been together six months and you still won't acknowledge me in public. You freaked out this morning when I touched you in front of Taiki. Taiki. When I was trying to comfort you because I know how crappy it's going to be for you if we end up needing to use your plan. I would have done that even if we weren't together. It's not like I was trying to put my hand down your pants or something. And it might make some kind of sense if I'd been the one who initiated all this, who pushed you into it from the start, but I wasn't. You were the one who…" Seiya trailed off and shook her head. "Honestly, if I didn't know better, I'd think you just wanted me as a fuckbuddy."

Yaten narrowed her eyes and shot Seiya a glance. "But you do know better, Seiya. You know that's not how I think of you."

Seiya's eyes flickered a deeper blue in recognition of the truth of Yaten's statement, but she didn't take back what she'd said. There was something hurt and raw and uncomprehending about her whole demeanour that was hard to witness, and that made Yaten feel more inadequate and unsure of herself than ever.

The truth was, Yaten still didn't entirely understand how this had happened; why Seiya had gotten with her. It had all started in such a peculiar way, one night six months ago when Seiya had looked at Yaten, and Yaten couldn't say how she'd done it, but she'd known Yaten's feelings. She'd known Yaten was in love with her. And she'd done the very last thing Yaten expected. She'd responded. And Yaten still wasn't sure whether that first night had been because of Seiya's loneliness, or because she really wanted Yaten.

Yaten sucked in a frustrated breath. "It's just that I'm not good at the mushy stuff, Seiya. I'm not good at being soft. I'm not…" She trailed off, before forcing herself to plough on because what the hell, there were no guarantees they were going to be here tomorrow. "I'm not Usagi."

Seiya started, looking genuinely bewildered. "You think I view you as some kind of Usagi substitute?"

"Well, it's more that I worry about what you're going to do when you realise I'm not a Usagi substitute, and I'm never going to be. You were in love with her for a long time after we went home, Seiya. You didn't talk about it or make a big deal of it, but you were."

"And I also knew nothing was ever going to come of it. I'd accepted that."

"But when those feelings had lasted such a long time, why did you respond to me so quickly? As soon as you realised? Like – Right then and there. Most people wouldn't do that. They'd need time to think about it and adjust."

"So what do you think, Yaten? That I was so miserable over Usagi the moment I learned you felt something for me I decided to jump right on that because you were there and convenient?"

"It sounds stupid when you say it like that, but yeah…Something along those lines."

"Don't you think I've got more respect for you – hell, more respect for myself, than to behave like that? Besides which, we're six months into this, Yaten. Have you not noticed all this time the way I look at you, the way I touch you? That I want to be more open and affectionate with you, not less? What in Kinmoku's name do you think I mean when I say I love you?"

"I know how you feel about me now, Seiya."

Seiya gave an unhappy snort of scepticism. "Then why are we even having this conversation?"

"Because I'm not asking about now. I'm asking about that night."

Whenever Seiya showed affection, it always seemed spontaneous and natural. Yaten wished she could be that easy – having spent so much of her life not reaching out to people, she couldn't help but feel awkward whenever she tried.

She wasn't even sure Seiya would welcome her touch right now – the more Yaten spoke, the more troubled Seiya was getting. Of course, knowing it would probably turn out like this, knowing she wasn't even explaining very well what was bothering her – This was a large part of why Yaten had never brought this up before.

Yaten moved closer, and Seiya didn't move away. Somewhat fortified by that, Yaten found the courage to stroke her fingers over Seiya's cheek, saying softly, "You were hurting and lonely back then. When you found out how I felt, it's like…Suddenly you had this way out of your situation that wasn't there before. Can you honestly say you ever would have started to think about me like that if you hadn't realised I was in love with you? Did you even think about whether I was right for you? About whether you wanted to be with me, or whether you were just running away from the pain of someone you couldn't have?

"I think about those things and it bothers me, Seiya, because I feel like maybe…I took advantage of you when your emotions were vulnerable, and now…" She shrugged helplessly. "You're so loyal that it would never even cross your mind that I'm not…Not suitable."

Seiya reassuringly took Yaten's hand. "When we got together, I wasn't still in love with Usagi."

"I know, but you were still sad at the way things had turned out. Your heart was still bruised." Stepping back, Yaten steeled herself, not sure of the answer she was going to get. "Just tell me what you were thinking that night. That's all I want to know."

Sitting down on the edge of the bed, Seiya played with a wrinkle in the duvet cover for a few moments, eyes hidden. When she glanced up, there was both regret and apology in her expression. "Is it so bad," she whispered, "if I did behave impulsively?" There was a pause before she continued. Yaten could tell that Seiya didn't like admitting what she said next, but she did all the same. "You're right, Yaten. It did hurt for a long time, having those feelings for Usagi and knowing she didn't feel the same. Knowing it was hopeless. I never really expected it to turn out any other way, but still—I couldn't help wishing for the impossible sometimes."

She gave Yaten a smile that was almost shy. "That's probably why I'd started thinking about the past. About what happened – or didn't happen – with us, all those years ago. I did tell you I'd been thinking about it that night. I was the one who brought it up. I guess I'd started wondering what would have happened if I'd already had someone in my life when we came to Earth the first time. Maybe Usagi and I could have just been friends, and things would have been simpler. I could have been happy with her without having all that emotional torment. But it was all just idle speculation. Things didn't turn out differently from how they did, and I never expected to have a chance with you. Not until that night when I realised."

Obviously screwing herself up for a confession that she thought Yaten wasn't going to like, Seiya continued, "Honestly Yaten, I can't say whether or not I was in love with you that first night. My feelings were still confused. But I definitely wanted you. When we were together, it was you I was thinking of, not anyone else."

Seiya stopped to give Yaten an intense look, making sure she saw the truth of that last statement.

"Maybe if you'd left the next morning, it would have just been a one night stand and that would have been it. But you didn't leave, and I was happy about it that morning and have been every morning since. If you're asking me all this now, I clearly did rush into things – I should have considered you more – how it would feel for you to sleep with me when you were in love with me, without really knowing what my feelings were. That was pretty selfish."

A weighty silence settled. In a way, Seiya's answer was the one Yaten had expected; perhaps that was also why she'd never asked before. Because she didn't like it; didn't like to think that she and Seiya had tainted beginnings, no matter what had built up since then. She stared unseeing at the blank bedroom wall past Seiya's head, remembering watching Seiya all that time after they'd gotten back to Kinmoku, wishing she could make her pain cease. Wanting to be the one to put laughter back in Seiya's smile, wanting Seiya's eyes to light for her instead of being shadowed with the memory of a girl on Earth she could never have. Until finally one day Yaten had admitted it to herself – that she was in love with Seiya, and wanted Seiya to love her back.

But their impulsive beginning made it difficult for Yaten to trust what they had, and instead of making Seiya happy, she spent too much time half-denying what they were to herself, as if that could reduce the pain in the event something went wrong. Which objectively Yaten could recognise as the worst possible strategy, and the one most likely to bring about exactly what she feared, but subjectively, it made her feel safe in a strange kind of way. Maybe because there was a part of her that found it more frightening to think of what would happen if she and Seiya did work out. Yaten knew it would mean demolishing a lot of her self-imposed walls.

Sitting down on the bed next to Seiya, Yaten leaned against her. "It's okay," she said reassuringly, though she knew Seiya must have seen from her expression that it did bother her at least a bit. "Truthfully, if you hadn't responded then, I probably would have run away and never let you see how I felt again."

"I know, Yaten. I realised that at the time. You usually tear anyone to pieces who makes you an offer."

"I don't like things that are empty, that's all. And most of the time, that's all people are offering. They don't know me well enough to offer anything else."

"It's not what I'm offering," said Seiya softly. "If you're worried I've been going along all this time not really thinking about what I'm doing, that's not the case. I have thought about it, and I want this. I want you." She turned towards Yaten and placed a hand on her cheek. Her eyes were steady, coloured like a clear night sky. "But this can't continue if you're going to keep pushing me away and acting like we're not even together half the time. That's not being in a relationship with someone. I'm not saying I want bouquets and chocolates, but be honest with me. Be honest with other people. If you really don't want me, then say so. And if you do, don't act like you don't."

Tilting her head up, Yaten caught Seiya by surprise with a kiss. "I do want you," she insisted when she drew back. "I don't want to lose what I have with you. It's too important to me." A slight smile played at the edges of her lips, but disappeared as she frowned. "I'm not very good at letting people love me. Part of my power is giving up my life force to heal other people. I don't always like having to share myself like that. I don't like that I don't always have full say over whether or not I help someone. It sometimes makes me withdraw more than I should in other sectors of my life." She shot Seiya a look of wry apology. "I know that's stuff you know about me already – you couldn't not after all this time. I'm not saying it because I think you don't know, but so you know I do have self-awareness that I'm like that. I don't always do a good job of overcoming it, but I'm going to try and do better. I don't want to keep hurting you."

"Thank you," said Seiya, fingers drifting into Yaten's silvery hair as she drew closer to place a kiss on the soft skin just below Yaten's ear.

Yaten closed her eyes and drew in a sharp breath as desire washed through her, but she placed a restraining hand on Seiya's chest as she said, "Wait Seiya. There's something else I need to explain. About the last few days – Why I haven't let you touch me."

Drawing back with a frown, Seiya said, "It's okay, Yaten. I got that. Withdrawing more than you should etcetera – I can read between the lines."

"Not correctly in this case," said Yaten. She chewed her lip. "At least, not entirely correct. I was embarrassed with Luna being there – that was part of what made me push you off initially, but…You know how when I've used up a lot of energy healing someone, I need help replenishing – At least if I'm going to get back to normal in any kind of reasonable time frame? And you know – I'm sure you remember – All those lectures we had to attend about it back in the day that talked about how there wasn't taking involved, just resonances of energy that helped my own body restore itself faster? Well, that's true most of the time. But not all the time.

"It's pretty rare…But…Sometimes, if a healer enters into a relationship with someone…That balance can change. Taking becomes possible."

"What? Yaten, are you sure about this?" Seiya asked suspiciously.

"Oh I'm sure. The Healing Guild just makes sure no one else knows about it. They think it will make people afraid of us. It's not something any of us are supposed to talk about. And because it's so rare, they think it's not necessary to create that kind of stigma. Most healers can't heal enough for it to even be a problem. It only becomes a possibility when a healer is really drained, and when they have someone with whom they have that kind of connection. With Luna the other night – It was fine. That was just…What normally happens. But when it was you, I felt – I realised…"

Guilt stirred in Yaten as she remembered that night at Hikawa Shrine; how she'd made herself shake Seiya off initially, but couldn't do it again when she felt Seiya's arm steal around her a second time. "I realised that first night at Hikawa Shrine it was starting to happen. I should have explained it to you, but I was so drained I didn't want you to let go. I knew it couldn't keep happening though. That's why I've forced myself not to have any contact since then. I won't be the reason something happens to you. Because you gave something to me you should have kept for yourself."

"That's why you haven't let me touch you?" said Seiya, her tone incredulous, her eyebrows rising towards her bangs.

Yaten gave Seiya a long, lingering glance, thinking of the days and nights she'd spent drifting in a miserable funk of exhaustion so deep she felt ill, with the temptation of Seiya's warmth so tormentingly close. All she'd wanted to do was to crawl into her arms and find comfort there. It had taken every ounce of self-control she had not to reach out and take what Seiya was offering.

The look was answer enough for Seiya. She shook her head in disbelief. "Yaten, I felt completely fine after that first night. I mean, what sort of energy transfer are we talking about here? Something so minuscule it doesn't matter?"

"I don't know, Seiya. A few nights ago was the first time it happened. It's the first time since we got together that I've had to use my power that much. I wasn't expecting it. I don't know how much damage it could do. That's why I decided I just…Couldn't reach for you. Not until I was sure it was safe."

"Okay, but Yaten…This is me. My special power, such as it is, is pretty much to be a giant punchy fist with infinite strength and endurance. And let's also not forget that if you don't reach out to me, or Taiki, or whoever, then you're placing yourself in a more vulnerable position than you need to be in. And, considering who we're probably going to be fighting pretty soon, I'd really prefer that wasn't the case."

"I'm recovered enough to fight!" Yaten protested.

"I know you are. That's not what I meant. I just meant…" Seiya trailed off and sighed. "I suppose I just can't believe you didn't tell me this days ago. Or months ago. Didn't you think I should know this was a possibility?"

"I should have told you," said Yaten. "I didn't because…I guess I was scared to admit what it meant. How close we've grown."

Seiya turned towards her with a frown. "So what do we do now? How do we manage this safely?"

"We'd be able to get advice," said Yaten, though she didn't like the thought of having to discuss her current predicament with the healers back on Kinmoku. "But for now…Let's just get through today. We can worry about the rest later."

"Taiki will need to know as well eventually. This could affect the current set up we have to manage you when you need us."

"Yeah, we can tell her. But again…Not now. Anyway." Yaten expelled a breath. "Now that we've talked, I should probably tell you that Taiki told me just before she left that she thinks she knows where the Crystal is, and how to restore it."

Yaten felt Seiya jump. "Yaten, that's kind of important!"

"I know, but if I'd said it to begin with, you would have wanted to rush off and finish our mission right away. And I wanted to talk to you. I know things haven't been great these last few days."

"Well, I'm glad to know you weren't mad at me. And – Thank you for telling me the rest." With a smile, Seiya brushed Yaten's hand fondly. "You're important to me, you know?"

"Yeah," said Yaten, voice wobbling as she caressed Seiya in return, her touch much more sensual. "I know that. You're…You're important to me too, Seiya."

Both of them felt the charge spring up; Yaten loved it when Seiya looked at her like this, her desire so obvious, but there was the distant sound of the apartment door opening before anything else could happen.

With regret, Yaten dropped her hand away from Seiya's body. "We'd better get out there. We've caused enough issues already this morning. Or I have."

"Yeah, let's get this thing done."

With her typical single-mindedness asserting itself, Seiya was off the bed and almost across the small floor space to the door before Yaten could catch up to her.

Managing to stop Seiya just before she opened the bedroom door, Yaten was momentarily at a loss as to what she intended to do. There were a lot of things she wanted to say, but they all would have taken more time than they had, so she found herself just wrapping her arms around Seiya tightly and giving her a searing kiss.

"Whatever happens, hold me tonight," Yaten whispered into her ear.

Seiya's expression was almost comically startled, her heartbeat pounding against Yaten's own. Then she relaxed into a smile, pulling Yaten closer against her.

"As much as you like," she whispered back. After holding Yaten a moment longer, Seiya dropped her arms with a regretful sigh and opened the bedroom door.