｢Chapter 4｣
Time really flies when there was something that one dreads is going to happen. And this applies very well to Fighter's case. She really was not anticipating for this day to come. Not that she did not want her Ouhi to be married. Fighter knows that Kakkyu had longed for this day to come, since the day that they have returned from Earth, and found that the King-to-be was restored. But they both had agreed that only until Kinmoku is properly reconstructed and the commoners' life are back to the track that they will announce their union, which is today.
"Fighter leaned against the wall between Maker's and her room as she remembered that night where Maker had made her talk about the situation she had to face on Kakkyu's wedding. She remembered that she had poured out large volume of tears that night. That was so unlike of her to do so. But she did.
[Flashback]
"Fighter, if you do not want to say it, if you do not want to let go, just don't. You do not have to pretend to be strong. Be yourself. Be the one the your heart wants to be. You don't have to be the strong and harsh leader that you have to be during duty. You can be yourself. " Maker continued holding onto Fighter as Fighter cried uncontrollably in her embrace.
"But I want to . . . It's getting unhealthy. I'm having illusions of her every time I close my eyes, halfway through drills. Even though it hurts my heart to do so, I know it's a time to stop. Maker, it really hurts. It hurts." Fighter continued crying out in Maker's shoulder, until the time she felt tired. Tired of crying. Tears could no longer flow out. And she fell asleep in Maker's embrace hearing Maker mumbling something that she could not make up what was it.
[End of Flashback]
"Fighter! You are WANTED!" Fighter heard her name echoed down the hallway where she was standing. There was only one person who will shout for her in this way. And there, Fighter finally saw the someone who 'WANTED' her.
"Healer, can you stop screaming for me down the hall. I know you WANT me, but you don't want the whole palace to know that you WANT me, do you?" Fighter teased. Fighter could not understand why she has always liked to make fun of the petite starlight, but she just could not help it but to do so.
Healer blushed at Fighter teasing. She stretched out her right hand towards the back of Fighter's head and gave it a really hard push. "You deserved this. Seeing that today is such a joyous day, that's all you are going to get. But prepare your butt for tomorrow." Healer stated jokingly.
"Oh, should I hide from you? But you are the one who said that you WANTED me." Fighter started again her teasing.
"It meant that you are WANTED as a CRIMINAL!" Pulling Fighter by her pony tail, she walked back the hallway where she came from. "Let's go!"
"Ouch! Healer it hurts!" Fighter scream out.
"Not gonna feel it. I'm blocking that pain you're feeling out. Bleh!" Healer said childishly.
Maker was working alone in the grand ballroom, looking at the Healer's design blueprints that were in her hands and her surroundings, making sure that every detail is fulfilled and perfected. Then she heard some loud noise coming down from the hallway. 'They are at it again.'
"Pain, pain, pain, pain, pain, pain, pain, pain . . . " Fighter repeatedly called out as Healer dragged her down the hall way and into grand ball room where she released Fighter's pony tail.
"You are so whiny, Fighter!" Healer complained.
Fighter took this chance and pulled Healer's hair. "Is this painful?"
"Ouch! Let go!" Healer demanded, while trying to get Fighter's hand off her hair.
Maker just stood there, continuing her final checks on the ball room before the invited guests start coming in.
"Maker! SAVE me!" Healer cried out.
Shaking her head at the child-like comrades of hers, she started, "Alright alright. It's Ouhi's big day today. No fighting, no arguing with each other, agree?"
Fighter let go of Healer's hair and agreed unwillingly. Maker looked at Healer, waiting for her to agree to the terms as well.
"Hai Hai. I know I know. No fighting, no arguments. Just for today." Healer stated before continuing. "So is everything done?"
"Yup, everything's done except for the cake table and the stairs decoration as reported yesterday." Maker replied Healer and turned to Fighter. "Can you help to bring out the cake from the kitchen? It's just the 3 of us, the chefs and some greenies that will be working today. It's national holiday today and tomorrow to celebrate Ouhi's wedding."
"So this the reason chibi dragged me all the way from my room to here." Fighter said as she glared at Healer.
"Yes! It's time for you to help out. And it's just this little while. And you are suppose to be at reception later. Don't go missing like you always do, if not I will. . . . " Before Healer could finish what she was to say, Fighter interrupted her.
"Yeah, like I will be afraid of you." Fighter joked before hiding behind Maker's tall physique.
"Have you all forgotten about the agreement you had just made moments ago?" Maker asked no one in particular, as the two of them had got the cycle started all over again.
As night fall came, guests start to fill in the ballroom as well. All of the palace were dressed formally for the grand event of Kinmoku. Fighter, dressed in sapphire knee length dress, was seated at the reception table together with Ameno and Yukini. Maker in mauve coloured long dress, was situated at the kitchen area to ensure everything is done before the ball get started. Healer, dressed jade coloured dress, stayed within the ball room to oversee the wedding flow.
Fighter hated Healer for placing her at the reception job. She would rather be walking around, patrolling a little and make sure things are fine rather than sitting at one area for long period of time. Sitting at the reception also meant that she will be the first one to receive the sol senshis, which was something that she need some mental preparation to. With the pen in her hands, Fighter started doodling on the guest list, while Ameno and Yukini were busy receiving guests from their galaxy system and the planet itself. Her guest list only contains 10 people, which all are from the sol system. 'Healer is definitely trying prank on me. I hate her guts!'
"Fighter, what are you doing? The guest list is not for you to draw on or play." Healer stood in front, looking at what Fighter was doing.
"I'm just bored Healer. You know I can't sit still for long time. And you only gave me 10 people on my list."
"They are going to be here soon. I felt them landing. And smile more. I know it's hard for you, but I know you can do it. It's Ouhi's idea for you to be out in reception. Both Maker and I rejected the idea, but Ouhi insisted. I guess she wants you to face it." Healer said gently, different from her usual tones to Fighter. "I'll be back soon later to bring them into the ballroom. " Placing an encouraging pat on Fighter's shoulder, Healer made her way through the crowd in the reception room.
"Seiya!"
Not long later, Fighter heard a familiar voice calling out her name. Fear and anxiety started building deep in her. She turned back slowly and saw Venus running towards her direction, with Mars behind her, and Mercury and Jupiter walking behind them. That was all she saw. There's no Odango shaped hair that she was anticipating (not really in a sense but yah).
"Hi Venus"
"Sorry we were a little late. Something cropped up just when we were about to leave earth." Mercury explained. "Serenity went into labour just before we about to board the spaceship. Chibiusa had decided to come one week early. Pluto was worried something bad is going to happen to the timeline, so she and the outers decided to stay back on Earth."
Just as Fighter was about to say that the inners should have stayed on earth and it was okay they give the wedding a miss as their own queen is more important, Healer had popped out again from the ballroom.
"Hey! How are you all doing?" Healer asked. "Where are the others?"
"It's a long story, Yaten." Venus replied.
"Oh. Let's talked about it when we meet Ouhi. Come on! I'll show you the way." Healer guided the Inners towards the ballroom. She then turned back to Fighter and ask. "Come along as well, Fighter. Your list is done."
"Can I give it a pass?" Fighter asked Healer with slight disappointment shown her eyes. "I can stay back and help these two."
Healer understood what Fighter wanted and let her be. "Okay then."
Making sure that Healer had left the reception room, Fighter stood up. "I'm going somewhere for a while. If Maker or Healer ask, just say I'm in the rest room." Informing the other two at the reception, Fighter left the room. She strayed away from the ballroom and to the other side of the palace, where she found an empty balcony. She sat the balcony floor, head buried in her knees.
'What am I thinking? What am I doing? Do I want to see her? Why do I still feel the hurt when I was informed that she's not coming. What do I want. Fighter, what do you want. She's probably a mom right now, since the inners said that she went into labour when they were about to leave. Shouldn't I be happy that she's not coming? Since seeing her was going to increase my desire for her. But not seeing just made me long for her as well. What do I want? "
Fighter heard heels making their way towards her. She looked up a little, and saw the mauve dress. Maker make herself beside Fighter, now being the same height as Fighter.
"You went missing for an hour. I was searching for you."
"Sorry. I was upset. I do not want to affect the ambience of the wedding." Fighter uttered.
"I heard what happened. Are you okay?" Maker concerned.
Fighter nodded her head a little. Maker knew that Fighter was lying. If she was okay, she would not had sat alone out her for an hour. Maker know that it was no point making Fighter to pour out her emotion, as it was going to make her mood even worse.
"Fighter." Maker called out, getting Fighter's attention. "You should be back in the ballroom. It's Ouhi's big day. As her starlights, we should be there. And if you let Healer caught you out here, I can't predict what is going to happen tomorrow."
Fighter nodded her head understandably, smiling at Maker's last sentence a little, before getting back to the expressionless face. "I know. I want to be alone for a little while more. I will make sure that in 10 minutes time, you are going to see me in the ballroom. I promise." Fighter then looked into Maker's iliac eyes, giving her assurance that she would be back in the ballroom.
"Okay then." The two of them shared the eye contact. Maker leaned towards Fighter, placing a small kiss on her cheek. "I hope this will cheer you up a little." Maker stood up and left quickly, before Fighter could make any reactions.