｢Chapter 15｣
'Where am I ?' Fighter though as she stirred up from her sleep. Her head was throbbing. She looked around her surrounding, only to find herself on her bed, still wearing her sweat-soaked uniform she wore since yesterday. 'Why am I here?' Fighter could not remember anything from last night. 'Did I get here by myself? Why didn't I change before I went to bed?'
Fighter tried to sit up on her bed, and she did, opposing her tired muscles desires to stay in the bed. Fighter willed herself to remember what happened yesterday, after she had left her room to run to work out.
[Flashback]
It has been her third hour out there. And she ran from sunset till night dawn. Her sweat had covered her whole body. Blood from her cut had started seeping through her bandage and be visible on the surface. 'Fighter! If you had to chose, who would you chose? Odango or Maker? Can I be selfish and have 2? But I know I can't. I can't.'
'I thought I've gotten over Odango. I thought. But no. She's stilling living in me. Why is that so? Isn't her destiny fixed? That's why I chose to give up. And now, given this chance to defy, what should I do. But I loved Maker too, didn't I? I did. She's not someone that I considered a stepping stone over the unrequited love I had for Odango. I love her. I did. I loved Odango too. Wait! I'm out here to clear my mind, why am I still thinking about all these.' Fighter scolded at her inner self. She shook her head, trying to get the thoughts out of her confused mind. She then picked up her speed around the field for another half an hour.
Then the next moment, her world fell black.
[End of Flashback]
'I've fainted outside. So how did I managed to get back here then?' Fighter asked herself. 'I stinks. I need to bathe.' Fighter stood up and removed the smelly shirt off, only to notice that the bandage surrounding her arm was fresh and clean. 'Maker . . .' Pang of guilt filled her full. 'Despite me being so mean and cold yesterday, she still went out to find me.'
Fighter glanced over to her clock, and was shocked. It was already mid noon and she had missed her morning drills session. 'Shit!' Fighter cursed inwardly. She pulled back her shirt, and ran out of her room, totally missing the message Maker left on her table.
"Maker!" Kakkyu called the third time while trying to get Maker's attention when they were discussing about the situation.
Maker startled a little before looking straight into Kakkyu's eye. "Sorry Ouhi."
"Are you alright? You are so distracted this morning." Kakkyu concerned.
"I'm just tired." Maker replied promptly, refusing to go to the reason why she was tired.
"How's Fighter? She was looking for you yesterday. Have you told her about the situation?" Kakkyu questioned.
"Yes. She overworked herself very much last night." Maker answered.
[Flashback]
Maker heard whimpering coming from Fighter's room. 'Mochi . . . He should not be whining if Fighter is in there.' Maker opened the door, and right to her expectation, the room was empty. 'She's at the field. Definitely.'
Maker made her way to the training ground and saw Fighter running aimlessly round the field. 'You're really here. You know what Fighter, you shouldn't be exercising now, especially after the cut you have.' Maker thought innerly, totally worried about Fighter's situation. Yet she knew that it was not the right time to confront Fighter now. Fighter had made clear that she wants to be alone.
So Maker backed off a little and stood at a corner where Fighter would not be able to notice her. 'I don't have to talk to her. I just want to be here with her, making sure that she's safe and nothing bad will happen.'
And Maker stood there for hours watching Fighter's torture to her physical and mental self. 'Fighter, you should stop. It's enough.' Maker wished that she had the amount of courage to shout out to Fighter. She saw the blood seeping out to the surface of the plain bandage, giving it a faint red stain as it mixed perfectly with Fighter's sweat.
'Fighter! Really it's enough!' Maker was ready to step out and stop Fighter from tormenting herself when she saw Fighter collapsed down on the grass, shoulder down the floor first. "Fighter!" Maker screamed out as she sprinted forward to Fighter's fallen body.
'Maybe this is the only good way and reason for you to stop, Fighter. Stop being so stubborn. If making the decision puts you in such a turmoil, why not let me make the decision?' Maker asked herself. She could not bear seeing Fighter in such dilemma. Even though Fighter had not vocal it out straight to her, deep down inside, she knows that what Fighter was thinking all these while. From Fighter's reaction when she found out that she's the last to know, Maker knew that all these while, Fighter missed Odango as well.
She carried Fighter up carefully and returned to Fighter's room, placing Fighter gently back on her bed. Going across her room, she opened her wardrobe and took out the first aid kit and went back to Fighter's room. She started undressing Fighter's bandage, cleaning the wound with antiseptic liquid before wrapping clean fresh bandage around it. 'Hopefully you will not get any infection. You are really a baka ne, Fighter.' Maker thought as she brushed Fighter's fringe out of her face. "Good night, Fighter. . . Hopefully when morning comes around, the pain inside you will diminish." Maker placed her head on Fighter's bed beside Fighter's head as she sat on the floor. 'Perhaps, this would be the . . .'
[End of Flashback]
"Maker?" Kakkyu called out, snapping Maker out of her own world.
Maker shook her head and diverted her attention back to Kakkyu. "Sorry Ouhi. As I was saying, I request that Ouhi you would give her a couple of days off. She would be a dangerous hazard on the field for these few days." Maker suggested. 'I just want her to be alright.'
Kakkyu just nodded her head at Maker's request. "Ameno will take over her duties for now. I've already passed down the information this morning. I have expected that to happen." Kakkyu replied. They all knew and understood Fighter's way to avert her worries and thoughts, which always lands someone in an injured state. Not only her own self but also those who are out on field with her.
'Maker. . . I'm not sure if the request of ours is selfish, but it would be good if Fighter can visit Serenity. I hope you would take our suggestion.' Mercury's voice rang in Maker's mind. She had just contacted Mercury this morning to get update about the situation right now.
Apparently Crystal Tokyo had just declared themselves in a state disharmony. The death of the ruling king had triggered uncertainties in the commoners. The absence of the Queen from the usual meeting just deepens the uncertainties.
'I'm not sure how long can we endure, but if Serenity don't get out of this any sooner, I'm afraid that the dark forces out there will start to stir something in the citizens and attack us. Crystal Tokyo will fall. I know it's too much to ask from you all, but still, Maker, please take our suggestion. I hope to hear from you soon. Thanks.' Mercury finished their conversation, shutting down the communication connection.
"Ouhi . . ." Maker started out. Kakkyu diverted her attention to Maker who was about to continue what she was saying. "I had contacted Mercury this morning. They suggested a request."
"Which is?" Kakkyu asked.
"They . . . They want Fighter. . ." Maker started off explaining the situation. When Maker had finished her explainatio, Kakkyu fell into deep serious thought. Maker did not like that feeling.
"Ouhi . . ." Maker called out after a moment of silence. "What are you thinking? If you think that it's inappropriate to let Fighter go, we can think of other ways." Maker suggested.
"Iie (No), that was not what I was thinking." Kakkyu reassured. "I actually thought of the same thing too, Maker."
"Hmm?" Maker was confused about what Kakkyu was saying.
"I've talked to Ryuuji last night about the situation. It seemed like Kinmoku is already on track right now, and new generation of guards are getting better and better. We were thinking that the Silver Millennium would need the starlights more than we will need you all. And - " Kakkyu started off. And before Kakkyu could finish what she has in mind, Maker interrupted her.
"What are you thinking, Ouhi? Are you asking us to leave? That's no way we can do that." Maker argued. 'Clam down Maker. . . you are not supposed to get too worked up.' Maker's inner reminded her own self.
"Wait Maker, listen to everything I have to say first." Kakkyu requested.
Maker just nodded her head, trying to understand why her queen had decided to come up with such a plan.
"Well, with Moon Kingdom as the strongest ruling kingdom in the universe, Ryuuji and I thought that it would be nice that if we maintain good diplomatic relationship, or even an union, with them, and the stability of Kinmoku would increase as well." Kakkyu explained.
"I understand that. But Ouhi, we do not need to LEAVE Kinmoku to maintain that relationship, don't we." Maker deeply understood what Kakkyu meant when she mentioned 'leave'. Kakkyu is planning to 'give' them away. Maker was slightly hurt by that. Kinmoku is where she grew up, where she found what is it mean to have a family, where she had found love. Earth is just where she learn how to.
"Think for Fighter. I think she would want to go." Kakkyu just stated bluntly. Maker used what left of her to hide the pain she felt inside. "All these 4 years, she acted like she had given up Serenity. But we all do know that she had not, didn't we?" Kakkyu continued.
"Ye-s" Maker fought all the pain inside and yes was the only word she could say.
"She's part of our family, aren't she?" Kakkyu soften down. "Even though I will miss you starlights, but I know I can't let you all sacrifice your happiness time and time again."
"Ouhi. . . " Maker was not sure what she could say.
"The final decision still lies in Fighter. Whether or not are you all going to leave for a visit or for good lies in her." Kakkyu ended.
Maker just nodded her head. 'Fighter . . .'
"Can you call Fighter in for me? Meanwhile, we can discuss on the manpower shift when you all are not on Kinmoku . . ." Kakkyu ordered.
"Ye-s Ouhi. . . " Maker replied, walking out of the room to get Fighter back. She glanced out the windows down the hallway and realised that it was raining. It seldom rains on Kinmoku. This is one of the very few times in the year.
'If only we have more time.'
The rain just brought back memories she had when she was on Earth, particularly one question she asked Mercury that time.
'Can the dreams and romance you are talking about stop the rain?'