｢Chapter 24 ｣
'Tell me I'm dreaming.' Fighter stopped dead in her track, causing Serenity to turn back and look at her. 'She's really here. She's really back."
"What is it Fighter?" Serenity asked ask she felt Fighter stopping. But apparent to her, Fighter's attention is not at her. "What are you looking at? Why are you so shock?"
No response from Fighter. Fighter was too into her own world. 'She finally show herself up. Everytime when we contact Ouhi, Healer will always ask for the news of Maker. Not that I do not want to know. Words just can't come up. They were all stuck at my throat, choking my breath, intensifying the pain inside. And now it felt like a dream. . . There she is standing right in front of me. Tell me, am I dreaming? Or was it all my hallucination?'
"Oi! Giant! Stop blocking the road! Keep moving" Healer screamed out from Fighter's back when she nearly knocked over the frozen senshi.
"Fighter!" Healer screamed out as she walked to the other side to Fighter. The shout startled Fighter, causing Fighter to jumped up, nearly dropping Kouie who was sitting on her shoulder.
"Get moving!" Healer reprimanded. "What caused you to stop so suddenly anyway." Healer asked, turning her attention to the direction Fighter was staring. 'Uso. You must be kidding me.' "Maker?" Healer whispered under her breath.
'Why are they back? Did I make the wrong decision to come back? I thought I was ready to face it. But no. Now that I've saw her, I know I'm not ready. Not ready at all.' Maker thought with tears forming in her eyes.
'Maker?" Healer called out as she ran towards the tall starlight dressed in her usual orange uniform. "You're back. You're really back!" Healer cried out, lugging Maker in a huge embrace.
Serenity and Kakyuu followed slightly behind Healer. On the other hand, Fighter was lagging real behind the group. She placed Kouie back on the ground and practically dragged her feet over to join the group.
"Leader!" Healer jumped towards Fighter and slapped a five at her back. "Maker's back. She's really back! I told you so she will be back!"
"Ah." Fighter nodded her head, trying to avoid having any eye contact with Maker. "Wel-come back, Maker." Fighter managed to force out her throat.
"You too, Fighter. Welcome back home on Kinmoku. And Healer too." Maker replied.
"Himeko, this is your Fighter-baasan and that's Healer-baasan." Kakyuu introduced her guardians to her daughter.
"Come Himeko! I want to see if you have grown any heavier. " Fighter turned away from the awkwardness she shared with Maker right now, trying to place a smile on her face to prevent others from noticing her change of mood.
"Don't want." Juukyuu replied bluntly. "I don't want to be carried into the wall nor the bushes or even down the cliff this time round." Juukyuu continued playfully, while hiding behind Kakyuu's royal dress.
Fighter turned red in embarrassment. "You told her, Ouhi?" Fighter look straight at Kakyuu for her answer.
Kakyuu looked away from Fighter. Fighter received the obvious answer. Yes it was her queen who told the young princess the embarrassing incidents that had happened when Fighter tried carrying the princess.
"But now, I'm different. I'm skilled alright! As steady as a tree." Fighter rebutted, trying to protect her reputation. "If you don't believe in me, you can ask Kouie." Fighter continued as she turned to Kouie and asked. "Mimi's always steady, ain't I ?
"Am not answering that question." Kouie replied. "I'm going over to the other side to look at flowers.
Feeling helpless, Fighter turned towards to Serenity for extra help. "I was steady with Kouie when she was still a baby, ain't I ?" Fighter battled her eyelashes at Serenity, hoping that she would give the answer that she was expecting.
"Well, Fighter was steady for some of the time" Serenity started, causing Fighter to show her beams of victory. That smile of hers disappeared when Serenity continued. "But majority of the time, she's always causing Kouie to cry of discomfort."
The joke Serenity played on Fighter caused all at the field to burst into high fits of laughter. Even Maker, who appeared cold, was cheered up a little, allowing a small smile to appear on her face.
"Ah Fighter. . . " Kakyuu called out. "Your birthday is coming up soon, isn't it? Let's have a combined celebration for it tonight, shall we?'
"No please, Ouhi." Fighter started out frankly. "I've stopped celebrating my birthday." 'Ever since that day. Since the year you left, you took away my desire to celebrate my birthday, because my birthday was the day we got together.'
"Fighter, are things going well between you and Maker?" Serenity asked as she sat on the bed in the royal guest room prepared for them.
Fighter was jolted from the sudden question from Serenity. She did not expect her to ask this question. "We - are alright. There's nothing between us." Fighter replied nervously. 'Yeah, like real, Fighter. How can you lie to Serenity.'
Serenity pouted. "But you are not acting like your normal self when you talked to Maker. You have not seen her for 7 years, yet I did not feel any excitement from your meeting just now. Did the two of you fell out with each other?"
"No. . ." Fighter replied. 'It's just something more than that. " We were once in a relationship." Fighter decided that it was the time to be truthful to Serenity. "She left before I've made my decision, Odango. I always thought I can forget and get through it. But I can't. I just can't" Fighter continued as she wiped off the tears with the back of her hands. "I still long for her this day."
"Fighter. Why not we will tell them that our marriage was just a show?" Serenity suggested. 'It's my fault again. I've screwed up Fighter's happiness. I've caused Mamo-chan's death. I've cause the possible war coming onto Kinmoku. It's all my fault. What should I do?'
"No we can't, Serenity we can't. This is going to affect your status in the Moon Kingdom. You can't do that. Don't even mentioned about that in front of anyone else." Fighter looked at Serenity with seriousness in her eyes.
"But . . ." Serenity tried to retaliate, but Fighter placed her finger on her lip.
"Don't worry me. It's you that matters. That's what I've said then, I will do anything just to protect you, Serenity." Fighter interrupted Serenity with determination filling her eyes.
"Fighter. . ." Serenity hugged Fighter real tightly. "Thank you Fighter."
Fighter returned the embrace Serenity gave and stay there for a few moments. After the few moments, Fighter broke the contact. "You can take the rest first. I feel like walking around the palace since it has been 7 years I've stepped on this group." Fighter stood up from her position and walked towards the door. "Don't worry too much about me. I'll be alright. I'll get over it." With that, Fighter left the room.
Serenity did not take the hassle to stop Fighter from leaving. She knew that this was some of the moments that Fighter will want to be alone. It happened many times on earth as well. It was just that she did not who was the source. Now that she had knew about it, she felt even guilty."Mamo-chan, why didn't you take me along with you on that day? I missed you so much. . . And I've cause so much of Fighter's misery. Mamo-chan aitai na ' Serenity thought, with a tear sliding off the corner of her eye.
"Mama, I'm going over to Riko's and Hishi's room now." Misa gave Maker a kiss on her cheeks. "I'll see you later, or even tomorrow. See ya!" Misa waved.
"Misa, wait." Maker called out.
"Yes?" Misa asked as she stopped at the door, about to exit the room.
"Don't probe too much on what I've just told you." Maker replied.
"Hai! I shall get going now." With that, Misa closed Maker's door and began running the hall towards the dormitory where Riko and Hishi were staying.
Maker waited for a long while before sinking into the couch. 'I can't believe she actually knew about it. She's too clever for her age. Why did she took over my intelligence? I just want her to grow up normally like a normal child would, and not to be always worrying about me. Misa . . .' Maker heaved a deep breath. 'What should I do in order to get her to act like her age and not 10 years older than her actual age.'
Maker remembered the events that happened in the afternoon, remembered the little interactions between Fighter and Kouie, between Fighter and Healer, between Fighter and Serenity. The first and third just made her heart stop beating. She loved how Kouie acts. 'That's how Misa should act. Act like her age. I do not want her to lose sight of her childhood. I want her to build her own dreams.'
And soon after, the mind that was filled with Misa was replaced by Fighter.
Fighter had walked aimlessly around the palace for half an hour and unknowingly, her feet had brought her to the familiar surroundings. She had stopped in front of Maker's room. 'What am I doing here?' Fighter finally realised where she was standing at that moment. 'I need to see her.' That's what her heart wanted. After spending 5 minutes self-debating with her mind, she finally braced enough courage to knock the door.
*kong* *kong*
Fighter waited for a few moments for responses. But all she got back was silence. Fighter was pretty sure that Maker had returned back to her room straight after dinner at the dining hall. 'She must be inside.' With that mindset in her mind, Fighter took the second knock.
*kong* *kong*
'She's back. Why is she back? If I knew that she was coming back, I will not chose to come back. Seeing her was already a bad choice to do so. Seeing her in hand with Serenity . . . My heart literally wanted to crash and die. I should expect that, didn't I ? I have no rights to regret. I have no rights to be jealous. I was the one who shoved her into her embrace. I have no right.' Maker was so lost in her world that she missed the sound of door knocking.
Once again, Fighter received no response. 'Or have she went to the library like how she usually do to read, because I will always distract her from reading when she brings her book back to read.' Fighter's mind suggested. 'That could be possible. But nonetheless, I should try the third time.' With that, Fighter made the third knock on the door.
*kong* *kong*
The third time of the sound of someone knocking on her door finally brought Maker back to her senses. She was sinking into a deep stoning state, where her mind was completely blank. Though her mind was blank, her heart was overflowing with emotion and pain.
"Come - in" Maker called out, giving the person outside her room the permission to enter and straight after, she sank back to her own world, completely ignoring the fact that she just let someone else in.
Fighter opened the door when Maker said 'Come in'. She was preparing to leave the hall when Maker said come in, thinking that it was fate that had disallowed the opportunity for them to meet. When she entered the room, Fighter saw Maker sitting on her room couch, staring into spaces. 'You are still as beautiful as you were. Maturity just brought out more of your elegance and beauty. Don't you know how much I have longed for this day to come, where I can see you face to face, and not in my dreams, my illusions, my hallucinations.'
"Maker." Fighter called out without knowing it.
That caused Maker to shot back to her senses immediately after she heard that familiar voice that called her name. She felt someone staring at her all these while but had decided to ignore it as her mind was confused enough. "You're here?" Maker managed to make up. 'What a stupid question to ask, Maker.'
"Yah." Fighter replied. The unconscionable silence and awkwardness filled in the space and distance between them. "How - have you been these years." Fighter decided it was time to break the silence. She needs to know the answer that her heart was dying to know. 'Do you miss me all these seven years. Do you love me still?'
[Flashback]
And maybe the next time, if I get the chance to see you again, Fighter, I may be able to tell you that I'm over you. You are not the love of my life for that I know that Serenity is the one for you.
[End of Flashback]
"I'm good." Maker replied, avoiding any exchanges of eye contact with Fighter. "I've got into teaching for a few years." Trying to act as normal as she could, Maker had decided to continue the conversation, to prevent Fighter from thinking that she was avoiding her. "What about you?"
"I - nothing amazing happened. I'm still me. No new things about me at all." Fighter replied. "Can I sit down?" Fighter asked. 'I want to be nearer to you, Maker.'
"Yeah, you can." Maker moved to the other corner of the couch for Fighter to sit down. Though they were nearer to each other now, there was still a big space area between them on the couch. Big enough to fit a third person in. "Kouie . . . She's really cute. She - really took after you." Maker continued, staring on the floor.
"She is?" Fighter asked. "She's just one dare devil. But I don't think she looks like me, she took after more of Serenity." Fighter continued. 'Even though she was named after me, she's not my own child.'
[Flashback]
"Seiya . . ." Serenity started crying again when she managed to stop sobbing for a few moment.
"What is it, Odango? Why did you start crying again? Endymion won't want to see you like that." Seiya tried to hoax.
"I -can't rule the Kingdom anymore. Not anymore. Not without Mamo-chan." Serenity started blabbering out.
"Why is that so? You still can."
"I'm pregnant with our second child. The people will not accept that. They will not. They will not believe that it's our child." Serenity started all over again.
"Yes you still can. They will accept. Let the child be my child." Fighter suggested after a few moments.
"What- do you mean?" Serenity shuttered, shocked at Fighter's suggestion.
"Let's get married, Odango, for your sake."
"But -" Serenity wanted to reject the idea. She knew that if she accept that, it was going to be a total unfair to Fighter.
"No but. I will do anything for you ." Fighter stopped Serenity from speaking. 'Even though I know that on your mind, it's going to be filled with Endymion. Likewise for mine, I guess . . . It would be Maker. We are just 2 lonely souls. We are of the same fate, Odango.
[End of Flashback]
Silence fell in once again. Fighter could not help but sneak peeks of Maker every now and then. "I miss you" Fighter blurted out unknowingly. 'What did I just say?'
"Don't. You are not supposed to." Maker replied, still staring on the carpeted floor, trying to be as cold as she could. But her voice had betrayed her by quivering.
"You're lying." Fighter stated. 'Why are you lying?'
"No. I am not." Maker insisted.
"Then look at me!" Fighter closed in the distance between, grabbed the wrists of Maker and demanded. "Look into my eyes and say it to me. Don't say it to the floor." Fighter shouted. Maker turned her head away from Fighter, refusing to look into Fighter's eyes. "Why is it that you do not want to look at me, Maker?" Fighter asked.
"I didn't missed you. I no longer loved you." Maker whimpered out. "So let go. Fighter please." Maker begged.
"No. Look at me." Fighter released Maker from her right hand and held on tight on her left. "Look at me Maker, please." Fighter pleaded as she moved her now free right hand to Maker's face, guiding it to face her. For the first time in seven years their eyes met. " I miss you Maker. I still love you."
Fighter closed all distance between Maker and her, placing her lip on Maker's. Fighter pressed in deeper, forcing Maker's mouth to open. Her left hand released Maker's wrist and made its way to the back of Maker's neck while her other hand made its way down Maker's waist. Fighter could feel the heat radiating out of Maker, which allowed her mind to pry even deeper.
Maker tried to push Fighter away. But Fighter's grown in strength and will to keep her there was strong. Soon after, the wall she built came tumbling down. She kissed back, enjoying Fighter's every moment she had, with tears flowing off her face. 'I wished I could say I miss you so much. I wished I could say how much I still love you, Fighter.' Then, an image of Serenity, together with Usagi and Kouie flashed in front of her. She stopped her actions, body trembling. Pang of guilt filled in her mind.
Fighter could feel the quivering of Maker's body. Realisation dawned over her. She removed her lips from Maker's and looked straight into Maker's beautiful iliac eyes. It was filled with tears.
"We should not do that, Fighter." Maker stated. "I need some air." With that, Maker stood up from the couch and ran out of her room, leaving the door of her room ajar as she left.
Fighter closed her eyes, trying to regain her breath. 'What am I doing? That felt so close. I was suppose to get her out of my mind. I promised Serenity that I will get over it. Yet I've fell in deeper. I want her. I want her in my life once more. What should I do? '
"Fighter? Why are you in here?" Healer came into Maker's room 5 minutes later.
"I - I was looking for Maker to talk to. But I can't find her." Fighter lied.
"I'm looking for her too. It's time to get reasons for her silent departure." Healer stated, narrowing her eyes when the sad memories was brought back. " Let's go. Fighter!"
" To where?" Fighter asked, standing up from the couch and towards Healer.
" To find Maker." Healer responded, pulling Fighter behind her as they made their way out of the buildings and to the field. 'Something's definitely wrong. I need to know what happened between the two of them.'
Maker had fled to their usual place. She had her eyes fixed at the night sky, mind fixed at Fighter. To her, everything seemed so surreal. 'My heart desires for her. I can't stop it. I can never stop loving her. But she has her own family now. Even though my heart does not want to stop loving, the mind must. You can't love Fighter anymore. You must make Fighter give up.'
"Maker!"
Maker turned around and saw Fighter and Healer walking towards her. "Hey!" was what Maker had said to the two of them. Healer made her way beside Maker while Fighter settled down beside Healer.
"I still love the night sky on Kinmoku. This is what I considered a view from home." Healer commented after a few moments of silence. "I LOVE YOU ALL STARS!" Healer shouted out up into the night sky.
And both Fighter and Maker laughed at the childish act that Healer had just made. Healer did not got angry for them laughing at her. She was in fact very pleased that they both had laughed since the both of them were acting really weird. Not that they were acting in that way before she and Fighter left for Earth.
"Healer, you have not changed at all." Maker pointed out.
"Really? I don't think so ne. Haven't I got mature or older?" Healer asked.
"Okay, I'll take back my words. You did changed. I guessed it's because you hung out too much together with Fighter." Maker kidded, pushing Healer towards Fighter, causing Healer to fall onto Fighter.
"Argh! Stop it Maker! That's disgusting, to say that I'm getting more and more like Fighter. I'm way more cooler than her!" Healer said sarcastically, scooting back to her original seat and away from Fighter.
Fighter just laughed. She did not say anything, nor teased back the two other starlights. She just allowed herself to be the common joke between the three of them. 'At least she's enjoying herself.'
Healer leaned back towards Fighter and asked, "Are you okay? You are not being yourself today."
"I'm always the one teasing you all. It's time for payback time. I am not going to say anything offensive to any of you today and just for today. Tomorrow, I will be back to be the Fighter that you will want to hide from. Hahaha" Fighter ended with a very forced laughter. Fighter's mind was still in a confound state.
"Remind me then. I won't see you tomorrow, even if you beg me." Healer taunted.
Silence fell in again. The three of them just sat there, watching the stars. Healer leaned towards Maker's shoulder and rested her head on it. "Maker, where have you been all these years? All of us missed you so much."
"I've been searching for my dreams. Teaching was really fun." Maker replied.
"But you should have at least told us." Healer pouted. "And you don't have to leave your star brooch behind." Healer reasoned. She felt that there were something more than just chasing after a teaching dream.
"I wasn't using my mind then." Maker replied. That answer caused Healer to be speechless.
"When do you think they will be coming?" Healer asked after a few moment of quietness. "It's been a long while ever since we fought a war. I thought peace was going to stay forever."
"I don't know Healer."
"Me neither. I'm guessing that none of us will want to fight in a war now." Fighter finally spoke out. 'Especially with the two younger ones here.' "But if we have to fight it, we will just have to do it." Fighter finished as she place her palm of Healer's head.
Healer nodded her head at the answer given to her and let out a long yawn. "I'm tired. Wake me up when you all are leaving. I don't want to be alone for now." With that, Healer laid her head on Maker's lap and closed her eyes. 'This is going to be only way where I can find out what actually happened to the two of you.'
Fighter waited for some time for Healer to fall asleep before she start speaking to Maker about the incident happened earlier on. Maker was brushing Healer's silver hair, like how she always do when they were young. "Mak-er." Fighter called out.
"Hmmm?" Maker stopped her action and responded.
"Sorry about what happened in the room." Fighter expressed sorry for her actions.
"You don't have to." Maker replied curtly. 'Both of us are at fault. We both knew that we should not be doing that.'
"I -" Before Fighter could continue with her words, Maker interrupted her. "Fighter, it's time for you to let go. Let's not keep holding on to this relationship. It's killing up you day by day, bit by bit. Let's make this simple. Let's let go. I want you to remember that your birthday is your birth day, not the day we got together."
'Relationship? Fighter and Maker?' Healer thought as she eavesdropped the conversation. 'This now explains a lot of stuffs.'
"I no longer love you, Fighter. I've stop loving you ever since the day I left. So please stop." Maker continued, looking straight into the blue lovely eyes of Fighter, oppressing her heart from showing it's real emotion. "Do you believe in me now?" Maker asked, eyes still fixed with Fighter. Her own was masked with coldness. Fighter's eyes was teary. 'I've promised that I would be the one to make you laugh. Yet, it seemed that I have brought more tears than joy to you Fighter. I'm not a good lover for you. Stop loving me.'
"I understood, Maker." Fighter closed her eyes. "That was what I was about to say." Fighter continued, ignoring the stabbing pain growing in her chest. "I - needa to be fair to - Serenity."
"Senseis!" Ameno shouted out from far. "They are here."