AN: for simplicity purposes, the Starlights will only be females when they're transformed. Please bear with me through this chapter… I need some sort of intro to Usagi and Seiya. I promise chap 3 will be better!
Please enjoy!
Night had fallen on a warm summer's night in Tokyo. Usagi was outside on her balcony; she was all dressed for bed in her short white pj pants and pink t-shirt with a bunny in the front. After a long day, she would've normally jumped right into bed to go to sleep. Instead, she sought comfort among the stars. She peered out into the night sky, her eyes unfocused on anything.
Many nights, for many hours, she would just look out at the stars. She found the quiet starry sky peacefully. It helped her relax and let her mind go blank, as if the nothing in the world existed anymore – just peace.
The world had been at peace for almost a year now, after the defeat of Galaxia. Usagi and her friends enjoyed being 'average' teenagers. They would laugh, joke, talk about boys, and anything interesting that happened at school. On top of that, her boyfriend had come back to her. He had promised that he would never leave her side again. She was really glad he was back… glad that they were ALL back. Yes, life was perfect for Usagi this past year, exactly as she wished for. Everyday was filled with laughter and happiness. But even though life was perfect, she couldn't account for the sense of 'discomfort' she had. Usagi had not bothered to mention this to any of her friends or her boyfriend since it was no big deal, but she couldn't feel the peace with her daily life as she did when she looked at the stars. She had no idea why star gazing had brought her such comfort, but she didn't mind.
So she stood there, looking at the stars, for a while longer…. Just like every other night.
On the other side of the galaxy, on a planet named Kinmoku, Seiya also sought comfort by looking at the stars. It soothed him knowing that the galaxy was at peace and the reconstruction of his planet was almost complete. He spent most of his days helping out wherever he can, whether it be training the star senshi's or building new structures. There was something for him to do every day and he would be able to spend with his best friends and comrades – Yaten and Taiki. They had grew up with each other and been through a lot together. The 3 of them always had a silent understanding of each other and knew how each other felt even if it wasn't obvious to other people. Whilst they were on Earth, they adopted a new persona; they were all more comfortable being referred to with their Earth persona when they were off duty or with each other. As female senshis, they disguised themselves as males to search for their missing princess when Galaxia had attacked. Upon finding their princess on Earth last year, they returned to restore their home planet. But each left with new friendships and heavy hearts.
Seiya had left behind his love. He left knowing that Usagi was protected by the one she loved and with that he had no regrets. Although his departure from Earth, from Odango, was bittersweet, he realized it was for the best and that no matter how much he would miss her, life had to go on. During the day, he would laugh and joke with everyone and his ego was still just as big. But at night, he would just stare at the stars and enjoy the quietness of his thoughts. Yaten and Taiki had noticed his new 'obsession' with star gazing, since he normally would have went straight to bed after a long day or went into Yaten's room to prank the silver-haired boy. But they realized kept quiet as there was nothing they could do.
Someone knocked on Maker's door.
"Maker, are you sleeping yet?" The door opened slightly.
"Princess! Wait a moment!" As he blushed, Taiki quickly pulled a shirt over his bare muscular torso and transformed into a woman.
Kakyuu-hime giggled and walked into the room. "Gomen nasai. I didn't mean to surprise you."
"It's alright Princess. So why are you sneaking into people's rooms at night?" teased Taiki as he bowed.
She giggled once again, "Please, there is no need for formalities. I simply wanted to ask you to gather Healer and Fighter tomorrow at 9am in my throne room."
"Yes Princess. Is it something we should be concerned about?"
"Oh we'll discuss that tomorrow," she started to turn around to leave "and Maker, next time, you could remain as male the next time I …sneak… into your room. Goodnight Maker" With that, she giggled again and left as Taiki blushed while absently scratching the back of his head, "Goodnight Princess".
He left his room to approach Yaten's room down the hallway and knocked.
"Who is it?" Yaten answered with a tone of annoyance. He opened the door to find Taiki looming over him. "What do you want?"
"Princess told me to tell you and Seiya to meet in the throne room tomorrow at 9am"
"Ok" then he paused. "Have you told Seiya yet?"
"No. Why?" Taiki raised an eyebrow as he saw that Yaten was up to something.
'His guard will be down when he's star gazing' He thought to himself, "I can go tell him!" he answered as his eyes glinted mischievously. Taiki sighed and placed his hand on his forehead knowing that he would have to supervise Yaten in case his prank got out of hand.
So the two of them went further down the hallway to Seiya's room. Yaten told Taiki to be quiet as he opened the door. He crouched low and quickly made it to the balcony were Seiya was sitting with his back to the room, lost in his thoughts. Yaten held his breath as he crept up behind the distracted boy. He got close to his ear and blew as hard as he can into it whilst brushing his hand against Seiya's collar bone. Seiya yelped and quickly jumped out of his seat, his cheeks were bright red. Yaten burst out laughing as did Taiki as he stepped onto the balcony.
"YATEN! What are you doing?!" Seiya was rubbing his ear and protecting his collar bone.
"I can't believe you're still sensitive there!" Yaten replied, which caused Seiya to blush even more.
Taiki saw an opening and asked slyly "And how did you know he was sensitive there in the first place, Yaten?"
With that comment, Yaten blushed "EH? Wwha… Don't think weird things. We were in a fight when we were kids and I accidently brushed his collar bone and he screamed and started blushing"
"WHY ARE YOU TWO HERE?" Seiya yelled as his two friends burst out laughing again.
"Princess. Throne room. 9am" was all Yaten could squeeze out between his laughter.
"Mou… baka" and he turned around. He waited until the laughter died down and spoke again "Do you guys know what its about?"
"No, but the princess said not to worry about it. So it can't be anything bad. We'll just have to wait until tomorrow morning." Replied Taiki, "It's getting late. I'll see you guys tomorrow. Goodnight" and he left the room.
"Ahh me too. I need my beauty sleep. Goodnight Seiya-channn" Yaten quickly ran out the room before Seiya had a chance to hit him.
Seiya lingered on his balcony for another minute looking at the stars and smiling, just relishing in the fact that he had two great friends who can cheer him up no matter what. He walked to his bed and crawled under the satiny red sheets.
'I hope that your days are filled with happiness too, Odango'. He drifted off to sleep with that as his last thought.
The two suns shone brightly the next morning on Kinmouku. Sunlight shone into the marble throne room, creating a pale orange and yellow sheen within the room. At the end of the room, Kakyuu sat on an extravagant gold and red throne, facing her three most trusted senshi.
"Starlights, you are almost of age and it is tradition that the ruler bestows a gift upon her starlights."
The look of confusion on the Starlights' faces did not go unmissed by Princess Kakyuu.
"Traditionally, once the Starlights reach the age of adulthood, the rulers of Kinmouku would give them the present that their hearts desire the most. In a way, this present is also the ruler's way of thanking the Starlights for your dedication and service for all these years." She sighed softly as she continued, "My present to you, my Starlights…no my friends, is the gift of happiness and freedom. I know that the three of you have returned here because of your duties. You have given me and this planet so much from a young age that I now want you to follow your heart and choose your own paths for your future, whether it be staying here on Kinmouku or on another planet. I will allow you to keep your senshi abilities for now, but you will all leave in one week for 3 months to travel and experience free life before returning to me with an answer as to what you want to do for your future." As the Starlights started to protest, she raised her hand to silence them. She spoke with a gentle voice and a soft expression on her face, "Do not worry about me or the planet during these months. We have been at peace for quite some time and the new senshis are fully trained. Please, enjoy your time away."
The three Starlights smiled at their princess and bowed as she walked out of the room. She had known all along that her Starlights had missed Earth, so she had to find the right timing until she could grant them their happiness away from their duties. As she walked away, a tear slipped out the corner of her eye as she knew that when they returned in 3 months, they would be saying goodbye.
Fighter was lost in thought and Maker gazed absently at where the Princess had just walked out of. It was Healer who spoke up, "So uh, what should we do?"
"I think… I think I'll go back to Earth." Healer had expected this answer. She knew Maker really missed Mizuno Ami. No one on Kinmouku could provide her with enough intellectual challenges to interest her.
"Are you sure, Maker? I mean …" and she stopped because she couldn't think of a reason not to go back. She would never admit it, but she missed it there too. She missed the people who taught her how to have fun and be able to have a dream while being a soldier. And her mind suddenly popped to the one she missed the most… the crazy, loud, hyperactive blonde. She smirked at the thought of her. She knew then, that she would be returning to Earth as well.
Maker knew by her smirk that Healer would be coming with her. She slowly turned her head towards Fighter, expecting a huge grin at the thought of returning to Earth. Fighter however, had a frown.
'If I go back, would it be too difficult? But I can't not go back. Why do I have to go back? I have to go. What would I even go there for? I need to see if she's happy. It's not like it'll make a difference, I'm just a friend…"
The other two saw how she was struggling with herself and knew that it would be difficult for her to see her love in the arms of another, but they knew that it was what Fighter truly wanted deep down. Healer and Maker detransformed back to Yaten and Taiki. Yaten shrugged and smiled slightly at Taiki. Taiki gently placed a hand on Fighter's shoulder, bringing the latter back to reality.
"Fighter," his voice was gentle, "would you come to Earth with us? The three of us have been together for so long that I think it would be difficult for Yaten and me to adjust to life without you at this point. It would mean a lot to us." He hesitated then added, "And besides, I don't think I can deal with Yaten alone."
"Oi Taiki!" Yaten was impressed with Taiki until that comment. But the three of them still wore a smile.
Detransforming, Seiya slowly answered, "Ok. I'll come with you two" They stood smiling at each other for a second and until he spoke up again, "Thank you guys… for helping me decide"
They exited the throne room to prepare for their journey.
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