Hello again! I know, I've been slow on this update, I apologise…I'm back at uni now and unfortunately, that has to take precedence over this story (I staunchly disagree with this notion…). A lot happens in this chapter, it's very busy and my longest yet (I actually cannot believe how bloody long it is…). I have a sneaking suspicion that from here on out certain themes I explore may...polarise people, somewhat, but we'll see! Much of my interest in writing this story lies in breaking some of the conventions set in place from the original series, which I understand for some is blasphemy...I think of it as creative license! Anyway! Thank you all for such fantastic support and feedback on my last chapter, I so enjoy chatting to you guys and hearing your thoughts—it's the greatest!

As always, make sure to check out the important notes from the Prologue if you haven't already. Enjoy!

Music rec – Game of Survival by Ruelle

Chapter Nineteen

"Follow me—I promise, you won't be disappointed."

Before Seiya could fire every ounce of energy that was pent up within her, Chaos was gone.

She was ropable.

That monster had torn Odango's back to shreds. He had played with her mind and her heart, and now was tampering with her dreams—the one place where maybe, just maybe, she was safe. What had he already said to her? What seeds of lust and revenge had he planted in her mind?

What role had she played, without even realising it?

She could feel herself shaking as her power settled back inside her, jaw clenched and eyes fixed on the spot where he had stood before them, smirking in all his ugly, marred beauty.

Aoi one.

How did he know that name—that word?

"Usagi—come on, let's get you inside—"

Odango, her brain reminded her urgently through the angry haze, think of Odango.

She turned to her, and the blonde was pale as her friends attempted to coax her inside. She didn't look afraid, or angry, or even worried—instead, her distant stare on the spot Chaos had left behind told Seiya she was contemplating something, and she knew exactly what that was.

"Odango," she said urgently, grasping her shoulders and forcing the girl to meet her eye. "Every word he says is calculated to hurt you—he knows exactly which buttons to press and you can't believe him—"

"He does know exactly which buttons to press," Haruka said abruptly as she approached them. "He seems to know a hell of a lot—what you're afraid of, what you want—"

Seiya's temper flared rapidly. "Don't talk to her like that—"

"This is none of your business," Haruka snapped. "We need to take any lead we're given in order to destroy him."

"That's reckless," Yaten said, narrowing her eyes Haruka. She shook her head. "How can you risk your own princess' life on the word of your enemy—"

"It sounds like Usagi is listening to his word regardless," Haruka replied coolly. "Isn't that right, kitten?"

Usagi stiffened under Seiya's touch and opened her mouth to speak, but her friends were quicker off the mark.

"Usa isn't like that," Makoto started. "All that talk of revenge and anger—it's not her."

Minako nodded. "He's trying to get to her, just like Seiya said."

Seiya didn't miss the way Usagi's gaze fell to the ground. They're wrong, she thought, Odango has all these feelings, just like everyone else.

"That may be true, but it doesn't mean he's lying about the source of his current form," Ami said, pinching the stud of her earring to retract her visor. She exchanged a glance with Taiki. "He has taken human form before, when Sailor Galaxia sealed him within her own body."

"Ami is right," Taiki agreed. "There's a chance that this is just like before, except this time, he has chosen his host."

Haruka looked to the outer scouts, who were quiet—too quiet. "All the more reason why we need to locate it and attack."

Seiya glared at her. "He's luring her in as bait, can't you see that?"

"Of course we can, Seiya," Setsuna said. "But we have nothing else to go on and his threat is now too great."

Usagi's eye hovered on Rini, who was tucked in close to Helios, watching from a distance. "You do nothing without my word," she said quietly.

Seiya dropped her hands away, tilting her head as a sudden wave of heat emanated off the Moon princess. There was a firmness in her voice that quietened the whole group. "Odango—"

"Don't," she said, and then looked to her warriors. "None of you are to act without my word—do you understand?"

Rei shook her head. "Usagi, you can't expect us to sit around and do nothing when that thing is out there."

"We have to act," Michiru added. "And you can't do anything without us there—you know that—"

Usagi bristled. "You assume I'm going to do something stupid—"

"That's not true—"

"It wouldn't be the first time," Haruka cut in rashly.

"Once again you've decided the situation," Usagi replied scathingly. "But this time I won't back down."

"It's for your own good, just like it was last time," Haruka argued.

Usagi glowered at her. "You don't get to decide what is best for me, Haruka—you have done that enough," she said. "I don't need your protection."

Rei sighed. "But right now Usagi, you do—you're powerless against him—"

"I am not."

The words sounded choked and tight, like she had said them before. In the twilight of the evening the petite young woman looked unearthly—silvered locks and dark eyes—and Seiya felt something akin to fear tingle at the base of her spine.

She closed her eyes and cradled her head lightly. "I am not…"

"Usa, it is our duty to protect you," Hotaru said gently. "We have to do whatever it takes."

"I know that, Taru," Usagi replied. "But I can't let any of you get hurt—I won't."

"At the expense of your own life and this planet's future?" Haruka stressed. "Can't you see why we have died for you before?"

Seiya stepped toward her angrily. "It's seeming more and more like you had your own best interests at heart—"

"That's rich coming from you," Haruka growled in reply. "Going to tell us why you're so damn important, Aoi one?"

Yaten hovered at Seiya's side. "That's none of your business—"

"Whatever concerns Usagi is my business—"

"Enough!" Usagi cried, the sound piercing the night air. Her eyes locked with Seiya's and then trailed down to her hands, and it was only then that she realised they were humming with a blue shimmer. "Please, no more fighting."

"We're sorry, Usa," Minako said, moving toward her. "But you can't listen to him—"

"I just…I need to think," Usagi cut in, stepping back. "I have to go."

She turned her back and walked away from them all.

"Usagi, wait—"

Seiya grabbed Rini's wrist as she made to tear off after Usagi. "Leave her, Rini," she said, and the girl's face fell. "She needs to be alone."

"But what if she—"

"She won't," Seiya said, watching her silhouette fade. Not yet.

There was only one thing Usagi wanted when she arrived home to a quiet night and a dark house.

Ice cream.

She slunk into the kitchen after her long wander home and wrenched open the freezer, pulling out the frozen tub. With a spoon in hand, she sat on the kitchen counter and dove in, shoving an enormous scoop into her mouth.

"Bad day, huh?"

She jumped as her mother rounded the corner in her nightgown and slippers, one eyebrow cocked at the sweet treat in her grasp. She swallowed the mouthful. "You have no idea…"

The half-light gave away a hint of her mother's smile as she joined her, hip rested against the bench. "I would scold you for eating straight out of the tub and sitting on the counter," she began, "but I think there are more important things going on right now."

Usagi grabbed the spoon in her fist and stabbed it into the ice cream. "Like what, Mama?"

"I can tell when you are going through a hard time, Usagi," she said. "What is it—school, friends? Mamoru?" She hesitated, before she added: "Seiya?"

Usagi dropped the spoon into her lap. "What about Seiya?"

"Well, he seems like a nice young man," Ikuko hummed. "He seems…unafraid to be his true self."

She stared back at her mother for a moment at the strange comment before shovelling more ice cream out of the tub. "It's not—we're not—like that, Mama…"

Ikuko was quiet while she watched her eat. "You know, I remember the first time you told me that Mamoru was coming to pick you up," she said. "You said to me 'Mamo's coming so I'd better make myself look like a lady'."

Usagi dug a pattern amongst the chocolate swirls, her shoulders slumped, and said nothing.

"Do you know the first thing you said to me when Seiya was coming to meet you for school?" She asked. "'Seiya will be here soon and I am not even close to ready'. You were in your bunny pyjamas when he arrived at the door." She gave her a smile. "That is the way I want my daughter to feel when she is around her partner—like it doesn't matter what she says or what she wears, just that she is loved all the same."

Her words felt heavy and she continued to study the frozen dessert. "I told you, Mama—we're not like that," she grumbled. She slid off the counter and tossed the tub of ice cream back into the freezer. "Besides, it's not about him anyway…"

"Alright, " Ikuko replied, taking a glass and filling it with water. She headed for the hall, stopping in the opening to look back at Usagi. "Whatever it is, you know you can talk to me about it any time."

"I know," Usagi said. Her mother was almost gone when she felt the need to speak again. "Mama?"

"Hm?"

She chewed at her lip. "If there was something you wanted, more than anything, and that something could make everything right again, but it meant sacrificing the greater good…what would you do?"

She knew what her mother would say—she would tell her it was better to forgo her own wants for that greater good. And perhaps she was right.

Ikuko looked at her strangely for a moment and then considered it. "Well," she started, "I would make sure that the greater good was really what I wanted to fight for—and that sometimes, it's best to do what's right for myself and those I love, even if it meant hurting others."

Usagi blinked at her. "Really?"

Her mother nodded. "It may feel like the weight of the world is resting on your shoulders, Usagi, but the world can wait," she said. "Not many of us get a second chance at moments that define our lives, so make the right choice for you."

The right choice for me.

"Does that help, dear?"

"Yeah," Usagi replied, crossing the room to envelop her mother in a hug. "It does. Thanks, Mama."

Hours after Usagi had left Hikawa Shrine and the group had gone their separate ways, Seiya found himself outside the gates of the Tsukino residence, looking up to Usagi's balcony. He knew he should have done as he had told Rini to do—to leave her be and let her think as she had requested—but his feet had brought him to her, yet again.

He sighed. "I really must be stupid…"

"You keep telling yourself that and it might just come true," a voice came from above. He looked up to where Usagi was curled up against the glass slider, hidden by shadow. She sat forward and smiled. "What have I told you about peeping into a girl's bedroom, Seiya?"

He smiled back. "I know, I know," he said. "I just had to check that you were okay."

She drew her slender legs in to her chest, wrapping the nightgown she had draped over her in closer to her body. "Come up," she said.

He hesitated. "You sure?"

She nodded, and with one tiny burst of energy, he jumped the space between them and landed quietly on the balcony. "I think I'm breaking that rule of yours again," he said light-heartedly as he took a seat on the concrete beside her. "You want me to…?"

Usagi shook her head. "Of course not," she said with a chuckle. "It's still you."

"Speaking of which," Seiya said slyly, "I saw the way you were looking at me when I transformed today."

She snapped her head to look at him, cheeks red and eyes narrowed. "Did not!"

"Did too."

"I wasn't looking at you in any particular way," she scoffed, training her eyes on anything but him.

"Oh, come on!"

She sighed. "Fine," she conceded, face rosy. "I just found myself sort of…I don't know…"

"Mesmerised?" He suggested cockily, and when she gave him an unimpressed look, he laughed. "Sorry, I never mean to make you feel uncomfortable."

"No," she said adamantly, "I wasn't uncomfortable." She chewed at her bottom lip absently. "Not at all."

They were quiet for a moment, and Usagi tilted her head back to the starry sky, fingers bunched in the silky material. Seiya watched her closely, taking in her long lashes and moonlit fair skin. It looked as though she were relishing their small moment of peace, and he couldn't help but be captivated by her serenity.

Her eye caught his and a blush bloomed over the bridge of her nose. To his surprise, she let go of the gown that was wrapped around her shoulders and turned to face him, bare legs crossed in front of her. She reached across and grasped both his arms, inspecting the length of his skin. He swallowed, an initial wave of uncertainty crossing him as her soft touch overtook his senses. Once he relaxed, he managed: "Impressive, huh?"

Usagi ignored him and turned his hands over, trailing her fingers over the veins and down his fingertips. "What does it mean—Aoi one?"

He knew this question had been coming. "Aoi was my father's name," he replied softly. "And you know what it means, aoi…"

She furrowed her brow in thought. "How did he know…?"

"I don't know," Seiya said honestly. "I don't really know what it means…"

She ran the pad of her thumbs across the inside of his wrists, over his pulse. "He got one thing right," she said, "you are too important to waste." She let go of his hands and wrapped her own around her torso, which was loosely covered by a singlet that gaped on her frame, leading his eyes astray. "You have to let me do what I have to to make this right."

He laughed. "I'll let you do whatever you want, Odango," he said, the meaning inadvertently double-edged. "But I'll be by your side the whole time."

"I can't lose you, Seiya," she said, her voice small. "I can't lose anyone…" She shook her head, eyes glassy. "But I can't lose this world, either—if there's a chance I can change the path that is set for us, I have to take it."

He had never asked her before—hadn't felt the need to, because somehow, he thought he knew the answer—but it seemed like the right time to do so. "You don't want to rule Earth—you don't want that future?"

"I thought I did," she said tiredly. "After we defeated our very first enemy, I wished to just be a normal girl, with a normal life—and it was granted, for a while." She shook her head. "I know that can never be now, but I want everyone to live out their dreams in this life. Including Rini."

He looked away, the ache in his chest too much to bear. He wanted that for her, too—he only wanted her to be happy. "You can have that—I know you can," he said. "But you can't trust Chaos—he said it himself: he wants to watch you break." He caught her eye. "I won't let that happen."

Usagi was silent next to him, sitting in the pool of satiny material and staring out into the distance. She reached around herself to grasp the nightgown and slide it back onto her shoulder, but as she did so, she winced.

Seiya narrowed his eyes. "It's your back, isn't it?"

"It's fine, really, it's nothing—"

"Let me see," he said, taking the material from her hands. She reluctantly turned slightly and he ground his jaw at the angry red on creamy skin that peeked out from above her singlet. The previously healed lines seemed inflamed, still closed wounds but hard, raised lumps all the same. He felt the anger rise within him like acid. "He's the one who's been causing the nightmares—the other night, when I woke you, and then…"

"Seiya," Usagi said gently, turning back to face him. "You don't have to worry…"

"I do." He let out a growl. "I should have taken the shot when I had the damn chance!"

The desire to annihilate Chaos raced through him uncontrollably, and when he felt the buzz of power in his veins he clenched his fists, not wanting to worry Usagi. It proved pointless, as her eyes caught the flare of blue that briefly pulsed around his hands. "Blue one," she mused quietly. "Seiya, you found your princess—you completed your mission. This isn't your responsibility—none of it is."

He couldn't help but smile at her, a break to the rampant anger that pooled in his gut. "I never completed my mission, Odango," he said softly.

From now on, you want to protect her.

She didn't ask—it seemed she didn't need to, where she may have been left unsure in the past—and instead gave him a kind smile. There was a tense beat between them, and he broke the silence. "I'd better go," he said. "We've got a big week of festival activities ahead of us." Usagi looked at him blankly and he snickered. "You had forgotten, hadn't you?"

"Maybe…"

He shook his head and got to his feet, extending a hand to Usagi. "Need a hand?" She cocked a brow at him but took it nonetheless, and he tugged her up, perhaps a little closer than necessary. "Good girl."

"Oi…"

They stood together for a moment, and Usagi looked away to her room, face troubled. Seiya contemplated his words, walking the same fine line they had in recent times. "I can stay if you need me," he said tentatively. "I'll sit and watch over you. Make sure he doesn't get to you." He met her eye. "Only if you need it."

She huffed a laugh. "Now that would be breaking my rule," she said. She leant across and kissed him on the cheek, lingering long enough that he was certain her lips burned his skin. "I'll be fine."

He nodded and she moved to go inside. As he made to leave, she turned back to him. "Seiya?"

"Hm?"

She looked embarrassed somehow. "I love your voice, as part of the Three Lights," she said, "but today, when you sang in your female voice…it was the most beautiful thing I have ever heard."

The comment took him entirely by surprise. "Thank you," he said, and then grinned cheekily. "I'll remember that."

"I expect you all to attend in semi-formal attire—as the evening goes on and we welcome people into our classrooms, we will be serving beverages and snacks and we want our guests to feel like this is a luxurious experience…"

Usagi slumped in her seat, doodling in her notebook as the teacher droned on about the opening night of Juuban High's school festival. Their class has decided upon two activities to be shared with another homeroom—a musical performance centred around the Three Lights, with music students accompanying them as guests watched on and enjoy a drink and light snack, and a scavenger hunt, which would be set up outside. While she was excited about the event, Usagi couldn't help but feel her enthusiasm being smothered by the worries that clung to her mind.

"Rafu, your group will organise the scavenger hunt, and Minako, you will be in charge of the concert," their teacher said. "This year, the teachers will be organising a bonfire to celebrate and dance once the individual activities are over." He checked his watch, as the bell was due to ring at any moment. "We will get started on decorations first thing tomorrow morning—"

The bell rang and the students got to their feet, ignoring the teacher as he continued to speak. Usagi gathered her things and slung her bag onto her shoulder, Seiya close behind her. "Pretty cool we get to be involved this year, don't you think, Odango?"

She snorted as they made their way out into the hall. "Involved? You're the centre of attention!"

He grinned. "Of course!"

"You going to come dress shopping with us this afternoon, Usa?" Makoto's voice came as she and Ami caught up to them. "Rei's going to meet us there."

Usagi gave them a smile, overlooking the slight air of discomfort between them that had developed since the night before. "Sure."

"I told you, Mina—I don't want to be involved in this stupid festival!"

The group looked back to where Minako was standing with Yaten at his locker, waving him off as though he were having a tantrum. "Come on, Yaten—it will be fun—"

He slammed the locker door closed and turned to face her, vivid eyes passing over the group that was watching them from down the hallway. They averted their eyes and Usagi cleared her throat, starting idle conversation as Yaten proceeded to speak quietly to Minako.

"So, what's going on there?" Usagi asked, stealing a glance over her shoulder. Yaten's brow was furrowed and he looked frustrated, gesticulating with his hands. "I didn't know he was so unhappy about performing…"

"It's not just that," Taiki said as he joined them. "Yaten is…"

"Moody," Seiya finished. He hesitated before adding: "He's not entirely comfortable in his male form."

Ami nodded understandingly. "That's why he doesn't often appear as such outside of school and Three Lights appearances?"

"That's right," Taiki confirmed. He exchanged glances with Seiya. "If he had a choice, he would remain female."

Makoto hummed sympathetically. "That would be so hard…"

Usagi looked back at the two curiously. Yaten let out a sigh and Minako comfortingly placed a hand on his arm, but he pulled away crossly, saying something that appeared very much like 'don't touch me', before storming away. Usagi's heart sank for her friend. "I wish he wouldn't take it out on Mina—she thinks so much of him…"

"That's the problem, Odango," Seiya said, "he thinks a lot of her as well—he doesn't want to disappoint her."

"Oh," Usagi said, wide-eyed. "So he…?"

Seiya gave her a quick nod in reply just as Minako joined them. "Don't let one of Yaten's foul moods get you down, Minako."

The blonde's eyes were glassy as she gripped her bag tightly over her shoulder. "It's okay," she lied.

"Nothing a bit of shopping won't fix," Makoto said brightly. "We need to get it done before Seiya and Haruka's match!"

Usagi looped an arm through hers and they headed for the exit. "Come on!"

"See you later, Taiki," Ami said, standing on tiptoe to kiss his cheek. "Bye, Seiya!"

"Hope Haruka doesn't kill you before the game!" Usagi called back as they walked away from one another.

"Yeah, yeah…"

She turned her attention back to Minako. "Do you want to talk about it, Mina?"

Minako sniffled. "I just asked him if he needed any help preparing," she said, shaking her head. "He snaps at me all the time—I don't understand what I'm doing so wrong…"

"I don't think it's you, Mina," Makoto soothed.

"I do," she said, clearly deflated. "If he weren't so hard to read I would have asked him out on a proper date by now."

This was news to Usagi—she knew of Minako's soft spot for the petite Starlight, but the girl had hardly uttered a word about it since they were last on Earth. In fact—she had said very little about it since discovering the Starlights' true identities. "Really?" She blurted.

Minako's cheeks flushed. "Well, yes…"

"Really what?"

Rei appeared from around the street corner, hands on her hips as she looked at them expectantly.

"Mina wants to ask Yaten on a date but he's sort of unpredictable and moody," Makoto told her quickly. "Today at school he got angry with her about the concert."

Rei nodded understandingly as they started to walk along the shopfronts. "Yuuichirou can be like that sometimes," she said.

"Yuuichirou can be like that?" Usagi rolled her eyes disbelievingly. "I would have thought 'unpredictable and moody' was more your style, Rei…"

"Says you, Usagi…" Rei growled at her.

"Hey, I'm not moody or unpredictable," she retaliated. "Rini on the other hand…"

Makoto shrugged, squeezing Minako around the shoulders. "Maybe a bit of fight isn't a bad thing," she said. "Every relationship is different. Just look at Ami and Taiki—they're always so nice to one another…"

Usagi sniggered. "Nice?" She fluttered her lashes teasingly. "See you later, Taiki!" She cast her a look. "How much later, hm, Ami?"

Ami looked mortified. "We're not—we don't—Usagi!"

Minako giggled at their banter. "Thanks, you guys," she said. "I just don't really know what to do…"

"Maybe you just need to be up front with him, Mina—ask him how he really feels," Rei suggested. "It's Yaten—he'll be brutally honest with you, and then at least you'll know for sure."

Usagi couldn't help but agree with Rei—if there was one thing the silver-haired senshi was good at, it was speaking his mind. "I think that's a good idea."

They had wandered in to a large dress shop and had started browsing through racks, picking out items that were to their liking. Minako began to perk up. "Maybe if I wear something super cute I will get his attention!"

Usagi relaxed slightly, enjoying the sound of her friends giggling together. They were still yet to discuss the events of the night prior, and she was certain that once their chitchat subsided the tension would return and they would have to address it. She clinked clothes hangers together as she looked through the dresses—everything from simple to traditional to ornate—and chewed at her lip.

"Usa, this would look so pretty on you!"

Minako held up a pink dress with an A-line hem and puffed sleeves, detailed with lace edging. She eyed it—it certainly was something she would have chosen in the past. "Try it on, try it on!"

She took it reluctantly and they headed to the change rooms, gossiping and joking as they tried on many of the outfits the store had on offer. After half an hour, there were dresses tossed over the cubicles and numerous accessories thrown about haphazardly.

"Okay, girls, I'm coming out—prepare to be amazed," Rei announced as they stood in front of the mirrors admiring their choices.

She burst out of the cubicle in a ridiculous, unmatched skirt and top of multiple patterns, with a scarf wrapped around her neck and a floppy hat on her head. Even she couldn't control herself long enough not to laugh. "Aren't I stunning?"

The girls burst out laughing and she strutted up and down the small space. "I feel like we've gotten a little off track…" Ami said after a moment.

Usagi adjusted the pink number on her tiny frame, tugging it in at the waist. It was pretty, she had to admit, but whether pretty was what she wanted, she wasn't sure.

"Oh, that does look nice on you, Usa!" Makoto said, slipping her feet into a pair of high-heeled shoes.

"It's very pretty—you have to buy it!" Minako told her. "It's very you."

Usagi smoothed the skirt and shrugged, her eye wandering to other items around the store. "I guess…" There was a moment of silence as the girls fiddled with their outfits. "You guys, about yesterday…"

They stilled and watched her as she sought out the words she wanted to say, and when she couldn't find them, Ami spoke softly. "It's alright, Usagi," she said. "We understand."

"You do?"

She nodded. "You feel conflicted—you're faced with a potential opportunity to keep things just the way they are now, or allow our future to unfold as it was predicted." She smiled sadly. "But I think perhaps you need to accept that the information Chaos is giving you is untrue."

"It's a trap—it has to be," Makoto said. "Chaos won't give himself up, you know that."

"But if there's a chance we could defeat him by finding this source, then why wouldn't we try?" Usagi argued. She sighed, the words she'd wanted to say for a long time tickling at the back of her throat—it was now or never. "Don't you ever think about what we're going to lose when this disaster—whatever it is—hits? Don't you wonder what might happen to your family, your friends?" Her chest tightened and she clutched her hands against her sternum. "What about Yuuichirou and Motoki? What about Rini and Chibi Chibi? And what about Taiki and Yaten and…"

She couldn't finish—she just couldn't. How could she have dismissed these important things—these important people—in the past? How could any of them?

And what about Seiya?

The girls looked around at one another worriedly, and Rei walked away, folding her arms and looking out at the street where a summery rain had started to drizzle. "You can't tell me you don't think about these things," Usagi finished weakly.

"Of course we do, Usa," Minako said finally. "But our mission is to look after the greater good of this planet—we can't be selfish."

"We just have to hope they'll be there with us, after…" Makoto said.

"After what, though?" Usagi shook her head. "Something happened to Crystal Tokyo when Rini came here—we don't know what could happen now—"

Rei turned back to them, eyes dark. "And that's enough for you to risk the lives of every human on Earth?"

Usagi tensed. "You sound like Haruka."

"Because she's right, Usagi!" Rei exclaimed. She came in close to them, lowering her voice to avoid attention. "Why are you fighting this? What are you so afraid of?"

Everything, she thought. I don't want any of it—not any more.

"It's as I told you," Rei continued softly when she didn't reply, "you don't have a choice, you already have someone important."

Her words stung just as they had the first time she had said them. Usagi's response was strangled—they had never discussed it so openly, and frankly, she was still perhaps as puzzled as they were. "This isn't just about Seiya—"

"We know that," Ami said quickly. "But he is a part of it, isn't he?"

She looked away, heart thudding in her chest anxiously. She was waiting for their admonishment—waiting for them to tell her she was selfish for even thinking aboutsomeone else when Rini's life hung in the balance. She couldn't hear it. "The future will be whatever it's destined to be," she said. "But if there's a chance we can destroy him, I'm going to take it." She met their gazes once more. "Help me find the source—let's do this together."

Naturally, it was pelting down with hot rain mid way through their match, turning the manicured ground into a slippery mud pit and completely altering their game plan. Seiya jogged down the pitch, muddy-kneed and sore. "This will put Tenou in an even fouler mood…"

They were down by one goal, and the team was showing signs of exhaustion. It was not the grand opening match she knew Haruka had hoped for, and the Uranian senshi's surly expression only soured as the game went on. Seiya was holding back, as she often did—there was a fine line between athletic talent and superhuman ability; something she knew Haruka battled as well.

She came to a stop alongside Niko, and before the whistle blew to signal the start of second half, she tugged the ribbon from her ponytail to wrap it around her grazed palm. Moments before the end of the last half, she had taken a spectacular sliding tackle—if she didn't say so herself—and sliced open the length of her palm and wrist on something sharp. She wound the fabric around her hand, pulling it into a tight knot with her teeth.

"If nothing else, you'll distract the other team, looking like that," Niko said, her eye wandering over her unruly hair and saturated uniform. The brunette had shown an unabashed interest in Seiya ever since she had been accepted onto the team—and she had to admit, the attention stroked her ego somewhat.

"Hey, there's nothing in the rules about that," Seiya said with a shrug, and then winked at her. "So long as I'm not distracting you, we'll be fine."

The whistle blew and the two teams moved rapidly, skidding and ducking and kicking up white sheets of water off the grass. The ball was woven between legs and propelled into the air, and for just a moment, Seiya stepped up her pace to take possession. She gained distance from her opponents and skilfully darted the ball toward the goal, vaguely aware of the cheer of the crowd and the beating of the rain.

"Kou!" She heard, and she looked up quickly through the haze of the rain for Haruka. "Shoot!"

It was nearly impossible to see, but she took her word that she had a clear shot and went for it, hard. The ball connected with the side of her boot, curved away from her, but as it did she felt a hard tackle intersect her legs and an elbow crack against the junction of her upper lip and nose. She landed face up on the ground and the murky sky spun above her, briefly going dark.

The whistle echoed loudly near her and the referee yelled out, and before she could regain her bearings she was being hauled to her feet and off the pitch. "Did I get it?" She asked, holding her hand to her nose as it bled heavily.

"Yes," Haruka—to her complete surprise—replied.

Her spinning head settled as they made their way under the stands to the locker rooms, and once inside, she threw herself onto the benches, nose tipped back to the ceiling. Her hand was full of hot blood and her lip had begun to throb. "Fuck…"

"Here," she heard Haruka say, catching the ice pack in her free hand before she even saw it coming. "Put it on the back of your neck."

"I know how to use an ice pack," she snapped, holding paper towel to her nose. She narrowed her eyes at the sandy-haired woman, who had pulled out a first aid kit. "Why are you even here?"

"Captain's duty."

"Bullshit."

In spite of Haruka's advice, Seiya placed the pack over the broken skin of her lip and waited for a reply. She wasn't in the mood for a fight, but a bloodied face wouldn't stop her from giving Haruka a swollen lip of her own, if need be.

Haruka ignored her and pulled out antiseptic liquid and wipes. "I told the medic he's too slow—we need you back out on the field."

"Again, bullshit." She glared at her. "Why are you here, Tenou? You couldn't give a damn whether I bled to death."

A hint of a smirk passed over Haruka's lips, and she stopped what she was doing, folding her arms over her chest. "We're on the same team," she said finally. "It's about time we made it work."

Seiya dropped the ice pack away from her lip and stared at her. "You're kidding, right?"

Haruka simply stared back.

Seiya let out an amused huff of disbelief and shook her head. "And why the hell would I trust you?"

"I didn't say anything about trust," Haruka replied coolly. She let out an impatient growl, like the conversation pained her. "But we have the same defence, the same goal." She met her eye. "We make this work."

"Seiya!"

Usagi had been watching her every move the entire game through the white mess of summer rain—she had played phenomenally, as she always did, taking shot after shot and beating after beating to give their team a better chance at winning. She had—quite uncomfortably—watched her flirtatiously interact with her teammates and the opposition, using her athletic, lithe form to her complete advantage, and she had noted the increase in her pulse as her clothes grew skin-tight and her hair was freed from its regular ponytail.

But when her opponent tackled her as she went for a goal, Usagi knewit wasn't good—she felt the pain instantly.

Thick red blood had spurted from Seiya's nose and the Starlight crashed to the wet grass, flat to the ground as her face blossomed red. Before she even realised it, Usagi was on her feet and clambering down the stands and through the crowd. She vaguely registered the sound of her friends calling to her, telling her Seiya would be fine, but she didn't care. She craned her neck as she squeezed past people, and through the pouring rain, she could see Haruka pulling Seiya to her feet. They jogged off the ground and disappeared into the clubrooms out of sight.

"Excuse me, I need to get through—pardon me—"

She felt sick seeing that much blood—and something ached in her, as though she was the one who had been hit—so she had to ensure she was all right. She snuck in to the locker rooms and raced down the hall, until she came to a screeching halt where Seiya was sitting sprawled on the benches.

"Seiya!"

She gasped at the reddened mess that was across her lip and down her neck and chest, staining the soaked fabric of her jersey. Seiya grinned at her. "Cool goal, huh?"

Behind them, Haruka snorted and muttered something under her breath, but Usagi ignored her. She dropped to the concrete floor between Seiya's knees and stared up at her. "Are you okay? There's so much blood…"

"It's just a blood nose, Odango—I'm fine," she reassured her. "You didn't have to come rushing to my aid." She smirked. "Though I knew you would…"

Haruka threw her a packet of antiseptic wipes and looked at her darkly. "Clean up," she said, before she left the room.

Seiya pulled a face at her as she left. "Yes, Captain," she said derisively. She tossed the ice pack she had been holding to her split lip onto the bench and grasped the hem of her jersey, tugging it over her head and throwing it aside. "Don't think they'll let me back on in that…"

Usagi flushed white hot, suddenly very aware of their proximity and very unable to tear her gaze from the sodden white sports bra that hid very little. She was right there for her to see, to touch if she could; black tendrils of dripping hair on an expanse of damp skin. If there was one way she could describe her in that moment—in spite of the blood and broken lip—it was sexy, and that was something Usagi was utterly unfamiliar with.

They locked eyes momentarily and the sensation was electric—it wasn't romantic or tender, not then—it was magnetic, in a way that felt carnal and unearthly. "Odango…"

Usagi swallowed and sat back slightly, no longer trusting her instincts. She could hear Rei's voice, clear as day: you don't have a choice, you already have someone important.

But her heart's crystal hummed in her chest; burned like she was going to ignite from the inside out. The feeling ran down her limbs and behind her eyes, to the space between them on her forehead where it felt hot and tingly.

Someone important.

She reached up to Seiya's lip and grazed her fingertips against the wound with a butterfly's touch, and just as she had when she cupped that mother's face after Chaos had left her close to death, she felt light flow from her. Right before her eyes, a white gold wisp of energy warmed Seiya's skin and restored it just as it had been before.

"There," she said airily. She felt a little light-headed. "Better."

Seiya grasped her fingers and stared at her, wide-eyed. "Odango, you—how did you—"

She shrugged slowly. "I don't know," she said honestly.

"Mysterious," Seiya said breathlessly, shaking her head with a smile. "Thank you."

It was well into the early hours of the morning, and Setsuna was finally ready to fall into a peaceful sleep, after a late night of celebrating Haruka's soccer team winning their first match of the season. She wound herself up in the sheets, listening to the patter of rain on the roof of their home and trying to push away thoughts of Usagi's looming danger, and their duties and destinies.

If only I could still see…

She squeezed her eyes closed tightly. There was no use in wishing—it couldn't change what had come to pass. Her power was gone, and all that stood was her responsibility to protect Usagi, Mamoru and their solar system as they knew it.

The phone on her nightstand rang loudly and she jumped, frowning at the handset that would most definitely be waking the entire household. She groped for the received and held it to her ear. "Hello?"

"Setsuna?"

She sat upright, suddenly very alert. "Mamoru? What's wrong?"

"I'm sorry to call so late," he said. "I know it's the middle of the night there but I just…"

He trailed off, and she swung herself out of bed in readiness to go—where, she had no idea. "Don't worry about that—tell me what's wrong."

"It's nothing," he replied. "I just wanted to hear your voice."

She was midway through putting her feet in her slippers and she stopped dead at his words, settling back onto the mattress. "W-what do you mean?" She shook her head. "Why?"

He let out a frustrated sigh. "I'd been feeling fine—everything had been going on like normal, since I was struck with that pain," he said. "But I've been having these nightmares—about myself, about you…" She was holding her breath—she didn't dare utter a word. "I had to know that you were okay."

"I'm fine," she told him softly. "I am not the one you need to be worrying about—not ever."

Mamoru was quiet on the line for a moment before he spoke again. "I think we both know that's not true, Setsuna," he said.

She felt sick—her heart hammered in her chest and she just felt sick. What was this?

"Something is going on back in Tokyo, I can feel it," he said firmly. "You have to tell me."

She stared at the wall, pursing her lips—she couldn't go against Usagi's word. She wouldn't.

But she wouldn't lie to him any more.

"Come on, you guys, we've got one hour until people start to arrive and you're just acting like idiots!"

Usagi stifled a laugh as Seiya and a few fellow classmates proceeded to build a fortress of chairs in the centre of their classroom, rather than neatly place them around tables as they had been asked. She tied a knot in the balloon she had blown up and let it float to the ceiling with all the others. "Mina, surely this is enough balloons by now…"

Minako was strutting around in her outfit, entirely ready for the evening to begin, with a clipboard in hand as she gave everyone orders. "I told you, Usa—I want a sea of colours!"

Usagi groaned. "Seriously…"

"Where do you want these, Mina?" Makoto's voice came, as she entered with an armful of flowery centrepieces.

"On each table, obviously!" She replied with a huff. "And where is Yaten?"

Taiki was disassembling the tower of chairs and placing them in their rightful location. "He got special permission to go home between time," he told her.

"Well, that special permission wasn't approved by me!" Minako exclaimed. "He'd better not be late…"

Usagi sighed and let another balloon drift up to the roofline. "Would you stop worrying, Mina?" She pouted. "You're giving me a headache…"

"We need to allow everyone time to get ready, don't forget, Mina," Ami said tentatively, finishing her welcome message on the blackboard.

"Fine, fine!" Minako said impatiently. "Once the tables are ready everyone can go and get changed—and don't forget to look good!"

The blonde stormed out and Usagi glared at her back. "She's almost as bossy as Rei today…"

"Seiya, I'm surprised you don't have a black eye from the knock you got during the match last night!" Makoto said, placing the last of the centrepieces down. "And I thought Haruka mentioned something about a split lip?"

Seiya glanced at Usagi quickly, and then gave Makoto a broad grin. "What can I tell you—a face like this can bounce back from anything."

"Ha! Sure…"

"Shut up, Odango..."

Usagi poked out her tongue at him, and then grumbled at the bag of balloons that was still left to inflate. "You go get ready," she said to Ami and Makoto. "I'll catch up."

Taiki and Seiya buzzed around the front of the classroom after the two girls had left, tuning instruments and preparing the sound system. Usagi watched them as they worked, a close eye on Seiya as he plucked at his electric guitar and produced an incredible riff. "Show off…"

He simply smirked at her and did it a second time. She rolled her eyes and got to her feet, bringing her bag with her. "I'll be back," she announced.

She was sure by now that her friends would be ready, and if she was being entirely honest, she had welcomed the opportunity to get dressed alone. The truth was that she had returned the dress they had been so keen on, and decided on something else instead—and while she appreciated her friends' opinions, she was sure they wouldn't approve of her choice this time around.

"Hello?" She called as she wandered into the gym change rooms, and when there was no reply, she unpacked her things and tugged off her school uniform. She slipped the dress over her body, lightweight on her frame, and shuffled her feet into a pair of high heels. She hummed uncertainly as she looked herself over in the mirror and dabbed lipstick onto her lips.

It's about time you used some of that power you wield.

She stared at herself, clad in the dark number that hugged her slim figure and accentuated the woman she was slowly becoming. Maybe she could surpass simply pretty. Maybe she could use her charm for something.

Maybe this was the practice she needed to lure the source right to her.

She wound her hands up into her hair and pulled at the bobby pins securing her buns, leaving behind a mess of kinked blonde locks. A ruffle with her hand and the hairstyle seemed stylishly unkempt, hanging long over one shoulder.

"Maybe this is my chance," she murmured to herself.

"Has anyone seen Usagi?" Minako was hissing as guests filed in and took seats. "I need her here to start serving snacks!"

Makoto shrugged and continued handing out soft drink, speaking through her teeth as her friend continued to grow more and more irritated. "Relax, she won't be far away…"

Rei, who had taken a seat at one of the candle-lit tables with her boyfriend by her side, tutted. "She's probably gotten herself lost, in her own school!"

Seiya frowned and craned his neck to look for her through the bustle of people. There was no sign of her, but a shimmer of silver hair came zooming through the door.

Minako let out a loud sigh of relief. "Yaten!"

"I'm here, I'm here, keep your shirt on," he replied. He gave her a tight smile. "I told you I'd come."

She returned the smile—although hers was positively beaming. "Good," she said. "Now go get ready, it's almost time to start!"

Yaten leapt up onto their tiny makeshift stage at the front of the room and looped his base guitar over his shoulders, and Seiya quirked a brow at him. "Took your time, Yaten," he said. "Didn't happen to see Odango in your travels, did you?"

He continued to fiddle with his guitar and paid him no attention. "Nope."

"Oh, this is lovely!" Seiya heard from the doorway—Michiru's distinct voice catching his ear. He groaned quietly as he spotted Haruka—after her uncharacteristic display the night before, he wasn't sure what to make of her.

"Where's kitten?" She asked.

Ami led them to a table. "We don't know," she said.

Haruka pulled out a chair for Michiru but opted to stand, casting her eye out the window to the bustle of activity that was going on outside. "Shouldn't someone be watching her?"

"Pfft, no," Rini replied, Helios and Hotaru at her side. "She doesn't need a babysitter."

The young girl caught Seiya's eye and he pulled a face at her, which he spiritedly received in return. "Nice of you to come, kid," he said.

She glared at him. "Hey, I could have been outside getting a head start on the scavenger hunt," she said tartly. "Be nice."

There was a sharp gasp from Minako from across the room as she gawked over at the doorway in some sort of shock. "Oh my God, Usagi!"

The moment he spotted her, the breath was sucked out of his lungs.

She looked so beautiful—so unlike herself, and yet easy and effortless and grown. The outfit she had chosen was a simple, black dress that clung to her petite curves, exposing her décolletage beneath shoestring straps and falling to her knees. Her signature odango hairstyle was gone in place of long gold tresses that fell down her back in mussed waves, something that was unfamiliar and striking.

But what caught him most of all was the statement that accompanied her more mature look—it spoke of a young woman who wanted to embrace all sides of herself, not just the innocent warrior she had always been.

He knew because he could feel it, too.

Makoto blinked at her Usagi, who looked flustered and had started to busy herself with a tray of drinks. "Wow, Usa, you look…"

"Beautiful," Seiya finished, giving her a smile. She met his eye as they turned down the lights and he didn't miss the blush that painted her fair skin. In an instant, that oppressive yearning returned back to his gut just as rapidly as it had the night before, fuelling his performance—his message.

They opened with an older Three Lights single, accompanied by a few classmates on brass instruments and drums. Their intimate crowd loved their performance, and as their peers played their own individual pieces and the three Starlights took a step back, Seiya kept his eye on the Moon princess. She moved and spoke with an air he hadn't seen before—there was something entrancing behind her gaze. As they settled in to the set, she moved to the window with Haruka, offering her another drink with a coy smile.

What game are you playing, Odango?

Haruka returned the smile, leaning down to whisper something in her ear, which Usagi laughed at. It was perplexing—after how continually difficult Haruka made things for her, how could she forgive and forget so easily?

"Concentrate, Sei-ya," Yaten teased between songs.

He glared at him and said nothing, watching as Haruka returned to her seat and Usagi stared out the window, a soft frown on her lips. The cool evening light illuminated the skin of her back, revealed by the scooped line of her dress. His lip prickled as he studied the two scars framing her shoulder blades—healed once again.

"We hope you have all enjoyed the first act!" Minako said through the microphone. "We are proud to display the talent of the famous Three Lights along with the gifts of some of our students here at Juuban High. After our short interval I will taking the stage to sing for you, and the Three Lights will play some of their new album for you all!"

Seiya smirked at the blonde's tenacity, pulling the guitar strap over his head and stripping off his jacket. The dim room hummed with chatter once more, and he jumped off the temporary stage, heading for Usagi—but she was gone.

"Where's Odango?" He asked aloud, receiving a lacklustre response. He went to the window and stared out at the roaring bonfire and groups of people running about on the grass in the midst of the scavenger hunt, laughing and enjoying their time.

There.

He couldn't mistake that face, not now that he'd seen it—ghosted beauty and blackened eyes shrouded in the tree line, waiting. Like an invitation.

"Usagi," he breathed, the moonlight catching her hair as she moved across the grounds in Chaos' direction. He spun to the others and raced for the door. "We have to go, now."