Hello, everyone! Thank you so much to everyone who has been reading, following, and commenting on this story! Updates are a little slower than before due to the holiday season, but I assure you that I'm still working on it. :) For those of you celebrating this season, I hope it's been a wonderful one. I'm wishing you all a wonderful new year! -Amethyst
CHAPTER 6: STAGE ON!
Mamoru's departure back to America felt way more uncomfortable that Usagi would have liked. While they exchanged tender kisses and words of encouragement at the airport, Usagi felt an awkwardness hanging above them like a dark cloud.
Ever since their argument over Seiya's letters, Mamoru seemed to be preoccupied. There were tense silences where Usagi would catch him staring deeply into his coffee, swirling already well-stirred cream with his spoon, and she wondered if that's what she looked like to him when she was lost in her own thoughts.
To make things worse, Usagi had not received a letter from Seiya in almost three weeks. The first one she sent went unanswered for days. She checked her room, waiting for the gentle pulse of Princess Kakyuu's pure magic or the sweet smell of Kinmokuan olives, but it never came.
Concerned with the lack of response, she sent another one asking: Is everything okay on Kinmoku?
A few hours later, the smell of olives alerted her to a message waiting for her.
Hello, Usagi-san. It's so nice to hear from you. Seiya is off-planet. I will make sure he gets your letters, and I'm sure he'll be in touch. I hope you're doing well. How are your …
Usagi had sighed and set down the letter from Taiki without finishing it.
After a few bites of her sandwich and some time to reflect, she felt guilty for setting the letter aside and followed up that night, updating Taiki on what her solar system's sailor senshi were up to now. Hours later she received a letter, from Yaten this time, asking Usagi to pass on her congratulations to Minako.
She has so much passion. I know she will be a successful idol! Yaten wrote. When Usagi took a picture of the note and sent it to Minako, she immediately got a phone call back.
"Oh, Yaten-kun is so kind! Please tell him that I miss him!" Minako had cried over the phone.
Minako-san, we're ready for you. Usagi could hear a man's voice over the chatter in the background.
"I'll talk to you later, Usagi-chan. I have to get back to rehearsal."
As the days went by, Usagi found herself missing Seiya's letters. The smell of olives made her heart jump, but the disappointment of finding letters from everyone but Seiya was grating on her. She missed the witty banter, silly questions, and nostalgic stories.
What a terrible thing to think, she chided herself. You should be grateful that you can talk to Healer and Maker. They saved your life too.
And she was grateful, but Usagi noticed she was also bored.
She attempted to start on a class assignment that was due that week, but her eyes kept wandering to the burner on the bedside table. She took in a deep belly breath, willing it to ground her, but it didn't work. Her eyes fell on a picture of Mamoru on her vanity table. He smiled warmly at the lens, his blue eyes shining with pride. Usagi remembered taking this photo of him at her family's house on the day of her high school graduation.
After staring at it for some time, she turned the picture to look somewhere else in the room.
"You're distracting me, Mamo-chan," she murmured.
After almost an entire hour of painfully wasted time, Usagi abandoned her assignment and flopped herself down onto her bed. She decided she would try something that she used to be great at: taking a nap.
Usagi sighed comfortably as she snuggled into the pillows and closed her eyes, very pleased with her choice. Her mind wandered back to the day of her graduation and how good it felt to hold her certificate in her hand. She could feel herself drifting off to sleep, when suddenly, her phone vibrated loudly against the wooden table beside her bed.
"No no no," she mumbled. She decided to ignore it. Again, the phone buzzed. Buzz. Buzz. Buzz. Whoever it was was sending her message after message.
She reached over blindly, grabbing until she had her phone and then squinted at the screen.
12 Unread Messages
Panic swelled in her stomach, and Usagi immediately propped herself up on her elbows and unlocked her phone. If there was an emergency wouldn't her friends use their communicators? What if it was her family?
Minako's message read: USAGI!
!
TURN ON THE RADIO!
ARE YOU LISTENING?
?!
OMMMGGGG
87.4!
The rest of Minako's messages were various shocked and crying emojis. Before Usagi could message back, a text came through from Rei.
Did you know about this?
She raised both eyebrows, her hands trembling slightly as she typed back to Rei, "Know about what? What's happening?" She closed her eyes and swallowed hard-trying to swallow the fear and confusion-before thinking back to Minako's texts.
Radio.
Turn on the radio!
She set her phone down and then crawled to Mamoru's side of the bed where he kept a sleek black radio clock perched on his nightstand. She pressed furiously, the button clicking loudly until she found the numbers she was looking for on the display screen.
-return to the stage. We are getting phone calls from all over Tokyo! What can you tell these excited fans about your upcoming shows?
Usagi listened to the overly chipper voice of the radio host, trying to understand what he was talking about. Whatever it was, it didn't sound like a life threatening emergency.
Then she heard it: a voice that she instantly recognized. A silky, boyish voice with a slight feminine edge.
"Well, I've been working on new music that I can't wait to debut at these concerts!"
Usagi's breath caught in her throat.
"And will there be a new album, Seiya-san?"
"Absolutely."
"Can we expect to hear your brothers, Yaten and Taiki, on any of the new tracks?"
"At this time, no. This is a completely solo Kou Seiya record."
"And there you have it, ladies! Kou Seiya of The Three Lights is back and preparing for a string of solo concerts and an upcoming solo record. We have just a minute left, Seiya-san. Do you have anything else to say to your fans?"
"Well… when the Three Lights went on a hiatus, I left my friends behind here in Tokyo. I made a great friend here. If she's listening, I want her to meet me at the last spot we saw each other.
Immediately, her phone buzzed with two messages.
Minako's read: OMG Is that you?! I wanna go!
Rei came through with: Seiya. Is he talking about you? I want to come with you.
Usagi must have started and deleted about 10 different messages to Rei. Her fingers hovered over the touch screen as her brain tried to think of what to say.
She didn't know.
She decided, however, that she didn't want anyone to come.
She turned off her phone without replying and shoved it into her purse. Without a second thought, she found herself running toward her old high school.
Usagi's stomach did flip-flops as she walked up the steps of Jubaan High School. Thankfully, the doors were still unlocked, most likely for after school activities. As she moved quickly down the hallway, she began to feel as if she still went to school there. Everywhere she looked, she saw the faces of her friends. The images were so vivid that she was sure she could touch them if she were closer. Looking out through the large window, she saw herself on the field playing baseball with Seiya. She could also see the Starlights, bloody and battered from the battle with Chaos. She could see the inner senshi falling to their knees and dying, dissipating into specks of warm light. With those visions also came the feeling of someone walking behind her. Someone tall and imposing, wearing impenetrable armor forged from magic and gold. It sent a shiver down her spine and made her walk just a little bit faster.
This wasn't the first time Galaxia walked with her. Sometimes Usagi wondered if Galaxia and Chaos were always with her. She knew that Chaos wouldn't be dormant forever, and that it lived in everyone. With everyone fighting that internal battle together, Chaos would hopefully be kept at bay, but when she dreamed of terrible things that made her feel cold and frightened, she sometimes wondered if too much Chaos found its way into her own heart. Maybe that woman who walked behind her wasn't a figment caused by residual fear. Maybe it was Chaos making herself known. Embedding herself, intertwining herself with Usagi just as she'd done to Galaxia.
No!
"You're not real," she whispered harshly to the monster behind her.
Maybe coming here was a bad idea.
The vision was stubborn, but as Usagi reached the staircase that led to the roof, Chaos and Galaxia vanished.
When she reached the top of the steps and pushed her way through a heavy door , she wasn't sure if she was still seeing things that weren't there.
Like a dream, a man stood near the edge of the roof, looking over the school grounds. He was taller than her, slender, and dressed casually in a pair of dark jeans and a black leather jacket. His hair was long, down his back and gathered into a low ponytail. When Usagi stepped closer, she could see that the green fields and brick buildings he looked over were draped in the colors of the orange and red sunset.
The feelings in her body rolled and crashed into each other wildly. She didn't know exactly what she was feeling.
"Hey!" She yelled out, surprising event herself. "I had to hear about you on the radio? Why didn't you tell me you were coming?" She folded her arms and gave the man an irritated look.
When Seiya turned, she felt the excitement buzzing through her body. The orange glow of the sunset fell over his face, making his playful blue eyes look ethereal. He wore a smirk on his lips that made her heart flutter, and she was instantly reminded why Kou Seiya was such a popular idol.
"I thought it would be fun to surprise you, Odango."
Usagi watched his eyes as he looked her over. She wondered how different she looked to him. She knew she was thinner than she used to be. Her long, blonde hair flowed freely down her back. Suddenly she wished she had taken the time to run a brush through her hair or change into something nicer before she left the house.
It's just Seiya though. Even though she thought it, it didn't feel true. After all, this is the first time she has seen her friend in two years.
He stepped closer to her, his eyes never leaving her. She felt a small blush on her cheeks, feeling shy underneath his gaze, but she didn't want to look away. What if this wasn't real? What if he disappeared?
"I missed you," he said with a soft smile. Usagi couldn't stop herself from running forward and wrapping her arms around her dear friend in a tight hug. She could smell the scent of leather tinged with something soft and floral. The sweetness of Kinmoku.
"I missed you too, Seiya-kun," she murmured. Stepping back, she looked at him carefully and asked, "Is it just you?"
Usagi noticed a flash of something that wasn't there before-something serious, but then his face softened and he said with a playful smile, "Yeah, looks like I'm doing a solo tour."
"You're seriously going to do the idol thing again? Do you really need attention that much?"
Seiya laughed heartily and pulled Usagi in for another tight hug. Her body tensed when she felt his long, slender fingers in her hair. She hadn't been prepared for such an intimate touch.
"What happened to your odangos?" Seiya asked curiously.
Usagi stepped back, far enough away that Seiya had to drop his hand to his side. She reached up to touch her own hair and shrugged, smiling wryly. "I was in bed when I heard your interview. I didn't think I had time to do my hair."
Seiya let out a soft laugh. "I see. So you still wear them?"
She nodded, "Yeah, of course."
"I'm glad, Odango," he said with a renewed smile. "Well, speaking of odangos... have you eaten yet?"
Usagi shook her head.
"Good, 'cause I'm starving. Let's grab something to eat."
Usagi raised a playful eyebrow and asked, "Oh? Who's paying?"
"All that idol money is just sitting in the bank. It's on me tonight."
"Great! Besides, I have a feeling the others are on their way here. I'd like to have you to myself for just a bit longer," Usagi said, looking over the edge of the roof. She wasn't sure how she meant to say it, but she saw the way Seiya's smile softened at her statement.
"Come on," He began, sliding a pair of mirrored sunglasses onto his face. "I have a car waiting downstairs."
"Oh, fancy," Usagi murmured, following in tow. She paused a moment to take it all in. The black car was so shiny she could see herself reflected on it.
"After you," Seiya offered, opening the door.
She wasn't sure if she expected to see Rei running down the street or hear the sound of Haruka's motorcycle, but she was happy that no one seemed to be paying any attention to them. Seiya shut the door and nodded to the driver who had been watching them in the mirror. Moments later, the sleek black car began to roll away.
Usagi thumbed a small hole on the knee of her jeans and hoped that she wasn't too under-dressed for wherever they were going.
"Is it far?" She asked curiously.
"No, we're almost there."
Within minutes, the driver was at their door, opening it and offering a hand for the young woman to take.
"Thank you," she said gratefully. She looked up at the restaurant, and then narrowed her eyes and folded her arms.
"You're really showing off that idol money," she said, looking up at the sign that read PIZZA.
"I never said it was going to be fancy," Seiya said with a laugh. When he took Usagi's hand, she felt a warmth in her face, and she hoped she wasn't blushing again.
Seiya flashed her another carefree smile as he pulled her inside, "I haven't had pizza in two years and I'm craving it!"
Usagi found herself to be relieved and very happy to share a large, extra cheesy pepperoni pizza with Seiya. As she ate and wiped gooey cheese from her chin, the pair talked about their letters, the burner, their planets, and their friends. When Seiya asked about Mamoru's visit, Usagi gave him a very brief summary, excluding anything about the letters or how awkward they left things.
Just as Usagi mused to herself about how easy their conversation was, she looked up from her bite of pizza to see Seiya staring pensively at her.
She raised an eyebrow and asked, "What is it?"
"I don't know."
Usagi's eyebrows furrowed in confusion.
"What do you mean you don't know? Why are you looking at me like that?"
Seiya hesitated, his lips moving slowly as he spoke, "Something just seems... off about you."
"W-what?" Usagi stuttered. "Excuse me?"
"Wow, that sounded bad," Seiya said quickly. "I just mean to say that you seem different."
He took Usagi's silence as an invitation to continue.
"You're really reserved, I guess. I think it's just something I have to get used to." She could see the unfinished part of his sentence in eyes. But I don't want to get used to it.
She opened her mouth as if to say something but found that nothing would come out. Suddenly she felt exposed. She wasn't used to people calling out the difference in her.
After some time to think, she finally muttered, "If I'm different, Seiya, maybe it's because I grew up."
"I don't think that's it, Usagi-chan. But whatever it is, I'm sorry. I can see that I'm making you uncomfortable."
Usagi bit her lip as she stared down into her plate. She felt like he was being too blunt.
"We're going to get to the bottom of this," he said suddenly. "Come on, Odango." Seiya stood up and quickly slid his jacket onto his shoulders.
"What? Where are we going?" She asked quietly.
"We're going to a place that will take care of all of your troubles."
A ten-minute car ride later, Usagi found herself standing in front of a velvet rope. Behind the velvet rope stood an exhausted-looking woman wearing a neon green polo shirt, a matching green baseball cap, and black slacks. She held a rubber stamp in her hand and held a look of confusion on her face.
"Sir…" The woman began hesitantly, giving Usagi and Seiya once over, "Do you have children with you?"
The sounds of children screaming and yelling as they jumped on giant indoor trampolines, went down slides, and played arcade games spilled into the lobby of the Jumping Beans Indoor Playhouse.
"This place is for kids, Seiya!" Usagi rushed out under her breath, slightly embarrassed.
"And kids are happy, right?" Seiya retorted quickly. He looked at the woman and smiled wide, taking his sunglasses off and hooking them to the collar of his red t-shirt. Usagi wasn't sure how he got his teeth to be so white or how he was able to make his eyes twinkle like that.
"Oh… Oh my!" The woman brought her hands to her lips as she began to giggle. "You're Kou Seiya!"
"Yes. Yes, I am," he said smoothly, reaching forward to take her hand. The woman gasped and gripped the idol's hand tightly. "I saw you and The Three Lights at your farewell concert! It was the best concert I've ever been to. I've never felt so much energy and passion."
"Thank you so much. Your support means everything to me," Seiya said, gently pulling his hand away.
"If you need anything at all while you're here-and I mean anything-please let me know," she said, unhooking the velvet rope and then waving to the pair once they were through.
Seiya looked at Usagi and winked. "Still got it," he said.
Usagi rolled her eyes at her superstar friend. "You are incorrigible," she muttered.
Before she could say another word, her eyes fell on the extremely large trampoline surrounded by pits full of large foam blocks. Children were jumping off the ledge and diving in, screaming with joy and laughter.
" Ohhh, sugoi! Let's do that," she yelled, grabbing his hand and pulling him toward the trampoline.
For the next hour, the pair jumped until they felt sick, climbed through the plastic tunnels full of small children, and screamed loudly as they went down long, looping slides.
As they sat on a child-sized train that moved around a small track, they enjoyed vanilla milkshakes and ignored the judgemental looks from parents who stood outside the ride, watching closely as their children giggled and smiled in the train cars.
"I don't think I've had this much fun ever," Usagi said, laughing. She felt a little nauseated after drinking that milkshake and her face actually hurt from smiling so much, but she felt light and free, just like the little kids running around her.
"Are you still sad?" Seiya asked her.
Usagi froze with wide eyes, unsure of how to answer that question. She hadn't felt sad at the pizza parlor, but Seiya had recognized something inside of her. It was something that everyone else got used to seeing in her. Something everyone else was too scared to point out.
She searched inside of herself, asking herself, "Am I sad?"
Smiling softly she said honestly, "Less than I was before."
Later that evening, a shining black car stopped in front of Usagi's apartment building.
"Can I walk you up?" Seiya asked. The door clicked as the driver opened it, standing by to help the young woman step out.
Usagi smiled and shook her head. "No thanks, Seiya."
He nodded and reached out to touch her arm. She could feel calluses on his fingertips, and she wondered if they were just from guitar strings, or if fighting battles as Sailor Star Fighter had helped formed them.
"Thank you for hanging out with me today, Usagi. I'm so happy I got to see you."
Usagi smiled brightly. "I'm happy I got to see you too."
"Can I call you tomorrow?"
"You have my number now. You can call me anytime, Seiya-kun."
"And Odango?" She paused, waiting for him to finish. "If you ever want to talk about the stuff that's bothering you, you can call me too."
She nodded quickly before taking the driver's waiting hand, letting him help her out of the expensive car.
"Goodnight, Miss," the driver said curtly before returning to his own seat.
Usagi gave the car a wave as it drove off, the bright city lights reflected in its paint. When she turned to walk inside, she stopped.
Looking back at her were the violet eyes of Hino Rei.
"Are you coming upstairs?" Usagi asked. She wasn't prepared to get into an argument with Rei, not after having such a nice day.
"I don't have a lot of time. I've been waiting here awhile," Rei admitted softly.
There was an uncomfortable silence between them, but finally Usagi spoke.
"I was just spending time with a friend that I haven't seen in a really long time, Rei. Please don't make a big deal out of this."
Rei nodded, her dark hair falling into her face. "Yes, Usagi. I know. I just… do you promise you didn't know he was coming?
"I promise, Rei-chan. I found out after you did. I wouldn't keep something like that from you and the others. You know that, don't you?"
"I know, Usagi-chan. I just had to be sure." With a sigh, Rei added, "I really do have to go now. Can we get together soon? I'd like to hear all about your visit with Seiya."
Usagi smiled happily. "I'd love to. Send me a text when you can. Maybe we can do something tomorrow."
Rei nodded and smiled, her body more visibly relaxed now. "Goodnight, Usagi-chan."
"Goodnight, Rei-chan," Usagi said, turning to open the door to her complex. Suddenly, a thought came to her.
"Rei-chan?" The dark-haired girl turned quickly, her purple eyes on Usagi.
"That night when I told you about Mamo-chan not responding to my letters. The night it was raining?"
"Yes, I remember."
"What you overheard between Seiya and I… that's still between us, right? No one else knows?"
"Of course, Usagi-chan. Bringing that up would just cause trouble." Suddenly, Rei stepped closer. Her eyes were so focused that Usagi feared for a moment that she could see into her soul.
"Don't forget who you are and who you will be," she said firmly. "Don't let anyone distract you from your future."
"I know who I am, Rei." There was a pause before she added, "And I know who I'm supposed to be. How could I forget?"
Their gaze was interrupted by the ringing of Rei's phone.
"I really have to go now," she said, apologetic. "But please, Usagi-chan. Remember what I said."
Usagi watched Rei walk away, her glossy black hair reminding her of the car she had been in earlier.
Turning to go upstairs to her apartment, she realized that she felt annoyed.
Why is Rei assuming that Seiya is here to distract me?
What makes her think that he even feels the way he did two years ago?
Why does she think I don't know what my responsibilities are?
Does she think I would hurt Mamo-chan?
Beyond the annoyance, there was a feeling she recognized, but didn't want to acknowledge. Bitterness. Resentment. There was a question she had asked herself many times over the past two years. A question that filled her with guilt and shame.
If it's my future, why don't I have any say in it?
She would continue to reflect on that question as she showered, put out food for Luna, and crawled into bed. As she closed her eyes and drifted to sleep, she thought of a man in a silky lavender suit, and in his arms, a small child with pink hair.