Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon Sailor Stars: Chaos Theory
Act 74: Shiori confronts Usagi
By: Sora Kazeno
A knock on the door disrupts the conversation between the two Queens.
"I'll get it. It might be Minako-chan returning," Queen Kakyuu rises from her seat to make her way to the door. She opens it to find Seiya standing there.
He is slightly out of breath from running the entire way. "I heard she's awake." He finally manages.
Queen Kakyuu's lips tighten. Based on her conversation with Usagi it might not be a good idea he is already here. She'll have to check with Usagi. "Yes…" Queen Kakyuu confirms slowly, unsure of how she can try to persuade Seiya to return another time. "Please wait here while I let Usagi-san know."
He realizes if it was anyone else he would have walked pasted them to see Usagi. But it's Queen Kakyuu. He sighs and nods his head. He has waited this long, a few more minutes will be fine. He nervously rehearses what he will say to her in his mind.
Queen Kakyuu returns to Usagi's bedroom. "Seiya is asking to see you."
Usagi clutches the comforter tightly in her hands. "I don't want to see him right now. I'm not ready." She responds as her heart starts to race.
Seiya can hear Usagi from the other room. Her words are like a punch to the gut. The past few days have been absolutely horrible. He respected her wishes when she ended the conversation via the communicator but now that she is back and awake, he can't delay this any longer.
He walks into her bedroom; he is not going to be sidelined again. "You can't be serious. We need to talk." His voice softens. "About everything."
Queen Kakyuu looks between the two of them. One look in Seiya's eyes and she knows she would never be able to stop him or ask him to leave at this point. Her only course of action is to leave them. "We will speak again later Usagi-san." She turns to leave pausing to cast a glance at Seiya as if to warn him to not upset Usagi further.
Seiya takes a deep breath as he can feel his heart hammering in his chest. He pulls the chair closer to Usagi's bed closer and sits down. His approach speaking with her is very different than last time.
Before he can say anything Usagi states, "I need to rest."
He is surprised by her icy tone. "I won't stay too long. I… just need to know what happened."
Usagi turns her head sharply to glare at him. "I tried to tell you what I knew but you were too busy telling me I was with someone else."
Seiya winces a little. He did not handle anything well the last time they spoke face to face. "I was angry and didn't know what to think." He looks down, ashamed of how he acted without trying to figure this out the first time. His emotions were too raw.
"And now?" Usagi's response is short.
"Confused." Seiya admits. "They are saying you attacked Sailor Pluto."
Usagi tenses hearing her name, "she changed the timeline. I warned her there would be consequences."
He's going to have to ask her out right. "Odango… the child… was the pink haired girl I met briefly when you awaked as Sailor Cosmos, wasn't she?"
Her mask crumbles. Her shoulders shake as the tears she tried to hold back gush out. She is too choked up to answer him.
Her response tells him everything he needed to know. Taiki was right all along. Seiya acknowledges he didn't play the fool, he was the fool. He can't stand to see her like this. He leans in to hug her. "I'm sorry for everything," he whispers softly.
Usagi sits there unable to move or make an effort to return the embrace. Her hands grip the blanket on her lap even tighter. She doesn't want him touching her. Pearl rings appear on her fingers.
The light from the rings catches Seiya's eyes and he lets go of Usagi trying to find the source. His breathe catches in his throat seeing her rings. "Odango…"
Usagi still has her head down not wanting to look at him. "I told you I wasn't ready to see you yet. Please leave." Her voice cracks while voicing her request.
Seiya is crushed by her words. "We need to talk about this."
Usagi's head snaps up to meet his gaze, fury in her eyes, "now you want to talk? Where were you when I needed you most?" She doesn't give him a chance to respond. "You wouldn't listen to me when I wanted to talk. You were too busy accusing me… of cheating on you while you were getting ready for the tour." She can feel her anger rising. An eight pointed star burning on her forehead. She pulls her hands to her chest to try to stop them from shaking. "Leave. I don't want to lose control again."
Seiya stands up from the chair putting distance between the two of them. "I'll be back some other time… I really want to talk this out." There is so much he wants to say and apologize for but her glowing rings are a sign he needs to get out. It pains him to do so but he doesn't utter another word as he leaves her room. He shuts the door, not quite slamming it but loud enough for her to hear.
He leans against the wall next to Usagi's door for a moment. This is not how he imagined things. Kinmoku was meant to be a break from everything. But this is so much worse. He opens his eyes ready to leave only to find Shiori there with Yuna and Sakura. For a moment he is glad to see Shiori is not alone.
"How is she?" Yuna asks taking a few steps forward.
"Not good," Seiya responds before he turns to leave. He wasn't up for answering all of their questions.
Shiori doesn't speak as she watches his retreating form. His posture gives everything way. His usual confidence is missing, confirming they are still having problems. Just the opportunity she needs.
The next day Usagi is absent at lunch and dinner even though the doctors cleared her from needing constant bedrest. She has no desire to leave her room. She just wants to hide from the outside world.
As Minako checks on her Queen throughout the day, Usagi is either sleeping or asks to be left alone. They spoke the night before and Usagi told her what happened when she left for Earth. All the Inner Senshi knew about Chibi Usa. Mamoru did not. Usagi plans to keep it that way.
Sitting with Yaten across the hall from Usagi's room, Minako frowns. "I think Usagi-chan… is depressed." She recognizes the signs Usagi displayed this time. They are more noticeable than anything she displayed when Mamoru was in America. Or rather, when they thought he was in America but had fallen victim to Sailor Galaxia. It is even worse than when Seiya was injured protecting her from Sailor Tinn Nyanko and wasn't allowed to see him.
"That's natural based on the grief she is experiencing," Yaten comments. He recalls a similar experience when his parents died. When he first arrived on Earth leaving Kinmoku behind and tried desperately to find Kakyuu.
"I want to help Usagi-chan but I don't know how," Minako frowns. "I've never seen her this bad."
Yaten redirects his attention to Minako. "How did she snap out of it before?"
Minako is hesitant. "It was usually with Mamoru-san's help… but more recently… Seiya-kun."
Yaten groans a little in annoyance. "Seiya is part of the reason she is struggling so much. He is going to need time too. If I try to talk to him it's only going agitate him more."
"So… we have to wait for them to figure this out. Maybe tomorrow will be better," Minako tries to sound optimistic.
When Usagi is not in attendance at breakfast the following morning, Queen Kakyuu visits her room. She finds the younger woman lying in bed staring up at the ceiling. This is becoming unhealthy. Usagi hasn't even noticed she entered the bedroom. "You won't recover your strength if you're barely eating," Queen Kakyuu gestures as she stands on the side of Usagi's bed.
"I've tried… but it's hard. I can only force myself so much…" Usagi murmurs, not taking her eyes off the ceiling and how the mid-morning light bounces in from the windows.
"Loss is difficult…" Queen Kakyuu pauses thinking of her beloved. She stops herself from saying more. She keeps hoping one day he will return home. "I couldn't imagine what it would be like to lose a child."
Usagi stiffens a little but does not respond.
"Times like this, it is important to lean on the support of those that care about you the most to help ease the pain."
Usagi sits up to look at Queen Kakyuu. "You mean Seiya." She exhales as her shoulders slump. "I don't want to see him."
"Yet he is the first person you thought of it." Queen Kakyuu challenges her.
Usagi looks down.
"What about the others?"
Usagi shakes her head no. "They can't help… no one can help." Her voice is barely above a whisper. "I can't bring Chibi Usa back." She shuts her eyes tightly. She hates acknowledging this fact, "she was never supposed to exist in this timeline since Crystal Tokyo will never be created."
The image of the white haired girl with light blue highlights comes to her mind, watching the little girl gleefully run into Seiya's arms. "And that future is probably gone too." She doesn't see a way to get past this.
"Which future…?" Queen Kakyuu does not completely follow Usagi.
Usagi avoids directly answering her question. "Seiya doesn't trust me."
"He's been struggling since you left." She pauses to look at Usagi. She doesn't dare mention what she had seen with Oracle in regards to Usagi's future. She's too fragile right now. "It's difficult to see the two of you like this… when you love each other so much." She pauses thinking how much she would cherish the chance to see her beloved again. "You'll talk when you are ready. But in the meantime, can you eat something?" She never imagined she would have to ask Usagi to eat food.
Usagi eventually nods her head.
"I can have something specially prepared for you."
A smile tugs at the corners of her mouth but tells the Queen it is okay; she'll eat whatever is brought to her room for lunch.
Creator, Protector, Maker, and Healer wrapped up a training session with the Starlights in training. Sailor Star Striker is out on a recon mission with her team on a nearby planet. There were rumors of lost starseeds.
"I am surprised Destroyer was not here for this session," Maker comments as she brushes a towel against her forehead. They didn't ask Seiya to join them due to his foul mood from not being able to speak to Usagi.
"She's going to the mines soon and is trying to figure out the best way to train them and not mess up the mines at the same time. The planet needs building materials. But they have to be useable. Normally Striker would do this but she's not here. The builder can't wait until she is back either."
Healer places the cap back on the water bottle. "Striker seems to be doing less training than I remember."
"The change started when we received the Kinmokian Blossoms. We tend to stay closer the palace. The missions we would have done for a few days are given to the other senshi." Sailor Star Creator explains to the other two Starlights.
Sailor Star Protector frowns. "Shiori has been really distracted lately. I'm not sure if she should be the one training the new senshi in the mines."
"Why is that?" Sailor Star Maker asks while discarding the towel into a bin nearby.
"I'm sure the Council Meeting and the ruling stirred things back up. I thought she was past it," Protector continues.
Her words only further confuse Healer and Maker."Past what?" Healer turns her attention to the olive haired senshi.
Protector seems surprised by Healer's question. "You know… what happened between Shiori and Seiya-san."
Maker is determined to get to the bottom of this. "What happened between them?"
Sailor Star Protector's mouth opens slightly in surprise. She realizes her mistake too late. She had assumed they already knew. "Oh...um… you know...it was nothing really…" She tries to play it off.
Maker is not going to let it go that easily when it could affect her teammate. "No it's not nothing…" She hesitates recalling when Seiya and Shiori seem to argue more. It all started shortly before they returned to Earth due to the Prophecy. "Does this have to do with the night Seiya drank too much?" She knew Seiya did something he regrets but would never discuss the matter.
Healer moves closer to Protector trying to intimidate her even though they are around the same height. "What did he do?"
Sailor Star Protector grimaces, there is no way to escape it now, she already said too much. "Umm… well… I guess it doesn't matter anymore since the laws changed."
Sailor Star Maker and Sailor Star Healer continue to stare at Sailor Star Protector waiting for her to continue.
"So… Shiori and Seiya-san kind of made out and nearly crossed the line but didn't and Shiori's been really mad since because she's still totally in love with Seiya-san," Sailor Protector speaks really fast as she gives her explanation. "And this big fight between Usagi-san and Seiya-san is not helping." She adds at the last moment.
Healer slowly closes her eyes shaking her head side to side. "That explains why they started arguing all the time."
"Now Rei-chan's comment from the tour makes sense about their argument," Maker recalls.
"That could have gotten him in so much trouble," Healer mutters and looks at Maker. "Not to mention what it could have done to us. Starlights are always teams of three on active duty." Her eyes narrow. "It's time to pay Seiya a visit. I don't care how moody he is." Her bright lime green eyes displaying her frustration.
Yaten and Taiki stand outside Seyia's door for a few minutes before they knock. "At least we know what happened. He really did do something stupid."
Taiki corrects him, "he almost did something really stupid."
"Oh no, he still did something stupid getting involved with Shiori-chan," Yaten pauses to think how different his life almost was. "Could you image if…. we would have been disbanded? Seiya would have lost his Change Star." He thinks of Mina. "Everyone might still be dead after battling Queen Beryl… if not Chaos… Fighter never would have been there to help her."
"The Oracle's vision probably saved him," Taiki recalls when they were summoned by Princess Kakyuu to return to Earth after being shown the premonition.
Yaten doesn't want to think about it anymore. He never would have seen Mina again. He knocks on the door loudly. Ready to tell Seiya what an idiot he is. After not hearing a response in five seconds, he bangs at the door this time. "Why didn't he tell us?"
"For the same reason he tried to hide the nature of his relationship with Usagi-chan. We would have had to report it. Or worse, he could have been caught. If we are unaware of his actions we might not have been banished but remaining as Starlights is a different matter."
"This place has so many rules that just cause problems," Yaten grumbles.
Seiya finally opens the door to see his cousins standing there rather annoyed.
The first comment out of Yaten's mouth, "you really are an idiot you know that?"
"That's why you're bothering me?" Seiya asks in a bored tone. He's been called an idiot by him a lot in the past couple of years. It doesn't faze him anymore.
Taiki clears his throat. "We just had an interesting conversation with Yuna-chan and Sakura-chan about the night you drank too much."
Seiya looks down a little. He knew this conversation was going to take place at some point he just didn't know when. "That doesn't matter anymore."
"The law might have changed recently… but your actions predate it and you kept it from us," Taiki points out, his irritation at Seiya's flippant remarks.
"You should have told us," Yaten cuts off Taiki.
Seiya challenges them back. "Why? Nothing really happened and I wasn't going to risk losing my Change Star for no reason." He pauses, thinking about the conversation he had with Usagi in Brazil. "I wasn't going to do anything to jeopardize a chance for me to go back to Earth. Besides I didn't want to talk about something that wasn't important."
Taiki gives Seiya a look to convey he needs to take this seriously. "It is clear it was important to Shiori-chan based on how she acted right be we left for Earth. It makes sense why the two of you were always arguing but neither wanted to discuss it."
"You just like to cause problems with a fellow senshi regardless of what planet you're on," Yaten retorts. "I wouldn't be surprised if this change in the law only stirs things up with Shiori-chan since you and Usagi-chan are fighting."
"If only she would get tired of rejection…" Seiya gripes.
Yaten smirks. "You were never tired of rejection when it came to Usagi-chan."
"This is different. My hearts belongs to Odango. It could never belong to Shiori-chan," Seiya counters. His words cause a long pause in their conversation for several moments.
"You didn't want to risk your Change Star… yet that is exactly what you did on Earth with Usagi-chan. If she wasn't a Queen, you would no longer be a senshi," Taiki points out the contradiction.
"I will risk anything for her," Seiya reminds them.
Yaten throws his hands up in the air in frustration, "and now she won't even talk to you." Seiya's response makes Yaten feel uncomfortable as he tries to avoid acknowledging he would do the same for Mina.
Seiya glares at Yaten for a moment before responding. "I'm going to talk to her again soon. I know we can get past this…. What I said when I was angry…" he tries to display confidence but sounds less so the longer he speaks.
"Given the circumstances, your anger was normal," Yaten interjects. "If it wasn't for Sailor Pluto this never would have happened." He imagines he would have acted similar.
Taiki is more concerned about something else. "We should have figured something would be different. Even if we had no way of knowing what would be different." He conveys his most troubling thought. "What's to stop Pluto from doing something like this again?"
Usagi clutches the pillow closer to her chest as she lies in bed. A soft breeze blows the curtains into the room from the nearby balcony in her guestroom at the Scarlet Palace. Her eyes are shut tightly asking herself for the umpteenth time if she made a mistake coming here. She should have understood the true meaning of the premonitions she had seen prior to her arrival on Kinmoku. Maybe she should have listened to what Serenity was trying to tell her. Why being with Seiya would cause so many issues. But she was too stubborn; never imaging something like this would ever be a possibility. She loves the Starlight too much.
Her cheek is wet. She releases the death grip on the pillow and realizes she was silently crying this entire time. How long has she been crying? It doesn't matter. She forces herself to sit upright drying her eyes, pushing her long blonde hair out of the way. She still hasn't bothered to put them up in her trademark hair style since she returned a few days ago.
She lets out a sigh when she hears a knock on the door. Probably one of the attendants to let her know lunch is ready. Maybe she should eat. She missed breakfast this morning because she refused to get up or accept the food that was brought to her. She thinks back to the promise she made to Queen Kakyuu a few hours ago she would eat.
She clears her throat before answering. "Come in," her voice is hoarser than she imagined. She reaches for the night table to take a few sips of water. Hearing footsteps she looks up expecting to see Rose. It's Seiya. She nearly drops the glass. She quickly places it back on the table. Her eyes remain on the floor, she can't look at him.
"Odango… we need to talk," Seiya speaks softly, not sure how to approach her after their last conversation.
"…" Usagi bites her tongue.
"I know you're mad, but—"
"Mad?" Usagi cuts him off, her eyes looking up at him, finally acknowledging his presence. "Why wouldn't I be angry? You didn't believe me! You won't even listen to me. You had already made up your mind what kind of person I am," she stares at him in the eyes.
Seiya can see the storm brewing in her eyes. "What was I supposed to think? Anyone in my position would think the same thing." He lashes back. He regrets his words as soon as they leave his mouth, a feeling becoming too common. She was still hurt after their argument a few days ago and learning the child was Chibi Usa only made everything worse for her. For both of them.
She stands up, looking up at him. Her voice is quiet. "How could you think so little of me?" Tears fall down her cheeks. She was trying so hard to stop the tears but they just won't end. "…so little of us?" Her voice is barely above a whisper. "That I would actually do that to you…"
Seiya clenches his fists trying so hard to not close the distance between them and hug her tightly. He learned the other day it will only upset her more. "I'm sorry Odango; I never wanted things to turn out this way. I never meant—"
She cuts him off again. "You meant what you said. After all this time, you still don't trust me. Why do you keep thinking I would run back to Mamo-chan so fast after all we've been through?" Her voice wavers as she can feel another surge of anger coursing through her. "I believed you when you said nothing else happened with Shiori-chan, and you couldn't believe me?" Her hands are clasped tightly together across her chest, trying to keep it together.
"That was something entirely different," Seiya counters. "Completely different than-"
Usagi cuts him off the final time. "You need to leave." She snaps at him. "You just don't understand."
Seiya inhales sharply. He wants to stay and work this out with her. "Then help me to understand."
"This isn't just about us…" Usagi is on the verge of breaking down. "I lost Chibi Usa… and I can never get her back. Not with the Ginzuishou… her starseed can't be returned like the others after fighting Chaos… I…"
A bright flash catches his eyes when he sees the eight pearl rings on Usagi's fingers glowing. Given how out of control she was a few days ago, it is better he respects her wishes. "… we can talk... when you're ready." He responds dejectedly. He looks at her one more time and notices the eight pointed star on her forehead shining as well. His mere presence is angering her, the last thing he wants to cause. It is a repeat of a few days ago.
More than anything he wants to comfort her and tell her everything will be alright but he's not sure anymore. Instead he withdraws, "I'll come back another time."
Usagi nods her head in acknowledgement. She watches his retreating back. She picks up the pillow she clutched so tightly to her chest and threw it at the door after Seiya leaves. She breathes deeply before collapsing to her knees, wailing as the tears refuse to stop. Seiya's remarks toward her after the miscarriage are only part of the problem. How does she cope with losing Chibi Usa? A child that is not supposed to exist fathered by her ex in a world that never stood a chance the moment she became Sailor Cosmos and chose Seiya?
Her eyes are shut tightly as she wonders how all of this could happen. How did she not realize she was pregnant when she returned from the other timeline? How could she misinterpret so many premonitions? She should have questioned more what she had seen. All these questions gnaw at her. Everything fell apart so fast since she returned from the Galaxy Cauldron. It was like she didn't have a moment to breathe. This wasn't supposed to happen. The future that she had seen, was that all a lie? Did she imagine it and wished it was a premonition of a happier future? How can she work things out with Seiya if he doesn't trust her?
Seiya can hear her sobs outside of her room as he leans against the door. He hates there is nothing he can do to take away her pain. What happened cannot be undone. Are they really over? She's angry at him, angry at herself, and the senshi she could have killed the other day when she attacked out of uncontrollable rage. Thank goodness the other senshi where there to stop her. Is this how it starts? What it looks like when Sailor Cosmos loses control?
No. He won't let it happen. He is going to find a way to help her after she's had time to grieve the loss of her daughter.
Daughter. That one word fills his mind with the premonition she had once shared with him having a daughter in the future. His eyebrows furrow. He doesn't want this event to take away that future with her. His shoulders slump. So this is how Mamoru feels.
Ami stands next to her brown haired classmate. He lets out a small content sigh. "I'm glad I was able to move back here. I didn't realize how much I missed Tokyo." Mentally he adds Ami to the list as well. "Talking in person is not the same as writing letters." He adds instead.
Ami blushes slightly. I'm glad you were able to keep in touch. I know it's been difficult at times… when our lives are rather different."
"I haven't seen any of the girls yet," He adds thinking of the last time he had seen them. They were protecting him from the enemy.
Ami lowers her voice a little. "They have been really busy and I haven't been able to see them much either," Ami admits. She brightens a little. "Usagi-chan's birthday is coming up so we've all cleared our schedules for the day."
He nods his head. "That's great. I can tell the past few weeks you've really missed them."
Ami thinks back to the last time the five of them were together at the Art exhibit. She had last seen Usagi, Rei, and Makoto only a few days ago when she learned about Usagi's miscarriage. Something she doesn't dare tell anyone. She gaps looking at a clock in the hallway realizing class is about to start. "We have to go or the only seats available will be the ones in the back."
Usagi remained in her room the rest of yesterday. This morning she realizes she can't stay in this room another day. She needs to leave. Sometime late last night she was thinking about the information she learned from Sailor Galaxia and Queen Kakyuu regarding where starseeds will go when they burn out. She needs to learn as much as she can about the Galaxy Cauldron.
If the starseed travels to the cauldron to be reborn, maybe there is way she can save Chibi Usa. Is her starseed already there? She knows she is still too weak to travel to the Galaxy Cauldron on her own. She needs to gain her strength back and in the meantime learn as much as can. This new goal is what motivates her to get up.
She places the last clips in her hair, finally putting her hair up in her trademark style. She pauses to look at her reflection in the mirror. She appears exhausted but at least her eyes are no longer red. The pain is still there in her eyes. That won't just disappear. She was glad a black dress was left for her to represent her mourning for whenever she was ready to leave her room.
Glancing at the clock she confirms everyone is still eating breakfast. If she's surrounded by the others, she's hoping Seiya will leave her alone. She needs to ask Queen Kakyuu about the cauldron and it would be easiest to ask over breakfast.
Usagi walks slowly down the hallway. Her appearance did cause a few stares but she ignores them as she continues to her destination. Her stomach protesting loudly for some much needed food. The palace is slowing starting to become more familiar to her.
She pauses for a moment outside of the open doorway. She takes a deep breath and closes her eyes before she ventures inside. Her return caused the conversation in the room to die down.
Minako recovers first. "I'm so glad to see you this morning!" She greets her with extra enthusiasm. She is sitting at the end of one side of the table with Yaten and Taiki. The Queen's Guard are across from them and Queen Kakyuu is at head of the table. To her relief, Seiya is absent. Usagi sits down on the empty seat next to Taiki. There is one empty seat to her right. She hopes it remains that way throughout the meal. She not sure if she can face him yet.
"How are you feeling this morning, Usagi-san?" Queen Kakyuu greets her warmly.
"A little better…" Usagi responds looking at the empty plate in front of her. This is her chance before food arrives. She looks up at Queen Kakyuu. "Is there any way I can speak with Hikaru-san? I wanted to ask her more about the Galaxy Cauldron."
Queen Kakyuu had expected this question sooner or later. "I'm sorry but she is currently away." She is at the Galaxy Cauldron looking for Chibi Usa's starseed today but she doesn't want to give this information to Usagi until they find something. "The information I have about the Cauldron is rather vague." This statement is true. She knows its location and that it is home to starseeds waiting to be reborn.
"Is there anything in the archives?" Taiki suggests. Very few have access to the materials due their sensitive nature and age.
Queen Kakyuu presses her lips together. The Three Lights do not have access to the achieves but are more fluent in Japanese than some of the scholars. Starlights normally do not access to such materials. Accept one. She looks over at Shiori. Her special ability is the gift of language. She has already mastered six languages, including Japanese. She is able to learn them and pick them up quickly. She was given access to research special projects for the Queen directly. Giving someone else special permission would cause too much of an uproar. "Shiori."
Shiori looks over at her Queen. "Yes, Your Majesty?"
"You are the only one at this table to with privileges to the archives. I'm sure your gift of language would be beneficial to Usagi-san to help her learn about the Cauldron."
Shiori smiles at the Queen's praise as she tries to hide her uneasiness at the thought of spending the day with Usagi in a library. But on the upside she will gain a lot of information on the Galaxy Cauldron as well. "Of course." She turns to look at Usagi. "We can start after breakfast today. My schedule is free until training in the late afternoon." She shifts uncomfortably in her seat.
Usagi is slightly taken aback. She had not planned on spending an entire day with the lavender haired woman across the table. "Umm... sure. That would be great." She assumes Queen Kakyuu is too busy to help her. She just wishes it was anyone but Shiori. She mentally tells herself to keep it together. It is one afternoon. She can handle it.
Yaten exchanges a glance with Taiki but they do not speak.
Yuna and Sakura share a similar expression.
Before anyone is able to add anything else, breakfast arrives and is placed in front of everyone. The meal begins and all are quiet until the final person arrives.
Seiya immediately walks over to the empty seat on the side of Taiki and pauses when he sees her. She was hidden when he first walked in since Taiki is so much taller than her. His heart races not sure what to say to her in front of everyone. He snaps out of it to greet her. "Hi Odango."
Usagi doesn't look up from her food when she responds back. "Hi."
The tension in the air between the two of them is noticeable by everyone.
Seiya pulls out the chair and sits down next to her. He can see Usagi's body stiffen slightly by his presence this close to her. He attempts to hide the hurt expression on his face by quickly grabbing food with his fork and eating his meal in silence.
Minako takes the opportunity to get everyone's attention off of them. "So… what is everyone doing today?" She asks looking around the table.
Usagi can't help but smile a little at Minako's efforts.
As the meal ends, Shiori rises. "Are you ready Usagi-san?"
Usagi nods her head standing up, thankful for an excuse to get her out of the room faster. The two women make their way to exit the room, Usagi following a few steps behind Shiori.
Seiya leans over to Taiki to whisper, "where are they going?"
"Shiori-chan is going to help Usagi-chan look up information regarding the Galaxy Cauldron in the archives since she is the only one available with access," Taiki explains without skipping beat.
Seiya tear drops. "This is not going to end well…"
Yaten nods his head on the other side of Taiki in agreement.
Seiya looks back over to door but the two women are already gone.
Shiori and Usagi arrive at the library. Shiori greets the librarian and is given a key to access the achieves. The elder woman looks at Usagi briefly and asks Shiori in Kinmokian, "Is that Sailor Cosmos, the one that cause all that damage recently?"
Shiori responds, with a grin knowing Usagi doesn't understand the language. "She keeps causing trouble but she'll be leaving soon. She's lucky she is a guest of the Queen's."
The two women do not notice the frown that appears Usagi's face during their conversation.
"Well, thank you. I'll probably be stuck with her until later in the day," Shiori turns to Usagi and switches back to Japanese. "Right this way." She leads Usagi past dozens of bookcases until they arrive in a corner room. Shiori opens the door. "Go ahead and sit down. I have to pull books from the back and it might take a little while I find the right ones."
Before Usagi can offer to help, Shiori already walked out of the room, mumbling something in Kinmokian under her breath.
Usagi sighs and sits down in a tall desk chair at the table. The backing is high and she leans her head back closing her eyes. She can't do anything at this point but wait for Shiori to return with the materials.
The purple haired woman smiles at the tarot card. Everything is going better than expected. The Guardian is where she needs her to be, upset, angry, and it is only a matter of time until she grows careless. She is waiting for her to return the cauldron.
The location is one of the best kept secrets, even a mystery to her.
She curses the weakening seal still preventing her from being able to move freely from this dimension permanently. The cauldron will serve as a bridge between the two worlds.
She will find the location and a way to bend Sailor Cosmos to her will. She smiles at three senshi before her. "Get ready, a new era will begin soon. Gather the other senshi."
She beams. The next Sailor War is swiftly approaching, but it won't be over who is the next Sailor Cosmos, but rather would can strip her of her powers first. She knows the perfect candidate to distract the senshi. She will extinguish the Guardian's light.
The three senshi bow before her and depart.
Usagi's head nods slightly. The sound of Shiori placing a stack of books on the table in front of her wakes her up. She didn't even realize she fell asleep.
Shiori keeps everything very professional. "I'm not too familiar with the topic of the Galaxy Cauldron, which is expected. Normally I would never see these materials but it is at Queen Kakyuu's request. It will take me a moment to look at the books as we go along and see what I can find and translate for you."
Usagi looks at Shiori surprised. "Queen Kakyuu mentioned you are good with languages? It sounds like each Starlight… as their own unique ability."
"That's correct," Shiori confirms. "I can translate faster than everyone else." She pauses for a moment to brag. "If I wasn't a senshi, I would have been a scholar. But then again being a senshi and a translator for Queen Kakyuu is very beneficial." Her eyes lower to the book in front of her, scanning the table of contents. She pauses, thinking about the last time she was in this room with someone from Earth asking for help with research. "How is Prince Endymion? Did he find the crystal or the remains of the Golden Kingdom he was looking for?"
Usagi flinches slightly at hearing his name. She doesn't know how much Shiori knows and keeps her answers simple. "King Endymion found both."
Shiori's eyes widen. "…King?" It takes her a moment to compose herself. "It seems like everyone's titles kept changing." Her voice becomes more condescending. "A lot of things change but some continue to stay the same." She returns to the book flipping to the next page.
The Guardian looks at Shiori with a questioning glance to determine what she is implying. "Like what?"
Shiori looks up directly at Usagi. "You keep hurting him." Her statement comes across as a challenge.
Usagi narrows her eyes into slits at Shiori's remark. She knew sooner or later Shiori would say something to her. She doesn't have the patience for her, even if she is a member of the Queen's Guard. "I would rather look at the books alone."
Shiori snorts at Usagi's request. "How? You don't understand our language."
Usagi reaches for a book from the stack in front of Shiori. She assumes she can read the language if she can speak it. Just like how she relearned Lunarian. Opening the book, she flips to the introduction chapter. She looks at the text for a moment and is relieved she can understand it; it is just going to take her a while. She looks back up at Shiori directly in the eye and with a small smile starts to read the paragraph slowly in Kinmokian. It's not perfect but enough to send a clear message.
Shiori's jaw drops. She stares at Usagi as she continues to read the passage.
Usagi finishes the paragraph and looks up to find Shiori still staring at her in disbelief.
She finally closes her mouth, trying to regain her composure. Why did Queen Kakyuu want her to help Usagi? "When did you learn to read and speak our language?"
"Around the same time I learned you tried to force yourself on Seiya when he drank too much." Usagi responds closing the book and placing it in front of her.
Shiori's eyes flash with resentment, shouting, "I didn't force anything!" She exhales loudly trying to refocus herself. She forces herself to speak calmly. It wasn't a coincidence Cosmos' staff burned her. Two can play this game. "He was enjoying himself quite a bit until that pesky law forced us to stop. We almost didn't stop… because it was so... pleasurable." She smiles widely, knowing exactly how to push Usagi's buttons, testing to see if things were over between her and Seiya. "Good thing that law is no longer a barrier and we can pick up where we left off."
"He'll never choose you," Usagi snaps back, surprised at her level of anger given the current state of her relationship with Seiya. Shiori's comments ignite her jealousy. She knows one thing for certain; she doesn't want to see Seiya with the woman sitting across from her. Seiya is hers.
Shiori smirks, knowing she hit a nerve. "You sure about that?" She learns forward a little, emphasizing their height difference to talk down to Usagi. "I've never hurt him like you have." She pushes further. "Who do you think he's been spending his extra time with since you refuse to see him?" She is exaggerating but Usagi doesn't need to know. "Who do you think… has been comforting him?" She grins at the fury that flashes across Usagi's face.
"I… don't believe you," Usagi responds, her voice lacking the confidence she had earlier.
"You'll never fit in," Shiori continues. "You actually thought Seiya-san would just abandon his duties here as a senshi? To his true Queen?"
"You don't know what you're talking about!" Usagi yells at Shiori, an eight point star glowing on her forehead. "If that is what you really think, you don't know Seiya at all!"
Shiori takes a step to the door, fully aware of what the Guardian is capable of. "You only know the version of Seiya-san from Earth. He," Shiori pauses to emphasize her point and corrects herself. "She had an entirely different life before you met her. She has happy serving Kinmoku before you came along and ruined it. Are you forgetting all the years Seiya-san lived as a woman? If it wasn't for you, that would have been the form Fighter would remain in. But all you've done is confuse Seiya-san."
Usagi tries to respond but her words fail her. She has always known Seiya had given up a lot to for her to remain on Earth.
Without another word, Shiori leaves the room while she still has the upper hand.
Twenty minutes later Shiori finally finds Seiya with Taiki and Yaten. She has one question for Seiya. "Why didn't you tell me?" She demands with an annoyed expression.
Seiya raises a confused eyebrow at her. "Tell you what?" It could mean one of hundreds of things.
"That Usagi-san speaks and reads Kinmokian."
Seiya's eyebrows rise even higher with a baffled expression, "she doesn't." What the heck is Shiori talking about?
"Bullshit!" Shiori yells at him. "She just picked up a book and read it to me!" She withdrawals a little when she notices Taiki and Yaten are staring at Shiori, flabbergasted.
"….she what….?" Seiya slowly speaks, trying to process this new information.
Based on how the others are reacting, she believes Seiya. "Well, I guess there are still a lot of things she's keeping from you." She stops herself before she says anything else in front of Taiki and Yaten. This was a conversation she needed to have alone with Seiya. She'll have to wait until later. "Since she didn't want my help, I'm going to prepare for my training session later." She quickly exits, plotting her next move.
Yaten turns to Taiki and Seiya. "When did she learn our language? You don't just suddenly know how to speak another language."
Seiya is about to respond when everything starts to fall into place. "It must have happened when she held my Change Star in Peru."
Taiki looks at Seiya for a moment before he nods his head. "It was a similar process for her to learn Lunarian."
"I need to talk to her," Seiya makes his way to the door.
"You won't be able to if she's in the library looking at materials from the archive. We don't have access to that," Taiki cautions him.
Seiya pauses and sighs loudly in frustration. He can only image what Shiori said to Usagi. "I hate this."
Usagi missed lunch due to still reading in the library. After lunch, Seiya wanted to be left alone and went to his room. Taiki leaves with Queen Kakyuu. Yuna and Sakura rush off to enjoy some rare free time since Shiori said she didn't need them for training.
A very tense Yaten walks next to Minako. It's time he told her everything and guides her into his room.
"There are a few things we need to talk about," he starts, gesturing for her to sit down at the table.
Minako doesn't like how the conversation is beginning and looks at him skeptically. Everything has been going so well, hasn't it? "Ahh…"
"I was worried about what would happen at the Council Meeting and how it would… it might… affect us," Yaten finally starts to explain. He's not sure how much Usagi spoke with Minako about the laws on Kinmoku, or rather what the laws used to be. A conversation he has tried to avoid with Mina for as long as possible.
Minako looks at him not following everything. "Usagi-chan hasn't really told me much about the meeting… the three of you are exempt from some rules. I know it's a big deal…. Am I missing something? Why would it affect us?"
"Because we're both senshi," Yaten starts to explain.
"And so are Usagi-chan and Seiya-kun," Minako turns her head slightly to the side, trying to understand what Yaten is trying to say.
"We both have our own set of responsibilities…" Yaten tries to figure out how to explain this while tip toeing around what makes a relationship forbidden. He really doesn't want to have to say it out loud.
"… don't we have the same responsibilities now? We protect the Earth and Usagi-chan?"
"That is now what I'm trying to say!" Yaten snaps.
Minako pauses to stare at him. It's been a while since he snapped at her. "Then what are you trying to say?" She huffs back. Is Yaten trying to end things with her?
"…. Umm… let's just say before the law changed… senshi were not supposed to be involved with each other on Kinmoku," Yaten explains in a rush.
Minako grins, enjoying seeing Yaten squirm. "Yeah, Usagi-chan told me about the forbidden relationship part before she went to the Galaxy Cauldron. I've been waiting to see how long it would take for you to tell me."
A vein appears above Yaten's head. "Why didn't you say anything?"
"Like how you told me?" Minako asks innocently.
Yaten tear drops. "I didn't realize how big of a deal it was to even start a relationship with another senshi…" He grumbles.
"Well it's a good thing that the rule changed then!" Minako flashes him a victory sign. Her face turns bright red seconds later as she thinks about what part of the rule changed. She was not ready for that. Things were still too new with Yaten to rush to that part.
She clears her throat to remove some of the awkwardness. "I think it is a good thing the rules changed. But I guess I never thought about how you'd feel to be considered a guest at your former home." Minako pauses. Was Kinmoku his former home? Or is he just visiting Earth? "I mean… or is Kinmoku your home and you're just visiting Earth?" This has nagged her for a while.
Yaten turned away from Minako, not wanting to look at her. "I don't know any more." He responds honestly. "If it was up to Taiki we would have been back here already despite-". He stops himself before finishing the sentence with Queen Kakyuu's request to keep an eye on Sailor Cosmos.
"Despite…?" Minako leans in closer to Yaten.
"Ummm… us being asked to help you," he quickly recovers. He can't tell her why they were so interested if Usagi's powers became unstable was a personal request from Queen Kakyuu. But based on the new laws passed… which Queen was he supposed to be loyal to? Will it put him at odds with Minako down the road?
Minako leans back in the chair. "This has to be so confusing for you. I'm sorry, I didn't consider it…"
Yaten brushes a few bangs out of Minako's eyes and while he stands in front of her. "It is confusing at times. But I'm not confused about how I feel about you." The words rushed out of him before he realized he even said them. He doesn't want her to leave, leaning in to kiss her and reassure her. His hands shift to her shoulders, pulling her closer to him.
Minako leans forward more and the action causes her to lose her balance and fall forward into Yaten, knocking both of them to floor, Minako landing on top of Yaten.
She doesn't move for a moment and then realizes the position she landed in and immediately scrambles off of him, her face bright red.
Minako is not the only one blushing. Yaten tries to hide it by playing with his own bangs, trying to think of something to end this awkwardness. "So… did you want to walk around the palace or something so it looks more familiar?"
Minako stands up slowly. "I should check on Usagi-chan."
"If she's still in the library you won't be allowed in since you don't have access. None of us do." He pauses. Shiori was the one that has permission but then she was kicked out. How did that work? "Did you know she speaks Kinmokian?"
Minako stares at Yaten. "Don't be silly!" He's serious. "We haven't really talked a lot in the past few days." She frowns.
Yaten shrugs. "I'm guessing it's recent since she never really heard Kinmokian until she came to the palace?" Yaten tries to cheer up Minako.
Minako is about to respond when a piece of clothing catches her eye in Yaten's closet which he left the door open. "You have one too?" She runs over to the closet pulling out the emerald qipao.
"Well… yeah… that is what all the Starlights wore… for formal events when you're not guarding Queen Kakyuu," Yaten didn't see why it such a big deal.
"So… you did wear dresses…" Minako is trying to picture Yaten in a dress.
"All the time. We all did. We had a rather different life until we went to Earth," Yaten reminds her.
Minako grins. "I want to see you wear this dress! It would go great with your eyes!"
Yaten looks at the qipao and then back to Minako. He has no idea how he was going get himself out of this.
Taiki finishes relaying his report to Queen Kakyuu regarding their time on Earth and recent events. "Given the circumstances of the Council's recent rule change… I have to ask, do we no longer serve Kinmoku?" He is trying to understand what kind of plans he should make.
Queen Kakyuu does not provide him the direct answer he was hoping for. "You will also serve Kinmoku. I would like to continue to be briefed until we know Usagi-san will not be a risk of losing control of her powers. You've seen the state of the medical wing."
"That could take a while given how things are. She seems to be struggling even more," Taiki frowns, considering one other issue. "That would become even more difficult if things are over between Seiya and Usagi-chan." He pauses, wanting a frank answer, "If she does end the relationship with Seiya, then what?" He thinks back to the conversation with Queen Kakyuu from last year. "The reason we are on Earth is because of how Seiya feels about Usagi-chan."
Queen Kakyuu gives him a reassuring smile. "We will worry about that if it happens. Usagi-san needs some time to sort everything out. She has experienced a great loss."
They are interrupted by a knock at the door, it's Shiori.
"I'm sorry for the intrusion," Shiori apologies to the Queen. "I need to discuss a matter regarding training the new senshi in the mines."
Queen Kakyuu is surprised by her appearance. "You're already done with Usagi-san?"
Shiori gives a questioning glance to Taiki wondering why he didn't tell Queen Kakyuu. She tries to keep her anger in. "Usagi-san made it clear I wasn't need. She apparently speaks Kinmokian."
Queen Kakyuu loses her nearly calm composure. "When did this happen?"
Shiori shrugs her shoulders.
Taiki addresses Shiori. "After you left, we think we figured out when that change occurred." He turns to face Queen Kakyuu as he continues, "There was a moment on Earth where Usagi-chan was holding Seiya's Change Star and one of her abilities activated without her realizing it, the one with object memory." He pauses, wondering the answer to his next statement. "I can only imagine what she seen… of Fighter's memories while in possession of the Change Star."
Shiori shakes her head slightly with a scowl. "That's how she found out."
"Found out what?" Taiki asks, not understanding what Shiori is referring to.
"Nothing," Shiori quickly responds. She changes the topic of discussion. "I came here to see if I could ask Fighter to assist me training the senshi in the mines." She takes the defensive to justify her request. "The new senshi need to learn aim and accuracy. Fighter is excellent at both. I think it would also help her blow off some steam."
Queen Kakyuu looks at Taiki for a moment to gage his reaction before she answers. "Only if Fighter agrees."
Shiori smiles and nods. "Of course, I wouldn't have it any other way."
Taiki picks up on Shiori's mood immediately after hearing the story from Yuna and Sakura earlier today. "You know that Seiya… is in a rather vulnerable state… I would hope you do not take advantage of that, especially using your new position." He eyes her cautiously.
Shiori narrows her eyes for being spoken to in that manner about the person she loves the most. She would never take advantage of Seiya. She is tired of people thinking that. "I don't know what you're implying. I had thought the three of you wanted to help out Kinmoku while you're here." She turns to bow to the Queen Kakyuu before she leaves.
Queen Kakyuu sighs loudly. "The two of them are so alike at times." She shakes her head. She refocuses her attention to Taiki. "How are you adjusting to Earth?"
"It is okay… but it is not Kinmoku," Taiki slowly responds. He's stuck. He's doesn't quite fit in on Earth and the longer he is away from here, the more difficult it becomes when they visit the Scarlet Palace.
She starts to pry. "Yaten and Minako-chan were a surprise."
"Yes. They even tried to keep it a secret for a while," Taiki comments recalling the steps they took.
Queen Kakyuu decides on a more direct approach. "Have you found anyone?"
"No," Taiki immediately responds.
She tries to approach the subject carefully. "It might be good for you to learn to open up to others. I know it was an adjustment for everyone to refer to you as Taiki-kun and to use chan when addressing the other girls." She doesn't give Taiki a chance to respond. "You've struggled the most with returning to Earth. I was hoping that would have changed since I've seen you. It can be very lonely by yourself."
Taiki can see the faraway look in Queen Kakyuu's eyes. "Is there any new information regarding Prince Akio?"
Queen Kakyuu sadly shakes her head no. "There was a possible lead but nothing was found. The Starlights have searched for him as you know since the original attack by Chaos. But he is still missing," she is on the verge of breaking down. "I've tried to make peace with his starseed being one of the "lost starseeds". Too many families have experienced a similar situation." She recalls the last time she seen him. He protected her when Sailor Galaxia attacked the planet. He shielded her. Right before he died, he made her promise she would flee Kinmoku and find a way to stop Chaos, to search for the Light of Hope. It was a code they used for Sailor Cosmos.
She closes her eyes. "I've replayed that moment countless times in my mind. Chaos took his starseed; he didn't turn into a phage. I keep hoping one day he will return… but it's becoming harder as each day passes. What could have happened to him and the other missing starseeds?"
Excellent questions Queen Kakyuu. But you won't know the answer for a while longer.
Seiya keeps striking out with Usagi. He might have some more luck in the next chapter. _~
Anyone else think Shiori is up to something? Wait for it. To be posted on 9/21. Act 75: I just want to see you Happy Again.
Some typos found while editing this chapter.
Intimate and intimidate are two very different words!
"We should have figured something would be different. Even if we had no walking of knowing what would be different."
"How is Princess Endymion? Did he find the crystal or the remains of the Golden Kingdom he was looking for?"
"I'm guessing it's recent since its now like she really heard Kinmokian until she came to the palace?"