Untitled- Seiya's bday Gift

Idly his fingers played over the steel strings. His ears barely noted the music resounding from his fingertips and the guitar. A peaceful calm was surrounding him as he strummed out more notes, creating a new plot to the song.

A door opened and voices suddenly burst the cloud of peace that had comforted him. Sighing softly, he cut the song off mid-note. He'd not be able to return to the song again, it was one of his that he came up with in times of much-needed calm. He stood and placed the guitar back in its case and then turned to face his roommates. They were in the kitchen and preparing a snack.

"I'm going for a walk. Be back later," Seiya announced suddenly. Both Taiki and Yaten looked up, startled by the abruptness of the comment - uncharacteristic of Seiya.

As he moved to the door, Yaten swung out of the kitchen and called, "Oi! Seiya? Where'll you go? Seiya?" The door closed without an answer. "Nani-o?" he muttered beneath his breath.

Seiya sighed and moved his way down the street at a steady pace. The sun was warming but not overly so that day. His cap was pulled low over his face which was also covered by his sunglasses. He strolled, not really looking for anything. His thoughts were getting tangled together since the revealing of senshi within the past week.

Thinking of the Earth senshi made his heart twist painfully a bit - and his head ache. He carefully reached a hand up to loosen his cap around his still healing skull. A white bandage peeked from under his red cap since he hadn't been able to convince his two friends to let him take the bandage off yet.

`I don't understand why they blame it on her,' he sighed. But that seemed so typical of Taiki and Yaten. They had to place the blame on someone… they rarely had any cause to even expect themselves for the blame. `But can't they understand?' Perhaps he'd given them too much credit… he had thought something had snapped, leaving them hurt - as he had been - when the inner senshi had transformed on the plane flight. It had been heart wrenching and unbelievable to watch the girls they had only known as Mizuno Ami, Kino Makoto, Aino Minako, Hino Rei, and Tsukino Usagi transform into the senshi they had come to think of as enemies.

He skirted around the park's edge until he spotted the main fountain, then turned in and went to sit on the edge. It was right in that area that he had first spoken to the Odango-ed one known as Usagi. He smirked a bit, remembering how flustered and cute she'd been at their first meeting. She still was a funny little thing… too caring for her own good. Seiya sighed and leaned back on his hands, letting the water mist cover his sunglasses.

"Isn't that Seiya-san?" a familiar voice came hushed from nearby. Seiya wanted to frown but didn't, trying to catch a glimpse of the person from the corner of his eye. Finally he just turned his head and found two girls staring at him. Mizuno Ami, with her short, brilliant blue hair, seemed to be biting her lip in worry. Usagi was a few inches behind her and looking gloomy. The look wasn't at all becoming of her. The blonde dropped her gaze and played with her long hair when Seiya spotted them.

Unsure what to do, Seiya turned his head back and took off his sunglasses to wipe them off. He thought as he went about doing the little chore. Finally he stared at the dark glasses in hand and stuffed them in his pocket while he stood. He cast a weak smile at the two girls. "Koban wa," he greeted from a few feet away.

Ami's eyes seemed as unsure as he felt. Finally she returned the greeting hesitantly. Usagi still stared at her feet, toes making marks in loose bits of dirt along the walkway. Seiya turned his head slightly to keep from looking at her. Thanks to Taiki and Yaten, Usagi was feeling guilty about `getting him hurt'. `What a lie…' he thought bitterly.

"Ami-chan! Usagi-chan!" a singsong voice called across the clearing. Both girls looked in the direction and waved. The blonde even managed a true-looking smile. Seiya noted, then, that behind a few bushes meters ahead of them, two shadowed figures watched him. He recognized the tall, female form with sandy blonde hair easily. Carefully he moved away from Ami and Usagi's presence and walked away. He remembered being warned off. The outers would not tolerate him going near any of the senshi. He did have enough sense not to upset them more than he could handle.

Behind him he could hear the three other companions of Usagi bounding up. Seiya picked up the sound of Rei's voice, asking, "Was that… Seiya-san? What did he say?"

Seiya reached out of earshot and hurried along another park walkway, allowing him to stay in the sun. He finally reached an abandoned bench and took claim to it. After a few minutes he dropped his head hopelessly into his hands. There was such an uncomfortable level between all of them… it was so clear by the way the usually bubbly girls were silent to him and his two roommates.

`But what have I to help?' he asked himself. `There is nothing that I'm capable of - except explaining.' But how was he to explain when he couldn't approach Usagi? She might still listen to him… but… it was so hard to tell. Her attitude today had stung him. She was ashamed, feeling it her fault that he was hurt. `Damn… why must she believe those lies?' He squeezed his eyes shut.

When again he opened his eyes he found himself shadowed by a human figure. He straightened and looked up. Ten'oh Haruka stood before him with one hand on her waist. She glared coldly down at him. "We've told you to stay away. I do suggest you follow that order. We have no problems destroying you."

"Don't confuse our princess in the state she is in," Kaiou Michiru, stepping from being back-to-back with Haruka, continued. "You cause too much distraction for those girls. They have yet to learn to be completely dedicated to their mission. They don't need you for distraction."

Seiya lowered his eyes for a moment and then stood up. He stared Haruka in the eye and shook his head sharply. "No." Both of the older girls' eyes opened wide with astonishment. "No," Seiya repeated, taking a deep breath, "I cannot cut off all contact. Why should I make a vow that I will not keep?"

Haruka took a step forward and began raising a hand. "I'm warning you…" she trailed off, her voice even lower than before. "You will regret going near her."

"What harm am I doing?" Seiya suddenly demanded, getting frustrated with everyone ordering him to do this or that… who to consult with, who to avoid. "She's not senseless. And if she doesn't want to see me, she'll tell me herself! You have no control over her life - it's not yours!" he snapped, knowing that he was past the point of safety.

Without a word, Haruka finished bringing up her hand and backhanded him roughly. He fell on the bench painfully and he grimaced. Michiru stood a bit farther back, her brow knitted with unreadable emotions. "You will not get any chances," Haruka said slowly and icily low, "If I see you near her, I'm not sparing you."

The two girls turned and walked down the path, leaving Seiya to recover himself. He slowly stood up and realized painfully that he had hit the base of his skull hard against the metal back. His lip curled in distaste when he felt the damp and sticky feel at the point of contact. `Skin broke… damn… she's strong.' He winced and carefully stood, running a quick inventory on his body. The rest of him seemed fine, just a bit sore.

He left out a whoosh of breath and pulled off his cap. His hand absently stroked against the bandage wrapping his head. The sound of childhood happiness reached his ears and he inclined his head to the sound. He noted it getting closer and was startled when a little, dark pink-haired girl hugged his leg and grinned happily. She had an ice cream cone in one hand but was luckily not holding it to his leg.

Seiya shook his head with a small smile on his face. He dropped to a crouch beside the girl and looked down the paths. He frowned when he didn't see any of the senshi around the area, they couldn't be getting that careless - could they? Chibi-chibi took a bite from her cone and soon finished it. Her hands were sticky with the melting bits of ice cream still sticking to her. She was too adorably cute and Seiya had to chuckle softly. She looked up at him with wide, innocent eyes and stuck a finger in her mouth as she studied the cap in his hands.

With one hand Chibi-chibi reached out and twitched her fingers at the cap. Seiya smiled. "Want to wear it?" he asked, dropping the cap over her pink hair. It looked funny, the red cap resting largely and awkwardly on the child's head. Chibi-chibi was giggling happily and reached her arms out in Seiya's direction. Her eyes were mostly covered with the visor and so she couldn't see him well.

"C'mon," Seiya told her, picking up the sticky child and putting her on his shoulders. He looked around as he walked, trying to find where those who ought to be looking after the child must be. "Well, Chibi-chibi-chan?" he questioned, wondering what to do.

"Chibi-chibi-chan!" Seiya stopped and turned to face the blonde racing full out towards them. She faltered a bit when she saw him, even though she had guessed his identity previously. "S-Seiya…"

He smiled, trying to keep her relaxed. "Missing something, Odango?" He quirked his lips and attempted to detach Chibi-chibi from his shoulders. She yelled in protest and began to whine. Sighing, Seiya tried again, "Chibi-chibi-chan…" He muttered to himself.

Usagi was watching from the side, biting her lip discreetly to keep from laughing. Finally she couldn't contain it and the laughter bubbled from her lips. Seiya glared playfully at her. "You do realize," he said, "that this… `sister' of yours has me all sticky from that ice cream cone of hers. If I do ever get her off, I need to bathe." As he struggled again with Chibi-chibi, he added, "I don't think I'm getting my cap back either."

"Kneel," Usagi commanded, surpressing the majority of her laughter. Seiya did his best to shrug and did so. "See? Now I can reach her!" She wasn't having much luck either with getting the child to let go of her grip about Seiya. Chibi-chibi began to wail and kicked her feet - Seiya carefully maneuvered his face so he didn't get anymore damage done to him.

Eventually Usagi managed to pull off the protesting Chibi-chibi. As soon as the child was from his shoulders, Seiya stood up and pushed stray hairs behind his ears. Chibi-chibi gripped the cap tightly to her head, guessing that it was the next to go. Seiya shook his head with a faint smile. "Let her keep it, yeesh… didn't know she liked me so."

Usagi grinned and set Chibi-chibi down. The little girl immediately ran to Seiya and began to tug at his pant-leg, demanding he lift her up. "I think she still wants back," Usagi commented.

"What did give that away?" Seiya asked dryly, peering down at the girl jumping at his feet. He moved his gaze back up and he met Usagi's look. She had adjusted moods easily while helping him with Chibi-chibi and he could see that she too felt as if this had been the same as before… He smiled. Hesitantly she did so too.

"You really don't listen, do you?" The voice whipped out like a lash. It slapped against Seiya angrily and even Chibi-chibi felt the hostility for she stopped begging and quickly ran over to Usagi for comfort.

"Stay out of this," the blonde responded with each word pronounced carefully. She was transformed into Sailor Uranus, stance prepared to move to fight at any given second. "Princess, move it. This won't concern you. I warned you!" she hissed at Seiya and stepped forward.

Seiya cursed angrily and spun. "Will you quit it?!" he screamed. "Stop it now! Leave it be, damnit!" He stormed towards Star Healer and Maker, glaring. "Go on. Just quit it. There's no need for this…"

Maker sneered at her and moved over the Healer and Seiya. "There's nothing to be here for," she snapped in reply. To her companions she said, "Let's go on. We don't have to put up with them."

`But…' Seiya looked back at Usagi and Healer pulled at his arm. Her face had fallen again, her features crumpled and ruined. "Odango…" he murmured. Maker turned him around and forced him back.

He hung up quickly. As he did so he heard his name being called by her, probably trying to find out more information. Footsteps were sounding in the hall and he was supposed to be in bed resting. Hurriedly he made his way back to his room and slipped under the covers. Perhaps he'd actually be asleep when Taiki and Yaten returned - for once he might not have to fake sleeping.

His mind always would revolve around certain people, his dreams picking out memories and new things every night. Typically - as this dream did - it would start out on his home planet. The gardens spread out in all directions and he walked down the paths with the red-haired princess. "Kakyuu-hime…" he murmured softly as he followed after her. She'd incline her head briefly and smile.

This time Chibi-chibi ran up and grabbed tightly to his hand, breaking the sensible event that had happened before. Kakyuu was smiling at the child and greeting her knowingly. As time wore on, the face that smiled at himself and Chibi-chibi was transformed to the blue-eyed blonde that haunted his day dreams and conscious thoughts. Usagi looped his arm through hers and pulled him along the paths, running faster and faster, laughing as he stumbled. They continued on and on until scenes came very unfamiliar to him. He found himself staring up at stars above a classic-style palace gleaming white. Next thing he knew he was being pulled through a city where the center seemed to be made of a huge crystal. He frowned as other scenes passed and Usagi began to fade with the speed.

"Seiya!" she replied back happily. She smiled at him brilliantly and somehow it was enough for him. His lips twitched into their own smile. There was something comforting about them… something assuring.

An outside voice, unfamiliar but female, spoke, "Wait and you'll see. You'll be accepted and your battles can be fought. Confidence must be with you. Do not ever lose faith…"

Seiya looked around for the source but there were no traces. "Nani…?" Everything faded completely. His dream-sleep was done for the night, time for actual rest.

Upon awakening, Seiya felt somehow calmed. Fuzzy memories of his dreams the night before flooded his mind. He did know that somehow, today, he'd be able to explain to Usagi… let her know what was going on, what he and the others were doing on Earth.

`And she'll listen. I'm sure she'll accept,' he thought. A smile touched his lips briefly. He just hoped she'd make it… and somehow, in his heart, he felt that she wouldn't miss the concert. She'd be there. `I'll tell you.'


	Defy Destiny... \| home And follow your heart... Untitled- Seiya's bday Gift It's my attempt... I doubt I succeeded but I did try, kaies??? :-( Please read and give me feedback! Do i continue this? Oh... this is sorta within the episodes right after the senshi find out who's who and after Seiya is hurt, protecting Usagi from the blast. **** Title: Rating: PG Category: By: Lionna, Shinigami Goddess, Eien no Starlight Started: August 14, 2000 (early) Completed: august 14, 2000 (early) Idly his fingers played over the steel strings. His ears barely noted the music resounding from his fingertips and the guitar. A peaceful calm was surrounding him as he strummed out more notes, creating a new plot to the song. A door opened and voices suddenly burst the cloud of peace that had comforted him. Sighing softly, he cut the song off mid-note. He'd not be able to return to the song again, it was one of his that he came up with in times of much-needed calm. He stood and placed the guitar back in its case and then turned to face his roommates. They were in the kitchen and preparing a snack. "Seiya," Taiki greeted briefly as the black-haired boy moved to lean on the doorframe. "I'm going for a walk. Be back later," Seiya announced suddenly. Both Taiki and Yaten looked up, startled by the abruptness of the comment - uncharacteristic of Seiya. As he moved to the door, Yaten swung out of the kitchen and called, "Oi! Seiya? Where'll you go? Seiya?" The door closed without an answer. "Nani-o?" he muttered beneath his breath. "What's going on?" Taiki asked, from his position behind Yaten. "He's not acting… himself." "Got me," Yaten muttered, annoyed, and went back to the kitchen. Best to let Seiya to his own problems. Wasn't like he was asking for help anyway. **** Seiya sighed and moved his way down the street at a steady pace. The sun was warming but not overly so that day. His cap was pulled low over his face which was also covered by his sunglasses. He strolled, not really looking for anything. His thoughts were getting tangled together since the revealing of senshi within the past week. Thinking of the Earth senshi made his heart twist painfully a bit - and his head ache. He carefully reached a hand up to loosen his cap around his still healing skull. A white bandage peeked from under his red cap since he hadn't been able to convince his two friends to let him take the bandage off yet. `I don't understand why they blame it on her,' he sighed. But that seemed so typical of Taiki and Yaten. They had to place the blame on someone… they rarely had any cause to even expect themselves for the blame. `But can't they understand?' Perhaps he'd given them too much credit… he had thought something had snapped, leaving them hurt - as he had been - when the inner senshi had transformed on the plane flight. It had been heart wrenching and unbelievable to watch the girls they had only known as Mizuno Ami, Kino Makoto, Aino Minako, Hino Rei, and Tsukino Usagi transform into the senshi they had come to think of as enemies. He skirted around the park's edge until he spotted the main fountain, then turned in and went to sit on the edge. It was right in that area that he had first spoken to the Odango-ed one known as Usagi. He smirked a bit, remembering how flustered and cute she'd been at their first meeting. She still was a funny little thing… too caring for her own good. Seiya sighed and leaned back on his hands, letting the water mist cover his sunglasses. "Isn't that Seiya-san?" a familiar voice came hushed from nearby. Seiya wanted to frown but didn't, trying to catch a glimpse of the person from the corner of his eye. Finally he just turned his head and found two girls staring at him. Mizuno Ami, with her short, brilliant blue hair, seemed to be biting her lip in worry. Usagi was a few inches behind her and looking gloomy. The look wasn't at all becoming of her. The blonde dropped her gaze and played with her long hair when Seiya spotted them. Unsure what to do, Seiya turned his head back and took off his sunglasses to wipe them off. He thought as he went about doing the little chore. Finally he stared at the dark glasses in hand and stuffed them in his pocket while he stood. He cast a weak smile at the two girls. "Koban wa," he greeted from a few feet away. Ami's eyes seemed as unsure as he felt. Finally she returned the greeting hesitantly. Usagi still stared at her feet, toes making marks in loose bits of dirt along the walkway. Seiya turned his head slightly to keep from looking at her. Thanks to Taiki and Yaten, Usagi was feeling guilty about `getting him hurt'. `What a lie…' he thought bitterly. "Ami-chan! Usagi-chan!" a singsong voice called across the clearing. Both girls looked in the direction and waved. The blonde even managed a true-looking smile. Seiya noted, then, that behind a few bushes meters ahead of them, two shadowed figures watched him. He recognized the tall, female form with sandy blonde hair easily. Carefully he moved away from Ami and Usagi's presence and walked away. He remembered being warned off. The outers would not tolerate him going near any of the senshi. He did have enough sense not to upset them more than he could handle. Behind him he could hear the three other companions of Usagi bounding up. Seiya picked up the sound of Rei's voice, asking, "Was that… Seiya-san? What did he say?" Seiya reached out of earshot and hurried along another park walkway, allowing him to stay in the sun. He finally reached an abandoned bench and took claim to it. After a few minutes he dropped his head hopelessly into his hands. There was such an uncomfortable level between all of them… it was so clear by the way the usually bubbly girls were silent to him and his two roommates. `But what have I to help?' he asked himself. `There is nothing that I'm capable of - except explaining.' But how was he to explain when he couldn't approach Usagi? She might still listen to him… but… it was so hard to tell. Her attitude today had stung him. She was ashamed, feeling it her fault that he was hurt. `Damn… why must she believe those lies?' He squeezed his eyes shut. When again he opened his eyes he found himself shadowed by a human figure. He straightened and looked up. Ten'oh Haruka stood before him with one hand on her waist. She glared coldly down at him. "We've told you to stay away. I do suggest you follow that order. We have no problems destroying you." "Don't confuse our princess in the state she is in," Kaiou Michiru, stepping from being back-to-back with Haruka, continued. "You cause too much distraction for those girls. They have yet to learn to be completely dedicated to their mission. They don't need you for distraction." Seiya wanted to laugh. Taiki and Yaten yelled at him time after time claiming that Usagi was too much of a distraction for him. Perhaps… "Keep your distance completely," Haruka growled, voice dangerously low. Perhaps… she really… "Seiya Kou; Sailor Star Fighter… you will pull off all contact with Tsukino Usagi or we personally will take care of you." Perhaps she really was… a distraction? No… an anchor… someone to hold onto… someone that understood and cared. Seiya lowered his eyes for a moment and then stood up. He stared Haruka in the eye and shook his head sharply. "No." Both of the older girls' eyes opened wide with astonishment. "No," Seiya repeated, taking a deep breath, "I cannot cut off all contact. Why should I make a vow that I will not keep?" Haruka took a step forward and began raising a hand. "I'm warning you…" she trailed off, her voice even lower than before. "You will regret going near her." "What harm am I doing?" Seiya suddenly demanded, getting frustrated with everyone ordering him to do this or that… who to consult with, who to avoid. "She's not senseless. And if she doesn't want to see me, she'll tell me herself! You have no control over her life - it's not yours!" he snapped, knowing that he was past the point of safety. Without a word, Haruka finished bringing up her hand and backhanded him roughly. He fell on the bench painfully and he grimaced. Michiru stood a bit farther back, her brow knitted with unreadable emotions. "You will not get any chances," Haruka said slowly and icily low, "If I see you near her, I'm not sparing you." The two girls turned and walked down the path, leaving Seiya to recover himself. He slowly stood up and realized painfully that he had hit the base of his skull hard against the metal back. His lip curled in distaste when he felt the damp and sticky feel at the point of contact. `Skin broke… damn… she's strong.' He winced and carefully stood, running a quick inventory on his body. The rest of him seemed fine, just a bit sore. He left out a whoosh of breath and pulled off his cap. His hand absently stroked against the bandage wrapping his head. The sound of childhood happiness reached his ears and he inclined his head to the sound. He noted it getting closer and was startled when a little, dark pink-haired girl hugged his leg and grinned happily. She had an ice cream cone in one hand but was luckily not holding it to his leg. "Chibi-chibi-chan…" Seiya scolded. The little girl grinned up at him and pulled back to lick at her treat. "Chibi!" she called happily. Seiya shook his head with a small smile on his face. He dropped to a crouch beside the girl and looked down the paths. He frowned when he didn't see any of the senshi around the area, they couldn't be getting that careless - could they? Chibi-chibi took a bite from her cone and soon finished it. Her hands were sticky with the melting bits of ice cream still sticking to her. She was too adorably cute and Seiya had to chuckle softly. She looked up at him with wide, innocent eyes and stuck a finger in her mouth as she studied the cap in his hands. With one hand Chibi-chibi reached out and twitched her fingers at the cap. Seiya smiled. "Want to wear it?" he asked, dropping the cap over her pink hair. It looked funny, the red cap resting largely and awkwardly on the child's head. Chibi-chibi was giggling happily and reached her arms out in Seiya's direction. Her eyes were mostly covered with the visor and so she couldn't see him well. "C'mon," Seiya told her, picking up the sticky child and putting her on his shoulders. He looked around as he walked, trying to find where those who ought to be looking after the child must be. "Well, Chibi-chibi-chan?" he questioned, wondering what to do. "Chibi! Chibi-chibi!" she called tugging at one of his ears with a sticky hand. Seiya let out a sigh. Seemed he'd need a shower tonight. "Chibi-chibi-chan!" Seiya stopped and turned to face the blonde racing full out towards them. She faltered a bit when she saw him, even though she had guessed his identity previously. "S-Seiya…" He smiled, trying to keep her relaxed. "Missing something, Odango?" He quirked his lips and attempted to detach Chibi-chibi from his shoulders. She yelled in protest and began to whine. Sighing, Seiya tried again, "Chibi-chibi-chan…" He muttered to himself. Usagi was watching from the side, biting her lip discreetly to keep from laughing. Finally she couldn't contain it and the laughter bubbled from her lips. Seiya glared playfully at her. "You do realize," he said, "that this… `sister' of yours has me all sticky from that ice cream cone of hers. If I do ever get her off, I need to bathe." As he struggled again with Chibi-chibi, he added, "I don't think I'm getting my cap back either." "Kneel," Usagi commanded, surpressing the majority of her laughter. Seiya did his best to shrug and did so. "See? Now I can reach her!" She wasn't having much luck either with getting the child to let go of her grip about Seiya. Chibi-chibi began to wail and kicked her feet - Seiya carefully maneuvered his face so he didn't get anymore damage done to him. Eventually Usagi managed to pull off the protesting Chibi-chibi. As soon as the child was from his shoulders, Seiya stood up and pushed stray hairs behind his ears. Chibi-chibi gripped the cap tightly to her head, guessing that it was the next to go. Seiya shook his head with a faint smile. "Let her keep it, yeesh… didn't know she liked me so." Usagi grinned and set Chibi-chibi down. The little girl immediately ran to Seiya and began to tug at his pant-leg, demanding he lift her up. "I think she still wants back," Usagi commented. "What did give that away?" Seiya asked dryly, peering down at the girl jumping at his feet. He moved his gaze back up and he met Usagi's look. She had adjusted moods easily while helping him with Chibi-chibi and he could see that she too felt as if this had been the same as before… He smiled. Hesitantly she did so too. "Um, Seiya…" Usagi started, moving her gaze to the ground again. "I just wanted to…" "You really don't listen, do you?" The voice whipped out like a lash. It slapped against Seiya angrily and even Chibi-chibi felt the hostility for she stopped begging and quickly ran over to Usagi for comfort. The blonde's face fell and her soul plummeted. "Haruka-san…" "Stay out of this," the blonde responded with each word pronounced carefully. She was transformed into Sailor Uranus, stance prepared to move to fight at any given second. "Princess, move it. This won't concern you. I warned you!" she hissed at Seiya and stepped forward. Seiya backed away, remembering the backhand from before. "Stop it!" Usagi shouted, near tears. "Haruka-san! Please, don't do this!" "STAR SENSITIVE INFERNO!" The familiar cry landed an attack right at Uranus, but she backed away. Seiya cursed angrily and spun. "Will you quit it?!" he screamed. "Stop it now! Leave it be, damnit!" He stormed towards Star Healer and Maker, glaring. "Go on. Just quit it. There's no need for this…" "WORLD -!!" "Stop it!!" Usagi shouted, pulling at Uranus's arm. "SHAKING!!" Uranus finished, unfazed. Maker jumped out of the way and Healer grabbed onto Seiya to move him. "If you don't get out now you're dead!" Maker sneered at her and moved over the Healer and Seiya. "There's nothing to be here for," she snapped in reply. To her companions she said, "Let's go on. We don't have to put up with them." `But…' Seiya looked back at Usagi and Healer pulled at his arm. Her face had fallen again, her features crumpled and ruined. "Odango…" he murmured. Maker turned him around and forced him back. "Seiya, stop paying attention to that girl." **** Taiki and Yaten were out, Seiya sighed in relief and rushed to the phone and dialed. `Please pick up.' "Moshi, moshi?" "Come to the concert tomorrow night," Seiya whispered, looking at the door and waiting for it to open any minute. "Nani? Seiya…?" "Come! Promise me, Odango…" "I… I promise, Seiya." He hung up quickly. As he did so he heard his name being called by her, probably trying to find out more information. Footsteps were sounding in the hall and he was supposed to be in bed resting. Hurriedly he made his way back to his room and slipped under the covers. Perhaps he'd actually be asleep when Taiki and Yaten returned - for once he might not have to fake sleeping. Sleep did claim him quickly and he let himself fall into the void. His mind always would revolve around certain people, his dreams picking out memories and new things every night. Typically - as this dream did - it would start out on his home planet. The gardens spread out in all directions and he walked down the paths with the red-haired princess. "Kakyuu-hime…" he murmured softly as he followed after her. She'd incline her head briefly and smile. This time Chibi-chibi ran up and grabbed tightly to his hand, breaking the sensible event that had happened before. Kakyuu was smiling at the child and greeting her knowingly. As time wore on, the face that smiled at himself and Chibi-chibi was transformed to the blue-eyed blonde that haunted his day dreams and conscious thoughts. Usagi looped his arm through hers and pulled him along the paths, running faster and faster, laughing as he stumbled. They continued on and on until scenes came very unfamiliar to him. He found himself staring up at stars above a classic-style palace gleaming white. Next thing he knew he was being pulled through a city where the center seemed to be made of a huge crystal. He frowned as other scenes passed and Usagi began to fade with the speed. Finally their run ended. Chibi-chibi vanished and colors blurred together into a sort of fog. Usagi smiled at him confidently. "Odango," he said. "Seiya!" she replied back happily. She smiled at him brilliantly and somehow it was enough for him. His lips twitched into their own smile. There was something comforting about them… something assuring. An outside voice, unfamiliar but female, spoke, "Wait and you'll see. You'll be accepted and your battles can be fought. Confidence must be with you. Do not ever lose faith…" "Who are you?" Usagi asked, puzzled. Seiya looked around for the source but there were no traces. "Nani…?" Everything faded completely. His dream-sleep was done for the night, time for actual rest. **** Upon awakening, Seiya felt somehow calmed. Fuzzy memories of his dreams the night before flooded his mind. He did know that somehow, today, he'd be able to explain to Usagi… let her know what was going on, what he and the others were doing on Earth. `And she'll listen. I'm sure she'll accept,' he thought. A smile touched his lips briefly. He just hoped she'd make it… and somehow, in his heart, he felt that she wouldn't miss the concert. She'd be there. `I'll tell you.' ** Owari for now**