Ai no Nagareboshi
Sequel to the songfic - "Lullaby"By Rizukiyatchan Kou Irvine
Author's Short String of Pointless Notes: I'm sorrrrrry! Every single fic is behind because I've been so zoned lately. I'm working on it. I'm gonna go eat sugar now. See if I can wake up. Text in between * and * are flashbacks from past chapters. [Archivist's Note: It's italics now! ^^]
Chapter 7 Back to the Drawing Board.
Not a single one of them could sleep. Not Taiki, not Seiya, not Yaten. And if they got the chance to, it would only last a few minutes. An hour or so if they were lucky. Taiki's words stuck to both Seiya and Yaten, and neither one could get much sleep from it. Taiki was affected by his own words. In Seiya's words, he "screwed himself over". Which may be accurate, but it was for the well-being of his allies, so it was as if he knew the consequences yet risked dealing with them.
Seiya and Yaten couldn't sleep for the same reason. Taiki's words kept ringing in their heads all night, and neither one could shake it off long enough to sleep for more than an hour. It was slowly not bothering Yaten as much, he pushed everything far back in his mind and tried to keep it there, which was easier said than done. But he tried it anyway, and got kind of far with it, 'til it all just collapsed and collided with him again. Foiled again.
"I don't even know Seiya's actions to begin with."
"I didn't kiss him out of pity."
"I know you didn't-- ........ What did you just say?"
"I didn't kiss him out of pity."
"Wait.. Kiss who..? Yaten, what are you..?"
"The other night.. Seiya kinda came in here and well.. uh.. Expressed his feelings, if I dare use those words. I kinda replied to it, but knowing whether I wanted to or not is a mystery even to myself."
Taiki smiled, shaking her head slightly. "I think you should spend the night thinking of it. Whether it was desired or not. Then I'm not asking you, I am telling you to speak to him. Tomorrow morning at breakfast."
"Damn you Taiki," he whispered. It was now around 3am. "Damn you, damn your words.." He rolled over again, annoyed by the fact that he still couldn't sleep. So he quit. He pulled a magazine off of the floor and opened it, deciding he'd take his mind off of Seiya and Taiki's words once and for all and fall asleep somehow. Maybe to wake up to have the answers to the questions burning everyone's minds..
Why DID he kiss Seiya back?
********** Seiya was having the same problem. He couldn't sleep.
"I need to talk to you. Whether you like it or not."
"S-sure. What about?" Seiya moved out of the way so Taiki could come in. Once she did so, the black haired idol closed the door and locked it, blinking in confusion. His eyes then narrowed, realizing that there could be no other topic to discuss... but one. "No. I will not discuss the conflict between me and Yaten."
"Seiya. It needs to be discussed."
"Oh. No. It. Doesn't." Seiya shook his head wildly for emphasis. "What's going on between us, is just between us, okay?! I don't care what he does, what he says, why he does or says it where he goes, or anything. I don't want to talk to him. Or even THINK about him."
Taiki shook her head, sighing. "Seiya.. I know you. Don't you DARE even say I don't. I'll slap you if you do." Taiki's violet eyes met Seiya's, tints of seriousity and concern flashing. Seiya decided, while seeing this, that he'd hear her out. At least, for now. "I don't know what you said or did, but I can tell by your attitude and tone of voice that your actions were the wrong ones. And you're trying to make it look like, to not just Yaten and I but to yourself as well I believe, that you're NOT the wrong one. Am I correct?"
"Did I really say all of that?" Seiya rubbed his head in guilt, remembering his discussion with Taiki. Taiki had hit on a bunch of good points, and they were really getting to him. But after all that he coudn't just apologize.. Could he?
He could, that option was there. But he was just to stubborn and guilt-wrecked to admit it. That, and staying in the rain the other night and never drying off was finally taking its toll on Seiya. But he didn't mind it, when he thought about it. Looking back to that night and why he had stayed up and everything, it kinda seemed worth it.. To most people that would sound crazy. Worth it to get sick when you're an idol and are only an idol to find the Princess and if you can't sing you can't send your message and if you can't send your message... You can't find her.
Seiya realized this. He was very aware of this. But he felt like he needed to stay with Yaten that night. Not to watch over him, but to try to sort out his feelings again. Which he was doing for around the billionth time, that night. And now it was obvious. For reasons he couldn't explain, even to himself, he found himself attracted to his silver haired companion. Now the only problems were how to fix his mistakes, how to tell Taiki and...
..How to tell Kakyuu.
********** Yaten came down the hall and into the kitchen, smiling a little when he saw Taiki already eating a bagel, as always. "You're up early."
"I couldn't sleep." Taiki bit into his bagel.
Blinking, Yaten sat down and reached out to grab a bagel and the stick of cream cheese. "You couldn't either?"
"How could I? This is affecting how quickly we find our Princess.."
"Oh. Yeah.." Yaten leaned back in his seat and cut the bagel open, then spread the cream cheese all over it. "Pass that strawberry jam over here, would you?" Taiki handed the jar to him, without moving his eyes from the book he was currently reading. Yaten shook his head and spread some jam around the bagel before putting it back where it was. "Arigato. But, uh.. It's not going to affect anything anymore, okay? I thought about what you said. How could I not? And I'm gonna talk to him. Happy?"
"Oh, I'm filled with joy.." Taiki kept reading his book, not looking up for anything. Right when Yaten was about to give a smart remark, Taiki shut his book and placed it on the table beside his plate. "Do you love him?"
That question nearly made Yaten fall backwards, taking the chair with him in surprise of that question. "Wh-what?"
"You heard me.. I'm curious. I'm not going to kill you if you say yes, and I'm not going to drill you forever if you say no. I'm just curious."
"I.. I don't know. I haven't been able to come up with an answer, and it's bothering me because I know it bugs you whether you say it does or not, and I know it's eating the other one alive. And I don't want to do that to either of you. So you don't have to comment and be all 'well you had all night!' Well, I'm damn aware of that. But figuring out how you feel toward someone doesn't take less than 12 hours, Taiki."
"I'm aware of that. I wasn't going to imply. I just want you two to get things straightened out before something bad comes out of this."
There was silence, Yaten didn't know how to reply. Everything he was thinking of would sound like something against the Princess, and he didn't want that.
"Could Seiya not sleep either?"
"Huh?" Yaten blinked, snapping out of his daze.
Taiki stood up, walking over toward the bedrooms. Yaten raised a brow, shrugging as he followed. Taiki knocked on Seiya's door twice, and put his hear to the door waiting for an answer. Yaten merely watched, puzzled.
"It's like he's planning on sleeping in to skip school again.." Taiki whispered, chuckling as he knocked again. Harder this time.
"Yeah, well.. That's Seiya for you.." Yaten yawned.
Taiki knocked again, and there was still no reply. He and Yaten looked to each other before Taiki opened the door and the two peeked in. Seiya was fast asleep on his bed, the covers pulled over his head.
"I knew it. Dang you were right, Taiki," Yaten mumbled, annoyed. He was assuming Seiya was faking asleep so he wouldn't have to talk. 'Well,' Yaten thought, 'we'll just see about that.' He grabbed a hold of the covered and pulled them down just enough so he could see Seiya's face. He planned on getting a flashlight, prying an eye open and shining the bright light into his eyes. If that didn't wake him up, nothing would.
Yaten reached for a flashlight and was about to turn it on, but was stopped by Taiki. "Yaten wait.." Taiki reached out and placed his hand on Seiya's forehead, immediately feeling a fever. "I knew he should have gotten changed first."
"Huh?" Yaten was beyond confused. "What's wrong with him? He doesn't have a fever does he?"
"Yes. Remember when you woke up in here?" Yaten nodded. "When you two fought that youma, I'm assuming it was while it was raining. Because when I got home you were both soaked, but he covered you up and everything and didn't take care of himself as well in the process. And now he's paying for it."
"Oh.." Yaten bit his lip, feeling a slight tinge of guilt. "So are we staying again today or what are we doing?" He was doing his best to change subjects.
"No.. He's staying.. Seiya, wake up." Taiki shook Seiya's shoulder gently, and stopped once he saw Seiya's eyes open a bit.
"Wha..? Huh..? Tai..ki?.."
"Yes, it's Taiki. Now Seiya, you're staying here today, okay? Yaten and I are leaving, but if you need anything just call. I doubt the teacher will mind."
"But...wait.." Seiya's eyes flew open suddenly.
"No buts. Get rest, Seiya. We have a preformance in two days and you need to be in perfect condition by then, alright? We can't afford any setbacks.."
"No, no.. you.." Seiya shook his head, feeling all stuffed up. "don't.. und...stand.."
"Seiya, just listen for once.. Okay?.." Yaten didn't make any eye contact. "Just rest. Internally it's what you want, right?"
Seiya couldn't reply, his throat hurt too much to. But he had to tell them.. He had to..
"If you need anything we left your breakfast on the table. Just get over it," Taiki nodded, stepping out of the room. "Get better, Seiya."
Yaten didn't move. He just looked at Seiya for a moment, noticing the pleading look tinted in his eyes. But what could he do? At a loss of ideas, he just smiled a little and nodded, backing up towards the door. "Hai, get better. Neither me or Taiki can make a fool of ourselves on stage like you do."
Yaten closed the door behind him and Seiya forced himself to sit up, eyes locked on the door. "The Odango's gonna.."
********** The remaining two Lights arrived at the school building a bit before classes would actually start. They walked up the stairs to their homeroom and could clearly hear Usagi and Minako's voices as the loudest in the building.
"I'm in shock, they're here early for once," Taiki whispered, chuckling.
"Yeah, just hope they don't rip up your notebook again," Yaten added, snickering a bit when he saw Taiki's eyebrow twitch.
Taiki slid the door open and the two froze in place, seeing the looks Usagi, Ami, Minako and Makoto were giving them. Mainly Minako.
"Er... Yaten?.."
Yaten stayed frozen, now understanding what Seiya was trying to tell him. The night of the accident. The attack had hit her, and Fighter quickly came to her side and for the first time.. For the first time..
Fighter ran over to her ally and fell to her knees beside her, picking the shorter girl up partly into her arms. "Where did it hit you? Are you okay..?"
"Seiya.. I never got to reply to what you asked...me.." she weakly replied, squirming in Fighter's arms.
"Shh.. It's alright.. You can tell me later.." Fighter whispered, pressing a kiss to Healer's cheek. "I'll protect you, Healerchan."
"Why are you.." Healer gasped, unable to finish her question. Fighter's eyes widened, seeing the phage slowly get up, stumbling in Fighter and Healer's direction.
"Starlight Honeymoon.. Therapy Kiss!!!"
Fighter covered her eyes, Healer's as well, from the blinding light that appeared suddenly, coming from Sailormoon's tier. The light disappeared. Fighter blinked, seeing the waitress collapse onto the ground, unconscious. The rain got heavier. Fighter looked back to her ally, moving soaked bangs from her face as she placed an arm under her knees and kept the other arm around her upper back, standing up with the girl still in her arms.
"Fighter! Wait!!" Sailormoon cried, rushing over to her.
Fighter's head hung, a tear falling down her cheek as she jumped up, disappearing into thin air. "Gomen... Odango... Gomen."
'She...s-she.. Damnit! Seiya!'
Minako stepped forward and pointed an accusing finger at Yaten, shocking not only Yaten and Taiki but Usagi, Ami and Makoto as well. No one had a clue what she was doing.
"What is going on between you and Seiya Kou?!"
Taiki covered his mouth with a hand, looking in Yaten's direction. It was obvious. Yaten was pale and he was staring forward at Minako, not saying a word. Not moving.
"M-Minakoch-chan.. W-wait a second..!" Usagi took a step forward.
"Iya! I saw him kiss you! Right in front of us! Or do you deny it now that Taiki's here?"
"MINAKO!" Makoto was in shock. Why was Minako bringing things up from what happened the other day between Healer and Fighter, not Yaten and Seiya? And how would Yaten explain it? Not only to Minako and the others, but to Taiki and the small crowd that had formed..
'Princess.. What do I do now?'
Usagi bit her lip in fear seeing the idol's hands turn into fists.
'No.. I know. For the first time, dealing with Seiya, I know what to do. End this.'
End chapter seven.
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