Sailor Moon X

Chapter Twenty: Flowers

I am the white dove for a soldier
Ever marching as to war
I would give my life to save you
I stand guarding at your door
I give you all that I am

“And then?” Yaten prodded, stifling a yawn.

“She stormed out.” Seiya’s head was in his hands, a look of misery written over his usually cocky features.

“After all you did to protect her?” Yaten gawked. He seemed to be waking up, as opposed to two hours ago. He was much more alert now.

“Well,” Taiki said, setting his coffee on the table, “look at it from her perspective. Her anger is justified.”

“I thought I was doing the right thing!” Seiya moaned.

“You tried...” Taiki shrugged.

“And failed.” Yaten laughed. Seiya groaned loudly, and his fingers became tangled in his dark hair. Yaten rolled his eyes and said, “Just give her some time to cool off. Things’ll be back to normal in no time.”

“Just,” Taiki said slowly, “make sure you don’t wait too long.”

“Thanks.”

Taiki nodded in response, then continued on with his usual morning routine.

“I’m going for a walk,” Seiya said, rising from his chair. “I’ll be back eventually.”

“Thanks for the time frame!” Yaten called cheerfully after him.

It was a cool morning, and he shivered a little when the breeze hit him head on. He started to walk, not entirely sure where, and after a few seconds, noticed how numb he felt. He thought he was just cold. Then he realized that wasn’t it at all.

He felt empty. Nothing mattered anymore.

Why didn’t it work? His plan was foolproof. He had all the bases absolutely covered.

Except this one.

He was stuck between crying and kicking something. He felt hopeless. And stupid. Worried. Stressed. Depressed. Idiotic. He ran through the words in his head, hoping one of them would help him crack a smile.

He felt like he was still dreaming. It was as if he was awake enough to feel, yet everything around him felt so unbelievable that it simply couldn’t be happening. Like a dream.

A dream. Nothing was really happening. He would wake up in his nice bed and have to deal with Yaten being a pompous ass as usual, then his Odango would call and he would be raised up by the sound of her voice.

A nice thought.

Too bad it wasn’t going to happen.

Once in awhile, when the wind blew fiercely, he swore he heard her. Her laugh was so clear, so distinct to him. He heard it everywhere. When he turned around, she wasn’t there. No one was.

He had grown so accustomed to having her by his side. Her presence still lingered next to him, and sometimes, when he closed his eyes tightly, he could smell her. It was always such a strange scent. He could smell his princess on her, explaining why he was so drawn to her years ago. But there was something else about her scent he couldn’t place. Sometimes it was sweet like strawberries. Other times it reminded him of a warm, ideal home, like freshly baked cookies. When she was upset, it reminded him of cold winter nights. It was a smell was like fire, as if something inside her was burning down below.

He had finally begun to notice things about her that the others never saw. She wasn’t really as naïve as they thought. In fact, she played most of the time. She found it easier. She rarely showed what she was reallythinking, but her eyes were a dead give away.

What ever she was feeling, her bright, blue orbs always displayed it. Her thoughts, her feelings, her judgments, they were all clear in her eyes. Somehow, it managed to slip past the others.

He took pride in knowing he was the sole person to figure out the grand mystery behind the legendary Moon Princess. He took even greater pride in knowing she knew he figured her out, and took even more in knowing she was thrilled about the realization.

Small pains perched at the edge of consciousness to tug him back from the abattoir of memory. Reminders that she wasn’t with him. That he has messed up, thinking he was doing the right thing.

He sighed loudly, attracting the attention of an older couple, sitting on a bench. He didn’t care. It didn’t matter. Nothing did. Not anymore.

He rested his forearms on the railing of a bridge, and starred without interest at the stagnant, green water. He felt like time was moving too slowly, and he had a sinking feeling in his stomach. He couldn’t decide if it was the guilt of knowing he drove Usagi away, or if he had a bad feeling about something. Maybe he just ate some bad sushi.

He grew more frustrated. Why couldn’t he figure anything about? He couldn’t answer simple questions anymore. He slammed his fist against the railing, causing the couple from earlier to jump. Finally deciding he had caused enough of a scene for one day, he turned on his heel and started walking again.

He regretted not wearing a scarf. It seemed to be getting colder with each step. He shoved his hands in his pockets in an attempt to get some sort of warmth.

He wasn’t entirely sure where he was going. He was just...walking. He wasn’t paying attention to his surroundings, so he was surprised when he found himself on the Outer Senshi’s doorstep. He was about to turn around when he realized they would be the ones to talk to about this matter. He knocked hesitantly, and rocked on his heels while he waited. After what felt like an eternity, the brown door opened, and warm air hit him head on.

“Seiya?” The guardian of Pluto asked, raising her eyebrows. He flashed a sad attempt for a smile. She starred at him curiously, and he had a feeling a thousand questions were running through her head. “Come in. You look like you’re freezing.” She opened the door wider, and he graciously stepped into the cozy home. They went through the usual pleasantries before he finally broke down and told her what happened. He was forced to repeat the story to both Haruka andMichiru, but by the end of the third time he was feeling slightly better, and after Haruka reassured him that he did the right thing, and that Usagi would come around, he was able to decide the sinking feeling from earlier probably was just some bad fish.

He was on his way out when Michiru stopped him. She was wearing a strange smile, but he didn’t mind, grateful there was no hostility between him and the rest of the house anymore.

“You know,” she said slowly, “when Haruka and I reconcile, she buys me flowers.”

“Flowers?” he said, processing what she was telling him. “Flowers,” He repeated, nodding. That was it! Flowers! Perfect!

She laughed, and passed him a book. “Just don’t pick the wrong ones.” She waved and turned, heading back up the staircase. “Goodbye, Seiya! Good luck!” she called.

He starred at the title with a confused expression. Flowers and Their Meanings.

Flowers had different meanings? He raised an eyebrow, flipping open the book as he left the house. By the time he arrived at his second stop, he knew the perfect bunch of flowers to get. He was grinning wildly. He passed the book to the store owner, who nodded, and went to the back to find them.

This would work. He was positively sure of it.

X X X

Usagi groaned as the door bell rang obnoxiously. She didn’t want to move. She didn’t want to think. She just wanted to stay in bed and avoid reality. Just for one day.

The house fell silent, and she smiled, nuzzling farther into her pillow.

Then the stupid noisy idiot rang the door bell again. She growled and threw the covers back, stomping down stairs. She flung the door open loudly, preparing to glare at whoever was there.

At first glance, she didn’t see anyone. She was about to scream and go back to bed when she noticed something at her feet. A bouquet of flowers, composed of three different types. She picked it up, and noticed a book under it. She starred at it curiously. She noticed a card nestled in the flowers.

“Hyacinth

Primrose

Daffodil.”

She realized Seiya’s messy, large hand writing instantly. She rolled her eyes and opened the book, not entirely sure why she was playing along with his little game. She started to look up the first flower, and recognized the purple, cone shaped flower in the picture. Her eyes scanned over the page, skimming through it’s history and appearance, until she noticed it’s meaning.

I’m sorry. Please forgive me.

“Seiya,” she whispered, running her fingers over the page. She was smiling as she looked up the next flower. This one was white, dainty looking. The primrose.

I can’t live without you.

Her smile widened, and she quickly flipped back through the pages to find the last remaining meaning. When she found it, she had to blink away the tears for fear of ruining the book.

You’re the only one for me.

She closed the book, wiping her eyes. She set the flowers down on the end table in the hallway, then opened the door. She shut it behind her calmly, clutching the book to her chest. She began walking at a normal pace down the sidewalk, then broke into a sprint.

Regardless of the temperature, she didn’t feel cold. She kept the book tightly to her chest, and she stayed warm. She could feel his arms around her, causing her to run faster. She wanted to see him. She needed to see him.

A figure appeared in front of her, cutting her off from the path. She was out of breath, panting heavily, yet she stopped unwillingly. She was grasping the book so hard her knuckles were turning white, but she didn’t notice.

The figure cocked their head to the side, starring at her intently. “My, my, finally getting some physical exercise, Usa?”

“Get out of my way,” she demanded.

The figure raised their eyebrows. “Finally taking authority, too.”

“Move!” she cried, trying to run around the uninvited visitor. They continued to block her way effortlessly.

She could feel tears burning her eyes, and she let go of the book with one hand to grab her broach.

“Now, now, Usa. Think before you do that,” The voice warned.

“Asuka, move!” she screamed, blinking rapidly. The figure rolled her teal eyes, lurching forward and grabbing her arm. They vanished.

The book tumbled onto the ground, forgotten.

X X X

AN: Ah...I love this chapter. I’m very happy. I think I deserve a brownie now. –goes off to kitchen-