Author: CrystalUsagi (crystalusagi@seiyausagi.net)

Lost - Part Four
"I thought I lost you forever today, when you ran away and I couldn't find you anymore." 
Seiya still held Usagi in her arms. "I was so afraid." Usagi reached up to touch her own 
cheeks as she flushed, then pulled away.  
"I still love him, Seiya," she said. "Mamoru... I still love him." Seiya grabbed her wrist, 
demanding Usagi to look at her.  
"He's hurt you, hasn't he? The Princess didn't tell me much. All she said was that he's evil 
now." Her eyes raged. She wanted to kill him right then, just make him die for all he'd caused 
her, caused both of them. If only she could just go to Earth - then she would do it. But then 
she would get the chance, wouldn't she? Yes, she would, because that was exactly the reason 
why Usagi was there. "Tell me the rest."  
Usagi had just stopped crying, but now the tears flowed again, as if they'd never stopped. So 
much crying in this one day, and Seiya was so tired of it. She brushed the tears aside, her 
hands as gentle as can be. This was her love, her most cherished, and she would protect her 
from everything now. She hoped with all her heart she was up to the task.  
Usagi was pulling away, distancing herself again. When she spoke, it was with a voice that 
dripped with guilt. "He found out about... About that night."  
So he had found out, Seiya thought to herself. Perhaps without meaning to, she was glad. 
Usagi went on. "He was furious, and so, so hurt. When he found out, he just stood still, and..." 
She closed her eyes for a second and seemed to absorb the pain a little bit before continuing. 
"I'll always be able to hear his screams echoing off the walls. They echo in my mind at night." 
She looked Seiya straight in the eyes. "After that, a part of me died." There was a weird, 
tortured look in those eyes, and Seiya knew Usagi was hiding something, still. "It didn't 
happen right away, but when he found out..." Usagi's voice was laced with fear, and it 
trembled. It sounded breathless. Her body seemed to release itself, and she fell backward, 
only to be caught in Seiya's steadying arms.  
Strong hands touched her face tenderly and broke the tear-tracks. Then she was crushed 
against Seiya. "Don't rush yourself, Odango. There's still time later. If it upsets you this 
much," Seiya swallowed, her jealousy feeling like a smarting blow, "then we'll wait, okay?"  
Usagi nodded, too tired from the emotional exertion to do anything else. Seiya carried her to 
the bed, and she was too weak to protest. She was safely tucked into the warm covers in about 
five minutes, and within two, she was asleep. Seiya watched her, and though the pain was 
dulled by their reunion, it still throbbed. So many nights she would dream of being in a room 
like this, enjoying a moment like this. How she longeg, on those nights, to see the smoothness 
of Usagi's face embraced in sleep's comfort. But now, even as Usagi slept, her face was 
troubled. Her mouth was turned downward and her eyebrows were scrunched together as if 
she suffered from some eternal nightmare. Seiya leaned over and brushed a whisper of a kiss 
along her forehead. "Whatever has happened, my love," she whispered, "I'll protect you now."  
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"The offer still stands, you know." Kakyuu looked up, not understanding what the silver-
haired senshi was talkin about. The green eyes were serious as ever before. "I can't survive 
without feeling your touch, and tasting you upon my lips. Not when I've been given the 
chance to experience it." She squeezed tighter on the princess, feeling love radiating from her 
heart to the point of bursting. "When I hadn't know how it was, I could dream, and be happy 
with seeing you, brushing against you occassionally. But now... Now my dreams are too faint 
in comparison, and they can never be enough anymore."  
In reply, Kakyuu tilted her head and smiled. There was a hint of wickedness in that smile that 
did things to Yaten deep inside. "But you're wrong. You haven't yet tasted me upon your 
lips." She reached up and pulled Yaten to her.  
Yaten now had an identical smile, and as their lips neared each other, and she could feel the 
sweetness of it all, she murmured "It's about time I do."