Beautiful Stranger
A Seiya/Usagi alternate reality fanfiction
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Sailor Moon and related characters are copyright of Naoko Takeuchi and Co., etc. etc. This chapter starts out with a lot of (perhaps uncharacteristic) reflection on Seiya’s part. (hehe.. and there’s more to come – oh, the angst! ^_^). Another thing – I realize that in this story Yaten has come off as pretty much a whiny bitch. I like Yaten. I really do. But I didn’t have any room in this story to develop her character more, especially with it being from Seiya’s point-of-view. Another time, another fic, I’ll focus on Yaten. And Taiki…what? Taiki is in this story? ^^; Oh, yeah, and there’s a bit more language in this chapter than in previous ones. Maybe enough to up the rating to PG-13, but it’s just this chapter.
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I couldn’t get Makoto’s words out of my head all that night. She likes you. She likes me? What a mess I was in now. Don’t break her heart, Makoto had said. I hadn’t come into this intending to break anyone’s heart, but I never intended to become to so attached to one stranger. “You two even look like a couple,” Taiki had commented. The truth was, I didn’t mind being a couple – it was fun, and Usagi was the… the perfect “not-quite-perfect fake girlfriend”. I found I liked pretending. But I couldn’t keep up this farce after Friday night. It wasn’t fair to her, and I couldn’t risk getting further involved. Somehow, I would have to break off the relationship – gently, of course. The question was – could I do that and live with myself?
I hadn’t decided whether I would tell her the truth or not. I knew that was what I had to do, but I still resisted. If I told her the truth, what would she think of me? I knew… she wouldn’t look at me the same, not in the way she looks at me now. If she didn’t hate me altogether. And I didn’t know if I could handle that. It seemed easier to slip away and never speak to her again, maybe transfer to another school, forget about her.
Already I was breaking my promise to Makoto. I felt guilty because I really didn’t want to hurt Odango. Really, what kind of person was I? She was a great girl, and she didn’t deserve to be lied to. More and more my conscience was nagging at me, but I couldn’t set my mind on what to do. I suppose it was inevitable that she found out the truth, but what then?
I couldn’t help but wonder what the brunette had meant when she said Usagi didn’t need her heart broken again. I thought of the guy Mamoru, but she had said he had just been a childish crush. I wondered if that was the whole truth. Odango was so happy and bouncy all the time it was hard to picture her ever being sad. But I remembered the look on her face, when she spotted Mamoru in the park. It didn’t matter, but still I found myself disliking whoever it was that had broken her heart. Even more, I was starting to dislike myself.
I needed to see her again. Honestly, she was like a pill, a rush whenever I saw her. Ecstasy, that’s what it was. What I didn’t want to admit was that I was falling for her. That’s right. I was god-damn-head-over-heels-googly-eyed-shot-by-cupid falling for her. How could I tell her the truth? I couldn’t admit it to myself. It was ridiculous – I was a girl.
I had always been the tomboy, getting into trouble because I wanted to test the rules to see if they really meant what they said. With my brash mouth and scraped-up knees the boys never gave me a second glance, and I could have cared less. I was the one who laughed and made funny noises during the romantic movie scenes – “love at first sight” was a bunch of garbage. Moving from one foster home to another, it had always been Taiki, Yaten, and I, and that was all. They were my sisters and best friends, and there was no one else I cared for. And suddenly, I found myself wanting to care, wanting to be with someone and have that person understand me. What surprised me was, that person was a girl. I could tell myself it was just the “boy disguise” and the female fans getting to me, but it had gone beyond that now. It was… weird, this feeling. I really, seriously, liked her. And it scared me to death.
She likes you.
Yet I couldn’t help but wonder, if she knew that I was a girl, could I still break her heart?
*******************
Thursday passed without incident, except for a failed math test, but I’d been expecting that. On Friday Yaten threw a newspaper down on the table and assumed a crossed-arm stance that said she wasn’t pleased.
I picked up the paper – a tabloid publication – and noticed immediately who was on the cover: Us. Of course, it was a horrid paparazzi photograph. Yaten was squinting and her mouth was half-open at the moment the photographer snapped the picture. Taiki and I didn’t fare much better.
I laughed out loud. “Yikes, they really caught you on a bad day, eh? You look like a crabby old woman, Yaten-chan.”
“Idiot. Did you read what it says?”
I dropped my eyes to the headlines and raised my eyebrows at what it read: THREE LIGHTS BISEXUAL. “Hmph. That’s a new one. Wait a sec. Don’t tell me you guys are keeping secrets from me?”
Yaten rolled her eyes in frustration, and Taiki, who was sitting at the counter nearby, said calmly, “Seiya, can’t you take anything seriously?”
“What are you talking about? It’s a stupid tabloid, and it’s obviously not the truth.”
“Don’t you think it’s close enough to the truth to be concerned?” Yaten snapped.
I held up the paper and threw it back down on the table. “People don’t believe this crap. I mean, come on! Last week someone was reporting we were aliens sending subliminal messages through our songs. Do you think the public bought that story?”
“That’s not the point, Seiya. The point is, people are starting to get suspicious. I think it would be a good idea if we fade into the background for a while.”
“I disagree! That would kill our career! We’re just starting to gain popularity outside of Tokyo.”
Yaten kept her arms crossed, still frowning. “Taiki and I have talked it over, and we want to cancel the Alicia Young concert. First of all, it’s becoming too stressful. But also, more exposure means more popularity which means more people nosing into our private lives, and that’s the last thing we want.”
“You agree to this?” I whirled on Taiki.
“Yes,” was her simple reply.
I stared at the two in silence. They knew I had been looking forward to that concert more than anything. And now they had decided to cancel it, without even consulting me or asking my opinion. Betrayed was the only word to describe my feelings.
“We’re not canceling the concert,” I told them as calmly as I could manage.
I watched the silver-haired girl turn to Taiki, annoyed, and say, “See? Didn’t I tell you she’d be like this?”
Taiki stood. “Look, Seiya, I know how much the concert meant to you, but it’s really more than we can handle at this point. I mean, think of the fallout if we gain international popularity. It’s not a given, of course, but it could happen. And this article is only the beginning. Imagine what would happen if someone were to uncover our disguise. Besides, how can you want to go further in the music business when half the time you don’t even show up at the studio?”
My eyes snapped up at Taiki’s stinging comment. “That’s because of football – ”
“Well, which is more important to you, the band, or football?” Yaten interjected. “Or maybe it’s your damn Odango. She’s all you ever talk about lately.”
“You’re the one who started that, so don’t blame me.” Mentioning Usagi only made me more anxious, though I tried to brush it off in front of Taiki and Yaten.
“Well, maybe it was a mistake. Whatever it is, I don’t know what’s wrong with you lately.”
I was already angry by now, and there was no backing down. “What’s wrong with me? Yaten, from the minute we came here, you’ve done nothing but whine!” Not true, but I didn’t care. I threw the newspaper back at her. “I don’t know why you’re showing this to me, when it’s your fault in the first place. How many times have I said not to wear your damn skirts on the balcony?”
“Excuse me, but since when did you become my pimp?”
“Yaten.” Taiki’s soft word of scolding.
“I’m sick of it, Taiki!” Yaten continued. “She doesn’t care a thing about anyone’s wishes but her own! It always has to be her way. Always!” She directed her spitfire at me once again. “You dragged us into this band of yours to start with – ”
“You agreed to it, Yaten, so don’t give me that bullshit –”
“Well, I thought Three Lights meant we’d each get a say in what goes on! You act like you’re the only member around here! I’m tired of being ignored!”
“I don’t know where you get off accusing me of this stuff! I worked my butt off to get this band off the ground and all you can do is complain!”
“I worked my butt off just as much as you, Seiya, so don’t try to justify yourself - ”
“All I’d like is what’s best for the band. You’re going to kill Three Lights if you keep acting like a spoiled brat! If you even cared at all –”
“I care, but I’m sick of your selfishness! And you call me the spoiled brat! You know what? Your precious Three Lights can go to hell for all I care, I quit!”
“Oh, who’s being selfish now?” We were screaming at the top of our lungs by now, and Taiki had given up trying to intervene. “You always have to be the prima donna, don’t you!?”
She was starting to storm away, and tossed over her shoulder: “I’m not listening to you anymore. Why don’t you go tell it to your girlfriend!”
It irked me that she kept bringing up Odango in this argument. “She has nothing with this! If you’re backing out on the bet…”
“The bet’s off!” Green eyes flashed and silver locks flew as she whirled around at me. “I should have known you’d take it too far. Is that stupid bet all you care about?!”
“You’re quitting over that?!”
“I told you why I’m leaving!”
“We’re not canceling! I’ll do the concert by myself if I have to. Leave, for all I care! You’ll come back!”
She had already stormed out and slammed the door before I was halfway through. I wasted no time in turning on Taiki. “Are you going to leave too? You’re on her side, aren’t you?”
Her eyes narrowed to show she didn’t appreciate this. “I’m not on anyone’s side, Seiya, but I think you should stop being so stubborn.”
“She’s the one who left.”
Taiki crossed her arms firmly. “Go apologize to her.”
With a muttered “Like hell I will” I stomped back to my bedroom and slammed the door, my pulse still pounding and face flushed with anger. I made plenty of noise, knocking over a chair other random objects, before driving my fist into the wall. The brick wall. Yeah, real intelligent, I know. But now I had a screaming pain in my right hand and an excuse to let out a flurry of curse words loud enough for the neighbors to hear.
I rested my forehead against the cool brick of the basement apartment wall. Damn Yaten and her princess attitude. Couldn’t she see how much this band meant to me? Every time on stage, I felt like a little kid, living out her greatest dream. For a little while, it had been the greatest feeling in the world. But everything was falling apart now. Falling apart…
I felt the pieces slipping through my fingers. Why did Yaten have to be so dramatic? She didn’t understand… I couldn’t stop this masquerade now, it was out of my power. If Odango knew the whole truth…
A shower didn’t improve my mood, and the hot water stung my red and throbbing knuckles. I padded back to the bedroom wrapped in a towel and proceeded to dress. The girl in the mirror glared back at me. She looked ridiculous, wrapping a torn sheet around her chest and tugging as tight as she could to crush her unwanted breasts against her figure. Who are you trying to fool? Yourself?
Men’s pants, a dress shirt, a blazer. A bit of cologne, a tie… I changed my mind and threw away the tie. Fastening my hair back, I walked out of the bedroom and towards the door.
“Where are you going?” Taiki was still in the main room, bent over her laptop.
“I have a date,” I replied in a monotone, not bothering to stop or look back at her.
“The bet is off. Didn’t you hear what Yaten said? Seiya!”
I had already shut the door behind me, effectively drowning out my best friend’s voice.
*****************
The discreet limo pulled in front of the Tsukino residence. I pushed the doorbell, feeling somewhat nervous and still upset over the heated argument I’d had hardly an hour ago.
The door swung open wide to reveal Odango – looking like sunshine. Literally – she wore a bright yellow sleeveless dress that clung around her knees, her bright gold hair tied up in the usual style.
“Konbanwa.”
“Konbanwa, Seiya.” She smiled in the way only she could.
“Shall we go?” I offered her my arm.
“Certainly!” (a giggle, and then) “Oh, Seiya, what happened to your hand?” She caught my right hand, which by now was turning various shades of purple and blue.
“It’s nothing.”
“But it looks bad! What did you do?”
“I – I lost a fistfight with a wall, that’s all,” I replied, managing a crooked half-grin and a shrug.
She looked extremely puzzled. “Seiya, is everything alright?”
“What are you talking about?” I asked, trying my best to be my normal, casual self.
She spoke softly, “Well, it just seems… it seems you’re a little… distracted tonight. You don’t seem your usual self, and I thought…”
“It’s nothing; don’t worry about it.” Our hands were already in contact so I took hers in mine. “Nothing’s wrong.” I looked into her pools of deep blue eyes. “At least, not anymore.”