Beautiful Stranger
A Seiya/Usagi alternate reality fanfiction
drive_me_mercury@hotmail.com
Naoko owns SM, I don’t!
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White.
White squares. A tiled pattern of white squares… and yellow water stains. If this was heaven, God sure could afford to invest in a new ceiling. But I had a feeling I was somewhere else. I blinked, trying to clear the fog from my head, and ventured to turn my head to the side. I was in a hospital room, lying flat on my back in bed.
“What the…?” I was trying to wade through the grogginess of my mind to figure out how in hell I had gotten here. Wasn’t I supposed to be on a date? That’s right, we were kicked out of the restaurant. And then…
The whole scene with the purse-snatcher came back to me, the way I had chased him down and we fought, before he pulled me down on top of him as he fell. But I had gotten Odango’s purse back. Where was the purse?
A noise made me turn my head to the other side, where a female figure stood watching me. “Odango!” I couldn’t stop the exclamation that jumped from my lips. She was walking toward me, her hair down instead of in its usual pigtails.
A giggle. “Odango? You must have hit your head hard, or are you really that hungry?”
I frowned at the unfamiliar voice. It wasn’t Usagi, and I suddenly felt slightly embarrassed at my mistake. As she came closer and my eyes drew more into focus, I could see the obvious resemblance in the blue eyes and blonde hair, but also the noted difference in her facial features. She was wearing a school uniform I didn’t recognize. There was something oddly familiar about her, but I didn’t know. The question was, “Who are you?”
“Ah!” She bowed an apology. “Minako Aino at your service. I happened to be passing by when you were injured on the street and I came here to the hospital with your girlfriend.”
A sudden sickening jolt lurched through me. I sat straight up, and immediately regretted it as a sharp, searing pain stabbed through my abdomen. With a gasp, I fell back down on the pillow. “Is she alright?! Odango? Was she hurt?!”
The girl wagged a finger at me. “Now, now. Don’t be worrying, she’s perfectly fine. She was in here before you woke up, but she’s speaking to the police right now.”
Relief washed over me. I couldn’t have forgiven myself if she’d been injured or worse.
“The doctor should be back pretty soon. How are you feeling?”
“Now that you mention it… Terrible.” I was still woozy after waking up and the wound I’d discovered in my lower abdomen seconds earlier now throbbed with pain. It felt nearly like someone had literally ripped my flesh open.
“You’ll recover in no time, I’m sure,” she said cheerfully, sounding a lot like another blonde I knew. “It’s great that you’re alive after such an ordeal. I mean, attacked by a street thug! You’re certainly a lucky girl.”
Lucky? The word hardly seemed to fit the events of tonight. I glanced down at the flimsy hospital gown that wasn’t concealing much. That’s right. I told her the truth tonight.
“Though…” Minako continued, “I have a feeling you’re going to have a few shocked fans.”
I looked intently at the stranger at my bedside as a stroke of memory made me realize where I’d seen her face before. “Minako Aino? From the audition?”
An almost silly smile crept over her face. “Aha, so you do remember me! And I was beginning to feel you’d completely forgotten! Yep, I can say I knew Three Lights before they hit it big. Although,” she scratched her cheek, looking at me, “I must admit I’m confused, and a little shocked myself. Never fear! I can keep secrets, you know.” She winked here. “But enough about that. You gave several people quite a scare, you know. Your girlfriend was pretty upset when the ambulance came to pick you up.”
Odango was upset over me? Well, of course. I’m sure the trauma of the incident got to her. Besides, she had a sweet and caring heart for people. It didn’t mean anything more than that. “Look,” I told Minako, “you’re mistaken. She isn’t my girlfriend.”
The girl raised an eyebrow. “Ara… no? I could have sworn the two of you were out on a date.”
“Well, it wasn’t what it looked like.”
“Hmm… now that’s strange, because she seemed quite attached to you.”
What was she trying to say? I glared in her direction. “What are you talking about?”
“You see, if you ask me – the way she looked at you, and the way she was crying when you were hurt – it just seemed different than a friend, or even a sister would be. And you know my ‘maiden’s intuition’ says – ”
“You don’t even know either of us, so don’t presume things.” What was she doing? Trying to get my hopes up just so they could be crushed by reality? Even if Odango had liked me before, things had changed tonight. She wouldn’t think of me the same way. And what did this Minako know about either of us?
“True, true,” Minako continued. “I don’t mean to pry now, but if you like her as I suspect from –”
“It’s none of your business!” I snapped, not wanting to continue this conversation. God, were my feelings that obvious?
“Hai, you’re right,” she relented, although she smiled slightly as if she knew she’d found a sensitive spot. “I’m sorry, Seiya-kun. I didn’t mean to upset you. You’re right, I don’t know anything about your situation, but I do know this – it’s better when everyone’s feelings are out in the open. Then you might find yourself surprised at the truth.” I glared at her again. She smiled and winked. “Hey, the goddess of love is never wrong about these things!”
“Ja ne, Seiya-kun. Recover soon!” She waved and left as the doctor entered the room.
I learned I really was lucky. The purse-snatcher’s knife had cut in deep when I fell into it, but the wound was only through muscle and tissue and had avoided any vital organs. I was to stay in the hospital for a least a week to monitor for infections as well as the slight concussion I apparently suffered hitting my head on the concrete. She checked some things, asked a few questions before leaving the room.
I lay in bed, eyes closed, not sleeping, but with a hundred different thoughts flowing through my mind, of all that had happened in the last eight hours. But mostly, I was wondering when and if Odango would come back. I wanted to see her again, just to see with my own eyes that she was alright, and smiling still. If she was tired, if she was upset, she might have gone home – it was late. If she didn’t want to see me ever again… yeah, I could understand. I waited anyway. Even though I was scared. Scared of the way she would look at me. Maybe I didn’t want to see her after all.
Faint voices from the door.
“Now, what was the nurse just saying about scar tissue?”
“Keeping the body relatively immobile and preventing infection are the best ways to limit the development of scar tissue. That’s one of the reasons she’s to remain here. Now, shh, this is the room.”
“Look’s like she’s sleeping.”
I smiled in spite of myself, still facing the opposite direction. Taiki and Yaten. What would I do without them?
“Try not to agitate her, okay?”
“I’m not going to! Why would I do that?”
“Alright, I was just saying…”
I opened my eyes and turned toward my two ‘sisters’. “I thought you left.”
They both fell silent at the realization that I was awake. I met Yaten’s emerald eyes staring back at me. Then she shrugged.
“I did. But it seems you can’t get along without me. The minute I go, you run off and do something stupid like get yourself stabbed.” She was smiling wryly, but I could see the gentleness in her eyes. She didn’t have to speak it to tell me everything was forgiven. Maybe it was true what they said, that nearly losing someone you love makes you rethink how important they really are to you.
“Gomen.”
Yaten was trying and failing to keep a serious face, because I was grinning like an idiot. “Baka...”
“In that case, I forgive you, too.”
“How are you feeling?” Taiki asked, pulling up one of the chairs and sitting.
“Like hell, and you?” I replied without missing a beat.
“Geez, at least she’s in good spirits,” Yaten smiled. My grin faded.
“But, Seiya, tell us what happened,” Taiki said.
I told them, starting from the moment the man grabbed Usagi’s purse and took off, to the point where I passed out and ended up here.
“We talked to Usagi in the waiting room,” Taiki told me, and she suddenly commanded my full attention. “She had just finished talking to the police, and her mother was there with her. She was tired, and little shaken still. I told her to go home and rest.”
I nodded soberly. That was best. Although it was killing me, the way things had been left between us. Did she hate me now? Not that it mattered. I knew how things stood – it was over. No more ‘playing the boyfriend’ for me.
“Seiya?” Back to reality. “Did something happen tonight?”
I glared at the tall brunette and cocked an eyebrow. “Where have you been?”
“No… I meant, besides your getting hurt. Something with Usagi, perhaps.”
Licking my lips, I turned toward the window. “I – I told her the truth tonight,” I said, trying to sound casual and failing miserably.
“How did she react?”
I closed my eyes but it didn’t block out the image. “She cried.”
Both were silent for moment, until Yaten changed the subject. The conversation went on to other things, but I was only half-listening. I’d already fallen back into the depression from earlier tonight. After a while, Taiki suggested she and Yaten leave so I could get some rest, and promised to be back in the morning.
Alone now, I had nothing to do but think; and no matter how much I tried, my thoughts kept drifting back to the events of tonight. One scene – replying itself in my mind. Why? I can’t believe you lied to me…Why? I can’t believe… why…why…A nurse entered the room and left but I didn’t pay her much attention. Why did I think I could get away with it? Seiya, you’re an idiot. I wish I could forget her face now. Why can’t I? Because you don’t really want to. There must have been painkillers in the IV, because I felt myself slowly growing heavier, thoughts slipping father apart. Finally, with relief, I slid into the white, dreamless world of sleep.
***************
“Go fish.”
I reached for the deck of cards that had become a scattered pile on the bed. Kakyuu was sitting crossed-legged near the foot of the bed, shielding her hand of cards, while I sat opposite her, propped against a pile of pillows. She had been coming over nearly every day for the past week to keep me company. Taiki and Yaten did as well, stopping by each day after school.
I glanced at the card in my hard. Five of hearts. Not the eight that I’d wanted. “Your turn.” The doctors said I was recovering fine, so I wasn’t going to bother to disagree with them. I did feel better – that is, I knew my wound was slowly healing and there was less pain, but the headaches still persisted. They said I could go home tomorrow.
The first night in the hospital was the worst. After the painkillers wore off, I kept thinking about what I should have said, what I shouldn’t have said, and all kinds of things I couldn’t change now. Mostly I began to curse myself for ever getting involved and letting myself fall for her. I’d never let myself get so attached to anyone before. I never needed anyone but myself and my sisters. How could such a silly, clueless girl hold so much power over someone, when she didn’t even realize it? I shouldn’t have taken that damn bet in the first place, then I could have avoided a lot of pain for both of us. And I had to stop imagining things that were never going to happen. I’d fucked things up, big time.
The day after, a nurse informed me that I had a visitor who wished to see me. I chickened out. I couldn’t face her. The nurse sent her away saying I wasn’t feeling well enough to see anyone. She came back the next day, and the next, and I still refused to see her. After the third day she gave up on visiting. A big bundle of flowers with a teddy bear arrived in my room. I had Taiki all but bury them in the pile of flowers, balloons, and the like that was gathering the corner of the room courtesy of several friends and fans.
The headaches started after the first night, but they slowly got worse. It hurt to think, physically and emotionally, so I didn’t. I spent most days sleeping or watching hours of anime on TV. Taiki, Yaten, and Kakyuu all tried to cheer me out of depression, and finally got me to spill everything. But they couldn’t really understand. Besides, in this hospital room I’d found a haven where I could curl up and hide, where I wouldn’t have to face the rest of the world. I thought it might not be so bad if I could stay here forever. The food wasn’t that great, but besides the doctors and nurses, there were no other people. No people I could hurt, no people to hurt me. After all, it was my own fault. I deserved to be here.
I glanced toward the corner, and my eyes fell on Odango’s teddy bear, poking its head out of a bunch of flowers. And realized I’d seen that bear before.
“Seiya-kun? I asked if you had any aces.”
My head snapped back to my companion. “I’m sorry, Kakyuu. Um…” I scanned the faces of the cards in my hand, trying to remember what she’d just asked for.
“What’s this?” she said, “I’m not your princess anymore?” referring to the ‘hime’ nickname I’d dropped from her name.
“Ah, I’m sorry. Of course… Kakyuu-hime.” I forced a smile. “Now… you wanted queens?” I looked down again at the cards I was holding.
I blinked in surprise when she snatched the all cards from my hand and let them fall to the bed. “Enough of this.” I suddenly faced a stern and serious manager and friend. “You’re going home tomorrow,” she said. “You can’t sit around and sulk for the rest of your life.”
I knew what this was about now, and turned my head away toward the window.
“You’re going to have to go back to school eventually,” Kakyuu continued.
“I don’t have to go back to that school.”
“Now you’re being stubborn.”
“You don’t understand.”
“I understand! I understand that you’re running away before you even give things a chance to work out. You made a mistake, and so you’re going to give up and turn your back on the entire situation. You’re going to run and hide? That’s not the Kou Seiya I know. If you love her, don’t you think she deserves to know that? Or are you going to let her think you’re a selfish, insensitive, spoiled idol? If you do, then she’ll be exactly right! I’m not going to put up with this! I’m not going to let you lay here in bed, or sit alone at home, wallowing in your own miserable self-pity just because you’re too chicken to face her again, and tell her the real truth. And I don’t mean about your gender.”
At that moment I was too stunned to reply, because I’d never heard Kakyuu talk so harshly. But she had hit the target direct – she was right. And I knew it. She had knocked most of the fight out of me, but I still had a weak protest. “I – It would never work. She’s not… that way.” What Usagi wanted was a Prince Charming – a caring, loving boyfriend that could love her and protect her with strong arms. I couldn’t be that.
Kakyuu’s tone was gentle now. “If it doesn’t work out, won’t you still feel better telling her everything? Apologize for deceiving her, and if she doesn’t still return your feelings, she should at least respect your sincerity. And even if she doesn’t, you’ll know you did everything you could to right the situation. I honestly think you hurt her, and you need to try to repair that.”
But did I have the courage to do that? I felt like that little girl again, hiding up in the tree. Still, it took away my breath to think that I might have the slightest sliver of a chance, that she just might say… Forget it, it won’t happen. But any case, I knew what I had to do.
“Thanks, Kakyuu… I think.”
She smiled. “Now…” she began to gather the cards into a deck. “Up for another game?”
“Sure, I guess. But can we play blackjack this time?”
“Looking to cheat me out of all my money?”
“Now, you know I would never do that, Hime-sama,” I replied with a crooked grin.
As she shuffled the cards I fell back into serious thought. “Ne, do you think she would ever even forgive me?”
Kakyuu sighed. “Seiya-kun, I can’t tell you that.”
I looked back at the teddy bear with a sigh. “I suppose I don’t blame her if she doesn’t. But sweet Odango… well, it’s her choice. Whatever she says, I’ll live with that.”
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See, see, I said, I’d get this chapter done fast, huh?! Okay, I lied. -_-;; I hope Seiya’s thoughts in this chapter don’t seem too disjointed. She’s thinking about a lot of things, fighting with herself a little, and going through some ups and down. So… will Seiya tell her her feelings? What will Usagi’s answer be?? ^___^
One more chapter to go ~ Can’t you wait?! ^^;;
P.S. Merry Christmas, minna! And for those of you who are reading this in July… yeah, Merry Christmas. :P