*-----[ Supernova ]-----*

Chapter II

" Rei ?"

" Yeah ?"

" I know this is kind of silly bringing this up but…." Makoto paused." Why do you think that Usagi-chan mentioned the Three Lights after some time ? I mean, it's not that strange that she would bring them up but……you know what I mean don't you ?"

Rei regarded her friend with a thoughtful look." I think I know what you mean. Usagi's right. It HAS been a long time. Whatever you do, you can't help missing the boys. I know I can't."

Makoto nodded. A grin made its way across her face." I still remember. How long ago when they left ? Four years ?" she chuckled." Minako had the HUGEST crush on Yaten !"

Her companion broke into a grin as well. A spark of remembrance hit her." Yeah, and I remember the way that Ami used to go BEET red when Taiki came around. I never thought she could turn that color !"

" Me neither. We had some good times didn't we ?" Makoto asked as she turned a corner at the stoplights.

Rei nodded in agreement." Do you think they forgot about us ?"

" Nah, I don't think so." Makoto said with a positive tone." Who could forget US ?"

An amused laugh came from Rei." I guess you're right….or don't you mean, who could forget USAGI ?" Both girls laughed out loud at the thought for a good few seconds.

There was a slight pause that followed, then suddenly Makoto turned serious."…….Seiya would never forget her." She said.

There was more remembrance with Makoto's answer." He really liked her didn't he ?" Rei mused, giving Makoto a thoughtful look.

" You could say that." Makoto replied." It seemed to me that the guy was head over heels in love with her…..in a way I kinda feel sorry for him. Destiny's crucial thing."

Rei said, " Destiny……But you have to agree that Usagi wasn't TOTALLY immune to Seiya. I mean the guy had looks, a body, generosity, sweetness…..money, hee hee."

The brunette smiled lightly in the driver's seat." Look Rei, I know Usa will probably KILL me for saying this but I sort of think that Seiya was a pretty good chance."

" What do you mean by that ?"

" Well. First of all, he liked Usagi for Usagi and not Sailor Moon or Serenity. Maybe, just maybe if it wasn't for Mamoru……Usagi would've probably went for him. That conclusion isn't really wrong."

Rei thought for a moment then slowly nodded her head." Now that you mention it, it's clear. But Usagi doesn't seem unhappy with Mamoru-san. Her happiness and the destiny that they have together go hand in hand."

" I know. But, there was always something more to Usagi when she would spend time with Seiya. He brought out the true USAGI in her and not what she was in the past. That little thing between both of them was probably SO hard to miss but it was there. I saw it."

The raven-haired girl beside her smiled." I KNEW you would be some expert in the girl/guy relationship clinic. I guess it's the experience from all your old boyfriends and crushes."

" Hey !" Makoto said, trying not to laugh." We weren't talking about me here."

* * * * *

" SEIYA GO !!!"

" WHAT ?!!! TAIKI, NO ! I-I won't leave without either of you !"

" SEIYA, YOU FOOL GO NOW !!!"

A crushing noise was heard. The sound was growing deafening as each little second ticked away uncontrollably.

The blood from his forehead was mixing with the dirty tears that ran down his cheeks, making him cry red tears. He screamed," NO ! I-I won't leave without you or Yaten !!!"

He could here the muffled and desperate voice that was Yaten on the other side of the stone barrier." Seiya, if you don't get the fuck out of here, you're going to be DEAD ! Leave NOW !!! GO DAMMIT !!!"

Seiya felt himself stumbling backwards. [ No…..I can't leave…..NO ! ]

" If you don't leave, there's no chance !"

[ No chance……… ]

[ No chance……….. ]

[ What chance ?……… ]

He could hear Taiki's voice getting cut off by his scream. Horror swirled around him in the cage of panic with every gut wrenching swipe of a weapon on the other side.

" TAIKI ! YATEN !" …..[ Oh God !!! ]……

Darkness then cloaked the world of stone around him. All he could hear were more shuffling noises. They were here. Again.

Seiya began to run. Running was all he could do and what he had been doing ever since the raid on Kinmonku.

This time they fully blocked his path. Silver lightning surged high through the air. It lit swirling sky and flew down to where he was trying to make a get-away.

A large jagged rock that blocked his path caught his foot. Seiya tried to avoid it but failed miserably. A sharp pain connected to his leg as his mouth opened to let out a scream. He realized he had been struck.

A noise of plated metal was all around. He was trapped and wasn't going anywhere. He failed. He failed everybody and he was nothing.

Pain-stricken, Seiya's fingers made a futile attempt to drag himself away. But they were already there and they were going to make him watch Kakyuu's murder….again…..and again…..and again……

"NO !!!"

Usagi frantically looked over Seiya's thrashing form. His facial expression and shut eyes were absolutely disturbing the way it twisted in anguish at his mental battle.

" Seiya !" Usagi cried, hurriedly reaching toward him. Worriedly, both her hands sought out his form and tried to wake him." Seiya please !"

Usagi shook him. It was like he was going hysterical. Tears were starting to stream down his face. She felt so helpless, Usagi wanted to cry as well. She couldn't help him, he wasn't waking up." Seiya !!!"

A small blurry hole was punctured in the dark clouds of his despair. A faint but distressed voice was coming through and just barely reached his ears. The hole grew bigger but the horrible blur stayed. Seiya was half-aware that he was moving his arms and legs but he was oblivious to anything else around him.

The blur of the clouds had been swept away to only leave the blur of his tears. Seiya was heaving between gulps of air as his body began to shift less on the bed. The faint voice became a bit clearer now. It was a feminine voice…….a voice from long ago. It said something to him as a cool and soothing hand placed itself upon him.

The sensation somehow caused his breathing to slow down and his limbs to come to a stop.

The voice was frightened and worried. Seiya couldn't see well, he was hopelessly delirious. The bloody sounds and images have died down to a minimum, only to reveal something else. A face bent over his. He couldn't tell of its expression. Deep set sapphire eyes, so soothing and full of worry. A fountain of golden hair.

But that was all Seiya saw as another wave of fatigue hit him hard. The blurry image of this face and the voice was drowned out by more uninvited blackness.

Usagi had gripped Seiya's hand tightly as she did everything that she could do to make him stop. When she saw that he had calmed down from outward hysterics, she had breathed a momentary sigh of relief.

It still scared her very much. This new distress that plagued Usagi was frightening. There was emotional pain that came with the many unanswered questions she had. Without another word, she reached over to the moist towel that was soaking in a bowl of water.

Seiya had started to sweat not long ago and so she rung the cloth over the bowl. Usagi put the cloth to his forehead, dabbing around the gash. She wiped the side of his face ever so gently and slid the cloth down his neck.

Usagi's touch seemed to soothe him greatly as she worked her way from his shoulders to his chest. A painful expression marked her face at the sight of his wounds. New and old, and ones she'd never seen before. Her throat constricted at the sight of his grief.

She watched Seiya's chest rise and fall. It wasn't relaxed breathing though. Even if his nightmare had ceased, his sleep was still just as troubled.

Usagi's put the cloth back in the bowl. After Seiya had somehow gave her the scream of her life by somehow "appearing" here, she hurriedly dragged him over to her bed. She didn't know what to think and her automatic response was the bowl of water. She ran out of the room briefly to fetch it until Seiya turned frantic. Upon hearing it, Usagi rushed in.

His head was turned to the side, facing her and his hair was haphazardly curling damp over his forehead from the sweat.

Usagi's eyes fell on the worn but bloodied shirt that lay across one of the chairs. She had removed it after depositing him on the bed. The wounds that were on his body seemed like they didn't receive much care. Those wounds needed to be properly cared for.

On this decision, Usagi brought in a role of bandages. She set them down next to the bowl of water on the side table. He was sweating all over the place and the clothing that he still had on was damp. Seiya looked bad enough, to have him catch a cold wouldn't add to his recovery.

Her eyes fell on his black pants. One leg was awfully torn. Upon one of the tears, she could see dry blood was crusted at the rip.

Usagi sighed out a tinge of nervousness. She didn't want to make the situation awkward but if it meant helping Seiya then she'd do it.

Hesitating, Usagi moved to the side of the bed. Her hands brushed the taut skin that was smoothed over the muscles of his stomach while they sought out the button for his pants.

At first, she seemed greatly annoyed with herself for even thinking such things. This might be inappropriate if it had been a different situation but it wasn't. This was the worst condition that she had ever seen him in. Usagi was helping, that was all.

Keeping this in mind, Usagi gulped when the button of Seiya's pants came undone at her fingers. Pulling down his fly, she held her breath and tugged his pants down.

After putting the pants where the shirt lay, Usagi walked back to the bed. Now came the hardest part of all. Closing her eyes, her nimble fingers felt for the waistband of Seiya's boxers. His sweat had made the cloth around his skin damp. Usagi pulled downward and quickly grasped the covers as she turned her head away to do so.

Now it was time for the bandages.

* * * * *

Seiya stirred at the touch of the covers. His mind was a hazy mess and not a thought had gone through it for a couple of seconds. He groaned slightly as he turned his head to the side. A dim glow hit him in the face.

It took him awhile to grasp that he was suddenly waking up and not dreaming anymore. Ever since a year before, Seiya had never been calm while sleeping. And most of those times, he wouldn't sleep for fear that he'd be unable to escape when the time came.

The comfortable surface beneath him made him finally start to think. It kicked his brain back into working mode as he began to notice.

[ Uh……Where am I ? ]

Seiya struggled to remember what exactly happened before he passed out. Visions of himself in panic trying to get away flew through his mind. It had been crucial that he had to escape. They had been too close this time.

Upon trying harder to remember what else went on, Seiya opened his eyes to a misty blur. He rubbed them, feeling how strained his limbs were. Wincing, he moved and found that he was cloaked in sheets.

It puzzled him when he opened his eyes fully to see a ceiling. A soft glow from the lamp on a bedside table left its color on the ceiling. The lamp was the only light from the darkness of the room besides the moon that glittered in the sky outside. It was night.

Seiya turned his face towards the lamp and winced. Suddenly his gaze drifted downwards beside the bed. It was such a sight for his sore eyes. [ Odango……. ] There sleeping in a sleeping bag was Usagi.

The hair that came down from the two odangos atop her head was splayed gracefully on the pillow. Usagi wasn't exactly in a relaxed position. Her body looked a bit tense and rigid and so were her features.

Abruptly, the remembrance of before his pass-out, hit him directly. As Seiya stared at her face with deep-set sadness, he remembered why he was in town. He wanted to see her.

Three years of emotional grief had been hard on him after leaving Earth. Every time he would think about Earth, he would think about Usagi…….and how happy she was to be back in Mamoru's arms. Seiya tried all that he could to ward off his pain, but failed.

The past year he had been running. He was being hunted like an animal every moment of his "life". Living in the shadows, scrounging to survive and barely making it from place to place in one piece. Every scar and every wound reflected his hardships ever since his planet was murdered.

Seiya forgot the meaning of happiness. There was no such thing as happiness. Everyday he expected to die. He expected his hunters to get their wish one of these days and finish the job that they started on Kinmonku.

That fatalistic attitude of expectation was what brought Seiya here to Juuban, to Usagi. He knew he couldn't keep running forever and he knew his hunters knew that perfectly as well. They weren't getting tired, he WAS. Every encounter Seiya had with them brought them progressively closer to killing him.

So, Seiya ended up here. Many times he had resisted the urge to come here and see her. It was wrong and he was a moving target. If he went to Juuban, he'd put Usagi and all her friends in danger.

But still, the urge was too much. He had to see Odango just one last time…..

Seiya first saw her a week ago at the mall. He'd spot her anywhere. Usagi was at a furniture department store with her mother. Seiya promised himself that this would be the only time he'd see her. Obviously that promise was broken as if it hadn't been made.

Usagi had been laughing excitedly about something and her mother was at the same level. It made his heart ache.

[ You knew it was going to be like this--seeing her again…….you knew it was going to hurt..] Seiya thought as he saw her smile. It was just like being torn limb from limb. He didn't belong in her life and now that he was hunted, he had no right to interrupt her happiness.

Though seeing Usagi pained Seiya more than words could express, he stayed in Juuban longer than expected. He found out she was in college now as were the rest of her friends. He stuck around enough to know where she lived…..alone. One question flashed through his head that moment. Where was Mamoru ?

Today Usagi was out with Rei and Makoto. Seiya knew he had to leave. Staying longer would really put them all in great danger and it would be his entire fault. But he had to say good-bye.

Unfortunately, Seiya's good-bye was cut short. He recognized the faint sounds, the sadistic sounds that brought about memories of death. They had found him and their assault had been too close for words. Seiya had been in a public place that day. People ended up in the crossfire.

Seiya's eyes wandered from Usagi's form on the carpeted floor to the bedside table. Bandages were piled next to a bottle of ointment and a bowl of water. Red water.

A tiny flicker of surprise struck him as he caught feel of the bandages around him. What surprised him even more was the fact that she did a pretty good job.

Seiya forced his aching limbs to move. The grief in his heart grew to lie here and watch her sleep. Angrily, Seiya sat up but was hit with a dizzying wave. His head felt like a million pounds complete with an inner soreness. Trying to steady himself, Seiya was determined.

[ There, you saw her…..now are you happy ? ] He thought angrily to himself. [ So what the hell are you doing ? Putting her in danger just by being here…….. ]

He tried to ignore the moisture that was beginning to form at the back of his eyes. Though not being in top-notch shape, Seiya forcefully dragged himself out of the bed. He had to get away quick, to lead them far away from Usagi. When she would wake up, she wouldn't find him here. It was better that way. For her safety even though it hurt him terribly.

This must have been her room and HER bed. Seiya didn't mean to be so much trouble. Upon getting out from the covers, the sudden chill of the room touched him and Seiya realized one thing.

He was stark naked.

Sure he had some bandages but that was nothing. Seiya's eyes widened in shock as he looked straight at Usagi sleeping on the floor. She was the ONLY one here, who else could've undressed him while he was knocked out ? In a hurry, he started to look frantically around for his clothes.

He didn't know where she could have put them. Figuring that maybe she decided to have his clothes washed, Seiya tiptoed around Usagi and headed for her bedroom door to make his exit. His clothes were probably in the laundry. He'd fetch them, no matter how wet they were.

The chill of the room atmosphere swept his body as his hand reached for the doorknob.

" Where do you think you're going ?"

….[ Damn ]…..

Seiya became rigid at the sudden sound of a familiar voice. His head slowly turned around to find Usagi sitting up from her sleeping bag with her arms crossed.

" Odango…." He said. Seiya then saw Usagi eye him in such a way. But she wasn't looking at his face…..

Seiya felt his cheeks go red hot as he frantically reached for the closest object to cover below his belt area. A book.

He watched as Usagi's smirk shifted into a smile of amusement. Really, he could still be so cute. She got up from her sitting position and walked towards him. Then her expression turned semi-serious.

" Seiya-kun, you're in no position to be up." She said.

Though clutching the book tightly to keep himself covered, Seiya regarded her critically." No, you don't understand. I-I have to leave now or--"

" Shh, stop." Usagi said." Just get back into bed and we'll talk about this later." She saw another insisting and pleading look from Seiya. Usagi dismissed it immediately because of her worrying. She gingerly wrapped her hand around his wrist and led him back into bed.

Seiya's mind for flight screamed at him to deny Usagi's help but the other side had resisted. He virtually allowed himself to be led back by her. This was a power that he couldn't help but submit to.

Usagi got him back into bed. When she held his wrist, she could feel how tense he felt and afraid. She wanted nothing but to soothe him. It looked like it was her turn to tell him that it was alright, that everything was going to be okay……even if she had NO idea what was going on yet.

Seeing Seiya's edginess in the way he was lying there, Seiya tried to scramble up again. But Usagi stopped him by putting a hand to his bare chest to gently push him down. He didn't have the strength to fight.

Usagi regarded him with the look of a nurse. She checked the bandages on his shoulder, arms, side and leg, as well as the one on his head. Seiya gave a slight wince.

" Odango, no. You're in danger--"

She cut him off again. Usagi put a single finger on his lips to silence him." Stay here and don't move. I'll be right back." she said gently. She didn't want to press him into to telling her anything that he wasn't ready to give. But the smile that she gave him was threatening to break his heart.

Then Usagi got up and left the room.

Seiya looked up at the ceiling in a complete dilemma. [ Get out of here now. You shouldn't have come……you're condemning her to death ! ]

His mind screamed at him but his body was immobile. His body wouldn't listen…..and neither would his heart. His body begged for rest and recovery while his heart begged, pleaded, prayed and pinned for………..

Seiya looked up when Usagi had re-entered the room. She was carrying a bowl of soup. He tried swallowing the painful lump in his throat to see her smile at him and do this for him." Odango," Seiya started to protest again. He went to get up from the bed but a rumbling noise sounded from his stomach.

Usagi blocked his path by sitting next to him on the bed, holding the bowl of soup in her hands. She just shook her head to his protests." Hungry ?" she asked.

He didn't know what to say. Seiya felt helpless in her presence and he gave up with a troubled expression.

She dipped the spoon into the steaming soup and lifted it towards him. It looked like he was hesitating. Usagi gave a little smile." Don’t worry, it's not poison." she assured him." I've learned a thing or two about cooking in four years."

Seiya felt a sudden tug at the corners of his mouth. Something he hadn't done in such a long time. He was starting to smile.

Taking one last look at the spoonful in front of him, Seiya thought it looked edible enough to eat. Plus he didn't want to look like he was refusing her hospitality. So, he leaned over and ventured to eat it.

The warm liquid slid down his throat. The soup was actually quite good and it seemed that Usagi knew it too. She had a pleased look at his reaction.

They both sat there in silence and caught in each other's presence. While Usagi continued to put spoonfuls before him, her expression turned troubled again. This event truly scared her and she could do nothing but worry about him. This worry was starting to eat her alive.

But Usagi told herself to be patient. Seiya would tell her at the proper time.