IMPORTANT: PLEASE READ AUTHOR NOTES
(You might have a good laugh, and maybe help out a poor, lost soul!)
Konnichiwa! Minna-san! It's Xaphrin here!
I've got the next chapter of Yosei no Kissu. Yep yep yep… Okay…. So I know ya'll are waiting for White Christmas… well… yeah, I won't even go there. I'm beginning work on the last chapter now. I hope you enjoy it, I'm very proud. As soon as I finish that, I'll begin work on two new pieces. Would you like to hear their tales? Of course you would!
One: Voice (Seiya and Usagi), this is the original form of VOA (Voice of an Angel). Basically, there is no Xavier, there are not magical senshi. It's Seiya and Usagi with basic human powers of innocence and love. (Expected length: 4-6 chapters)
Two: Flaming Hearts (Seiya and Rei) Don't ask… and don't you dare look at me like that. Yeah, that look. I like to pioneer, and as you can see in most of my Seiya/Usagi stories I always hint that there is/was/kind-of a relationship between Seiya and Rei. But… yeah, The plot isn't entirely developed but here's a general idea: Seiya comes back to confess to Usagi that he is in love with her (BIG difference between 'love' and 'in love'). In her childish oblivience (apparently that's not a word, but I'm using it anyway), and blinded by her pre-ordained destiny, she punctures his heart. He can't return home, and he's lost and alone in a planet that holds only pain. Then Rei find him… and possible flames erupt from a childish teenage crush. (Expected Length: 6-8 chapters WARNING: May contain intense lime, or mild lemon!)
So that's what will be happening this summer, as well as continuing my work on Prelude, Stars in Their Eyes, She's Got It, Trials of the Average High School Super-Hero, Yosei no Kissu, and I might even reinstate my work on Future Love (Darn I hate that title. Full royalties to anyone who can think of a better one!! DEAD SERIOUS! E-mail me if you have an idea for a better title!!) Heck, if I get bored enough, I'll even start on some of my WAY old discontinued ficcies like: that Celtic Seiya and Usagi story, anyone out there remember when I began that? Darn that's a mess… oh well. Hey I might even start on Sakura no Ai. Yeah… Plus I've been meaning to get around to writing some Yaoi… (I've been watching Gravitation too much… -_-;;; but Shuichii and Yuki are just so darn cute! ^^) Possibly Garu/Rio from Megami Kouhosei. Or Mamoru/Seiya… Hey! Don't look at me like that. I really like Seiya, and Seiya and Yaoi is just too darn cute! ^^
Anyway… after all my ramblings, I suppose you might actually want to read the story now, ne? Thanks a bunch for everything!
With Love: Xaph!
Yosei no KissuChapter Four: Dinner Disaster
Seiya woke to the smell and sound of breakfast that wafted upward from his kitchen. He yawned and sat up, looking around his immaculately clean room. Early morning sunlight poured in from the east-facing window, lighting everything with a heavenly grace. He yawned again and stretched.
It had been roughly five weeks since the appearance of wingless fairy, Usagi, along with all her troubles, quirks, and innocence. However, through all the bumpy paths and confusions, Seiya was slowly beginning to adjust to the new presence in his once orderly life.
However, there was the fact that she constantly pestered him about wishing for something. Finally he gave in, only to keep her quiet, and asked to be rid of his mother for a week. It was the best week of his life, if he had ever heard so.
Just the same, a new, daily pattern was beginning to take shape in the world lacking of order. Typically, Seiya would wake up as Usagi finished making breakfast. And as he ate, Usagi would lay out his suit and make his bed. After he left for work, she cleaned the house or tended the garden. And when Seiya returned home, tea was made and ready for him. Dinner was served about six forty-five and they would eat together. After dinner, Seiya would do some work and Usagi would play with the cat. It was a comfortable routine, which was broken about once or twice a week by the arrival of Mamoru.
Seiya still had issues with the way Usagi was, she often became deeply confused. For example, when Seiya tried to explain the concept of money and purchasing… it had taken nearly four days for her to understand that concept. Or automobiles, that had been even worse.
Mamoru, however, often commented that he enjoyed Usagi's company. He said she was charming in her innocence, and a pleasure to hold an acquaintance with. Seiya calmly replied that he was insane, and would have gladly shared her for several weeks.
Although Seiya said he couldn't stand Usagi, and she constantly got on his nerves, he had to admit that it was nice to have some one he could talk to. The house didn't feel as empty and lonely as it once had, now it seemed filled with a constant warmth… like the way his childhood house used to feel.
Seiya sighed and forced himself to push the covers off him, stand up and begin to walk down the stairs. He was greeted with a very cheerful voice as he reached the bottom of the stairs.
"Ohayo-gozaimasu!"
"Ohayo." Seiya managed to call out before another yawn claimed his mouth. He stumbled into the kitchen and sat down at the table, where his coffee had been set out. Usagi placed a plate before him.
"Seiya-sama?" Usagi asked tentatively.
"Mm?" Seiya managed between sips of his coffee, hoping Usagi wouldn't question him about how certain things of the human world worked.
"You need some more eggs. Shall I conjure up some?" She questioned.
Seiya raised an eyebrow. He had made several rules with Usagi and hr powers, and one of them was absolutely NO conjuring, unless asked to by Seiya or unless it was absolutely necessary. He watched as Usagi understood his glare, and look sheepishly toward the ground.
"Mm, Iie. I need to go out and get some wine for tonight anyway." He set his coffee cup down and continued to look firmly at her. "Usagi-san?"
"Hai, Seiya-sama?" She asked, letting her blue eyes lock with his.
If there was once thing that always entranced Seiya, it was her eyes. They were like the endless sea on a warm summer's day. When she looked into his eyes he felt as though he could stare at her forever…
That wasn't possible. He needed to make several things very clear to Usagi right now. There was no time to look into her eyes, without being serious.
"I'm having company over tonight, and I need you to make dinner and dessert. But most of all I need you to be on your best behavior. Do I make my self clear?" His voice was stern, with a no-nonsense tone that made Usagi blink with a sudden frightful curiosity.
"My best behavior…? I'm not sure if I understand you, Seiya-sama. Don't I behave as well as a Wish-Giver should?"
Seiya looked even more sternly at her, beginning to feel his muscles tense as he subconsciously knew that this was going to lead into a discussion of 'the human world'. "Usagi, you're very sweet, but you let things slip that you shouldn't."
Her face twisted into an even blanker look. "Nani? I don't understand, Seiya-sama. What am I doing wrong?"
"What I'm trying to say, is that you tell people things about your world. Not just when you speak, but in your actions and movements as well." He looked at her firmly again. "People can tell you're… well you're… different."
Usagi's face fell, her voice becoming soft with sadness and a strange, sorrowful understanding. "Oh. Is being different bad?"
Seiya suddenly felt as though he was being sent on one heavy guilt trip. A twang of remorse for her tugged at his heartstrings harshly, but he couldn't let her by, he was having company over, and if they discovered Usagi was a fairy… well the effects would be monstrous. Or even worse…
"In your case," Seiya stated quite firmly, to the point of his voice nearly sounding like anger, "being different is very bad."
"Oh…I see… Would it please you if I tried to act like a human?" Her voice still soft with the sadness that only Seiya had provoked.
"Hai." He said curtly, trying to ignore the way her eyes shimmered with new moisture.
"Oh…"
Silence.
"I don't know how."
Seiya rolled his eyes and sighed, letting himself fall back into the chair. "Usagi-san… Then just… just pretend you're my maid or servant or… something. You need to be at least some-what normal by five thirty tonight, and even more-so when dinner is to be served at five fifty."
"Am I to have dinner with you tonight, Seiya-sama?"
"Dear lord, no!" Seiya looked as though the sheer idea could very well kill him, not to even mention what the actual act could do.
"Usagi, you're nice… but this dinner is important… and… well, you might be prone to upset it." Seiya tried to say this as nicely as he could, but it didn't seem to be very effective. It seemed cruel, rude, and inconsiderate of her feelings…
Usagi looked up at him and forced a smile. "I'll try as hard as I can."
"That's my girl." He patted her head before she bowed and went upstairs to set out his suit.
As she left he felt guilt instantly pour through him like hot lava. It made his skin burn uncomfortably, and made him shift in his seat.
He had been rather rude with her. He didn't mean to be, honestly, but he couldn't help himself. There were very important reasons for his harsh words, and those reasons all lead up to one person and her being: Kiko.
Kiko was going to be at Seiya's house for dinner, and Kiko was… well, she was the one Seiya wanted to date… seriously. He was more then infatuated with her, it was her charm, her personality, and her good looks. She was Kiko… and Seiya had to show her that he was a very charming and wonderful bachelor, who would be more then willing to be with her.
However, having Usagi around could play disastrous roles in the later future, if Kiko discovered the truth about Usagi. It could ruin his whole life that might be with Kiko.
'Well… things could have gone worse…' Seiya sighed as he finished his coffee. 'I guess I'd better get ready.'
Usagi sat at the table in the dining room, in late afternoon finishing her chores before cooking dinner. Seiya's tubby, orange cat padded around her feet, looking up at her with intense curiosity. She'd worn the same blank expression the whole morning, and Neko knew that there had to be something wrong. She had never acted as such before.
"There's something wrong with you today, Usagi-chan." Neko spoke up after staring at her for a while longer.
"Mm?" She asked, stopping her polishing and looking down at the orange animal near her crossed ankles. "How so? I don't feel any different." She blinked innocently as the cat managed to struggle its tubby body to the highly polished and dark table.
"You smell different." The cat looked up at her. "Something's wrong… hm… You look different too…" The cat said, pushing its squashed face into her own delicate one, watching as large blue eyes blinked at him. "Did you fall?"
Usagi's face fell at his words, then she shook her head slowly, as if contemplating something important. "Iie, I didn't fall. And… I'm not supposed to be different. I'm supposed to be like a human."
Neko blinked in confusion and surprise. "What? But you're not human."
"Seiya-sama, says that I should try to be like a human. He says that my difference is… bad." She placed the spoon she had been polishing on a piece of felt, and picked up a butter knife. "… I don't understand…" She sighed deeply, watching as Neko seemed to contemplate her words.
"I don't either." The cat said finally, as it stretched to lay across the table and stared at her with its green eyes. "mmm…"
"Nani?" She questioned.
"Why would he want you to act normal?"
"He's having company over tonight." Usagi said this as if it was the first and only reason Usagi would have to act normal.
"Oh? Who?" Neko questioned with a slightly angered tone.
"Mamoru-san, Gendai, and… Kiko." Usagi put the knife down.
"Kiko? I was hoping she wasn't back from her trip to Europe yet." The cat hissed angrily at the air, feeling its fur begin to stand on end.
Usagi blinked innocently at it, as she began to notice Neko's change in character. "Nani?"
"Kiko… Kiko-baka is a girl that Seiya's had over several times before. I don't like her! But Seiya's infatuated with her. I think she's a stuck up little snot and she said I look like a school bus!"
"Gomen. I don't think you look like a school bus." Usagi scratched the cat behind its ears. Neko smiled up at her.
"Thanks, but I'm sure you don't know what a school bus is."
At those words, Usagi's face fell again. "I feel so… so awful. Why don't I understand this world?" She felt as though her body ached with a physical sadness and confusion at this strange world and all it's problems with her… and her differences.
She couldn't understand Seiya's harsh words. Why was being different so bad? What was a human supposed to act like? Why did she have to act like one? Why was this dinner so important? Why was Kiko so important? These and many other questions suddenly came pouring from her body in liquid form: Tears.
Usagi buried her face in her hands and cried, not letting herself hold back. She didn't care that she was supposed to be a beautiful, poised fairy, her mind was now a tangled web of emotions and misunderstandings. She just wanted to cry… even though it wouldn't to anything but create more trouble. Sometimes, trouble was necessary for happiness.
Neko jumped back as he watched her tears fall. He knew about the fairy world, it was embedded in all animals' minds. And from this information he knew that when a fairy cried, strange things were bound to happen… Things that only a fairy could do or create.
Neko jumped off the table and ran to hide under the couch. He didn't have to hide long though, he saw a highly polished shoe walk past the couch, heading in the direction of the dining room.
"Usagi-san!"
Usagi looked up into glittering blue eyes, shaded by ebony hair. She felt strong arms embrace her, and soft hands begin to wipe her tears away from her rosy cheeks.
"Konnichiwa, Mamoru-san. How may I help you?" It was a standard phrase that Usagi used to greet him, but this time it sounded painful and harsh compared to when she said it with a pleasant smile.
"Usagi-san, what's the matter?" He asked, rocking her gently in his arms and trying to calm her tears.
Usagi clutched his shirt and cried into his chest. "Mamoru-san, I am so confused! I don't know how to act like a human! I don't even know where to start…"
"Usagi…" He pulled away and looked confusedly into her moist eyes. "Why would you want to act like a human?"
"Because Seiya told me to… for his dinner tonight, he said I act too much like a fairy. He said I'm different, and being different is bad." She continued to clutch at his shirt, trying to force herself to calm down. Her hands trembled and she didn't understand why she was so upset! It was a command… wasn't it?
Mamoru glared at the air above her head, Seiya must have been the dumbest man in the world! Look at what he was doing to this poor girl? All she wanted to do was be a good fairy, so what if she was different, it shouldn't make a difference!
Mamoru looked back down at Usagi and smoothed her hair gently. "You're not human… that's what makes you special."
She looked up at him, silent tears running down her cheeks. Question shimmered in her eyes. "You… you think I'm special?"
Mamoru smiled. Sometimes when he was with Usagi, it felt almost as if he were dealing with a small child. It was difficult, but could have more benefits then when he was dealing with a full-grown adult human. He smiled at her softly. "You're very special, Usagi."
He cradled the small woman against his chest and felt her slowly ease into exhaustion from her emotional instability. It was strange that, although humans and fairies had their differences (and they were many), they were oddly alike. Humans could feel the same pain at being called different, could react the same way, and feel the same exhaustion…
"Why don't you rest, Usagi. And I'll finish your chores."
"I can't do that! It's my job!" Usagi's eyes went wide and she struggled to will her leaden limbs to move. It was absolutely out of the question for Mamoru to do what he had proposed. They were her chores, her jobs, and no one else was allowed to do them. It was fairy etiquette… it just wasn't done!
But her body wasn't moving the way she wanted it to, her mind wasn't working properly either. All she could do was protest verbally… and that wasn't much good when you were dealing with some one like Mamoru-san.
"You're tired, Usagi," he said practically, making it very clear to Usagi that she was in no position to do chores, let alone cook diner. "You're confused. Why don't you go rest in Seiya's guest bedroom? I'll finish up your chores and you can serve Seiya and us our meals… okay?"
Mamoru talked slowly, and watched carefully as she futilely tried to fight on-coming sleep. Finally she succumbed to all her emotions and biological protests. Her body became slack and she barely managed to force out a nod and a 'hai', before she fell into sleep.
Mamoru glared at the empty air, then carried Usagi upstairs and put her into bed.
He was going to beat the living shit out of Seiya for what he was doing. So what if Usagi was different? She wasn't human, she was a fairy! That's what made her the way she was. And further more! Seiya must have had to say some pretty cruel things in order for him to make Usagi cry as much as she did. Usagi definitely did not deserve that.
"Oh, his ass is mine!" Mamoru growled angrily, balling up is fists tightly at his side. He was barely able to keep himself from stomping down the stairs in an angered fit.
He went into the dining room and discovered that Usagi had finished her chores for the day, so she must have been getting ready to start dinner. Growling, he angrily stormed back to the kitchen across the living room.
He stepped in the kitchen and growled as he began to look for the chicken to cook.
"I bet he wanted Usagi to stay out of his way so he could be with Kiko. What a bastard! Doesn't he realize how good he has it? Besides, who would want a high-maintenance, stuck-up, snot like Kiko, anyway!? … Damnit! Where's the-"
SQUAWK
"-chic…ken?"
Mamoru looked at the pan on the stove, at there sat a chicken… alive!
And roosting!
In Seiya's pan!
In which it was supposed to be cooked!
"Oh… shit… Seiya's gonna kill me…"
SQUAWK! SQUAWK! SQUAWK!
Mamoru looked at his feet… and there squawked the rest of the dinner, pecking hungrily at the linoleum floor.
"Ah…"
moo
"HUH!?" Mamoru whipped around as he heard a muffled 'moo' from behind him. Then the freezer cracked suddenly, and a large, full-grown cow appeared in the middle of Seiya's kitchen.
"Mooooooo"
"Oh my god…"
Mamoru could only stare into the face of the large black and white cow, which could only moo back at him.
"There… there… THERE'S A COW IN SEIYA'S KITCHEN!!??"
He suddenly sprinted out of the kitchen, into the living room. He felt, rather then saw, the cow that had appeared in the debris of Seiya's once freezer.
"USAGI!!!???"
At that moment Usagi appeared at the top of the stairs and looked down at Mamoru, then at the cow in the living room.
"Mamoru-san, I thought Seiya wanted chicken?" She asked, tilting her head to the side.
"I would have cooked chicken… if they all weren't alive and 'squawking' in Seiya's kitchen!!!" Mamoru snapped sarcastically, watching as Usagi stepped lightly down the stairs and looked into the cow's large, eyes.
"Nani?" Usagi asked, looking at the cow. Mamoru stared at her in confusion… could she talk to animals? Or was she just… insane?
"Oh…. Oh! Did I really? I'm sorry… no… no, thank you." Usagi bowed to the cow, then put her hand on its head… and the cow just disappeared. No flashy sparkles, smoke, or light… just a small 'pop' and then it was gone.
"Um… Usagi-san… where's the cow?" Mamoru managed to ask.
"I sent it to a farm."
"A… a farm?"
She nodded. "Hai, in America."
"Usagi… can you… talk to animals?"
She nodded again, her blonde hair bouncing like golden springs. "Hai. All fairies have a specific talent that relates to their character… since I am an animal fairy, I can talk to animals."
"Oh… I guess it makes since…. What did it say?" Mamoru questioned in a state of mild shock.
"He told me that I brought him and the chickens back to life…" She looked down at the floor sheepishly and blushed in embarrassment of what had happened, and why. "It's my fault… for being distraught…"
"For… being distraught? What in the…?" He asked, looking at her as if she were off the rocker. Why would her being distraught have anything to do about it, it wasn't the cow that did it… well, it was a cow that caused it (AKA Seiya), but why would that matter?
Usagi blushed, lowering her head a little more in shame. "When fairies become upset, distraught, or more specifically cry… there are certain… magical side effects that can occur. In my case, since I am an animal fairy, then I… brought the animals back to life… I'm sorry… I've ruined dinner, haven't I?"
"No… we can take care of this. It's not a problem, Usagi…" Mamoru felt instant pity at the pour girl. She tried so hard and she got nothing but bad luck back. He patted her had gently, then gave her a hug.
"Honto?" Usagi asked, her eyes sparkling up at him from under her long eyelashes.
"Mm-hm." Mamoru smiled and let her go. "Shall we get started then?"
"Hai!" Usagi nodded cheerfully.
"Okay! Usagi, Can you take care of the chic-"
CLICK
"Kiko, Gendai, welcome to my… home?"
"-kens…"
A heavy silence fell around the room as indigo eyes locked with sky blue, then ice blue, and then the chickens that had made their home at the feet of his companions.
"USAGI!!!!!"
Usagi looked down sheepishly at the chickens at her feet, then up at Seiya as he glared at her. To both her and Seiya's unfortunate demise… it was at this time that a chicken decided it would like to roost on his nice, fluffy hair.
"I'm not even going to ask…" He growled, feeling his body become tense with anger. "Mamoru, come on. We're going out for dinner. Usagi…" He rubbed his temples, feeling his jaw lock into place from scowling too much. "Just… clean up this mess…" He sighed angrily.
Usagi felt tears come to her eyes again. "Gomen-nasai, Seiya-sama…"
Mamoru glared at Seiya, his eyes were as cold as the ice they resembled. "Just go, Seiya. I'll stay here with Usagi. So she knows that at least one person cares about her."
Seiya's mouth fell open at this moment. He cared! It was just that this dinner was really important to him! Usagi didn't mean to mess things up, he knew that! But she had just the same… and he needed someone to take his anger out on.
"Fine…" Seiya growled, "If you see it that way…" He looked at Mamoru angrily before shooing the chicken off his head, and going outside to explain to Kiko and Gendai why the dinner was canceled.
Usagi looked up at Mamoru. "I did something awful… didn't I?"
Mamoru glared at the closed door, through which Seiya had exited. "Iie. Seiya did something bad."
"But… he's my master… masters are never wrong…." Usagi stammered, trying to understand why Seiya would be wrong. It was her fault, it was her mistake. She was a fairy… She was supposed to be poise, gentile, and always remember that her master was never wrong.
"I beg to differ…" Mamoru said exasperatedly. Finally he turned to the tiny blonde who was still confused, distraught, and innocent. "Come on, Usagi… let's start cleaning up."
"No…" Seiya said as he came back inside. He looked stressed and exhausted as he stared at Mamoru, then at Usagi. "Mamoru, go home… I need to talk to Usagi… alone."
Mamoru crossed his arms, feeling his pent up anger being to crack through. "Oh? Why should I leave? I was nice to her! I cared for her! All of this it was your fault anyway! You're the one who asked her to be something she wasn't!"
"What?" It was more of a comment of disbelief. Seiya knew exactly what he had done… it had been his fault for asking her to be something she wasn't… but… the dinner… and Kiko…
"You asked her to be human!" Mamoru seethed, wanting deeply to pull back his hand and punch Seiya rather hard in the face. "She's a fairy, damnit! She's not going to be human… she's a fairy!"
"I know that!!" Seiya yelled, glaring at Mamoru. "Don't you think I know that!? Damnit Mamoru! Get the hell out of my house!"
"If I do, I'm taking Usagi!"
There was a heavy silence as the two men glared at the other one.
"Mamoru-san?"
They booth looked over at the tiny blonde who's presence, for the moment, had been forgotten. "Perhaps it would be best if Seiya-sama took care of me…"
Mamoru's mouth fell, then he glared at Seiya with hatred burning in his eyes. "Fine… I'll leave." He grabbed his coat and left without another word.
Seiya looked at Usagi, then at the chickens on the floor. "Usagi-san? Can you take care of the chickens?"
"Oh! Hai, Seiya-sama…" She quickly took care of the chickens, and they disappeared in the same manner the cow had done so before.
Seiya sunk into the couch, letting a slow sigh escape his lips. This was all his fault… he'd done this by demanding too much. There was no one to pin the blame on but him. Why had he been so stupid? He knew that Usagi wasn't human, so why did he try and make her become one? Was it all because of Kiko? Or was he ashamed because she was different… it didn't matter what the cause was, but really what the effect had been. Usagi had broken into tears, tears that Seiya had caused. And tears he needed to correct.
"Usagi…" He said finally. "Come here…"
Usagi bowed her head in shame and went to kneel at his feet, as she typically did. She knew she was to be reprimanded… it was, after all, her fault for not obeying her master's orders.
"No," Seiya said, quickly taking her hand and pulling her up to her feet. "Come sit here… with me."
She stood up and sat next to him on the sectional, placing her hands neatly in her lap. There was a long period of silence as Seiya contemplated his next choice of words.
"This is my fault, Usagi." He said finally, letting out a slow and earnest breath.
"But, Seiya-sama!" Usagi began, her eyes going wide in disbelief. "You're my master! You can't be-"
Seiya stopped her by placing his fingertips on her lips. For the first time, he vaguely noticed how soft and supple they seemed. Shaking the thoughts out of his head, he returned his attention on his apology.
"Don't protest, Usagi… it really was my fault. You aren't a human… sometimes I think I can forget that… and I shouldn't." There was a slow silence as he sighed deeply again, wondering if she would ever forgive him.
His words were carefully chosen and sincere. He didn't want to upset her, make her cry, be rude, or anything. She was his responsibility… and he had to take care of her. How could he take care of her when he was demanding too much, emotionally?
He cupped her cheek and smiled at her slowly. "Do you forgive me, Usagi-san? For being stupid and asking you to be something you're not?"
His voice was slow and soft, like silk. It was enough to make Usagi's heart beat faster, and her cheeks to turn a delicate pink with color.
"Seiya-sama! I'm so glad!" She said finally, letting her sheepish gaze fall.
Seiya bent forward and gave her a hug. "Me too…"