The nine Senshi of Earth, Mamoru and their alien guests sat in a rough circle outside Hikawa Shrine for several hours, catching up and chatting.

Haruka, Michiru and Kakyuu were talking quietly among themselves, getting to know each other. Hotaru was plaiting the Princess' fiery hair into a thick braid.

Hotaru smiled at her progress. The braid was about halfway completed, and strands of hair still covered Kakyuu's back. "Your hair is so beautiful, Kakyuu-san...is it okay if I call you that?"

She laughed. "Of course. That's my name, isn't it?"

"You know," Michiru said, "it's wonderful that you all came back. It gives us a chance to start over."

Kakyuu nodded. "We didn't make a very good first impression with each other, did we?"

Haruka's face was stony, but it warmed up when she began to speak. "You understand. We had our Princess to protect," she said, nodding her head toward Usagi. "We didn't want intruders coming to harm her."

Michiru quickly spoke up. "But we're all friends now."

Hotaru looked up from her work. "No more hostility, then. We'll start fresh, with a new friendship, starting right now. Right, Kakyuu-san?"

"Yes, thank you...Hotaru-chan." She looked over at the rest of the group. "It looks like she wants to be more than friends..."

A few feet away, Minako was perched on Yaten's lap, which seemed to be causing him incredible pain.

"Minako-chan!" he cried. "You can sit next to me if you want, but get off of me, please! You're cutting off the circulation in my legs!"

Minako sighed and reluctantly removed herself from Yaten's lap. "How are we supposed to whisper sweet words to each other if I'm all the way over here?" she pouted. She was still right next to him, but the look on her face made it clear that she wanted to be closer.

Yaten raised his eyebrows at her. "What makes you think I want to do that?"

Makoto laughed. "You showed up. So now she thinks you're hers forever, Yaten-kun."

"Mako-chan! I'm just trying to grasp at true love!"

Everyone had a good laugh at Minako, save one person.

Usagi had remained silent nearly the entire evening. She was seated in between Mamoru and Seiya, a position that obviously made her uneasy. She looked down at her hands and played with the ring on her finger. This ring, she thought. This ring dictates my whole life... everything I'll be, everything I'll have, everything I'll do. My destiny is in this ring.

She shook herself. These thoughts are too deep, her brain told her. Much too deep for Tsukino Usagi.

They're not thoughts, they're feelings. She sighed at that last revelation in her head.

She whispered it so quietly that no one heard her. "And I can't ignore them..."

Rei looked over at Usagi. She nudged Setsuna, who was sitting on her right. "Setsuna-san," she whispered, "Usagi is being really quiet. It's not like her."

Setsuna looked back at the raven-haired woman and smiled faintly. "Rei-chan, she has something on her mind. When she's ready, she'll tell us what's going on."

Rei frowned. "You're right, Setsuna-san, but..."

"But?"

Rei saw the pain and torment in Usagi's eyes. "I have a feeling I already know."

~***~

The group, sometime after midnight, decided to part company. Rei returned inside after telling them all goodnight. She leaned against the shrine doors and sighed. Usagi... she thought. I hope you know what you're doing.

Soon the only people left were Usagi, Mamoru and their guests from Kinmoku. Mamoru looked at the four of them. "Can we give you guys a ride somewhere? Do you have a place to stay?"

Taiki nodded. "We can use the apartment that we had the last time we were here," he said. "It should still be empty."

Yaten laughed. "Yeah. We locked the place up and kept the keys." He dangled them in the air and grinned mischievously.

"Okay, then," Mamoru said with a laugh. "We'll drop you off there."

"Mamoru-san!" Seiya said.

"What is it?"

He smiled and shuffled his feet. "Would you mind if I walk Odango home? We haven't really gotten to talk."

Usagi's eyes widened.

"That's fine with me," Mamoru replied. "Are you okay with that, Usa-ko?"

"Yeah, that's fine," she stammered quickly. She didn't know what else to say.

Kakyuu, Taiki and Yaten were already ahead of them and starting down the stairs. "Mamoru-san!" Yaten shouted. "Let's go!"

"Okay, I'll see you in a while, Usa-ko," he said as he walked away. "Make sure she gets home all right, Seiya-kun."

"I will. Thank you, Mamoru-san!"

And then they were alone.

Seiya put his hand on Usagi's shoulder. "Shall we go, then, Odango?"

Usagi felt herself smile. "Okay, but it's a long walk, Seiya."

"I don't mind. I've been waiting years to be alone with you." He brought his face close to hers and stared into her eyes.

Usagi blushed furiously.

Seiya laughed. "So you're all bashful now, Odango? Was it something I said?" He laughed again at his own joke.

She glared at him. "So now you're making fun of me?"

"Of course not," he said with a smile and a wink. "But we should get going before it gets really late."

They walked in silence for a long time. Seiya looked over at Usagi, who was completely absorbed in her thoughts. What a change there is in her, he thought. She's so pensive.

Right when Seiya looked away, Usagi looked at him. What should I do? Should I say anything? she thought. I don't even know where to begin.

Before she could say anything, Seiya grabbed her left hand. She gave him a questioning look. "Seiya, I..."

"So you still have this ring, huh?" Seiya said. He was examining the ring, but was taking even more care to touch her fingers. Such a gentle hand, he thought. And I'm holding it. The thought brought a smile to his face.

"Yes, Mamo-chan gave that to me right before I met you."

His smile lessened a little, but he didn't let go of her hand.

"So, are you...married now?" Seiya didn't want to ask her that, but he couldn't stop himself. He had to know.

The question took her aback, but the answer flowed freely from her lips, without hesitation.

"No, not yet," she said. "We're just living together now. But I already know how it's going to go..."

"Odango? What do you mean?"

"Setsuna-san--Sailor Pluto--told us what is going to happen. She's seen the future. So have we, actually. A long time ago."

Seiya didn't say anything. He just let her talk. She seemed like she didn't want to be interrupted.

"There was trouble in the future...a new enemy, and a girl came from the future to get help from us. And when we were there, in Crystal Tokyo, we found out...all sorts of things...

"I'm supposed to become the Queen of Earth, Neo-Queen Serenity, and Mamo-chan will be the King. And we have a...daughter...ChibiUsa.

"So in a year or so, I'll stop aging, and so will all the other Senshi..and then something bad will happen to the Earth--some kind of natural disaster or something--and no one will wake up until the thirtieth century. I'll be the Queen, and...and..."

She stopped walking and stood motionless on the sidewalk. Her free hand was balled into a fist. Seiya winced as her fingernails dug into his hand. He squeezed back, hoping he could comfort her.

"Odango?"

"Seiya...don't you think it's horrible to know how your life will be? To know that you can't escape your own destiny? It's...it's...NOT FAIR!" She buried her face in her hands as sobs racked her frail body.

He was shocked by her outburst. I can't believe this is my Odango, he thought. What's happened to her?

With nothing else to console her, he merely took her into his arms and hugged her. He felt her tears drip onto his chest. Neither one spoke for a long time.

After what felt like hours, he released her from his embrace, then held her at arms length and looked into her eyes for the second time that night. But this time he was very serious.

"Odango...no one is telling you what to do. So make your own destiny."

"How can I, Seiya?" she said, wiping her tears away. "It...has to be like this."

"I can't believe you!" he suddenly shouted. "I thought you had matured after all this time!"

It was Usagi's turn to be shocked. "Seiya?"

"Still, after everything that's happened, you're still being a baby! So you don't like your fate? Change it! Do something!"

Usagi moved away from him. "Seiya...I'm...I'm sorry I'm being a baby again. But everyone needs me. I have to accept it...for Mamo-chan, and ChibiUsa...and what if I make the wrong choice?"

A voice rang loudly in her head. You know it's the right choice. Don't use that excuse.

"No!" she shouted in response. "I don't know it's the right choice!"

By now Seiya was baffled. Usagi was talking to people that weren't there. Maybe I've been too harsh, he thought. "Odango, maybe if you tell me what's upsetting you, I can help you figure out what to do."

Could it be that he doesn't understand what I'm trying to say? she thought. Is he completely in the dark about how I feel?

"Seiya...there's something I need to tell you..."

"There is?" Wow, maybe...maybe it's what I've always wanted. But...no, he thought. I'm letting my imagination run wild.

Seiya, all of a sudden, was afraid to hear what she had to say. It could be what I want to hear, he thought, but what if it's not? I don't think I could take that.

He pressed his fingers against her lips. "It can wait until tomorrow, Odango," he said quietly. "You need to get home and get some rest. Now."

"But, it's important--"

"No, not another word. We'll talk all about it tomorrow. And I'll try to help you through whatever it is."

I guess he's right, she thought. But I can't take this for much longer. "Okay, let's get walking, then."

They were both lost in thought for the rest of the way. As they approached the apartment building, Seiya spoke up.

"Odango...I'm really happy to see you again. I've missed you--all of you--ever since we left."

Usagi flushed. "We've all missed you guys, too. I'm really glad you're here for me now, Seiya."

He kissed her lightly on the cheek. "I'll always be here for you, Odango. Don't forget that."

Usagi smiled in the darkness.

Seiya's eyes softened as he gazed at her again. "Anyway, I'll see you sometime tomorrow, right?"

"Okay. Until then," Usagi said.

They said goodnight and Seiya started his long walk home.

As they parted company, although they weren't aware of it, the exact same thought was burning in their minds.

Odango...

Seiya...

Why can't I stop wanting you?

~***~

Seiya lurched up to their apartment door and stumbled through, into what he expected to be a dark room. Rather, it was completely lit up, and Taiki and Yaten were sitting on the couch, facing the door with their arms crossed, waiting for his return.

"So, did you confess your love?" Yaten asked, waggling his eyebrows. "Come on, we want dirt."

Taiki shook his head in the direction of his silver-haired friend. "Yaten, please. I don't want to encourage petty gossip."

"Then why did you stay up, Taiki?"

He turned red. "Well, ah, you see..."

"That's what I thought."

Seiya interrupted them. "You guys, can this wait?" he said. Although he looked more tired than anything else, he was also visibly upset about something.

Yaten's expression changed from curiosity to concern. "What happened, Seiya? You look awful."

"Do I have to talk about it right now? And do we have any beer? I need several." He walked over to the refrigerator and began to hunt through its contents.

Taiki shook his head. "No, no beer, but Princess found a bottle of sake." He gestured to her unconscious form on the couch. "She would've waited for you to come back if she had known you wanted to drink, too."

"You guys! How much did she have?"

"Just a few drinks, I think," Yaten said, and smiled lovingly at her. "She just must not be able to handle liquor that well."

Seiya walked over to Kakyuu and pulled a blanket over her body, then took the bottle from the floor where she'd left it.

"So, anyway," Yaten said, changing the subject, "what happened? You're not going to get away from us that easily."

"Her shine isn't there, you guys," Seiya suddenly said. "I can't see it anymore."

Taiki and Yaten both sat up and stared.

"What the hell does that mean, Seiya?" Yaten said.

He sighed deeply and poured himself a drink. "I mean, it's there, but it's hidden... she's so depressed...it's like there are all these dark clouds shielding her light..."

"This sounds serious," Taiki said. "So tell us exactly what happened."

"Give me some time to get drunk," Seiya replied, "and I'll tell you everything."

And get drunk he did. Yaten and Taiki listened intently through the early hours of the morning. After Seiya was finished relating the story, Taiki sat back and stroked his chin thoughtfully.

"So..." Seiya said slowly, trying to focus his eyes on the other two, "what do you think of it?"

"She loves you," Taiki said.

"Yeah, definitely," Yaten agreed.

"Really? You think so?" he almost shouted.

Taiki and Yaten quickly shushed him, to keep from waking Kakyuu.

"Well, Seiya," Taiki said in a hushed voice, "I'm sure you'll find out. She isn't going to let you leave without telling you, if she really does love you."

"Yeah, you're right, Taiki," Seiya said. "But I'm so scared that she is just going to tell me something else...Taiki, do you know there are three of you?"

Yaten gave Seiya a half-smile and patted his friend on the shoulder. "Don't worry, Seiya," he said. "From what you told us, it's obvious. Usagi-chan loves you. Now you just have to get her to tell you. Then things will work themselves out."

Seiya smiled back, then stood up and gave Yaten a hug and kissed him hard on the cheek. "Thanks, you guys. I love you," he said with a drunken slur. "I can't wait to be with my Odango...oh, I need to sleep now."

The other two shrugged at each other and giggled. "Come on, Seiya, let's get you to bed," Taiki said, as they hauled him off to his room. Once they had settled their Princess in another bed, they returned to the couch and sat. They could immediately hear Seiya snoring.

Taiki leaned forward and rubbed his temples. "Yaten, do you really 'think things will work themselves out'?"

Yaten looked at Taiki with serious eyes. "I don't know, but I know that Seiya and Usagi-chan won't stand being apart much longer. I can tell."

They both sighed. Taiki voiced what they were both thinking.

"Here we go again, causing trouble on Earth."

~***~

Late the next morning, Rei, Makoto, Minako, Ami and Kakyuu were shopping downtown. They were trying on just about every piece of clothing available in the store, and generally annoying the sales rep. Kakyuu came out of a dressing room wearing a white knit tank top and khaki shorts, with a pair of high-heeled sandals. Her companions clapped enthusiastically.

"You look great, Kakyuu-san!" Makoto said.

"Thank you, Mako-chan. You like it, then?"

"Absolutely!" Minako said cheerily. "You should get it!"

Kakyuu blushed and smiled. "Okay, if you girls say so." She went back into the dressing room and, in the midst of changing into something else, added the outfit to a growing mass of clothes the other four had convinced her to buy.

About an hour later, the five women emerged from the store, all helping Kakyuu carry her new purchases. Taiki and Yaten were waiting at a nearby restaurant, and their eyes popped at the hordes of shopping bags.

"Princess!" Taiki said after the women sat down. "How much money did we give you?"

"Figh-Seiya said that I could spend as much as I want. I asked him this morning and he just gave me a credit card."

Yaten suppressed a laugh. "Princess, Seiya probably had such a bad headache this morning that he would tell you anything you wanted to hear."

Minako looked confused. "Headache?" she asked. "Is Seiya-kun not feeling well?"

Taiki sighed. "Seiya got a little...drunk last night. But he should be feeling better by now."

This shocked the four Inner Senshi. Ami looked at Taiki and Yaten questioningly. "Drunk? Why would he do something like that?"

The two looked at each other, then at Ami. "No reason, really," Yaten said. "He just wanted to...unwind."

Rei could tell by the looks on the two men's faces that there was a reason. And she knew what it was. "Well, where is Seiya-kun right now? Why don't we go visit him, and see if he's feeling better?" I'd like to have a talk with him, anyway, she thought.

Kakyuu spoke up. "He's not at home, Rei-chan," she said. "He went to visit Usagi- chan at her apartment."

It dawned on them all at once. Ami, Minako and Makoto cried out in unison, "He's with Usagi-chan?!"

~***~

Usagi made her way across the apartment to answer the loud knock on the door. "This is it, Usagi," she said to herself. "It's too late to stop now. I have to tell him."

She opened the door and smiled at what was behind it.

Seiya smiled back at her. He removed his sunglasses and tucked them into the pocket of his white sports jacket. Usagi noticed that his eyes were a little bloodshot.

"Seiya? Are you okay?" she asked. "You don't look well."

He looked away, embarrassed. "Yeah, I'm fine," he said. "Just a little, uh, under the weather."

"Oh, I'm sorry," she said. "Why don't you sit down? I'll get you something to drink."

"Thanks, Odango."

Seiya rubbed his eyes and tried his best to smile. Even though his head was pounding furiously, he somehow felt a little better as he watched her rummage through the kitchen. It's amazing how good she makes me feel, he thought. How could I have gone without this feeling for so long?

Usagi was a little nervous as she sifted through the refrigerator. How am I going to bring it up? she thought. What will I say? She relaxed a little, however, when she looked over at the dreamy, dazed expression on Seiya's face.

She waved her hand in front of his face to snap him out of it. "Hey, Seiya?" she said softly. "Here's a drink."

He blinked and looked up at her, then after a pause, took the soda can from her hand. Their fingertips brushed briefly as she handed it to him. They both immediately blushed. "Um, thanks for the drink," Seiya managed to say.

Usagi seated herself on the couch, on the other end from him, but slowly started edging closer. "Seiya," she started, "do you remember that I wanted to tell you something last night?"

He suddenly sat upright and focused his eyes on her. His heart began to pound wildly. "Yeah?"

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, then turned to him and took his hand. He looked a little surprised at her.

"Odango," he said slowly, "what are you..."

"It's about my feelings for you, Seiya," Usagi said quickly, then stopped. She paused, waiting for a reaction.

Seiya raised his hand to her face, and brushed away a few strands of golden hair. "Your feelings? You mean..."

She nodded with an anxious smile. "Seiya, I..."

At that moment, a pink swirling cloud appeared near the ceiling of the living room above their heads.

Seiya gasped. "What the hell?"

Before either one could move, a hole opened in the middle of the cloud and a girl with pink odango fell out, landing in between them.

"Hi, Usagi! Surprise!"

"ChibiUsa?"

~***~