Juuban High School:

Alone, Tanya sat up on the roof of the High School, her favorite place, and watched the stars twinkle in the early evening sky. She sat comfortably with her knees drawn up to her ample chest and her arms around her legs. She enjoyed this time of night, when it felt like the whole world was far behind her and she was alone with her thoughts. With a troubled look on her face, Tanya remembered the battle a few days ago, and how she and the rest of the senshi rescued the young boy genius who had such a vital part of the future. She could barely imagine what the future for the Earth would have been like if they had failed to save him. It would have been...disastrous. She then sighed with relief, glad that for now, the future was safe because they had rescued the boy and helped him gain the confidence in himself he desperately needed.

But it was still kind of funny to her to think that flaky Usagi was to be the Queen of Crystal Tokyo. When Sailor Pluto explained that to her, Tanya couldn't believe it at first, but she soon came to understand that maybe it would come true someday. While Usagi certainly didn't show any "queenly" qualities...especially with her being a bit clumsy, Tanya knew the blonde girl had a large heart and a good soul that outshone nearly everyone she'd met so far. That was what indeed made a good ruler if nothing else.

Another thought entered Tanya's mind a moment later; The Sailor Starlights. Who where they, and why were they helping the Sailor Senshi? Could they possibly know something about Sailor Galaxia? Where did they come from? Although she talked it over with Marco for hours, Tanya still had no clue about the leather-clad warriors of the stars. But even they didn't stay in her mind long as she then thought about the one young man who made her heart skip so many times when she saw him.

The image of Yaten appeared in her mind, and she felt her heart sink slightly with sadness. Tanya couldn't deny it anymore; she loved him, and it hurt her to think that maybe Yaten didn't feel the same way. But she couldn't ignore the feelings she had every time she was around the popular idol singer. Inside, she knew that she loved him...Yaten, the person that made her heart sing, that made her feel as though everything was going to be alright, no matter what. Whenever he was near her, Tanya felt as though there was no one else in the world but him. She felt like she wanted to know him better, to know his likes and dislikes and do so much things with him. She felt she could be with him and only him forever. "I..I do love him," Tanya whispered to herself, wiping away a tear as it fell softly down her dark cheek.

Suddenly her eyes widened, and Tanya took in a deep breath. "Oh my God! I DO love him!" she breathed out in realization. "I...I'm in love! I can't believe it, I'm actually in love!" She giggled happily at the thought of being in TRUE love for the first time, then stopped and lowered her eyes as she realized something else. "But..what if he doesn't love me?" She sighed and continued to look up at the stars, tears beginning to form again. Just then, there was a scuffling sound from behind, and Tanya turned her head around in surprise. Stepping onto the roof from the open door was Yaten Kou.

She gasped when she realized who it was, and Yaten looked at her in surprise when he saw that the roof wasn't unoccupied as before. "OH! I'm very sorry! I didn't realize anyone was here. This is the place where I usually come to...meditate."

"No! I'M sorry! I'll leave if you want," Tanya said shyly as she got up. She hung her head, and a moment later looked up at Yaten with an embarrassed look, blushing harshly. "I didn't know anyone else knew about this place." She began to walk slowing towards the roof door.

As Yaten watched her go, the thought of Tanya leaving unnerved him for some strange reason, and he rushed forward towards her and laid a gentle hand on her shoulder. "No, don't leave! I...I would enjoy the company. Please join me?" He smiled shyly at her and Tanya couldn't help but smile and chuckle back. "So, do you like looking at the stars at night?" he asked, taking Tanya's hand and sitting her down with him on the roof floor. Both drew up their knees to their chest and wrapped their arms about their legs.

Tanya looked back at him and smiled shyly again. "Oh yes, they're SO beautiful! They help me feel better sometimes when I'm lonely or just feel like getting out of my house. It's just one of those simple things in life I enjoy. Sometimes, I think each of those stars are someone's dreams, and they shine brightly just for that person alone." Tanya became quiet as she looked once again at the stars shining down.

The young man crossed his arms over his chest. "Yeah, well, sometimes, people don't have time to enjoy the "simple" things in life. There's too much going on in the world to waste our time doing silly things like just sitting looking at the stars and dreaming...time you can spend looking for someone you need to find! Dreams are for the stupid." His eyes narrowed as he also turned his head up to look at the stars, thinking of Princess Kakyuu and his and the rest of the Sailor Starlights' mission to find her. As soon as he realized what he said, he looked quickly at the girl at his side and saw that she had bent her head in embarrassment again, trying to hide the tears that began to form in her large hazel brown eyes.

"I'm...I'm sorry. I didn't mean for it to come out that way!" stammered Yaten, feeling himself blush for the first time. He tried to place his hand on her dark one to assure her that he meant her no harm, but instead she quickly snatched it away before he can touch her.

"Maybe I should leave! I don't have to stay here and listen to this!" Tanya angrily got up and headed for the roof doorway. Yaten quickly stood and caught up with her.

"Wait, I'm sorry! I really didn't mean that!" he said, putting his hand on her shoulder to stop her, then turning her around to face him again. "Please let me make it up to you. Me and the guys rehearsed for tomorrow night's concert a thousand times already, so I don't have anything much to do until then. Why don't I show you to the place where me, Seiya, and Taiki hang out?" he said hopefully, looking Tanya full in the eyes.

Tanya cocked an eyebrow at him. "You mean like a date? Just me and you?" She crossed her arms over her chest and waited for his answer.

"Well, ummmm...actually...I mean...that is, it will be more like a tour, and...umm..a desperate plea at forgiveness!" said Yaten, blushing harder as he was trying desperately to find the right words to say he wasn't ready to start dating. Tanya sensed his hesitation and thought it over a moment.

"Well, alright," Tanya smiled. She then gave Yaten a soft yet serious look in his eyes, "But you seriously need to change your attitude, okay?" She held out her hand for a shake. "Deal?"

Yaten gratefully took her hand and shook it. "Deal!" he smiled. Above the two young people, the bright stars continued to shine down on them, basking them in their protective glow. They nodded to each other, and together, they sat back down and watched the stars twinkle in the sky. Secretly, out of the corner of his eyes, the silvery-haired singer watched Tanya's profile as she looked up into the star-filled night.

He watched as the half-full moon bathed her flawless dark brown skin in it's heavenly glow, making her nearly ethereal. For some unknown reason to him, Yaten was again filled with the need to get closer to this girl, to know her better, to find out why he felt such a strong and bright light from her. He had promised himself from ever since he got to this planet that he would never care about anyone or anything, but this was...different somehow. Why did he feel such power from her, why did he even feel this way? Maybe it was the fact that such a powerful Star Seed was in her. But...there was only one woman his heart belonged to, one woman who mattered and who he came to Earth to search for, wasn't there? His princess. What he felt for this girl with the beautiful and strange accent sitting next to him, and why, the young man just didn't know. It was just happening too fast for him. He wasn't ready for a relationship with anyone yet. He had his princess to worry about...didn't he?

Yaten sighed almost inaudibly to clear his thoughts. This was something that was puzzling to him, and he meant to find out more about it soon. Very soon.

---------------------

The End!

---------------------

Previous Part

Next Volume

Fanfic Page