Chapter Eight Hime ran into the apartment and slammed the door hard. Sakura woke with a start, “Hime-chan?” she asked drowsily. “What?” Hime sobbed. “Uh, Seiya-kun?” Sakura whispered. “Got it. I’ll see you tomorrow night.” Seiya let himself out of the door. “Hime-chan, what’s wrong?” “Motoki-kun.” “What happened?” “He slapped me!” “What? Motoki-san?” Sakura asked in shock. “Tell me what happened!” Hime took a breath to steady her shaking voice, then spilled the whole story. “I should have seen it coming,” she finished, “I was in such an ignorant, happy bliss that I was completely blindsided by it.” “Hime-chan, if he would do such a thing, he’s not worth this at all,” Sakura reasoned. Hime wiped her eyes. “I guess you’re right.” She changed the subject, “Usagi- chan gave me a ticket to the Three Lights concert. Are you going to go?” “Yeah. I’m curious to hear what they sound like,” Sakura was glad that Hime had changed the subject. “Ritsuko-chan, where are we meeting everyone?” Sakura asked. She was sitting on the couch, waiting for everyone, playing with Miaka’s kitten. “At Usagi-san’s house. It’s gonna be to crowded to meet everyone at the concert,” Ritsuko replied. Miaka was starting to have second thoughts about the concert, “Do I have to go? he’ll think I still like him if I go.” Hime walked out of her bathroom, blow drying her hair, “You do still like him,” she said in a matter-of-fact tone. “That’s beside the point. what I meant was that he’ll think I’m ready to forgive him If I go.” “You do want to forgive him,” Sakura said, lifting the kitten up into the air. Miaka groaned, “you guys are of no help whatsoever,” she flopped dramatically into the easy chair. “I’m ready to go, would you guys hurry it up?” Sakura asked impatiently. “I’m ready,” Hime said, putting the blowdryer away. “I’m ready too,” Ritsuko said. Miaka took the kitten from Sakura and put it in the cage she bought. “Let’s go then,” she said reluctantly. The four girls walked out of the apartment and started towards Usagi’s house. “Hime-chan, where did you get that bruise on your face from?” Miaka asked. Hime reached up and touched the spot where Motoki had brutally slapped her. She had vainly tried to cover the spot up with make-up, but it hadn’t worked. “Oh, it--I, when I was--” Sakura jumped to her rescue, “The stupid baka walked into a doorjamb yesterday.” Hime made a face, but looked at Sakura gratefully. The other two seemed to buy this response. They arrived at Usagi’s house, where Usagi, Ami, Rei, Makoto, and Minako were waiting outside. “Are you all ready to go? Are you, are you?” Usagi babbled excitedly. “Yeah, we’re ready, Usagi-chan. Calm down, it’s only a concert,” Ritsuko said. Just then, a large limousine pulled up. The driver got out, “Is this the Tsukino residence?” He asked. “Yes, it is,” Usagi said cautiously. “I’m here to pick up a Meiou Sakura-sama and company.” “Who sent this?” Sakura asked. “Seiya-sama. There’s a note here for you,” the driver held it out to Sakura. She opened it. There’s no use in you walking all the way to the concert in the way that you are. Here’s a limousine to go with the first row tickets. Love Always, Seiya “Well, I guess we can get in,” Sakura said to the group. They climbed into the limousine. Yaten peered out from behind a part in the stage curtain. “Who would have thought that there would be a stadium this large that would be sold out?” “Getting cold feet, Yaten?” Taiki asked. Yaten pulled out his song lyrics out of the pocket of his blue suit, and ignored Taiki. He studied the lyrics, wanting to get everything perfect for Miaka. Seiya walked back and yelled at Taiki, and Yaten, “One minute until the show starts. Would you please get your butts up on stage?” All nine girls watched excitedly as the curtain went up. The three lights began with their two new songs, “Light in the Darkest Night”, and “The Shimmer in your Eyes”. Several girls were swooning in their chairs. The mood changed from happiness to compassionate sorrow when Yaten announced the title of the song that he wrote, “Miaka’s Song”. The eight girls looked at Miaka in surprise. She shrugged her shoulders, embarrassed. I miss your gem blue eyes when I lay in bed at night I miss your dazzling smile, and how it sparkles in the moonlight I never knew that I would believe in love at first sight I know I was wrong for what I did, it pains me everyday But when I think about your face, it chases that pain away I wait until the time when you will listen to me say... Everyday I pray, that I will find a way To tell you how much I love you Overtime I speak, I see how I made you weep I love you with all my heart, and I long to hear you speak To me I’m sorry that I hurt you, I long for you in my arms I promise if you come back to me, I’ll never do you harm I long to hear your heart beat, and listen to it’s eternal song I cannot put into words, how much for you I long I know I chased you away my dear But there is one thing that I fear I fear I won’t be able to see you Please, just call me, I’ll no longer be blue If you listen to me say... Yaten knelt on the front of the stage. he extended his hand to Miaka, and although he was still singing, his eyes seemed to say “will you forgive me?” Everyday I pray, that I will find a way to tell you how much I love you Every time I speak, I see how I made you weep I love you with all my heart, and I long to hear you speak To me Miaka started crying, and she nodded several times. Yaten broke into a broad smile. He helped her onto the stage and the two embraced, followed by the collective sighs of heartbroken girls in the audience. “It just goes to show that Miaka-chan is a shambles romantic,” Sakura said, dabbing tears away from her eyes. “And what about you, Sakura-chan?” Minako asked. Sakura smiled. Right after the last chord of the song ended, there was a large explosion on stage. “Seiya-kun!” Sakura yelled, jumping out of her seat. When the smoke cleared, Sailor Aluminum Sire, and Tin Nyanko stood on the stage. Sailor Iron Mouse and Sailor Lead Crow also joined them. Sakura became extremely worried for Miaka and Seiya. Miaka hopped back off of the stage, unnoticed by the Anima Mates. Sakura could also see a flash of Seiya’s red pants crawling off of the stage. The Anima Mates released a ball of energy that swept across the stadium. The nine girls dove under their chairs to avoid getting hit. When the girls came up, everyone in the stadium was unconscious. Several hundred crystallized, gray flowers, hung over each body. “What is this?” Usagi asked in horror. Hime and Rei both closed their eyes, “They’re life flowers,” the both said at the same time. They looked at each other. “Sailor Senshi,” Sailor Aluminum Sire began. “How did she know...?” Ritsuko asked. “Quiet please! I don’t like being interrupted,” Sailor Aluminum Siren said sweetly. “These are life flowers. To revive Galaxia, we need all that we can get. We’ve already gotten the flowers in Tokyo, including this beautiful one that belongs to the senshi of Earth,” she held out a cobalt blue flower. “Mamo-chan!” Usagi yelled, heartbroken. She started sobbing, “Mamo-chan,” she said again softly. Iron Mouse laughed, “This is so touching, I think I might cry! Come and fight us if you dare! We could really use the flowers of senshi! Meet us at the Tokyo tower!” he four disappeared. “Well, I guess you all know what this means,” Hime said. “Yeah, I guess so,” Usagi said reluctantly. Hime put her hand on Usagi’s shoulder, “We’ll get him back. We’ll get everyone back.” Moon Eternal Mercury Crystal Power Mars Crystal Power Jupiter Crystal power Venus Crystal Power Sun Galaxy Power Cheron Galaxy Power Celestial Galaxy Power Comet Galaxy Power MAKE UP! “I’ll be right back. I need to check something out,” Sailor Cheron climbed onto the stage and ran into the wings. “She’s going to check on Seiya-kun, no doubt. Aren’t you going to see if Yaten- kun is alright?” Sailor Sun asked Sailor Celestial. “I know he’s alright. I was on the stage with him when the explosion occurred, remember?” Sailor Cheron walked through the wings until she found Seiya’s dressing room. She knocked on the door and Seiya opened it. Sailor Cheron flew into his arms, “Seiya- kun, you’re alright. I’m so glad.” “I was just about to say the same thing to you,” Seiya replied. He held Sailor Cheron out at arms length, and studied her. “Please, Sakura-chan, don’t fight. You’re still hurt.” Sailor Cheron shook her head, “You don’t understand. This is my fate. I was born to do just this. I was born to protect mankind. I can’t just sit and do nothing, or else I would have failed.” “I dot’ want anything to happen to you.” “Nothing will happen to me.” “You don’t know that.” “I won’t let anything happen to me.” “I would be inconsolable if anything happened to you.” “Seiya-kun...” “I can’t let anything bad come to someone that I love so much,” Seiya said with feeling in his voice. “What?” “I love you, Sakura-chan.” Sailor Cheron smiled kindly, “I love you too, Seiya-kun, more than you could ever imagine. I should go now,” Sailor Cheron started walking away, her hand still clinging to Seiya’s. “Wait,” Seiya pulled her back, “I have to tell you something first,” he put his face right up to hers. “What?” Seiya kissed her deeply, “What’s what wanted to tell you.” Sailor Cheron kissed him on the cheek, “I’ll be seeing you around.” Sailor Cheron jogged out of his dressing room.