~Wavering Destiny~
by Strawberry Moon Rose

Hey guys! ^_^ This is my first fanfiction. This first chapter is just the beginning ;)

Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon or any of the characters.

Bright sunlight streamed in through the cracks of the closed curtains. A figure rolled over in the bed near the window. Is it really morning already? The girl stretched and stepped out of bed. I don't think I slept at all last night. Not like that's new lately...

The raven haired girl was startled by a pounding fist outside her door.

"Seiya! What are you doing? You're going to be late! Yaten is even up before you! Are you awake yet?" Taiki called.

"Yeah, I'm coming, just give me a second!" Seiya managed while rubbing her eyes. She stumbled across the room to turn the lights on. The sudden brightness left her squinting. She gave a tired sigh and managed to get dressed and look presentable in a timely manner. She stepped out of her room only to bump into the Princess.

"P-Princess!" Seiya's blue eyes widened. "I apologize," she said with a bow.

Princess Kakyuu smiled, her eyes were kind. "It is alright. Come now, the others are waiting for you."

"Yes." Seiya stood and continued down the hall. Hopefully Taiki won't be too angry with me, I'm only a little bit late.

Everything was back to normal on Kinmoku, for the most part. The Starlights bid their farewells to the senshi on Earth and the trip back to Kinmoku was nothing special. On the way back, Fighter had kept replaying the long journey over and over in her head, like a broken record. It all seemed so surreal. She had to tell herself everything was going to be okay. After all, they got what they wanted back; their Princess. What else could she ask for?

Healer and Maker couldn't have been more excited to return home. Their time on Earth was over and everyone would continue to live in harmony on their home planet. With each passing star, they'd came closer and closer to their home and farther and farther away from Earth. Farther away from Sailor Moon and the others...

It had been almost a year since the day they'd left. Seiya still tried not to think about her that way. After all, she stood no chance; Usagi was going to live happily ever after. It was a future that Seiya couldn't be a part of, no matter what. A future that she she didn't belong in.

But Seiya too had a destiny of her own; to protect their princess alongside Healer and Maker on Kinmoku. Their princess was everything to them, and she was happy that everything was back to normal from now on. Even so, something wasn't right. A part of her was missing, left behind on a faraway planet. Although Kinmoku was their home, Seiya missed Earth, even though she never admitted it to the others. Or more specifically a blond girl she called "Odango". She wished that she could run her fingers through that long blond hair, while gazing into those big blue eyes; so innocent, so beautiful. Just one more time would be enough...

Seiya stopped short in the middle of the hallway. No, not again. Why did I just think about her? She bit her lip and made her way to the palace's large dining room. Seiya, snap out of it! It's over. She doesn't need you like that. Stop thinking about it and find somebody else; it's never going to happen. Just the memory of her Odango left her heart wrenched with sorrow.

Yaten was sitting lazily at the long table when Seiya entered the spacious room. The ceilings of the palace were tall, and the hallways seemed to stretch on forever into an intricate labyrinth. Taiki liked this sort of architecture, she thought it was sophisticated. But to Seiya, it only made her feel even more alone.

"You're late again," Yaten stated flatly, without looking up.

"Shut up," Seiya mumbled and took a seat at the long table. Normally she'd brush off Yaten's comments, but she wasn't in the mood for it. She ate her breakfast in silence without tasting any of it.

Yaten peered over at her, noticing the circles under her blue eyes. "You look tired," she commented.

Seiya nodded. "I'm having trouble falling asleep lately. It's no big deal though."

Yaten shrugged. "I guess."

Seiya looked down at the silver-haired girl raising a glass to her lips. I wish I could live life like that, so carefree and simple. Yaten doesn't have to go every day knowing that the person she loves is in the arms of another man halfway across the galaxy and nothing you do can change that. She doesn't understand. Nobody does.

"What?" Yaten demanded. "Is there something on my face?" She ran her fingers across her full lips.

"Eh? No. Sorry. I just...spaced out there," Seiya explained. She quickly turned back to her plate of food.

"You've been doing that a lot recently," Yaten said. She flipped her silver ponytail over her shoulder.

"Doing what?"

Yaten gave her a look. "Spacing out," she said annoyed.

"Oh, I didn't notice," Seiya said honestly. I'd better get it together...

"What's bothering you?"

"Nothing," Seiya promised.

Yaten gave her a skeptical glance. What the heck, Seiya? Oh. I bet she's just worrying about her again... "It seemed like you were doing fine for a long time too," Yaten said. "Taiki and I were surprised you seemed to be over-" She stopped herself. Her emerald-green eyes quickly flitted away from Seiya's stare. "Um, over it. But you've been acting distant again."

"Oh."

Yaten sighed in frustration. "You know, Seiya, it's probably best to just forget all about her. All you're doing is torturing yourself. I'll listen if you want to talk, but you already know how I feel about it. I just think think it's best if-"

Seiya slammed her curled fist on the table, rattling the silverware. "What do you know?"

Yaten flinched. She knew she had crossed the line.

Seiya brought her gaze up. "Look, I'm sorry," she said relaxing. "It's just been bothering me lately, you know? It's been so long and I've found myself wondering about them. You know, how are they doing? Have any new enemies shown up? Are they okay? That sort of thing."

Yaten nodded. "I know what you mean, but it's really no longer our business. Don't worry about them, we've got our own planet to protect now."

Seiya shrugged. "I guess, but..."

"What is taking you two so long?" Taiki called, stepping into the large room. "We have things to do, please hurry."

Seiya nodded and stood up from the table. "I'm coming."

Yaten sighed and pushed her chair back. She could see the pain in Seiya's eyes. She could see that Seiya still missed that girl, no matter how she tried to cover it up. She seriously needs to move on. There are plenty of people on this planet. She just needs to meet the right one and she'll forget all about her.

"Usagi! U-SA-GI!"

Usagi looked up, startled. "Huh?" She and the girls were sitting in the corner of the CROWN cafe, one of their favorite hangout spots. Usagi was sipping on the drink in front of her when Rei interrupted her day dreamy thoughts. "What?" Usagi asked, confused.

"Something's bothering you, I can tell," Rei snapped, crossing her arms over her chest.

"You have been staring off lately," Ami added worriedly.

Usagi forced a smile. "No, what are you guys talking about? I'm totally fine!" She waved her hands in front of her in a "don't worry" motion.

Minako tucked a strand of blond hair behind her ear. "Did you and Mamoru-san have a fight?"

Usagi blinked and shook her head. "No, it's nothing like that..."

"Usagi-chan..." Luna sighed.

"Well, there haven't been any enemies since Galaxia," Artemis stated, "so we know that can't be it."

"Artemis!" Minako hissed.

Usagi ignored them and stared out the window. It was summer vacation. Couples walked together hand in hand outside. She noticed a young girl exiting a nearby music shop, holding a new CD to her chest.

"The Three Lights seem to be a thing of the past now, don't they?" Usagi murmured, "everyone is all over the latest bands and artists. It's almost as if everyone has forgotten all about them."

"Now that I think of it, I haven't heard their music on the radio in a long time," Makoto added, speaking for the first time.

"Well they did disband," Rei pointed out.

Usagi sighed. But nobody knows that they are on the other side of the galaxy now. I wonder how they are. What is Kinmoku like? Is it like Earth? How is Seiya doing? Why haven't they visited us yet?

"You know, it's been a whole year since they left," Usagi said to no one in particular.

The girls nodded. The thought had crossed everyone's mind at some time or another, but no one had spoken of it.

"They said that they'd come and visit us," Usagi went on, "you don't think anything happened to them, do you?"

"I'm sure they're fine," Luna assured her.

"But how can we be sure?" murmured Makoto, bringing her hand to her chin.

"Usagi-chan, cheer up!" Minako placed her hand on Usagi's shoulder.

"Mm," Usagi nodded. "It's just the last time Mamo-chan left and didn't reply..." Her voice trailed off at the memory. She didn't have to say anything more, everyone understood.

"I'm sure they're really busy on their planet!" said Ami.

"Yeah, yeah! They've got their princess and all," Minako added.

Rei glanced at her blond friend. To everyone else, she may have seemed okay, but Rei saw her blue eyes didn't hold their usual twinkle. She wanted to say something to make her feel better, but it was true; the Starlights hadn't contacted them at all. Even she was starting to wonder.

"You don't think they've forgotten about us, do you?" Makoto pondered.

Usagi gasped. Minako quickly elbowed the brunette, silencing her.

"How long do you think it'll be before we see them again? A month? Another year? Five years?" Usagi cried, "what if they really have forgotten about us?" She tried to imagine the Starlights living happily ever after on their planet with their Princess, but it was difficult; she knew nothing about their home or lives. That made her feel even worse.

"Usagi-chan, you're over analyzing the situation," Ami said quickly.

"Maybe," Usagi whispered. "Or maybe something's happened to them. Aren't you guys worried about them too?" She stared at her friends in disbelief.

"Of course we are!" Minako said without skipping a beat. She in particular had her thoughts drift to a certain somebody more than once in the last year.

"I'm sure they have their reasons for not returning. After all, it's only been one year, Usagi-chan, don't forget that," Luna said.

"But still...they haven't come..." Usagi mumbled.

"Can't we go visit them?" Makoto wondered aloud.

Usagi's blue eyes widened. She grinned at the idea. "Yeah!" Why didn't I think of that earlier?

"That may be a good idea, Mako-chan!" replied Luna happily. With the distant way Usagi had been acting lately, it would probably do her good to take a break and visit the Starlights.

"Really?" Usagi asked, gripping the edge of the table in excitement. "Can we really, guys?"

"I don't see why not," Artemis chimed in.

"This should be interesting," Rei smiled.

"Now that I think about it, this could be really fun!" Minako giggled. "I've always wondered what Yaten's home is like!"

"Minako-chan!" they all said together.

Usagi smiled. "Thanks so much guys! I can't wait!" I don't believe this! Am I really going to see them again? It's only been a year, but it feels like forever. I am so excited now! Seiya, how have you been? I've missed seeing you three at school. There's so much I want to tell you...

The next evening, at the Hikawa Shrine, the girls stood hand in hand in a circle. They were transformed into their sailor fuku, ready to use their Sailor Teleport to travel to Kinmoku. They had spent the earlier part of the day discussing their plan, and they were ready to leave.

"Don't stay too long!" Artemis called to them from the shrine's stone steps.

"Say hi to Yaten-kun for me!" Luna added.

"Luna!" Artemis glared at her.

"Hehe what?"

"We'll be back soon," Sailor Moon promised. She was nervous and excited at the same time, but her voice did not tremble. She inhaled and looked at the four girls around her. I'm ready. Sailor Moon turned to Luna. There was so much she wanted to say, but she only managed a simple, "Thank you."

Luna smiled and gave her a nod.

The five senshi closed their eyes and let the warm feeling surround their bodies. Each girl began to glow her individual color. Suddenly, a rainbow of light rocketed upwards, towards the blue sky. The next instant they were gone, leaving only the rocks and brick disarrayed on the ground where they had once stood.

"Good luck," Luna said. I hope I don't regret this...