"Ready to go home?"

Healer's voice cut through the muffled little thoughts in Seiya's head. They had just left Usagi and everyone to their own business. The Starlights and their princess, finally heading home after the long painful thing that was the saga with Galaxia.

Home. The word made Fighter's gut clench. It was one thing to have the little niggling thoughts in her head, but to hear that word specifically said out loud?

Seiya had heard a saying on Earth, one that confused her for a while after she'd heard it. Home is where the heart is. Strange saying. She hadn't been sure what it had meant. Now, confronted with leaving Usagi behind…? Her home. Where was it now?

They were supposed to be heading home. That saying stuck with her now, made her reconsider everything. Princess Kakyuu had been her home before. It was where her everything had been.

But...But now. Going home. It was a lie. For Seiya, at least. She wasn't going home. She was leaving it.

She stopped walking.

"Hm?" Maker halted her own walk and turned to Seiya, followed by Princess Kakyuu and Healer. Her head tilted, eyebrows raised, as she asked, "What's wrong?"

"I…" She wasn't sure how to word it. It seemed wrong, a dereliction of her duty. Really it came down to what was more important to Seiya: duty or desire.

...She had done her duty. Kinmoku's princess was safe. Seiya has stood her ground against Sailor Galaxia, the strongest of them all, for Princess Kakyuu. It was time Fighter did something that made herself happy.

"I don't want to leave," Seiya finally said after several moment's pause.

"What?" Yaten blinked several times. "We're done here. We've accomplished our mission. It's time to leave."

"I don't want to leave," she repeated more firmly. Seiya braced herself, knowing what would come.

"Why?" Taiki blurted before her eyes narrowed. "Oh. It's her, isn't it?" She took a hostile step towards Seiya. "What's wrong with you?! Your duty-..."

"Was accomplished," Fighter interrupted.

"It's not a one-off," Healer growled. "Our mission is continuous and never-ending. We serve Princess Kakyuu." Her fists clenched. "And you're going to betray us for that moon princess?"

"Betray is a little strong," Seiya said with a frown. "I'm just going a different direction than you."

Maker started marching towards her. "You can't just abandon your post like this! I won't-..."

"Wait."

The three Starlights froze at the request of their princess. Fighter stopped looking at her compatriots and focused on Princess Kakyuu. She was looking at Seiya with a curious expression. There was some sadness, but over that was a layer of calm.

The princess walked up to the rebellious Sailor Senshi. Her eyes searched Seiya's, looking for something.

Then she gave a small smile.

"This would make you happy?" The question was wondering. It was said in a way that didn't push for an answer, but more to guide.

Seiya couldn't help but to relax a little as she plainly stated, "Yes, it would."

Princess Kakyuu nodded. "Good. I'm glad you have such conviction in your choice." The princess laid a hand against Seiya's cheek. "It's been a long journey together, all of us. We'll miss you." She withdrew her hand, a smile on her lips. "If you ever change your mind, you're always welcome to come back to us."

Taiki looked unconvinced while Yaten merely nodded in acceptance. That made most of the tension flee from Fighter's mind. She'd been afraid it would ruin everything. That they would never want to see her again. Losing her best friends like that would've been a brutal blow.

But, thanks to their princess, it would be okay. Their wise, benevolent princess. Almost as precious as Usagi.

The princess turned and began walking toward Healer and Maker. She cheerily said, "This is goodbye for now…but not forever."

"Yes," Seiya reassured, "we will all see each other again."

"Perhaps at the wedding?"

Fighter sputtered a little and could feel her cheeks start to burn. "What-...I just-...Too fast…!"

Princess Kakyuu turned and gave the Starlight one last indulgent chuckle. "I couldn't resist." Then, once again assuming her serious mein as the princess of Kinmoku, she said, "Goodbye, Seiya Kou. May you find the happiness you seek with your chosen princess. She's a lucky girl."

With no other preamble or anything of note, the princess resumed her walk down the street.

Maker frowned and said nothing as she turned to follow the princess. Healer gave a swift wave and nothing else as she, too, began tailing the other two.

Seiya stood, watching her compatriots leave to go back to their home. Strange. The Starlight thought it would hurt more than it did to see them leave her behind, to know that she was choosing to abandon them. Yet it didn't. She wasn't sure if it was due to the acceptance of Princess Kakyuu or if the conviction in her choice was simply that strong. It was probably a combination of both.

And now…

The Sailor Senshi took a breath in, then out. Now, it was time to go back to the group of Inner Senshi, Mamoru, and especially Usagi. She was sure they would all be surprised, and it would be a bit difficult to reassume her civilian persona. That wasn't even bringing up explaining away Taiki and Yaten's sudden disappearance. That would be a chore all on its own. She would be a solitary Light. Shining alone.

...But Usagi was worth it.