Retreat into Hell
By Sarah
Notes: None! Isn't that a change?
Part 1C
"Wow, so you guys are REALLY isolated," Minako said, huffing as they hiked up a small trail. San had the girl's suitcase slung over his shoulder, and ignored the grunts and groans of Taiki and Yaten in the background.
Seiya, meanwhile, was in his element, as he carried his bag on top of his head and almost skipped up the hill ahead of Minako and San. He was humming the bumble bee song, his head slightly tilted to make sure Taiki could hear it, and the brown haired boy was watching warily for anything small with wings.
"Baka," muttered Yaten as he watched the spunky Light ahead of him, and delicately sniffed his shirt. His nose wrinkled in disgust. "I'm sweating!"
"The lodge is just around the corner," San said to Minako. "We'll be there in a few seconds."
"Good," gasped Minako as fatigue finally set in. The boy chuckled good naturedly, and placed a hand on her head in compassion.
*Feh,* she thought. *All I need is another demi-god wanting to be my big brother.*
And she understood why when they rounded the corner.
Seiya's jaw literally dropped. Taiki's paranoia was forgotten with the blink of an eye. Yaten's engrossment in bodily functions was let go. Which meant the girl on the ladder putting up the string of paper lanterns was a goddess.
Long black hair misted with sweat, strands strayed from a high ponytail sticking to a slender neck, cheeks sun kissed, she was reaching high, trying to tie the end of the string to a peg on a tree.
A soft melody in the background seemed to flow into the Three Lights' ears, and a scent... a scent so familiar.
"Let me help you with that..."
"Thanks, Sa-- Oh!" Caught by surprise, she leaned back into Seiya's chest as he took the string and easily tied it to the peg with his lengthy fingers. Her deep olive eyes barely met his, and a connection was made between them, a connection that had been lost to the boy so long ago...
San was seething. Minako could feel the heat radiating from his body as she stood next to him.
The girl turned around in between Seiya's arms, the ladder shaking slightly, and it finally settled down as they faced each other.
"Have we met?" he asked.
"...Have we?" she said. Her voice was low, quiet, and intense. The way she said those two words hinted of a code, a key that could somehow unlock a secret, a riddle Seiya had been trying to understand. Her face was expressively expressionless, as if the words she was meant to say were at the tip of her tongue, and yet wanted to stay silent. "Seiya Kou..."
Such foreignly said words, how oddly sounding, as if... as if she was not from... from--
"Having fun?" called a voice, breaking apart their void-like moment. Seiya's head whipped around to see a small, old man at the doorway of the large traditional Japanese home. His wise eyes watched them with amusement.
"Grandfather!" the girl cried. "Don't embarrass him! You made him blush!"
"You already did that for me, my dear."
Her hips pressed against Seiya's stomach in a gesture to move, and Seiya began to climb back down the ladder. When he reached the bottom, he held out a hand to help her down, but she jumped from the step, landing with cat like grace next to her grandfather.
Seiya was entranced, captivated, completely immobile by her presence. And that scent...A whisper at his ear broke him from his gaze.
"If you ever touch her again, I promise you will live long enough only to regret it."
"Since when are you her protector?" he shot back, just as silently. They stood next to each other, watching as the young blond walked up reverently to the girl and her grandfather.
"Since the ones she loved most were taken away from her."
The Three Lights froze.
"You must be the child who called earlier this morning," the old man said to Minako. "Your angelic voice matches your features. I am Furui, owner of the Celestial Retreat. I am honored to meet you, Minako-san."
"T-thank you," said Minako, still slightly dazed.
Both she and the old man bowed, Minako making sure she was the lower of the two. But for some odd reason, Furui-sama kept his bow as deep as hers. Their eyes met on the way up, and she could tell from his gaze he thought of her as someone more than just a hyper teenager.
"This is my granddaughter, Mariko," he said, and the beautiful young woman smiled charmingly, if a little hesitant, and both she and Minako bowed to each other. Mariko made sure she stayed on the same level as Minako, slightly unnerved by the fact her grandfather had done the same. It was an extremely high honor, especially from him.
Furui's bow always moved past the barrier of age, and rested in the realm of strength, power, and honor.
"I-I am honored to meet you," Mariko said.
"Really?" Minako matched the girl's sweet smile. There was a small inch of competition between them, but the night haired girl knew she was revered by the sun child. "I hope we learn more about each other while we're here."
"I would like that," Mariko said in reply, and wassurprised by the fact she truly meant it.
"And you three must be the Three Lights who are taking the bill. I am happy that you are willing to spend so much for this young lady."
"Why am I not surprised she didn't pay for her own ticket?"
"Shush," whispered Seiya, and the three boys moved to meet the old man. "I must admit, just seeing this land makes it all worth while."
Furui-sama chuckled. "Wise words from a strong leader. You ARE Seiya Kou."
They bowed, but this time, Furui-sama left his bow slightly shallow.
"You... you know my name," said Seiya.
"Baka," hissed Yaten in his ear. "Mariko's a girl..."
"My granddaughter has your faces plastered all over her room," Furui said. "It's hard not to know a few things about you when your music is blaring through the forest."
"Grandfather!" moaned Mariko, her face flushing.
"She doesn't like to admit," said Furui, mock-whispering to the boys. "That her favorite is Taiki."
"GRANDFATHER!" she cried, throwing her hands up into the air and half turning, trying to hide the burning of her cheeks in the shadows. She realized then it was now night, and the only light was from the house. "I'll light the lanterns," she said, and walked away from the group shakily.
Taiki beamed in triumph while the other two glowered at him.
"Why not me?" asked Seiya, blinking. "I'm the poster boy!"
"A man who shows intelligence as well as strength is a true man indeed," said Taiki, folding his arms smugly.
"Well said, well said," said Furui and the two men bowed. Taiki was having a hard time trying to bow lower than the old man, as they were at the opposite sides of the spectrum.
"This is truly a magnificent place," Yaten said as he stared at the massive and ancient trees. The house glowed, as if it itself was a paper lantern, begging to blow in the breeze.
"One such as yourself would know much of beauty," said Furui, and they bowed together, Furui giving him the same deepness as Seiya and Taiki.
Mariko walked out with a box of matches, and shaking them with her wrist she eyed Minako. "Would you like to help me light the lanterns?"
"Definitely!" cried Minako.
"Great!" She smiled. "This'll get done a lot faster with two sets of hands." And Mariko handed her another box that appeared with a flick of a wrist.
"You can take the ladder," said Mariko, and turned to San. "Would you hold me up?"
"Sure thing," and the boy glided to her, raising her by the waist up onto his shoulders, and she sparked the match into flame, and began her work.
Minako blinked, and Furui moved next to her.
"They've been a team ever since they were little children. I almost wonder whether or not they'll run away to join the circus. At least they would get paid."
"They're so agile!" she gasped.
"You have that quality," said Furui. "Very cat-like."
"I do?"
"Most assuredly. With a little practice you could be just as effective."
"Sometimes I CAN actually be that good... I just... feel like a completely different person."
"Ah, is that so?" Furui smiled, and turned to the house. "Well, I'll be inside preparing dinner. It's Itamae-san's night off tonight."
"Itamae-san?"
"Our chef. Sometimes I'm glad when he's away. One hell of a temper. If you need anything, I'll be inside." And he was gone.
Minako eyed the ladder, then Mariko and San, then the ladder again, and her eyes suddenly crossed to the three boys.
"Oh no," said Yaten waving his hands from her. "Don't even think about it."
"I... I feel famished," said Taiki and joined Yaten on his companion on his way inside to the kitchen.
"Please?" asked Minako to the lonely Light, her eyelashes batting against her cheeks. Seiya mumbled some excuse, knowing he would end up looking like a fool if he tried, and not up to facing the violently resentful San at this point. Pouting, Minako watched the three boys walk away. She sighed, climbed the ladder, and joined Mariko in lighting the lanterns.
"It must be nice to always have a boy by your side," murmured Minako, more to herself than to Mariko. The other girl stopped, and looked down to meet San's eyes with surprise before resuming her task.
"It must be nice to be able to survive alone," she replied.
They looked at each other at that moment, a dense air of melancholy surrounding them. Each girl stared longingly at the other, hoping, wishing for something that could never be theirs.
There was one last lantern to be lit, and they looked at each other before dipping their matches to the wick together, the flame burning with the power of two... ne, make that the power of three, the glow of the fire gently falling onto their faces, night against day, hope against resignation, light burning past both darknesses.
* * * * * * * * * *
"This is great!" cried Seiya as he dug into the bowl of food placed in front of him. Yaten averted his eyes away from him, pained by the small grains of rice stuck on the corners of his mouth. "I haven't had anything this good since we pretended to eat that junk for that one commercial."
"It wasn't junk," said Yaten. "It was caviar. HIGH quality caviar. Any food buff would know a delicacy when they tasted it."
"Yeah, right. Salty. Fish eggs. Junk."
"Seiya-kun's been deprived," said Taiki.
"I'm glad you like my cooking," said Mariko. "Sweet fish is about all I can do, though."
"I thought Furui-sama said he was cooking," said Minako.
"The wonders of a microwave!" he said. "My granddaughter was taught well. I just heat left overs."
"YOU cooked this?" asked Seiya.
"Yes," said Mariko. "I even gathered the honey myself."
"The sweet stuff was homemade honey?" Seiya's eyes widened, and the young girl blushed. Yaten rolled his eyes.
"I haven't seen any bees around here," said Minako.
"We have bee hives a ways away," explained Furui. "But Mariko- chan's the beekeeper. They seem to calm down around her."
"Fascinating," murmured Taiki.
"Do you like bees?" asked Mariko. Taiki began to pale, while the other two Lights snickered.
"A-actually, I do," he said, his heart stopping as he looked into her intense and cat-formed eyes. "They're so... so cute."
"I'll take you to the hives tomorrow. Would you like that?"
"There's probably something you should know about Taiki and bees. You see, he's--"
"I-I've never had a chance to see them REALLY."
"Wow!" said Mariko. "We're definitely going, then. You'll love it. They get into these HUGE swarms around you--"
"I-I can't wait."
San scowled, and met Furui's gaze. The old man shook his head, and the boy sighed and stood up.
"We have a pretty big day tomorrow," said San. "So I better go to bed. Good night, Furui-sama, Mariko-chan... Minako-san."
"G'night, San-san."
"Oi," muttered Seiya under his breath, and Minako elbowed him in the ribs. San made sure he met Seiya's gaze before walking out the door.
"What's up with him?" asked Mariko.
"He just didn't get a lot of sleep last night," said Furui. "With the way he works, it's a wonder he doesn't collapse at noon. Built like a horse."
"He's going to run himself into the ground if he doesn't stop! He can't keep on going like this!" cried Mariko.
"I'll talk to him about it. But first, we need to make sleeping arrangements. We only have two extra bedrooms in this house... unless you want to go the other houses... they're about a mile away--"
"No! Please! No more walking!"
"All I'm saying," said Yaten. "Is I am NOT going to be in the same room as Seiya. He snores like an animal."
"Oh!" said Furui. "I was going to put you boys together, and give Minako-san her own room, but if you're all right with sharing a room with her-"
"W-wait a second-"
"Great!" cried Minako. "That would be perfect!"
"Yes! Yes!" cried Taiki. "How about it, Seiya-kun? Want to share a room with me?"
"Roommates to the end, my friend!" cried Seiya, and they clasped arms, inseparable.
"Yes," the old man said, and tugged lightly at his gray goatee. "I think that will work perfectly."
"Yippee!" cried Minako, and glomped onto Yaten.
"Save me," he whispered to Mariko, but the girl watched with barely contained amusement, and shook her head in sympathy.
"When Grandfather says something will work," she said. "You better listen to him."
"Oh God," groaned Yaten, and the small party headed off to their rooms, where their bags were already deposited, said their goodnights, and closed the shoji screens.
Yaten left a large crack open on his, though, and felt incredibly relieved to find another screen that opened to the wooden deck encircling the entire house.
Escape was possible... oh, yes... it was VERY very possible.
* * * * * * * * * *
"What is THAT?"
"This?" ask Minako, holding up an article of clothing. "Even YOU should know pajamas when you see them, Yaten-kun."
"That is NOT a pair of pajamas."
Minako held her PJs up a little higher, surveying it with a critical eye. The fabric was silk, a pearl color that shimmered with any slight movement, and it felt cool beneath her touch, as if a breeze agreed to be woven into cloth. "Then what is it?"
Yaten rolled his eyes, and angrily unzipped his bag, pulling out a tee shirt and a pair of sweat pants. What? He scowled when he realized he had Seiya's bag.
"Awwwww," came a voice across the hall. "Wittle Kitty Kat Pajamas. Ahn't they just PWECIOUS?"
He was NOT going to face those two. He turned his back to Minako, ignoring her, and dropped the shirt and shorts onto the folded futon and sheets.
Minako pouted slightly, and decided he would warm up when she actually put the thing on.
"I'll be just a second," she said, and sauntered over to the dressing screen, swaying her hips mesmerizingly. Unfortunately for her, Yaten wasn't very mesmerized.
*Oh God,* he thought. *What did I do to deserve this?*
She hummed softly as she peeled off her clothes, but stopped when she held the shimmering top in front of her.
*What am I doing?* she thought, but she shook the question out of her mind, and placed a determined expression on her face. Annoyed, she realized it turned into more of a frown, and inhaling, she tugged the top over her head, her fingers trembling when she smoothed the fabric at her waist. She quickly pulled on the bottom part of her set, and turned to look at herself in the mirror.
*Inhale, Minako. Breathe. This is your one chance to seduce Yaten. Tonight is the night! You can't be a little girl any more.*
She held back a whimper when she pulled the bow out of her hair. Gone was the old Minako, the Minako who could never get a guy, and she realized why.
Nobody wanted the little schoolgirl besides old men. She saw the way guys watched Rei or Michiru. They were mature, sexy... and reserved. Guys wanted what they couldn't have.
So take that red ribbon out of your hair, child, and watch the golden strands fall down. Twist the crimson strip through your fingers. You can't grow up in five seconds, my dear... keep at least some of your innocence... men don't like corrupted women.
*But what am I?* she thought. *What am I?*
She picked her hair up, piling on top of her head, and tied the ribbon around as best she could... there. That was better. Her hair was out of her face, in a thick, high ponytail.
She had to admit though, if Michiru or Rei saw her at that moment, they would have died of jealousy.
"Showtime," she whispered, and paused, resting a hand on her stomach, before moving from behind the screen.
"Took you long enough. Help me set up the--" He was cut short when he turned his head to acknowledge her presence... he acknowledged a whole lot more, that was for sure.
Yaten's eyes widened as Minako walked towards him. And as she stared into those green orbs, watching him stand and just look at her, she nearly forgot all about her mission.
"Wha..." He breathed, but his voice trailed off, left in a breath as Minako stopped in front of him. They were achingly close, inches apart, and Yaten couldn't seem to move away, couldn't seem to do much at all, in fact.
"Hmm?" she asked softly. "You wanted to say something?"
She inhaled, her chest rising dramatically. Yaten blinked, coming back into reality.
"What are you doing?" he growled, and turned his back on her, but Minako noticed he was wiping his nose with the sleeve of his shirt. Victory! Long live Victoria's Secret!
"What do you mean, what am I doing?" she asked, feigning innocence. Yaten turned his head in her direction, meeting her eyes for a brief moment, but wasn't able to keep contact.
A shiver ran up her spine as his eyes trailed downward.
*What are you thinking? Stupid, stupid Yaten.* The idol mentally kicked himself, and knelt down to his futon, picked it up with the sheets and walked over to the other side of the room, dropping his bed on the floor.
"There is NO way I'm sleeping near you," he said.
"Why not?" she asked, a faint smile playing across her lips. "Afraid of something?"
"Me," he said, which surprised them both. Time seemed to stop as they stared at each other, and Yaten frowned absently as if he was trying to keep his emotions inside, and they were begging to be let out. "Minako..."
There was a ruffle of clothing as a figure walked past the door, and Yaten moved over quickly to shut it all the way.
"Put some real clothes on for God's sake!" he hissed, and turned off the switch, pale moonlight filtering in through the paper walls. He walked over to his unfolded futon and fell on to it heavily, sighing as he rolled over onto his side.
Minako blinked, knelt down, and unfolded the futon, delicately fitting the sheets over the corners.
*What's wrong with me?* she thought as she took the cover and placed it on top of the bed. *He seemed to be interested...*
She hugged her pillow, burying her face in the soft form, wondering how it would feel if instead of this, she was actually holding someone real, some one who cared, who wanted to give to her as much as she wanted to give to him.
As she brooded over that thought, Yaten watched her back, trying to understand why she was acting so strangely.
*Maybe she actually wants me.*
The thought had crossed his mind more than enough times, but he didn't want to consider it a possibility. She was chasing after ALL three of the Three Lights, not just one. But the question that ran through his mind over and over was, *Why is she trying to be somebody she's not?*
Minako jumped out of her train of thought when a soft veil fell on top of her head. Spinning around, she saw a shirtless Yaten roll over onto his other side.
Smiling, she pulled the shirt over her head, crawled into the covers and closed her eyes.
"Good night, Yaten-san."
"...Good night, Aino-kun."
* * * * * * * * * *
Fingertips flowing through green leaves beyond
a pink sky rolling dropping clouds of faint hunger
she is there
amongst the blue trees smiling
crimson hair flowing
dress floating
face dreaming
now. Now. NOW.
Pink sky now black with clouds of pure silver
she cries
she cries
she cries out
screams of pure terror rise out of her skin
she screams
adding to the sound
and I there stand
watching
watching
just watching
her crimson hair mix in with the blood.
Her eyes
Those eyes
Staring at me
Tearing at me
Begging at me
Do something
Yaten
Do something
Yaten
Do something
Yaten
DO SOMETHING
YATEN
YATEN
YATEN
"Yaten!"
"KAKYUU!!!"
He bolted upright only to be shoved back down by a set of hands. His eyes were wild as he frantically tried to free himself from the shackles binding him to the ground.
"Yaten!" whispered Minako. "It was only a dream!"
He fell back onto the bed, his chest heaving as he tried to take in oxygen, as he tried to calm down, as he tried to get the image of HER out of his mind.
Finally, the throbbing in Yaten's ears died away, his breaths became shallower, his eyes adjusted to the darkness. And there she was, over him, on top of him, so very very close. Yaten inhaled Minako's sweet breath, and turned his head away, his blush a pale blue in the night.
"Fireball," she said quietly, dissecting it with her mind.
"W-what?"
"You screamed out 'Fireball'..."
Shocked, he felt her fingers wipe away a tear that had winded its way down his face, and he rolled his head back to face her, to stare at her huge blue eyes, black from the shadows, wide with worry.
Her finger traced along the thin wet trail the tear had made, leaving his nerves aflame as her touch whispered away. He was mesmerized by her now, by the way she fit so comfortably to him, as if they had been created as one and had been torn apart, two pieces to a jigsaw puzzle.
He dared not move, afraid of what would happen if he did. Would she fall away? Or would she move closer?
Such an intent look on his face, so strange... so unnerving.
*Oh my God,* she thought. *He's going to kiss me. He's actually going to...*
"...Kiss me," she whispered absently, unknowingly, barely audible, and Yaten's eyes closed with a shudder, bringing a hand to the back of her neck, reeling her in, closer, closer... closer...
*'You screamed out "Fireball"...'*
"No," he hissed, and pushed her off of him harshly. Landing, on her side, she winced, surprised, and stared as he stood up, shaking himself off, trying to get the feeling of her on him to die away.
Minako shakily got to her feet, and watched painfully as he turned to face her. His eyes blazed with fury, and she started to come towards him, but he backed away, pointing a finger at her.
"Don't come near me--"
"Yaten--"
"Stay away."
"But--"
"But nothing, Aino-kun. It was a mistake. A stupid mistake. What's the point? I don't love you."
His stomach twisted when he realized the last sentence was more of a denial than a statement. *I don't love her. I don't.*
Her shoulders sagged beneath the baggy shirt, and he turned away from her, his heart tearing apart with that forlorn look on her face.
"I thought..."
He opened the door that led to the deck, and walked out, no, RAN out, leaving the girl behind to fall to her knees and collect the shattered pieces of her heart that lay scattered on the floor.
A dark figure walked into the room silently, the air stirring only by the breeze, and Minako looked up, gasping as the form knelt down beside her, and gathered the broken girl in gentle arms.
Her arms involuntarily wrapped around a slender waist, and she buried her head in a soft and warm neck. Tears slipped down the skin of the figure, and a shudder passed through both bodies.
A small sob escaped Minako, and a hand ran down her back soothingly, before tightening its hold, pressing her closer carefully, hesitantly.
"Shh... it's all right."
"How... how is it?"
"It will be... you'll find this was only a dream, a terrible dream of your fears, of rejection. Let it strengthen you, let it be a vision of what you will make sure NOT to happen."
Minako sighed. "A dream..."
"Sleep now... and when you wake up in the morning,it will be a new day."
"Mm..."
Her breaths became suddenly shallow, even, calm, and the figure gently carried her to her bed and laid her softly on the futon, pulling the covers to her shoulders, brushing her bangs out of her face.
There was a rush of movement at the door, and the shadowed form turned to watch another person slough Yaten's body into the room and onto his futon.
"Asleep?"
"Mm-hm... fought it, though. He's strong."
"He's a liar."
It was silent for a moment before the smaller figure walked over to stand beside the other and watch the sleeping girl.
"She's cute."
"She's more than cute. She's Love."
"Why not pursue?"
The answer was quiet and depressing. "You know why."
Breath caught in throat, the smaller form pressed gentle fingers to the other's cheek in a gesture of a kiss, the pressure causing the taller of the two to moan softly.
They looked at each other, inches apart and yet a river divided them, a forbidden path.
"I have to go..."
"Yeah..."
In the distance an owl hooted at the blindingly bright moon. The door was shut, and Yaten and Minako were left alone to dream their dreams of reality.
END PART 1C
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