Wavering Destiny

Chapter 12: Sparks Fly

Usagi stepped into Seiya's bedroom. It was dark except for the faint moonlight spilling in through the window.

Seiya pushed the door shut behind her. Click. They were alone.

"I...didn't wake you, did I?" Usagi whispered. She fiddled with the edge of her pajama shirt. She knew Seiya couldn't see her very well, but that almost made it worse.

"I was still up," Seiya replied. "Besides, I told you that you didn't have to be alone if the storm kept up, remember?"

"Yeah..."

A flash of lightning lit the room. For one split second, Usagi saw Seiya standing right in front of her, her hair falling around her shoulders. Then everything went dark again.

Usagi wrapped her arms around her stomach. The storm raged on outside.

"Come on," Seiya said softly. "You're probably tired, aren't you?"

"Yeah." Usagi's voice came out small.

Seiya reached through the darkness, then stopped. "Can I?"

Usagi nodded, even though Seiya probably couldn't see her. "Yeah."

Seiya found her hand and held it gently. Usagi's fingers tightened around hers before she could stop herself.

Makoto's words kept drifting back to her. Maybe she didn't have to figure everything out today.

But that didn't help much when Seiya's hand was around hers.

Seiya led her across the large room. Usagi could barely see, but they made it to the bed without tripping over anything.

"Here we are," Seiya whispered.

"Okay..."

It felt innocent enough. She was only scared of the storm. That was all. Still, what would Mamo think if he saw me right now?

Usagi swallowed and looked down at the bed. But it's not like that. I just don't want to be alone. It's only for tonight.

"Um...what side is yours?" Usagi asked.

Seiya shrugged. "It doesn't matter. Just make yourself comfortable."

Usagi nodded and crawled into the bed. It seemed to swallow her up. She felt around for the cool pillows and positioned herself near the edge, leaving plenty of space between them.

Seiya slid in on the opposite side. "I don't bite," she said lightly.

Usagi got comfortable. "J-just don't try anything funny."

"Define 'funny.'"

"You know what I mean," she huffed.

Seiya chuckled and pulled the blanket up. Her back was to Usagi. "Goodnight, Odango," she whispered.

"Goodnight, Seiya." Usagi wrapped herself into the soft blankets. "Um...thanks for letting me stay in here."

"No problem."

Usagi closed her eyes and breathed slow. The room was quiet except for the steady gushing of rain outside.

Then thunder cracked across the sky.

Usagi whimpered and squeezed her eyes shut. Even though she wasn't alone anymore, fear still squeezed tight.

"Odango?" Seiya rolled over to face her. In the darkness, Usagi could barely make out the shape of her. "Are you okay?"

Another crash of thunder shook the room.

Usagi cried out before she could stop herself. Her ears rang and it felt like the whole palace was going to collapse around them.