*-----[ Supernova ]-----*

Chapter VII

" What do you think about this one ?" asked a smiling Michiru.

Haruka turned her head towards her green-haired companion. She gave her a smile. Normally, she didn't exactly go shopping, a little bit of a contrary to herself as a female. But for the lovely Michiru, she'd do anything.

" It's great." She replied as she turned around, not really eyeing the mint green blouse.

Michiru rolled her eyes and put both hands on her hips." That's what you said when I showed you the yellow, the white and the purple one."

" Oh." Haruka said dumbfounded." Did I say that ?" She walked over to Michiru, running a hand through her short wavy blonde hair.

" Yes." Came the deadpan response." You know, you could've mentioned to me that you didn't want to come with me today. You could've spare yourself this boredom."

Scratching her head, Haruka looked down at Michiru's pretty face. It had a cross of annoyance. " Bored ? Who said I was bored ? I'm not bored."

" Yes. You are. And stop trying to be funny."

" I'm not trying to be funny." Haruka sighed but she grinned when Michiru turned back to the blouse rack to return her selection. She was so cute when she got annoyed." Okay fine. Maybe I'm not THAT fond of shopping. But who's going to watch over you ?"

Ocean blue eyes turned around. They were different now from the annoyed look." Yeah, yeah I know." Michiru said with a smile. Then she looked around." I guess there isn't really anything in this store for me." She grinned when she saw Haruka's face light up." I want to go see what's at the stores on the south end."

Faint eye wince." You wanna go there ? But it's all the way on the other side." Haruka tried disguising her complain as a calm protest.

" I know. And maybe there's a sale on men's-wear too."

" Thrilling."

The pair exited out of the fashion boutique and started to make their way down through the crowd of people. One of Michiru's hands was clasped to two shopping bags while her arm linked loosely with Haruka's.

It would take some time with these crowds of people at the mall and so they slowly strolled by all the stores.

" I haven't seen Neko-chan in a while." Haruka suddenly spoke up.

" I thought I saw her a few days before. I think she was with Minako." Haruka watched her companion nod faintly. She replied," I'm sure she's fine. She may miss Mamoru but she knows he's coming back to her."

" Yeah. Isn't he supposed to come back soon ?"

" I think so. It's a week off school over in America. Mamoru's flying back here."

Haruka looked down and nuzzled her cheek briefly through Michiru's green locks." It's good to see them together." She only felt Michiru nod again.

Out of nowhere, a flash of deep blue eyes and faint lustrous black hair caught Haruka's eye. She lifted her head, as her senses became alert, scanning the crowd to all directions. Looking left and right, she eyed each and every one of the people that passed them.

Michiru caught Haruka's sudden alertness. A suspicious look crept over her face as she looked up." What's wrong ?"

Haruka stayed silent for a moment and looked behind them again." I….just thought I saw someone. Don't worry about it though. It's not important."

" Are you sure ?" Michiru seemed ready to transform from Haruka's uneasiness. But she couldn't feel any negative energy. It must've been something else.

" It's alright." Haruka repeated." It probably was someone else."

" Well….okay."

The tall female scanned the crowds briefly once again before turning back to the usual walking stride she and her partner had before. [ …..That's crazy……why would he even be here ?….. ] An image of a familiar masculine face appeared in Haruka's head. Deep blue eyes, long lustrous black hair and a smile. [ ……Couldn't be……they're long gone…… ]

* * * * *

He actually found a pair of dark shades that almost matched the ones he had before. But this time it wasn't for style, it was to not be seen.

Seiya had been a nervous wreck all morning. He couldn't ignore the fearful hole in his stomach and felt so stupid for agreeing with her. He told Usagi he didn't feel comfortable in the outdoors, much less in a public place. All these lives, he was risking them all. These people were in danger and they didn't even know it.

Dressed in a dark blue jacket, Seiya pulled the collar up to his cheeks and put his baseball hat down enough to shade the rest of his face with a faint shadow. He had to settle again for those torn pants until they got some new ones that day.

Usagi had taken another trip to "borrow" another article of clothing from her dad. The blue jacket. This time she had also swiped one of Shingo's hats in the process.

Cursing himself for letting himself being talked into this by Usagi, Seiya remembered that on the way here, he had spotted a plain and almost out-of-sight department store. He pointed it out to Usagi and suggested quickly that they should just head there. Usagi gave him a look of distaste. " Why in the world do you want to go there ?" she had asked bewildered." It's a second-hand store !"

Seiya had answered," I must have been asleep that moment when I let you drag me out into the open. Clothes in the mall are completely unnecessary. Maybe I just need one shirt or two with a pair of pants that are durable. Nothing else."

And now they were here. Besides, Usagi was driving the car and he wasn't. Seiya prayed that nothing would happen. He thought he was already undeserving of Usagi taking him in along with all the danger. Now she was shopping for HIM. It wasn't right. Seiya felt he was more undeserving for that.

Being in public places scared him to death. It was ironic too. This was the very same mall that the Three Lights came to sign autographs and promote their album four years ago.

Usagi slung her purse over her shoulder and turned around. She found that Seiya was walking slowly, with his jacket collar almost up to his nose. Rolling her eyes, Usagi walked back to him.

" Seiya." She said." Please don't worry. It'll be really quick. We'll be out of here fast after we get you a couple of things."

" Odango, do you know how many innocent lives I'm risking ? This whole building !" He hissed at her worriedly." I shouldn't be here. My "hunters", don't care who's around when they come to kill me. People could be hurt."

She saw worry and fear very clear in his features." Just for awhile Seiya. Please ? I'm worried about YOUR condition. You barely have any clothes to scrounge in. Besides, for once…..I want you to have fun."

Fun ? Fun had NEVER crossed Seiya's mind since forever. He even wondered if he still knew the meaning of the word." I……don't think I know what fun is anymore……" Seiya answered Usagi in a ghost of a tone." It doesn't exist……"

She was shocked to the core for awhile that this was the very same Seiya that laughed and teased her. This was the same Seiya four years ago that just wanted to kick back and do nothing but have fun. And he changed.

Usagi smiled reassuringly and gingerly wrapped her fingers through his. She gave Seiya's hand a warm squeeze." Just once. Just for today I want you to forget. I want us to just be Seiya and Usagi going shopping at the mall. Please ? For me ?"

The look on her face would bring him to his knees. Seiya sighed uncomfortably. [ ……for her……but doing this would be risking her life even more and I'm trying to protect her…. ]

She smiled for him a beautiful smile and pulled him forward.

Usagi first took him to one of the very good department stores on the east end of the mall. Seiya insisted that after that, maybe they should go back. She brushed him off and took him to the men's-wear section.

Large selections of shirts and pants surrounded them and Seiya stood in the middle, motionless and unsettled.

Usagi was browsing through the racks and found a nice black shirt with a few other ones with different logos and designs. She walked back over to Seiya on the other side and found that he was only looking at the dull plain-colored shirts at " 3 for half-price ".

He saw her approach him with a small armload of clothing with a smile on her face. Those shirts looked stylish ( his style ), but also looked pricey." Odango….you can't….." But she wouldn't let him finish.

" Do you really think anybody buys those shirts over there ?" Usagi said pointedly at the shirts Seiya was looking at. Then she put the shirts she gathered briefly on a chair and picked one out of the pile. Holding it up, Usagi put it to him to see if it was the right size.

Seiya watched her cock her head to the side. He felt almost like a helpless and restless little kid going shopping with his mother.

The shirt looked like it would fit just fine. The whole thing fit him perfectly and he would look like the old Seiya again. It would be so wonderful to have him back. Usagi was sure he was still in there, she just had to find him.

Next, after that armload of shirts plus a bit more, Usagi led him to look at the section of pants. Once again, Seiya went for the very simple and practical ones.

" May I help you ?" asked a woman salesclerk. Usagi turned around.

" Hi. Um, do you think you can help me with these ?" she held up a pair of jeans." What size waist do you think my friend over there is ?"

The saleswoman stepped aside to look at Seiya. From her distance, it looked like he had just stumbled in here from a night brawl at the bar." Well," she walked over to Seiya and took a look at him.

In no time, and a few protests, Usagi was paying the woman and shipping both of them out of that section with three pairs of pants.

" What about some underwear ?" she suggested, eyeing the bags of men's underwear on the shelf.

" Er……." He replied unsteadily.

Usagi led him over and snatched a bag. It said, six pairs in one and the price was good too. She held onto it. That Calvin Klein underwear pack at the end of the shelf didn't look bad either. Usagi grinned at herself for thinking such thoughts. Seiya as an underwear model ? Hmmm……

" I can't believe you're helping me shop for underwear." Seiya said, with a touch of dryness to his tone." Normally I would do this alone."

" Well, I guess this isn't one of those times." She replied, throwing the bag of six pairs at Seiya. He caught them effortlessly and looked at her again. He spied her taking another pack off the shelf. Curiously, Seiya stepped forward to look around her.

It was a more expensive pack and the color was black, blue and white. Calvin Klein.

Seiya's cheeks turned red. This was unbelievable." Uh…..Odango….it's okay, we don't have to get anything else." A grin still twisted the corner of her mouth at his pushy tone.

" These are durable, practical AND comfortable." She thought out loud purposely.

" And brand name--can we go now ?"

" Oh you…." Usagi said swatting his arm." Didn't you used to have CK underwear before ?"

" Wha ?! How did you know ? The last time I was here, did you sneak into my room and start rummaging through my drawers ?" Seiya flushed a deeper shade of red.

" It's called guessing Seiya. Being in super stardom does have its advantages, even with underwear." Then Usagi's grin shifted wider." I wouldn't be surprised if those people at CK offered you guys to model underwear for their ad."

" Actually, they did." Seiya said quietly, looking down." We turned it down because our manager had booked us completely, much to Yaten's dismay. He was looking forward to prancing around in CK briefs on a black and white set."

Usagi giggled. Seiya smiled at the sparkle in her eyes and laughed himself. But then said," I don't need them though." He looked at the pack." And I don't deserve any of this for putting you in danger."

" No, that's not true. You deserve it, you NEED it from all you've been through already. Stop acting like you're doing this on your own because you're not on your own anymore." The true sincerity was in Usagi's eyes." I'm here."

Seiya reached up to touch her cheek. He caressed it and leaned forward to kiss her lips. Usagi welcomed him thoroughly and kissed back, wanting more. They pulled apart only a few centimeters when Usagi looked into his eyes through his dark glasses." I don't care, I want to get you that bag. Think of it as a "second" offer from CK." She giggled again.

The underwear section was the last stop before the pair exited the department store with four bags of clothing. Seiya was already heading to the door when Usagi turned direction and spotted another store. He couldn't say anything because she was already dragging him there.

It was a store that was in tune with the latest fashion and had a women's wear section to the right and men's to the left. Much of the clothes in this store looked quite nice and looked more of the style of clothing that Seiya would chose. His sense of fashion was tops along with hers and Minako's. But this time he wasn't looking for any fashion.

" Let's just look around, what harm could it do ?" Usagi said to him as they ventured in.

Seiya wandered off reluctantly in the men's section. He was reminded of the good old days. That red suit, the black shirt and the yellow tie. Complete with matching shoes too. He almost forgot about that.

Usagi looked around, her hand brushing the articles of clothing. Then she spotted something. Her eyes lit up when she saw it. It was striking, it was perfect, it was dreamy. Seiya would look so hot in it. Just imagining him made Usagi's knees go weak with a shuddering feeling.

She walked straight up to the crimson dress shirt on the rack. It was the only one there. The style and color screamed CASANOVA. Those black pants they bought him earlier would go perfect with it. Usagi was ready to drool as she clutched the shirt to herself and closed her eyes.

Sighing a little, Usagi decided to get it for him. But she knew Seiya would refuse automatically from guilt and worry so she decided to buy it as a surprise. He'd be mad at her later for doing that for him but she didn't worry about it.

Looking over at Seiya, Usagi saw he was wandering aimlessly around the front of the store. The look on her face became sneaky when she found that it was the right size and made a quick trip to the cash register.

The clerk eyed Usagi with a smile." Our last one. Only a few guys would look really hot in this." She said as register opened." Birthday present for your boyfriend ?"

She returned that smile." Well, it IS a present. Just a surprise from me."

Usagi paid the girl and the shirt was put into a bag as she thanked her. Walking out, she found Seiya at the front.

" Did you get something for yourself ?" Seiya asked, hoping that thing in the bag wasn't for him.

" Yeah." She replied." Nothing much." Usagi watched him relax a bit." Let's take a break."

Seiya had a face fault." Take a break ? I thought we were done."

" Nope. I'm starved, let's eat !"

It turned out Usagi didn't want to head to the mall food-court. She told Seiya that they should go somewhere else. So, with their bags of clothing they left the mall and walked to her car. They put the parcels into her trunk.

Seiya was ready to get in when," I know a really nice place that's near here."

" Where ?" he asked.

" It's just a small plaza not far from here. Come on," Usagi said. She took his hand in hers." It doesn't take long to walk there."

" Well, okay."

Seiya gave Usagi's hand a tight squeeze as they strolled towards the exit of the mall parking lot.

* * * * *

A pair of eyes watched a man and a woman leave the parking lot of the mall. He watched closely, his eyes widening in recognition. [ ….That's him……. ] The figure that stood still kept looking at the one that held tightly to the hand of that woman he was with. He was wearing a blue jacket, a hat and a pair of pants that had an awful tear at the side. From far away he could see this.

He turned to his companion with a nod and received a response. Both swiftly headed in the pair's direction.

* * * * *

" I thought you said this place was pretty near." Seiya said with a smirk.

" Oh it is." Replied Usagi while giving him a convincing look." It's down this way." She pulled him down another turn." Just in that section over there."

Seiya saw as she pointed to a cluster of buildings behind a group of others. Just a few more minutes of strolling.

The sun was high that day and the sky was cloudless. It wasn't humid because of the refreshing breeze that passed through the atmosphere.

Seiya looked ahead, the fear inside his mind was pushed back just a little as Usagi's thumb softly caressed the back of his hand. But a worried look crossed his face as a thought surfaced.

Pretending like this hurt him and he was sure it hurt her too, whether she knew it or not. What they were both doing was not allowed…..or so the surrounding environment didn't allow them to. Seiya looked down at Usagi's head with a frown turning deep-set.

She wasn't his. Sure they had been holding hands, touching one another and giving looks of adoration and love but the simple fact remained that Usagi was not his. She would never be because she belonged to Mamoru and the future.

How unfair everything was. What he and Usagi did wasn't right but felt right. Seiya had never felt so alive and so full of a certain light when he was basking in her presence. She made him feel like nothing was impossible. It was feeling so incredible that he would only feel it with her.

Maybe they should stop connecting the way they did before it went any further. Seiya always tried to but because of the mental block, he was unable to stop himself from drifting towards Usagi. The past events have brought him back to her and he was going to protect her from the danger he brought.

" Seiya ?"

" Hmm ?"

"……What are you thinking of ?" Usagi's voice was small and almost like a questioning child.

Seiya chuckled at her innocent question and gave her hand another squeeze." Nothing much."

" You're thinking about them aren't you ?"

" Who ?"

" Those…..creatures."

Sighing, he turned to look at her. His hunters were only apart of what he was thinking about. Seiya was unsure whether he should discuss their (himself and Usagi's) interaction with each other. He saw that Usagi wanted today to be like old times. If he brought up Mamoru……

" I can't forget. Unconsciously they keep slipping into my mind."

Usagi understood. To have people so close to you murdered right in front of you. Such hauntings were unbearable to think about. Usagi promised him that she would take it all away and knew he had faith that she would.

A small breeze blew past them as Seiya closed his eyes for a brief moment, trying to inhale the air and exhale the problems. The nearer they got to the plaza, the better. It would give him and Usagi a good chance to forget just for a little while.

Another breeze touched Seiya's face. Suddenly his eyes shot open.

There was something awkward about this breeze. Not awkward, there was something wrong.

Seiya swallowed as familiar feeling began to eat it's way from the back of his mind. It was creeping towards the front just as the sharp chill that was riding up his spine.

Usagi's words about shopping were soon drowned out by the start of a faint but searing pain in the center of his chest. It began to gnaw at him from the inside, it's black feeling starting to slowly wrap itself around his insides.

[ …..no…….leave me alone !!!….. ] Eyes falling shut to clamp themselves, Seiya couldn't help but stop his walking pace.

" Seiya ? Are you okay ?" Usagi asked with her brows drawn together in worry when she saw that they had stopped. He didn't answer. He had no strength to answer.

[ …..not……now !……leave me alone !………please…… ]

The young man unwound his fingers from Usagi's instantly after feeling a bigger jolting surge from inside. It was like a festering sickness, surging and moving inside him. And it was growing. Harder, larger, more painful.

Seiya gritted his teeth tightly. He couldn't worry Usagi, although he could already see the emotion written all over her face.

Seconds were starting to tick away as Seiya gasped tightly while his knees were threatening to give way.

" Seiya !" Usagi fled to keep him from falling." Seiya ?!"

He couldn't speak. It was too painful. His insides felt like they were ripping from being tied in knots. The feeling was starting to spread to his limbs. Usagi's screams and worried face were whirling around him, going faster and faster.

Then, he heard it.

Through his pain, Seiya's ears were still alert. The fear that plagued him now grew to tenfold. At first he thought it was an illusion this terrible pain inside him brought. But he was so wrong, his fear became a reality.

The sounds……those sounds. Tearing metal. The voices, the presence.

[ ………no……please…. ]

A fear started to make it's way up Usagi's throat at the change in Seiya's face. His eyes were wide and his face flinching just a bit from his inner turmoil. Besides his inward battle, something else seemed to have struck his attention and deepest fear dead on.

Suddenly Usagi heard something. The sound was faint and so hard to miss. Her heart began to pound inside her with every scraping note that sound created by drawing closer. A shocking remembrance filled Usagi.

That sound alone that his hunters made was enough to create fear from nothing.

Seiya clutched his chest in utmost agony as he literally forced himself off the ground. The images and visions of black plated warriors made themselves visible by the sight and sound of their terror. They had found him.

A searing and deafening noise broke the air above them as a bright light ignited the gap between Seiya and Usagi.

Usagi screamed loudly as she barely jumped out of the beam's way. Seiya was thrown harshly to the side. Eyes darting up, he moved quickly out of the way to dodge a sharp silver projectile that came his way.

" Odango !" Seiya screamed, getting up. He started to run towards her.

Usagi looked up slowly from a face-full of grass. The dark armor began to present itself in front of her and soon she was looking up at a soulless tower of a being. Just looking briefly turned her insides to ice. Usagi couldn't move and couldn't breathe. The horrid appearance looked at her straight in the eye.

Visions of murder and damnation danced its way in and out of Usagi thoughts. The fear was well wrought within her now and she couldn't move. Seiya's desperate and cracked voice was only faint as the expression on the being's face moved only slightly in her recognition.

Without another flinch of change, it raised its weapon. Higher and higher it went as it lived off Usagi's fear.

" Odango !!! No !" Seiya darted quickly towards her. Grabbing Usagi tightly, he roughly pushed both of them aside to escape the weapon.

The heavy blade came down with a sharp bang. It rang in Seiya's ears, bringing back the scenes of his last time on Kinmonku.

Usagi stood up and faced them, trying not to flinch from terror as she reached for her locket. But Seiya stopped her. His expression was almost pleading." No !" he said as he grabbed her hand.

" I promised I would protect you !" she replied, trying to pull her hand with the locket away from his grasp.

" I won't let you commit suicide Usagi !" Seiya gripped her hand tightly as his voice came out deathly panicked. And with that, he found a burst of speed from his weary legs and broke into a run, pulling her along with him.

They were a lot faster than the last time he met them. Seiya's hand was grasped around Usagi's hand as they tore down the path.

Usagi was struggling hard to keep up. She knew fearfully that her energy was going to run out and these things behind her didn't seem like they were going to give up. Another surge of bolts echoing behind them elicited another scream.

They both ducked out of the way.

Panicked, Seiya's eyes darted from one side to the other desperately look for a place to hide. But he knew he had to lead them away from the public. Innocent lives were everywhere and he didn't want to take any risks.

A bolt shook the ground below their feet, causing Usagi to stumble." Seiya !"

" Hurry !!!" he yelled as another blast went off close at their heels.

While eluding a sharp projectile that whizzed by their ears by a fateful inch, their feet hit the ground, draining away their energy to run.

Seiya knew they couldn't keep this up forever. They ran past a tight alleyway when Seiya stopped. He spotted a short wall right at the very end. It was worth a try to go over and put some space between them and their oppressors.

" This way !" He called.

Usagi followed him closely, feeling every bit of emotion that flew through her head. This experience was as real as it came and now she was put into the line of fire.

They both scrambled forward into the tight alleyway. The dirty water below them splashed loudly and began to soak their shoes as they continued their way towards the back.

" Almost there !" Seiya could hear them charging behind them into the alley. The sounds of scraping metal grew louder because of their massive size against the bricks of the building. The buildings that enclosed them were no barriers to cross to get to their fleeing prey. Recklessly, they pounded through.

Seiya flew upwards in a jump to land on top of the dumpster that was against the back wall of the alley. Usagi did the same as she stood behind him trembling.

They were coming. They were right behind them.

With gritted teeth, Seiya hoisted himself up onto the dirty wall. On the other side was a street and across that street was a park. He whirled around, balancing himself and looked down to Usagi's pleading eyes.

Usagi's arms reached as high as they could, straining to reach his fingertips.

" Come on Odango ! Just reach my hand, you can do it !" Seiya shouted. He bent down from the top of the wall as low as he could.

She jumped and caught onto his outstretched hands." Seiya !" Usagi's feet desperately tried to climb up the dirt-blotched brick wall. Her shoes slipped as Seiya tried with his might to pull her up.

Seiya heard her cry out as she slipped. Scraping her knees roughly against the wall, Usagi was pulled out of his grasp once more." Odango !"

A sharp sound was heard along with the sound of deadly metal. Usagi felt a distinct pain connect to the side of her arm. She gave another cry with widened eyes at the sharp object that almost went into her arm. It stuck out from the wall as an awful close call.

The beings charged through the remaining space between themselves and the pair that was trying to escape.

Seiya glanced up to see them right behind Usagi and in which she grabbed hold of his hand. He pulled her up just as a sword destroyed the dumpster below Usagi's feet.

The ground was hard as Seiya's feet landed on the concrete of the road. He caught Usagi as she jumped down from the wall. Both wasted no time in looking back as they stumbled across the street and towards the park.

Sounds of the hunters only grew faint for a brief second until the horrible echo of crushing bricks caught Seiya and Usagi's ears. The wall of the alley started to crumble amidst the surge of silver lightning.

Usagi's hand was clamped over the side of her left arm. Her face was twitching from the sharp pain that ailed her; the color of crimson seeped through her fingers and began to run down her arm.

They both gasped in horror and almost gave way to the ground when another set of hunters appeared from the side. They cut off their path in one clean movement. Weapons drawn, they pulled another spark of lightning and sent Seiya and Usagi hurling to the sides.

Getting up quickly, Usagi desperately kicked one in the stomach. To her dismay, her kick had done nothing. Not even a slight flinch from the soulless being that stood in front of her. It was about to raise its weapon to strike her when Seiya launched himself onto its back.

" Odango ! Run !"

" I won't leave you !" Usagi cried, looking up pleadingly at Seiya.

" GO NOW !"

" NO !"

Seiya placed a hard punch into the center of its back and was going to follow up with another punch. Another hunter got him instead. Seiya let out a choked gasp as the wind was knocked out of him from behind. It was a solid punch from black plated knuckles.

Seiya fell to the ground, withering in pain from the blow to his back. A cold grip seized his neck and began to pull him up. Choking and gasping, he could only see the whirling scenes of his enemies and Usagi as that cold hand held him at arm's length.

Suddenly, the eating feeling inside Seiya's chest grew twenty times than it had been before. He screamed loudly as a black aura started to form around his dangling body. His hunter just held him there, staring into the depths of his soul.

Seiya felt the surging once again and this time it was like it was lurching and crawling its way up his throat. There was something that was trying to come out.

Wildly, Usagi whipped out her locket once more but it was knocked out of her hands as another hunter threw her to the side." SEIYA !!!" she screamed.

Then a loud cry out of nowhere was heard. But it wasn't more soulless beings. It was somebody else.

Figures swiftly and rapidly emerged. One from the side and the other from the back, thrusting powerful kicks at the one that held Seiya captive.