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

Chapter IX

Seiya and the others reached the car in no time. Yaten gave the car a stare that said, "not bad" and proceeded to lean against it. Taiki took a place beside Seiya.

" So you did a little shopping today before getting your asses kicked ?" Yaten asked. Even for the young man, this question was a "light-hearted" one in opposed to his roguish nature.

" Yeah." Seiya replied." Technically I had nothing when I met up with her. She even lent me a few of her dad's clothes." He smiled briefly at the thought of her sweetness.

The light in Seiya's face also provoked a smile from Taiki." What did she get you ?"

" Well, first of all I didn't want her to do anything for me. I just felt so guilty for even showing up in her life again this way. I couldn't let her do it. But knowing Odango, she can be pretty persuading."

" Oh come on. Usagi-chan doesn't have to do much to persuade the likes of you." Yaten snorted with a roll of his eyes. A grin poked out of nowhere on his face." Oh yeah and I think I saw what else she got you in that little shopping bag of hers."

" What ?"

" Durable, practical AND comfortable." Seiya's friend smirked." Available in colors black, blue and white."

A touch of red blushed Seiya's cheeks." Hey ! I TRIED to get her to stop. But she laughed when I told her about you and your penchant for modeling underwear on a CK set. I remember the look on your face when our manager said that we had no time for it."

" I wasn't just me !" Yaten gave out sort of a growl." Believe it or not but TAIKI wanted it too."

" Ooh, so you ADMIT it." Seiya snickered. Then he said dramatically, " And Taiki ? I am COMPLETELY awe-struck."

Taiki turned slightly away from his grinning friend and crossed his arms." Yaten's conclusion is obviously a mistake."

Seiya watched as Yaten tried to get Taiki to bicker with him. A warmhearted smile formed on his lips as a rush of emotion exploded inside his stomach. He was so overjoyed that he knew that his two comrades survived the harsh year. Seiya thought they were gone forever. Them showing up meant so much to him.

He chuckled inside at the thought of himself pulling both Taiki and Yaten into a huge bear hug. Yaten would probably push him away quickly, telling him not to get mushy.

In the midst of it all, Seiya looked back at the entrance to the apartment. [ What could be taking her ? ], he thought.

* * * * *

Usagi wiped the last of her tears away as she emitted a final sob. The phone was now down and had been put back in its place.

What was she feeling ? Mixed emotions. Guilt was apart of it because of Chibi-Usa. Because of this, Chibi-Usa was to be no more.

This decision wasn't a rash decision she pulled out of nowhere. Every night since Seiya's presence had caused her to think about what she wanted. What SHE TRULY wanted. Usagi wanted to be free for a long time and meeting Seiya helped her realize it.

She hoped one day Mamoru would forgive her for everything and even more she hoped that everyone else ( Inners, Outers, Luna, Artemis……) would forgive her as well. But this was what she wanted. For the first time ever, Usagi stood on her OWN decision. Her decision was Seiya.

Usagi desperately pushed the guilt and worry to the back of her head, she looked around hurriedly for her keys.

" What have you done ?" Came a soft voice from behind her. The voice was dripping with shock, horror and tight anger.

Usagi whirled around, her blue irises widened in fear." Luna……" she said with a shortened gasp.

The black cat eyed her with such fire as she crept closer to the blonde girl. Disbelief was weaving in and out of her expression.

" What have you done ?" She said again. More anger defined the very words Luna chose.

Usagi stood rooted to the floor, a trembling in her stomach started to form. She tried to open her mouth to explain but somehow she couldn't find her voice under Luna's cold stare." I……"

" You've jeopardized the future……." Luna trailed off. Her lamp-like eyes were wide with accusation." You've destroyed the entire future !!!"

Luna's tone rose with the vast amont of vexation. Anger shook her voice unsteadily." Do you know what you did ?!!! Mamoru's heart lies broken in your hands, the second heir to the Moon is no more !!! You destroyed the pure future of the people of THIS Earth for all your selfish wants !"

The Moon Guardian continued to spit fiery words at Usagi who already sunk to her knees in spite of herself. Usagi's fists balled tightly as she gritted her teeth. Luna's voice was ringing through her ears and it seemed to choke her and surround her with a flood of guilt. No, she wouldn't let her.

" I'M being SELFISH ?!!" Usagi suddenly screamed. She looked up at Luna with a piercing glare.

The cat had jumped back at her Master's outburst. She had never heard a tone like that come from Usagi. The tone was too strong.

" Luna, tell me…..TELL ME, when I have been selfish ?! From the first moment you stepped into my life, I've never had ANY chance to say what I want !!! Before you came, I felt FREE ! And then, all in one night it was taken away from me ! Later I found out I had a destiny….." she said bitterly.

" A destiny that bound me to someone that I couldn't stand…."

" But you fell in love with him just like you were supposed to !!!---" Luna started again incredulously.

" Like I was SUPPOSED to ?!!! Deep inside I never wanted it !!! All the responsibility and the duty as "Queen of Crystal Tokyo" !!! The only reason I kept quiet and stuck to this destiny was because I was afraid that if I did venture out into in the open, I wouldn't be able to survive ! Now I know I can."

" You ungrateful girl….." Luna growled." Your mother has given you EVERYTHING ! The status as a princess, the chance to be reborn on Earth to find Mamoru ! You were going to be Queen and have an heir ! You threw it all away for some foolish thought that you think is LOVE !"

" How DARE you ?!" Usagi cried." You could never understand what I went through every day of my life ! I've lived in Princess Serenity's shadow for twenty years of it ! You are forcing me to pick up the pieces of a life that I lived SO MANY years ago !!! Tsukino Usagi was NOTHING but a dangling puppet played with by Serenity ! She was nothing until now."

Luna's voice turned pleading and almost scared." Usagi why can't you just understand ? You were to have everything……"

" Luna, I have everything I've ever wanted. I didn't want to be Neo-Queen Serenity. What would become of Tsukino Usagi ? She would disappear and all that would be left would be nothing but the shadow of Princess Serenity. Seiya was all I ever wanted."

The cat shook her head in grief." Usagi, NO ! You cannot mean that !!!"

" I mean it. I mean EVERY word of it." The girl said in a strong determined voice." Did you think he cared about Serenity ?! He doesn't even know who the hell she is ! Seiya loves me…..Tsukino Usagi, not Serenity. It amazes me because in truth I never thought ANYONE in the world could love Tsukino Usagi……But he does….." Usagi eyes watered. She loved Seiya so much and his acceptance of HER overwhelmed her.

Luna still couldn't believe her ears but she had no idea that Usagi felt that her destiny was a cage." Your destiny……the Senshi ! Everything….."

" A single person does not revolve around destiny. I'm free to make my own future now. Nobody is going to stop me." Usagi said, looking at Luna straight in the eyes. Truth and promise was flooding from her stare." Not you, not the Senshi…..nobody."

With that, Usagi stood up and fetched her keys. She forgot about her purse but it didn't matter. She walked to the door but looked back." I owe my salvation to Seiya because I'm not a prisoner anymore."

Luna heard as the front door to Usagi's apartment closed. Salty tears ran down her face as she was left alone.

* * * * *

Seiya was leaning against the car along with Yaten when his head turned to the side. A smile caught his face when she saw that Usagi was coming towards them. She seemed to be running and not only that, the look on her face was the most beautiful smile he'd ever seen.

" Odango !" He shouted as she approached him." What took you so long ?"

Usagi didn't answer him as she flew immediately into his embrace. Her arms wrapped around him tightly and possessively as she buried her face into his shoulder. With a thundering heart, Usagi never wanted to let go. He was the one that filled every aching need in her body and soul.

Seiya was surprised by the sudden hug. Nonetheless he hugged her back with equal feeling. He kissed her forehead and grinned when she looked up at him with shining eyes." Missed me already ?" He chuckled.

Usagi didn't answer him again but kissed him fully on the lips. The kiss was hungry and joyful at the same time. When she pulled way she whispered," I want to be yours….." Those words sprung a heightened glory in Seiya's being. He kissed her again and pursued the moment of happiness.

It was only when Yaten crossed his arms and gave the happy pair a look of irritation, they broke apart and proceeded to seat themselves in the car.

Being with Usagi helped Seiya forget temporarily about the problems that surrounded them. He and the others were talked animatedly in car as Usagi passed another stop light. Even with the shadow of those hunters looming after them, Yaten and Taiki couldn't contain the inner excitement to seeing the rest of the Senshi.

The trip to the shrine wasn't a long one and it was a short time until Usagi parked her car. A big grin began to plaster itself upon her face the moment she saw Makoto's head peek out of one of the doors. The rest of the cavalry seemed to follow.

Rei crossed her arms and pursed her lips together to show Usagi that she wasn't pleased. She was among the last to come out of the door.

" You sure took your time." Rei heard Makoto say." What took you so long ?"

Usagi smiled as her raven-haired friend looked suspiciously at her." Well, I decided to bring a friend." She said as Seiya stepped out of the car.

Makoto's eyes widened." Seiya ?! Is THAT YOU ?!" A huge grin lit her face as she ran over.

" Seiya-kun !" Ami exclaimed as well. Even Rei forgot about being angry for a moment and followed Ami, alongside Minako.

All greetings were exchanged as well as fond hugs and words. Usagi looked over at Minako who looked down. The other blonde was the only one out of her friends to know the real truth as to why Usagi asked them to assemble at the shrine.

Minako had given Seiya a tight hug of joy that he was there and he was safe. But when she looked at him, Minako was reminded of Yaten and Yaten was…….

" Stupid people," Came an agitated voice." There are others besides Seiya over there, don't you have eyes ?"

Minako felt as if she couldn't breathe. It had to be an illusion. Quickly, the blonde got up the nerve to pinch herself. Turning around to face the young man with silver hair, she became wide-eyed with disbelief. The next thing she knew, Minako saw only blackness.

The rest of them fled over to the side of a fallen Minako. The girl lay on the ground unmoving.

" Minako !" Usagi cried as she bent down towards her friend.

" She fainted." Yaten repeated and walked over to the swarm of girls around their Minako. [ I guess it's the effect I have on her…still got it…...]

" Remember what Usagi had spoken about ?" Taiki said to him. He seemed to read his companion's thoughts." Before we showed up, Usagi told Minako about Seiya. She told her that we were deceased."

Yaten said nothing more to Taiki as he made the rest of the trip over to where Minako lay. She put a hand on Usagi's shoulder." I'll take her." He said. Usagi nodded and moved aside as Yaten scooped Minako in his arms. They all headed inside.

" Miss Mizuno ?"

Ami beamed warmly in the directed of the smooth masculine voice. She blushed as Taiki flashed her a smile. She ran up to him and threw her arms around his neck." Welcome back Taiki-kun……..I…..I've missed you." Ami only felt him nod.

At first when they all finished getting themselves assembled inside, Rei, Makoto and Ami had flooded the three guests with questions. All three were reluctant to answer any of the sort. It was ironic that the girls only thought that they were here for a visit…..which they weren't.

" Usagi, how dare you even try to keep them all to yourself ! Just how long until you were planning to tell us they were visiting ?" Rei scoffed.

Usagi didn't jump into an argument with her at all. She just sighed and looked down, remembering the very moment that Seiya reappeared. Shaking her head, Usagi struggled to get rid of the horrid vision that made her worry about him.

[ This is embarrassing…… ], was the first thought that flew through Minako's mind as she came to. She rubbed her still-closed eyes and attempted to sit up. Maybe she missed Yaten too much. Maybe that's what sparked the illusion in the first place besides seeing Seiya. Minako sighed and opened her eyes.

The waking to the "illusion" from before hit her hard. The young man with silver hair sat close to her and he was staring at her with a look that was half-intent and half-annoyed.

" You awake ?" Yaten poked her side.

" Yaten ?" Minako whispered, choking on a breath. Then her eyes moistened as they moved over him to calm the soreness." I…..I thought……" Without another word out, Minako flung her arms over Yaten's shoulders.

This was no time to push her off, besides, Yaten secretly missed her also. His mouth curved upwards in a small smile that he was sure nobody saw and hugged her back. Minako held Yaten tightly to her until he said," Calm down. You don't have to choke me." The irritation in his voice was ebbed by the joy of the moment. He even said it laughingly.

In a while when they had all settled down, Ami gave Usagi a questioning look." Usagi-chan, what is it that you wanted to say ? I guess it's important because it isn't usual for you, by yourself, to organize meetings." Ami said. The blue-haired female saw that Usagi turned serious and had an inkling of what the news might be.

" I needed to tell you something important." Usagi said quietly as she glanced at the rest of the Inner Senshi." It isn't a visit."

Seiya looked at Usagi and gave her a reassuring smile. She turned to Makoto and Rei." Do you remember that day when we went out ?"

" Yeah. It was about a week ago." Makoto replied. The atmosphere between each on of them was starting to grow heavy." What happened ?"

" Well…….I went home right after you guys left. When I got to my apartment I saw that the door was open. I was so scared because I thought somebody was trying to rob me." Usagi continued. " But it wasn't a robber, it was Seiya."

Usagi saw as puzzled looks came from Rei, Ami and Makoto. It was then that Usagi told them the whole story. Right from Seiya showing up in the most terrible state to when they went shopping earlier. Around the room came a few gasps of shock and looks of horror at the story to which Seiya had gone through.

" I shouldn't have persuaded him to go. Those hunters really could have gotten him." Usagi said.

Ami, Makoto and Rei sat there shocked. Minako was the only one that didn't have a surprised look.

" Oh Seiya….." Rei trailed off." We had no idea….."

" I never wanted to put Usagi in danger, let alone the rest of the Senshi." Seiya said." But I was held back because I knew that those hunters already knew whom I was with. I would be unable to protect Usagi if I just left."

Yaten and Taiki proceeded to tell the four girls, minus Usagi, about how they arrived. Minako was eager to know how both men managed to escape after they told Seiya to leave them. The girls were told about Taiki and Yaten's endless efforts to find Seiya first before the hunters did. They also had been running for the past year.

" Of all other places you've looked, why did you look here ?" Asked Makoto.

Taiki gave her a tiny smile." There is something about Seiya that's just so predictable." He then glanced over at Usagi. Makoto didn't need anymore lead to what he was getting at after that.

" You could say he was pushing his own safety." Yaten crossed his arms.

Rei looked at the three men in front of her. She had a very troubled expression on her face." I don't understand." She said." If these things had come into our atmosphere, why was I unable to detect them ? I should've been warned about it long time ago by the fire."

" I wish I had an answer." Taiki replied." Now that you bring it up, it makes it all the more complex."

" We don't even know what they're after." Ami said." Seiya…..that black aura. What did you feel ?"

The young man perceived Usagi's friend with an uncomfortable look. The feeling of terror was still inside him.

" I…..don't know. It just grabbed me……and the next thing I knew I felt paralyzed even though I was trying to free myself. This pain," Seiya put a single hand on his chest, a disturbed look was on his face." This pain grew. Then I could feel something……trying to escape my body. I couldn't control it. I can't explain….."

" It's alright." Ami said." We'll try to help you as much as we can. Though it is strange that none of us never picked up any sense that your pursuers were here, we'll try."

Makoto spoke up," It all sounds so disturbing." She shook her head in dismay." And sick. We don't know what they are and how they fight."

" Yes, it's true that you don't know." Someone else said.

The Inner Senshi and the others turned their heads to face a new presence.

Ruby eyes blinked with the force of wisdom as silken bangs of deep green hair framed her ageless face. She stepped gracefully forward and offered her hand.

" Setsuna." Rei said." We didn't know you had come up."

" You were not expecting me. Yes I know."

Taiki gave the Senshi of Time a nod of respect as did Yaten. Setsuna favored both of them with a smile of her own. Eyes wandering through the faces of people in the room, Setsuna's eyes stopped on Seiya and Usagi. She proceeded to walk towards them.

A grim look made it's way like a shadow over Setsuna's beautiful face when she stopped in front of the pair.

" Greetings to you my Queen." She said as regarded Usagi. Usagi looked down and thought, [ Please don't call me that……… ] Shockingly, the Guardian of Time spoke to her through her mind.

[ As you wish……for now……] Usagi eyed Setsuna with surprise. She only received a kind look.

Setsuna turned to Seiya, her red irises following every detail of Seiya's face." You have been running." She said.

Seiya was drawn to her words." Yes…….I….have."

" They've been after you for a long time, is it not ?"

He nodded in response with a troubled expression." How do you……"

Setsuna stopped him from asking anything more." The history of your galaxy is a long and war-tainted one. Filled with corruption and black magic. You've never known the vividness of each passing minute." She said.

" The truth is what I could give you and only through me you would be able to find out the answers as to why………" Setsuna then took another step closer to Seiya and lightly put a hand on his chest. Her stare pierced him as she looked into his eyes, into the depths of his soul.

" It's inside you." She said softly to him as his heartbeat grew under her palm. Seiya looked at Setsuna with fearful eyes.

" What….is…it ?" He said slowly. His voice was starting to waver." Why are they pursuing us ?"

Setsuna herself was frightened inwardly at the surging blackness that she could see. It festered like a living sickness inside him.

She started as Taiki and Yaten made their way to be near her," Your galaxy is far from ours." Setsuna said." The Moon Kingdom had no contact with your galaxy whatsoever. Though the Silver Millenium was about to come to a close because of Beryl and the Negaverse, your galaxy had its own turmoil."

" Are you saying that the time of havoc in their history was happening at the same time as the Silver Millenium ?" Ami asked curiously.

" Almost." Setsuna answered." The Moon Kingdom and the Silver Millenium may have been around but they do not feature at all in this history."

" So I guess these beings that are pursuing Seiya, Taiki and Yaten have nothing to do with the Negaverse." Makoto stated.

" That's correct."

Seiya listened to every word that Setsuna had said, being drawn in by her very presence of truth." This occurs long before Kakyuu-hime, in the time of the Elders. The Elders of your galaxy had long since formed an order of authority, the Stellar Alliance. This was to prevent any outbreaks of war and chaos among the planets. To do this, they required the assistance of able soldiers, sending them each to a different planet. The planet they were sent to became their post and in which they became sentinels."

" For years they stood, unknowing of the drastic change that occurred within the Stellar. The Stellar became power hungry under the new guidance of its Head Figure. Political turmoil and chaos became more frequent by the protesting inhabitants of each planet that were governed by the Stellar. Many of the sentinels that were dispatched so long ago, decided to form a union to overthrow the Stellar. That was the cause of the rebellion within Kinmonku's galaxy."

Setsuna continued." After the union was formed, there followed a series of assassinations and small wars that gradually brought down the Head Figure. It was then the people of the galaxy were split apart. The faithful sided with the Stellar, and the others sided with the union of sentinels. A war broke out between the two sides. The Stellar used magic alongside weaponry. The leader of the Stellar used the Head Magic. It was called the Nebula Staff."

Usagi couldn't believe there was a whole other history that was going on at the same time when she was Princess so long ago. Everything about Setsuna's words seemed stun everyone. Ami was listening very intently.

" The war raged on." The Guardian of Time mused." It was carried to the battlefield of the planet of Eidoran where the fiercest of battles took place. Swords and magic clashed but not one person in the battle suspected the power growing right above their heads."

" Hate is something very powerful when millions gather together to proclaim it. Through bloodshed and war, hate's black power rose from the depths of the War's combatants. It gathered into a black void. The Leader of the Stellar wasn't aware of it and decided to strike the leader of the sentinel union with the Nebula Staff. Instead, the Staff was pulled out of his hands and was thrust towards the middle of the battlefield. A huge collision followed as the Staff was swallowed by the black void. A searing noise was heard and a blinding light came. No one was able to make out what destroyed them all. The explosion covered a high radius and many who were involved perished."

Setsuna eyed Seiya and the rest grimly," There were more survivors on the side that rallied the sentinel union. They overthrew the rest of the Stellar."

" Did the sentinel union decide to restore peace ?" asked Minako.

" The aftermath of the war isn't what you would think. It was just a prelude to the real devastation." Setsuna replied." Most people of the war began to settle and rebuild their planets. They didn't know of a group of others that wished to know and possess the blast that ended the war. This group of people consisted of most of the original sentinels that rose against the Stellar."

Makoto said puzzled," I don't understand. Weren't those original sentinels good ? After all, they're the ones that wanted to overthrow the corrupt Stellar in the beginning."

" For people that have been in war," Pluto answered Makoto," their intentions can change. War changes people and also what is inside of their minds and hearts."

" The group of original sentinels went back to the battleground. It was empty and blackened. They felt the many surging emotions of the black void still there. The power of the black void inhabited the very soil of the planet, Eidoran. Nonetheless, these people had a new objective: to possess this power and remake things they saw fit. They named themselves, the Black Vigil."

" They're intentions weren't pure after all." Rei lamented with realization.

Setsuna nodded." Some time later, the Head Member of the Black Vigil died of an unknown cause. He suffered great during the last days he was alive. He died the day after he had been with a woman. It was a strange death but the Black Vigil was intent on electing a new person for the Head Member."

" Many occurrences passed as the Black Vigil turned to tyranny. They continued to hope to possess the destructive blow that ended the War, thus naming the black power, supernova. They returned many times to Eidoran to find a way to contain it. But to their realization, the presence of the Nova was gone."

" In truth, the dark magic of the Nova was reborn within the child of the woman who was with the Head of the Black Vigil years before. The Head Member absorbed the power from his first visit to Eidoran, then he had a child with a woman. Nobody knew that child possessed a darkness that lived inside him. As he grew older, he could feel something. It would push at him from the inside. The Nova had a mind of its own and it wanted release from the prison that was the flesh. As that child grew older, he was unable to control it."

Seiya swore he felt something lurch inside him. Setsuna's description of that black surging was very much like what he felt and sometimes saw. She went to speak further, knowing Seiya's fear.

" The boy's body was emptied out. The very essences that gave him life and completeness, was sucked dry from his body, giving him a strange but painful death. By coincidence, his death happened a few days after he had been with a woman. Thus, passing the Nova to the next child."

Setsuna saw Seiya put a hand to his chest, a wide-eyed paralyzing fear inside him. She had also seen Usagi grasp his hand, trying to take in all this news.

" The pattern continued," She spoke after a pause." Each child going through the same string of damnation, carrying a sleeping destruction and only to pass it on to its next unwilling body at the very moment the destruction would awaken."

" The last of the Black Vigil faded away in search of the Nova, only to find out the slim whereabouts of it. The Black Vigil left a legacy, creating a section called the Diviners. Diviners are soulless, already drowned in the greed of power and infected by the soil of Eidoran. They age slower than normal beings and are emotionless and cold from the time they emerged. They want to reclaim the Nova and PURIFY the galaxy. To rebuild it as THEY see fit."

[ Diviners…….they're the ones…….] Seiya looked at the others who also seemed to understand.

" They want what's inside of you." Usagi said numbly, facing Seiya frightfully. She remembered the black aura and his pain. It was inside him and the Diviners wanted it.

" If the Diviners want Seiya," Ami said," Why would they be after Yaten and Taiki as well ?"

" After the Diviners arose, we enter into the stage of time that is called, the Nova War. The Diviners proceeded through with a 1000-year search for each child that possessed the Nova inside them. They followed the Nova, not caring who stood in their way. It was only until someone from another galaxy subdued them." Setsuna said. Her voice seemed to take a familiar turn. She began to speak as if she was there.

" The last single person that held the total power of the Nova died a horrible death. That being from another galaxy trapped the Nova and divided it into three parts: Fury, Bloodshed and Hate. This being had in mind that the Diviners would not be able to sense the Nova since it was split up. It would also take time to put it together again."

" The being put the three parts into three different individuals. This time, not only was the power of the Nova in each of their bodies, it was attached to their soul. Meaning, whatever lifetime these three individuals had, the part of the Nova would always be with them."

Setsuna turned to look at Seiya, Taiki and Yaten." The Nova was inserted into three individuals." She repeated again." Lifetimes later, it was born inside you."

Yaten was speechless. Before himself and Taiki met up with Seiya and Usagi earlier, Setsuna had come to the both of them. The Guardian of Time told him and his comrade about the history of Kinmonku's galaxy but she didn't tell them this last part.

" Why didn't you tell us earlier ?" Taiki questioned.

" This was something you needed to hear together." Setsuna replied seriously." Kakyuu knew the power that existed inside of you and knew it was dangerous. She never told you for fear that you would be unable to cope. And she tried to keep you safe and away from the Diviners."

Seiya squeezed his eyes shut in sorrow at the remembrance of Kakyuu's last moments as did Yaten and Taiki.

Pluto faced Yaten and Taiki." You two have the keys to the Nova: Fury and Bloodshed. The Diviners pursued you to unlock it." Then she faced Seiya," You have the very black heart of the Nova inside of you. They wanted you the most."

Seiya sat back, willing himself to swallow everything that Setsuna said. To his mistake, he wasn't a moving target like he thought. Instead, he was a walking time bomb. Seiya put a hand to his head, feeling the whirling of the room.

The atmosphere was even heavier inside with everyone more troubled than before.

" Setsuna, you said that the power sleeps inside its carrier." Usagi stated." Why does Seiya feel it trying to come out sometimes even without the presence of the Diviners ?"

Setsuna responded to her question," For some reason there has been a change. The Nova has awakened inside his body and since it has a mind of its own, it may want to seek out the two keys to make itself complete. The reason for the Nova awakening inside is that perhaps, Seiya has been delaying the Diviners longer than the others that have tried to escape." Setsuna then gave Seiya a tiny smile." Seiya has been able to subdue them to an impressive extent."

Minako stood up." I…..I need to think…." She said quietly. She too, like the rest, was disturbed. She got up and left the room.

" Me too." Makoto agreed and followed her. Ami walked over to stand beside Rei. Her raven-haired friend was still troubled by the fact that she couldn't read the arrival of the Diviners through the fire.

" Has my ability to sense negative energy deteriorated ?" Rei asked Setsuna in a somber tone.

" No Rei-chan." The green-haired beauty smiled as encouragingly as she could." Since the flesh and its the essences hide the Nova, nobody, not even in the past, has been able to sense it. The Diviners share this quality with the Nova."

" Rei ? Maybe it's best that we leave for just a while." Ami suggested, taking a glance over at Seiya.

" Alright then." Rei agreed.

Taiki touched Seiya's shoulder as Yaten gave him a worried look. They both saw Rei and Ami leaving and decided to follow along. Perhaps their comrade needed this time to think.

Usagi watched the rest of them leave the room. Putting her arms around Seiya, he automatically latched onto her body." What am I now…..?" he murmured ruefully in her ear and he grasped her tighter.

" You're Seiya." Usagi said." Kou Seiya and nobody else."

Those words from her seemed to calm him down, letting him know that with her he could conquer the impossible.

Seiya lifted his head from Usagi's shoulder and sought out Setsuna who was near the doorway.

" Setsuna." He called her. Pluto turned around as Seiya stood up.

" You were the one that separated the Nova weren't you ?" Seiya said knowingly." You subdued the Diviners by casting the Nova into three separate beings."

Setsuna sighed." Yes……I was…" She then gave him a smile." Maybe you should join your companions. You three share more closeness than just loyalty and friendship."

Seiya nodded and offered his hand to Usagi, who took it and was about to follow him out. But Setsuna stopped Usagi.

" Usagi, may I have a word with you ?"

" I'll wait outside." Seiya said and slipped out of Usagi's grasp.

Setsuna closed the door and stood there for a few silent seconds before speaking.

Usagi spoke instead." You know already what I've done." She said softly, looking down.

Pluto turned around." Yes. I know."

" Why is this happening ?"

" I only tell you the truth now." Said Setsuna walking towards her." Each choice, action, feeling and event always affects time and future. The Diviners have brought apart of their reality with them, the Nova itself, which is embedded, into the being of Seiya. The change in events is highly significant to your future."

" What ?" Usagi said.

" You no longer desire to be with Mamoru and you have chosen to become apart of the future that you don't know. It is a future that you desire to share with Seiya." Setsuna smiled fondly at her." You are apart of his fate whether you know it or not, Usagi. The only reason why the Nova inside Seiya reacted so powerfully was because the Diviners were there to claim it. When they weren't around, the Nova failed to even show itself."

" Why ?" The young blonde woman looked at Setsuna with wide questioning eyes.

" Because of you…….because you love him. The Nova is composed entirely of hatred. The way you love Seiya is the way he loves you and that has made all the difference. You will be the one to decide the complete destruction of the Nova inside him."

Usagi still seemed a bit puzzled.

" When the time comes…….you will know what I mean." Setsuna answered.