Prelude

Prelude
Note:…Nothing much to say…cause I am lazy like that.
Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon.
Warnings: Nothing as of yet.

Chapter Two:
Ignite

A spindly pencil skirted across the white sketch paper, forming lines so light that one almost had to strain to see them. Slowly but surely a crude outline came to form. It was a rough sketch of a dress. The right hand holding the pencil suddenly stopped as the chair across the table was pulled back. Eyes once so focused on the paper glanced up to be greeted by a warm smile.

“Good afternoon Setsuna,” Ikuko said, the smile yet to fade.

Something was wrong though, Setsuna noticed that while her lips curved upward her dark blue eyes looked glassy…and what that a tear forming in the corner of the right eye?

Silence fell between them, only interrupted when a waitress asked them their orders.

“I am not really in the mood for anything today,” Ikuko said, trying to sound light hearted, but to Setsuna’s ears the excuse flew about as gracefully as a rock.

“Do you want to go somewhere else then?” Setsuna asked, earning herself a curious glance from both the waitress and Ikuko.

“Uh sure…” the young woman stated, sounding a bit unsure as she arose from her seat, Setsuna following close behind.

Once outside Setsuna didn’t wait for Ikuko to speak, instead she stared walking leaving the newly wed to follow on her heels.

“Set-chan! Where are we going?” Ikuko asked, feeling increasingly confused.

“Nowhere,” Setsuna replied with a genuine smile which slowly faded when she noticed a small tear trickle down Ikuko’s right cheek.

Without a second though the darker woman spun on her heel, causing Ikuko to halt as well, looking all the more bemused.

Gently Setsuna reached up and brushed away the tear, “ Ikuko, why are you crying?”

At this statement Ikuko forced a smile on even as her eyes watered, “ I am not crying,” her voice cracked.

“Don’t lie,” were the only words leaving Setsuna’s lips.

Ikuko shivered, despite that it was a rather warm spring afternoon. A lower lip quivered before Setsuna felt a weight being pressed against her form. Ikuko had her arms loosely wound around her neck, literally using Setsuna’s shoulder to cry on. Rocked by the sudden embrace at first the Mistress of Time wanted to pull away. Years…even centuries without close human contact made one shy away from touching; however this wasn’t about Setsuna and what she felt comfortable with, her charge was in need of comfort.

Hesitating Setsuna place her right hand over Ikuko’s wavy navy blue hair, as she felt warm tears fall on her shoulder. Not knowing what to say the taller woman merely let Ikuko lean on her, occasionally smoothing a hand over blue locks.

“I don’t know what to do,” Ikuko whispered, her warm breath against Setsuna’s sensitive neck cause the time guardian to shutter.

“About what?” Setsuna asked, honestly worried as to what caused this distress in her ward.

Fingers curled into the fabric of Setsuna’s dress, “ I…I don’t think Kenji loves me,” Ikuko confessed as a fresh set of tears streamed down her face.

A frown marred Setsuna’s face. That didn’t sound good, not only for Ikuko’s wellbeing, but for the future as well. Usagi had to be born before the coming year and that may not happen if Ikuko was already experiencing marital problems.

Both women felt jolted as the lunch crowd was filing out from street-corner restaurants to return to work. Slowly Setsuna pried Ikuko’s hands away from her. At first Ikuko didn’t want to look up, but forced herself to when Setsuna lightly grasped her hand, leading her to a park across the street.

With little effort Setsuan guided her to sit down on a wooden bench, the rest of the park practically deserted since most park visitors were still in school at this hour. Once they were both seated the woman urged the other to speak.

Nervous Ikuko glanced at her lap, resting her hands in the center of her long skirt, it took a few minutes before she finally spoke up.

“I just…don’t think Kenji loves me anymore. I know we’re married and all, but over the past few months he hardly ever comes home…and when he does…” Ikuko’s voice trailed off as a soft sob came from the smaller woman.

Setsuna looked down while Ikuko cried, at a loss as to what she could do to help. Years of isolation while protecting the flow of time had left her without the means to sympathize or even have the knowledge to console Ikuko. So she merely mimicked what Ikuko had done earlier. Slowly her right arm curled around a slender waist, allowing Ikuko to lean against her.

Feeling encouraged by the action which was awkward for Setsuna, Ikuko spoke up again, “ I just can’t help but wonder if he doesn’t find me attractive anymore. I mean I am not pretty…and well if all I do is take care of the house while he’s away maybe he sees me as being worthless.”

At this Setsuna’s grip tightened, causing Ikuko to glance up at her firend, “Set-chan?”

“You’re wrong Ikuko,” Setsuna began, her tones soft and honest as she reached to pull Ikuko’s pert chin up to face her, “ You’re very pretty. And as for being ‘worthless’ you’re not. If nothing else you are very important to me, as my friend.”

Ikuko stared up in silence, while she felt fingers brush against her flushed cheeks, carrying with them the persistent tear drops. With each touch Ikuko noticed her face feeling hotter as the blush intensified before her smile returned, this time without fear of weakening.

“Thank you Set-chan,” Ikuko whispered as she sat upright.

Setsuna’s fingers lingered on Ikuko’s face for a moment more, unknowingly crossing the first boundary. Reluctantly she pulled away, her fingers still recalling how soft and warm her ‘friend’s’ skin had felt.

A few amiable moments of silence followed, with Setsuna’s arm placed around Ikuko’s waist as the former leaned against her.

“Setsuna, why do you always look so sad?” Ikuko asked.

This sudden question caused Setsuna to blink slightly, “Neh? What makes you think I look sad?”

“Your eyes.” Ikuko said, turning her head to stare directly into the maroon orbs, “ you smile…but it never quite reaches your eyes.”

As if to prove her point Ikuko broke another boundary by reached to gently touch Setsuan’s right cheek, “ See, it curves her,” slowly the finger moved up to just bellow her eyes, “and it stops here. Why is that?” Ikuko asked.

Setsuna felt her heart skip as Ikuko’s fingers had lightly caressed her face, “ I…I don’t want to burden you Ikuko. You have enough troubles of your own.”

A pout formed on Ikuko’s lips, withdrawing her hand which Setsuna as quickly missed.

“Your selfish Set-chan! I share my problems with you and you keep yours all for yourself.”

Standing up Ikuko leaned over the still seated Setsuna, “ From now on you have to promise me something. Don’t smile unless you really mean it alright? I want to be able to see your eyes light up when you smile.”

After they had parted ways those words still echoed in Setsuna’s mind, even as she slipped out of Earth and it’s own dimension and into the Time Stream. Lightly clasping the staff the young woman wearily closed her eyes. Sometimes she wondered if her ward was going to be the death of her. A slight hint of color stained her cheeks as a voice whispered that maybe instead of ‘death’ Ikuko just might ‘save’ her from this loneliness.

Notes: Short chapter and still no-where near the citrus parts! But slowly I am edging towards them…just let me know if the pace of the story is a bit too slow though…it’s no fun reading a dragging story. Kudos for reading!