Chapter 14: Feelings and Memories

Celeste sat down on the couch, pulling her legs underneath her. With a smile, she accepted the mug of coffee from Jonathan. Keeping his own mug, he sat down beside her.

“So, where do we start?” he asked, watching her as she drank.

Celeste held the mug tightly with both hands, greedily accepting its warmth. Her slight fever had given her chills, but she refused to take anything for it. The fever would help fight off any possible infection she could still have.

“How about from the beginning?” she quipped.

He smiled. “That would be your department, wouldn’t it?”

She didn’t respond to the question. She merely lifted an eyebrow and took another drink of coffee. When she was finished, she sat the mug on the coffee table and turned to him.

“Why did you say that to me earlier?” Celeste asked quietly. “I think I've held up my end of our bargain.”

“You did,” he conceded. “You remember the night you left for Tokyo?”

She nodded. “What about it?”

“As I watched your plane leave, I got an intense feeling that you would be in a lot of danger,” Jonathan replied. “I have had the same feeling a few times since then, always around the time you have been fighting or attacked.”

“So, you can sense the attacks, too?”

He shook his head. “I don’t think it’s the attacks, but when you are in trouble.”

“Really? Are you sure?” she asked.

He shrugged. “I’m fairly sure. Like tonight, just before you arrived, I knew that something was wrong. I couldn’t relax.”

“Okay,” she murmured, letting the information sink in. Finally she looked back at him. “But that doesn’t explain why you said that to me earlier.”

“I actually had a memory tonight, Celeste,” Jonathan explained. “I had a memory from the Silver Millennium. The night we danced I had a feeling that we had done that together before, but tonight was the first real memory.”

“What do you remember?”

“You and I were fighting or sparring and you were hurt in the ribs.”

“You mean Charon and Tennyo were sparring,” Celeste corrected.

Jonathan paused but decided to let the matter drop. It wasn’t an argument he wanted to get into with her at the moment. He now wondered whether the stormy past of Charon and Tennyo was one of the reasons she tried to keep their present lives separate as much as possible.

With a sigh, he continued. “Charon taunted her and she retaliated quickly when he got too close. As he fought for breath on the ground, she said, ‘Never be overconfident in your own abilities. It will lead to your downfall.’ Then she walked off.”

“Was that it?”

He nodded. “What was going on? Why were we, I mean, they fighting?”

“It’s somewhat of a long story,” Celeste stated, leaning further into the couch. “When Charon met Tennyo because of her friendship with his sister, he remarked aloud that he had expected a much more interesting and beautiful person to be the Celestial Phoenix. Tennyo was offended and the two had a raging feud for years despite Setsuna’s interventions.”

“So, when did things change between them?”

“There was a fire not far from the palace,” Celeste began. “When they arrived with some of the other rescuers, several homes were already burning. One mother was screaming that her son was still trapped inside. Tennyo went in after the toddler, even though Charon was screaming for her not to.

“She was able to find the child in a nearby room, luckily away from the flames. However, something in the house suddenly exploded, and Tennyo was burned while she shielding the child with her body. Although she was hurt, she managed to get the child and herself out of the house. A few minutes after they emerged, the roof of the house began to collapse.

“The child was fine except for a little smoke inhalation, but Tennyo was badly burned. Charon carried her to the healers himself and wouldn’t leave her until they assured him that she would be okay. That night made them realize how much the other meant to them. However, it was still fairly rocky. Even though Tennyo had admitted her feelings to Charon, he refused to do so. It was until after that sparring match that he realized how stupid was being.”

“Why didn’t you tell me all this earlier?” Jonathan asked after a lengthy pause.

Celeste grinned. “You never asked. But, honestly, I didn’t think it was important to rehash the histories of people we no longer are.”

He reached up and brushed her cheek with the back of his hand. “Charon was a fool. I don’t see how anyone could be more beautiful than you are.”

“I’m not Tennyo, Jonathan,” she whispered. “Not anymore.”

“And I’m not Charon,” he said. “But that doesn’t mean that we can’t have something together, that we can’t be happy, does it?”

“No,” she breathed, before he pulled her to him.

The kiss was different than any kiss they had shared. Jonathan held her tightly to him, as if he was afraid that she would disappear. However, the intensity of the kiss soon drove any thought from her mind.

With a sigh, she leaned back, pulling Jonathan down with her. He broke their kiss and studied at her face briefly. Before she could ask what was wrong, he kissed her again, once more driving all coherent thought from her mind.

She was so caught up in the kiss, she didn’t feel Jonathan’s hands caressing her ribs. Yet, one time his hand moved too low and grazed the bandages on her side. Jerking away from him, she hissed in pain.

“Oh, Celeste, I’m sorry,” he said, sitting up and pulling her up with him. “Are you okay?”

She nodded. “I’m fine.”

Celeste moved to resume their kiss, but Jonathan held her shoulders tightly, keeping her a small distance away from him. He sighed. “Celeste, I don’t think that this is a good idea right now.”

She studied him for a moment before nodding and retreating to the far end of the couch. “I’m sorry,” she murmured. “I wasn’t thinking.”

He reached out to her with his hand, using her chin to make her face. “Don’t apologize, Celeste. I was the one who started it, and I was enjoying it just fine. Weren’t you?”

His smile broadened as her face went scarlet. Finally, she returned his smile. “I won’t lie. I did, too. But why did you say . . .”

“It’s late, you’re hurt, and us being alone on my couch isn’t too helpful for my self-control,” he replied candidly.

Again, she nodded. “Thanks for everything, Jonathan,” she stated, rising from the couch.

“Where do you think you are going?” Jonathan demanded, rising from the couch as well. “You can’t walk home now. Do you know how late it is?”

She turned back to face him, one eyebrow raised. “If you want me to stay, Jonathan, you need to ask. I don’t respond well to orders.”

“Celeste, please, for my peace of mind, will you stay here tonight and allow me to take you home in the morning?” He added an elaborate bow to the request.

Her lips twitched with a smile, which she fought valiantly. “Except for the outright sarcasm, that was nice. I call the couch.”

“No, you don’t,” he said, taking her arm and steering her to his bedroom. “I had a feeling that this situation may present itself, so there’s a spare bed in my study room now. I’ll sleep in there.”

“More of your feelings?”

He shrugged. “Who knows? Anyway, good night, Celeste.”

After giving her a quick, chaste kiss on her cheek, he shoved her through the bedroom door. After he closed the door behind him, she laughed softly. Shaking her head, she began to get ready for sleep.


Feelings and Memories Celeste sat down on the couch, pulling her legs underneath her. With a smile, she accepted the mug of coffee from Jonathan. Keeping his own mug, he sat down beside her. “So, where do we start?” he asked, watching her as she drank. Celeste held the mug tightly with both hands, greedily accepting its warmth. Her slight fever had given her chills, but she refused to take anything for it. The fever would help fight off any possible infection she could still have. “How about from the beginning?” she quipped. He smiled. “That would be your department, wouldn’t it?” She didn’t respond to the question. She merely lifted an eyebrow and took another drink of coffee. When she was finished, she sat the mug on the coffee table and turned to him. “Why did you say that to me earlier?” Celeste asked quietly. “I think I've held up my end of our bargain.” “You did,” he conceded. “You remember the night you left for Tokyo?” She nodded. “What about it?” “As I watched your plane leave, I got an intense feeling that you would be in a lot of danger,” Jonathan replied. “I have had the same feeling a few times since then, always around the time you have been fighting or attacked.” “So, you can sense the attacks, too?” He shook his head. “I don’t think it’s the attacks, but when you are in trouble.” “Really? Are you sure?” she asked. He shrugged. “I’m fairly sure. Like tonight, just before you arrived, I knew that something was wrong. I couldn’t relax.” “Okay,” she murmured, letting the information sink in. Finally she looked back at him. “But that doesn’t explain why you said that to me earlier.” “I actually had a memory tonight, Celeste,” Jonathan explained. “I had a memory from the Silver Millennium. The night we danced I had a feeling that we had done that together before, but tonight was the first real memory.” “What do you remember?” “You and I were fighting or sparring and you were hurt in the ribs.” “You mean Charon and Tennyo were sparring,” Celeste corrected. Jonathan paused but decided to let the matter drop. It wasn’t an argument he wanted to get into with her at the moment. He now wondered whether the stormy past of Charon and Tennyo was one of the reasons she tried to keep their present lives separate as much as possible. With a sigh, he continued. “Charon taunted her and she retaliated quickly when he got too close. As he fought for breath on the ground, she said, ‘Never be overconfident in your own abilities. It will lead to your downfall.’ Then she walked off.” “Was that it?” He nodded. “What was going on? Why were we, I mean, they fighting?” “It’s somewhat of a long story,” Celeste stated, leaning further into the couch. “When Charon met Tennyo because of her friendship with his sister, he remarked aloud that he had expected a much more interesting and beautiful person to be the Celestial Phoenix. Tennyo was offended and the two had a raging feud for years despite Setsuna’s interventions.” “So, when did things change between them?” “There was a fire not far from the palace,” Celeste began. “When they arrived with some of the other rescuers, several homes were already burning. One mother was screaming that her son was still trapped inside. Tennyo went in after the toddler, even though Charon was screaming for her not to. “She was able to find the child in a nearby room, luckily away from the flames. However, something in the house suddenly exploded, and Tennyo was burned while she shielding the child with her body. Although she was hurt, she managed to get the child and herself out of the house. A few minutes after they emerged, the roof of the house began to collapse. “The child was fine except for a little smoke inhalation, but Tennyo was badly burned. Charon carried her to the healers himself and wouldn’t leave her until they assured him that she would be okay. That night made them realize how much the other meant to them. However, it was still fairly rocky. Even though Tennyo had admitted her feelings to Charon, he refused to do so. It was until after that sparring match that he realized how stupid was being.” “Why didn’t you tell me all this earlier?” Jonathan asked after a lengthy pause. Celeste grinned. “You never asked. But, honestly, I didn’t think it was important to rehash the histories of people we no longer are.” He reached up and brushed her cheek with the back of his hand. “Charon was a fool. I don’t see how anyone could be more beautiful than you are.” “I’m not Tennyo, Jonathan,” she whispered. “Not anymore.” “And I’m not Charon,” he said. “But that doesn’t mean that we can’t have something together, that we can’t be happy, does it?” “No,” she breathed, before he pulled her to him. The kiss was different than any kiss they had shared. Jonathan held her tightly to him, as if he was afraid that she would disappear. However, the intensity of the kiss soon drove any thought from her mind. With a sigh, she leaned back, pulling Jonathan down with her. He broke their kiss and studied at her face briefly. Before she could ask what was wrong, he kissed her again, once more driving all coherent thought from her mind. She was so caught up in the kiss, she didn’t feel Jonathan’s hands caressing her ribs. Yet, one time his hand moved too low and grazed the bandages on her side. Jerking away from him, she hissed in pain. “Oh, Celeste, I’m sorry,” he said, sitting up and pulling her up with him. “Are you okay?” She nodded. “I’m fine.” Celeste moved to resume their kiss, but Jonathan held her shoulders tightly, keeping her a small distance away from him. He sighed. “Celeste, I don’t think that this is a good idea right now.” She studied him for a moment before nodding and retreating to the far end of the couch. “I’m sorry,” she murmured. “I wasn’t thinking.” He reached out to her with his hand, using her chin to make her face. “Don’t apologize, Celeste. I was the one who started it, and I was enjoying it just fine. Weren’t you?” His smile broadened as her face went scarlet. Finally, she returned his smile. “I won’t lie. I did, too. But why did you say . . .” “It’s late, you’re hurt, and us being alone on my couch isn’t too helpful for my self-control,” he replied candidly. Again, she nodded. “Thanks for everything, Jonathan,” she stated, rising from the couch. “Where do you think you are going?” Jonathan demanded, rising from the couch as well. “You can’t walk home now. Do you know how late it is?” She turned back to face him, one eyebrow raised. “If you want me to stay, Jonathan, you need to ask. I don’t respond well to orders.” “Celeste, please, for my peace of mind, will you stay here tonight and allow me to take you home in the morning?” He added an elaborate bow to the request. Her lips twitched with a smile, which she fought valiantly. “Except for the outright sarcasm, that was nice. I call the couch.” “No, you don’t,” he said, taking her arm and steering her to his bedroom. “I had a feeling that this situation may present itself, so there’s a spare bed in my study room now. I’ll sleep in there.” “More of your feelings?” He shrugged. “Who knows? Anyway, good night, Celeste.” After giving her a quick, chaste kiss on her cheek, he shoved her through the bedroom door. After he closed the door behind him, she laughed softly. Shaking her head, she began to get ready for sleep.


Chapter 15: Meet the Family Homefront