1a. Author's Notes / Explanations
Title: Underneath the Stars
Author: Midlight Bunny
Rating: PG
Type: Crossover (General/Romance)
Bishoujo Senshi Sailormoon / Sailor Moon & Shin Kidousenki Gundamwing / Gundam Wing
Summary: Usagi was taken back to the Sanc Kingdom for her protection. There she met her sister and the Gundam pilots. From that time on her life became a fairytale... royals, mansions, wealth, but where is her prince?
Story line:
SM - The Sailor Moon story line is nonexistent in this fic.
GW - Multiple time frames (they will be stated).
Names:
SM - Japanese
GW - English Graphic Novel
Reviews:
I would love to hear what everyone has to say.
Disclaimer:
Bishoujo Senshi Sailormoon / Sailor Moon & Shin Kidousenki Gundamwing / Gundam Wing are owned by their respective companies and creators.
Started: April 08, 2002
(Note: This was meant to be a one-shot fic.)
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1b. Princess Serenity
August 23, A.C. 195
Today, Uncle Pargan came to visit. I'm happy he decided to come because I don't have any real aunts and uncles. Now that I think about it, I don't really have any other family besides my parents. I find it hard to believe, but Mom and Dad say it's true. Anyway, Uncle Pargan is a good friend of Dad's and since he's the only one that actually visits me, I made him my uncle.
When I saw him today, I wanted to tell him about all the things I've done since his last visit, but he was talking to Dad. I guess I can wait till later. After all, I haven't seen him in 2 years and what is a couple more hours.
I really wanted to show him my last report card. He always believed I could do well in school. Can you believe it? Yeah, I guess you could since I wrote it... I can't remember when, but I'm so proud that I got nothing lower than a C! I can thank my best friend Ami for that. =)
Oh yeah, here's the big news. I'm supposed to go with my uncle to the Sanc Kingdom and we leave in two days. I'm so excited. Maybe mom is letting me go because of my grades, but I'm not really sure. Besides uncle's visit, nothing much has happened today - basically boring. No, I take that back…
Today was a good, entertaining day. I wouldn't have believed it happened unless I saw it for myself. It started when I got my first 'A' on the last math test. I saw Mamoru walk into a pole after I showed it to him. Ha Ha!! I wish I had a camera. You should have seen the way he walked away after the 'accident' -- he looked like a newborn calf or perhaps it was like a case of vertigo. Well, I say that it serves him right for calling me a dumpling head. ~Remind me to thank Ami again.~
Anyway, I should be going to bed now. The faster I sleep, the faster I get to go on my TRIP! Yay!! I wonder if Amy can come with me. I think I'll ask mom and dad tomorrow.
August 24, A.C. 195
I can't believe they lied to me. For 14 years, I've lived here in Juuban and now they want to send me away to live a life that I don't want. I'm still adjusting to this life. I can't be anyone else. To top it all off, mom and dad said that I couldn't come back. They said that it was 'too dangerous' since the whole OZ, Gundam thing. I can't believe that this is happening. How could they keep this from me? How could they expect me to drop my life? What about me? Why do I have to be a princess? More importantly, why do I have to be a Peacecraft?
*
Usagi read the last entry in her old diary and felt tears burning her eyes. Closing them, she delicately ran her fingers over the tear stained pages of her past. New tears mingled with the old as soft sobs escaped her lips. For several moments she sat there on the grass; taking deep breaths in an attempt to calm her nerves. Still the tears fell and her heart retched as memories clouded her mind. Turning her gaze up to the night sky, she remembered the fateful day that came after she found out the truth about her past.
*flashback*
It was 9 o' clock on a Saturday morning. On a typical day one would find Usagi Tsukino still sprawled upon her bed, deep in dreamland. Yet, today was not to be 'normal'. In just a few hours she would be on a flight to her new life. So today was her last day as Usagi Tsukino and then she would become Serenity Peacecraft -- sister to Relena Peacecraft, the symbol of peace.
"I hate this. Why do I have to be a princess?" muttered Usagi as she made her into the kitchen.
"Good morning, Usagi," called her mother from the kitchen.
Louder mumbling was Usagi's reply as she proceeded toward the table. Taking a seat, she weakly told everyone 'good morning'.
"Are you sure I have to go? Why can't I stay and find protection here?" Usagi asked, looking at the tired adults.
Scanning the room, Kenji noticed neither his wife nor Pargan were going to answer.
"Usagi. If we could do it that way, we would, but we can't ignore the fact that Japan is part of the Alliance."
"But can't we hire bodyguards or something?"
"I'm sorry, my little bunny. You would be safer in the Sanc Kingdom and there you would be protected along with your sister."
One look at his daughter and Kenji's heart broke at the sight. Usagi had cast her head down making her bangs shield her eyes from view. The only evidence of her crying were the tears that steadily made their way down her cheek and onto the floor like small waterfalls.
Kenji engulfed Usagi in a hug as her shoulders started to shake. Soon her mother and Pargan joined the hug causing the object of their affections to lightly smile at the love she felt from the people who were her family. How she wished that time would stop and allow her to live in this moment forever, but that wasn't to be. Loud, persistent knocking broke through the heartfelt moment; followed by shouts to open up.
Abruptly, the hug was broken. Kenji frantically looked between his family and the door; the need to protect his daughter taking dominance over his sense of self-preservation.
"Pargan, sneak her out of the backdoor. We'll keep the soldiers busy," her father told the older man.
With a nod of his head, Pargan ushered the protesting girl out as her parents answered the door. Usagi fought the urge to break free of the hold and run back to her parents. She kept fidgeting as they walked through the back yard and out the gate that adjoined their neighbor's yard. How she wished her parents had come with her.
After walking through the yard they headed toward a black van parked across the street. When they neared the curb the van opened revealing two teenage boys. Pargan immediately started to walk faster toward the pair.
Before she had a chance to study them, Usagi heard gun shots coming from her house. A scream pierced the air and then it was silent as another shot sounded throughout the area. Tearing away from Pargan, she bolted for her house. Ignoring the cries for her to stop, she continued running – disbelief and anger overtook her senses; she couldn't believe that this was happening.
'Oh my god. Mom... Dad... No. They can't be dead. They can't,' Usagi denied as she plowed through the assorted lawn decorations in her way.
Unbeknownst to Usagi was the fact that one of the teens had leapt out of the van and chased after her. Sprinting as fast as he could, the boy grabbed Usagi's wrist just as she was reaching for the handle. "Stop," was all he said. In her rage, she broke free of his firm grip and whirled around to face her captor. Sapphire blue met ultramarine and then all went black.
*end flashback*
Usagi clutched the diary to her chest. She couldn't help the tears pouring from her eyes. How she wished she could see her parents one last time. To tell them how she felt… how grateful she was to have them by her side; to pick her up and sooth her; and always believe she could accomplish what she set out to do.
Staring at the endless depth of space, she whispered to the heavens in hopes that they would hear, "I miss you both. I wish that I got to say 'I love you' one last time… Just to see you one more time."
Usagi extended her hand to the heavens in an effort to reach them, to know that they heard her words. The wind picked up and all she felt was the cold night against her palm. Her inner walls crumbled from the reality of the situation. She would never see them again, feel their loving embrace, nor hear their words of encouragement; she had lost a part of her heart that day.
Usagi buried her face in her hands as pain-filled cries filled the air. All alone in the garden, she sobbed for hours, living in the memories of the past.
*
Near midnight, Usagi groggily woke to find herself tucked neatly in bed. She willed herself to stay awake as she scanned the moonlit room. Her eyes went over forest green painted walls to beige oak chairs and finally it dawned on her… this was not her room. She bolted upright and fell off the bed with a loud thump -- waking the room's owner in the process.
"Usa, are you okay?" asked a familiar voice in the shadows.
Poking her head out from under the tangle of sheets, Usagi spotted Trowa coming towards her. His face was filled with concern as his dark green eyes scanned her for injuries. After finding none, he nodded his head causing his long bangs to further conceal his eyes.
"Yeah, I'm fine. How did I get here?"
"I found you asleep in the garden. My room was closer than yours."
Trowa carefully unfurled her from the sheets and helped her up so she could sit on the edge of the bed. Taking a seat behind her, he gently held her in his arms.
"Why were you crying?"
"I was thinking about my parents."
With that one statement the memories came back full force. Usagi turned and tightly held onto Trowa as she cried into his bare chest. Rubbing her back, he tried to calm her down and act as her rock -- her stabilizing force.
"Don't cry. Your parents knew what was going to happen. They loved you enough to protect you. "
"But I didn't get to tell them that I loved them."
"Don't worry, little one. They knew that you loved them. Don't be sad. Live for them because I'm sure that it would make them happy."
Slowly her tears dried and they were replaced with a smile. He always knew what to say to make her feel better; always watching over her and sometimes filling in the position of overprotective brother. She was grateful to have him in her life.
"Thanks, Trowa. I don't know what I'd do without you, but don't call me 'little one' or I'll start calling you 'dad'."
He laughed as she mockingly glared at him. Sure, she would admit that she was exceptionally short compared to the people she knew… and who in her eyes were giants, but that didn't mean he could get away with calling her little as one would do with a child.
"Okay. You're still little."
Without warning a pillow was thrown at his head and hit its unsuspecting target.
"Bull's-eye!" Usagi exclaimed as her laughter filled the room.
*
Running out of the room at top speed, Usagi ran to the end of the hall and fiercely knocked on the last door to her left. Pressing her ear to the wood she could hear the person wake and shuffle slowly toward the door. Chancing a glance down the hall she noticed Trowa walking toward her with a small smile on his face. That one gesture meant 'run'… far.
'Oh no, please hurry. Damn it! Damn it! Damn it!' she kept repeating in her head.
Finally the door opened and Usagi pushed a half-awake Duo down as she bolted into his room. Turning, she quickly closed and locked the door.
Although slightly dazed, Duo got up only to find a frantic Usagi pressing her ear against the crack in the door.
"Umm, Bunny? What are you doing?" Duo curiously asked. Picking himself up, he attempted to smooth out his braid.
Usagi turned to face him and ended up bursting out in laughter. She clutched her stomach and braced herself against the door.
"HA HA HA!!! Your *gasp* boxers. HA HA!!" Usagi managed to shout out as she fell to the floor.
Duo chanced a glance at his attire. In his rush to open the door he had put on a pair of bright pink boxers. Adding to that surprise, on the front there were little Natakus holding a sign that said 'I'M SO PRETTY' in black bold letters.
"That's not all," gasped out Usagi, "Look at the back."
Duo curiously walked to the full-length mirror, in the corner of his room. His cobalt blue eyes widen in shock. On the back was a picture of Nataku dressed in a pink tutu, a wig of blond ringlets, and a sparkling tiara. The funniest part was that the Gundam was dancing while waving a silver fairy wand.
As Duo stared at his reflection only one thought crossed his mind, 'Wufei is going to kill me if he catches me wearing this...' As quickly as the fear had entered his eyes, they suddenly took on a mischievous gleam. '...that is if he catches me.''
*flashback*
It was another day trapped at the Peacecraft Academy. Usagi had just heard that Relena was coming home from space, so she was waiting in the garden for news of her sister's arrival.
"I'm glad that the war is finally over and Relena is now the new Vice Foreign Minister, but what do I do? Noin still won't let me go out of the academy alone and there have been no classes or students since the attack four months ago. Besides, no one even knows that I exist. Do I look like a china doll?" she questioned.
Usagi brought her hands in front of her face and stared at them. They sure looked real enough to be human and not of porcelain. Yet, everyone treated her as fine glass or rather something to stare at.
"I do nothing except sit and wait for news of the world to come to me. I'm a Peacecraft by name and blood, but nothing more."
Sighing with resignation, she sprawled her arms out and laid back onto the grass.
"And they all try to protect me from everything. How could they hide the fact that I also have a brother? I didn't even know I had a brother until that White Fang broadcast."
She clenched her fists in frustration and pounded the ground. Life was never fair… so why should it start now.
*
Usagi was brought out of her thoughts by the sound of approaching footsteps.
"Hey babe! Do you know where I can find Serenity?" a voice asked.
Lazily turning her head to the right, Usagi noticed a teenage boy dressed in a priest's outfit coming toward her.
"Nope, but if you find it send it my way," she replied and closed her eyes.
Looking at the girl in front of him Duo couldn't help himself. Her attire consisted of a pair of ripped jeans and a belly shirt. It didn't leave much to the imagination; since he could see her black lace panties peeking out from one of the tears.
"You're drooling," Usagi stated.
Quickly turning around Duo felt his face.
"Hey! I wasn't drooling."
"Well, it was unnerving having you stare at me."
Duo blushed at getting caught ogling her. Taking a good look at him, Usagi felt that she'd seen him somewhere before.
"My name's Usagi."
"The name's Duo Maxwell. I may run and hide, but I never tell a lie."
Usagi smiled slyly. He just confirmed her suspicions. She now knew who he was; the young man in front of her was none other than pilot 02.
"You're a Gundam pilot, aren't you?"
Duo was mildly shocked.
"H-how did you know?" he stammered out, hoping that she didn't have a hidden agenda of taking revenge for love ones dead by the hands of the gundam pilots; but then again, he was at the Peacecraft Academy.
"I saw the broadcast of the captured Gundam pilot, but don't worry because I won't tell. That is if you help me with something," she grinned impishly.
"What is this something?" he asked nervously, not sure if he should run from this pixie.
"A joke I want to pull on Relena and some of your fellow pilots. Are you in?"
Duo's mood took a 180.
"Of course," he shouted and grinned, "Anything to make Relena and the guys loosen up."
'I think that we'll be perfect partners in crime; and if this guy is a Gundam pilot… then that means Lina is home,' Usagi thought.
Without another word, she abruptly stood and headed toward the mansion with Duo in tow.
*end flashback*
"Sorry Duo. It was meant for Wufei. He almost caught me with them, so I stuck them in your laundry," Usagi explained as she continued to laugh.
Suddenly there was click of the lock and the laughing stopped. Slowly Duo turned around to find a shocked Trowa crouched in the doorway with his lock picks in hand. Usagi not missing this opportunity to escape used a technique she had learned from the Silencer. She vaulted herself through the doorway and flipped to land in the hall. Taking one last look at the statues of Trowa and Duo, she turned and ran for dear life.
Snapped out of his stupor, Trowa stood impassively and turned in the direction that Usagi had gone. Before leaving, he addressed Duo, "Are you up for a bunny hunt?"
With the boxers forgotten, both teens headed out the door following the bunny trail.
*
"Which door? Ugh! Which door is it?" Usagi muttered as she ran down the halls on the second floor. "Ah! There it is, but he's going to be so mad at me if I wake him. Why did his room have to be the closest to Duo's? Furious dragon or Trowa. Dragon or Trowa. Dragon or Trowa… and DUO?!" Usagi yelped as she spotted the pair rounding the corner.
With renewed fear she started pounding on the door. She would rather face an angry Wufei than feel the wrath of the two coming down the hall.
*
Wufei heard someone pounding on his door and threw a pillow over his head.
"Maxwell, go away. I'm trying to sleep," he yelled to the door.
"Fei, open up. Please. Please. Please. Ah! PLEASE FEI-FEI!" whined Usagi.
"Fine. Just shut up."
Wufei tossed his covers aside and angrily marched to the source of the noise. Opening his door, he planned to yell at the girl, but was met by quite a sight. His black eyes glared at the scene. Trowa and Duo were looming over a cowering Usagi as they were about to tickle her, but what got his attention was the pair of Nataku boxers.
"MAXWELL! How dare you defile Nataku," Wufei shouted and rushed back into his room.
After tying his loose hair into a short ponytail at the base of his neck, he grabbed his katana and unsheathed it. Upon seeing this, Usagi stared at the now petrified form of Duo.
*flashback*
Walking back into the mansion, Usagi headed toward the front entrance. As she neared her destination she could see four figures surrounding a fifth with light brown hair. The figure's violet eyes then met with Usagi's and she waved.
"Welcome home, Lina!" exclaimed Usagi as she hugged her sister.
"Umm… Seri, I can't breathe," gasped out Relena.
Duo looked at the two in shock.
"Relena, who are you calling 'Seri'? I thought her name was Usagi."
Releasing her sister, Usagi looked down at the carpet and shuffled her feet. Making no attempt to introduce herself, Relena decided to take charge.
"Everyone, this is my sister, Serenity. Serenity, you remember Heero and Quatre, right?"
With a nod from Usagi, Relena continued with the introductions.
"Well, it seems that you have already met Duo. So that leaves Wufei and Trowa."
After all the formalities, Usagi left the group and headed to the gym for a chance to unwind. She quickly scanned the room for people and was thrilled that no one was around. She'd had so much pent-up energy since her move to the Sanc Kingdom and her 'imprisonment' that she needed an outlet; a way to vent her anger and frustration.
Walking into the adjoining locker room, Usagi changed into her black leotard. Grabbing a water bottle from the fridge in the corner, she left it on the bench with her towel and then proceeded to the middle of the gym. She mentally thanked Relena for letting her take gymnastics or else she could imagine herself locked in a padded room for going stir crazy.
Stretching for several minutes, Usagi then positioned herself at the corner of the floor mat. Running, she picked up momentum and executed several front flips, stopping right before she would have stepped off the mat. After doing this several times, she started to do different floor exercises and routines. During these sessions, she felt relieved in a sense that she could work off her frustrations and anger without hurting anyone; yet, that did not include injuries to herself.
"One more… I know I can do it… Just one more."
Usagi could feel her muscles burn and scream at her to rest, but she was driven to finish another set of flips. When she successfully completed her last set, she crashed down onto the mat in exhaustion. At this time, she decided that a break was needed. Usagi sluggishly crawled to the bench and greedily drank her water. Wiping the sweat off with her towel, she sensed someone watching her. There was someone in the shadows. It wasn't Quatre or Heero, but one of the other Gundam pilots. She waited to see if he would reveal his presence to her, but he never did -- to her delight.
Content that the mystery presence wasn't going to interfere with her training, Usagi walked toward one of the benches lining the room. There she had a pair of white cloth pants and quickly slid into them; all the while hoping that neither Pargan nor her sister would walk in during her session.
Tying the front strings, she then executed a round house kick to make sure the pants weren't going to restrict her movements. Satisfied, she walked back onto the mat and got into a fighting stance. Her punches and kicks were slow and fluid. Something she never thought that she'd be able to do given her past track record of tripping over thin air. Further into the exercise her movements became quicker and more precise. When Usagi finished, she heard a snicker and turned to face the intruder.
"You're graceful, but your moves are sloppy."
"Well, you try to learn martial arts in here. Oh please. (She rolled her eyes.) Relena would have a heart attack if she found out that my gymnastics instructor was teaching me this on the side," Usagi sarcastically replied.
"Give it up. Women are too weak to fight."
"WHAT?!" Usagi yelled as she glared at him.
"You want to fight me, woman?" questioned Wufei.
Usagi growled and got into a defensive stance.
"Well, I don't fight the weak. The weak shouldn't fight."
She continued to watch him, barely holding back her anger toward the arrogant man.
"Then teach me so I won't be weak. I can do it."
"I don't teach women."
"Well, Fei-Fei you're supposed to help protect the weak, right?"
"Of course, woman."
"Well, the weak can't always be protected. My parents died because of me and I could do nothing. (Usagi had to push past the bad memories and keep back her tears.) Now I'm a Peacecraft, forever to stand for pacifism by name alone, but by actions, I don't wish to be one. There is a time for talk and a time to fight. (Wufei was stunned by her proclamation.) You and all of the Gundam pilots were weak once and learned from people stronger than you. Am I correct? (A flash of understanding crossed Wufei face; he remembered Master Long and the destruction of Colony L5.) It shouldn't matter whether I'm female or male. By teaching me you'll be helping someone weaker than yourself to get stronger. Then in turn I will try to help others as well... and women are not as weak as you think."
Usagi softly smiled at Wufei. She knew she had caught him.
"I wonder what your friend in the shadows has to say about it."
Wufei quickly scanned the room. His eyes searched for his comrade that had been assigned to watch the girl. It was then that a voice from the shadows broke the silence.
"You know she's right, Wufei. We can't always protect her... and unlike Relena, she understands that fighting is necessary."
Stepping out of the darkness, Trowa walked toward the pair. Stopping a few feet away, he turned to Usagi.
"If you really want to learn to defend yourself and get stronger, I will help you. It would be better if you didn't have to depend on others to always protect you."
Usagi smiled and ran toward Trowa, giving him a hug.
"Fine, woman. If he's going to teach you, then I will as well."
Detaching herself from a stunned Trowa, she tackled Wufei into a big hug that toppled both of them over.
"Woman, get off of me before I change my mind."
Quickly, Usagi climbed off of Wufei and smiled brilliantly.
"So when do we start?" asked the excited Usagi.
"We'll start tomorrow. I'll teach you in the morning and Barton will teach you in the afternoon."
"Thank you so much, but I have to go now before Pargan gets suspicious. See you tomorrow, Trowa… Fei-Fei," she teased.
"My name is not Fei-Fei, woman."
"Then don't call me 'woman'," Usagi yelled back as she bolted into the locker room.
Wufei stormed out of the room with only one thought on his mind, 'If Maxwell taught her that nickname, I'm going to slice off his braid with my katana.'
*end flashback*
Duo backed away, about to hide behind Trowa, until he heard Usagi's laugh or rather the absence of her laugh.
"Bunny, wait up. This is all your fault! He's going to kill me. BUNNY!" he shouted and ran down the hall after her.
Coming out of his room, Wufei saw Duo's braid disappear around the corner.
"Maxwell, come back here," Wufei hollered before he gave chase.
Trowa was about to follow the peeved Dragon until he realized where the bunny was leading the parade. Swiftly he bolted down a different set of halls in hopes of beating Usagi to her one hope of salvation - the Arabian prince of space.
*
Running from Wufei's room, Usagi went through the east hall and into the west wing. She was intent on finding the room of the person that could save her from being tortured. Finally she spotted the door, but didn't allow herself to slow down. (She could hear the cries of Duo and Wufei right behind her.) Reaching the door, she knocked on it while jumping from foot to foot. A minute had passed and Usagi could hear the others getting closer.
"Q-e! Open up. Please...," Usagi pleaded to the door as she watched for the others after her.
The door unlocked and opened to reveal not one, but two figures. 'Uh oh,' thought Usagi as she backed up against the opposite wall. There in front of her were Trowa and Quatre.
"Aww, Q-e. Why did you have to let him in?"
"First of all, it is midnight. Secondly, Trowa had already knocked on my balcony doors when you came down the hall," answered Quatre. "So what is going on here? Is everyone else up because I could hear Wufei, Duo, and yourself when you all entered the west wing."
"Well…," Usagi started, but was cut off by the cries of Duo as he came crashing around the corner.
Usagi's eyes widened as she saw Wufei not far behind. Turning pleading eyes to Quatre, Usagi knew that she was in trouble. Quatre's smile was getting bigger by the second as Trowa explained to him what was happening. The worse part was that the Arabian was nodding to what his friend was telling him. Not to mention, his eyes were currently focused on her fidgeting form. She had to think of another place to hide. Relena's room was out of the question, unless she desired a lecture. Then it dawned on her, she had one more place to hide -- her own room.
"Umm… I think that I'll be going to bed now. Goodnight!" Usagi blurted out, then made a hasty retreat to the end of the hall and ran up the stairs.
When Usagi reached the third floor, she sprinted toward her room knowing that the other four were right behind. She sighed in relief as her door came into view. Locking the door behind her she prayed that somehow her 'brothers' wouldn't be able to pick the two locks she had on the door. As if to mock her, the doorknob jiggled and unlocked. 'Damn. Where to hide?' Looking over the room she decided to seek sanctuary in the mahogany chest at the end of her bed. No sooner had she closed the lid than the last lock was picked.
"Look Fei-Fei. The boxers are Usagi's. I promise on my name as The God of Death that they're not mine," Duo pleaded as he hid behind Quatre.
"Fine, Maxwell. The woman will pay for the boxers, but never call me by her infernal nickname... Or I'll cut your braid off in your sleep."
Wufei smirked as Duo nodded and cowered even farther behind Quatre. Imagining Duo's reaction to the threat, Usagi started to giggle, catching the attention of her 'executioners'.
Slowly the pilots turned their eyes to the chest and nodded to each other. All four soundlessly entered the room as they took positions around the old chest. Duo positioned himself on the bed and prepared to catch Usagi if she tried to escape. Quatre and Wufei had taken places on both sides of the chest as Trowa approached from the front.
Usagi held her breath when she realized that there was no more talking. 'Why did I have to laugh? Ugh. Idiot. I'm such an idiot.' The lid started to open as Usagi silently berated herself for possibly giving away her position. The next thing she saw was Trowa staring down at her with humor in his eyes. Usagi screamed.
"Aww, c'mon Trowa. You can't still be mad about the pillow."
She pouted, giving him her 'innocent' look.
"That's not going to work, this is pay back."
Usagi gulped as four figures cornered her in the chest. Soon laughter filled the room as she tried to plead with them to stop tickling her. An eternity passed for Usagi as she did her best to stop the torture. Her pleas and swats to the various hands were to no avail. Finally satisfied that revenge had been served, they let Usagi catch her breath.
"Whoa. That was fun, if you ignore the fact that I was chased with a katana," Duo muttered.
"And thanks for inviting us to stay for the month," Quatre added.
"But where is Yuy?"
Three sets of eyes glared at the Dragon. Usagi smiled faintly.
"I'm glad that you guys came. I don't know how I'd get through this press conference tomorrow if the rest of my family wasn't here. And guys, I'm fine. Heero didn't have to come. I would never try to force any of you to do something you didn't want to do."
Silence swept across the room as the four ex-pilots thought of ways to change the touchy subject. Luckily they were saved by a yawn from Usagi and a little quick thinking from Quatre. Checking Usagi's wall clock that indicated it was one in the morning, he decided that it was time for everyone to get back to bed. Without wasting any time, Quatre ushered everyone out of Usagi's room. (As each passed their 'little sister', they told her goodnight and headed down the stairs.)
Usagi closed her door and got into bed; not bothering to change into her night dress. She stared at the ceiling and heavily sighed. The loneliness she had been feeling for the past six months was getting worse. It felt as if her heart was being eaten away and only one person had the cure... or perhaps it was the one person that was the cure. Not long after the feeling appeared, her mind drifted to thoughts of the missing pilot.
"Why didn't you come? I needed your support the most," she whispered to the dark.
Usagi's heart sank as she received no response. Hugging her pillow for comfort, she softly cried; being swallowed by her heartache.