Disclaimer: Don't own Gundam Wing or Sailor Moon.

Hey again, everybody. This is my experimenting again. ^^; The title, My Paper Heart, is an All-American Rejects song that I have never heard. xD; I basically wanted to write a romance that had to do with things I knew. xD; So … other than London/Paris, I have had personal experience with the settings [be it vacationing or … never mind, just vacationing. xD;], kind of the lifestyle, and definitely the age group. Basically, I wanted to see if it's true that when a person writes about what they know the best, the writing turns out more … genuine…? Is that the word?

Since I've been recently, dangerously obsessed with Meteor Garden, this was strongly influenced by it. xD Thus, it would probably also seem influenced by Hana Yori Dango [Boys Over Flowers – which I have not seen] because MG is based on that. --; Please forgive me for my cheating. xD;

Further, the plot will twist … and thus the fic is extremely long. Approximately 44 chapters of this length. --; It is primarily romantic and light-hearted … but, like I said before, certain things require angst. :3 Also, the love formations are strange … but never is more than two people in love with one person – and even that doesn't last for long … simply because I don't truly believe I can write love circles realistically. xD;

So … yes. Please give me feedback! 3 I am very nervous about this idea … but still can't help loving it because, at the moment, it's my baby. xD;

Happy reading. :D

"The entire essence of America is the hope to first make money -- then make money with money -- then make lots of money with lots of money."
-Paul Erdman

Prologue: Out of Place

"I love you."

That was the last thing he had ever said to her. She frowned to herself and sighed quietly before closing her locker and trudging to her first period class.

Usagi paused in the doorway and glanced around apprehensively into the room. She felt like a five-year-old staring up at the nighttime sky; the classroom seemed to engulf her. The people seemed overly loud, beautiful, stylish. Foreign.

Squaring her shoulders, she strode in and picked a front seat on random, glancing around quickly once and then eyeing the clock, counting the hours until school ended.

The first day of school – always a joy. There were one hundred and eighty days left, approximately. How long would she be able to stay? Before she transferred again to another equally flashy, high-ranking private school paid for by a person who she hadn't seen in six years?

"I love you, Usagi. That is why I'm doing this."

That was why she was more than five thousand miles away from him. That was why, though he called himself her dad, he chose to step aside and let her live alone.

"I love your mother more than anything."

The mother that he never married. The mother who ran off after a one thousand dollar one night stand and nine months of purgatory.

"So from now on, Usagi, I will only be your father at heart. And from now on, you will drop the name Hino and become Usagi Tsukino."

The bell rang, a series of chimes specifically designed for St. Gabriel's.

A tall and primly dressed woman walked to the front, scowling as she scanned the room. "Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to start by reminding you that you are now enrolled in the highest level of the nationally prestigious St. Gabriel's. Thus, you must all brace yourselves for a strenuous year. This year, there will be no coddling so keep this in mind: no matter how much your bank accounts are overflowing or how powerful your parents are, there will be no bending of the ru-"

The door banged open and the most beautiful girl Usagi had ever seen strode in, followed by a short, scurrying man, carrying her books.

The teacher pursed her lips and narrowed her eyes. "Young lady, you are officially late."

The girl looked up, ebony eyes piercing and stark against perfectly pale skin, and flicked her waist length hair over her shoulder, creating a cascade of silky darkness. "Excuse me, miss, but do you know who I am?" Her tone arched arrogantly and her eyes narrowed in cold amusement.

"It doesn't matter who-"

"I just got off a flight from Paris an hour ago and rushed here to the best of my ability." She paused and licked her lips. "I think, since my family does own this school, I should have some right to break the rules every once in awhile."

The teacher's superior expression slid off her face, and she tittered nervously. Usagi felt like rolling her eyes. Another hypocrite to add to her growing list.

Silently and deliberately, the girl turned around, took her books from the short man behind her, and indicated for him to go away. "Now, miss, if you would please introduce me to the class? After all, it is what we're paying you to do."

The entire class was alert and listening, and the girl was smiling as she turned to face them.

Clearing her throat nervously, the professor managed a smile and announced, "Ladies and gentlemen, this is none other than the sole heiress to one of the world's largest business fortunes, also, coincidentally and very fortunately," she raised her eyebrows briefly, obviously worlds away from being pleased, "the daughter of this school's founder. Please put your hands together for Miss Rei Hino and hel-"

"Hino?!" Usagi jumped up and slammed her hands on the table. The brief applause faded to a small smattering and then silence as twenty something people turned to stare at her. Usagi thought she heard giggling.

She forced a smile and hesitantly sat back down, staring at the surface of her desk, afraid to raise her eyes, and blushing fiercely.

"Miss Tsukino? Is there something you have to say?"

Usagi glanced up and smiled nervously. "No, no … I was just surprised. That's all." Rei's dark eyes were focused completely on her. She looked down again, quickly.

"Well then, Miss Hino, feel free to sit wherever you want."

Usagi heard footsteps but didn't look up, trying to shield her face with her blonde streamers of hair flowing from round "meatballs."

When the teacher didn't resume her lecture, she looked up and almost had a heart attack. Rei Hino was standing in front of the desk next to hers, staring coolly at the guy sitting there.

"Get out," she ordered quietly.

Nodding quickly, the guy gathered his things and moved to another seat. Usagi gulped and looked away.

"As I was saying … this year will be much more difficult than all of your previous years. Therefore, you must all work hard and put effort into your classes in order to even hope to graduate from St. Gabriel's."

Or you could be Rei Hino and own the school, Usagi thought sarcastically to herself.

"Or you could be me and own the school." Usagi jumped and looked up at the girl beside her; their eyes locked. "Admit it. You were thinking that."

She swallowed and bit her lip. Up close, Rei Hino was even more strikingly beautiful, her dark, dark eyes, lashes, and perfectly straight hair contrasting sharply with her pale, unblemished skin. "I…I…"

"What's your name?"

Her eyes briefly darted to the front of the classroom, eyeing the still lecturing teacher.

Rei waved a dismissive hand. "Don't worry about that. It's nothing important."

"Usagi Tsukino."

The dark-haired girl smiled. "Usagi Tsukino. I think I like you." Her smiled widened, the first true grin she had offered ever since she stormed into the classroom. Rei leaned toward her. "I'm holding a reunion with some of my friends this evening at seven. Would you come too?"

Usagi's eyes widened and she hastily shook her head. "I have to work today. I have to go right after school."

Rei frowned faintly. "For fun?"

"No, for money," Usagi laughed weakly.

Rei was still frowning. "Was that a joke?"

The smile melted off her face. "You were serious?" She smiled apologetically. "I need it to help pay for food and things like that."

Rei sighed disappointedly and turned back toward the front. Usagi was just about to thank her luck and quick thinking but…

"I have an idea." Rei beamed at her. "How much does your job pay you per hour?"

"Fifteen dollars?"

Rei nodded resolutely. "For every hour that you spend at my house, I will pay you one hundred dollars. Plus, I'll add a one thousand dollar bonus if you stay and eat dinner. What do you say?"

Usagi gaped at Rei's triumphant smile. She blinked quickly and shook her head, jarring the temptations out of her mind. "No, no, I could never accept that amount of money."

"It's nothing. Just come and have fun." She tore a sheet of paper from her binder and scribbled onto it quickly. "Look, here's my address. If you have trouble finding it, I also wrote my cell number. I won't accept a no."

Biting her lip, Usagi stuffed the slip into her purse and sighed. The worst case scenario had become reality.

………………….

Thanks, Rei, she thought to herself bitterly as she hailed a taxi and handed the driver the address Rei had written for her.

He raised his eyebrows and stared at her in the rearview mirror. "The Hino Palace? You friends with them?"

She made a face. "Not per se."

He shrugged and reset the meter. "As long as you can pay me, I don't care."

Usagi shot him a withering look. "Just mind your own business."

…………………

It was ten past seven just as she bypassed the security gates and ran up monumental steps to the main entrance, thankful that she had decided to be practical and wear tennis shoes.

The door opened just as she ran up to it and a formally-dressed man bowed to her stiffly. "Miss Usagi Tsukino. Please, follow me."

She paused to gawk at the house, arching her neck to see the ceiling and eyeing the sweeping staircase that reminded her strongly of Cinderella and other fairy tales that only held places in nostalgia.

"Miss Usagi, Miss Rei is in this room." The man bowed again and pushed open the door, holding it for her. She stepped in tentatively and glanced behind her quickly when the man left and closed the door behind her. Usagi thinned her lips. She had never felt so trapped.

"Usagi! For a moment, I thought you wouldn't be able to make it." Rei got up and rushed to her, hugging her briefly and leading her to the table. She glanced around; the room looked something like a dining room. Except maybe five times larger. An intricate chandelier dangled from a high, high ceiling, right over a mile long dining table of glass.

"Usagi, this is Trowa Barton and Hiiro Yui. Do you know them?"

She smiled at them and waved gingerly. They nodded at her from their sitting positions. "Know of them."

Rei grinned. "I'm not surprised." Her hair, on one side, was pulled back by parallel, undoubtedly diamond, berets and her arms were bare. Usagi guessed the tank top Rei was wearing to be at least ten times the price she personally would ever pay.

"I had wanted for Duo to come too but he couldn't make it."

At the name "Duo", Usagi saw a brief scowl flash across Hiiro's face.

Usagi took a deep breath and sat down. "I really can't stay for long. My mother needs me home to help her." That was an outright lie; her mother was probably halfway around the world and had forgotten she ever had a daughter a long time ago.

"Oh," Rei sighed dejectedly.

Trowa shifted and glanced at Usagi before looking at Rei. "So, Rei, how was Paris?"

The dark-haired girl started and laughed. "It was romantic … as ritzy as they say. But … the streets were narrow … and nine months was way too long to spend there. It's nothing like LA."

Hiiro raised an eyebrow and stirred his coffee lazily. "Romantic? Any reason why?" There was no inflection in his voice but it was latent with the faintest hint of amusement.

Rei rolled her eyes. "Don't tease me, Hiiro. Paris … just has a completely different atmosphere from LA."

Usagi eyed her and then looked away, staring uncertainly at the coffee Rei had placed in front of her and briefly sipping it. Making a face, she quickly reached for the sugar.

She had never felt so out of place.

…………………

"Is the relationship between you and Duo still as bad as it was before I left?"

Hiiro glowered at his coffee. "As long as he is here, it'll stay that bad."

There was an uneasy silence and Rei looked like she wanted to take her question back. Usagi glanced around inquisitively. There was obviously something she didn't know.

A hour had passed since she arrived during which Rei talked about her nine month long schooling in Paris, Hiiro and Trowa talked about the events at St. Gabriel's, and Usagi pretended to be completely immersed in her coffee and unable to speak.

Trowa cleared his throat. "So, Usagi, tell us about yourself."

She started and stared, wide-eyed, at him, the desire to strangle him welling up inside of her. "Well I…" She smiled shakily at all the eyes focused on her. "I don't live in Beverly Hills. I'm not even 1/100 as rich as any of you. I just transferred to St. Gabriel's from San Romana in San Diego. And I haven't seen my father in six years."

Rei raised an eyebrow. "Divorce?"

Usagi thought quickly. "No, he died in a car accident."

The obligatory silence for mourning passed and Usagi stood up. "I should really get going now. Thank you for inviting me, Rei, and it was great meeting you, Trowa, Hiiro." She forced a smile and started heading for the door.

"No, Usagi, wait!"

She turned around briefly and gazed curiously at Rei.

"It's raining outside. Hiiro can drive you home."

Usagi almost laughed when Hiiro choked on his coffee. "No, it's okay. I can take a cab."

Rei shook her head fiercely. "No. Hiiro?"

He glared up at her. Ten seconds passed before he looked away, sighed, and grabbed his car keys off the table, standing up.

Arctic blue eyes turned to meet hers. Usagi gulped and felt like running. "To please Her Majesty Rei," he said sarcastically.

…………………

Usagi hesitated and glanced furtively up at Hiiro as he opened the umbrella and headed out toward his car parked in front of the entrance.

Ferrari, go figure, she sighed to herself.

"Well?"

Usagi jumped.

Hiiro was already in the rain, the umbrella held above him, while she remained two feet behind him, still in the shelter of the porch.

"I don't need an umbrella and I don't need you to drive me home."

Hiiro looked like he wanted to roll his eyes but settled for running a hand through his dark hair that looked almost black in the night. "Can we just go already?"

She stared at him obstinately.

Sighing loudly, he strode back to the porch and pulled her to him, ignoring her indignant yelps and protests.

"Let go of me right now! I'll-" She struggled but he held her tightly to his side.

"Look, Miss Usagi, what's worse? Getting wet or standing next to me?" He was glaring at her with such vehemence that Usagi thought she was going to shrivel under his gaze. Scowling, she glared back at him, still pressed to his side and under the umbrella.

"Do you really want to know?"

He looked vaguely unsettled. "Just … just get in the car."

She laughed derisively but obliged.

…………………

"What're you planning, Rei?" Trowa smiled faintly at her contemplative expression.

She laughed shortly. "I was just thinking … Hiiro needs a girlfriend."

Trowa arched an eyebrow. "And you chose that girl?"

"She's not just that girl, Trowa. She's unique. She's not addicted to money." Rei frowned faintly.

Trowa chuckled. "If that is one hundred percent true, Hiiro will have competition."

Rei bit her lip. "Like?"

"Like Duo, like me, like every other guy at St. Gabriel's who has never met a girl who didn't dream about Swiss bank accounts and Chanel perfume."

Rei was silent.

"But what Hiiro does is up to Hiiro, and I am speaking hypothetically," he paused to smile at her, "After all, Usagi Tsukino is certainly not the prettiest girl in the world. Tell me more about your trip."

Rei sighed and leaned forward in her seat. "Well, French Literature was probably the best class on my schedule…"

Trowa smiled and nodded, Rei's words fading into oblivion as she continued talking. All he could think about was how admirable she had been ever since they were kids, and how gorgeous she looked at this perfect moment under the chandelier's light.

…………………

I don't like it much … heh heh … especially the middle. Because I have a hard time writing Usagi in such a submissive role … but I wanted to get a point across. xD;; So urm … no complete clarification of the relationship between Usagi, mom, and dad … unless you're very good with subtle details. xD; Just introduction of characters … meeting of characters … some characterization. We'll hear more about/from Duo later on … and learn more about Rei's past … because it's important. xD; Pleaseplease comment! I'm desperate for your opinions. ;-; Lol … no, really … I have never felt so nervous about an idea. --; But thank you all for reading! :D Yours, Angel.