:: Haunted Eyes ::
by D-chan
Sailormoon/Megami Kouhosei (Pilot Candidate)
Rating: PG
Pairings: none yet
Warnings: mild swearing
Disclaimers: I don't own Sailormoon (rights to go DiC and the new company and Naoko Takeuchi) or Megami Kouhosei (which goes to Bandai and Sugisaki Yuriku)
Notes: Okay, on this particular episode I'm going to have to guess at what's going on a few times, as I only saw it once and forgot to tape it. ^^; Gomen nasai! I'll do my best to make it entertaining... And we're finally what everyone (or at least I ^_~) wants! Interaction between Usagi and Hiead! ^^ Enjoy
* * Chapter Four * *
Usagi stared at the panel, fingers moving with speed that surprised even her as she ran the usual check-up on her mecha. Everything seemed to be in perfect order. Perhaps Ami's constant talk of technology had somehow seeped into the recesses of her mind and was being dragged up right then. Otherwise, Usagi wouldn't be able to explain how she knew what the hell she was doing.
"Good job, girls," she heard their instructor praise. "I believe it's safe to tell you now; today will be your first time working with the actual pilot candidates."
Kizna and Saki cheered while Tukasa and Wrecks simply smiled; they were happy enough. Usagi, however, slipped and pushed the shutdown button on her program by mistake she was so surprised.
Instead of scolding her like the instructor would have normally done she shot the blonde substitute Repairer a sympathetic look. "I know what you're thinking, dear, but you don't have anything to worry about. Your partner won't have the chance to touch you at all except when you scan him."
Usagi managed a weak smile. "H-hai..."
Then the instructor clapped her hands. "All right, then, girls, let's get a move on. Grab your things and get going; your partners will meet you in the Cueval room."
Usagi snatched her scanner and caught Saki just before she was out the door. "What is the Cueval room?" she asked in a hushed whisper.
Saki raised an eyebrow. "Weren't you paying attention yesterday?" At the sheepish look on Usagi's face she sighed impatiently. 'Ikhny always paid attention,' she thought but aloud she said, "It's like a game to test the pilot's - and our - skills. Kind of like a virtual reality game but you're supposed to take it seriously."
"I see..." Usagi bit her lip and glanced at Kizna, who kept reaching up to make sure her cap was secure on her head.
The pig-tailed girl patted Usagi's shoulder once. "Don't worry," she said lightly. "You heard the instructor; he won't have the chance to hurt you. Last time it happened in a crowded hallway. If he hadn't knocked her out cold no one would have noticed, really."
Usagi wasn't reassured.
* * *
'Stupid boy,' mused Hiead as Zero began to argue with their instructor. His thoughts, however, were on Zero and Clay's conversation, how Zero had fallen into an Ingrid by accident and yet not rejected. Jealousy bubbled in his veins which he quickly controlled, telling himself it didn't mean anything; the Ingrid had to have been glitched or something. Hadn't someone mentioned the Goddess was being worked on before Zero fell in?
He couldn't even convince himself.
Ignoring the other four pilot candidates and their instructor, Hiead began to walk down the dark corridor. He heard the others following him quickly, heard Zero's constant muttering of not losing to "someone like him." Tch. Damn stupid boy. He would never learn.
Hiead hung back a moment as a thought came to him, something he had been pondering over the last few days... If the girl in the bubble had survived. Chances were she had not, but he had heard rumors of a girl with strange hair being found in space, floating and unconscious. Hiead wanted to know if it was the same girl, and if so, how she had survived. It was incredible.
When he came back to his conscious thoughts, the group was already ahead of him. Scowling faintly, he continued walking.
When the sliding door opened, two things surprised him.
1) There were girls there. What were a bunch of girls doing there?
2) One of those girls was the girl he had just been thinking about.
Hiead's eyes were fastened on the small blonde-haired, blue-eyed girl, who looked at him as though she were terrified and fascinated by him at the same time. Weird girl.
Azuma's instructions broke through his thoughts and the girls moved to their partner. He paid no attention to the others, simply kept his eyes on the blonde girl as she hesitantly advanced on him, his gaze cold. 'How brave are you anyway, little girl?' he thought in faint amusement. She did manage a smile but it looked weak.
"... Show them the markings on your wrists, but get acquainted before the next step." Azuma continued on about how today would be their first "practical test" and turned on a light. Below them was a capsule, which the instructor called a Cueval unit, or a "training simulator".
Zero instantly plastered himself to the huge window. "I wanna ride!"
"Get back in your row and team up with your partner first," snapped Azuma in annoyance. Hiead snorted softly and rolled his eyes.
The girl before him took another step forward, looking as though she were trying to muster the courage to speak. "Hello," she finally said in what sounded like a normal voice, though it wavered slightly with fear. Good. "I'm Usagi Tsukino--" He held his wrist out to her, his red eyes colder than anyone with even ice gray eyes could be. She bit her tongue and, thanking the stars she was wearing gloves and could shield herself from as much physical contact as possible, proceeded to scan the number on his arm; 87.
A loud scream startled the girl scanning him and both glanced up to see a girl with pink hair and cat ears hit Zero across the face and run out. Azuma, with a strange look on his face, told Zero he had exactly 5 minutes to bring his partner back. Of course, Zero thought that was unfair and wanted to take the test without her. Hiead rolled his eyes; Usagi didn't miss the action and she looked at him oddly.
"Excuse me, sir," said a girl with blue hair after Zero scrambled out to retrieve his partner, holding up her scanner to show Azuma the number. "My partner is 15kg overweight. I'd like permission to take the responsibility to help him lose weight."
Roose, a candidate with dark green hair and wide, innocent eyes, asked worriedly, "Will that mean less food?" Nothing more was said as the girl sighed and dragged him out.
Yamagi grinned as Roose was dragged out, waving. He seemed to be happy to be rid of the strange boy. Clay raised an eyebrow. "That's two men down already."
Azuma shook his head in exasperation. "We'll just start the lessons with the three pairs left. That means you're already ahead."
Hiead smiled in satisfaction; it would be much more pleasant to take the test without knowing Zero was there, watching and calculating his every move, action and response.
"All right, 87, get in the Cueval. You're first." Usagi glanced at Hiead, perhaps looking for reassurance, but all he gave her was a blank, cold look. She shrank back and that was when the smirk played on his lips; it would be interesting to mess with her mind a little bit. She seemed so uncertain but also like the type to worry about him, which he most certainly did not want.
Well, then. If she tried anything, he'd just have to show her not to mess with him. No one interfered with Hiead Gner's life, least of all a Repairer. She was only there to provide support for him. That was all. And he was going to have to make her understand that from square one.
Eh... Gomen it's shorter than the last chapter, but I wanted to save the Cueval thingy for its own chapter. ^^ Wheee! Hope you liked, minna-san!
