Chapter fourteen
Three days later
Usagi looked up at Heero, "I...Artigato Heero."
Heero took position, "For what?" Usagi closed her eyelids, "for saving me."
She could feel him but barely. His aura was unreadable and seemed to be everywhere. She couldn't hear him he was so quiet.
Usagi shook her head and moved around trying to focus on him. She stopped when she heard something. She strained to hear but it was gone. It was so soft so quiet that she was lucky she had heard it. She turned and the sound came again, and that's when she realized it was her own shoes squeaking on the floor each time she stepped.
Usagi turned again and that's when she saw him. He was hidden in the shadows. His arms crossed over his chest and he was smirking.
Usagi frowned; he was too far away for her to reach him before he left.
With a shrug, she had crouched down and then bolted off towards him even before he could blink.
But by the time she got there he had leaped out of the way. Usagi's palms hit the wall pushing her to a stop, before she hit the wall. Instantly she swung around and let loose her fist. It hit Heero in the chest. He hadn't realized she would attack right afterwards.
Usagi tried again, but he caught her wrist with his strong hand. She then tried to hit him with her knee but he blocked her and his hand clasped onto her free hand.
Usagi frowned, "Oh great."
Heero smirked and easily lifted her into the air and above his head, much like skaters would on ice.
Usagi screamed in half terror, half excitement. "Heero put me down...Heero!!!"
Heero looked up at her in the face and he began to spin around slowly.
Usagi jerked around in his grasp trying to get free. "Heero put me down!!!!" When he faked dropping her she screamed in horror, "Heero don't put me down!!!!"
Heero shook his head; "you shouldn't show a fear to the enemy." Usagi shouted, "but you're not my enemy!" Heero raised one eyebrow, "Is that so?"
Usagi went rigid in his arms, she stopped fighting him, and her body trembled with excitement.
Heero set her down on her feet, and Usagi found it hard to stand on her own feet. "I should be the enemy." Usagi shook her head to clear it. Her eyes grew glassy and she took a step back. 'What am I saying, he is the enemy. I can't get close to them. Usagi you baka, look what you did!'
Usagi covered her ears with her hands "Go away."
Heero frowned and looked around them, they were alone. 'You'll lose all your friends again. You'll be alone in the world, and you will die as a failure. People will laugh at your dead body.' Usagi shook her head vigorously "Shut up leave me alone!"
Heero watched as she ran off and surprisingly didn't hit anything on her way out.
Usagi was running blindly, if she hit the wall she hoped she had hit it hard enough to shut her mind up.
Usagi slowly came to a walk and then stopped all together. She burst into tears of all the pain she held in. Tears flowed past her shut lids and she leaned against a wall.
"I don't want to be alone."
Suddenly the wall caved in and Usagi fell back with a yell. The next thing she knew was she was falling, rather sliding down a shoot.
A door behind her lifted and she was tossed out like garbage. She hit the ground with a thud and rolled on the floor like soft pizza dough.
She sobbed pitifully and rolled over to her side. She carefully, and weakly pulled herself up. She wiped her tears and tried to get a fell around.
She got to her feet and leaned against the wall. It was cold and hard; metal some hard metal.
The floor under her feet was cold, even through the sols of her shoes she could feel it.
The room was large and open, but it was filled with large things. She then took steps forward, following the wall. She bumped into something, and she felt around it.
It was also metal, but it was rougher, with more angles. "What is it?"
She felt around it more, and came to a conclusion; it was a metal foot, of a robot.
Usagi inhaled sharply, 'why would they have these in their basement?'
Usagi moved around the foot and laid down on the hard floor. 'I'm so tired.'
Heero opened the door and shut it behind him. A brush of wind hit his face, and his hair lifted, and then fell into his eyes again.
With a sigh he brushed it out of the way and glanced around the hanger. The hanger was nearly half a mile away from the mansion and under ground. It held all their Gundams, even though they had told the world that they had been destroyed.
Heero stepped inside and inhaled deeply. He was worried about Usagi. She had run off alone in the mansion. Heero frowned and shook off the emotions; she would be fine with the other pilots.
He then grabbed the bag of tools on a workbench and headed for his gundam. He hadn't been able to work on it for a while, with helping Usagi and all.
And that was the problem; she had taken up too much of their time. They were lucky the war was over and there were no missions left to give.
Heero climbed the stairs and he soon was on the 3rd level bridge. He followed it to the far wall to the open cockpit. He had left it open, when he was in a rush to help Usagi.
He shook his head and climbed in, he set the bag at his feet and took out a tool.
He was soon at work.
Half-hour later, he heard something, like an echo in the room. Herro sighed and dropped his tools and set down his laptop. He stood and climbed out onto the bridge.
He looked around careful, going over spots twice. He then bent over the railing and looked under him. He saw something and his hand gripped tighter on his gun.
Heero then climbed over the railing and dropped down to the 2nd level bridge. From there he dropped to the floor. He then aimed his gun in front of him, and stealthily made his way to the thing on the floor.
He peered over the foot and saw golden hair fanned out under a small body. Her skin had gone pale from the loss of heat. She wore khaki shorts, and a white t-shirt. Her feet were covered by white tennis shoes.
She was curled up into a fetus position. Heero put his gun away and moved to her side. "Usagi." She moaned but didn't wake. Heero took off his jacket and instantly he felt to cold air rush to him.
He helped Usagi in his coat and lifted her up in his arms. He had to get her warm, but it was a long way back to the mansion. Heero frowned and headed for the stairs in a run. Once there he headed to the third floor and raced towards his gundam.
After the long sprint, that took nearly two minutes, he seated himself inside, with Usagi in his lap.
He shut the cockpit door and he glanced at Usagi. It was warmer in here, than it was out there. He would just have to wait till she was strong enough for the long ride, on Wufei's motorcycle.
Usagi shifted slightly, suddenly uncomfortable, her shirt clung to her body like skin; her hair was wet from the humid air. She inhaled deeply and the musky sent of sweat and heat filled her nostrils.
She shifted again and felt the body underneath her, move. Usagi gazed over her shoulder and sniffed the air to see whom she laid on. She remembered falling asleep on the floor but now...
"Heero?" The familiar scent of pine, gunpowder, and something else she could not describe, filled her, and warmed her deeply. She moved and then realized she wore a jacket, a thick heavy jacket that had kept her warm as she slept. "Heero?"
She reached up with her hand and touched his face. Her fingertips ran over his eyes, and they found that his eyelids were heavily lidded; he was fast asleep.
Usagi wrapped an arm over his shoulder and pulled herself closer. She ran her hand up and down the length of his arm. His skin was cold to the touch. Usagi sat up slightly to slip the jacket he gave her off and draped it in the front of his chest to keep him warm.
Once again she cuddled next to him. Her eyelids shut, her cheek rested against his firm chest, and she snuggled closer, feeling his heat enter her body that suddenly shivered from the wet air. She inhaled deeply smelling all of the sweet scent that reminded her of Heero.
Her hand roamed upward to his face and she caressed his cheek. 'Why do you care so much? I have been nothing but a pain and here you are still trying to help me.'
Usagi sighed and she faced upwards wishing she could see his face. Her hand felt around his face lightly, touching every part, and a picture formed in her mind.
Tears formed in her eyes. She was missing so much of the world. She was missing everything happening around her. She wasn't just blind physically in the eyes, but also in the heart.
She loved all of them, and yet she still pushed them all away. She just didn't want to be hurt again, and she didn't want to hurt them. They had been so nice to her and took her in even though she treated them rudely.
Usagi choked back a sob that wanted to erupt from her throat. Her arms snaked around Heero's waist and she held on tightly. Her bottom lip quivered, as all the emotions began to surface. A sob escaped her and she whined pitifully at her weakness.
She would never be able to let them all go. Each and every one of them had worked their way into her heart and had refused to see it until now.
She couldn't see herself without them now. Usagi let herself slowly drift to the dream world. She would never let them go, never.
And slowly her mind faded and she was pulled into the darkness of sleep where dreams of seeing the world surfaced.
She tugged at the binds that held her in place. She could feel the binds loosen around her wrists. 'Just a little more.'
Her red eyes narrowed in determination as she continued to work with the rope that held her captive on the floor.
She inhaled deeply as sweat dripped down her forehead, she growled low and deep. And that's when the rope untied and came loose.
She looked around carefully; everyone was asleep in the other room.
She shot up in a sitting potion and pulled her arms out to the side, letting her wrists go free. She ignored the cuts the rope had dug in her flesh. She ignored the bruises and the blood that dripped to the floor.
She tugged at the ropes at her feet and pulled the ropes loose and her feet were free. She ripped out the gag that had kept her mouth open for days on end.
Her mouth felt like cotton when she shut it; her throat was dry and sore.
She climbed to her feet and tip toed to the door, the bored creaked and moaned under her feet but she quickly opened the door and shut it behind her. She inhaled deeply the fresh air felt well in her lungs.
She then glanced around finding herself alone. She had to hurry and warn her.
She then leaped into action sprinting out onto the street and heading into the city.
She picked up her pace, her legs moving quickly, her feet stomping on the hard ground pushing her farther away from where she had been held captive for so long.
'I have to hurry. She must know the truth.'
She could hear the sounds of the city ahead of her. 'Almost there, just a little further.'
She pushed herself harder, her arms pumping at her sides trying to make herself go faster. 'I should have Uranus given me running lessons when I had the chance. I could be there by now.'
Her breaths came in short gasps as she struggled to keep her fast pace. She had traveled nearly two miles and her body was ready to give out from under her.
She shook her head, 'Iie she needs me. I failed her before, not now! She doesn't disserve any of this pain.'
Her hair was long and flowed out from behind her, the wind currents whipped at it making it fly. Her eyes glazed over as the city lights lined the horizon.
Tears burst forth from her eyes, and her legs slowly slowed from her sprint to a slow jog. And soon she had stopped. She bent over at the waist breathing heavily. Sweat covered her body; her blue uniform was drenched and clung to her body.
The air was cool and felt good upon her skin. She heard a noise and slowly stood up. She gasped in horror, "Iie."
He smirked and crossed his arms over her chest, "you think you could escape me?"
She took a step back shaking her head in denial. 'How did he find me?'
His smirk broadened.
"Trying to escape to warn our enemy huh? Well think again!" He frowned and he pulled out a silver bladed sword. He glared at the smaller girl, "You can't escape me!"
She cried out as he lunged at her and she dove out of the way she ran ahead fear glowing in her eyes. She cried out in pain, stopping in her tracks.
She looked down and stared in horror at her hands. She looked back up into the eyes of evil.
Her red eyes glazed over, and she shook her head stumbling backwards.
She cried out again, "Okaasan!
She choked on a sob that tore at anyone's souls who heard.
Usagi jerked awake, here eyes going wide, the image in her head playing itself out.
And then an anguish voice cried out, "Okaasan!"
Three days later
Usagi looked up at Heero, "I...Artigato Heero."
Heero took position, "For what?" Usagi closed her eyelids, "for saving me."
She could feel him but barely. His aura was unreadable and seemed to be everywhere. She couldn't hear him he was so quiet.
Usagi shook her head and moved around trying to focus on him. She stopped when she heard something. She strained to hear but it was gone. It was so soft so quiet that she was lucky she had heard it. She turned and the sound came again, and that's when she realized it was her own shoes squeaking on the floor each time she stepped.
Usagi turned again and that's when she saw him. He was hidden in the shadows. His arms crossed over his chest and he was smirking.
Usagi frowned; he was too far away for her to reach him before he left.
With a shrug, she had crouched down and then bolted off towards him even before he could blink.
But by the time she got there he had leaped out of the way. Usagi's palms hit the wall pushing her to a stop, before she hit the wall. Instantly she swung around and let loose her fist. It hit Heero in the chest. He hadn't realized she would attack right afterwards.
Usagi tried again, but he caught her wrist with his strong hand. She then tried to hit him with her knee but he blocked her and his hand clasped onto her free hand.
Usagi frowned, "Oh great."
Heero smirked and easily lifted her into the air and above his head, much like skaters would on ice.
Usagi screamed in half terror, half excitement. "Heero put me down...Heero!!!"
Heero looked up at her in the face and he began to spin around slowly.
Usagi jerked around in his grasp trying to get free. "Heero put me down!!!!" When he faked dropping her she screamed in horror, "Heero don't put me down!!!!"
Heero shook his head; "you shouldn't show a fear to the enemy." Usagi shouted, "but you're not my enemy!" Heero raised one eyebrow, "Is that so?"
Usagi went rigid in his arms, she stopped fighting him, and her body trembled with excitement.
Heero set her down on her feet, and Usagi found it hard to stand on her own feet. "I should be the enemy." Usagi shook her head to clear it. Her eyes grew glassy and she took a step back. 'What am I saying, he is the enemy. I can't get close to them. Usagi you baka, look what you did!'
Usagi covered her ears with her hands "Go away."
Heero frowned and looked around them, they were alone. 'You'll lose all your friends again. You'll be alone in the world, and you will die as a failure. People will laugh at your dead body.' Usagi shook her head vigorously "Shut up leave me alone!"
Heero watched as she ran off and surprisingly didn't hit anything on her way out.
Usagi was running blindly, if she hit the wall she hoped she had hit it hard enough to shut her mind up.
Usagi slowly came to a walk and then stopped all together. She burst into tears of all the pain she held in. Tears flowed past her shut lids and she leaned against a wall.
"I don't want to be alone."
Suddenly the wall caved in and Usagi fell back with a yell. The next thing she knew was she was falling, rather sliding down a shoot.
A door behind her lifted and she was tossed out like garbage. She hit the ground with a thud and rolled on the floor like soft pizza dough.
She sobbed pitifully and rolled over to her side. She carefully, and weakly pulled herself up. She wiped her tears and tried to get a fell around.
She got to her feet and leaned against the wall. It was cold and hard; metal some hard metal.
The floor under her feet was cold, even through the sols of her shoes she could feel it.
The room was large and open, but it was filled with large things. She then took steps forward, following the wall. She bumped into something, and she felt around it.
It was also metal, but it was rougher, with more angles. "What is it?"
She felt around it more, and came to a conclusion; it was a metal foot, of a robot.
Usagi inhaled sharply, 'why would they have these in their basement?'
Usagi moved around the foot and laid down on the hard floor. 'I'm so tired.'
Heero opened the door and shut it behind him. A brush of wind hit his face, and his hair lifted, and then fell into his eyes again.
With a sigh he brushed it out of the way and glanced around the hanger. The hanger was nearly half a mile away from the mansion and under ground. It held all their Gundams, even though they had told the world that they had been destroyed.
Heero stepped inside and inhaled deeply. He was worried about Usagi. She had run off alone in the mansion. Heero frowned and shook off the emotions; she would be fine with the other pilots.
He then grabbed the bag of tools on a workbench and headed for his gundam. He hadn't been able to work on it for a while, with helping Usagi and all.
And that was the problem; she had taken up too much of their time. They were lucky the war was over and there were no missions left to give.
Heero climbed the stairs and he soon was on the 3rd level bridge. He followed it to the far wall to the open cockpit. He had left it open, when he was in a rush to help Usagi.
He shook his head and climbed in, he set the bag at his feet and took out a tool.
He was soon at work.
Half-hour later, he heard something, like an echo in the room. Herro sighed and dropped his tools and set down his laptop. He stood and climbed out onto the bridge.
He looked around careful, going over spots twice. He then bent over the railing and looked under him. He saw something and his hand gripped tighter on his gun.
Heero then climbed over the railing and dropped down to the 2nd level bridge. From there he dropped to the floor. He then aimed his gun in front of him, and stealthily made his way to the thing on the floor.
He peered over the foot and saw golden hair fanned out under a small body. Her skin had gone pale from the loss of heat. She wore khaki shorts, and a white t-shirt. Her feet were covered by white tennis shoes.
She was curled up into a fetus position. Heero put his gun away and moved to her side. "Usagi." She moaned but didn't wake. Heero took off his jacket and instantly he felt to cold air rush to him.
He helped Usagi in his coat and lifted her up in his arms. He had to get her warm, but it was a long way back to the mansion. Heero frowned and headed for the stairs in a run. Once there he headed to the third floor and raced towards his gundam.
After the long sprint, that took nearly two minutes, he seated himself inside, with Usagi in his lap.
He shut the cockpit door and he glanced at Usagi. It was warmer in here, than it was out there. He would just have to wait till she was strong enough for the long ride, on Wufei's motorcycle.
Usagi shifted slightly, suddenly uncomfortable, her shirt clung to her body like skin; her hair was wet from the humid air. She inhaled deeply and the musky sent of sweat and heat filled her nostrils.
She shifted again and felt the body underneath her, move. Usagi gazed over her shoulder and sniffed the air to see whom she laid on. She remembered falling asleep on the floor but now...
"Heero?" The familiar scent of pine, gunpowder, and something else she could not describe, filled her, and warmed her deeply. She moved and then realized she wore a jacket, a thick heavy jacket that had kept her warm as she slept. "Heero?"
She reached up with her hand and touched his face. Her fingertips ran over his eyes, and they found that his eyelids were heavily lidded; he was fast asleep.
Usagi wrapped an arm over his shoulder and pulled herself closer. She ran her hand up and down the length of his arm. His skin was cold to the touch. Usagi sat up slightly to slip the jacket he gave her off and draped it in the front of his chest to keep him warm.
Once again she cuddled next to him. Her eyelids shut, her cheek rested against his firm chest, and she snuggled closer, feeling his heat enter her body that suddenly shivered from the wet air. She inhaled deeply smelling all of the sweet scent that reminded her of Heero.
Her hand roamed upward to his face and she caressed his cheek. 'Why do you care so much? I have been nothing but a pain and here you are still trying to help me.'
Usagi sighed and she faced upwards wishing she could see his face. Her hand felt around his face lightly, touching every part, and a picture formed in her mind.
Tears formed in her eyes. She was missing so much of the world. She was missing everything happening around her. She wasn't just blind physically in the eyes, but also in the heart.
She loved all of them, and yet she still pushed them all away. She just didn't want to be hurt again, and she didn't want to hurt them. They had been so nice to her and took her in even though she treated them rudely.
Usagi choked back a sob that wanted to erupt from her throat. Her arms snaked around Heero's waist and she held on tightly. Her bottom lip quivered, as all the emotions began to surface. A sob escaped her and she whined pitifully at her weakness.
She would never be able to let them all go. Each and every one of them had worked their way into her heart and had refused to see it until now.
She couldn't see herself without them now. Usagi let herself slowly drift to the dream world. She would never let them go, never.
And slowly her mind faded and she was pulled into the darkness of sleep where dreams of seeing the world surfaced.
She tugged at the binds that held her in place. She could feel the binds loosen around her wrists. 'Just a little more.'
Her red eyes narrowed in determination as she continued to work with the rope that held her captive on the floor.
She inhaled deeply as sweat dripped down her forehead, she growled low and deep. And that's when the rope untied and came loose.
She looked around carefully; everyone was asleep in the other room.
She shot up in a sitting potion and pulled her arms out to the side, letting her wrists go free. She ignored the cuts the rope had dug in her flesh. She ignored the bruises and the blood that dripped to the floor.
She tugged at the ropes at her feet and pulled the ropes loose and her feet were free. She ripped out the gag that had kept her mouth open for days on end.
Her mouth felt like cotton when she shut it; her throat was dry and sore.
She climbed to her feet and tip toed to the door, the bored creaked and moaned under her feet but she quickly opened the door and shut it behind her. She inhaled deeply the fresh air felt well in her lungs.
She then glanced around finding herself alone. She had to hurry and warn her.
She then leaped into action sprinting out onto the street and heading into the city.
She picked up her pace, her legs moving quickly, her feet stomping on the hard ground pushing her farther away from where she had been held captive for so long.
'I have to hurry. She must know the truth.'
She could hear the sounds of the city ahead of her. 'Almost there, just a little further.'
She pushed herself harder, her arms pumping at her sides trying to make herself go faster. 'I should have Uranus given me running lessons when I had the chance. I could be there by now.'
Her breaths came in short gasps as she struggled to keep her fast pace. She had traveled nearly two miles and her body was ready to give out from under her.
She shook her head, 'Iie she needs me. I failed her before, not now! She doesn't disserve any of this pain.'
Her hair was long and flowed out from behind her, the wind currents whipped at it making it fly. Her eyes glazed over as the city lights lined the horizon.
Tears burst forth from her eyes, and her legs slowly slowed from her sprint to a slow jog. And soon she had stopped. She bent over at the waist breathing heavily. Sweat covered her body; her blue uniform was drenched and clung to her body.
The air was cool and felt good upon her skin. She heard a noise and slowly stood up. She gasped in horror, "Iie."
He smirked and crossed his arms over her chest, "you think you could escape me?"
She took a step back shaking her head in denial. 'How did he find me?'
His smirk broadened.
"Trying to escape to warn our enemy huh? Well think again!" He frowned and he pulled out a silver bladed sword. He glared at the smaller girl, "You can't escape me!"
She cried out as he lunged at her and she dove out of the way she ran ahead fear glowing in her eyes. She cried out in pain, stopping in her tracks.
She looked down and stared in horror at her hands. She looked back up into the eyes of evil.
Her red eyes glazed over, and she shook her head stumbling backwards.
She cried out again, "Okaasan!
She choked on a sob that tore at anyone's souls who heard.
Usagi jerked awake, here eyes going wide, the image in her head playing itself out.
And then an anguish voice cried out, "Okaasan!"