Well everyone, after being muse less for almost the whole month, inspiration struck after watching the last DVD of Gundam Wing. I regret not having Dorothy in the story because now I would have defiantly killed her. My poor Quatre-kun! Anyways because it's Christmas, I'm gonna make this chapter a bit longer than usual, kay. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon, Gundam Wing, and/or their characters. I do own Aoi, Kensuke, and the evil Shifter dude.

Destiny is Fate and Fate is a Fickle Thing: Chapter 7: Tourniquet

Fog. The gray sheet limited the vision of the outside world from her window. Her heart was still beating quickly from the experience a few hours ago. She had almost lost another person she cared for.

Ami held her head in her hands, her neatly cut blue hair blocked her face from view. 'I almost lost another person. The worst part about it is that I gave up so easily. I had no faith that Duo would pull through. I had condemned him before he stopped breathing. What kind of doctor am I if I give up on a patient so easily?'

************

His head was swimming in fog. He felt drained. He couldn't move a muscle or at least he did not want to move. He had not used the Ginzuishou like that before. He was lucky he didn't die. Of course Shingo would never die. He was just too stubborn.

Aoi, Ami's little girl, had brought him food once she found him awake while Kensuke read Newton's Laws of Physics to him, in deep analysis. The Moon prince blocked out the boy's voice as he focused more on the situation. Something wasn't right here. As far as he could remember, the Shifter was not one to play games with its victims. It was one to finish what it started quickly, but somehow, it has been unable to beat Ami and Hotaru. Were they truly that strong to have resisted the Shifter? Also what was with those other guys?

'Quatre-san is nice even though I think he's hiding something from me. But the rest of them are even harder to decipher. Duo, I think that's his name, seems to be happy all of the time, like Usagi, but his eyes reflect sadness. The sadness only received by losing a loved one. Trowa is always quiet yet always watching. Wufei seems arrogant as he talks about the weak but he holds more depth than that. His reason for putting down the weak, I think, shows his fear for them. He would proclaim himself strong in order to fight in their place. The last guy, Heero, seems like a shell of a man. He and Ami-san seem to have a past together the way they avoid each other.'

The young man frowned in concentration as Aoi gave him his food, 'Come to think of it,' he began, catching a quick glance of Aoi and Kensuke, 'her son looks like a clone of Heero, except for his eyes. Her daughter has his eyes.' He wanted to ask the two children who their father was but thought better of it. 'If they're avoiding each other, that can only mean one thing, the kids don't know and I'm not going to be the one to tell them.'

************

The raven haired beauty of death rested herself on the training room's mat, leaning back on her arms as she watched Trowa, Duo, Wufei, and even Quatre sparred with each other. To her surprise, Quatre held his own fairly well against Wufei as they traded blows.

The enigma seemed to hold back against his partner, trying not to push the Shinigami too hard. Of course Duo noticed and didn't like it. Trowa received a nice jab in the stomach, signifying that he needed to stop patronizing his opponent. He took the hint and opened up for a new attack.

The vast training room was remarkable. It had everything. Sparring mats: weapon and non weapon ones, target practice, bomb defusing, gymnastics, and all of the hand held weapons that could be imagined. Due to all of this, it was also made soundproof; nothing could get out or in.

After a while, Wufei and Quatre finished in a draw as did Duo and Trowa. They grabbed the fencing equipment, minus the knickers, and changed. The man of Chinese descent was finished first and challenged Trowa.

The American gulped. That meant it was him verses Quatre. 'Crap' he thought. Quatre was the only person, besides Heero, that Duo feared with a sabre. Once the weapon was in his hand, the blonde's eyes would glaze over into a cold, golden glare. It was like the Zero System had taken over him again or at least that was what he gathered from all of those reports about unidentified Gundam destroying colonies.

Kensuke appeared and left, taking Hotaru with him before the bouts began.

************

Heero sat on his windowsill, his eyes gazing unfocused out the window. He was tired. Tired of losing people. Tired of his emotions. Tired of everything. If it wasn't one thing screwing with him, it was another. His self proclaimed best friend had almost died a few hours. A familiar feeling of helplessness had washed over him as it had five years ago at the sight of his friend's dying body. He hated that feeling. He hated being weak and useless when it actually counted.

There was also another problem at hand. He still was unable to decide what to do about 'his' children. He did not feel it was fair to them to have a father like him. All he would do is corrupt and hurt them. Then again it would not be fair to them to not have a father at all. Kensuke made that clear.

"What am I going to do? I don't want….." he stopped. '…to hurt them or to get myself hurt?'

He knew the answer. He was hurt, not once, but twice already. Why risk being hurt again?

Heero's short council with himself was ended as he heard an explosion from the floor below. He could figure everything else out later, he told himself as he rushed downstairs.

************

He arrived there after Ami and Hotaru had transformed. His eyes scanned the room to make sure that the children were not there. There was no need for them to get mixed up in this even more. He also found that none of the other pilots had made it yet.

'Where are they?' he thought to himself before pulling out his favorite gun.

Footsteps were making their way towards the group. Thinking it was one of his friends, he mentally sighed, but he was met with disappointment when he saw it was only Shingo. The young man was strong willed; even Heero had to admit it. It looked like the Prince of the Moon was thoroughly exhausted with his sweaty brow and heavy breathing, but he was still willing to fight.

"I see all of the key players are here so now shall we begin?" the Shifter stated more than questioned, pulling out a sword, glowing with pure evil, as he went for Sailor Mercury.

Saturn blocked the attack with her glaive, pushing the enemy back. Her shallow breathes showed she still had not recovered from their earlier battle as well.

************

The twins of Mercury watched the battle within the shadows of the room. It was not turning out too well. Sailor Saturn was already down for the count with Shingo lying next to her. He went down with on attack. Sailor Mercury and Heero seemed to be struggling as well. The Perfect Soldier was only a burden for the Senshi of Ice once he found out that his weapon did not work on the Shifter. The Shifter also used this to its advantage.

Minutes later, Sailor Mercury fell as well. That pulled the trigger in the two children's heads. They looked at each other and nodded at their silent agreement before dashing off to get the other four ex-pilots.

They arrived where Kensuke saw the pilots last, the training room, and opened the door. The sight that met them was an unexpected one. Duo sat on the floor with Trowa next to him, watching Quatre and Wufei fence. The graceful movements captivated the two children before they remembered their reason for being there.

"Minna-san! We're under attack!" Aoi shouted, gaining the attention of the ex-pilots. They all grabbed their weapon of choice: Wufei with his katana, Duo with his scythe, Quatre with his daggers, and Trowa with his crossbow. They all ran out of the room.

"What's the situation?" Trowa asked.

Kensuke's face grimaced slightly, "Okaasan, Obaachan, and Shingo-san have already been knocked unconscious. Heero-san is fighting right now. We have to hurry!"

************

They arrived in time to see Heero fall. His limp body lay next to the other three; blood covered half of his face and matted with his moss green locks. Duo and Quatre rushed to their fallen comrades' sides while Wufei stood watch over them and Trowa removed Aoi and Kensuke from the Shifter's sight. They were not about to break their promise to Ami and have her children killed.

The other 4 ex-pilots stood around the unconscious group of Heero, Ami, Hotaru, and Shingo. The shifter smirked. This was going to be easier than it thought. The man of American descent charged in first with his scythe but the Shifter's speed far exceeded his, leaving Duo slashing at air. The cloaked figure struck Duo in his back causing the man to fall to his knees.

"Duo!" Quatre shouted as Trowa followed Duo's attack with on of his own with his crossbow. The attack was also evaded. Wufei rushed in to the enigma's defense but his slash was dodged. The Shifter then went for Quatre.

Its smirk grew larger. "This is a pointless battle. There is no way you can win. I have observed your battles up to date, Gundam Pilots." He then attacked Quatre, who countered with one of his daggers.

'Why is he going after Quatre?' Duo pondered before his eyes grew larger, "Minna, this is just like our battle with Zechs!"

The Shifter turned its head towards Duo, "I see you do remember that. Like Milliardo-san said, just trying to crush the brain first." With that said, a barrier appeared around Trowa, Duo, and Wufei, keeping them from aiding their friend.

The blond Arab's blue eyes grew wide with fear as he was attacked again. He continued to counter and block the Shifter's blade as it toyed with him. It looked like the two were even until Quatre's daggers shattered. Michiru's face broke out into a insane, sadistic grin as it passed its blade over the man's left side, "It was about here, wasn't it? Where I stabbed you all those years ago."

The Prince of the Desert's once large innocent blue eyes turn a strange lifeless gold glare as he recalled the incidence. The look in his eyes was the one of those being possessed by the Zero System. If the shifter had stabbed him there before then……"Then you are Dorothy Catalonia as well."
"I see you have seen through my façade, Quatre Raberba Winner." Michiru spoke but this time Dorothy's voice came out, raising her blade high. The maniacal grin that had appeared on the senshi of water face completely ruining the beauty she once possessed. The tip of the sword pierced his left side once again. The wound from six years ago that had almost healed, opened again as the negative energy rushed through Quatre's body. He sank to his knees as the weapon plunged deeper and deeper into his body until it went right through him. His eyes blurred and his head began to sag to the side. His body connected with the floor and his vision went black. Not once did he let out a cry of pain or agony. He would not allow the Shifter to have that satisfaction.

"Quatre!" Duo shouted from their prison.

Wufei looked away out of respect. He still owed Quatre for saving his life but now it seemed that he would never be able to repay his debt.

Trowa was shocked. That woman. He had felt sympathy for her. He had confided in her a bit about himself. But she was all a lie. 'No wonder she couldn't cry. She wasn't truly a woman or even human.'

The sea green haired woman cackled, her voice returned to that of a man's. A grunt was heard over the evil laughter. The victory the Shifter had won was short lived a Heero returned to his feet. He wiped the blood out of his eye, shaking it off of his hand with the flick of the wrist. His eyes fell onto Quatre's still form on the ground and the blood that stained his clothes and the tile under him.

He did not flinch once, but just turned his eyes back to the woman in front of him. His eyes were emotionless and his soul was bare. His mien was that of an emotionless, heartless mercenary, only caring about himself. The Shifter saw this. "I see you have come back to your senses, Heero-san."

"I hate the weak." the Perfect soldier said, his eyes returned to where Quatre lay.

Michiru's eyes grew with delight. This would be easier than it thought. "Heero-san, you could be strong. I can make you more powerful than you have ever been if you join me." the person in Michiru's body spoke, holding her hand out towards the ex-pilot.

"I can't stand the weak." he muttered, his eyes narrowing, "They always nervous about being attacked next. They can't trust anybody and never have an opinion of their own. I can't tolerate such people."

"Exactly. I can give you power. Enough power to destroy the weak. We will be strong. We will be victorious!" the Shifter exclaimed.

Heero closed his Prussian blue eyes, "There will never be enough power to destroy the weak."

"What are you talking about? Of course there-"

"As I told Zechs, no body is strong. All of humanity is weak. Including you and me! Nothing can change that." he interrupted.

The woman shook with rage, "How dare you say I am weak! I gave you a chance to live and you insult me."

"All you did was give me a choice between you and humanity. I chose humanity." he stated bluntly.

"You included me in humanity. I am not human."

The perfect soldier opened his eyes and turned his cold gaze onto the Shifter, "I was not talking to you. I was talking to your host. She is still human even if you are not."

"So you're going to kill me with her in order to save this world?" it made Michiru smirk.

"Iie. I intend to kill you. I will protect all humanity including her." Heero stated, watching the older woman carefully. If he did not know any better, he thought she had heard him.

"What a fine job of protecting humanity you're doing. You already lost one of those that you claim you were going to save." the enemy continued its sarcastic mockery, crossing its arms.

"Heero, get out of there! You can't do anything; you'll only get yourself killed!" Duo screamed to his friend, banging on his prison's wall.

"Maxwell is right. Heero, look what he did to Winner." Wufei instructed.

"Maybe you should listen to your little friends and run. Run like you always have." the older woman jeered, but it didn't get the reaction it had wanted.

The Prussian eyed warrior laughed. Not insanely. Just laughed as if a funny joke was just told. "I'm afraid you don't give Quatre enough credit. He is still very much alive. If he were not, Reilan would have been released by now." With that said, the Perfect Soldier walked over to the man of Arab descent's body. His slender fingers closed around the hilt of the blade that was imbedded within Quatre and yanked it out, taking a bit of Quatre's blood with it.

The shifter stared in shock, "B-but how? You shouldn't be able to touch that sword. Your flesh should be burning and melting away now! Just who the hell are you?"

"I thought you would know that with Michiru's memories." he stated, "I am Heero Yuy, the Prince of Elysion."

He snapped his fingers and the bubble around his three friends disappeared. A second later, the sword in his hand converted its dark energy into light.

A few more groans were heard as Ami, Hotaru, and Shingo rejoined the conscious. The sight before them made them gape. Quatre lay on the floor, limp as crimson liquid poured from his left side. Duo, Trowa, and Wufei just stood there watching Heero. And Heero! Heero, sword unsheathed and gripped firmly in his right hand while his left stayed behind his back, glared at the enemy which was now revealed to be Michiru.

The Shifter shifted its weight from side to side out of anxiety. The fear that possessed it made it make an all out assault on Heero, leaving the rest to fend for themselves.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Well here's a present you can open earlier for any holiday. Sorry about the not-updating-for-most-of-the-month thing. Too much stuff to do. Well this was a long chapter. I put so many quotes in here from Gundam Wing and a few from Saiyuki. Some explanations are in order:

1) Quatre goes all Zero-ish whenever a fencing weapon is around because of being stabbed by one. I believe that he becomes very defensive once a sabre is shown or his wound is mentioned so the Zero system takes over his subconscious and tries to protect him.

2) Dorothy is in this because of watching too much of the last DVD of Gundam Wing. The Shifter can, as the name implies, shift into different forms. Dorothy, in this anyways, used to be alive and have a soul, but then sold it to the Shifter with the promise to become stronger to fight in the war when she was a child.

3) The chapter titles are usually titles of songs that I listen to when writing the chapters so dun let them fool you. I mean 'Tourniquet' by Evanescence doesn't have much to do with this chapter. Now onto the reviews:

Vega03: Thanks for the compliment, review, and the support. I try my best to keep people interested. Happy Holidays!

Sniper1250: Sorry about the lateness and sorry about not getting the Duo dying scene right. I don't know why but my muse for Death is pretty pissed off at me right now. He just won't cooperate. I think its because I made him into a very hot bishi and now when he tries to be all "I'm death, fear me!" rabid fan girls attack him. ::shrugs:: Oh well. I'm sure you don't have THAT much time on your hands but hey, I could be wrong. It has happened before. Long reviews are always nice. Thanks for the suggestions and Happy Holidays!

Kaiya-san: Thanks for the review and pointing out my mistakes. My grammar and typing skills really do suck sometimes. Oh well. Sorry to make you upset with all the messing-with-Heero-and-Ami's-emotions thing. Happy Holidays!

Nyneve: Well I was thinking about the triangle but decided against it. Heero is already hard-headed enough for me. I guess I'll just have to DO something about that. Thanks for the review, but :: ¬ ¬ :: you're getting a little to comfy with my Quatre-chan. Out of the spirit of fairness, I can share him with you, if you would like.

Well thanks for reading too. Have a nice safe holiday, whichever ones you celebrate! (Christmas, Kwanzaa, and New Years for me) Ja ne
~minimerc