Chapter 6


Trowa, Sasami, and Quatre walked side by side down the streets of the shopping section. Sasami stopped ever-so-often to gaze, drool at, and, eventually, buy something. Trowa and Quatre also bought stuff. Just a few things, but stuff none the less. They even bought stuff for Ryoko, Kiyone, and Ryo-ohki. As the three walked on, they passed by a gown shop. Hearing the sharp gasp next to them, Trowa and Quatre groaned loudly. Sasami laughed and put her hands on her hips. "Fine. You two go on ahead, with the bags of course, and then meet me..." Sasami looked around and spotted a nearby bench, next to the shade of a tree. "Meet me there." she finished, pointing at it, "And then we can go back together. Then I'll have Heero pick me up." Trowa and Quatre nodded, walking down the street. She waved and then turned back to face the store she was about to make another happy manager out of.

"Gowns For You." she said, reading the name, "How true. How true." She giggled and made her way to the door of the store. As she pushed open the door, a little sound passed through the store. She ignored the people that flocked around her. "I do no not need any help." The left like obedient animals, waiting at the counter for her to finish. Sasami walked through the isles of the store, picking up dresses and trying them on. She then found one that she absolutely adored, and she didn't have to ask the people for help, because it was just her size. It was a white one; also sparkling if she wore it where lights were important, with long sleeves, and its length was that of reaching the ground. She took it gently off of the rack, and walked to the fitting rooms, smiling happily.

She took the dress off the hanger and set it aside as she discarded her own clothes. She then picked it up and slipped it over her head. It slid down slowly and she fixed the sleeves. She placed the loop for the right hand on, so the part of the sleeve covered her middle finger, and part of the ring finger, then did the same for the left sleeve. She glanced down to see how the gown looked, and spotted, what must have been, a missing piece of the outfit. She bent and picked it up, twirling it in her fingers, examining it. It was a hair tie *scrunchie* with material made out of silver to go with the dress. There were also little streamers that must've been to hang down in the hair after putting it on. She slipped it over the one already in her hair, and as the tiny streamers landed softly in her hair, the last images she would ever be sent flashed through her mind.

She stood completely still, her eyes wide open as the images came in many different colors. Then it all balanced out and she saw white room. The light faded and she made out two sets of glass cases. One held a female, whose features were shadowed. The other held a male, whose features were also shadowed. They were both wearing white. The image then spread out and brought into view, the inhabitants of Jurai, and other galaxies and places. Everyone's held was held low and soft crying was heard. Ryoko's eyes were shadowed, but the scowl on her face, and her clenched fists told you a lot. Then it all faded black, then back to Sasami, who was now breathing heavily.

Sasami didn't even want to think about it. She took of the gown and put if on the hanger, carefully placing the hair tie over the top. She put back on her own clothes and walked out of the fitting room. She put the dress on the counter and paid the clerk quickly. She placed the gown in a paper bag and handed it to Sasami with a smile plastered on her face. "Have a nice day!" the clerk said. Sasami gave an equally fake smile and took her bag, "You too!" She walked back through the sliding doors, and now into mid afternoon. She walked out a little and looked down both sides of the streets. No sign of Trowa or Quatre. She walked to the still empty bench and sat down, placing her bag next to her.

She sat there for a few minutes, hoping they would show up, but they never did. She sat up and looked across from her. Her stomach grumbled as if on cue, because she was now looking at a small and simple restaurant. She glanced down the street one more time and saw no one. She got up and cast a small protection spell on her bag. She closed it up after she placed a note in it and made her way over to the store. As she neared, she was glad to see that they served food that she liked. When she entered, a little bell tinkled, giving her away. Everyone looked up at her and a series of gasps went through different booths. She smiled and made her way to the counter. She sat in one of the stools and spun around. She laughed and ordered her food.

When he came back with her food, and handed it to her, she smiled and nodded. "This is a cute and quaint little place you have here." The man took off his hat and placed it over his heart, and looking up at the sky, praised the Lord in Spanish. All this was done as Sasami made her way to a small booth near a window. She sat down and started to eat slowly, ignoring some of the stares from curious people. She set her bowl to the side when she felt she was full, and looked out of the window, sighing. The sky was slowly fading to another color as she sat there for what seemed like an eternity. She got up and instantly some one came over to take up her thrash.

She shook her head and sent them off. She picked up her own thrash and threw it away. She pulled out a small napkin and wiped off her hands. She then threw that away, too. She walked to the door and turned back around. She nodded and gave a small bow to everyone, then left, the little bell tinkling behind her. She stood on the last of the three small steps there and laughed at the uproar that passed through the store. She laughed silently and walked off, only to see that Trowa and Quatre were still no where to be found, or seen. Frustrated, she walked past the bench and further down, by the same gown shop. She looked in and saw some pretty pink dresses, just like the one she just bought, only they were big enough for the twins.

"The twins!?" She had forgotten all about Kathy and Sammy. Then she realized that Katherine had said she was going to pick them up. She gave a relieved sigh and decided to buy the outfits for them. She walked back into the store and headed straight for the children's section. She thumbed through the racks and found the sizes she needed. She picked them, and making sure the hair tie piece was still attached, walked back to the cash out. after paying, she ignored everyone, and took her bag with her out of the store. She stepped out into the dusk of the day. She groaned and dragged herself back to the bench. She flopped down and leaned back against the bench, looking up at the sky.

She thought about the others, and their new lives. She looked at the few stars that were twinkling brightly and thought of Jurai. She sighed and took her daughters' dress out of that one bag and put them in her bag. She crumpled up that one bag and tossed it up and down. She caught it and spotted a small trash can. The ones they have for those people who have small drinks and just wants to toss them in. She got up and walked over to it. She tossed it in and stood, looking down the street some more. She hugged herself as the wind picked up. Her hair swayed behind her as did the wind, making her bangs blow in her face.

She shivered. "Must be a storm coming." she mumbled. She looked up at the sky and noticed that most of the stars were covered by clouds. "Trowa, where are you guys?" She moved off, because the bin was right next to the gown store, and started to head back to the bench. She was suddenly grabbed around the waist by someone. She wanted to scream, as she was pulled into the alley that was there, but a strong hand clamped down over her mouth. And somehow, something, was blocking off her powers at the moment, and all she could do was thrash around, trying to get away.

Chapter 7


Sasami's mind went blank. All she could do know was bite at the hand of the person that covered her mouth. He yelled and pulled away his hand. "Why... you little bitch." he growled. He flung her into the wall of the alley. Sasami hit the wall and slumped to the ground. He snickered as she got to her feet again. "You're just as tough as they said you would be." Another figure appeared in the alley. "And just as lovely, too." the figure replied. He stepped into the dim light of the alley and Sasami gasped, "Kagato! I thought Tenchi killed you." "Ah, yes." he said, "Tenchi killed Kagato. I'm the new replacement. You can call me Kagato if you please, but I prefer Reed. And it doesn't matter anyway."

He formed a green energy sword in his hand. He advanced upon Sasami. "Just as Kagato was after your sister, I am after you. I'm after something different, though." Sasami stood up straight, with her head held high as the sword glowed brighter. "I'm after your body, not your mind and the secrets of Jurai, like Kagato." Sasami tried, and felt the power back in her body. She put up a shield just as Reed thrust the sword towards her. It broke through the shield and penetrated the wall, inches from Sasami's head. Her chest fell with every quickened breath she took. "So," he laughed, "I see you're a little weak. All the better for us, and even more better."

He held her hand and squeezed it lightly. She jerked away her hand. She held both of them in front of her and tried to form a shield. Nothing happened. She tried again. Still nothing. She looked at Reed. "W--what did you do to me?" "Temporary shortage. Nothing too bad." Sasami tried to contact Heero or Trowa, and found that she still could. Reed growled. "Don't you dare." He raised his hand and brought it down along the side of her face. She screamed and landed on the ground. "T-Trowa..." she whispered. A few stores down, Trowa's eyes fixed and his head snapped up. Quatre looked at him. "What's wrong, Trowa?" he asked. "I think we should hurry back to meet Sasami. Something might be wrong." Quatre studied that and nodded. The two of them ran out of the store and down the street to where they were supposed to be.

Sasami leaned on her elbow to keep herself from touching the ground anymore. Her face was slightly bruised and her clothes were covered with dirt. Reed knelt down next to her and brushed her bangs out of her face. "So pretty." he whispered, "Yet so vulnerable." She slapped his hand away. "Don't touch me!" she spat. He smirked. "Feisty, ain't we? Hikitsu!" Hikitsu appeared in front of Sasami. "Hold her." "Yes, sir." Hikitsu brought Sasami to a standing position with his powers. Reed pulled out a regular knife. "I like the old-fashioned way." He turned it in his hand, making it shine and shimmer from the little light in the alley, and making Sasami gasp. That particular image floated back into her mind, and of all times, where she could do nothing about, or the fact that no one was around to really help.

Reed brought the knife right down the middle of Sasami's shirt, cutting it open, and also cutting her. She winced as a few drops of blood fell from the open wound. "Just don't think of it as pain, think of it as pleasure." Reed stated, wiping the blood from the knife. "You--you... How dare you call this pleasure! When Trowa finds me, and Heero finds out..." Reed shut Sasami up with another slap. Only her head moved because Hikitsu held her body with his power. "Trowa..." she whispered, then yelled, "Trowa!" Though Trowa was not inherited with magic, he felt something. "Quatre! Hurry!" The two ran and soon reached the store Sasami had left them, just as the storm broke. "Look!" Quatre yelled above the thunderclap, "There's her bag." Quatre picked the bag up off of the bench and looked in. A letter floated out. He closed the bag and kept it closed. Trowa grabbed the letter and both he and Quatre read it.


Dear Guys,

If when you get back, and you don't meet me,
just wait awhile. If anything, send someone back
to Quatre's with all our bags.



Just then, new sentences appeared on the paper. Trowa gasped as he read them aloud, "Trowa...Trowa, help! Call Heero! Send Quatre back to the estate. They're gonna--" It ended just like that, then he started reading again, "I'm--" He stopped reading completely. "That's it?" Quatre asked. Trowa sadly nodded. "They must have her now. But who are these people, and why are they doing this?" Trowa patted Quatre softly on the back. "calm down, Quatre. Go back with all the bags, and call Heero as soon as you reach." Quatre nodded. Trowa watched as Quatre got in a cab, with all their stuff, and headed back. Trowa then started looking for Sasami. He went to the gown shop and asked the clerk when was the last time they say her and they said about several hours ago.

He then walked to the food court, where he guessed she might have gone. The manager and customers were still celebrating. He asked them, too, and they said yes. He was about to leave, when a female came up to him and stopped him. "Are you Sasami's husband?" she asked. Trowa smiled. "No, I'm a close friend. Do you know where she is? It's urgent." The lady shook her head. "The last time I saw her, she was sitting out there, on the bench. Then she got up to throw a bag in the garbage can next to the gown shop. I then moved away from the window." Trowa nodded. "Thank you." The woman smiled. Trowa ran back out into the rain and called out Sasami's name.

He turned in the rain looking for the garbage bin. He spotted it, just where the woman said it would be, but then he also spotted an alley she never mentioned. "No..." he breathed, "Sasami." He ran over, then started down the alley. As he neared the middle of the alley, he caught sight of something blue, lying on the ground. Trowa stopped next to the curled up figure of Sasami. He knelt next to her and the water from his face dripped onto her. "Please... be ok." he whispered as he held her in his arms. There were numerous amounts of cuts on her body, and she was bleeding nearly all over. Her hair was pulled from the ponytail and now hung limply around her almost completely naked body.

He took off the jacket, he'd decided to wear, and hung it over her. It wasn't able to cover her properly, but it was enough. He picked her up and ran out of the alley. He didn't know if he was able to make it to the hospital before an ambulance, but he remembered that one was very close by. They'd passed it on their way here. In ten minutes, Trowa was at the hospital. He ran inside and looked for someone. He spotted a nurse not really busy. He ran up to her, and she called over a gurney immediately. He placed Sasami on it and they got her hooked up to the oxygen mask and inserted the I.V. liquid. She looked up at Trowa. "What happened to her?" Trowa shrugged. "I don't know." Silence, except for the nurse's calls, followed, as they made their way to an E.R. room.