Chapter 4:

Chapter 4:

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"Mamoru?" Usagi was confused. The world she was inside of was hazy and dark, and the tree's that surrounded her were cold and dank, blurring into the ground and all that this place encompassed.

"Mamoru?" she called out again. She could sense his presence here, her precious Mamo-chan! Where could he be? Something rustled behind a bush. Was it him?! Was Mamoru hiding over there?! 'Wait for me, my love!' Usagi cried out inside her head.

Usagi tried to run over the hedge that was making the noise, but her legs wouldn't move. Her long, white appendages were intertwined with each other, jumbled and messed up, refusing to move forward to where she so desperately needed to go.

"MAMO-CHAN!" She cried out, reaching forth with both her hands, her palms spread wide open, trying severely to send herself forth, but the invisible force that held her in place would not be weakened. Realizing she was fighting a losing battle, Usagi crumpled to the ground in a fit of tears, rage, and need.

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Usagi woke up with a start. 'Ohhhh,' she thought sadly, looking around her, 'it had been a dream.' She noticed she was alone, besides the giant legendary cherry blossom tree that shaded her from the mornings rays. Usagi started to rub her eyes and yawn when--

Out of nowhere, something landed on her lap. WHAT? Bodies?!

""AAAAAAAACKK!! OFF OFF OFF OFF!!" Usagi screamed, pushing the lifeless bodies off her tiny frame. She then quickly rose to her feet and ran off, ducking behind a bush.

Hearing a noise emerge from the two lifeless masses, Usagi peeked over the bush. "Grooooaaaaannn…" So, they were alive were they? Usagi crept slowly out of her hiding place, and crawled over to them so she could get a better look.

Sitting over one of the torsos, Usagi looked at it very closely. "It's a male," Usagi thought out loud, looking him over. The boy had disheveled brown locks erupting from his head, and was wearing a green tank top with…spandex?

"His body is so bruised, and red, like he's been burnt by the wind." Usagi gazed up at his face. "And he… looks …so …cold." Usagi ran a finger gently over his skin, hoping that what she saw reflecting from his face wasn't true. Smiling, she felt warmth pulsing through him to her tips…and then a deft hand quickly grabbed her wrist.

"EeeeeK!" Usagi yelped, jumping up, trying to get away. But the grasp was so tight, she couldn't even rise!

"Who are you?" the boy looked up at her from the ground, his eyes in slits, untrusting. Then, it dawned on him. He wasn't where he was supposed to be…'The library..the portal..oh GOD, where am I?' Heero thought to himself while still trying to keep his focus on this girl. Heero sat up, still clutching her tiny wrist tightly, but..gently?… inside his fist.

The girl stared back at him, blankly. She didn't respond right away, which irritated Heero.

"Who are you?" Heero shook her arm a little bit, trying to get a reaction.

Usagi was to busy concentrating on the fact that this weird boy that fell on top of her from nowhere in the sky was holding her wrist in his hand, shaking it at her, threatening her with it, to hear his exact words. His face was so fierce, his deep Prussian blue eyes so cold…they looked shattered, torn apart. Usagi saw herself reflecting in his eyes. She wanted to help this lost boy…

Heero noticed she was searching his face, and he couldn't help but gaze back. He focused in on her eyes…they were so innocent, so pure…but was that pain? He saw something flickering uncertainly inside of her pupils…they were dilating. Unconsciously, Heero let go of her wrist. 'She looks like an angel…' Heero ran his hand through his hair, still watching her. Usagi's hair was flowing in the wind, the pieces twisting and turning as they rose and fell. Her face looked sympathetic, her eyes speaking to him, calmly…

"Groooooaaaaann…." Heero's head instantly turned away from the girl over to the noise, his instincts telling him to protect her; but he quickly realized it was only Duo. Annoyed, Heero rose from his position on the ground, and walked over to the braided baka; Usagi's eyes on him every step of the way. Realizing he had an audience, Heero gently (as opposed to his usual mercilessness) kicked Duo in the side.

"Get up, Maxwell. We've….landed." Duo turned over on his back and opened one violet eye.

"Heero? Where are we?" Duo sounded beat.

'So that's his name,' Usagi fondly noted. "Heero…" Usagi tenderly mouthed his name silently, letting it descend over her lips.

"Damned if I know." Holding out one hand, Heero leaned over to Duo, attempting to help him up.

"Thanks Buddy!" Duo clutched his friend's hand, and rose to his feet. He then noticed Usagi staring at them with her wide blue eyes. "Why hello Miss! Would ya mind telling me where we are, then maybe someplace we can go to get a bite to eat?" Duo asked cheerfully, completely unfazed by the current circumstances. Heero glared at him. Did he never know how to be serious? But at least now he could hear this little angel speak….

Cocking her head curiously off to one side, Usagi said, "You're in Sakura Park, Tokyo."

"Tokyo?" Duo looked over at his partner, "Isn't that on Earth?"

"Hn," Heero said, thinking, "Miss…what year is it?"

"Please," Usagi spoke, "Stop calling me Miss; my name's Usagi. Tsukino Usagi. And it's…2001 AD?" Usagi looked up at them from her position on the ground with whimsical stare. 'How cute they are,' she thought, laughing to herself, 'Lost. Like in one of those mangas…'

"Here," Duo said, walking over to her, extending an arm, "Let me help you up!" Tenderly, Duo pulled Usagi to her feet. When she stood, she about reached his chin. Duo found this to be hysterical. "You're so tiny!!!" Duo exclaimed, clutching his stomach.

"Why's that so funny, eh?" Usagi tapped her foot, glaring at him.

"Huh?" Duo chuckled, "It's just that.. **laugh** from where I'm from **snort** I'm considered small **chuckle** So you're like **har** a midget!!!!" Duo almost fell backwards.

"Enough, Maxwell." Heero was getting pissed. What was this girl talking about, 2001 AD? What the heck was that?

"Sorry!" Duo chuckled again, then composed himself. "I'm sorry, Usagi, we didn't introduce ourselves. I'm Maxwell Duo, and this-" he said pointing at Heero's frowning face, "-is Yuy Heero."

"Oh," she said, as smile peeked weaned its way onto her face, "I see. Now, how about getting something to eat?"

"Right on!" Duo cried, his fist triumphantly in the air.

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The three of them sat in a booth at the soda shop, each with a burger in front of them. Usagi didn't mind springing for their food; lately she hadn't been spending that much money any way.

"So," Usagi said, leaning forward with her head in her hands, looking at the two boys sitting across from her, "What's your story?"

Sipping from his drink, Heero cocked his eyebrow at her. She was so blunt.

"WELL," Duo started, "It's LOOONG story, but I think we can let you in---"

"USAGI-CHAN!" Rei cried as she appeared out of nowhere. She ran over to her best friend, gasping for breath. "Where have you been? I've been looking for you EVERYWHERE! When I woke up this morning, you weren't home and--- oh my. Usagi, who are these two young boys?" Rei eyed each of them with fake suspicion, then winked at Usagi. 'She moves on pretty quickly,' Rei thought. 'Good for her.'

"Well Rei," Usagi said as she scooted over in her seat, motioning for her to sit down, "I'm about to find out."

Rei gave Usagi a confused look, then sat down next to her. "What's going on, Usagi?"

"I don't know," replied Usagi coolly, "Why don't you ask them?"

Usagi and Rei looked at Heero and Duo, their eyes asking for answers.

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authors notes

Hi ho readers!! Just to let you guys know, I went back into previous chapters and changes something minor. Usagi doesn't live at home or go to school…instead, she and Rei share an apartment and go to…bum da bum bum… COLLEGE!! Wahoo! ::Hehehe:: And, Usagi and Rei are 18, Duo and Heero are 19. BTW…I totally REVISED chapter 3, so if you want, check it out, it's a little different. Basically the same though…juts written better and a new scene (even though the scene is pretty insignificant). Everything I've said you probably could have figured out just by reading this, but I wanted to make sure everything is CRYSTAL CLEAR!!! And I know this chapter is short…but I did take my time on it, and I did work pretty hard…hope you all like it even if it is a small installment. ::wonders::...some one answer this for me seeing as I'm new to the fanfic community: am I fast on new chapters, slow, or medium? Hn?