Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon or Gundam Wing. (Damn!)
Authoress' Notes: Chapter 3! I'm surprised I got this far in this short of time! When I started this story, I meant it as a one shot. I didn't think I'd get so many reviews! Mucho gracias! Merci! Arigato! Thank you!
Usagi/Duo: Get on with it Phoenix!
Oh yes. Official pairing: Hiiro/Usagi! Thank you for the votes! Sorry to those who voted Milliardo/Usagi, but I may write a story featuring that couple later.
Quatre: That's a big MAYBE.
Et tu Quatre? Anyway, on with the fic!
Ami: Here is something you may need to know:
//…// -- Dream
From Twilight to Dawn: Chapter 3
By: Phoenix of Blood Red Mars
"Hiiro-chan?" Usagi rushed up to the unconscious boy on the couch, ignoring the stares she was getting from Duo and Quatre. She knelt beside the Prussian-blue-eyed boy and looked up at the pair who brought him in. "What happened? Will he be okay?"
Quatre nodded. "He just passed out. Too much stress. He'll be okay in a few minutes."
Trowa returned with a damp washcloth from the kitchen, which he placed gently onto Hiiro's forehead. "Thanks Tro-man," said Duo.
"Are you sure Quatre-san? I have a friend who can heal if necessary." Usagi offered. Duo looked at her curiously.
"Heal? You mean a doctor?" The silver-haired girl looked at him in surprise, then quickly nodded.
"Yeah, that's what I mean Duo-san." 'If only they knew.' "I can go get her."
"That won't be necessary," Cut in Quatre. "Thank you anyway." He looked at her with interest. "May I ask why you are here?"
"This is my new dorm!" replied Usagi.
"Your new dorm?!" exclaimed both Duo and Quatre. Trowa nodded.
"I was there when it was assigned to her."
"So where is Hotaru staying?" asked the braided American eagerly. The sapphire-blue-eyed girl giggled.
"In your dorm." Duo let out a whoop. Usagi pulled his face to her level though by grabbing his priest's collar. She growled into his face, "If you even THINK about hurting her though, you'd better be ready to be dead." Duo gulped and nodded. Usagi grinned and released. "Good. Now that that's settled, let's get Hiiro-chan comfy."
Duo rubbed. 'She's strong! Stronger than she looks. Apparently she's very protective of her friends. There's no reason for Usagi to worry though. I wouldn't DREAM of hurting Hotaru! I like that violet-haired girl.' Duo hid a grin. 'And Usagi called Hiiro Hiiro-chan! I think she likes him back whether she knows it or not!'
Quatre looked wide-eyed at the silver-haired girl. 'I feel protective feelings just radiating from Usagi! She must really wish to defend Hotaru. Hmm… Some of those feelings are not just for protecting Hotaru though. There are others she wishes to protect, others close by. I wonder who? I feel love illuminating from her also. There's confusion, pain, sadness, some regret, and a little happiness in there as well. What happened that she'd feel all those at once?'
Usagi lifted up Hiiro's head and upper back, glaring at the three boys staring at her. "Well, are you going to help me put him on his bed?" Quatre moved immediately to help, as did Trowa. Duo shook his head in astonishment, then lifted up Hiiro's legs. Together the four of them were more than able to take Hiiro into his and Usagi's bedroom and place him on the made bed. "I'll watch him if you guys want to do something else." Quatre was about to protest when Duo grabbed him by the elbow.
"Thanks Usagi. I have to go see Hotaru about that tour. Quatre and Trowa were going to get our books for classes tomorrow. Let us know when Hiiro wakes up." Duo pulled Quatre and Trowa out of the room. He muttered to them, "We can spy on her and see what she does. I don't know if we can trust her yet." The three peered through the creaked open door.
Usagi sat beside the unconscious Hiiro. "I hope you are really alright. The others say you just passed out. Are you sick and not telling anyone? You don't seem to have a fever. Should I just let you sleep it out? Or should I use the Ginzuishou to heal you?" Duo and Quatre exchanged looks, while Trowa looked on impassively. "I want you to be alright, so I should probably use the Ginzuishou."
Duo moved his mouth close to Quatre's ear. "What does 'Ginzuishou' mean?" he whispered softly. The blonde Arabian looked at him.
"It means 'Silver Crystal' in Japanese." The platinum blonde responded just as quietly. They continued to watch.
Usagi looked thoughtful. 'Should I use the Ginzuishou?' Her face grew determined. 'I want him to feel better. I'll use it.' "I call upon the power of Ginzuishou." She whispered. A silver glow surrounded her body.
A beautiful nine-pointed silver star, with each point a different color, with a golden crescent moon in the center glowed on Usagi's forehead. A silver crystal in the shape of a flower appeared from the sapphire-eyed girl's chest. "Lend me your power Ginzuishou," ordered Usagi in a royal tone of voice. The silver crystal let off streams of energy that poured into the symbol on her forehead. The crystal disappeared, and Usagi held glowing hands over Hiiro's prone body. The silver light encompassed the chocolate-brown-haired boy and disappeared.
The symbol on Usagi's forehead disappeared, as did all the silver light. The mysterious girl fell off the bed and onto the floor as she panted for breath. Usagi got up unsteadily and walked tottering the short distance to the other bed. The sapphire-blue-eyed girl collapsed into it, and seemed to fall asleep.
The three exchanged glances, and watched as Hiiro's eyes slowly opened.
Hiiro slowly opened his eyes as his mind left the comforting darkness around him. 'Ooh… my head hurts like hell. What happened?' Hiiro let his mind flash to the events beforehand. 'I love Usagi-chan? So why did I pass out?' The Prussian-blue-eyed boy gingerly sat up, and halted when the room seemed to spin around him. 'I'm in my room. Duo and Quatre must have brought me here.' He sat up completely and looked around. Hiiro froze when he saw the occupant of the other bed. 'Usagi-chan?! How did she get here? Why is she here?'
The Prussian-blue-eyed boy slipped his under his mattress and gently pulled out his gun, making no sound while doing so. Aiming it at the sapphire-eyed girl, he realized something. 'She's sleeping! But what in the hell is she doing in my room?'
The silver-haired girl was sleeping, but not peacefully it seemed. She was tossing and turning, and her brows were furrowed together. Tears were streaming down her cheeks and her expression was pained. Her breathing was erratic, coming in short gasps one moment, then so slow it was hard to tell she was still living. Sweat gathered at her hairline, some pouring down the sides of her face.
Hiiro got up cautiously, replacing his gun back under his mattress and walking over to the sleeping Usagi. He lay a hand on her shoulder, intending to wake her up from whatever nightmare plagued her. The Perfect Soldier froze again when Usagi subconsciously grabbed his hand and snuggled closer to it. 'Oh s***! What am I supposed to do?' Hiiro spotted the slightly open door and sent a scared look toward Trowa, Quatre, and Duo, who were watching. Trowa gave a small smile and walked away.
'I still don't know your secrets Usagi, but if you would do whatever you did to help Hiiro, then I trust you enough.'Duo gave a large grin and a thumbs up. 'How did you do that Usagi? But you helped my friend Hiiro, so you're a friend now. But I want to know more about you before I can trust you completely.' The braided American sauntered away to go track down his violet-haired crush.
Quatre smiled gently at the sight of Usagi cuddling Hiiro's hand. He motioned for the Prussian-blue-eyed boy to sit down next to the silver-haired girl, and Hiiro did so, only to freeze in his place when Usagi wrapped her arms around his waist, face pressing against his chest. Her breathing steadied, and she stopped her tossing and turning. Hiiro sent another panicky gape to the blonde Arabian, who whispered one word: "Relax." Quatre then strolled away from the couple, closing the door to make a soft click.
Hiiro leaned his back against the headboard of the bed and positioned Usagi so that her body was lying next to his, her arms still around his waist and head to his chest. The Prussian-blue-eyed boy softly stroked Usagi's soft silky hair as his eyelids drooped. The boy fell asleep moments later, the taxing energy the newfound emotions took draining him.
//Usagi watched as Chaos sent black energy at her Senshi. It was as if she, the real her, watched the battle from afar, and there was herself as Eternal Sailor Moon in the group in front of Chaos. "Silence Wall." Said Sailor Saturn calmly, holding her Silence Glaive in front of her. A wall of violet formed in front of the Sailor Senshi. The energy tried to get through, but bounced off. Suddenly it came at the wall again, and made it through.
"No! Submarine Reflection!"
"Space Sword Blaster!" Sailors Neptune and Uranus yelled, rushing in front of the other Senshi. The two energy attacks were no match for Chaos' assault, and Neptune and Uranus exploded into dust. Blue-green and dark blue raced into Eternal Sailor Moon's broach and the Ginzuishou, and Eternal Moon's forehead glowed briefly with the signs of Neptune and Uranus.
"NOO! Sailor Neptune! Sailor Uranus!" Eternal Moon cried out, falling to her knees and sobbing. Usagi let the tears stream down her cheeks as she watched her Senshi die again.
"Eternal Sailor Moon!" The four Inner Senshi cried out as Chaos aimed an attack at her. Sailor Jupiter knocked Eternal Moon out of the way, taking the blast meant for the Moon Princess. Emerald green sped into the Ginzuishou, Eternal Moon's forehead glimmered with the sign of Jupiter.
"Jupiter!" Sailor Venus and Eternal Moon screamed out.
"You demon!" exclaimed Venus. "VENUS Love and Beauty SHOCK!!!" The large orange heart hit Chaos, and the evil being laughed.
"Is that all you got Princess of Venus?" taunted Chaos. Venus growled and charged at the monster, the Artemis Sword in hand.
"VENUS!!! DON'T!!!" cried out Eternal Moon and Usagi. The real Usagi fell to her knees as well. "It's hopeless! You can't fight and win!" Usagi was right as Venus was killed in a single blow. Orange rushed into the Ginzuishou, and the Venus symbol flashed on Eternal Moon's forehead.
Sailors Mars and Mercury attacked in a blind fury, throwing their fire and ice attacks at the evil being, but they were no match as well and quickly killed. "Mars! Mercury! NOO!!!" shouted Eternal Moon and Usagi at the same time, both sobbing. Red and light blue raced into the Ginzuishou, the Mars and Mercury symbols showing up promptly on Eternal Moon's forehead.
"Why did you all have to protect me?" whimpered Usagi. "I'm not that important for you all to give up your lives for mine every time a new enemy shows up." Warm arms encircled her sobbing form and she looked up abruptly. Sympathetic Prussian blue eyes stared back into hers. Usagi was confused. 'This is just a dream, right? So why is Hiiro-chan in my dreams?'
A cry from the battlefield caught Usagi's attention. "Pluto," she whispered. Garnet red joined the other colors in the Ginzuishou, and the symbol of Pluto dazzled on Eternal Moon's forehead.
"Silence Glaive Surprise!" The violet ball of energy actually hit Chaos and knocked him back.
"Saturn! Get out of here! I don't want you to be killed too!" Eternal Moon cried out. Sailor Saturn shook her head.
"I would never forgive myself if I gave up protecting you now. Silence Wall!" The purple wall stopped Chaos' next attack. "YOU need to get out of here, Eternal Sailor Moon. You are the only one who can win." Chaos' attack broke through the barrier and hit Saturn. Violet streamed into the Ginzuishou and the Saturn symbol flashed on Eternal Moon's forehead. The arms around Usagi tightened as the golden crescent moon replaced it, then the crescent moon was surrounded by a silver star.
Eternal Moon's fuku changed from blue, yellow, and pink, to gold and silver, and real angel wings spread from her back. A staff formed in her hands, the Ginzuishou on the top. "I am the legendary Senshi, the Queen of the Stars. I am Cosmos." She said calmly. Wisdom and pain shone in her eyes, but she stood tall. "You will be destroyed once and for all Chaos."
Usagi turned to bury her face in the boy's chest. She knew what happened next. Cosmos would destroy Chaos, but her friends wouldn't be able to live again. She was to live alone. "I am Cosmos," she whispered, just like her dream, and yet not just dream, counterpart. "I'll never get away from her duties."
"It'll be alright Usagi-chan. Someday." The dream Hiiro hugged her tightly. "The time right before the dawn is the darkest."// The sleeping Usagi subconsciously embraced the just-fell-asleep Hiiro harder.
Hotaru jerked as she felt the power of the Ginzuishou. 'Usagi-chan! What's going on?' Seconds later it subsided, but Hotaru decided to find Usagi as soon as she could get away.
"Hotaru-chan, why was Usagi-san like that?" asked Ami. Hotaru looked at her curiously.
"What do you mean?" The violet-haired girl and the blue-haired genius were helping Rei put her things away.
"I mean, I was just trying to thank her and she almost bit my head off. Is she okay?"
"Oh… She just doesn't like people feeling like they owe her something." 'You're not making this easy for me are you Usagi-chan?' "I'd better get Usagi-chan and our luggage." Hotaru left the bedroom and gave a sigh of relief. She walked to the door leading to the hallway and the other dorms when Duo strolled in.
"Hey Hotaru! Usagi told me you were going to be in this dorm! I live here too!"
"Yes, we so GLADLY know." Wufei said from his and Duo's bedroom, sarcasm filling his voice. Duo looked confused.
"Wu-man? What are you doing here?" The Chinese boy walked out of the bedroom, katana in hand. Duo let out an "Eep!" and hid behind Hotaru. "I take it you don't want me calling you Wu-man."
"Lady Une assigned a mission: go back to school." He growled. "I didn't want to, but Une said I had to if I ever wanted to work in the Preventers again." Duo laughed.
"That bites! You're sharing the bedroom with me?" Wufei nodded.
"Unfortunately."
"Well, never fear! I'll try to keep my mess in some semblance of order, 'kay?"
"That would be nice."
"Show some emotion other than anger and annoyance please! You're about as bad as Hiiro. Hey, you know what, his shell has finally cracked!" Duo was happy about that, the grin showing that. Wufei showed a little bit of interest.
"Really?" Duo nodded.
"Yep! He has a crush on a girl, and it's not that psycho-b****!" Wufei raised an eyebrow.
"I didn't think that was possible." Duo nodded again.
"That's what I thought. But I don't blame him; the girl's a looker! But personally, I like her best friend a lot more!" Duo winked at the violet-haired girl standing next to him. Hotaru flushed, her face going a light crimson. Wufei thought for a second.
"Yui has a crush on that Tsukino girl?" Duo nodded. "Personally I don't see why."
"Hey, Wu-man, get some glasses! She's a BABE!" Hotaru glared at Duo.
"Oh, just talk about my best friend like I'm not even here!" She said angrily. "I have to go get Usagi-chan and our luggage anyway." The violet-haired girl walked out the door rapidly. Duo stared after her, then turned back to Wufei.
"What did I say?" Rei leaned against the door that led to the girls' bedroom. She had come out after she heard someone she didn't know come into the dorm.
"You don't compliment another girl right next to one that likes you!" She said exasperatedly. Duo perked up.
"She likes me?" Rei stared at him in surprise.
"You couldn't tell? Hotaru was blushing like mad when you said you liked her better than her friend! Then you called her friend a 'babe' without complimenting Hotaru. I'd say she has a perfect right to be mad at you."
"Weak onnas," muttered Wufei. "Love and all that crap makes you weak." Rei gave a loud huff in response.
"Chang, I don't know the hell you think you are to call women weak! Some of the strongest people I know are women!"
"Very few onnas are strong, Hino!"
"More than you think Chang! Your prejudice against women makes YOU weak!"
"I know I'm weak!"
"Here we go again with the 'I'm weak' s*** from Wu-man," grumbled Duo. "Hey, um… babe, who are you?" He asked Rei.
"I am Rei Hino, a new student. I got placed in this dorm today." Duo blinked.
"Uh… With Wu-man and Hotaru that makes four this room has already."
"I know. They ran out of rooms though."
"Okay… I'm going to go catch up with Hotaru! See ya!" With those parting words the braided American ran out of the room. 'Oh crap, I forgot to tell Hotaru that Usagi is asleep!'
Hotaru knocked on the door to dorm 163. 'Why in the name of Saturn do I like him? He goes and calls Usagi-chan a babe, but I guess I don't look as good as Usagi-chan to him! I guess I should probably forget about guys and worry about protecting Usagi-chan. Why did she use the Ginzuishou? She had better be alright!'
Trowa cracked open the door, and looked at Hotaru. "Hello Barton-san, I need to see Usagi-chan. We have to go pick up our luggage." Trowa opened the door the rest of the way and allowed the violet-haired girl to come in.
"She fell asleep in her room." Quatre said from where he sat on the couch. "What is the Ginzuishou?" Hotaru froze, then put a puzzled expression on her face.
"The what?" she asked carefully. Trowa raised an eyebrow. "What is that?"
"You know what it is," said the reddish-brown-haired boy. "I can see through that mask."
"It's none of your business!" exclaimed Hotaru. 'Great. Duo-chan doesn't think I look good, and now Barton-san and Quatre-san know about the Ginzuishou! How much worse can this day get?'
"It is if she used it on our friend." Quatre replied. "Usagi didn't use it for evil, nor was it meant to be used for evil. We just want to know what it is. She collapsed after using it."
"She collapsed? Usagi-chan knows she's not supposed to use it because it takes too much of her energy," Hotaru thought aloud. Trowa and Quatre exchanged glances. This was a start.
"Why does it use so much of her energy?" The blonde Arabian asked cautiously.
"She's the Moo- What are you trying to do?" Hotaru asked angrily as she escaped her thoughts. "I told you it's none of your business!"
"She's the what?" asked Trowa slowly. Hotaru glared at him.
"If you want to know so badly, ask Usagi-chan yourselves! I am not going to betray her trust by telling you her secrets!" The violet-haired girl said vehemently. "If you'll excuse me, I'm going to wake up Usagi-chan!" She pushed past the two boys but stopped when she saw the silver-haired figure standing in the doorway to the left bedroom. "Usagi-chan, are you okay?"
"I'm fine Hotaru-chan. What's so important that you had to wake me up?" Usagi asked cheerfully yet slightly disappointed.
"We have to get our luggage from Setsuna-mama." Hotaru said, calm once more. Usagi nodded.
"Alright. Let's go." The two walked out of the dorm.
Usagi stirred. A familiar voice was making its way through her subconscious, and she didn't like it. "It's none of your business!" rang throughout her head. 'Hotaru-chan!' the silver-haired girl realized. She tried to sit up, but arms were wrapped around her waist. 'Nani? What's going on?' Usagi opened her eyes, and realized her face was pressed against a green-clad chest. 'Oh crap. Okay, I'm with someone. My arms are wrapped around his, definitely a him with this muscular chest, waist, and the boy's arms are wrapped around mine. My face is against his chest. I think his chin is on top of mine. Who is the guy and how will I get out of this without waking him up?'
Usagi let go of the boy's midsection, and was able to gently loosen the boy's arms from hers. She lifted his head carefully from the top of hers, and let it rest on his chest. The sapphire-blue-eyed girl looked lovingly at the boy she realized was Hiiro once she was off the bed. 'I really do like Hiiro-chan, and I think he likes me back if he got onto my bed willingly. He looks so peaceful and innocent when he's sleeping, but when he's awake his eyes seem… haunted. I would gladly help him if he'd let me.' Impulsively the Moon Princess kissed Hiiro's cheek. 'I'll be back.'
She walked up to the bedroom door, where she heard Hotaru cry, "If you want to know so badly, ask Usagi-chan yourselves! I am not going to betray her trust by telling you her secrets! If you'll excuse me, I'm going to go wake up Usagi-chan!" Usagi walked out of the bedroom in time to see Hotaru looking at her. "Usagi-chan, are you okay?" 'She must know I used the Ginzuishou.' Usagi thought.
"I'm fine Hotaru-chan. What's so important that you had to wake me up?" The silver-haired girl asked. 'I would rather have stayed in bed with Hiiro-chan!'
"We have to get our luggage from Setsuna-mama," the violet-haired girl said calmly. Usagi nodded. 'I'm going to get a lecture from both Hotaru-chan and Setsuna-san. Joy.'
"Alright. Let's go." She replied, the two girls walking out of the dorm.
"Are you sure you're alright Usagi-chan?" asked Hotaru as they left the dorm building. "You know how using the Ginzuishou drains you." The silver-haired girl looked puzzled.
"It's not supposed to anymore. I should be able to use it easily without it taking any of my energy."
"Really?" Hotaru asked interestedly. "That's the first time I heard that."
"It's an effect of becoming Cosmos," Usagi explained. "I used it to send Luna and Artemis to Pluto when we were in our dimension because I wasn't sure if I would be able to stay around them without breaking down. That didn't take any energy at all."
"Is it possible that it didn't use any energy because we were in our own dimension?" Hotaru said slowly. Usagi looked curiously at her. "I mean, the crystal might have drawn power from that dimension while we were in it. But once we came into this one, it had to draw power from you if you wanted to use it." The sapphire-blue-eyed girl nodded.
"It may be. We can ask Setsuna-san." Usagi and Hotaru walked into the town outside the Academy. "We need to find someplace where we can reach Setsuna-san." Usagi pointed out. Hotaru looked around.
"There's an alley over there that turns away from the street," She said. Usagi nodded.
"That'll do."
The two girls walked into the alley perpendicular from the road, and followed it until it turned a corner to face a brick wall. "Ready Hotaru-chan?" The violet-haired girl nodded, both girls not noticing the hidden braided boy who watched cautiously. "Guardian of Time… Let the Door of Time split the heavens and open to us… We call you by your true name. The all-knowing God of Time, the Father of the Guardian… Chronos! Lead us! Protect us! Send us the path of light!"
A swirling twister-like portal appeared, black and dark red. Usagi and Hotaru held hands tightly and jumped in. It pulled them in roughly, and neither girl let go of the other, knowing if she did, the other or herself might be lost forever in the stream of time.
Sailor Pluto staggered wearily against the Gate of Time and Space. "You will not win!" She shouted to the evil being that had been trying to get by her. "I will not let you!"
"I destroyed one dimension already. Do you think you can stand up to me much longer?" It laughed chillingly. "I might let you live if you give up the Gate and tell me where Cosmos is, Sailor Pluto."
"Never!" 'Make him think he has enough power to destroy a dimension. Feed his ego. He will be destroyed eventually.'
"Then I won't feel bad just destroying you then!" Just then Pluto heard something that made her blood run cold.
"Guardian of Time… Let the Door of Time split the heavens and open to us… We call you by your true name. The all-knowing God of Time, the Father of the Guardian… Chronos! Lead us! Protect us! Send us the path of light!" 'Cosmos-sama and Hotaru-chan! They don't know about the evil here at the Gate!'
The evil being smirked as it too heard the voice. "I guess I don't need you then Pluto. It was so nice working with you." Then Pluto knew no more.
Usagi and Hotaru landed at the Gate, each in their respective Senshi fukus. It was silent, and not even Pluto greeted them. Sailor Saturn held her Glaive tightly.
"It's too quiet," she murmured. "Something's wrong."
"Why, nothing's wrong Hotaru-chan. Everything's perfectly alright." A mocking male voice said, oh-so familiar. "Pluto has decided to… take a little vacation, shall we say?" Cosmos shook her head.
"It can't be." She whispered. "It's not happening."
"Oh really Usako?" Chiba Mamoru walked out of the darkness surrounding the Gate. "It certainly seems to be happening, don't you think?"
@___/\_____
Ooh, evil cliffhanger! Mamoru is the one that attacked Usagi's and Hotaru's dimension? Oh no! What happened to loyal Sailor Pluto? Is she actually dead? And what about our fave G-boys? I can tell you now Milliardo hasn't given up on Usagi! How far will the G-boys suspicions take them? Please review!