Authors' Notes: Okie, people. I'm SO sorry that it took me SO lonbg to post this. This is the last and FINAL chapter of Labyrinth, but never fear, Kattie and I are already working on a sequel! So, if we get lots of reviews, we'll post it! ^^v Enjoy!!!
Quatre stared at his hand, at the ring. Minako's last words echoed in his mind. 'I can't marry you… I can't marry you…marry you….' He fingered the ring around, examining it. "Minako… gomen nasai… I love you so much, " He whispered to the empty room, "And I can't let you meet my father's fate… Even if it means loosing your love…"
Minako ran and ran until she finally found herself lost inside Quatre's huge house, but she didn't care. She stopped and leaned her back against the wall. "Quatre..." she choked out as she sank to the floor, wrapped her arms around her knees and buried her face in her sleeves. "Gomen nasai..."
Minako's sadness buried itself within the layers of Quatre's own sadness. It was too much. "Minako… I'm so sorry… I didn't want to hurt you… but if I don't OZ will. And they would kill you…" He dropped to his knees. "Don't be sad… please, my love…" Far too much grief for one person to handle. "Minako!" He screamed as his heart seemed to rip into a thousand pieces.
Minako's head shot straight up as she felt the pain of a thousand deaths rip through her body. She didn't hear Quatre's scream, but she knew that he was in pain. She stood up, unsure of what to do. She finally decided to find him... to try and talk to him. Now all she had to do was find her way…
Everything was blur of sadness and pain. The only thing's in the mixture of colors that he could understand. "Minako," He screamed again, knocking over a table as he attempted to stand. "I'm sorry!" An image came into view. Was it a window? 'No more pain.' He thought, crawling to the window. 'One more and then nothing.'
Minako ran and ran until she finally found her way back to Quatre's study. "Quatre! I'm sorry! I-" she paused after she burst through the door then noticed Quatre by the window. "Quatre?! What are you doing?"
Blurs… only mixed colors of gray. And a voice… Quatre looked back. A new color. "Is someone there? If you are… please kill me…"
Minako gasped in shock. "Quatre?!? NO! What's going on?!"
"Minako… I shouldn't have lied to her," he whispered, looking back at the window, "I shouldn't have done that… even to save her… shouldn't hurt her… I'm sorry…" And back at the color. "Please kill me."
"Quatre!" she shouted as she ran over to Quatre and embraced him, "It's me! Minako!"
"Minako…" The sadness increased. "I didn't want her to die… so I lied… dad died… mom died… everyone seems so die because of me… Minako would have died too… and now… I should die."
Minako's eyes widened at his words. "NO, Quatre! You shouldn't die! It's not your fault! Quatre... I'M Minako!! Please... listen! I'M Minako!"
The window seemed too far away. He smiled back at the color. "You shouldn't have to see this." He took his gun out of his pocket. "Good people shouldn't see bad things…"
"QUATRE! NO!!" Minako screamed as she grabbed desperately for his gun, trying to get it out of his hands.
A bullet fired.
Quatre came back to the regular world with the shot. Instinctively he reached for his gun but was surprised to see he already was holding it. HE had fired the bullet. And it shattered the window. "What happened?" He asked, trying to understand what he had done while in the state of depression.
Minako stared at Quatre in shock, then threw her arms around him. "Don't EVER scare me like that again!!"
"Minako?" He looked at her in surprise, "I thought you were mad at me… no wait… you're SUPPOSED to be mad at me! I said all the wrong things!" Confusion washed over him. "It was a perfect plan… how did it fail?… hm…"
Minako blinked in confusion. "What are you talking about, Quatre?"
Quatre stopped talking to himself and smiled sadly at Minako. "I don't want you getting hurt. So… I knew if I said all those things that you would get mad at me and then maybe… leave… so you wouldn't get hurt… like my fathe-" Quatre stopped in the middle of the word, the sadness overcoming him again. "Like my father." He finished.
"Quatre... please don't feel like you have to protect me... I'll be fine... all I need is you..."
"Minako," he looked at the ground, "I'm sorry… I don't want you to die Minako… It was hard enough to go through my mother's death… knowing I killed her…"
"No, Quatre! You didn't kill her!"
"But I did Minako. They all told me I didn't… It couldn't be helped… but she did die because of me."
"Quatre..... listen to me. You didn't kill her. It was a horrible accident. I can promise you that right now, she's smiling down on you from heaven, beaming with pride at what a wonderful son she has."
Quatre looked at Minako and smiled. "Most likely beaming at what a wonderful daughter she has…"
Minako smiled. "Welcome back, koibito..."
Slowly, Quatre opened his hand to see the ring. He took Minako's hand and gently slipped it back onto her ring finger. "Will you forgive me, koishii?"
Minako's smile widened. "Of course.."
"I love you Mina-chan… today and forever." He kissed her, with love flowing from within his battered heart.
Minako wrapped her arms around Quatre, deepening the kiss as tears of joy fell from her eyes.
"I love you..."
******* At the Wedding******
Minako smiled as she looked around at all the people. There must have been hundreds! She didn't even know that Quatre knew that many people....
She glanced down at herself in her beautiful wedding dress. She had always dreamed of this day.... and now, it was finally here.
Quatre was beaming. This had to be the happiest day of his life. He kept repeating the words "I do" over and over again in his head. "I do…" he whispered.
Minako paced back and forth, her hands shaking with nervousness. "What if something goes
wrong?" she shook her head, "NO! Everything will be just perfect.... and WHERE ARE
THOSE DAMN FLOWERS?!"
There was a knock at the door and Minako rushed to open it. Sure enough, it was the florist
delivery guy. "THANKS!" she said, grabbing the box and slamming the door. She was too
nervous to be rational.
She paused and took a deep breath, then opened the lid on the box. There was her bouquet, as
gorgeous as she could have dreamed. It was made of daisies and sift pink tea roses. She smiled
as she pulled it out of the box and compared it to the daises and roses in her hair. "Perfect.." she
sighed.
Quatre tightened his tie. Then he sighed and took it off. "I can't even get the tie right." He murmered.
"Master Quatre, don't worry. Everything will be fine." Rashid replied. He smiled at Quatre. "You look so much like your father."
For a second, Quatre felt the sadness of his father's death but then he pushed the thoughts away and grinned back at Rashid. "Thanks for helping me… I'm just so nervous."
Minako sat down and sighed. "Stop it.." she said quietly to herself. She pictured Usagi, and the
other girls. "No! I won't be sad! I'm going to be happy!" She straightened up and looked in
the mirror. As she saw her reflection, she couldn't help but wipe a tear away from her eye. This
was what she had always dreamed of, but one huge part of it was missing. Her friends...
There was another knock at the door. "Come in.." she said gently.
The door opened and Iria stepped inside. "Well, how's the bridee doing?" she asked cheerfully.
Minako smiled. "Nervous as heck, but I think I'll live."
Iria shook her head. "Don't worry! You'll do fine! Now come on, it's almost time!"
Quatre straightened his jacket. Then he straightened his tie. "I look pathetic! Minako's going to see me looking like an idiot and leave!"
Rashid grinned again. "Master Quatre you need to go out there now. You look great. Just calm down and say what the priest tells you to."
"Thanks, Rashid." He smiled at him one more time, before leaving the room, and walking to the altar. There he waited for what seemed like years, for his love to come.
Minako took in deep breaths as she stood and waited for her turn to walk down the aisle. She still couldn't keep her body from shaking.
Iria placed a hand on her shoulder. "Don't worry, Minako..... everything will be just fine."
Minako shook her head. "But... what if I mess up? What if I trip and fall? What if say 'I do.' before it's time? What if I forget how to kiss when Quatre's supposed to kiss the bride?!?!"
Iria just smiled. "Calm down, Minako. You'll do great. Just take it one step at a time."
Minako smiled at her maid of honor and future sister-in-law. "Arigato.."
Iria winked, then took her place in the line. "Go get 'em!" she said as she stepped out, marching down the aisle.
Minako closed her eyes and took in one last deep breath. This was it. The time had finally come. She did regret the fact that her friends couldn't be here, but she was still happy. All she needed was Quatre. The onle thing that kept her going was knowing that he was waiting for her at the altar.
Her eyes snapped open as the bride's march began to play. "This is it.." she whispered to herself. "Gomen ne, girls.... I wish you could be here to see this...."
Quatre watched Minako with a look of pure love. Everyone else in the room was gone. It was just him and Minako. And they were getting married. Happiness poured out of his heart. 'I do…' he said to himself again. 'I really do… because I love you Minako…'
Meanwhile, the other pilots were standing to the side of Quatre as his groomsmen, and Trowa, his Best Man. They noticed how fidgety Quatre was and had tried to calm him down, but nothing seemed to work. But the moment Minako walked into the room, the nervousness was gone, and he just stared at Minako with a goofy smile on his face.
Minako sighed as she took Rashid's arm and started down the aisle. She had no one else to give
her away, and Rashid was the closest thing to a father that Quatre had, so he was recruited. He
happily accepted.
Minako caught a glimpse of Quatre and smiled brighter than she ever had before. She had to be dreaming.
Quatre kept repeating the words "I do" in a whisper.
Rolling his eyes, Duo whapped him. "Quatre… calm down."
A blush covered Quatre's cheeks. "I do…. I mean sorry."
'Almost there..' Minako thought, 'Just a few more steps.' She looked at Quatre and smiled
again. 'There!' she thought to herself as she reached the end of the aisle.
'I do I do I do I do I do…' Quatre grinned at Minako. "I do." He said firmly.
Duo hit his back. "Quatre, the vows haven't even started yet."
Minako stifled a giggle as she took her place next to Quatre. She looked at him with love in her eyes. "Ready?" she whispered.
"I do." Quatre replied.
Minako giggled. "Not yet, silly!" she whispered.
"…. I do? I mean… sorry." Quatre replied.
"I'm impressed. Got him to say something besides I do. That's all I've heard him say all morning." Duo said, quiet so no one else could hear.
Minako smiled at Duo. "Ssshh!!" she scolded.
"Are you ready to begin the ceremony?" The priest asked, with a shaky voice.
Minako raised an eyebrow at the priest. "Are you all right?"
"Oh I'm quite fine, my dear. There was just a man who said that if anything went wrong with the ceremony I would be killed and I'm afraid I may have gotten a bit jittery. But all is well now." He cast a sideways glance at Hiiro.
Minako smiled. "Don't worry. At our wedding, everything will be perfect." she looked over and
smiled at Quatre.
Quatre smiled back. "I do." He stated firmly.
"A little eager, eh? Well then, shall I start now?" The Priest asked.
"I do." Quatre said.
Minako giggled and took Quatre's hand into hers. "Wait your turn, koi." she winked.
"Let us begin then," The priest grinned, "Dearly beloved we are gathered here today to witness Quatre Reberba Winner and Minako Aino joining in holy matrimony."
Duo began to yawn but got a death glare from Hiiro.
Minako smiled and squeezed Quatre's hand. 'I can't believe that this is happening...' she
thought happily.
Quatre grinned back at Minako. 'I do I do I do I do…'
"…If there are any objections speak now or forever hold your peace."
Hiiro had his hand on his gun, which was placed firmly in his tuxedo's pocket.
Minako squeezed her eyes shut. "If anyone even thinks about saying anything right now, they'll feel what Peridot did for his last moments...'
There was silence.
Duo looked like he was about to make a joke but Hiiro discreetly punched him in the stomach to humble him into silence. "Very well. Let us begin the vows."
'Sugoi!' Minako thought. 'Quatre won't have any problems with this part!'
'I do I do I do I do I do.' Quatre continued to think.
"Do you have the rings?" The priest questioned.
Quatre took a small jewelry box out of his tuxedo jacket and removed the wedding ring from within. It was just a plain band, but it would look beautiful next to his mother's ring.
"Do you, Quatre Reberba Winner, take Minako Aino, as your loftily wedding wife, to have and to hold, to cherish and care for 'til death do you part?
"I do." Quatre smiled at Minako as he took her hand into his and slipped the ring onto her finger
Minako smiled and the priest went on.
"And do you, Minako Aino, take Quatre Reberba Winner as your loftily wedded husband, to have and to hold, to cherish and to care for 'till death do you part?"
"I do.." Minako smiled as she placed a ring onto Quatre's finger.
The priest smiled. "You may now kiss the bride."
Quatre kissed Minako gently and forgot about reality.
Minako wrapped her arms around Quatre as they kissed and her heart soared. She was finally
Quatre's wife.
The Priest smiled and looked out to the rest of the people. "May I introduce to you, Mr. and
Mrs. Quatre Winner."
Duo got a sweatdrop as they continued to kiss. "Hey… come on guys… It's kiss the bride not make out with her in public… jeez… come up for air!"
Minako gasped as she heard Duo's words and blushed.
Quatre turned beat red.
Hiiro pointed his gun at Duo. "Omae o korosu."
"Now wait a minute, Hiiro," Duo said, with a big sweatdrop, "you don't want to ruin their wedding by killing me. How about later? I'm available next week."
Minako giggled and smiled up at Quatre. "Aishiteru, my love."
"Aishiteru…" Quatre replied, kissing her cheek.
"Hey… Hiiro," Duo whined, "What does aishiteru mean?"
"It means 'You're an idiot'." Hiiro muttered.
"Well then, Hiiro, Aishiteru!" Duo spat.
Minako winced as she heard Duo. "Anno... Duo.... that's not what it means..."
Duo glared at Hiiro, "YOU LIAR!" he looked back at Minako. "Then what DOES it mean?"
"It means... I love you..."
"I thought it would be weird if you called Quatre an idiot and he called you one… but that would be for his honor so I guess that would be okay for him… HIIRO! YOU LIAAAAR! OMAE O KOROSU…. Or whatever it is you say!" Duo yelled.
Hiiro blinked. "He got it right…"
Minako let out an aggravated sigh. "Are they always like this?" she asked Quatre.
Quatre grinned. "Except when we're in the middle of battle." He explained.
"Like what? Handsome? Mature? Intelligent?" Duo asked. "Or just plain perfect? Of course we're all that in battle too…"
Minako sweatdropped. "I.. think that the limo is waiting.."
"I hope so…" Quatre replied.
"Of course it could also be wonderful… generous… or maybe modest? Was it modest?" Duo questioned.
Minako sighed and rested her head against Quatre's shoulder.
"We just have the banquet and we can go." Quatre kissed her. "You look tired."
Minako nodded. "I am, but I'm happier than I could possibly imagine."
"You don't need to imagine, koishii." He kissed her again.
Minako smiled. "So what are we waiting for?"
"Nothing." He offered her his arm. "Everyone else waits for us."
Minako hooked her arm through his and sighed. "Minako Winner.... I love the sound of that.."
"Me too." Quatre replied. He led her back down the aisle.
"Do we get cake now?" Duo asked.
Minako giggled. "In good time, Duo! In good time!"
"I LOOOVE cake." Duo said, happily. "Cake has sugar."
"Did you remember to get the cake with Nutra-Sweet, koi?" she whispered to Quatre.
Quatre nodded. "Sorry, Duo."
"Aw, Quatre… I thought we were friends…" Duo looked heart broken. "Oh well… I'm sure I could just stop somewhere for coffee…"
"NO!!"
"Fine then… just-just leave me here all alone! With no REAL friends… and… ALL ALONE WITHOUT SUGAR… or caffine… I'll just go now… and bug Hiiro… that might make me feel better." Duo walked away towards Hiiro, who did not look pleased with this.
Minako giggled. "They must be a handful, ne?"
Quatre smiled. "A very large handful…"
"Oh well, you manage, ne?" she giggled.
"I guess… I must be stronger than I thought." He kissed her, smiling brightly.
Minako looked around and saw poor Duo pouting and glaring. "I think we'd better get to the reception before he goes Shinigami on us."
"Shinigami just ain't the same without coffee." Duo sniffed.
"Well, there's always decaf!" Minako smiled as she started outside.
"Decafe? That's like throwing a party with no one invited!"
Minako let out an aggravated sigh. "Duo, we'd better get to the reception before the cake is all
gone!"
"AHHH! RUN!" Duo ran into the reception room with a great speed.
"He's in good shape." Hiiro commented, his eyes shining.
Minako giggled and wrapped her arms around Quatre. "Ready?"
He kissed her. "If you are."
Minako smiled as her eyes fell on the room. There were hundreds of happy people, celebrating
their marriage. She forced back a frown and decided not to think about how much she wanted
her friends to be there.
Quatre kissed her cheek. "Aishiteru…" he whispered in her ear, as if no one else knew. (^^*) "We sit over there." He explained, pointing to the largest table.
Minako sighed happily as they made their way to the table. "Quatre, this is so beautiful!"
"Not nearly as beautiful as you." Quatre kissed her again. (A bit corny… maybe?)
"You're way too good to me, Quatre." she smiled as she rested her head on his shoulder.
He led her over to the table and pulled out her chair for her. "Milady." He grinned and began blushing at his forwardness.
Minako kissed Quatre's cheek before sitting down. "Thank you, kind sir." she smiled.
Quatre sat down next to her and stared at the food. Suddenly, he wasn't so hungry. Something felt out of place. 'It's just my dad,' he told himself, 'Nothing's wrong. I just miss him.'
Minako looked at Quatre concerned. "Koi?" she gently placed a hand on his arm. "What's
wrong?"
"Nothing… I just miss my dad…" He smiled to reassure her. "Nothing's wrong."
Minako frowned. "I'm sorry, Quatre... we can go home now if you like..."
"No… it's nothing…" He kissed her cheek. "It just… feels wrong…" Quatre thought for a moment. "Unless…"
"Hello, young pilot. It seems my invitation got lost in the mail. But that's okay, I came anyway. Took me awhile to heal from the wound but I forgive you. Of course, I'll still need to get revenge, so…" Dem (y'know Dark-eyed man? From way long ago….not really that long… he still doesn't have a name…^^*) aimed his gun at Quatre, "You're coming with me. You and the rest of these Gundam hiretsukan!"
Minako stood straight up. "NO!!!"
Hiiro reached for his gun and Dem fired a bullet to the left of Quatre's head, slicing his face. It was a minor cut, but was bleeding a good amount.
"Slide your guns over to me," Dem ordered, "Or your friend dies."
"Just shoot him, Hiiro," Quatre stated, looking very solemn, "Kill him… Better one life than five."
"He'll shoot you." Hiiro replied, glaring at Dem.
"Shoot him, Hiiro. He'll kill us all anyway."
Minako gasped in shock. "What's going on?!?! Why are you doing this?!" she demanded. "This is our WEDDING DAY for Kami-sama's sake!!"
Dem grinned at her, "Death knows not the day only who to take. I will not stand for them to live. Oh, but congratulations anyway." He laughed.
Minako let out a frustrated growl and thrust her hand up in the air. "I won't let you take them!
Venus Power!! MAKE-UP!!!"
Dem shot off a bullet at Quatre again, this time grazing his other cheek. "Stay back, ikeike! Or I'll shoot your boyfriend here into the next world."
Venus' eyes widened. She didn't know what she should do. "Onegai!!" she begged. "Leave
us!! If you take them, I WILL find you and I WILL kill you!" she shouted, enraged.
With a roll of his eyes, Dem shrugged, "If the pilots are dead than I will have served my purpose in life anyway."
Quatre stared at his love with a smile upon his face. "Mina-chan. Aishiteru…" A tear slid down his face. "Eien aishiteru…"
"No...." she stepped in front of Quatre. "You can't do this... I won't let you!"
"Mina-chan…" Quatre kissed her cheek. "Sayonara…" He pushed her away with all of his strength so that she fell to the side. Quickly, he brought up his gun and shot Dem.
Dem grabbed his bleeding stomach, but smiled. "Just like old times, eh?" He shot Quatre in the heart.
Quatre fell back to the floor.
"QUATRE!!!!" Minako screamed in disbelief, "NO!!!" she picked herself up off the floor and
ran over to him.
Quatre stared ahead of himself for a second with a look of disbelief. Then, slowly, he stood up and reached into his tuxedo's breast pocket {no snide jokes- that's what the pocket's called}. His hand came out with a small picture frame. He kissed the picture.
Minako's jaw nearly hit the ground. "Quatre! You're all right!" She smiled, wiping away the
remaining tears.
"Mother…" he said, smiling at the picture, "Arigato…" He kissed Minako. "Are you okay?… I'm sorry… for pushing you…"
Minako smiled warmly and wrapped her arms around her love. "Don't be sorry, Quatre! Just
stay alive!" she glared at Dem. "Leave now, or feel the wrath of a sailor senshi.... it's NOT
something that you'd like to experience."
Dem just smiled back at her, looking very weak and tired. "My dear lady, I'm afraid I cannot leave. Even if I wished to… Now comes the end of my life. Which I will happily give up for OZ…" He chuckled. "And here I thought I was immortal…" Still smiling, he closed his eyes, and left this world forever.
Minako breathed a sigh of relief and wrapped her arms tighter around Quatre. "Finally.." she sighed. "It's finally over....."
She glanced down at herself then closed her eyes as her sailor fuku changed back into her wedding dress, then she looked out at all the shocked people and laughed nervously. "Guess the secret's out now, ne?"
Quatre took her hand. "So is ours…" He looked towards the ground.
Minako placed her hand gently under Quatre's chin and lifted his face up so that his eyes met hers. "Don't worry, koibito.... we're together.... everything will be all right."
Tears wavered in Quatre's eyes but refused to fall. "I don't want you to leave…"
"NO... Quatre, don't talk about that..... I won't leave... I can't."
"Aishiteru, Minako…" Quatre kissed her again. "And I will be happy for you."
Quatre stared at his hand, at the ring. Minako's last words echoed in his mind. 'I can't marry you… I can't marry you…marry you….' He fingered the ring around, examining it. "Minako… gomen nasai… I love you so much, " He whispered to the empty room, "And I can't let you meet my father's fate… Even if it means loosing your love…"
Minako ran and ran until she finally found herself lost inside Quatre's huge house, but she didn't care. She stopped and leaned her back against the wall. "Quatre..." she choked out as she sank to the floor, wrapped her arms around her knees and buried her face in her sleeves. "Gomen nasai..."
Minako's sadness buried itself within the layers of Quatre's own sadness. It was too much. "Minako… I'm so sorry… I didn't want to hurt you… but if I don't OZ will. And they would kill you…" He dropped to his knees. "Don't be sad… please, my love…" Far too much grief for one person to handle. "Minako!" He screamed as his heart seemed to rip into a thousand pieces.
Minako's head shot straight up as she felt the pain of a thousand deaths rip through her body. She didn't hear Quatre's scream, but she knew that he was in pain. She stood up, unsure of what to do. She finally decided to find him... to try and talk to him. Now all she had to do was find her way…
Everything was blur of sadness and pain. The only thing's in the mixture of colors that he could understand. "Minako," He screamed again, knocking over a table as he attempted to stand. "I'm sorry!" An image came into view. Was it a window? 'No more pain.' He thought, crawling to the window. 'One more and then nothing.'
Minako ran and ran until she finally found her way back to Quatre's study. "Quatre! I'm sorry! I-" she paused after she burst through the door then noticed Quatre by the window. "Quatre?! What are you doing?"
Blurs… only mixed colors of gray. And a voice… Quatre looked back. A new color. "Is someone there? If you are… please kill me…"
Minako gasped in shock. "Quatre?!? NO! What's going on?!"
"Minako… I shouldn't have lied to her," he whispered, looking back at the window, "I shouldn't have done that… even to save her… shouldn't hurt her… I'm sorry…" And back at the color. "Please kill me."
"Quatre!" she shouted as she ran over to Quatre and embraced him, "It's me! Minako!"
"Minako…" The sadness increased. "I didn't want her to die… so I lied… dad died… mom died… everyone seems so die because of me… Minako would have died too… and now… I should die."
Minako's eyes widened at his words. "NO, Quatre! You shouldn't die! It's not your fault! Quatre... I'M Minako!! Please... listen! I'M Minako!"
The window seemed too far away. He smiled back at the color. "You shouldn't have to see this." He took his gun out of his pocket. "Good people shouldn't see bad things…"
"QUATRE! NO!!" Minako screamed as she grabbed desperately for his gun, trying to get it out of his hands.
A bullet fired.
Quatre came back to the regular world with the shot. Instinctively he reached for his gun but was surprised to see he already was holding it. HE had fired the bullet. And it shattered the window. "What happened?" He asked, trying to understand what he had done while in the state of depression.
Minako stared at Quatre in shock, then threw her arms around him. "Don't EVER scare me like that again!!"
"Minako?" He looked at her in surprise, "I thought you were mad at me… no wait… you're SUPPOSED to be mad at me! I said all the wrong things!" Confusion washed over him. "It was a perfect plan… how did it fail?… hm…"
Minako blinked in confusion. "What are you talking about, Quatre?"
Quatre stopped talking to himself and smiled sadly at Minako. "I don't want you getting hurt. So… I knew if I said all those things that you would get mad at me and then maybe… leave… so you wouldn't get hurt… like my fathe-" Quatre stopped in the middle of the word, the sadness overcoming him again. "Like my father." He finished.
"Quatre... please don't feel like you have to protect me... I'll be fine... all I need is you..."
"Minako," he looked at the ground, "I'm sorry… I don't want you to die Minako… It was hard enough to go through my mother's death… knowing I killed her…"
"No, Quatre! You didn't kill her!"
"But I did Minako. They all told me I didn't… It couldn't be helped… but she did die because of me."
"Quatre..... listen to me. You didn't kill her. It was a horrible accident. I can promise you that right now, she's smiling down on you from heaven, beaming with pride at what a wonderful son she has."
Quatre looked at Minako and smiled. "Most likely beaming at what a wonderful daughter she has…"
Minako smiled. "Welcome back, koibito..."
Slowly, Quatre opened his hand to see the ring. He took Minako's hand and gently slipped it back onto her ring finger. "Will you forgive me, koishii?"
Minako's smile widened. "Of course.."
"I love you Mina-chan… today and forever." He kissed her, with love flowing from within his battered heart.
Minako wrapped her arms around Quatre, deepening the kiss as tears of joy fell from her eyes.
"I love you..."
******* At the Wedding******
Minako smiled as she looked around at all the people. There must have been hundreds! She didn't even know that Quatre knew that many people....
She glanced down at herself in her beautiful wedding dress. She had always dreamed of this day.... and now, it was finally here.
Quatre was beaming. This had to be the happiest day of his life. He kept repeating the words "I do" over and over again in his head. "I do…" he whispered.
Minako paced back and forth, her hands shaking with nervousness. "What if something goes
wrong?" she shook her head, "NO! Everything will be just perfect.... and WHERE ARE
THOSE DAMN FLOWERS?!"
There was a knock at the door and Minako rushed to open it. Sure enough, it was the florist
delivery guy. "THANKS!" she said, grabbing the box and slamming the door. She was too
nervous to be rational.
She paused and took a deep breath, then opened the lid on the box. There was her bouquet, as
gorgeous as she could have dreamed. It was made of daisies and sift pink tea roses. She smiled
as she pulled it out of the box and compared it to the daises and roses in her hair. "Perfect.." she
sighed.
Quatre tightened his tie. Then he sighed and took it off. "I can't even get the tie right." He murmered.
"Master Quatre, don't worry. Everything will be fine." Rashid replied. He smiled at Quatre. "You look so much like your father."
For a second, Quatre felt the sadness of his father's death but then he pushed the thoughts away and grinned back at Rashid. "Thanks for helping me… I'm just so nervous."
Minako sat down and sighed. "Stop it.." she said quietly to herself. She pictured Usagi, and the
other girls. "No! I won't be sad! I'm going to be happy!" She straightened up and looked in
the mirror. As she saw her reflection, she couldn't help but wipe a tear away from her eye. This
was what she had always dreamed of, but one huge part of it was missing. Her friends...
There was another knock at the door. "Come in.." she said gently.
The door opened and Iria stepped inside. "Well, how's the bridee doing?" she asked cheerfully.
Minako smiled. "Nervous as heck, but I think I'll live."
Iria shook her head. "Don't worry! You'll do fine! Now come on, it's almost time!"
Quatre straightened his jacket. Then he straightened his tie. "I look pathetic! Minako's going to see me looking like an idiot and leave!"
Rashid grinned again. "Master Quatre you need to go out there now. You look great. Just calm down and say what the priest tells you to."
"Thanks, Rashid." He smiled at him one more time, before leaving the room, and walking to the altar. There he waited for what seemed like years, for his love to come.
Minako took in deep breaths as she stood and waited for her turn to walk down the aisle. She still couldn't keep her body from shaking.
Iria placed a hand on her shoulder. "Don't worry, Minako..... everything will be just fine."
Minako shook her head. "But... what if I mess up? What if I trip and fall? What if say 'I do.' before it's time? What if I forget how to kiss when Quatre's supposed to kiss the bride?!?!"
Iria just smiled. "Calm down, Minako. You'll do great. Just take it one step at a time."
Minako smiled at her maid of honor and future sister-in-law. "Arigato.."
Iria winked, then took her place in the line. "Go get 'em!" she said as she stepped out, marching down the aisle.
Minako closed her eyes and took in one last deep breath. This was it. The time had finally come. She did regret the fact that her friends couldn't be here, but she was still happy. All she needed was Quatre. The onle thing that kept her going was knowing that he was waiting for her at the altar.
Her eyes snapped open as the bride's march began to play. "This is it.." she whispered to herself. "Gomen ne, girls.... I wish you could be here to see this...."
Quatre watched Minako with a look of pure love. Everyone else in the room was gone. It was just him and Minako. And they were getting married. Happiness poured out of his heart. 'I do…' he said to himself again. 'I really do… because I love you Minako…'
Meanwhile, the other pilots were standing to the side of Quatre as his groomsmen, and Trowa, his Best Man. They noticed how fidgety Quatre was and had tried to calm him down, but nothing seemed to work. But the moment Minako walked into the room, the nervousness was gone, and he just stared at Minako with a goofy smile on his face.
Minako sighed as she took Rashid's arm and started down the aisle. She had no one else to give
her away, and Rashid was the closest thing to a father that Quatre had, so he was recruited. He
happily accepted.
Minako caught a glimpse of Quatre and smiled brighter than she ever had before. She had to be dreaming.
Quatre kept repeating the words "I do" in a whisper.
Rolling his eyes, Duo whapped him. "Quatre… calm down."
A blush covered Quatre's cheeks. "I do…. I mean sorry."
'Almost there..' Minako thought, 'Just a few more steps.' She looked at Quatre and smiled
again. 'There!' she thought to herself as she reached the end of the aisle.
'I do I do I do I do I do…' Quatre grinned at Minako. "I do." He said firmly.
Duo hit his back. "Quatre, the vows haven't even started yet."
Minako stifled a giggle as she took her place next to Quatre. She looked at him with love in her eyes. "Ready?" she whispered.
"I do." Quatre replied.
Minako giggled. "Not yet, silly!" she whispered.
"…. I do? I mean… sorry." Quatre replied.
"I'm impressed. Got him to say something besides I do. That's all I've heard him say all morning." Duo said, quiet so no one else could hear.
Minako smiled at Duo. "Ssshh!!" she scolded.
"Are you ready to begin the ceremony?" The priest asked, with a shaky voice.
Minako raised an eyebrow at the priest. "Are you all right?"
"Oh I'm quite fine, my dear. There was just a man who said that if anything went wrong with the ceremony I would be killed and I'm afraid I may have gotten a bit jittery. But all is well now." He cast a sideways glance at Hiiro.
Minako smiled. "Don't worry. At our wedding, everything will be perfect." she looked over and
smiled at Quatre.
Quatre smiled back. "I do." He stated firmly.
"A little eager, eh? Well then, shall I start now?" The Priest asked.
"I do." Quatre said.
Minako giggled and took Quatre's hand into hers. "Wait your turn, koi." she winked.
"Let us begin then," The priest grinned, "Dearly beloved we are gathered here today to witness Quatre Reberba Winner and Minako Aino joining in holy matrimony."
Duo began to yawn but got a death glare from Hiiro.
Minako smiled and squeezed Quatre's hand. 'I can't believe that this is happening...' she
thought happily.
Quatre grinned back at Minako. 'I do I do I do I do…'
"…If there are any objections speak now or forever hold your peace."
Hiiro had his hand on his gun, which was placed firmly in his tuxedo's pocket.
Minako squeezed her eyes shut. "If anyone even thinks about saying anything right now, they'll feel what Peridot did for his last moments...'
There was silence.
Duo looked like he was about to make a joke but Hiiro discreetly punched him in the stomach to humble him into silence. "Very well. Let us begin the vows."
'Sugoi!' Minako thought. 'Quatre won't have any problems with this part!'
'I do I do I do I do I do.' Quatre continued to think.
"Do you have the rings?" The priest questioned.
Quatre took a small jewelry box out of his tuxedo jacket and removed the wedding ring from within. It was just a plain band, but it would look beautiful next to his mother's ring.
"Do you, Quatre Reberba Winner, take Minako Aino, as your loftily wedding wife, to have and to hold, to cherish and care for 'til death do you part?
"I do." Quatre smiled at Minako as he took her hand into his and slipped the ring onto her finger
Minako smiled and the priest went on.
"And do you, Minako Aino, take Quatre Reberba Winner as your loftily wedded husband, to have and to hold, to cherish and to care for 'till death do you part?"
"I do.." Minako smiled as she placed a ring onto Quatre's finger.
The priest smiled. "You may now kiss the bride."
Quatre kissed Minako gently and forgot about reality.
Minako wrapped her arms around Quatre as they kissed and her heart soared. She was finally
Quatre's wife.
The Priest smiled and looked out to the rest of the people. "May I introduce to you, Mr. and
Mrs. Quatre Winner."
Duo got a sweatdrop as they continued to kiss. "Hey… come on guys… It's kiss the bride not make out with her in public… jeez… come up for air!"
Minako gasped as she heard Duo's words and blushed.
Quatre turned beat red.
Hiiro pointed his gun at Duo. "Omae o korosu."
"Now wait a minute, Hiiro," Duo said, with a big sweatdrop, "you don't want to ruin their wedding by killing me. How about later? I'm available next week."
Minako giggled and smiled up at Quatre. "Aishiteru, my love."
"Aishiteru…" Quatre replied, kissing her cheek.
"Hey… Hiiro," Duo whined, "What does aishiteru mean?"
"It means 'You're an idiot'." Hiiro muttered.
"Well then, Hiiro, Aishiteru!" Duo spat.
Minako winced as she heard Duo. "Anno... Duo.... that's not what it means..."
Duo glared at Hiiro, "YOU LIAR!" he looked back at Minako. "Then what DOES it mean?"
"It means... I love you..."
"I thought it would be weird if you called Quatre an idiot and he called you one… but that would be for his honor so I guess that would be okay for him… HIIRO! YOU LIAAAAR! OMAE O KOROSU…. Or whatever it is you say!" Duo yelled.
Hiiro blinked. "He got it right…"
Minako let out an aggravated sigh. "Are they always like this?" she asked Quatre.
Quatre grinned. "Except when we're in the middle of battle." He explained.
"Like what? Handsome? Mature? Intelligent?" Duo asked. "Or just plain perfect? Of course we're all that in battle too…"
Minako sweatdropped. "I.. think that the limo is waiting.."
"I hope so…" Quatre replied.
"Of course it could also be wonderful… generous… or maybe modest? Was it modest?" Duo questioned.
Minako sighed and rested her head against Quatre's shoulder.
"We just have the banquet and we can go." Quatre kissed her. "You look tired."
Minako nodded. "I am, but I'm happier than I could possibly imagine."
"You don't need to imagine, koishii." He kissed her again.
Minako smiled. "So what are we waiting for?"
"Nothing." He offered her his arm. "Everyone else waits for us."
Minako hooked her arm through his and sighed. "Minako Winner.... I love the sound of that.."
"Me too." Quatre replied. He led her back down the aisle.
"Do we get cake now?" Duo asked.
Minako giggled. "In good time, Duo! In good time!"
"I LOOOVE cake." Duo said, happily. "Cake has sugar."
"Did you remember to get the cake with Nutra-Sweet, koi?" she whispered to Quatre.
Quatre nodded. "Sorry, Duo."
"Aw, Quatre… I thought we were friends…" Duo looked heart broken. "Oh well… I'm sure I could just stop somewhere for coffee…"
"NO!!"
"Fine then… just-just leave me here all alone! With no REAL friends… and… ALL ALONE WITHOUT SUGAR… or caffine… I'll just go now… and bug Hiiro… that might make me feel better." Duo walked away towards Hiiro, who did not look pleased with this.
Minako giggled. "They must be a handful, ne?"
Quatre smiled. "A very large handful…"
"Oh well, you manage, ne?" she giggled.
"I guess… I must be stronger than I thought." He kissed her, smiling brightly.
Minako looked around and saw poor Duo pouting and glaring. "I think we'd better get to the reception before he goes Shinigami on us."
"Shinigami just ain't the same without coffee." Duo sniffed.
"Well, there's always decaf!" Minako smiled as she started outside.
"Decafe? That's like throwing a party with no one invited!"
Minako let out an aggravated sigh. "Duo, we'd better get to the reception before the cake is all
gone!"
"AHHH! RUN!" Duo ran into the reception room with a great speed.
"He's in good shape." Hiiro commented, his eyes shining.
Minako giggled and wrapped her arms around Quatre. "Ready?"
He kissed her. "If you are."
Minako smiled as her eyes fell on the room. There were hundreds of happy people, celebrating
their marriage. She forced back a frown and decided not to think about how much she wanted
her friends to be there.
Quatre kissed her cheek. "Aishiteru…" he whispered in her ear, as if no one else knew. (^^*) "We sit over there." He explained, pointing to the largest table.
Minako sighed happily as they made their way to the table. "Quatre, this is so beautiful!"
"Not nearly as beautiful as you." Quatre kissed her again. (A bit corny… maybe?)
"You're way too good to me, Quatre." she smiled as she rested her head on his shoulder.
He led her over to the table and pulled out her chair for her. "Milady." He grinned and began blushing at his forwardness.
Minako kissed Quatre's cheek before sitting down. "Thank you, kind sir." she smiled.
Quatre sat down next to her and stared at the food. Suddenly, he wasn't so hungry. Something felt out of place. 'It's just my dad,' he told himself, 'Nothing's wrong. I just miss him.'
Minako looked at Quatre concerned. "Koi?" she gently placed a hand on his arm. "What's
wrong?"
"Nothing… I just miss my dad…" He smiled to reassure her. "Nothing's wrong."
Minako frowned. "I'm sorry, Quatre... we can go home now if you like..."
"No… it's nothing…" He kissed her cheek. "It just… feels wrong…" Quatre thought for a moment. "Unless…"
"Hello, young pilot. It seems my invitation got lost in the mail. But that's okay, I came anyway. Took me awhile to heal from the wound but I forgive you. Of course, I'll still need to get revenge, so…" Dem (y'know Dark-eyed man? From way long ago….not really that long… he still doesn't have a name…^^*) aimed his gun at Quatre, "You're coming with me. You and the rest of these Gundam hiretsukan!"
Minako stood straight up. "NO!!!"
Hiiro reached for his gun and Dem fired a bullet to the left of Quatre's head, slicing his face. It was a minor cut, but was bleeding a good amount.
"Slide your guns over to me," Dem ordered, "Or your friend dies."
"Just shoot him, Hiiro," Quatre stated, looking very solemn, "Kill him… Better one life than five."
"He'll shoot you." Hiiro replied, glaring at Dem.
"Shoot him, Hiiro. He'll kill us all anyway."
Minako gasped in shock. "What's going on?!?! Why are you doing this?!" she demanded. "This is our WEDDING DAY for Kami-sama's sake!!"
Dem grinned at her, "Death knows not the day only who to take. I will not stand for them to live. Oh, but congratulations anyway." He laughed.
Minako let out a frustrated growl and thrust her hand up in the air. "I won't let you take them!
Venus Power!! MAKE-UP!!!"
Dem shot off a bullet at Quatre again, this time grazing his other cheek. "Stay back, ikeike! Or I'll shoot your boyfriend here into the next world."
Venus' eyes widened. She didn't know what she should do. "Onegai!!" she begged. "Leave
us!! If you take them, I WILL find you and I WILL kill you!" she shouted, enraged.
With a roll of his eyes, Dem shrugged, "If the pilots are dead than I will have served my purpose in life anyway."
Quatre stared at his love with a smile upon his face. "Mina-chan. Aishiteru…" A tear slid down his face. "Eien aishiteru…"
"No...." she stepped in front of Quatre. "You can't do this... I won't let you!"
"Mina-chan…" Quatre kissed her cheek. "Sayonara…" He pushed her away with all of his strength so that she fell to the side. Quickly, he brought up his gun and shot Dem.
Dem grabbed his bleeding stomach, but smiled. "Just like old times, eh?" He shot Quatre in the heart.
Quatre fell back to the floor.
"QUATRE!!!!" Minako screamed in disbelief, "NO!!!" she picked herself up off the floor and
ran over to him.
Quatre stared ahead of himself for a second with a look of disbelief. Then, slowly, he stood up and reached into his tuxedo's breast pocket {no snide jokes- that's what the pocket's called}. His hand came out with a small picture frame. He kissed the picture.
Minako's jaw nearly hit the ground. "Quatre! You're all right!" She smiled, wiping away the
remaining tears.
"Mother…" he said, smiling at the picture, "Arigato…" He kissed Minako. "Are you okay?… I'm sorry… for pushing you…"
Minako smiled warmly and wrapped her arms around her love. "Don't be sorry, Quatre! Just
stay alive!" she glared at Dem. "Leave now, or feel the wrath of a sailor senshi.... it's NOT
something that you'd like to experience."
Dem just smiled back at her, looking very weak and tired. "My dear lady, I'm afraid I cannot leave. Even if I wished to… Now comes the end of my life. Which I will happily give up for OZ…" He chuckled. "And here I thought I was immortal…" Still smiling, he closed his eyes, and left this world forever.
Minako breathed a sigh of relief and wrapped her arms tighter around Quatre. "Finally.." she sighed. "It's finally over....."
She glanced down at herself then closed her eyes as her sailor fuku changed back into her wedding dress, then she looked out at all the shocked people and laughed nervously. "Guess the secret's out now, ne?"
Quatre took her hand. "So is ours…" He looked towards the ground.
Minako placed her hand gently under Quatre's chin and lifted his face up so that his eyes met hers. "Don't worry, koibito.... we're together.... everything will be all right."
Tears wavered in Quatre's eyes but refused to fall. "I don't want you to leave…"
"NO... Quatre, don't talk about that..... I won't leave... I can't."
"Aishiteru, Minako…" Quatre kissed her again. "And I will be happy for you."
