Walk Through the Fire.
Epilogue
United
The third day of the Month of the Red moon, year 25:
We'll be making our twenty-third attempt at opening a portal back home this afternoon. Duo thinks this one will work because he's got a 'gut feeling'; unfortunately he's had a 'gut feeling' for the last fifteen attempts, so you really can't go by that.
We do have reason to be at least a little optimistic, however. Duo's managed to get his hands on a computer he could 'tweak' enough to let Djana charge it. Hopefully, combined with Djana's spell and my own power, it should allow us to operate the portal.
There is one large problem, and it's the one thing that's kept us from attempting before now. The portal will be the largest we've ever created, and will be the closest we've ever come to getting home. If we fail to summon enough power, Djana has warned us that the portal will likely absorb us, much as it did when Duo and I were transported here. If that should happen, I can assume we'll all be killed.
I am leaving this diary to whoever finds it. Either way, it is very likely I won't spend another night here. If at some point you have come upon this castle and found this notebook, know that we've left permanently.
Hotaru sighed and shut the leather-bound journal with a snap. Setting it on her desk, she sighed. She still wasn't sure why she felt it necessary to leave a note to someone, especially considering the type of people who were likely to find the castle when they were gone. Even the idea of keeping a journal was strange to the dark-haired girl, but at Djana's suggestion, she had kept a book filled with short notes. Just small things she wanted to remember, not every day's happenings, but little things. A recipe, the mention of Duo's 'discovery' of plumbing on other worlds in Diadem (and his subsequent re-modeling of Djana's castle so he could shower), little quirks Duo or Stryke had said, anything she thought worth remembering.
And I'm leaving it behind. I don't know why, but I think I'll miss being able to write in it. I'll have to buy something to replace it, maybe, when I get back. Still, I wish I could take something with me…
Sighing slightly, Hotaru brushed her fingers across the red leather worn smooth and left, heading towards the portal room where Duo and Djana were already waiting.
They'd managed to fuse Djana's knowledge of magic with Duo and Hotaru's scientific background. They hoped it would be enough to get them home, and with Duo finally finding a computer that would work with magic, they had a formula/spell that would likely get them home, if it didn't kill them first…
Hotaru pushed open the door to walk into a very strange conversation.
"….so then he said he owed you a favour and it was high time you called it in, so I could have the thing for free. A 30 000 kang computer! He gave it to me! So what I want to know exactly what you did for this guy…"
"Simple. I married him."
"WHAT!?"
Djana laughed. "When I was travelling I made myself up to be some foreign dignitary wherever I went, it kept the locals from asking too many questions. Anyway, I met up with this really great guy, and well, to make a long story short, he figured out about me. Then he proposed."
"That makes absolutely no sense. You accepted?"
"Not right away. Then he explained to me: He had a sweetheart, but family was pressuring him to marry someone with power, and was threatening to disown him if he made her his first wife. So, he proposed that we'd marry, and he could take Mikiko as his second wife. When I decided to move on, I'd 'die' and Mikiko would take my place. Everyone would be happy, and he offered to make it worth my while…"
"How? Or do I even want to know?"
"Oh, money, servants, power, the usual."
"If you married him, what did you ask in return?"
"Nothing."
"You're kidding, right?"
"No. He was a friend, I figured I could do him the favour. It's not a big deal."
"You married the guy."
"Their culture is based entirely on multiple marriages because of the low male populous. Marrying me didn't mean anything except that he saved face, and got to be with Mikiko."
"So you just did it for him as a friend; Oi." Duo made a face.
"When I decided to move on, a few months later, he refused to let me go without giving me something. That's where I got my carved chair in the Green Room from. Or the 'Throne of Evil' as you've so aptly named it." Duo and Djana grinned and Hotaru had to smile as she stepped forward towards the two.
"I can't believe we're just finding about this now. How many other lives have you had?" Hotaru helped herself to a glass of juice from the jug next to her as she sat down. Sipping slowly, she still almost spit the liquid out when she heard Djana's next words.
"Did I ever tell you about the time I spent as a pop idol?"
"What!?"
Coughing and sputtering, Hotaru could only nod in agreement with Duo's outcry.
"I'm just kidding! You two believe everything."
"With you Djana, it's hard to tell."
"And what's that supposed to mean?" Djana lightly punched Duo's shoulder and he rubbed his arm as he laughed. Suddenly he sprang around behind her and began tickling Djana mercilessly, ignoring the small green lightning she kept sending his way. Seeing the room dissolve into a fit of giggles, Hotaru pursed her lips in thought. Draining her cup, she moved over to the jugs and lifted the crystal decanter filled with water. Glancing at Djana and Duo (who were still fighting), Hotaru hefted it into her arms and sent the icy water in an arc into the air and over the pair.
They sputtered in shock and stared at each other as Hotaru gently set the empty pitcher back down. "We have a lot to do today. I think we should get started, don't you?"
Duo turned to Djana, who was still half sprawled in her chair. "Hotaru's not any fun."
Djana struggled to right herself as she replied to Duo. "No. I think she should have a little fun before we go, don't you?"
"Oh, definitely."
Hotaru watched the pair as they stood and turned to face her in unison, broad grins stretched across their faces, Duo's more than a little manic.
"Oh Figgums."
*Chase scene*
*Sounds of water splashing*
"ACK! That's cold"
*Laughter*
"It's supposed to be. You hit us with ice water remember?"
*Boink*
"Hey! That's playing dirty! Can she do that Djana?"
"Apparently"
*Chase scene*
*Various crashing sounds*
"Ouch!"
*******************
"Ah man, I still can't believe you used a net! That's got to be cheating!" Duo pouted as the three headed back to the portal room, light-hearted and in dry clothes again (Though Duo's hair was still damp).
Hotaru shrugged. "I've never seen a rulebook. And you were the one who put that net up there to catch me remember?"
"Exactly! You can't be allowed to use my own traps against me, that's why it's cheating."
"Stop complaining Duo, she caught me as well. Let's just call it even, shall we?" Djana opened the doors to the room, now set up for the spell. Each drew quiet; they all knew what they had to do, and when. The spell had been carefully constructed and planned so that nothing could go wrong, but there was still that sense of anxiety, and farewell.
Stryke flew into the room, perching on Djana's outstretched hand as they entered. He gazed at the quiet three and sighed mentally.
Since none of you are willing to say it, I will. Whether this spell works or not, and it is certain to work, we won't be seeing each other again. I just want to say that it was a pleasure to be with the both of you; despite the bad beginning. Djana feels the same. We'll miss you both. The bird nodded to both Duo and Hotaru, smiling in as much as a bird can with a beak.
Chuckling nervously, Duo laid a hand behind his head, unintentionally showing his anxiousness to the others, who had long ago learned his small quirks. Briskly walking up to Hotaru, he wrapped her in a bear hug, eyes shining. "You take care of yourself, ok? No more of this dying nonsense. Protect your princess and stay alive, or the Shinigami will have to knock some sense into you. And I mean it."
Hotaru nodded and returned the hug. "The same goes for you. And tell Heero, or I'll find some way to sick Minako on you, different worlds or no. One minute of matchmaker-Minako-chan and you'll be scarred for life." Pulling away, Hotaru turned to face Djana.
"I'm going to miss you, you know."
Hotaru nodded, eyes threatening to spill over as she hugged the woman tightly. "Thank you, for everything."
"You're welcome. Look after yourself, and don't be spreading too many wild tales about me when you get home you hear? I don't want anyone getting the wrong idea…" Djana smiled as she pulled back from Hotaru. Slowly, Duo approached and extended his hand. Clasping it firmly, Djana found herself pulled into a quick hug.
"I won't say good-bye. But I will say thank you. And good luck. Don't let the locals trample you when you get back."
"I won't."
Wordlessly, each nodded and moved to their assigned positions, each standing at a different point of a triangle that had been drawn onto the floor. Djana held her hands out and Stryke returned to his post on her shoulder as a large beam of light erupted from her palms. Duo sat at a small table, quickly pounding on the keyboard of the laptop as he sought to find the 'fissures' they had originally slipped through when each had appeared in Diadem. Hotaru raised her hand into the air.
"Saturn Crystal Power, Make Up!"
Raising her glaive and focusing on her sovereign planet, Saturn called on its power, drawn from a terrible distance, but extraordinarily strong nevertheless.
"Saturn Planet Power!"
The energy collected and pooled across the ceiling, green tinted heavily with purple. The room was silent but for the furious pounding of keys.
Slowly, so slowly that at first they all thought they were imagining it, a small, circular portal appeared, creeping across the ceiling as a seeping pool of ink. For the first time, they'd managed to create a portal outside of Diadem.
"We've got it. I'm closing in on some irregularities now. They may be the fissures we're looking for. Just hold that portal!"
Both Djana and Saturn were soaked in sweat, shaking slightly from the energy needed to sustain the portal, but they nodded in unison. They could hold it as long as they needed to.
A bleep from the computer and Duo's enthusiastic cry raised hopes as his typing grew louder. "Yes! I've got three fissures…Just checking the codes now. Hold on you two…Got it! A perfect match. Watch out now, I'm implementing the program…" The computer began to grow green, and the light spread in lines across the room to form a latticework of magic and light. The portal responded in kind, growing larger and shifting from inky black to a deep violet. Sending as much energy into the portal as she dared, Saturn chanced another glance at the braided typist.
Duo was frowning, and a second later an alarm sounded from the computer.
Duo, what's wrong?
The American shook his head. "There isn't enough energy! I can't run the retrieval program, and I can't shut the thing down! It's caught in a feedback loop!"
Saturn and Djana immediately sensed something wrong with the portal, but by then it was far too late. It continued to grow, now covering the ceiling of the room and spreading downwards. The pair lost control, now being drained completely by the portal's magic instead of controlling it. Saturn heard Duo cursing loudly and slamming something before her world was reduced to nothing more than inky blackness.
Dust swirled across the wasteland, but Saturn felt no wind. No sound reached her ears, save that of her own breathing. Looking around, it took a moment before she recognized where she was: the ruins of the Moon Kingdom.
Footsteps told her of an approaching figure and she swirled around, glaive ready, still unsure. From the mists stepped a figure, and Saturn was forced to gasp in surprise.
Walking forward was herself, or at least that was who it seemed. It wasn't a mirror image; the figure wore a fuku different from her own and her Super Sailor fuku. It's skirt was layered, the purple overtop another, this one almost black. Long, crimson ribbons replaced the bow at the back, a four-pointed crimson star sat in the center of her chest bow. Silver earrings dangled from ears half hidden behind purple-black hair and above clear violet eyes sat the sign of Saturn, the stylized H glowing faintly in the night.
"Who are you?"
The figure tilted her head. I am you child. Is it not obvious?
The voice appeared in Saturn's mind, the figure's mouth never moving to create a sound. She recognized the voice, it was the same as Saturn's, when Hotaru was de-henshined and the mental blocks were down. But she had transformed; she was Saturn. So how was this possible?
The figure nodded. Yes, I am Saturn child. The voice from your mind. You have transformed and called upon my power, my memories, but they are rightfully yours as well. I was the first, sent into the future to be reborn with the others, to protect the princess…But you have split from yourself, and have caused me to manifest as such. And until we are again one, here I will remain.
"I don't understand. Why aren't I dead? The portal went out of control. And they're your memories, not mine. I thought you disappeared, I hadn't heard from you in so long…"
They are your memories little one. You are not given the option, unfortunately. Fate chose you. I have not been able to speak with you for years; you have kept the blocks you created as a constant barrier between us. As for the portal: I pulled you out of time, for a moment. To offer you a chance to save yourself, and the others.
"How?"
The figure simply turned and surveyed the desert around them; eyes following what had once been beautifully sculpted garden pathways lined with roses, leading to an ivory palace, now a heap of charred rubble.
This was the last place you and I were one. This terrible battle…
"I don't understand. What are you saying?"
This is the last place where we were of one mind. Here, the queen asked us to destroy this world in order to save it. And I obeyed. Do you remember our last thought?
Saturn shook her head, feeling numb.
It was to forget, to be at peace, finally. And the queen and her crystal granted you that wish. She sealed the memories of Saturn within her reincarnation. It was her hope that reborn, the princess of the silent planet could be happy and at peace.
"But it didn't work."
No. She sealed myself within you, knowing that you could call upon me should you need the power, and the memories. But nothing is perfect. You died and were reborn countless times, straining the seal until it reached its breaking point...
"And the memories flooded me."
Yes.
Slowly, the pieces of the puzzle began to fall into place for Saturn. "Then Pluto helped me raise the mental blocks, to keep the memories away...I sealed you again, didn't I?"
The figures sighed, no more than a whisper of wind in Saturn's mind, and held out her hand, palm facing the sky. Yes. But you have sealed a part of yourself as well. You can never hold your true full power if you continue to distance yourself from your past. Our past.
"What true power?"
Words flashed through Saturn's mind, countless speeches given to countless enemies. "Soldier of Death and Rebirth, Sailor Saturn!...Destruction and rebirth....Under the planet of ruin, the soldier of silence and renewal....Death...Death...Death..."
And rebirth, little one. You hold the power for both. But without your memories, you are only half what you could be. You can save them, if you allow yourself to remember.
"What can I do, to save myself, and everyone?"
Accept.
"What?" Saturn stood, shaken to her core. If there was a way to save them and herself, she would do it. What did this apparition want?
Accept yourself. Accept your past, and future. Accept your fate, to be the soldier of ruin...accept me...
The last two words were barely above a whisper, hushed, but not without meaning. Startled, Saturn examined the figure carefully, noticing, for the first time, the slight gray tint to her fuku, as though it was millennia old. Her eyes did not reflect Saturn's own, but rather reminded the senshi of Pluto, ageless, but scarred.
"You've been here since the beginning, haven't you?"
Surprise crossed the figure's face for an instant before it returned to its carefully sculpted stare; she nodded.
"It must have been lonely..."
No reaction, save the slightest widening of violet eyes.
"I've always had someone, even if there were times I didn't realize it. I'm sorry, I didn't know putting up those blocks would do this. I never intended to leave you alone."
I know…
"Together, can we save them? Will we be able to get home?"
The only thing I know for certain is that separate, we will all die. Past that..
"I suppose we'll simply have to try. What can I do?"
There was a pause, then: Nothing…simply open your mind, and accept…
The figure stepped forward and held her palms out facing Saturn. Drawn forward, the girl found herself mimicking the other, palms held perhaps a foot apart. Still unsure, Saturn waited, and realized she was feeling a strange pulling sensation towards the figure, who was almost flickering, a strange purple mist gathering around them both.
*
If someone had been present to watch, they would have seen two figures standing in the midst of a crater, framed by the ruins of a forgotten civilization. Closer inspection would have shown that the two figures were female, and indeed quite similar, though one might venture that the figure to the right was older, and yet be unsure as to how one would know. Had they continued to watch the two strange girls, they would have been surprised to see them flicker and shift, slowly growing more and more faint, as another figure began to form between the two. Slowly, the two figures faded out completely, the third growing solid.
*
Saturn stepped forward, not the product of a past life flooding the present, nor the result of the present overtaking the past. She stood, a combination of both; past and present, life and death. Whole for the first time in millennia. The memories were not a flood, a rush of information tearing at her brain. They were as calm as a lake, still and silent, holding the knowledge of a thousand years quietly in her mind, as though they had always had been there. They belonged there.
Eyes closed for a moment, Saturn knew what to do. Summoning her glaive once again, she raised it into the air and invoked her power, disappearing into a streak of purple light.
Saturn stood inside the circular portal room once again, time stilled to a single moment. The portal had returned to an inky black and had spread throughout the room, coating the ceiling and wrapping Saturn, Djana, Stryke and Duo in tendrils that trailed down, trapping them. Time seamed to snap into place and Saturn was free, her power a purple aura around her. Mind whole, memories complete, she reached into herself and saw what was needed. Power coursed through her veins as she slashed through the tendrils that wrapped around her friends. They sank to the ground, too drained to even move. It didn't matter, Saturn had the power needed. Leaping forward into the middle of the triangle, still visible on the floor, she summoned her greatest attack.
"Death Reborn Revolution!"
Power coursed through her, power to destroy a world, and herself. But channelled properly, it was exactly what the portal wanted, and it eagerly absorbed the energy, allowing Saturn to teleport herself and the others into its depths. Using the still visible markers Duo had placed with Djana's magic and the computer program, she approached the first fissure, seeing a strange world of magic and myth, a phoenix flying prominently against a sunlit sky. With the tiniest of mental shoves, Djana and Stryke fell through to their home, and Saturn moved to the next marker. Gigantic machines silhouetted against a star-filled sky and Saturn knew she had found Duo's home. As she nudged him towards the fissure, he groaned and opened his eyes, smiling as he disappeared into its light, a silent thank you on his lips. Drifting towards the last marker, she sank gratefully into the depths of her own world, magic mixed with science, with one to guide them all…
*****************************
The battle had not gone well. Heero's body ached, though he wouldn't mention it. Quatre had a nasty gash on his head, and probably a concussion. Trowa had escaped with only bruises, but Wufei had barely been able to leave the Taurus suit under his own power. Now he walked with Trowa and Quatre supporting him, a broken arm and leg, and God knew what else, until they got him in to see Sally in the sickbay.
But all that was nothing, meant nothing. They had defeated their enemy and saved the colonies once again, but at what price? Duo was gone. Of course they'd all been willing to risk their lives, give their lives to continue the peace….But Heero had always assumed he'd be the one to die, or perhaps Wufei, sacrificing their lives for the others. It wasn't right- Duo had been the happiest, the most animated of them all. No matter what, Duo always had a smile and a quick comment, he could cheer you up just by being around you.
Heero realized with a start that he truly had cared about Duo, perhaps even more than he realized. For the first time in years, Heero was mourning a death. What was more, he blamed himself, for not stopping Duo, for not finding another way, for not doing anything but watch, horrified—
They were almost at the sickbay when Quatre stiffened. Heero immediately tensed, used to the boy's empathetic senses by now. Trowa and Wufei stopped as the boy's eyes widened, staring at the hallway in front of them. Heero turned back to see a dark line hovering in the middle of the hall, looking much like someone had taken a knife and slashed at the air. The line widened, showing nothing but an inky black inside, and a figure emerged, the hole in space snapping shut behind him.
The four pilots stared incredulously: There was no mistaking the green and tan of the preventor uniform. And if that wasn't a giveaway, the violet eyes and brown braid that reached to the figure's butt made identifying him simple, even if it was impossible…
"…Duo?" Quatre's voice was barely a croak.
"In the flesh. Seems the grim reaper owed the Shinigami a favour. Are you guys alright?"
Heero's gun was drawn in a flash. This couldn't be real, it had to be a trick of some kind. Duo was dead, he'd seen it with his own eyes. "Who are you? What do you want?"
"It's a long story Heero. But it's really me. 100% Duo Maxwell, at your service. Now don't shoot me, the last thing I need is to die after all this…"
Heero hesitated. His senses told him that this was Duo, from speech patterns to movement. But his mind told him it simply wasn't possible…Quatre's voice broke the silence once again. "Heero, it's really him. I don't know how, but it really is Duo…"
The smile had left Duo's eyes as he nodded. "I told you, it's a long story. I guess you could say I got lost. For far, far too long…" Eyes glinting, everyone recognized the happy smile back on the violet-eyes pilot's face again. "But I'm back now, and I have no intention of leaving again."
Tension stretched through the room as the pilots fought to process the information. Heero's gun disappeared, and he slowly walked forward, closing the space between Duo and himself. Unsure, he racked his mind for any relevant information, finding just one, silent memory amongst all others. Staring evenly into violet eyes, he carefully pulled the boy towards him, arms crossing Duo's back in a clumsy hug.
"I thought I'd lost you."
Surprised, Duo hesitantly lifted his arms to wrap them around Heero's back, squeezing slightly. He knew, as well as the others, that this was probably the first time Heero had ever done anything like this. And still unsure about the implications, Duo was ready to accept anything he was given.
"I'm sorry. I didn't want to leave any of you."
Heero's grip around Duo tightened slightly, and the boy laid his head on Heero's shoulder, enjoying his warmth. In that instant, Duo's world consisted of nothing but himself, Heero, and the floor beneath his feet- the only thing that told his that this was indeed real.
Prussian eyes stared into violet. "I love you."
Heero's grip loosened, his arms dropping from Duo's form, looking like he was ready for Duo to run away at the words. The Japanese pilot waited, while Duo's face registered shock. Slowly, he began to smile, and for the first time ever known to mankind, Heero looked confused.
Stepping forward, Duo wrapped the former pilot into another hug, drawing a wince from battered bones, though neither really noticed. "I'm glad." He whispered. "Mainly 'cause I love you too."
There probably would have been a very large and mushy kiss scene, much to the joy of 1x2 fans, and much to the embarrassment of Trowa, Wufei and Quatre (who were watching the scene with a mixture of knowing {Trowa} happiness {Quatre} and mild irritation {Wufei, who else?}) If not for two things:
Number one was that Sally Po took that moment to step out of sickbay, wondering exactly what was taking those boys so long, and two, Wufei doubled over in pain, clutching his midsection. Essentially ruining the mood.
Sally quickly worked to push the pilots inside the sickbay doors, blinking rapidly upon seeing Duo. Proclaiming loudly that he could explain everything sitting inside as well as he could in the hallway, she manhandled the group past the doors and onto cots, carefully treating wounds and keeping her lips firmly pressed shut as Duo began to tell his story.
*******************
The battle had not gone well, and the aftermath was worse still. Saturn had saved them all, but they had lost the quiet girl, again…
Pluto and Haruka were vainly attempting to console a sobbing Neptune, failing in that their voices were strained, tears flowing freely across their faces. Venus was propped against a tree next to Tuxedo Kamen, one with a nasty concussion, the other's arm twisted at a horrific angle. Mercury was treating them as best she could, hoping to get them on their feet and to an emergency room soon. If Saturn had been here, she could have healed…
Jupiter and Mars were consoling/being consoled by Sailor Moon, who hadn't spoken since Saturn had disappeared.
Pluto whirled, staff already midair and the senshi tensed, ready for another enemy. The portal re-opened, small this time, no longer pulsing, and those who could fight took battle positions, waiting. A figure fell though, petite, but immediately recognizable.
"Saturn!"
"Hotaru-chan!"
Pluto was the first to reach the girl, and caught her before she could fall. The portal closed, already forgotten.
"Saturn! Are you alright?"
"How?"
"Are you ok?"
"What happened?"
Saturn struggled to her feet, already knowing she would soon pass out. It didn't matter: she was home. "It's a long story. But I'm alright. It's alright…I'm glad everyone is alright…"
Pluto watched startled as Saturn's smile reached her eyes, something the Senshi of Time had not seen in many, many years. She noticed that the girl's fuku was also different, ribbon replacing her bow at the back, the heart at the center of her chest layered over a slightly darker star. It was obvious the girl had a lot to tell, but all that would have to wait, as Saturn passed out in her arms, and the senshi was forced to re-assure six anxious voices that yes, Hotaru-chan was alright. Just tired…
********************
"Will he be alright?"
Duo had finished his tale, much to an incredulous audience, but they had chosen to bypass it in favour of more pressing matters. Right now, Duo was all right. The same couldn't be said for Wufei, however.
On top of a broken leg and arm, and along with a fractured wrist, he had bruised his ribs, cracked a collarbone, and ruptured half a dozen organs. Internal bleeding was a huge possibility, and Sally simply didn't have the resources necessary to do anything in such a small medical base. By the time they traveled to any station or base with the proper equipment, Wufei could very well be dead. He had slipped into unconsciousness, and Sally had shook her head to the pilot's questions.
"I don't know. It's all resting on him. I know none of you are particularly religious, but the only thing I can suggest is to wait, and pray. I'll leave, but I'll be checking on him every hour. Page me if anything happens."
She'd left the room, also leaving the pilots with their thoughts. She was right of course, on all counts, but that didn't mean they had to like it. Quatre had pulled up a chair next to Wufei's bed, Trowa following suit. Heero and Duo perched on the empty bed next to them, all silent.
Sally came in to check in every hour, as she said, finding no change in either her patient or the silent vigil around his bed. She understood. They thought they'd lost one, and Duo had returned through some miracle. They couldn't lose another now, so quickly after. All knew no miracle would return him to their ranks if he left.
The hours passed, Duo marking them only through Sally's appearance. He dozed on Heero's shoulder, Quatre nodded off once or twice, slowly drifting towards Trowa. It had to be late, though time meant little in space, when Quatre was startled awake. Standing quickly, he glanced around the room, the others quickly standing and following his movements. Heero deftly switched on the lights- the room was almost pitch black, perfect for any intruder to slip in unnoticed, though he doubted that was the problem.
"What's wrong?"
"I'm not sure…I just feel, I don't know, strained. Like I did just before—
A large black line appeared towards the back of the room, quickly growing larger. Each immediately recognized it, surprised.
The pilots held their breath, Heero and Trowa already with guns drawn, as yet another figure emerged, dressed conservatively in black jeans and a purple ribbed sweater, violet eyes sparkling underneath shoulder-length hair as they traced round the room. Her face lit up upon seeing the group.
"Duo! It worked!"
"Hotaru?!" He rushed forward and nearly slammed into the girl, twirling her around into a hug before setting her down again. "How the hell did you get here? Didn't you get home? What happened? How did you fix the portal? Did Djana and Stryke get back ok? Are you ok? What—
She placed a finger across his lips, silencing him as Heero, Quatre and Trowa watched amazed and rather confused.
Duo turned back to the group, smiling broadly. "It's ok, you can trust her" referring to the still drawn guns. "This is Hotaru. I told you about her already. Hotaru, this is—
"Wait, let me guess? I want to see if twenty-five years of Heero-this and Trowa-that are going to pay off." She stepped forward, clearly unafraid of the weaponry leveled towards her. There probably would have been a tense introduction scene in which Hotaru guessed each of the pilot's names and set them at ease, at least enough for them to put away their guns, if Wufei hadn't chosen to seizure at that moment, causing the weaponry to disappear as they rushed to his bedside. (Great timing, Wu-man)
Quatre rushed to call Sally as Heero and Trowa grabbed Wufei's arms and legs, keeping him from flying violently from the bed. Duo paled, voice horse. "Can you do anything Hotaru?"
"Duo! Help us, nevermind her right now- we have to make sure he's breathing!" (A/N: Seizures are deadly in that a person can stop breathing, starving their brain of oxygen. All in all a bad thing…)
"I'll try Duo. I should be able to do something…" Hotaru stepped between Heero and Trowa, Heero ready to make a caustic remark, when she laid her hands on Wufei's heaving chest, his body immediately growing still. Trowa released his feet, Heero letting the Chinese boy's arms a moment later. Wufei gasped, air flooding starved lungs. Quatre re-entered with Sally and Hotaru paled as purple light spread from her palms and crept across Wufei's body.
"Duo…?"
He was already standing beside her, having pushed the other bed out of the way. He sat a stool behind her, nodding to the others, letting them know it was all right. Hotaru sat, eyes closed as she examined Wufei. "Concussion, cracked collarbone, broken arm, fractured wrist, fluid in his lungs, bruised ribs, internal bleeding, broken leg…He's pretty bad Duo."
Quatre had come to stand next to the American and now clutched his arm tightly as Duo answered Hotaru. "I know. Can you help any?"
"I believe so. He's strong. He should be ok…" Sinking into the Chinese boy, Hotaru began the arduous task of healing.
"What's going on Duo?"
"I'm not too sure myself. Somehow Hotaru's managed to get here…And she's healing Wufei. Don't worry, it's alright…"
"Nothing in this is right."
"We'll figure it out when Wufei's better. Until then, let Hotaru do her thing. She's pretty good."
"You're going to have a lot of explaining to do."
"I know. Believe me, I know."
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"But how did you manage to get here? From what Djana said, I figured that was a one way trip."
Wufei was asleep, left with nothing but bruises from the battle, and Hotaru had proceeded to clarify Duo's tale, leaving the pilots with little choice but to believe him, as impossible as the whole thing seemed.
"I spent a lot of time talking with Setsuna while the others were planning a party for tomorrow. When I finished, she mentioned it was likely I left a tunnel between our worlds, which meant we could probably travel between. I tried to open a portal, and here I am."
"So I can do the same?"
"It's likely."
"Cool. That means we can visit each other. You don't mind, do you? I mean, I've got to meet your friends…"
Hotaru laughed as the pilots sat in silence, watching the exchange. "I was hoping you'd say that. Haruka and Michiru want to meet the man I've been spending the last twenty-five years with."
Duo gulped. "Maybe when all the smoke clears up here…I…eheh…heheh…oi."
Much to the confusion of the other pilots, and to the frustration of Wufei, who awoke because of it, Hotaru and Duo laughed for quite some time. They were still smiling about the apparent joke when Hotaru got ready to leave, only after extracting a promise from Duo to visit her, and soon.
The portal swallowing her figure and snapping shut behind her, Duo turned to see four faces staring rather intently at him. "Heh..ehe…um. Boy am I tired! I think I'll just turn in now…"
"Not a chance Maxwell."
"Oh figgums."
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