And You I Love

--------------------------------------
Location: Arcade
--------------------------------------

...When Usagi left to play Tokyo Racing...

Usagi put her car into 5th gear, just as Duo was pulling into 4th gear. Ha! I'm ahead of him!

Suddenly, a sharp turn came and Usagi's speed was too fast to make the turn. It rammed into the rail and edged over the side. Usagi was disqualified. Fuming, Usagi slipped more tokens into the slot, and she re-challenged Duo before he could even finish the race. They reselected cars and the countdown began. GO! flashed on the monitor.

For this race, Usagi and Duo were bumper to bumper. They traded first and second spots for a large portion of the race. Though Usagi was putting tons of effort into it, Duo seemed to be taking the sharp turns and narrow bridges as a cruise.

After Usagi passed the bridge she had failed at before, she brought her car up to 5th gear and sped off past Duo. Though Duo was still right behind her, Usagi felt as though she had already won- the finish line was in sight.

She was inches from it, really. She probably would have won against anyone else. However, she didn't know that she was racing against Duo Maxwell, pilot of the Gundam Deathscythe, which was made for speed. Just seconds before she would have a crossed into her moment of triumph, a car whizzed past her and took first place.

Usagi's jaw dropped to the ground. Tokyo Racing was her specialty! The only other person that could beat her was Rei. And Duo, who she had only met a day ago, had defeated her. Usagi the Ultimate. Usagi the Speedy. Usagi the...Defeated? Her sadness turned to anger, and she stood up off the carseat.

You could've taken the lead at any moment! Usagi accused, You were toying with me!

'Nuther race? Duo asked casually. Usagi rolled her eyes as she lifted herself off the carseat, answering him with a silent No.'

Usagi joined Quatre and Ami at the air hockey table. I play winner! she said simply. Usagi smiled a secret smile- it was obvious that Quatre was letting Ami win. What is it with these guys? They letcha' think you're one step ahead, and then they drop you! She hoped they weren't like that when it came to relationships. The one that Minako was playing Area 51 with now was awfully cute.

What's...his name? Usagi asked, pointing to the Area 51 station.

Quatre looked up for only a second, but Ami had the chance to score. With a half-smile, Quatre answered, That's Heero, and if you're wondering, that's Wufei. He pointed over to the Chinese boy that was meditating. Meditating? In an arcade!?

The game ended, and Ami had won by three points. Usagi took the pucker from Quatre and said to Ami, I'm not goin' easy on you! So the battle began.

Usagi quickly took the lead over Ami. The gap between them grew wider, until Quatre had to step in. He put his arms around Ami's small body, placed his hands over hers on the pucker and began helping her. Together they manueavered the pucker and Usagi had a lot of trouble scoring a goal. Oooh...darn it! she cried in frustration.

She concentrated more on the puck, and moved her pucker quickly to defend her goal. Ami/Quatre scored one shot...two...three...the gap was lessening. Usagi was not going to suffer another loss to a Gundam pilot, so she picked up on speed.

It was kind of like watching a cat stare at the fan- Usagi's head followed the puck in every direction. You can't blame Quatre and Ami for falling over laughing. But in that time, Usa managed to make a goal. When the air on the table dissipated, the score was 9-7, Usagi.

Usa laughed, You pilots aren't all you're cracked up to be! She smiled smugly at Quatre, who returned it with a smile of his own.

Oh yeah? You and me, one on one? Quatre offered. Usagi nodded, and added in two more tokens.

Very quickly Usagi figured out that Quatre was to be taken seriously as an opponent. He was quick, and he was good, and his eyes were so very distracting...

Amy cheered, Come on Quatre!

Usagi dropped her pucker. She stared at her friend in disbelief. Ami smiled sheepishly, and Quatre cleared his throat to get attention from Usagi. Usagi turned, and Quatre pointed down at the table. The puck glided slowly into Usagi's goal. Usagi scowled, and took the puck from the slot. Watch out...

---Twenty Minutes Later---

Usagi's body was slumped against the side of the air-hockey table on the ground. She fanned herself and took a deep breath. It was the seventh time she had managed to get herself into a tie with Quatre. She stood resolutley and said, No! One more game!

She searched her pockets for tokens desperately, but she found none, not even one. Usa cried. She looked around suspiciously. She saw Minako still playing Area 51 with the guy that Quatre called Heero. She's got to have more tokens!

So Usagi bounded over to Minako, and tapped on her shoulder. Minako ignored her. Mina-chan? MINAKO?!! Usagi shouted in her ear. Minako didn't even acknowledge Usa'gis presence. Later on that day, Minako would deny that Usagi ever did that.

Again she looked around, and she spotted Rei. Usagi remembered that after Rei was finished playing air-hockey with Quatre, she challenged Duo for a match of Tokyo Racing, and then began to talk to Wufei. Rei definaltey hasn't played much at all. She probably has a billion tokens left!

Usagi asked once she arrived at Rei's table,

Rei replied flatly, before Usagi even finished. I don't care what it is, but you're not getting it from me.

Fake tears welled in Usa's eyes, and she began her crying scene. Oh, Rei, please?! You've always been so horrible to me and all I want are a few-

If I give you one token will you go away? Rei asked suddenly. She looked surprised, but Usagi paid no mind.

But air-hockey-

Take it. Or leave it.

Usagi looked over at Quatre. Again, he was speaking with Ami in a corner. Usagi shook her head, and left Rei's table. As she turned, she saw Makoto re-entering the arcade with a pet carrier.

Usagi walked slowly up to Makoto. Is it a bunny? Makoto shook her head but smiled.

No, it's a cat. Her name is Lucetta.

Usagi put bent down to where her face was level with the door of the cage. Hello there pretty kitty- Ahh! Mako', what's that noise it's making? Usagi looked at the cat with a look of disdain in her eyes.

Makoto shrugged. She doesn't like people too much. Usagi arched an eyebrow, and her gaze shifted outside. She glanced down at her watch. It was 5:30.

The arcade was the type that didn't really have a door, it was more of an archway that you entered through. She could see the sky outside, and she could tell that it was almost twighlight. Usagi loved to see the twighlight. Leaving Makoto with her new cat, Usagi went outside.

There was a square garden there. It was enclosed with iron, green fencing. She glanced up at the sun which was making its way down. The blues mixed with the pinks and purples, and it created a wonderful setting. As she was about to lean over the rail, she spotted another one of Quatre's pilot friends. She didn't know his name, but he was leaning over the rail, watching the sunset, too.

Usagi took a spot to the left of him, leaned on the rail and watched the sun fall. If you would ask her later, Usagi wouldn't be able to explain why she wanted to be close to him. She also wouldn't be able to explain how strongly Trowa reminded her of Shingo, her very own little brother.

--------------------------------------
Location: Outside the Arcade
--------------------------------------

Trowa Barton was going to move when the girl Quatre called Usagi took a spot next to him. He was watching the sky. It had been a while since he had seen a sunset or the stars from Earth.

He was going to move, but as she leaned over the railing next him, he felt a strong warmth radiate from her body. Usagi didn't know it, but for a second Trowa stole a glance, and he watched in near fascination as she kept her eyes transfixed on the sun and sky. Though he didn't say it, Usagi bore a very vague resemblance to someone he knew back home, Catherine. As Trowa studied her for a moment longer, her realized that Usagi didn't look like Catherine, she just felt like her.

--------------------------------------
END
--------------------------------------