AN: *Checks clipboard* Uh-uh. No rights to anything here. *Trips over a familiar pair of shoes* Just these.

What Happens When We Race

"I'll be back in an hour, Mom!"

"Take the cell phone, dear. Call if you think you'll be later."

"'Kay, bye!" Usagi grabbed her mother's cell phone on her way out. With her grandparents in town for a wine tasting festival, Usagi's mother Ikuko was in the midst of creating a curry feast when she realized that she had forgotten to buy the peppers that her father-in-law enjoyed so much. Seeing that Usagi was just lying around watching television, her eldest child was nominated to make a run to the grocery store a couple of blocks from the neighborhood to pick up the said peppers and some extra virgin olive oil to roast them with.

Usagi hummed tunelessly as she perused the garden section of the store. "Bell peppers, pepperoncinis, banana peppers, …ah! Chili peppers! Gramps really loves these." She giggled as she remembered how her grandpa would rip the peppers open and suck on the fiery oil of the seeds. This action nearly always melted the enamel off of his dentures and took his head off to boot, but he would just shake his head and say that that's how he likes it. With the flaming peppers and the olive oil in hand, Usagi checked out and started for home. She realized that she was being followed about the time she had gone too far from the grocery store to consider returning. When she sped up, she heard several sets of footsteps match her own. Before she could cry out, the Princess of the Moon found herself being hauled behind a group of city owned dumpsters to be pinned against a wall.

"Oooh! She's cute!" A big dolt pushed his face close to Usagi's bathing her with his intense halitosis making her gag and pull away. A meaty hand groped at her backside while the goon's buddies guffawed.

"Take your hands off of her!" A man stepped into view, his onyx eyes reflecting the orange hues of a distant street light. "Have you no honor?" The goon merely shook his head, not in answer to the new man's question, but to signal the rest of his crew to jump the hero. Usagi cried out when while the young man was busy with two hulking men in front of him, a third man came up from behind and pulled the Good Samaritan's arms into a painful lock.

"Shut up and we may let you have a turn with her, kid," growled the leader who then laughed at the captive man's obvious disgust. He then turned back to the still pinned Usagi. "Now, doll. What have you got for me, huh?" For a moment Usagi went completely still and then to the shock and amazement of the fellows about her, she began to snuggle the lead goon.

"Oh, I've got something for you, big boy." The goon looked wary until Usagi leaned up and kissed his cheek, then it seemed all of the blood in his head rushed to *ahem* other places. "Open your mouth and close your eyes…" she cooed. Like a giant puppy, the goon did just that and a moment later he felt something wet tease his open lips. The rest of the gang watched in horror as the goon captain slowly turned red and clutched his throat after their 'victim' placed the biggest half of a South American red hot Chili pepper in his mouth and sealed his lips shut.

"Oh mah GAWD," he screamed. The moment the tormented man's grip loosened upon her, Usagi bolted and did a flying tackle on one of the stunned jerks that held her so-called-savior. He quickly dispatched the second man who held him. "Run!" She yelled at the man and together they raced into the night. They ran for what seemed like forever until their adrenaline-laced bodies could take no more. Chests heaving both lucky survivors leaned against a low brick wall. Usagi bent over and, to the young man, it seemed that she started sobbing. He placed a firm hand on her shoulder and tried to soothe her.

"Shh. We made it." His face was blank amazement when Usagi finally met his gaze. Tears of mirth ran down her cheeks, she was laughing so hard.

"Did you…see his…face?!" She pantomimed someone with flames coming out of their mouth. This set her off into another round of laughter, only this set wasn't held in. Her silvery peals of laughter rang through out the night and the dark-haired boy actually joined her with his own chuckles. Both collapsed upon the ground when their giggles finally allowed them to breathe. Still kind of breathless, Usagi introduced herself. "And thanks for the rescue too."

"Not that you needed it," he said. "My name is Wufei. Back at you for the rescue." Usagi blushed at his small complement and realized that whatever the size or form, a show of gratitude from this man was special. A loud growl broke into the conversation.

"Are you hungry, Wufei? My mom is making a big meal tonight and I'm sure that you'd be welcome…" Usagi mentally crossed her fingers and hoped that her over-protective father would welcome the man after he learned what he'd tried to save her from. When Wufei agreed after some coaxing on Usagi's part, her heart made a weird leap in her chest. Why did this feel so right? Together they made their way to Usagi's home.

AN: Okay, the meetings have been made. How and why are the guys making these "random" meetings happen? Good question. I'll update when I have an answer. Till then! J