Title: Because of You
Author: Cheska
E-mail Address: Minnashime@aol.com
Rating: PG or PG-13
Chapter: 14
Disclaimer: Gomen nasai, I don't own Sailor Moon nor Gundam Wing.
Author's Note: I'm back after a long time, ne? But I've made up with it by writing this
long chapter compared to the previous two! ^_^
But despite my elation towards getting this chapter out, it saddens me that someone doesn't
enjoy my story. *sniff* It wasn't a flame but a bad review...still...my first ever! *sigh*
Is it really a bad story?
Well here's the next chapter for those who think that it is worthy of reading...
*trudges off in sadness*
**********
Usagi crept quietly towards the hangar of this vehicle, wanting to be less distinguishable in the
shadows than noticeable for every eyes to see and hear. As the teenager finally made her way towards
the back, she paused at the sight before her eyes. A Gundam. For the past years she has heard
stories and gossip about the large mechas but never saw one up close. Of course they've viewed them
from television and she could care less. But now here it was, one of them before her eyes and she
was surprised nonetheless. Surprised at the massive size, the color, and the way it poised itself.
Like a soldier preparing to wage war. Ready and so sure of itself. Not afraid to be destroyed.
And in her mind she knew that it could care less, if it was killed it could always be rebuilt to
its orginial form. Gazing up at the Gundam she took in the details. About 53 ft. 6 inches. Midnight
black armed with a Twin Beam Scythe and a Buster Shield. As she neared it, it would weigh about
7.4 tons.
"Impressive..."Usagi commented under her breath as her hand touched the gundamium aloid.
In back of her a figure watched, its eyes shining with concern mixed with pride and gratitude.
"I'm glad you like it,"the figure finally spoke up.
"Deathscythe Hell, I presume?"Usagi commented not turning around as she eyed the gundam from
her view close-up.
"Yup, my new pride and joy since..."Duo trailed off, images playing itself over in his mind.
"I understand, I saw the news of the viewing as well. I'm sorry,"Usagi turned around to lay
her arms around him. Letting him know that she cared if he cared.
Letting go, Duo took a few steps closer to the Gundam and checked it out.
"It's great to see Deathscythe again. Shinigami is back and ready to kick some ass!"Duo grinned,
his eyes flashing with excitement.
"Shinigami....you've never stopped believing in your God of Death. Have you, Duo?"Usagi smiled
wanely over at him as she picked up the space helmet that lay unused on the barren floor of the
hangar.
"Nope, I haven't. Hey, do you remember that night over at the trees after you went to
church?"Duo smiled at the memory of the night of the promise.
"Yes, I thought we talked about this already..."
"Just checking to see if you still remember after all of this mess...it's sometimes nice to
forget the present, don't you think?"Duo said as he took the helmet that Usagi offered towards
him.
"Of course Duo. It was such a long time ago, though..."
"Not that long, Usa...never that long,"Duo uttered softly as he placed his hand under her
chin to get a better view of her downcast eyes.
"Duo.."
The two seemed to gaze into each other's eyes forever. Cobalt blue towards crystalline orbs.
(She's my friend...my childhood best friend. I grew up with her...I can't..just..can't be in
love with her. And she has a boyfriend for Shinigami's sake!)Duo shook off the feelings and
let go of the trance he was in.
Usagi as well stepped back and gazed downwards before mustering up the nerve to look up at the
braided pilot once more.
"I should be getting into Deathscythe Hell over here, got a mission you know?"Duo stated
before swinging himself up onto the ladder leading up to the center of the mecha.
"Be careful!"Usagi shouted up towards him.
"Aren't I always?"Duo grinned boyishly down at her from up above.
"No!"Usagi joked before running towards the doorway leading back to the cockpit.
"Good luck!"Usagi added before waving and standing at the doorway.
"Thanks, and don't worry I'll be back. I promise,"Duo shouted down to the blond.
"I know you will,"Usagi grinned and turned around to go inside.
************************
Inside the Gundam: Duo
************************
"Open the back door now, I'm ready,"Duo ordered.
"Opening,"Mamoru replied, as the back slowly opened up.
"All systems go,"Duo flicked up the starter switch as the Gundam hummed to life.
(Ahh...Shinigami is on my side today. Soon we'll be out there and they'll know Shinigami's
true wrath!)Duo grinned.
"What's with the closeness between you and Usako?"Mamoru asked out of the blue.
Duo's eyes widened by a few fractions at the abruptness of the question.
"Overprotective, aren't you?"Duo smirked Duo as he began backing up his Gundam.
"It's my duty to protect her, she is after all...my girlfriend and fiancee.."Mamoru dryly
put out.
"Fiancee? Really? I didn't see a ring on her finger,"Duo commented.
"She will be wearing one soon. It's our destiny to be together,"Mamoru grinned in the screen.
"Hmph, she should make her own destiny..."Duo stated.
"You didn't answer my question yet. What's with you and Usako?"Mamoru asked again.
"I don't see why it's your business,"Duo rolled his eyes.
"It's my business. I'm her boyfriend!"Mamoru growled out.
"Chill man. Jeez...we're just friends.."Duo said.
"She never mentioned you before."
"That's probably because you never asked her."
"Hmph,"Mamoru shut off the communication system between them.
"That guy is overreacting. Wonder how Usa put up with him for so long,"Duo mumbled to
himself.
*************
Carrier of 02
*************
"I heard that,"Usagi stated as she entered the cockpit.
"As we all have,"Dr. H smirked.
"I was just curious, Usako. I was worried about you,"Mamoru simply replied.
"You didn't have to be so gruff and cold towards Duo. He's my friend,"Usagi argued.
"Your friend? Since when? You never mentioned him before,"Mamoru countered.
"And like Duo-chan said,'That's probably because you never asked her.'"Usagi quoted.
"That's because I never knew about him till now,"Mamoru sighed getting tired of this
conversation.
"He's been my friend since I was a little girl. My first friend in the orphanage and my
best as well..."Usagi revealed.
"How far do you trust him?"Mamoru questioned.
"I trust him with my life and my soul.."Usagi answered and then left him there with the doctor
and the quiet Selene to go to another part of the room.
**********
Outerspace
**********
"Approaching unidentified mechas are coming right at us from the station and from the moon's
base. Closing in 10 minutes, no...5 minutes,"Quatre's voice informed his colleagues from
Sandrock.
"Let them come!"Duo cried out.
"We have to get inside the station, Duo. Not just wait around here for them, we're wasting
time. The Tetra leader is inside there and probably already know we're out here. We have to
hurry up with this,"Wufei protested.
"And if we just go in there, those mechas are going to come here and destroy our carrier
ships. What then? Usa and them are in one of the carriers,"Duo countered.
"They know how to avoid the mechas. They'll get somewhere safe. Right now we need to finish
up this mission,"Wufei reasoned.
"As much as I detest the thought of leaving them alone out here with mechas coming, I'm afraid
that Wufei is right. They'll be able to escape..."Quatre sided with 05.
"I agree as well, we have a mission to do,"Trowa agreed.
"Et tu, Trowa?"Duo feigned hurt.
"Let's get going,"Wufei hurriedly said as he moved the Altron Gundam towards the station
followed by the others.
(Be careful, Usa...)Duo sighed defeatedly as he followed along the others.
**********
Carrier 02
**********
"We've got trouble,"Dr. H uttered softly as he checked up on the map.
"What trouble?"Selene inquired from behind in the shadows.
"It seems that there are about 30 unidentified mechas heading towards here at the same
time. Contact initiates in 4 minutes,"Dr. H reported.
"What about the Gundams? Do they know?"Mamoru wryly asked.
"They know, they would know before we even gazed at the map. They're continuing on with their
mission. 30 mechas heading here...we'll need to retreat while they take care of this. They won't
be able to protect all the carriers while at the same time heading for the station,"Dr. H stated
as he began flicking at the switches around his side.
"Where are we going?"Selene asked.
"All carriers head back. We're retreating from here. Let the pilots take care of the situation
from here. We'll retreat till they send back for us..."Mamoru carried over the news to
neighboring carriers.
"Got that, Carrier 2. Received word to retreat back to L2,"one of the other pilots of the carrier
informed.
"L2? It's invaded by Tetra!"Selene shouted out in protest as she snatched the communicator
from Mamoru's hand.
"Not anymore, Earth's forces and L1 have managed to defeat the suits circling it and have
begun to attack the inside with their soldiers. It should be safe by now and ready to be
ported. There's an available port over at the East side. It's being repaired and safe to
board,"another pilot near their carrier added.
"We have no choice, we'll have to return to L2,"Dr. H complied.
"L2...again.."sighed Selene before backing away and stepping out of the cockpit to wander off.
"All right, all systems go.."Mamoru said as he flicked on the switches and checked the monitors.
"Let's head out..mechas should make contact within the minute now,"Dr. H cried out.
"We'll be gone long before that,"Mamoru believed as he started up the engines and then
steered out just in time as the first signs of the mechas began to near them.
*******
Earth:
*******
"L2 has just been released from Tetra's hands!"Minako shouted as she ran up the stairs towards
the Shinto Shrine.
"We've all heard that, Minako,"giggled Makoto.
"Do you think that means Usa-chan can go home now? That she won't have to fulfill that dream
that Rei had?"Minako voice was filled with so much hope that it pained Rei.
"I'm afraid not, Minako-chan. The release of L2 is just the beginning, it doesn't mean
anything...gomen ne.."Rei sadly whispered out.
"I shouldn't have jumped to conclusions. It's just.."Minako trailed off as she slumped against
the wall.
"We know, Minako...we want Usa-chan to be safe as well.."Ami layed a hand on her shoulder.
"Any word from Mamoru?"Makoto steered the conversation to somewhere else.
"There hasn't been any contact whatsoever. And it appears that Motoki-kun has disappeared as
well. I have a feeling that they joined the Earth force to go up against Tetra,"Ami figured out.
"Man...when can we go and beat those Tetra with Usa?"Makoto shouted out, hitting a beam that
held up Rei's temple.
"Makoto..onegai.."Rei began.
"Gomen nasai, Rei-chan. My temper got the better of me again,"Makoto apologized.
"That's okay...just please! Don't do it again!"Rei sighed.
**********
Outerspace
**********
Messy dark brown hair with bangs hanging over closed eyes. Fair light brown skin adorned by
a space suit with helmet over a young teenager's head. A constant bleep, blip, beeping was
apparent in the small enclosed space of a mecha cockpit but the pilot seemed to have not heard
it, for he made no move to check up on what was going on.
For hours he layed there, his helmeted head propped up against a metal wall to his right
and his body lying on the chair with his arms folded across his chest. A soft rhythmic
breathing letting itself out, giving sign that he wasn't dead but asleep or unconscious for the
moment.
Outside in space it was quiet with no sound, no visable sign of an enemy. Just the empty space,
the stars and the darkness. The ever present darkness of outerspace in the galaxy.
For a long time the boy in the mecha drifted off, swirling and twirling with no apparent
goal as to where they were going. Just drifting away with no destination until finally a ship
came by. A carrier to be exact and it slowed down, stopping right in front of the mecha.
But the teenage boy made no move to open his eyes. To see what was to come.
********
"It seems we have a drifter in our midst. Should we pick it up?"Mamoru asked the old man beside
him.
The doctor moved forward to stand beside the young man and checked the monitor towards the
unidentified mecha. His eyes widened a few centimeters before disguising it impassively and
nodded for him to continue with the operations of picking up the mecha.
"Do you know the machine?"Mamoru inquired.
"We'll see..."Dr. H simply replied as he moved to go to the back and greet the pilot, if
the pilot was still alive.
"Mecha has entered the hangar. Oxygen stabilized. It's safe to enter,"Mamoru informed the
doctor after the retrieval.
Usagi heard the news of a loose mecha out there that has taken damage and appeared not hostile.
She didn't know what type of mecha it may be so her curiousity got the better of her as she
slipped into the hangar after the confirmation. Looking around, she spotted the mecha and
halted on her tracks.
"A Gundam...the fifth Gundam I think. But which pilot, which Gundam could this be?"Usagi
wondered to herself as she neared the mecha.
"54 ft. 9 inches...taller than Deathscythe Hell. 8 tons in weight...."Usagi muttered to
herself as she placed a hand on the leg of the Gundam.
Observing the Gundam closer she cocked her head to the side to study its weaponry.
"Twin Buster Rifle...is used more..."Usagi muttered, shaking her head and flipping back her
hair.
"You know a lot about Gundams, don't you?"an aged voice asked from behind her.
"Doctor H..I'm sorry I just wanted to see what mecha was picked up. It seems you've caught
a Gundam instead.."Usagi apologized as she sheepishly turned to the old man.
"Quite all right. How did you find out so much about Gundams?"Dr. H interrogated as he
neared the machine.
"It picked up my interest once I found out my friend was one of the pilots. My father works
as a photographer/reporter and took a picture of all five mechas before it was sent to be burned
by the sun. From that I managed to identify them but not where each one belonged to except for
two of them. Duo's is Deathscythe Hell and Wing Zero is 01's. However, I am still uncertain
as to who 01 is,"Usagi informed him.
"You'll find out soon enough,"Dr. H assured her as the latch to the cockpit of the Gundam
opened up and a figure tumbled out to the ground.
"Oh my..."Usagi gasped as she stepped back from the figure.
The doctor stepped closer to turn the person over and took off the helmet to reveal messy
brown hair and the face of a young teenage boy. Taking a closer look, the doctor observed
him and Usagi guessed that he was unhurt. Just taken over by fatigue.
"He'll be fine. Just needs some rest.."Dr. H concluded for Usagi's benefit.
"Do you want me to help you get him to the infirmary of this ship?"Usagi offered her assistance.
Dr. H merely nodded his head as he began to pick up the lithe form of the pilot. The two quickly
but safely managed to steer the young teen out the door and down the hall towards the infirmary
where Selene currently stayed in. Upon seeing the unconscious form, Selene moved aside and stood
appalled by the new resident of the ship.
"Who is that?"Selene questioned.
"A pilot of Wing Zero..."Usagi responded as she took a seat beside the mattress that the doctor
and she placed him.
"Is he okay?"Selene interrogated.
"He'll be fine, he's just unconscious,"Dr. H waved the thought aside as the doctor placed
Hiiro's helmet on a table near the door.
"I should be getting back to the cockpit, tell me when he wakes up,"Dr. H told them before
leaving to go to the cockpit.
"Hey, Usagi?"Selene asked once the doctor left.
"Hai?"
"When everything is over, I'd like to get to know you better. To know about your past and
everything..."Selene uttered softly.
"Why?"
"I..I don't know. It's just some urge inside of me whenever we're together. As if...if I
don't see you again in the future I'll feel like I lost something precious to me. Sounds
weird, but it's true. I guess from the short time we've been together, I grew a bond with
you.."Selene answered with a small smile.
(A bond. She must feel what I feel whenever Chibi-Usa is around me when she was around. A
special connection that the two of us share. What a mother and daughter has for each other.)
Usagi reasoned out.
"I'd like that..."Usagi smiled back to the silver-lavender haired woman.
"Great!"Selene rose up and then left the room, leaving the blond haired teen alone in the
infirmary with their sleeping pilot.
Hours passed and Usagi grew anxious and bored from the long wait but she never left the side
of the bed that their guest rested on. For fear that he'd wake up not knowing where he was and
if it was an enemy or allied ship that received him.
(I'd feel horrible if I didn't know where I was...)Usagi murmered inside her head as she rested
her head on the side of the bed, gazing at the sleeping form.
Then as Selene entered the infirmary once more, a small grunt came from Hiiro's lips that
startled the woman by the doorway. Usagi's head whipped up and her eyes widened a few centimeters
at what to do in that moment. Her eyes trained upon the young soldier's face, seeing if he'll
awaken. When his hand moved towards his head, Usagi gazed back at Selene who stared at her
over what to do.
"Call Dr. H and can you get him something to drink or eat from the storage?"Usagi requested.
Selene nodded and turned back down the corridor towards the cockpit where Dr. H stayed
at.
*******
His head throbbed with pain but he didn't yell out his feelings and instead suppressed it
with only a small grunt coming out of his lips. His hand slowly began to move as a feeling
of being capable of such a feat became possible. Before he knew it, he heard a small order
pass through between two people. Picking it up, he distinguished the voices as female.
Where was he? Did the enemy capture him? What happened?
All these thoughts and feelings became alert and he sat up abruptly. His prussian blue eyes
observing the situation he was in. The room was all white with the exception of some colors
placed around such as a painting of a suburban village, a few flowers on a vase, and the black
desk filled with a tray of surgical items. Despite the details around the room, a figure sat
beside where he layed and his eyes hardened and quickly his hands went to his waist towards
his gun. But as he touched his waist, he noticed that it wasn't there. His eyes hardened even
more followed by a low growl of disapproval as he whirled around to the figure next to him.
A beautiful young teenage girl with blond colored hair that could even out match the sun itself.
A few inches shorter than him as she stood 5ft. 3 inches in size with a light complexion as white
as snow. Despite her figure that would make practically any guy's head turn, it didn't compare
to the eyes that captivated him. Crystalline blue eyes as beautiful as the blue skies of
Earth at summertime. Her eyes that glittered with concern for him.
(Who is she? My enemy?)Hiiro thought of these as he gazed at her, his eyes hardening with
every passing second since he laid his eyes on her.
"Are you okay?"
(Her voice...so caring..sincere...who is she exactly?)Hiiro wondered, feeling himself loosen
despite his vain inner struggle to grasp to his perfect soldier attitude.
"Who are you and who do you work for?"Hiiro interrogated, his voice sounding harsh and
demanding as he instantly reached for her wrist and grasped it.
"I'm Tsukino Usagi, we found you in Wing Zero out in space. We're heading for Colony L2
now. It's safe. The soldiers of Earth and Colony L1 have managed to defeat Tetra from
fully capturing L2."Usagi answered, her voice managing to remain calm but her eyes have not
as they seemed to grow fearful towards this one soldier.
"Hn. What do you know of Wing Zero?"Hiiro interrogated.
"You're pilot 01, aren't you?"Usagi figured out, her voice barely a whisper.
"What do you know about me?"Hiiro harshly asked, gripping her wrist tighter.
As his eyes gazed at her, he noticed the desperation in her eyes and knew that his grip
would be hurting her right now. He felt slightly sorry for her and wanted to release her but
he couldn't and wouldn't until he was positive that she's not an enemy.
(I will kill my enemies...)Hiiro chanted in his mind as he firmly gripped her hand.
"Let her go, 01. She's safe,"an old voice commanded from behind him.
Turning around with Usagi in hand, Hiiro faced the trace of the commanding voice. An old
man with oily black hair and a thin mustache placed on a short, plump round face. His mind
whirred and traced the owner and labeled it as Dr. H the one who created Sandrock which now
belonged to Gundam Pilot 04, Quatre R. Winner.
"Dr. H,"Hiiro nodded to him and released Usagi's hand.
Hiiro noticed Usagi hold onto her wrist with tenderness and care, cradling it but didn't
say anything to him nor shoot him a glower or glare as most others would have done.
(Too caring...why is she here?)Hiiro wondered.
"Your Gundam is currently not functioning properly but once we reach L2, we'll have it
fixed and then you can head over to the satellite station and possibly catch up with the other
pilots,"Dr. H informed him.
Hiiro didn't say anything but shot a glance out of the doorway and noticed a patch of silver-lavnder
hair. Dr. H noticed his gaze and turned around to face the figure and conversed with him/her
before revealing who it was.
"This is Selene, another passenger on the carrier. She was the previous mission back on
L2 that was held hostage by Tetra."Dr. H introduced the woman who entered the infirmary with
a tray of food and a glass of water. She nodded in greeting towards the soldier before
placing the tray on a stand near the bed.
"And you've already met Usagi here. Everyone in this ship is fine, Hiiro. They're quite
safe and on our side in the war,"Dr. H assured him but the pilot didn't seem too convinced.
"The ship is reaching the port of Colony L2. Time measured for landing in one minute and
counting,"Mamoru's voice reported through the intercom of the ship.
"In no time at all, you'll be back in the war..."Dr. H stated as he departed the room followed
by the one called Selene.
As the doctor and the woman left, Hiiro got off the bed and went towards his space helmet.
"You should be resting, you need all the strength you can get before having to go out there
to go to your comrades,"Usagi spoke up.
"Hn."
"You really are 01 of Wing Zero. Duo never said anything about his fellow colleagues before..
then again..I never met up with him until recently and since then. *sigh* We haven't had
much time to talk with the war and everything,"Usagi lightly smiled to the pilot.
Hiiro noticed her features and saw how much she tried to sound happy but failed.
"How do you know Duo?"Hiiro asked in monotone.
"Me and Duo? We go way back. I met him as a kid in L2 at the orphanage. My first and best
childhood friend. He left when I was 12 and since then haven't communicated until now when
we found each other,"Usagi explained.
"Hn."
"How'd you meet Duo? I know you guys are suppose to work together and all that, but I'm not
sure exactly when or how..."Usagi tried to make light conversation.
"Mission,"Hiiro waved it off and strode out with helmet in hand.
"He didn't even touch his food..."Usagi sighed as she glanced from the tray of food to the
doorway where the brown-haired pilot left.
****************
Outerspace where
the other are
****************
"Damn!"Duo slammed down hard on the control panels when several of Tetra's Leos came out from
the satellite followed by Taurus.
"First these 30 mechas of Leos and Taurus now we get more from the satellite itself,"Wufei
growled out as he lashed at the enemies with his plasma thrower and from time to time, when
the Leos or Taurus teamed up, his Beam Cannons.
"We'll need to deal with the mechas first and then go inside,"Quatre said calmly.
"By that time, the leader will escape!"Wufei protested.
"That's true,"Trowa agreed.
"Where in Shinigami's domain is 01?!"Duo shouted out in complaint as he lashed on several
Leos with his Twin Beamscythe.
"Don't complain, he'll be here..."Quatre stated.
(I hope..)he added inside his mind as he watched the suits split in half from his Twin Heat
Blades.
"We'll first need to cut through at least the 1/4 of the numbers before letting one of us
inside...that way it evens out the chances out here till backup arrives...till 01 arrives.
But who will go?"Wufei planned out from the top of his head.
"03 will go,"Quatre suggested.
"Will you, Trowa?"Duo asked, agreeing with the plan.
"I'll go,"Trowa agreed after several long moments.
"All right, let's go cut down these numbers!"Duo exclaimed and the eyes of Deathscythe Hell
glowed dimly in the darkness of outerspace.
The fighting continued on out in outerspace as the four Gundams lashed out on their enemies
with their deadly weapons. Not letting a single suit live.
To be continued..
*****************
Phew...there goes Chapter 14 of Because of You. Hope you enjoyed it!
Author: Cheska
E-mail Address: Minnashime@aol.com
Rating: PG or PG-13
Chapter: 14
Disclaimer: Gomen nasai, I don't own Sailor Moon nor Gundam Wing.
Author's Note: I'm back after a long time, ne? But I've made up with it by writing this
long chapter compared to the previous two! ^_^
But despite my elation towards getting this chapter out, it saddens me that someone doesn't
enjoy my story. *sniff* It wasn't a flame but a bad review...still...my first ever! *sigh*
Is it really a bad story?
Well here's the next chapter for those who think that it is worthy of reading...
*trudges off in sadness*
**********
Usagi crept quietly towards the hangar of this vehicle, wanting to be less distinguishable in the
shadows than noticeable for every eyes to see and hear. As the teenager finally made her way towards
the back, she paused at the sight before her eyes. A Gundam. For the past years she has heard
stories and gossip about the large mechas but never saw one up close. Of course they've viewed them
from television and she could care less. But now here it was, one of them before her eyes and she
was surprised nonetheless. Surprised at the massive size, the color, and the way it poised itself.
Like a soldier preparing to wage war. Ready and so sure of itself. Not afraid to be destroyed.
And in her mind she knew that it could care less, if it was killed it could always be rebuilt to
its orginial form. Gazing up at the Gundam she took in the details. About 53 ft. 6 inches. Midnight
black armed with a Twin Beam Scythe and a Buster Shield. As she neared it, it would weigh about
7.4 tons.
"Impressive..."Usagi commented under her breath as her hand touched the gundamium aloid.
In back of her a figure watched, its eyes shining with concern mixed with pride and gratitude.
"I'm glad you like it,"the figure finally spoke up.
"Deathscythe Hell, I presume?"Usagi commented not turning around as she eyed the gundam from
her view close-up.
"Yup, my new pride and joy since..."Duo trailed off, images playing itself over in his mind.
"I understand, I saw the news of the viewing as well. I'm sorry,"Usagi turned around to lay
her arms around him. Letting him know that she cared if he cared.
Letting go, Duo took a few steps closer to the Gundam and checked it out.
"It's great to see Deathscythe again. Shinigami is back and ready to kick some ass!"Duo grinned,
his eyes flashing with excitement.
"Shinigami....you've never stopped believing in your God of Death. Have you, Duo?"Usagi smiled
wanely over at him as she picked up the space helmet that lay unused on the barren floor of the
hangar.
"Nope, I haven't. Hey, do you remember that night over at the trees after you went to
church?"Duo smiled at the memory of the night of the promise.
"Yes, I thought we talked about this already..."
"Just checking to see if you still remember after all of this mess...it's sometimes nice to
forget the present, don't you think?"Duo said as he took the helmet that Usagi offered towards
him.
"Of course Duo. It was such a long time ago, though..."
"Not that long, Usa...never that long,"Duo uttered softly as he placed his hand under her
chin to get a better view of her downcast eyes.
"Duo.."
The two seemed to gaze into each other's eyes forever. Cobalt blue towards crystalline orbs.
(She's my friend...my childhood best friend. I grew up with her...I can't..just..can't be in
love with her. And she has a boyfriend for Shinigami's sake!)Duo shook off the feelings and
let go of the trance he was in.
Usagi as well stepped back and gazed downwards before mustering up the nerve to look up at the
braided pilot once more.
"I should be getting into Deathscythe Hell over here, got a mission you know?"Duo stated
before swinging himself up onto the ladder leading up to the center of the mecha.
"Be careful!"Usagi shouted up towards him.
"Aren't I always?"Duo grinned boyishly down at her from up above.
"No!"Usagi joked before running towards the doorway leading back to the cockpit.
"Good luck!"Usagi added before waving and standing at the doorway.
"Thanks, and don't worry I'll be back. I promise,"Duo shouted down to the blond.
"I know you will,"Usagi grinned and turned around to go inside.
************************
Inside the Gundam: Duo
************************
"Open the back door now, I'm ready,"Duo ordered.
"Opening,"Mamoru replied, as the back slowly opened up.
"All systems go,"Duo flicked up the starter switch as the Gundam hummed to life.
(Ahh...Shinigami is on my side today. Soon we'll be out there and they'll know Shinigami's
true wrath!)Duo grinned.
"What's with the closeness between you and Usako?"Mamoru asked out of the blue.
Duo's eyes widened by a few fractions at the abruptness of the question.
"Overprotective, aren't you?"Duo smirked Duo as he began backing up his Gundam.
"It's my duty to protect her, she is after all...my girlfriend and fiancee.."Mamoru dryly
put out.
"Fiancee? Really? I didn't see a ring on her finger,"Duo commented.
"She will be wearing one soon. It's our destiny to be together,"Mamoru grinned in the screen.
"Hmph, she should make her own destiny..."Duo stated.
"You didn't answer my question yet. What's with you and Usako?"Mamoru asked again.
"I don't see why it's your business,"Duo rolled his eyes.
"It's my business. I'm her boyfriend!"Mamoru growled out.
"Chill man. Jeez...we're just friends.."Duo said.
"She never mentioned you before."
"That's probably because you never asked her."
"Hmph,"Mamoru shut off the communication system between them.
"That guy is overreacting. Wonder how Usa put up with him for so long,"Duo mumbled to
himself.
*************
Carrier of 02
*************
"I heard that,"Usagi stated as she entered the cockpit.
"As we all have,"Dr. H smirked.
"I was just curious, Usako. I was worried about you,"Mamoru simply replied.
"You didn't have to be so gruff and cold towards Duo. He's my friend,"Usagi argued.
"Your friend? Since when? You never mentioned him before,"Mamoru countered.
"And like Duo-chan said,'That's probably because you never asked her.'"Usagi quoted.
"That's because I never knew about him till now,"Mamoru sighed getting tired of this
conversation.
"He's been my friend since I was a little girl. My first friend in the orphanage and my
best as well..."Usagi revealed.
"How far do you trust him?"Mamoru questioned.
"I trust him with my life and my soul.."Usagi answered and then left him there with the doctor
and the quiet Selene to go to another part of the room.
**********
Outerspace
**********
"Approaching unidentified mechas are coming right at us from the station and from the moon's
base. Closing in 10 minutes, no...5 minutes,"Quatre's voice informed his colleagues from
Sandrock.
"Let them come!"Duo cried out.
"We have to get inside the station, Duo. Not just wait around here for them, we're wasting
time. The Tetra leader is inside there and probably already know we're out here. We have to
hurry up with this,"Wufei protested.
"And if we just go in there, those mechas are going to come here and destroy our carrier
ships. What then? Usa and them are in one of the carriers,"Duo countered.
"They know how to avoid the mechas. They'll get somewhere safe. Right now we need to finish
up this mission,"Wufei reasoned.
"As much as I detest the thought of leaving them alone out here with mechas coming, I'm afraid
that Wufei is right. They'll be able to escape..."Quatre sided with 05.
"I agree as well, we have a mission to do,"Trowa agreed.
"Et tu, Trowa?"Duo feigned hurt.
"Let's get going,"Wufei hurriedly said as he moved the Altron Gundam towards the station
followed by the others.
(Be careful, Usa...)Duo sighed defeatedly as he followed along the others.
**********
Carrier 02
**********
"We've got trouble,"Dr. H uttered softly as he checked up on the map.
"What trouble?"Selene inquired from behind in the shadows.
"It seems that there are about 30 unidentified mechas heading towards here at the same
time. Contact initiates in 4 minutes,"Dr. H reported.
"What about the Gundams? Do they know?"Mamoru wryly asked.
"They know, they would know before we even gazed at the map. They're continuing on with their
mission. 30 mechas heading here...we'll need to retreat while they take care of this. They won't
be able to protect all the carriers while at the same time heading for the station,"Dr. H stated
as he began flicking at the switches around his side.
"Where are we going?"Selene asked.
"All carriers head back. We're retreating from here. Let the pilots take care of the situation
from here. We'll retreat till they send back for us..."Mamoru carried over the news to
neighboring carriers.
"Got that, Carrier 2. Received word to retreat back to L2,"one of the other pilots of the carrier
informed.
"L2? It's invaded by Tetra!"Selene shouted out in protest as she snatched the communicator
from Mamoru's hand.
"Not anymore, Earth's forces and L1 have managed to defeat the suits circling it and have
begun to attack the inside with their soldiers. It should be safe by now and ready to be
ported. There's an available port over at the East side. It's being repaired and safe to
board,"another pilot near their carrier added.
"We have no choice, we'll have to return to L2,"Dr. H complied.
"L2...again.."sighed Selene before backing away and stepping out of the cockpit to wander off.
"All right, all systems go.."Mamoru said as he flicked on the switches and checked the monitors.
"Let's head out..mechas should make contact within the minute now,"Dr. H cried out.
"We'll be gone long before that,"Mamoru believed as he started up the engines and then
steered out just in time as the first signs of the mechas began to near them.
*******
Earth:
*******
"L2 has just been released from Tetra's hands!"Minako shouted as she ran up the stairs towards
the Shinto Shrine.
"We've all heard that, Minako,"giggled Makoto.
"Do you think that means Usa-chan can go home now? That she won't have to fulfill that dream
that Rei had?"Minako voice was filled with so much hope that it pained Rei.
"I'm afraid not, Minako-chan. The release of L2 is just the beginning, it doesn't mean
anything...gomen ne.."Rei sadly whispered out.
"I shouldn't have jumped to conclusions. It's just.."Minako trailed off as she slumped against
the wall.
"We know, Minako...we want Usa-chan to be safe as well.."Ami layed a hand on her shoulder.
"Any word from Mamoru?"Makoto steered the conversation to somewhere else.
"There hasn't been any contact whatsoever. And it appears that Motoki-kun has disappeared as
well. I have a feeling that they joined the Earth force to go up against Tetra,"Ami figured out.
"Man...when can we go and beat those Tetra with Usa?"Makoto shouted out, hitting a beam that
held up Rei's temple.
"Makoto..onegai.."Rei began.
"Gomen nasai, Rei-chan. My temper got the better of me again,"Makoto apologized.
"That's okay...just please! Don't do it again!"Rei sighed.
**********
Outerspace
**********
Messy dark brown hair with bangs hanging over closed eyes. Fair light brown skin adorned by
a space suit with helmet over a young teenager's head. A constant bleep, blip, beeping was
apparent in the small enclosed space of a mecha cockpit but the pilot seemed to have not heard
it, for he made no move to check up on what was going on.
For hours he layed there, his helmeted head propped up against a metal wall to his right
and his body lying on the chair with his arms folded across his chest. A soft rhythmic
breathing letting itself out, giving sign that he wasn't dead but asleep or unconscious for the
moment.
Outside in space it was quiet with no sound, no visable sign of an enemy. Just the empty space,
the stars and the darkness. The ever present darkness of outerspace in the galaxy.
For a long time the boy in the mecha drifted off, swirling and twirling with no apparent
goal as to where they were going. Just drifting away with no destination until finally a ship
came by. A carrier to be exact and it slowed down, stopping right in front of the mecha.
But the teenage boy made no move to open his eyes. To see what was to come.
********
"It seems we have a drifter in our midst. Should we pick it up?"Mamoru asked the old man beside
him.
The doctor moved forward to stand beside the young man and checked the monitor towards the
unidentified mecha. His eyes widened a few centimeters before disguising it impassively and
nodded for him to continue with the operations of picking up the mecha.
"Do you know the machine?"Mamoru inquired.
"We'll see..."Dr. H simply replied as he moved to go to the back and greet the pilot, if
the pilot was still alive.
"Mecha has entered the hangar. Oxygen stabilized. It's safe to enter,"Mamoru informed the
doctor after the retrieval.
Usagi heard the news of a loose mecha out there that has taken damage and appeared not hostile.
She didn't know what type of mecha it may be so her curiousity got the better of her as she
slipped into the hangar after the confirmation. Looking around, she spotted the mecha and
halted on her tracks.
"A Gundam...the fifth Gundam I think. But which pilot, which Gundam could this be?"Usagi
wondered to herself as she neared the mecha.
"54 ft. 9 inches...taller than Deathscythe Hell. 8 tons in weight...."Usagi muttered to
herself as she placed a hand on the leg of the Gundam.
Observing the Gundam closer she cocked her head to the side to study its weaponry.
"Twin Buster Rifle...is used more..."Usagi muttered, shaking her head and flipping back her
hair.
"You know a lot about Gundams, don't you?"an aged voice asked from behind her.
"Doctor H..I'm sorry I just wanted to see what mecha was picked up. It seems you've caught
a Gundam instead.."Usagi apologized as she sheepishly turned to the old man.
"Quite all right. How did you find out so much about Gundams?"Dr. H interrogated as he
neared the machine.
"It picked up my interest once I found out my friend was one of the pilots. My father works
as a photographer/reporter and took a picture of all five mechas before it was sent to be burned
by the sun. From that I managed to identify them but not where each one belonged to except for
two of them. Duo's is Deathscythe Hell and Wing Zero is 01's. However, I am still uncertain
as to who 01 is,"Usagi informed him.
"You'll find out soon enough,"Dr. H assured her as the latch to the cockpit of the Gundam
opened up and a figure tumbled out to the ground.
"Oh my..."Usagi gasped as she stepped back from the figure.
The doctor stepped closer to turn the person over and took off the helmet to reveal messy
brown hair and the face of a young teenage boy. Taking a closer look, the doctor observed
him and Usagi guessed that he was unhurt. Just taken over by fatigue.
"He'll be fine. Just needs some rest.."Dr. H concluded for Usagi's benefit.
"Do you want me to help you get him to the infirmary of this ship?"Usagi offered her assistance.
Dr. H merely nodded his head as he began to pick up the lithe form of the pilot. The two quickly
but safely managed to steer the young teen out the door and down the hall towards the infirmary
where Selene currently stayed in. Upon seeing the unconscious form, Selene moved aside and stood
appalled by the new resident of the ship.
"Who is that?"Selene questioned.
"A pilot of Wing Zero..."Usagi responded as she took a seat beside the mattress that the doctor
and she placed him.
"Is he okay?"Selene interrogated.
"He'll be fine, he's just unconscious,"Dr. H waved the thought aside as the doctor placed
Hiiro's helmet on a table near the door.
"I should be getting back to the cockpit, tell me when he wakes up,"Dr. H told them before
leaving to go to the cockpit.
"Hey, Usagi?"Selene asked once the doctor left.
"Hai?"
"When everything is over, I'd like to get to know you better. To know about your past and
everything..."Selene uttered softly.
"Why?"
"I..I don't know. It's just some urge inside of me whenever we're together. As if...if I
don't see you again in the future I'll feel like I lost something precious to me. Sounds
weird, but it's true. I guess from the short time we've been together, I grew a bond with
you.."Selene answered with a small smile.
(A bond. She must feel what I feel whenever Chibi-Usa is around me when she was around. A
special connection that the two of us share. What a mother and daughter has for each other.)
Usagi reasoned out.
"I'd like that..."Usagi smiled back to the silver-lavender haired woman.
"Great!"Selene rose up and then left the room, leaving the blond haired teen alone in the
infirmary with their sleeping pilot.
Hours passed and Usagi grew anxious and bored from the long wait but she never left the side
of the bed that their guest rested on. For fear that he'd wake up not knowing where he was and
if it was an enemy or allied ship that received him.
(I'd feel horrible if I didn't know where I was...)Usagi murmered inside her head as she rested
her head on the side of the bed, gazing at the sleeping form.
Then as Selene entered the infirmary once more, a small grunt came from Hiiro's lips that
startled the woman by the doorway. Usagi's head whipped up and her eyes widened a few centimeters
at what to do in that moment. Her eyes trained upon the young soldier's face, seeing if he'll
awaken. When his hand moved towards his head, Usagi gazed back at Selene who stared at her
over what to do.
"Call Dr. H and can you get him something to drink or eat from the storage?"Usagi requested.
Selene nodded and turned back down the corridor towards the cockpit where Dr. H stayed
at.
*******
His head throbbed with pain but he didn't yell out his feelings and instead suppressed it
with only a small grunt coming out of his lips. His hand slowly began to move as a feeling
of being capable of such a feat became possible. Before he knew it, he heard a small order
pass through between two people. Picking it up, he distinguished the voices as female.
Where was he? Did the enemy capture him? What happened?
All these thoughts and feelings became alert and he sat up abruptly. His prussian blue eyes
observing the situation he was in. The room was all white with the exception of some colors
placed around such as a painting of a suburban village, a few flowers on a vase, and the black
desk filled with a tray of surgical items. Despite the details around the room, a figure sat
beside where he layed and his eyes hardened and quickly his hands went to his waist towards
his gun. But as he touched his waist, he noticed that it wasn't there. His eyes hardened even
more followed by a low growl of disapproval as he whirled around to the figure next to him.
A beautiful young teenage girl with blond colored hair that could even out match the sun itself.
A few inches shorter than him as she stood 5ft. 3 inches in size with a light complexion as white
as snow. Despite her figure that would make practically any guy's head turn, it didn't compare
to the eyes that captivated him. Crystalline blue eyes as beautiful as the blue skies of
Earth at summertime. Her eyes that glittered with concern for him.
(Who is she? My enemy?)Hiiro thought of these as he gazed at her, his eyes hardening with
every passing second since he laid his eyes on her.
"Are you okay?"
(Her voice...so caring..sincere...who is she exactly?)Hiiro wondered, feeling himself loosen
despite his vain inner struggle to grasp to his perfect soldier attitude.
"Who are you and who do you work for?"Hiiro interrogated, his voice sounding harsh and
demanding as he instantly reached for her wrist and grasped it.
"I'm Tsukino Usagi, we found you in Wing Zero out in space. We're heading for Colony L2
now. It's safe. The soldiers of Earth and Colony L1 have managed to defeat Tetra from
fully capturing L2."Usagi answered, her voice managing to remain calm but her eyes have not
as they seemed to grow fearful towards this one soldier.
"Hn. What do you know of Wing Zero?"Hiiro interrogated.
"You're pilot 01, aren't you?"Usagi figured out, her voice barely a whisper.
"What do you know about me?"Hiiro harshly asked, gripping her wrist tighter.
As his eyes gazed at her, he noticed the desperation in her eyes and knew that his grip
would be hurting her right now. He felt slightly sorry for her and wanted to release her but
he couldn't and wouldn't until he was positive that she's not an enemy.
(I will kill my enemies...)Hiiro chanted in his mind as he firmly gripped her hand.
"Let her go, 01. She's safe,"an old voice commanded from behind him.
Turning around with Usagi in hand, Hiiro faced the trace of the commanding voice. An old
man with oily black hair and a thin mustache placed on a short, plump round face. His mind
whirred and traced the owner and labeled it as Dr. H the one who created Sandrock which now
belonged to Gundam Pilot 04, Quatre R. Winner.
"Dr. H,"Hiiro nodded to him and released Usagi's hand.
Hiiro noticed Usagi hold onto her wrist with tenderness and care, cradling it but didn't
say anything to him nor shoot him a glower or glare as most others would have done.
(Too caring...why is she here?)Hiiro wondered.
"Your Gundam is currently not functioning properly but once we reach L2, we'll have it
fixed and then you can head over to the satellite station and possibly catch up with the other
pilots,"Dr. H informed him.
Hiiro didn't say anything but shot a glance out of the doorway and noticed a patch of silver-lavnder
hair. Dr. H noticed his gaze and turned around to face the figure and conversed with him/her
before revealing who it was.
"This is Selene, another passenger on the carrier. She was the previous mission back on
L2 that was held hostage by Tetra."Dr. H introduced the woman who entered the infirmary with
a tray of food and a glass of water. She nodded in greeting towards the soldier before
placing the tray on a stand near the bed.
"And you've already met Usagi here. Everyone in this ship is fine, Hiiro. They're quite
safe and on our side in the war,"Dr. H assured him but the pilot didn't seem too convinced.
"The ship is reaching the port of Colony L2. Time measured for landing in one minute and
counting,"Mamoru's voice reported through the intercom of the ship.
"In no time at all, you'll be back in the war..."Dr. H stated as he departed the room followed
by the one called Selene.
As the doctor and the woman left, Hiiro got off the bed and went towards his space helmet.
"You should be resting, you need all the strength you can get before having to go out there
to go to your comrades,"Usagi spoke up.
"Hn."
"You really are 01 of Wing Zero. Duo never said anything about his fellow colleagues before..
then again..I never met up with him until recently and since then. *sigh* We haven't had
much time to talk with the war and everything,"Usagi lightly smiled to the pilot.
Hiiro noticed her features and saw how much she tried to sound happy but failed.
"How do you know Duo?"Hiiro asked in monotone.
"Me and Duo? We go way back. I met him as a kid in L2 at the orphanage. My first and best
childhood friend. He left when I was 12 and since then haven't communicated until now when
we found each other,"Usagi explained.
"Hn."
"How'd you meet Duo? I know you guys are suppose to work together and all that, but I'm not
sure exactly when or how..."Usagi tried to make light conversation.
"Mission,"Hiiro waved it off and strode out with helmet in hand.
"He didn't even touch his food..."Usagi sighed as she glanced from the tray of food to the
doorway where the brown-haired pilot left.
****************
Outerspace where
the other are
****************
"Damn!"Duo slammed down hard on the control panels when several of Tetra's Leos came out from
the satellite followed by Taurus.
"First these 30 mechas of Leos and Taurus now we get more from the satellite itself,"Wufei
growled out as he lashed at the enemies with his plasma thrower and from time to time, when
the Leos or Taurus teamed up, his Beam Cannons.
"We'll need to deal with the mechas first and then go inside,"Quatre said calmly.
"By that time, the leader will escape!"Wufei protested.
"That's true,"Trowa agreed.
"Where in Shinigami's domain is 01?!"Duo shouted out in complaint as he lashed on several
Leos with his Twin Beamscythe.
"Don't complain, he'll be here..."Quatre stated.
(I hope..)he added inside his mind as he watched the suits split in half from his Twin Heat
Blades.
"We'll first need to cut through at least the 1/4 of the numbers before letting one of us
inside...that way it evens out the chances out here till backup arrives...till 01 arrives.
But who will go?"Wufei planned out from the top of his head.
"03 will go,"Quatre suggested.
"Will you, Trowa?"Duo asked, agreeing with the plan.
"I'll go,"Trowa agreed after several long moments.
"All right, let's go cut down these numbers!"Duo exclaimed and the eyes of Deathscythe Hell
glowed dimly in the darkness of outerspace.
The fighting continued on out in outerspace as the four Gundams lashed out on their enemies
with their deadly weapons. Not letting a single suit live.
To be continued..
*****************
Phew...there goes Chapter 14 of Because of You. Hope you enjoyed it!
