Title: Because of You
Author: Cheska
E-mail Address: Minnashime@aol.com
Rating: PG or PG-13
Chapter: 15
Disclaimer: *gun clicks and focuses* *wide eyes* I don't own Sailor Moon or Gundam Wing!
Author's Notes: *looks up at the disclaimer and a waterdrop forms* That was…just sucky! Oh well, what's done is done, kon'wa minna-san! I'm back!
*lots of angry growls* Heheh, I see that you've been waiting…^^;; *guns click everywhere* Peace! Peace! *arrows shoot and fall beside her figure, barely inches away* Okay, I'll just shut up now. Look at the bright side, you get this long chapter for you to read! *some roll their eyes* Well, sorta good and sort of bad. Bad for those who don't enjoy long chapters and good for those who do.
Well here it is, see ya later! *puffs out*
******
Dark green eyes gazed around the corner inside the station. Piles of soldiers dressed in the familiar dark blue-black uniforms were standing guard or commanding lesser units to dispatch and get ready to fight against the infamous Gundams. Some of the newer soldiers appeared anxious and unsure of where they stood and had more trouble following orders which caused higher uppers to
repeat themselves or give stern lectures over paying attention. Gundam Pilot 03 resumed his position around the corner and stripped off the outer covering of the space suit that clung to his brown skin. Feeling his pockets of his blue denim, he made sure that his weapons were still intact. Peering around the corner once more, he made sure of the numbers that were there and where their positions were currently at.
(18 soldiers...)Trowa noted before taking out his revolver and reloading it.
Pressing his back against the wall he took two deep breaths and took out two knives where he placed one of them at the side of his shoe and the other one held ready at his hand with his gun on the left hand.
"Sir! A Gundam has been found docked on the outer planes of the station! It's been reported and identified as Gundam Heavyarms!" a third ranking officer reported to a second ranker.
Before the other soldier could react to the new information, Trowa threw his knife at the second ranker which instantly killed him off and then ducked back to his place around the corner. Immediately because of his actions, the 17 other soldiers that were still alive drew out their guns and fired. Bullets fired and some dared to get nearer to try to get the glory of killing off the intruder. However, before they even could turn to know the knowledge of their enemy, Trowa fired his gun at them. This continued on and someone was even smart enough to call for backup but never managed to tell them the current problem as Trowa grew wise to know their next move and killed the meddling tattle-tale.
The numbers dwindled and soon not a living soul was left in the area that Trowa was at. Kneeling down he felt around the soldiers for more loads for his gun and then retrieved back his knife which he placed back in its hiding place.
The next place that the brown haired pilot came upon was even more loaded with soldiers. Taking all of it in, he noticed a hatch over a soldier's head and how close all of the soldiers milled around that particular area.
(Hmm, this place has more hiding areas than I thought it would..)Trowa inwardly smirked but didn't reflect it off his face.
Taking out his gun he looked from his one gun to the number of soldiers and then eyed his two knives. He knew that it wouldn't do with all the numbers. There were about 30 of them alone in that corridor. It wouldn't be enough.
(There are too many soldiers for me to do alone...) Trowa inwardly frowned in thought and then reached to his back pocket and felt the two gas bombs he carried for just the occasion. Handling one with expert care he eyed the middle of the room and threw it out. The pill shape tumbled down on the ground that caused all eyes to see and they took out their gun, unsure of what to do.
As soon as the pill stopped, a gas erupted of gray-green smoke. Trowa ducked down and took out a handkerchief that he placed around his mouth and nose and ducked inside with the other pill still in his pocket. He had his knife out and ready and saw one of the soldiers gasping and the soldier's eyes were tearstained and bulging out with red lining at the corners. Just before the soldier reached him with gun ready, he passed out and closed its eyes.
(Amateur..) Trowa noted and gazed upwards where the hatch should be at.
Once the 03 pilot reached the appointed area he swung upwards and kicked the hatch. By now all the soldiers should be asleep or something along those lines. As 03 swung himself upwards, he turned around and closed the hatch back up, just in case. Then the soldier continued down the way, towards the north where the commander of the station and the new organization would be at.
(Mission still in progress...)Trowa mumbled in his thoughts as his dark green eyes surveyed all the turns and corners of the tunnel.
****************
Outside in space
****************
"Man, do these stupid suits still come?" Duo shouted out.
"What? Too tired, baka?" Wufei slurred.
"No way! Let them come, I'm just saying that they're too stupid to come to us. They should know by now that Shinigami will only get to them!" Duo grinned mischievously.
"Ha! Is the great Shinigami, now trying to offer his enemies a chance to escape?" Wufei mocked.
"Just saying," Duo shot back, as he slumped his arms against the back of his chair in the grand Gundam as the last of the suits were destroyed.
"Okay, let's get in there now..." Quatre sighed tiredly as he steered his Gundam to the docking port of the station.
"Thank Shinigami!" Duo praised as he followed the others to the station of the satellite.
As soon as the Gundams came inside the place, there was a flicker of lights that temporarily blinded the three from the new lighting change. As their pupils adjusted to it, they noticed their predicament.
"I don't think we should've gone inside," Duo mumbled as he frowned in front of him.
"You don't say?" Wufei said sarcastically, his dark eyes trained to the front.
"Put your hands above your head and come down slowly. You are now our prisoners under the name of the Tetra organization!" a deep voice rumbled from the speakers trained on them.
"And if we don't?" Duo shot back.
"You should know the consequences of your actions if you do choose the latter," the voice replied calmly with a hint of amusement.
"So will you do follow my request or do we have to do this the hard way?" questioned the speaker.
"We have no other choice if we want to live," Quatre pointed out.
His two other companions agreed as they gazed in front of them. From the time that they all stepped inside and out of their Gundams, several pieces of machinery were trained on all of them unexpectedly. From machine guns to rifles to BB guns. All sorts of fighting equipment, which left them no other choice but to give up.
As the three soldiers slowly relented to the enemy, each of them complied with the following orders of descending down their machines to the cold hard floor down below. Each of them wishing and hoping that they'll manage to find a way to get out of the alive and possibly get revenge over what happened to them this day.
"Please, follow the soldiers to your new living quarters. If you do retain from going into your room and manage to harm at least one of the soldiers, you will eventually be found and shot down," the voice spoke informed them as one of the doors opened, revealing a group of soldiers.
"And put your weapons down on the floor to be confiscated, you won't need it," the voice added.
It took a lot of effort for each of the pilots to release their hands from the weapons they held to place it down on the guard for their enemies to hold. Mumbling, Duo scowled and glared at the upcoming soldiers who smirked and grabbed the dear weapon into its grubby palms.
"Thanks," the soldier grinned evilly.
"I swear to Shinigami that I will have your head after this," Duo glared.
"Not if you're dead," the soldier chuckled and walked away.
Duo watched the retreating soldier's back for a few more seconds before being roughly pushed to move along with his companions following from behind.
***********
Colony L2
***********
"How many hours has it been since we landed here?" Mamoru inquired as he flicked back his dark bangs that hang in front of his ocean blue eyes.
"Five hours now, I believe," Dr. H answered emotionlessly.
"Where's Usagi?"
"I think she went out to check sites," answered the old doctor.
"Dr. H," Hiiro said in monotone.
"Yes, what is it Hiiro?" Dr. H turned to regard the young soldier.
"How long will it take till my Gundam is repaired?" Hiiro questioned.
"Just two more hours and you'll be set to go," Dr. H assured him with a wave of his hands.
"Hn." Hiiro turned and left the room, not looking back.
"Is he always like that?" Mamoru gazed at the retreating figure.
"He's been trained to be the perfect soldier and he is. He's the best out of all the Gundam Pilots," Dr. H answered.
"No emotions, whatsoever?" Mamoru pressed.
"None," Dr. H confirmed.
Mamoru didn't say anything else after that.
**********
"Back to my hometown," Usagi murmured listlessly as she gazed around the dark colony.
It was night time and only a few people were outside at this time. Gazing towards the lighted areas, she noticed the time from an open window of a store. The time was 2:00 a.m. and no one in this side of the street were awake except for a few strays and a police car. Sighing, Usagi removed herself from the front of the small shop and continued down the paved street, wrapping her arms around herself to keep the cool chill at the sudden change in temperature.
As the number of shops decreased at the rise of a hill in front of her, Usagi's mood changed from weariness to wonder at the familiar sights. She stopped in front of a familiar old flower shop that brought memories back into her mind of her adolescent age. Gifts and sweet memories of the old days, the only thing that was going for her in this time of war.
As she reached the peak of the hill, her crystalline blue eyes widened and her steps froze. Memories flooded her mind, bringing tears in her eyes and as each step brought her closer to the site her lungs felt tight and the young girl felt as if she was drowning.
*Flashback*
Her time at the orphanage and she was crying but he was there to help her feel better.
Usagi felt a presence nearby but took no notice of it. When she saw felt something fall, Usagi's head rose up and a red petal fell onto the back of her hand lying against her knee. She picked it up and studied the soft, velvety feeling.
"What is this? Where did it come from?" Usagi croaked out, her voice too weak to speak.
"Here's the rest of it. For you. You shouldn't cry, it doesn't fit you
as well as when you're happy," a male voice murmured into her ear from her side.
Turning her head around, she saw a boy a little bit older than her with caring
cobalt blue eyes.
That was the day she first met Duo and she can't forget that.
Also she recalled the night of their promise.
"What will happen if we do leave each other? What then?"
"What do you mean?" Duo furrowed his brows together, his cobalt blue eyes
filled with wonderment.
"What if we're separated? Not out of our own free will? What then?" Usagi
questioned.
"Then we'll find each other."
"Hai, I'll find you and you'll find me! Promise?" Usagi held out her pinkie.
"What are you doing?" Duo cocked his head to the side, wondering why she extended out her pinkie.
"It's a pinkie swear, silly!" Usagi giggled and caught Duo's pinkie.
"Weird," Duo shook his head and stared at Usagi's glistening eyes. Shining
in the beautiful night, as bright as the stars and the moon itself.
"Promise," Usagi and Duo stated in unison.
And the time of their reunion after so many years.
Before she could pick up the petal, a rose faced her view. Following the fingertips that held the rose to her, led her to the face of an old companion. Her eyes gazing at cobalt blue with a grin on his facade.
"This time I found you," he grinned.
And she could never forget their first kiss shared with one another.
"Duo..."Usagi murmured his name once again before his lips lightly brushed along hers. But just as it touched hers, it left again and he backed away. However, from that mere moment they touched, a light tingle was felt on her lips and Usagi touched her lips, shocked from that feeling.
*End of Flashback*
Usagi crumbled inside as she stumbled over to where their friendship started from. As she approached the area, she fell to her knees with her hands touching the soil of where the tree previously stood at. Now, there was no tree. Not even a sign that it was here except for the empty space and the soil on the ground. All those years that Duo and her were friends, the tree that they grew up around represented their blossoming friendship. Now, look what happened. It's been cut down and disappeared from their lives. Nothing was left, not even a twig.
"The tree was our strength. Our symbol. All those years it withstood the problems in the colony and now it's gone. Just like that. Poof!" Usagi croaked out as tears welled up inside her eyes.
"What will happen now?" Usagi asked herself, wondering what will happen in the future.
"You can do whatever you want to do if you set your heart into it," a sweet melodic voice answered for her from behind.
(Okaa-san…) Usagi whispered inside her mind.
"I used to believe that," Usagi bitterly commented.
"Used to believe? What happened?" the woman inquired.
"Destiny and fate happened," Usagi slumped over, her head downcast.
"You control your own life. No one can control you if you believe hard enough," Selene stated.
"That's what I thought, but I can't. Because of my role in life, I have to sacrifice my own path for others to have a better life," Usagi whispered.
"It's that important?" Selene murmured.
"Hai," Usagi responded.
"If you work hard enough and try hard enough, maybe everything you thought was hopeless to achieve will be granted to you in the end. Everything shall work out for the best, it just has to be," Selene assured her.
"And if it doesn't?" Usagi asked, raising her head up to look towards the woman's way.
"Then, I was wrong," Selene answered back before turning away.
"Let's hope you're not, okaa-san," Usagi murmured before turning to look at the empty space on the ground with just the soil.
"And let's hope that our friendship doesn't end, Duo-chan," Usagi added softly as a petal of a flower flew to the ground in front of her.
************
Earth: Sanq
************
"Thank you for accompanying me to Tokyo, Dorothy," Ririna smiled as she slipped inside the pink limo.
"It's my pleasure, Miss Ririna. After all, with the war going around the world and outer space we've got to stick together!" Dorothy thought nothing of it.
"I've been summoned to Tokyo for some business deal over the number of soldiers that should be used up in space and on Earth," Ririna explained as her brows furrowed at the thought of war.
"It's true, we're fighting different people now. Instead of a whole, we're separated against one another. Countries against countries and colonies against this new organization. It is, in a way, different from the previous wars," Dorothy understood her predicament.
"Hai, it is…"Ririna sighed and leaned against the leather upholstery.
"We're approaching the airport, Miss Ririna," the driver informed her from up front.
"Thank you," Ririna thanked the man.
"Who are you meeting with?"
"I'm meeting with some political figures. The most important out of the lot is Hino-san. I hope they'll agree with the numbers that can be used up in Japan for defense against the armies of Earth. We need a lot of soldiers out in outer space," Ririna worried.
"What about outer space? Any new news about the outcome of the war?" Dorothy inquired.
"Most of the Gundam Pilots have been captured with the exception of one and that's pilot 01. However, Hiiro has been missing from action for hours now. The last time they saw him was when he was fighting in Colony L2 but disappeared near the end," Ririna informed the light blond haired woman.
"What do you think happened to him?"
"I don't know, I just hope that he's all right."
The limo stopped in front of the airport and the door opened up, letting light bathe inside the interior of the vehicle, letting the two girls out and into the open.
*************
Japan: Tokyo
*************
"It's been such a long time since it's been declared that Colony L2 is free from the clutches of Tetra! So why is it that Usagi isn't here with us, right now?" demanded Makoto as she clenched her fists to her side, expecting an answer.
"Knowing Usagi, she got herself into trouble," Rei muttered, her back facing them as the raven haired girl gazed out of the temples to the city down below.
"Or she could be…"began Minako but was stopped with a glare coming from Luna.
"It is possible, Usagi is sought after by our enemies. Who's to say that the Tetra force isn't looking for her as well?" Artemis butted in.
"Sailor Soldiers…."a familiar voice intruded in their conversation coming from behind a flowering a tree.
"Pluto," Luna and Artemis greeted in unison with a brief nod.
"Is there something we can help you in, Pluto?" Ami inquired her visit.
"Hai," Pluto stepped out from behind the tree and strode over to them with Neptune and Uranus appearing from the branches.
"Where's Saturn?" Minako noticed the missing sailor.
"Her presence here isn't required," Pluto answered dismissively.
"The reason we're here is to tell you that the Vice Foreign Minister Darlian shall be coming in from the Sanq Kingdom. She should be arriving in a few hours from now. I want you all to keep a look-out for her. There is a war on Earth as well as outer space. The enemies could very well assassinate here with ease if she isn't properly looked after," Pluto informed them.
"Why should we look out for her? She isn't our hime!" Makoto glared at them.
"We don't like the idea, either but Pluto's reason is filled with shaded areas and grays. We aren't too sure off her motives, but we must follow it to ensure our future as well as for the other people," Uranus answered with solemnity.
"Will you look after this young woman? You don't have to befriend her, just act as her bodyguards or protectors from the shadows," Pluto requested.
"Will it serve a great purpose for our future utopia?" Rei finally spoke up after a long time.
"Would I ask for your services, if it wasn't?" Pluto asked.
"I'll do it," Rei agreed with a nod of her head, not looking back at them.
Soon after, the others reluctantly agreed to Pluto's request as well.
"Arigatou, here's the card of where you are to go after two hours prior to this time. Make sure she is safe until the war in outer space is over. You'll know when it is," Pluto turned back to her civilian time along with her companions as the three of them walked down the temple's steps.
Holding the white card that Pluto left them, the four girls crowded around Ami to stare at the address.
"It just says Tokyo Towers," Ami read out loud.
"And the time: 9:30 p.m." Minako noticed the small imprint next to the address.
"Well we have new orders until our princess comes back," Makoto sighed listlessly.
"What else can we do?" Rei pointed out.
"We could always join in the war and go after Usa-chan!" Makoto argued.
"We're not allowed to, remember?" Minako joined in.
"Mamoru went after her," Makoto stubbornly pointed out.
"That is true," Ami agreed.
"Look you guys, what's done is done and there's nothing we can do about it but await the outcome!" Rei shouted.
"You saw something with your powers, haven't you Rei-chan?" Minako noticed the difference.
"I don't want to talk about it," Rei mumbled and walked away leaving the girls alone out in front of the temple.
*******************
Back in Outer space
of Colony L2
*******************
"There, it's done!" one of the repairers shouted out over to Dr. H who was standing on the platform overlooking the Gundam.
The doctor simply nodded before turning around to inform Hiiro of the big news.
********
"This is where the two of us met, if you're wondering Hiiro," Usagi quietly uttered not turning around to regard the pilot.
Hiiro quirked his eye at the young teen in front of him, since he didn't expect her to speak to him much less notice he was here. He decided to track her down when he noticed that she wasn't at the shuttle port and found her at an empty lot up a hill.
"Hn."
"It was years ago since I met Duo but I still remember the first time we were introduced and I still remember his first gift to me. It was a beautiful bunny, but it's gone now like the tree that used to be in front of me. And gone like the old photograph we took and gone like the past…. But I still remember, I still remember," Usagi told him, feeling the hot tears beginning to burn up in her eyes.
"The past is the past. This is the present," Hiiro simply told her, with a cold tone to his voice.
"It's because of the past that we are what we are right now," Usagi voiced out.
Hiiro was quiet for awhile before he started to go towards her. But before he could act out what he was about to do, Mamoru showed up and started towards them. The dark haired young man appeared to have a sense of importance about him as he drew near to the two.
"Wing Zero is ready, Yui," Mamoru stated.
"Hn." Hiiro nodded and stared at Usagi for a few more seconds before leaving.
"What was that all about?" Mamoru mumbled more to himself than to Usagi.
"Nothing, he was just giving me some advice," Usagi assured him before turning to look back at the empty spot of where the tree once stood.
"What's wrong, Usako? I know that something is the matter with you," Mamoru pressed, as he placed his arms around her shoulders.
Usagi drew away from his grasp and stood motionlessly, now looking up at the artificial blue sky above her. She could almost see the clouds and the memorable moon that would suddenly appear faintly up amongst the hazy blue.
"It has something to do with that Duo Maxwell, isn't it?" Mamoru spoke out his ill favored name.
"You don't like him, do you Mamo-chan?" Usagi whispered, her eyes not trained on him but at the sky.
"I don't want him to take you away from me," Mamoru mumbled his answer.
"Why would he?" Usagi tore her gaze away from the sky to gaze at Mamoru's ocean blue eyes that sparkled with a hidden sadness.
"I see the way he looks at you and have some knowledge of the long friendship that you two shared with one another as you grew up. Not to mention that he probably knows more about you than I do. I didn't even know you were adopted and there I was stuck in that elevator with you years ago and you felt sorry for me when I should've felt sympathy towards you as well. But I didn't, I screwed it up," Mamoru berated himself.
"You didn't know, Mamo-chan…"Usagi lightly smiled.
"I should have known. We've been together for two years now, Usako and I still don't know much about your past but you know mine," Mamoru whispered.
Usagi sighed and went towards him, drawing him into a warm hug.
"It's okay, we still have Crystal Tokyo to look forward to. What's past is past, right?" Usagi said as she drew away from the hug.
"Right we have the future. We have destiny and fate in our side," Mamoru murmured.
"Let's get back to the port," Usagi held his hand and started dragging him back.
*********
As soon as Usagi and Mamoru made it back to the port, they saw the Gundam's carrier begin to receive Wing Zero inside itself. Orders and shouts went all around, leaving no sense of peace to the minds of others.
"Ahh...there you two are. Chiba Mamoru, there is a Motoki on the line for you. Go down the hall and turn right and enter the second door to your left. He says that it's urgent," Dr. H simply informed the new soldier for Earth.
"Hai," Mamoru nodded his head in thanks and gave Usagi a quick peck on the cheek before departing.
"Did you need me for something, doctor?" Usagi turned away from the departing Mamoru to address the old man.
"Answer me something, Tsukino Usagi," Dr. H began.
"What is it?"
"Is Selene your mother?"
"Why do you ask?"
"There is a startling resemblance between you two."
"She is, but she doesn't remember me or my father," Usagi replied turning away and leaving the doctor before he could put forth another question.
**********
"Usagi?" Selene spoke up from behind her and then reached her side.
"What is it?" Usagi sensed that something was bothering the older woman.
"It's about Hiiro's mission," Selene whispered.
"What about it? He's just going to help out the others over at the satellite," Usagi waved it off as nothing.
"There's something more to it than that. I overheard Dr. H speaking with his colleagues from L5.2 and it's much more than that," Selene bit her lip and furrowed her brows.
"What could be so important?" Usagi stopped and turned around to stare at the older woman.
"The other four pilots were captured by Tetra and if Hiiro goes there, he'll be no match once he lands his Gundam down on that port," Selene stated.
"Then he'll just have to find some other way," Usagi said.
"The only way in is through that port," Selene pressed.
"Do you know how they got captured?" Usagi asked.
"Well, not every one of them. One out of the four is missing, he could've been captured by now or not. It doesn't really matter, they'll find him sooner or later. There are hundreds of soldiers roaming around that one satellite…"Selene muttered.
"Which pilot is missing?" Usagi interrogated.
"I think it's that quiet guy, Trowa. The doctors named him the Silencer, so I think that's him," Selene answered.
"Hiiro's going and if he lands there, he'll get captured. If Trowa gets to his comrades in time and releases him, they can make their way to their Gundams and get out of there…."Usagi mumbled to herself.
"They have a mission to complete," Selene reminded her.
"I don't want them to get hurt, though," Usagi sighed, leaning against the wall for support.
"What will you do?" Selene asked out of wonderment.
"I…don't know, but there has to be something…"Usagi whispered.
*Flashback*
Fighting Queen Beryl, the Wiseman, and struggling against Demando/Diamond, Galaxia, and other evil entities that she went up against in order to save herself and others. And she managed to overcome her obstacles without having to kill anyone. Like that time when Prince Endymion was evil, she had managed to bring him back to his self without having to kill him.
During all that time, she believed in herself and trusted her friends to help her. Working hard and trying as well as believing, she managed to save everyone.
"If you work hard enough and try hard enough, maybe everything you thought was hopeless to achieve will be granted to you in the end. Everything shall work out for the best, it just has to be," Selene assured her.
"And if it doesn't?" Usagi asked, raising her head up to look towards the woman's way.
"Then, I was wrong," Selene answered back before turning away.
*End of Flashback*
"I know what I have to do," Usagi proclaimed as she straightened up and walked down the hall towards the carrier.
"Where are you going?" Selene called out.
"To help the others," Usagi answered back and as she turned around the corner she saw Mamoru coming out of a room with a solemn expression in his façade.
"Usako…"Mamoru whispered.
"Mamo-chan, what's wrong?" Usagi asked, stopping herself from continuing on down the corridor.
"I have to leave. There's another fight in outer space around the abandoned satellite circling Earth. It seems that the other pilots are captured there to with the exception of one or two. Nevertheless, I have to go help my comrades like Motoki," Mamoru informed.
"When are you leaving?" Usagi asked, restraining herself from smiling at the mention of him leaving for the satellite when she herself was leaving as well.
"A.S.A.P. I'm leaving with Hiiro since we're going the same way," Mamoru stated.
"I understand," Usagi nodded her head in understanding, turning around momentarily to hide her ecstatic face.
"Be careful," Mamoru whispered.
"Shouldn't I say that to you?" Usagi turned around with a small smile upon her face.
Mamoru wanly smiled and then walked away with Usagi watching him with a slight glimmer in her eyes.
*******
"T – 10 seconds and counting," a voice announced through the monitor of the carrier where Hiiro and Mamoru were at.
"Hn." Hiiro leaned back and waited for the count down to begin.
"T – 9, T – 8, T – 7," the voice continued.
Mamoru gazed outside the small window of the carrier to look around the place one last time. From what he heard, the fight around the satellite was serious and quite a battle. Inside his mind, he knew the reason as to why it was difficult for them to defeat. The Gundams weren't there to help them out.
(I hate to admit it, but we do need the Gundams to help lower the numbers.) Mamoru admitted to himself and sighed.
"T – 3, 2, 1!" The voice ended as the engines flared and they blasted right off the port and zoomed through space.
********************
Earth: Tokyo, Japan
********************
A large towering building stood in front of six figures. One with raven colored hair, the other hair of light blond, another with beautiful short blue hair, the other with chestnut brown hair who stood next to an aquamarine haired figure and the other with short boyish light brown hair.
All six figures were women although the boyish haired figure appeared to be a man, when in fact, it was a man. As the six figures stood there, a cool wind passed through the lot but not one showed the slightest sign that they knew that a change of weather occurred.
"Tokyo Towers, we've arrived. Are we on time?" Minako asked the group as she took a step forward.
"Hai, we are," Haruka nodded.
"Well, let's go," Makoto said trying to get this over with as soon as possible.
"Hai!" the others agreed as they followed their friend into the building.
As soon as the group reached the topmost step of the building, they noticed a few people standing along the rails overlooking the view of the sparkling city.
"It's beautiful at night," commented one of them with a sigh.
"It's quite peaceful," another agreed.
"At the moment," added another with skepticism.
"You need to be more optimistic instead of being pessimistic," Makoto spoke up.
"It seems that they're here," the one who spoke up first when the girls came said as the figure turned to address them.
"Who are they?" another asked while the third remained silent.
As the six of them came to the lighter shade of the place under the moon's light, they noticed the three figures in front of them. A man and two women were there to meet with the six of them. The man appeared a tad aged around the eyes but stood as if he had a purpose in this life with dark raven hair and piercing dark blue eyes and fair skin. Something radiated about him, though to all of them, as if he was important and his features seemed familiar to all of them. The one next to the man was a young woman around their age with darkish blond golden hair and dark, dark blue eyes. She wore a maroon business suit with her hair down but with a small half braid that came together from the side to the middle. And that third group of the small party was a woman with light blond hair and thick brows that seemed to peel at the end, her skin was white and her eyes were a dark-almost-black eye color.
"Won't you please introduce yourselves?" the man requested.
"Very well," Michiru nodded and stepped forward," I am Kaio Michiru."
"Tenno Haruka."
"Aino Minako, Kon'wa."
"Mizuno Ami, pleasure to meet you."
"Kino Makoto."
"And I am Hino Rei."
The man nodded his head and was received a questioning stare as he gazed upon his companions but ignored it.
"This here in the maroon suit will be your assignment. We would've hired other soldiers, but I'm afraid they're all occupied at the moment because of the war and we have a limited amount of people in Japan. So please, take care of her while she's staying here in the country," the man requested.
"Very well, we agree. Will there be any certain terms that we have to follow?" Rei asked.
"It'll be required that you be around her for most of the day and night. So some or all of you will need to stay in her chateau until the war is over," the man stated.
"We figured that which is why we've agreed that three of us will stay there and trade off every week," nodded Ami.
"I understand that you mean well, but must I have bodyguards?" the woman turned her head towards the male.
"You know that it's quite dangerous around this time and if anything should happen to you it'll be worse off than before," the man reasonably put out.
"Very well then," the woman sighed and turned herself towards the group and bowed slightly.
"My name is Ririna Darlian Peacecraft," Ririna greeted them.
"You can call me Dorothy," Dorothy slightly bowed beside her friend.
"We should get going, Ririna-san will need her rest," Ami suggested.
"Till then, Hino-san," Ririna waved as she strode off with Dorothy in tow.
As Ririna and Dorothy left with Haruka and Michiru beside them, the others waited a few more seconds before following.
"Good-bye, father," Rei nodded towards him, her voice slightly icy as she left the building.
"That was your father?" Makoto glimpsed back at the man.
"Hai, but he left me to my grandfather's care when I was small. He's too busy to even stop by and visit me at the temple. That's how much he cares," Rei spat out.
"And what about your mother?" Minako asked.
"She's dead," Rei sighed and remained silent after that.
**********
"This'll be your room Mizuno-san," Ririna opened up a quaint little room with beautiful draperies and a bureau alongside a twin sized bed.
"Arigatou, Ririna-san. Please call me Ami," Ami bowed slightly as she entered the room and placed her belongings beside the bureau.
"You're welcome Ami-san," Ririna said and closed the room to move on to the next room.
"And this is yours, Minako-san," Ririna opened the room beside Ami and then led the last figure to the third room between Ami's and her's.
"And this is for you, Makoto-san," Ririna left the girl to the last room and went into her own.
Laying on her clean sheeted bed, Makoto sighed and swung her bag over the side of the bed and placed her arms at the back of her head. Her dark eyes gazed up at the white ceiling, wondering about the outcome of this whole mess.
"Ririna-sama, Usa-chan…what is your purpose in this war? And what is wrong with Rei-chan? Is it really a new dream or is it something else?" Makoto whispered to herself before turning her head around to stare outside the open window where it was filled with stars and the bright light of the moon's rays.
Rei placed her hand on the cool exterior of the window pane, her dark violet eyes glimmering softly under the moon's light.
"Usa-chan…"
*Flashback of Dream Sequence*
Darkness, endless darkness, with the exception of the bright stars that glittered from far away. Mobile Suits such as Leos and Taurus floated around, some still roaming around and fighting while others were mere pieces that were blown away by their enemies.
"Over here!"
"Iie!!"
Screams suddenly erupted in the endless chaos and the scene changed and focused solely on the suits that fought against one another. Eruptions and debris flitted around space after waved against wave of destruction. Lives lost in one fight. In the wave of masses, there were three familiar suits that were different from all others and they were called Gundams. The Gundams helped out against their enemies, aiding their allies in the fight for peace and serenity. To end the annihilation of lives before it got worse than it already has.
More screams were heard as time passed on and it became obvious that the soldiers for Earth were beginning to lose while the Gundams were lead farther away from the scene of battle by the enemies.
The battle from there became more intense as waves of explosions followed one another again and again and most of those deaths in the explosions were from the allies than the enemies.
(More fighting…why can't it stop? Please, onegai, make it stop!) a sweet melodic voice cried out in the dream.
"That dream…again…it's her…" Rei murmured within her mind.
(There's been enough blood that has been shed. Please, make it stop. Make it all go away!)
"Usagi, is that you? Where are you?" Rei wondered.
Suddenly the voice stopped and the battle continued on ceaselessly. The Gundams were only mere dots in the view, away from the familiar scenery and as Rei focused her attention somewhere else she saw a satellite station in front of Earth. Surrounding that area were more enemy ships fighting against their own enemies from Earth.
"The satellite, that's where the Gundam Pilots are held at," Rei whispered.
As soon as she said this, a bright explosion occurred and two figures blasted out of there. As the light died down, a Gundam lay in ruins at the very edge of the boarding dock. The two other figures were a ship and a Gundam that had escaped the explosion.
(No more fighting…please, no more fighting.)the voice was weaker now than before but still pleaded.
(But what can I do? What can I do?)
"Usa-chan…"Rei muttered.
(All I can do to help them is probably by fighting them…)
(I don't want to fight but I don't want them to die. No more deaths, no more
suffering.)
Beams of light, the fighting gets more intense.
(No more.)
Explosions occur and a tear falls and floats out in space.
(I don't want anyone else to die. I'm sorry, my friend....I'm sorry...)
Clashes of beams form together and a white light occurs from the impact.
(Okaa-san....my friends...and...)
The last thought was silenced and a pure white glow erupts in outer space, being viewed by everything. Its intense brightness engulfing everything on sight and reflects off of Earth.
*End Flashback of Dream Sequence*
Rei blinked away the image and saw that she let her hand fall away from the cool glass and she was now on her knees and felt tear stains on her cheeks.
"The dream is complete now, isn't it? This is the fate that befalls our princess…"Rei murmured.
"But I can't help but wonder…what happens afterwards," Rei added in a soft whisper.
To be continued…
****************
Well there's chapter 12 for all of you, hope you enjoyed it. A lot happened in just one chapter, ne? Well, sort of…
Gomen nasai that it took so long to get it out, but I've had a lot of work to turn in at school and still do but since it was a three day weekend for us here I managed to get some free time in to get you this long chapter just for you guys! I think that the ending is coming up soon, not too sure yet but it eventually will.
Anyways, gotta go. Ja ne, minna-san! ^_~
Author: Cheska
E-mail Address: Minnashime@aol.com
Rating: PG or PG-13
Chapter: 15
Disclaimer: *gun clicks and focuses* *wide eyes* I don't own Sailor Moon or Gundam Wing!
Author's Notes: *looks up at the disclaimer and a waterdrop forms* That was…just sucky! Oh well, what's done is done, kon'wa minna-san! I'm back!
*lots of angry growls* Heheh, I see that you've been waiting…^^;; *guns click everywhere* Peace! Peace! *arrows shoot and fall beside her figure, barely inches away* Okay, I'll just shut up now. Look at the bright side, you get this long chapter for you to read! *some roll their eyes* Well, sorta good and sort of bad. Bad for those who don't enjoy long chapters and good for those who do.
Well here it is, see ya later! *puffs out*
******
Dark green eyes gazed around the corner inside the station. Piles of soldiers dressed in the familiar dark blue-black uniforms were standing guard or commanding lesser units to dispatch and get ready to fight against the infamous Gundams. Some of the newer soldiers appeared anxious and unsure of where they stood and had more trouble following orders which caused higher uppers to
repeat themselves or give stern lectures over paying attention. Gundam Pilot 03 resumed his position around the corner and stripped off the outer covering of the space suit that clung to his brown skin. Feeling his pockets of his blue denim, he made sure that his weapons were still intact. Peering around the corner once more, he made sure of the numbers that were there and where their positions were currently at.
(18 soldiers...)Trowa noted before taking out his revolver and reloading it.
Pressing his back against the wall he took two deep breaths and took out two knives where he placed one of them at the side of his shoe and the other one held ready at his hand with his gun on the left hand.
"Sir! A Gundam has been found docked on the outer planes of the station! It's been reported and identified as Gundam Heavyarms!" a third ranking officer reported to a second ranker.
Before the other soldier could react to the new information, Trowa threw his knife at the second ranker which instantly killed him off and then ducked back to his place around the corner. Immediately because of his actions, the 17 other soldiers that were still alive drew out their guns and fired. Bullets fired and some dared to get nearer to try to get the glory of killing off the intruder. However, before they even could turn to know the knowledge of their enemy, Trowa fired his gun at them. This continued on and someone was even smart enough to call for backup but never managed to tell them the current problem as Trowa grew wise to know their next move and killed the meddling tattle-tale.
The numbers dwindled and soon not a living soul was left in the area that Trowa was at. Kneeling down he felt around the soldiers for more loads for his gun and then retrieved back his knife which he placed back in its hiding place.
The next place that the brown haired pilot came upon was even more loaded with soldiers. Taking all of it in, he noticed a hatch over a soldier's head and how close all of the soldiers milled around that particular area.
(Hmm, this place has more hiding areas than I thought it would..)Trowa inwardly smirked but didn't reflect it off his face.
Taking out his gun he looked from his one gun to the number of soldiers and then eyed his two knives. He knew that it wouldn't do with all the numbers. There were about 30 of them alone in that corridor. It wouldn't be enough.
(There are too many soldiers for me to do alone...) Trowa inwardly frowned in thought and then reached to his back pocket and felt the two gas bombs he carried for just the occasion. Handling one with expert care he eyed the middle of the room and threw it out. The pill shape tumbled down on the ground that caused all eyes to see and they took out their gun, unsure of what to do.
As soon as the pill stopped, a gas erupted of gray-green smoke. Trowa ducked down and took out a handkerchief that he placed around his mouth and nose and ducked inside with the other pill still in his pocket. He had his knife out and ready and saw one of the soldiers gasping and the soldier's eyes were tearstained and bulging out with red lining at the corners. Just before the soldier reached him with gun ready, he passed out and closed its eyes.
(Amateur..) Trowa noted and gazed upwards where the hatch should be at.
Once the 03 pilot reached the appointed area he swung upwards and kicked the hatch. By now all the soldiers should be asleep or something along those lines. As 03 swung himself upwards, he turned around and closed the hatch back up, just in case. Then the soldier continued down the way, towards the north where the commander of the station and the new organization would be at.
(Mission still in progress...)Trowa mumbled in his thoughts as his dark green eyes surveyed all the turns and corners of the tunnel.
****************
Outside in space
****************
"Man, do these stupid suits still come?" Duo shouted out.
"What? Too tired, baka?" Wufei slurred.
"No way! Let them come, I'm just saying that they're too stupid to come to us. They should know by now that Shinigami will only get to them!" Duo grinned mischievously.
"Ha! Is the great Shinigami, now trying to offer his enemies a chance to escape?" Wufei mocked.
"Just saying," Duo shot back, as he slumped his arms against the back of his chair in the grand Gundam as the last of the suits were destroyed.
"Okay, let's get in there now..." Quatre sighed tiredly as he steered his Gundam to the docking port of the station.
"Thank Shinigami!" Duo praised as he followed the others to the station of the satellite.
As soon as the Gundams came inside the place, there was a flicker of lights that temporarily blinded the three from the new lighting change. As their pupils adjusted to it, they noticed their predicament.
"I don't think we should've gone inside," Duo mumbled as he frowned in front of him.
"You don't say?" Wufei said sarcastically, his dark eyes trained to the front.
"Put your hands above your head and come down slowly. You are now our prisoners under the name of the Tetra organization!" a deep voice rumbled from the speakers trained on them.
"And if we don't?" Duo shot back.
"You should know the consequences of your actions if you do choose the latter," the voice replied calmly with a hint of amusement.
"So will you do follow my request or do we have to do this the hard way?" questioned the speaker.
"We have no other choice if we want to live," Quatre pointed out.
His two other companions agreed as they gazed in front of them. From the time that they all stepped inside and out of their Gundams, several pieces of machinery were trained on all of them unexpectedly. From machine guns to rifles to BB guns. All sorts of fighting equipment, which left them no other choice but to give up.
As the three soldiers slowly relented to the enemy, each of them complied with the following orders of descending down their machines to the cold hard floor down below. Each of them wishing and hoping that they'll manage to find a way to get out of the alive and possibly get revenge over what happened to them this day.
"Please, follow the soldiers to your new living quarters. If you do retain from going into your room and manage to harm at least one of the soldiers, you will eventually be found and shot down," the voice spoke informed them as one of the doors opened, revealing a group of soldiers.
"And put your weapons down on the floor to be confiscated, you won't need it," the voice added.
It took a lot of effort for each of the pilots to release their hands from the weapons they held to place it down on the guard for their enemies to hold. Mumbling, Duo scowled and glared at the upcoming soldiers who smirked and grabbed the dear weapon into its grubby palms.
"Thanks," the soldier grinned evilly.
"I swear to Shinigami that I will have your head after this," Duo glared.
"Not if you're dead," the soldier chuckled and walked away.
Duo watched the retreating soldier's back for a few more seconds before being roughly pushed to move along with his companions following from behind.
***********
Colony L2
***********
"How many hours has it been since we landed here?" Mamoru inquired as he flicked back his dark bangs that hang in front of his ocean blue eyes.
"Five hours now, I believe," Dr. H answered emotionlessly.
"Where's Usagi?"
"I think she went out to check sites," answered the old doctor.
"Dr. H," Hiiro said in monotone.
"Yes, what is it Hiiro?" Dr. H turned to regard the young soldier.
"How long will it take till my Gundam is repaired?" Hiiro questioned.
"Just two more hours and you'll be set to go," Dr. H assured him with a wave of his hands.
"Hn." Hiiro turned and left the room, not looking back.
"Is he always like that?" Mamoru gazed at the retreating figure.
"He's been trained to be the perfect soldier and he is. He's the best out of all the Gundam Pilots," Dr. H answered.
"No emotions, whatsoever?" Mamoru pressed.
"None," Dr. H confirmed.
Mamoru didn't say anything else after that.
**********
"Back to my hometown," Usagi murmured listlessly as she gazed around the dark colony.
It was night time and only a few people were outside at this time. Gazing towards the lighted areas, she noticed the time from an open window of a store. The time was 2:00 a.m. and no one in this side of the street were awake except for a few strays and a police car. Sighing, Usagi removed herself from the front of the small shop and continued down the paved street, wrapping her arms around herself to keep the cool chill at the sudden change in temperature.
As the number of shops decreased at the rise of a hill in front of her, Usagi's mood changed from weariness to wonder at the familiar sights. She stopped in front of a familiar old flower shop that brought memories back into her mind of her adolescent age. Gifts and sweet memories of the old days, the only thing that was going for her in this time of war.
As she reached the peak of the hill, her crystalline blue eyes widened and her steps froze. Memories flooded her mind, bringing tears in her eyes and as each step brought her closer to the site her lungs felt tight and the young girl felt as if she was drowning.
*Flashback*
Her time at the orphanage and she was crying but he was there to help her feel better.
Usagi felt a presence nearby but took no notice of it. When she saw felt something fall, Usagi's head rose up and a red petal fell onto the back of her hand lying against her knee. She picked it up and studied the soft, velvety feeling.
"What is this? Where did it come from?" Usagi croaked out, her voice too weak to speak.
"Here's the rest of it. For you. You shouldn't cry, it doesn't fit you
as well as when you're happy," a male voice murmured into her ear from her side.
Turning her head around, she saw a boy a little bit older than her with caring
cobalt blue eyes.
That was the day she first met Duo and she can't forget that.
Also she recalled the night of their promise.
"What will happen if we do leave each other? What then?"
"What do you mean?" Duo furrowed his brows together, his cobalt blue eyes
filled with wonderment.
"What if we're separated? Not out of our own free will? What then?" Usagi
questioned.
"Then we'll find each other."
"Hai, I'll find you and you'll find me! Promise?" Usagi held out her pinkie.
"What are you doing?" Duo cocked his head to the side, wondering why she extended out her pinkie.
"It's a pinkie swear, silly!" Usagi giggled and caught Duo's pinkie.
"Weird," Duo shook his head and stared at Usagi's glistening eyes. Shining
in the beautiful night, as bright as the stars and the moon itself.
"Promise," Usagi and Duo stated in unison.
And the time of their reunion after so many years.
Before she could pick up the petal, a rose faced her view. Following the fingertips that held the rose to her, led her to the face of an old companion. Her eyes gazing at cobalt blue with a grin on his facade.
"This time I found you," he grinned.
And she could never forget their first kiss shared with one another.
"Duo..."Usagi murmured his name once again before his lips lightly brushed along hers. But just as it touched hers, it left again and he backed away. However, from that mere moment they touched, a light tingle was felt on her lips and Usagi touched her lips, shocked from that feeling.
*End of Flashback*
Usagi crumbled inside as she stumbled over to where their friendship started from. As she approached the area, she fell to her knees with her hands touching the soil of where the tree previously stood at. Now, there was no tree. Not even a sign that it was here except for the empty space and the soil on the ground. All those years that Duo and her were friends, the tree that they grew up around represented their blossoming friendship. Now, look what happened. It's been cut down and disappeared from their lives. Nothing was left, not even a twig.
"The tree was our strength. Our symbol. All those years it withstood the problems in the colony and now it's gone. Just like that. Poof!" Usagi croaked out as tears welled up inside her eyes.
"What will happen now?" Usagi asked herself, wondering what will happen in the future.
"You can do whatever you want to do if you set your heart into it," a sweet melodic voice answered for her from behind.
(Okaa-san…) Usagi whispered inside her mind.
"I used to believe that," Usagi bitterly commented.
"Used to believe? What happened?" the woman inquired.
"Destiny and fate happened," Usagi slumped over, her head downcast.
"You control your own life. No one can control you if you believe hard enough," Selene stated.
"That's what I thought, but I can't. Because of my role in life, I have to sacrifice my own path for others to have a better life," Usagi whispered.
"It's that important?" Selene murmured.
"Hai," Usagi responded.
"If you work hard enough and try hard enough, maybe everything you thought was hopeless to achieve will be granted to you in the end. Everything shall work out for the best, it just has to be," Selene assured her.
"And if it doesn't?" Usagi asked, raising her head up to look towards the woman's way.
"Then, I was wrong," Selene answered back before turning away.
"Let's hope you're not, okaa-san," Usagi murmured before turning to look at the empty space on the ground with just the soil.
"And let's hope that our friendship doesn't end, Duo-chan," Usagi added softly as a petal of a flower flew to the ground in front of her.
************
Earth: Sanq
************
"Thank you for accompanying me to Tokyo, Dorothy," Ririna smiled as she slipped inside the pink limo.
"It's my pleasure, Miss Ririna. After all, with the war going around the world and outer space we've got to stick together!" Dorothy thought nothing of it.
"I've been summoned to Tokyo for some business deal over the number of soldiers that should be used up in space and on Earth," Ririna explained as her brows furrowed at the thought of war.
"It's true, we're fighting different people now. Instead of a whole, we're separated against one another. Countries against countries and colonies against this new organization. It is, in a way, different from the previous wars," Dorothy understood her predicament.
"Hai, it is…"Ririna sighed and leaned against the leather upholstery.
"We're approaching the airport, Miss Ririna," the driver informed her from up front.
"Thank you," Ririna thanked the man.
"Who are you meeting with?"
"I'm meeting with some political figures. The most important out of the lot is Hino-san. I hope they'll agree with the numbers that can be used up in Japan for defense against the armies of Earth. We need a lot of soldiers out in outer space," Ririna worried.
"What about outer space? Any new news about the outcome of the war?" Dorothy inquired.
"Most of the Gundam Pilots have been captured with the exception of one and that's pilot 01. However, Hiiro has been missing from action for hours now. The last time they saw him was when he was fighting in Colony L2 but disappeared near the end," Ririna informed the light blond haired woman.
"What do you think happened to him?"
"I don't know, I just hope that he's all right."
The limo stopped in front of the airport and the door opened up, letting light bathe inside the interior of the vehicle, letting the two girls out and into the open.
*************
Japan: Tokyo
*************
"It's been such a long time since it's been declared that Colony L2 is free from the clutches of Tetra! So why is it that Usagi isn't here with us, right now?" demanded Makoto as she clenched her fists to her side, expecting an answer.
"Knowing Usagi, she got herself into trouble," Rei muttered, her back facing them as the raven haired girl gazed out of the temples to the city down below.
"Or she could be…"began Minako but was stopped with a glare coming from Luna.
"It is possible, Usagi is sought after by our enemies. Who's to say that the Tetra force isn't looking for her as well?" Artemis butted in.
"Sailor Soldiers…."a familiar voice intruded in their conversation coming from behind a flowering a tree.
"Pluto," Luna and Artemis greeted in unison with a brief nod.
"Is there something we can help you in, Pluto?" Ami inquired her visit.
"Hai," Pluto stepped out from behind the tree and strode over to them with Neptune and Uranus appearing from the branches.
"Where's Saturn?" Minako noticed the missing sailor.
"Her presence here isn't required," Pluto answered dismissively.
"The reason we're here is to tell you that the Vice Foreign Minister Darlian shall be coming in from the Sanq Kingdom. She should be arriving in a few hours from now. I want you all to keep a look-out for her. There is a war on Earth as well as outer space. The enemies could very well assassinate here with ease if she isn't properly looked after," Pluto informed them.
"Why should we look out for her? She isn't our hime!" Makoto glared at them.
"We don't like the idea, either but Pluto's reason is filled with shaded areas and grays. We aren't too sure off her motives, but we must follow it to ensure our future as well as for the other people," Uranus answered with solemnity.
"Will you look after this young woman? You don't have to befriend her, just act as her bodyguards or protectors from the shadows," Pluto requested.
"Will it serve a great purpose for our future utopia?" Rei finally spoke up after a long time.
"Would I ask for your services, if it wasn't?" Pluto asked.
"I'll do it," Rei agreed with a nod of her head, not looking back at them.
Soon after, the others reluctantly agreed to Pluto's request as well.
"Arigatou, here's the card of where you are to go after two hours prior to this time. Make sure she is safe until the war in outer space is over. You'll know when it is," Pluto turned back to her civilian time along with her companions as the three of them walked down the temple's steps.
Holding the white card that Pluto left them, the four girls crowded around Ami to stare at the address.
"It just says Tokyo Towers," Ami read out loud.
"And the time: 9:30 p.m." Minako noticed the small imprint next to the address.
"Well we have new orders until our princess comes back," Makoto sighed listlessly.
"What else can we do?" Rei pointed out.
"We could always join in the war and go after Usa-chan!" Makoto argued.
"We're not allowed to, remember?" Minako joined in.
"Mamoru went after her," Makoto stubbornly pointed out.
"That is true," Ami agreed.
"Look you guys, what's done is done and there's nothing we can do about it but await the outcome!" Rei shouted.
"You saw something with your powers, haven't you Rei-chan?" Minako noticed the difference.
"I don't want to talk about it," Rei mumbled and walked away leaving the girls alone out in front of the temple.
*******************
Back in Outer space
of Colony L2
*******************
"There, it's done!" one of the repairers shouted out over to Dr. H who was standing on the platform overlooking the Gundam.
The doctor simply nodded before turning around to inform Hiiro of the big news.
********
"This is where the two of us met, if you're wondering Hiiro," Usagi quietly uttered not turning around to regard the pilot.
Hiiro quirked his eye at the young teen in front of him, since he didn't expect her to speak to him much less notice he was here. He decided to track her down when he noticed that she wasn't at the shuttle port and found her at an empty lot up a hill.
"Hn."
"It was years ago since I met Duo but I still remember the first time we were introduced and I still remember his first gift to me. It was a beautiful bunny, but it's gone now like the tree that used to be in front of me. And gone like the old photograph we took and gone like the past…. But I still remember, I still remember," Usagi told him, feeling the hot tears beginning to burn up in her eyes.
"The past is the past. This is the present," Hiiro simply told her, with a cold tone to his voice.
"It's because of the past that we are what we are right now," Usagi voiced out.
Hiiro was quiet for awhile before he started to go towards her. But before he could act out what he was about to do, Mamoru showed up and started towards them. The dark haired young man appeared to have a sense of importance about him as he drew near to the two.
"Wing Zero is ready, Yui," Mamoru stated.
"Hn." Hiiro nodded and stared at Usagi for a few more seconds before leaving.
"What was that all about?" Mamoru mumbled more to himself than to Usagi.
"Nothing, he was just giving me some advice," Usagi assured him before turning to look back at the empty spot of where the tree once stood.
"What's wrong, Usako? I know that something is the matter with you," Mamoru pressed, as he placed his arms around her shoulders.
Usagi drew away from his grasp and stood motionlessly, now looking up at the artificial blue sky above her. She could almost see the clouds and the memorable moon that would suddenly appear faintly up amongst the hazy blue.
"It has something to do with that Duo Maxwell, isn't it?" Mamoru spoke out his ill favored name.
"You don't like him, do you Mamo-chan?" Usagi whispered, her eyes not trained on him but at the sky.
"I don't want him to take you away from me," Mamoru mumbled his answer.
"Why would he?" Usagi tore her gaze away from the sky to gaze at Mamoru's ocean blue eyes that sparkled with a hidden sadness.
"I see the way he looks at you and have some knowledge of the long friendship that you two shared with one another as you grew up. Not to mention that he probably knows more about you than I do. I didn't even know you were adopted and there I was stuck in that elevator with you years ago and you felt sorry for me when I should've felt sympathy towards you as well. But I didn't, I screwed it up," Mamoru berated himself.
"You didn't know, Mamo-chan…"Usagi lightly smiled.
"I should have known. We've been together for two years now, Usako and I still don't know much about your past but you know mine," Mamoru whispered.
Usagi sighed and went towards him, drawing him into a warm hug.
"It's okay, we still have Crystal Tokyo to look forward to. What's past is past, right?" Usagi said as she drew away from the hug.
"Right we have the future. We have destiny and fate in our side," Mamoru murmured.
"Let's get back to the port," Usagi held his hand and started dragging him back.
*********
As soon as Usagi and Mamoru made it back to the port, they saw the Gundam's carrier begin to receive Wing Zero inside itself. Orders and shouts went all around, leaving no sense of peace to the minds of others.
"Ahh...there you two are. Chiba Mamoru, there is a Motoki on the line for you. Go down the hall and turn right and enter the second door to your left. He says that it's urgent," Dr. H simply informed the new soldier for Earth.
"Hai," Mamoru nodded his head in thanks and gave Usagi a quick peck on the cheek before departing.
"Did you need me for something, doctor?" Usagi turned away from the departing Mamoru to address the old man.
"Answer me something, Tsukino Usagi," Dr. H began.
"What is it?"
"Is Selene your mother?"
"Why do you ask?"
"There is a startling resemblance between you two."
"She is, but she doesn't remember me or my father," Usagi replied turning away and leaving the doctor before he could put forth another question.
**********
"Usagi?" Selene spoke up from behind her and then reached her side.
"What is it?" Usagi sensed that something was bothering the older woman.
"It's about Hiiro's mission," Selene whispered.
"What about it? He's just going to help out the others over at the satellite," Usagi waved it off as nothing.
"There's something more to it than that. I overheard Dr. H speaking with his colleagues from L5.2 and it's much more than that," Selene bit her lip and furrowed her brows.
"What could be so important?" Usagi stopped and turned around to stare at the older woman.
"The other four pilots were captured by Tetra and if Hiiro goes there, he'll be no match once he lands his Gundam down on that port," Selene stated.
"Then he'll just have to find some other way," Usagi said.
"The only way in is through that port," Selene pressed.
"Do you know how they got captured?" Usagi asked.
"Well, not every one of them. One out of the four is missing, he could've been captured by now or not. It doesn't really matter, they'll find him sooner or later. There are hundreds of soldiers roaming around that one satellite…"Selene muttered.
"Which pilot is missing?" Usagi interrogated.
"I think it's that quiet guy, Trowa. The doctors named him the Silencer, so I think that's him," Selene answered.
"Hiiro's going and if he lands there, he'll get captured. If Trowa gets to his comrades in time and releases him, they can make their way to their Gundams and get out of there…."Usagi mumbled to herself.
"They have a mission to complete," Selene reminded her.
"I don't want them to get hurt, though," Usagi sighed, leaning against the wall for support.
"What will you do?" Selene asked out of wonderment.
"I…don't know, but there has to be something…"Usagi whispered.
*Flashback*
Fighting Queen Beryl, the Wiseman, and struggling against Demando/Diamond, Galaxia, and other evil entities that she went up against in order to save herself and others. And she managed to overcome her obstacles without having to kill anyone. Like that time when Prince Endymion was evil, she had managed to bring him back to his self without having to kill him.
During all that time, she believed in herself and trusted her friends to help her. Working hard and trying as well as believing, she managed to save everyone.
"If you work hard enough and try hard enough, maybe everything you thought was hopeless to achieve will be granted to you in the end. Everything shall work out for the best, it just has to be," Selene assured her.
"And if it doesn't?" Usagi asked, raising her head up to look towards the woman's way.
"Then, I was wrong," Selene answered back before turning away.
*End of Flashback*
"I know what I have to do," Usagi proclaimed as she straightened up and walked down the hall towards the carrier.
"Where are you going?" Selene called out.
"To help the others," Usagi answered back and as she turned around the corner she saw Mamoru coming out of a room with a solemn expression in his façade.
"Usako…"Mamoru whispered.
"Mamo-chan, what's wrong?" Usagi asked, stopping herself from continuing on down the corridor.
"I have to leave. There's another fight in outer space around the abandoned satellite circling Earth. It seems that the other pilots are captured there to with the exception of one or two. Nevertheless, I have to go help my comrades like Motoki," Mamoru informed.
"When are you leaving?" Usagi asked, restraining herself from smiling at the mention of him leaving for the satellite when she herself was leaving as well.
"A.S.A.P. I'm leaving with Hiiro since we're going the same way," Mamoru stated.
"I understand," Usagi nodded her head in understanding, turning around momentarily to hide her ecstatic face.
"Be careful," Mamoru whispered.
"Shouldn't I say that to you?" Usagi turned around with a small smile upon her face.
Mamoru wanly smiled and then walked away with Usagi watching him with a slight glimmer in her eyes.
*******
"T – 10 seconds and counting," a voice announced through the monitor of the carrier where Hiiro and Mamoru were at.
"Hn." Hiiro leaned back and waited for the count down to begin.
"T – 9, T – 8, T – 7," the voice continued.
Mamoru gazed outside the small window of the carrier to look around the place one last time. From what he heard, the fight around the satellite was serious and quite a battle. Inside his mind, he knew the reason as to why it was difficult for them to defeat. The Gundams weren't there to help them out.
(I hate to admit it, but we do need the Gundams to help lower the numbers.) Mamoru admitted to himself and sighed.
"T – 3, 2, 1!" The voice ended as the engines flared and they blasted right off the port and zoomed through space.
********************
Earth: Tokyo, Japan
********************
A large towering building stood in front of six figures. One with raven colored hair, the other hair of light blond, another with beautiful short blue hair, the other with chestnut brown hair who stood next to an aquamarine haired figure and the other with short boyish light brown hair.
All six figures were women although the boyish haired figure appeared to be a man, when in fact, it was a man. As the six figures stood there, a cool wind passed through the lot but not one showed the slightest sign that they knew that a change of weather occurred.
"Tokyo Towers, we've arrived. Are we on time?" Minako asked the group as she took a step forward.
"Hai, we are," Haruka nodded.
"Well, let's go," Makoto said trying to get this over with as soon as possible.
"Hai!" the others agreed as they followed their friend into the building.
As soon as the group reached the topmost step of the building, they noticed a few people standing along the rails overlooking the view of the sparkling city.
"It's beautiful at night," commented one of them with a sigh.
"It's quite peaceful," another agreed.
"At the moment," added another with skepticism.
"You need to be more optimistic instead of being pessimistic," Makoto spoke up.
"It seems that they're here," the one who spoke up first when the girls came said as the figure turned to address them.
"Who are they?" another asked while the third remained silent.
As the six of them came to the lighter shade of the place under the moon's light, they noticed the three figures in front of them. A man and two women were there to meet with the six of them. The man appeared a tad aged around the eyes but stood as if he had a purpose in this life with dark raven hair and piercing dark blue eyes and fair skin. Something radiated about him, though to all of them, as if he was important and his features seemed familiar to all of them. The one next to the man was a young woman around their age with darkish blond golden hair and dark, dark blue eyes. She wore a maroon business suit with her hair down but with a small half braid that came together from the side to the middle. And that third group of the small party was a woman with light blond hair and thick brows that seemed to peel at the end, her skin was white and her eyes were a dark-almost-black eye color.
"Won't you please introduce yourselves?" the man requested.
"Very well," Michiru nodded and stepped forward," I am Kaio Michiru."
"Tenno Haruka."
"Aino Minako, Kon'wa."
"Mizuno Ami, pleasure to meet you."
"Kino Makoto."
"And I am Hino Rei."
The man nodded his head and was received a questioning stare as he gazed upon his companions but ignored it.
"This here in the maroon suit will be your assignment. We would've hired other soldiers, but I'm afraid they're all occupied at the moment because of the war and we have a limited amount of people in Japan. So please, take care of her while she's staying here in the country," the man requested.
"Very well, we agree. Will there be any certain terms that we have to follow?" Rei asked.
"It'll be required that you be around her for most of the day and night. So some or all of you will need to stay in her chateau until the war is over," the man stated.
"We figured that which is why we've agreed that three of us will stay there and trade off every week," nodded Ami.
"I understand that you mean well, but must I have bodyguards?" the woman turned her head towards the male.
"You know that it's quite dangerous around this time and if anything should happen to you it'll be worse off than before," the man reasonably put out.
"Very well then," the woman sighed and turned herself towards the group and bowed slightly.
"My name is Ririna Darlian Peacecraft," Ririna greeted them.
"You can call me Dorothy," Dorothy slightly bowed beside her friend.
"We should get going, Ririna-san will need her rest," Ami suggested.
"Till then, Hino-san," Ririna waved as she strode off with Dorothy in tow.
As Ririna and Dorothy left with Haruka and Michiru beside them, the others waited a few more seconds before following.
"Good-bye, father," Rei nodded towards him, her voice slightly icy as she left the building.
"That was your father?" Makoto glimpsed back at the man.
"Hai, but he left me to my grandfather's care when I was small. He's too busy to even stop by and visit me at the temple. That's how much he cares," Rei spat out.
"And what about your mother?" Minako asked.
"She's dead," Rei sighed and remained silent after that.
**********
"This'll be your room Mizuno-san," Ririna opened up a quaint little room with beautiful draperies and a bureau alongside a twin sized bed.
"Arigatou, Ririna-san. Please call me Ami," Ami bowed slightly as she entered the room and placed her belongings beside the bureau.
"You're welcome Ami-san," Ririna said and closed the room to move on to the next room.
"And this is yours, Minako-san," Ririna opened the room beside Ami and then led the last figure to the third room between Ami's and her's.
"And this is for you, Makoto-san," Ririna left the girl to the last room and went into her own.
Laying on her clean sheeted bed, Makoto sighed and swung her bag over the side of the bed and placed her arms at the back of her head. Her dark eyes gazed up at the white ceiling, wondering about the outcome of this whole mess.
"Ririna-sama, Usa-chan…what is your purpose in this war? And what is wrong with Rei-chan? Is it really a new dream or is it something else?" Makoto whispered to herself before turning her head around to stare outside the open window where it was filled with stars and the bright light of the moon's rays.
Rei placed her hand on the cool exterior of the window pane, her dark violet eyes glimmering softly under the moon's light.
"Usa-chan…"
*Flashback of Dream Sequence*
Darkness, endless darkness, with the exception of the bright stars that glittered from far away. Mobile Suits such as Leos and Taurus floated around, some still roaming around and fighting while others were mere pieces that were blown away by their enemies.
"Over here!"
"Iie!!"
Screams suddenly erupted in the endless chaos and the scene changed and focused solely on the suits that fought against one another. Eruptions and debris flitted around space after waved against wave of destruction. Lives lost in one fight. In the wave of masses, there were three familiar suits that were different from all others and they were called Gundams. The Gundams helped out against their enemies, aiding their allies in the fight for peace and serenity. To end the annihilation of lives before it got worse than it already has.
More screams were heard as time passed on and it became obvious that the soldiers for Earth were beginning to lose while the Gundams were lead farther away from the scene of battle by the enemies.
The battle from there became more intense as waves of explosions followed one another again and again and most of those deaths in the explosions were from the allies than the enemies.
(More fighting…why can't it stop? Please, onegai, make it stop!) a sweet melodic voice cried out in the dream.
"That dream…again…it's her…" Rei murmured within her mind.
(There's been enough blood that has been shed. Please, make it stop. Make it all go away!)
"Usagi, is that you? Where are you?" Rei wondered.
Suddenly the voice stopped and the battle continued on ceaselessly. The Gundams were only mere dots in the view, away from the familiar scenery and as Rei focused her attention somewhere else she saw a satellite station in front of Earth. Surrounding that area were more enemy ships fighting against their own enemies from Earth.
"The satellite, that's where the Gundam Pilots are held at," Rei whispered.
As soon as she said this, a bright explosion occurred and two figures blasted out of there. As the light died down, a Gundam lay in ruins at the very edge of the boarding dock. The two other figures were a ship and a Gundam that had escaped the explosion.
(No more fighting…please, no more fighting.)the voice was weaker now than before but still pleaded.
(But what can I do? What can I do?)
"Usa-chan…"Rei muttered.
(All I can do to help them is probably by fighting them…)
(I don't want to fight but I don't want them to die. No more deaths, no more
suffering.)
Beams of light, the fighting gets more intense.
(No more.)
Explosions occur and a tear falls and floats out in space.
(I don't want anyone else to die. I'm sorry, my friend....I'm sorry...)
Clashes of beams form together and a white light occurs from the impact.
(Okaa-san....my friends...and...)
The last thought was silenced and a pure white glow erupts in outer space, being viewed by everything. Its intense brightness engulfing everything on sight and reflects off of Earth.
*End Flashback of Dream Sequence*
Rei blinked away the image and saw that she let her hand fall away from the cool glass and she was now on her knees and felt tear stains on her cheeks.
"The dream is complete now, isn't it? This is the fate that befalls our princess…"Rei murmured.
"But I can't help but wonder…what happens afterwards," Rei added in a soft whisper.
To be continued…
****************
Well there's chapter 12 for all of you, hope you enjoyed it. A lot happened in just one chapter, ne? Well, sort of…
Gomen nasai that it took so long to get it out, but I've had a lot of work to turn in at school and still do but since it was a three day weekend for us here I managed to get some free time in to get you this long chapter just for you guys! I think that the ending is coming up soon, not too sure yet but it eventually will.
Anyways, gotta go. Ja ne, minna-san! ^_~
