Title:  Because of You

Author:  Cheska

E-mail Address:  Minnashime@aol.com

Rating:  PG or PG-13

Chapter:  18

Disclaimer:  Nope, nada, zip, I don't own Sailor Moon or Gundam Wing.  It's not like I have the slightest chance of owning them.  *sigh*

Author's Notes: 

*tied down to a chair and held captive by Usagi Asia Maxwell* 

*typing as fast as she can with beads of sweat on her temples*

Cheska:  I don't know how this came to be, but…one minute I'm happily reading ficcies and the next thing I know…I'm writing this chapter.  .;;

  Anywayz, thanks to all of you who have kindly taken the time to read this story.   I really appreciate it.  ^_^  Now, here's the SECOND to the final chapter of Because of You.  I do remember saying that this would be the final chapter, however, I didn't like the way this was leading and it really wouldn't fit too well if I inserted my idea of the ending in here.  So it'll take just one more chapter.  Gomen nasai!! .

~.~.~.~.~

Last Time:

~.~.~.~.~

 "And…what was our princess's path?" Ami asked in a hushed whisper.

  "Her last thoughts were of us…before a white glow erupted," Rei stated.

  At that time, a pure white glow with intense brightness engulfed everything around them.

~.~.~.~.~

  The light took up everything within its way, thus taking the whole world and all else within its vicinity up to the edge of the closest colony which was Colony L1.  The light spread out its warmth as well as its dangerous essence throughout all living as well as the dead.  From people all the way to the smallest bacteria.

  Thoughts and feelings were cleansed of darkness while the white's incandescence made its way throughout the world and atmosphere.

  (Let this be…the way to settle everything…Silver Crystal…choose which is right and what is wrong.  See what's within me so it may settle this fruitless argument between the two enemies…) Usagi whispered within her self as another blaze shined throughout, viewing her golden insignia.

  Her clothes changed to her princess form with the exception of pure white angel wings that sprouted out from her back.  Her two hands holding the crystal to her chest as her wings carried her out of the ruins of the satellite station and towards the center of the battle field.

  "Let this end…"

~.~.~.~.~

  MS dolls were destroyed, leaving only those who were human alive within the confines of their battle suits.  Everyone had their eyes toward the center of one individual light, wondering what or who it was that held so much power within them.  And there in the center of that glow was an angel…maybe even a goddess who came down from heaven to stop this war.

  "Tenshi…"a soldier whispered as he gawked at the beautiful maiden with wings.

  "What is that?" Quatre asked out loud to his companions as his blue eyes caught the view of the angel.

  "Whatever it was, it helped stop those machines from coming on us," Wufei uttered under his breath as he too watched the glowing woman.

  "An enemy?" Hiiro wondered.

  "It couldn't be, if it was an enemy…it could have destroyed us in the process as we fought Tetra's lackeys," Quatre argued, pushing aside the possibility.

  "Hn."

~.~.~.~

Earth:

~.~.~.~

  "Many wonder what that strange light was that came from outer space in the middle of all the war, and all we can say is that we're trying to find out right now as our camera is being fixed…ahh, here it is.  Now we'll know what happened," a newswoman said as she smiled at the viewers.

  "Quickly, turn it up," Ririna urged to the Dorothy as she sat down beside the blond haired woman.

  Coming in, the other girls entered the room to watch as well as curiosity induced them to find out.

  "Seeing throughout the mass destruction, it seems that the blaze of white light that spread throughout all of Earth has killed all the MS dolls that were fighting against our people.  And…what is that?" the woman stopped and stared as a flame of white light hovered around the middle of all the chaos of destroyed suits.

  The camera adjusted itself and came closer to the scene, adjusting its lenses as it tried to make out what was in the center of that blazing luminescence of light.   All around it, those that were fighting a short while ago had stopped only to stare at the glow as well.

  "Our fighters don't seem to want to fight the light that had helped destroy our enemies, and yet some of the enemy's soldiers still live as well.  There, the camera managed to make it out, at least some shape or form," the woman continued and turned to enlarge the camera.

~.~.~.~.~.~

Outer Space

~.~.~.~.~.~

  "Hey!  Turn to the next channel station to view what's going on in the news.  It turns out they've managed to see what's inside that glow!" a soldier communicated throughout every soldier.

  At once, all of them turned it to see the inside of the glow that had held them captivated.

  "I already know who it is…Usako…"Mamoru whispered to him self, fearing the worse on why his beloved didn't stop channeling her energy to the Silver Crystal.

  As he viewed it from the news station, he drew in a gasp at the scene.  Her usual odango hair style was now down and spooled all around her figure as she wore the familiar princess gown.  But another difference aside from the hair style were the angel wings that sprouted from her back.  Her eyes were still closed as if she was asleep and in her hand was the legendary Silver Crystal that sent out a beam of light to engulf her, probably to protect her from harm if any chose to befall her.

  "Isn't she beautiful?  One lone woman, whoever it is, is the one responsible of stopping the war…"the news woman commented.

~.~.~.~

Earth:

~.~.~.~

  "Usa…"a stifled gasp came from Minako as her gaze fell to the solitary girl.

  "Is she…alive?" Makoto asked out loud, fearing the worse.

  "I don't think they know," Ami spoke.

  "Rei, do you know?" Minako turned to the raven haired senshi but found no one standing beside her.

  "She's probably going to consult with the Great Fire," Ami told Minako before she went ballistic.

  "You know the girl?" Dorothy asked out loud as she stood in front of the three girls left.

  "She is…or was our friend, now there she is…saving all of us from a long time war," Makoto said, finding the confidence to answer the young teen.

  "Did you know about her power…" Ririna asked.

  "…"

  None of the girls answered her there, not knowing what to do…not knowing if they could trust the Vice Foreign Minister.

  "It's okay, you don't have to say anything," Ririna understood, knowing very well as she has kept the secret of the Gundam Pilots as well.

~.~.~.~

  "Koneko, you ended up doing this…" Haruka whispered as she saw the idle girl floating in space.

  "Is she alive still?" Michiru asked, more to herself than to her companions.

  "She has to be, the Silver Crystal still glows," Hotaru argued, not wanting to believe that their princess was now dead.

  "Hotaru is correct, our hime still lives.  However…a change will soon come…right now her heart and mind battle against the other over the outcome.  The war is still at a stand still, she must choose solely on her own on whether who is to win at the end.  Whether it be Tetra or the latter…" Pluto came in, wearing her senshi suit with the Time Key in hand.

~.~.~.~.~.~

Outer Space

~.~.~.~.~.~

  "What is your desire?" a voice asked within Princess Serenity.

  "To stop this war."

  "Is that what you really want?"

  "Hai…I'll give up my life if I have to."

  "But in order to stop the war, shouldn't there be a side that is to win?"

  "I know, but I'm still unsure who is the right in all of this, the knowledge I hold of this war is not enough to decide who is correct.  Do you know?"

  "I am just the inner you, the one that helps you channel in the Crystal to make your wishes come true.  It is all up to you."

  "Can't you decide?"

  "I can't, I have no power over that…"

  "There is no side that I wish that will get hurt.  Can't this war end in a truce, instead of a side that is to win?"

  "There is great belief, but the era you live in now is not ready for that step of solving problems yet.  Whatever year or dimension you journey to, there is no time that can settle past disputes with just a war.  Only through violence can peace be achieved.  You found that out when you battled against your enemies…those who saw the possibility of reason instead of war ended up dying instead of seeing it through…like with Demando/Diamond."

  "Hai, that is true…" Princess Serenity recalled.

  "Now let us settle this in another possibility…"

  "What is it?"

  "There is a step you can take that can be decided over who should win, but this is a path that shall be decided over who you end up to be with as well…"

  "What do you mean?"

  "What I mean is over whom you love more."

  "You know about that?"

  "*light laughter*  Of course, I have journeyed with you for so long!"

  "Are you angry?"

  "No, it is only natural.  Although, the Queen feels a bit miffed over the changes you have with whom you belong to."

  "Okaa-san…"

  "Now then, shall I settle this with the basic decision over who you will end up with?"

  "Hai, that way…this can finally end."

  "Of course…a price will be paid for the decision of your heart…"

  "What do you mean?"

  "Just like with the battle against Beryl, because of your usage of the crystal your life was forfeited and then reborn with no memories until it needed to be resurfaced."

  "I'm going to die?"

  "Maybe, maybe not.  I shall see…"

  "Before you start the process, is…Duo alive?"

  "…you shall see in the end…"

  "I see…and understand…let us commence."

  "In the end…you shall decide for yourself…"

  Before a question could come up from what the voice said to her, a large impact busted out from Serenity's head.

  Past memories entered her mind, starting from the very beginning…her past life.

  *Silver Millennium*

  A great white structure of the palace grandly stood in place on the Moon.  Marble and moonstone with inscriptions engraved into the palace walls of the entrance ways along side of designs around the edges of columns.

  Waterfalls, vines, trees and flowers flourished all around the walkways and especially in the garden.  And at the walkway with the lake near the palace was where the two met: Princess Serenity met Prince Endymion in that fateful night.

  "A princess shouldn't be alone, she should always be escorted by a gentleman," Prince Endymion stated as he walked up next to her.

  Princess Serenity turned around to see his ocean blue eyes and then his emblem that he was from Earth.

  "That is true, but I wished to see the beautiful scenery of Earth.  Right before the fireworks begin, the full figure of Earth shows up and usually I would be at my balcony…however, here in the lake's walkway is where I wished to see it most on this day.  I felt that a change was needed," Princess Serenity explained.

  "Then if I may, princess, let me be the one to protect you tonight," Prince Endymion offered.

  "I accept your offer.  If you will, tell me about Earth…I see that your emblem on your armor is that of Earth," Princess Serenity requested.

  "I'd be glad to…"

~.~.~.~

  Then several more memories ignited through her membrane, feeding her information and uncovering things that she has kept repressed within herself.  It revealed good times as well as bad that were kept hidden away so long ago. 

~.~.~

  "Endymion!  Wait, please!" Princess Serenity ran and ran as she tried to catch up to her beloved.

  "Serenity, aren't you suppose to be in music class right now?" the prince asked, feeling a bit irked that she skipped something because of him.

  "Yes, I know but you were going to leave.  Something happened on Earth, isn't that why you're going?" Princess Serenity revealed.

  "You weren't supposed to know about that," Prince Endymion sighed.

  "I found out from my guardians.  Please, Endymion be careful and I know you can handle this," Princess Serenity murmured.

  "I will, I promise…"

~.~.~.~

  A blast of dark energy formed out of the hands of Queen Beryl, her laughter echoing throughout the whole kingdom that shook with so much destruction.  She aimed her power over to the couple and shot them both, hitting the prince that protected his princess.

  "Get away…be safe," Prince Endymion whispered, his voice beginning to die.

  "No, I want to be with you…"whispered Princess Serenity.

  "I love you, now, go…" Prince Endymion's eyes began to dilate and finally he closed it as he took his last breath and his grip on his sword fell away to his side.

  "I won't leave you, beloved," Princess Serenity sobbed as she glanced at the fallen sword.  Her hands reached over to the weapon and gripped it in her hand, the cool feeling washing over her.

  "We'll always be together, always," she whispered as she brushed aside Endymion's bangs and took one final kiss on his lips.

  As she poised herself and held herself ready, she gripped the sword with both hands and positioned it in front of her, just below the chest.

  "Now we can be together, even in death…" Princess Serenity murmured before the weapon lunged into her body.

~.~.~.~

  More memories resurfaced as the present ones entered her mind:  the time when she first met her prince in this lifetime.  His same façade with the exception of the way he held himself in the presence of others and to her.  As well as the way he wore his clothing and the mischievous glint within his dark, ocean blue orbs whenever something came inside his mind.

 As the memories came inside the princess' mind, a small calm smile entered her façade at the thoughts. 

 "You love him, don't you?" the voice whispered inside her mind.

 Recollections of the recent past came into play within her head, dates that were shared with Mamoru as well as the first time they found out their destiny.  That they were the reincarnation of the past princess and prince, meant to marry in the future as the future Queen and King; to rule Crystal Tokyo and have a beautiful daughter named Chibi-Usa.

  "Chibi_Usa…I almost forgot…" Princess Serenity gasped as the picture of the pink haired girl appeared inside her mental image. 

  "Yes, if you end up with the other of whom you love, she won't be born…"

  At the words spoken by her inner voice, her smile faded as she squeezed her eyes shut; not wanting to believe.

  Silence ensued.

  "Let us go to your other memories…" the voice called out in a calm, serene, and inviting tone.

~.~.~.~.~

Flashback

~.~.~.~.~

  A crying little girl with long blond hair done up in odangoes.

  She was sitting on the patio that would lead to the orphanage.

  Tears falling freely down her face.

  A boy with brown hair and indigo blue eyes watched from up the roof.

  A red rose petal falling from the air to her…so velvety and soft.

  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.

 "Thank you..." Usagi said in gratitude and took the rose, studying it.

 "It's called a....rose.  A flower.." the boy replied to her earlier question.

 "Where did you get this?" Usagi asked.

 "A rose bush nearby, there's more where it comes from but it's hard to get.  You could prick yourself with it," he warned her.

 "Ouch!" At the sound of his warning, Usagi pricked her index finger but didn't drop the flower.

 "See…" he sat down next to her and reached out for her hand.  He studied the cut and then reached into his pocket to retrieve a clean napkin he managed to carry with him.  The ruffian wrapped it around her finger and sealed it.

 "There, all better…"

 "Thank you," Usagi shyly murmured and went back to studying the rose.

 "You like flowers, don't you?"

 "Yeah, I'm not sure why but whenever I look at them they make me feel more at ease."

 "If flowers are what it takes to make you happy, maybe I should give more out to you."

 "You're nice." Usagi smiled grandly up at the boy and he smiled back.

 "My name is Usagi."

 "Mine's Duo."

~.~.~.~.~.~

*Flashback*

~.~.~.~.~.~

 "Open!"

  Usagi opened her eyes to see a pink rose dangling in front of her:  perfect in every way.  She happily took it into her hands and continued to bathe in its beauty.

  "Arigatou,"

  "That's not all.  Here," Duo revealed a carefully wrapped gift and handed it to her.

  It was of medium size and appeared to be a rectangular container.  What was inside the container was anybody's guess. 

  "Aren't you going to open it?" Duo wondered out loud.

  "Hai, I will!" Usagi grinned and stooped down to place the rose down and knelt.

  Hastily, Usagi took off the wrapper to reveal a pink and white bunny inside the box with a pink satin collar around its neck.

  "Thank you, Duo!" Usagi squealed in glee as she ran into Duo's arms.

  "Happy Birthday, Usa."

~Flashback~

  "Duo?"

  "Yeah?"

  "You're my friend right?  You won't leave me?"

  "Of course you're my friend!" Duo exclaimed.

  "You won't leave me?"

  "Only if you won't leave me."

  "I won't."

  "Then I won't either."

  "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.  Those blue eyes were shining in the beautiful night, as bright as the stars and the moon itself.

  "Promise," Usagi and Duo stated in unison.

~Flashback~

  "I couldn't let our time go to waste by not meeting you in the port, right?" Duo whispered in her ear.

  "I knew you'd come..." Usagi murmured.

  All the while, Father Maxwell and Sister Mary gazed at the two.  Their expressions exposing gratitude and a small hint of relief at knowing their friendship didn't end.

  "I…wanted to give you this before you go..."Duo placed a small plastic-texture in her hand, closing it with his own.

  "Usagi, your flight..."reminded Sister Mary.

  Usagi let her self go from Duo's grasp and stepped away, taking one last glimpse of her friend before entering the shuttle without a backward glance. Neither one of them getting to say good-bye.

~End of Flashbacks~

 "I remember all of that" Princess Serenity whispered unconsciously.

 "…"

 "I also remember that afterwards, inside the plane, Duo gave me a picture of the two of us under our special tree.  It was such a happy day in that picture…but I lost it in the fire…"

 "You also love him…" the voice pointed out.

 "…"

 "I remember when we met up again…the first time.  He got shot and it surprised me that after all those years we haven't made contact with one another, we'd meet up in that way.  Rescuing me from the enemy's clutches but in return he ends up getting shot and going into unconsciousness.

  The next time we did meet up, it was much better and less dangerous…"

 "Yes, but it was from that one night that something changed between the two of you,"

 "I…guess,"

~Flashback~

  A shadow crossed in front of her or near her.  At the moment her crystalline blue orbs popped open, a velvety petal fell onto her arm.  Pink, lush...and soft. 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.  As her eyes were gazing at cobalt blue and a grin on his facade.

  "This time I found you," he grinned.

  "And in better terms, no doubt," Usagi answered back taking the offered rose to her hands.

  "I guess so," chuckled Duo.

~Flashback~

  "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.  Staring straight ahead, she noticed Duo's backside towards her.  His face, his emotions were hidden from her view except the sudden stiffness entering his body from recent events.

~End Flashback~

  "Ever since that kiss we shared that night, our friendship became more… confusing but still strived to make it work.  In the end… it couldn't," Princess Serenity whispered.

  "Yes, because…"

  "Because I knew in my heart, I do love him…and I found out he loves me as well…"

  "…"

  "Is there more that you want to show me that can help me decide over the outcome of this war?" Princess Serenity asked with a solemn expression on her face.

  "What do you think about Prince Endymion or about Chiba Mamoru?" the voice asked out of the blue.

  "What do you mean?"

  "Exactly what I'm asking, princess, what do you think about him?"

  "He's my first love…we've followed each other through life times and in the future…if I so choose it, we'll be married to one another and have a beautiful daughter," Princess Serenity's eyes softened at the thought of Chibi-Usa.

  "You are speaking of the past and the future, Princess Serenity, what about the present time?  What about right now?"

  "…Mamoru has helped me with the enemies as Tuxedo-sama.  He has saved my life countless of times when I was starting out as Sailor Moon and we've been together since we have found out about our past counterparts,"

  "And if you didn't find out about your past selves, what do you think your relationship would be?"

  "What?  I…I don't know.  I suppose we'd be together; our relationship is confusing in some ways during our first introductions to one another.  Demo… when we ran into one another in the museum, I grew attracted to him…" Princess Serenity stated.

  "I believe that your heart has chosen despite our current situation," the voice proclaimed.

  "I don't know how this can be when I'm still confused!" shouted Princess Serenity in her mind.

  "Trust me, you have…" the voice whispered soothingly as it began to sound fainter.

  As the voice drifted apart, the surrounding parts around the princess seemed to blaze brighter than before if it was possible.  A strong gust of wind came from everywhere and impacted itself into her body.  She could feel the cold gust and wanted to shiver but for some reason, her body didn't respond to her; it was as if she had no control anymore.  The crystal that she held between her palms illuminated in a bright incandescence and floated away from her clutches and hovered in front of her face.  Twinkling, mixing colors of all sorts displayed itself.

  "Trust in your heart and all will be fine," the familiar voice faintly whispered to her before another blaze of white light took over.

~.~.~.~.~.~.

  All the doctors gathered around the small television set inside the base with Selene.  Everyone waited for the outcome, some not quite believing how this came to be.

  "That girl…it's just mind boggling how one being can possess such powers," Dr. H stated in a disbelieving tone.

  "We've trained our boys for so many years, but not one of them can do something like this," Dr. O shook his head.

  "That girl…she looks so familiar but the glow makes it almost impossible to identify," Selene whispered.

  "I've managed to get a close up of the picture," Dr. J declared to everyone inside the room.

  Immediately all the doctors gathered around with Selene and what they saw made Selene gasp.

  "It's…Usagi," Selene stumbled back from her discovery and turned her head to watch the television as the glow intensified around the young woman.

  As she drew closer to the tube, lost memories that were suppressed opened up to her:  letting her self to remember the past that she forgot so long ago.

  "Oh Usagi…my mesume," Selene whispered as a tear fell from her eyes.

~Flashback~

 "Mesume, my child, everything will be okay.  Everything will be fine soon," her mother's soothing words whispered to her child's ear as she held her small hand.

 "You mean nothing's okay right now?" her mesume innocently questioned.

 "Iie, iie.  *sigh*  Kiite kudasai," her mother shook her head.

 "I'm listening, okaa-san.  You know that.."

 "Of course you are, mesume.  There are bad people out in the world; out here.  And your okaa-san needs to leave you for awhile."

 "Kaerimasu ka?" ((: Will you return? /Will he/she return?))

 "Kaerimasu." her mother answered with a small smile, her eyes reflecting off sorrow momentarily.

 "Itsu?" asked the girl. 

 "When I can.  Until then, please take care?  I want you to stay here.

Right here until these two nice people come.  They'll be wearing church outfits.  A priest and a nun.  Go with them when they address you.  Do you understand, mesume?" her mother informed her.

 "Hai, I do.."

 "That's a good girl..." her mother brushed back her blond bangs and kissed her forehead.  Then got up and glimpsed in back of them before taking off with one last wave.

 "Aishiteru..."her mother murmured with a teardrop falling from her shining silver eyes, before disappearing into the exit of the terrain she was placed at.

 "Okaa-san.."

~End of Flashback~

 "I didn't return for her…" Selene slumped down onto the floor, her head downcast at the shame of not fulfilling her desire to return for her child.

 "You remember now, don't you?" Dr. J's words whispered from in back of her.

 "Yes, I do.  I couldn't get her…because I got caught by the enemy and I escaped once to go to the orphanage.  However, I was too late because the place got burned down by Oz.  At that moment of my discovery, I thought I lost everything dear to me.  I got captured again, but I didn't care because I had nothing left.  I willed myself to forget everything and then Usagi came along once more saying that I was her mother; her 'okaa-san'.  Demo…I couldn't believe it or wasn't able to believe it because I have spent years trying to forget and only now do I recall everything that I have lost," Selene whispered.

  "What ever happened to Usagi's father?"  Dr. J queried.

  "He died years ago in a past war…it was what you'd call centuries off," Selene sighed.

  "It seems you may lose your daughter the same way; by war," Dr. O spoke up from behind the woman.

  "And there's nothing I can do about it," Selene added more to herself than to her acquaintances.

~.~.~.~

Earth:

~.~.~.~

  All the protectors of the princess of the moon ran out towards the outside to stare at the sky, now white with speckles of gold tinting the atmosphere.  All the protectors were staring out to outer space and capable of seeing a small glow at the center of the sky.

  "Usagi-chan!!!" all the inners cried out to the sky, wanting to be heard but knew that they wouldn't be.

  "Koneko!"

  "Hime!"

  "Usagi!"

  All the inners and outers shouted towards the light with tears streaming down their faces.

  "Don't do this, please don't!" the inners and outers shouted in unison but the glow only glared brighter, making them sigh down and collapse to the pavement or grass in defeat.  They wouldn't be ale to stop their princess from choosing her fate.

  "Please, Usagi, don't die," they all whispered together.

~.~.~.~

  A brighter light blazed to life that cast itself once more over the whole world but this time engulfed the universe. 

  A final thought escaped the young angel's mind before it continued on with its magic.

  (May this end soon…)

To be continued…

*****************

  No worries! Be happy!  I'll get the next one out when I get around to it… *gulps down in worry and runs off before anyone catches her*