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Authors notes: A BIG thank you to D-chan and Oneesan (Eternal SailorM) They pre-read this for me. Be sure to read two of my favorite stories by each of them. "Damned, Cursed, and Loved" by D-chan and "Gods and Other Creatures" by Oneesan.

Give a Reason

Chapter Three: Duo

"Trowa!" Quatre called in worry. The blood staining his friends stomach worried him beyond belief He bolted from his seat and hurried to the front worry for his friend plainly visible in his light pure blue eyes. Usagi followed her eyes also full of concern. The two hurried through the pushing curious crowed and to the center of the circus ring.

Usagi was about to take out the Ginzuishou intent on healing her new friend when she saw the brown-haired woman that had thrown the knives taking Trowa to a back room. She willed the gem to remain hidden and followed Quatre. "Trowa?"

Trowa's eyes were pinned on Usagi as she came towards him. A faint smile touched his emerald eyes as he ignored the pain. 'It wasn't supposed to happen this way, Usagi-hime. Gomen, for ruining your evening.'

Trowa watched as Catherine knelt beside him, "Trowa, the doctor's here. We need to get you to the back room Can you move at all?"

Trowa remained silent emerald eyes glassy with unshed tears of pain. He saw the man he assumed to be the doctor push his way through the crowd and kneel beside him dark blue hair almost hanging in his eyes. He closed his eyes banishing the wetness from them.

Usagi stood beside Quatre noticing the tears sparkling in the boy's clear blue eyes. "Quatre-san, is he going to be all right?"

Quatre nodded slightly, "He should be. According to my sister that doctor has a good reputation...."

"Why does he do such a dangerous thing in the first place?"

"Believe me, Usagi-san this has never happened before."

"I must be bad luck then..."

Quatre frowned, "Usagi-san, this isn't your fault at all. Trowa will be fine. Just wait and see."

Usagi felt the tears in her eyes and wiped them away, "Quatre-san?"

"Hai?"

"What's going to happen to him next?"

"Trowa will be brought to the mansion after they fix up his wound. He can rest there as he heals."

Usagi nodded slightly as she made her decision. "Will you take me back? I'm feeling faint and think I need to rest."

Quatre nodded a hint of a smile on his lips. It vanished however as a wave of guilt struck him for being happy while his friend lay on the ground possibly bleeding to death. He whispered their plan to Catherine and led Usagi back to the limousine. Quatre watched Usagi worry in his eyes. Ever since she had told of her wish to return to the mansion she seemed to be barely conscious."Usagi-san?"

Usagi kept her eyes glued to the window her mind on Trowa. She had so badly wanted to use the Ginzuishou but knew doing so would have caused trouble in a crowded place like the circus. She sighed and turned her head away from Quatre creating a silky white barrier of hair between her and him. "Gomen, Quatre, I don't want to talk right now."

Quatre winced slightly from the almost icy tone she used and let his thoughts drift between Usagi and Trowa. He knew his loyalty should have lied with his friend and that he should have been with him and not sitting here beside Usagi. "I understand, Usagi-san."

"I really hope you never do, Quatre."

He turned to her confused but simply by reading her withdrawn body posture realized she didn't want to talk. He gave a soft little sigh and turned his attention to his own window. Usagi glanced quickly at the boy her eyes softening. She knew she shouldn't have been so cold with him but what had happened to Trowa had scared her. At the exact moment the knives had pierced him she had felt Cosmos's symbol upon her forehead. If she had been able to look into a mirror she knew she would have saw a nine pointed star.

When the car finally stopped Usagi didn't wait for anyone to open her door and instead opened it herself. She climbed out of the car and hurried to the front door. Her hand reached for the door knob when it opened before her and she saw an unfamiliar pair of indigo eyes studying her in curiosity.

Duo stared at the girl in a state of almost shock. Tears shone like jewels on her cheeks and her sapphire blue eyes held a wild haunted look. He only had a flash of all this however as she quickly wiped away the tears and her eyes cleared to a calm casual looking blue."Are you a friend of Quatre's?" Duo asked in wonder as he pondered how Quatre could meet someone as gorgeous as this woman. He wondered if perhaps she was an assassin and observed her closely.

"Usagi-san, is something wrong?" Quatre asked. He spotted Duo and felt his cheeks turn pink slightly. "Duo! I forgot you were coming."

"You forgot me? How cruel, Quatre." Duo grinned as he watched the blonde flush in embarrassment. "Though I can't blame you for forgetting with a new friend here. I'm Duo what's your name?"

Usagi felt herself smile in response to his cheerful way of talking. "I'm Usagi. It's nice to meet you, Duo-san."

"Just Duo is fine."

"All right, Duo."

He grinned at her then noticed Quatre giving him a look similar to the evil eye. "Hey, where's Trowa? Rashid told me you went to see a performance of his..." He trailed off and inwardly winced as he saw both Quatre's and Usagi's faces pale. "What happened?" He demanded his voice slightly clipped as he wondered if Oz had somehow came back.

"He got hurt," Quatre supplied as he saw Usagi wasn't going to answer.

Usagi pushed her way past both of them and hurried to her own room. She closed the door and let her body fall to the soft pink bed. A faint smile touched her lips briefly as she realized Quatre had gotten this room ready for her especially. Pink and bunnies were the main decorating theme and it was used to the fullest extent. She sat on her bed and picked up one of the bunny pillows. She curled into a ball hugging it to her chest and lay her head against it as she cried.

The truth was she was terrified. 'I'm not sure how the Ginzuishou would react to me as Cosmos so I should use the powers I know she has but I've never used them before. I'm scared that I'll hurt Trowa but I have no choice. I can't just let him lie in pain.' An even scarier thought followed as her mind traveled to Cosmos, 'Am I really becoming her? Do I have no identity left, whatsoever? Is my only purpose to save the world no matter the cost? Or do I even have a purpose anymore? Why did you die, Mamoru? Minna-chan... I miss you all.'

Quatre stared at the way Usagi had left for a long moment before dragging his attention to Duo. "Trowa will be here soon. I'll go make sure a room is ready for him." He quickly left the braided boy's company not wanting to give any additional information on Usagi out. He almost considered her his in a sense that he didn't want to share one single part of her with Duo or Trowa. So anything and everything she had told him would not be uttered aloud unless she herself revealed it. He held every thing she told him tightly to himself like a sacred and well cherished heirloom.

Duo raised an eyebrow in amusement. "It seems Quatre has a crush," he mused to himself out loud. He glanced at Usagi's door, 'Can't blame him though...' He grinned and decided to raid the kitchen. He knocked on Usagi's door, "Hey, Usagi I'm going to raid Quatre's Kitchen. You want anything? He has just about anything you can think of."

Usagi raised her head as she heard the happy go lucky voice. She felt herself smile and sighing she put down the pillow, climbed out of the bed, and opened the door. She grinned shakily, "I'll help you raid it, that is if you don't mind."

Duo grinned his indigo eyes sparkling, "Not at all. The more the merrier."

Usagi giggled slightly. "So what do you usually take from his kitchen?"

Duo glanced at her a smirk on his lips. "Chocolate of course! Not to mention Ice Cream and anything else full of sugar. You know he'll never eat it. He just has it sitting there waiting in case people like us show up."

Usagi smiled, "So he has all kinds of sweets?"

"He has all kinds of anything! The best part is if there's something you want and it's not there just ask one of the servants and they'll go track it down for you."

Another giggle escaped Usagi. "Think they'll have any odangos?"

"What's that?"

Usagi pointed to her hair, "They look kind of like this."

"Like hair?"

Usagi scowled at him, "NO, like buns."

"I'll ask Rashid for you. Come on it's this way. You should stay with me. You can get lost in this place easily."

"You sound like you speak from experience."

Duo turned and glared at the laughing girl. "Just for that I SHOULD let you get lost."

Usagi giggled once more. "Gomen, Duo."

Duo grinned at her, "This way." He grabbed her arm and pulled her towards a hallway. "This place is like a maze. It almost makes me think Quatre's TRYING to keep me away from the food."

Usagi smiled, "You don't look like you could eat that much, Duo."

"You'd be surprised, Usagi. Here we are." He tugged her arm again and led her into a massive kitchen smirking as her saw her jaw drop and her eyes widen.

"Wow..." Her eyes fell on the row of refrigerators and with Duo behind her they each attacked two different silver ones. "He has this?" She asked pulling out a joint of ham. She pulled out another thing and gasped as she realized it was a whole turkey. "It's like an entire years worth of food in here! How come it doesn't go bad?"

"That's easy. This only stays for a day or so and then he gives it to the poor on this colony."

"Quatre's incredible then. Sharing his own food like that... what a guy." Usagi grinned and pulled out something giant and leafy and she stared at it puzzled.

Duo chuckled. "Be careful what you grab in there. He has some stuff that looks good but turns out to be some sort of health food. Like what you have in hand there."

Usagi grinned and dropped the green bundle, "How'd you find that out?"

Duo flushed and didn't answer. "Just inspect it before you eat it okay?"

"Hai!"

Duo watched her eat for a moment and once again chuckled. Her speed shocked him and made him amused to a point. He was so deep in thought he didn't notice her finish the sweets from her own fridge and steal some things from his own. "HEY! Give that back!!"

"Come get me first!" Usagi challenged holding the treasured item that was a giant five pound slab of chocolate in the air. She squealed and started to run as she saw Duo was serious about re-claiming the chocolate.

Duo growled before running after her. "Come back here, Usagi!"

"I told you to catch me!" Usagi called over her shoulder pausing to nibble at the enormous lump. "Better hurry before I eat it all!" She laughed as she saw new determination in his eyes and she took off attempting to navigate the maze of a mansion and eat her treasured item at the same time.

Duo raced after her but soon lost the white-haired girl. He pouted. "No fair! You can't eat all that chocolate you'll get fat!"

"HEY!" Usagi yelled from her hiding place.

Duo grinned and followed the outraged voice. He grabbed Usagi from behind and heard her yelp. "Give me the chocolate!"

"Can't!"

"Why not?"

"I ate it all."

Duo frowned and whirled her around. He sighed as he realized she was telling the truth. Chocolate was smeared all over her mouth and she was holding a very empty wrapper. "Well looks like I'll have to take some of yours then."

"Nani?" Usagi asked confused.

Duo grinned and pulled her closer to him gently kissing her. He saw her staring at him wide eyed and pulling back licking his lips. "That WAS good chocolate wasn't it?" Usagi was about to answer when he grinned at her again, "Think I'll have some more..."

"Duo-" Usagi started to speak but her words died out when once again his lips covered hers. She simply stared at Duo her eyes shocked and watched him numbly as he once again pulled away from her.

"That WAS good but I still wish you would have saved me some, Bunny."

"Bunny?" Usagi asked as she recovered from her shock.

"Of course. First of all with your hair like that you look like a bunny and your name Usagi means rabbit, ne?"

"Hai..."

"So your nickname from me is bunny... now... I want more chocolate."

Usagi yelped as she saw a devilish glint in his eyes and she raced away with him hot on her heels. "You can't have any, Duo!"

"Well I could eat it normally if you hadn't ate it all!"

"..."

"See you agree! Now come back here!"

Usagi turned and stuck her tongue out at him before racing off. She laughed in joy before barreling down the hallways attempting to outrun the braided boy. She spotted Quatre and raced behind him. "Quatre! Protect me!" She squealed hugging his waist.

Quatre stared at Usagi in a state of almost shock. Gone was the mature depressed version of her and in her place was a teenage girl that was currently acting like a child. 'Goddess?' He lifted his eyes to where she had ran from and realized Duo was racing out of the hallway. 'HE'S the cause of her acting like this?' He felt jealousy surge and with effort battled it down.

"There you are, Bunny! Don't even think about hiding behind him."

Usagi didn't move. "Quatre-san?"

"Hai, Usagi-san?"

"Do you have any more chocolate?"

"You want MORE?!" Duo demanded hands on hips. "You already ate MINE you know."

Usagi grinned at him, "Hai! It was good too."

He smirked, "I know that from what little I tasted of it." His eyes twinkled with the hidden meaning and he watched amused as he saw a faint blush creep onto her cheeks.

Quatre noticed the blush and felt himself glaring at Duo. "Usagi-san, do you want to see Trowa?" He mentally kicked himself as he realized he was taking her from one potential love interest other then himself to another. The truth was at the moment he wanted to kick both Duo and Trowa out of his mansion and spend all the time he could in his Goddess's company.

Usagi nodded slightly the playfulness and happiness draining from her face and body. "Hai."

Quatre nodded and led her away from a scowling Duo. 'Thanks for ruining our fun Q-man. She was actually laughing and didn't look a thing like that girl that answered the door earlier and you ruined it all.' He scowled and followed them intent on bringing Usagi's mood up again.

Usagi meekly followed Quatre to a room. She opened the door and entered by herself. She smiled faintly as she saw Trowa in bed with the covers to his waist revealing his chest and stomach. Bandages were completely wrapped around his torso hiding all signs of his accident. "Feeling any better, Trowa-san?"

"Hai, Usagi-hime."

Usagi sat in a chair beside him her blue eyes studying his green. "Why didn't you dodge?"

"..."

Usagi smiled in understanding, "I see." She leaned close to him her face centimeters from his. She felt her forehead dimly glowing and saw the nine point star reflected in his emerald green eyes. "This won't hurt," she whispered as her lips lightly covered his. She felt him inhale sharply as she felt a bit of her own power fade and the unfamiliar tingling of her lips. She was well aware she was once again dressed in Sailor Cosmos's fuku but at the moment her only concern was to attempt to heal Trowa.

Duo felt an odd tingling sensation zip through his body and ignoring Quatre pulled him out of the way and barged into the door. He stared at the woman softly kissing Trowa. "Who are you? Where's Bunny?"

Usagi slowly pulled away. "Gomen for not telling you the entire truth, Quatre-san, Duo. I am Usagi, yes but I'm also known as Sailor Cosmos." She turned to him head lowered her heart odangos almost drooping. She nervously picked at her fuku's skirt as she lifted her eyes.

"Goddess?" Quatre asked almost confused.

"Usagi-hime, may I?" Trowa asked as he sat up.

Quatre rushed to Trowa's side his eyes wide. "You're healed!" Trowa wasn't sure if Quatre was complaining or happy but decided to settle on the latter.

Trowa nodded his eyes on Usagi's. He watched as she powered down and he saw her almost fall to the ground. "You should sit down, Usagi-hime." Usagi let him guide her to the bed and she sat down her eyes almost closing. "You shouldn't have used that much energy," he reprimanded.

Usagi smiled slightly, "Whatever you say, Trowa-san. You can tell them if you want I'm going to take a nap...." In so saying she laid down letting her head almost rest on Trowa's lap.

Trowa nodded and watched as she curled up and went to sleep. "Quatre, I had to wait for her permission before I could tell you this but Usagi has a much more complicated past then you think. I'll start at the beginning."

Milardo scowled inwardly as he talked to his sister. The witch was on Colony L4 and he had no reasonable excuse to go there. He was still determined to kill her however and would do just about anything to do so. Just the fact that Quatre had taken her away from Earth proved to him that she was bewitching the young pilot. 'There has to some excuse for me to go there...' He was so deep in thought he never noticed the person silently observing him.

Trowa finished telling everything he knew about Usagi except her attempted suicides and her immortality and watched the shock on both Quatre's and Duo's faces. "You mean she was married?" Duo asked eyeing the sleeping girl.

Trowa nodded, "Long ago."

Quatre frowned slightly, "So that woman who said all those mean and hateful things was really Usagi-san's daughter? How could she have been so cruel?"

Duo ignored Quatre's question his eyes locked on Usagi. 'So she's had a tough life too. Why didn't you tell us any of this earlier, Bunny? We could have cared for you better.'

Usagi slowly opened her eyes and noticed Duo's gaze pinned on her. She kept her eyes lowered to avoid contact with anyone else's."So now you know who I really am. I should leave-"

Duo frowned at her, "What difference does it make? Your past is your past. You could have been a hot-dog salesman and we would care less. What kind of people do you think we are, Bunny?"

Usagi raised haunted eyes. "It's my fault my friends are dead, Duo. I shouldn't even be alive, none the less here with all of you. I don't deserve-"

"Stop it!"

Usagi looked up and saw Quatre was the one that had spoken. "It's the truth."

Quatre shook his head his blue eyes stubborn. He knew Duo and Trowa were in a state of shock that he had yelled like that but at the moment he could have cared less. The only important thing to him was getting his Goddess to understand her life was important, "It isn't the truth, Usagi. It's not your fault your friends are dead. If what you told Trowa is true then they made that decision themselves. You have every right to be alive. You're too pure to be dead. Stop blaming yourself for living when they're the ones that made the decision that killed them."

Usagi stared at him startled. "Arigatoo, Quatre-san, but I can't believe what you say right now. Maybe one day I will though. You may have heard what I've been through but actually going through and-" she paused her eyes noticing something on her knee. "Red..." she turned to Trowa. "I want my knife back."

Trowa decided to comply to her request but decided he would keep an eye on her. He handed over the small knife and waited to see what she would do with it. 'Don't do anything baka Usagi.'

Usagi ignored everyone else's presence as she stared at her slightly skinned knee she had acquired from running from Duo and rubbing the knee in question against the hard wall on accident. She carefully took the knife and pressed against the sore attempting to further open the wound "It's red!"

Duo crossed his arms over his chest, "What were you expecting, green blood?"

Usagi turned tears in her eyes, "Trowa, look. I'm normal again."

Trowa nodded slightly noting the looks of jealousy on both Duo's and Quatre's faces that she had called out to him and not them. "Hai, Usagi. So you should be more careful."

She looked up at him and nodded slowly handing back the knife. He saw the unspoken question in her eyes and nodded as he pocketed it.

Usagi was afraid she would use it and had asked him to take care of it for her. Usagi turned to Duo and smiled at him, "Duo-chan, I want some more chocolate but I forgot the way to the kitchen..."

Quatre quickly moved to a position between his hyper friend and HIS Goddess. "I'll escort you, Usagi-san."

"Don't you mean GODDESS," teased the ever-cheerful voice of Duo.

Quatre blushed sending Usagi into a small fit of giggles. "Quatre-san you remind me of my friend Ami-chan." She smiled at Quatre and Duo. "You can both lead me to the kitchen if you think I'll get that lost."

"Perhaps I should come too then, Usagi-hime."

Usagi turned and grinned, "Sure, Trowa!" she grinned at all three and let them lead her into the kitchen as her mind raced. 'I'm not immortal anymore. All I have to do to be with Mamoru and-' her thoughts stopped and so did she. 'Mamoru? why did I cal Mamo-chan that? WHY? I loved him!' She noticed the curious and worried expressions on her friends faces and forced her body to move again as her thoughts swirled around her. 'I still love him, don't I? I must... I have to. My destiny lies with him. I did love him didn't I?' She closed her eyes slightly relying on her friends to guide her body. "Didn't I?"

"Didn't you what?" Duo asked.

Usagi turned to him startled her cheeks turning bright pink. "I didn't mean to say that out loud!"

"Say what?" Trowa asked softly from behind her.

Usagi shook her head, "It doesn't matter right now. Let's get to that chocolate, ne, Duo?"

Duo glanced over at her and making sure Trowa and Quatre weren't looking winked. "Best chocolate I've ever tasted," he commented with a grin.

Usagi lowered her eyes a crimson blush stealing across her cheeks. 'But I had to have loved him... I know I did. Minna-chan, why can't I contact any of you? I miss you all so much and unlike the time when your starseeds were taken I know you won't come back now.'

"Usagi-san?"

Usagi pulled herself out of her thoughts and realized tears had trailed unnoticed down her cheeks. She flushed and wiped them away. "Gomen, Quatre. I didn't even hear you I was thinking about something else."

Quatre smiled softly. "It's all right, Usagi-san."

Usagi turned her head up towards the ceiling glossy white hair trailing down her back like a waterfall. "Do any of you believe in Heaven?"

"Yes."

"No."

"..."

Usagi sighed at their varied answers. "At times I so badly want to be with everyone again but I gave my word to you, Quatre and I plan to keep it."

"Why are you crying, Bunny?"

Usagi turned to Duo a sheen of moisture in her eyes. "I don't know. I was thinking about Mamoru-" she froze and shook her head slightly. "Mamo-chan, I meant to say Mamo-chan."

Trowa moved closer to her as he saw a look of almost hysteria shining in her eyes. "Usagi-hime?"

She turned and buried her head in his chest since he was the closest and cried. Trowa saw the glares he was receiving from both Quatre and Duo but ignored them. He let his arms circle the sobbing girl and he held her.

Quatre felt himself about to frown and with effort forced the expression into a semi-smile. "I'll go get that chocolate for her," he told Duo before leaving the trio by themselves.

Duo stared at the crying girl for a long moment. Though according to her story she was a lot older then him at the moment he couldn't comprehend that. To him she was merely a teenager like himself that was currently grieving. He glanced at Trowa's face and saw the boy staring down at Usagi a tender expression not only in his eyes but on his entire face. 'Trowa must really like her to show emotion like that. I know Quatre likes her because he's never glared at me in that manner before. What are my feelings towards her? Do I have any? I know I like to spend time with her and I did enjoy that kiss. She's shown a completely different side of herself to me then she's shown them.'

Trowa let his eyes flicker upwards and saw Duo staring at a spot on the wall seemingly deep in thought. He could hear Usagi's sobs decrease and felt her pulling away. Usagi nodded to herself her eyes almost distracted. Trowa saw a light in them and his emerald green eyes narrowed. "No."

Duo looked up from his mental musings to see Trowa almost glaring at Usagi. "No what?"

Usagi stared at Trowa. "You knew just from looking at me?"

"Hai, I won't let you do it. None of us will."

"Do WHAT?" Duo demanded. He was annoyed that Trowa was ignoring him.

"Kill myself," Usagi replied to Duo's question her eyes locked on Trowa.

"KILL YOURSELF?" Duo glared at her, "He's right we're not going to let you do that! Besides only Shinigami can take lives."

"Shinigami?"

Duo stared at her almost in horror. "You DON'T know Shinigami?"

"Iie."

"Shinigami is the God of Death. The only God I believe in."

"That's why you said you don't believe in heaven then, ne?"

"That's right."

Quatre returned with plenty of chocolate for all and talk of death faded from everyone's thoughts. Quatre watched a small pleased smile on his face as Usagi devoured the food. He heard one of his servants nearby and saw them making the hand gesture indicating he had a call. He sighed and started to leave when Usagi grabbed his sleeve. "What's wrong, Quatre-san?"

"I have a call I need to answer."

"We'll go with you."

Quatre smiled and nodded in agreement leading the group to the communications room. He turned on the monitor and saw Milardo sitting behind a desk hands in front of him fingers lightly touching each other. "Quatre, I hope I'm not disturbing you." His eyes flashed to Usagi and the close positions the three boys had around her.

"Not at all," Quatre answered politely. Something about the way Milardo was looking at Usagi had the Arabian furious.

"Good, I need to make a businesses trip to your colony and was hoping you could suggest a good hotel."

"Hotel? You can stay here, Milardo-san. There's plenty of room and it's a lot safer."

Milardo forced his triumphant smile to remain dormant. 'Soon that witch will die. As soon as I'm there I'll get her alone and kill her. She can't be allowed to live any longer. Once she's gone they'll all be freed from her spell and the colonies and Earth can remain in peace.'

"Was there anything else?" Quatre asked.

Milardo cursed inwardly and forced a gentle smile to his lips. "That will be all Quatre. Thanks for the offer I'll consider it. I'll tell you my decision later."

Usagi watched the screen black out and sighed. 'He's after me. I don't know why he is though. What have I done? I know he wants to kill me because he had that look in his eyes that most of my enemies had. I'll have to be careful if he comes up here.'

***

Authors notes: I REALLY enjoyed writing this chapter! Duo's so fun to work with. Thanks again to D-chan and Oneesan for being my pre-readers. Arigato! The next chapter will be out soon so please review. Chapter Four: Wufei (Did you think I wouldn't use him? His chapter will be out later this week) Also ff.net's reviewing function doesn't seem to be working well so if you email me I'll make you a deal. Anyone that emails me will get the Wufei chapter a full week before anyone else and considering I'm halfway done writing it you'll only have to wait a few days for your reward. So please email me if your review doesn't go through.